Printer and packaging device

Abstract

To improve print quality even when an ionizer cannot cope with trouble, while preventing cost increase.SOLUTION: A printer 100 comprises: a holding part 110 which holds a film roll R; a print head 120; a film transport part 130 which transports a film F paid off from the film roll R; a print part 140 which presses the print head 120 against a print surface of the film F to print specific information on the print surface of the film F; and a roller 150 which is arranged upstream from the print head 120 in the transport direction D of the film F, and guides the film F. The film transport part 130 transports the film F in an externally exposed state along a part or the whole of the path from the film roll R to the print head 120, and the roller 150 comes into contact with the print surface of the film F to remove foreign matter on the print surface by making it adhere to the roller.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printer and a packaging device. [Background technology]

[0002] In printers that print on film, if dust or other foreign matter adheres to the head, heat is not easily transferred to the film, causing blank spaces in the print where the dust adheres. Also, if dust or other foreign matter adheres to the head, the head must be cleaned with a head cleaner, and production is halted each time this happens.

[0003] The reason that foreign matter adheres to the head is that the statically charged film attracts dust in the air, and the dust that adheres to the film is then carried to the head and adheres to it.

[0004] Conventionally, in order to solve this problem, a countermeasure has been taken in which the film is neutralized with an ionizer. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2023-76311 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2023-76311 [Patent Document 3] Patent Publication No. 2023-76311 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, when the above-mentioned measures are taken, there is a problem in that the ionizer is expensive, which leads to an increase in costs.

[0007] In addition to static electricity, there are other reasons why foreign matter may adhere to the head. For example, in Japanese confectionery factories, powdered sugar or soybean flour floats in the air, and may fall onto the film and adhere to the head. In such cases, there is a problem that ionizers cannot be used to deal with them.

[0008] This problem is particularly noticeable in printers in which the film is transported in an exposed state from the film roll to the head.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a printer and packaging device that can improve print quality even in cases where an ionizer cannot be used, while preventing an increase in costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] A printer according to one embodiment comprises a holding section that holds a film roll, a print head, a film transport section that transports the film unwound from the film roll, a printing section that prints specific information on the printing surface of the film by pressing the print head against the printing surface of the film, and a roller that is positioned upstream of the print head in the transport direction of the film and guides the film, wherein the film transport section transports the film while exposed to the outside for part or all of the path from the film roll to the print head, and the roller contacts the printing surface and removes foreign matter on the printing surface by adhering to it.

[0011] A packaging device according to one embodiment includes the above-mentioned printer, and a packaging unit that packages an object using at least the film transported from the printer by the film transport unit. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printer and a packaging device that can improve print quality even in cases where an ionizer cannot be used while preventing an increase in costs. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an overall configuration of a packaging device 1 according to a first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are given the same or similar reference numerals. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and the ratios of the dimensions are different from the actual ones. Therefore, the specific dimensions should be determined with reference to the following description. In addition, the drawings may include parts with different dimensional relationships and ratios. In this specification and the drawings, elements having substantially the same functions and configurations are given the same reference numerals to avoid repeated explanations, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not illustrated.

[0015] (First embodiment) A packaging device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of the packaging device 1 according to this embodiment.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the packaging device 1 according to this embodiment includes a first conveyor 10, a second conveyor 20, a moving mechanism 30, a sealing device (packaging section) 40, a third conveyor 50, and a printer 100.

[0017] The first conveyor 10 receives the object C that is conveyed to the packaging device 1 by a conveying means such as a conveyor (not shown). The first conveyor 10 is, for example, a belt conveyor. The first conveyor 10 conveys the object C to the second conveyor 20.

[0018] The second conveyor 20 receives the objects C supplied by the first conveyor 10. The second conveyor 20 is, for example, a belt conveyor. A predetermined number of objects C are collected on the second conveyor 20. The operation and stopping of the second conveyor 20 is controlled so that the objects C are lined up on the second conveyor 20 at predetermined intervals from each other along the conveying direction A of the second conveyor 20 (see FIG. 1).

[0019] The moving mechanism 30 moves a predetermined number of articles C collected on the second conveyor 20 to the sealing device 40. In addition, the moving mechanism 30 moves the articles C that have been packaged by the sealing device 40 (the articles C packaged using the film F) to the third conveyor 50.

[0020] The sealing device 40 packages the object C conveyed by the moving mechanism 30 with the film F conveyed by the film conveying section 130. The object C packaged by the sealing device 40 is moved to the third conveyor 50 by the moving mechanism 30.

[0021] Particularly in this embodiment, the sealing device 40 collectively (simultaneously) packages, in a single packaging operation, a plurality of (four in this embodiment) articles C arranged in parallel in the conveying direction D of the film F with the film F. The sealing device 40 individually packages the plurality of articles C in a single packaging operation.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the sealing device 40 includes a lifter 42 and a plate 44 .

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, the film F is transported between a placement surface 42a of a lifter 42 on which an article C is placed and an opposing surface 44a of a plate 44 that faces the placement surface 42a of the lifter 42.

[0024] A tool 48 is provided on the plate 44 at a position corresponding to each item C moved to the lifter 42 by the moving mechanism 30 in the conveying direction A of the second conveyor 20 (the conveying direction D of the film F) and in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction A of the second conveyor 20.

[0025] The tools 48 each have a heater and a cutter (not shown). The cutter of each tool 48 is disposed so as to come into contact with the film F and cut the film F at a predetermined position when the article C is moved by the lifter 42 to approach the plate 44.

[0026] The third conveyor 50 receives and conveys the packaged article C conveyed by the moving mechanism 30, and delivers it to a subsequent process (for example, a conveying means such as a conveyor not shown).

[0027] The recovery roll holding section 200 holds the recovery roll R2.

[0028] The printer 140 is disposed upstream of the sealing device 40 in the transport direction D of the film F. The printer 140 prints information such as predetermined characters and figures at predetermined positions on the film F before the film F is supplied to the sealing device 40.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, printer 100 includes a holding unit 110, a print head 120, a film transport unit 130, a printing unit 140, and rollers 150.

[0030] The holding unit 110 holds the film roll R1. The print head 120 is, for example, a thermal head.

[0031] The film transport section 130 transports the film F that is unwound from the film roll R1. The film transport section 130 guides the film F unwound from the film roll R1 held by the holding section 110 using a plurality of rollers and supplies it between the placement surface 42a of the lifter 42 and the opposing surface 44a of the plate 44 of the sealing device 40.

[0032] As described above, in the sealing device 40, the film F (referred to as used film F) after the film F (film piece) used for packaging the article C has been cut out is transported to the recovery roll holding section 200. The used film F transported to the recovery roll holding section 200 is collected by the recovery roll R2 held by the recovery roll holding section 200.

[0033] The printing unit 140 presses the print head 120 against the printing surface of the film F to print specific information on the printing surface.

[0034] Roller 150 is disposed upstream of print head 120 in transport direction D of film F, and guides film F.

[0035] Here, the film transport section 130 transports the film F from the film roll R1 to the print head 120 in a state where the film F is exposed to the outside.

[0036] The roller 150 comes into contact with the printed surface of the film F and adheres thereto to remove any foreign matter on the printed surface.

[0037] Specifically, the roller 150 is made of silicone rubber that has self-adhesiveness and adhesiveness. For example, the roller 150 may be a shaft covered with a silicone tube.

[0038] Furthermore, since the printer 100 according to this embodiment is also expected to be used in food factories, it is suitable to use silicone rubber, which is highly durable and does not suffer from damage due to hydrolysis.

[0039] Here, the hardness of the silicone rubber measured by a durometer type A is preferably 50 degrees or less, and more preferably 30 degrees or more. The softer the silicone rubber is, the easier it is to adhere to the printed surface of the film F and the higher the dirt collection performance will be. However, if the silicone rubber is too soft, it will wear out and the replacement time will be earlier, so it is preferable that the hardness is within the above range.

[0040] Furthermore, if cracks occur due to hardening of the rubber that makes up roller 150, there is a possibility of foreign matter becoming mixed in. However, since silicone rubber is used, hardening due to deterioration over time is less likely to occur, and therefore the performance for removing foreign matter is less likely to deteriorate.

[0041] According to this embodiment, since the attraction force of the roller 150 is stronger than the attraction force of dust due to static electricity, adhesion of foreign matter to the head can be prevented without using expensive parts such as an ionizer.

[0042] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, foreign matter that has adhered to the film due to factors other than static electricity can also be removed by roller 150, preventing print defects and improving print quality.

[0043] It is possible to achieve the same effect by placing a scraper (a spatula-shaped resin plate) instead of roller 150 and placing it in contact with the printed surface of film F to scrape off foreign matter, but this is not recommended as there is a concern that the printing on film F may be scratched (abrasion marks).

[0044] Although the present invention has been described in detail using the above-mentioned embodiment, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described in the present specification. The present invention can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention defined by the description of the claims. Therefore, the description in this specification is intended to be illustrative and does not have any limiting meaning on the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1...Packaging equipment 10...First conveyor 20…Second conveyor 30...Movement mechanism 40…Sealing device 42...Lifter 44…Plate 48…Tools 50…Third conveyor 100...Printer 110...Holding part 120...Print head 130...Film transport section 140…Printing section 150…Laura 200...Recovery roll holding section R1…Film roll R2…Recovery roll F: Film

Claims

1. a holding section for holding a film roll; A print head; a film transport unit that transports the film unwound from the film roll; a printing unit that prints specific information on a printing surface of the film by pressing the print head against the printing surface; a roller that is disposed upstream of the print head in a transport direction of the film and guides the film, the film transport unit transports the film in a state where the film is exposed to the outside along a part or entirety of a path from the film roll to the print head, The roller contacts the printing surface and adheres thereto to remove foreign matter on the printing surface.

2. The roller is made of silicone rubber having self-adhesive and adhesive properties.

2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the hardness of the silicone rubber measured by a durometer type A is 50 degrees or less.

3. A printer according to claim 1; a packaging unit that packages an object using at least the film transported from the printer by the film transport unit.

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