JP5817121B2 - Label printer and label affixing device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a label printer and a label applicator that use a linerless label (mounting-less label) in which an adhesive layer to be attached is formed on a surface opposite to a printing surface as label paper.

A conventional label printer that prints on a linerless label has a sticking adhesive layer (glue surface) formed on one side of the linerless label (the surface opposite to the printing surface) when transporting the label and printing on the label. In order to prevent the linerless label from being caught in the platen roller, the platen roller is formed of a non-adhesive material or the surface of the roller is non-adhesive (for example, lamination, coating, etc.) ( For example, see Patent Document 1).
However, since the platen roller is non-adhesive, there is a disadvantage that the grip force (feeding force) for transporting the label is weak.

  When the force of gripping the label of the platen roller becomes weak (unstable), the label transport speed varies, thereby causing the print state to expand and contract, resulting in poor printing.

  Further, since the conventional printer has a structure in which the linerless label is conveyed in the label discharging direction by the rotational drive of the platen roller and the label is issued, the platen roller always applies the linerless label to the print head via the adhesive layer. Since the platen roller is pressed, the platen roller is plastically deformed, resulting in poor printing, which is not a preferable state in terms of material properties.

JP-A-8-244260

A label printer and label affixing device which are made in view of the problems of the above-described conventional technology and prevent printing defects caused by an adhesive layer provided on one side of a linerless label at the time of printing, and enable high-precision printing. It is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, a label printer according to the present invention is a label printer that performs printing on a linerless label having an adhesive layer stuck on the side opposite to the printing surface, and the adhesive layer of the linerless label is adhered to the belt surface and conveyed. A conveyor belt, a print head for printing on the linerless label , a recess in the upstream and downstream transport sections facing the print head and transporting the linerless label of the conveyor belt. The linerless label is conveyed by rotation of the conveying belt and the platen roller.

The adhesive layer for sticking formed on the side opposite to the printing surface of the linerless label may be formed on the entire surface of the label, or may be formed in part (for example, in a strip shape, a dot shape, etc.).
The transport belt to adhere conveying the Rainaresu label, formed by a single belt having a substantially same width as the width of the Rainaresu label, or a narrow belt plurality, may be any such form side by side in parallel.

According to the above means, the linerless label has the conveying belt for adhering and conveying the label on the upstream side and the downstream side with the platen roller interposed therebetween. Therefore, even if the adhesive layer of the linerless label is brought into contact with the platen roller, the linerless label Can be printed and conveyed without being wound around the platen roller. Since the platen roller is assembled and rotated as a printing base (underlay) during label printing, the platen roller can be prevented from slipping and high-precision printing can be performed.

  The conveyor belt is arranged on the upstream and downstream sides of the platen roller. The upstream and downstream conveyor belts are configured as a single belt, or the upstream and downstream sides are completely separated. Any one of independent belts may be used. As a specific example of a continuous configuration with a single belt, for example, a concave portion is formed by guiding a part of the conveyance region of the label by the conveyance belt in a substantially U shape, and the platen roller is accommodated in the concave portion. To do.

  According to the above means, since the upstream and downstream conveying belts sandwiching the platen roller are one continuous belt, the same label conveying speed can be secured on the upstream side and the downstream side. Therefore, the label transport speed does not vary, and high-precision printing can be performed.

The print head pressed against the platen roller via the linerless label may be always pressed against the platen roller side, but only when printing on the label, the linerless label is pressed against the surface of the platen roller to perform printing. When there is not, it may be separated to a position where it does not contact the linerless label being conveyed.

In the case of the above configuration, since the print head is pressed against the platen roller through the label only at the time of printing, the plastic deformation of the rubber material of the platen roller can be prevented, the original physical properties can be maintained over a long period of time, and stable. Enable printing.
In addition, when the print head is always in contact, the adhesive layer for sticking is heated in the label transport direction due to preheating after printing, thereby changing the adhesive strength of the adhesive layer (adhesive strength becomes stronger). Although the label conveyance failure occurs, the above-described configuration can reduce the label conveyance failure.

Also, the label presser is in the conveying direction leading end side of the conveyor belt, a first label presser crimping the adhesive layer of the Rainaresu label the belt surface, the conveying direction end side of the conveyor belt, fed out from the platen roller A second label presser that presses the linerless label pressed onto the surface of the transport belt and sends it in the discharge direction. The second label presser has a linerless label that is adhered and discharged to the surface of the transport belt. Although it has a function of pressing to the conveyor belt side, it may be attached so as to be rotatable in the left-right direction (can be swung).
In the case of the above configuration, for example, when the second label presser is rotated to the left, the linerless label to be ejected is tilted to the right, and when the second label presser is rotated to the right, the linerless label to be ejected is to the left It is discharged in a tilted direction. That is, when the linerless label to be ejected is tilted (skewed), the ejection posture can be corrected by rotating the second label presser.

  The conveyor belt and the platen roller may be rotated at a constant speed by synchronizing separate power sources, but may be driven at a constant speed by a single power source and a constant power transmission mechanism such as a gear train. It may be rotated. In that case, constant speed rotation can be easily configured by a single power source.

Further, a peeling member for peeling the linerless label adhered to the surface of the conveyor belt from the surface of the conveyor belt may be disposed at a position near the upstream side of the platen roller in the conveyance direction of the linerless label by the conveyor belt. As a specific example of the peeling member, for example, a disk (flange) protruding outward from the surface of the conveyor belt is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of a guide roller that guides the conveyor belt in a substantially U shape. .
With this configuration, the linerless label can be reliably transferred from the conveyor belt to the platen roller, and stable printing can be performed.

In addition, the label printer of the present invention may be a horizontal printer in which a conveyor belt is horizontally arranged, but the conveyor belt is arranged with the conveyance direction start end side in the vertical direction upper side and the conveyance direction end side in the vertical direction lower side. However, a vertical printer that conveys the label vertically downward may be used.
In this case, the label supplied to the printer may be supplied from the same direction along the conveying direction of the conveying belt, but supplied from the direction intersecting the conveying direction of the conveying belt, for example, the right and left direction intersecting at right angles. You may make it do.
In addition, by transporting the product to which the label is attached in a horizontal direction intersecting at right angles to the transport direction of the label, the label is attached to the top surface of the product, and a vertically long strip-shaped label is extended from the top surface to the bottom surface of the product. Can be easily attached in a U-shape.

The present invention can stably convey and supply the linerless label to the printing section consisting of the print head and the platen roller, and can stably discharge the linerless label after printing, thus preventing printing defects caused by the adhesive layer of the linerless label. In addition, a label printer and a label sticking device capable of printing with high accuracy can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The outline of the label sticking apparatus incorporating the label printer based on this invention is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is the same front view. The outline of a label printer is shown, (a) is a longitudinal front view, (b) is the side view. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of an upper label holder, (a) is the state which crimped | bonded the linerless label to the conveyance belt, (b) is the state which open | released crimping of the label holder. The structure and effect | action of a lower label press are shown, (a) is a front view which shows an attachment state, (b), (c) is explanatory drawing which shows the delivery state of the label after rotating the label press. The label conveyance means which supplies a label printer with a label is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is a partially notched front view. Explanatory drawing which shows the sticking operation | movement of the label discharged | emitted from the label printer. (A) is a front view of a printed label, (b) is a perspective view showing a sticking state of the label.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of a label printer according to the present invention will be described with respect to a label sticking apparatus based on the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram showing an outline of a label sticking apparatus A. A label printer A1 for printing a predetermined item on a linerless label L (hereinafter simply referred to as “label”) is arranged on a base 1 and the label. A transport means B for transporting the product W is installed horizontally below the printer A1, and a label L can be attached to the product W transported by the transport means B in a substantially U-shape.
The product W is a tray with a lid connected to one side of the container body so that the lid body can be opened and closed, and the label L extends substantially from the top surface of the tray with the lid to the bottom surface of the container body through the side of the container. This is a vertically long strip that can be attached in the shape of a letter.

  The label printer A1 includes a conveyance belt 2 for adhering and conveying the label L, a platen roller 3 disposed in the middle of the conveyance section of the conveyance belt 2, and a print head (thermal head) 4 disposed opposite to the platen roller 3. The first label presser 5 is disposed on the transport belt 2 in the transport direction starting end side, and the second label presser 6 is disposed on the transport direction end side.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, two conveyor belts 2 that adhere and convey the label L are arranged in parallel in the container frame 7 at intervals in the width direction, and the conveyor belt 2 is linearly conveyed. In the middle of the section, the conveying surface of the conveying belt 2 is recessed in a substantially U shape in the rear direction (inner direction of the instrument frame), and the platen roller 3 is disposed in the U-shaped recess 8.
The conveyor belt 2 is disposed between the guide rollers 9a and 9b arranged on the upper and lower sides of one side of the instrument frame 7 and the guide rollers 9a and 9b and into the instrument frame from one side of the instrument frame 7. The drive shaft 10 is wound around the guide rollers 9c and 9d arranged on a line connecting the guide rollers 9a and 9b with a distance substantially equal to the shaft diameter of the drive shaft 10. Then, the U-shaped recess 8 is formed in the conveyor belt 2 by winding the conveyor belt 2 around the guide roller 9c, the drive shaft 10, and the guide roller 9d.

  The drive shaft 10 is connected to an output shaft of a drive motor 11 by a belt 12, and an encoder 13 is disposed in contact with the belt 12 so that the speed of the transport belt 2 is measured. By measuring the speed of the conveyor belt 2, the printing timing for the label L can be controlled.

The surface of the platen roller 3 accommodated and disposed in the recess 8 is supported so as to be substantially flush with the surface of the transport belt 2 and is configured to stably transport the label L.
The platen roller 3 is rotated at a constant speed with the conveyor belt 2, and a drive shaft 10 that drives and rotates the conveyor belt 2 and a shaft 3 ′ of the platen roller 3 are fixed at a constant speed. They are connected by a gear train 14. That is, the conveyor belt 2 and the platen roller 3 are configured to be driven by a single drive motor 11.
The platen roller 3 has an elastic cylinder such as a rubber cylinder integrally fitted and fixed to the outside of the shaft 3 'so that the print head 4 abutting on the surface of the label L can be elastically supported. It has become.

Further, a label L adhered to the conveyor belt 2 wound around the guide roller 9c is provided on the peripheral surface of the upstream guide roller 9c that forms the concave portion 8 that accommodates the platen roller 3. A peeling member 15 for further peeling is attached.
The peeling member 15 is a disc having a diameter larger than the radius obtained by adding the belt thickness of the conveying belt 2 to the radius of the guide roller 9c, and a toothed disc in which angled teeth are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the disc. Has been. And the peeling member 15 of a toothed disk is arrange | positioned in the position which pinches | interposes the conveyance belt 2. FIG. Thereby, the peeling member 15 has a function of regulating the movement (meandering) of the conveyance belt 2 in the axial direction on the guide shaft 9c, in addition to the function of lifting the label L from the surface of the conveyance belt 2 and peeling it.

  The conveyor belt 2 is formed of a timing belt in which teeth are projected and formed at regular intervals along the circumferential direction on the surface on which the label L is adhered and held. Accordingly, the label L is transported while being appropriately adhered to the adhesive layer 20 of the label L, and after the printing, peeling from the transport belt 2 is also smoothly performed.

  The print head 4 is a thermal head, and is attached to a swing arm (not shown) disposed at a position facing the label transport surface of the transport belt 2. An ink ribbon 16 is disposed on the front surface of the print head (thermal head) 3 (the surface facing the print surface of the label L) so that it can be wound up via the front surface of the print head 4. The print head 4 is pressed and brought into contact with the printing surface of the label L only when printing on the label L, and is held apart from the surface of the label L except during printing. A gap of 1 mm to 1.5 mm is provided between the platen roller 3 and the print head 4.

The first label presser 5 disposed on the conveyance belt 2 in the conveyance direction start end side (upper side in the drawing) presses the label L supplied to the conveyance belt 2 start end portion on the surface of the conveyance belt 2 to label L is conveyed to the printing unit downstream in the conveying direction by rotation of the conveying belt, and two L are arranged in parallel corresponding to the conveying belt 2.
Further, the first label presser 5 is configured to open and close in accordance with the supply of the label L. The illustrated embodiment shows an example in which the label L is supplied from a label supply device A2 arranged in a horizontal direction (lateral direction) intersecting at a substantially right angle with respect to the conveyance direction (vertical direction) of the conveyance belt 2. The first label presser 5 is configured to operate in conjunction with the label delivery from the label supply device A2.

Hereinafter, the label supply device A2 will be briefly described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 7A, the label L supplied to the label printer A1 is composed of a vertically long linerless label, and an adhesive is applied to the surface opposite to the printing surface. The layer 20 is formed in a total of four places, both sides in the longitudinal direction and two intermediate portions.
The label L is formed in parallel with a pattern of a single label along the longitudinal direction of a linerless label tape having a tape width of a vertically long label length by a preprint, and is formed into a sheet by a cutter from the tape. Cut and formed one by one, the cut and formed label L is sent to the label printer A1 by the label supply device A2, and a predetermined matter is printed on the label L and sent to the pasting portion.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the label supply device A2 includes a roll support portion 21 that rotatably supports a linerless label tape roll L ′, and a linerless label tape roll L that is supported by the roll support portion 21. A tape pull-out portion 22 for pulling out the tape L′ a from the sheet, a cutter 23 for cutting and forming the sheet-like label L from the pulled-out tape L′ a, and the cut label L received by the transport belt 2 of the label printer A1. And a label conveying means 24 for delivery.

As shown in FIG. 5, the label conveying means 24 conveys the strip-shaped label L in a state of hanging vertically downward. The label conveying means 24 includes a driving side belt 25 constituted by a timing belt that rotates endlessly, and an endless rotation. Two sets of a pair of conveying units arranged so as to mesh with the teeth (protrusions) of the driven belt 26 constituted by a moving timing belt are vertically arranged at intervals in the vertical direction.
The distance between the two sets of conveying parts corresponds to the distance between the upper two pieces (one of the upper end side and the middle part) of the adhesive layer 20 formed on the back surface of the label L, and is thereby cut by the cutter 23. The label L is temporarily attached to the drive side belt 25a.

The two sets of driving side belts 25 (25a, 25a ′) span the driving roller 28 and the tail roller 29 arranged at a predetermined interval on the support frame 27, and the timing belt is wound around with the teeth portion facing outward. Configured. The drive roller 28 is arranged on the start end side in the conveying direction, and the outer diameter of the drive roller 28 is formed larger than the outer diameter of the other tail roller 29.
The upper driven belt 26b disposed opposite to the upper driving belt 25a is disposed between a pair of tail rollers 30 and 31 disposed on a fixed support frame 27 'at a distance shorter than the machine length of the driving belt 25a. The timing belt is wound around with the tooth portion facing outward. The starting end of the upper driven belt 26b facing the upper driving belt 25a is shifted from the starting end (position of the driving roller 28) of the driving side belt 25a, and the terminal end is driven. The side belt 25a is slightly shifted downstream from the end portion of the side belt 25a.

  Further, the lower driven belt 26b ′ opposed to the lower driving belt 25a ′ has a length (interval) approximately half of the machine length of the upper driven belt 26b. A timing belt is wound around a pair of tail rollers 30 ′ and 31 ′ arranged with the teeth facing outward. The start end portion of the driven side belt 26b 'is disposed at the same position as the start end portion of the upper driven side belt 26b, and the end portion is positioned at a substantially intermediate position of the length of the drive side belt 25a'. The reason why the machine length of the lower driven belt 26b 'is about half the machine length of the upper driven belt 26b is that it is arranged vertically downward by crossing substantially perpendicularly to the conveying direction of the label conveying means 24. This is because the delivery of the label L to the label printer A1 can be performed stably and smoothly.

  For this purpose, the drive side belt 25 (25a, 25a ′) is configured such that the support frame 27 can be opened and closed in the front-rear direction around the axis of the large-diameter drive roller 28 on the conveyance direction start end side. When the belt 25 (25a, 25a ′) is opened and separated from the fixed driven belt 26 (26b, 26b ′), the label L that has been held between the teeth until then is released and received by the label printer A1. Passed.

Of the driven belts 26 (26b, 26b '), the upper driven belt 26b having a long machine length is opposed to the toothed surface (label clamping surface) of the timing belt substantially in the middle of the machine length. A pressing roller 32 is provided to press against the tooth surface (label clamping surface) side of the side belt 25a. The number of pressing rollers 32 is not limited to one in the illustrated example, but may be a plurality.
Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the two sets of driving side belts 25 (25a, 25a ′) and driven side belts 26 (26b, 26b ′) mesh with the toothed portions of the timing belt, so that the driven side belt 26 (26b, 26b ′) is driven and rotated, and the label L sandwiched between the tooth portions can be conveyed in the conveying direction (horizontal direction) while being vertically lowered. Further, the label L sandwiched between the tooth portions of both belts 25 (25a, 25a ′) and 26 (26b, 26b ′) is sandwiched in a jagged waveform by the meshing of the tooth portions (see FIG. 5A). Thereby, even if there is vibration during conveyance or variations in contact resistance with respect to the belt surface, the orientation and posture of the sandwiched label do not change, and it can be sent stably to the next process. The strip-shaped label L that is horizontally transported by the label transport means 24 is transported with the lower two adhesive layers 20 exposed, and is delivered to the transport belt 2 of the label printer A1. Two lower adhesive layers 20 are bonded to the conveyor belt 2. The first label presser 5 adheres the delivered label L to the transport belt 2.

  That is, when the driving side belt 25 (25a, 25a ′) is opened, the first label presser 5 is pressed against the conveying belt 2 side, and the driving side belt 25 (25a, 25a ′) is closed to be driven side belt 26. When the label L is nipped and conveyed between (26b, 26b ′), the first label presser 5 is separated from the conveying surface of the conveying belt 2. The opening / closing operation of the driving side belt 25 (25a, 25a ′) of the label conveying unit 24 and the contact / separation operation of the first label presser 5 are performed at substantially the same timing. 25 (25a, 25a ′) opens and peels and releases the label, and then the first label presser 5 presses the leading end side of the label L (the lower side of the label L in FIG. 3A) against the transport belt 2. Thus, the label L is supported and transported to the label printer A1.

For example, an air cylinder is used as a drive source for performing the contact / separation operation of the first label presser 5 and the opening / closing operation of the driving belt 25 (25a, 25a ′), and the link mechanism is operated by the expansion / contraction operation of the air cylinder. Can be linked operation.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the support frame 27 to which the drive side belt 25 (25a, 25a ′) of the label conveying means 24 is attached and the connecting piece 33 to which the first label presser 5 is connected and held are coupled. The connecting portion 34 is connected to the connecting member side of the U-shaped connecting member 34 with the support frame 27, and the refracting portion 35a of the link 35 formed in a substantially rhombic shape is connected to the refracting portion 35c facing the refracting portion 35a. Is supported by a fixed member, and a rod 36a of an air cylinder (actuator) 36 is connected to a refracting portion 35b between the refracting portions 35a and 35c.
Then, in the closed position (initial position) where the driving side belt 25 (25a, 25a ′) of the label conveying means 24 clamps and conveys the label L with the driven belt 26 (26b, 26b ′), FIG. As shown, the rod 36a of the air cylinder 36 is also at the origin position, and the first label presser 5 is located at a position separated from the surface of the label L. When the label L transported by the label transport unit 24 is transported to a predetermined position downstream in the transport direction, the driving of the driving belt 25 (25a, 25a ′) of the label transport unit 24 stops and the label L is in a standby state. It becomes. When the tray is conveyed by the tray conveying means 37 and the tray is detected by a sensor (not shown), the air cylinder 36 is activated and the rod 36a is projected. As a result, the link 35 connected to the rod 36a is deformed into a flat shape (horizontal long rhombus) with the refracting portion 35c as a fulcrum, and is connected to the support frame 27 to which the drive belt 25 (25a, 25a ′) is attached. The connecting member 34 is moved backward (leftward in the drawing). Accordingly, the first label presser 5 moves to the label L side and presses the leading end side (lower part) of the label L to the conveying belt 2 side, and the driving side belt 25 (25a, 25a ′) is attached to the surface of the adhesive layer 20 of the label L. Move (open) in the direction of pulling away. The drive source (actuator) for moving the U-shaped connecting member 34 in the front-rear direction is not limited to an air cylinder but may be an electromagnetic solenoid. The transported label L always stands by at a predetermined position on the downstream side in the transport direction, and the next label L is cut in synchronization with the start of the lowering operation of the waited label L. The label L is transported to a predetermined position on the downstream side in the transport direction by the label transport means 24 and is put on standby.

  Further, the first label presser 5 is arranged so that the label L transported in a suspended state by the label transport means 24 is accurately and surely introduced onto the transport belt 2 at the leading end side of the label to be transported. A guide piece 5 ′ is formed in an articulated manner on the side edge opposed to the upper edge. And this 1st label presser 5 is comprised so that a vertical movement is possible so that the space | interval (gap) with the said conveyance belt 2 surface can be adjusted widely.

Further, the second label presser 6 disposed on the end side in the transport direction of the transport belt 2 is, as shown in FIG. 4, the first label disposed on the start end side via an attachment frame 17 attached to the lower part of the instrument frame 7. Similar to the presser 5, two are arranged in parallel in correspondence with the conveyor belt 2, and are attached to the attachment frame 17 by bolts and nuts 18 so that the left and right rotation can be adjusted. In addition, the range (angle) of the rotation adjustment in the left-right direction is regulated to a certain range by the regulating means 19 composed of the arc groove and the pin.
The second label presser 6 is for adjusting the orientation and orientation of the printed label L sent to the affixing portion. When the second label presser 6 is tilted to the right from the perpendicular direction, the label L sent out is turned to the left. When skewed (see FIG. 4B) and the second label presser 6 is tilted to the left from the vertically-facing vertical state, the label L fed out skews to the right (see FIG. 4C). Accordingly, when the fed label L has a skew (meander) phenomenon, the second label presser 6 is rotated and adjusted to the correct posture according to the above procedure.
The label L sent out vertically downward via the second label presser 6 on the end side is divided into a transfer direction end side of the first conveyor 37 of the transfer means B and a transfer direction start end side of the second conveyor 38. It is inserted in the front (upstream side) from the sticking roller 40 with a scissors arranged in the opening 39 to be formed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, on the downstream side (downward in the drawing) of the part 7 where the second label presser 6 is attached, the print unit (print head 4 and platen roller 3) is provided. A brush that sticks the upper half of the label L on the upper surface of the lid of the product W with a scissors at the front position (right side in the drawing) of the strip-shaped label L on which predetermined items are printed. 41 is attached so as to be detachable and replaceable.

Further, the lower end side of the label L suspended and conveyed by the label conveying means 24 is guided and guided onto the conveying belt 2 of the label printer A1 on the side surface of the container frame 7 facing the conveying label L by the label conveying means 24. A guide frame 42 is attached.
In the guide frame 42, the strip-shaped label L cut from the linerless label tape roll L ′ is curled into an arc shape in the width direction by roll winding, and the substantially upper half is the driving side belt 25 of the label conveying device B. (25a, 25a ′) and the driven belt 26 (26b, 26b ′) and the lower half portion of the label L which is conveyed in a suspended manner is opened, so that the curled widthwise side end is the conveying belt. 2 on the side surface in the width direction or a shaft flange that regulates the position where the conveyor belt 2 is hung or the like may not be placed on the conveyor belt 2 correctly. Such a situation is prevented, and the lower end side of the label L is reliably guided onto the transport belt 2. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 43 denotes a display unit composed of a liquid crystal display panel and the like, and 44 denotes an input operation unit composed of a keyboard or the like for inputting print information, setting label pasting data, and the like.

Next, the label sticking operation of the label sticking apparatus configured as described above will be briefly described.
(1) The tape L′ a is pulled out from the linerless label tape roll L ′ held on the roll support portion 21 by a predetermined length, and a pattern for one label is formed in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the tape L′ a (pre-printing) At the same time, the strip-shaped label L is cut off by the cutter 23 with the adhesive layer 20 formed on the side opposite to the printing surface as shown in FIG. The belt is temporarily attached to the driving side belt 25 (25a, 25a ′) of the label conveying means 24, and is clamped with the driven belt 26 (26b, 26b ′) by the rotation of the driving side belt 25 (25a, 25a ′). It is transported horizontally while hanging down towards.
(2) The label L is sandwiched between the driven belts 26 (26b, 26b ′) disposed opposite to each other by the rotation of the driving belt 25 (25a, 25a ′), and is transported by being clamped toward the end in the transport direction. . Then, the label L is delivered to the conveying belt 2 of the label printer A1 which is arranged at a substantially right angle at the end portion.
(3) The delivery from the label conveying means 24 to the conveying belt 2 of the label printer A1 is performed by the rotation of the driving side belt 25 (25a, 25a ′) of the label conveying means 24 and the driven belt 26 (26b, 26b ′). When the opened lower half of the label L sandwiched and conveyed by the sheet is conveyed onto the conveying belt 2 of the label printer A1 through the guide frame 42, the conveying belt 2 in the conveying direction start side (upper side in the drawing). The first label presser 5 arranged on the label L presses the label L against the surface side of the transport belt 2 to adhere the adhesive layer 20 on the back side of the label L to the transport belt 2. Then, in conjunction with the movement of the first label presser 5, the driving side belt 25 (25a, 25a ′) of the label conveying means 24 is opened in a direction away from the driven side belt 26 (26b, 26b ′), thereby The upper half of the label L that is adhered to the driving belt 25 (25a, 25a ′) and sandwiched by the driven belt 26b is opened, and the label is conveyed vertically downward by the conveying belt 2 of the label printer A1. Is possible.

(4) The label L transferred onto the two vertical rows of the conveyor belt 2 of the label printer A1 is conveyed vertically downward by the rotation of the conveyor belt 2, and the label L is printed by the print head 4 and the platen roller 3 during the conveyance. A predetermined item (for example, date of manufacture, expiration date, price, barcode, manufacturer, etc.) (see FIG. 7A) is printed at one or two places. The illustrated example shows an example of two-point printing. The conveying belt 2 and the platen roller 3 for adhering and conveying the label L rotate the drive motor 11 at a constant speed by the combination of the gear train 14 to ensure a beautiful printing.
(5) The label on which the predetermined matter is printed is sent out vertically downward by the rotation of the conveyor belt 2, and the first conveyor 37 of the conveying means B arranged almost directly below the label printer A1 and the sticking roller 40 with the scissors. (See FIG. 6A).
(6) When the substantially lower half of the printed label L delivered from the label printer A1 is inserted into the opening 39, the peripheral wall on the front side in the transport direction of the product W transported by the first conveyor 37 is the label. Since the product W is in contact with L and further conveyed forward by the rotation of the first conveyor 37, the label L has a portion above the peripheral wall of the product W at the lid portion of the product W and below the peripheral wall. The part that hangs down is bent and attached to the bottom of the product W in a substantially U shape (see FIG. 6B). The upper half of the label L is applied with a brush to the surface of the lid of the product W with a brush 41, and the lower half of the label L is applied with a paddle roller 40 from the peripheral wall to the bottom of the product W with a scissors.
(7) The product W on which the label L is pasted in a U-shape is transported and discharged from the pasting portion by the rotation of the second conveyor 38 of the transport means B (see FIG. 6C). The sticking state of the label L is as shown in FIG.
With the above configuration, even with a vertically long strip-shaped label, printing on the label is performed by transporting the label in the longitudinal direction, so the width of the print head may be the lateral width (short direction) of the label, which is very economical. And the effect that it is possible to perform efficient printing. In the case of a general label printer, when the linerless label tape roll is held horizontally and the label tape is pulled out from the horizontally held linerless label tape roll for printing, the length of the label in the longitudinal direction is determined. A print head is required.

The present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention.
(1) In the embodiment, an example is shown in which the label printer is placed vertically and the printed label is discharged vertically downward. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the label printer is placed horizontally and the printed label is horizontal. It may be configured to be discharged in a state.
(2) In the embodiment, the supply of the label to the label printer is shown from the lateral direction that intersects at substantially right angles to the label conveyance direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the label conveyance direction in the label printer It is good also as a structure supplied linearly from the same direction.
(3) In the embodiment, the example in which two narrow belts are arranged in parallel as the transport belt for transporting the label toward the printing unit is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the transport belt for bonding and transporting the label is wide. Either one belt or three or more narrow belts may be provided.
(4) In the embodiment, the example in which the upstream and downstream conveying belts are configured by a single endless belt is shown as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. The downstream conveyor belts may be configured as independent endless belts. However, in this case, it is necessary to synchronize the upstream conveyor belt and the downstream conveyor belt so that the rotational speed is the same.

A1 ... label printer 2 ... conveying belt 3 ... platen roller 4 ... printing head 5 ... first label holder 6 ... second label holder 8 ... concave 9c ... guide roller 10 ... drive shaft 11 ... drive motor 14 ... constant gear train ( Power transmission mechanism) 15 ... peeling member L ... label (linerless label)

Claims (6)

In a label printer that prints on a linerless label having an adhesive layer stuck on the opposite side of the printing surface,
A conveyor belt that adheres and transports the adhesive layer of the linerless label to the belt surface ;
A print head for printing on the linerless label ;
A platen roller facing the print head and provided with a recess in the upstream and downstream transport sections for transporting the linerless label of the transport belt, and a platen roller disposed in the recess ,
A label printer, wherein the linerless label is conveyed by rotation of the conveying belt and the platen roller. The platen roller, the label printer according to claim 1, wherein is housed disposed in a recess substantially formed by turning over in a U-shape with respect to the transporting surface of the conveyor belt. When printing on the linerless label, the print head presses the linerless label against the surface of the platen roller to perform printing. When printing is not performed, the print head is separated to a position where it does not contact the linerless label being conveyed. 3. A label printer according to claim 1, wherein A peeling member for separating the linerless label adhered to the surface of the conveying belt from the surface of the conveying belt is disposed at a position near the upstream side of the platen roller with respect to the conveying direction of the linerless label by the conveying belt. The label printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3. In a label affixing device comprising a label printer that performs printing on a linerless label having an adhesive layer that is affixed to the opposite side of the printing surface, and an affixing unit that affixes the printed label on a product to be conveyed,
The label printer is
A conveyor belt that adheres and transports the adhesive layer of the linerless label to the belt surface ;
A print head for printing on the linerless label ;
A platen roller facing the print head and provided with a recess in the upstream and downstream transport sections for transporting the linerless label of the transport belt, and a platen roller disposed in the recess ,
The affixing unit includes a mechanism for affixing the linerless label in a substantially U shape over the bottom surface of the product body through the side surface from the top surface of the conveyed product,
The label printer suspends and conveys the linerless label in a direction orthogonal to the conveyed product by the rotation of the conveying belt and the platen roller, and the affixing unit applies the suspended and conveyed label to the product. A label sticking device for sticking in a substantially U-shape. The label printer is
A drawer portion for pulling out the label tape from a label tape roll wound with a linerless label having an adhesive layer to be attached on the side opposite to the printing surface;
A cutter section for cutting the drawn label tape into strip-shaped linerless labels;
A transfer unit that transfers the linerless label cut into strips to the conveyor belt;
The transfer unit is arranged to face each other so that the striplessly cut linerless label is sandwiched between belts that endlessly rotate, and the pair of oppositely arranged belts rotate endlessly in a horizontal direction. 6. The label sticking device according to claim 5, wherein the strip-like linerless label that is nipped and conveyed on the start end side in the conveying direction of the conveying belt is released in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction.

Images