Label printer and management system

Abstract

To provide a technique that can sense an abnormality of a gap sensor.SOLUTION: A label printer 1, which conveys a medium in which a plurality of labels are attached on a sheet 30 side by side in one direction and forms images on the labels, comprises: a gap sensor 40 that has a light emitting part 401 that emits light toward the medium and a light receiving part 402 that receives light emitted by the light emitting part 401; and a processor that sets a value lower than a peak value of detected values sensed by the gap sensor 40 or a value higher than a bottom value thereof, as a first sensor threshold for sensing a gap between the plurality of labels, and determines whether the gap sensor 40 is abnormal or not, on the basis of a result of comparison of the first sensor threshold with a second sensor threshold set to a predetermined value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a label printer and a management system including the label printer.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a label printer that prints on a medium with a plurality of labels attached thereto so as to be arranged in one direction on a sheet. Some label printers are provided with a gap sensor having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion. The gap sensor detects the gap between adjacent labels, that is, the position of the portion of the base sheet where no label exists. The label printer can correct the leading edge position of the medium by detecting the gap.

[0003] In such a label printer, the gap is detected based on the detection value of the gap sensor. Therefore, when dirt occurs on the light receiving portion of the gap sensor due to adhesion of paper dust or the like, the leading edge position of the medium cannot be appropriately corrected, and printing by the label printer may not be appropriately performed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The problem to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of detecting an abnormality of a gap sensor.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In one embodiment, a label printer that conveys a medium having a plurality of labels arranged in one direction on a sheet in the one direction and forms an image on the labels, the label printer comprising: a light emitting unit that irradiates light toward the medium; and a light receiving unit that receives the light irradiated by the light emitting unit, a gap sensor; and a processor that sets a value lower than a peak value of a detection value detected by the gap sensor or higher than a bottom value as a first sensor threshold for detecting a gap between the plurality of labels, and determines the presence or absence of an abnormality of the gap sensor based on a comparison between the first sensor threshold and a second sensor threshold set to a predetermined value with respect to the detection value.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0009] <First Embodiment> (Configuration of the Management System) The configuration of the management system including the label printer according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the management system according to the present embodiment.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, the management system according to the present embodiment includes three label printers 1, three terminal devices 2, and one server device 3. The three label printers 1, the three terminal devices 2, and the server device 3 are communicably connected to each other by a network N. In the present embodiment, the management system may include at least one or more label printers 1, at least one or more terminal devices 2, and one server device 3.

[0011] Each of the three label printers 1 is assigned a unique identifier. Each of the three terminal devices 2 is a terminal used by a service person in charge of maintaining any one of the three label printers 1, and is, for example, a portable terminal device. Examples of such terminal devices include smartphones, tablet-type terminals, and laptop computers. The server device 3 individually manages the three label printers 1 and performs the notification process described later, thereby notifying the corresponding terminal device 2 according to the states of the three label printers 1.

[0012] (Configuration of Label Printer) The configuration of the label printer according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a label printer used as an in-line printer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing the internal configuration of the label printer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a medium printed by the label printer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the label printer according to the present embodiment.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, the label printer 1 according to the present embodiment is used as an in-line printer installed in a workplace or the like. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the label printer 1 is fixedly installed with respect to a transport device C that transports an article O, and performs printing on a label L attached to the article O. Another device may be used to supply the label L to the label printer 1. Another device may be used to attach the label L printed by the label printer 1 to the article O.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 3, the label printer 1 is a thermal transfer printer that transfers ink to the label L by heat. The label printer 1 includes a housing 10, a thermal head 21, a ribbon take-up shaft 22, a ribbon support shaft 23, a platen roller 31, a peeling roller 32, an opposing roller 321, a capstan roller 33, an opposing roller 331, and a peeling bar 34.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 4, the medium to be printed by the label printer 1 is a sheet 30 with labels L attached thereto such that the labels L are arranged in one direction. There is a gap between adjacent labels L in the juxtaposition direction on the sheet 30. In the label printer 1, the sheet 30 is transported to one side in the juxtaposition direction of the labels L.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 5, the label printer 1 further includes a ribbon take-up motor 29, a sheet supply motor 39, a gap sensor 40, an MPU (Micro Processor Unit) 51, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 52, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 53, and a communication I / F (InterFace) 54.

[0017] The housing 10 is formed in a substantially box shape that defines an internal space for accommodating the above-described components. A label discharge port 101 and a sheet supply / discharge port 102 are formed in the housing 10. The label discharge port 101 is an opening formed by cutting off a front-side (right side in FIG. 3) corner portion located on the bottom surface side of the housing 10. The sheet supply / discharge port 102 is an opening formed by cutting off a rear-side (left side in FIG. 3) corner portion located on the bottom surface side of the housing 10. A sheet 30 with a plurality of labels L continuously attached thereto is supplied from the sheet supply / discharge port 102. Each of the plurality of labels L attached to the sheet 30 is discharged from the label discharge port 101. The sheet 30 from which the label L has been peeled off is discharged from the sheet supply / discharge port 102.

[0018] The ribbon support shaft 23 rotatably supports an ink ribbon 20 around which a strip-shaped member coated with ink is wound in a roll shape. The ribbon take-up shaft 22 takes up the ink ribbon 20 unwound from the roll by being rotated by the ribbon take-up motor 29. The ribbon support shaft 23 and the ribbon take-up shaft 22 are provided at the same position in the vertical direction. The ribbon support shaft 23 is located on the rear side of the ribbon take-up shaft 22.

[0019] The thermal head 21 is provided below the ribbon support shaft 23 and the ribbon take-up shaft 22 and has a plurality of heating elements adjacent to each other in the width direction of the label L. The ink ribbon 20 unwound from the roll is taken up by the ribbon take-up shaft 22 via the thermal head 21. The plurality of heating elements generate heat in response to the input pulse wave, whereby the thermal head 21 transfers the ink applied to the ink ribbon to the label L to form an image. Note that, as a method for adjusting the amount of energy applied to the thermal head 21 according to the present embodiment, an increase or decrease in the current value of the pulse wave and an increase or decrease in the duty ratio of the pulse wave can be mentioned.

[0020] The capstan roller 33 is provided on the rear side of the platen roller 31 and the peeling roller 32. The capstan roller 33 conveys the sheet 30 supplied from the sheet supply / discharge port 102 to the front side where the thermal head 21 is located. The sheet 30 conveyed by the capstan roller 33 is positioned above the capstan roller 33 so that the back surface on which a plurality of labels L are not attached contacts the capstan roller 33. The opposing roller 331 is provided so as to oppose the capstan roller 33 with the sheet 30 interposed therebetween. The capstan roller 33 conveys the sheet 30 while sandwiching it in cooperation with the opposing roller 331.

[0021] The platen roller 31 is located on the front side of the capstan roller 33 and the peeling roller 32 and is configured to press the label L against the thermal head 21. The platen roller 31 conveys the sheet 30 to the front side where the label discharge port 101 is provided above it and also conveys the sheet 30 to the rear side where the sheet supply / discharge port 102 is provided below it.

[0022] The peeling bar 34 is located on the front side of the platen roller 31 and is provided near the label discharge port 101. The peeling bar 34 is formed to be longer than the width of the label L, and a corner is formed at the front end portion over the entire longitudinal direction thereof. The sheet 30 conveyed forward is folded back so as to be conveyed rearward with the corner of the peeling bar 34 as a base point. The peeling bar 34 can be bent at an acute angle so as to project the sheet 30 forward by bringing the corner into contact with the back surface of the sheet 30. Since the label L cannot follow this bending, the peeling bar 34 can discharge the printed label L from the label discharge port 101 by projecting the sheet 30 forward.

[0023] The peeling roller 32 is provided so as to be located between the platen roller 31 and the capstan roller 33 in the front-rear direction. The peeling roller 32 conveys the sheet 30 from which the label L has been peeled to the rear side where the sheet supply and discharge port 102 is located. The sheet 30 conveyed to the peeling roller 32 is positioned below the peeling roller 32 so that the back surface is in contact with the peeling roller 32. The opposing roller 321 is provided so as to oppose the peeling roller 32 with the sheet 30 interposed therebetween. The peeling roller 32 conveys the sheet 30 while sandwiching it in cooperation with the opposing roller 321. The sheet supply motor 39 rotates the platen roller 31, the peeling roller 32, and the capstan roller 33.

[0024] The gap sensor 40 is a sensor that detects the gap between the labels L attached to the sheet 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the gap sensor 40 is a transmissive photoelectric sensor having a light emitting portion 401 that irradiates light and a light receiving portion 402 that receives the light irradiated by the light emitting portion 401. The light emitting portion 401 is provided in the housing 10 so as to be able to irradiate light from the back surface side, that is, the side where the label is not attached, to the sheet 30 conveyed toward the thermal head 21. The light receiving portion 402 is provided in the housing 10 so as to be able to receive the light irradiated by the light emitting portion 401 and transmitted through the sheet 30.

[0025] When calculating the leading edge position of the sheet 30, the MPU51 corrects the leading edge position based on the detection of the gap between the labels L by the gap sensor 40. The transmittance of the sheet 30 is higher at the locations where the label L is not attached than at the locations where the label L is attached. Therefore, the MPU51 determines the location where the detection value by the gap sensor 40 is equal to or greater than the first sensor threshold as the gap between the labels L. The first sensor threshold is set by a threshold setting process that is executed triggered by operations such as turning on the power or opening and closing a cover provided for accessing the inside of the housing 10. This threshold setting process will be described in detail later.

[0026] The communication I / F54 is an interface for communicating with the host device of the label printer 1, the server device 3. The MPU51, in cooperation with the RAM52, controls the ribbon take-up motor 29, the sheet supply motor 39, and the thermal head 21 to form the image received from the host device on the label L. Further, the MPU51 executes a threshold setting process described later based on the measurement result by the gap sensor 40. The ROM53 stores programs and data used for the processing by the MPU51.

[0027] (Hardware Configuration of Server Device) The hardware configuration of the server device according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the server device according to the present embodiment.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 6, the server device 3 includes, as hardware, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 301, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 302, a storage device 303, an input / output I / F 304, and a communication I / F 305.

[0029] The CPU 301 and the RAM 302 cooperate to execute the notification process described later, and the storage device 303 stores various data used in the notification process. The input / output I / F 304 is an interface for connecting input / output devices such as a display and a keyboard to the server device 3. The communication I / F 305 is an interface for the server device 3 to communicate with other devices via the network N.

[0030] In the storage device 303, correspondence information is stored as data used in the notification process. The correspondence information associates a printer ID, the number of consecutive abnormal occurrences, and a contact destination. The printer ID is an identifier that uniquely indicates the label printer 1. The contact destination is the email address of the service technician who maintains / manages the label printer 1 indicated by the printer ID. Note that the correspondence information may associate the printer ID with information for notifying the service technician who maintains / manages the label printer 1 indicated by the printer ID. The number of consecutive abnormal occurrences indicates the number of times continuously determined to be abnormal by the threshold setting process, as will be described in detail later.

[0031] (Operation of the Threshold Setting Process) The operation of the threshold setting process according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the threshold setting process according to this embodiment. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the detection value by the gap sensor according to this embodiment. In FIG. 8, the vertical axis represents the detection value, and the horizontal axis represents time or the sheet feeding distance. It is assumed that the sheet is fed by a predetermined distance simultaneously when the threshold setting process is executed. Also, it is assumed that the gap sensor performs detection at a predetermined cycle, and the threshold setting process is executed for each detection cycle of the gap sensor.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 7, first, the MPU 51 of the label printer 1 acquires the detection value of the current cycle from the gap sensor 40 (S101), and determines whether the acquired detection value is equal to or greater than the peak value (S102). Here, the peak value is the maximum value of the detection value and is set to 0 as the initial value.

[0033] When the acquired detection value is equal to or greater than the peak value (S102, YES), the MPU 51 substitutes the acquired detection value for the peak value to update the peak value (S103), and updates the first sensor threshold value (S104). The first sensor threshold value is calculated by subtracting a preset value from the peak value. That is, the first sensor threshold value is set to a value relatively lower than the peak value.

[0034] Next, the MPU 51 determines whether or not the paper feed of the sheet 30 has ended (S105). Here, the detection value of the gap sensor 40 will be described. When the detection value is acquired until the paper feed of the sheet 30 ends, as shown in FIG. 8, a base value that falls within a range of detection values that is substantially constant and lower than the above-described peak value can be obtained. As long as there is no abnormality in the gap sensor 40, the base value is the detection value at the location where the label L is attached on the sheet 30, and the peak value is the detection value at the location where the gap exists on the sheet 30. The MPU 51 corrects the leading edge position of the sheet 30 with the position where the value is equal to or higher than the first sensor threshold value set relatively lower than the peak value as the gap position.

[0035] When the paper feed of the sheet 30 has ended (S105, YES), the MPU 51 determines whether or not the first sensor threshold value is equal to or less than the second sensor threshold value (S106). Here, the second sensor threshold value is a threshold value set in advance to a predetermined value prior to the threshold value setting process, and is set to a value higher than the base value, for example. When the peak value is detected to be low due to paper dust adhering to the light receiving unit 402 or the like, the first sensor threshold value becomes even lower than the peak value and may be set within the range of the base value in some cases. In this case, the gap will be erroneously detected. According to the determination based on the second sensor threshold value, it is possible to detect an abnormality of the gap sensor 40 that erroneously detects the gap.

[0036] When the first sensor threshold value is less than or equal to the second sensor threshold value (S106, YES), the MPU 51 adds 1 to the number of consecutive anomalies (S107), associates the number of consecutive anomalies with the printer ID assigned to itself, and transmits it to the server device 3 (S108), and ends the threshold setting process. Here, the number of consecutive anomalies indicates the number of times the anomaly determination, that is, the determination that the first sensor threshold value is less than or equal to the second sensor threshold value, has occurred continuously.

[0037] On the other hand, when the first sensor threshold value is not less than or equal to the second sensor threshold value (S106, NO), the MPU 51 sets the number of consecutive anomalies to 0 and resets it (S109), associates the number of consecutive anomalies with the printer ID assigned to itself, and transmits it to the server device 3 (S108), and ends the threshold setting process.

[0038] Also, in step S105, when the paper feeding of the sheet 30 has not ended (S105, NO), the MPU 51 acquires the detection value of the current cycle from the gap sensor 40 again (S101).

[0039] Also, in step S102, when the acquired detection value is not greater than or equal to the peak value (S102, NO), the MPU 51 determines whether the paper feeding of the sheet 30 has ended (S105).

[0040] According to such a threshold setting process, it is possible to detect an abnormality of the gap sensor 40 that hinders the detection of the gap between the labels L.

[0041] (Operation of notification process) The operation of the notification process according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the notification process according to this embodiment.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 9, first, the CPU 301 of the server device 3 selects an unselected label printer 1 (S201). Specifically, the CPU 301 selects an unselected printer ID among the printer IDs included in the correspondence information.

[0043] Next, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the number of consecutive abnormal occurrences associated with the printer ID being selected in the correspondence information is equal to or greater than the second abnormality threshold (S202). Here, the second abnormality threshold is a threshold that is preset to an integer value larger than the first abnormality threshold, which will be described later, and is set to 2 in the present embodiment.

[0044] If the number of consecutive abnormal occurrences is less than the second abnormality threshold (S202, NO), the CPU 301 determines whether or not the number of consecutive abnormal occurrences associated with the printer ID being selected in the correspondence information is equal to or greater than the first abnormality threshold (S203). Here, the first abnormality threshold is a threshold that is preset to an integer value smaller than the second abnormality threshold, and is set to 1 in the present embodiment.

[0045] If the number of consecutive abnormal occurrences is less than the first abnormality threshold (S203, NO), the CPU 301 determines whether or not there is an unselected label printer 1, that is, whether or not there is an unselected printer ID among the printer IDs included in the correspondence information (S204).

[0046] If there is no unselected printer ID (S204, NO), the CPU 301 ends the notification process.

[0047] On the other hand, if there is an unselected printer ID (S204, YES), the CPU 301 selects the unselected label printer 1 again (S201).

[0048] Also, in step S203, when the number of consecutive anomalies is equal to or greater than the first anomaly threshold (S203, YES), the CPU 301 uses the email address, which is the contact associated with the printer ID being selected in the correspondence information, to notify a service technician responsible for the maintenance / management of the label printer 1 indicated by the printer ID of the first message (S205). Here, the first message is a message prompting the service technician to clean the gap sensor 40 of the label printer 1 for which the technician is responsible. Examples of such a message include a message recommending that when visiting the location where the label printer 1 for which the technician is responsible is installed, the gap sensor 40 of the label printer 1 for which the technician is responsible be cleaned. After notifying the first message, the CPU 301 determines whether there is an unselected label printer 1 (S204).

[0049] Also, in step S202, when the number of consecutive anomalies is equal to or greater than the second anomaly threshold (S202, YES), the CPU 301 uses the email address, which is the contact associated with the printer ID being selected in the correspondence information, to notify a service technician responsible for the maintenance / management of the label printer 1 indicated by the printer ID of the second message (S206). Here, the second message is a message that more strongly prompts the service technician to clean the gap sensor 40 of the label printer 1 for which the technician is responsible than the first message. Examples of such a message include a message recommending that the service technician immediately visit the location where the label printer 1 for which the technician is responsible is installed and clean the gap sensor 40 of the label printer 1 for which the technician is responsible. After notifying the second message, the CPU 301 determines whether there is an unselected label printer 1 (S204).

[0050] According to such notification processing, it is possible to prompt the service technician to clean the gap sensor 40 according to the number of consecutive anomalies detected by the label printer 1.

[0051] <Second Embodiment> (Configuration of Label Printer) The configuration of the label printer according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 10 is a schematic side view showing the internal configuration of the label printer according to this embodiment. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the medium printed by the label printer according to this embodiment.

[0052] The label printer 5 according to this embodiment is different from the label printer 1 according to the first embodiment in that it includes a gap sensor 41 instead of the gap sensor 40. Further, the label printer 5 is different from the label printer 1 in that it uses a sheet 50 as a medium instead of the sheet 30.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 10, the gap sensor 41 is a reflection-type photoelectric sensor having a light-emitting part 411 and a light-receiving part 412. As shown in FIG. 11, a mark M is displayed on the back surface of the sheet 50, specifically, the surface opposite to the surface to which the label L is attached. The mark M is displayed at a position corresponding to each gap between the labels L in the conveyance direction of the sheet 50. In the sheet 50, two marks M are displayed near both ends in the width direction of the sheet 50 for one gap.

[0054] The gap sensor 41 is provided at a position where it can detect the mark M displayed at one end in the width direction of the sheet 50, and the MPU 51 detects the gap by detecting the mark M. The light-emitting part 411 is provided in the housing 10 so as to irradiate light from the back surface side to the sheet 50 conveyed toward the thermal head 21. The light-receiving part 412 is provided in the housing 10 so as to receive the light irradiated by the light-emitting part 411 and reflected by the back surface of the sheet 50.

[0055] (Threshold Setting Process) The operation of the threshold setting process according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the threshold setting process according to this embodiment. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the detection value by the gap sensor according to this embodiment.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 12, first, the MPU 51 of the label printer 1 acquires the detection value of the current cycle from the gap sensor 41 (S301), and determines whether the acquired detection value is equal to or less than the bottom value (S302). Here, the bottom value is the minimum value of the detection value, and as an initial value, it is set to an appropriate value near the base value described later.

[0057] When the acquired detection value is equal to or less than the bottom value (S302, YES), the MPU 51 substitutes the acquired detection value for the bottom value to update the bottom value (S303), and updates the first sensor threshold value (S304). The first sensor threshold value is calculated by adding a preset value to the bottom value. That is, the first sensor threshold value is set to a value relatively higher than the bottom value.

[0058] Next, the MPU 51 determines whether the paper feed of the sheet 50 has ended (S305). Here, the detection value of the gap sensor 41 will be described. When the detection value is acquired until the paper feed of the sheet 50 ends, as shown in FIG. 13, a base value that falls within a range of a detection value that is substantially constant and higher than the above-described bottom value is obtained. As long as there is no abnormality in the gap sensor 41, the base value is the detection value at a location where the mark M on the sheet 50 is not displayed, and the bottom value is the detection value at a location where there is a gap in the sheet 50. The MPU 51 corrects the leading edge position of the sheet 50 with the position where the value is equal to or less than the first sensor threshold value set relatively higher than the bottom value as the gap position.

[0059] When the paper feed of the sheet 50 has ended (S305, YES), the MPU 51 determines whether the first sensor threshold value is equal to or greater than the second sensor threshold value (S306). Here, the second sensor threshold value is a threshold value set in advance to a predetermined value prior to the threshold value setting process, and is set to a value lower than the base value, for example. When the base value is detected low due to paper dust adhering to the light receiving unit 402 or the like, the first sensor threshold value may be set within the range of the base value in some cases. In this case, a gap will be erroneously detected. According to the determination based on the second sensor threshold value, it is possible to detect an abnormality of the gap sensor 41 that erroneously detects a gap.

[0060] When the first sensor threshold value is greater than or equal to the second sensor threshold value (S306, YES), the MPU 51 adds 1 to the number of consecutive abnormal occurrences (S307), associates the number of consecutive abnormal occurrences with the printer ID assigned to itself, and transmits the number to the server device 3 (S308), and then ends the threshold setting process.

[0061] On the other hand, when the first sensor threshold value is not greater than or equal to the second sensor threshold value (S306, NO), the MPU 51 sets the number of consecutive abnormal occurrences to 0 and resets it (S309), associates the number of consecutive abnormal occurrences with the printer ID assigned to itself, and transmits the number to the server device 3 (S308), and then ends the threshold setting process.

[0062] Also, in step S305, when the paper feeding of the sheet 50 has not ended (S305, NO), the MPU 51 acquires the detection value of the current cycle from the gap sensor 41 again (S301).

[0063] Also, in step S302, when the acquired detection value is not less than the bottom value (S302, NO), the MPU 51 determines whether the paper feeding of the sheet 50 has ended (S305).

[0064] As described above, according to the label printer 5 according to the present embodiment, even when the reflection type photoelectric sensor is used as the gap sensor 41, it is possible to detect an abnormality of the gap sensor 41 that hinders the detection of the gap between the labels L.

[0065] In the above-described embodiment, the label printers 1 and 5 have been described as printing on the label L by the thermal transfer method. However, as long as the label L is printed on a medium with labels attached continuously, any method of printing the medium may be used.

[0066] Although embodiments of the invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

[0067] (Appendix 1) The server device further includes a storage unit that stores the number of abnormalities of the gap sensor based on the determination result by the label printer. When the number of abnormalities of the gap sensor stored in the storage unit is equal to or greater than a preset first abnormality threshold, the processor of the server device causes the terminal device to display a first message prompting cleaning of the gap sensor. (Appendix 2) When the number of abnormalities of the gap sensor stored in the storage unit is equal to or greater than a second abnormality threshold set to be greater than the first number threshold, the processor of the server device causes the terminal device to display a second message prompting cleaning of the gap sensor.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0068] 1,5 Label printer 30,50 Sheet L Label 40,41 Gap sensor 401,411 Light emitting unit 402,412 Light receiving unit

Claims

1. A label printer that conveys a medium with a plurality of labels attached thereto in a single direction so as to be arranged in the single direction and forms an image on the labels, a gap sensor having a light emitting unit that irradiates light toward the medium and a light receiving unit that receives the light irradiated by the light emitting unit, a processor that sets a first sensor threshold value to a value lower than a peak value of a detection value detected by the gap sensor or a value higher than a bottom value thereof to detect a gap between the plurality of labels, and determines the presence or absence of an abnormality of the gap sensor based on a comparison between the first sensor threshold value and a second sensor threshold value set to a predetermined value with respect to the detection value A label printer comprising the same.

2. The light receiving unit receives light that has passed through the medium from the light irradiated by the light emitting unit, The processor sets the first sensor threshold value to a value lower than the peak value of the detection value, and determines that the gap sensor is abnormal when the first sensor threshold value is less than or equal to the second sensor threshold value. The label printer according to Claim 1, characterized in that.

3. The light receiving unit receives light that has been reflected by the medium from the light irradiated by the light emitting unit, The processor sets the first sensor threshold value to a value higher than the bottom value of the detection value, and determines that the gap sensor is abnormal when the first sensor threshold value is greater than or equal to the second sensor threshold value. The label printer according to Claim 1, characterized in that.

4. The processor executes setting of the first sensor threshold value and determination of the presence or absence of an abnormality of the gap sensor when the label printer is powered on or when a cover unit for accessing the inside of the label printer is opened or closed. The label printer according to Claim 1, characterized in that.

5. A management system comprising the label printer according to Claim 1 and a server device communicably connected to the label printer, The server device, A management system comprising a processor that, when the determination result by the label printer is abnormal, notifies the abnormality of the gap sensor to a terminal device connected to the server device and associated with the label printer determined to be abnormal.

Images