JP4930557B2 - Label with release paper and label printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a label with release paper and a label printer that performs printing on a label individual.

  Specifically, the number information indicating the number of labels that can be printed is pre-printed as barcode information on one side of the release paper so that this barcode information can be used as an indication of the remaining number of labels that can be printed. Is.

  In addition, the number of printed sheets of label information is acquired from the barcode information printed on the label with release paper, and the acquired number of printed sheets information is displayed as the remaining number of sheets, and the remaining number of sheets is displayed for each label printing. Thus, the number of printable labels can be confirmed.

  Starting with labels for various products, labeling of products at supermarkets and other food departments, shipping slips, in-stock slips, parts labels at product manufacturers, etc. The printer to play an active part.

  As a label used in this label printer, a label with release paper is usually used. FIG. 8 shows an example of the label 10 with the release paper. This is a plurality of sheets with a predetermined interval (label interval) W in one row on one surface, for example, the surface of the release paper (mounting paper) 12 that forms a strip shape. The label individual 14 is affixed.

  The label 10 with release paper is usually wound in a roll shape and purchased while wrapped in wrapping paper. The number of labels (number of printable sheets) is generally displayed on the wrapping paper. Some label printers have a display unit with a function for displaying the number of labels. In a label printer with such a display function, the number of labels printed on the wrapping paper is input. Thus, it is possible to confirm how many labels can be printed with the set label 10 with release paper.

  However, in this method, there is a possibility that an input error of the number of labels may occur. Therefore, a label with release paper has been devised in which label number information is printed on the back surface of the release paper 12 (for example, Patent Document 1).

  In this label with release paper, information on the number of printable labels is printed on the back surface of the release paper at a predetermined interval from the beginning to the end of the release paper as identification information. The label printer can check the number of printable labels by reading and displaying this printable number information.

JP-A-9-240121

  Incidentally, the printer disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a feature that the number of printable sheets can be displayed in real time whenever a label is used. In order to update and display the number of printable sheets each time a label is printed, identification information having different contents must be sequentially printed on the back surface of the release paper facing the label attachment position.

  However, in order to do so, it is intermittent from the beginning to the end of the release paper, but since the identification information related to the remaining number of sheets must be printed, the printing process on the release paper is troublesome and the release paper This will increase the cost of the label.

  In order to reduce the cost as much as possible, for example, it may be possible to print identification information related to the remaining number of sheets for each predetermined number of sheets. Since the printing at predetermined intervals is associated with a very troublesome work, a sufficient cost reduction cannot be expected.

Accordingly, the invention was to solve such conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a release paper labeled and the label printer has to be able to accurately display the printable number of sheets while achieving cost reduction .

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a label with a release paper according to the present invention described in claim 1 includes a label individual attached to one surface of the release paper, and a start side on the other surface of the release paper. from along the longitudinal direction at a substantially central portion of the release paper printed alternately in the same pattern over a predetermined length, and a bar code indicating the relevant information of the label individuals, prior to the bar code, the bar code A logo indicating the provider of the label with release paper as identification information for recognizing the presence in advance, and the related information includes at least the label individual affixed to the release paper as fixed information for each type of label. Information relating to the number of printable sheets , print density, label individual size, and type of label paper is included.

Labels The label printer according to the invention described in claim 2, which is printed along the longitudinal direction alternately at the same pattern over a predetermined length at a substantially central portion of the release paper on one surface of the label release paper and printable number of at least label individual as fixed information for each type of the bar code information contained print density and label individual size and information related to the type of label paper, and the identification information to be previously aware of the existence of a bar code A barcode sensor that reads a logo indicating the provider of all labels with release paper , the barcode information is read, and the number of printable labels included in the read barcode information is displayed. And a remaining number control unit that subtracts and displays the printable number of sheets.

  In this invention, a plurality of individual labels are adhered to one surface (for example, the front surface) of the release paper at a predetermined interval. On the other side (back side), a barcode is printed from the start side to the end of the release paper.

  The bar code information is various information related to the label, such as the size of the label, the type of label paper, and the print density. Further, the bar code information includes information indicating the total number of labels attached to the release paper, that is, the number of printable sheets (maximum number).

  In the label printer, a reading mode for reading bar code information is prepared before shifting to the printing mode. In the reading mode, the release paper is fed by idle. The bar code information is read while the release paper is fed by a predetermined number (2 to 3) of labels, and the information is stored in the internal memory. The barcode information reading process is also performed when the release paper is returned to the original position (printing initial position).

  Then, the printable sheet number information read twice is collated. When the collation results match, the information is displayed on the display unit. Then, every time the printing process on the label individual is completed, the update process for the number of printable sheets is performed. By displaying the result of the subtraction process, it is possible to know how many sheets can be printed from now on, or how many labels have already been printed. The number of prints can also be displayed.

  When the final label attached to the end side of the release paper is detected, a display for replacing the label with the release paper (roll paper) is made to prompt the user to replace the roll paper.

In the present invention, it was Wataru Rishirushi printing from the start end to a predetermined length of the release paper on the other side of the release paper, to print the Luba keycode to have a information indicating the printable number of labels, further advance of the bar code Thus, a label with release paper on which identification information for previously identifying the presence of the barcode is printed is provided. Also provided is a label printer that reads a barcode including information on the number of printable labels and identification information for identifying the presence of the barcode in advance and displays the number of printable sheets by subtracting each label print.

According to this, since the barcode information is only printed for a predetermined length from the starting end side of the release paper, the barcode printing process is very simple and the printing cost is low. Therefore, a label with release paper can be provided at low cost. Furthermore, even when the barcode sensor is set so that it is positioned at an intermediate position between the barcode and the barcode, the barcode sensor detects the identification information when the label is sent. You can start.

  Further, according to this label printer, the number of printable sheets can be confirmed by displaying the number of printable sheets included in the barcode information on the label printer.

It is a systematic diagram of the principal part showing an example of a label printer according to the present invention. It is a side view which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship between a print head and label detection means. It is a top view which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship between a print head and a label detection means. It is a figure of the front and back which shows the structural example of the label with release paper which concerns on this invention (the 1). It is a figure of the front and back which shows the structural example of the label with release paper which concerns on this invention (the 2). 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for detecting the number of printable sheets. It is a flowchart which shows the example of remaining amount display processing. It is a figure which shows the prior art example of a label with a release paper.

  Next, an embodiment of a label with a release paper and a label printer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a main part of a label printer 20 according to the present invention. 4 and 5 show an example of a main part of the label with release paper 10 according to the present invention. First, the label 10 with release paper will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

  The label 10 with release paper is composed of a release paper 12 and a plurality of individual labels 14 attached to the front surface 12a in this example of one surface. The release paper 12 is a mount having a strip shape, and a translucent film is used in this example.

  The label individual 14 is thermal paper, and several types of thermal paper having different quality are prepared. This includes high-quality thermal paper, glossy thermal paper, thermal transfer art paper, and the like. This label individual 14 to which the double-sided adhesive is applied is adhered to the release paper 12. The label individual 14 is generated by being punched. Accordingly, the individual labels 14 are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the release paper 12 with a constant interval W.

  In this example, only one type of label individual 14 is prepared. An excessive amount of information to be printed on the label individual 14 is generated depending on the product to be attached. The excessive amount of information is adjusted by the number of lines to be printed, the printing interval, and the like. Since the label individual 14 is one type, when the label 10 with release paper is set in a label printer, which will be described later, the label 10 with release paper is not replaced until printing on the last label individual 14 is completed. In other words, it is used up. Of course, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such use examples.

  In this example, a print area 14a is secured in a part of the label individual 14, and individual information is printed in advance here. In the case of FIG. 4A, a print area 14a is secured below the label individual 14, and predetermined information is printed thereon. The predetermined information is individual identification information, and for example, information on the provider side of the product such as a corporation name (manufacturer, distributor, etc.) of the product, its address, and a telephone number can be considered.

  The area 14b other than the print area 14a is a print area that can be actually printed. In the print area 14b, information (print layout information) related to the product such as the product name, raw material name, and expiration date of the packed product is printed.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, barcodes 82 are printed at a predetermined interval along the longitudinal direction in the substantially central portion of the other surface (back surface) 12b of the release paper 12. The barcode 82 is printed by a predetermined length L from the starting end side of the release paper 12. The predetermined length L can be set to an arbitrary length, but in this example, only the length corresponding to 3 to 5 labels is printed. When converted to the barcode 82, the number is two to three. Since all the information included in the barcode 82 is the same, it is printed in the same pattern. Since the printing with the same pattern and the printing length of the barcode 82 are relatively short, the printing cost is low. Therefore, the cost reduction of the label 10 with release paper can be achieved.

  Of course, the barcode may be printed from the start side to the end side of the release paper. Even in this case, the barcode information is printed as fixed information for each type of label. Since the bar code information can be printed on the label with release paper by rotary printing, it can be manufactured at a low printing cost.

  In this example, the identification information 80 is printed prior to the barcode 82. The identification information 80 is used as a mark for recognizing the presence of the barcode 82 in advance. As the identification information 80, a specific figure, character, symbol, or the like can be used. In some cases, a logo or the like that can identify the provider (manufacturer or distributor) of the label 10 with release paper can be used, and in this case, as a mark indicating that the label 10 with release paper is genuine. Will also work.

  The barcode 82 may be a one-dimensional barcode in which rod-shaped marks are arranged, a two-dimensional barcode (two-dimensional code), or the like. A one-dimensional barcode is sufficient when the amount of information is small. The bar code 82 stores various binarized information. The various information includes, for example, the size of the label individual and the type of label paper. In addition to these pieces of information, this is the number of labels (the number of printable sheets) 14 attached to the release paper 12.

  The number of printable sheets is the maximum number of labels 10 with release paper provided. Several types of printable sheets are prepared within a range of about 50 to 200 sheets. Information corresponding to the number of printable sheets is included in the barcode information.

  FIG. 5 shows another example of the label 10 with release paper. The only difference from FIG. 4 is the position of the print area 14a, and the print area 14a in this case is a predetermined area above the label individual 14 as shown in FIG. 5A. Even in this example, the identification information 80 and the barcode 82 are printed on the back surface 12b of the release paper 12 over the predetermined length L from the starting end side of the release paper 12 at predetermined intervals.

  Predetermined information is printed using the label 10 with release paper configured as described above.

  FIG. 1 is a system diagram of an essential part showing an example of a label printer 20 according to the present invention, which has a label remaining amount display function.

  In FIG. 1, a platen roller 24 is driven by a motor, in this example, a stepping motor 22, and as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. A traveling force is applied in the direction a at a predetermined speed. The release paper-attached label 10 is sequentially fed by the stepping motor 22 one pitch at a time.

  A print head (in this example, a thermal head in the form of a line) 26 is pressed against the platen roller 24 via a label 10 with release paper, and the above-described print layout information is supplied to the print head 26 so that the layout information is labeled. Printed on the individual 14.

  The detecting means 30 for the label individual 14 is arranged at a position preceding the print head 26 by a predetermined interval La. As the detection means 30, a transmission type detection means is used. Therefore, as shown in the figure, a light emitting element (light emitting diode or the like) 30a is disposed on one side of the label 10 with release paper, and a light receiving element (light receiving diode) 30b is disposed on the other side to detect the label unit 14 detection means 30. Is configured. The sticking position of the label individual 14 is detected from the difference in transmittance.

  A bar code sensor 34 is disposed at a position close to the detection means 30 and preceding the detection means 30. The bar code sensor 34 is disposed on the back surface 12 b side of the release paper 12 with a predetermined gap from the release paper 12. Therefore, a reflection type sensor is used for the bar code sensor 34. A reflection type sensor in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are accommodated in the same housing is used, and bar code information is read from the difference in reflectance.

  Since the barcode 82 or the like is printed on the back surface 12b of the release paper 12, the barcode sensor 34 is positioned so that it can sense almost the center of the barcode 82 as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. Near the part). On the other hand, the detection means 30 (30a, 30b) is arranged at a position where only the label individual 14 can be sensed without sensing the barcode 82 and the print area 14a. For example, it is arranged near the right end of the label individual 14. Therefore, the print area 14a is provided slightly to the left. The bar code sensor 34 can also be arranged at a position following the detection means 30.

  The label printer 20 is provided with a cutter means 32 for cutting the release paper-attached label 10, more specifically the release paper 12, on the outlet side of the print head 26. The cutter means 32 has an upper blade 32a and a lower blade 32b arranged so as to sandwich the label 10 with the release paper, and either or both of the upper blade 32a and the lower blade 32b are moved up and down to remove the release paper 12. Cutting processing is performed.

  A series of printing processes on the label 10 with release paper described above is performed under the control of the data processing unit 40. The data processing unit 40 is a computer, and includes a CPU 42 that controls the entire label printer 20, a memory unit (ROM) 44 that stores a control program necessary for printing processing, and a working memory unit ( RAM) 45 and the like constitute the data processing unit 40. In the data processing unit 40, a process for controlling the printing position is also performed during the above-described printing process.

  Further, the sensor output obtained by the light receiving element 30b is supplied to the IV conversion unit 46 and subjected to current-voltage conversion, and then binarized by the binarization processing unit 48 provided in the data processing unit 40. Similarly, an IV conversion unit 47 for the sensor output acquired by the barcode sensor 34 is also provided, and binarization processing is performed by a binarization processing unit 49 provided in the data processing unit 40.

  The print data generated by the data processing unit 40 is supplied to the print head 26 via the print data output unit 50. At this time, the data processing unit 40 generates a drive signal (line drive signal) for the stepping motor 22, and the platen roller 24 is rotationally driven in synchronization with this drive signal to perform printing processing line by line. A cutter processing signal for the label 10 with release paper is also generated by the data processing unit 40, but details thereof are omitted.

  The data processing unit 40 includes an input unit (keyboard) 52 for inputting print data and the like, a display unit (LCD or the like) 54 for displaying the input print data, a memory means 56 for storing the input print data, etc. Warning means 58 such as a lamp and a buzzer used at the time of the above are associated.

  The memory means 56 can use removable memory means such as a memory flash or a card-like memory element. When the removable memory means is used as the memory means 56, the memory information can also be used as print information. In this example, the data processing unit 40 is further provided with a USB terminal 72, which exchanges information with the terminal device 70 that creates print layout information.

  Thus, in the data processing unit 40 having the CPU configuration, binarization processing, end face detection processing of the label individual 14, label travel control processing, label remaining amount display processing, and the like are executed. Therefore, it is obvious that the data processing unit 40 also functions as a remaining number control unit.

  As described above, the bar code information includes information indicating the printable number of set labels. The printable sheet number information is read to display the printable sheet number, and the printable sheet number update process is performed in conjunction with the printing process on the label individual 14. Therefore, in the label printer 20, the reading mode for reading the barcode is executed before moving to the printing mode, in other words, when the new label with release paper 10 is set in the printer body.

  In the barcode information reading mode, information on the barcode 82 is read while the release paper 12 is fed by a predetermined length. The bar code information is also read when the release paper 12 is returned to the initial set state. Therefore, when the label with release paper 10 is set, the printable sheet number detection process as shown in FIG. 6 is automatically executed.

  This will be described with reference to FIG. First, it is checked whether a new label with release paper (roll paper) 10 has been set or replaced (step 90). The label 10 with release paper can be set or exchanged by detecting opening and closing of a roll paper storage lid (not shown) of the printer body. The following description is based on the case where the label with release paper 10 is set.

  When the label with release paper 10 is set, the barcode 82 is read while the release paper 12 is fed by a predetermined length (step 91).

  The release paper 12 is fed by a predetermined number of sheets (for example, 3 to 5 sheets) based on the label individual 14. The predetermined number is 2 to 3 barcodes 82. The bar code information is read while being skipped, information indicating the number of printable labels is extracted from the bar code information, and the information is stored in the internal memory (memory means) 56 (step 92).

  When the idle feed is completed, a reverse feed process for returning the release paper 12 to the original position (printing initial position) is performed, and the barcode information reading process is also performed during the reverse feed process (steps 93 and 94). ).

  Then, the printable sheet number information read twice is collated (step 95). When the collation results match, the information is saved and the number of prints is displayed on the display unit 54 (step 96). Thereafter, the print mode standby state is entered (step 97).

  On the other hand, when the two printable sheet number information does not match, the barcode 82 reading process and the matching process are performed again. This reprocessing is performed about 2 to 3 times. When “2” is set as the default value, it is determined whether or not the reprocessing is the second time (steps 95 and 98). When the second time is the second value, the process proceeds to step 91 to If the matching process is performed and still does not match, an error is displayed (steps 98 and 99). The error display may be a message such as “Please set the roll paper again”. By displaying the error and then transitioning to the print mode standby state, the printable sheet number detection control process ends (steps 99 and 97).

  When the print mode is entered, the presence of the print layout information is confirmed, and the print processing for the designated number of sheets is performed. Synchronously with this, label remaining amount display processing is performed. This remaining amount display process is a process for updating the number of printable sheets.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the remaining amount display process. First, the number of printable sheets (initial value) is displayed as an initial value (step 101). Next, the label printing process is checked, and when the printing process is performed on the label individual 14 (step 102), the printable number of sheets is updated in synchronization with the printing process (step 103). This update process is a process of subtracting the number of printable sheets. When a counter is used as the subtraction process, it is a countdown process after setting the printable number of sheets as an initial value. By this update processing, it is possible to know how many sheets can be printed from now on or how many labels have already been printed. By displaying the number of printed sheets on the display unit 54 or displaying the initial value of the number of printable sheets as it is, the number of printed labels can be easily confirmed.

  When printing on the final label unit 14 is detected (step 104), the number of printable sheets is displayed as “0”, and a display for indicating that the label (roll paper) 10 with release paper should be replaced is displayed. The process ends (step 105). As a display prompting the replacement, for example, a display such as “Please replace the label with release paper” can be considered.

  In the embodiment described above, the display processing of the printable number of sheets after setting a new label 10 with release paper has been described. When the label 10 with release paper is used up, it is removed from the printer body and replaced with a new one. At this time, by deleting (clearing) the printable sheet number information of the memory means 56 and resetting the display contents displayed on the display unit 54, the same display processing as described above can be performed. This is because different labels with release paper may be set.

  When the barcode 82 printed on the release paper 12 is a two-dimensional barcode, a scanner is used as the detection unit 30 for the label individual 14.

  In the above-described first embodiment, the case where the same type of label with release paper is used has been described, but the same number of printable sheets and remaining amount display processing can be performed when labels with release paper of different sizes are set. .

  In some cases, a label with release paper that is already used halfway and is not new is set. In this case, since the information about the remaining number of printable sheets cannot be read from the bar code, the user inputs the roll diameter of the label with release paper 10 to be set using the input unit 52. Encourage you to. Then, the diameter of the core of the roll paper is stored in the memory means 56 in advance. The data processing unit 40 calculates the number of printable sheets from the input roll diameter and core diameter, and displays this. This is because if the roll diameter is known, it is possible to calculate the number of label pieces 14 that can be printed. The remaining amount display displayed immediately before is reset.

  In the case of the remaining amount display by the roll diameter, information indicating that the printable sheet number and the remaining amount display number displayed on the display unit 54 are approximate values is also displayed. For example, characters such as “approximate” are displayed in front of or behind the display numerical value, thereby prompting the user's attention. If such a process is performed, there is no possibility that the estimated value of the label with release paper already used is mistaken as the official remaining number of sheets.

  The above-described embodiment is merely an example of the present invention, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  The present invention can be applied to label printers used in the logistics industry, product manufacturers, supermarkets, and the like.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Label with release paper, 12 ... Release paper, 14 ... Label individual, 12a ... Front surface, 12b ... Back surface, 14a ... Print area, 14b ... Print area, 20 ... Label printer, 22 ... Stepping motor, 26 ... Print head, 30 ... Detection means, 34 ... Barcode sensor, 40 ... Data processing unit, 42 ... CPU, W ... label interval, 80 ... identification information, 82 ... barcode, L ... barcode printing length

Claims (4)

An individual label attached to one surface of the release paper;
The other surface of the release paper was alternately printed in the same pattern over a predetermined length along the longitudinal direction from the start side to the substantially central portion of the release paper .
A barcode indicating relevant information of the label individual,
Prior to the bar code, and a logo indicating the provider of the release paper labeled as identification information for previously recognize the presence of the bar code,
The related information includes , as fixed information for each label type, at least information related to the number of printable labels, the print density, the label individual size, and the label paper type attached to the release paper. Characteristic label with release paper. At least the number of printable labels and prints as fixed information for each type of label printed alternately in the same pattern along the longitudinal direction at the approximate center of the release paper on one side of the release paper for labels bar to read the logo indicating the bar code information including information related to the different concentrations and label individual size and label paper, the provider of the release paper with labels and the identification information to be previously aware of the existence of a bar code A code sensor;
And a remaining amount control unit for reading the barcode information, displaying the printable number of labels included in the read barcode information, and subtracting and displaying the printable number of sheets each time the label is printed. Label printer. The label printer according to claim 2, wherein the barcode reading timing is before a printing process. The label printer according to claim 2, wherein the barcode is read while the release paper is fed in an idle state.

Images