JP2013226653A - Label printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a label printer capable of allowing one unit to be used for both of peeling operation and cutting operation.SOLUTION: A label printer includes a peeling-cutting share unit 32 which can be used for both of peeling operation to peel labels 3 one by one from a band like mount 2 of a printed label continuous body L and to issue the labels, and cutting operation to cut the printed label continuous body L at a cutting position for each predetermined number of sheets and to issue the labels. The peeling-cutting share unit 32 includes a peeling part 36, a direction change conveyance means, a cutting blade 40, a cutting groove 42, a pair of pressing members 44A, 44B and a mode switching means.

Description

  The present invention relates to a label printer, and more particularly, to a label printer that can combine a peeling operation for peeling and issuing a label one by one from a strip mount and a cutting operation for cutting and issuing a predetermined number of sheets at a cutting position in one unit. .

  An optional device of the label printer includes a peeling unit (for example, Patent Document 1) for separating and issuing labels one by one from a strip mount, and a cutting unit (for example, Patent Document 2) for cutting and issuing a predetermined number of sheets at a cutting position. There is. These optional devices are used after being replaced according to the usage pattern. The user needs to select either the peeling unit or the cutting unit when purchasing the product of the label printer.

JP 2001-38966 A JP 2010-82915 A

However, for users who want to use both the peeling unit and the cutting unit, it is necessary to purchase both the peeling unit and the cutting unit, which is problematic in terms of cost. Even if the label printer is configured as an apparatus in which the peeling unit and the cutting unit can be exchanged, there is a problem that it takes time to replace the unit.
From such a background, there is a demand for a label printer including a peeling / cutting unit that can be used for both peeling and cutting operations in one unit.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a label printer including a peeling / cutting unit that can be used for both a peeling operation and a cutting operation by a single unit.

  In order to achieve the above object, the label printer according to the present invention has a peeling operation for peeling and issuing labels one by one from a belt-like mount of a printed continuous label body, and a predetermined position at a cutting position of the printed continuous label body. A label printer provided with a peeling / cutting combined unit capable of combining a cutting operation for cutting and issuing each number of sheets, wherein the peeling / cutting combined unit turns and conveys the belt-like mount of the label continuous body Cut at the cutting position of the peeling part for peeling the labels one by one from the belt-like mount, the turning conveying means for turning and feeding the belt-like mount via the peeling part, and the cutting position of the label continuum transported on the peeling part A cutting blade that advances the cutting from one end side to the other end side in the width direction of the label continuous body, and a concave shape that is formed in the peeling portion and into which the cutting blade enters during the cutting. A pair of pressing members that press against the peeling portion an upstream side and a downstream side across the cut groove of the label continuous body conveyed on the peeling portion, and a peeling operation of the label continuous body When used in the mode, the turning and conveying means can be driven, and the driving of the cutting blade and the pressing member is stopped. When the label continuous body is used in the cutting operation mode, the turning and conveying means is driven. And mode switching means for enabling the cutting blade and the pressing member to be driven.

  According to the label printer of the present invention, when the label continuum is used in the peeling operation mode, the switching means drives the turning conveyance means and stops the cutting blade and the pressing member from being driven. As a result, the printed label continuum is turned and conveyed by the peeling unit, whereby a label having a rigidity higher than that of the belt-like mount is peeled off from the belt-like mount and issued from the label issuing port.

On the other hand, when the label continuous body is used in the cutting operation mode, the switching means stops the driving of the turning conveyance means and drives the cutting blade and the pressing member. As a result, the printed label continuum is temporarily stopped by the conveyance control means in a state where the cutting position coincides with the cut groove of the peeling portion, and is cut by the cutting blade while being pressed by the pair of pressing members. Is done. In this case, as the cutting blade, a cutting blade in which cutting proceeds from one end side to the other end side in the width direction of the continuous label body was formed, and a cut groove into which the cutting blade enters the peeling portion was formed. That is, by providing the peeling part with a function as a mounting table at the time of cutting, the continuous label body can be accurately cut one by one at the cutting position without using a pair of upper and lower flat blades as in the past. be able to.
Thereby, the label printer of the present invention can be used for both the peeling operation and the cutting operation in one unit.

  In the label printer of the present invention, the label continuous body is a peel / cut combined label continuous body in which a plurality of labels are temporarily attached to one side of the belt-like mount at regular intervals and a perforation is formed at the cutting position. It is preferable that

  The combined peeling / cutting unit cuts the label printer with a single cutting blade. However, if the continuous continuous peel / cutting label is formed with a perforation at the cutting position as described above, one cutting is possible. Smooth cutting can be performed with a blade.

  The label continuum used in the label printer of the present invention is not limited to the above-described label continuum for both peeling and cutting, but is generally used as a label with a mount (a label is temporarily attached to a strip mount). Or non-mounting labels (those that do not have a belt-like mounting) can also be used.

  Further, in the present invention, the cutting blade is a flat plate blade that is arranged to face the cut groove of the peeling portion and moves up and down, and the height of the blade edge is inclined along the width direction of the label continuous body. It is preferable.

Thereby, since a cutting | disconnection can be advanced toward the other end side from the one end side of a label continuous body, the label continuous body currently cut | disconnected can be prevented from being pulled and loosened with a cutting blade. Therefore, even if a flat blade is used as the cutting blade, the label continuous body can be cut with high accuracy.
For example, a rotary blade or a cutter knife can be used as a cutting blade for cutting from one end side to the other end side of the continuous label body.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the pair of pressing members is such that the upstream pressing member contacts the peeling portion via the label continuous body before the downstream pressing member.
Thereby, since a label continuous body does not slack on a peeling part, more highly accurate cutting | disconnection can be performed.

  In this invention, it is preferable that the surface of the said peeling part which the said pressing member of the downstream side contacts is formed in the inclined surface where the front-end | tip part side of the said peeling part is low. As a result, the pressing member on the downstream side comes into contact with the inclined surface of the peeling portion, so that a force in a direction of sliding down along the inclined surface acts on the label continuum. As a result, a tensile tension acts on the label continuum between the upstream pressing member and the downstream pressing member, and the label continuum can be cut in a tensioned state. Thereby, it is possible to perform cutting with higher accuracy.

  The label printer according to the present invention can be used for both the peeling operation and the cutting operation by the unit for peeling / cutting which is one unit.

  Thereby, for a user who wants to use both the peeling unit and the cutting unit, there is no need to purchase both the peeling unit and the cutting unit, which is advantageous in terms of cost. In addition, there is no need to replace the peeling unit and the cutting unit.

Explanatory drawing explaining peeling / cutting combined use label The conceptual diagram which shows the whole structure of the label printer of this invention Explanatory drawing when using the peeling / cutting combined label in the peeling operation mode Explanatory drawing explaining the shape of a peeling part Explanatory drawing explaining a cutting blade Explanatory drawing explaining a pressing member The perspective view explaining an example which made the cutting blade and the pressing member integral. Explanatory drawing when using the label for both peeling and cutting in the cutting operation mode

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a label printer of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In the present embodiment, the label continuous body L will be described with reference to an example of the continuous label / continuous body L shown in FIG. Further, in the following description, the terms “upstream side” and “downstream side” are used, and mean the upstream side and the downstream side as viewed from the conveyance direction of the label continuum L.

As shown in FIG. 1, the continuous label L that is also used for peeling / cutting is a case where a perforation 17 is inserted as a cutting position between the labels 3 temporarily attached to the belt-like mount 2 at equal intervals. The cutting blade 16 cuts along the perforation 17.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the entire configuration of the label printer 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the label printer 20 mainly conveys the printing unit 22 and the continuous label body L set in the label supply unit 24 to the label issuing port 26 via the printing unit 22. A transport mechanism 28, a controller 30 for controlling the transport mechanism 28 and a means for switching between a peeling operation mode and a cutting operation mode, which will be described later, and a separation / peeling function that is provided on the downstream side of the printing unit 22 and serves both as a peeling operation and a cutting operation. And a cutting unit 32.

The printing unit 22 includes a platen roller 22A and a thermal head 22B having a printing surface in which a plurality of heating elements are formed in the width direction, and the printing surface is disposed to face the platen roller 22A. Then, the label continuum L sent out from the label supply unit 24 is heated while being sandwiched and transported between the thermal head 22B and the platen roller 22A, so that the heating element of the thermal head 22B is selectively heated to thereby generate the label continuum. The thermosensitive coloring layer formed on the L printing surface is colored to perform printing.
As the printing unit 22, in addition to the above-described thermal type (also referred to as direct thermal type), a thermal transfer type printing unit using an ink ribbon may be used.

  The label supply unit 24 is a device that rotatably supports the roll-shaped label continuous body L via the winding core 24B on the supply shaft 24A, and the roll-shaped label continuous body L is rewound by the transport mechanism 28. The paper is conveyed toward the printing unit 22 while being guided by the guide roller 34.

  As the transport mechanism 28, a mechanism for sandwiching and transporting the continuous label L between the thermal head 22B and the platen roller 22A is employed. Further, a light reflection type sensor 33 that detects timing marks printed on the label continuum L is provided between the label supply unit 24 and the printing unit 22, and the detection result is sent to the controller 30.

  Then, the controller 30 controls the printing timing in the printing unit 22 by controlling the rotation of the platen roller 22A and transporting the label continuous body L based on the detection result of the sensor 33. In addition, the controller 30 controls the rotation of the platen roller 22A so that the printed label continuum L is forward-conveyed toward the label issuing port 26, reversely conveyed, or the label continuum L in the cutting operation mode. Or temporarily stop.

In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the label continuous body L is nipped and conveyed by the thermal head 22B and the platen roller 22A as the conveyance mechanism 28. However, a nip roller system is used between the label supply unit 24 and the printing unit 22. A conveyance roller (not shown) may be provided, and the controller 30 may synchronize with the rotation of the platen roller 22A.
Next, the peeling / cutting combined unit 32 will be described.

  The peeling / cutting combined unit 32 mainly includes a peeling portion 36, a turning conveyance means 38, a cutting blade 40, a kerf 42 formed in the peeling portion 36, a pair of pressing members 44A and 44B, and a switching means. . In the present embodiment, the above-described controller 30 is also used as switching means.

  The peeling portion 36 is formed as a substantially flat plate-like member whose width is larger than the width of the label continuum L, and a peeling portion tip portion 36A to which the label continuum L turns is rounded.

  The turning conveyance unit 38 includes a turning roller 38A that can move in the contact direction and the separation direction with respect to the peripheral surface of the platen roller 22A, and a moving unit 38B that moves the turning roller 38A in contact and separation. As the moving means 38B, for example, a cylinder mechanism can be adopted. The turning roller 38A is driven and rotated by the rotation of the platen roller 22A in contact with the platen roller 22A. The turning conveyance means 38 is not limited to the above-described configuration, and a nip roller type that nip-conveys the label continuous body L with two rollers without using the platen roller 22A may be employed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the label continuum L is used in the peeling operation mode, the strip-shaped mount 2 of the label continuum L from the label supply unit 24 is connected to the leading end of the peeling unit via the printing unit 22. It is turned by 36A and set so as to be sandwiched between the platen roller 22A and the turning roller 38A (set line indicated by A in FIG. 2). In addition, the controller 30 switches to the peeling operation mode by switching means for switching between the peeling operation mode and the cutting operation mode. That is, the turning conveying means 38 is driven and the cutting blade 40 and the first and second pressing members 44A and 44B are set to stop.

  As a result, the label continuum L printed by the printing unit 22 is peeled and conveyed from the belt-shaped mount 2 by the label 3 having a rigidity higher than that of the belt-shaped mount 2 when the strip-shaped mount 2 is turned and conveyed by the peeling portion 36. Then, it is sent out toward the label issuing port 26. The label issuing port 26 is provided with a peeling sensor (not shown), and the detection result is input to the controller 30. And if the peeling sensor detects that the label 3 peeled from the peeling part 36 was removed, the controller 30 will issue the next label 3 sequentially.

  In addition to the function of peeling the label 3 from the belt-like mount 2 of the label continuum L as described above, the peeling unit 36 places the label continuum L when the label continuum L is cut at the perforation 17. It also has a function as a mounting table for cutting.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a cut groove 42 into which the cutting blade 40 enters is formed in the width direction of the label continuous body L on the upper surface of the peeling portion 36, and from the cut groove 42 of the peeling portion 36 to the tip of the peeling portion. An inclined surface 46 inclined downward is formed over the portion 36A.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a cutting blade 40 that moves in the vertical direction is provided above the kerf 42 formed in the peeling portion 36 so as to face the kerf 42. The cutting blade 40 is formed as a flat blade, and the height of the cutting edge 40A with respect to the label continuous body L on the peeling portion 36 is inclined along the width direction of the label continuous body L.

  As a result, the cutting blade 40 descends and enters the kerf 42 via the label continuum L, so that the label continuum L advances in the arrow direction X from one end in the width direction toward the other end. Disconnected. That is, even if the cutting blade 40 is constituted by one flat blade without using a pair of upper and lower flat blades as in the prior art, the label continuous body L is placed when cutting the peeling portion 36 in which the cut groove 42 is formed. The continuous label body L can be accurately cut at the cutting position 17 by providing a function as a mounting table and a pair of pressing members 44A and 44B described later.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a pair of pressing members 44 </ b> A that move in a direction in contact with and away from the peeling portion 36 on the upstream side and the downstream side across the cut groove 42 of the peeling portion 36. 44B is provided. As a material of the pressing members 44A and 44B, a material that generates a grip force with respect to the label continuum L is good. For example, a rubber material can be preferably used.

The pair of pressing members 44A and 44B are configured such that the upstream first pressing member 44A comes into contact with the peeling portion 36 before the downstream second pressing member 44B. As shown in FIG. 6, the lower surface of the second pressing member 44 </ b> B is inclined in accordance with an inclined surface 46 formed at the distal end portion of the peeling portion 36.
FIG. 7 is an example of a structure in which the cutting blade 40 and a pair of pressing members 44A and 44B are integrally provided.

  As shown in FIG. 7, between the first pressing member 44A provided on the lower surface one end side of the rectangular support plate 48 and the second pressing member 44B provided on the lower surface other end side. The above-described cutting blade 40 is supported in the width direction of the label continuous body L at the center portion of the lower surface. That is, on the upstream side of the cutting blade 40, a rectangular bar-shaped first pressing member 44A is provided in parallel to the cutting blade 40, and both upper end portions of the first pressing member 44A and the lower surface of the support plate 48 are provided. Are connected by two spring members 50, 50. Similarly, a rectangular bar-shaped second pressing member 44B is provided on the downstream side of the cutting blade 40 in parallel with the cutting blade 40, and both upper end portions of the second pressing member 44B and the support plate 48 are provided. The lower surface is connected by two spring members 50, 50. The length of the spring member 50 is formed so that the first pressing member 44A is longer than the second pressing member 44B. Thereby, the lower surface of the first pressing member 44A protrudes below the lower surface of the second pressing member 44B. Furthermore, the lower surface of the second pressing member 44B protrudes downward from the cutting edge 40A of the cutting blade 40 (the longest portion of the inclined cutting edge). The number of the spring members 50 that connect the first and second pressing members 44A and 44B to the support plate 48 is not limited to two, and may be three or more.

  A cylinder rod 52 </ b> A of the cylinder device 52 is connected to the center of the upper surface of the support plate 48. As a result, the cylinder device 52 is driven and the cylinder rod 52A is expanded and contracted in the arrow direction 54, whereby the cutting blade 40 supported by the support plate 48 and the first and second pressing members 44A and 44B are separated from each other. It moves up and down with respect to the label continuum L transported onto 36.

  When the label continuum L is used in the cutting operation mode, the label continuum L from the label supply unit 24 is sandwiched between the thermal head 22B and the platen roller 22A of the printing unit 22 to thereby print the printing unit 22. 2 is set so that the label continuum L printed in (1) is cut by the cutting blade 40 and issued from the label issuing port 26 (set line indicated by B in FIG. 2). At the same time, the controller 30 switches to the cutting operation mode by switching means for switching between the peeling operation mode and the cutting operation mode. That is, the driving of the turning and conveying means 38 is stopped and the cutting blade 40 and the first and second pressing members 44A and 44B are driven.

  FIG. 8 shows the order in which the cutting blade and the first and second pressing members come into contact with the peeling portion 36 through the label continuous body L when the continuous label body L is cut at the perforation 17. It is.

The label continuum L printed by the printing unit 22 is transported to the peeling unit 36 and the perforation 17 that is the cutting position of the belt-like mount 2 located between the labels 3 and 3 coincides with the cut grooves 42. It is temporarily stopped at the position. In this state, the cylinder device 52 is driven, and the cylinder rod 52A performs an extending operation. As a result, the cutting blade 40 supported by the support plate 48 and the first and second pressing members 44A and 44B are lowered as shown in FIG.
Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, the first pressing member 44A first comes into contact with the peeling portion 36 via the label continuum L and presses the upstream side of the label continuum L.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8C, the second pressing member 44 </ b> B comes into contact with the peeling portion 36 via the label continuum L. Thereby, the upstream side and the downstream side of the label continuum L on the peeling portion 36 are pressed against the peeling portion 36 with the kerf 42 interposed therebetween. Thereby, when cutting the label continuous body L with the cutting blade 40, even if the label continuous body L is pulled, it can be made not to move. In this cutting operation, the second pressing member 44B disposed on the downstream side abuts on the inclined surface 46 of the peeling portion 36, so that a force in a direction of sliding off the inclined surface 46 acts on the label continuum L. As a result, a tensile tension is applied to the label continuum L between the first pressing member 44A and the second pressing member 44B, so that a tension state is formed in the label continuum L.

  8D, the cutting blade 40 enters the cut groove 42 through the label continuous body L in this tension state. Thereby, the label continuum L is cut along the perforations 17. In this cutting, the cutting blade 40 as a flat plate blade is inclined along the width direction of the label continuum L with respect to the label continuum L on the peeling portion 36, so Cutting proceeds from one end side to the other end. Thus, since cutting | disconnection advances from the one end side of the label continuous body L to the other end, it can cut | disconnect with the label continuous body L being strained, Therefore Without using a pair of upper and lower flat blades conventionally However, it is possible to cut with high accuracy.

Further, as the label continuum L, a peeling / cutting combined label continuum L in which a perforation 17 is formed at a cutting position between the label 3 temporarily attached on the belt-like mount 2 and the label 3 is used. Since cutting is performed along the line 17, smooth cutting can be performed with one cutting blade 40.
Therefore, the label printer of the present invention can be used for both the peeling operation and the cutting operation by the single peeling / cutting combined unit 32.

In the present embodiment, the cutting blade 40 is a flat blade with an inclined blade edge, but a rotary blade or a cutter knife can also be used. In short, any cutting blade that cuts from one end in the width direction of the label continuous body L to the other end may be used.
In the present embodiment, the label continuous body L shown in FIG. 2 is used as the label continuous body L. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the label continuous body L between the first pressing member 44A and the second pressing member 44B is cut in a state where a tensile tension is applied, the perforation 17 is provided at the cutting position. It is possible to cut even if there is no perforation.

  Further, the light reflection type sensor 33 is used as a light transmission type sensor so that the position of the label is detected between the labels 3 and 3, thereby providing a timing mark formed on the belt-like mount 2. It does not have to be.

  As described above, since the label printer according to the present invention can be used for both the peeling operation and the cutting operation with one unit, it is convenient for the user and advantageous in terms of cost. The availability of is great.

  L: Label continuum, 2 ... Strip mount, 3 ... Label, 20 ... Label printer, 22 ... Printing section, 22A ... Platen roller, 22B ... Thermal head, 24 ... Label supply section, 26 ... Label issuing port, 28 ... Conveyance Mechanism 30 ... Controller 32 ... Separation / cutting unit 33 ... Print timing sensor 34 ... Guide roller 36 ... Separation part 36A ... Separation part tip part 38 ... Turning conveyance means 38A ... Turning roller 40 ... Cutting blade, 42 ... groove, 44A ... first pressing member, 44B ... second pressing member, 46 ... inclined surface of the peeling portion, 48 ... support plate, 50 ... spring member, 52 ... cylinder device, 52A ... Cylinder rod

Claims (5)

Peeling that can be used both as a peeling operation for separating and issuing labels one by one from a belt-like mount of a printed label continuum and a cutting operation for cutting and issuing a predetermined number of sheets at the cutting position of a printed label continuum A label printer equipped with a cutting unit
The peeling / cutting combined unit is
A peeling part for peeling the labels from the belt-like mount one by one by turning and conveying the belt-like mount of the label continuum;
A turning conveyance means for turning and conveying the belt-like mount through the peeling portion;
A cutting blade that cuts at the cutting position of the label continuum conveyed on the peeling part and advances the cutting from one end side to the other end side in the width direction of the label continuum;
A concave kerf that is formed in the peeling portion and into which the cutting blade enters during the cutting;
A pair of pressing members that press the upstream side and the downstream side across the kerf of the label continuum conveyed on the peeling unit against the peeling unit;
When the continuous label body is used in the peeling operation mode, the turning conveying means can be driven and the cutting blade and the pressing member are stopped, and the continuous label body is used in the cutting operation mode. A label printer comprising mode switching means for stopping driving of the turning and conveying means and enabling driving of the cutting blade and the pressing member. The label continuous body is a label continuous body for both peeling and cutting in which a plurality of labels are temporarily attached to one side of the belt-like mount at equal intervals and a perforation is formed at the cutting position. Item 2. The label printer according to item 1.   The cutting blade is a flat plate blade that is arranged to face the cut groove of the peeling portion and moves up and down, and the height of the blade edge is inclined along the width direction of the label continuum. The label printer according to 1 or 2.   The pair of pressing members are characterized in that the upstream pressing member comes into contact with the peeling portion via the label continuum prior to the downstream pressing member. Any one of the label printers.   5. The label printer according to claim 4, wherein the surface of the peeling portion with which the downstream pressing member is in contact is formed with a low inclined surface on the tip side of the peeling portion.

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