JP2017074955A - Label printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a new label printer which can suppress stagnation in the sticking work due to label jam to the minimum level by early detecting conveyance failure in a case of continuously issuing a plurality of labels in a sheet state while making the best use of the advantage of a mountless label.SOLUTION: A label printer includes: a temporarily-attaching part which holds a label cut out from a mountless label and overlaps a tip of a following label on a rear end of the held label; a label detection part which irradiates the labels held by the temporarily-attaching part with light and detects the edge of the overlapped portion of the labels from the transmitted light; an abnormal detection part which detects the conveyance abnormality of the labels from the abnormality in the appearance pattern of the edge; and a print control part which stops feeding of the mountless label when detecting the conveyance abnormality of the labels.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a label printer which can issue a mountless label one by one and issue it in a sheet form.

  When affixing price labels to prepared foods, lunch boxes, etc. in supermarkets, etc., multiple flat-rate labels are issued continuously with a mount at once, and each sheet is placed on the lunch box, etc. It is peeled off and pasted.

  Conventional labels with a mount can be issued in a state in which a plurality of labels are connected with a mount without separating the label from the mount. However, in the case of a mountless label that has recently been used, since the label is printed and then cut and issued from the label roll, it is not possible to return the labels to a state in which they are connected in a sheet form. For this reason, as in the past, it is not possible to carry and affix labels that are connected in sheet form to the product.For example, when sticking flat-rate labels to lunch boxes arranged on a serving table in order, for example, Even if the label printer is installed on the serving table, each time a label is issued, it must be transported and pasted to individual lunch boxes, which makes the pasting work inefficient.

  Therefore, the present applicant has filed as Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-218786 a label printer that can issue continuously by attaching the leading end of the subsequent label to the trailing end of the preceding label. According to this, even though it is a mountless label that is issued one by one, it can be issued in a state where a plurality of labels are linked in a sheet form, so even when pasting on products such as lunch boxes Labels can be peeled off one by one from the stacked sheets.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-252021

  However, in this label printer, there are cases where labels are not normally issued due to various causes. For example, by repeatedly issuing a label, an adhesive material may adhere to the cutter blade, which may cause cutting failure. Also, when label issuance is interrupted and resumed, labels before and after may not be properly attached due to label curling or the like, and may be jammed in the middle.

  As is well known, the mountless label is issued with the adhesive surface exposed, and if such a trouble occurs during the label issuance, the label may adhere to the transport path and cause an unexpected failure. In particular, when such a trouble occurs when a plurality of labels are continuously issued, the labels stick to each other and the labels cannot be used, and the label attaching operation may be delayed. Therefore, there is an attempt to detect a trouble at an early stage by providing a sensor that detects a label conveyance failure. However, the conventional sensor technology for a label with a mount cannot cope with such a trouble.

  That is, the label printer described in Patent Document 1 detects a conveyance failure of a label sheet based on a change in detection timing by a transmission optical sensor. In this label printer, a label with a mount is used, Since the feed length for one sheet is also constant, it can be easily set as to how much the detection timing fluctuates to cause a conveyance failure. However, in the case of a mount-less label, the feed length for one label differs depending on the amount of data printed on the label, so sensor technology that can detect the label at regular intervals, such as a label with a mount, is used. However, there is a problem that cannot be applied to a mountless label.

  The present invention is intended to solve the problems peculiar to this mount-less label, and has the advantage of a mount-less label that can freely print various labels with different feeding lengths for one sheet depending on the product. We provide a new label printer that can quickly detect poor transport when multiple labels are issued in a row while minimizing the delay in pasting work due to clogging. The task is to do.

  A label printer according to the present invention holds a label cut out from a mount-less label, a temporary attachment portion that superimposes the leading end portion of a subsequent label on the rear end portion of the held label, and the temporary attachment portion. A label detection unit that irradiates light to the label and detects an edge of an overlapping portion of the label from the transmitted light, an abnormality detection unit that detects a conveyance error of the label from an abnormality of the appearance pattern of the edge, and a label conveyance And a print control unit that stops feeding of the mountless label when an abnormality is detected.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration for explaining the solution principle of the present invention. In this figure, a label printer P includes a printing unit 1 that prints on a label by a print head 11 while conveying a mountless label L by a platen roller 12, and a printed label that is arranged on the downstream side of the printing unit 1. Is cut at the boundary with the subsequent label, a temporary attachment portion 3 that holds the cut label L1, and superimposes the leading end portion of the subsequent label L2 on the rear end portion of the held label L1, and a temporary attachment portion 3 The label detector 4 for detecting the edge of the overlapping portion of each label and the detected pattern of the appearance of the detected edge by the projector 41 for irradiating the label with light and the receiver 42 for detecting the transmitted light. An abnormality detection unit 5 that detects a label conveyance abnormality from an abnormality, and a print control unit that stops issuing a mountless label by stopping the platen roller 12 when a label conveyance abnormality is detected. Provided with a door. Moreover, the temporary attachment part 3 has the pressing member 31 which hold | maintains the label L1 lightly from the front and back, and the roller 32 arrange | positioned facing it.

  2 and 3 show the operation transition of the label printer P of FIG. In these drawings, FIG. 2A shows a state where the preceding label L1 is printed by the print head 11 and then separated from the succeeding label L2 by the cutter 2. FIG. The mountless label L used here has a printing surface on the upper side and an adhesive surface on the lower side. Then, the preceding label L1 that has been printed and printed is cut by the cutter 2 at the boundary with the subsequent label L2 while being held by the temporary attachment portion 3. At this time, the temporary attaching portion 3 holds the front and back of the preceding label L1 lightly by the upper pressing member 31 and the lower roller 32, and holds the rear end portion of the preceding label L1 in a forward inclined posture. That is, the contact position between the pressing member 31 and the roller 32 is set at a position slightly inclined forward from the rotation center of the roller 32, and the preceding label L 1 is held between the pressing member 31 and the roller 32. The rear end of the preceding label L1 jumps up. Since the mountless label L is stiff due to the application of the release agent to the printing surface, the rear end portion can be flipped up only by holding the preceding label L1 in the forward inclined posture.

  If the rear end portion of the preceding label L1 hangs down below the front end portion of the subsequent label L2, the length at which the temporary attachment portion 3 hangs down toward the cutter 2 is shortened. Alternatively, the forward tilt posture of the label L1 is adjusted by adjusting the contact position between the pressing member 31 and the roller 32. Alternatively, when the cutter 2 having the fixed blade 21 on the upper side and the movable blade 22 on the lower side is used and the lower movable blade 22 rises and cuts the rear end portion of the preceding label L1, the movable blade 22 leads. The rear end portion of the label L1 is flipped up, thereby forcibly moving the rear end portion of the preceding label L1 to a position that does not hinder the progress of the front end portion of the subsequent label L2. Further, when the movable blade 22 is returned, if there is a possibility that the rear end portion that has bounced up will drip again, a linear member that blows air toward the rear end portion or hooks the rear end portion that has bounced up near the fixed blade 21. Or the like so that the rear end portion of the label L1 is held at a position that does not hinder the progress of the front end portion of the subsequent label L2.

  FIG. 2B shows a state in which the leading end of the succeeding label L2 sinks under the trailing end of the preceding label L1 that has jumped up as the succeeding label L2 is subsequently printed and issued. When the leading end of the succeeding label L2 enters under the trailing end of the preceding label L1 and comes into contact with the adhesive surface of the preceding label L1, both labels L1 and L2 are in close contact with each other. In this state, when the succeeding label L2 is further sent out, the preceding label L1 is pushed out by the succeeding label L2 and sent out from the temporary attachment portion 3. Therefore, the roller 32 is preferably a rotatable roller.

  FIG. 2C shows a state where the succeeding label L2 is printed by the printing unit 1 and then separated from the mountless label L by the cutter 2. FIG. Also in this case, the printed subsequent label L2 is held up and down by the temporary attachment portion 3, and the boundary with the subsequent label L3 is cut by the cutter 2. When cut, the succeeding label L2 is in a forward inclined posture by the holding of the pressing member 31 and the roller 32, so that the rear end part jumps up as described above.

  By repeating these operations, the leading edge of the succeeding label is joined to the trailing edge of the preceding label one after another. Can be issued.

  In FIG. 2, the upper printing surface of the subsequent label L2 is partially overlapped with the lower adhesive surface of the preceding label L1, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the opposite is true. That is, the case where the lower adhesive surface of the subsequent label L2 is partially overlapped with the upper printing surface of the preceding label L1 is also included.

  FIG. 3 shows an operation transition diagram in the opposite case. FIG. 3A shows a state where the preceding label L1 is printed by the printing unit 1 and then separated from the succeeding label L2 by the cutter 2. FIG. In this case as well, the preceding label L1 is cut by the cutter 2 at the boundary with the subsequent label L2 while being held up and down by the temporary attachment portion 3 as described above. At this time, the temporary attachment portion 3 gently presses the front and back of the preceding label L1 with the pressing member 31 and the roller 32, and retracts the rear end portion of the preceding label L1 downward to hold the holding member 31 of the temporary attachment portion 3. The position of the contact point between the roller 32 and the roller 32 is adjusted in the reverse direction.

In this case, it is preferable that the upper end of the roller 32 is positioned below the leading end of the subsequent label L2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the contact position between the pressing member 31 and the roller 32 is set to the rotation of the roller 32. When approaching the cutter 2 side from the center, the leading label L1 held between them has an upward slope with the leading end of the label being high and the trailing end being low with the contact position as the center. There is no problem even if it is slightly higher than the tip of the label L2.
Moreover, in this case, it is preferable to arrange the movable blade 22 of the cutter 2 on the upper side and the fixed blade 21 on the lower side.

  FIG. 3B shows a state in which the succeeding label L2 is subsequently printed and issued, whereby the leading end of the succeeding label L2 is pushed by the pressing member 31 and overlaps the trailing end of the preceding label L1. When the leading end of the succeeding label L2 comes into contact with the trailing end of the preceding label L1, the labels L1 and L2 are joined together vertically, and the succeeding label L2 is sent out in this state, so that the preceding label L1 is pushed against the succeeding label L2. Then, it is sent out from the temporary attachment part 3.

  FIG. 3C shows a state where the succeeding label L2 is printed by the printing unit 1 and then separated from the mountless label L by the cutter 2. In this case as well, the succeeding label L2 that has been printed is cut by the cutter 2 while being held up and down by the temporary attachment portion 3.

  By repeating these operations, the leading edge of the succeeding label is joined to the trailing edge of the preceding label one after another, so the labels are issued one by one but are continuously issued as a series of labels in a sheet form. can do.

  When the boundary between the preceding label L1 and the succeeding label L2 is sent to the cutter position, the printing start position of the succeeding label L2 passes through the print head 11, so that the succeeding label L2 separated from the preceding label L1 at the time of printing. Start printing after retracting to the print position. However, in the present invention, the invention is not limited to this. For example, the first label that has jumped out to the cutting position starts to be printed after being retracted to the printing position. When the border between the preceding label L1 and the succeeding label L2 comes to the cutting position, printing is sequentially performed on each label. At that time, the feed of the mountless label is temporarily stopped and cut by the cutter 2, and the mountless label is fed again. The printing may be continued.

  Since the overlap margin of the preceding label L1 and the succeeding label L2 is determined by the distance between the cutter 2 and the temporary attachment portion 3, the temporary attachment portion 3 is configured to be movable in the label traveling direction, and the cut length of the label It is preferable that the overlap allowance can be adjusted according to the above. Further, if the pressing member 31 can be moved along the surface of the roller 32, the issued label can be freely switched between the forward tilt posture and the reverse tilt posture. Further, the pressing member 31 may be a plate or a roller. Furthermore, the cutter 2 does not need to have one fixed blade 21 and the other movable blade 22, and both may be movable blades. As the print head 11, various types such as a thermal type, an ink ribbon type, and an ink jet type can be adopted.

  In this way, when the front and rear labels are partially overlapped and issued in a sheet form, the overlap margin OL of each label L1 to L5 is temporarily attached to the cutter 2 as shown in FIG. It is uniquely determined by the distance to the part 3. Further, since the feed length for one label is determined by the print data amount of each label L1 to L5, when continuously issuing labels of the same print data amount, the label detection unit 4 detects each label. As shown in FIG. 4B, the edge of the overlapping portion has a periodic pattern in which the amount of received light decreases at the overlapping margin OL.

  By the way, the transport time T0 from the printing start time of each label until the leading edge of the label reaches the detection position of the label detection unit 4 is the transport speed of the label and the transport distance until the label reaches the detection position. It can be obtained from In this case, the transport distance is always constant because the label detection position is fixed even if the feed length for one label is different. Therefore, it is preferable to obtain the above-described transport time T0 in advance by a test operation.

  In FIG. 4B, the delay time T from when the label detection unit 4 detects the leading edge E1 of the leading label L1 until the leading edge E2 of the next succeeding label L2 is detected, and the overlap margin OL passes. The time t can be obtained from the label conveyance speed, the feed length of one label, and the length of the overlap margin OL. Here, the length of the overlap allowance OL is substantially constant if the posture when the preceding label L1 and the subsequent label L2 are joined is constant, and the length of the overlap allowance OL can be obtained in advance by a test operation. Therefore, it is preferable that the passing time t of the overlap allowance OL is obtained in advance and set as an initial value.

  On the other hand, since the feed length for one label changes according to the printing amount of the label, the feed control unit 6 specifies the feed length. The print control unit 6 expands the print data into two-dimensional image data when printing is started, and at that time, can specify the feed length for one label from the data amount in the feed direction. Therefore, the print control unit 6 specifies the feed length for one sheet for each label immediately before the start of printing on each label. However, when the same printing content is repeatedly printed on each label, the feed length for the first identified label is repeatedly used for the subsequent labels.

  The abnormality detection unit 5 subtracts the length of the overlap margin OL from the feed length to determine the label transport distance from when the leading edge E1 of the preceding label L1 is detected to when the leading edge E2 of the subsequent label L2 is detected. Then, the transport distance is divided by the transport speed of the label, and the delay time T from the preceding leading edge E1 until the next leading edge E2 is detected is determined.

  When printing is started, the print control unit 6 sends a start signal to the abnormality detection unit 5. The abnormality detection unit 5 measures the elapsed time with a soft timer with the start signal as a cue, and if the leading label L1 is detected by the label detection unit 4 when the measurement time reaches the aforementioned transport time T0. The leading label L1 is normally conveyed, and if it is not detected, it can be determined that a conveyance abnormality has occurred.

  If the conveyance is normal, the measurement of the elapsed time is started again when the leading edge E1 of the leading label L1 is detected by the label detection unit 4. If the leading edge E2 of the subsequent label L2 is detected by the label detection unit 4 when the measurement time reaches the delay time T described above, the subsequent label L2 is normally conveyed. It can be determined that a conveyance abnormality has occurred. Each time the leading edges E1 to E5 are detected in this way, the conveyance time of each label L2 to L5 can be detected by comparing the measurement time between them and the next delay time T. Therefore, even if the feed length for each label is different, the delay time T corresponding to each label is obtained in advance, and the obtained delay time T is compared with each measurement time to obtain each label. A conveyance abnormality can be detected.

  However, since there is some variation in label conveyance, it is considered that there is some deviation in the detection timing in the label detection unit 4.

  In the above, the conveyance abnormality of each label is detected by comparing the measurement time from the edge detection time with the calculation delay time T until the next edge is detected. When outputting the number of feed pulses of the label as the feed length for one sheet, it can be used as it is. In that case, the transport time T0 and the passage time t of the overlap allowance OL as constant values are converted into the number of feed pulses, and are registered in the abnormality detection unit 5 as initial values.

  Then, a pulse signal at the time of label conveyance is input to the abnormality detection unit 5, and when it is input, the abnormality detection unit 5 counts the pulse signal, and the obtained count value and the print control unit 6 The conveyance abnormality of each label is detected while collating with the number of feed pulses for each fed label. In this case, the number of feed pulses for each label may be the same or different. The case where they are different is a case where these different labels are alternately issued continuously, for example, when a product name label and an additive label are attached to one product.

  When the count value reaches the number of feed pulses corresponding to the transport time T0 from when the leading label L1 starts printing until the leading edge E1 is detected, the leading edge E1 is detected by the label detector 4. If detected, it can be determined that the leading label L1 is being conveyed normally, otherwise it can be determined that a conveyance error has occurred. Of course, since there is some variation in the conveyance of each label, it is considered that there is some error in the detection timing in the label detection unit 4. In printing, when a label is first back-feeded by a predetermined amount and then printed while being fed in the forward direction, pulse signals are counted from the start of conveyance in the forward direction.

  Subsequently, the pulse signal is counted again from the detection time of the leading edge E1 of the leading label L1, and when the count value reaches the number of feed pulses corresponding to the delay time T that the subsequent label L2 arrives, the subsequent signal is counted. If the leading edge E2 of the label L2 is detected, it can be determined that the subsequent label L2 is normally conveyed, and if not, it can be determined that a conveyance abnormality has occurred. In this case as well, it is taken into account that there are some errors. Thus, by comparing the count value of the pulse signal with the number of feed pulses corresponding to the delay time T of each label, the feed length (number of feed pulses) for one label L2 to L5 is different. In addition, it is possible to detect the conveyance abnormality of each label.

  In the above case, in the case of a short label in which the feeding of one label is completed before the label reaches the label detection unit 4 in FIG. 1, the label detection unit 4 is connected to the cutter 2 and the temporary attachment unit 3. Place it in between. In that case, a hole is made in the pressing member 31, and light is emitted from the hole toward the label. Alternatively, a pressing roller may be arranged in place of the pressing member 31.

  In the above, even when the feed length for each label is different, the conveyance abnormality can be detected. However, since the feed length of each label is the same, FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, when the leading edges E1 to E5 of each label appear periodically, it is possible to detect a label conveyance abnormality from the regularity.

  For example, the delay time T from when the label detection unit 4 detects the leading edge E1 of the leading label L1 until the leading edge E2 of the next label L2 is detected is measured, and then the next leading edge is detected with the same delay time T. Depending on whether or not the edge E3 is detected, it is possible to detect the conveyance abnormality of the subsequent labels L2 to L5. In this case, since the delay time T from the detection of the leading edge E1 to the detection of the next leading edge E2 is used as a reference, the conveyance abnormality is detected for the second and subsequent labels. Also in this case, it is considered that there is some error in the detection timing. According to this, since it is not necessary to input the feed length for one label from the print control unit 6, it is possible to easily detect the label conveyance abnormality, and particularly when the same size label is repeatedly issued. It will be effective.

  FIG. 4A shows an example in which the fifth label L5 is not cut due to some abnormality. In this case, even if the delay time T elapses after the leading edge E5 of the fifth label L5 is detected, the next leading edge is not detected. Is determined, and the print control unit 6 is notified of the result. In response to this, the print controller 6 immediately stops the platen roller 12. As a result, it is possible to minimize damage caused by the label being clogged and becoming unusable, or the adhesive surface of the label adhering to the transport path and taking time to remove it.

According to the present invention, in the case where the leading end of the subsequent label is superimposed on the trailing end of the preceding label and issued in a sheet form, the label conveyance abnormality is detected from the abnormality in the appearance pattern of the label overlapping portion, Since the conveyance of the label is immediately stopped, the stagnation of the pasting operation due to the clogging of the label can be minimized.
In addition, since it is possible to detect label conveyance abnormality based on the feed length of each label, a label printer particularly suitable for a mountless label whose label length varies depending on the amount of printing on the label. Can do.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a label printer for explaining a solution principle of the present invention. The operation | movement transition diagram in case the front and back labels are partially overlapped under the above schematic configuration. The operation | movement transition diagram which changed how to overlap when the front and back labels are partially overlapped. A graph of the label sheet with the front and rear labels partially overlapping and the amount of light received. 1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of an electronic scale equipped with a label printer of the present invention. The perspective view of the state which pulled out the label cassette from the electronic balance of the said embodiment. Sectional drawing of the principal part of the printing part of the said label printer. The block diagram of the electronic balance.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an electronic scale equipped with the label printer of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The following embodiments do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

  5-7, the electronic balance 100 with a printer is incorporated in a main body case C, a label printer P incorporated therein, a weighing unit W installed on the upper portion of the main body case C, and the main body case C. A control unit B (see FIG. 8) that controls the label printer P and the weighing unit W and a power supply unit that is also incorporated in the main body case C and supplies power to the printer P and the control unit B are provided. In addition, a touch panel type operation display unit D is attached to the front side of the main body case C operated by the store clerk, and a customer side display unit CD is attached to the back side.

  The label printer P is housed in the right-side main body case C, and an opening / closing door G is provided on the front side thereof. Further, when the operation display unit D provided in front of the label printer P is flipped up, FIG. Thus, the open / close door G can be opened downward. When the opening / closing door G is opened, the cassette CA for storing the label roll can be taken out from the inside. A handle H is attached to the front portion of the cassette CA, and the cassette CA can be pulled out from the main body case C by pulling it forward.

  The label printer P includes a cassette CA for storing a label roll (not shown), a platen roller 12 provided at the upper end of the cassette CA, a print head 11 provided on the back surface of the opening / closing door G, and an upper front end of the main body case C. The label unit detects the edge of the overlapped label from the transmitted light by irradiating the label held by the cutter unit 20 provided in the vicinity, the temporary attachment part 30 provided in the vicinity thereof, and the label held by the temporary attachment part 30 with light. Part 40. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a roll support portion R is attached to the side wall CA1 of the cassette CA in a cantilever state, and a label roll can be attached thereto. The label roll is obtained by winding a strip-like mountless label L (see FIG. 1) around a paper tube, and the mountless label L drawn from the roll is a guide roller attached in a cantilever manner to a side wall CA1 of the cassette CA. Then, it is delivered to the platen roller 12 at the upper end of the tip.

  The mount-less label L is obtained by laminating an adhesive on the back surface of paper as a base material, applying a heat-sensitive agent that develops heat on the surface, and laminating a silicon resin as a release agent thereon. Since the label roll is wound around the paper tube with the back surface of the mountless label L facing inward, the label roll is mounted and sent out so that the back surface is in contact with the platen roller 12.

  The print head 11 provided on the back surface of the open / close door G is a thermal print head, and when the open / close door G is closed, the heat generation line is positioned so as to contact the platen roller 12 of the accommodated cassette CA. ing.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the printing unit 10 having the print head 11 and the platen roller 12. In this figure, a support frame 13 is attached to the back surface of the door G so as to be close to and away from the door G via a hinge (not shown), and the print head 11 is fixed to the inside of the support frame 13. Yes. A spring 14 is provided between the support frame 13 and the open / close door G to press the print head 11 against the platen roller 12 when the open / close door G is closed.

  A platen roller 12 is attached to the upper end of the cassette CA, and a first guide plate 15 for restricting the movement path of the printed label L is attached to the upper part of the platen roller 12. Further, a gear mechanism for driving the platen roller 12 is incorporated in the side wall CA1 of the cassette CA in FIG. 6, and when the cassette CA is mounted on the main body case C, the gear mechanism is connected to the drive motor so that the platen roller 12 is It is designed to rotate. This drive motor is a known motor driven by inputting a pulse signal.

  On the other hand, a second guide plate 16 for restricting the movement path of the printed label L is attached to the front end of the support frame 13 on the door G side, and when the door G is closed, the first guide plate 15 and the first guide plate 15 are connected. The two guide plates 16 are fed with a label L printed from the gap at the front end thereof, opposite to the letter “C”.

  A cutter unit 20 having a fixed blade 21 and a movable blade 22 is mounted on the main body case C above the pair of guide plates 15 and 16 and the platen roller 12. The cutter unit 20 has a movable blade 22 connected to a crank mechanism inside the unit 20 so as to reciprocate in a horizontal direction with the fixed blade 21 at a high speed.

  The space between the fixed blade 21 and the movable blade 22 is disposed so as to face the gap between the pair of guide plates 15 and 16 in the vertical direction. Moreover, the temporary attachment part 30 is arrange | positioned above it.

  The temporary attachment part 30 is comprised by the free roller 32 and the pressing member 31 which lightly presses the label L on the surface. In order to reduce the contact area with the adhesive surface of the label L, the free roller 32 is composed of a rotatable roller having an uneven surface. The pressing member 31 is used to lightly press the printed label L against the free roller 32, and is formed of a thin resin plate. Moreover, the space | interval of the temporary attachment part 30 and the fixed blade 21 is set to the distance which can fully hold | maintain the front-end | tip part of the issued label L. FIG. In this embodiment, the free roller 32 and the pressing member 31 are fixed to the cover case 23 covering the cutter unit 20, but the temporary attachment portion 30 is unitized so that it can be moved close to and away from the fixed blade 21. May be.

  The label detection unit 40 includes a light projector 41 that irradiates light to the label held by the temporary attachment unit 30 and a light receiver 42 that receives light transmitted through the label, and transmitted light detected by the light receiver 42. Overlapping label edges are detected from changes in. For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, the output level of the light receiver 42 changes when there is no label, when there is one label, and when there are two labels. Detect edges.

  In FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the label detection unit 40 is disposed on the upper part of the temporary attachment part 30, but it may be disposed on the lower part of the temporary attachment part 30. For example, the projector 41 and the light receiver 42 are arranged opposite to each other side by side with the cutter unit 20 shown in FIG. Moreover, since it is sufficient that one is the light projector 41 and the other is the light receiver 42, their arrangement may be replaced with that shown in the figure.

5 and 6, the weighing unit W includes a load cell having a well-known configuration that converts mechanical strain into an electric signal, a signal processing circuit that amplifies the load cell output and converts it into a digital signal, and a digital signal for the main body case. A communication module that wirelessly transmits to the control unit B in C, and a battery unit that supplies power to them are provided. In the main body case C, the communication module that receives the digital signal transmitted from the weighing unit W, the received signal is converted into mass, and the price is calculated by multiplying it by the unit price per unit mass set. In addition, a control unit B for displaying it on the operation display unit D and the customer display unit CD, a printer P, and a power supply unit for supplying power to these units are housed.
In this embodiment, the mass signal is wirelessly transmitted from the measuring unit W to the control unit B, but may be transmitted by wire instead.

  The operation display unit D includes a touch panel D1 and a fixed key D2. Basic information necessary for the operation of the electronic balance 100 with a printer is displayed on the touch panel D1 under the control of the control unit B. The fixed key D2 includes a “unit price” key, a “fixed amount” key, a “tare” key, a “print” key, a “call” key, and the like necessary for the fee scale, and these are appropriately arranged together with numeric keys. . Then, after operating the “call” key and touching the displayed item to read the registration information of the product to be weighed, if the product is placed on the weighing unit W, the weight, price, product name, etc. are displayed on the touch panel D1. Are displayed on the customer display CD. In addition, the customer side display unit CD is also constituted by a liquid crystal display, and displays various advertising messages regarding products in addition to weight and price.

  FIG. 8 shows a configuration block diagram of the electronic balance 100 with a printer. In this figure, the control unit B includes a CPU 50, a ROM 51, a RAM 52, and an HDD (hard disk) 53, and is electrically connected to a weighing unit W, an operation display unit D, a fixed key D2, a customer side display unit CD, a label printer P. It is connected to the.

The ROM 51 stores a control program for the electronic scale and the label printer P.
Various functions of the abnormality detection unit 5 and the print control unit 6 described above are realized by the U50 reading and executing. Therefore, in FIG. 8, these are displayed in the control unit B as function blocks.

  The RAM 52 stores, for example, label issuance reservation registration data, a label issuance log file, print data to be output to the label printer P, and the like. In addition to the product master 531, the HDD 53 stores various types of information necessary for printing.

  When using as a crisp, press the “call” key and place the product on the weighing unit W. Alternatively, the product name is designated from the touch panel D1. Then, the weight, price, product name, etc. of the product are displayed on the touch panel D1 and the customer display unit CD. When the “print” key is operated, the platen roller 12 rotates in the reverse direction, and the leading edge of the label is returned to the heat generation line of the print head 11 while the label L fed to the cutting position is moved backward. Subsequently, while the platen roller 12 rotates in the forward direction to feed out the label L, the weight, price, product information, etc. are printed in a predetermined format. Meanwhile, the fed label L passes between the pair of guide plates 15 and 16 and further rises through between the fixed blade 21 and the movable blade 22. Even after the printing is completed, the platen roller 12 further rotates until the boundary with the subsequent label reaches the cutting position. Thereby, the leading end portion of the label L enters between the pressing member 31 and the free roller 32. Then, the leading end portion of the label L is pushed by the pressing member 31 and tilted toward the measuring unit W side.

  When the feeding by the platen roller 12 is stopped, the cutter unit 20 is immediately activated and the movable blade 22 cuts the boundary between the preceding label L and the succeeding label. Then, since the rear end portion of the label L is pushed by the movable blade 22 and the front end portion of the label L is inclined toward the measuring portion W, the rear end portion of the label is displayed in the opposite direction, that is, an operation display. It moves to the part D side and stops. Thereby, the adhesive surface of the cut label L moves to a position that does not hinder the progress of the leading end of the subsequent label.

  If the printed label L is affixed to a weighed product, the label L held by the temporary attachment part 30 is picked up and affixed to the product. Therefore, the label detection unit 40 in this case only detects the presence / absence of a label. Then, when the next new label is issued without removing the label L held in the temporary attachment portion 30, the print control unit 6 first issues a warning to prompt the removal of the held label, If the retained label is still not removed, a new label is issued as it is. In that case, the subsequent new label is issued in a state where it partially overlaps the rear end of the held label.

  Next, the case where a label is affixed to a plurality of products, such as a lunch box or a side dish pack, will be described. In this case, the registration information of the target product is called to check the print contents. To change the called price, press the “Fixed amount” key after operating the numeric keys. When the print contents are confirmed, set the number of labels to be issued and press the “Print” key. Then, the print control unit 6 develops the print data to be printed on the label into two-dimensional image data, and can grasp the feed length for one label from the image data, and sets it in the abnormality detection unit 5. . In the same manner as described above, the succeeding label separated from the preceding label is pulled back to the printing position by the reverse rotation of the platen roller 12, and then printed while being sent out in the forward direction again. When the boundary between the preceding label and the succeeding label reaches the cutting position, the feeding of the label is stopped at that moment, and then the cutter unit 20 is operated to cut the label. In this way, each label is once pulled back and sent out for printing.

  Note that instead of the above intermittent operation, the first label is temporarily retracted and then printed while being fed forward, but the second and subsequent sheets continue to be fed without being retracted. Can be printed continuously. When the boundary between the preceding label and the succeeding label reaches the cutting position, the feeding of the label is stopped at that timing and the label is cut by the cutter unit 20.

  The cut label L is held on the temporary attachment portion 30 in the forward tilting posture shown in FIG. 5, and then the next subsequent label is sent out while being printed. Then, when the leading edge of the subsequent label touches the adhesive surface of the preceding label L, both labels are joined at that time, but the subsequent label is subsequently sent out. It passes through 30 and hangs down to the measuring unit W side. If it hangs down to the measurement part W side, since the rear end part of the label held by the temporary attachment part 30 will further incline to the operation display part D side, joining with a subsequent label will become reliable. By repeating these operations one after another, each cut label is successively overlaid on the rear end portion of the preceding label, and continuously issued in a sheet-like state.

  On the other hand, the label detection unit 40 detects the edge of the overlapping portion of each label that is continuously issued in this way, and notifies the abnormality detection unit 5 of the control unit B of this. As described above, the abnormality detection unit 5 detects the conveyance abnormality of each label based on the abnormality of the appearance pattern of each edge E1 to E5. If there is no abnormality, the labels are issued as a continuous sheet, but if an abnormality is detected, the print control unit 6 immediately stops the platen roller 12. Thus, each time a label is issued, it is confirmed whether or not the label has been normally conveyed. For example, even if a cutting failure occurs in the cutter unit 20, it can be detected early and label issuance can be stopped. Therefore, the damage caused by sticking the mountless label can be minimized.

  As mentioned above, although one Embodiment which applied this invention to the electronic balance with a printer was described, this invention is not limited to this, It is applicable similarly to label printers, such as a labeler. In particular, when issuing a plurality of labels of the same size continuously, it is possible to detect a conveyance error for each label, so in the case of applying the same label to the same product in order, There is a merit that the trouble of issuance is detected at an early stage and work is not stagnated.

  In addition, when the labels connected in a sheet form become long, it adheres to the surroundings. In such a case, for example, prepare a winder that automatically winds the label along the curved surface with an inverted arch shape. In addition, a sheet-like label can be guided there, and the label itself can be wound up by using a curl that naturally curls. Further, when the label printer is set on a table or the like, it can be considered that the sheet-like label hangs down from the table so as not to adhere to the periphery. Also in this case, it is preferable to prepare the winder and wind up the tip portion of the hanging label.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing part 2 Cutter 3 Temporary attachment part 4 Label detection part 5 Abnormality detection part 6 Print control part 10 Printing part 20 Cutter 30 Temporary attachment part 40 Label detection part L Mountless label L1 Previous label L2 Subsequent label

Claims (3)

  While holding the label cut out from the mount-less label, the temporary attachment portion that overlaps the leading end portion of the subsequent label on the rear end portion of the held label, and irradiating the label held on the temporary attachment portion with light, When a label detection unit that detects an edge of the overlapping portion of the label from the transmitted light, an abnormality detection unit that detects a conveyance error of the label from an abnormality in the appearance pattern of the edge, and a label conveyance abnormality are detected, A label printer comprising: a print control unit that stops feeding of the mountless label.   The print control unit specifies a label feed length based on print data to be printed on the label, and the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality in the appearance pattern of the edge based on the specified label feed length. The label printer according to claim 1, wherein the label printer is detected.   The label printer according to claim 2, wherein the feed length of the label is the number of feed pulses for feeding one label.

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