JPH09300788A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the printer from being driven without having a notification that a label sheet to be wound up by a winder exceeds a limit length by informing such a time when the delivery length of a label to be delivered exceeds a limit length by an information means. SOLUTION: A kind of a label and the number of sheets to be delivered are inputted by an input operation part (S1). The delivery length of the label sheet is calculated by a calculation means of CPU based on the length of the label and the number of sheets to be delivered (S2), in addition, a determination is made whether or not the total of the delivery length and aggregated delivery length indicating a past delivery length calculated prior to condition setting operation and stored in a memory exceeds a limit length by a discrimination means (S3). If the total aforementioned is determined as not reaching the limit length, label delivery is carried out (S7), and if the total of the calculated length and aggregated delivery length is determined to be equal or more than the limit length, it is indicated on the indication part as a message and given also to the operator as a warning that when label delivery is carried on as it is, it reaches a winding limit en route.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer device for printing data such as unit price and weight of a product on a label attached to the product.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a printer device of this type, a label sheet, in which a large number of labels are adhered to a strip-shaped backing sheet along the longitudinal direction thereof, is fed in the longitudinal direction while the printer prints information on the labels. There is something like this. Further, as an example of such a device, there is known a device in which when the number of labels to be printed is input and printing is started in advance, the labels are automatically printed by the number of labels that have been input. (JP-A-62-182029).

[0003]

However, in the printer device in which the printed label sheet is wound on the winder while printing is sequentially performed on each label of the label sheet, the printing is performed as described above. When the number of labels to be issued is entered and automatic printing is started, depending on the number of issues, the winding diameter of the label sheet that is wound into a roll on the winder reaches the limit diameter on the way and it may be the case of the winder. If the operator is away from the printer, the drive motor of the winder may be burned in, which may cause a problem such as burning.

The present invention solves such a problem and reduces the number of printed labels which causes a situation in which the label sheet wound by the winder exceeds the limit length and the drive motor of the winder is burned. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer device that automatically issues a warning when input is made and avoids issuing start.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a label sheet in which a large number of labels are adhered to a strip-shaped backing sheet along the longitudinal direction thereof while feeding in the longitudinal direction. A printer for printing information on the label,
In a printer device having a winder for winding the sent printed label sheet, a memory for storing a limit length LL of the label sheet wound by the winder, a label length L, and a number of issued sheets M Condition setting means for setting and
A calculating means for calculating the label issuing length (L × M) by multiplying the set label length L and the number of issued sheets M, and a label sheet having the label issuing length (L × M) up to the limit length LL. A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the remaining length is exceeded and a notifying means for notifying when the label issuing length (L × M) exceeds the remaining length of the label sheet are provided.

According to this configuration, when the label length L and the number of printed sheets M are input, the label printing length (L × M) exceeds the label sheet remaining length up to the limit value LL based on these inputs. It is determined whether or not it is exceeded, and if it is exceeded, the notification means notifies this. For this reason, it is possible to avoid starting the printing of the printer device without knowing that the label sheet wound by the winder exceeds the limit length LL.

The calculating means is configured to calculate, for example, a sum (L × M + L0) of the label issuing length (L × M) and an integrated issuing length L0 representing the label issuing length up to the previous time. The determining means may be, for example, the sum (L × M + L
0) exceeds the limit length LL.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of a printer device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2 (A), this printer device feeds a label sheet 17 in which a number of labels 16 are adhered along a longitudinal direction of a strip-shaped backing paper 15 made of release paper in the longitudinal direction, As shown in FIG. 2B, the label 16 is a device for printing information such as a product name, weight, and unit price.

Inside the box-shaped device body 1 of FIG. 1, an internal mounting shaft 2 for mounting a roll-shaped label sheet having a normal winding diameter so as to be able to be fed out is provided, and at the front end of the device, An external mounting shaft 3 for mounting a label sheet 17 having a winding diameter larger than usual so as to be able to be fed out is provided. A printer 4 for printing predetermined information on each label 16 of the label sheet 17 fed from the internal mounting shaft 2 or the external mounting shaft 3 is provided at the rear part of the apparatus main body 1. The printer 4 includes a cylindrical platen 5 which is rotationally driven in a direction for feeding out the label sheet 17, and a printing position which is arranged above the platen 5 and swings between a retracted position and a printing position around a support shaft 6. Thermal head 7 to print on label 16 with
Etc.

The label sheet 17 is inserted between the platen 5 and the thermal head 7 with the surface to which the label 16 is attached facing upward. A winding machine 8 for winding the label sheet 17 printed by the printer 4 on the winding shaft 80 is provided at the rear end of the apparatus. An input operation unit 9 having a plurality of keys such as a numeric keypad for inputting predetermined data and a display unit 10 including a display and the like are provided on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the printer device. In the figure, a CPU 11 is a device that controls the entire printer device, and various data used for the control is stored in a memory 12. Reference numeral 13 is a drive unit such as a drive motor that rotationally drives the winder 8. The input operation unit 9 functions as condition setting means for setting various conditions when the label 16 is printed and issued, and the data input by the input operation unit 9 includes, for example, the length of each label 16. There are L and the number M of issued labels 16. The label length L in this case is set as a value including the gap length provided between the front and rear labels 16, 16. These data are stored in the memory 12 for each type of the label 16 as shown in FIG. 4, for example. In FIG. 4, the information stored in association with each label is mainly print data for the label 16.

The limit length LL of the label sheet 17 wound by the winder 8 is input in advance by the input operation unit 9, and the limit length LL is also stored in the memory 12. The limit length LL in this case is the maximum label sheet length that prevents the printed label sheet 17 wound around the winder 8 from hitting the peripheral wall or bottom plate of the winder 8 and becoming unwound. Say. In the memory 12,
In addition, the cumulative issue length L0 described later is also stored. Further, in the CPU 11, the calculating means 14 for calculating the label issuing length (L × M) and this (L × M) are the limit lengths LL.
The determination means 18 for determining whether or not the remaining length of the label sheet up to is exceeded.

In addition to calculating the label issuing length (L × M), the calculating means 14 integrates past label issuing lengths to calculate the integrated issuing length L0. Further, the display unit 10 displays a message notifying when the label issuing length (L × M) exceeds the remaining label sheet length. That is, the display unit 10 also functions as a notification unit that notifies a warning.

Next, the operation of the printer device when the label sheet 17 mounted on the external mounting shaft 3 is fed out and printed on the label 16 will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. First, the type of the label 16 and the number M of issued labels 16 are input by the input operation unit 9 of FIG.
The type of the label 16 is specified by inputting a predetermined label number for each type. That is, the type of the label 16 is specified by collating the input label number with the label number stored in the memory 12, and from the label length data stored in association with each type of the label 16. The length L of the input label 16 is also specified (step S1).

Then, based on the length L of the label 16 and the number M of issued sheets, the calculating means 14 of the CPU 11
The issue length (L × M) of the label sheet 17 is calculated (step S2). Further, in the discrimination means 18 of the CPU 11, the issue length (L ×
M) and the cumulative issue length L0 that represents the past label issue length calculated in step S1 and stored in the memory 12 (L × M + L0) gives the limit length LL. Whether or not it is exceeded, that is, the label printing length (L ×
M) is the remaining length of the label sheet up to the limit length LL (LL-
It is determined whether or not L0 is exceeded (step S).
3). In step S3, the above sum (L × M + L0)
If it is determined that does not reach the limit length LL, the label issuance is started and the label is automatically printed by the input number M of issued sheets (step S7).

In step S3, when it is determined that the sum of the calculated issue length L × M and the integrated issue length L0 is equal to or longer than the limit length LL, the display unit 10 displays "Exceeding the winding limit. "Do you remove the label on the winder?"
Is displayed to warn the operator that if the label is issued as it is, the winding limit will be reached (step S4).

Based on the above warning, the operator usually removes the roll of the label sheet 17 from the winder 8 and at the same time selects "remove label sheet" with the label sheet removal key of the input operation section 9. When such a selection is input (step S5), the integrated issue length L0 is reset (step S6). That is, the memory 12
The integrated issue length L0 stored in is set to zero. As a result, the issue length calculation value calculated by the calculation means 14 becomes the limit length LL.
If the value does not reach, the label issuance is started (step S7).

On the other hand, when the warning is issued, the printed label sheet 17 is removed from the winder 8 at the end of the label issuing process performed last time, but the memory 1
Since the operation with the label sheet removal key for resetting the cumulative issue length L0 stored in 2 has not been performed, the operator judges that the warning has been issued, and the operator of the input operation unit 9 When "Do not remove label sheet" is selected with the label sheet removal key, the process proceeds from step S5 to step S7 to start label issuing.

In this way, when the type of the label 16 to be printed (hence the label length L) and the number of printed sheets M are input, the label printing length is the limit length LL during the label printing under the setting conditions. If it reaches, the warning is issued before the label is issued, so it is possible to start printing as it is, and in the middle of printing, the label sheet reaches the limit length LL and the drive motor of the winder 8 is seized surely. It can be avoided. The same operation as in the above case is performed when the label sheet 17 of the normal winding diameter attached to the internal attachment shaft 2 is fed out and the label is issued.

In the above embodiment, the label sheet 1
Although the limit length LL of 7 is input in advance and stored in the memory 12, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, after calculating the label issuing length (L × M) (step S2), the mount 15 The limit length LL may be calculated based on various data inputs such as the thickness of the label 16, the thickness of the label 16, the distance from the shaft of the winder 8 to an obstacle such as the floor (step S2A). Further, in order to calculate the limit length LL, as shown in FIG. 7, the memory 12 may store the thickness of each label 16 in association with each type of each label 16. Further, instead of inputting the limit length LL, the maximum limit value of the winding diameter in the winder 8 is input, and from this limit value, the thickness of the label sheet 17 (total thickness of the mount 15 and the label 16). Limit length L based on
L may be calculated.

[0021]

As described above, according to the printer apparatus of the present invention, when the printing length of the label to be printed exceeds the limit length LL, this is notified by the notification means. It is possible to prevent the printer device from being driven without knowing that the label sheet wound up in step S4 exceeds the limit length LL.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of a printer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a label sheet used in the printer device, and FIG. 2B is a partially enlarged view showing a state in which a label of the label sheet is printed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the printer device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of stored contents of a memory in the printer device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the printer device.

FIG. 6 is a partial flowchart showing another example of the operation of the printer device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of contents stored in a memory of the printer device.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 ... Printer, 8 ... Winding machine, 9 ... Input operation section (condition setting means), 10 ... Display section (informing means), 12 ... Memory, 1
4 ... Calculation means, 15 ... Mount, 16 ... Label, 17 ... Label sheet, 18 ... Judgment means, L ... Label length, M ... Issuing number of sheets, LL ... Limit length, L0 ... Integrated issue length

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A printer for printing information on a label sheet while feeding a label sheet, in which a number of labels are adhered along a longitudinal direction of a strip-shaped backing sheet, in the longitudinal direction, and a printed sheet sent by the printer. A printer device having a winder for winding label sheets, comprising: a memory for storing a limit length LL of label sheets wound by the winder; and a condition setting means for setting a label length L and a number of issued sheets M. And a calculating means for calculating the label issuing length (L × M) by multiplying the set label length L and the number of issued sheets M, and the label issuing length (L × M) up to the limit length LL. The present invention is characterized by further comprising: a discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the remaining length of the label sheet is exceeded, and an informing means for informing that when the label issuing length (L × M) exceeds the remaining length of the label sheet. Printer to be apparatus. 2. The calculation unit according to claim 1, wherein the calculation means calculates a sum (L × M + L0) of the label issuance length (L × M) and an accumulated issuance length L0 representing the label issuance length up to the previous time. A printer device, wherein the determining means determines whether or not the sum (L × M + L0) exceeds the limit length LL.