JP6997503B2 - Printing unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing unit, and more particularly to a printing unit mounted on a printer linked with a packaging machine for printing on a packaging film.

In recent years, printing units have become widespread as an element of production equipment. For example, in the banding packaging device disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-74467), the print processing unit prints on the film supplied from the film supply unit, and the printed film is constant. It is cut at a pitch to form a long strip-shaped film piece in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and both ends thereof are wrapped around the bottom surface of the article.

In the print processing unit, the thermal head mounted downward comes into contact with the upper surface of the film, and predetermined printing is continuously performed on each heat-sensitive region of the traveling film.

However, since the band-wrapping device prints and cuts the film with the longitudinal direction of the band perpendicular to the film transport direction, the distance from the end of the film to the start of printing is short, and the thermal head is always used. Must be down.

The print processing unit prints by synchronizing the feed of the transfer ribbon with the feed of the film, but when there is a slight deviation between the feed of the film and the feed of the transfer ribbon, the film advances extra when the transfer ribbon is wound, which causes it. Looseness occurs after accumulating many times.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printing unit that does not cause slack in the film even when printing is performed by synchronizing the feeding of the transfer ribbon with the feeding of the film.

The printing unit according to the first aspect of the present invention is a printing unit that prints on a printed matter by bringing a thermal ribbon into contact with the printed matter, and includes a printed matter feeding mechanism, a force applying mechanism, and a thermal ribbon. , A ribbon feed mechanism, a thermal head, and a head state switching mechanism are provided. The printed matter feeding mechanism is located at least downstream of the platen roller and feeds the printed matter on the platen roller toward the downstream side . The force applying mechanism is located on the upstream side of the platen roller and pulls the printed matter on the platen roller toward the upstream side . The thermal ribbon has a contact surface that can come into contact with the printed surface of the object to be printed. The ribbon feed mechanism feeds the thermal ribbon in conjunction with the transport of the printed matter. The thermal head takes either a first state in which the contact surface of the thermal ribbon is pressed against the printed object on the platen roller , or a second state in which the contact surface of the thermal ribbon is separated from the printed object. The head state switching mechanism sets the thermal head in the first state when printing on the object to be printed, and sets the thermal head in the second state when printing is not performed. The force applying mechanism has a movable roller that applies tension to the printed object by moving in the vertical direction, and when the thermal head is switched from the first state to the second state, the movable roller moves vertically. By moving in the direction and applying tension to the printed matter, the printed matter on the platen roller is pulled upstream .

In this printing unit, the printed matter is slackened due to the "deviation" that occurs between the feed amount of the printed matter and the feed amount of the thermal ribbon, but the thermal head covers the contact surface of the thermal ribbon after printing. By entering the second state of separating from the printed matter, the printed matter is pulled in the direction opposite to the feeding direction by the force applying mechanism, so that the above-mentioned "deviation" is eliminated. As a result, it is possible to prevent the printed matter from loosening.

The printing unit according to the second aspect of the present invention is the printing unit according to the first aspect, and further includes a control unit for controlling the head state switching mechanism. The control unit puts the thermal head in the second state each time the ribbon feed mechanism feeds the thermal ribbon or periodically.

In this printing unit, by setting the thermal head to the second state every time the thermal ribbon is sent out or periodically, the above-mentioned "deviation" is eliminated each time printing is performed or periodically, so that the "deviation" is accumulated. Is prevented, and slackening of the printed matter can be prevented.

The printing unit according to the third aspect of the present invention is the printing unit according to the second aspect, and the control unit switches the thermal head to a third state different from both the first state and the second state when the operation is stopped.

In this printing unit, the third state taken when the operation is stopped can be set as the original position, so even if the control unit cannot grasp the position of the thermal head immediately after the power is turned on or when returning after an abnormal stop, the third state can be set. By returning to the third state, the control unit can shift to the first state or the second state with reference to the original position of the thermal head.

The printing unit according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is a printing unit according to any one of the first to third aspects, and the printed matter is a film. The print feed mechanism includes a plurality of rollers that support and feed the film on the upstream side and the downstream side of the thermal head and the platen roller , one of which has a drive unit.

The printing unit according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is the printing unit according to the fourth aspect, and the film is cut on the downstream side of the platen roller in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the film .

In this printing unit, the direction orthogonal to the film transport direction is the longitudinal direction of the film, the printing start position is shortened from the film edge, and the printing cycle can be shortened, but on the other hand, the feed amount of the film and the feed amount of the thermal ribbon The "deviation" that occurs between the two is likely to accumulate, but in such a case, the second state that eliminates the "deviation" that occurs between the feed amount of the film and the feed amount of the thermal ribbon becomes useful.

The printing unit according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is the printing unit according to the first aspect or the second aspect, and the head state switching mechanism moves the thermal head up and down by using the stepping motor as a drive source.

In this printing unit, the stepping motor can control the amount of rotation by the number of input pulses, and the order of signal input to the pulse input modes (for example, 4 terminals A, B, C, D is A → B → C). Since forward / reverse rotation is possible depending on the mode of → D and the mode of D → C → B → A), the position detection sensor or position detection switch is located at each position of the first state and the second state of the thermal head. It is not necessary to provide a unit, and it is possible to reduce the size and cost of the unit. Further, since the stepping motor can be controlled by the number of pulses, it is possible to finely and accurately adjust the timing of printing by lowering the thermal head and contacting the film to be conveyed to a desired position.

In the printing unit according to the present invention, the film is loosened due to the "deviation" that occurs between the feed amount of the film and the feed amount of the thermal ribbon. However, after printing, the thermal head removes the contact surface of the thermal ribbon from the film. In the second state of separation, the film is pulled in the direction opposite to the feeding direction by the force applying mechanism, so that the above-mentioned "displacement" is eliminated. As a result, it is possible to prevent the film from loosening.

The schematic block diagram up to the said printing unit of the band wrapping apparatus including the printing unit which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. A table showing the status of the thermal head by position. The control block diagram of the printing unit. A table showing the number of input pulses to the head vertical movement motor required to reach each position. The control flowchart of the print unit. Operation time chart of the printing unit. The operation time chart of the printing unit which concerns on the 1st modification. The operation time chart of the printing unit which concerns on the 2nd modification.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are specific examples of the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

(1) Schematic configuration of a banding packaging device including a printing unit FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a banding packaging device including a printing unit 70 according to an embodiment of the present invention up to the printing unit 70. In FIG. 1, the banding packaging device includes a film feeding mechanism 40, a force applying mechanism 50, an encoder 60, and a printing unit 70. Further, in the banding packaging device, an article transporting device and a film piece forming similar to the banding packaging device of Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-74467) are formed on the downstream side of the printing unit 70 in the feeding direction of the film F. A unit, a film piece transport mechanism, a film piece pressing mechanism, and a film piece attaching mechanism are further provided, but since they are described in Patent Document 1, they are collectively referred to as downstream equipment M, and the description thereof is omitted here. Then, only the film feeding mechanism 40, the force applying mechanism 50, the encoder 60, and the printing unit 70 will be described.

(1-1) Film feed mechanism 40
The film feeding mechanism 40 feeds a continuous wide film F. The film feed mechanism 40 has a film roll R in which a film is wound around a shaft 41, and a motor 43 for rotationally driving the shaft 41.

(1-2) Force applying mechanism 50
The force applying mechanism 50 has a movable roller 51 that can move in the vertical direction and a fixed roller 52 that does not move in the vertical direction. The film F is guided vertically downward and hung on the movable roller 51, and this time is guided vertically upward and hung on the fixed roller 52. The film F hung on the fixed roller 52 is guided substantially horizontally toward the printing unit 70.

The movable roller 51 is pulled vertically downward by releasing the spring 51a so that an appropriate tension acts on the film F. A weight may be used instead of the spring 51a that exerts tension on the film F.

(1-3) Encoder 60
The encoder 60 detects the presence or absence of the feed operation of the film F. The detection signal of the encoder 60 becomes a trigger signal for winding operation and winding stop of the thermal ribbon TR by the printing unit 70 described later.

(1-4) Printing unit 70
The printing unit 70 includes a thermal head 71, a platen roller 72, a thermal ribbon TR, a ribbon feed mechanism 73, a head state switching mechanism 74, and a control unit 75 (see FIG. 3).

The printing unit 70 brings the thermal head 71 into contact with the upper surface of the film F in order to print various information on the article at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the film F, and performs predetermined printing on a predetermined area of the traveling film F. Hereinafter, the configuration of the print unit 70 will be described.

(2) Configuration of the Printing Unit 70 As shown in FIG. 1, in the printing unit 70, the thermal head 71 and the platen roller 72 form a gap through which the film F is conveyed, and the film F is formed between the thermal head 71 and the platen roller 72. The platen roller 72 is rotated to convey the film in the gap while being sandwiched between the film and the platen roller 72.

In this transfer process, the thermal head 71 heats a necessary heating element among a plurality of heating elements (not shown) to melt the ink applied to the thermal ribbon TR, and places the ink on the upper surface of the film F at a predetermined position. Prints preset information such as date, product name, and raw materials.

The printed film F is further conveyed to the downstream side via the feed rollers 81 and 82 of the downstream side equipment M.

(2-1) Thermal head 71
The thermal head 71 is arranged so as to face the platen roller 72. The longitudinal direction of the thermal head 71 is parallel to the axial direction of the platen roller 72. The thermal head 71 prints on the film F conveyed in the gap between the platen roller 72 and the platen roller 72.

Further, the thermal head 71 is urged toward the platen roller 72 by an urging member (not shown).

(2-2) Platen roller 72
The platen roller 72 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a support shaft 72a is inserted into the hollow portion thereof and fixed to the support shaft 72a. Both ends of the support shaft 72a project from the platen roller 72, and these protruding portions are referred to as a shaft portion 72b. The shaft portion 72b is rotatably supported.

The shaft portion 72b is connected to a motor (not shown), and when the motor rotates, the support shaft 72a rotates, and the platen roller 72 also rotates.

(2-3) Thermal Ribbon TR and Ribbon Feed Mechanism 73
The thermal ribbon TR is hung on the thermal head 71. The thermal ribbon TR is sent out by the ribbon feeding mechanism 73. The ribbon feeding mechanism 73 has a ribbon feeding core 73a, a ribbon winding core 73b, and a tension adjusting roller 73c.

In appearance, the thermal ribbon TR is supported in a state where both ends thereof are wound by the ribbon sending core 73a and the ribbon winding core 73b. The unused side of the thermal ribbon TR is wound around the ribbon feeding core 73a, and the used side of the thermal ribbon TR is wound around the ribbon winding core 73b.

A ribbon winding motor 731 is connected to the shaft of the ribbon winding core 73b, and when the ribbon winding motor 731 rotates, the ribbon winding core 73b rotates to wind the thermal ribbon TR, and the thermal ribbon TR is wound. The feed operation is performed.

The tension adjusting roller 73c adjusts the tension of the thermal ribbon TR by pushing the thermal ribbon TR spanned between the thermal head 71 and the ribbon winding core 73b to the outside.

(2-4) Head state switching mechanism 74
The head state switching mechanism 74 is a mechanism for moving the thermal head 71 up and down. The head state switching mechanism 74 has a shaft 74a connected to a corner of the thermal head 71, and a head vertical movement motor 741 for rotating the shaft 74a. The head state switching mechanism 74 can move the thermal head 71 to three positions by inputting a preset number of pulses to the head vertical movement motor 741.

FIG. 2 is a table showing the states of the thermal head 71 for each position. In FIG. 2, the first position P1 is a position where the contact surface of the thermal ribbon TR is pressed against the film F. The state in which the thermal head 71 is in the first position P1 is referred to as the first state.

The second position P2 is a position in which the contact surface of the thermal ribbon TR is separated from the film F by a predetermined distance. The state in which the thermal head 71 is in the second position P2 is called the second state.

The third position is the origin when the head vertical movement motor 741 moves the thermal head 71 to a predetermined position, and is called the home position P0. Whether or not the thermal head 71 is in the home position P0 is detected by the in-situ sensor 711. The state of the thermal head 71 in the home position P0 is called the third state.

(2-5) Control unit 75
FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the print unit 70. In FIG. 3, the control unit 75 is connected to the encoder 60, the in-situ sensor 711, the ribbon winding motor 731 of the ribbon feed mechanism 73, and the head vertical movement motor 741 of the head state switching mechanism 74.

The encoder 60 detects the start and stop of the transport of the film F, and sends the detection signal to the control unit 75. The control unit 75 drives and stops the ribbon winding motor 731 based on the detection signal from the encoder 60, and controls the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the head vertical movement motor 741.

The head vertical movement motor 741 can rotate forward and backward. In the present embodiment, when the axis 74a shown in FIG. 1 is viewed from the front, the rotation of the axis 74a in the clockwise direction (CW) is regarded as normal rotation, and the axis 74a rotates in the counterclockwise direction (CCW). That is the reversal.

Since the head vertical movement motor 741 is a stepping motor, the control unit 75 is set in advance with a necessary and sufficient number of pulses to be input to the stepping motor in order to move to each position.

FIG. 4 is a table showing the number of input pulses to the head vertical movement motor 741 required to reach each position. In FIG. 4, when the thermal head 71 is in the home position P0, the control unit 75 inputs the number of pulses X to the head vertical movement motor 741 in the normal rotation mode, so that the thermal head 71 is lowered and the predetermined first position P1. Move to.

Further, when the thermal head 71 is in the first position P1, the control unit 75 inputs the pulse number Y to the head vertical movement motor 741 in the reverse mode, so that the thermal head 71 rises and moves to a predetermined second position P2. do.

Further, when the thermal head 71 is in the first position P1, the control unit 75 inputs the pulse number Z to the head vertical movement motor 741 in the reverse mode, so that the thermal head 71 moves to the home position P0. The pulse number Z is set to be slightly larger than the pulse number X that causes the thermal head 71 to reach the home position P0 from the first position P1.

The thermal head 71 that has reached the home position P0 is detected by the in-situ sensor 711. Based on the detection signal of the in-situ sensor 711, the control unit 75 determines that the thermal head 71 has reached the home position P0, and even if the number of input pulses does not reach the pulse number Z, the head vertical movement motor 741 is supplied. The pulse input is stopped, and the movement of the thermal head 71 is completed.

Further, when the thermal head 71 is in the second position P2, the control unit 75 moves the thermal head 71 to the first position P1 by inputting the pulse number Y + α to the head vertical movement motor 741 in the reverse mode.

Theoretically, it is possible to move from the second position P2 to the first position P1 by inputting the same number of pulses as the number of pulses Y required to move from the first position P1 to the second position P2 in the normal rotation mode. can.

However, in reality, an error occurs, so by inputting a pulse number Y + α slightly larger than the pulse number Y in the normal rotation mode, the thermal head 71 surely reaches the first position P1 and the contact surface of the thermal ribbon TR is reached. Can be pressed against the film F.

Since the head vertical movement motor 741 is driven until the thermal head 71 reaches the first position P1 and the remaining number of pulses is exhausted, the thermal head 71 pushes the contact surface of the thermal ribbon TR against the film F during that time. Although it will be continued, since the pushing force relaxing means (not shown) using a spring or the like is provided between the head vertical movement motor 741 and the shaft 74a, the contact surface of the thermal ribbon TR is within the allowable range. It is pressed against the film F by force.

(3) Operation Here, the operation of the print unit 70 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a control flowchart of the print unit 70. Further, FIG. 6 is an operation time chart of the print unit 70.

(Step S1)
First, the control unit 75 determines whether or not the thermal head 71 is in the home position P0, and when it is determined that the thermal head 71 is in the home position P0, the process proceeds to step S2, and the thermal head 71 is not in the home position P0. When it is determined, the process proceeds to step S11.

(Step S2)
Next, the control unit 75 moves the thermal head 71 to the first position P1 in step S2. The control unit 75 inputs the number of pulses X to the head vertical movement motor 741 in the normal rotation mode, so that the thermal head 71 moves to a predetermined first position P1.

(Step S3)
Next, in step S3, the control unit 75 determines whether or not the transfer of the film F has started. As shown in FIG. 6, the movement of the film F can be detected by the encoder 60. The Lo signal is output from the encoder 60 while the film F is stopped, and the Hi signal is output from the encoder 60 while the film F is moving.

Therefore, the control unit 75 can determine that the transfer of the film F has started at the time when the signal from the encoder 60 is switched from Lo to Hi. When it is determined that the transfer of the film F has started, the control unit 75 proceeds to step S2, and when it determines that the transfer of the film F has not started, the control unit 75 continues to monitor the signal from the encoder 60.

(Step S4)
Next, the control unit 75 starts the feed operation of the thermal ribbon TR in step S4. The control unit 75 drives the ribbon take-up motor 731 with the signal from the encoder 60 switched from Lo to Hi as a trigger (see FIG. 6).

(Step S5)
Next, in step S5, the control unit 75 determines whether or not the transfer of the film F has been stopped. As described above, when the film F is stopped, the Lo signal is output from the encoder 60, and when the film F is moving, the Hi signal is output from the encoder 60. Therefore, the control unit 75 is output from the encoder 60. It can be determined that the transfer of the film F is stopped when the signal is switched from Hi to Lo. When it is determined that the transfer of the film F has been stopped, the control unit 75 proceeds to step S6, and when it is determined that the transfer of the film F has not been stopped, the control unit 75 continues to monitor the signal from the encoder 60.

(Step S6)
Next, in step S6, the control unit 75 stops the feeding operation of the thermal ribbon TR. The control unit 75 stops the ribbon winding motor 731 triggered by the switching of the signal from the encoder 60 from Hi to Lo (see FIG. 6).

(Step S7)
Next, the control unit 75 moves the thermal head 71 to the second position P2 in step S7. When the control unit 75 inputs only the Y pulse to the head vertical movement motor 741 in the reverse mode, the thermal head 71 moves to a predetermined second position P2.

At this time, since the contact surface of the thermal ribbon TR does not press the film F against the platen roller 72, an appropriate tension acts on the film F due to the weight of the movable roller 51 and the spring 51a, and the film F is downstream from the platen roller 72 in the transport direction. The slackening of the film F caused in the above is eliminated.

(Step S8)
Next, the control unit 75 determines in step S8 whether or not there is an operation stop command. This is because the operator may stop the equipment (the banding packaging device including the printing unit 70) at the timing when the previous printing is completed, or may issue an operation stop command due to an equipment abnormality.

The control unit 75 proceeds to step S9 when it is determined that there is an operation stop command, and proceeds to step S10 when it is determined that there is no operation stop command.

(Step S9)
Next, the control unit 75 moves the thermal head 71 to the home position P0 in step S9. The control unit 75 inputs the number of pulses Z to the head up / down movement motor 741 in the reverse mode, waits for the input of the detection signal from the in-situ sensor 711, and ends the input of the pulse to the head up / down movement motor 741.

(Step S10)
On the other hand, when the control unit 75 determines that there is no operation stop command in the previous step S9 and proceeds to step S10, the control unit 75 moves the thermal head 71 to the first position P1 in step S10. Then, the control unit 75 returns to step S3 after the processing of step S10.

(Step S11)
When the control unit 75 determines in the first step S1 that the thermal head 71 is not in the home position P0 and proceeds to step S11, the control unit 75 moves the thermal head 71 to the home position P0 in step S11. do.

For example, if the banding packaging device including the printing unit 70 is forcibly stopped due to an abnormality, it is highly possible that the thermal head 71 is stopped at a position other than the home position P0, so that the thermal head 71 is uniformly thermal after the power is turned on. The head 71 is moved to the home position P0.

The control unit 75 inputs the number of pulses Z to the head vertical movement motor 741 in the reverse mode to move the thermal head 71. The control unit 75 determines that the home position P0 has been reached based on the detection signal of the in-situ sensor 711, and even if the input of the pulse number Z to the head vertical movement motor 741 has not been completed, the head vertical movement motor The pulse input to 741 is stopped.

As described above, the control unit 75 controls based on the flow from step S1 to step S11, so that the thermal head 71 is moved up and down each time the printing unit 70 prints, and the thermal head 71 becomes a film. Since it gives an opportunity to move away from F, proper tension is applied to the film F, and the cause of slack is eliminated.

(4) Features (4-1)
In the printing unit 70, the film F is loosened due to the “deviation” that occurs between the feed amount of the film F and the feed amount of the thermal ribbon TR, but the thermal head 71 touches the contact surface of the thermal ribbon TR after printing. By entering the second state of separating from the film F, the film F is pulled in the direction opposite to the feed direction by the force applying mechanism 50, so that the above-mentioned "displacement" is eliminated. As a result, it is possible to prevent the film F from loosening.

(4-2)
In the printing unit 70, the above-mentioned "misalignment" is eliminated each time the thermal ribbon TR is sent out or by periodically setting the thermal head 71 to the second state, so that the "misalignment" is eliminated. Since the accumulation of the film F is prevented, it is possible to prevent the film F from loosening.

(4-3)
In the printing unit 70, the force applying mechanism 50 exerts a tension on the film F in the direction opposite to the feeding direction, so that the occurrence of slack in the film F is suppressed, but the contact between the thermal ribbon TR and the film F is suppressed. Since the pressing force acts on the film F from the thermal ribbon TR side by the thermal head 71, the influence of the tension by the force applying mechanism 50 is weakened, and the feed amount of the thermal ribbon TR reduces the feed amount of the film F. "Deviation" occurs by the amount that exceeds. Therefore, it is technically significant to put the thermal head 71 in the second state and separate the contact surface of the thermal ribbon TR from the film F.

(4-4)
Since the printing unit 70 can detect whether or not the film F is being sent by the encoder 60, the control unit 75 receives the detection signal of the encoder 60 from immediately before the start of printing to the end of printing, and from the end of printing to the start of printing. Can be grasped.

(4-5)
In the print unit 70, the third state taken when the operation is stopped can be set as the origin position, so that even if the control unit 75 cannot grasp the position of the thermal head 71 immediately after the power is turned on or when returning after an abnormal stop. By returning to the third state, the control unit 75 can shift to the first state or the second state with reference to the original position of the thermal head 71.

(4-6)
In the printing unit 70, the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the film F is the longitudinal direction of the film F, and the printing start position is shortened from the film edge. In this case, the feed amount of the film F and the feed of the thermal ribbon TR are reduced. A second state that eliminates the "deviation" that occurs between the quantity and the amount is useful.

(4-7)
In the printing unit 70, the head vertical movement motor 741 is a stepping motor, and the amount of rotation can be controlled by the number of input pulses, and forward / reverse rotation is possible depending on the pulse input pattern (mode). It is not necessary to provide a position detection sensor or a position detection switch at each position of the first state and the second state, and the unit can be miniaturized and the cost can be reduced.

(5) Modification Example As shown in FIG. 6, in the above embodiment, the thermal head 71 is substantially changed from the first state to the second state immediately after the printing is completed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and [transition from the first state to the second state and transition from the second state to the first state] is controlledly performed until the next printing is started. You just have to get it.

(5-1) First Modification Example FIG. 7 is an operation time chart of the printing unit 70 according to the first modification. In FIG. 7, [transition from the first state to the second state and transition from the second state to the first state] of the thermal head 71 is performed in the middle region of the section from immediately after printing to the start of the next printing. ..

(5-2) Second Modified Example On the other hand, FIG. 8 shows an operation time chart of the print unit 70 according to the second modified example. In FIG. 8, the thermal head 71 [shifts from the first state to the second state]. ] And [Transition from the second state to the first state] are both performed in the section from immediately after printing to the start of the next printing, but [Transition from the first state to the second state] and [Transition from the second state to the second state]. A waiting time may be provided between the transition to one state].

(6) Other embodiments (6-1)
In the above embodiment, the control unit 75 moves the thermal head 71 up and down each time the printing unit 70 prints, giving the thermal head 71 an opportunity to move away from the film F, but moves the thermal head 71 up and down. It is not always necessary to perform the operation of making the film F each time printing is performed, and even if the operation is performed periodically, an appropriate tension is applied to the film F, and the cause of slack can be eliminated.

(6-2)
Further, in the above embodiment, the control unit 75 controls the drive of the ribbon winding motor 731 by using the detection signal of the encoder 60 as a trigger, but the film F is from the banding packaging device side on which the printing unit 70 is mounted. The drive of the ribbon take-up motor 731 may be controlled by obtaining a periodic pulse of the feed operation.

(6-3)
Further, in the above embodiment, it is possible to determine that the film F has started to be conveyed at the time when the signal from the encoder 60 is switched from Lo to Hi, but every time the signal from the encoder 60 rotates by a certain angle or more. By detecting that the pulse signal is turned on and off and the on / off signal is started, it may be determined that the transfer of the film F is started.

(6-4)
Further, in the above embodiment, it is particularly effective when the longitudinal direction is cut into a strip shape orthogonal to the film feed direction, but the present invention is carried out when the lateral direction is cut into a strip shape orthogonal to the film feed direction. You may.

(6-5)
Further, in the above embodiment, the thermal head is moved up and down by a stepping motor, but another type of motor such as an AC servo motor and a brushless motor, a cylinder using an air source, and the like are used to move the thermal head 71 up and down. May be used for.

40 Film feed mechanism 50 Force application mechanism 60 Encoder 70 Printing unit 71 Thermal head 73 Ribbon feed mechanism 74 Head state switching mechanism 741 Head vertical movement motor (stepping motor)
75 Control unit F film TR thermal ribbon

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-74467

Claims (6)

A printing unit that prints on the printed matter by bringing the printed matter and the thermal ribbon into contact with each other on a platen roller .
A printed matter feeding mechanism located at least on the downstream side of the platen roller and feeding the printed matter on the platen roller toward the downstream side.
A force applying mechanism located on the upstream side of the platen roller and pulling the printed matter on the platen roller toward the upstream .
A thermal ribbon having a contact surface that can come into contact with the printed surface of the printed object,
A ribbon feed mechanism that feeds the thermal ribbon in conjunction with the transport of the printed object,
A thermal that takes either a first state in which the contact surface of the thermal ribbon is pressed against the printed object on the platen roller , or a second state in which the contact surface of the thermal ribbon is separated from the printed object. With the head
A head state switching mechanism that puts the thermal head in the first state when printing on the object to be printed, and puts the thermal head in the second state when printing is not performed.
Equipped with
The force applying mechanism has a movable roller that applies tension to the printed object by moving in the vertical direction, and when the thermal head is switched from the first state to the second state, the force applying mechanism is described . The movable roller moves in the vertical direction and applies tension to the printed object to pull the printed object on the platen roller toward the upstream .
Printing unit. A control unit for controlling the head state switching mechanism is further provided.
The control unit puts the thermal head in the second state every time the ribbon feeding mechanism sends out the thermal ribbon or periodically.
The printing unit according to claim 1. The control unit switches the thermal head to a third state different from both the first state and the second state when the operation is stopped.
The printing unit according to claim 2 . The printed matter is a film.
The printed matter feeding mechanism includes a plurality of rollers that support and feed the film on the upstream side and the downstream side of the thermal head and the platen roller , one of which has a drive unit.
The printing unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . The film is cut on the downstream side of the platen roller in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the film.
The printing unit according to claim 4 . The head state switching mechanism moves the thermal head up and down using a stepping motor as a drive source.
The printing unit according to claim 1 or 2 .

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