JP2007237536A - Print medium and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To dispense with the operation of setting a position of an existing label as a printing object, and the operation of setting the existing label as the printing object in a printing position, even if a changes occurs in the presence or absence of each label on a print medium, when printing is done for any one of the plurality of labels on the print medium by a printer. <P>SOLUTION: In label printer paper 100 for use in the printer, respective pieces 201A, 201B, 202, 203A and 203B of thermal label paper, which correspond to five sensor marks 301A, 301B, 302B, 303A and 303B, made on respective pieces 115 of unit paper, in a one-to-one relationship, respectively, are arranged and stuck on the respective pieces 115 of unit paper in a state in which some of the sensor marks 301A, 301B, 302B, 303A and 303B, corresponding to the pieces 201A, 201B, 202, 203A and 203B of thermal label paper, respectively, are concealed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that prints on either a printing medium in which a plurality of labels are arranged on release paper or a plurality of labels on the printing medium.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a printing apparatus that prints an input character string on a heading label such as a document through a printing unit. In this regard, in the label printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when the next printing start position is stored, the troublesome setting operation of the printing start position is eliminated when the label sheet that has been printed halfway is printed again. is doing.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-1004

  However, before printing again, if the stored label at the next print start position is peeled off from the label sheet or a new label sheet is inserted instead of the label sheet, the skip position or print Since it is necessary to perform a new setting operation such as the start position of, the troublesomeness has not been solved.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is assumed that the presence or absence of each label on the print medium has changed when printing on any of a plurality of labels on the print medium with a printing device. Another problem is that an operation for setting the position of an existing label to be printed and an operation for setting an existing label to be printed to a printing position can be made useless.

  The invention according to claim 1 made to solve this problem is a printing medium, which is a release medium, a plurality of labels disposed on the release paper, and a one-to-one correspondence with the labels. However, a plurality of sensor marks each printed on the release paper are provided, and a part of each sensor mark is concealed by arranging each label.

  The invention according to claim 2 is a printing apparatus including a printing unit that prints on the printing medium according to claim 1, and is a conveyance unit that conveys the print medium, and is a conveyance target of the conveyance unit. Reading means for reading the sensor mark on the print medium, recognition means for recognizing the position of the existing label on the print medium based on the sensor mark read by the reading means, and the position recognized by the recognition means And a control means for automatically adjusting the operation of the conveying means so that the printing means can print on an existing label.

  That is, in the printing medium of the present invention, each label corresponding to a plurality of sensor marks printed on the release paper is placed on the release paper in a state where a part of the corresponding sensor mark is hidden. Has been. Accordingly, the sensor mark corresponding to the existing label on the print medium is partially hidden, while the sensor mark corresponding to the label peeled from the print medium is completely exposed. Therefore, in the printing apparatus of the present invention, when printing on the existing label on the printing medium, if the sensor mark on the printing medium being conveyed is read and the position of the existing label on the printing medium is recognized from the reading result, Since the transport operation of the print medium is controlled so that the existing label to be recognized can be printed, even if there is a change in the presence or absence of each label on the print medium before the start of the print, There is no need for an operation for setting the label position or an operation for setting an existing label to be printed up to the print position.

  DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, a printing medium according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings based on an embodiment in which the printing medium is embodied as a label printer sheet of a label printer according to the present invention.

  First, a schematic configuration of the label printer paper 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a label printer paper 100 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the label printer paper 100 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the label printer paper 100 according to the present embodiment is a continuous print medium in which mountain folds and valley folds are alternately repeated at a constant folding interval (120 mm in the present embodiment). In the label printer paper 100, a fold of a mountain fold and a valley fold are alternately formed at every folding interval, and a fold perforation 107 is formed at the position of the fold. The bent perforations 107 are formed by alternately arranging cutting portions 107A and non-cutting portions 107B (see FIG. 2). The bent perforation 107 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

Further, the separation perforations 110 that traverse in the width direction of the long-sized label printer paper 100 are formed at a predetermined interval (60 mm in the present embodiment) within the bending interval.
Similarly to the bent perforation 107, the separation perforation 110 is also provided with alternately arranged cutting portions 110A and non-cutting portions 110B (see FIG. 2). In other words, in the label printer paper 100, a fixed printing area of “the width direction of the label printer paper 100” × “predetermined interval (60 mm)” is obtained by cutting along the folding perforation 107 and the separation perforation 110. It is possible to obtain unit paper pieces 115 having the same.

  In the label printer paper 100 according to the present embodiment, a plurality of heat-sensitive label papers are bonded to the lower surface 101 in the transport direction of the release paper 102 (unit paper piece 115) serving as the base material of the continuous print medium. However, this point will be described in detail later with reference to the drawings.

Next, the configuration of the folding perforation 107 and the separation perforation 110 in the label printer paper 100 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
Here, in FIG. 2, the periphery of the bent perforation 107 of the label printer paper 100 according to the present embodiment is shown in an enlarged manner.

  As described above, between the bent perforations 107 and the bent perforations 107, that is, within the folding interval, the unit perforations 115 are partitioned by the separation perforations 110.

In the label printer paper 100 according to the present embodiment, the bent perforation 107 is not only different in position from the separation perforation 110 but also in its form. More specifically, the cutting portion 107A of the bent perforation 107 has the same width in the width direction of the label printer paper 100 as compared with the cutting portion 110A of the separation perforation 110, but has a wider width in the transport direction. Is formed.
That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the conveyance direction dimension (Wb) of the cutting part 107 </ b> A of the bent perforation 107 is formed larger than the conveyance direction dimension (Wa) of the cutting part 110 </ b> A of the separation perforation 110.
As a result, the strength of the bent perforation 107 is lower than the strength of the separation perforation 110 as well as the strength on the printing surface of the label printer paper 100, so that the folding perforation 107 is bent along the folding perforation 107. It becomes very easy. In this respect, since the folding perforation 107 becomes easy to be bent, it can be easily used as a continuous printing medium, and can be easily separated along the folding perforation 107.

  In the label printer paper 100 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, five sensor marks 301A, 301B, 302B, 303A, etc. are provided on the lower surface 101 in the transport direction of each unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102). 303B is attached to each predetermined position. In this regard, each of the sensor marks 301A, 301B, 302B, 303A, and 303B is a substantially square black mark having the same size. Two sensor marks 301A and 303A are arranged in the carrying direction, and three sensor marks 301B, 302B, and 303B are arranged in the carrying direction at equal intervals. Further, the two sensor marks 301A and 301B are juxtaposed in the width direction of the label printer paper 100 (direction orthogonal to the transport direction), and the two sensor marks 303A and 303B are arranged in the width direction of the label printer paper 100 ( In a direction perpendicular to the transport direction).

Accordingly, the two sensor marks 301A and 303A always move on the virtual movement line when the label printer paper 100 is conveyed. Therefore, in the label printer 1 (see FIG. 3 and the like), which will be described later, two sensor marks are provided by the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 and the like) provided so as to include the virtual movement line in the reading area. 301A and 303A are read. On the other hand, the three sensor marks 301B, 302B, and 303B always move on different virtual movement lines when the label printer paper 100 is conveyed. Therefore, in the label printer 1 (see FIG. 3 and the like), which will be described later, three photosensors 11B (see FIG. 5 and the like) provided so as to include the other virtual movement line in the reading area are provided with three pieces. Sensor marks 301B, 302B, and 303B are read.
Further, in a label printer 1 (see FIG. 3 and the like), which will be described later, the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 and the like) and the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 and the like) are juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction. Yes. Therefore, when the label printer paper 100 is being conveyed in the label printer 1 (see FIG. 3 and the like), the second photosensor is at the same timing that the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 and the like) has read the sensor mark 301A. 11B (see FIG. 5 etc.) reads the sensor mark 301B, and the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 etc.) detects the sensor at the same timing when the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 etc.) reads the sensor mark 303A. Although the mark 303B is read, at the timing when the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 and the like) reads the sensor mark 302B, the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 and the like) has both of the two sensor marks 301A and 303A. Cannot read.

  Furthermore, five thermal label sheets 201A, 201B, 202, 203A, and 203B are bonded to the lower surface 101 in the transport direction of each unit sheet piece 115 (release paper 102). In this state, as shown in FIG. 11, the thermal label sheets 201A, 201B, 202, 203A, and 203B are respectively placed on a part (the same area) of the sensor marks 301A, 301B, 302B, 303A, and 303B. It is superimposed. That is, the thermal label paper 201A is bonded to each unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102) while covering part of the sensor mark 301A, and the thermal label paper 201B is attached to each unit paper piece 115 (covering part of the sensor mark 301B. The thermal label paper 202 is attached to each unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102) while covering a part of the sensor mark 302B, and the thermal label paper 203A is covered with a part of the sensor mark 303A. Each unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102) is attached, and the thermal label paper 203B is attached to each unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102) while covering a part of the sensor mark 303B.

  Accordingly, for example, when the thermal label paper 201A is peeled from the unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102), as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, only a part of the sensor mark 301A is exposed (see FIG. 11) to a fully exposed state (see FIG. 12). This also applies to the case where each thermal label paper 201B, 202, 203A, 203B is peeled off from the unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102), and only a part of each sensor mark 301B, 302B, 303A, 303B is exposed. It changes from a state where it is not exposed to a state where it is completely exposed.

  Therefore, if the exposure state of each sensor mark 301A, 301B, 302B, 303A, 303B is read by the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 etc.) or the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 etc.), each sensor mark 301A, Whether each of the thermal label sheets 201A, 201B, 202, 203A, and 203B corresponding to 301B, 302B, 303A, and 303B exists in the unit sheet piece 115 (release sheet 102) for the read result. It can be determined whether or not. The discrimination table is shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 9, one of the two thermal label sheets 201A and 203A is described as “first short label”, and one of the two thermal label sheets 201B and 203B is described as “second short label”. One heat-sensitive label sheet 202 is described as “long label”. Each thermal label paper 201A, 201B, 202, 203A, 203B is described as “present” when it exists on the unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102), and does not exist on the unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102). When it is peeled off, it is described as “None”, and when it is not a target for determining whether or not it exists on the unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102), it is described as “-”. Furthermore, when all the sensor marks 301A, 301B, 302B, 303A, and 303B are read by the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 and the like) or the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 and the like), "Short" when the partially exposed state is read, and "White" when neither the fully exposed state nor the partially exposed state is read.

  The results of reading by the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 etc.) and the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 etc.) are 6 cases based on the reading time of the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 etc.). Exists.

  The first case is a case where the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 and the like) and the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 and the like) read the partially exposed state (“short”) at the same time. When the reading target of the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 etc.) is the sensor mark 301A and the reading target of the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 etc.) is the sensor mark 301B, it corresponds to the sensor mark 301A. The thermal label paper 201A (“first short label”) exists on the unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102) (“present”), and the thermal label paper 201B (“second short label”) corresponding to the sensor mark 301B. Is present on the unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102) (“present”). When the reading target of the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 and the like) is the sensor mark 303A and the reading target of the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 and the like) is the sensor mark 303B, the sensor mark 303A is displayed. The corresponding thermal label paper 203A (“first short label”) is present (“present”) on the unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102), and the thermal label paper 203B (“second short label” corresponding to the sensor mark 303B is present. ")" Is present ("Yes") in the unit sheet piece 115 (release paper 102).

  In the second case, the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 etc.) reads the entire exposed state (“long”), and at the same time the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 etc.) partially exposes (“short”). ) Is read. Here, when the reading target of the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 and the like) is the sensor mark 301A and the reading target of the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 and the like) is the sensor mark 301B, the sensor mark 301A. The thermal label paper 201A (“first short label”) corresponding to “N” does not exist on the unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102) (“No”), while the thermal label paper 201B (“second label” corresponding to the sensor mark 301B is not present. It is determined that the “short label”) is present (“present”) on the unit sheet piece 115 (release paper 102). When the reading target of the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 and the like) is the sensor mark 303A and the reading target of the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 and the like) is the sensor mark 303B, the sensor mark 303A is displayed. The corresponding thermal label paper 203A (“first short label”) does not exist (“none”) on the unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102), while the thermal label paper 203B (“second short label” corresponding to the sensor mark 303B. It is determined that the “label”) is present (“present”) on the unit sheet piece 115 (release paper 102).

  In the third case, the partially exposed state ("short") is read by the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 etc.) and at the same time the fully exposed state ("long") by the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 etc.). ) Is read. Here, when the reading target of the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 and the like) is the sensor mark 301A and the reading target of the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 and the like) is the sensor mark 301B, the sensor mark 301A. The thermal label paper 201A ("first short label") corresponding to the sheet label 115 (release paper 102) currently exists ("present"), while the thermal label paper 201B ("second") corresponding to the sensor mark 301B. It is determined that “short label”) does not exist (“none”) on the unit sheet piece 115 (release paper 102). When the reading target of the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 and the like) is the sensor mark 303A and the reading target of the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 and the like) is the sensor mark 303B, the sensor mark 303A is displayed. The corresponding thermal label paper 203A (“first short label”) is present (“present”) on the unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102), while the thermal label paper 203B (“second short label” corresponding to the sensor mark 303B is present. It is determined that the label ") does not exist on the unit sheet piece 115 (release paper 102) (" None ").

  The fourth case is a case where the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 and the like) and the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 and the like) all read the exposure state (“long”) at the same time. Here, when the reading target of the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 and the like) is the sensor mark 301A and the reading target of the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 and the like) is the sensor mark 301B, the sensor mark 301A. The thermal label paper 201A (“first short label”) corresponding to “N” does not exist (“No”) on the unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102), and the thermal label paper 201B (“second short label” corresponding to the sensor mark 301B is used. It is determined that the label ") does not exist on the unit sheet piece 115 (release paper 102) (" None "). When the reading target of the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 and the like) is the sensor mark 303A and the reading target of the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 and the like) is the sensor mark 303B, the sensor mark 303A is displayed. The corresponding thermal label paper 203A (“first short label”) does not exist on the unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102) (“none”), and the thermal label paper 203B (“second short label” corresponding to the sensor mark 303B. ")" Does not exist on the unit sheet piece 115 (release paper 102) ("None").

  In each of the first, second, third, and fourth cases, the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5, etc.) reads the entire exposed state (“long”) or the partially exposed state (“short”). Since the sensor mark 302B cannot be read by the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5, etc.), the thermal label paper 202 (“long label”) corresponding to the sensor mark 303B is the unit paper piece 115 ( It is not subject to determination ("-") whether or not it exists on the release paper 102).

  In the fifth case, the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 and the like) cannot read both the fully exposed state (“long”) and the partially exposed state (“short”) (“white”) and the second case. This is a case where a partially exposed state (“short”) is read by the photo sensor 11B (see FIG. 5 and the like). Here, there is no sensor mark to be read by the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 etc.) and the read target of the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 etc.) is the sensor mark 302B. It is determined that the heat-sensitive label paper 202 (“long label”) corresponding to the item exists (“present”) on the unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102).

  In the sixth case, the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 and the like) cannot read both the fully exposed state (“long”) and the partially exposed state (“short”) (“white”) and the second case. This is a case where the entire exposed state (“long”) is read by the photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 and the like). Also here, there is no sensor mark to be read by the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 and the like) and the read target of the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 and the like) is the sensor mark 302B. It is determined that the heat-sensitive label paper 202 (“long label”) corresponding to the above does not exist on the unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102) (“none”).

  In each of the fifth and sixth cases, there is no sensor mark to be read by the first photosensor 11A (see FIG. 5 and the like) and the read target of the second photosensor 11B (see FIG. 5 and the like) is the sensor. Since it is the mark 302B, each thermal label paper 201A, 201B, 203A, 203B (“first short label” and “second short label”) corresponding to each sensor mark 301A, 301B, 303A, 303B is a unit paper piece. 115 (excluding the release paper 102) is not subject to determination ("-").

Each of the thermal label papers 201A, 201B, 202, 203A, 203B is a long thermal sheet having self-coloring properties, and one side of each of the thermal label papers 201A, 201B, 202, 203A, 203B has an adhesive. An adhesive layer (not shown) coated with the agent is formed. The back side of the adhesive layer functions as a printing surface on which desired printing is performed by a label printer 1 (see FIG. 3 and the like) described later. That is, the surface on which thermal printing is performed based on the heat generation mode of the thermal head 31 (see FIG. 5 and the like) disposed in the label printer 1.
One surface of the release paper 102 is subjected to silicon treatment and functions as a release surface.
Therefore, the label printer paper 100 is formed by bonding the adhesive layers of the thermal label papers 201A, 201B, 202, 203A, and 203B and the release surface of the release paper 102, and the release surface is subjected to silicon treatment. Thus, the thermal label papers 201A, 201B, 202, 203A, and 203B can be peeled from the release paper 102 without reducing the adhesive strength of the adhesive layer.
And each thermal label paper 201A, 201B, 202, 203A, 203B peeled from the release paper 102 can be affixed to a desired position by the adhesive layer formed on one surface.

Next, a schematic configuration of the label printer 1 that can use the label printer paper 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 focusing on FIG. FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of the circular instruction portion W in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the label printer 1 includes a main body housing 2 that incorporates a printing device such as a thermal head 31 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) described later. A paper cassette 120 (see FIG. 4) in which the label printer paper 100 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) is accommodated is detachably disposed at the rear upper edge of the main body housing 2.

A power button 7 and a cut lever 9 are disposed on the front surface of the main body housing 2. The cut lever 9 is disposed in the lower front portion of the main body housing 2 so as to be movable in the left-right direction. The cut lever 9 is interlocked with a cutter unit 8 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) disposed inside the main body housing 2, and the main body housing is moved by moving the cut lever 9 in the left-right direction. The cutter unit 8 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) inside the body 2 also moves in conjunction with it, and can cut the label printer paper 100 (see FIGS. 4 and 5).
A transparent resin tray 6 is erected above the power button 7 so as to face the front center of the upper cover (not shown).
On the other hand, a power cord 10 (see FIG. 4) is connected to one side end of the lower part on the back side of the main body housing 2, and a personal computer (not shown) is connected to the other side end. A connector portion (not shown) that is configured by a USB (Universal Serial Bus) or the like and that constitutes a communication interface 68 (see FIG. 7) described later is provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the main body housing 2 is formed with a holder storage portion 4 to which a holder 3 (see FIG. 6) is attached. A holder storage portion is provided on one side of the holder storage portion 4. A holder support member 15 is provided for supporting and fixing the position of the holder 3 (see FIG. 6) in 4.
The holder support member 15 is formed with a first positioning groove portion 16 having a substantially vertically U-shape in front view that opens upward, and an attachment member 13 (see FIG. 6) for a holder 3 (see FIG. 6) described later. Can be fitted. An engagement recess 15A is formed at the inner base end of the holder support member 15, and an elastic locking piece 12A (see FIG. 6) protruding from the lower end of the positioning member 12 (see FIG. 6). Engaged.
Thereby, the holder 3 (refer FIG. 6) accommodated in the holder accommodating part 4 can be fixed to a predetermined position. As a result, the positional fluctuation of the label printer paper 100 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) can be prevented, so that high-quality printing is possible.

On the other hand, on the bottom surface of the holder storage portion 4, a positioning recess 4 </ b> A that is horizontally long in plan view is formed with a predetermined depth (in this embodiment, a depth of about 1.5 to 3 mm). On the other hand, a discriminating recess 4B having a rectangular shape in plan view is formed on the bottom surface of the holder storage portion 4 on the right side in FIG. 3 (on the positioning member 12 (see FIG. 6) side).
Here, the discrimination recess 4B is formed deeper than the positioning recess 4A by a predetermined depth (in this embodiment, a depth of about 1.5 to 3 mm). Sheet discriminating sensors S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5 configured by a plurality of push-type micro switches are provided in an L shape. That is, by storing the holder 3 (see FIG. 6) in the holder housing 4, the sheet discriminating portion 60 (see FIG. 6) formed at the lower end of the positioning member 12 (see FIG. 6) is fitted into the discriminating recess 4B. Based on the positions of the five sensor holes 60A (see FIG. 6) formed in the sheet discriminating unit 60 (see FIG. 6), information (label printer paper 100 (see FIG. 4 and FIG. 5)) related to the label printer paper 100 (see FIG. 4). And the like) can be determined.

An insertion slot 18 is formed in front of the holder storage portion 4 into which the label printer paper 100 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) drawn from the paper cassette 120 (see FIG. 4) is inserted. And from the rear-end edge part of the insertion port 18 to the front side upper-end edge part of the holder accommodating part 4, it extends substantially horizontal, and the mounting part 21 is comprised. The mounting portion 21 includes four first L-shaped cross sections corresponding to a plurality of width dimensions of the label printer paper 100 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) at the edge corner on the rear side in the transport direction. Two positioning groove portions 22A to 22D are formed.
Here, a guide member 20 (see FIG. 6) constituting a holder 3 (see FIG. 6) described later is a label printer paper 100 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) attached to the holder 3 (see FIG. 6). Is inserted into a second positioning groove portion (any one of the second positioning groove portions 22A to 22D) corresponding to the width, and the tip thereof extends to the insertion port 18. As a result, the label printer paper 100 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) attached to the holder 3 (see FIG. 6) is guided to the insertion port 18 while being in contact with the guide member 20 (see FIG. 6).

The main body housing 2 is provided with a lever 27 for operating the thermal head 31 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) in the front portion of the side surface (left side in FIG. 2) facing the holder support member 15. Yes. When the lever 27 is rotated upward, the thermal head 31 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) moves downward and is separated from the platen roller 26 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). On the other hand, when the lever 27 is rotated downward, the thermal head 31 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) moves upward, and the label printer paper 100 (see FIG. 4) is moved to the platen roller 26 (see FIG. 4). Is pressed and urged to be ready for printing.
Here, a control circuit unit 61 (see FIG. 7) for driving and controlling each mechanism unit according to a command from an external personal computer or the like is formed inside the main body housing 2 below the holder housing unit 4. A control board 32 (see FIG. 4) is provided.

Here, a schematic configuration of the holder 3 attached to the holder storage portion 4 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of the holder 3.
As shown in FIG. 6, the holder 3 abuts on the positioning member 12 attached to the holder support member 15 formed in the holder storage portion 4 and one end of the label printer paper 100 and guides it to the insertion port 18. The holder member 40 is sandwiched between the guide member 20, the positioning member 12, and the guide member 20, and includes a holder shaft member 40 on which the label printer paper 100 moves.
Specifically, a flange portion 36 is formed on the outer peripheral portion at one end of the holder shaft member 40, and the flange portion 36 is fixed to the outer end surface of the guide member 20. On the other hand, the other end side of the holder shaft member 40 is fitted into the second cylindrical portion 401 of the positioning member 12 and is fixed to the second cylindrical portion 401.
As described above, the positioning member 12 and the guide member 20 are fixed to the holder shaft member 40, whereby the integrated holder 3 is formed. In this regard, when the paper width of the label printer paper 100 is different, the holder 3 corresponding to the paper width of the label printer paper 100 can be easily manufactured by changing the length dimension of the holder shaft member 40.

Next, the guide member 20 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the guide member 20 extends from the lower outer peripheral portion of the outer end surface of the first cylindrical portion 402 in the lower direction, and a first extending portion 42 is formed. The first extending portion 42 is fitted into the positioning recess 4 </ b> A of the holder storage portion 4.
And the 2nd extension part 43 extended to the upper part of the guide member 20 is formed in the guide member 20, Furthermore, from the outer peripheral part of the 2nd extension part 43 to the insertion port 18 (refer FIG. 4) vicinity A third extending portion 44 is formed in which the upper end edge portion extends in a front-down manner.
Here, the lower end surface of the distal end portion of the third extending portion 44 is formed substantially horizontally and abuts on the placement portion 21 of the label printer 1. As a result, one side edge portion of the label printer paper 100 mounted on the holder 3 is guided to the insertion port 18 by the inner surface of the third extension portion 44 and the second extension portion 43.
Further, a fourth extending portion 45 extending from the position facing the rear end edge in the transport direction of the mounting portion 21 to the first extending portion 42 is formed on the lower end surface of the third extending portion 44. The When the lower end surface of the third extending portion 44 is brought into contact with the mounting portion 21, the leading end portion in the transport direction of the fourth extending portion 45 is a label printer sheet attached to the holder storage portion 4. It is inserted into a second positioning groove (any one of the second positioning grooves 22A to 22D) corresponding to 100 paper widths (see FIG. 4).

  Next, the positioning member 12 constituting the holder 3 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, on the outer surface of the positioning member 12, an attachment member having a substantially rectangular cross section that is substantially perpendicular to the axial center from the edge of the axial center of the holder shaft member 40 and that is vertically long in the vertical direction. 13 is protrudingly provided. The attachment member 13 is formed so as to be narrow in the downward direction when viewed from the front, and is formed so as to be able to come into close contact with the first positioning groove portion 16 that is narrow in the downward direction of the holder support member 15 of the label printer 1. Further, the protruding height dimension of the mounting member 13 is formed substantially equal to the width dimension of the first positioning groove 16.

Further, the lower end portion of the attachment member 13 is projected from the lower end portion of the attachment member 13 in the left-right direction by a predetermined length (in the present embodiment, about 1.5 mm to 3 mm) in front view. A substantially rectangular flat plate-like guide portion 57 (in this embodiment, the thickness is about 1.5 mm to 3 mm) is formed. Thus, when the holder 3 is mounted, the mounting member 13 is inserted into the first positioning groove 16 while the guide portion 57 formed at the lower end of the mounting member 13 is brought into contact with the outer end surface of the holder support member 15. Thus, the holder 3 can be mounted while being positioned easily.
A substantially rectangular sheet discriminating portion 60 is formed at the lower end of the extending portion 56 of the positioning member 12 so as to extend a predetermined length in a substantially right-angle inner direction. As described above, in the sheet determination unit 60, five sensor holes 60A are formed in a substantially L shape at predetermined positions facing the sheet determination sensors S1 to S5.
Accordingly, when the holder 3 is installed in the holder storage portion 4 and the sheet determination portion 60 is inserted into the determination recess 4B, each sensor hole 60A is positioned at a position corresponding to the sheet determination sensors S1 to S5. And since sheet | seat discrimination | determination sensors S1-S5 are push-type microswitches, a different signal can be output based on whether the corresponding sensor hole 60A is opened. The CPU 62 (see FIG. 7) can acquire information on the label printer paper 100 mounted on the label printer 1 by the output mode from the sheet discrimination sensors S1 to S5.
In addition, a vertically long rectangular through hole 52 is formed in the extending portion 56 at the lower end portion of the attachment member 13 of the positioning member 12, and the upper end edge of the through hole 52 is directed downwardly toward the distal end. An elastic locking piece 12 </ b> A in which a protruding portion is formed is provided.

In the label printer 1 according to the present embodiment, not only the label printer paper 100 which is a continuous print medium but also a roll paper print medium wound around a cylindrical member can be used. In this case, the holder shaft member 40 is fitted into a cylindrical member around which a roll paper-like print medium is wound, and the cylindrical member can be rotated, whereby the holder 3 to which the roll paper is mounted is obtained. Then, the label printer 1 can perform printing on the roll paper by attaching the holder 3 loaded with the roll paper to the holder housing 4.
In this case, the position of the sensor hole 60 </ b> A formed in the holder 3 is formed in a mode different from that of the holder 3 used in the case of the label printer paper 100. Therefore, the label printer 1 can discriminate between the label printer paper 100, which is a continuous print medium, and the roll paper-like print medium, and can perform print control.

Next, an operation when printing on the label printer paper 100 using the label printer 1 and the holder 3 described above will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
First, in order to perform printing on the label printer paper 100 in the label printer 1, an operation for attaching the holder 3 to the holder storage portion 4 is required. Therefore, the user engages the elastic locking piece 12A with the engagement recess 15A while fitting the attachment member 13 into the first positioning groove 16 on the positioning member 12 side. At this time, on the guide member 20 side, the lower end portion of the guide member 20 is brought into contact with the positioning recess 4A while the lower surface of the distal end portion of the guide member 20 is fitted into any of the second positioning groove portions 22A to 22D. By performing this operation, the holder 3 is detachably attached to the holder storage portion 4.
In addition, by attaching the holder 3 to the holder accommodating part 4, the sheet | seat discrimination | determination part 60 provided in the lower end of the positioning member 12 is inserted in the discrimination | determination recessed part 4B, and five sensor hole 60A and each sheet | seat discrimination | determination sensor S1-S5 are inserted. By collaborating, it is possible to acquire information related to the label printer paper 100 attached to the label printer 1.

Thus, after attaching the holder 3 to the holder accommodating portion 4, it is necessary to pull out the label printer paper 100 from the paper cassette 120 attached to the rear portion of the main body housing 2 so as to enable printing.
In this case, first, the lever 27 is rotated upward to separate the thermal head 31 and the platen roller 26 from each other. Thereafter, the label printer paper 100 is pulled out from the paper cassette 120, and the end of the label printer paper 100 is inserted into the insertion slot 18.
As shown in FIG. 5, the insertion port 18 has an upper surface of the placement portion 21 on which the distal end portion of the guide member 20 is placed and a sheet guide portion 28 disposed in front of the placement portion 21. It consists of a lower surface. Further, the front end edge of the mounting portion 21 extends downward from the front end edge by a predetermined length, and further extends a predetermined length toward the platen roller. A protruding portion 24 is formed.

A sheet guide path 25 that guides the label printer paper 100 to the lower end surface of the platen roller 26 is formed between the extending portion 24 and the paper guide portion 28. Therefore, when the label printer paper 100 pulled out from the holder 3 is inserted into the insertion slot 18, it moves along the sheet guide path 25 and is guided to the lower side of the platen roller 26.
When passing through the insertion slot 18 and the sheet guide path 25, the label printer paper 100 is in the direction of the lower surface 101 of the release paper 102, that is, the surface to which the sensor marks 301A, 301B, 302B, 303A, 303B are attached. Is moved as the lower surface.

In the main body housing 2, the first photosensor 11 </ b> A and the second photosensor 11 </ b> B are juxtaposed in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction in the extension portion 24 at a position facing the lower end of the paper guide portion 28. ing. The first photo sensor 11A and the second photo sensor 11B are reflection type optical sensors as mark detection sensors, and are attached to the lower surface 101 side in the transport direction of the label printer paper 100 sliding on the sheet guide path 25. The marks 301A, 301B, 302B, 303A, and 303B are detected.
The first photosensor 11A is provided at a position where the sensor marks 301A and 303A can be read at a position facing the lower surface 101 side of the label printer paper 100 in the transport direction. The second photosensor 11B is provided at a position where the sensor marks 301B and 302B303B can be read at a position facing the lower surface 101 side of the label printer paper 100 in the transport direction.

By inserting one end of the label printer paper 100 into the insertion slot 18 and passing through the sheet guide path 25, the label printer paper 100 as a printing medium is positioned between the thermal head 31 and the platen roller 26. .
Thereafter, by rotating the lever 27 downward, the label printer paper 100 inserted from the insertion port 18 is urged to be pressed toward the platen roller 26 by the line-type thermal head 31. Accordingly, the platen roller 26 is rotated by a sheet feed motor 72 (see FIG. 7) constituted by a stepping motor or the like, and the thermal head 31 is driven and controlled, so that printing is performed while the label printer paper 100 is conveyed. Image data can be printed sequentially on the surface. Further, the label printer paper 100 discharged onto the tray 6 is cut by the cutter unit 8 by moving the cut lever 9 in the right direction.

Next, the control system circuit of the label printer 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the control circuit unit 61 formed on the control board 32 of the label printer 1 includes a CPU 62, a CGROM 63, a ROM 64, a flash memory 65 (EEPROM), a RAM 66, an input / output interface 67, and a communication interface 68. Etc. Further, the CPU 62, the CGROM 63, the ROM 64, the flash memory 65, the RAM 66, the input / output interface 67, and the communication interface 68 are connected to each other via a bus line 69, and exchange data with each other.

Here, the CGROM 63 stores dot pattern data corresponding to each character. Accordingly, when printing is performed on the label printer paper 100, the dot pattern data is read from the CGROM 63, and the dot pattern data is printed on the thermal label paper 201A, 201B, 202, 203A, 203B based on the dot pattern data. Is printed.
The ROM 64 stores the discrimination table shown in FIG. 9 and various programs. Various programs necessary for controlling the label printer 1 such as a print control program described later in the label printer 1 are stored. Yes.
The ROM 64 is provided with a paper type storage area 64A, and the output mode from each of the sheet discrimination sensors S1 to S5 is associated with information about the label printer paper 100 (type of the label printer paper 100, etc.). It is remembered. Therefore, the CPU 62 can specify information (such as the type of the label printer paper 100) related to the label printer paper 100 attached to the label printer 1 based on the output signals from the sheet discrimination sensors S1 to S5, and the label Printing control according to the printer paper 100 can be executed.

The CPU 62 performs various calculations based on various programs stored in the ROM 64. Accordingly, the print control program stored in the ROM 64 is calculated by the CPU 62. In addition, the ROM 64 classifies outline data (outline data) that defines the outline of each character for each type of character (such as Gothic typeface, Mincho typeface) for each character such as a large number of characters. Stored in correspondence with the code data. Based on the outline data, dot pattern data is developed on the print buffer 66A.
The flash memory 65 stores dot pattern data such as external character data received from an external personal computer or the like, dot pattern data of various symbol data, etc. with a registration number, and stores the power of the label printer 1. Even if it is turned off, the stored contents are retained.
The RAM 66 is for temporarily storing various calculation results calculated by the CPU 62, and is provided with various memories such as a print buffer 66A and a work area 66B. Here, in the print buffer 66A, dot patterns for printing such as a plurality of characters and symbols, the number of applied pulses that are the amount of energy for forming each dot, and the like are stored as dot pattern data, and the thermal head 31 is stored in the print buffer 66A. Dot printing is performed according to the stored dot pattern data.

The input / output interface 67 includes sheet discrimination sensors S1 to S5, the first photosensor 11A, the second photosensor 11B, a drive circuit 71 for driving the thermal head 31, and a sheet feed motor for rotationally driving the platen roller 26. A drive circuit 73 is connected to drive 72.
The communication interface 68 is composed of, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) or the like, and is connected to an external personal computer via a USB cable or the like to enable bidirectional data communication.

Next, a print control program stored in the ROM 64 and calculated when printing on the label printer paper 100 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a print control program in the label printer 1 according to this embodiment.
When a print command is received from a personal computer (not shown) via the communication interface 68, the CPU 62 starts executing the print control program.

When the execution of the print control program is started, first, in step (hereinafter abbreviated as “S”) 11, the CPU 62 determines whether or not the label printer paper 100 is present. That is, the CPU 62 determines whether or not the label printer paper 100 is mounted on the label printer 1 in a printable state.
Here, when the label printer paper 100 is loaded in a printable state, the label printer paper 100 is positioned between the thermal head 31 and the platen roller 26 via the sheet guide path 25 as described above. Will do. Therefore, the CPU 62 determines the presence or absence of the label printer paper 100 by detecting the presence of the label printer paper 100 in the sheet guide path 25 by the first photosensor 11A and the second photosensor 11B. If the label printer paper 100 is present (S11: YES), the process proceeds to S13. On the other hand, when there is no label printer paper 100 (S11: NO), a paper feed error display (S12) is performed.
In this paper feed error display (S12), the CPU 62 transmits a paper feed error signal to the personal computer connected via the communication interface 68. Then, after transmitting the paper feed error signal, the CPU 62 returns to S11 again and determines whether or not the label printer paper 100 is present.
At this time, a message “Please set label printer paper 100” is displayed on the liquid crystal display of the personal computer that has received the paper feed error signal.

  On the other hand, when the label printer paper 100 is loaded in the label printer 1 (S11: YES), the label printer paper 100 is conveyed by rotating the platen roller 26 in S13.

Subsequently, in S14, the CPU 62 reads one of the sensor marks 301A and 303A among the sensor marks 301A, 301B, 302B, 303A, and 303B attached to each unit sheet piece 115 by the first photosensor 11A. Any one of the sensor marks 301B, 302B, and 303B is read by the second photosensor 11B. That is, the CPU 62 detects one of the sensor marks 301A, 303A and one of the sensor marks 301B, 302B, 303B while conveying the label printer paper 100 by the platen roller 26.
The reading results of the first photosensor 11A and the second photosensor 11B are stored in the RAM 66.

  In S15, the CPU 62 determines the thermal label sheets 201A, 201B, 202, 203A corresponding to the sensor marks 301A, 301B, 302B, 303A, 303B to be read by the first photosensor 11A or the second photosensor 11B. It is determined whether or not 203B currently exists on the unit sheet piece 115 (release paper 102). In this determination, the reading results of the first photosensor 11A and the second photosensor 11B stored in the RAM 66 in S14 and the discrimination table shown in FIG. 9 are used. Here, when it is determined that it does not exist (S15: NO), the process returns to S11 again. On the other hand, when it is determined that it exists (S15: YES), the process proceeds to S16.

In S16, the CPU 62 determines whether or not the thermal label sheets 201A, 201B, 202, 203A, and 203B determined to exist are the ones desired by the user. In this determination, the reading results of the first photosensor 11A and the second photosensor 11B stored in the RAM 66 in S14 and the discrimination table shown in FIG. 9 are used, and the user uses the data received from the external personal computer. Identify what you want.
As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, in the printer paper 100 of the present embodiment, except for the thermal label paper 202, the other thermal label papers 201 </ b> A, 201 </ b> B, 203 </ b> A, 203 </ b> B have the same outer dimensions. Therefore, the user's desire is made by one of two choices of whether or not to select the thermal label paper 202 (“long label” in the discrimination table of FIG. 9). Therefore, if the thermal label paper 202 (“long label” in the discrimination table of FIG. 9) is not selected, the thermal label paper 201A, 201B, 203A, 203B (“first short of the discrimination table of FIG. 9”) is selected. “Label” or “Second Short Label”) is selected.
And when it judges that it is not what the user desired (S16: NO), it returns to S11 again. On the other hand, when it is determined that the user desires (S16: YES), the process proceeds to S17.

In S17, the CPU 62 adjusts the conveyance of the label printer paper 100 that is being executed from S13, so that the sensor marks 301A, 301B, 302B, and 303A that have been read by the first photosensor 11A or the second photosensor 11B. , 303B, the thermal label sheets 201A, 201B, 202, 203A, 203B are moved to positions where printing by the thermal head 31 is performed.
Thereafter, printing is performed on the thermal label sheets 201A, 201B, 202, 203A, 203B on the thermal head 31 based on the amount of print data received from an external personal computer (S18). At this time, when both thermal label sheets 201A and 201B are present on the thermal head 31, the thermal label sheet 201A is preferentially printed, and when both thermal label sheets 301A and 301B are present on the thermal head 31, the thermal label is printed. The paper 301A is preferentially printed. However, the thermal label sheets 201B and 301B may be preferentially printed.
Since this printing process (S18) is the same as the conventional printing process, detailed description thereof is omitted. When the printing process (S18) ends, the CPU 62 ends the execution of the printing control program.

As described above in detail, the label printer paper 100 according to the present embodiment is paired with the five sensor marks 301A, 301B, 302B, 303A, and 303B attached to each unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102). Each thermal label paper 201A, 201B, 202, 203A, 203B corresponding to one of the unit paper pieces 115 (peeling) in a state where a part of the corresponding sensor mark 301A, 301B, 302B, 303A, 303B is concealed. Paper 102) (see FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 comparison).
Accordingly, the sensor marks 301A, 301B, 302B, 303A, and 303B corresponding to the heat-sensitive label sheets 201A, 201B, 202, 203A, and 203B existing on the unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102) are partially exposed (hidden). On the other hand, all the sensor marks 301A, 301B, 302B, 303A, and 303B corresponding to the thermal label papers 201A, 201B, 202, 203A, and 203B peeled from the unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102) are exposed. (See FIG. 12).

  Therefore, in the label printer 1 according to the present embodiment, when printing on the thermal label sheets 201A, 201B, 202, 203A, 203B existing on the unit sheet 115 (release paper 102) of the label printer sheet 100 (S18), the platen The sensor marks 301A, 301B, 302B, 303A, and 303B on the unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102) of the label printer paper 100 being conveyed by the rotation of the roller 26 are read by the first photosensor 11A and the second photosensor 11B. (S13, S14), by using the reading result and the discrimination table of FIG. 9, the thermal label sheets 201A, 201B, 202, 203A, 203B existing on the unit sheet 115 (release paper 102) of the label printer sheet 100 are used. Is recognized (S15, S16), Thermal label paper 201A was the recognition target, 201B, 202,203A, so move to a position 203B printing by the thermal head 31 is performed, it controls the rotation of the platen roller 26 (S17).

  Accordingly, the thermal label sheets 201A, 201B, 201B, 201B, 201B, 201B, 201B, 201B, 201B, 201B, 201B, 201B, 201B, 201B, 201B, 201B, 201B, 201B, 201B Even if any one of 202, 203A, and 203B is peeled off, if the execution of the print control program in FIG. 8 is executed again, the desired sheet that is present on the unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102) of the label printer paper 100 is desired. Thermal label paper 201A, 201B, 202, 203A, 203B can be printed, and at this time, the desired thermal label paper 201A existing on the unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102) of the label printer paper 100 can be printed. , 201B, 202, 203A and 203B are input from an external personal computer. The operation or the operation of manually transporting the desired thermal label paper 201A, 201B, 202, 203A, 203B existing on the unit paper piece 115 (release paper 102) of the label printer paper 100 to the thermal head 31 is performed. There is no need to do it.

In addition, this invention is not limited to description of the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning.
For example, in the present embodiment, the description has been given using the continuous label type label printer paper 100 including the thermal label papers 201A, 201B, 202, 203A, and 203B and the release paper 102 as the print medium. It is not a thing. That is, the present invention can also be applied to a sheet-like print medium or a print medium that does not have an adhesive layer and is formed only of so-called thermal paper.

  The present invention can be applied to a technique for selecting a printing target of a printing apparatus from a plurality of labels placed on a printing medium.

It is the schematic of the label printer paper which concerns on this embodiment. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the periphery of a bent perforation in the label printer paper according to the present embodiment. 1 is an external perspective view of a label printer according to an embodiment. It is a sectional side view of the label printer which concerns on this embodiment. It is principal part sectional drawing of the label printer which concerns on this embodiment. It is a perspective view of the holder attached to the label printer which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of the label printer which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the printing control program of the label printer which concerns on this embodiment. It is the conceptual diagram which showed the discrimination table of the label printer which concerns on this embodiment. It is an enlarged view of a unit label piece in the label printer paper according to the present embodiment. It is an enlarged view of a unit label piece in the label printer paper according to the present embodiment. It is an enlarged view of a unit label piece in the label printer paper according to the present embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Label printer 11A 1st photo sensor 11B 2nd photo sensor 31 Thermal head 62 CPU
64 ROM
66 RAM
72 Sheet feed motor 73 Drive circuit 100 Label printer paper 102 Release paper 201A, 201B, 202, 203A, 203B Thermal label paper 301A, 301B, 302B, 303A, 303B Sensor mark

Claims (2)

Release paper,
A plurality of labels disposed on the release paper;
A plurality of sensor marks each printed on the release paper in a one-to-one correspondence with the labels,
A part of each said sensor mark is each concealed by arrangement | positioning of each said label, The printing medium characterized by the above-mentioned. A printing apparatus comprising printing means for printing on the printing medium according to claim 1,
Conveying means for conveying the print medium;
A reading unit that reads a sensor mark on the print medium that is a conveyance target of the conveyance unit;
Recognition means for recognizing the position of the existing label on the print medium based on the sensor mark read by the reading means;
And a control means for automatically adjusting the operation of the conveying means so that the printing means can print on the existing label whose position is recognized by the recognition means.

Images