JP2015134481A - Roller, label conveyance device, and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a new roller capable of maintaining grip force and peeling performance to a mountless label constant even when the roller is repeatedly used, a label conveyance device with the roller, and a printer to be constituted by incorporating a printing mechanism in the label conveyance device.SOLUTION: Dimples (recesses) equivalent to or smaller than the minimum printing character size to be printed on a mountless label are aligned like diagonal lattices at fixed intervals on an outer peripheral surface of the roller. In addition, a label conveyance device for the mountless label is constituted by using the roller as a platen roller. A printer for the mountless label is further constituted by incorporating a printing mechanism for performing printing on the label in the conveyance device.

Description

  The present invention relates to a platen roller of a printing apparatus that directly prints on a strip-shaped label that is not attached to a mount (hereinafter referred to as a mountless label), a label conveying device that uses the roller, and a printing mechanism in the label conveying device. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus incorporating the above.

  In recent years, in supermarkets and the like, the mount after the label is issued becomes unnecessary waste, and therefore, a mountless label has been frequently used. As a platen roller for such mountless label, for example, the following Patent Documents 1 to The thing of 3 is known.

  The one described in Patent Document 1 is a platen roller formed of silicone rubber, and is provided with oblique grooves with respect to the rotation axis of the roller at a constant pitch. In this configuration, grooves in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the roller are provided on the surface of the roller at a constant pitch. Such grooves reduce the contact area ratio between the mountless label and the platen roller, thereby improving the peeling performance of the roller.

  Further, the one disclosed in Patent Document 3 is provided with a number of protrusions on the surface of a platen roller formed by coating an elastic body on the peripheral surface of a core metal (rotating shaft), thereby gripping the roller against a mountless label. And the peeling performance has been improved, and the limit of the amount of wear is made visible by the protrusions.

JP 2001-347715 A JP 2013-049146 A JP 2013-216081 A

  However, in the invention of Patent Document 1, there is a problem that an oblique groove provided in the platen roller causes the label to skew. In order to solve this problem, in FIG. 5B of Patent Document 1, a V-shaped two-way groove is used instead of a diagonal one-way groove, but the center of the label conveyance width is V-shaped. In the case where it does not coincide with the apex of the groove, there is a problem that the label meanders on the contrary because the left and right conveying forces of the platen roller differ from each other.

  On the other hand, in the invention of Patent Document 2, since the groove provided on the platen roller is in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis, the above-described meandering problem does not occur. However, since the grip force on the label of the platen roller and the peeling performance from the label are in a trade-off relationship, the peeling performance is kept constant while the groove is deep, but the adhesive or dust applied to the label When the toner is clogged in the groove, there is a problem that the peeling performance is deteriorated and the label is wound around the platen roller.

  In order to cope with this problem, in the invention of Patent Document 3, a large number of protrusions are protruded from the surface of the platen roller, and the protrusions hold the grip force and peeling performance against the label. However, it is composed of an inner layer that constitutes the protrusion and an outer layer that covers the root portion of the protrusion while exposing the protrusion from a minute hole, resulting in a complicated structure and an increase in manufacturing cost. It was.

  The present invention is intended to solve these problems, and a new roller capable of maintaining a constant grip force and peeling performance against a mount-less label even after repeated use, and a label transport provided with the roller. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a printing apparatus in which a printing mechanism is incorporated.

  In order to solve the above problems, the roller of the present invention is a roller in which the outer periphery of the rotating shaft is covered with silicone rubber, and dimples equivalent to or smaller than the minimum print character size to be used are provided on the roller. It is characterized in that the outer peripheral surface is arranged in diagonal lattice stripes with a certain interval.

  The dimple is formed of, for example, a circular or polygonal depression, and its size is equal to or smaller than the minimum print character size to be used. Thereby, compared with the groove | channel described in patent document 1 or 2, since an adhesive material and dust do not clog there, peeling performance can be kept constant. Further, since the dent is smaller than the print character size, the label can be issued without causing print distortion.

  Since the dimples applied to the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller are recessed inward and do not contact the adhesive surface of the mountless label, by providing this dimple at a contact area ratio that does not cause slippage with the mountless label, The peeling performance can be improved, and the mountless label can be prevented from being caught by the platen roller.

  In addition, since the dimples are arranged in a diagonal lattice pattern on the surface of the platen roller with a certain interval, the contact between the mountless label and the platen roller is always displaced to the left and right as the roller rotates. The label at is actively peeled off from the roller. Therefore, the mountless label can be conveyed while being stably peeled off from the roller without reducing the grip force with respect to the mountless label.

The above will be described based on the partially enlarged view of FIG. 1 in which the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller is developed in a plane.
In this figure, the dimples D are arranged in diagonal lattice stripes with a constant interval d. The dimple D may be circular or polygonal such as hexagonal or octagonal. If the region R surrounded by the alternate long and short dash line is a region where the platen roller and the mountless label are in contact with each other, the outer peripheral surface between the adjacent dimples D1 and D2 (the shaded region including the point P) is the label. This is the area where the adhesive surface is attached. When the roller rotates in this state, the area of the point P where the label is attached sends the label in the arrow direction F while gripping the label, so that the label is reliably conveyed.

  Subsequently, since the subsequent dimple D3 enters the region R including the point P so as to be replaced with the point P, the left and right temples surrounding it even if the label is attached to the point P of the roller and tries to rotate. Since D1 and D2 move away from the label, the label attached to the point P is peeled off by the strength of the label itself. Further, as the roller rotates, the area of the point Q that has not been in contact with the label so far enters the contact area R with the label, so that the contact area between the label and the roller changes from the point P to the left and right points Q. Will be displaced. In this way, the contact portion between the roller and the label is displaced so as to be separated into left and right, so that the label can be transported while firmly gripping the label while promoting the peeling of the label from the roller.

  The diameter of each dimple is equal to or smaller than the minimum print character size to be used. Therefore, if the minimum character size to be used is 5 points (about 1.75 mm), the diameter of the dimple D is 1.75 mm. For example, the depth is set to about 0.5 to 1 mm. If the distance d between the dimples D is adjusted, the contact area ratio between the roller and the label can be changed. Therefore, the distance d is adjusted so that the slip between the roller and the label is within an allowable range. Thereby, the peeling performance with respect to a label can be improved as much as possible, leaving a grip force that does not cause slippage between the roller and the label.

  The label conveying device of the present invention is characterized by comprising the roller and driving means for rotating the roller and conveying a mountless label fed to the roller. Thereby, it can be set as the label conveyance apparatus suitable for a mount-less label.

  The printing apparatus of the present invention includes the label conveying device, a printing unit that prints with the label sandwiched between the rollers, a pressing unit that presses the printing unit against the roller, the label conveying device, And a control unit for controlling the printing unit. Thereby, it can be set as the printing apparatus suitable for a mount-less label.

According to the present invention, the dimples arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the roller have a size equal to or smaller than the minimum print character size to be used, so that clean characters are printed on the label without causing printing distortion. be able to. Moreover, since each dimple is not a continuous groove as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, but a dimple that is slightly recessed, the label is not clogged with adhesive material, dust, etc. The grip strength and peeling performance can be maintained constant.
In addition, since each dimple is arranged in a lattice pattern that crosses diagonally with a certain interval on the outer peripheral surface of the roller, it is possible to improve the peeling performance as much as possible while maintaining a constant grip force for the roller label. it can. Therefore, even if label issuance is resumed after the label issuance is interrupted for a long time, the label can be reliably peeled off from the roller and conveyed.

  Moreover, according to the label conveying apparatus of this invention, the label conveying apparatus for mountless labels which can convey a label reliably can be provided.

  In addition, according to the printing apparatus of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus for mountless label that can reliably convey the label without impairing the printing quality and can prevent the label from being caught on the platen roller. be able to.

The elements on larger scale which developed the platen roller outer peripheral surface for explaining the present invention. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The front view of the platen roller of this invention. The block diagram of the said embodiment.

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

(1) Schematic Configuration of Printing Device FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, a printing apparatus 100 includes a support unit 1 that supports a hollow portion of a label roll LR, a label conveyance device 10 that conveys a label continuous body L fed from the outer periphery of the label roll LR toward a label issuing port 2, and The printing unit 20 for printing predetermined items on a continuous body L of mountless labels (hereinafter referred to as a label continuous body L) in front of the label issuing port 2 and a label issued from the label issuing port 2 are predetermined. A cutting means 3 for cutting into sizes, a control unit 30 (see FIG. 4) to control these, and a housing 4 for housing them are provided.

  The label roll LR is obtained by winding a continuous body L of strip-like mountless labels in a roll shape, and the front side is a printing surface that is colored by heat, and the back side is an adhesive surface to which an adhesive material is applied. Therefore, a silicon coat is applied to the printing surface side so that the adhesive material on the back surface side wound in a roll shape does not adhere to the printing surface.

  One end of the support portion 1 is fixed to the housing 4 and the other end is a free end. When the hollow portion of the label roll LR is inserted into the free end, the label roll LR is set in the housing 4. ing.

  The cutting means 3 includes a fixed blade 5, a movable blade 6, a rack and pinion 7 that moves the movable blade 6 up and down, and a cutter that moves the movable blade 6 up and down via a belt 8 attached to the rotation shaft of the pinion. Motor 9 is provided.

  The label conveying device 10 is fed out from the guide rollers 11 to 13 that guide the label continuous body L to a predetermined path, the platen roller 14 that sandwiches the label continuous body L up and down in cooperation with the printing unit 20, and the label roll LR. And a pair of upper and lower assist rollers 15 and 16 that sandwich the continuous label L vertically and feed it to the platen roller 14.

  The guide rollers 11 to 13 are in contact with the printing surface of the label continuum L, but the width of each of the rollers 11 to 13 is set shorter than the label width of the label continuum L, and the width of the label continuum L The adhesive material adhering to both ends in the direction is prevented from adhering to the rollers 11-13.

As shown in FIG. 3, the platen roller 14 is formed by coating the outer periphery of the rotating shaft 141 with silicone rubber 142, and dimples D smaller than the minimum character size to be printed are spaced apart on the outer peripheral surface. Are arranged in diagonal plaids.
The shape and arrangement of each dimple D is a characteristic part of the present invention, and details thereof will be described later.

The platen roller 14 sandwiches the label continuum L between the printing unit 20 and feeds it toward the label issuing port 2 while printing the label by the printing unit 20. Therefore, the uppermost end of the platen roller 14 is disposed at a position in contact with the heating element row of the printing unit 20. The rotation shaft 141 of the platen roller 14 is connected to a platen motor 143 through a timing belt 142. The platen motor 143 is composed of a stepping motor capable of intermittent feeding, and is rotated by the control unit 30 so as to feed the continuous label L sandwiched between the printing unit 20 one dot line at the time of printing. The
The platen motor 143 and the timing belt 142 serve as driving means 140 that rotationally drives the platen roller 14.

  The assist rollers 15 and 16 feed the label continuous body L in cooperation with the platen roller 14, are formed of a silicone rubber roller, and are configured to operate in synchronization with the platen roller 14. Therefore, the rotating shaft 151 of the assist roller 15 is connected to the assist motor 153 via the timing belt 152. The other assist roller 16 presses the label continuous body L against the assist roller 15 to ensure a gripping force. In this embodiment, the platen motor 143 and the assist motor 153 are operated synchronously in order to move the label continuum L in the direction of the label issuing port 2 or in the reverse direction. The two motors 143 and 153 may be combined into one so that they can be operated synchronously with the same motor.

  The printing unit 20 is composed of a thermal head in which minute heating elements are arranged in the width direction of the label, and prints by bringing these heating elements into contact with the printing surface of the label continuum L. Print items include, for example, product names, additives, advertising texts, registration codes, barcodes, symbols, unit prices, contents, amount, amount, processing date, processing time, expiration date, best time, calories, product type, storage method , Store name, address, etc.

  Further, on the upper surface of the printing unit 20, a pressure bonding unit 21 that presses the printing unit 20 against the platen roller 14 is provided. The crimping means 21 includes an arm member 22 that is detachably fixed to the housing 4, and a coil spring 23 that is inserted between the arm member 22 and the printing unit 20. When the arm member 22 is fixed to the housing 4 with the label continuous body L inserted between the platen roller 14 and the printing unit 20, the arm member 22 is connected to the label continuous body via the coil spring and the printing unit 20. The back surface (adhesive surface) of L is pressed against the platen roller 14.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the printing apparatus 100. In this figure, the control unit 30 is composed of a microcomputer and executes a built-in program so as to send the label continuum L toward the label issuing port 2 while printing predetermined items on the label continuum L. It has become. Therefore, the control unit 30 includes an operation display unit 31 for inputting various print data and print formats and displaying necessary information, a platen motor 143 for rotating the platen roller 14, and an assist roller 15. An assist motor 153 that rotates, a printing unit 20 that prints predetermined items on the label continuous body L, and a cutter motor 9 that cuts the label continuous body L issued from the label issuing port 2 into a predetermined size are connected. Moreover, the weighing device 40 is connected as necessary.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the platen roller 14 which is a feature of the present invention is formed in a cylindrical shape by covering a rotating shaft 141 made of stainless steel with a silicone rubber 142 having a hardness of 45, and its outer peripheral surface. In this example, dimples D that are equal to or smaller than the minimum print character size to be used are arranged in a diagonal grid pattern with a constant interval d (see FIG. 1).

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, when the minimum character size printed on the mountless label is 5 points (about 1.75 mm), the diameter of the dimple D is set to 1-1.75 mm and the depth is set to 0.5. ~
It is set to 1mm. Further, the distance d between adjacent dimples D is set in the range of 0.25 mm to 1.08 mm so that the contact area ratio with the label is in the range of about 40% to about 70%. This range is a value obtained by experiments as a range in which no slip occurs between the platen roller 14 and the label continuum L and a range in which winding can be prevented. However, this range is a relative value that varies depending on the adhesive strength of the label.

<Experimental example>
Next, an experimental example for determining the contact area ratio is shown. In this experiment, a platen roller 14 having an outer diameter of 15 mm and a silicone rubber hardness of 45 was used. The target label continuum L was 60 mm in width and 9800 mN / 25 mm in adhesive strength. The experiment was performed at a conveyance speed of the label continuum L of 120 mm / sec, an air temperature of 23 °, and a humidity of 60%. .

(Experimental Example 1) Sliding Experiment First, an experiment was conducted to confirm how much the contact area ratio between the platen roller 14 and the label continuum L would cause slipping. The used platen roller 14 has a dimple D with a diameter of 1.75 mm and a depth of 1 mm, and this depth does not affect the slip so much, so here, the distance d is changed to obtain various contact area ratios. A platen roller was created.
In the sliding experiment, the label continuum L was set to be transported by 55 mm at the transport speed, the transport distance between them was measured, and the presence or absence of slip was examined from the deviation between the measured value and the set transport amount. .

  In the pattern of FIG. 1, the following relational expression is established between the contact area ratio and the interval d.

  Here, d is the interval shown in FIG. 1, r is the radius of the dimple D, and (d + 2r) is the length of one side of an oblique grid-like rectangle with the four corners of the four dimples D in FIG. is there.

  As a result of the experiment, when the distance d is set to 0.25 mm and the contact area ratio at that time becomes 40% or less, slipping occurs, so that the contact area ratio of 40% is the lower limit under the above conditions.

(Experimental Example 2) Winding Experiment Next, an experiment was performed to determine how much the contact area ratio between the platen roller 14 and the label continuum L is to wind the label continuum L around the platen roller 14. In this experiment, the continuous label L was continuously transported at the transport speed, and the transport distance until it was wound around the platen roller 14 was measured. Note that the experiment was terminated when the temperature reached 20 km.
Also in this case, a platen roller 14 having a dimple D diameter of 1.75 mm and a depth of 1 mm was used. When the distance d is 1.08 mm and the contact area ratio at that time becomes 70%, winding around the roller 14 occurs before reaching 20 km. Under this condition, the contact area ratio 70% is the upper limit. Become.

  In the above embodiment, the dimple D is applied to the platen roller 14, but the dimple D similar to the platen roller 14 may be applied to one of the assist rollers 15 and 16. In this experiment, a platen roller 14 having a dimple D diameter of 1.75 mm and a depth of 1 mm was used. However, even if the dimple D diameter was changed to 2 mm or changed to 1.5 mm, there was a difference in sliding and winding. The contact area ratio seems to have a large effect because

10 Label transport device
14 Platen roller (roller)
20 Printing unit 21 Crimping means 30 Control unit 100 Label printing device 140 Drive mechanism L Mountless label (continuous label)
D dimple d interval

Claims (3)

  A roller whose outer periphery of the rotating shaft is coated with silicone rubber, and dimples that are equal to or smaller than the minimum print character size printed on the mountless label are obliquely spaced apart from the outer periphery of the roller. A roller characterized by being arranged in a lattice pattern.   A label transport apparatus for transporting a mountless label, comprising: the roller according to claim 1; and a drive mechanism for transporting the mountless label fed to the roller by rotating the roller. Label transport device.   It is a printing apparatus provided with the label conveyance apparatus of Claim 2, Comprising: The printing part which pinches | interposes the said mount-less label between the said rollers of the said label conveyance apparatus, and presses the said printing part against the said roller A printing apparatus comprising: a pressure-bonding unit; and a control unit that controls the label conveying device and the printing unit.

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