JPH0627521U - Label printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To accurately change the threshold voltage setting in response to deterioration of the light emitting part or the light receiving part of the optical sensor due to aging. A liquid crystal display 13a for displaying the level (voltage value) of the voltage signal output from the transmission sensor is provided, and the threshold is set based on the detection level of the transmission sensor when the threshold setting key of the keyboard 13b is pressed. It is used to change the setting of the sharp voltage value.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a label printer that prints on a label paper in which a plurality of labels are attached to a mount paper at predetermined intervals.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 In general, label printers are known to print on a label paper in which a plurality of labels are attached at a predetermined interval on a backing paper, and in order to position such label paper at a printing position, a transparent optical printer is used. It is known that the type sensor is used.

In this label printer, the transmission amount of light is larger in the portion (gap) between the labels than in the portion where the label is attached, and the output from the transmission optical sensor is utilized. When a signal that outputs a voltage proportional to the amount of transmitted light is detected as an edge where the voltage changes from a level higher than the threshold voltage to a level lower than the threshold voltage, the sensor labels it. It came to judge that the tip of was detected.

This threshold voltage is generally set in advance according to the characteristics of the sensor. However, as the label printer is used, deterioration of the light emitting unit or the light receiving unit of the sensor due to aging, or deterioration of the light emitting unit or the light receiving unit. The voltage value of the voltage signal output from the sensor often decreases gradually due to dust on the light receiving part.

Therefore, in the conventional label printer, it is possible to change the setting of the threshold voltage. That is, for example, by pressing the switch for setting the threshold voltage, which is provided in advance, with the labeled portion conveyed to the detection position of the sensor, the voltage output from the sensor at that time The threshold voltage lower or higher than the voltage was calculated and the setting was changed. In the above-described example, as shown in FIG. 6, in the label paper in which the blank label 2 is attached to the mount 1 at a predetermined interval, when the gap portion of only the mount 1 between the blank labels 2 is detected. A threshold voltage B which is lower than the voltage A of the level of a predetermined level, for example, by a few percent or a few V, is set, and the correct setting of the threshold voltage is changed.

[0006]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 In a conventional label printer, a transmissive optical sensor is installed inside the main body of the device, so it is difficult to tell whether the sensor detects the label or the gap of the label paper. For example, as shown in Fig. 7, In the label paper in which the pre-printed labels 4 are attached to the mount 3 at a predetermined interval, the sensor detection level is different between the pre-printed portion 4a and the unprinted (blank) portion 4b on the label 4, There is a problem that a voltage D lower than the voltage C by a few percent or a few V with respect to the voltage C when the non-printed portion 4b is detected may be a threshold voltage.

If the threshold voltage is set lower than the output voltage C when the label portion is detected in this way, the label portion is always detected, resulting in an erroneous detection state, and the gap portion is detected. The problem was that it was not possible to print correctly and could not be printed correctly.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a label printer capable of accurately changing the setting of the threshold voltage in response to deterioration of the light emitting portion or the light receiving portion of the optical sensor due to aging or the like.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 This invention uses label paper in which multiple labels are attached to a backing paper at predetermined intervals, and the label paper is printed by positioning the label paper at the print position by detecting the front or rear edge of the label. In a label printer, a sensor that irradiates the label paper with light and receives the reflected light or transmitted light and outputs a signal of a voltage value according to the received light amount, and the voltage signal from this sensor Threshold value setting means for setting a threshold value for judging whether it is a label portion or a portion only between the labels and the voltage value information display means for displaying voltage value information based on the voltage signal output from the sensor Then, the threshold voltage value is calculated based on the voltage signal output from the sensor by the specific operation, and the threshold voltage value set by the threshold value setting means is set to the calculated threshold voltage value. It is provided with a the threshold voltage value updating means for further.

[0010]

[Action]

 In the present invention having such a configuration, the sensor irradiates the label paper with light, receives the reflected light or the transmitted light, and outputs a voltage value signal corresponding to the amount of the received light.

Based on this voltage signal, voltage value information is displayed by the voltage value information display means. Therefore, the person who sets the threshold value performs a specific operation when confirming the detection level of the label portion or the gap portion while monitoring the voltage value information.

When a specific operation is performed, the threshold value updating means calculates a threshold voltage value based on the voltage signal output from the sensor at that time, and the threshold value setting means has already set it. The threshold voltage value is changed to the calculated threshold voltage value.

[0013]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a label printer to which the present invention is applied. The apparatus main body 11 is provided with a control processing section and a printing section, and a printed label is ejected on the front surface of the apparatus main body 11. A label outlet 11a is provided.

An operation panel 13 is connected to the apparatus main body 11 via a connection cable 12 connected to the back surface thereof. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 13 is provided with a liquid crystal display 13a as a voltage value information display means and a keyboard 13b composed of various keys such as threshold setting keys (not shown). ing.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the printing section provided inside the apparatus main body 11 includes a printing head 14, a platen 15 arranged to face the printing head 14, and a label paper 16 in the figure. A transport mechanism (not shown) for transporting the printhead 14 and the platen 15 in the direction of arrow P, and a label attached to the mount 16a of the label paper 16 at predetermined intervals. It is composed of a transmission type optical sensor (hereinafter referred to as a transmission sensor) 17 including a light emitting portion 17a and a light receiving portion 17b for detecting the front end of 16b.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a main part of this label printer.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a CPU (central processing unit) that constitutes the main body of the control unit. A ROM (read only memory) 22 in which program data of processing performed by the CPU 21 is stored, areas of various memories used when the CPU 21 performs processing are formed, and a threshold as threshold setting means. A RAM (random access memory) 23 in which a value setting area 23a is formed, and an A / D converter 24 which is connected to the transmission sensor 17 and converts a voltage signal output from the transmission sensor 17 into digital data are provided. , Is connected to the CPU 21 via a system bus 25.

Further, a head controller 26 for controlling the print head 14, a motor controller 28 for controlling the platen 15 and a feed motor 27 as a drive source of the transport mechanism, and a liquid crystal display 13 a of the operation panel 13 are controlled. A display controller 29 and a keyboard controller 30 for controlling the keyboard 13b of the operation panel 13 are also connected to the CPU 21 via the system bus 25.

FIG. 5 shows a flow of the threshold setting process performed by the CPU 21 when the threshold setting operation is performed by the keyboard 13b of the operation panel 13.

First, the voltage signal output from the transmission sensor 17 is digitally converted by the A / D converter 24 to read a digital value (sensor value). The read sensor value is converted (converted) into display data, the display data is output to the operation panel 13, and the display data is displayed on the liquid crystal display 13a.

Next, it is determined whether or not there is a threshold setting key input (specific operation) on the keyboard 13b, and if there is no threshold setting key input, the first process of this threshold setting process is performed. When the threshold setting key is input, the threshold value (threshold value) is calculated based on the sensor value and already stored in the threshold setting area 23a of the RAM 23. The calculated threshold value is written in the threshold setting area 23a in place of the threshold value being set (threshold voltage value updating means).

When the writing is completed, the threshold setting process is completed.

In this embodiment having such a configuration, the label paper 16 is irradiated with light from the light emitting portion 17a of the transmission sensor 17, and the transmitted light is received by the light receiving portion 17b. A level (voltage value) proportional to the amount of received light is output from the transmission sensor 17, and this level is compared with the threshold value stored in the threshold setting area 23a, and the level is the threshold value. The transition from a higher level to a lower level than the value is judged to be the front end of the label 16b.

When it is determined that the front end of the label 16b is detected, that is, when the front end of the label 16b is detected, the label paper 16 is positioned at the print position according to the position of the front end of the label 16b, and a predetermined print is performed by the print head 14. Information is printed.

By the way, when calibrating the threshold value, the detection level from the transmission sensor 17 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 13a by operating the keyboard 13b, and the sensor value displayed on the liquid crystal display 13a is monitored. Meanwhile, the label paper 16 is moved slowly.

Then, the sensor value displayed on the liquid crystal display 13a changes due to the label portion, the gap portion, the preprinted portion, the blank sheet portion, or the like. Then, when the threshold setting key of the keyboard 13b is pressed when the gap is detected, the threshold is set based on the sensor value at that time, that is, the voltage signal (voltage value) output from the transmission sensor 17 at that time. The threshold value is calculated, and the calculated threshold value is written in place of the threshold value set in the threshold setting area of the RAM 23.

Therefore, thereafter, based on this threshold value, the front end of the label 16b is judged from the voltage signal output from the transmission sensor 17.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the liquid crystal display 13a for displaying the level (voltage value) of the voltage signal output from the transmission sensor 17 is provided, and the threshold setting key of the keyboard 13b is pressed. The operator calibrates the threshold value by changing the setting of the threshold voltage value based on the detection level of the transmission sensor at the time, and visually confirms the detection level of the transmission sensor 17 on the liquid crystal display 13a. Therefore, even with pre-printed label paper, it is possible to accurately calculate the threshold value from the detection level at the gap and change the setting.

That is, the setting of the threshold voltage value (threshold voltage) can be accurately changed in response to deterioration of the light emitting portion or the light receiving portion of the transmission sensor 17 due to aging or the like.

[0031]

[Effect of device]

 As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a label printer capable of accurately changing the setting of the threshold voltage in response to the deterioration of the light emitting portion or the light receiving portion of the optical sensor due to changes over time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the operation panel of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a main configuration of a printing unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a main part of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of threshold setting processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a detection level and a threshold value by a sensor based on an example of label paper.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a detection level and a threshold value by a sensor based on an example of preprinted label paper.

[Explanation of symbols]

13 ... Operation panel, 13a ... Liquid crystal display, 13b ... Keyboard, 16 ... Label paper, 16a ... Mount, 16b ... Label, 17 ... Transmission sensor, 23a ... Threshold setting area.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A label sheet comprising a label sheet and a plurality of labels adhered to each other at predetermined intervals, the label sheet being positioned at a printing position by detecting a front edge or a rear edge of the label. In a label printer that prints on, a sensor that irradiates the label paper with light and receives the reflected light or the transmitted light and outputs a signal of a voltage value according to the amount of received light, and a voltage signal from the sensor Threshold value setting means for setting a threshold value for determining whether the label portion of the label sheet or the portion between the labels and the backing sheet only, and voltage value information is displayed based on the voltage signal output from the sensor. The threshold voltage value is calculated based on the voltage value information display means and the voltage signal output from the sensor by a specific operation, and the threshold voltage value set by the threshold value setting means is calculated. And a threshold voltage value updating means for changing the calculated threshold voltage value to the label printer.