JP2715099B2 - Printing pressure switching mechanism of thermal printer for price tag - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a printing pressure switching mechanism of a thermal printer for a price tag, and in particular, can appropriately switch a printing pressure according to the type of the price tag or its thickness and rigidity. And a print pressure switching mechanism of the price tag thermal printer.

(Prior Art) FIG. 4 shows an example of a conventional label continuum 1. The label continuum 1 is prepared by temporarily attaching a plurality of label pieces 3 coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive on the back surface thereof to a strip-shaped backing material 2 coated with a release agent on the front surface, and detecting the position on the back surface of the backing material 2. This is a configuration in which a mark 4 is printed. Various kinds of information about the product are printed on the label piece 3 and attached to the product as a price tag. A lower tag (not shown) that does not use the pressure-sensitive adhesive is also used as a price tag.

Thus, these price tags differ in thickness and rigidity between the case of the label continuum 1 and the case of the lower label.
Also, in a so-called thermal printer having a printing mechanism for printing these price tags by passing these price tags between the platen and the thermal head, printing between the platen and the thermal head is performed according to the type of the price tag to be loaded. The pressure is set in advance.

However, it is better to load the label continuum 1 and the lower tag as described above into one printing device as necessary and perform various printings, respectively, for the label continuum 1 or the lower tag. There is an advantage that the equipment cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the printing device is prepared. However, there is a problem that the thickness and the rigidity of the continuous label 1 and the lower label are different, and the required printing pressure is different. Therefore, in the case of a thermal printer for a price tag in which the label continuum 1 and the lower tag are appropriately loaded for printing, it is necessary to switch the printing pressure according to the loaded label continuum 1 or the lower tag. The development of a simple mechanism for it was desired.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances.
The problem is that even when price tags with various thicknesses and rigidities are loaded into one price tag printing device, the printing pressure can be easily switched according to the loaded price tag so that printing can be performed with the applicable printing pressure. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing pressure switching mechanism of a price tag thermal printer which enables printing of a plurality of types of price tags by one thermal printer.

(Means for Solving the Problem) In other words, the present invention relates to a thermal printer for a price tag that prints on a price tag by passing a continuum such as a price tag between a platen and a thermal head. A rotating fixed shaft that rotatably supports the support member of the thermal head, a pressing biasing member that abuts a distal end portion on the support member and biases the thermal head in a platen direction; A first position connected to the member and at least setting a distance between the distal end of the pressing urging member and the distal end of the pressing urging member to be longer than the first position; A drive shaft, a switching operation lever for switching the drive shaft to the first and second positions, and a switchable / removable member for supporting the thermal head. When the contact is made, the support member of the thermal head is rotated to release the thermal head from the platen, and when the support is separated, the thermal head is closed to the platen side via the support member of the thermal head. An opening / closing drive member for opening / closing the thermal head, and a connecting roller connected to the supporting member of the thermal head, having an abutting roller at an end thereof, interlocking with the rotation of the supporting member of the thermal head to which the thermal head is attached. When the thermal head is released from the platen, the contact roller separates from the continuum such as the price tag, and when the thermal head closes to the platen side, the thermal head opening and closing mechanism contacts the continuum such as the price tag. When the drive member for opening and closing is brought into contact with and separated from the support member of the thermal head, the support member rotates and the thermal head is rotated. The opening / closing mechanism is opened and closed with respect to the platen, and furthermore, the contact roller of the opening / closing mechanism separates and abuts on the continuum in conjunction with the rotation of the support member, so that the continuum can be easily mounted. The contact pressure between the platen and the thermal head, that is, the printing pressure can be easily switched by operating the switching operation lever, and the printing pressure switching mechanism of the price tag thermal printer is characterized in that is there.

(Operation) In the printing pressure switching mechanism of the thermal printer for a price tag according to the present invention, the drive member for opening / closing contacts the support member of the thermal head, whereby the support member rotates to release the thermal head from the platen. The contact roller of the opening / closing mechanism separates from the continuum in conjunction with the rotation of the support member, so it is easy to remove the continuum such as replacing the continuum, and after mounting, separate the opening / closing drive member from the support member of the thermal head. Accordingly, the support member rotates to close the thermal head to the platen side, and the contact roller of the opening / closing mechanism contacts the continuous body in conjunction with the rotation of the support member, so that the mounting is easy. .

Further, by operating the switching operation lever, the distance between the drive shaft and the distal end of the pressing urging member is set to be smaller than the first position and the distance between the driving shaft and the distal end of the pressing urging member. The pressing biasing member is driven by driving to the second position to be set to be long, so that the distance from the drive shaft to the supporting member of the thermal head that the pressing biasing member connected to the driving shaft contacts can be changed. The biasing force on the thermal head can be changed stepwise, and the pressing force that presses the thermal head against the platen can be switched by this biasing force, and the printing pressure generated between the thermal head and the platen can be reduced. It can be switched at least in two stages.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a portable price tag thermal printer 10 equipped with a print pressure switching mechanism of a price tag thermal printer according to the present embodiment, with a side cover removed.

The thermal printer 10 for a portable price tag has a machine frame 11, and a supply portion 1 of the label continuum 1 is attached to a vertical portion 11A of the machine frame 11.
2 and a winding unit 13 are provided.
3, a passage 14 for the label continuum 1 is formed. That is, the label continuum 1 fed from the supply unit 12 is:
The paper is wound by the winding unit 13 through the printing unit 15 and the turning unit 16.

Also, the portable price tag thermal printer 10 is
A data input unit 17 including numeric keys and function keys, and a data display unit 18 are provided on the front inclined portion of the. Further, a label cutting mechanism 19 is provided facing the turning section 16. The portable price tag thermal printer 10 also includes a power connector 20 and a transformer 21 and a power switch.
22, a connector 23 for full keyboard connection, a connector 24 for pen scanner connection, a connector 25 for RS232C connection, and a loading section 27 for a memory card 26 as an external storage medium are provided.

The label continuous body 1 is attached to a supply shaft 28 of the supply unit 12 in a state wound in a roll shape, and its width direction is controlled by a label presser 29. The fed label continuous body 1 passes through the guide portion 30 of the label continuous body 1,
The label is guided by a label guide shaft 31 and a label width regulating member 32 attached to the label guide shaft 31. The label continuum 1 is transported while its position is detected by a label position sensor 33 that detects the position detection mark 4, and is supplied between the thermal head 34 and the platen 35 of the printing unit 15.

After information based on predetermined data is printed in the printing unit 15, the printing unit 15 reaches the turning unit 16. In addition, label continuum 1
In the turning section 16, it is possible to select either to peel off the label pieces 3 from the backing sheet 2 and take them out one by one, or to wind them together with the backing sheet 2 after printing. That is, when peeling the label pieces 3 one by one, only the backing paper 2 is turned by the turning pins 36, and the peeled label pieces 3 are received by the label receiver 37. When the label piece 3 is transported together with the backing sheet 2 without being peeled off, the label continuum 1 may be guided so as to pass over the label receiver 37 and wound on the winding core 38 of the winding section 13. . The label receiver 37 can be opened and rotated (see the imaginary line in FIG. 1) so that the mount 2 can be easily inserted. Label continuum 1
The turning section 16 is provided with a label take-out sensor 39, which detects that the label piece 3 has been taken out, and outputs a detection signal for causing the next label piece 3 to start printing. ing.

Further, the printing section 15 is provided with an opening / closing mechanism 40 for the thermal head 34 and a printing pressure switching mechanism 41. By opening and closing the opening / closing mechanism 40, the label continuum 1 is loaded into the printing unit 15, and by switching of the printing pressure switching mechanism 41, the thermal head is determined depending on whether the price tag is the label continuum 1 or the lower label.
The printing pressure can be switched by changing the contact pressure between the platen 35 and the platen 35.

The portable price tag thermal printer 10 is provided with a transfer drive motor 42, which is connected to the platen 35 by a timing belt 43, and is connected to the platen 35 by a round belt 44.
And the winding core 38 so as to transmit the rotational driving force of the motor 42. The control circuit board 45 (first
(Dotted line in the figure). Further, a portable handle 46 is provided on the top of the machine casing 11 so as to be undulating, so that the entire portable price tag thermal printer 10 is portable.

Next, a more detailed mechanism of the opening / closing mechanism 40 of the thermal head 34 and the printing pressure switching mechanism 41 will be described with reference to FIGS.

2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an opening / closing mechanism 40 of the thermal head 34 and a printing pressure switching mechanism.
It is an expanded sectional side view of 41 part. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the printing pressure switching mechanism 41 includes a drive shaft 50.
And a pressing urging member 51. The drive shaft 50 is connected to a switching operation lever 53 via a driving rotating member 52, and can be set to a first position P1 and a second position P2 by operating the switching operation lever 53. .
That is, the drive shaft 50 is movably fitted in the arcuate guide groove 55 formed in the pair of auxiliary machine frames 54 (FIG. 2), and the drive shaft 50 is one end of the arcuate guide groove 55. It is movable between one position P1 and a second position P2 which is the other end of the arc-shaped guide groove 55.

The pressing urging member 51 is loosely fitted to the center of the drive shaft 50 so as to be relatively rotatable. The driving urging member 51 includes a driving spring receiving portion 56 and a pressing urging spring receiving portion 57.
And a pressing biasing spring 58 interposed between the driving side spring receiving portion 56 and the pressing biasing side spring receiving portion 57. That is, one end of the drive-side spring receiving portion 56 is connected to the drive shaft 50, and the pressing-side biasing-side spring receiving portion 57
The central sheath portion 60 is loosely fitted, and the biasing force of the biasing spring 58 between the two members causes the biasing side spring receiving portion 57 to be pressed.
The pressing urging tip 61 of the supporting member 62 of the thermal head 34
(The thermal head biasing member 64).

The first interval D1 from the position where the pressing urging tip 61 abuts the support member 62 (thermal head urging member 64) to the first position P1 of the drive shaft 50 is the second position D1.
It is set to be smaller than the second interval D2 up to P2.

The support member 62 of the thermal head 34 has a thermal head mounting member 63 and a thermal head biasing member 64. That is, the thermal head mounting member 63 has the thermal head 34 fixed on the surface side facing the platen 35, and is rotatably supported by a rotating fixed shaft 65 provided on the pair of auxiliary machine frames 54. is there. More specifically, a loose fitting hole 66 having an elliptical cross section is formed in the thermal head mounting member 63, and a ridge 67 is formed in the center of the loose fitting hole 66 having an elliptical cross section (see FIG. 2). A through-hole 68 having a circular cross section is formed at the center in the length direction of the thermal head mounting member 63 by projecting.

The loose fitting hole 66 is formed so as to be tapered from the outer end to the protrusion 67 located inward. Therefore, the thermal head mounting member
63 is swingable in the long axis direction with respect to the platen 35 with the ridge 67 as a fulcrum (see the arrow A in FIG. 2). As a result, the thermal head 34 swings in response to a change in the contact pressure in the width direction of the label continuous body 1 on which the thermal head 34 is loaded and transferred between the platen 35 and printing is performed. The direction is made as uniform as possible. Note that such a change in the contact pressure is caused not only by an assembly error of each part but also by a transfer state of the label continuum 1 and other price tags being transferred.

The thermal head mounting member 63 and the thermal head biasing member 64 are engaged by engaging the hook 69 of the thermal head mounting member 63 with the thermal head biasing member 64.
Can be integrally rotated about the rotation fixed shaft 65 (see arrow B in FIGS. 1 and 3). A link mechanism 70 is connected to the lower end of the thermal head urging member 64, and a contact roller 71 located at the end of the link mechanism 70 is linked with the rotation of the thermal head urging member 64 to fix the fixed shaft 72.
Is arranged so as to come into contact with and separate from the label continuum 1 with the axis as an axis.

Further, on the back surface of the thermal head biasing member 64,
An opening / closing drive member 73 for opening / closing the thermal head is provided so as to be able to approach / separate, and can be operated by an opening / closing operation lever 74 provided integrally with the opening / closing drive member 73.

A case where the thermal head 34 is opened and closed in the above configuration will be described.

First, when the opening / closing operation lever 74 is rotated to the state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIGS. 1 and 3, the opening / closing drive member 73 causes the rear surface of the thermal head biasing member 64 to be moved. The support member 62 of the thermal head 34, that is, the thermal head mounting member 63 and the thermal head biasing member 64,
The thermal head 34 is separated from the platen 35 by rotating the thermal head 34 counterclockwise in the drawing against the urging force of the urging spring 58 of the urging member 51, that is, the printing unit.
15 parts can be opened. At this time, the contact roller
Reference numeral 71 denotes a passage 14 of the label continuous body 1 by the
To a position retracted from the position to allow the continuous label 1 to be inserted.

When the opening / closing operation lever 74 is rotated to the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIGS. 1 and 3 after the loading of the label continuous body 1, the opening / closing drive member 73 is moved to the thermal head biasing member 64. Is released, the thermal head mounting member 63 and the thermal head urging member 64 are urged toward the platen 35 by the urging force of the urging spring 58 of the print pressure switching mechanism 41. Platen 35
The thermal head 34 and the thermal head 34 contact each other at a predetermined pressure, that is, a printing pressure.

Then, in such a state, the switching operation lever
1 and 3, the drive shaft 50 moves in the arcuate guide groove 55 to the first position P1, and the drive-side spring receiving portion 53 is moved to the first position P1.
The central column portion 59 of 56 penetrates deeper into the central sheath portion 60 of the pressing biasing side spring receiving portion 58, and the pressing biasing tip 61 from the first position P1 supports the supporting member 62 (for thermal head biasing). Since the distance to the position where it abuts on the member 64) is the first distance D1, the urging force of the pressing urging spring 58 is increased, and as a result, the thermal head urging member 64 by the pressing urging tip 61 is provided. The urging force of the pressure increases. Accordingly, the printing pressure between the thermal head 34 and the platen 35 increases, and the printing pressure can be adjusted to a printing pressure suitable for lower bills having higher rigidity and less adhesion to the thermal head 34 as compared with the continuous label 1. .

Conversely, the switching operation lever 53 is moved to the position shown in FIGS.
When the drive shaft 50 is moved to the position indicated by the one-dot chain line in the figure, the drive shaft 50 moves to the position of the second position P2, and the central column portion 59 of the drive side spring receiving portion 56 is located at the center of the pressing biasing side spring receiving portion 58. The distance between the second position P2 and the position where the pressing urging tip 61 abuts on the support member 62 (thermal head urging member 64) is set to be the second distance D2. Therefore, the urging force of the drive-side spring receiving portion 56 is reduced, and conversely, the printing pressure suitable for the label continuum 1 requiring a smaller required printing pressure can be obtained.

In the present invention, the configuration of the pressing urging member 51 or the support member 62 of the thermal head 34 and the like is not limited to the above-described configuration. May be configured to be switched. Further, the pressing biasing distal end portion 61 of the pressing biasing-side spring receiving portion 57 may press the thermal head mounting member 63.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, the closing drive member can be brought into contact with and separated from the support member of the thermal head, and when the drive member comes into contact with the thermal head, the thermal head is released from the platen. Since the contact roller that is in contact with the continuum is separated from the continuum, it is easy to remove the continuum, such as replacing the continuum.After mounting, the opening and closing drive member is separated from the support member of the thermal head to support it. The member is rotated to close the thermal head to the platen side, and the contact roller comes into contact with the continuous body in conjunction with the rotation of the support member, so that it can be easily removed and mounted.

Further, by operating the switching operation lever, the distance between the drive shaft and the distal end of the pressing urging member is set to be smaller than the first position and the distance between the driving shaft and the distal end of the pressing urging member. It is driven to the second position to be set long, and can be operated in at least two stages, and the pressing force between the thermal head and the platen can be set at each position, so that it depends on the thickness or rigidity of the continuum such as a price tag. Thus, clear and accurate printing can be performed by one thermal printer for price tags while securing an appropriate printing pressure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a portable price tag thermal printer 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a II-II of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the same, and FIG.
And an enlarged sectional side view of the printing pressure switching mechanism 41, FIG.
The figure is a perspective view of the label continuum 1. 1… Label continuity 2… Mount 3… Label piece 4… Position detection mark 10… Thermal printer for portable price tag 11… Machine frame 11A… Vertical portion of machine frame 11 12… Label continuation Supply unit of body 1 13 Rewinding unit of label continuum 1 14 Passage of label continuity 1 15 Printing unit 16 Turning unit 17 Data input unit 18 Data display unit 19 Label cutting mechanism 20 Power connector 21 Transformer 22 Power switch 23 Full keyboard connector 24 Pen scanner connector 25 RS232C connector 26 Memory card 27 … Loading part of memory card 26 …… Supply axis of label continuum 1 …… Label presser 30 …… Guide part of label continuum 1 …… Label guide axis 32 …… Label width regulating member 33 …… Label Position sensor 34 Thermal head 35 Platen 36 Direction pin 37 …… Label receiver 38 …… Rewind core 39 …… Label removal sensor 40 …… Opening / closing mechanism of thermal head 34 …… Printing pressure switching mechanism 42 …… Motor 43 …… Timing belt 44 …… Round belt 45 ... board 46 ... handle 50 ... drive shaft 51 ... pressing biasing member 52 ... drive rotating member 53 ... switching operation lever 54 ... a pair of auxiliary machine frames 55 ... arcuate guide groove 56 ... Drive side spring receiving part 57 ... Pressing urging side spring receiving part 58 ... Pressing urging spring 59 ... Central column part 60 ... Center sheath part 61 ... Pressing urging tip part 62 ... Thermal head 34 support member 63 Thermal head mounting member 64 Thermal head biasing member 65 Rotating fixed shaft 66 Free-fitting hole 67 with elliptical cross section 67 Ridge 68 Ridge 67 Cross-section through-hole 69 formed by the following method:… Hanging part 70 …… Link mechanism 71 …… Roller 72: Fixed shaft of link mechanism 70 73: Opening / closing drive member 74: Opening / closing operation lever P1 First position of drive shaft 50 P2 Second position D1 of drive shaft 50 A first interval D2 from the position where the pressing urging tip 61 abuts the support member 62 (the thermal head urging member 64) to the first position P1 of the drive shaft 50, from the second distance P2 to the second position P2 Second interval A: swinging direction of thermal head mounting member 63 B: rotating direction of support member 62 of thermal head 34

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A price tag thermal printer for printing a price tag by passing a continuum such as a price tag between a platen and a thermal head, wherein the thermal head support member and the thermal head support member are rotated. A rotating fixed shaft movably supported, a pressing biasing member having a distal end abutting on the supporting member, and biasing the thermal head in a platen direction; A drive shaft that can be driven to a first position where the distance to the distal end of the biasing member is set smaller and a second position where the distance to the distal end of the pressing biasing member is set longer than the first position; A switching operating lever for switching the drive shaft between the first and second positions; and a switchable and movable member for supporting the support member of the thermal head. The opening and closing drive for opening and closing the thermal head is provided so as to open the thermal head from the platen by rotating the supporting member and to close the thermal head to the platen side via the supporting member of the thermal head when separated. A member, which is connected to a support member of the thermal head, has an abutment roller at an end, and rotates the abutment roller in conjunction with rotation of a support member of the thermal head to which the thermal head is attached. When the head is released from the platen, it separates from the continuum such as the price tag, and when the thermal head closes to the platen side, it has a thermal head opening and closing mechanism that comes into contact with the continuum such as the price tag. Printing pressure switching mechanism of the price tag thermal printer. 2. A price tag thermal printer which prints a price tag by passing a continuum such as a price tag between a platen and a thermal head, wherein the thermal head support member and the thermal head support member are rotated. A rotating fixed shaft movably supported, a pressing biasing member having a distal end abutting on the supporting member and biasing the thermal head in a platen direction, provided along both sides of a continuum such as the price tag A circle having at least a first position for setting the distance to the distal end of the pressing urging member to be smaller and a second position for setting the distance to the distal end of the pressing urging member longer than the first position. A pair of auxiliary machine frames each having an arcuate guide groove, and a drive system coupled to the pressing member and capable of being loosely fitted into the arcuate guide groove and driven to at least the first and second positions. A driving shaft connected to the driving shaft and driving the driving shaft to the first and second positions; a switching operation lever for operating the driving rotating member; and the thermal head The support member of the thermal head is pivoted against the urging force of the pressing urging member to open the thermal head from the platen when it comes into contact with the support member. An opening / closing drive member for opening / closing the thermal head provided so as to close the thermal head to the platen side by the urging force of the pressing urging member via a head supporting member, and connecting the thermal head to the supporting member of the thermal head; The thermal head has a contact roller at an end, and the contact roller is moved in conjunction with rotation of a support member of the thermal head to which the thermal head is attached. An opening / closing mechanism for a thermal head that separates from the continuum such as the price tag when released from the platen and abuts against the continuum such as the price tag when the thermal head closes to the platen side; Pressure switching mechanism for thermal printers. 3. The pressing biasing member includes a driving side spring receiving portion connected to the drive shaft, a pressing biasing side spring receiving portion having a distal end abutting on the thermal head biasing member, and a driving side. A pressure urging spring that is interposed between the spring receiving portion and the pressing urging-side spring receiving portion and applies a urging force to the thermal head urging member to the pressing urging-side spring receiving portion; Claims 1 or 2 characterized in that:
The print pressure switching mechanism of the price tag thermal printer described in the paragraph.