JPH05143000A - Label - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable printing on single-label bodies under exact position control by arranging the many single-label bodies on the surface of a long-sized tape for base along its longitudinal direction and forming light shieldable adhesive layers on the rear surfaces of the single-label bodies. CONSTITUTION:The many single-label bodies 121, 122, are arranged at prescribed intervals on one surface of the tape 11 for the base. The adhesive layers 13 are formed on the rear surfaces of the single-label bodies 121, 122, the singlelabel bodies are adhered to the surface of the tape 11 for the base by these adhesive layers 13. The adhesive layers 13 are constituted by incorporating a light shielding material therein. The tape 11 is moved and a printing mechanism is driven upon arrival of the single-label bodies 121, 122, at the regulated position of the printing mechanism, by which the respective single-label bodies 121, 122, are subjected to prescribed printing. An optical sensor mechanism section detects the front ends (a), (b), of the single-label bodies 121, 122, and applies an operation instruction to the printing mechanism when the front ends (a), (b), arrive at the mechanism section.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label which is used by sticking it to various articles having various printings on the surface thereof, and in particular, the printing operation is surely controlled automatically. The present invention relates to a label attached to a base tape.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Labels are formed by printing characters or other figures on the surface thereof, and are used by sticking them to intended articles for identification purposes. In this case, in order to print character graphics etc. on each label unit,
The labels may be printed one by one, but in principle, a large number of labels are printed continuously.

In the case of continuously printing on such a large number of labels, the individual labels are attached to one side of the base tape side by side, and the base tape is moved on each label while being moved. I am trying to print it.

In such a base tape to which a single label is attached for printing, a base tape material and a label-quality tape are usually adhered to each other, and an unnecessary portion is cut out from the label-quality tape by die-cutting. The die-cut labels are arranged and left on the tape material. Then, the base tape on which the individual labels are arranged is continuously run to optically detect the position of each individual label, and the printing operation is performed on each individual label.

As a means for detecting the sticking position of this single label, light is emitted from one surface of the base tape,
A method of using an optical sensor that detects light transmitted through the base tape by a light receiving element installed on the other surface is generally used. That is, the fact that the portion to which the label unit is attached reduces the amount of light transmitted compared to other portions is used, and it is possible to confirm that the leading edge of the label unit has reached the optical sensor unit. It detects and gives an operation command to the printing mechanism by the detection signal.

Here, for example, an infrared LED is used as a light emitting side element for generating light, and a phototransistor is used as a light receiving side element, which has a predetermined strength by a current designed in advance from the light emitting side. The infrared rays are generated, and the infrared rays transmitted through the base tape portion are received by the light receiving element, and the voltage signal corresponding to the amount of light received is output from the light receiving element.

Therefore, in the state where the light emitting element and the light receiving element are completely shielded from each other and the infrared light is not received by the light receiving element, the output voltage from the light receiving element is at the lowest level. Then, the output voltage from the light receiving element changes according to the degree of light shielding.

When the base tape is made of white paper and the tape itself is made of white paper, light is transmitted through the base tape portion to some extent, and light is also emitted at the label portion. It is transparent to some extent. Therefore, when the leading edge of the label alone passes through the optical sensor mechanism, the intensity of infrared light input to the light receiving element does not drop sharply at the edge of the label and changes with a certain degree of inclination. However, it becomes difficult to detect the position of the single label with high accuracy.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and when printing on a large number of individual labels attached to a base tape, the positions of the individual labels must be accurately adjusted. It is an object of the present invention to provide a label which is detected and smoothly controls the printing mechanism so that accurate printing can be performed on each individual label.

[0010]

A label according to the present invention is for sticking and setting a large number of single labels along the longitudinal direction of a long base tape. A light-shielding adhesive layer mixed with, for example, carbon black is formed on the back surface of the.

[0011]

In the label thus constructed, the light passing through the label itself can be almost completely blocked, and when passing through the optical sensor portion composed of the light emitting element and the light receiving element. In addition, the transmitted light is surely blocked by the label alone, and the position of the label alone can be detected with high accuracy by the optical sensor mechanism. Therefore,
By driving and controlling the printing mechanism by the detection signal from the optical sensor mechanism, it becomes possible to perform printing accurately on each label unit.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the structure of the base tape 11 made of paper or the like on one surface of which a large number of label units 121 also made of paper or the like are arranged at predetermined intervals.
, 122, ... Are arranged. In this case, label only 1
Each of 21, 122, ... Is die-cut into a predetermined size and shape, and an adhesive layer 13 is formed on the back surface thereof as shown in FIG. Is adhered to the surface of the tape 11.

Here, the adhesive layer 13 is formed by mixing a light-shielding substance, for example, carbon black with a commonly known adhesive, and the mixing ratio of carbon black is at least 30% or more. Is set to a percentage of.

As described above, the label tape 12 is attached to the base tape 11.
Labels 121, 122 with 1, 122, ... attached
, .... Printing is performed on the respective surfaces. At the time of this printing, the tape 11 is moved as shown by the arrow in the figure, and the label units 121, 122 ,. Drive each label unit 121, 122,
... The specified print is printed on each.

In this case, when the leading edges a, b, ... In the moving direction of the individual label units 121, 122, .. reach the optical sensor mechanism section, the leading edges a, b ,. Gives an operation command to the mechanism.

FIG. 2A shows the structure of the optical sensor mechanism 15, in which a light emitting element 16 such as an infrared LED and a light receiving element 17 including a phototransistor are set to face each other at a small interval. In this case, the light emitting element 16 and the light receiving element 17
Are installed in the light shielding cases 18 and 19, respectively, and the light shielding cases 18 and 19 are formed with small holes 20 and 21 respectively for allowing light to pass therethrough. Then, tape between the small holes 20 and 21 facing each other.
Allow 11 to pass.

FIG. 2B shows the relationship between the detected output voltage from the optical sensor mechanism 15 and the moving distance D of the tape 11 as described above. The leading edge portion of the label unit 121 (121, ...) Is shown in FIG. When the label passes, the level of the detected voltage is greatly reduced, and the label alone is passed.

The condition for surely detecting the passage of the label alone by such an optical sensor mechanism 15 is that the label alone, which is a light shield, completely blocks the transmission of light. However, the base tape 11 and the label unit 121,
122, ... are usually made of paper,
It is difficult to completely block the transmission of light. If it is made of a material that transmits light even a little, the output voltage from the optical sensor mechanism 15 becomes unstable, and the label unit 121,
122, ... positions cannot be detected accurately.

The base tape 11 and the label unit 121,
As described above, since the papers 122, ... Are mainly composed of paper materials and tend to be white, the light blocking is incomplete.

However, as shown in the embodiment, a single label is used.
If the light shielding adhesive layer 13 is formed on the back surface of each of 121, 122, ..., For example, infrared light generated from the light emitting element 16 is completely blocked by the light shielding adhesive layer 13, The individual labels 121, 122, ...
The leading edges a, b, ... Are reliably detected, and an accurate printing operation command is given to the label printing mechanism.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the label unit attached to the base tape is in a state in which the light-shielding property is set sufficiently, the optical sensor mechanism section is attached to the label unit. When the label passes, the position of the leading edge of the label unit can be accurately detected, and the detection signal from this optical sensor mechanism makes the input signal to the label printing mechanism accurate, so that the correct position for each label Can be printed with.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B show a label according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1A is a plan view, FIG. 1B is a side view, and FIG.

2A is a diagram illustrating an optical sensor mechanism, and FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a detection output voltage from the sensor mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Base tape, 121, 122, ... Label only, 13 ...
Adhesive layer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A long base tape, and a large number of single labels that are attached and arranged side by side at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the tape, and the back surface of the single label is shaded. A label characterized in that a flexible adhesive layer is formed.