JPH06227066A - Label printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To position precisely a label at a printing position irrespective of dispersion in label pitches of pieces of label paper. CONSTITUTION:A counter table of the number of starting steps wherein the number of areas corresponding to the number of sheets of labels which are capable of existing between a thermal head and gap detecting sensor are formed is provided, when a front end of the label is detected by the gap detecting sensor, the number of steps 50 up to a thermal head from the gap detecting sensor are set up on the head of a vacant arena of the counter table, the set up numerical values of the areas each are deducted respectively by -1 every conveyance of 1 step of the label paper, when the head area becomes 0, positioning operation is completed by deciding that the positioning of the label paper to a printing position is completed and the set up numerical values set up on the areas each are shifted to the area which is higher by 1 in ranking in order.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label printer which prints by positioning a label sheet at a predetermined printing position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a label paper used in a label printer has a plurality of labels attached to a backing paper at predetermined intervals, or a label pitch on the back side of the label paper for positioning at a printing position. It is known that a mark corresponding to is printed.

As a method of positioning such a label sheet at the printing position, for example, a transmission type optical sensor for detecting the leading edge or the trailing edge of the label or a reflection type optical sensor for detecting a mark is provided. A method is known in which the label paper is conveyed and controlled by a detection signal from the sensor to position the label paper.

A label printer that prints desired information using a label paper in which a plurality of labels are attached to a mount will be described. As described above, this label printer is provided with the transmission optical sensor, and when the front end or the rear end of the label is detected by this transmission optical sensor, the label paper is positioned at the printing position based on this detection. .

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the print head 1 and the gap detection sensor 2 composed of a transmission type optical sensor are converted by the number of steps of a carry motor (not shown) for carrying the label paper. In a label printer having a distance of 50 steps, the labels 4a, 4b, 4
c, 4d, 4e, ... Have a label pitch of 15 steps and a gap length between labels of 5 steps, and when the label paper 5 attached to the mount is used, the gap detection sensor 2 detects the rear end of the label 4d. Then, 50 steps of the distance between the print head 1 and the gap detection sensor 2 are multiplied by a preset label size (label pitch) of 15 steps, and 50 ÷ 15 is calculated to be 3 and a remainder 5 is obtained. . Here, the gap length 5 preset as the label size is added to the remainder 5 together with the label pitch to obtain 10 by 5 + 5. The calculated 10 is the number of positioning steps for the next label 4b at the printing position.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the label 4d
If 10 steps are conveyed after the trailing edge is detected, the label 4b is positioned at the print position of the print head 1.

In the conventional label printer, when the front end or the rear end of the label is detected by the gap detection sensor, the distance between the print head and the gap detection sensor is set to a preset label size (label pitch or label spacing). Gap length), that is, the number of positioning steps is calculated based on the label size set as a fixed value.

[0008]

However, the label pitch on the label paper is not always guaranteed with high accuracy, and there is a variation of about ± several millimeters. Although it is an extreme example, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, labels 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e, ... Are attached to the backing sheet 6, and the label pitch and the gap length between the labels are provided for each label. However, in the label paper 8 that differs due to variations in manufacturing, the label pitch is 10 steps for the label 7b and 1 for the label 7c.
There are 5 steps and 20 steps with label 7d.

When such label paper 8 is used,
Since the preset label size is 15 steps, when the gap detection sensor 2 detects the rear end of the label 7d, the distance between the print head 1 and the gap detection sensor 2 is 50 steps as described above. The preset label size is divided by 15 steps, and the remaining 5 steps are added with the preset gap length of 5 steps to set the number of steps for positioning the next label 7b to the printing position of 10 steps. To be done.

By the way, since the gap length between the label 7a and the label 7b has only two steps, the label paper 8 is set at 10 steps set as the positioning step number.
9 is conveyed, the printing start position of the label 7b is conveyed by more than the printing position by 3 steps and is displaced as shown in FIG.

This also applies to the label paper provided with marks corresponding to the label pitch for positioning at the printing position, and the mark pitch is not always guaranteed with high accuracy. Without ± several mm
There are variations in degree.

Therefore, in the case of using the label paper having variations, the number of positioning steps calculated based on the label size such as the label pitch and the gap length set as the fixed value is set from the time when the mark is detected. When the label paper is conveyed by the number of positioning steps and positioned at the print position, the print start position of the next label may actually be displaced.

As described above, in the conventional label printer, the label size such as the label pitch and the gap length between the labels is set in advance as a fixed value, and the label size is set based on the label size set as this fixed value. Since the number of positioning steps to the print position was calculated, there is a problem that the print start position on the label actually shifts when the label paper is positioned and conveyed with the number of positioning steps due to variations in the label pitch of the label paper. there were.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a label printer which can accurately position a label at a printing position regardless of variations in the label pitch of label paper.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention uses a label paper in which a plurality of labels are adhered to a mount paper at predetermined intervals or a label paper in which marks are provided in correspondence with a label pitch. And a front end or rear end of the label or a detection sensor for detecting a mark, and in a label printer that prints desired information on a label paper that has been positioned at a predetermined printing position, the front end of the label is detected by the detection sensor. Alternatively, when a trailing edge or a mark is detected, a numerical value setting means for newly setting a numerical value corresponding to the positioning conveyance distance from the detection sensor and a numerical value setting means according to the conveyance amount of the label paper are set. And subtraction means for subtracting all the respective numerical values, and when one of the numerical values set in the numerical value setting means becomes 0 due to the subtraction by the subtracting means, the label paper is marked. In which the positioning of the position is provided and a determination unit to be complete.

[0016]

In the present invention having such a structure, when the detection sensor detects the front end or the rear end of the label of the label sheet or the mark, the numerical value setting means determines the position corresponding to the positioning conveyance distance from the detection sensor. The specified value is newly set.

All the numerical values set in the numerical value setting means are subtracted by the subtracting means in accordance with the conveyance of the label paper, and the subtraction means sets one of these set numerical values.
When the number becomes 0, the determining unit determines that the positioning of the label sheet at the print position is completed.

Therefore, by determining that the positioning is completed, it becomes possible to print desired information by the print head.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is an application of the present invention to a label printer that prints information on a label paper in which a plurality of labels are attached to a mount paper at predetermined intervals, and FIG. The block diagram of a circuit structure is shown.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a CPU (cent
ral processing unit). A ROM (read onl) in which program data for processing performed by the CPU 11 is stored
y memory) 12, a RAM (random a) in which areas of various memories used when the CPU 11 performs processing are formed.
The communication interface 14 connected to the external image creating device such as a ccess memory 13 and a host computer via a line is connected to the CPU 11 via a system bus 15.

Further, the RAM 13 is formed with a cueing step number counter table 13a as a numerical value setting means consisting of five areas in which a cueing step number (numerical value corresponding to the positioning conveyance distance) is set.

Further, a keyboard controller 17 for controlling the keyboard 16, a head controller 19 for controlling a thermal head 18 as a print head, a motor controller 21 for controlling a stepping motor 20 for conveying a sheet, and a transmission type optical sensor, I / O (input / output) ports 23 for inputting a detection signal from a gap detection sensor 22 as a detection sensor for detecting the sticking portion and the non-sticking portion of the label of the label paper are also respectively the system bus 15 It is connected to the CPU 11 via.

The distance C between the print position A of the thermal head 18 and the detection position B of the gap detection sensor 22 shown in FIG. 2 is the distance that the sheet is conveyed when the stepping motor 20 is driven by 50 steps. Equal. In addition, the label paper 31 includes a mount 32 and a plurality of labels 33.
a, 33b, 33c, 33d, ... Are attached with a label pitch of 15 steps on average.

In this embodiment, the cueing step number counter table 13a is provided with five areas in which the number of cueing steps is set. However, the number of these areas differs depending on the label paper used. The print position A of the thermal head 18 and the gap detection sensor 22
The number of areas can be reduced if the label pitch of the label paper is longer, and the area can be reduced if the label pitch is shorter. Will increase the number of.

FIG. 3 shows the flow of the positioning process performed by the CPU 11.

First, the label paper is fed by one step (one step conveyance) by the stepping motor 20, and the indexing step number counter table 1 of the RAM 13 is carried out.
A subtraction process of -1 is performed on all the cueing step numbers (numerical values corresponding to the positioning conveyance distances) set in 3a (subtracting means).

Here, it is confirmed whether or not the leading edge of the label is detected, and only when the leading edge of the label is detected, the cueing step number 50 is set at the head of the empty area of the cueing step number counter table 13a. set.

Next, it is determined whether or not the number of steps set in the head area of the cueing step number counter table 13a has become zero. If it is not determined here that the number of steps set in the leading area is not 0, the process returns to the first process of this positioning process.

When it is judged that the number of steps set in the head area of the cueing step number counter table 13a has become 0, each step number set in the cueing step number counter table 13a is incremented by one. Performing the process of shifting to a higher-ranked area, and determining that the positioning of the label sheet at the print position is completed (determination means),
This positioning process is completed.

FIG. 4 shows the flow of the printing process performed by the CPU 11 based on the end of the above-mentioned positioning process.

First, the stepping motor 20 feeds the label paper one step (conveys one step) and outputs the print information of one line to output the thermal head 18.
1 line is printed on the label paper.

When this one-line printing is completed, a subtraction process of -1 is performed on all the cueing step numbers set in the cueing step number counter table 13a (subtracting means).

Here, it is confirmed whether or not the leading edge of the label is detected, and only when the leading edge of the label is detected, the cueing step number 50 is set at the head of the empty area of the cueing step number counter table 13a. set.

Next, by the above-described one-line printing, it is determined whether or not the printing of one label has been completed. If it is determined that the printing of one label has not been completed, the process returns to the first process of this printing process.

When it is determined that the printing of one label has been completed, the printing process is completed.

In this embodiment having such a structure, all five areas of the cueing step number counter table 13a are empty areas. FIG. 5 shows changes in setting contents of the cueing step number counter table 13a according to the conveyance of the label paper 31.

First, in the cueing step number counter table 13a shown in (1), when the label paper is not conveyed, all five areas thereof are 00 and all are empty areas.

In the cueing step number counter table 13a shown in (2), when the label paper is conveyed from the state of (1) and the front end of the first label is detected by the gap detection sensor 22, 50 is set in the leading area corresponding to the label whose front edge is detected.

In the cueing step number counter table 13a shown in (3), when the label paper is conveyed one step from the state of (2), the set value of the leading area is -1.
Subtracted to 49.

In the cueing step number counter table 13a shown in (4), the label paper is further conveyed from the state of (3) (14 steps are conveyed), and the front end of the second label is detected by the gap detection sensor 22. When is detected, 50 is set in the area next to the head area, that is, in the second area, corresponding to the detected label. The setting value of the leading area is 35 after subtracting the number of conveyed steps, that is, the number of 14 steps.

In the cueing step number counter table 13a shown in (5), when the label paper is conveyed one step from the state of (4), each set numerical value of the leading area and the second area is -1. Subtracted 34 and 4
It is 9.

In the cueing step number counter table 13a indicated by (6), the label paper is further conveyed from the state of (5) (16 steps are conveyed), and the front end of the third label is detected by the gap detection sensor 22. Is detected, 50 is set in the third area corresponding to the detected label. It should be noted that the respective set numerical values of the first area and the second area are 18 and 33 after subtracting 16 steps.

In the cueing step number counter table 13a shown in (7), the label paper is further conveyed from the state of (6) (14 steps are conveyed), and the front end of the fourth label is detected by the gap detection sensor 22. Is detected, 50 is set in the fourth area corresponding to the detected label. In addition, each set numerical value of the first area, the second area, and the third area is 14
Subtracted by the number of steps to be 4, 19 and 36.

In the cueing step number counter table 13a shown in (8), the label paper is further conveyed from the state of (7) (4 steps are conveyed), and the set value of the leading area becomes 0 at the moment. At this time, the positioning of the first label of the label paper is completed at the printing position.
The set numerical values of the second area, the third area, and the fourth area are respectively subtracted by the number of four steps to be 15, 32, and 46.

Here, without carrying the label paper,
Cue step number counter table 13a shown in (9)
, The setting values of the second area, the third area, and the fourth area are shifted to the first area, the second area, and the third area, respectively, which have higher rankings, and Printing starts on the label.

The cueing step number counter table 13a shown in (10) shows the set numerical values of the leading area, the second area and the third area when the label paper is conveyed one step from the state of (9). Are respectively subtracted by -1 to become 14, 31 and 45.

In the cueing step number counter table 13a shown in (11), the label paper is further conveyed from the state of (10) (11 steps are conveyed), and the gap detection sensor 22 causes the front end of the fifth label. When is detected, 50 is set in the fourth area, which is an empty area due to the shift in (9), corresponding to the detected label. The set numerical values for the first area, second area, and third area are 11
The number of steps is subtracted to become 3, 20, and 34.

In the cueing step number counter table 13a shown in (12), the label paper is further conveyed from the state of (11) (three steps are conveyed), and the set value of the leading area becomes 0. At this time, the second label on the label paper has been positioned at the print position. Note that the set numerical values of the second area, the third area, and the fourth area are respectively subtracted by the number of three steps to be 17, 31, and 47.

Here, without carrying the label paper,
(13) Cueing step number counter table 13
As in a, the setting values of the second area, the third area, and the fourth area are shifted to the first area, the second area, and the third area, respectively, which are higher by one rank, and Printing is started for the label.

By the way, the printing of the first label has already been completed before the set value of the leading area in (12) becomes zero.

In the cueing step number counter table 13a shown in (14), the label paper is set to 1 from the state of (13).
When the sheet is conveyed in steps, the set numerical values of the leading area, the second area, and the third area are respectively subtracted by -1 to become 16, 30, and 46.

In the cueing step number counter table 13a shown in (15), the label paper is further conveyed from the state of (14) (9 steps are conveyed), and the gap detection sensor 22 causes the front end of the sixth label. When is detected, 50 is set in the fourth area, which is an empty area due to the shift in (13), corresponding to the detected label. The set numerical values of the first area, the second area, and the third area are 7, 21, and 37 after subtracting 9 steps.

Similarly, 50 is set in the fourth area of the cueing step number counter table 13a corresponding to each label whose front edge is detected by the gap detection sensor. Then, when the set value in the leading area becomes 0, the positioning is completed and the label corresponding to the set value is started, and the set value in each area of the cueing step number counter table 13a is in the order of one. Shifted to higher areas.

As described above, regardless of the label pitch, each label is conveyed 50 steps from the time when the front end thereof is detected by the gap detection sensor 22 and is positioned at the printing position.

In the label paper described above, the label pitch of the first label is 15 steps, but 2
The label pitch of the first label is 17 steps and 3
The label pitch of the first label is 14 steps, the label pitch of the fourth label is 16 steps, and the label pitch of the fifth label is 13 steps.

In the fifth area of the cueing step number counter table 13a, the cueing step number is not set for the label paper having the average label pitch of 15 steps, but the average label pitch is about 11 steps. When the label paper of No. 1 is used, the number of cueing steps is set.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the number of cueing steps in which the number of areas corresponding to the number of labels that can exist between the print position of the thermal head 18 and the detection position of the gap detection sensor 22 are formed. Counter table 13a
Is provided, and when the front end of the label of the label sheet is detected by the gap detection sensor 22, the thermal head 1 from the detection position of the gap detection sensor 22 is provided in the leading area of the empty area of the cueing step number counter table 13a.
The step number 50 up to the print position of 8 is set, and the set numerical value of each area of the cueing step number counter table 13a is subtracted by -1 for each one-step conveyance of the label paper, and the cueing step number counter table 13a is set. When the leading area becomes 0, the positioning operation is completed as the positioning of the label paper to the print position is completed, and the set numerical value set in each area is sequentially shifted to the area with a higher rank, thereby making the label of the label paper. The label can be accurately positioned at the print position regardless of variations in pitch.

Further, in a label paper in which different kinds of labels are continuous, even if the label pitch changes greatly,
Each label can be accurately positioned at the print position of the thermal head 18.

In this embodiment, the description has been made on the case where the information is printed on the label based on the front end reference, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the information is printed on the label based on the rear end reference. It is applicable. For example, when the trailing edge of the label is detected by the gap detection sensor 22, if 40 is set in the leading area of the empty area of the cueing step number counter, the trailing edge of the trailing edge will always be 10 steps based on the trailing edge reference. Can be printed.

The present invention is not limited to this embodiment, but can be applied to a label printer which prints on a label paper provided with marks.
Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0061]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a label printer that can accurately position a label at a print position regardless of variations in the label pitch of label paper.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of essential parts of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a thermal head, a gap detection sensor, and a label sheet of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of a positioning process of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flow of a printing process of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a change in setting contents in conveyance of label paper of a cueing step number counter table 13a of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a print head, a transmissive optical sensor, label paper with an accurate label pitch, and an arrangement.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an arrangement of the conventional label paper in FIG. 6 when the label paper is positioned at a print position.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an arrangement of print heads, transmissive optical sensors, and label sheets having label pitch variations.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an arrangement of the conventional label paper in FIG. 8 at the time of positioning at a print position.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... CPU, 13a ... Cueing step number counter table, 18 ... Thermal head, 20 ... Stepping motor, 22 ... Gap detection sensor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A label sheet in which a plurality of labels are attached to a mount at a predetermined interval or a label sheet having marks corresponding to a label pitch is used, and a print head and a front edge or a rear edge of the label are used. Alternatively, in a label printer that includes a detection sensor that detects the mark and that prints desired information on the label paper that has been positioned at a predetermined printing position by a print head, the front end or the rear end of the label by the detection sensor. Alternatively, when the mark is detected, a numerical value setting means for newly setting a numerical value determined corresponding to the positioning conveyance distance from the detection sensor,
The subtracting means for subtracting all the respective numerical values set in the numerical value setting means according to the carry amount of the label sheet, and one of the numerical values set in the numerical value setting means becomes 0 by the subtracting means, A label printer, comprising: a determination unit that determines that positioning of the label sheet at the print position is completed.