JPH03187827A - Label tape guide for hand labeler or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To apply two kinds of label tapes in different width alternately to one machine by a method wherein a rotator of the machine is provided with two stoppers that are extending in the directions intersecting each other at a right angle and positioned at specified intervals in the axial direction of the rotator, and the stoppers provided to a pair of the rotators are so arranged that the inner stoppers of the rotators are lain horizontal facing each other while the outer stoppers of the same are held upright facing each other. CONSTITUTION:Rotators 581, 581' are provided with a holding means that hold the rotators 581, 581' in either of the two positions where outer stoppers 582, 582' are held upright and where inner stoppers 583, 583' are held upright. The holding means are made by providing engaging notches 581a, 581a' to the rotators 581, 581' at 90 deg. intervals, and are made so that elastic holding pieces 581b, 581b' extending from the side of a bottom frame 50 are engaged with the notches. Therefore a label tape guide 58 can be accomodated respectively to each of two label tapes that are different in width.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a label tape guide device used in various labelers and label printers, such as electronic labelers.

<Prior Art> As is well known, equipment having a label printing means such as a hand labeler or a label printer has a transport path for transporting a label tape, and the label of the label tape follows this transport path. through which you will be guided to the printing position.

The label tape is constructed by sequentially temporarily attaching labels onto a series of transfer tapes, and after printing, the labels are peeled off from the single transfer tape and attached to the product.

In printing label issuing equipment such as labelers, a label tape guide is provided in order to accurately guide the label tape to the print head position, that is, the printing position, and this label tape guide is separated by the label tape width. It consists of a pair of opposing guide walls.

<Problem to be solved by the invention> Since the conventional label tape guide uses a pair of guide walls to restrict the deflection of the label tape in the width direction, when the width of the label tape changes in the narrow direction, the guide There is a problem that the wall no longer functions as a restriction, and when the wall changes to a wider direction, it becomes impossible to load the label tape, and therefore, it is not possible to replace and use label tapes with different label widths.

Means for Solving the Problem> In the device of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, a pair of outer stoppers 582, 582' and a pair of inner stoppers 583
．． 583' are used alternately.

This causes the @W of the transfer path to change.

The above one pair of two sets of retaining pieces 582, 582', 583° 583
' are distributed among a pair of rotors 581, 581', one rotor for each set, and this pair of rotors 581, 581'
As shown in FIG. 11, they are installed inside the bottom frame 50 to face each other via the transfer path.

As described above, each rotor 581 (or 581') has one outer stop piece 582 (or 582') and l inner stop pieces 583 (or 583') arranged in the axial direction of the rotor. The inner stoppers 582 and 582' are arranged at a distance from each other, and when the outer stoppers 582 and 582' stand upright, the inner stoppers 583 and 583' are horizontally opposed to each other. 583 and 583' are arranged so as to protrude in the orthogonal direction.

The rotors 581 and 581' further include a locking means 1, for example, as shown in FIG.
81b, 581b' are provided, and the rotor 581, 581' is provided with the outer stopper piece 582, 582 by this locking means.
It is locked and fixed at two points: when it stands upright, and when the inner stopper piece 5g3, 583' stands upright.

Function> Since the device of the present invention is configured in this way, the ninth
As shown in the figure, when the outer stop pieces 582, 582' are made to stand upright, the inner stop pieces 583, 583' fall sideways and move out of the transfer path, and both sides of the label tape 80, 81 in the transfer path are attached to the outer stop pieces 582, 582'. .582'.

Also, as shown in FIG. 11, the outer stopper 582,
When the inner stop pieces 583, 583' are made to stand upright instead of 582', the outer stop pieces 582, 582' fall sideways, and the inner stop pieces 583, 583' stand upright on both sides of the transfer path, reducing the convergence W of the transfer path. to regulate.

Therefore, in this case, a narrower transfer path is formed than when the outer stop pieces 582, 582' are upright.

Embodiment Example A labeler using the device of the present invention has an operating section 10, a converting section 20, and a mechanism section 30, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 30 constitutes a housing.

The operation unit 1O is provided with an input keyboard unit 11 and a display unit 12, for example, a liquid crystal panel, for displaying input signals from the keyboard unit 11. The keyboard unit 11 and the display unit 12 have a rectangular shape. It is arranged on the surface side of the operation unit exterior body 13.

The converting section 20 is provided on the back side of the operating section exterior body 13 so as to extend rearward from one end of the exterior body 13, for example, in a right angle direction, and has an electric fi 21 such as a dry battery inside. It is accommodated.

The mechanism section 30 is attached to the conversion section 20 and the operation section I.
O, and its extending end side is removably connected to the extending end of the above-mentioned curved part 20, so that below the handle 20 there is a core part. and operation unit lO
A finger-rest window 22 is formed by the mechanism portion 30 and the mechanism portion 30 .

The mechanism section 30 has a case 31 integrally molded with the exterior body 13 of the operation section IO, and the case 31 includes opening/closing means for opening and closing the bottom frame, for example, a push button 32, a main switch piece 33, A cut window 311 for checking the remaining amount of labels and a pressing roll 34 for pasting the label are provided, and this pressing roll 34 is provided below the proximal end of the case 31 in contact with the exterior body 13.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the operation unit 1O has a printed circuit board 141 behind the front panel 131 of the exterior body 13.
An electric circuit 14 consisting of 142 etc. is built-in,
By operating the keys on the keyboard section 11, an input signal is given to the electric circuit 14, and a printed symbol obtained by this input signal, for example, a number indicating a bar code to be printed, is displayed on the display section 12, and is also provided on the operation section IO. The starting switch 15 is configured to print on the label as described later.

The converting section 20 is provided with a support shaft provided at the extending end of the case 31 constituting the mechanism section 30, for example, as shown by the chain line in FIG. 3, so that the internal battery can be charged or the internal battery can be replaced. The inner end is configured to be able to rotate outward using 312 as a fulcrum.

In the embodiment, the connecting part 20 is configured to be replaceable as a whole, and therefore the locking part 2 formed at the extending end is
3 is made to be detachable from the support shaft 312.

For this purpose, a starting switch 15 is provided along the converting section 20 in the operating section 1O, and this starting switch 15
is combined with a terminal holder 151 and fixed to the operating part lO, and connected to the electric circuit 1 through the terminal holder 151.
It is configured to operate 4.

On the other hand, the converting section 20 is provided with a connector 24, so that when the converting section 20 is connected to the operating section 10, the connector 24 and the terminal holder 151 are connected and the power source 21 is connected to the electric circuit 14. It is configured to be connected to.

In the above, the power source 21 may be an external power source that the user carries by attaching it to his or her waist, and in this case, the electric circuit 14 is connected to a cord by means of a connecting means provided in the conversion section 20, for example. Connected to external power supply via.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the locking portion 20 is provided with a locking mechanism 25, and a locking piece 251 of the locking mechanism 25 is attached to an engaging portion of the exterior body 13, such as a terminal holder 151.
By engaging with the engagement hole 152 provided in the above, the converted portion 20 is fixed using the support shaft 312 as a fulcrum.

The mechanism section 30 includes a printing section 40, a bottom frame 50, a label tape holder 60. A drive mechanism 70 is built-in,
The printing unit 4 has a label tape holder 60 wrapped with a transfer tape 80 on which a large number of labels 81 are sequentially attached.
0 is the pressing roll 34 as shown in FIGS. 3 to 7.
A cam piece 41 is provided in the case 31 close to the main switch piece 33 and is connected to the main switch piece 33.The cam piece 41 releases the cam piece 41 during printing, but when printing is stopped, the cam piece 41 moves in the direction away from the label 81, that is, upward in FIG. a support frame 42 that is rotated toward the label 81; a spring 43 that constantly presses the support frame 42 toward the label 81;
When the supporting frame 42 is rotated toward the cam piece 41, that is, when the supporting frame 42 is released from the cam piece 41, the supporting frame 42 is activated and closes the electric circuit 14 in an operating state. When it is forced to rotate against the spring 43.

That is, when the support frame 42 is separated from the label 81, the microswitch 44 is operated by the support frame 42 to release the electric circuit 14 into an inoperable state, and the electric circuit 1
4 is closed, a thermal head 45 prints a bar code corresponding to an input signal from the keyboard switch 11 on the label 81 by operating the start switch 15, and a support that supports the support frame 42. A mechanism 46 is provided.

As mentioned above, the cam piece 41 is made to interlock with the main switch piece 33, and when the main switch piece 33 is in the operating position as shown by the chain line in FIG. 5, it releases the support frame 42 as shown. When the main switch piece 33 rotates in the direction of the arrow and moves to the non-operating position, it rotates counterclockwise in the figure to rotate the support frame 42 against the spring 43.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the thermal head 45 of the support frame 42 is activated by the platen roller 50 on the bottom frame 50 side only during printing.
Since the platen roller 51 is in pressure contact with the platen roller 51, it is possible to prevent the surface of the platen roller 51 from being constantly deformed due to the pressure received.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the supporting frame 42 is connected to an outer frame 421.
The thermal head 45 is attached to the surface of the frame plate 422 facing the label, and the frame plate 422 is fitted into the outer frame 421.
22 and the outer frame 421 are a pair of coupling screws 423.4 screwed perpendicularly to the axis of the platen roller 51.
23, and this pair of screws 423.4
Depending on the degree of screw engagement of 23, the heat generating portion of the thermal head 45 can be adjusted to be located on the axis of the platen roller 51.

Furthermore, the frame plate 422 is made of a material with good heat conductivity and has a heat sink 424, which is designed to dissipate the heat generated from the thermal head 45.

The support mechanism 46 is provided so as to constitute a pivot point for the support frame 42, and in the embodiment, the support mechanism 46 is inserted into a bearing hole 461 formed at the rear of the support frame 42 and inserted into the hole 461. The supporting shaft 462 and the supporting shaft 462 or the hole 461
A swing fulcrum provided on one of the inner walls of the hole, for example, an annular protrusion 46 provided on the inner wall of the hole as shown in FIG.
3, and the bearing hole 4 is provided with the swing fulcrum.
6) Therefore, the support frame 42 is configured to be able to swing in the direction of the arrow with respect to the support shaft 462.

For this reason, in this embodiment, the supporting frame 42 is attached to the thermal head 4 of the platen roller 51.
5 can be placed in close contact with each other, it is possible to accurately print with uniform density.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the bottom frame 50 is provided with a platen roller 51 on the rotating end side that presses against the thermal head 45 via the label 81, and a transfer tape on the tip side of the platen roller 51. A peeling member for folding back the bottle 80, for example, a small-diameter bottle 52, is provided, and the bottle 5
A space 501 for inserting the transfer tape 80 is provided in front of the case 2, and a protrusion 53 for a label guide forming a rotation end of the bottom frame is provided in front of the space 501. 31, the rotating end having the protrusion 53 can be rotated as shown by the chain line in FIG. 3 to open the bottom of the case 31, or close the bottom of the case 31 as shown in the solid line. This configuration allows for recovery.

The bottom frame 50 is configured to be locked or released by the push button 32, and for this reason, the bottom frame 50
An engaging piece 502 is provided on the engaging piece 502, and the locking piece 321 of the push button 32 is designed to be engaged with or disengaged from the engaging piece 502 by operating the push button.

In the embodiment, the locking piece 321 is fixed to the push button 32,
When the bottom frame 50 is closed, the locking piece 321 retreats along the slope of the engaging piece 502 and is urged toward the retaining piece 502 by a spring (not shown) to engage.
Therefore, the bottom frame 50 is released by pressing the push button and sliding it in a direction against the spring.

The bottom frame 50 further includes a sensor means for detecting the position of the label, such as a position sensor 55 using a photoelectric conversion element.
is supported by a support plate 551, and this sensor 5
5, the label 81 is accurately positioned in the thermal head 4.
The operation of the drive mechanism 70 is controlled so that the drive mechanism 70 is in contact with the drive mechanism 5.

For this purpose, detection marks 82 are printed at regular intervals on the back side of the transfer tape 80 as shown in FIG. 8, and when the sensor 55 detects the marks 82, the electric circuit
It is designed to send drive control signals to 4.

After the transfer tape 80 is folded back at the bin 52, it is run along the outer surface of the bottom frame 50.
It is fed into the frame through a cut window 503 formed in the frame and is intermittently transported by the drive mechanism 70.

Furthermore, the bottom frame 50 has an appropriate number of guide rollers 56 that can adjust the width of the guide surface according to the label width, a guide roller 561 provided near the cut window 503 of the bottom frame, and a guide roller 561 provided on the top side of the bottom frame. Guide means such as a tape presser 562 are provided, and a detection switch 57 for confirming the closed state of the bottom frame 50 is attached to the case 31 side.

The detection switch 57 is connected, for example, in series with the microswitch 44, and is designed so that the electric circuit 14 does not operate when the bottom frame 50 is not completely closed.

The bottom frame 50 is provided with a label tape guide 58 as shown in FIGS. 4, 9 to 11. Rotators 581 and 581' are provided inside each side so as to face each other via the label tape transport path, and each rotor 581 and 581' has two stop pieces 582 and 583 extending in orthogonal directions. These stop pieces are provided at predetermined intervals in the axial direction of the rotor, and when the outer stop pieces 582 stand upright facing each other, the inner stop pieces 583 are placed opposite each other as shown in FIG. When the width W between the outer retaining pieces 582 and 582' increases, and the inner retaining pieces 583 and 583' stand upright facing each other, as shown in FIG.
The width W between the rotors 581, 581' is configured to be small, and in order to secure the position of the stop pieces, each of the rotors 581, 581'
In this case, the rotor 581, 581' is attached to the outer stopper 582.
゜582' when standing upright and the above inner stopper 583.583'
A locking means is provided for locking at two points: when the body is standing upright.

In this embodiment, the above-mentioned locking means is attached to the above-mentioned rotor 581.
．． Engagement notches 581a are provided at 90 degree intervals in 581', and elastic engagement pieces 581b and 581b' extending from the bottom frame 50 side are engaged with the engagement notches 581a as shown in FIG.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the label tape guide 58 can be adjusted to suit two types of labels having different widths.

Furthermore, the bottom frame 50 is provided with a label tape holder 60 as shown in FIGS. 4, 12 to 15, and a transfer tape 80 on which labels 81 are sequentially pasted is attached to the label tape holder 60. While being wound, this transfer tape 80 is passed through the label guide 58, folded back at the bottle 52, stretched along the outer surface of the bottom frame 50, and fed into the case through the cut window 503.

This label tape holder 60 is attached to the above label guide 58.
Similarly, it is designed so that the holder width can be changed to accommodate two types of labels with different widths.

For this purpose, the label tape holder 60 is fixed to the bottom frame 50 and has a support frame 61 with a receiver 611 projecting in a direction transverse to the bottom frame 50, and is fitted onto the outer side of the receiver of the support frame 61. It is composed of an outer sleeve 62 and an inner sleeve 63 that is fitted inside the receiver tube of the support frame 61.
11 has two locking holes 612 and 613 arranged in parallel in its axial direction.

Further, the outer sleeve 62 is provided with a tape retainer 621 on the outside and a projection 622 on the inner surface that selectively engages with the locking holes 612 and 613. A tape presser 631 is provided on the outside, and a protrusion 632 that selectively engages with the locking holes 612 and 613 is provided on the outer surface.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the protrusion 622 of the outer sleeve 62 engages with the outer locking hole 612, and the protrusion 632 of the inner sleeve 63 engages with the inner locking hole 612.
3, a pair of label pressers 621.
14 and 15, the protrusion 622 of the outer sleeve 62 engages with the inner locking hole 613, and the protrusion 632 of the inner sleeve 63 engages with the outer locking hole 613. When it is attached to the hole 612, a pair of label pressers 62
The width W between 1,631 becomes narrower.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the inner and outer corner sleeves 62, 63
Since the width W between the label pressers changes by moving in the cross direction to the same size, the position of the center line C of this width W remains unchanged, and therefore the printing center for the label 81 is always constant. be.

The label tape holder 60 has an outer sleeve 62
1 because the label transfer tape 80 is wrapped around the
Normally, the label presser 631 of the inner sleeve 63 is rotated outward as shown by the chain line in FIG. 15 to insert the rolled transfer tape 80.

Inside the case 31 of the mechanism section 30, a motor 71 driven by the electric circuit 14 and a feed roll 72 rotated by the motor 71 are provided. A drive mechanism 70 composed of a roll 72 and a pressure roll 73 provided in pressure contact with each other is built in, and the drive mechanism 70 moves the transfer tape 80 inserted through the cut window 503.

In the embodiment, a reduction gear 74 is provided between the feed roll 72 of the drive mechanism 70 and the motor 71, and this gear 74 is connected to the gear 721 of the feed roll 72 and the drive gear 7 of the motor 71.
The spindle 722 of the feed roll 72 is configured to be connected to an external attachment through a connection hole formed in the case 31.

Furthermore, the pressing roll 73 is applied with a pressing force by a spring 75 provided on the bottom frame 50, and this spring 75 is also used to urge the bottom frame 50 in the opening direction. When the bottom frame 50 is released by operating the push button 32, the bottom frame 5
0 protrudes outside the case 31 with a spring 75.

Furthermore, a discharge guide 76 for the transfer tape 80 is provided in the case 31, and the transfer tape 80 is disposed on the feed roll 72.
While being sent out by the pressure roll 73, the paper is discharged to the outside from the discharge window 313 of the case 31 via the discharge guide 76, and is cut at any time by a cutter 314 provided in the discharge window 313.

The transfer tape 80 has a detection mark 82 on the back side as described above.
is printed and a large number of labels 81 made of, for example, heat-sensitive paper are successively pasted on the front side, and a motor 71 is driven by a control signal obtained from the detection mark 82 to display a predetermined number of labels. Thermal head 4 while being sent to the length
5, the barcode selected using the keyboard 11, for example, is printed.

Support shaft 722 of the feed roll 72 in the drive mechanism 70
As an external attachment to connect with.

For example, a printer head 90 as shown in FIGS. 16 to 20 can be considered.

As shown in FIGS. 18 to 20, this attachment 90 includes a receiving shaft 91 coupled to the support shaft 722 of the feed roll 72, a toothed pulley 92 coupled to the receiving shaft 91,
A toothed belt 93 rotated by this pulley 92,
A toothed pulley 9 on the receiving side rotated by this belt 93
4, a feed roll 95 that is rotated by the rotation of the pulley 94, and a feed roll 95 that incorporates each of the above components.
and a mounting case 96 for pressing the press roll 34 into contact with the pressing roll 34, and the mounting case 96 has a
0 case 31 and is secured by the bottom frame 50.
It is configured to be fixed at 1.

Therefore, when installing the attachment 90, the 17th
As shown by the chain line in the figure, rotate the bottom frame 50 to attach the mounting case 96.
The support pieces 97 may be received in the case 31.

In this attachment 90, the feed roll 95 is in pressure contact with the pressing roll 34, and the label 81 can be sent out together with the transfer tape 80 as shown in FIG. If the attached state is inserted between the feed roll 95 and the pressing roll 34, a printed label having the transfer tape 80 as a backing paper can be obtained.
There is an advantage that the labeler of the present invention can be used as a printer.

Note that the cover 96 of the attachment 90 has a locking portion 96.
1 is provided, and it is desirable to configure it so that it is locked in the connecting hole 315 of the case 31, as shown in FIG.

<Effects of the Invention> In this way, the device of the present invention can switch the width W of the transfer path between wide and narrow by alternately using the outer stop pieces 582, 582' and the inner stop pieces 583, 583'. This has the advantage that two types of label tapes with different label widths can be used.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a labeler using the device of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof; Fig. 3 is a partially cutaway side view showing the main parts of the labeler; Fig. 4 shows parts of the labeler of the present invention. An exploded perspective view, FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view showing the printing section of the above labeler, FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the support frame of the above printing section, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the support mechanism of the above printing section. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the back side of the transfer tape used in the labeler of the present invention, Fig. 9 is a cutaway front view of essential parts of the bottom frame used in the same labeler, showing the label tape guide provided in the bottom frame; 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10-10 in FIG. 9, showing the essential parts of the upper bottom frame, FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a deformed state of the label tape guide shown in FIG. 9, and FIG. The figure is a cross-sectional plan view showing the label tape holder of the labeler, FIG. 13 is a front view thereof, FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional plan view showing the state of the label tape holder when it is deformed, and FIG. 15 is a front view thereof. 1
Figure 6 is a perspective view showing another usage example of the above labeler, Figure 17
The figure is a side view of the labeler shown in Fig. 16, and Fig. 18 is a side view of the labeler shown in Fig. 16.
Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the main parts of the labeler, Figure 19 is the first
Perspective view of the attachment used for the labeler in Figure 6, No. 2
Figure 0 is an exploded perspective view of the same attachment. In the figure, 50 is a bottom frame, 581, 581' are rotors, 582.
582' is an outer stop piece, 583, 583' is an inner stop piece,
581a is an engagement notch serving as an engagement means, 581b, 5
Reference numeral 81b' indicates elastic locking pieces as the locking means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A pair of rotors are provided on both sides of the bottom frame so as to face each other through the transfer path of the transfer tape to which labels are sequentially pasted. The stop pieces of the pair of rotors are arranged at a predetermined interval in the axial direction of the rotor, and the stop pieces of the pair of rotors are arranged such that when the outer stop pieces face each other upright, the inner stop pieces face each other horizontally. A hand labeler or the like, characterized in that the rotor is provided with a locking means for locking the rotor at two points: when the outer stopper is upright and when the inner stopper is upright. Label tape guide device.