JP2003011936A - Label printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate settlement of a paper jam. SOLUTION: The label printer 8 which is used in a label sticking system for sticking a printed and issued label to a label sticking surface of an article during a process of carrying the article and provided oppositely to the label sticking surface of the carried article is equipped with a first paper guide 32 which forms at least a portion of a paper carrying path 21 opposite to a printing head and a guide frame on an upstream of the printing head in the direction of carrying label paper and has an end pivoted to be capable of opening/closing. The first paper guide 32 is opened, thereby opening the paper carrying path 21.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label sticking system, which is arranged to face a label sticking surface of an article which is conveyed and to which a label is stuck and which prints and issues the label.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a label sticking system in which an article is carried by an article carrier and a label printed by a label printer is stuck to the article by a label sticking device in the course of carrying the article.

An example of such a label sticking system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a side view schematically showing a conventional labeling system. As shown in FIG.
In this label sticking system 100, a long mount 10
A label paper 103 in which a label 102 is attached side by side to 1 is used.

The labeling system 100 includes an article 10
There is provided an article transporting device, such as a belt conveyor 105, which supports the bottom surface of the article 4 and transports the article 104 along the article transporting path. The label sticking system 100 includes a label sticking surface 106 of an article 104 conveyed through an article conveying path.
A label printer 107 that prints and issues a label, a label attaching device 108 that attaches the issued label to the label attaching surface 106 of the article 104, a paper holder 109 that holds the roll-shaped label paper 103, and a mount A mount winder 110 for winding 101 is provided.

With such a configuration, the label printer 107 draws the roll-shaped label paper 103 held by the paper holder 109 into the label printer 107,
The label 102 is conveyed along a sheet conveying path (not shown), and the label 102 is printed during the conveying process. Then, a mount conveyance mechanism (not shown) of the label printer 107
By transporting the mount paper with, the mount paper 101 is bent at an acute angle by a peeling plate (not shown) of the label printer 107, and the label 102 is peeled from the mount paper 101. Then, the label 102 is issued from the label printer 107,
The label sticking device 108 sticks the issued label 102 on the label sticking surface 106 of the article 104. The mount 101 after the label is peeled off by the label printer 107 is wound up on the mount winder 110.

[0006]

In such a label printer 107, a plate-shaped paper guide (not shown) that forms a paper conveyance path is generally provided, however, the paper jam does not occur. In the case of occurrence of the paper jam, there is a problem that the paper jam processing work is difficult because the paper guide covers the paper conveyance path. In particular, in the case of a paper jam caused by the glue of the label paper 103 sticking to a paper guide or the like, the paper jam processing operation is difficult due to the glue.

It is an object of the present invention to facilitate paper jam handling work.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a label printer which is used in a label sticking system for sticking a print-issued label on a label sticking surface of the goods in the course of carrying the goods. In a label printer arranged to face the label sticking surface of the article, a paper transport path for guiding a label paper having a label stuck to a mount, and a label transport path disposed in the paper transport path, A paper transport unit that transports the label paper along the paper transport path, a printing unit that prints on the label by a print head that is arranged along the paper transport path and abuts against a platen, and a label paper transport than the print head. A guide frame that guides the ink ribbon from the upstream side in the direction to the contact portion between the platen and the print head; A peeling body that is disposed on the flow side and that peels the label from the mount, a mount transport mechanism that transports the mount after the label has been stripped, the print head, and a label paper transport direction upstream of the print head. A first paper guide which forms at least a part of the paper transport path facing the side guide frame and which is pivotally supported at one end and is openable and closable.

Therefore, by opening the first paper guide, a part of the paper transport path facing the print head and the guide frame upstream of the print head in the label paper transport direction is opened, and the paper jam processing operation is possible. Becomes

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the label printer according to the first aspect, a part of the sheet conveying path upstream of the first sheet guide in the label sheet conveying direction is formed and is parallel to the platen. The second paper guide is detachably attached to and removed from the two support shafts in the axial direction of the support shafts.

Therefore, by removing the second paper guide from the support shaft, a part of the paper carrying path on the upstream side of the first paper guide in the label paper carrying direction is opened, and the paper jam processing operation becomes possible.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the label printer according to the first or second aspect, the label sheet is guided at a position where it is pulled in from the outside by the sheet conveying section.
A third paper guide is provided, which is pivotally supported at one end and is rotatable rearward.

Therefore, by rotating the third paper guide toward the rear, the paper transport path on the upstream side in the label paper transport direction is opened, and the paper jam processing operation can be performed from the rear.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Regarding one embodiment of the present invention,
Description will be made with reference to FIGS. This embodiment is an application example to a label printer used in a label sticking system in which an article is carried by an article carrying device, and a label printed and issued by a label printer is stuck to the article by a label sticking device in the carrying process. is there. Hereinafter, the label sticking system and the label printer will be described in this order.

[Labeling System] FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing the labeling system of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the label sticking system 1 uses a label paper 4 in which labels 3 are stuck side by side on a long mount 2.

The label sticking system 1 is provided with an article conveying device for supporting the bottom surface of the article 5 and conveying the article 5 along the article conveying path, for example, a belt conveyor 6.
The label sticking system 1 includes a label printer 8 that prints and issues the label 3 at a position facing the label sticking surface 7 of the article 5 that is conveyed through the article conveying path, and the label sticking surface 7 of the article 5 that issues the issued label 3. Label sticking device 9 for sticking to a label, paper holder 1 for holding label paper 4 in roll form
0, a mount winder 11 for winding the mount 2, and the like are provided. Here, since it is a known technique, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
The label 3 issued by the label printer 8 is sucked up and held on the label holding surface 13 of No. 2 by a suction pump or the like (not shown), and in this state, the label holding unit 12 is moved toward the article 5 to move the label 3 to the label of the article 5. The label is stuck to the label sticking surface 7.

In such a structure, the paper holder 10
The label printer 8 draws the roll-shaped label paper 4 held by the label printer 8 into the label printer 8 and
To print and issue the issued label 3 to the label applying device 9
Is attached to the label attaching surface 7 of the article 5. The mount 2 peeled off from the label 3 in the label printer 8 is wound up on the mount winder 11.

[Label Printer 8] FIG. 2 is a rear view schematically showing the label printer 8, and FIG. 3 is a vertical side view schematically showing the structure of the label printer 8. FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional side view schematically showing a state where the paper guide is removed and an open state, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing a state where the paper guide is removed and the paper guide is opened.

The label printer 8 is provided with a frame 14, a printer mechanism 15 is provided on one side surface of the frame 14, and a control case 16 is provided on the other side surface. The cover 1 is provided on one side of the frame 14.
7 is provided. This cover 17 is a frame 14
The opening / closing part 19 is openably / closably attached to the fixed part 18 fixedly attached to one side surface via the hinge 20. When the opening / closing part 19 of the cover 17 is closed, one side and the upper side of the printer mechanism 15 are covered by the cover 17. Here, the virtual line in FIG. 2 shows the opening / closing part 19 in an open state.

The printer mechanism 15 will be described. The printer mechanism 15 is provided with a paper transport path 21 extending from the back side of the printer mechanism 15 to the lower end portion on the front side. The upstream side of the label sheet transporting direction of the sheet transporting path 21 is a sheet pull-in section 22, and the downstream side of the label sheet transporting direction is a label issuing section 23. The label paper 4 is fed from the paper pull-in unit 22 to the label issuing unit 2 on the paper conveyance path 21.
You will be guided to 3.

A pair of edge guides for regulating the movement of the label paper 4 being conveyed in the paper width direction orthogonal to the label paper conveyance direction are arranged in the paper conveyance path 21 from the upstream side to the downstream side in the label paper conveyance direction. 24 and 25, a paper transport unit 26 that transports the label paper 4 along the paper transport path 21, a transmissive sensor 27 that detects the position of the label 3 on the label paper 4, and a label 3 while transporting the label paper 4.
The printing unit 28 for printing on the label, the peeling body 29 for peeling the label 3 from the mount 2, and the like are arranged. Further, in the paper transport path 21, paper guides 30, 31, 32, 33, which form a part of the paper transport path 21 and guide the label paper 4,
34 are arranged. Further, below the paper transport path 21, a mount transport mechanism 35 that transports the mount 2 after the label 3 is peeled off is arranged. Each of these parts will be described in detail below.

The paper transport unit 26 includes a transport roller 36 and a pinch roller 37, which are opposed to each other with the paper transport path 21 interposed therebetween.
Consists of. The transport roller 36 is rotationally driven by a drive source (not shown), for example, a motor, and the pinch roller 37 is
It is biased by a biasing member (not shown) in the direction of coming into contact with the transport roller 36. Then, the label roller 4 sandwiched between the pinch roller 37 and the pinch roller 37 is transported by the transport roller 36 being rotated, and is transported along the sheet transport path 21.

The printing unit 28 is composed of a thermal head 38 as a print head arranged along the sheet conveying path 21 and a platen 39 opposed to the thermal head 38 with the sheet conveying path 21 interposed therebetween. Thermal head 3
A heating element is provided on the head surface of 8, and the thermal head 38 is biased by a biasing member (not shown) in a direction in which the heating element abuts the platen 39. When the label 3 is thermal paper, the heating element directly contacts the label 3, and when the label 3 is not thermal paper, the ink ribbon 40 is interposed between the heating element and the label 3. In either case, the heating element generates heat to print on the label 3. The platen 39 is rotationally driven by a drive source (not shown) such as a motor. Then, by rotating the platen 39, the label sheet 4 sandwiched between the platen 39 and the heating element of the thermal head 38 is conveyed along the sheet conveying path 21. That is, the printing unit 28 also functions as a paper transport unit.

The peeling bodies 29 are adjacent to each other at an acute angle.
Has a face. An edge 41 as a bent portion which is a joint portion of these two surfaces supports the back surface of the mount 2, and the edge 41
The mounting direction of the mount 2 is sharply bent. When the backing sheet 2 is pulled by the backing sheet transporting section 43 of the backing sheet transporting mechanism 35, which will be described later, and the back surface of the backing sheet 2 is rubbed against the edge 41,
Due to its stiffness, the label 3 is peeled from the backing sheet 2 without following the backing sheet 2 whose transfer direction can be abruptly changed to the backing sheet transporting path 42 of the backing sheet transporting mechanism 35, and to the label issuing unit 23 along the paper transporting path 21. Go to

The paper guide 30 is arranged below the paper carrying path 21 upstream of the paper carrying section 26 in the label paper carrying direction. The paper guide 30 is provided with a paper transport path 21.
Has a guide surface 44 that forms a part of the guide surface 44, and guides the label sheet 4 with this guide surface 44.

The paper guide 31 is arranged below the paper transport path 21 between the paper transport unit 26 and the transmissive sensor 27. The paper guide 31 has a guide surface 45 forming a part of the paper transport path 21, and the guide surface 45 guides the label paper 4.

The sheet guide 32 is arranged below the sheet conveying path 21 between the sheet conveying section 26 and the printing section 28 in the label sheet conveying direction, and is attached to the attachment member 46 attached to the frame 14. It is rotatably supported.

The paper guide 32 has a thermal head 38.
And a wall 49 having a guide surface 48 forming a part of the paper transport path 21 facing a guide frame 47 described later. The paper guide 32 guides the label paper 4 on the guide surface 48. A front wall 50, a rear wall 51 extending in a direction away from the paper transport path 21 are provided at the front and rear ends of the wall 49 and the side ends far from the frame 14.
Side walls 52 are provided. A shaft 53 of a mounting member 46 is provided on one end of the front wall 50 and the rear wall 51, and the paper guide 32 is rotatably supported by the shaft 53. As a result, the paper guide 32 can be opened and closed. The side wall 52 is provided with a fixing recess 54 having a spring property. By rotating the paper guide 33 in the closing direction, the fixing concave portion 54 and the fixing convex portion (not shown) provided on the frame 55 are engaged with each other, and the paper guide 33 is guided at the position for guiding the label paper 4. Is fixed. Here, the frame 55 holds one end of the components of the printer mechanism 15 arranged below the paper transport path 21. Further, by rotating the paper guide 32 in the opening direction, the engagement between the fixing concave portion 54 and the fixing convex portion is released, and a part of the paper conveying path 21 facing the thermal head 38 and the guide frame 47. Is released. As a result, it becomes possible to perform a paper jam processing operation in the paper transport path 21 that faces the thermal head 38 and the guide frame 47. Here, the paper guide 32 functions as a first paper guide.

The paper guide 33 is arranged between the paper transport unit 26 and the printing unit 28 and above the paper transport path 21 on the upstream side in the label paper transport direction. And the paper guide 3
3 is parallel to the platen 39 and the frame 14
The shafts 56 and 57 projecting from one side surface are detachably attached by being inserted into and removed from the shafts in the axial direction.

The paper guide 33 comprises a guide plate 58 and two mounting plates 59 and 60 attached to the guide plate 58. The guide plate 58 has guide surfaces 61 and 62 that form a part of the paper transport path 21. More specifically, a part of the guide surfaces 61, 62 forms a part of the paper transport path 21 upstream of the paper guide 32 in the label paper transport direction. Then, the label paper 4 is guided by these guide surfaces 61 and 62. A portion of the guide plate 58 between the guide surface 61 and the guide surface 62 is formed in a concave shape in order to avoid the transmissive sensor 27.

A shaft hole 63 and a cylindrical portion 64 are formed in the mounting plates 59 and 60, a shaft 56 is inserted in the shaft hole 63, and a shaft hole 65 of the cylindrical portion 64 is provided with a shaft. 57 is inserted. At this time, the contact surface 66 formed on the cylindrical portion 64 of the mounting plate 60 and the positioning surface 67 formed on the shaft 57 come into contact with each other, whereby the paper guide 31 is positioned at a position for guiding the label paper 4. . Furthermore, at this time, the axis 5
One end of 7 is located inside the cylindrical portion 64 of the mounting plate 59, and the paper guide 31 guides the label paper 4 by fitting the screw 69 into the screw hole 68 formed in this one end. It is positioned and fixed with. By removing the screw 69 and removing the paper guide 31 from the shafts 56 and 57, a part of the paper transport path 21 upstream of the paper guide 32 in the label paper transport direction is opened. This allows
The paper jam processing operation can be performed in the paper transport path 21 on the upstream side of the paper guide 32 in the label paper transport direction. Here, the paper guide 33 functions as a second paper guide.

The paper guide 34 is disposed above the paper transport path 21 on the upstream side in the label paper transport direction, and is rotatably supported rearward by a shaft 70 projecting from one side surface of the frame 14. ing. As a result, the paper guide 34 can be opened and closed.

The paper guide 34 is provided with a protective wall 71 for protecting the paper transport path 21 at a position for guiding the label paper 4, that is, in a closed state. A guide surface 72 is formed at one end of the protective wall 71 on the side of the sheet transport path 21 and is curved toward the downstream side in the label sheet transport direction as the sheet approaches the sheet transport path 21. The guide sheet 72 guides the label sheet 4 conveyed by the sheet conveying section 26 and drawn into the label printer 8 to the sheet conveying path 21. At both ends of the protective wall 71, mounting walls 74 and 75 having an axial hole 73 are formed perpendicularly to the protective wall 71 in the front direction of the label printer 8. 70 is inserted. As a result, the paper guide 34 is rotatably supported by the shaft 70.

The mounting wall 75 on the frame 14 side is the protective wall 7
It is formed only on a part of the side edge of 1. Paper guide 34
Is made of iron, and is fixed at a position for guiding the label sheet 4 by contact of the protection wall 71 with the magnet 76 provided on the frame 14. At this time, the notch 77 provided in the mounting wall 74 farther from the frame 14 is
It opposes the outer periphery of the shaft 78 provided so as to project on one side surface. Thus, the movement of the paper guide 34 in the front direction of the label printer 8 at the mounting wall 74 side at the position for guiding the label paper 4 is restricted. And this paper guide 3
When the sheet 4 is rotated backward and opened, the sheet conveying path 21 on the upstream side of the sheet conveying section 26 in the label sheet conveying direction is opened. As a result, it is possible to perform the paper jam processing operation in the paper transport path 21 on the upstream side of the paper transport unit 26 in the label paper transport direction from the rear of the label printer 8. Here, the paper guide 34 functions as a third guide portion.

The mount transport mechanism 35 includes a paper transport path 21.
A mount paper conveyance path 42 is provided which is separated from the peeling body 29 and goes toward the back side of the printer mechanism 15. On the downstream side of the mount transport path 42 in the mount transport direction, the mount discharge unit 7 is provided.
The mount 2 after the label 3 is peeled off from the label 3 is guided to the mount discharge unit 79 by the mount transport path 42.
A mount transport unit 43 that transports the mount 2 along the mount transport route 42 is disposed on the mount transport route 42, and the mount 2 mounts the mount 2 on the upstream side and the downstream side in the mount transport direction with the mount transport unit 43 interposed therebetween. Two rollers 80 and 81 that restrict the movement to the outside of the transport path 42 are arranged.

The mount transport unit 43 has a transport roller 82 and a pinch roller 83, which are arranged to face each other with the mount transport path 42 interposed therebetween.
Consists of. The transport roller 82 is rotationally driven by a drive source (not shown), for example, a motor, and the pinch roller 83 is
It is biased by a biasing member (not shown) in the direction in which it comes into contact with the transport roller 82. By rotating the transport roller 82, the mount 2 sandwiched between the transport roller 82 and the pinch roller 83 is pulled. Then, the mount 2 is the mount transport path 4
2 is conveyed.

Further, the printer mechanism 15 is provided with a supply shaft 84 for holding the ink ribbon 40, a winding shaft 85 for winding the ink ribbon 40, and a guide frame 47 for guiding the ink ribbon 40. Ink ribbon 40
When using, the unused ink ribbon 40 is held on the supply shaft 84, and the used ink ribbon 40 is wound on the winding shaft 85. Then, the guide frame 47 is
The ink ribbon 40 is guided from the upstream side of the thermal head 38 in the label paper conveyance direction to the contact portion between the thermal head 38 and the platen 39.

In addition, the label printer 8 is provided with a control unit (not shown) for controlling each unit of the label printer 8 in the control case 16. As a result, it becomes possible to drive and control the respective units such as the thermal head 38, the platen 39, and the motors that drive the transport rollers 36 and 82.

In such a structure, the paper transport unit 26
The label paper 4 held by the paper holder 10 is sequentially drawn from the paper draw-in portion 22 into the paper carrying path 21 by rotationally driving the carrying roller 36 and the platen 39 of the printing unit 28. It is transported along the transport path 21. In this conveyance process, the heating element of the thermal head 38 of the printing unit 28 is heated to print on the label 3. At the same time, since the transport roller 82 of the mount transport unit 43 is rotationally driven, the mount 2 is pulled, whereby the label 3 is peeled from the mount 2 when the mount 2 is rubbed against the edge 41 of the peeling body 29. Then, the label 3 is issued from the label issuing unit 23 toward the label sticking device 9. The mount 2 from which the label 3 is peeled off is discharged from the mount discharge unit 79, and is wound by the mount winder 11.

When a paper jam occurs in the paper transport path 21, the mount 2 is placed on the mount transport path 4 as shown in FIG.
After removing the sheet from the sheet 2, the sheet guide 32 is opened to open a part of the sheet transport path 21 facing the thermal head 38 and the guide frame 47, and the sheet transport path facing the thermal head 38 and the guide frame 47. It is possible to perform the paper jam processing operation at 21. Also,
As shown in FIG. 5, by opening the opening / closing portion 19 of the cover 17 and removing the paper guide 33, a part of the paper transport path 21 upstream of the paper guide 32 in the label paper transport direction is opened, and the paper guide 32 is opened. It becomes possible to perform a paper jam processing operation on the paper transport path 21 on the upstream side of the label paper transport direction. Further, by rotating the paper guide 34 rearward, the paper transport path 21 upstream of the paper transport unit 26 in the label paper transport direction is opened, and the paper transport upstream of the paper transport unit 26 in the label paper transport direction. Route 2
It is possible to perform the paper jam processing operation in 1 from behind the label printer 8. These facilitate the paper jam processing.

[0041]

According to the label printer of the first aspect of the invention, by opening the first paper guide, the paper transport facing the print head and the guide frame upstream of the print head in the label paper transport direction is carried. Since a part of the path is opened, it is possible to easily perform the paper jam processing work.

According to the invention of the label printer described in claim 2, by removing the second paper guide from the spindle, a part of the paper carrying path upstream of the first paper guide in the label paper carrying direction is provided. The paper jam is opened and the paper jam can be easily handled.

According to the invention of the label printer of claim 3, by rotating the third paper guide toward the rear, the paper transport path on the upstream side in the label paper transport direction is opened, and the label paper can be easily transported from the rear. Paper jam processing work can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing a label sticking system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view schematically showing the label printer.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional side view schematically showing the configuration of a label printer.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional side view schematically showing a state in which a paper guide is removed and an open state.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which a paper guide is removed and an open state.

FIG. 6 is a side view schematically showing a conventional labeling system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Labeling system 2 mounts 3 labels 4 label paper 5 articles 7 Labeling surface 8 Label printer 21 Paper transport path 26 Paper transport section 28 Printing section 29 peeling body 32 First paper guide (paper guide) 33 Second paper guide (paper guide) 34 Third Paper Guide (Paper Guide) 35 Mount transport mechanism 38 Print head (thermal head) 39 Platen 40 ink ribbon 47 guide frame 56,57 spindle

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) B65H 23/28 B65H 41/00 A 3F108 41/00 B41J 3/20 117A F term (reference) 2C058 AB16 AC06 AD06 AE04 AE14 AF06 AF31 DA10 2C060 BA04 BC02 BC12 BC46 BC48 BC55 2C065 AB03 AC04 AD02 DA23 DA28 DA29 DA30 3E095 AA01 BA03 CA02 DA03 DA22 EA02 EA09 EA13 FA25 3F104 AA02 FA07 FA11 3F108 JA04

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. Used in a label sticking system for sticking a print-issued label on a label sticking surface of the article in the process of carrying the article, and is arranged so as to face the label sticking surface of the conveyed article. A label printer, which is a label printer, and a paper transport path that guides a label paper having a label attached to a mount, and a paper transport unit that is disposed in the paper transport path and transports the label paper along the paper transport path. A printing unit that prints on the label by a print head that is arranged along the paper transport path and that abuts against a platen; and a contact unit between the platen and the print head from the label paper transport direction upstream side of the print head. A guide frame that guides the ink ribbon to, and a label frame that is disposed on the downstream side in the label paper conveyance direction with respect to the printing unit and that peels the label from the mount. A peeling body, a mount transport mechanism that transports the mount after the label has been peeled off, of the paper transport path that faces the print head and the guide frame upstream of the print head in the label paper transport direction. A label printer comprising: a first paper guide that forms at least a part and is pivotally supported at one end and can be opened and closed. 2. A part of the paper transport path on the upstream side of the label paper transport direction with respect to the first paper guide is formed, and two spindles parallel to the platen are arranged in the axial direction of these spindles. The label printer according to claim 1, further comprising a second paper guide that is detachably attached to and detached from the second paper guide. 3. The third paper guide, which guides the label paper at a position where it is drawn from the outside to the inside by the paper conveyance section, and is rotatable rearward at one end supported by the shaft. Label printer as described.