JP2012126555A - Printing label making device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothly eject a printing label that has been formed of an ejection port when the printing label is formed by cutting a tape to be printed that is stored as a roll, and fed out.SOLUTION: The label making device 1 includes: a casing 2 configuring a device outer shell; a roll storage part 4 that stores the roll 3 where the tape 3A to be printed is rolled so that the tape 3A to be printed is fed out of a lower side of the roll 3; a platen roller 66 that feeds out the tape 3A to be printed from the roll 3 to be transferred; a printing head 61 that performs printing on the printed tape 3A that is transferred; and a deformable deformation application part 100 that can deform a cross-sectional shape of the printing label L to be recessed in an intermediate part when the printing label passes by an ejection port 6A of a front panel 6 by pressing a width direction intermediate part of the printing label L to be ejected from above the printing label.

Description

  The present invention relates to a print label producing apparatus for producing a print label by performing desired printing on a print-receiving tape.

  2. Description of the Related Art A label producing apparatus that creates a print label by performing desired printing on a print-receiving tape is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this label producing apparatus, a roll in which a print-receiving tape is wound in a roll shape is rotatably accommodated in a roll accommodating portion in a casing so as to be fed out from the lower side of the roll. And from this roll, a to-be-printed tape is drawn out by a conveyance means. On the print-receiving tape, a label mount separated in advance to a predetermined size is arranged on the release paper. Predetermined printing is performed by the printing means on the label mount of the tape to be printed fed out from the roll, and the printed paper is discharged from a discharge port provided in the case to the outside of the case. The user can peel off the printed label mount from the release paper and attach it to an appropriate location using the adhesive layer on the back of the label mount, and use it as a print label.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-193014

  In the prior art, as described above, the label mount separated in advance is arranged on the release paper, and the user peels off the printed label mount from the release paper for use. On the other hand, there is already known a printing label producing apparatus in which a printing tape in which a base tape layer, a sticking adhesive layer, and a release material layer covering the sticking adhesive layer are laminated is used as a printing tape. Yes. In this case, since there is no such thing as a pre-separated label mount as described above, the tape is cut by a cutting means provided separately. In other words, the printed tape to be printed is conveyed downstream by the conveying means. When the print-receiving tape is transported to a predetermined cutting position, the cutting means cuts the print-receiving tape, thereby generating a print label having a desired length. The printed label generated by cutting in this way is discharged from the discharge port provided in the housing to the outside of the housing due to its own weight.

  It is conceivable to apply the configuration of the above prior art, that is, the configuration in which the print-receiving tape stored as a roll in the roll storage portion is drawn out to generate the print-receiving label for such a print label generation device. However, in this case, the following new problems arise.

  That is, when cutting the print-receiving tape as described above to create a print label, when the cutting means cuts the print-receiving tape, at the cutting site, the base tape layer, the adhesive layer for application, The release material layer is exposed. Therefore, the adhesive of the adhesive layer for attachment is exposed at both ends (the front end and the rear end) of the single printed label that is generated. In the structure in which the print-receiving tape is fed from the lower side of the roll in the roll storage unit as in the above-described prior art, the print label generated by cutting the print-receiving tape is upward along the transport direction (in other words, For example, the shape is warped upward from the rear end to the front end. At this time, when the print label is discharged from the discharge port, the leading end portion where the adhesive is exposed as described above is discharged while rubbing the upper edge near the discharge port of the housing. Thereby, for example, the adhesive peeled off from the many printed labels that have passed may accumulate and adhere to the vicinity of the upper edge of the discharge port after a relatively large number of printed labels are generated. As a result, when the adhesion amount of the adhesive is particularly large, a part of the print label to be discharged may be captured near the discharge port by the adhesive, and it may be difficult or impossible to discharge due to its own weight. there were.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a print label producing apparatus capable of smoothly discharging a produced print label from a discharge port when a print label is generated by cutting a print-receiving tape stored and fed as a roll. is there.

  In order to achieve the above object, the first invention includes a housing constituting the outer shell of the apparatus, a base tape layer, an adhesive layer for attaching the base tape layer to an object to be attached, And a roll storage unit for storing a roll obtained by winding a print-receiving tape provided with a release material layer covering the adhesive layer for application in a roll shape so that the print-receiving tape is drawn out from below the roll. Conveying means for feeding the print-receiving tape from the roll and conveying it; printing means for printing on the conveyed print-receiving tape; and the print-receiving tape printed by the printing means is predetermined by the conveying means. Cutting the print-receiving tape in a state of being conveyed to the cutting position, and a cutting means for generating a print label, and the print label formed on the housing and generated by the cutting means A discharge port for discharging to the outside of the casing due to weight, and a lower portion in the vicinity of the upper edge of the discharge port are provided so as to protrude downward, and presses the intermediate portion in the width direction of the printed label to be discharged from above. Thus, it has a deformation imparting portion that deforms the cross-sectional shape of the print label when passing through the discharge port into a concave shape with the intermediate portion lowered.

  The printed label producing apparatus according to the first invention of the present application includes a roll storage unit and a conveying means. The roll storage unit stores a roll of the print-receiving tape, and the print-receiving tape is unwound from the roll by the transfer unit and is transferred. Printing means prints on the conveyed tape to be printed. The printed tape to be printed is further conveyed downstream by the conveying means until reaching the cutting position of the cutting means. When the print-receiving tape is transported to a predetermined cutting position, the cutting means cuts the print-receiving tape, thereby generating a print label having a desired length. Thereafter, the generated print label is guided to a discharge port provided in the housing, and is discharged outside the housing by its own weight.

  Here, the print-receiving tape includes an adhesive layer for application so that the generated print label can be applied to an application target. When the cutting means cuts the print-receiving tape as described above, the base tape layer, the adhesive layer for application, and the release material layer constituting the print-receiving tape are exposed at the cut site. Therefore, the adhesive of the adhesive layer for attachment is exposed at both ends (the front end and the rear end) of the single printed label that is generated.

  Here, in 1st invention of this application, when a to-be-printed tape is paid out from a roll accommodating part, it is comprised so that a to-be-printed tape may be paid out from the roll lower side. In this case, the print label generated by cutting the print-receiving tape as described above is warped upward along the transport direction (in other words, upward from the rear end portion toward the front end portion). In this case, when the print label is discharged from the discharge port, the leading end portion where the adhesive is exposed as described above is discharged while rubbing the upper edge near the discharge port of the housing. As a result, for example, the adhesive peeled off from the many printed labels that have passed may accumulate and adhere to the vicinity of the upper edge of the discharge port after a relatively large number of printed labels are generated. In this case, when the adhesion amount of the adhesive is particularly large, a part of the print label to be discharged may be captured near the discharge port by the adhesive, and it may be difficult or impossible to discharge due to its own weight. there were.

  Therefore, in the first invention of this application, a deformation imparting portion is provided in the vicinity of the upper edge portion of the discharge port so as to protrude downward. A deformation | transformation provision part presses the width direction intermediate part of the print label discharged | emitted from upper direction, and makes it deform | transform. As a result, even if the deformed print label is caught in the vicinity of the discharge port by the above-mentioned attached adhesive, the print label has a middle portion in the width direction depending on the cross section. It is captured in a state in which the cross section has a concave shape.

  In this state, when the print-receiving tape is transferred after the print label by the transfer means, the leading end portion of the print-receiving tape is in a state of hanging down and in the above-described warpage state, for example, as described above. The printed label collides with an intermediate portion (lower abdomen) between the front end portion and the rear end portion along the conveyance direction. By this collision, the front end portion of the print-receiving tape can be adhered to the lower abdomen of the print label by the exposed adhesive as described above. Thus, after the adhesion, the print label moves in the transport direction together with the print-receiving tape along with the transport of the print-receiving tape that is continued to reach the cutting position as described above. It can be discharged smoothly from the outlet.

  Alternatively, depending on the capture mode of the print label in the capture state as described above, the leading end portion of the print-receiving tape that has been transported subsequently by the transport means may be an intermediate portion (lower abdomen) in the transport direction of the print label as described above. ) Rather than the rear end side of the print label. In this case, the print label has a shape in which the rear end portion hangs down in the intermediate portion in the width direction due to the deformation of the deformation imparting portion. On the other hand, the leading end portion of the subsequent print-receiving tape has a shape that is different from the trailing end portion of the print label because it is substantially straight before being deformed by the deformation imparting portion. Therefore, the leading end portion of the subsequent print-receiving tape can be collided with the rear end portion of the print label with a high probability, and after the collision, the print-receiving tape continued to reach the cutting position as described above. As the sheet is conveyed, the print label moves in the direction of conveyance while being pushed out to the print-receiving tape, so that it can be smoothly discharged from the discharge port.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the deformation imparting portion has a substantially triangular shape such that the protruding height gradually decreases along the discharge direction of the print label toward the upper edge of the discharge port. It is characterized by having a side shape or a side sectional shape.

  In order to give the modification as described above with certainty, it is preferable that the height of the downward protrusion of the deformation imparting portion provided in the vicinity of the upper edge portion of the discharge port is higher. However, the higher the protrusion height, the higher the possibility of hindering the discharge operation to the outside of the housing due to the weight of the print label at the discharge port. Therefore, in the second invention of the present application, the deformation imparting portion has a substantially triangular side surface shape (or side sectional shape), and the protruding height is gradually reduced along the discharge direction. As a result, the print label at the discharge port is promoted while promoting the adhesion operation (or the collision operation to the rear end portion) of the preceding print label by the leading end portion of the subsequent print-receiving tape as described above. As a result, it is possible to prevent the discharge operation due to its own weight as much as possible.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the deformation imparting portion has a protruding height at the upper edge portion of the discharge port of approximately zero.

  Thereby, the discharge operation by the weight of the print label at the discharge port can be performed smoothly and reliably.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when producing | generating a printed label by cut | disconnecting the to-be-printed tape accommodated as a roll and producing | generating, the produced printed label can be discharged | emitted smoothly from a discharge port.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance from the front side upper direction of the label production apparatus of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance from upper front side of the state which open | released the upper cover of the label production apparatus, and mounted | wore with the roll. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance from the front upper side of the state which open | released the upper cover of the label production apparatus, and removed the roll. It is a sectional side view which shows the whole structure of a label production apparatus. It is the perspective view which looked at the whole structure of the front panel from the back side. It is an arrow view from the C direction in FIG. FIG. 7 is a side view of a front panel, and a cross-sectional view taken along a line AA in FIG. 6 and a cross-sectional view taken along a line BB in FIG. 6. It is sectional drawing seen from the front panel side surface for demonstrating the deformation | transformation provision operation | movement by a deformation | transformation provision part. It is sectional drawing seen from the front panel side surface for demonstrating the deformation | transformation provision operation | movement by a deformation | transformation provision part. It is explanatory drawing which showed notionally the behavior in which a subsequent tape to be printed collides with and adheres to an intermediate portion of a captured print label. It is sectional drawing seen from the front panel side surface for demonstrating the deformation | transformation provision operation | movement by a deformation | transformation provision part. It is sectional drawing seen from the front panel side surface for demonstrating the deformation | transformation provision operation | movement by a deformation | transformation provision part. It is explanatory drawing which showed notionally the behavior in which a subsequent print-receiving tape collides with the rear end part of the captured print label and pushes and conveys it.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the external appearance of the label producing apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the label producing apparatus 1 from the front upper side. In the following description, the front, rear, left, and right directions represent the directions of arrows as shown in each drawing such as FIG.

  In FIG. 1, the label producing apparatus 1 includes a housing 2 that includes a front panel 6 and constitutes the outer shell of the apparatus, and an upper cover 5. The housing 2 and the upper cover 5 are made of resin. The upper cover 5 includes an upper cover body 5A and a substantially circular left and right cover member 5B. The left right cover member 5B is fixed to the left and right of the upper cover body 5A by screws or the like. The upper cover body 5 </ b> A is pivotally connected to the housing 2 at the rear end, and thus the upper cover 5 has a structure that can be opened and closed with respect to the housing 2. On both the left and right side walls of the housing 2, there are provided release knobs 17 that release the upper cover 5 from being unlocked by pushing upward to release the upper cover 5. . Further, at the upper surface position near the front of the right and left side walls of the housing 2, in this example, the right side wall, the power button 7A of the label producing apparatus 1 and a roll 3 shown in FIG. A feed button 7C for discharging the printed tape 3A and a cutter button 7B for cutting the printed tape 3A by a cutter unit 8 (see FIG. 4 described later) are arranged.

  The front panel 6 is provided with a discharge port 6A. The discharge port 6A is for discharging a printed label L (see FIGS. 8 and 11 to be described later) from which the printed tape 3A has been printed from the inside of the housing 2 to the outside by its own weight. . Further, the upper cover 5 is provided with a transparent window 5C made of a transparent resin through which the roll 3 housed in the housing 2 can be confirmed.

  Next, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show the external appearance of the label producing apparatus 1 from the upper front side when the upper cover 5 is opened and the roll 3 is attached and removed. 2 and 3, the illustration of the upper cover 5 is omitted to avoid complication.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the label producing apparatus 1 has a concave roll storage portion 4 behind the internal space of the housing 2. The roll storage unit 4 stores the roll 3 obtained by winding the print-receiving tape 3A having a predetermined width in a roll shape so that the print-receiving tape 3A is fed out from the lower side of the roll.

  The roll storage portion 4 has a fixed wall portion 4A on the right side in the width direction, and the roll 3 is placed in a state where the end surface 3R on one side in the width direction (the right side in the width direction in this example) is in contact with the fixed wall portion 4A. Store in a rotatable manner. Further, the roll storage portion 4 is guided by the guide member 20 that guides the width direction of the print-receiving tape 3 </ b> A fed out from the roll 3 by contacting the end surface 3 </ b> L on the other side in the width direction of the roll 3 (left side in the width direction in this example). Is provided. The guide member 20 is provided so as to be able to advance and retract along the width direction of the roll 3 with respect to the fixed wall portion 4A. As a result, the guide member 20 is moved back and forth according to the width of the stored roll 3 and the position thereof is adjusted, so that the roll 3 is sandwiched between the fixed wall 4A and the guide member 20 with respect to the roll 3 having an arbitrary width. The width direction of the printing tape 3A can be guided. Further, the guide member 20 is provided with an operation member 30 that can be switched between a locked state in which the advance / retreat operation of the guide member 20 is prohibited and an unlock state in which the advance / retreat operation of the guide member 20 is allowed by a user operation. .

  As shown in FIG. 3, at the bottom of the roll storage 4, at least two rollers are used when a platen roller 66 (to be described later) is rotationally driven by a platen roller motor (not shown) to pull out the print-receiving tape 3 </ b> A from the roll 3. Are in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roll 3, and are provided with three rollers 51, 52, and 53 that rotate in a driven manner and rotatably support the roll 3. These three rollers have different circumferential positions with respect to the roll 3, and are arranged in the order of the first roller 51, the second roller 52, and the third roller 53 along the circumferential direction of the roll 3 from the front to the rear. (See FIG. 4 described later).

  A flat surface 40 is provided on the front side of the roll storage unit 4. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of groove portions 41 are formed in the flat surface 40 along the width direction of the roll 3, and are provided at the lower end of the distal end portion of the extending portion 22 of the guide member 20 described above. A claw portion (not shown) can be engaged with any of the groove portions 41 provided on the flat surface 40. The claw portion and the groove portion 41 are engaged when the guide member 20 is in the locked state, and disengaged when the guide member 20 is in the unlocked state. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the guide member 20 includes a main body member 21 that can be moved forward and backward along the width direction of the roll 3 with respect to the fixed wall portion 4A. 21 is provided.

  FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing the overall structure of the label producing apparatus 1. In FIG. 4, the transport path of the print-receiving tape 3 </ b> A fed out and transported from the roll 3 is indicated by a one-dot chain line.

  As shown in FIG. 4, on the lower side of the front end of the upper cover body 5A, a roller shaft 66A of a platen roller 66 (conveying means) for feeding and conveying the print-receiving tape 3A from the roll 3 accommodated in the roll accommodating portion 4, It is rotatably supported by brackets 65 provided at both ends in the axial direction. A gear (not shown) for driving the platen roller 66 is fixed to one shaft end of the roller shaft 66A. The mounting position of the platen roller 66 on the upper cover 5 corresponds to the print head (printing means) 61 of the housing 2, and by closing the upper cover 5, the platen roller 66 provided on the upper cover 5 side, The print-receiving tape 3 </ b> A is held between the print head 61 provided on the housing 2 side and the print head 61 can perform printing. Further, when the upper cover 5 is closed, the gear of the platen roller 66 meshes with a gear train (not shown) on the housing 2 side, and the platen roller 66 is moved by the platen roller motor (not shown) constituted by a stepping motor or the like. The tape 3A can be transported by being rotated.

  The print head 61 is supported at one end of a support member 62 that is pivotally supported by a spring member 64 while being pivotally supported at an intermediate portion thereof. On the other hand, the platen roller 66 is attached to the upper cover 5 as described above. Therefore, when the upper cover 5 is opened by the release knob 17, the print head 61 is separated from the platen roller 66. When the upper cover 5 is closed, the print head 61 is moved to the print-receiving tape 3A by the biasing force of the spring member 64. Is pressed against the platen roller 66 to enable printing.

  Further, the cutter unit 8 (cutting means) is provided on the downstream side of the print head 61 in the tape transport direction. The cutter unit 8 is a V-shaped movable blade 47 having a V-shape as viewed from the front and arranged so as to be movable by a cutting motor (not shown) in a cutting direction (downward to upward in FIG. 4) substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the print-receiving tape 3A. And a fixed blade 46 disposed opposite to the movable blade 47.

  As shown in the partially enlarged view in FIG. 4, the print-receiving tape 3A has a three-layer structure in this example, and the thermosensitive layer 3a (base material) having self-coloring properties from the lower side to the upper side in FIG. Tape layer), adhesive layer 3b (adhesive layer for application), and release paper 3c (release material layer) are laminated in this order. The heat-sensitive layer 3a is adhered to one surface of the release paper 3c by the adhesive force of the adhesive layer 3b. The print label L generated by cutting the print-receiving tape 3A that has been printed by the cutter unit 8 is finally peeled off from the release paper 3c and attached to a predetermined product or the like.

  The roll 3 is configured by winding the print-receiving tape 3 </ b> A in a roll shape so that the heat-sensitive layer 3 a is on the outer side in the radial direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the print-receiving tape 3A is unwound from the lower side of the roll 3 with the heat-sensitive layer 3a serving as the printing surface facing downward, and the print head disposed below the print-receiving tape 3A. 61 is printed.

  In the label producing apparatus 1 configured as described above, when the upper cover 5 is closed and then the platen roller 66 is rotationally driven by the platen motor, the print-receiving tape 3A is pulled. Thus, the print-receiving tape 3 </ b> A is fed out from the roll 3 while being guided in the width direction by the guide member 20 that contacts the end surface 3 </ b> L on the other side (left side) in the width direction of the roll 3. The print-receiving tape 3A fed out from the roll 3 comes into contact with a curved wall surface 42, which is a curved wall surface, formed between the roll storage portion 4 and the flat surface 40 described above. To be bent. And it conveys while the width direction is guided by the extension part 22 of the guide member 20 mounted on the flat surface 40, and a conveyance path | route is bent downward by the support roller 43 provided in the downstream. The support roller 43 is a roller that is provided in a portion where the conveyance path of the print-receiving tape 3A is at the highest position, and supports the print-receiving tape 3A by being rotated in a driven manner.

  Thereafter, the print-receiving tape 3A comes into contact with a bent portion 44 formed between the support roller 43, the platen roller 66, and the print head 61. It is bent and conveyed to the contact position between the platen roller 66 and the print head 61. At this time, when the print head 61 is driven and controlled, predetermined printing is performed on the print surface of the heat-sensitive layer 3c constituting the print-receiving tape 3A. Thereafter, the print-receiving tape 3A is discharged onto the front panel 6 from the discharge port 6A. When the print-receiving tape 3A is extended from the cutter unit 8 by a predetermined length, the user operates the cutter button 7B, whereby the print-receiving tape 3A is cut by the cutter unit 8 and the print label L is generated. The generated print label L falls due to its own weight and is separated from the apparatus. The user exposes the adhesive layer 3b by removing the release paper 3c of the print label L, and affixes it to a desired site for use.

  In the configuration of the label producing apparatus 1 described above, the greatest feature of the present embodiment is the configuration of the outlet 6A of the front panel 6. Hereinafter, the details will be described in order with reference to FIGS.

<Detailed structure of front panel>
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the entire structure of the front panel 6 as viewed from the back side (back side), and FIG. 6 is an arrow view from the direction C in FIG. 7 is a side view of the front panel 6, and a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 6 and the cross section taken along the line BB in FIG.

  5-7, in the vicinity of the discharge port 6A of the front panel 6, a plurality of guide ribs 100a whose surface directions are aligned in the direction along the discharge direction of the print-receiving tape 3A are arranged in the tape width direction ( They are arranged side by side (in this example at equal intervals). Each of the guide ribs 100a has a substantially triangular side surface shape, and is near the upper edge 6a (see FIG. 6C) of the discharge port 6A downward from the upper edge 6a (to the inside of the front panel 6). ) And protrude.

  At least one rib structure having a substantially triangular side surface shape slightly larger than the guide rib 100a so as to be positioned at the center of the plurality of guide ribs 100a (one in this example). The deformation imparting unit 100 is provided. The deformation imparting portion 100 is provided in the vicinity of the upper edge portion 6a (see FIG. 6B) of the discharge port 6A so as to protrude further downward (inward of the front panel 6) than the guide rib 100a. Yes. In addition, the deformation imparting portion 100 gradually decreases in the protruding height along the discharge direction of the print label L toward the upper edge 6a of the discharge port 6A, and the protrusion at the position of the upper edge 6a of the discharge port 6A. The height is configured to be substantially zero (see FIGS. 5 and 7B).

  Note that a pair of left and right hook portions 101 for locking and mounting the front panel 6 on the front side upper portion of the housing 2 is provided on the upper side of the front panel 6. Further, below the front panel 6 is provided a support cylinder portion 102 for mounting the front panel 6 to the lower part of the front side of the housing 2 by internal insertion or the like.

<Deformation imparting operation by the deformation imparting unit>
The deformation imparting unit 100 having the above configuration lowers the cross-sectional shape of the print label L when passing through the discharge port 6A by pressing the center in the width direction of the print label L to be discharged from above. It fulfills the function of deforming into a concave shape. This function will be described with reference to FIGS.

  When the production of the print label L is started by the print label production instruction, printing is performed by the print head 61 on the print-receiving tape 3A fed out from the roll 3 housed in the roll housing portion 4 as described above. Is called. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8A, the leading end portion P (see also FIG. 10 described later) of the print-receiving tape 3 </ b> A is conveyed downstream of the platen roller 66 by the platen roller 66.

  Thereafter, when the conveyance proceeds, as shown in FIG. 8B, the leading end portion P of the print-receiving tape 3A is discharged to the outside of the front panel 6 of the housing 2 through the discharge port 6A. At this time, as described above, in the present embodiment, when the print-receiving tape 3A is fed out from the roll storage portion 4, the print-receiving tape 3A is fed out from the lower side of the roll. As a result, the print-receiving tape 3 </ b> A is warped upward along the transport direction (in other words, the leading end P is upward). As a result, when the print label L is discharged from the discharge port 6A, the leading end P is discharged while rubbing the upper edge portion 6a in the vicinity of the discharge port 6A of the housing 2.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8C, in a state where the print-receiving tape 3A is conveyed to a predetermined cutting position, the print-receiving tape 3A is cut by the cutter unit 8, and the other portions of the print-receiving tape 3A are separated. The separated print label L is obtained.

  Here, the print-receiving tape 3A includes the adhesive layer 3b as described above, and the tip portion P is a cutting portion when the previous cutter unit 8 cuts the print-receiving tape 3A. As a result, the heat-sensitive layer 3a, the adhesive layer 3b, and the release paper 3c constituting the print-receiving tape 3A are exposed at the leading end portion P. That is, when it has been transported downstream as described above, the adhesive of the adhesive layer 3b is exposed at the leading end P of the print-receiving tape 3A.

  As a result, a relatively large number of print labels L are generated, and when it is repeated that the front end portion P of the print-receiving tape 3A is discharged while rubbing the upper edge portion as shown in FIG. 8B, In the vicinity of the upper edge portion 6a of the discharge port 6A, there is a possibility that the adhesive peeled off from the many printed labels L that have passed has accumulated and adhered. When the adhesion amount of the adhesive is particularly increased, a part of the print label L to be cut and discharged by the cutter unit 8 as described above is captured by the adhesive in the vicinity of the discharge port, and is caused by its own weight. Discharging may be difficult or impossible (see FIG. 8C).

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described above, the deformation imparting portion 100 is provided in the vicinity of the upper edge portion of the discharge port 6A so as to protrude downward. As described above, the deformation imparting portion 100 has a projecting height larger downward (inside the front panel 6) than the guide ribs 100a arranged on both sides. As a result, the print-receiving tape 3 </ b> A conveyed by the platen roller 66 as described above has a deformation force (pressing force) such that the central portion in the width direction is U-shaped so as to be recessed below the both end portions in the width direction. It is given by the deformation imparting unit 100.

  As a result of the above deformation, the print-receiving tape 3A is deformed into a substantially U shape when viewed from a cross section along the width direction (a cross section viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the traveling direction) (FIG. 10A described later). Also see FIG. 10 (b)). On the other hand, as described above, the print-receiving tape 3A is transported in a shape that warps upward along the transport direction. As a result, when the print label L cut as described above is captured by the adhesive on the upper edge 6a of the discharge port 6A, the widthwise middle portion hangs down in a substantially U shape, The one capturing portion CP, CP on the side is captured by the adhesive adhering to the discharge port 6A (see also FIG. 10A described later).

  In the state where the print label L is captured as described above, when the next print label L is created in response to another print label creation instruction, the print head 61 applies the print head 61 to the print-receiving tape 3A as described above. Printing is performed, and the tip portion P of the printed tape 3A after printing (hereinafter referred to as the subsequent printed tape 3A as appropriate) is conveyed downstream by the platen roller 66 (see FIG. 8D).

  Thereafter, when the transport of the subsequent print-receiving tape 3A is advanced by the platen roller 66, as shown in FIG. 9A, the leading end portion P of the subsequent print-receiving tape 3A hangs down as described above and The print label L captured in the warped state collides with an intermediate portion (lower abdomen portion) H between the front end portion P and the rear end portion Q along the transport direction. Thereby, the front-end | tip part P of 3 A of to-be-printed tapes adheres to the lower abdominal part H of the printing label L with the exposed adhesive. FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are explanatory views conceptually showing the collision / adhesion behavior of the subsequent print-receiving tape 3A to the print label L at this time.

  Thereafter, while the adhesive state between the print label L and the subsequent print-receiving tape 3A is maintained, the advance of the subsequent print-receiving tape 3A by the conveyance of the platen roller 66 causes the forward movement as shown in FIG. The print label L is released from the state in which the upper edge portion 6a is captured, moves forward with the print-receiving tape 3A in the transport direction, and exits from the discharge port 6A to the outside of the apparatus.

  Thereafter, as the subsequent print-receiving tape 3A advances by the conveyance of the platen roller 66, the subsequent print-receiving tape in the lower abdomen H is caused by the weight of the print label L as shown in FIG. It is also released from the adhesion with the tip portion P of 3A and falls to the front of the discharge port 6A and is discharged.

  FIG. 9D shows a state in which the subsequent print-receiving tape 3A is cut by the cutter unit 8 in the same manner as described above and is attached to the upper edge portion 6 in the same manner as described above.

  In the present embodiment, the print label can be discharged in another manner depending on the attachment of the print label L attached as described above and the transport direction of the subsequent print-receiving tape 3A. Examples thereof will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  The operations from FIG. 11A to FIG. 11C are the same as the operations from FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C described above, and the leading end P of the print-receiving tape 3A is moved downstream by the platen roller 66. After being conveyed to the side, the print-receiving tape 3A is cut by the cutter unit 8 and becomes a print label L separated from the other portions and adheres to the upper edge portion 6a.

  In the state where the print label L is captured as described above, when the next print label L is created in response to another print label creation instruction, the print head 61 applies the print head 61 to the print-receiving tape 3A as described above. Printing is performed, and the leading end P of the subsequent print-receiving tape 3A is conveyed downstream by the platen roller 66. However, in this example, the subsequent print-receiving tape 3A is conveyed in a state of being slightly warped upward as compared with the case of FIG. 8 (d) described above, and the leading end P is located behind the captured print label L. It is conveyed in a direction toward the end Q (see FIG. 11D).

  Thereafter, when the subsequent print-receiving tape 3A is conveyed by the platen roller 66, as shown in FIG. 12 (a), the leading end P of the subsequent print-receiving tape 3A hangs down as described above and It collides with the rear end Q of the print label L captured in the upward warping state. At this time, the subsequent print-receiving tape 3A is different from the rear end portion Q of the print label L because the cross-sectional shape along the width direction is substantially straight before being deformed by the deformation imparting portion 100. It becomes a shape. On the other hand, the captured print label L has a substantially U-shaped cross section along the width direction as described above due to the above deformation. Due to the difference in shape, the leading end portion P of the succeeding print-receiving tape 3A can collide with the trailing end portion Q of the print label L with a high probability. FIGS. 13A and 13B are explanatory views conceptually showing the collision behavior of the succeeding print-receiving tape 3A to the rear end portion Q of the print label L at this time.

  In addition to the case where the succeeding print-receiving tape 3A is conveyed slightly upward as described above, the print label L itself can be used when it is captured in a hanging shape at the intermediate portion in the width direction as described above. May swing back and forth with the capture points CP and CP as fulcrums and the rear end Q of the print label L slightly tilts downward, the same collision as described above can occur.

  Thereafter, as the platen roller 66 is conveyed to the front of the subsequent print-receiving tape 3A, as shown in FIG. 12A, the print label L is pushed out to the subsequent print-receiving tape 3A. The part 6a is released from the captured state, moves forward in the transport direction together with the print-receiving tape 3A, and exits from the discharge port 6A to the outside of the apparatus.

  Thereafter, as the subsequent print-receiving tape 3A advances by the conveyance of the platen roller 66, as shown in FIG. 12 (b), the print label L falls to the front of the discharge port 6A and is discharged by its own weight. .

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the deformation imparting unit 100 imparts deformation to the print-receiving tape 3 </ b> A such that the central portion in the width direction is U-shaped recessed below the both ends in the width direction. Even if the print label L generated from the preceding print-receiving tape 3A adheres, the subsequent print-receiving tape 3A conveyed by the platen roller 66 can eliminate the above-mentioned adhesion and reliably discharge the print label L. it can.

  Further, in the present embodiment, in particular, the deformation imparting unit 100 has a projecting height that gradually decreases along the discharge direction of the print label L toward the upper edge of the discharge port 6A, and the upper edge 6a of the discharge port 6A. At the position, the protruding height is substantially 0 (see FIGS. 5 and 7B). This has the following significance.

  That is, in order to reliably give the deformation to the print label L as described above, it is preferable that the height of the downward protrusion of the deformation imparting portion 100 of the discharge port 6A is higher. However, the higher the protrusion height, the higher the possibility of hindering the discharge operation to the outside of the housing 2 due to the weight of the print label L from the discharge port 6A. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the deformation imparting portion 100 has a substantially triangular side shape (or side sectional shape), and the protruding height is gradually reduced along the discharge direction. Thereby, while promoting the adhesion operation (or the collision operation to the rear end portion Q) of the captured print label L to the lower abdominal portion H by the leading end portion P of the subsequent print-receiving tape 3A, the discharge port 6A It is possible to prevent the discharge operation due to the weight of the print label L as much as possible. In addition, since the deformation imparting portion 100 has a protruding height at the upper edge portion 6a of the discharge port 6A of approximately 0, the discharge operation due to the weight of the print label L at the discharge port 6A can be reliably and smoothly performed. .

  In addition, the said deformation | transformation provision part 100 is not restricted to pressing the width direction center part of 3 A of to-be-printed tapes as mentioned above. That is, the number of installation and the installation position of the deformation imparting unit 100 in the discharge port 6A are appropriately set so as to press at least one arbitrary position in the width direction intermediate portion (location other than both ends) of the print-receiving tape 3A. You can also.

  In addition to the substantially triangular side surface shape as described above, the deformation imparting portion 100 has a substantially triangular side sectional shape in which the protruding height gradually decreases toward the upper edge portion 6a of the discharge port 6A. For example, a projection structure such as a triangular pyramid may be provided.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and technical idea of the present invention.

1 Label making device (printed label making device)
3 Roll 3A Printed Tape 4 Roll Storage 6 Front Panel 6A Discharge Port 6a Upper Edge 8 Cutter Unit (Cutting Unit)
61 Print head (printing means)
66 Platen roller (conveying means)
100 Deformation imparting part L Print label P Front end Q Rear end H Lower abdomen

Claims (3)

A housing constituting the outer shell of the device;
A tape to be printed having a base tape layer, an adhesive layer for attaching the base tape layer to an object to be attached, and a release material layer covering the adhesive layer for attaching the roll. A roll storage section for storing the roll wound around the tape so that the print-receiving tape is fed from the lower side of the roll;
A conveying means for feeding and conveying the print-receiving tape from the roll;
Printing means for performing printing on the printed tape to be conveyed;
A cutting unit that generates a print label by cutting the print-receiving tape in a state where the print-receiving tape printed by the printing unit is conveyed to a predetermined cutting position by the conveyance unit;
A discharge port for discharging the print label formed on the casing and generated by the cutting means to the outside of the casing by its own weight;
It is provided so as to protrude downward in the vicinity of the upper edge of the discharge port, and the print label is crossed when passing through the discharge port by pressing the widthwise intermediate portion of the print label to be discharged from above. A printing label producing apparatus, comprising: a deformation imparting portion that deforms a surface shape into a concave shape with the intermediate portion lowered. In the printed label production apparatus according to claim 1,
The deformation imparting unit
A print label having a substantially triangular side surface shape or side cross-sectional shape such that a protruding height gradually decreases along a discharge direction of the print label toward the upper edge of the discharge port. Creation device. In the printed label production apparatus according to claim 2,
The deformation imparting unit
A printing label producing apparatus, wherein a protruding height at the upper edge of the discharge port is substantially zero.

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