JP6655362B2 - Printing device and transport method - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a printing apparatus and a transport method.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when high-speed printing is performed in a printing apparatus that issues labels, there has been a case where a label is issued without being peeled off from the backing sheet and attached to the backing sheet. In order to solve this problem, the following methods have been used. First, the printing apparatus performs a peeling operation (pre-peeling) at a low speed just before issuance to separate only the leading end of the label from the mount. Next, the printing device returns the mount to the home position. Then, the printing device performs an issuing operation.
However, in the above method, it sometimes takes time to issue a label for the pre-peeling operation.

JP 2006-232499 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and a transport method that can reduce the time required to issue a label in high-speed printing.

The printing apparatus according to the embodiment has a function of performing printing at a second printing speed higher than printing at a first printing speed, a printing unit, a sensor, and a transport control unit. The printing unit prints on the label. The sensor detects the label peeled by a peeling bar that peels the label from the backing paper on which the label printed by the printing unit is attached. When an instruction to perform printing at the second printing speed is given, and when the peeled label is detected by the sensor, the transport control unit changes the transport speed of the backing sheet in printing at the second printing speed. It accelerates from a first transport speed having a predetermined speed range to a second transport speed higher than the first transport speed .

FIG. 1 is an external view illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating an example of an internal configuration of the printing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating an example of an internal configuration of the printing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a control device 400. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of controlling the transport speed of the printing apparatus 100. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of controlling the transport speed of the printing apparatus 100. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an operation of the printing apparatus 100.

Hereinafter, a printing apparatus and a transport method according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external view illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment.
The printing apparatus 100 prints a predetermined image on a label and issues a label on which the image is printed. The printing device 100 has a high-speed printing function. The high-speed printing function is a function capable of performing printing at a printing speed (second printing speed) higher than the printing speed of normal printing (first printing speed). That is, in the high-speed printing function, the transport speed of the label at a low speed is higher than the transport speed at the low speed of the normal printing. The printing apparatus 100 includes a display unit 200, an operation unit 300, and a discharge port 350, as shown in FIG.

The display unit 200 is an image display device such as a liquid crystal display and an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display. The display unit 200 operates as an output interface, and displays characters and images. Further, the display unit 200 may operate as an input interface and receive an input of an instruction from a user.
The operation unit 300 is configured using an existing input device such as a button. The operation unit 300 is operated by the user when inputting a user's instruction to the printing apparatus 100. For example, the operation unit 300 receives an input of a print start instruction. For example, the operation unit 300 receives an input of a normal printing instruction or a high-speed printing instruction from a user.
The discharge port 350 discharges a label on which an image is printed.

  2 and 3 are side views illustrating an example of the internal configuration of the printing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the internal configuration of the printing apparatus 100 as viewed from different sides. The printing apparatus 100 has a first chamber S1 and a second chamber S2 in a housing as shown in FIGS. The first chamber S1 and the second chamber S2 are separated by a vertical wall a1. First, the configuration inside the first chamber S1 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the first chamber S1, a label roll paper 1, a pinch roller P1, a transport roller R1, a paper detection sensor 5a, a paper detection sensor 5b, an ink ribbon 6, an ink ribbon supply shaft 7, an ink ribbon take-up shaft 8, A platen roller PR, a print head 9, a thermal head 10, and a peeling unit 11 are provided.
The label roll paper 1 is a label paper formed by attaching a plurality of labels on a band-shaped backing paper. The label roll paper 1 forms a roll unit 2 by being wound in a roll shape. The label roll paper 1 is transported to the transport path 3 by being pulled out from the roll unit 2.

The label roll paper 1 indicated by a solid line in FIG. 2 indicates a label roll paper in a state where the diameter of the roll unit 2 is relatively large. On the other hand, an alternate long and short dash line L1 shown in FIG. 2 indicates the position of the label roll paper in a state where the diameter of the roll portion 2 is relatively small. An arrow 1A shown in FIG. 2 indicates a direction in which the label roll paper 1 is sent out.
The pinch roller P1 is arranged to face the transport roller R1.
The transport roller R1 is driven by a motor (not shown). The pinch roller P1 and the transport roller R1 transport the label roll paper 1 which is a backing sheet with a label.
The paper detection sensor 5a is an irradiating unit that irradiates light onto the transport path 3.
The paper detection sensor 5b is a light receiving unit that receives light emitted from the paper detection sensor 5a. The paper detection sensor 5b detects a voltage level corresponding to the amount of received light. The paper detection sensor 5b detects a label according to the detected voltage level. If the detected voltage level is lower than the threshold, the paper detection sensor 5b detects a label. On the other hand, when the detected voltage level is equal to or higher than the threshold, the paper detection sensor 5b does not detect the label. The paper detection sensor 5b outputs a detection result to the control device 400. The detection result includes the presence / absence of label detection. The paper detection sensor 5b outputs a detection result periodically or at a preset timing. The sheet detection sensor 5a and the sheet detection sensor 5b are, for example, transmission sensors. In the following description, the sheet detection sensor 5a and the sheet detection sensor 5b are referred to as the sheet detection sensor 5 unless otherwise specified.

The ink ribbon 6 is a tape-shaped ink cartridge. The ink ribbon 6 is sandwiched between the thermal head 10 and the platen roller PR together with the label roll paper 1. The ink on the ink ribbon 6 is transferred to the label roll paper 1 by heat given from the thermal head 10.
The ink ribbon supply shaft 7 is a shaft for sending out the ink ribbon 6. The supply shaft 7 is provided on the delivery side of the ink ribbon 6. The roll 7 a of the ink ribbon 6 is set on the supply shaft 7. Hereinafter, the roll portion 7a of the ink ribbon 6 is referred to as a ribbon roll. The supply shaft 7 is rotationally driven by a rotational drive mechanism including a DC motor, a gear, a belt, and the like.

The ink ribbon winding shaft 8 is a shaft for winding the ink ribbon 6. The winding shaft 8 is provided on the winding side of the ink ribbon 6. The winding shaft 8 is driven to rotate by a rotation driving mechanism including a DC motor, a gear, a belt, and the like. By the rotation of the take-up shaft 8, the ink ribbon 6 is taken up by the take-up shaft 8 and pulled out from the ribbon roll.
The platen roller PR is rotatably driven by a not-shown motor such as a stepping motor, and a not-shown rotation drive mechanism including a gear and a belt. The platen roller PR is arranged to face a thermal head 10 provided in the print head 9.

The print head 9 includes a thermal head 10. The print head 9 presses the label roll paper 1 conveyed between the thermal head 10 and the platen roller PR against the platen roller PR.
The thermal head 10 is disposed above the platen roller PR so as to face the platen roller PR. The thermal head 10 uses the ink ribbon 6 to print on a label attached to the backing paper of the transported label roll paper 1. The thermal head 10 has a plurality of heating elements arranged in a line. The heating element generates heat by application of electric power. The thermal head 10 generates heat by selectively applying power to the plurality of heating elements. The thermal head 10 transfers and prints the ink on the label by melting or sublimating the ink on the ink ribbon 6 by the heat generated by the heating element.

The peeling unit 11 is a device that peels a label from the label roll paper 1 transported on the transport path 3. The peeling unit 11 includes a peeling bar 12, a peeling sensor 13a, a peeling sensor 13b, an outlet 14, an outlet 15, a pinch roller P2, and a transport roller R2.
The peeling bar 12 is provided in a flat plate shape, and is provided basically at a right angle to the front of the thermal head 10, that is, to the front side in the feeding direction of the label roll paper 1.
The peeling sensor 13a is an irradiation unit that irradiates light onto the transport path 3.
The peeling sensor 13b is a light receiving unit that receives light emitted from the peeling sensor 13a. The peeling sensor 13b detects a voltage level according to the amount of received light. The peeling sensor 13b detects a label according to the detected voltage level. When the detected voltage level is lower than the threshold, the peeling sensor 13b detects the label. On the other hand, when the detected voltage level is equal to or higher than the threshold, the peeling sensor 13b does not detect the label. The peeling sensor 13b outputs a detection result to the control device 400. The detection result includes the presence or absence of label detection. The peeling sensor 13b outputs a detection result periodically or at a preset timing. The peel sensor 13a and the peel sensor 13b are, for example, transmission sensors. In the following description, the peel sensor 13a and the peel sensor 13b are referred to as the peel sensor 13 unless otherwise specified.

The discharge port 14 is a discharge port from which the mount 16 from which the label 15 has been peeled off by the peeling bar 12 is discharged.
The pinch roller P2 is disposed to face the transport roller R2.
The transport roller R2 is driven by a motor (not shown). The transport roller R2 is driven by a motor (not shown). The pinch roller P2 and the transport roller R2 transport the backing paper 16 from which the label 15 has been peeled.

Next, the configuration inside the second chamber S2 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a control device 400 and a power supply unit 500 are provided in the second chamber S2.
The control device 400 controls the operation of the entire printing device 100. For example, the control device 400 controls the transport of the label roll paper 1 by controlling the motors of the transport roller R1, the transport roller R2, and the platen roller PR. More specifically, the control device 400 controls the transport speed of the label roll paper 1 by controlling the motors of the transport roller R1, the transport roller R2, and the platen roller PR. Further, the control device 400 controls the thermal head 10 to print data to be printed (hereinafter, referred to as “print data”) on a label on the backing of the label roll paper 1.
The power supply unit 500 supplies power to the printing apparatus 100. A broken line 23 indicates a path through which data passes between the display unit 200 provided in the printing apparatus 100 and the control device 400. The broken line 24 indicates a path through which data passes between the control device 400 and the operation unit 300.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the control device 400.
The control device 400 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory, and an auxiliary storage device connected by a bus, and executes a control program. By executing the control program, the control device 400 functions as a device including the acquisition unit 41, the determination unit 42, the print data storage unit 43, and the control unit 44. Note that all or a part of each function of the control device 400 may be realized using hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). Further, the control program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium is, for example, a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, and a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. Further, the control program may be transmitted and received via an electric communication line.

The acquisition unit 41 acquires a detection result from the paper detection sensor 5 and the peeling sensor 13.
The determination unit 42 determines whether a label is detected based on the obtained detection result. For example, when the detection result includes information indicating that a label has been detected, the determination unit 42 determines that the label has been detected. On the other hand, when the detection result includes information indicating that no label is detected, the determination unit 42 determines that the label has not been detected.
The control unit 44 controls the printing device 100. The control unit 44 includes a transport control unit 441 and a print control unit 442.
The print data storage unit 43 is configured using a storage device such as a magnetic hard disk device or a semiconductor storage device. The print data storage unit 43 stores print data.

The transport control unit 441 controls the transport of the label roll paper 1. Specifically, the transport control unit 441 controls the transport speed of the label roll paper 1 by controlling the transport roller R1, the transport roller R2, and the platen roller PR. When a high-speed printing instruction is given, the transport control unit 441 first transports the label roll paper 1 at a low speed. Then, when it is determined that the label is detected according to the detection result of the peeling sensor 13, the transport control unit 441 transports the label roll paper 1 at a high speed. Here, the low speed is a speed equal to or lower than the transport speed set as the transport speed during normal printing of high-speed printing. Low speed is the speed at which the label can be peeled from the backing paper. For example, the low speed is 3 ips (inch per second) to 6 ips. More preferably, the low speed is the maximum speed at which the label can be peeled from the backing paper (6 ips in the above example). The high speed is a speed higher than the transport speed set as the transport speed during normal printing of high-speed printing. For example, the high speed is 10 ips.
The print control unit 442 controls the thermal head 10 to print the print data stored in the print data storage unit 43 on the label roll paper 1.

Next, a method of controlling the transport speed of the printing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams illustrating a method of controlling the transport speed of the printing apparatus 100. FIG.
First, when a high-speed printing instruction is given from the user, the printing apparatus 100 determines whether or not the label 15 peeled off by the peeling bar 12 (hereinafter, referred to as a “peeled label”) is detected. If no peeled label has been detected, the printing apparatus 100 starts printing. On the other hand, when the peeled label is detected, the printing apparatus 100 does not start printing. For example, in the case of the state illustrated in FIG. 5A, the printing apparatus 100 determines that the peeled-off label has not been detected. In this case, the transport control unit 441 controls the transport roller R1, the transport roller R2, and the platen roller PR to feed the label 15 back to the printing start position (FIG. 5B).

  When the label 15 is back-fed to the printing start position, the conveyance control unit 441 conveys the label 15 in the feed direction by controlling the conveyance rollers R1 and R2 and the platen roller PR. The feed direction is the direction of the outlet 14. At this time, the printing apparatus 100 performs printing while transporting the label 15 at a low speed. When it is determined that the label 15 has been detected according to the detection result of the peeling sensor 13 (FIG. 6A), the transport control unit 441 increases the transport speed of the label 15. Specifically, the transport control unit 441 accelerates the transport speed of the label 15 from a low speed to a high speed. The acceleration at this time is equal to or less than the threshold. Then, the printing apparatus 100 performs printing while accelerating, transports the label 15 to a preset peeling position, and stops the label 15 (FIG. 6B). The peeling position is a position where the rear portion of the label 15 remains on the peeling bar 12.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of the operation of the printing apparatus 100. The process of FIG. 7 is executed when a high-speed printing instruction is given.
The determination unit 42 determines whether an issued label has been detected (ACT 101). The determination as to whether the issued label has been detected is made based on the detection result obtained from the peeling sensor 13. For example, when the detection result obtained from the peeling sensor 13 includes information indicating that no label is detected, the determination unit 42 determines that the issued label has not been detected. On the other hand, when the detection result obtained from the peeling sensor 13 includes information indicating that a label has been detected, the determination unit 42 determines that an issued label has been detected.
When the issued label is detected (ACT 101: YES), the printing apparatus 100 ends the processing. On the other hand, when the issued label is not detected (ACT101: NO), the transport control unit 441 transports the label to the printing start position (ACT102).

Thereafter, the transport control unit 441 transports the label at a low speed in the feed direction (ACT103). The print control unit 442 performs printing on the label based on the print data stored in the print data storage unit 43 (ACT 104). The determination unit 42 determines whether a label is detected at the position of the peel sensor 13 based on the detection result output from the peel sensor 13 (ACT 105). The determination as to whether or not a label is detected at the position of the peeling sensor 13 is made based on the detection result obtained from the peeling sensor 13. For example, when the detection result obtained from the peeling sensor 13 includes information indicating that a label has been detected, the determination unit 42 determines that a label has been detected at the position of the peeling sensor 13. When the detection result obtained from the peeling sensor 13 includes information indicating that no label is detected, the determining unit 42 determines that the label is not detected at the position of the peeling sensor 13. If the label is not detected at the position of the peeling sensor 13 (ACT 105: NO), the printing apparatus 100 executes the processing after ACT 103.
On the other hand, when a label is detected at the position of the peeling sensor 13 (ACT105: YES), the transport control unit 441 accelerates the label transport speed from a low speed to a high speed (ACT106). Then, when the label is transported to the peeling position, the transport control unit 441 stops the transport (ACT 107).

According to the printing apparatus 100 configured as described above, it is possible to suppress the time required for issuing labels in high-speed printing. Hereinafter, this effect will be described in detail.
When the high-speed printing instruction is issued, the printing apparatus 100 conveys the backing paper to which the label is attached. When the peeling sensor 13 determines that the label has been detected, the printing apparatus 100 accelerates the transport speed of the mount. Therefore, the time required for printing the label in high-speed printing can be reduced. Further, the printing apparatus 100 accelerates the transport speed after the label is detected at the position of the peeling sensor 13. Therefore, the label can be peeled off more reliably than when printing is performed at a high speed from the start of printing.

Further, when an instruction for high-speed printing is given, the printing apparatus 100 transports the mount at a low speed from the start of the transport of the mount to the detection of the label. As a result, the label is conveyed at a low speed until the label is separated from the backing sheet. Therefore, the label can be more reliably peeled off.
Further, when accelerating the transport speed, the printing apparatus 100 does not accelerate from a low speed to a high speed, but gradually accelerates. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in print quality due to a change in the transport speed.

Hereinafter, a modified example of the printing apparatus 100 will be described.
In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the sheet is conveyed at a low speed until it is detected by the peeling sensor 13 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the transport control unit 441 may be configured to accelerate the transport speed from a low speed to a high speed when a label is transported by a predetermined distance from the start of printing.
In the present embodiment, a transmission type sensor has been described as an example of the peeling sensor 13, but another sensor may be used. For example, the peeling sensor 13 may be a reflection type sensor.

  According to at least one embodiment described above, a thermal head that prints on a label, a peeling sensor that detects a label peeled by a peeling bar that peels a printed label from a mount, and a peeling sensor that detects a label And a conveyance control unit for accelerating the conveyance speed of the backing paper when the detection is made. With the above configuration, it is possible to suppress the time required for issuing a label in high-speed peeling issuance.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are provided by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in other various forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Label roll paper, 2 ... Roll part, 3 ... Transport path, 4 ... Roll holding shaft, 5 ... Paper detection sensor, 6 ... Ink ribbon, 7 ... Ink ribbon supply axis, 8 ... Ink ribbon winding axis, 9 print head, 10 thermal head, 11 peeling unit, 12 peeling bar, 13 peeling sensor, 14 outlet, 15 label, 16 board, 100 printing device, 200 display unit, 300 display unit Operating unit, 400 control unit, 41 acquisition unit, 42 determination unit, 43 print data storage unit, 44 control unit, 441 transport control unit, 442 print control unit, 500 power supply unit

Claims (5)

A function of performing printing at a second printing speed higher than printing at the first printing speed;
A printing unit for printing on labels,
A sensor that detects a label peeled by a peeling bar that peels the label from the backing paper to which the label printed by the printing unit is attached,
When an instruction to perform printing at the second printing speed is given, and when the peeled label is detected by the sensor, the transport speed of the mount is set to a predetermined speed width in printing at the second printing speed. A transfer control unit that accelerates from a first transfer speed to a second transfer speed having a transfer speed higher than the first transfer speed ,
A printing device comprising: The transfer control unit, between the conveyance start of the previous SL mount until the label is detected, the conveying speed below which is set as the transportation speed at the time of printing of the normal printing by the second print speed first The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the mount is transported at a transport speed of one. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport control unit transports the mount at a maximum speed of the first transport speed from a start of the transport of the mount until the label is detected. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acceleration at the time of the acceleration is a value for accelerating stepwise from the first transport speed to the second transport speed . 5. A transport method in a printing apparatus having a function of performing printing at a first printing speed or printing at a second printing speed higher than the first printing speed,
A printing step for printing on the label;
A sensor for detecting a label peeled by a peeling bar that peels the label from the backing on which the label printed in the printing step is attached when an instruction to perform printing at the second printing speed is given; When the peeled label is detected, the transfer speed of the mount is changed from the first transfer speed having a predetermined speed width in the printing at the second printing speed to a transfer speed higher than the first transfer speed. A transport control step of accelerating to a second transport speed;
A transport method having:

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