JP4322357B2 - Label conveying apparatus, label conveying method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a label conveying apparatus, a label conveying method, and a recording medium, and more particularly, to a label conveying apparatus, a label conveying method, and a recording medium that accurately convey a leading end of a label to a predetermined position.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When printing is performed on each label attached to the mount so as to be peeled at a predetermined interval, it is necessary to transfer the label and stop the leading end of the label directly under the print head. In that case, as shown in FIG. 7, conventionally, first, the pitch of the label 1 (the length of the label 1) N and the length of the gap (the portion of the mount only between the label 1 and the label 1) are measured, As shown in the following equation, the distance L between the position of the position detection sensor 6 that detects the label 1 and the print head 5 is a value (N + G) obtained by adding the label pitch N and the gap length G that have just been measured. Divide to find the remainder Y.
[0003]
L ÷ (N + G) = X remainder Y
[0004]
Then, the label 1 is transported by the remainder Y while the leading edge of the label 1 is positioned directly below the position detection sensor 6, thereby stopping the leading edge of the label 1 immediately below the print head 5.
[0005]
For example, if L = 80 millimeters (mm), N = 25 mm, and gap G = 3 mm,
80mm ÷ (25mm + 3mm) = 2 Extra 24mm
Therefore, when there are two labels 1 between the position detection sensor 6 and the print head 5 and the leading edge of the label 1 is directly under the position detection sensor 6, the label 1 is conveyed by 24 mm. Can be stopped at the position of the print head 5.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the length (pitch) N of the label 1 and the length G of the gap are not necessarily constant, when a plurality of labels 1 are inserted between the position detection sensor 6 and the print head 5, that is, the sensor 1 and the print. When the distance between the heads 5 is more than twice the total length of the pitch N of the label 1 and the length G of the gap, the pitch N of the label 1 and the length G of the gap measured by the sensor 1 are obtained. Since the combined length is different from the combined length of the pitch N of the other label 1 between the position detection sensor 6 and the print head 5 and the length G of the gap, a deviation may occur in the stop position. There was a problem.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and makes it possible to accurately position the leading end of a label at a predetermined position.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The label transport apparatus according to claim 1 is a label transport apparatus that transports a label that is releasably pasted on a mount, and transports the label and the mount by a predetermined unit distance at predetermined time intervals. The detection means for detecting a gap between two adjacent labels at a time interval and a label, and a plurality of storage areas specified by addresses, and storing data corresponding to the detection result by the detection means in the storage area Storage means for storing; data writing means for writing data corresponding to a detection result by the detection means to a storage area specified by a first address corresponding to the position of the detection means; and a transport means for storing the label and the mount for a predetermined time Address changing means for changing the correspondence between each storage area of the storage means and an address for designating each storage area in synchronization with transporting by a predetermined unit distance at intervals; A data reading means for reading data stored in a storage area specified by a second address corresponding to a position away from the detection means by a predetermined distance in the direction in which the label and the mount are conveyed, and the data reading means A position determination unit that determines the position of the label and the position of the gap based on the value of the output data, and a printing unit that performs printing on the label conveyed by the conveyance unit .
Further, the position determining means determines at least one of the leading position of the label and the leading position of the gap based on whether or not the value of the data read by the data reading section has changed. be able to.
Further, the second address can correspond to the position of the printing means.
The difference between the first address and the second address can be made equal to a value obtained by dividing the distance between the detection means and the printing means by the unit distance.
The label transport method according to claim 5 is a label transport method for transporting a label that is releasably pasted on a mount, wherein the label and the mount are transported by a predetermined unit distance at predetermined time intervals, and The detection unit detects a gap between two adjacent labels and a label at time intervals, and data corresponding to a detection result in the detection step from a plurality of storage areas specified by addresses A storage step for storing in the storage area of the storage unit, a data writing step for writing data corresponding to the detection result in the detection step to the storage area specified by the first address corresponding to the position of the detection unit, and a transport step Each storage area of the storage unit and each storage area in synchronization with the transport of the label and the mount by a predetermined unit distance at a predetermined time interval The address change step for changing the correspondence with the designated address and the storage area designated by the second address corresponding to the position away from the detection unit by a predetermined distance in the direction in which the label and the mount are conveyed. A data read step for reading the read data, and a position determination step for determining the position of the label and the position of the gap based on the value of the data read in the data read step.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium that is readable by a CPU in which a program for causing the CPU to execute the label transport method according to the fifth aspect is recorded.
In the label transport device, the label transport method, and the recording medium according to the present invention, the label and the mount are transported by a predetermined unit distance at a predetermined time interval, and the detection unit detects the two adjacent labels at the time interval. Gaps and labels are detected, data corresponding to the detection results are stored in the storage area of the storage section consisting of a plurality of storage areas specified by the addresses, and the data corresponding to the detection results are stored in the position of the detection section Each storage area of the storage unit, and each storage area in synchronization with the conveyance of the label and the mount by a predetermined unit distance at a predetermined time interval. Is stored in a storage area specified by a second address corresponding to a position away from the detection unit by a predetermined distance in the direction in which the label and the mount are conveyed. It reads data, based on the value of the read data, and determines the position and location of the gap of the label.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an embodiment of a label printer to which the present invention is applied. As shown in the figure, the label printer includes a control unit 7 that controls each unit, a print head 5 that performs printing on the label 1, and a stepping motor that is driven by the control of the control unit 7 (hereinafter simply referred to as a motor as appropriate). 4) and the rotating force of the motor 4 transmitted through the belt 8, and the label 1 attached to the base plate 2 and the base plate 2 so as to be peeled off is conveyed, and the label 1 is pressed against the print head 5. Platen roller 3, a light emitting unit that emits predetermined light, and a light receiving unit that receives the light emitted from the light emitting unit and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the received light amount. A position detection sensor (hereinafter simply referred to as “position detection sensor”) that detects the label 1 and the gap (the portion of the mount only between the label 1 and the label 1) based on the amount of light received by the light receiving unit. SE And a that the difference) 6.
[0010]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of the embodiment of FIG. As shown in the figure, the control unit 7 includes a ROM (read only memory) 12 that stores a predetermined control program, and a CPU (central processing unit) that operates according to the control program stored in the ROM 12 and controls each unit. 11, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13 for storing various data necessary for the CPU 11 to operate, a motor control unit 14 for supplying a pulse signal to the stepping motor 4 and rotating the motor 4, and a supply from the CPU 11 A control signal corresponding to print data such as characters, figures, and barcodes to be printed is generated and supplied to the print head 5 to perform a print operation, and the sensor 6 under the control of the CPU 11. Controls the light emitting part, emits light, and receives light Receiving an electrical signal output from, and a sensor control unit 16 supplies the CPU 11. In addition, data can be transmitted / received to / from an externally connected device via the external interface 17.
[0011]
Next, a specific example will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows an example of printing on the label 1 having a pitch (length of the label 1) shorter than the distance between the position detection sensor 6 and the print head 5.
[0012]
In this example, the length (pitch) in the conveyance direction of the label 1 is 25 millimeters (mm), the length of the gap between the label 1 and the label 1 is 3 mm, and the distance between the print head 5 and the position detection sensor 6 Is 40 mm.
[0013]
The label 1 and the mount 2 are conveyed by the action of the frictional force between the platen roller 3 and the mount 2 by the rotation of the platen roller 3 that rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the stepping motor 4. For example, when the print density of the print head 5 is 8 dots / mm, when the stepping motor 4 rotates by one step, the label 1 and the mount 2 are conveyed by 1/8 mm in the paper feed direction.
[0014]
Since the length of the label 1 is 25 mm, when the stepping motor 4 is rotated by 200 (= 25 (mm) × 8 (dot)) steps, the label 1 and the mount 2 are conveyed by the length of the label 1. . Since the gap length is 3 mm, when the stepping motor 4 is rotated by 24 (= 3 (mm) × 8 (dot)) steps, the label 1 and the mount 2 are conveyed by the gap length. .
[0015]
In this embodiment, every time the label 1 and the mount 2 are conveyed by one dot, the position detection sensor 6 detects the label 1 and the gap (the light emitting part emits light to the light receiving part, and the light receiving part Receives the light transmitted only through the label 1 and the mount 2 or the mount 2 and outputs an electric signal according to the received light amount), and the detection result is a ring buffer memory (hereinafter, referred to as a ring buffer memory provided in the RAM 13). The data is written in the memory 21).
[0016]
For example, the ring buffer memory 21 has a size corresponding to the number of bytes corresponding to the number of steps of the stepping motor 4 necessary for transporting the label 1 and the mount 2 by the distance between the position detection sensor 6 and the print head 5. .
[0017]
For example, when the distance between the print head 5 and the position detection sensor 6 is 40 mm, the size of the ring buffer memory 21 is at least 320 (= 40 (mm) × 8 (dot)) bytes or more. When the distance between the print head 5 and the position detection sensor 6 is 60 mm, the size of the ring buffer memory 21 is at least 480 (= 60 (mm) × 8 (dot)) bytes or more.
[0018]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, a case where the size of the ring buffer memory 21 is 320 bytes will be described. Now, as shown in FIG. 5, it is assumed that the leading end of the label 1 is located immediately below the print head 5 and the printing operation by the print head 5 is started.
[0019]
First, in step S1, printing for one line is performed by the print head 5. Next, in step S2, it is determined by the position detection sensor 6 whether or not a gap has been detected. When it is determined that the gap is detected by the position detection sensor 6, the process proceeds to step S4, and the value 1 is written as data at the address corresponding to the position of the position detection sensor 6 in the ring buffer memory 21.
[0020]
On the other hand, when it is determined that the gap is not detected by the position detection sensor 6, that is, the label 1 is detected, the process proceeds to step S3, and the value corresponding to the position of the position detection sensor 6 in the ring buffer memory 21 is 0. Written as data.
[0021]
When the process of step S3 or step S4 ends, the process proceeds to step S5. In step S5, the address value corresponding to the position of the print head 5 in the ring buffer memory 21 is read.
[0022]
Next, in step S6, the current value 0 is read from the address corresponding to the position of the print head 5 in the ring buffer memory 21 based on the value read in step S5 and the value read in the previous time. It is determined whether or not the previous value 1 has been read. That is, it is determined whether or not the value read in step S5 has changed from 1 to 0.
[0023]
If the value 0 is read from the address corresponding to the position of the print head 5 in the ring buffer memory 21 and it is determined that the previously read value is 1, that is, the value read in step S5. Is determined to have changed from 1 to 0, it is recognized that the head of the label 1 is located immediately below the print head 5 and the conveyance of the label 1 should be stopped. The operation of the stepping motor 4 is stopped. Thereafter, the process ends. As a result, the leading end of the next label 1 is positioned directly below the print head 5. Thereafter, the CPU 11 starts printing on the next label 1.
[0024]
On the other hand, if it is determined that the value read in step S5 has not changed from 1 to 0, it is recognized that the head of label 1 is not located immediately below the print head 5, and the process proceeds to step S7.
[0025]
In step S7, under the control of the motor control unit 14, the stepping motor 4 rotates by one step, and the label 1 is conveyed by one dot. Next, in step S8, the address of the ring buffer memory 21 is increased by 1.
[0026]
In step S <b> 9, among the addresses of the ring buffer memory 21, the address exceeding the final address of the ring buffer memory 21 is set as the head address (address 0) of the ring buffer memory 21.
[0027]
Then, it returns to step S1 and the process after step S1 is repeatedly performed.
[0028]
Increasing the address of the ring buffer memory 21 by 1 effectively means that the data written in the ring buffer memory 21 (in this example, 0 or 1) is shifted to the larger address. is there. That is, it is substantially the same as the movement of the data stored at the address n (in this example, n is 0 to 319) of the ring buffer memory 21 to the address n + 1. When the address (n + 1) exceeds the final address (319 in this example), the address (n + 1) is set to address 0. That is, the data stored at address n is stored at address 0.
[0029]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the correspondence between the positions of the label 1 and the mount 2 with respect to the position detection sensor 6 and the values stored in the respective addresses of the ring buffer memory 21. As shown in FIG. 5, the value 0 is written to the address of the ring buffer memory 21 corresponding to the label 1 portion, and the value 1 is written to the address of the ring buffer memory 21 corresponding to the mount 2 portion. .
[0030]
The timing at which the label 1 and the mount 2 are conveyed is synchronized with the timing at which the value corresponding to the detection signal from the position detection sensor 6 is written into the ring buffer memory 21. Therefore, for example, when the label 1 is directly below the position detection sensor 6, the amount of light received by the light receiving unit is equal to or less than a predetermined reference value, and a value 0 indicating that the label 1 is present is written in the ring buffer memory 21. Next, the label 1 and the mount 2 are conveyed by a distance of one dot, and the address of the ring buffer memory 21 is incremented by one. That is, all values written in bytes in the ring buffer memory 21 are shifted to the larger address by 1 byte.
[0031]
Similarly, when there is a gap immediately below the position detection sensor 6, the amount of light received by the light receiving unit becomes larger than a predetermined reference value, and a value 1 indicating that there is a gap is written in the ring buffer memory 21. Next, the label 1 and the mount 2 are conveyed by a distance of one dot, and the address of the ring buffer memory 21 is incremented by one. That is, all values written in bytes in the ring buffer memory 21 are shifted to the larger address by 1 byte.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 5, each dot, which is the minimum unit when the label 1 and the mount 2 are conveyed (in this example, 8 dots / millimeter (mm), 1 dot is 1/8 mm). ) And each byte of the ring buffer memory 21 are associated with each data written in the ring buffer memory 21 in units of bytes (in this example) in synchronization with the conveyance of the label 1 and the mount 2 one dot at a time. In this case, the value 0 indicating the label 1 and the value 1) indicating the gap are shifted by 1 byte. Therefore, the position of the label 1 and the gap can be detected from the value of the corresponding address in the ring buffer memory 21.
[0033]
In the case of the example shown in FIG. 5, the distance between the position detection sensor 6 and the print head 5 is 40 mm, which is a distance of 320 (= 40 × 8) dots. 320 dots correspond to 320 steps of the stepping motor 4.
[0034]
In the example shown in FIG. 5, the rightmost address corresponding to the position of the position detection sensor 6 in the ring buffer memory 21 is address 0, and the leftmost address corresponding to the position of the print head 5 is address 319.
[0035]
Then, the label 1 and the mount 2 are conveyed by a distance of one dot, the value of the ring buffer memory 21 is shifted, and the value read from the address 319 corresponding to the position of the print head 5 of the ring buffer memory 21 is 1. When the value changes from 0 to 0, it can be detected that the head of the label 1 is located immediately below the print head 5.
[0036]
Thus, since the value written in each byte of the ring buffer memory 21 corresponds to the label 1 and the gap, even if the length (pitch) of the label 1 and the gap length are not constant, It is possible to accurately detect that the leading end of the label 1 is located immediately below the print head 5.
[0037]
Next, as shown in FIG. 6, a case where the length of the label 1 is longer than the distance between the position detection sensor 6 and the print head 5 will be described. When the distance between the position detection sensor 6 and the print head 5 is shorter than the length of the label 1, there is a case where there is only one gap or no gap between the position detection sensor 6 and the print head 5. is there.
[0038]
In FIG. 6, when the label printing start position is the leading end of the label 1, the label 1 is stopped in a state where the leading end of the label 1 is located immediately below the print head 5.
[0039]
The ring buffer memory 21 is secured in the RAM 13 by a size corresponding to the distance between the position detection sensor 6 and the print head 5. In this case, since the distance between the position detection sensor 6 and the print head 5 is 40 mm and the print density is 8 dots / mm, the ring buffer memory 21 having a size of 320 (= 40 × 8) bytes is stored in the RAM 13. Secured.
[0040]
As in the case described above with reference to FIG. 5, when the position detection sensor 6 detects the gap, the position detection sensor 6 sets an address corresponding to the position of the position detection sensor 6 in the ring buffer memory 21 (address 0 in this example). Write the value 1. On the other hand, when the position detection sensor 6 detects the label 1, the value 0 is written to an address (address 0 in this example) corresponding to the position of the position detection sensor 6 in the ring buffer memory 21.
[0041]
Next, the data stored in the address (in this example, address 319) corresponding to the position of the print head 5 in the ring buffer memory 21 is read.
[0042]
At the same time that the label 1 and the mount 2 are conveyed by one step (corresponding to one dot), each address of the ring buffer memory 21 is increased by one. That is, the data stored at address n (n is an integer from 0 to 319) is stored at address (n + 1). When (n + 1) exceeds 319, (n + 1) is set to 0, and the data stored at address n is stored at address 0.
[0043]
As described above, when the value of data read from the address corresponding to the position of the print head 5 (in this example, the address 319) is 0, it can be determined that the label 1 is directly under the print head 5. it can. Further, when the value of the data read from the address corresponding to the position of the print head 5 (in this example, the address 319) is 1, it can be determined that there is a gap immediately below the print head 5.
[0044]
Therefore, from the address corresponding to the position of the print head 5 in the ring buffer memory 21 (in this example, the address 319), is the value of the data read now being 0 and the value of the data read immediately before being 1? If it is determined that the value of the data read now is 0 and the value of the data read immediately before is 1, the leading edge of the label 1 is located immediately below the print head 5. Can be detected.
[0045]
As described above, since the conveyance operation of the label 1 and the mount 2 and the contents of the ring buffer memory 21 are synchronized, an address corresponding to the position of the print head 5 in the ring buffer memory 21 (in this case, address 319). The CPU 11 controls the motor control unit 14 to stop the stepping motor 4 when the leading end of the label 1 is detected from the value of the data read out from the print head 5. 1 can be positioned directly below the print head 5.
[0046]
Thereafter, the motor control unit 14 controls the stepping motor 4 to convey the label 1 and the mount 2 by a predetermined number of steps, thereby positioning the print head 5 at a predetermined print position in the label 1 and performing printing.
[0047]
As described above, regardless of the length of the label 1 or the length of the gap and the distance between the position detection sensor 6 and the print head 5, the tip of the label 1 can be positioned immediately below the print head 5. Printing can be performed at a predetermined position in the label 1 with the tip as a reference.
[0048]
In the above embodiment, the gap which is only the mount 2 between the label 1 and the label 1 is detected. However, a mark printed in advance on the back of the mount 2 is detected, and the mark The present invention can also be applied to a case where a certain portion is accurately positioned at a predetermined position.
[0049]
The specific numerical values used in the above embodiments are examples, and are not limited to these.
[0050]
Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to a label printer has been described. However, a label cutter that separates the label 1 at the gap portion, or a peeling that peels the mount 2 from the label 1 at the tip of the peeling plate. The present invention can also be applied to devices and the like.
[0051]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the label transport device, the label transport method, and the recording medium according to the present invention, the label and the mount are transported by a predetermined unit distance at a predetermined time interval, and the detection unit is adjacent at the time interval. The data corresponding to the detection result is detected by detecting the gap between the two labels and the label, storing the data corresponding to the detection result in the storage area of the plurality of storage areas specified by the address. Is written in a storage area designated by a first address corresponding to the position of the detection unit, and each storage area of the storage unit is synchronized with the transport of the label and the mount by a predetermined unit distance at a predetermined time interval. And the address specified by the second address corresponding to the position away from the detection unit by a predetermined distance in the direction in which the label and the mount are conveyed. It reads the data stored in the band, based on the value of the read data. Thus to determine the position and location of the gap of the label can be positioned accurately the leading end of the label in place.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an embodiment of a label printer to which a label conveying device according to the invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of the embodiment of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the distance between the position detection sensor 6 and the print head 5, and the positional relationship between the label 1 and the gap.
4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; FIG.
5 is a diagram showing a relationship between the position of the label 1 and the data in the ring buffer memory 21 when the distance between the position detection sensor 6 and the print head 5 is longer than the length of the label 1. FIG.
6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the position of the label 1 and the data in the ring buffer memory 21 when the distance between the position detection sensor 6 and the print head 5 is shorter than the length of the label 1. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a conventional label conveying method.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Label 2 Mount 3 Platen roller 4 Stepping motor 5 Print head 6 Position detection sensor 7 Control part 8 Belt 11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 Motor control unit 15 Print control unit 16 Sensor control unit 17 External interface 21 Ring buffer memory

Claims (6)

A label transport device for transporting a label affixed to a mount so as to be peelable, transporting the label and the mount by a predetermined unit distance at predetermined time intervals; and
Detecting means for detecting a gap between two adjacent labels and the label at the time interval;
A storage unit that includes a plurality of storage areas specified by an address, and stores data corresponding to the detection result of the detection unit in the storage area;
Data writing means for writing data corresponding to the detection result by the detecting means to the storage area specified by a first address corresponding to the position of the detecting means;
In synchronization with the transport of the label and the mount by the predetermined unit distance at the predetermined time interval, correspondence between each storage area of the storage means and an address designating each storage area is established. An address changing means to be changed;
Data reading means for reading data stored in the storage area specified by a second address corresponding to a position away from the detection means by a predetermined distance in the direction in which the label and the mount are conveyed; and Position determining means for determining the position of the label and the position of the gap based on the value of the data read by the data reading means;
Printing means for printing on the label conveyed by the conveying means;
A label carrying device comprising:   The position determining unit determines at least one of the leading position of the label and the leading position of the gap based on whether or not the value of the data read by the data reading unit has changed. The label conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein Before SL is a second address, the label conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that corresponding to the position of said printing means. The difference of the second address and the first address, to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that equal to the value obtained distance is divided by the unit distance between said printing means and said detecting means The label conveying apparatus of description. A label transporting method for transporting a label affixed to a mount so as to be peelable, the transport step transporting the label and the mount at a predetermined time interval by a predetermined unit distance, and a detection unit at the time interval. A detection step for detecting a gap between two adjacent labels and the label, and data corresponding to a detection result in the detection step in the storage unit including a plurality of storage areas specified by addresses A storage step of storing in the storage area; a data writing step of writing data corresponding to the detection result in the detection step to the storage area specified by a first address corresponding to the position of the detection unit;
Correspondence between each storage area of the storage unit and an address designating each storage area in synchronization with the transport of the label and the mount by the predetermined unit distance at the predetermined time interval in the transport step An address changing step for changing the label and the data stored in the storage area specified by a second address corresponding to a position away from the detection unit by a predetermined distance in the direction in which the label and the mount are conveyed A label reading method, and a position determination step for determining the position of the label and the position of the gap based on the value of the data read in the data reading step . A CPU-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for causing the CPU to execute the label carrying method according to claim 5 .

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