JP6313098B2 - Thermal printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermal printer that prints a printing unit on a long film.

  Conventionally, a printing device that prints a printing unit on a long film to be transferred, a bag making unit that forms a bag body from a long film on the downstream side of a printing device in the transfer direction of the long film, and a long film There is known a bag making and filling machine including a filling portion that fills a bag body with an article to be filled on the downstream side of the bag making portion in the transfer direction (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2012-206767 A

  In the bag making and filling machine described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an empty bag (a bag body that is not filled with an object to be filled) at the time of bag making filling on the downstream side in the transfer direction of the long film. Therefore, the transfer speed of the long film may be controlled to be accelerated / decelerated including stopping, and the long film is transferred at an indefinite speed. When the long film is transferred at an indefinite speed, it is difficult to print the printing unit in a stable state on the long film.

  An object of this invention is to provide the thermal printer which can print a printing part in the stable state on the elongate film conveyed at indefinite speed.

  The present invention is a thermal printer that prints a printing unit on a long long film that is transferred at an indefinite speed from the upstream side toward the downstream side, and is a long printer between the print head and the print head. A print receiving roller capable of rotating while winding at least a part of the long film around the circumferential surface with the long film disposed thereon, an upstream guide roller for guiding the long film on the upstream side of the print receiving roller, A downstream guide roller that guides the length film on the downstream side of the print receiving roller, and a long film that is arranged in a predetermined separation direction and is transported toward the upstream guide roller. An upstream moving roller that guides on the upstream side of the sheet and a long film transported from the downstream guide roller on the downstream side of the downstream guide roller. A pair of moving rollers composed of a downstream moving roller, a motor capable of rotating the print receiving roller, and a rotational driving force from the motor provided between the motor and the print receiving roller. And a clutch that can be switched to a connected state that transmits to the print receiving roller or a non-connected state that does not transmit to the print receiving roller, and the pair of moving rollers move linearly and integrally in the separating direction. When viewed in a direction perpendicular to the separation direction, the moving range of the pair of moving rollers is a range between the upstream guide roller and the downstream guide roller, and the long film is The upstream moving roller, the upstream guide roller, the print receiving roller, the downstream guide roller, and the downstream moving roller in order, When the length of the long film wound between the upstream side moving roller and the downstream side moving roller is not changed even when the moving roller moves, and the printing unit is printed on the long film In addition, when the motor is rotated and the clutch is switched to the connected state, the print receiving roller is rotated by the rotation driving force from the motor, and the long film wound around the print receiving roller is provided. By being transferred from the upstream side toward the downstream side, the pair of moving rollers are arranged in such a direction that the length of the long film from the print receiving roller to the upstream moving roller is shortened and from the print receiving roller. The present invention relates to a thermal printer that is moved in a direction in which the length of a long film to the downstream moving roller is increased.

  Further, a sensor capable of detecting a reference position of the pair of moving rollers is further provided, and after printing a printing unit on a long film, the motor is stopped in a state where the clutch is maintained in the connected state. As the long film is transferred, the pair of moving rollers are arranged in a direction in which the length of the long film from the print receiving roller to the upstream moving roller increases and from the print receiving roller to the downstream moving roller. When the length of the long film is moved and the reference position is detected by the sensor, the clutch is moved from the connected state to the disconnected state so that the pair of moving rollers are stopped at the reference position. It is preferable to switch to the state.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the thermal printer which can print a printing part in the stable state on the elongate film transferred to indefinite speed can be provided.

1 is a side view illustrating an overall configuration of a thermal printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a side view illustrating the overall configuration of a thermal printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a side view in a state in which one side plate 91 is removed. It is the figure which looked at the thermal printer 1 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention from the upper side. It is the figure which looked at the thermal printer 1 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention from the X2 side of the X direction. It is the sectional view on the AA1 line of FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which the thermal head 21 moved to the press position from the state of the thermal printer 1 shown in FIG. 2, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state at the time of the start of printing operation. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 have moved to the X2 side in the X direction from the state of the thermal printer 1 illustrated in FIG. 6, and illustrates a state at the end of the printing range. It is a figure which shows the state which the thermal head 21 moved to the standby position from the state of the thermal printer 1 shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating the overall configuration of a thermal printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view for explaining the overall configuration of the thermal printer 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a side view in a state in which one side plate 91 is removed. FIG. 3 is a view of the thermal printer 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above. FIG. 4 is a view of the thermal printer 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the X2 side in the X direction. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA1 of FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the thermal head 21 has moved to the pressing position from the state of the thermal printer 1 illustrated in FIG. 2, and is a diagram illustrating a state at the start of the printing operation. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 has moved from the state of the thermal printer 1 illustrated in FIG. 6 to the X2 side in the X direction, and illustrates a state at the end of the printing range. is there. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which the thermal head 21 has moved to the standby position from the state of the thermal printer 1 shown in FIG.

  In the following description and drawings, in the present embodiment, the direction in which the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 are separated from each other is referred to as the X direction, and one side in the X direction (in FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIGS. 5 to 8). The right side is referred to as the X1 side, and the other side in the X direction (the left side in FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIGS. 5 to 8) is referred to as the X2 side. Moreover, the up-down direction is referred to as the up-down direction Z, and the width direction of the long film F and the direction orthogonal to the X direction and the Z direction is referred to as the Y direction.

  The thermal printer 1 of the present embodiment is used for a printing process in a bag making and filling machine (not shown), for example. The bag making and filling machine is an apparatus that forms a bag body on the downstream side of the long film F transferred from the upstream side to the downstream side and fills the bag body with an object to be filled.

  In a bag making and filling machine (not shown), a bag body is formed by the long film F through each step. As each process in the bag making and filling machine, for example, a printing process for printing a printing section by the thermal printer 1, an inspection process for inspecting a printing section printed by the thermal printer 1, and a bag body is formed from the long film F. There are a bag making process and a filling process for filling a bag body with an object to be filled. The thermal printer 1 of the present embodiment is used, for example, in a printing process in a bag making and filling machine, and is disposed in the middle of a conveyance path of a long film F in a bag making and filling machine (not shown).

  In the thermal printer 1 according to the present embodiment, when the printing unit is not printed on the long film F, the long film F is unfixed by the film transport unit (not shown) of the bag making and filling machine (not shown). Has been transferred to. The long film F is formed in a long shape, and is introduced into the thermal printer 1 from the upstream side (X2 side in the X direction) of the thermal printer 1 and passes through the thermal printer 1 as shown in FIG. 1 on the downstream side (X1 side in the X direction). The long film F is stopped on the downstream side of the thermal printer 1 in the transfer direction P, for example, to prevent the occurrence of an empty bag (a bag body that is not filled with an object to be filled) or the speed is low. Therefore, it may be transferred at an indefinite speed. In the present embodiment, the fact that the long film F is transferred at an indefinite speed means, for example, that the long film F is repeatedly stopped and transferred, and the transfer speed of the long film F is not fixed. In the transfer of the long film F transferred at the normal transfer speed, the stop may be included or a speed lower than the normal transfer speed may be included.

  Further, when printing the printing unit on the long film F, the thermal printer 1 prints the printing unit on the long long film F that is transferred from the upstream side to the downstream side at an indefinite speed. .

  1 to 4, the thermal printer 1 includes a printer main body 2, a pair of side plates 91 and 92, a platen roller 4 as a print receiving roller, a pinch roller 5, an upstream guide roller 61, A downstream guide roller 62, a pair of moving rollers 63 and 64, a moving mechanism unit 7, a motor 82, a clutch 81, and a sensor 83 are provided.

  The printer body 2 is disposed on the upper side with respect to the transport path of the long film F in the middle of the transport path of the long film F. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the printer main body 2 is held by a support portion 23. The support portion 23 includes a support shaft portion 24 and a moving member 25 that is supported by the support shaft portion 24 so as to be movable. The support shaft portion 24 is formed so as to extend in the Y direction (width direction of the long film F), and is held by holding members 26 and 27 (see FIG. 4) at both ends. The moving member 25 holds the printer main body 2. The moving member 25 is attached to the support shaft portion 24 so as to be movable in the Y direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the printer main body 2 includes a ribbon transport mechanism 3, a thermal head 21 as a print head, and a holding frame 22. The holding frame body 22 holds the ribbon transport mechanism 3 and the thermal head 21.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the thermal head 21 is disposed to face the platen roller 4 with the ink ribbon R and the long film F of the ribbon transport mechanism 3 interposed therebetween. The thermal head 21 is disposed so that the tip side protrudes downward. The thermal head 21 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction Z. The thermal head 21 prints a printing unit (not shown) on the long film F by moving the long film F from the upstream side toward the downstream side.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the thermal head 21 is disposed to face the long film F that is transferred in the transfer direction P. The thermal head 21 is configured to be movable with respect to the platen roller 4 to a standby position (see FIG. 2) that is separated from the platen roller 4 or a pressing position (see FIG. 6) that presses the platen roller 4.

  The thermal head 21 includes a plurality of heating elements at the tip thereof. In the thermal head 21, a desired heating element generates heat when the thermal printer 1 energizes the thermal head 21.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ribbon transport mechanism 3 includes a raw fabric side ribbon holder 31 that holds a wound unused ink ribbon R, and a winding side ribbon holder 32 that winds up the ink ribbon R. And a plurality of guide rollers 33, 34, 35, 36. The ribbon transport mechanism 3 transports the unused ink ribbon R wound around the raw fabric side ribbon holder 31 toward the thermal head 21 and also transports the ink ribbon R used in the thermal head 21 to the winding side ribbon holder. Transport toward 32. The plurality of guide rollers 33, 34, 35, 36 are rollers that guide the ink ribbon R that is conveyed from the original fabric side ribbon holder 31 toward the take-up side ribbon holder 32.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the pair of side plates 91 and 92 are separated from each other in the Y direction (the width direction of the long film F) in the conveyance path of the long film F on the lower side of the printer body 2. Is provided. The pair of side plates 91 and 92 hold the platen roller 4, the pinch roller 5, the upstream guide roller 61, the downstream guide roller 62, and the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the platen roller 4 is disposed to face the thermal head 21 with the ink ribbon R and the long film F interposed therebetween. The platen roller 4 is rotatable while at least a part of the long film F is wound around the peripheral surface in a state where the long film F is disposed between the platen roller 4 and the thermal head 21. The platen roller 4 is a roller formed in a cylindrical shape with a predetermined outer diameter by forming an elastic layer made of a material having a predetermined elasticity such as silicone rubber on the peripheral surface of a metal core bar having a predetermined diameter. The platen roller 4 includes a platen roller main body 41 and a platen shaft member 42. The platen shaft member 42 is rotatably supported by a pair of side plates 91 and 92 via a bearing (not shown). As shown in FIG. 4, a motor 82 described later is connected to the platen roller 4 via a clutch 81 described later.

  2 and 6, the thermal printer 1 can move the thermal head 21 to a standby position (see FIG. 2) that is separated from the platen roller 4 or a pressing position (see FIG. 6) that presses the platen roller 4. Configured. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the thermal printer 1 moves the thermal head 21 from the standby position (see FIG. 2) toward the pressing position (see FIG. 6), thereby moving the ink ribbon R. Press toward the long film F and the platen roller 4 side. Then, when the long film F is moved along the conveyance path, the ink ribbon R that has contacted the desired heat generating element that has generated heat on the surface of the platen roller 4 is moved in contact with the long film F. Accordingly, the thermal printer 1 causes the ink applied to the ink ribbon R to adhere to the long film F and prints a printing unit (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the pinch roller 5 is disposed on the X1 side in the X direction of the platen roller 4. The pinch roller 5 is arranged in the vicinity of the platen roller 4 on the downstream side of the platen roller 4 in the transport direction P of the long film F. The shaft member of the pinch roller 5 is urged by the spring member 51 and pressed toward the platen roller. The pinch roller 5 is pressed toward the platen roller 4 by being biased by the spring member 51, and presses the long film F toward the surface of the platen roller 4. The pinch roller 5 sandwiches the long film F with the platen roller 4 in a state where the long film F is wound around the platen roller 4, and rotates to move the long film F together with the platen roller 4. In the transfer direction P.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upstream guide roller 61 and the downstream guide roller 62 are spaced apart from each other in the X direction. The upstream guide roller 61 is disposed on the X2 side in the X direction, and guides the long film F on the upstream side of the platen roller 4. The downstream guide roller 62 is disposed on the X1 side in the X direction, and guides the long film F on the downstream side of the platen roller 4.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 are spaced apart in the X direction (predetermined separation direction X). The X direction in which the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 are separated is parallel to the X direction in which the upstream guide roller 61 and the downstream guide roller 62 are separated. The pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 includes an upstream moving roller 63 and a downstream moving roller 64.

  The upstream moving roller 63 is disposed on the X2 side in the X direction, and guides the long film F transferred toward the upstream guide roller 61 on the upstream side of the upstream guide roller 61. As shown in FIG. 5, the downstream moving roller 64 is arranged on the X1 side in the X direction, and guides the long film F transferred from the downstream guide roller 62 on the downstream side of the downstream guide roller 62.

  The tangent lines at the upper ends of the upstream moving roller 63 and the downstream moving roller 64 in the Z direction coincide with the tangent lines at the lower ends of the upstream guide roller 61 and the downstream guide roller 62. That is, between the upstream moving roller 63 and the upstream guide roller 61, the long film F is transferred horizontally in the X direction. Further, the long film F is horizontally transferred in the X direction between the downstream guide roller 62 and the downstream moving roller 64.

As shown in FIG. 5, each of the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 includes moving roller main bodies 631 and 641 and moving roller shaft members 632 and 642.
The moving roller shaft members 632 and 642 are formed to extend in the Y direction. The moving roller main bodies 631 and 641 are rotatably supported by moving roller shaft members 632 and 642 via bearings 631a and 641a.

  Cylindrical end portions 633 and 643 are attached to both ends of the moving roller shaft members 632 and 642, respectively. The moving roller shaft members 632 and 642 are rotatably supported by the cylindrical end portions 633 and 643 via bearings 633a and 643a.

  The pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 are connected by a connecting member 65. The connecting member 65 extends in the X direction and connects a pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 that are separated in the X direction. As a result, the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 can move integrally in the X direction while being connected to the connecting member 65.

  Both end portions of the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 are inserted through elongated holes 911 and 921 formed in the pair of side plates 91 and 92 via cylindrical end portions 633 and 643, respectively. The long holes 911 and 921 are formed in the pair of side plates 91 and 92, respectively, penetrate through in the Y direction and extend linearly horizontally in the X direction. The pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 is configured to be linearly movable integrally in the X direction along the long holes 911 and 921.

  As described above, the upstream moving roller 63, the upstream guide roller 61, the platen roller 4, the pinch roller 5, the downstream guide roller 62, and the downstream moving roller 64 are configured so that the long film F is The moving roller 63, the upstream guide roller 61, the platen roller 4, the downstream guide roller 62, and the downstream moving roller 64 are wound in this order. Even if the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 move, the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 changes the length of the long film F wound between the upstream moving roller 63 and the downstream moving roller 64. Arranged not to.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the long film F is transferred in the thermal printer 1 as follows. The long film F is introduced into the thermal printer 1 horizontally from the X2 side in the X direction on the lower side of the thermal printer 1 and is transported in the horizontal direction, from the lower end portion of the upstream moving roller 63 to the upstream moving roller 63. To be introduced. The long film F introduced into the lower end portion of the upstream side moving roller 63 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the upstream side moving roller 63 approximately half a circumference, and is directed from the upper end portion of the upstream side moving roller 63 toward the upstream side guide roller 61. Thus, the X direction is derived horizontally from the X1 side toward the X2 side. The long film F led out from the upper end portion of the upstream moving roller 63 is introduced into the upstream guide roller 61 from the lower end portion of the upstream guide roller 61, and the outer peripheral surface of the upstream guide roller 61 is wound approximately half a circumference. Thus, the upper guide roller 61 is led out from the upper end portion toward the platen roller 4 while being inclined in a straight line upward from the X2 side in the X direction toward the X1 side.

  The long film F led out from the upper end portion of the upstream guide roller 61 is introduced into the platen roller 4 from the upper end portion side of the platen roller 4, and is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller 4 by about a quarter turn. The end of the platen roller 4 on the X1 side is sandwiched between the pinch rollers 5. The long film F sandwiched between the platen roller 4 and the pinch roller 5 is wound about a quarter of a round from the end of the pinch roller 5 on the X2 side, and the downstream guide roller from the lower end of the pinch roller 5 It is derived horizontally from the X2 side in the X direction toward the X1 side toward 62. The long film F led out from the lower end portion of the pinch roller 5 is introduced into the downstream guide roller 62 from the upper end portion of the downstream guide roller 62, and the outer peripheral surface of the downstream guide roller 62 is wound approximately half a circumference, From the lower end portion of the downstream guide roller 62 toward the downstream moving roller 64, it is led out horizontally from the X1 side to the X2 side in the X direction. The long film F led out from the lower end portion of the downstream side guide roller 62 is introduced from the upper end portion of the downstream side moving roller 64 to the downstream side moving roller 64, and the outer peripheral surface of the downstream side moving roller 64 is wound approximately half a circumference. Thus, it is led horizontally from the lower end of the downstream side moving roller 64 toward the outside of the thermal printer 1 from the X2 side in the X direction toward the X1 side.

  The pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 can be moved linearly and integrally in the X direction by the moving mechanism unit 7. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the moving mechanism unit 7 includes a pair of rod-like members 71 that are separated in the Y direction and a pair of rolling gears 72 that are separated in the Y direction.

  Each of the pair of rolling gears 72 is formed by a circular gear. As shown in FIG. 5, each of the pair of rolling gears 72 is attached to the moving roller shaft member 642 of the downstream side moving roller 64 on the inner side of both ends of the downstream side moving roller 64. Each of the pair of rolling gears 72 is movable in the X direction while meshing with each of the pair of rod-like members 71.

  Each of the pair of rod-like members 71 is formed in a flat bar shape extending in the X direction, and a plurality of teeth that mesh with each of the pair of rolling gears 72 are formed on the upper part. Each of the pair of rod-like members 71 extends in the X direction so as to mesh with each of the pair of rolling gears 72 attached to the moving roller shaft member 642 of the downstream moving roller 64 inside the pair of side plates 91 and 92. .

  By configuring the moving mechanism unit 7 as described above, the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 moves in the X direction while the pair of rolling gears 72 are engaged with the pair of rod-shaped members 71, respectively. It moves linearly and integrally.

  When the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 are viewed in the Z direction orthogonal to the X direction (separating direction), the moving ranges of the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 are the upstream guide roller 61 and the downstream guide roller 62. It is arrange | positioned so that it may become the range between. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the movement range of the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 is from the first movement position XA1 (see FIG. 2) to the second movement position XA2 (see FIG. 7) in the X direction. A range between the position XB1 of the X1 side outer end portion of the downstream guide roller 62 and the position XB2 of the X2 side outer end portion of the upstream guide roller 61 in the X direction. It has become.

  In the present embodiment, the range of movement of the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 is a position spaced inward of the downstream guide roller 62 from a position spaced inward of the upstream guide roller 61 in the X direction. However, it is not limited to this. The moving range of the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 may be a range between the upstream guide roller 61 and the downstream guide roller 62, and may be a range in which the moving range is expanded as compared with the present embodiment.

  Since the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 are movable in the X direction, the long film downstream from the speed of the long film F upstream of the upstream moving roller 63 on the basis of the upstream moving roller 63. When the speed of F is high, it is moved to the X2 side in the X direction. Further, since the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 are movable in the X direction, the length on the downstream side of the downstream moving roller 64 is faster than the speed of the long film F on the upstream side of the downstream moving roller 64. When the speed of the scale film F is slow, it is moved to the X2 side in the X direction. That is, the printing speed of the long film F transferred by the platen roller 4 being rotated is faster than the transfer speed of the long film F by the film transport unit (not shown) of the bag making and filling machine (not shown). In this case, the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 are moved to the X2 side in the X direction.

  Since the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 are movable in the X direction, the long film downstream from the speed of the long film F upstream of the upstream moving roller 63 on the basis of the upstream moving roller 63. When the speed of F is slow, it is moved to the X1 side in the X direction. Further, since the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 are movable in the X direction, the length on the downstream side of the downstream moving roller 64 is faster than the speed of the long film F on the upstream side of the downstream moving roller 64. When the speed of the scale film F is high, it is moved to the X1 side in the X direction. That is, the printing speed of the long film F that is transferred by rotating the platen roller 4 is slower than the transfer speed of the long film F by the film transport unit (not shown) of the bag making and filling machine (not shown). In this case, the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 are moved to the X1 side in the X direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the motor 82 is connected to the platen roller 4 via a clutch 81. The motor 82 can drive the platen roller 4 to rotate.

  The clutch 81 is provided between the motor 82 and the platen roller 4. The clutch 81 can be switched to a connected state in which the rotational driving force from the motor 82 is transmitted to the platen roller 4 or to a disconnected state in which the clutch 81 is not transmitted to the platen roller 4. In the present embodiment, the clutch 81 is an electromagnetic clutch and is controlled by a control unit (not shown).

  The sensor 83 is disposed on the X1 side in the X direction of the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 on the side plate 92 side on the other side. The sensor 83 can detect the reference position X0 of the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 in the X direction. In the present embodiment, the reference position X0 of the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 is set on the X1 side in the X direction as shown in FIG. The pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 being positioned at the reference position X0 means, for example, that the center of the moving roller shaft member 642 of the downstream side moving roller 64 is positioned at the reference position X0. Then, when the reference position X0 of the pair of moving rollers 63, 64 is detected by the sensor 83, the thermal printer 1 connects the clutch 81 so that the pair of moving rollers 63, 64 are stopped at the reference position X0. Switch from unconnected state. As the sensor 83, for example, a reflective photosensor or the like is used.

Next, the operation of the thermal printer 1 according to the present invention will be described.
When the printing part is not printed on the long film F, as shown in FIG. 2, the clutch 81 is kept in the non-connected state with the thermal head 21 positioned at the standby position (the clutch 81 is switched to the non-connected state). ). The pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 is located at the reference position X0 on the X1 side in the X direction. When the clutch 81 is in the non-connected state, the platen roller 4 is disconnected from the motor 82, so that the long film F to be wound moves, so that the long film F moves along with the movement of the long film F. Rotates following movement. The upstream side moving roller 63, the upstream side guide roller 61, the platen roller 4, the pinch roller 5, the downstream side guide roller 62, and the downstream side moving roller 64 are driven and rotated as the long film F is transferred. .

  Thereby, when the clutch 81 is in a non-connected state, the long film F is at the same speed as the transfer speed of the long film F transferred by the film transport unit (not shown) of the bag making and filling machine (not shown). The upstream moving roller 63, the upstream guide roller 61, the platen roller 4, the pinch roller 5, the downstream guide roller 62, and the downstream moving roller 64 are transferred in the transfer direction P in this order.

  In this state, since operations such as bag formation are performed downstream of the thermal printer 1, the long film F is transferred to a film transport unit (not shown) of a bag making and filling machine (not shown). It is transferred at an indefinite speed at the same speed as the transfer speed. The indefinite speed may include a stop in the transfer of the long film F transferred at the normal transfer speed, or may include a speed lower than the normal transfer speed.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, when the printing unit is not printed on the long film F, the transfer speed of the long film F is the film transport of a bag making and filling machine (not shown) at any position on the transport path. It is the same speed as the transfer speed transferred to the part (not shown). For this reason, the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 maintain a state where they are positioned at the reference position X0.

  Here, the operation of printing the printing unit on the long film F will be described. In the present embodiment, the long film F is manufactured downstream of the thermal printer 1 in the transfer direction P in order to prevent the occurrence of an empty bag (a bag body that is not filled with an object to be filled). The film is transported (not shown) of the bag filling machine (not shown), and is slowed down or stopped at a normal transfer speed. In the present embodiment, for example, when the transfer of the long film F is stopped by a film transport unit (not shown) of a bag making and filling machine (not shown), the printing unit is printed on the long film F.

  When printing a printing part on the long film F, the motor 82 is rotationally driven and the clutch 81 is switched to the connected state. As a result, the platen roller 4 is rotationally driven by the rotational driving force from the motor 82. When the platen roller 4 is rotated, the long film F wound around the platen roller 4 is transferred from the upstream side toward the downstream side, and the long film F is moved upstream by the rotational driving force of the platen roller 4. The side moving roller 63, the upstream side guide roller 61, the platen roller 4, the pinch roller 5, the downstream side guide roller 62, and the downstream side moving roller 64 are transferred in the transfer direction P in this order. In this way, the long film F wound around the platen roller 4 is transferred at a constant printing speed. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, when the thermal head 21 is moved to the pressing position, the long film F transferred at the printing speed is transferred to the long film F transferred at the printing speed. A printing unit (not shown) is printed.

  Here, even if the transfer of the long film F is stopped by the film transport unit (not shown) of the bag making and filling machine (not shown), the long film F is fixed by rotating the platen roller 4. Transported at printing speed. Further, the printing speed of the long film F transferred by the platen roller 4 being rotated is faster than the transfer speed of the long film F by the film transport unit (not shown) of the bag making and filling machine (not shown). Therefore, even if the pair of moving rollers 63, 64 move, the pair of moving rollers 63, 64 so that the length of the long film wound between the upstream moving roller 63 and the downstream moving roller 64 does not change. 64 is arranged in a direction in which the length of the long film F from the platen roller 4 to the upstream side moving roller 63 becomes shorter, and the long film F from the platen roller 4 to the downstream side moving roller 64. Is moved in the direction of increasing the length of the.

  That is, the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 are moved from the reference position X0 to the X2 side in the X direction so that the state shown in FIG. 6 is changed to the state shown in FIG. This absorbs the speed difference between the transfer speed of the long film F and the printing speed, and even if the pair of moving rollers 63, 64 move, the upstream moving roller 63, the upstream guide roller 61, the platen roller 4, the pinch. Since the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 are arranged so that the length to the roller 5, the downstream guide roller 62 and the downstream moving roller 64 does not change, the long film in the thermal printer 1 according to the present invention. The transfer control at the time of printing F can be separated from the transfer control of the long film F by the film transport unit (not shown) of the bag making and filling machine (not shown).

  Thus, when printing a printing part on the long film F, regardless of the transfer speed of the long film F transferred by the film transport part (not shown) of the bag making and filling machine (not shown), for example, When the movement of the long film F by the film transport unit (not shown) of the bag making and filling machine (not shown) is stopped, the long film F can be transferred at a constant printing speed. Thereby, a printing part can be printed in the stable state with respect to the elongate film F transferred to indefinite speed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8, when printing of the printing unit on the long film F is completed, the thermal head 21 is positioned at the standby position. Further, the motor 82 is stopped in a state where the clutch 81 is maintained in the connected state. Therefore, the platen roller 4 is in a state where the rotation is stopped in a state where the stop brake is applied by the load of the motor 82.

  Then, the transfer of the long film F by the film conveyance part (not shown) of a bag making filling machine (not shown) is restarted, and the long film F is transferred in the transfer direction. In this state, since the rotation of the platen roller 4 is stopped, the long film F is in a stopped state on the conveyance path between the upstream side moving roller 63 and the downstream side moving roller 64.

  When the clutch 81 is in the connected state and the motor 82 is stopped, the bag making and filling machine (not shown) moves along with the transfer of the long film F by the film transport unit (not shown) of the bag making and filling machine (not shown). Since the printing speed of the long film F that is transferred by rotating the platen roller 4 is slower than the transfer speed of the long film F by the film transport unit (not shown), the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 are Moves in the direction in which the length of the long film F from the platen roller 4 to the upstream side moving roller 63 increases, and in the direction in which the length of the long film F from the platen roller 4 to the downstream side moving roller 64 decreases. Is done. Accordingly, the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 are moved from the position on the X2 side in the X direction shown in FIG. 8 to the reference position X0 side on the X1 side in the X direction (see FIG. 2).

  Thereafter, the sensor 83 detects the reference position X0 of the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64, so that the thermal printer 1 switches the clutch 81 from the connected state to the non-connected state, as shown in FIG. The moving rollers 63 and 64 are stopped at the reference position X0. Accordingly, the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 can be returned to the same reference position X0 as when printing is started, and the printing position of the printing portion on the long film F can be accurately grasped.

  When the printing unit is printed on the long film F, the thermal printer 1 as described above controls the transfer of the long film F when the printing unit is printed on the long film F. Since the long film F can be transferred at the printing speed by being separated from the transfer control by a film transport unit (not shown) that is transferred at high speed, the printing unit can be stably printed on the long film F.

According to the thermal printer 1 of this embodiment, the following effects are produced, for example.
The thermal printer 1 of the present embodiment is a thermal printer 1 that prints a printing unit on a long film F that is transported at an indefinite speed, and includes a thermal head 21, a platen roller 4, and an upstream guide. A roller 61, a downstream guide roller 62, moving rollers 63 and 64 that can move linearly and integrally in the X direction (separating direction), a motor 82 that can rotationally drive the platen roller 4, And a clutch 81 that can be switched to a connected state in which the rotational driving force is transmitted to the platen roller 4 or a non-connected state in which the rotational driving force is not transmitted to the platen roller 4. When the printing unit is printed on the long film F, the length of the long film F wound between the roller 63 and the downstream moving roller 64 is arranged so as not to change. By rotating the motor 82 and switching the clutch 81 to the connected state, the platen roller 4 is rotationally driven by the rotational driving force from the motor 82 and the long film F wound around the platen roller 4 is moved from the upstream side. By being transferred toward the downstream side, the length of the long film F from the platen roller 4 to the upstream side moving roller 63 is shortened, and the long film F from the platen roller 4 to the downstream side moving roller 64 is shortened. Is moved in the direction of increasing the length.

  Therefore, when printing the printing unit on the long film F, the film transport unit that transfers the long film F at an indefinite speed when the printing unit is printed on the long film F. The long film F can be transferred at a printing speed by separating from the transfer control (not shown). Therefore, the printing part can be stably printed on the long film F.

  Further, in the thermal printer 1 of the present embodiment, after printing the printing unit on the long film F, the motor 82 is stopped in a state where the clutch 81 is maintained in the connected state, whereby the long film F is transferred. The pair of moving rollers 63, 64 is a direction in which the length of the long film F from the platen roller 4 to the upstream side moving roller 63 is increased, and the length of the long film F from the platen roller 4 to the downstream side moving roller 64 is When the reference position X0 is detected by the sensor 83 when the length is shortened, the clutch 81 is changed from the connected state to the non-connected state so that the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 are stopped at the reference position X0. Switch. Therefore, the pair of moving rollers 63 and 64 can be returned to the same position as when printing is started, and the printing position of the printing portion on the long film F can be accurately grasped. Thereby, even when printing a plurality of printing sections on the long film F, each of the plurality of printing sections can be accurately printed at the printing position.

As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment was described, this invention can be implemented with a various form, without being limited to embodiment mentioned above.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the thermal printer 1 of the present invention is provided in the bag making and filling machine, but is not limited thereto. The thermal printer 1 of the present invention only needs to be configured to print on a long film that is transported at an indefinite speed. For example, the thermal printer 1 of the present invention is configured to intermittently transport a long film. You may provide in the packaging machine which packages a to-be-packaged object.

1 Thermal printer 4 Platen roller (print receiving roller)
21 Thermal head (print head)
61 Upstream side guide roller 62 Downstream side guide roller 63 Upstream side moving roller 64 Downstream side moving roller 63, 64 A pair of moving rollers 81 Clutch 82 Motor 83 Sensor F Long film X0 Reference position

Claims (2)

A thermal printer that prints a printing unit on a long film that is transferred at an indefinite speed from the upstream side toward the downstream side,
A printhead;
A print receiving roller that is rotatable while winding at least a part of the long film around the peripheral surface in a state in which the long film is disposed between the print head and the print head;
An upstream guide roller for guiding a long film on the upstream side of the print receiving roller;
A downstream guide roller for guiding the long film on the downstream side of the print receiving roller;
An upstream moving roller that guides a long film that is spaced apart in a predetermined separation direction and is transported toward the upstream guide roller on the upstream side of the upstream guide roller, and is transported from the downstream guide roller A pair of moving rollers composed of a downstream moving roller that guides the long film to be downstream of the downstream guide roller, and
A motor capable of rotationally driving the print receiving roller;
A clutch provided between the motor and the print receiving roller and capable of switching to a connected state in which a rotational driving force from the motor is transmitted to the print receiving roller or a non-connected state not transmitted to the print receiving roller; With
The pair of moving rollers can move linearly and integrally in the separating direction, and when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the separating direction, the moving range of the pair of moving rollers is the upstream guide roller And the downstream guide roller, and the long film is wound in the order of the upstream moving roller, the upstream guide roller, the print receiving roller, the downstream guide roller, and the downstream moving roller. Hang, arranged so that the length of the long film wound between the upstream side moving roller and the downstream side moving roller does not change even if the pair of moving rollers move,
When printing a printing part on a long film, the print receiving roller is driven to rotate by the rotational driving force from the motor by rotating the motor and switching the clutch to the connected state. When the long film wound around the roller is transferred from the upstream side toward the downstream side, the pair of moving rollers has a length of the long film from the print receiving roller to the upstream moving roller. A thermal printer which is moved in a direction in which the length of the long film from the print receiving roller to the downstream side moving roller becomes longer in a shorter direction. A sensor capable of detecting a reference position of the pair of moving rollers;
After the printing unit is printed on the long film, the pair of moving rollers are moved from the print receiving roller along with the transfer of the long film by stopping the motor with the clutch maintained in the connected state. Moved in the direction in which the length of the long film to the upstream moving roller is increased and in the direction in which the length of the long film from the print receiving roller to the downstream moving roller is reduced,
The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein when the reference position is detected by the sensor, the clutch is switched from the connected state to the non-connected state so that the pair of moving rollers are stopped at the reference position.

Images