JPH02233339A - Electronic type label-printing device and label tape used therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically determine whether or not the printing of a label coincides with the length of the label by introducing a check circuit whereby, to check the length of the printing by a drive-control circuit, a printing signal inputted by an electrical means of inputting is checked with a stop signal which an optical mark on a label tape causes to be produced in a photoelectric converting sensor. CONSTITUTION:A check circuit 21 checks a signal designating a length given by a printing signal from an inputting means with a signal setting the length of a label which is incorporated in a stop signal produced from a photoelectric converting sensor 50 so as to produce a signal signifying an agreement or disagreement between the length of the printed label and the length of a portion payed off from a label tape; the check circuit 21 transmits this signal to a drive-control circuit 20. When the signal from the check circuit 21 signifies an agreement, the length of the printed label 82 payed off from the label tape 80 presently in use is regarded as agreeing with the length of a unit portion payed off from the label tape as specified by a printing signal so that the drive-control circuit 20 keeps a printing head 30 and a tape transport 40 operating. If the signal from the check circuit 21 signifies a disagreement, the printing head 30 and the tape transport 40 are stopped from operating.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an electronic label printing device operated by electrical signals.

As shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 15376 of 1981, this type of device inputs print data to a microprocessor using a keypad switch, and uses this manual signal to input print data to an electronic print head, e.g. It is known to operate a thermal graphic printing hand to print on a label.

In such a printing device, in order to sequentially supply labels to the printing position of the print head, Suginari's label tape is used, in which a large number of labels are sequentially temporarily attached to one transfer tape. The printing head is configured to be intermittently fed by a feeding means which operates alternately with the print head.

Therefore, after the printing device prints on the label,
There are two types of labels: those with a configuration in which the printed label is peeled off from the transport tape, and those with a configuration in which the printed label is temporarily attached to the transport tape, that is, those with a configuration in which the printed label is provided as a printed label tape.The former is used as a labeler. , and the latter is known as a label printer.

The above-mentioned labeler and label printer each include an electrical signal input means, a drive control circuit that is operated by this electrical signal, a print head that performs printing according to the input signal by this drive control circuit, and a print head that performs printing according to the input signal. They are common in that they have a head and a transport means that operates in alternation, and that they use the label tape, and in this configuration, they belong to the same type as electronic label printing equipment.

In the printing apparatus, an optical mark, such as a black edge mark, is printed on the back side of the transfer tape that serves as the mount for the label tape, and this mark is detected by a detection means, such as a photoelectric conversion sensor, in the transfer path of the printing apparatus. The transport means is controlled by the drive control circuit so as to stop the transport of the label tape by means of a vehicle which sends this detection signal to the drive control circuit described above.

The length of the label tape in the feeding direction, in other words, the length in the longitudinal direction of the label tape, varies depending on the printing content, that is, the amount and type of printing pattern, and therefore the printing device has different lengths. It is necessary to configure it so that it can correspond to the following labels.

In general, since the transport means is controlled by detecting optical marks provided on the label tape, simply changing the interval between the optical marks on the back side of the transport tape to match the length of the label allows The feed length of the label can be made to match the length of the label, thereby making it possible to print a desired print pattern using a label with a length corresponding to the print content.

In other words, if the printing content is to print in two stages on the label, it is sufficient to select and use a label tape with a long label to suit this printing, and also to use a label tape with a small label for correction on the lapel. When applying this, it is sufficient to select and use a label tape with a short label.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention> As mentioned above, conventional electronic label printing devices select label tapes according to the print content, but the correspondence between the print content and the label tape is up to the user. This is done based on judgment, so if you mistakenly select a label tape that does not match the printing content, the print pattern printed on the label will deviate from the label and the label tape will be wasted. With the recent increase in the speed of label printing, malfunctions result in the loss of a large amount of labels, which poses a problem of great economic disadvantage.

Means to Solve the Problem> In the printing apparatus of the present invention, a print length verification circuit 21 is provided in the drive control circuit 20, for example, a microprocessor, for controlling the operations of the print head 30 and the transport means 40, This verification circuit 2l verifies the compatibility between the stop signal generated in the photoelectric conversion sensor 50 by the optical mark 83 on the label tape 80 side and the print signal input from an electrical input means, for example, the keyboard 10. It is composed of

For this purpose, the drive control circuit 20 has a memory circuit in which the label tape feeding length required for each print content, that is, the length of the label 82, is stored. The length designation signal corresponding to the matching circuit 21
The signal is then sent to the stop signal, where it is compared with the stop signal.

The stop signal is generated separately for different types of label tapes, and therefore the optical marks 83 formed on the label tape 80 are set differently depending on the length of the label 82 of the label tape 8o.

”-The recording optical mark 83 may be set for each type by changing the width of the black line mark, or may be changed by writing a plurality of black line marks in parallel.

The collation circuit 21 collates the stop signal and the print signal, and if these signals are compatible, the drive control circuit 20 is allowed to continue operating, but on the other hand, if these signals are not compatible. In this case, the operation of the drive control circuit 20 is stopped or a nonconformity display operation such as generating an alarm is performed.

Function> Since the printing apparatus of the present invention is as described above, when a specific printing signal is inputted from the input means and the transport means is operated, the transport means transports the label tape 80, thereby performing photoelectric conversion. The sensor 50 detects the optical mark 83 and sends a stop signal containing the type information of the label tape 80 to the collation circuit, and this stop signal causes the drive control circuit to operate and stop the transport means.

The above-mentioned stop signal and the above-mentioned print signal are collated by the above-mentioned collation circuit 21, and if both match, the drive control circuit 20 continues the operation, thereby causing the print head 30 to print on the label and transfer the label tape 80 to create a new one. label 82
are alternately supplied to the print head 30.

When the stop signal and the print signal are determined to be non-conforming in the collation circuit 21, the collation circuit 21 performs a non-conformity display operation.

When the operation of the drive control circuit 20 is thereby stopped, the transport of the label tape 80 is stopped, and at the same time, the printing operation of the print head 30 is also stopped.

Embodiments FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure when the apparatus of the present invention is used as a labeler.

In this embodiment, a keyboard 10 is used as an input means, and this keyboard 10 is connected to a drive control circuit 20, such as a microprocessor.

The drive control circuit is connected to a print head 30 as an electrical means, such as a thermal graphic print head, and a transport means 40, and furthermore, an optical detection means, such as a photoelectric conversion sensor 50, is connected to the label tape transport path. It is provided.

A power supply 60 is connected to the drive control circuit 20,
This power supply 6o has a power switch 61 as a main switch.
is provided.

The keyboard 10 is attached to the outer surface of the casing 7o and has a display section 11, on which signals inputted with the keyboard 1o are displayed so that they can be visually confirmed.

The drive control circuit 20, print head 3o, transport means 40
, and the photoelectric conversion sensor 5o are housed inside a casing 70, and a rechargeable battery that is detachably housed in the casing 7o is used as the power source 6o.

A tape polder 71 is provided in the casing 7o, and a label tape 8o wound in a roll is attached to this tape holder 71.

The label tape 80 has a structure in which a large number of labels 82 are sequentially temporarily attached to one long transfer tape 81, and is pulled out through the print head 30 to the front of the casing 70, and the transfer tape 81 is pulled out to the front of the casing 70. 81 is folded back at a folded portion 72 disposed inside the front end of the casing, and its free end side is secured to the transfer means 40.

A pushing roller 73 is provided at the front end of the casing 70 as a sticking means, and the pushing roller 73 holds the label 82 peeled off from the transfer tape 81 on the product.
This label 82 is affixed to the product by pulling the casing 70 to the right in the figure.

1. The drive control circuit 20 processes the print signal related to the print content inputted from the keyboard 1o and the stop signal from the photoelectric conversion sensor 5o, thereby driving the print head 30 and the transport stage 4o. and a verification circuit 2l for verifying the print signal and the stop signal.
have.

The print head 30 is configured to print, for example, on a label 82 of a label tape 8o stretched on a platen roller 31, and prints a predetermined print pattern on the label according to a signal from the drive control circuit 20. .

The transfer means 40 includes, for example, a stepping motor 12-41 and a feed roll mechanism 42 driven by the stepping motor 12-41, and is driven alternately with the print head 30 by the drive control circuit 20 and operates. At the same time, the transfer tape 81 of the label tape 8o is transferred.

The transport means 40 is controlled to transport the label tape 80 by one label and then stop. For this purpose, the transport tape 81 of the label tape 80 is provided with an optical mark 83 on the back surface thereof. It is set so that when this mark 83 is detected by the photoelectric conversion sensor 50, the drive control circuit 20 is activated and the operation of the 1,000-stage transfer stage 40 is stopped.

The power supply 60 uses an internal power supply in the embodiment, but
In some cases, an external power source may be used, and in this case, a power cord is attached to the casing 70.

The collation circuit 2l collates the length instruction signal obtained from the print signal from the input means and the label length signal included in the stop signal generated from the photoelectric conversion sensor 50 to determine the label length and label tape feeding length. It generates conformity/nonconformity signals regarding the
0, and when the conformity signal is sent from the verification circuit 2l, the drive control circuit 20 determines that the length of the label 82 on the actually used label tape 80 is specified by the printing signal. The printing head 30 and the transport means 40 continue to be driven, assuming that the label tape feeding length matches the label tape feeding length, and when a non-conformity signal is sent from the matching circuit 21, the label tape feeding length and the label tape feeding length are matched. If they do not match, for example, an alarm is generated or the driving of the print head 30 and the transport means 40 is stopped.

In order to instruct the collation circuit 21 with a label tape feed length using a print signal, a memory circuit is provided in the drive control circuit 20, and this circuit determines the label tape feed length required for each printing. All you have to do is remember,
In this way, when a print signal is input to the drive control circuit 20, an instruction signal regarding the feed length of the label tape can be sent from the storage circuit to the collation circuit 21.

In addition, in order to inform the verification circuit 21 of the label length of the label tape 80 actually used, the length of the label tape 80 is
An optical mark 83 provided on the transfer tape 81 may be used to generate a stop signal containing information about the length of the label.

As such a stop signal generating means, the width W of the optical mark 83 in the transport direction may be changed for each type of label length, as shown in FIG. 4, or alternatively, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of optical marks 83, for example two optical marks, may be provided so that the main mark 83a is used for stopping, and the subordinate mark 83b is used for detecting the label length.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, when the optical mark 83 is detected by the photoelectric conversion sensor 50, the stop signal emitted by the sensor is a stop signal that temporarily stops the label tape 80, and at the same time, the stop signal that stops the label tape 80 temporarily. It also includes an information signal regarding the label length indicated by the pulse width. Therefore, if this label length signal and the label tape feed length instruction signal of the print signal match, the label tape 80 will stop for one hour at each stop signal. However, if the label length signal does not match the label tape feed length instruction signal, the label tape 80 will, for example, stop.

In this case, since the label length signal is obtained when the photoelectric conversion sensor 50 finishes detecting the optical mark 83, the label tape 80 stops after the optical mark 83 passes through the optical mark 83. I will be forced to
Therefore, normally one label 82 is wasted in order to stop the label tape 80 from being nonconforming, but the drive control circuit 20 is activated immediately after the photoelectric conversion sensor 50 detects all of the optical marks 83. If the machine is set to stop at a stop signal, label loss can be completely eliminated.

Also, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the main mark 83a
is provided to indicate the stop position for stopping the label tape 80, and a follower mark 83b is provided to indicate the label length.

In this embodiment, the interval S between when the label tape 80, which is in a stopped state upon detection of the main mark 83a, is started and transferred and when the sub mark 83b is detected by the photoelectric conversion sensor 50 is used for label length information. used. That is, by changing the interval S between the main mark 83a and the subordinate mark 83b depending on the type of label in accordance with the length of the label, a vehicle can be created in which the label length signal is included in the stop signal generated from the photoelectric conversion sensor 50, and this interval The detection of S is performed by the drive control circuit 20.
It is easy to calculate a pulse signal from a timer that operates the , and in this way, reliable verification can be performed using an integrating circuit.

Effects of the Invention> In this way, the apparatus of the present invention allows the optical mark 83 for generating a stop signal provided on the label tape 80 to have information corresponding to the label length, and on the other hand, uses a print signal representing the print content A label tape feed length instruction signal is generated from the drive control circuit 20, and then the stop signal and the feed length instruction signal 16 are compared with each other in the collation circuit 2l, and in the case of non-conformity, the transfer of the label tape 80, for example, is performed. Since it indicates non-conformity by making it impossible, etc., it has the effect that it is possible to automatically determine whether the print content and label length are compatible or non-conforming.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the wood inventing device, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the drive control circuit of the same device, Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the same device up to the start of printing, and Fig. 4 , and FIG. 5 are rear views of label tapes used in the above apparatus. In the figure, 10 is a keyhole 1 as an input means, 20 is a drive control circuit, 21 is a collation circuit, 30 is a print head, 40 is a transfer means, 50 is a converter sensor, 80 is a label table, 81 is a transfer tape, and 82 is a Label 83 indicates Gengaku mark.

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) An electrical input means for inputting printing contents to be printed on a label as a print signal, a transport means for transporting a label tape having the above-mentioned labels temporarily pasted on a transport tape in sequence, and a transport means for transporting the above-mentioned label tape. A photoelectric conversion sensor detects an optical mark written on the back side of a label tape provided on the road and generates a stop signal, and prints a print pattern on the label of the label tape using a print signal from the input means. It has an electrical printing means, and a drive control circuit that drives the printing means and the transfer means according to the print signal from the input means and the stop signal from the photoelectric conversion sensor, and the drive control circuit includes: includes a storage circuit that stores the label tape feed length required for each print content, and a length designation signal that corresponds to the input print signal generated from this storage circuit and a stop signal generated from the photoelectric conversion sensor. a collation circuit for collation; the optical mark of the label tape includes label length information of the label tape so that the stop signal includes a label length signal; When it is determined that the length designation signal obtained from the print signal and the label length signal obtained from the stop signal match, the printing means prints the print content on the label, and after printing, the transport means Driven by the drive control circuit to transport the label tape until the stop signal is generated;
Further, the electronic label printing apparatus is characterized in that, when the collation circuit determines that the length designation signal and the label length signal are incompatible, a non-conformity display is performed. (2) The electronic label printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nonconformity display of the verification circuit is an alarm indicating nonconformity. (3) The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the nonconformance indication of the verification circuit causes the drive control circuit to cause the printing means and the transport means to become inoperable. Type label printing equipment. (4) In a label tape in which a large number of labels are sequentially temporarily pasted on a transfer tape and an optical mark is written on the transfer tape, the width of the optical mark is changed in accordance with the length of the label, and A label tape characterized by including label length information in an optical mark. (5) A large number of labels are temporarily pasted on the transfer tape in sequence, and an optical mark for generating a stop signal is written on the back side of the transfer tape.The optical mark is placed at a position that matches the label length. It consists of a main mark written to indicate the stop position and a subordinate mark written at a position away from the main mark to indicate the label length, and the distance between the main mark and the subordinate mark determines the length of the label tape. A label tape characterized by being able to obtain length information.