JP5576180B2 - Label issuing device and printer - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a label issuing device and a printer.

  The label printer includes, as an accessory, a peeling mechanism that peels off the label from the mount, and issues a label peeled off from the mount by the peeling mechanism from a label issuing port. Then, the label issued from the label issuing port is removed by an operator or an automatic labeling device and attached to a packaged product or a machine.

  Such a label printer includes a sensor that detects that the label peeled off from the mount by the peeling mechanism has been removed by the operator or an automatic labeling device downstream of the label issuing port in the label transport direction. (See Patent Document 1). When the sensor detects that the label has been removed, the label printer peels off the next label from the mount by the peeling mechanism, transports the next label to the label issuing port, Prepare to remove labels with automatic labeling equipment.

  By the way, in the conventional label printer, for example, when a label having a longer length in the conveyance direction of the label or a label having a low stiffness is issued from the label issuing port, the label may hang down from the label issuing port. is there. Therefore, in the conventional label printer, the label emitted from the label issuing port is out of the detection range of the sensor, and the label is still removed from the sensor even though the label is still in the label issuing port. Has the problem of false detection.

The label issuing device according to the embodiment includes a transport unit, a peeling unit, a sensor, a control unit, and a blocking unit good. The transport unit transports a label sheet having a mount and a plurality of labels attached to the mount. The peeling unit peels the label from the label paper and issues it from the label issuing port. The sensor is provided with a light emitting element that emits light obliquely with respect to the label surface of the label to be issued, at least a part of which has been peeled off from the label paper, and is spaced from the light emitting element in the width direction of the label to be issued. The label to be issued is detected by the light receiving element that receives the light emitted from the light emitting element. When the label to be issued is no longer detected by the sensor, the control unit transports the label paper by the transport unit and separates the new label from the label paper. The blocking member is provided downstream of the sensor in the label conveyance direction , and prevents the label to be issued from being out of the detection range that the sensor can detect.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a label printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the label printer with the printer unit housed in the housing. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the printer unit is pulled out from the housing. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of the label issuing port of the label printer. FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical side view showing the vicinity of the label issuing port of the label printer. FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of a label issuing port of a conventional label printer. FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of a label issuing port of a conventional label printer. FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical side view showing the vicinity of a label issuing port of a conventional label printer. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the label printer according to this embodiment. FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of the label issuing port of the label printer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 11 is an enlarged vertical side view showing the vicinity of the label issuing port of the label printer according to the present embodiment.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a label printer according to an embodiment. The label printer 100 includes a housing 102 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. On the upper surface of the housing 102, an operation panel 103 including various keys such as a numeric keypad and a display 104 as a display unit having a liquid crystal display are provided. An opening is formed on the front side of the housing 102, and two printer units 105 and 106 are housed side by side in the opening.

  Front panels 105a and 106a are attached to the front surfaces of both printer units 105 and 106, respectively. Label issuing ports 105b and 106b are opened at the upper portions of the front panels 105a and 106a. Grip portions 105c and 106c are formed below the front panels 105a and 106a. Both printer units 105 and 106 are supported and attached to the housing 102 so that they can be pulled out and stored in the front direction. An operator can hold the grip portions 105 c and 106 c and pull out the printer units 105 and 106 from the housing 102.

  In FIG. 1, a device arranged adjacent to the front surface of the label printer 100 is a weighing device 108. The weighing device 108 includes a flat main unit 109 and a weighing pan 110 attached to the upper surface of the main unit 109. The main unit 109 has a function of weighing the item placed on the weighing pan 110 and outputting the weighing data. The label printer 100 and the weighing device 108 are electrically connected. The weighing data output from the weighing device 108 is input to the label printer 100.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the label printer with the printer unit housed in the housing. FIG. 2 shows one of the two printer units 105 and 106 that is located on the right side when viewed from the front side of the label printer 100. The other printer unit 106 located on the left side has the same structure as the printer unit 105 shown in FIG. Hereinafter, only the printer unit 105 positioned on the right side will be described, and description of the printer unit 106 positioned on the left side will be omitted.

  In this embodiment, the label paper 112 used for the printer unit 105 is a roll paper having a label 113 and a mount 114 and wound in a roll shape. More specifically, the label paper 112 is obtained by sticking a plurality of labels 113 to a long mount 114 in a row and winding the paper around a paper tube 115 in a roll. As the label 113, a heat-sensitive label that develops color by heating, a transfer label that thermally transfers from a ribbon by heating, or the like is used.

  The printer unit 105 includes a paper holding shaft 117, a platen 118, and a mount winding shaft 119. The paper holding shaft 117 holds the label paper 112 by inserting the paper tube 115. The mount winding shaft 119 winds the mount 114 included in the label sheet 112. The paper holding shaft 117, the platen 118, and the mount winding shaft 119 are all protruded from the side wall 120 of the printer unit 105 and maintained in a cantilever state. By the sheet holding shaft 117, the platen 118, a label peeling unit 121 and a mount take-up shaft 119, which will be described later, the printer unit 105 has a guide path 122 for the label paper 112 from the sheet hold shaft 117 to the mount take-up shaft 119. It is formed.

  The printer unit 105 has a label peeling unit 121. The label peeling unit 121 is disposed on the downstream side of the platen 118 in the guide path 122 in the conveyance direction of the label 113, and in the course of conveying the label 113 affixed to the mount 114, the label 114 is moved away from the label 113. The printed label 113 is peeled off from the mount 114 by bending it at an acute angle. Then, the label 113 peeled from the mount 114 is issued from the label issuing port 105b. The mount 114 from which the label 113 has been peeled is taken up by the mount take-up shaft 119.

  As described above, the paper holding shaft 117 is maintained in a horizontal state in a cantilevered state on the side wall 120 of the printer unit 105, and holds the label paper 112 while being inserted into the paper tube 115 of the label paper 112. That is, the side wall 120 functions as a reference surface for positioning the first end surface 112 a that is one end surface of the label paper 112. In addition, the paper holding shaft 117 functions as a paper holding unit that rotatably holds the label paper 112 wound in a roll shape with reference to the end surface by the side wall 120 serving as the reference surface.

  The label paper 112 inserted in the paper tube 115 and held by the paper holding shaft 117 is not the side wall 120 side (the back side in FIG. 2) but the opposite end (the front side in FIG. 2). Is urged by the rotating member 202 as an interference body and is pushed in the width direction of the label paper 112 (axial direction of the paper holding shaft 117). On the other hand, the first end surface 112a of the label paper 112 abuts on the side wall 120 serving as a reference surface. In this way, when the label paper 112 is sandwiched between the side wall 120 and the rotating member 202, the movement of the roll paper that attempts to move in the width direction when being pulled out along the guide path 122 is restricted.

  The rotating member 202 is rotatably attached to the tip of the arm main portion 203 that forms a part of the roll paper holding mechanism 201 via a rotating member rotating shaft 207, and the arm main portion 203 rotates to label. The sheet is rotated and displaced by interfering with the second end surface 112 b of the sheet 112.

  The platen 118 is disposed below the guide path 122. The platen 118 rotates by receiving a driving force from a platen motor (not shown) via a gear train (not shown), applies a conveying force to the label paper 112 on the guide path 122, and a paper holding shaft. The label sheet 112 held at 117 is pulled out along the guide path 122. As described above, the platen 118, the platen motor, and the gear train function as a transport unit that pulls out the label paper 112 and transports it along the guide path 122.

  The mount winding shaft 119 is rotated by receiving a driving force from a winding motor (not shown) through a gear train (not shown) arranged on the back side of the side wall 120 to cause the label peeling unit 121 to rotate. Of the label paper 112 that has passed, only the mount 114 is wound up. The label peeling unit 121 and the mount winding shaft 119 are positioned at positions where the mount winding shaft 119 winds the mount 114 and bends the mount 114 at an acute angle at the label peeling portion 121.

  A pair of rails 111 are provided below the inside of the housing 102. The rail 111 extends horizontally from the opening provided on the front side of the housing 102 toward the back side, and supports the printer unit 105 slidably. For this reason, the operator slides the printer unit 105 in the front direction along the rail 111 by gripping and pulling the grip portion 105c of the printer unit 105, and is stored in the housing 102 (FIG. 2). ) To the outside of the housing 102 (see FIG. 3). The operator holds the grip 105c, slides the printer unit 105 toward the back side along the rail 111, and is stored from the pulled out state (see FIG. 3) (see FIG. 3). It can also be positioned in 2).

  A thermal head 125 is disposed above the interior of the housing 102. The thermal head 125 is a line-type thermal print head, and is attached at a position facing the platen 118 when the printer unit 105 is housed in the housing 102. The thermal head 125 constitutes a printing unit 126 together with the platen 118.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the printer unit is pulled out from the housing. The skeleton of the printer unit 105 is configured around the side frame 130 having the side wall 120 and the bottom frame 131 forming the bottom. A side frame 130 is fixedly attached to one side of the bottom frame 131, and the other side is open. Therefore, the printer unit 105 has a substantially L shape when viewed from the front side. The side wall 120 of the side frame 130 supports the paper holding shaft 117, the platen 118, the label peeling unit 121, and the mount winding shaft 119 in a cantilever state in parallel with the bottom frame 131. Both side portions of the bottom frame 131 are slidably supported by the housing 102 via the rails 111.

  In the label printer 100 of the present embodiment, the front panel 105a, 106a side is inclined so as to be higher than the back side when the printer unit 105, 106 is stored. As a result, the printer units 105 and 106 are applied with force in the direction in which they are stored in the housing 102 due to gravity, so that the label printer 100 tilts and falls toward the print panels 105a and 106a when the printer units 105 and 106 are pulled out unnecessarily. To prevent it.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of the label issuing port of the label printer. FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical side view showing the vicinity of the label issuing port of the label printer.

  In the vicinity of the label issuing port 105b, a sensor 400 and a blocking member 403 are provided in addition to the label peeling portion 121, the platen 118, and the thermal head 125.

  The sensor 400 is provided downstream of the label issuing port 105b in the conveyance direction of the label 113, and detects the label 113 having at least a part peeled off from the mount 114. In this embodiment, the sensor 400 uses a transmissive sensor that includes a set of a light emitting element 401 and a light receiving element 402. The light emitting element 401 is provided at an end portion 405 in the width direction of the label issuing port 105 b and emits light from the printing surface 113 a side of the label 113. The light receiving element 402 is provided at the end 406 in the width direction of the label issuing port 105 b and receives light on the adhesive surface 113 b side of the label 113. That is, the sensor 400 cannot receive light by the light receiving element 402 because the label 113 exists on the optical axis 404 (detection range in which the label 113 can be detected) of the light from the light emitting element 401 to the light receiving element 402. In this case, the label 113 issued to the label issuing port 105b is detected.

  Note that in this embodiment, the light emitting element 401 and the light receiving element 402 are transported along the label 113 so that the light emitting element 401 and the light receiving element 402 do not get in the way when the label 113 partially peeled from the mount is taken. The light emitting element 401 and the light receiving element 402 are provided via the label 113 existing in the label issuing port 105b. It is not limited to this as long as it is. For example, the light emitting element 401 and the light receiving element 402 may be provided above and below the label 113 at the center in the width direction of the label issuing port 105b.

  In this embodiment, a transmissive sensor composed of a set of a light emitting element 401 and a light receiving element 402 is used as the sensor 400. However, the sensor can detect a label 113 peeled at least partially from the mount 114. If it is, it will not be limited to this. For example, a reflective sensor may be used as the sensor 400.

  The blocking member 403 is provided downstream of the sensor 400 in the conveyance direction of the label 113, and prevents the label 113 from being detached from the optical axis 404 of the sensor 400. In this embodiment, since the blocking member 403 is provided on the downstream side of the sensor 400 in the conveyance direction of the label 113, the label 113 peeled off from the mount 114 is bent before reaching the optical axis 404 of the sensor 400. Can be prevented. In the present embodiment, the blocking member 403 is a rod-shaped member that supports the adhesive surface 113 b (lower surface) of the label 113 so that the label 113 does not deviate from the optical axis 404 of the sensor 400. Both ends of the blocking member 403 are supported by end portions 405 and 406 in the width direction of the label issuing port 105b. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the blocking member 403 from being erroneously detected as the label 113 by the sensor 400. In this embodiment, a bar-shaped member is used as the blocking member 403, but the present invention is not limited to this as long as the width of the label 113 in the transport direction is short.

  Further, the blocking member 403 is made of a non-adhesive member that does not adhere to the adhesive surface 113b of the label 113, such as fluororesin, Teflon (registered trademark), or silicon, in order to prevent adhesion with the adhesive surface 113b of the label 113. Used. Alternatively, the blocking member 403 may be pivotally supported at both ends 405 and 406 in the width direction of the label issuing port 105b so as not to stick to the adhesive surface 113b of the label 113.

  In this embodiment, a rod-shaped member that is provided downstream of the sensor 400 in the conveyance direction of the label 113 and supports the adhesive surface 113b of the label 113 is used as the blocking member 403. The present invention is not limited to this as long as the label 113 can be prevented from coming off. For example, the blocking member 403 may be a member that is provided on the optical axis 404 of the light emitted from the light emitting element 401 toward the light receiving element 402 and supports the adhesive surface 113b of the label 113. Alternatively, the blocking member 403 may be a member that is provided between the sensor 400 and the label peeling unit 121 and supports the adhesive surface 113b of the label 113.

  6 and 7 are enlarged perspective views showing the vicinity of a label issuing port of a conventional label printer. FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical side view showing the vicinity of a label issuing port of a conventional label printer.

  In the conventional label printer, as shown in FIG. 6, the label 113 does not bend below the optical axis 404 when the label 113 is strong or the length of the label 113 in the transport direction is short. , The label 113 can be prevented from deviating from the optical axis 404. However, in the conventional label printer, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the label 113 is weak or the label 113 is long in the transport direction, the label 113 is longer than the optical axis 404. It bends down. Therefore, the sensor 400 may erroneously detect that the label 113 has been removed by an operator or the like even though the label 113 remains in the label issuing port 105b.

  However, according to the label printer 100 according to the present embodiment, even when the label 113 is weak or when the label 113 is long in the transport direction, the label 113 is attached to the sensor 400 by the blocking member 403. Since it can be prevented from coming off the optical axis 404, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection that the label 113 has been removed by an operator or the like.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the label printer according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the label printer 100 includes a CPU 901, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 902, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 903, and each unit is connected by a bus 904 and various interfaces. The CPU 901 functions as a control unit that controls the entire system of the label printer 100 by developing a program stored in the ROM 902 in the RAM 903 and executing the program. If the label 113 is no longer detected by the sensor 400, the CPU 901 controls the platen 118 and pulls out the label paper 112 held on the paper holding shaft 117 along the guide path 122, thereby entering the label issuing port 105 b. Then, the label 113 is conveyed.

  The CPU 901 is connected to the display 104, the operation panel 103, the weighing device 108, and the printer units 105 and 106 shown in FIG. 1 through a bus 904 and other interfaces.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the label printer 100 that transports the label paper 112 when the label 113 peeled at least partially from the mount 114 is no longer detected by the sensor 400, the label 113 is By providing the blocking member 403 that prevents the 400 from deviating from the detectable detection range, even when the label 113 is weak or the length of the label 113 in the transport direction is long, the blocking member 403 Since the label 113 can be prevented from deviating from the optical axis 404 of the sensor 400, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection that the label 113 has been removed by an operator or the like.

(Second Embodiment)
The present embodiment is an example in which the blocking member is provided in such a manner that the label moves between a blocking position that prevents the label from deviating from the detection range of the sensor and a non-blocking position. In the following description, the description of the same configuration as the label printer according to the first embodiment is omitted, and only the configuration different from the label printer according to the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of the label issuing port of the label printer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 11 is an enlarged vertical side view showing the vicinity of the label issuing port of the label printer according to the present embodiment.

  In the label printer 100 according to the present embodiment, the blocking member 1001 that prevents the label 113 from moving out of the detection range of the sensor 400 (on the optical axis 404) is blocked, and the blocking position that blocks the label 113 from moving out of the optical axis 404. (Indicated by a solid line) and an unmoving position (indicated by a dotted line). More specifically, the blocking member 1001 is fixed to a rotating member 1002 that is rotatably supported at both ends 405 and 406 in the width direction of the label issuing port 105b. The blocking member 1001 has a blocking position (indicated by a solid line) provided downstream of the sensor 400 in the transport direction of the label 113 and a non-blocking position moved below the sensor 400 as the rotating member 1002 rotates. Move between.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the label 113 is provided by providing the blocking member 1001 in such a manner that the label 113 moves between the blocking position where the label 113 is prevented from coming off the optical axis 404 of the sensor 400 and the non-blocking position. When the label 113 having a short length in the transport direction or the strong label 113 is issued, the blocking member 1001 can be stored so as not to obstruct the operator when removing the label 113. The convenience of the label printer 100 can be further improved.

  As described above, according to the label printer 100 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection that the label has been removed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Label printer 105b Label issuing port 113 Label 114 Mount 400 Sensor 403,1001 Blocking member 404 Optical axis

JP 2007-15182 A

Claims (7)

A transport unit that transports a label sheet having a mount and a plurality of labels attached to the mount;
A peeling portion for peeling the label from the label paper and issuing it from a label issuing port;
A light emitting element that emits light obliquely with respect to the label surface of the label to be issued, at least a part of which has been peeled off from the label paper, and a space in the width direction of the label to be issued with respect to the light emitting element A sensor that detects the label to be issued by a light receiving element that receives light emitted from the light emitting element;
When the label to be issued is no longer detected by the sensor, the control unit transports the label paper by the transport unit and separates the new label from the label paper;
A blocking member that is provided downstream of the sensor in the conveyance direction of the label and prevents the label to be issued from being out of a detection range that the sensor can detect;
Label issuing device with The sensor label issuing apparatus according to claim 1 in the conveying direction of the label than the label issue port provided downstream.   The label issuing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the blocking member is a rod-like member that supports a lower surface of the label so that the label does not deviate from the detection range. The label issuing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the blocking member is a non-adhesive member to which the label does not adhere.   The label issuing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the blocking member is provided in a mode of moving between a blocking position that prevents the label from coming out of the detection range and a non-blocking position. . A transport unit that transports a label sheet having a mount and a plurality of labels attached to the mount;
A printing unit for printing on the label of the label paper conveyed by the conveyance unit;
A peeling portion for peeling the label from the label paper and issuing it from a label issuing port;
A light emitting element that emits light obliquely with respect to the label surface of the label to be issued, at least part of which has been peeled off from the label paper, and a space in the width direction of the light emitting target label with respect to the light emitting element A sensor that detects the label to be issued by a light receiving element that receives light emitted from the light emitting element;
When the label to be issued is no longer detected by the sensor, the control unit transports the label paper by the transport unit and separates the new label from the label paper;
A blocking member that is provided downstream of the sensor in the conveyance direction of the label and prevents the label to be issued from being out of a detection range that the sensor can detect;
With printer. The printer according to claim 6, wherein the sensor is provided on the downstream side of the label issuing port in the transport direction of the label.

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