JPH01152081A - Tag printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To maintain high printing quality and improve working efficiency when changing the kind of tag by providing a guide mechanism of variable length which selectively increases the flexibility of the length of printing paper existing in a transport path from the first printing to the second printer. CONSTITUTION:Printing paper 4 is fed at a constant speed in a loose condition by two paper feed rollers 5a, 7a within a variable length guide mechanism 14. Consequently, each data with a prearranged width is printed at a prearranged position on the both surfaces of tag 1. Printing paper 4 with data printed in a prearranged width on the both surfaces is cut at the position of a cut part 16 using a cutter 8 and then is formed into a tag 1 with a prearranged width W. These tags are accumulated in a stacker 9. A tag printing device of the above constitution allows the length of printing paper 4 existing between printers 5c, 7c to be automatically set to the integral multiple of a tag width(W) by adjustment of the slackness value of the paper in the variable length guide mechanism 14. As a result, the relative positions of printing devices 5, 7 need not be changed, if the tag width(W) is changed in accordance with a change of the kind of tag.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a tag printing device that prints data such as product name and selling price on both sides of a tag (price tag) attached to clothing or the like at the time of sale.

[Prior Art] Generally, strip-shaped tags 1 as shown in FIG. 4 are attached to clothing items lined up at stores. This tag 1 includes product name 1 product number, size, list price, manufacturing company name (sales company name) 1
Various data for identifying this product, such as a bar code indicating information such as color and selling price, is printed on both sides. Further, a string 2 for attaching the tag 1 to clothing is attached near one edge of the tag 1, and a through hole 3 is separately provided through which the string is passed.

In order to produce such tags 1 in large quantities, as shown in FIG. Install 2. Then, the printing paper 4 is wound into a roll.

This rolled printing paper 4 is set in a tag printing device shown in FIG. The printing paper 4 wound into a roll set in this tag printing device is first transferred to a paper feed roller 5a, a platen roller 5b and a back side printer 5.
The data on the back side of the tag 1 shown in FIG. 4(b) is printed by the back side printing device 5 consisting of C. Next, the data on the front surface of the tag 1 shown in FIG. It will be printed. The printing paper 4 on which designated data is printed on both sides is cut into the above-mentioned predetermined width W by a cutter 8 to become a tag 1, which is stored in a stacker 9.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the tag printing device configured as shown in FIG. 6 has the following problems. That is, in one tag 1, the printing position on the front side and the printing position on the back side must match accurately. Therefore, it is necessary for the front side printer 7c to print data on the front side by aligning to the printing position where data has already been printed on the back side.
It is necessary to set the distance ML between the tag width W and the tag width W to an integral multiple of the tag width W. Therefore, when the type of tag 1 is changed and the tag width W is changed, the back side printing device @5 and the front side printing device @7 are changed each time.
It is necessary to adjust the relative position. This printing device5.
The work of moving the position of 7 is very complicated, and if the tag width W is changed frequently, the work efficiency will be significantly reduced.

In addition, it is difficult to make accurate adjustments, so even if tags with the same specifications are printed, if a tag with a different specification is printed in between and the distance between both printing devices 5 and 7 is reset, the distance between the two printing devices 5 and 7 will be accurately adjusted. It is difficult to set the distance, and as a result, the quality for tag 1 deteriorates.

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and its purpose is to adjust the distance between printers by printing with the printing paper between the printers in a relaxed state. To provide a tag printing device capable of printing tags of different widths without having to do so, and greatly improving work efficiency when changing tag types while maintaining high printing quality.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a method for providing a predetermined width on one side of the printing paper along the conveyance path of the printing paper supplied from a paper supply unit that stores the printing paper wound in a roll. A first printer that sequentially prints data of a predetermined width on the other side of the printing paper on which data of a predetermined width is sequentially printed by the first printer, and a print position of the data of a predetermined width on the other side of the printing paper and a printing position of the already printed data on one side. In the tag printing device, the first printer is equipped with a second printer that sequentially prints data according to the size of the tag, and a cutter that cuts the printing paper on which data of a predetermined width is printed on both sides into tags of a predetermined width. A variable length guide structure is provided to selectively increase the degree of freedom in the length of the printing paper present on the conveyance path from the printer to the second printer.

[Operation] With the tag printing device configured in this manner, the degree of freedom in the length of the printing paper existing between the first printer and the second printer is selectively increased by the variable length guide mechanism.

Therefore, if the degree of freedom in the variable length kite structure is increased with the printing paper set between the first printer and the second printer, the printing paper will become loose between the two printers. Therefore, when the tag type is changed and the tag width W changes, the length of the printing paper existing between both printers is automatically adjusted by the amount of slack so that it becomes an integral multiple of the tag width W. Therefore, there is no need to perform positional adjustment between printers when exchanging tag types.

Furthermore, when setting a new sheet of paper, if the degree of freedom in the variable length kite mechanism is set to a small value, the conveyance path of the print sheet will be narrowed and the leading edge of the print sheet will be smoothly guided to the second printer. Therefore, the initial setting work of printing paper accompanying tag type exchange becomes easy.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

Note that the same parts as in FIGS. 4 to 6 are given the same reference numerals.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the tag printing device of the embodiment with the side cover removed. A reel 12 as a paper supply unit is attached to the upper left end of the case 11.
A printing paper 4 wound into a roll is set. The printing paper 4 supplied from the reel 12 is transferred to the carry-in roller 1
3 into the case 11, data of a predetermined width is printed on the back side by a back side printer 5c as a first printer, and data of a predetermined width is printed on the front side via a variable length guide mechanism 14 by a front side printer 7c as a second printer. Width data is printed.

Thereafter, the tag is cut into a preset tag width W by a cutter 8 and stored in a stacker 9 as a tag 1.

Note that an operation panel 15 is provided on the upper surface of the case 11.

FIG. 3 is a developed view showing the printing paper 4. As shown in FIG. Similarly to FIG. 5, strings 2 are attached and through holes 3 are drilled for each tag width W, and U-shaped notches 16 are formed on both edges of the printing paper 4 to indicate the separation of the tags 1. has been done. Then, it is cut by a cutter 8 along the dotted line.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a conveyance path for printing paper 4. As shown in FIG. That is, the conveyance path of the printing paper 4 supplied from the reel 12 includes the carry-in roller 13, the first position sensor 17, the platen roller 5b, the l-side printer 5c, the paper feed row 55a, the variable length guide mechanism 14, and the second position sensor 17. A sensor 18, a front side printer 7c, a platen roller 7b, a paper feed roller 7a, a cutter 8, a stacker 9, etc. are provided.

Each of the rollers 13.5a, 7a and each printer 5c, 7c
The roller spacing can be opened and closed by external commands. Further, each paper feed roller 5a, 7a is driven by a motor, and the rotation speed is always the same.

Further, the first position sensor 17 and the second position sensor 18 have the same configuration, and are composed of a light emitting diode and a phototransistor. It is arranged on the U-shaped notch 16 side of the printing paper 4 in the conveyance path, and when the printing paper 4 blocks the light, the signal level becomes H (high) level, and the leading edge of the printing paper 4 has not yet arrived. If not, or if it is located at each notch 16, the level is L (low). In this embodiment, the rising operation of the signal level from the L level to the H level is used as the timing for detecting the leading edge of the printing paper 4 or the notch 16.

As shown, the variable length guide mechanism 14 includes an arc-shaped fixed guide 14a located above the conveyance path and an arc-shaped movable kite 14b located below. In response to an external command, the movable guide 14b can be lowered in the direction of the arrow to the position shown by the dotted line.

Next, a procedure for setting a new printing paper 4 in the tag printing apparatus configured as described above by exchanging the tag type or the like will be explained.

First, each printing device has 5.7 paper feed rollers 5a.

7a and each printer 5c, 7c are opened.

Moreover, the movable guide 14b of the variable length guide mechanism 14 is
Raise it to the normal position shown by the solid line in the figure.

When the movable guide 14b is located at the normal position shown by the solid line, the width of the conveyance path for the print paper 4 formed by the gap between the fixed guide 14a and the movable guide 14b becomes narrower, and the back side of the print paper 4 is transferred to the printer 5c. The degree of freedom in the length of the printing paper that exists between the front side printer 7c and the front side printer 7c is reduced.

As a result, the print paper exit of the variable length guide mechanism 14 is
Its area becomes smaller and faces the second position sensor 18.

In this state, the printing paper 4 wound into a roll is set on the reel 12, and the leading edge of the printing paper 4 is placed on the carry-in roller 13.
When the printing paper 4 is inserted into the case 11 and the carrying-in roller 13 is activated, the leading edge of the printing paper 4 is guided into the case 11. Then, the leading edge of the printing paper 4 is detected by the first position sensor 17, and when it is fed a predetermined distance from the detection point and reaches the paper feeding roller 5a of the back printing device 5, the carry-in O-roller 13 stops. .

Then, the paper feed roller 5a and the back side printer 5c are closed, and the carry-in roller 13 is opened. As a result, the printing paper 14 is sequentially fed by the paper feed roller 5a instead of the carry-in roller 13. Then, the leading end of the printing paper 4 is sent between the narrowed fixed guide 14a and movable guide 14b of the variable length guide mechanism 14 by the paper feed roller 5a.

Then, the tip is detected by the second position sensor 18,
When it reaches the paper feed roller 7a position of the front side printing device 7 after passing a predetermined distance, the paper feed roller 5a of the back side printing device 5 stops, and the paper feed roller 7a of the front side printing device @7 and the front side printer 7c are closed.

Subsequently, the movable guide 14b of the variable length guide mechanism 14 is moved to the lower position shown by the dotted line in the figure.

When the movable guide 14b of the variable length guide mechanism 14 is lowered to the dotted line position, the fixed guide 14a and the movable guide 14b
The width of the transport path formed between the two printers 5c and 7c increases, and the degree of freedom in determining the length of the printing paper 4 that exists between both printers 5c and 7c increases.

In this state, in the front surface printing device 7, the second position sensor 18 detects the notch 16 in the printing paper 4, and then feeds a fixed distance to bring it to the position required to start printing determined by the tag width W. , stops the paper feed roller 7a. At the same time, in the back printing device 5, first,
The printing paper 4 is fed by the tag width W, and then the first position sensor 1
At step 7, the notch 16 in the printing paper 4 is detected and the printing paper 4 is fed by a fixed distance to bring it to the position required to start printing determined by the tag width W.

Therefore, the printing paper 4 becomes loose within the range of the conveyance path formed between the fixed guide 14a and the movable guide 14b, as shown by the broken line in FIG. Moreover, in this case, each printer 5c.

The length of the printing paper 4 existing between 70 and 70 is automatically adjusted to be an integral multiple of the tag width W.

Therefore, from now on, the printing paper 4 is fed at the same speed by both paper feed rows 55a and 7a in a relaxed state within the variable length guide mechanism 14. In each printing device 5.7, each printer 5c, 7c is activated according to each print information. Therefore, each data of a predetermined width is printed at a predetermined position on both sides of the tag 1.

Then, a printing paper 4 on which data of a predetermined width is printed on both sides
is cut at the notch 16 position by the next cutter 8, formed into a tag 1 having a predetermined width W, and stored in the stacker 9.

According to the tag printing device configured in this manner, as described above, the length of the printing paper 4 existing between each printer 5c and 7a is automatically adjusted by adjusting the amount of slack in the variable length guide mechanism 14. Generally, it is an integral multiple of the tag width W. As a result, even if the tag width W changes due to a change in tag type, there is no need to change the relative position between the printing devices 5 and 7. Therefore, there is no need to carry out the adjustment work associated with changing the tag width W in the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. 6, so that the work efficiency when replacing the tag type can be greatly improved.

Furthermore, since the length of the printing paper 4 existing between the printers 5c and 7a is automatically adjusted to an integral multiple of the tag width W, the printing position error within the tag 1 can be reduced by the position sensors 17 and 18 that detect the notch 16. Since the error is reduced to only the time interval from the detected time to when each printer 5c, 7c is activated, the printing position accuracy can be greatly improved.

When setting a new printing paper 4, the movable guide 14b of the variable length guide mechanism 14 is raised to narrow the transport path of the printing paper 4, so that the leading edge of the printing paper 4 is placed on the front side printer 7c. Since it is guided smoothly and automatically, the efficiency of replacing the printing paper 4 does not decrease.

"Effects of the Invention" As explained above, according to the tag printing device of the present invention, a variable length guide mechanism is provided to control the degree of freedom of the length of the printing paper existing between both printers.

Therefore, without adjusting the relative position between both printers,
The length of the printing paper between both printers can be controlled to be an integral multiple of the tag width. As a result, work efficiency when replacing tag types can be greatly improved while maintaining high print quality.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 show a tag printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a printing paper conveyance path, FIG. 2 is a diagram with the side cover removed, Figure 3 is a diagram showing the printing paper, Figure 4 is a diagram showing the tag, and Figure 5 is a diagram showing the printing paper.
The figure shows a printing paper, and FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional tag printing device. 1... Tag, 4... Print paper, 5a, 7a... Paper feed roller, 5c... Back side printer, 7c... Front side printer, 8... Cutter, 9... Stacker, 1
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Case, 12... Reel, 13... Carrying-in roller, 14... Variable length guide mechanism, 14a... Fixed guide, 14b... Movable guide, 16... Notch part, 17 ...first position sensor, 18...second position sensor. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 5 Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] A first printer that sequentially prints data of a predetermined width on one side of the printing paper along the conveyance path of the printing paper (4) supplied from a paper supply unit that stores the printing paper wound in a roll shape ( 5c), and a step of sequentially printing data of a predetermined width on the other side of the printing paper on which data of a predetermined width has been sequentially printed by the first printer by aligning the printing position with the printing position of the already printed data on the first side. 2 printer (7c) and a cutter (8) for cutting printing paper on which data of the predetermined width is printed on both sides into tags of a predetermined width; A tag printing device characterized by comprising a variable length guide mechanism (14) that selectively increases the degree of freedom in the length of the printing paper present on the conveyance path from the printer to the second printer.