JP5946346B2 - Label conveying device, label printer, sensor adjustment method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a label conveying apparatus, a label printer, and a sensor adjustment method for conveying a continuous label body in which labels are arranged side by side.

  In a label printer or the like that performs printing on a label continuum in which labels are arranged side by side, label position detection is performed in order to perform printing at an accurate position for each label. For detecting the position of the label, an optical sensor is generally used, and the light emission amount and output level of the sensor are adjusted so that the label to be used can be detected appropriately.

  In a conventional printer or the like, when the label type is changed, the sensor may need to be readjusted depending on the material of the label and the ink used for printing the mark. This adjustment work requires a dedicated instrument, and there is a problem that a skilled work is required. If the sensor is not readjusted, the mark may not be detected, and even if the mark can be detected, the mark position may not be detected accurately. In such a case, the print start position may be shifted.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a sensitivity adjustment unit stores an output value from a sensor and automatically or manually sets a threshold value used for mark detection.

JP-A-5-246414

  However, the adjustment by the sensitivity adjustment unit of Patent Document 1 only uses an intermediate value between the maximum value and the minimum value as a threshold value, regardless of whether or not the mark position can be accurately detected. Adjustment was performed, and high-precision adjustment was not possible. In addition, since the adjustment by the sensitivity adjustment unit of Patent Document 1 does not adjust the sensor itself, for example, when the detection upper limit value in the light receiving unit of the sensor exceeds or falls below the detection lower limit value, could not.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a label transport that can easily adjust the sensor unit so that the gap length of the labels arranged in the label continuum or the length of the mark provided on the label continuum can be accurately detected. An apparatus, a label printer, and a sensor adjustment method are provided.

  The present invention solves the above problems by the following means.

The invention according to claim 1 includes a transport unit that transports a continuous label body in which labels are arranged side by side, and an adjustment unit that enables adjustment relating to detection, and the mark or gap of the continuous label body transported by the transport unit. A detection unit for detecting the length of the mark or the gap based on an output value from the sensor unit, an input unit for receiving an input of a set value of the length of the mark or the gap A comparison unit that compares the set value input to the input unit with the detection value, and until a difference between the set value and the detection value falls within a predetermined range as a result of comparison by the comparison unit. The adjustment by the adjustment unit of the sensor unit, the detection of the mark or the gap by the sensor unit, and the comparison by the comparison unit are repeatedly executed, and the interval between the set value and the detection value is determined. Difference store adjustment results within a predetermined range, or is a label conveying device and a control unit which performs automatic adjustment operation of setting the adjustment value of said adjustment means.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the label transport device according to the first aspect, the sensor unit is an optical sensor including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, and the adjusting means includes the light emission amount of the light emitting unit and the light emitting unit. It is a label conveying device characterized in that at least one of the output levels of the light receiving unit is adjusted.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the label conveying apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the control unit performs the comparison by the adjustment unit of the sensor unit, and the comparison unit performs the comparison again. The label continuity is back-feeded, and the mark or the gap detected last time is detected again by the sensor unit.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the label transport apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the control unit performs a normal mode for performing a normal transport operation and an adjustment for performing the automatic adjustment operation. A label transporting device, wherein the transport control in the normal mode is performed using an adjustment result or an adjustment value obtained as a result of performing the automatic adjustment operation in the adjustment mode. is there.
Invention of Claim 5 is a label provided with the label conveyance apparatus of any one of Claim 1- Claim 4, and the printing part which prints to the said label continuous body conveyed by the said conveyance part. It is a printer.
The invention according to claim 6 includes a label continuum having adjustment means that enables adjustment relating to detection, including a sensor unit that detects a mark or a gap of the label continuum conveyed by the conveyance unit, and in which the labels are arranged side by side. Adjustment method of a sensor in a label conveying apparatus that conveys the mark, the step of accepting an input of a set value of the length of the mark or the gap, and the length of the mark or the gap based on the output value from the sensor unit A sensor value until the difference between the set value and the detected value falls within a predetermined range as a result of the comparison. A step of repeatedly executing the adjustment by the adjustment means of the portion, the detection of the mark or the gap by the sensor portion and the comparison by the comparison portion, the set value and the detection Save adjustment result the difference between the values falls within a predetermined range, or a method of adjusting a sensor and a step of setting as an adjustment value of said adjustment means.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, adjustment of a sensor part can be performed easily so that the length of the gap of the label arranged in the label continuous body or the length of the mark provided in the label continuous body can be detected correctly.

1 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment of a printer 10 including a label conveying device according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a label continuum 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram for explaining a sensor unit 20. It is the flowchart which showed the outline of operation | movement of adjustment mode. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the display operation part 40 during operation | movement of adjustment mode.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment of a printer 10 including a label conveying device according to the present invention.
Note that FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the size and shape of each part, exaggerated as appropriate for easy understanding.
In the following description, specific numerical values, shapes, operations, and the like are shown and described, but these can be changed as appropriate.
The printer 10 of this embodiment is a label printer that includes a label transport device that transports a loaded label continuum 1 and performs printing on the transported label continuum 1, and includes a paper supply shaft 11, a paper guide 12, and the like. The platen roller 13, the thermal head 14, the platen drive belt 15, the cover 16, the motor M 1, the sensor unit 20, the control unit 30, and the display operation unit 40 are provided.

  The paper supply shaft 11 is a shaft on which a roll body 2 obtained by winding the label continuous body 1 in a roll shape is loaded. The paper supply shaft 11 is provided in a printer main body (not shown), and the roll body 2 is loaded so as to be rotatably supported by the paper supply shaft 11. The paper supply shaft 11 is rotationally driven in synchronism with the conveyance of the label continuum 1 by a platen roller 13 (described later) by a driving force of a motor M1 (described later) via a driving force transmission mechanism (not illustrated).

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the label continuum 1. 2A shows the front surface side (label surface side), FIG. 2B shows the side surface, and FIG. 2C shows the back surface side.
The label continuum 1 includes a label piece 1a, a mount 1b, and a mark 1c. The label pieces 1a are temporarily attached to one side (front surface) of the mount 1b with a predetermined interval. On the back surface of the mount 1b, marks 1c are printed at intervals equal to the intervals at which the label pieces 1a are arranged. The mark 1c is formed to have a predetermined width in the transport direction. The label piece 1a temporarily attached to the mount 1b may be a label piece formed of paper, a label piece formed of a resin film or the like, or a label in which these are combined. It may be a piece. Further, the mount 1b is not limited to paper, and may be formed of a resin film or the like.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the paper guide 12 contacts the label continuum 1 b and guides the label continuum 1 drawn from the roll body 2 to the platen roller 13 and the thermal head 14.

  The platen roller 13 is supported by a printer body (not shown) and has a pulley 13a that rotates together. The platen roller 13 rotates by obtaining a driving force from a motor M1, which will be described later, via a platen drive belt 15 hung on the pulley 13a. By this rotation, the platen roller 13 conveys the label continuum 1 from the upstream side in the conveying direction (the paper supply shaft 11 side) to the downstream side in the conveying direction (the discharge port 17 side described later).

  The thermal head 14 is disposed to face the platen roller 13 and has a heating element that prints by applying heat to the thermosensitive coloring layer of the label piece 1a. The printer 10 performs printing on the printing surface of the label piece 1a while sandwiching and transporting the label continuous body 1 between the thermal head 14 and the platen roller 13.

  The platen drive belt 15 is stretched between the pulley M1a of the motor M1 and the pulley 13a of the platen roller 13, and transmits the driving force of the motor M1 to the platen roller 13.

  The cover 16 includes a fixed cover 16a, an opening / closing cover 16b, and a hinge portion 16c. The fixed cover 16a mainly covers the lower part of the printer 10, and the open / close cover 16b can be rotated and moved around the hinge portion 16c as a fulcrum. Further, a discharge port 17 through which the printed label continuum 1 is discharged is provided on the side away from the hinge portion 16c and in the vicinity where the tips of the fixed cover 16a and the opening / closing cover 16b meet.

The motor M <b> 1 is a stepping motor that generates a driving force for driving the platen roller 13. The motor M1 has a pulley M1a, and a platen drive belt 15 is hung on the pulley M1a.
The motor M1, the platen drive belt 15, and the platen roller 13 described above constitute a conveyance unit that conveys the label continuous body 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram for explaining the sensor unit 20.
The sensor unit 20 is a light transmission type sensor that detects a mark 1 c provided on the mount 1 b of the label continuum 1.
The sensor unit 20 includes a drive circuit 21, a light emitting unit 22, a light receiving unit 23, and an amplifier circuit 24.

The drive circuit 21 is a circuit that causes the light emitting unit 22 to emit light in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 30.
The light emitting unit 22 is driven by the drive circuit 21 to emit detection light. The amount of light emitted when the light emitting unit 22 emits light is determined by the current supplied from the drive circuit 21. Further, since the drive circuit 21 is controlled by the control unit 30, the light emission amount of the light emitting unit 22 is controlled by the control unit 30.

The light receiving unit 23 receives the detection light emitted from the light emitting unit 22 and transmitted through the label continuum 1, and outputs a current corresponding to the received light amount to the amplifier circuit 24.
The amplifier circuit 24 amplifies the current output from the light receiving unit 23 and outputs the amplified current to the A / D conversion unit 32. The amplification factor at which the amplifier circuit 24 amplifies the current can be changed by an instruction from the control unit 30.

  The control unit 30 controls operations of the motor M1, the sensor unit 20, the thermal head 14, the display operation unit 40, and the like. Further, the control unit 30 includes the function of the comparison unit 31. The comparison unit 31 obtains a detection value of the length of the mark 1c based on the output value from the sensor unit 20, and compares the set value of the mark 1c input by the display operation unit 40 with the detection value. The control unit 30 and the comparison unit 31 will be described in more detail in the description of the adjustment method described later. In addition, the combination of the control unit 30 and the drive circuit 21 and the combination of the control unit 30 and the amplifier circuit 24 each function as an adjustment unit that enables adjustment related to detection by the sensor unit 20.

  The A / D conversion unit 32 performs A / D conversion on the analog data of the current value corresponding to the received light amount after amplification obtained from the amplification circuit 24 and transmits the analog data to the control unit 30.

  As described above, the marks 1c are provided at predetermined intervals corresponding to the intervals at which the label pieces 1a are arranged. Therefore, with the configuration of the sensor unit 20, the control unit 30, and the A / D conversion unit 32 described above, the control unit 30 specifies the position of the label piece 1a in the transport direction from the detection result of the identification mark by the sensor unit 20. Can do.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the display operation unit 40 is configured by, for example, a touch panel, and has both a function as a display unit that displays various kinds of information and a function as an input unit that receives an input operation. In addition, the display operation part 40 may comprise a display part and an input part separately.

Next, a method for adjusting the sensor unit 20 according to the present embodiment will be described.
If the adjustment of the sensor unit 20 is inappropriate, even if the mark 1c can be detected, its position may be detected incorrectly. If printing is performed in such a state, the position of the reference mark 1c is detected inaccurately, so that the printing position is also incorrect. The inventor of the present application investigated the reason why the position of the detected mark 1c is inaccurate even though the mark 1c can be detected. As a result, it has been found that when the position of the detected mark 1c becomes inaccurate, the length of the mark 1c in the transport direction cannot be accurately detected. More specifically, as described above, the mark 1c is formed to have a predetermined width in the transport direction. However, if the sensor unit 20 is not properly adjusted, the length (width) in the transport direction of the mark 1c detected by the sensor unit 20 is detected to be longer or shorter than actual. . When printing is performed in a state where the adjustment of the sensor unit 20 is inappropriate and the length of the mark 1c in the conveyance direction is detected inaccurately, the position of the end of the reference mark 1c is detected inaccurately. As a result, the printing position becomes inaccurate.

Therefore, the printer 10 according to the present embodiment is provided with an adjustment mode that is an operation mode for adjusting the sensor unit 20 so as to accurately detect the length of the mark 1c. This adjustment mode is desirably performed, for example, when the type of the label continuum 1 is changed or when a printing position shift occurs. The operation in this adjustment mode will be described below.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation in the adjustment mode.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the display operation unit 40 during the operation in the adjustment mode.

  In step (hereinafter referred to as S) 10, the control unit 30 determines whether the operation mode is the normal mode or the adjustment mode. Here, the user selects the operation mode using the display operation unit 40. If the normal mode is selected, the process proceeds to S110. If the adjustment mode is selected, the process proceeds to S20.

  In S <b> 20, the control unit 30 receives an input of a set value of the length of the mark 1 c from the user through the display operation unit 40. The set value of the length of the mark 1c input here is a nominal size or median value of the design of the mark 1c. In the label continuum 1 used in the printer of this embodiment, the package or the like is used. It is specified. In S <b> 20, the control unit 30 performs display as shown in FIG. 5A using the display operation unit 40, for example.

  In S30, the control unit 30 reads the current adjustment value of the sensor unit 20 and sets it as the adjustment value of the sensor unit 20 in the following operation. Here, in the present embodiment, two parameters of the light emission amount of the light emitting unit 22 instructed to the drive circuit 21 and the amplification factor instructed to the amplifier circuit 24 are set as adjustment values.

  In S40, the control unit 30 causes the sensor unit 20 to start detection. The operations from S40 to S70, S90, and S100 are automatically adjusted. During this automatic adjustment operation, for example, the control unit 30 performs a display as shown in FIG.

  In S50, the control unit 30 drives the motor M1 to start transporting the label continuous body 1 to the downstream side.

  In S60, the control unit 30 stops the conveyance of the label continuous body 1 to the downstream side when the conveyance is performed after the detection of the mark 1c after the detection of the mark 1c. In this step, for example, instead of completing the detection of the mark 1c, the conveyance may be stopped after a predetermined amount of conveyance is performed.

  In S70, the comparison part 31 of the control part 30 calculates | requires the detection value of the length of the mark 1c based on the output value from the sensor part 20, the setting value input in S20, and the detection value calculated | required by this step Compare As a result of the comparison, if the difference between the set value and the detected value is within a predetermined range, the process proceeds to S80. If the difference between the set value and the detected value is not within the predetermined range, the process proceeds to S90. Although not shown in FIG. 4, the comparison process in S <b> 70 has an upper limit of 10 times, for example, and even if readjustment and recomparison of the upper limit number are performed, the set value and the detected value are within a predetermined range. If the difference is not settled, the process ends as an error.

  In S80, the control unit 30 stores the current adjustment value in a storage unit (not shown), sets it as the adjustment value of the sensor unit 20, displays the adjustment result, and ends the adjustment mode. For example, the control unit 30 displays the survey result as shown in FIG. The operation set as the adjustment value of the sensor unit 20 performed by the control unit 30 is to set the light emission amount and the amplification factor to be instructed to the drive circuit 21 and the amplification circuit 24 when performing the next printing operation. .

  In S90, the adjustment value is changed. As described above, in this embodiment, two parameters, the light emission amount of the light emitting unit 22 instructed to the drive circuit 21 and the amplification factor instructed to the amplifier circuit 24, are used as adjustment values. The adjustment value is changed by increasing or decreasing these parameters according to the length of the detected mark 1c. For example, when the detected value of the mark 1c is longer than the set value, the light emission amount of the light emitting unit 22 is increased and the amplification factor of the amplifier circuit 24 is increased. On the other hand, when the detected value of the mark 1c is shorter than the set value, the light emission amount of the light emitting unit 22 is decreased and the amplification factor of the amplifier circuit 24 is decreased. The amount of change for changing these parameters may be a predetermined amount, or the amount to be increased or decreased, for example, in proportion to the difference in length.

  In S100, the controller 30 back-feeds (conveys upstream) the label continuous body 1 by the same amount as the conveyance amount conveyed downstream from S50 to S60. Thereby, after the adjustment value is changed, when the comparison unit 31 performs comparison again, the previously detected mark 1c can be detected again by the sensor unit 20, and a large amount of label continuum can be discharged by the adjustment operation. You do n’t have to. Further, since the same mark 1c is used for the adjustment operation, the adjustment work can be performed without being affected by the length variation due to the printing of the mark 1c itself. If the back feed of S100 is completed, it will return to S40 and will perform the comparison process of S40 to S70 again.

  Since the normal mode is performed in S110, the control unit 30 reads the adjustment value stored in S80 of the adjustment mode and sets it as the adjustment value of the sensor unit 20.

  In S120, while the mark 1c is detected based on the adjustment value set in S110, conveyance during normal printing operation is performed, and the normal mode is terminated when printing is completed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the adjustment that enables adjustment related to the detection of the sensor unit 20 by the combination of the control unit 30 and the drive circuit 21 and the combination of the control unit 30 and the amplifier circuit 24. Means were provided. In the adjustment mode, the input of the set value of the length of the mark 1c is received, compared with the detected value of the length of the mark 1c actually detected, and automatically adjusted by the adjusting means according to the comparison result. 20 adjustment values are changed. Therefore, the sensor unit can be easily and accurately adjusted so that the length of the mark 1c provided on the label continuum 1 can be accurately detected. Therefore, the printer 10 can accurately control the printing position. In addition, since the sensor unit 20 itself is adjusted, the length of the mark 1c is automatically detected even when the detection upper limit value in the light receiving unit 23 is exceeded or the detection lower limit value is exceeded. Adjustments are made.

(Deformation)
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications and changes are possible, and these are also within the scope of the present invention.

  In the embodiment, the printer 10 has been described with an example in which the mark 1c is detected and adjustment is performed so that the length of the mark 1c can be accurately detected. For example, when a gap (interval) between adjacent labels is detected, adjustment may be performed so that the length of the gap can be accurately detected.

  In the embodiment, the sensor unit 20 has been described with an example using a light transmission type sensor. For example, a light reflection type sensor may be used.

  In the embodiment, the printer 10 has been described with an example in which two parameters of the light emission amount of the light emitting unit 22 instructed to the drive circuit 21 and the amplification factor instructed to the amplifier circuit 24 are used as adjustment values. For example, only the amplification factor may be adjusted, or other parameters may be adjusted.

  In the embodiment, the printer 10 that prints by applying heat to the thermosensitive coloring layer of the label piece 1a using the thermal head 14 has been described as an example. For example, the printer may be a printer that uses an ink ribbon, or may be a printer that performs printing by other methods such as an inkjet method.

  In the embodiment, a printer provided with a label transport device that automatically adjusts the sensor unit has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be a peeling device or a label transport device of a cutting device that needs to transport the label continuous body accurately.

  In addition, although embodiment and a deformation | transformation form can also be used in combination as appropriate, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. Further, the present invention is not limited by the embodiments described above.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Label continuous body 1a Label piece 1b Mount 1c Mark 2 Roll body 10 Printer 11 Paper supply shaft 12 Paper guide 13 Platen roller 13a Pulley 14 Thermal head 15 Platen drive belt 16 Cover 16a Fixed cover 16b Opening / closing cover 16c Hinge part 17 Outlet 20 Sensor unit 21 Drive circuit 22 Light emitting unit 23 Light receiving unit 24 Amplifying circuit 30 Control unit 31 Comparison unit 32 Conversion unit 40 Display operation unit M1 Motor M1a Pulley

Claims (6)

A transport unit for transporting a continuous label body in which labels are arranged side by side;
An adjustment unit that enables adjustment relating to detection; a sensor unit that detects a mark or a gap of the label continuum conveyed by the conveyance unit;
An input unit for receiving an input of a set value of the length of the mark or the gap;
A comparison unit for obtaining a detection value of the length of the mark or the gap based on an output value from the sensor unit, and comparing the detection value with the set value input to the input unit;
As a result of the comparison by the comparison unit, until the difference between the set value and the detection value falls within a predetermined range, adjustment by the adjustment unit of the sensor unit, detection of the mark or the gap by the sensor unit, and An automatic adjustment operation for repeatedly executing comparison by the comparison unit and storing an adjustment result in which a difference between the set value and the detected value falls within a predetermined range or setting as an adjustment value of the adjustment unit A control unit to perform,
A label conveying apparatus comprising: In the label conveyance apparatus of Claim 1,
The sensor unit is an optical sensor including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit,
The adjusting means adjusts at least one of a light emission amount of the light emitting unit and an output level of the light receiving unit;
A label conveying device characterized by the above. In the label conveying apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
When the comparison unit performs the comparison again after performing the adjustment by the adjustment unit of the sensor unit, the control unit back-feeds the label continuum and the mark or the gap detected last time is again Detecting by the sensor unit,
A label conveying device characterized by the above. In the label conveyance apparatus of any one of Claim 1 to Claim 3,
The control unit can execute a normal mode for performing a normal transport operation and an adjustment mode for performing the automatic adjustment operation, and an adjustment result or adjustment obtained as a result of performing the automatic adjustment operation in the adjustment mode. Carrying control in the normal mode using a value,
A label conveying device characterized by the above. A label transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A printing unit that performs printing on the label continuum conveyed by the conveyance unit;
Label printer with. In a label conveying apparatus that has an adjustment unit that enables adjustment relating to detection, includes a sensor unit that detects a mark or a gap of a label continuous body conveyed by a conveying unit, and conveys a label continuous body in which labels are arranged side by side A sensor adjustment method,
Receiving an input of a set value for the length of the mark or the gap;
Obtaining a detection value of the length of the mark or the gap based on an output value from a sensor unit, and comparing the input set value and the detection value;
As a result of the comparison, until the difference between the set value and the detected value falls within a predetermined range, the adjustment by the adjustment unit of the sensor unit, the detection of the mark or the gap by the sensor unit, and the comparison by the comparison unit Repeatedly executing
Storing an adjustment result in which a difference between the set value and the detection value falls within a predetermined range, or setting as an adjustment value of the adjustment unit;
A sensor adjustment method comprising:

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