JP2013010286A - Label making apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a label making apparatus preventing an adhesive from adhering to a driving roller and a driven roller.SOLUTION: A printed tape which has been printed passes between a fixed blade 40 and a movable blade 41, and also passes between a first roller and a second roller 52. Accompanied by the rotation of a gear 42, the movable blade 41 moves toward the fixed blade 40 to start to cut the printed tape. By the further rotation of the gear 42, the second roller 52 moves toward the first roller to hold the printed tape between the first roller and the second roller 52. The label cut from the printed tape by the fixed blade 40 and the movable blade 41 is carried by the first roller and the second roller 52. Before the end on the upstream side in the carrying direction of the label reaches the position of the first roller and the second roller 52, the second roller 52 moves in a direction to separate from the label. The first roller and the second roller 52 do not come into contact with the end on the upstream side in the carrying direction of the label.

Description

  The present invention relates to a label producing apparatus for producing a label by printing on a tape.

  There is known a label producing apparatus for producing a label having a printing surface and an adhesive surface. For example, in the case of the label producing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a cartridge around which a label tape is wound is loaded. The label tape is a tape in which a pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied to one surface of a base material, and a release paper is attached to the pressure-sensitive adhesive. The label tape is fed out from the mounted cartridge, and desired printing is performed on the surface of the base material to which the release paper is not attached by the thermal head. Thereafter, the label tape on which printing has been performed is cut into a desired length by a cutting mechanism, and a label is created.

  A tape discharge mechanism including a driving roller and a driven roller is provided downstream of the cutting mechanism in the transport direction. The driving roller and the driven roller are separated in a state where no label is produced. The driven roller moves so as to be close to the driving roller immediately before the label is cut from the label tape by the cutting mechanism. The label cut by the cutting mechanism is pressed by the driving roller and the driven roller. The pressed label is conveyed when the driving roller is driven to rotate, and is discharged out of the label producing apparatus through the discharge port. After the label is discharged, the driven roller moves and returns to the original position, and the driving roller and the driven roller are separated again.

JP 2005-53093 A

  In the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when the driving roller and the driven roller press the label, the adhesive in a state of being sandwiched between the base material and the release paper may slightly leak to the end of the label. is there. When the driving roller and the driven roller press the label to the end, the adhesive leaking from the end of the label adheres to the driving roller and the driven roller. In this case, there is a problem that the label is not normally discharged by the adhesive attached to the driving roller and the driven roller, and the label is clogged in the vicinity of the discharge port.

  The objective of this invention is providing the label production apparatus which prevents that an adhesive adheres to a drive roller and a driven roller.

  A label producing apparatus according to the present invention includes a printing unit that performs printing on a label tape that is a printing medium, and a cutting unit that cuts the label tape printed by the printing unit into a predetermined length. And a conveying means for conveying the label produced by cutting the label tape by the cutting means toward a discharge port, the contact state being in contact with the label from both sides, and the label A conveying unit that can be switched to a separated state separated from at least one of the surfaces, and a switching unit that conveys the label in the contact state, and a switching unit that switches the conveying unit between the contact state and the separated state. The label producing apparatus is configured such that when the switching unit switches the conveying unit to the contact state, the conveying unit contacts the label. When the label is transported and, as a result of transporting the label, the upstream end in the transport direction of the label comes into contact with the transport means when the upstream end in the transport direction of the label approaches the transport unit. Before the operation, the switching means switches the conveying means to the separated state, whereby the conveying means is separated from the label.

  Since the label is sandwiched from both sides by the conveying means, the adhesive between the base material and the release paper in the label may be pushed out, and the adhesive may leak out from the upstream end of the label in the conveying direction. Here, according to this invention, before a conveyance means contacts the upstream end part of the conveyance direction of a label, a conveyance means can be switched from a contact state to a separation state. Thereby, since a conveyance apparatus does not press to the conveyance direction upstream end part of a label, it can suppress that an adhesive leaks from a label. Further, since the upstream end portion in the transport direction of the label does not contact at least one of the transport means, it is possible to prevent the adhesive from adhering to at least one of the transport means. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of problems caused by the label adhering to the pressure-sensitive adhesive attached to the conveying means. For example, the label producing apparatus can suppress label clogging, which is a problem that labels are not normally discharged from the discharge port.

  In the present invention, the conveying means includes a first roller and a second roller, and the contact state is such that the first roller contacts one surface side of the label, the other surface side of the label, and the The second roller is in contact with the first roller across the label, and at least one of the first roller and the second roller rotates, so that the label is placed in the discharge port. You may convey toward. In the present invention, the label can be easily and reliably conveyed by rotating the roller. Since the first roller and the second roller are opposed to each other with the label interposed therebetween, the label can be securely held. Therefore, the label is reliably conveyed toward the discharge port.

  In the present invention, at least one of the first roller and the second roller, a rotation driving source for driving the cutting means, and the switching means are provided, and at least one of the first roller and the second roller. May rotate with the rotational drive of the rotational drive source. At least one of the first roller and the second roller, the cutting unit, and the switching unit are driven by a common rotational drive source. Therefore, these operations can be easily linked. For this reason, when the label tape is cut by the cutting means to create a label, the created label can be immediately held by the first roller and the second roller and conveyed toward the discharge port. Moreover, at least one of the first roller and the second roller can be separated from the label by the switching means immediately before the upstream end portion in the conveyance direction of the label comes into contact with the first roller and the second roller. Thereby, the label producing apparatus can surely execute a series of operations by the conveying unit, the determining unit, and the switching unit at a predetermined timing.

  Further, in the present invention, the cutting means includes a fixed blade, a movable blade, and a first conversion mechanism that converts a rotational motion into a swing motion, and the movable blade is pivotally supported so as to be swingable. The label is sandwiched between the fixed blade and the movable blade by a mechanism that converts the rotational motion of the rotational drive source into a swing motion and transmits the swing motion to the movable blade and swings the movable blade. The tape may be cut. Thereby, the cutting means can efficiently convert the rotational motion of the rotational drive source into the swing motion of the movable blade. The label producing apparatus can easily link the operation of the cutting unit with the operation of at least one of the first roller and the second roller and the switching unit.

  In the present invention, the switching means includes a second conversion mechanism that converts a rotational motion into a swinging motion, and the cam mechanism converts the rotational motion of the rotary drive source into a swinging motion so that the first roller and The conveying means may be switched between the contact state and the separated state by transmitting to at least one of the second rollers and reciprocating at least one of the first roller and the second roller. Thereby, the switching means can efficiently convert the rotational motion of the rotational drive source into the swing motion of at least one of the first roller and the second roller. The label producing apparatus can easily link the operation of the switching unit with the operation of at least one of the first roller and the second roller and the cutting unit.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the label production apparatus. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a cartridge 7. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the internal unit 20. FIG. It is a perspective view of the cutting mechanism 15 and the discharge mechanism 22. It is a front view of the cutting mechanism 15 and the discharge mechanism 22. It is a rear view of the cutting mechanism 15 and the discharge mechanism 22. It is a rear view which shows the mode of the cutting | disconnection mechanism 15 and the discharge mechanism 22 when the gear 42 rotates. It is a rear view which shows the mode of the cutting | disconnection mechanism 15 and the discharge mechanism 22 when the gear 42 rotates. It is a rear view which shows the mode of the cutting | disconnection mechanism 15 and the discharge mechanism 22 when the gear 42 rotates. It is a rear view which shows the mode of the cutting | disconnection mechanism 15 and the discharge mechanism 22 when the gear 42 rotates. It is a rear view which shows the mode of the cutting | disconnection mechanism 15 and the discharge mechanism 22 when the gear 42 rotates. 6 is a timing chart showing the operation of the cutting mechanism 15 and the discharging mechanism 22.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a label producing apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, the lower left side, the upper right side, the upper left side, the lower right side, the upper side, and the lower side of FIG. 1 are respectively the front side, the rear side, the left side, the right side, the upper side, and the lower side of the label producing apparatus 1. The lower side.

  With reference to FIG. 1, the external appearance of the label producing apparatus 1 will be described. The label producing apparatus 1 includes a main body 2. The shape of the main body 2 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped with the longitudinal direction as the longitudinal direction. A discharge port 11, a power button 14, and a cutter driving button 16 are provided on the front wall 10 of the main body 2. An open / close lid 3 and an open / close button 4 are provided above the main body 2.

  The discharge port 11 is an opening for discharging the label created in the main body 2 to the outside. The shape of the opening is a rectangle whose longitudinal direction is the vertical direction. The label is discharged from the discharge port 11 with the width direction being the vertical direction. A power button 14 is provided on a portion of the front wall 10 adjacent to the right side with respect to the discharge port 11. The power button 14 is a push button for turning on / off the power of the label producing apparatus 1. A cutter drive button 16 is provided below the power button 14. The cutter drive button 16 is a button for driving a cutting mechanism 15 (see FIG. 3, details will be described later) disposed in the main body 2 by a user's manual operation. By pressing the cutter driving button 16, the printed tape 109 (see FIG. 3, details will be described later) can be cut. The label producing apparatus 1 has an automatic cutting function for automatically cutting the printed tape 109. For this reason, the user need not press the cutter drive button 16 to cut the printed tape 109 during normal operation.

  The opening / closing lid 3 is pivotally supported at the rear end of the main body 2 so as to be swingable. The opening / closing lid 3 is always biased in the opening direction by a biasing member such as a spring. An opening / closing button 4 is provided on the right side of the opening / closing lid 3. When the open / close button 4 is pressed, the open / close lid 3 is opened by the action of the urging member. By opening the opening / closing lid 3, the cartridge 7 (see FIG. 2) can be mounted in the main body 2.

  With reference to FIG. 2, the cartridge 7 mounted in the main body 2 will be described. The cartridge 7 includes a housing 7A. A first roll 102, a second roll 104, a ribbon supply side roll 111, a ribbon take-up roller 106, and a tape feed roller 27 are housed inside the housing 7A.

  The first roll 102 has a base tape 101 wound around a reel member 102A. The base tape 101 has a multilayer structure. The base tape 101 is wound around the reel member 102A, and has an adhesive layer 101A, a base film 101B, and an adhesive layer from the core side surface (right side in FIG. 2) toward the opposite side (left side in FIG. 2). 101C and release paper 101D are sequentially laminated. The adhesive layers 101A and 101C are layers made of an adhesive. The base film 101B is a colored film made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or the like. The release paper 101D is peeled off when the created label is used. Since the adhesive layer 101C is dewed when the release paper 101D is peeled off, a label can be attached. The second roll 104 has a cover film 103 wound around a reel member 104A. The ribbon supply side roll 111 winds the ink ribbon 105. The ribbon take-up roller 106 takes up the used ink ribbon 105.

  A process of creating a label will be described. The base tape 101 is fed from the first roll 102 toward the tape feed roller 27. The cover film 103 is fed from the second roll 104 toward the space between the print head 23 and the platen roller 26 provided in the internal unit 20 (see FIG. 3). Similarly, the ink ribbon 105 is fed out from the ribbon supply side roll 111 toward the print head 23 and the platen roller 26. The cover film 103 and the ink ribbon 105 pass between the print head 23 and the platen roller 26. In the process of passing, the ink ribbon 105 is pressed against the cover film 103. Printing is performed on the cover film 103 when the plurality of heating elements provided in the print head 23 generate heat. The printed cover film 103 is conveyed toward the tape feed roller 27. The used ink ribbon 105 is taken up by a ribbon take-up roller 106.

  The base tape 101 and the cover film 103 on which printing has been performed are pressed and bonded by the tape feeding roller 27 and the pressure roller 28 provided in the internal unit 20 (see FIG. 3). The surface on the adhesive layer 101 </ b> A side of the base tape 101 is in contact with the surface of the cover film 103 on which printing has been performed. Hereinafter, the base tape 101 and the cover film 103 in a bonded state are also referred to as a printed tape 109.

  The internal unit 20 provided in the main body 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. The internal unit 20 includes a cartridge holder 6, a printing mechanism 21, a cutting mechanism 15, and a discharging mechanism 22. Details of each configuration will be described below. The left side, right side, upper side, and lower side in FIG. 3 correspond to the front side, rear side, left side, and right side of the label producing apparatus 1, respectively. Further, the lower left side, the upper right side, the upper left side, the lower right side, the upper side, and the lower side in FIG. 4 are the front side, the rear side, the left side, the right side, the upper side, and the lower side of the label producing apparatus 1, respectively. Corresponding to

  The cartridge holder 6 and the printing mechanism 21 will be described. The cartridge holder 6 accommodates the cartridge 7 such that the direction of the printed tape 109 discharged from the discharge port 11 (see FIG. 1) in the width direction is the vertical direction of the label producing apparatus 1. The print mechanism 21 includes a print head 23, a head mounting portion 24, a roller holder 25, a platen roller 26, and a pressure roller 28. The print head 23 includes a large number of heating elements. The print head 23 is attached to a head attachment portion 24 erected from the cartridge holder 6. The head mounting portion 24 is disposed on the rear side of the tape feed roller 27 (see FIG. 2) provided in the cartridge 7. The roller holder 25 is provided on the right side of the cartridge 7 attached to the cartridge holder 6. The roller holder 25 is pivotally supported by a support shaft 29 so as to be swingable. The roller holder 25 is movable between a printing position where the front portion is close to the cartridge 7 and a release position where the front portion is separated from the cartridge 7. In the roller holder 25, a platen roller 26 and a pressure roller 28 are rotatably provided. When the roller holder 25 moves to the printing position, the platen roller 26 holds the cover film 103 between the print head 23 and the pressure roller 28 presses the base tape 101 and the cover film 103 against the tape feed roller 27.

  The cutting mechanism 15 will be described. The cutting mechanism 15 creates a label by cutting the printed tape 109. As shown in FIG. 3, the cutting mechanism 15 is provided on the front side of the cartridge holder 6. The cutting mechanism 15 includes a fixed blade 40 (see FIG. 6), a movable blade 41 (see FIG. 6), a gear 42 (see FIG. 4), and a drive motor 43 (see FIG. 4).

  The fixed blade 40 is a plate-like member. As shown in FIG. 3, the fixed blade 40 is fixed to the side plate 44 of the cartridge holder 6 with a screw or the like through a fixing hole. As shown in FIG. 6, the fixed blade 40 includes a blade portion 12 and a handle portion 13. The handle 13 extends rightward from the left side of the label producing apparatus 1. The blade portion 12 extends upward from the right end of the handle portion 13.

  The shape of the movable blade 41 is substantially V-shaped. The movable blade 41 includes a blade portion 45, a handle portion 46, and a bent portion 47. The blade portion 45 and the handle portion 46 are plate-like members extending in different directions from the bent portion 47, respectively. A shaft hole 48 is provided in the bent portion 47. The movable blade 41 is supported by a side plate 44 (see FIG. 3) so that it can swing around a rotating shaft (not shown) inserted through the shaft hole 48 and with the bent portion 47 as a fulcrum. The blade portion 45 extends upward from the bent portion 47. The blade portion 45 sandwiches the printed tape 109 between the blade portion 12 of the fixed blade 40 and cuts the printed tape 109. The handle portion 46 extends downward from the bent portion 47. A long hole 49 is provided at the lower end of the handle 46 along the direction in which the handle 46 extends.

  A gear 42 is provided on the front side (depth side in FIG. 6) of the handle 46. The shape of the gear 42 is substantially cylindrical (see FIG. 4). As shown in FIG. 4, the gear 42 is pivotally supported at the right end of the gear box 43A so as to be rotatable about the front-rear direction as an axial direction. A drive motor 43 is provided at the left end of the gear box 43A. As the driving motor 43 rotates, the gear 42 rotates. As shown in FIG. 6, the boss 50 protrudes rearward from a portion other than the substantially cylindrical central axis on the rear side (front side in FIG. 6) of the gear 42. The boss 50 is inserted through a long hole 49 provided in the handle 46 of the movable blade 41.

  When the gear 42 rotates with the rotation of the drive motor 43, the movable blade 41 swings with the bent portion 47 as a fulcrum. As a result, the blade portion 12 of the fixed blade 40 and the blade portion 45 of the movable blade 41 are switched between a close state and a separated state. Specifically, it is as follows. First, when the boss 50 is positioned on the left side with respect to the rotation axis of the gear 42, the blade portion 45 of the movable blade 41 is separated from the fixed blade 40. The drive motor 43 is driven, and the gear 42 rotates in the direction of the arrow 70. The boss 50 moves to the right along the circumference of the gear 42. The movable blade 41 swings and the blade portion 45 moves in the direction of the arrow 73. As a result, the blade portion 45 comes close to the blade portion 12.

  When the blade parts 12 and 45 are close to each other, the printed tape 109 conveyed from the rear side (front side in FIG. 6) to the front side (depth side in FIG. 6) of the label producing apparatus 1 is moved by the blade parts 12 and 45. Sandwiched. As a result, the printed tape 109 is cut.

  The discharge mechanism 22 will be described. The discharge mechanism 22 conveys the cut printed tape 109 in order to forcibly discharge the printed tape 109 after being cut by the cutting mechanism 15 from the discharge port 11. Hereinafter, the cut printed tape 109 is also simply referred to as a label. As shown in FIG. 3, the discharge mechanism 22 is provided on the front side of the movable blade 41 and in the vicinity of the discharge port 11 (see FIG. 1) provided on the front wall 10 (see FIG. 1) of the main body 2. The discharge mechanism 22 includes a first roller 51 and a second roller 52.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the roller shaft 51 </ b> A extends upward from the substantially right and left central portion of the gear box 43 </ b> A. The first roller 51 is fixed to the upper end of the roller shaft 51A. As the drive motor 43 rotates, the roller shaft 51A and the first roller 51 rotate.

  A second roller 52 is provided on the support member 60. The shape of the support member 60 is substantially triangular. The second roller 52 is rotatably supported at the tip of an extending member 55 that extends to the left from the upper end of the support member 60. The support member 60 is pivotally supported by the rotation shaft 163 at the left end. The support member 60 can swing around the rotation shaft 163. When the upper end of the support member 60 swings in the direction of moving to the left, the second roller 52 provided at the tip of the extending member 55 is close to the first roller 51. On the other hand, when the upper end of the support member 60 swings in the direction of moving to the right side, the second roller 52 provided at the tip of the extending member 55 is separated from the first roller 51. The support member 60 is biased in a direction in which the upper end moves to the right by a spring member 62 provided on the rotation shaft 163. Therefore, in FIG. 5, the second roller 52 provided on the extending member 55 is separated from the first roller 51.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a boss 61 protrudes rearward from the lower end of the support member 60. As shown in FIG. 6, the boss 61 can contact the right end 46 </ b> A of the handle 46 of the movable blade 41. Specifically, it is as follows. When the gear 42 rotates with the rotation of the drive motor 43, the movable blade 41 swings around the bent portion 47 as a fulcrum. When the boss 50 is located on the left side with respect to the rotation axis of the gear 42, the handle 46 is located on the left side with respect to the rotation axis of the gear 42, so the boss 61 and the right end 46A are separated from each other. The drive motor 43 is driven, and the gear 42 rotates in the direction of the arrow 70. The boss 50 moves to the right along the circumference of the gear 42. Along with this, the handle 46 also moves to the right, and the boss 61 and the right end 46A come into contact with each other. When the right end 46A pushes the boss 61 to the right side, the support member 60 swings against the urging force of the spring member 62. As a result, the second roller 52 (see FIG. 5) moves toward the first roller 51 (see FIG. 5) and approaches the first roller 51.

  When the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 further approach from the state shown in FIG. 5, they are conveyed from the rear side (depth side in FIG. 5) to the front side (front side in FIG. 5) of the label producing apparatus 1. The label is sandwiched between the first roller 51 and the second roller 52. With the rotation of the drive motor 43, the first roller 51 is rotating. Accordingly, the label sandwiched between the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 is conveyed toward the discharge port 11.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a cam 42 </ b> A protruding in the outer peripheral direction is provided on a part of the peripheral wall of the gear 42. A micro switch 126 is provided in the vicinity of the gear 42 in the gear box 43A. The micro switch 126 can detect whether or not the cam 42A is in the vicinity. When the gear 42 rotates, the micro switch 126 detects the cam 42A at a specific rotation position. The label producing apparatus 1 can determine the rotational position of the gear 42 by determining whether or not the micro switch 126 has detected the cam 42A.

  As described above, in the label producing apparatus 1, the cut of the printed tape 109 by the swing of the movable blade 41 and the conveyance of the label by the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 are based on the rotational drive of the gear 42. It is running. Since both operations are executed in conjunction with each other, cutting of the printed tape 109 and conveyance of the label are executed at a predetermined timing. Hereinafter, details will be described in order with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the boss 50 is positioned on the left side with respect to the rotation axis of the gear 42, the cam 42A is detected by the micro switch 126 (see FIG. 4). Of the cutting mechanism 15, the blade portion 45 of the movable blade 41 is located at a position spaced to the right with respect to the blade portion 12 of the fixed blade 40. The support member 60 of the discharge mechanism 22 is urged by the spring member 62 in the direction in which the extending member 55 moves to the right, and the right end 46A of the handle 46 and the boss 61 of the support member 60 are It is separated. Therefore, the second roller 52 is at a position spaced to the right with respect to the first roller 51 (see FIG. 5). Hereinafter, the state where the gear 42 rotates to the position shown in FIG. 7 is referred to as a standby state.

  It is assumed that a print instruction is executed by the user after setting the label width and generating print data. The control unit (not shown) rotates the tape feed roller 27 (see FIG. 2) and the ribbon take-up roller 106 (see FIG. 2) provided in the cartridge 7 (see FIG. 2). As a result, the base tape 101 (see FIG. 2) is fed out to the tape feed roller 27. At the same time, the cover film 103 (see FIG. 2) is fed out toward the tape feed roller 27 via the space between the print head 23 and the platen roller 26. At this stage, printing on the cover film 103 is not executed.

  The base tape 101 and the cover film 103 are pressed and bonded by a tape feed roller 27 and a pressure roller 28 (see FIG. 2). The base tape 101 and the cover film 103 in the bonded state are provided between the fixed blade 40 and the movable blade 41 and between the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 (see FIG. 1). ) From the rear (front side in FIG. 7) toward the front (depth side in FIG. 7). Hereinafter, it is a path through which the base tape 101 and the cover film 103 in the bonded state pass, and between the fixed blade 40 and the movable blade 41 and between the first roller 51 and the second roller 52. The path to be performed is also referred to as a transport path. The side on which the cartridge 7 is mounted with respect to the cutting mechanism 15 and the discharge mechanism 22 is referred to as the upstream side in the transport direction. The side where the discharge port 11 is provided with respect to the cutting mechanism 15 and the discharge mechanism 22 is referred to as the downstream side in the transport direction. The bonded base tape 101 and cover film 103 are transported from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction through the transport path.

  After the printing instruction by the user, when the base tape 101 and the cover film 103 in a bonded state are conveyed by a predetermined amount, the control unit causes the print head 23 (see FIG. 2) to generate heat. As a result, printing on the cover film 103 is started. Printing is performed on the cover film 103 based on the print data. The printed cover film 103 and the base tape 101 are bonded to each other by the tape feeding roller 27 and the pressure roller 28, and the printed tape 109 (see FIG. 2) is created.

  When printing is completed, the control unit stops the heat generation of the print head 23. Even after the printing by the print head 23 is completed, the printed tape 109 continues the conveyance path until the printing portion of the printed tape 109 is located downstream of the cutting mechanism 15 in the conveyance direction. Be transported. After the printed portion of the printed tape 109 is positioned downstream in the transport direction with respect to the cutting mechanism 15, the control unit stops the rotational driving of the tape feeding roller 27 and the ribbon take-up roller 106. The conveyance of the printed tape 109 is stopped, and the printed tape 109 is positioned on the conveyance path.

  The control unit starts rotation of the drive motor 43 (see FIG. 4). It is assumed that the gear 42 rotates in the direction of the arrow 70 and rotates 85 degrees from the standby state. As shown in FIG. 8, the boss 50 moves substantially to the left and right along the circumference of the gear 42. As the boss 50 moves, the lower end of the handle 46 of the movable blade 41 moves to the right. The movable blade 41 swings with the bent portion 47 as a fulcrum, and the upper end of the blade portion 45 moves toward the fixed blade 40 and approaches the blade portion 12 of the fixed blade 40. The lower ends of the blade parts 12, 45 overlap. The printed tape 109 in the transport path is cut in the width direction by overlapping the blade portions 12 and 45. At this time, since the length of the portion where the blade portions 12 and 45 overlap is small, the printed tape 109 is not completely cut.

  Further, as the lower end of the handle portion 46 of the movable blade 41 moves rightward, the right end 46A of the handle portion 46 and the boss 61 of the support member 60 come into contact with each other. However, in this state, the right end 46A does not move the boss 61, so the support member 60 does not swing. For this reason, the second roller 52 provided at the tip of the extending member 55 does not move toward the first roller 51 (see FIG. 5), and the distance between the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 does not change. . For this reason, the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 do not contact the printed tape 109. In the state shown in FIG. 8, the micro switch 126 (see FIG. 4) continuously detects the cam 42A from the standby state (see FIG. 7).

  It is assumed that the gear 42 further rotates in the direction of the arrow 70 and has rotated 132 degrees from the standby state. As shown in FIG. 9, the boss 50 moves to the right from the substantially horizontal center along the circumference of the gear 42. As the boss 50 moves, the lower end of the handle 46 of the movable blade 41 moves further to the right, and the upper end of the blade 45 moves further to the left and approaches the blade 12 of the fixed blade 40. Overlap at the lower ends of the blade portions 12 and 45 is increased, and the length of the cut in the width direction of the printed tape 109 is longer.

  However, in the state shown in FIG. 9, the length of the portion where the blade portions 12 and 45 overlap is shorter than the length in the width direction of the smallest label among the printable labels in the label producing apparatus 1. Therefore, in the state shown in FIG. 9, even when various cartridges 7 having different widths of the base tape 101 and the cover film 103 are used, the printed tape 109 is not completely cut in all cases, In a part, the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction are connected.

  Further, as the lower end of the handle 46 of the movable blade 41 moves to the right, the right end 46A of the handle 46 moves the boss 61 to the right. The support member 60 swings around the rotation shaft 163 (see FIG. 5), and the second roller 52 provided at the tip of the extending member 55 moves to the first roller 51 (see FIG. 5) side. The second roller 52 makes contact with the printed tape 109 positioned in the transport path and pushes it toward the first roller 51. The printed tape 109 is pressed against the first roller 51. As a result, the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 come into contact with the printed tape 109 and pinch the printed tape 109.

  The first roller 51 rotates with the rotation of the drive motor 43 (see FIG. 4). For this reason, the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 try to transport the printed tape 109 sandwiched therebetween toward the downstream side in the transport direction. However, the printed tape 109 is not completely cut by the cutting mechanism 15, and the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction are connected. Further, since the amount of movement of the second roller 52 toward the first roller 51 is small, the force with which the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 pinch the printed tape 109 is small. For this reason, the first roller 51 idles and the printed tape 109 is not conveyed downstream in the conveyance direction.

  It is assumed that the gear 42 further rotates in the direction of the arrow 70 and has rotated 170 degrees from the standby state. As shown in FIG. 10, the boss 50 moves further to the right along the circumference of the gear 42. As the boss 50 moves, the upper end of the blade portion 45 further moves toward the fixed blade 40, and the blade portions 12 and 45 overlap in almost all portions from the lower end to the upper end.

  In the state shown in FIG. 10, the length of the portion where the blade portions 12 and 45 overlap is longer than the length in the width direction of the largest label among the printable labels in the label producing apparatus 1. Therefore, in the state shown in FIG. 10, even when various cartridges 7 having different widths of the base tape 101 and the cover film 103 are used, the printed tape 109 is separated from the upstream side in the transport direction by the cutting mechanism 15 in all cases. Divided into the downstream side. The printed portion of the printed tape 109 is cut downstream in the transport direction. The separated part corresponds to the label.

  In FIG. 9, the printed tape 109 is already sandwiched between the first roller 51 and the second roller 52. For this reason, the label created by being separated from the printed tape 109 on the downstream side in the transport direction is sandwiched between the first roller 51 and the second roller 52. Further, the lower end of the handle portion 46 of the movable blade 41 moves further to the right as compared with the case of FIG. 9, so that the second roller 52 in contact with the created label is moved to the first roller 51 side. Move further. The first roller 51 (see FIG. 5) and the second roller 52 pinch the label with a strong force. The first roller 51 transports the label sandwiched between the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 toward the downstream side in the transport direction without idling. As a result, the label is discharged outside the label producing apparatus 1 through the discharge port 11.

  When the gear 42 further rotates in the direction of the arrow 70 and rotates about 180 ° from the standby state, the micro switch 126 does not detect the cam 42A. As a result, the control unit detects that the label has been created. It is assumed that the gear 42 further rotates in the direction of the arrow 70 and has rotated 180 degrees or more from the standby position. In this case, contrary to the cases of FIGS. 7 to 10, the boss 50 starts to move to the left along the circumference of the gear 42. As the boss 50 moves, the lower end of the handle 46 of the movable blade 41 moves to the left, so that the upper end of the blade 45 moves in a direction away from the fixed blade 40. Further, as the lower end of the handle 46 moves to the left, the support member 60 swings in the direction in which the boss 61 moves to the left by the urging force of the spring member 62. The second roller 52 provided at the tip of the extending member 55 moves in a direction away from the first roller 51 (see FIG. 5). The force with which the second roller 52 presses the label gradually decreases.

  The second roller 52 continuously contacts the label when the rotation angle of the gear 42 is less than 268 degrees with respect to the standby position. For this reason, while the second roller 52 is in contact with the label, the label is continuously conveyed by the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 even after the cutting process by the cutting mechanism 15 is completed.

  Assume that the gear 42 has rotated 268 degrees from the standby position. As shown in FIG. 11, the second roller 52 is completely spaced from the label. At the same time, the first roller 51 is also separated from the label, and the conveyance of the label by the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 is finished. At this point, the downstream end of the label in the conveyance direction has come out of the label producing apparatus 1 from the discharge port 11. For this reason, even after the conveyance of the label by the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 is completed, the label moves toward the discharge port 11 by the inertial force and gravity, and is discharged from the discharge port 11 to the outside.

  Here, in the label producing apparatus 1, the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 are in contact with the end of the label on the upstream side in the transport direction, that is, the cut portion when the cutting mechanism 15 cuts the printed tape 109 in FIG. In order to avoid this, the second roller 52 is completely separated from the label. The reason is as follows. When the label separated from the printed tape 109 is sandwiched between the first roller 51 and the second roller 52, the adhesive constituting the adhesive layers 101A and 101C (see FIG. 2) of the base tape 101 is the first roller. The pressing force by the 51 and the second roller 52 may cause the label to be pushed out and leak out from the end of the label. When the leaked adhesive adheres to the first roller 51 and the second roller 52, the label adheres to the first roller 51 and the second roller 52, causing label clogging. In addition, the pressure-sensitive adhesive adheres to the surface of the label, resulting in poor appearance.

  On the other hand, in the label producing apparatus 1, the second roller 52 is separated from the label before the upstream side in the label transport direction reaches the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 by transporting the label. At the same time, the first roller 51 is also separated from the label. For this reason, since the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 stop pressing before the end on the upstream side in the transport direction of the label, the adhesive is less likely to leak outside from the end of the label. Further, before the end on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the label reaches the first roller 51 and the second roller 52, the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 are separated from the label. For this reason, even when the adhesive leaks outside from the end of the label, the adhesive does not adhere to the first roller 51 and the second roller 52. As a result, problems due to adhesives adhering to the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 are prevented.

  Note that the timing at which the label is cut from the printed tape 109 by the cutting mechanism 15 varies depending on the length of the printed tape 109 in the width direction. The cutting mechanism 15 is for cutting the printed tape 109 by gradually overlapping the blade portion 12 of the fixed blade 40 and the blade portion 45 of the movable blade 41 from the lower end. When the length in the width direction of the printed tape 109 is large, it takes time for the blade portions 12 and 45 to overlap each other by the length required for cutting, as compared with the case where the length in the width direction is small. Accordingly, when the length in the width direction of the printed tape 109 is small, the timing at which the label is cut off from the printed tape 109 is earlier than in the case where the length in the width direction is large. On the other hand, in the label producing apparatus 1, when the label having the smallest width among the printable labels is used, the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 do not come into contact with the upstream end of the label conveying direction. In addition, the second roller 52 is completely separated from the label. This prevents the adhesive from adhering to the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 in all cases even when various cartridges 7 having different widths of the base tape 101 and the cover film 103 are used. .

  It is assumed that the gear 42 further rotates and rotates about 360 degrees. Since returning to the standby state, the cam 42A is detected by the micro switch 126 (see FIG. 4). The control unit ends the rotation of the drive motor 43 (see FIG. 4). The rotation of the gear 42 stops. This completes the label creation process.

  The operation timing of the cutting mechanism 15 and the discharging mechanism 22 will be described with reference to FIG. When the gear 42 is rotated 85 degrees from the standby state, cutting of the printed tape 109 is started by the overlapping portion of the blade portion 12 of the fixed blade 40 and the blade portion 45 of the movable blade 41 (T1, see FIG. 8). ). When the gear 42 further rotates and the rotation angle from the standby state becomes 132 degrees, the second roller 52 moves to the first roller 51 side, and the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 move to the printed tape 109. Contact (T2, see FIG. 9). The printed tape 109 is sandwiched between the first roller 51 and the second roller 52. At this time, the label is not completely cut off from the printed tape 109, and the printed tape 109 is in a state where the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction are connected to the cutting mechanism 15. For this reason, the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 cannot convey the printed tape 109.

  When the gear 42 further rotates and the rotation angle from the standby state becomes 170 degrees, the label is cut off from the printed tape 109, and the cutting process by the cutting mechanism 15 ends (T3, see FIG. 10). Since the label cut from the printed tape 109 is sandwiched between the first roller 51 and the second roller 52, the conveyance of the label is started when the first roller 51 rotates (T4). FIG. 10). When the gear 42 further rotates and the rotation angle from the standby state reaches 268 degrees, the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 are separated from the label (T5, see FIG. 11). The first roller 51 and the second roller 52 are separated from the label before the end on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the label reaches the first roller 51 and the second roller 52. For this reason, the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 do not contact the upstream end of the label in the transport direction, and the adhesive leaking from the label does not adhere to the first roller 51 and the second roller 52.

  When the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 are separated from the label, the conveyance of the label ends (T6, see FIG. 11). However, the label continues to move toward the discharge port 11 even after the conveyance by the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 is completed. The upstream end of the label in the transport direction reaches the positions of the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 (T7). The label further moves continuously and is discharged from the discharge port 11 to the outside of the label producing apparatus 1.

  As described above, the label producing apparatus 1 separates the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 from the label before the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 contact the upstream end of the label in the conveyance direction. be able to. As a result, the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 do not contact the upstream end of the label in the transport direction, so that even if the adhesive leaks from the upstream end of the label in the transport direction, the adhesive remains in the first roller. It can prevent adhering to 51 and the 2nd roller 52.

  Further, the label producing apparatus 1 can convey the label easily and reliably by rotating the first roller 51 and the second roller 52. Since the 1st roller 51 and the 2nd roller 52 are opposingly arranged on both sides of a label, it can pinch a label reliably. Therefore, the label is reliably conveyed toward the discharge port 11.

  Further, the label producing apparatus 1 can drive the rotation of the first roller 51, the movement of the second roller 52, and the cutting by the cutting mechanism 15 by a common drive motor 43. Therefore, these operations can be linked. For this reason, when the label is cut off from the printed tape 109 by the cutting mechanism 15, the cut label can be immediately held by the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 and conveyed toward the discharge port 11. it can. Further, the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 can be separated from the label by the support member 60 or the like immediately before the upstream end portion in the conveyance direction of the label reaches the first roller 51 and the second roller 52. Thus, the label producing apparatus 1 can reliably execute a series of operations of the rotation of the first roller 51, the movement of the second roller 52, and the cutting by the cutting mechanism 15 at a predetermined timing.

  The cutting mechanism 15 can efficiently convert the rotational driving force of the drive motor 43 into the swing motion of the movable blade 41. The label producing apparatus 1 can easily link the cutting operation by the cutting mechanism 15 with the rotation of the first roller 51 and the movement of the second roller 52. Further, the support member 60 and the like that move the second roller 52 can efficiently convert the rotational driving force of the drive motor 43 into the swinging motion of the second roller 52. The label producing apparatus 1 can easily link the movement of the second roller 52 to the rotation of the first roller 51 and the cutting operation by the cutting mechanism 15.

  The printing mechanism 21 corresponds to the “printing unit” of the present invention. The cutting mechanism 15 corresponds to the “cutting means” of the present invention. The discharge mechanism 22 corresponds to the “conveying means” of the present invention. The gear 42, the boss 50, the support member 60, the boss 61, the right end 46A of the handle 46 of the movable blade 41, and the long hole 49 correspond to the “switching means” and “second conversion mechanism” of the present invention. The state where the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 are in contact with the label corresponds to the “contact state”. A state in which at least one of the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 is separated from the label corresponds to a “separated state”. The drive motor 43 corresponds to the “rotation drive source” of the present invention. The gear 42, the boss 50, and the long hole 49 correspond to the “first conversion mechanism” of the present invention.

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

  In the said embodiment, although the label was conveyed by the 1st roller 51 and the 2nd roller 52, you may convey a label by another mechanism in this invention. In the present invention, the rotation of the first roller 51, the movement of the second roller 52, and the cutting of the printed tape 109 by the cutting mechanism 15 are performed based on the rotational driving force of the drive motor 43. The first roller 51, the second roller 52, and the drive motor 43 may be provided with separate motors. By driving each motor independently, cutting of the label, switching of contact / separation of the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 with respect to the label, and cutting of the printed tape 109 by the cutting mechanism 15 are performed. Also good. The cutting mechanism 15 uses the mechanism in which the gear 42 and the boss 50 rotate and the rotation operation is converted into the swing operation by the long hole 49, thereby swinging the movable blade 41 and cutting the printed tape 109. It was. In the present invention, the configuration for converting the rotation operation into the swing operation is not limited to the above embodiment. The movable blade 41 may be swung by another mechanism. The discharge mechanism 22 oscillates the second roller 52 by using a mechanism in which the rotational motion of the gear 42 and the boss 50 is converted into the oscillating operation. In the present invention, the configuration for converting the rotation operation into the swing operation is not limited to the above embodiment. The second roller 52 may be swung by another mechanism. In the present invention, the first roller 51 is always rotated by the drive motor 43 being driven, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The first roller 51 may be rotated only when the label is conveyed. Further, both the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 may be rotated.

  In the above embodiment, after printing on the cover film 103, the label was created by applying the base tape 101 to the cover film 103. However, the present invention creates a different type of label. It can also be applied to. In the above embodiment, in the state where the first roller 51 and the second roller 52 are separated from each other, the printed tape 109 is not in contact with the first roller 51. For example, the first roller 51 is always the printed tape. 109 may be in contact. Only the second roller 52 may be switched between a state of being separated from the printed tape 109 and a state of being in contact therewith.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Label production apparatus 7 Cartridge 11 Discharge port 15 Cutting mechanism 22 Discharge mechanism 23 Print head 40 Fixed blade 41 Movable blade 42 Gear 43 Drive motor 51 First roller 52 Second roller 101 Base tape 103 Cover film

Claims (5)

Printing means for printing on a label tape as a printing medium;
A cutting means for cutting the label tape printed by the printing means into a predetermined length;
A conveying means for conveying a label created by cutting the label tape by the cutting means toward a discharge port, wherein the label is in contact with the label from both sides; A transporting means capable of switching to a separated state separated from at least one surface, and transporting the label in the contact state;
A label producing apparatus comprising a switching unit that switches the conveying unit between the contact state and the separated state,
When the switching unit switches the transport unit to the contact state, the transport unit transports the label in contact with the label,
As a result of transporting the label, when the upstream end portion in the transport direction of the label approaches the transport device, the switching device is connected before the upstream end portion in the transport direction of the label contacts the transport device. The label producing apparatus, wherein the conveying unit is separated from at least one surface of the label by switching the conveying unit to the separated state. The transport means includes a first roller and a second roller,
In the contact state, the first roller is in contact with one side of the label, and the second roller is in contact with the other side of the label and the first roller across the label. State
The label producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first roller and the second roller rotates to convey the label toward the discharge port. A rotation drive source for driving at least one of the first roller and the second roller, the cutting unit, and the switching unit;
3. The label producing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the first roller and the second roller rotates in accordance with a rotation drive of the rotation drive source. The cutting means includes a fixed blade, a movable blade, and a first conversion mechanism that converts rotational motion into rocking motion,
The movable blade is pivotally supported so that it can swing,
The first conversion mechanism converts the rotational motion of the rotational drive source into a swing motion and transmits it to the movable blade, and swings the movable blade so that it is sandwiched between the fixed blade and the movable blade. The label producing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the label tape is cut. The switching means includes a second conversion mechanism that converts rotational motion into rocking motion,
The second conversion mechanism converts the rotational motion of the rotational drive source into a swing motion and transmits it to at least one of the first roller and the second roller, and at least of the first roller and the second roller. 5. The label producing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the conveying unit is switched between the contact state and the separated state by swinging one side. 6.

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