JP2017109416A - Printer and sticking device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which reduces the printing failure by performing printing clearly on a label provided with a tag having a thickness on a rear surface side.SOLUTION: A printer which issues a label provided with a security tag includes: storage means 12 which stores position information of the security tag on a label format; determination means 101 which determines overlapping of the security tag and printing item on the basis of the position information of the security tag and the position of the printing item; and correction means 102 which corrects the position of the printing item when the determination means 101 determines that the security tag overlaps with the printing item. The printing device has notification means 103 which notifies of the information that the security tag overlaps with the printing item when the determination means 101 determines that the security tag overlaps with the printing item.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a pasting apparatus.

  Wireless tags are used as security tags for road tickets, boarding tickets, entrance / exit management, and labels for preventing shoplifting of merchandise. In this tag, an electromagnetic wave is transmitted from the transmission / reception device to the wireless tag, and the electromagnetic wave output from the wireless tag is received by the transmission / reception device.

  For example, Patent Document 1 describes an apparatus for manufacturing a label provided with a tag.

Japanese Patent No. 4040311

  For example, when printing on a label to which a tag is attached, the head pressure of the print head becomes non-uniform due to the effect of steps such as the antenna part of the thick tag or the LC resonance circuit, and the print is shaded. Problems such as missing prints may occur.

For example, in the manufacturing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, since a label is printed, a data carrier sheet (including a tag) is superposed and adhered to the printed label, so that a tag is attached. When printing on a label, this manufacturing apparatus cannot be employed.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus that cleanly prints on a label provided with a thick tag on the back surface side and reduces printing defects. And

The printing apparatus of the present invention has at least the following configuration.
A printing device that issues a label with a security tag,
Storage means for storing position information of the security tag on the label format;
A discriminating means for discriminating an overlap between the security tag and the print item based on the position of the security tag and the print item;
And a correction unit that corrects the position of the print item when it is determined that the determination unit overlaps.

The printing apparatus of the present invention comprises at least the following configuration.
A printing device that issues a label with a security tag,
Storage means for storing position information of the security tag on the label format;
A discriminating means for discriminating an overlap between the security tag and the print item based on the position information of the security tag and the position of the print item;
And a notifying means for notifying that when it is determined by the determining means to overlap.

  Moreover, the sticking apparatus of this invention sticks the label printed from the printing apparatus which concerns on the said invention.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the printing apparatus which printed neatly on the label provided with the tag with thickness on the back surface side, and reduced the printing defect can be provided.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows an example of the label paper with a tag before printing. The exploded perspective view of the label paper with a tag before printing. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. The figure which shows an example of the printing format memorize | stored in the printing apparatus, (a) is a figure which shows an example of a label format (information), (b) is a figure which shows an example of a goods file. The conceptual diagram which shows an example of a label format. The figure which shows an example of the label with the label printing defect before printing position correction | amendment. The figure which shows an example of the label after printing position correction | amendment. 5 is a flowchart of the operation of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining an example of the operation of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an example of a label on which a tag is arranged, FIG. 2B is a print image diagram before print position correction, and FIG. ) Is a print image after correcting the print position in character units.

A printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention issues a label having a security tag. The printing apparatus includes a storage unit that stores information on a security tag attachment position on a label format, a determination unit that determines an overlap between the security tag and the print item based on the position of the security tag and the position of the print item, And a correction unit that corrects the position of the print item when the determination unit determines that the security tag and the print item overlap.
Further, in the present embodiment, the printing apparatus includes notification means for notifying that when the determination means determines that the security tag and the print item overlap.

  Hereinafter, a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiment of the present invention includes the contents shown in the drawings, but is not limited to this. In the following description of each drawing, the same parts as those already described are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a part of the overlapping description is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a printing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention draws a mount D on which a label L, which is thermal paper, is attached from a label roll 2, and a thermal head and a stepping motor as a printing unit 3. The label L is transported by being sandwiched between the platen roller 19 driven by 18 and the like, and the label L is heated according to the print item to print on the label L, and the label L is issued. The mount D is collected by the collection roll unit 17.

  As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the label L is provided with a thermosensitive coloring surface as a printing surface on the front side, an adhesive layer Ln is provided on the back side, and a tag T ( Security tags) are provided and are affixed to the non-adhesive surface Da of the mount D.

  The tag T is a wireless tag, for example, and is used as a security tag in this embodiment. The tag T includes, for example, an antenna unit formed from a metal material, an LC circuit, and the like, and an IC chip or the like as necessary. The tag T has a thickness, and this thickness may be a cause of printing failure during printing.

  An example of the tag T will be described. For example, an electromagnetic wave having a predetermined frequency is transmitted from a wireless transceiver (not shown) to the tag T, and an electromagnetic wave with a phase shift radiated from the resonated tag T is received by the wireless transceiver (not shown). Is detected.

  When the tag T includes an IC chip, predetermined data, a program, and the like are stored in the IC chip. The tag T is configured to be capable of data communication with a wireless communication device (not shown) via an antenna unit.

  Note that the label L to which the tag T is attached is not limited to a label having a heat-sensitive coloring surface, and may be, for example, a label that does not have a heat-sensitive coloring surface and is thermally transferred via an ink ribbon. It may be a label printed by applying ink. Further, the label L may be a mountless label.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the printing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a control unit 10 (CPU), a flash memory 11 and a RAM 12 as a storage unit, an operation unit 13 (operation input unit), a display unit 14, The communication unit 15, the interface 16, a printing unit 3 such as a thermal head, a stepping motor 18, and a detection unit 21 are included. The control unit 10 (CPU), the flash memory 11, the RAM 12, the operation unit 13, the display unit 14, the communication unit 15, the interface 16, and the detection unit 21 are connected to be able to transmit data by a transmission path 20 (bus). Yes.

  The control unit 10 is a central processing unit that controls the operation of the printing apparatus 100 by executing a program such as a control program on the flash memory 11.

  The flash memory 11 is a read-only memory that stores a control program, control data, and the like for the printing apparatus 100.

The RAM 12 has a work area for temporarily calling (reading) data for processing. The work area of the RAM 12 includes a dot expansion area for expanding print data into dot data, a call format area for calling and storing one format data from a format file, a call product data area for calling and storing product data, and the like.
The RAM 12 also has a label format in which a format for label printing is defined (see FIGS. 5A and 6), and a product file in which various product data for label printing are defined (FIG. 5B). And font files (character generators) and the like are stored. The RAM 12 stores the position information of the security tag on the label format. The RAM 12 is backed up by a battery so that product files, format files, and the like can be retained even when the power is turned off.

  The RAM 12 stores print data indicating the print contents on the label, a label format that defines the print position, a label length, and the like in association with each other.

  The operation input unit (operation unit 13) is an input device for operating the printing apparatus. In addition, the printing apparatus may include a touch panel in which the operation unit 13 and the display unit 14 are integrated, for example.

The display unit 14 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display that displays various menu screens and data.
The communication unit 15 communicates with a host computer or the like as a higher management apparatus. The interface 16 inputs and outputs data between the control unit 10 and the like and each drive unit and motor.

  The printing unit 3 such as a thermal head performs printing on the label based on a command from the control unit 10. The stepping motor 18 rotationally drives the platen roller 19 and the like so that the label is conveyed to a predetermined printing position or heating position based on a command from the control unit 10.

  The detection unit 21 is provided in the vicinity of the discharge port of the casing of the printing apparatus. This detection part 21 detects whether the label printed on the discharge port remains. When the label remains at the discharge port, the control unit suppresses the printing process.

  Further, when the control unit 10 of the printing apparatus detects that the label 6 does not remain in the discharge port 23 by the detection unit 21, the print data stored in the storage unit (the flash memory 11 or the RAM 12) is displayed according to the print format. Printing can be performed by the thermal head as the printing unit 3.

  The control part 10 implement | achieves the function which concerns on this invention in the printing apparatus 100 which is a computer by running a control program. The control unit 10 includes a determination unit 101, a correction unit 102, a notification unit 103, and the like.

The determination unit 101 determines the overlap between the security tag and the print item based on the position information of the security tag T and the position of the print item.
The determination unit 101 may determine the overlap between the step portion (edge portion) of the security tag and the print item based on the position information of the security tag T and the position of the print item.

  The correction unit 102 performs a process of correcting the position of the print item when the determination unit 101 determines that the security tag and the print item overlap. Further, the correction unit 102 may perform a process of correcting the position of the print item when the determination unit 101 determines that the step portion (edge portion) of the security tag and the print item overlap.

When the determination unit 101 determines that the security tag and the print item overlap, the notification unit 103 performs processing to notify that effect. In addition, when the determination unit 101 determines that the step portion (edge portion) of the security tag and the print item overlap, the notification unit 103 may perform a process of notifying that effect.
Further, when the determination unit 101 determines that the security tag and the print item are overlapped and the correction unit 102 cannot correct the position of the print item, the notification unit 103 performs a process to notify that effect.
Further, the notification unit 103 determines that the stepped portion (edge portion) of the security tag overlaps with the print item by the determination unit 101 and the correction unit 102 cannot correct the print item position. You may perform the process which alert | reports.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, a product number, a product name, a price, a label format number (NO), and the like are stored in the product file in association with each other.

  As the label format, for example, as shown in FIG. 5A, the size of the tagged label (vertical and horizontal dimensions) and the gap between the tagged label and the tagged label are used for each label format NO. The type of security tag, the position information to which the security tag is attached, the printable area, the non-printable area, and the like are associated and stored.

  On the setting screen of the printing apparatus, for example, a label format can be displayed as shown in FIG. For example, the position information of the type A tag T affixed to the label L is defined as (XA, YA) when the upper left of the label L is the reference point (0, 0) as shown in FIG. Has been.

  For example, the non-printable area NPA1 is an arrangement area of the substantially O-shaped tag T. Further, since the print head pressure is non-uniform up to a region separated from the edge portion of the tag T by a predetermined distance (for example, several mm), the non-printable region NPA1 may be used.

  The printable area PA1 is an area other than the non-printable area NPA1 of the tag T on the label printing surface. Further, the area inside the substantially O-shaped tag T may be set as the printable area PA1.

  As the label format, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, an area F1 where product name information is printed, an area F2 where weight information is printed, an area F3 where price information is printed, and code information are printed. An area F4, an area F5 where the expiration date information is printed, an area F6 where the processing date information is printed, an area F7 where the shop name information is printed are defined.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the printing apparatus assumes that the printing is performed without correcting the printing position based on the label format information and the printing data, and the edge portion of the tag T is simulated. It can be displayed on the display section that printing failure NG occurs.

The correction unit corrects the position of the print item when the determination unit determines that the step portion (edge portion) of the security tag T and the print item overlap based on the position information of the security tag T and the position of the print item. Process. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the control unit can display the print image after correcting the print position on the display unit. Specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 8, since the printing position of the product name information overlaps the edge portion of the tag T, the correction unit performs a correction process for shifting the printing position by a predetermined distance downward in FIG. went. The correction process of the correction unit is automatically performed.
In addition, as processing for correcting the position of the print item by the correction unit, in order to avoid the edge portion of the tag, for example, the print position is moved from the non-printable area to the printable area, the print interval is set wide, and the area F1 The arrangement of -F7 can be changed.

  For fine adjustment of the print position, for example, the operator of the printing apparatus can perform desired print settings by operating the operation input unit while viewing the print image displayed on the display unit.

Next, an example of the operation of the printing apparatus will be described.
In step ST11 shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 10 performs a process of reading product information and the like from the storage unit.

  In step ST12, the control unit 10 performs a process of reading the print format (label format) from the storage unit.

  In step ST13, the control unit 10 sets the tag T. Specifically, for example, the operator operates the operation unit 13, and the control unit 10 performs settings on the setting screen in accordance with setting inputs such as the tag type and position and the label type.

  In step ST14, the control unit 10 performs processing for setting a print image (see, for example, FIG. 6).

  In step ST15, the discrimination unit 101 of the control unit 10 discriminates the overlap between the security tag and the print item. If it is discriminated, the process proceeds to step ST17. If not, the normal print in step ST16 is performed. Process. The discrimination unit 101 of the control unit 10 discriminates the overlap between the step portion (edge portion) of the security tag and the print item, and proceeds to the process of step ST17 when it is determined that they are overlapped. The normal printing process of ST16 may be performed.

  In step ST <b> 17, the notification unit 103 of the control unit 10 performs a process of notifying that the overlap has occurred. Examples of the notification process include displaying the fact on the display unit, and notifying the fact by the sound generation unit.

  In step ST18, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the position of the print item can be corrected. If not, the control unit 10 performs a process of notifying that (step ST21), and proceeds to the process of step ST14. If the control unit 10 determines that the position of the print item cannot be corrected, the control unit 10 proceeds to the process of step ST19.

  In step ST19, the correction unit 102 of the control unit 10 performs a process of correcting the position of the print item. Specifically, the correction unit 102 performs correction processing such as moving the print position from the non-printable area to the printable area, for example, in order to avoid the tag or the edge portion of the tag (for example, FIG. 8).

  In step ST20, the control unit 10 performs a printing process based on the correction process by the correction unit.

As described above, the printing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention issues a label including a tag (wireless tag) such as a security tag. The printing apparatus 100 includes a storage unit (flash memory 11 or RAM 12 as a storage unit) that stores position information of a security tag on a label format, a security tag based on the position information of the security tag and the position of a print item. A determination unit (determination unit 101) for determining the overlap of the print item and a correction unit (correction unit 102) for correcting the position of the print item when the determination unit (determination unit 101) determines that they overlap. Have.
In other words, the correction unit 102 corrects the position of the print item, and the thermal head of the print unit 3 performs printing based on the corrected print item. It can be performed.

  In the printing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, when it is determined that the security tag and the print item overlap, the notification unit 103 notifies the display unit, the sound generation unit (not shown), and the like. The person can recognize that the step portion (edge portion) of the security tag and the print item overlap, and can cancel printing or reset the print image before printing.

  In addition, the printing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention determines that the notification unit (notification unit 103) is determined to be overlapped by the determination unit 101 and the correction unit 102 cannot correct the position of the print item. Since the notification unit notifies that fact, it is possible to cancel printing or reset the print image before printing.

  Further, as described above, the determination unit (determination unit 101) of the printing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention may determine the overlap between the step portion (edge portion) of the security tag and the print item. In other words, when the edge portion of the security tag and the print item overlap, the correction processing by the correction unit or the notification processing by the notification unit is performed, and when the portion other than the edge portion of the tag and the print item overlap, By not performing the correction process and the notification process on the assumption that no printing failure occurs, the printable area is widened. In addition, the printing apparatus 100 can prevent a printing failure at a step portion (edge portion) of the security tag, and can perform clean printing.

  Moreover, the sticking apparatus which sticks the label printed from the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention mentioned above to a sticking object (a product, an article, etc.) can be provided. That is, the sticking device can stick a label with a security tag printed finely on an article to be stuck.

As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and there are design changes and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. Is included in the present invention.
Further, the embodiments described in the above drawings can be combined with each other as long as there is no particular contradiction or problem in the purpose and configuration.
Moreover, the description content of each figure can become independent embodiment, respectively, and embodiment of this invention is not limited to one embodiment which combined each figure.

  In the embodiment described above, the thermal head (printing unit) performs printing on the thermal label (thermal paper) drawn out from the label roll with mount to which the security tag is attached. However, the present invention is not limited to this form. Absent. For example, the printing apparatus may print on a mountless label.

  Also, for example, as shown in FIG. 10A, in the label L with the tag T, when the print image before the print position correction is overlapped with the stepped portion (edge portion) of the tag T and the character position ( The printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention may correct the printing position in units of characters (see FIG. 10B). Specifically, the printing apparatus determines the print position of the character overlapping the step portion (edge portion) and the print position of the character in the vicinity of the overlapped character as necessary so as to avoid the step portion (edge portion) of the tag T. Alternatively, correction processing for shifting in the arrangement direction of the character strings may be performed. In other words, this correction process provides a printing apparatus in which the gap between the position-corrected character and the other characters is slightly increased or decreased, but the label is printed neatly and printing defects are reduced. it can.

In addition, the notification process and the correction process of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention may be performed as follows.
1. When the label format is set, the control unit of the printing apparatus performs notification processing and correction processing for each frame of print items and for each character.
2. The label format is set in advance, and when specific product data is called from the storage unit or the like, the control unit of the printing apparatus performs correction processing and notification processing for characters to be actually printed.
Further, the control unit of the printing apparatus may perform correction processing and notification processing of the print position based on one of the outline of the print item, the character unit, the character to be specifically printed, or a combination of two or more. Good. In this case, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus that can further reduce printing defects and perform clean printing.

  In addition, when creating a print image, the control unit of the printing apparatus emphasizes the overlapping portion of the security tag (or the step portion (edge portion) of the security tag) and the print item when the print tag is overlapped. You may perform the process displayed on. As the highlighting process, for example, an overlapping part is displayed with a conspicuous color (a color different from other parts), a blinking display, and the like can be given.

10: Control unit (CPU)
11: Flash memory (storage unit)
12 ... RAM (storage unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Display part 100 ... Printing apparatus 101 ... Discrimination part (discrimination means)
102: Correction unit (correction means)
103 ... Notification section (notification means)

Claims (5)

A printing device that issues a label with a security tag,
Storage means for storing position information of the security tag on the label format;
A discriminating means for discriminating an overlap between the security tag and the print item based on the position information of the security tag and the position of the print item;
And a correction unit that corrects a position of the print item when the determination unit determines that the print items overlap. A printing device that issues a label with a security tag,
Storage means for storing position information of the security tag on the label format;
A discriminating means for discriminating an overlap between the security tag and the print item based on the position information of the security tag and the position of the print item;
And a notifying means for notifying that when it is determined by the determining means that they overlap. A correction unit that corrects a position of the print item when it is determined that the determination unit overlaps;
3. The printing according to claim 2, wherein when it is determined that the determination unit overlaps and the correction unit cannot correct the position of the print item, the notification unit notifies the fact. apparatus.   4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines an overlap between the step portion of the security tag and the print item based on position information of the security tag and a position of the print item. The printing apparatus as described.   The sticking apparatus which sticks the label printed from the printing apparatus in any one of Claims 1-4.

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