WO2006046454A1

WO2006046454A1 - Label printer

Info

Publication number: WO2006046454A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/019268
Authority: WO
Inventors: Takeshi Ogawa
Original assignee: Star Micronics Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2004-10-26
Filing date: 2005-10-20
Publication date: 2006-05-04
Also published as: JP2006123190A

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To provide a label printer in which a label can be handled easily at all times by making significantly curled state of a discharged label to a state similar to slightly curled state. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A label sheet (10) rolled is pulled out to pass through a print mechanism (50) for printing on a label (12) at the stage immediately after printing, the label sheet (10) is folded back with an acute angle by means of a peal-off bar (60), thus peeling off the label (12) from a ground paper (11). On the print surface side of the label (12) of a label discharge port (34), an upper guide (38) is provided to protrude toward the adhesive surface side of the label (12) from the carrying direction of the label sheet (10) just in front of the peel-off bar (60). In case of a significantly curled label, the upper guide (38) presses the print surface to forcibly enlarge the curl diameter of the discharged label (12).

Description

Specification

Label printer

Technical field

[0001] The present invention stores a label paper that is affixed with a label on a mount and wound in a roll shape, and after printing the label while pulling out the label paper, the label that peels off the printed label on the mount Regarding printers.

Background art

[0002] The necessary information is printed on the label paper as described above, and the label is peeled off from the backing paper and attached to the article. There is provided a label printer that continuously performs the above.

FIG. 4 shows a conventional example of this type of label printer. According to this label printer, the label 201 is printed from the print head 102 when the roll-shaped label paper 200 stored in the casing 100 is pulled out and passes between the platen 101 and the print head 102. Is done. Immediately after printing, the backing paper 202 is folded back at an acute angle by the peeling bar 103, whereby the label 201 is peeled off from the backing paper 202, the backing paper 202 is discharged to the backing paper discharge port 104, and the rabenole 201 exits to the rabenole outlet 105. It will be done.

[0004] The label paper 200 is pulled out of a roll state by being sandwiched between a platen 101 that rotates clockwise in the drawing and the print head 102, and the label 201 is separated by a peeling bar 103 due to its own rigidity. The paper is peeled from the folded mount 202 and sent to the label discharge port 105. The mount 202 after the label 201 is peeled is sent to the mount discharge port 104 by being sandwiched between the rotating platen 101 and the peeling roller 106. In this label printer, a peeling sensor 107 for detecting whether or not the label 201 is normally peeled and discharged to the label discharge port 105 is provided at a position close to the label discharge port 105.

[0005] In such a label printer, the label paper 200 wound in a roll shape is provided with a curl, so that the label 201 peeled off from the mount 202 is discharged in a curled state. The curl degree of the label 201 is weak when the roll diameter of the label paper 200 is large, but becomes stronger as the consumption of the label paper 200 progresses and the roll diameter becomes smaller (force The diameter of one barrel is small). For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), when the roll diameter of the label sheet 200 is large, the label 201 to be discharged is a force that extends relatively straightly onto the casing 100 and is discharged. As shown in b), at the end of use when the roll diameter of the label sheet 200 is reduced, the curl is strong and curls.

[0006] If the label 201 is curled downstream from the peeling bar 103 in this way, the back surface of the adhesive surface sticks to the printed surface of the front surface, or the label 201 rolls down from the label discharge port 105 to the outside. As a result, the label 201 is often used for handling or becomes unusable. Further, the label 201 is too far from the peeling sensor 107, and the discharged label 201 is reliably detected by the peeling sensor 107. This is because the label paper curls, and as a technology to correct the curl, the lifting force of the label is suppressed by the label presser placed on the peeler that peels off the backing paper label. What is attached is known (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0007] Patent Document 1: JP-A 63-67234

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0008] By the way, the curl of the label paper is not easily corrected, especially when the roll diameter is small or the label is stiff. Therefore, it is difficult to completely suppress curling by simply pressing the label paper for a short time just before discharging, as in the apparatus described in the above document. In addition, this device corrects curling of label paper before discharging, so curling remains after discharging, and it is not possible to deal with labels that are discharged. I can't correct it ヽ

[0009] Also, the label presser is biased so as to press the label with a spring. However, if the label presser is pressed against the label with a strong force, the printed image may be damaged. In this respect, it is possible to adjust the pressing force for pressing the label, and if the pressing force is weakened, the printed image will be retained, but in this case, the effect of correcting the curl is reduced. It is predicted.

[0010] Therefore, in the present invention, the discharge state of a label with strong curl is the same as when the curl is weak. The objective is to provide a label printer that is always easy to handle.

Means for solving the problem

[0011] The present invention performs printing on a label sheet storage unit in which a label is affixed to a mount and stores label paper wound in a roll shape, and a printing surface of the label sheet stored in the label sheet storage unit The printing mechanism, the peeling mechanism that peels off the label after printing, the discharge part that discharges the label peeled off by the peeling mechanism, and the label paper stored in the label paper storage part In a label printer equipped with a paper transport mechanism that guides in order of the peeling mechanism and feeds the labels peeled off by the peeling mechanism to the discharge section, the label printer immediately before the peeling mechanism is placed on the printing surface side of the label in the discharge section. A label guide is provided that protrudes more toward the adhesive surface of the label mount than the paper transport direction and regulates the label discharge direction to a fixed direction. .

[0012] According to the present invention, when the label paper that has been drawn out passes through the printing mechanism, the label paper is printed on the surface of the label by the printing mechanism, and thereafter, the mounting force is applied by the peeling mechanism. The label is peeled off and the label is discharged to the discharge portion. The labels are curled because the label paper is rolled up, so the labels discharged from the discharge section must be curled! /

[0013] Now, when the roll diameter of the label sheet is reduced and the curl is strengthened, the label is normally discharged in a state of protruding to the printing surface side. Here, the label is pressed relatively so that the print surface comes into contact with the label guide and the curl diameter increases, and the discharge direction is restricted to a certain direction. Therefore, a discharge failure caused by excessive curling is prevented. In addition, the label guide, which does not correct the curl by pressing the label guide against the printing surface of the label, simply contacts the printing surface to regulate the discharge direction, so there is no risk of damaging the printing surface. .

[0014] In the present invention, in the case of providing a label detection means for detecting whether or not the label from which the backing force has also been peeled is normally discharged to the discharge portion, the discharge portion facing the label guide and between the label guide and the label guide It is good to arrange | position in the position which detects the label which exists in. In the present invention, even if the label is strongly curled as described above, the label discharged by the label guide Therefore, if the label detecting means is arranged opposite to the label guide, the label can be detected reliably.

The invention's effect

[0015] According to the present invention, the label that is peeled off from the backing sheet and discharged to the discharge port is always regulated in a fixed direction by the label guide, so that the label can be discharged even when the curl is strong. The direction is stable, and the peeled label can be handled easily, and the discharged label can be reliably detected.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a label printer 1 according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows a procedure for setting label paper 10 into the label printer 1 in the order of (a) to (d).

As shown in these drawings, the label printer 1 is provided with a rectangular parallelepiped casing 20 for storing the label paper 10, and the casing 20 has double covers 30, 40 (upper (Cover and lower cover) Force It is detachably attached via a hinge shaft 21 extending in the left-right direction (the front and back of the drawing). These upper and lower covers 30, 40 share a single hinge shaft 21, and each independently rotate to open each cover 30, 40, and label it on the label paper storage section 22 in the casing 20. Paper 10 is stored.

[0018] The label paper 10 has a label 12 attached to one side of a mount 11, and is rolled and accumulated around the core 13 in a state where the label 12 is arranged on the outer peripheral side. The label paper 10 is dropped and stored in the label paper storage portion 22 in such a manner that the core 13 is substantially parallel to the hinge shaft 21 and the end arranged on the front side is pulled out from below. The upper and lower covers 30 and 40 are detachably engaged with the casing 20 by an engagement / removal mechanism (not shown) so that the fully closed state shown in FIG. 1 is maintained in the engaged state. .

The label printer 1 includes a printing mechanism 50 that prints on the label 12. The printing mechanism 50 includes a platen roller 51 attached to the lower cover 40 and a thermal printing head 52.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the lower cover 40, in a closed state, inclines downward from the base end portion 41 with a base end portion 41 extending horizontally forward from the attachment portion to the hinge shaft 21. Slope 42 And an R portion 43 that curves upward from the inclined portion 42 to the front end portion, and left and right triangular side wall portions 44 that rise from both ends of the portion extending from the middle of the inclined portion 42 to the R portion 43. The rear end of the base end 41 is pivotally attached to the hinge shaft 21! / A platen roller 51 is rotatably attached to the front end portion of the lower cover 40 with its axial direction parallel to the hinge shaft 21.

The print head 52 is attached to the upper part of the inner surface of the front portion of the casing 20, and is urged rearward (rightward in FIG. 1) by a spring (not shown). When the lower cover 40 is closed, the platen roller 51 opposes the print head 52, and the print head 52 is in pressure contact with the platen roller 51 in inertia. The label paper 10 pulled out from the roll state is sandwiched between the platen roller 51 and the print head 52, and is conveyed upward as the platen roller 51 rotates clockwise in FIG. The platen roller 51 is rotated by a drive mechanism (not shown) attached to the casing 20 and a reduction gear group force. When the lower cover 40 is closed, the platen roller 51 is connected to the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism and the platen roller 51 constitute a paper transport mechanism.

A thin bar-like peeling bar 60 parallel to the platen roller 51 is fixed between the front end upper portions of the left and right side wall portions 44 of the lower cover 40. The peeling bar 60 separates the label paper 10 into the mount 11 and the label 12. When the lower cover 40 is closed, the peeling bar 60 is located immediately above the printing mechanism 50 and immediately after the label paper 10 passes the printing mechanism 50. Arranged in position.

[0023] The upper cover 30 has left and right side wall portions 31 disposed on both sides of the lower cover 40, and a top plate portion 32 spanned between the side wall portions 31. A rear end portion of 31 is rotatably attached to the hinge shaft 21. The top plate portion 32 extends forward from the rear end portions of the left and right side wall portions 31 with a predetermined distance forward, and the space formed on the rear side is a mount discharge port 33. . A label discharge port 34 is formed at the front end portion of the top plate portion 32 and at the front side of the side wall portion 31, and a lower guide 35 inclined downward is formed from the peripheral edge of the rear side of the label discharge port 34. ing. As shown in FIGS. 2 (c) to (d), when the upper and lower covers 30 and 40 are closed, the mount discharge port 33 of the upper cover 30 is blocked by the base end 41 of the lower cover 40, leaving the front portion. The remaining front portion becomes a substantial mount outlet 33.

A front plate portion 36 is formed on the top plate portion 32 in front of the label discharge port 34. this The front plate portion 36 includes a locking portion 37 that is placed on and locked to the step portion 23 formed on the upper surface of the casing 20, and an upper guide 38 that is formed at the rear portion of the locking portion 37. . The upper guide 38 inclines backward, and is opposed to the lower guide 35 in parallel with a space between the upper guide 38 and the lower guide 35.

[0025] The conveyance direction of the label paper 10 from the printing mechanism 50 to the peeling bar 60 is a tangential direction in which the contact force between the platen roller 51 and the print head 52 is also drawn to the outer peripheral surface of the peeling bar 60. And extends substantially upward in the vertical direction. The upper guide 38 is arranged on the front side, which is the printing surface side of the label 12 discharged to the label discharge port 34, and extends substantially upward in the vertical direction immediately before the peeling bar 60. It protrudes to the rear side, which is the adhesive side of the mount 11. The force between the upper guide 38 and the lower guide 35 is a label discharge path 70 that rises obliquely rearward.

A peeling roller 61 parallel to the platen roller 51 is disposed below the lower guide 35.

The peeling roller 61 is rotatably supported between convex portions 31a formed at the front end portions of the left and right side wall portions 31. When the upper and lower covers 30 and 40 are closed, the peeling roller 61 comes into close contact with the platen roller 51 and is rotated by the platen roller 51 in a driven manner. The mount 11 from which the label 12 has been peeled is sandwiched between the platen roller 51 and the peel roller 61, and when the platen roller 51 rotates, the both rollers 51, 61 pass through the upper surface of the lower cover 40 and reach the mount discharge port 33. It is conveyed through the mount discharge path 71.

In addition, a peeling sensor 62 that detects the label 12 at the label discharge port 34 is fixed at a position on the lower surface of the upper cover 30 and a rear end portion of the lower guide 35. The peeling sensor 62 is a light-reflective sensor that detects the presence of a label at the label discharge port 34, and the label 12 has been peeled off normally from the mount 11, and the label 12 has been removed by the user. Detect that it has been removed.

[0028] The configuration of the label printer 1 has been described above. Next, the usage method and operation of the label printer 1 will be described.

First, the procedure for setting the label paper 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in Fig. 2 (a), open the upper and lower covers 30, 40, make the core 13 parallel to the hinge shaft 21 and pull the end located on the front side upward with the downward force upward. Label Drop the paper 10 into the label paper compartment 22. Next, the end portion of the label sheet 10 is pulled out of the casing 20, and the lower cover 40 is closed as shown in FIG. 2 (b). The pulled label paper 10 is sandwiched between the platen roller 51 and the print head 52.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), the mount 11 of the label paper 10 is applied to the peeling bar 60, folded back, and further drawn out through the mount discharge port 33 of the upper cover 30, and FIG. Close upper cover 30 as shown in d). When the upper cover 30 is closed, the label paper 10 is sandwiched between the platen roller 51 and the peeling roller 61.

[0031] Next, the operation of the label printer 1 with the label paper 10 set as described above will be described. This operation is automatically controlled by a control CPU (not shown).

When a print command is supplied to the print head 52 and the motor of the above drive mechanism, printing by the print head 52 and conveyance of the label paper 10 by the platen roller 51 rotating clockwise in FIG. The label 12 is printed. The label paper 10 immediately after printing has the backing paper 11 folded back at an acute angle by the peeling bar 60, whereby the label 12 peels off the backing paper 11, passes through the upper label discharge path 70, and passes through the label discharge port 34. To go outside. The mount 11 from which the label 12 has been peeled is conveyed backward through the mount discharge path 71 by the platen roller 51 and the release roller 61, and exits to the outside through the mount discharge port 33.

[0032] Immediately after the end (lower end) of the label 12 that has been printed passes through the peeling bar 60, the label 12 is completely peeled off from the mount 11, and the conveyance of the label paper 10 is stopped at this timing. At that time, as shown in FIG. 1, the label 12 is discharged to the label discharge port 34, and the label 12 is detected by the peeling sensor 62. Then, the user removes the discharged label 12 and attaches it to the article. When the label 12 disappears from the label discharge port 34, the fact is detected by the peeling sensor 62, and the next label 12 is printed in the same manner as described above.

In this label printer 1, when the roll diameter of the label sheet 10 is relatively large and the curl is weak, the label 12 is generally along the direction in which the label discharge path 70 extends as shown in FIG. Will be discharged. As the consumption of the label paper 10 progresses and the roll diameter becomes smaller, the curl of the discharged label 12 becomes stronger, so as shown in FIG. 3, the printing surface of the label 12 is in contact with the upper guide 38, The upper guide 38 receives a force relatively pushed to the rear side, and the curl diameter is forcibly increased while passing through the label discharge path 70. [0034] For this reason, the label 12 is excessively curled and the back surface of the adhesive surface sticks to the printed surface of the front surface, or the label 12 falls outside from the label discharge port 34, and the label 12 is removed. If it becomes a power that can be handled, or if it cannot be used, it will not cause any problems. Further, since the upper guide 38 is simply brought into contact with the printing surface to regulate the discharging direction of the label 12, there is no possibility of damaging the printing surface of the label 12.

Further, since the label 12 is not separated from the peeling sensor 62 due to strong curl, the discharged label 12 is reliably detected by the peeling sensor 62. In this case, if the peeling sensor 62 detects that the label 12 is not present, printing on the next label 12 is started. If the label 12 is too far from the peeling sensor 62, the label 12 is moved to the label discharge port 34. However, in the present embodiment, such a malfunction is prevented.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a label printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the label diameter of a label sheet is large and shows a state.

[FIG. 2] —Cross sectional views showing a procedure for setting a label sheet in the label printer of the embodiment in order of (a) to (d).

[FIG. 3] —A cross-sectional view of the label printer of the embodiment, showing a state in which the roll diameter of the label paper is small.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a conventional label printer, in which the roll diameter of a label sheet is (a) large and (b) small.

Explanation of symbols

[0037] 1 ... label printer

10. Label paper

11 ... Mount

12 ... Ravenole

22 ··· Label paper storage

34 ··· Label discharge port (discharge section)

38… Upper guide (label guide) ... Printing mechanism

... Peeling bar (peeling mechanism) ... Peeling sensor (label detection means)

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A label paper storage unit in which a label is affixed to a mount and a roll of label paper is stored;

A printing mechanism for printing on the printing surface of the label paper stored in the label paper storage section;

A peeling mechanism that peels off the label after printing,

The sheet strength peeled off by the peeling mechanism is discharged, and the label paper stored in the label paper storage section is guided in the order of the printing mechanism and the peeling mechanism, and the label peeled by the peeling mechanism is removed. In a label printer provided with a paper transport mechanism for feeding to the discharge unit,

A label guide is provided on the printing surface side of the label in the discharge section so as to protrude toward the adhesive surface side with respect to the label mount from the conveyance direction of the label paper immediately before the peeling mechanism and to regulate the discharge direction of the label in a certain direction. A label printer characterized by

[2] The label detection device according to claim 1, further comprising label detection means that is disposed to face the label guide and detects the label existing in the discharge portion between the label guide and the label guide. Label printer.