Tape manufacturing method and tape manufacturing system

Abstract

To provide a tape manufacturing method and a tape manufacturing system that make positional displacement at the time of slit processing easy to recognize.SOLUTION: In a formation step, markers M1, M2 are formed along a longitudinal direction of a long raw fabric 10 in margin regions R1, R2 of the raw fabric 10. In a slit processing step, by subjecting the raw fabric 10 to slit processing by a plurality of slit blades 54a to 54d provided in a rotation shaft 53 while bringing contact members 55a, 55b provided in a predetermined rotation shaft 53 into contact with the markers M1, M2 formed by the formation step, a plurality of tapes 20 are cut out from the raw fabric 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tape manufacturing method and a tape manufacturing system. [Background technology]

[0002] A technique for producing multiple tapes by slitting a long raw web while transporting it in the longitudinal direction is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a processing machine for slitting a magnetic sheet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-77584 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the slitting process described above, misalignment may occur due to meandering during transport of the raw web. When such misalignment occurs, it is required to make it easier for the worker to grasp the misalignment so that it can be corrected promptly.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a tape manufacturing method and a tape manufacturing system that make it easier to grasp positional deviations that occur during slitting. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the tape manufacturing method of the present invention is characterized by comprising a forming step of forming a marker in the margin area of ​​a long raw roll along the longitudinal direction of the raw roll, and a slitting step of cutting out multiple tapes from the raw roll by slitting the raw roll with multiple slit blades provided on a predetermined rotating shaft while abutting a contact member provided on the rotating shaft against the marker formed in the forming step. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to easily grasp positional deviations that occur during slit processing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of the tape manufacturing system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a top view of a tape manufacturing system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view of an original sheet according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a top view of a raw web before printing by the printing device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 1 is a top view of a raw web after printing by the printing device according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a top view of a raw web being slit by a slitting device according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a front view of a raw web being slit by a slitting device according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] 1 is a diagram showing a plurality of tapes manufactured by the tape manufacturing system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a diagram showing a case where a positional deviation occurs in a raw web being slit by the slitting device according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10] 3 is a diagram showing an example of a pattern formed on a substrate of a tape cut out from a raw roll according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 11] 1 is a flowchart showing a tape manufacturing method according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a front view of a raw web being slit by a slitting device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 13] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing examples of patterns formed on a base material of an original sheet according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, identical or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a tape manufacturing system 1 according to the first embodiment includes a supplying device 2, a conveying device 3, a printing device 4, a slitting device 5, and a winding device 6. The tape manufacturing system 1 is a system that manufactures multiple narrow tapes 20 by slitting a single long, wide web 10. Each of the multiple tapes 20 manufactured by the tape manufacturing system 1 is loaded into a label printer, for example, for use. A user of the label printer can freely print text, pictures, etc. on the surface of the tape 20 using the label printer, and then cut the tape 20 to a desired length to use as a label.

[0010] 1 and 2, the coordinate system defines the conveyance direction (longitudinal direction of the web 10) in which the web 10 is conveyed from the supply device 2 to the winding device 6 as the X direction, the width direction of the web 10 (transverse direction of the web 10) as the Y direction, and the vertical direction as the Z direction. This also applies to the following figures.

[0011] The supply device 2 supplies the raw web 10 to the printing device 4 and the slitting device 5. The supply device 2 is equipped with a rotatable holding roll for winding and holding the raw web 10. The supply device 2 rotates the holding roll by driving a motor (not shown), and continuously unwinds and feeds out the raw web 10 held by the holding roll.

[0012] The conveying device 3 conveys the raw web 10 supplied from the supplying device 2 along a predetermined conveying path at a predetermined conveying speed V. The conveying device 3 includes a conveying stage on which the raw web 10 is placed and conveyed, a tension roller that applies tension to the raw web 10, and a driven roller that rotates in response to the conveyance of the raw web 10. Note that the configuration of the conveying device 3 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is merely an example, and the conveying device 3 may include a pair of rollers that sandwich and convey the raw web 10 instead of the conveying stage.

[0013] Here, the raw web 10 is a long, thin medium before being processed into the tape 20. The material of the raw web 10 is paper, cloth, plastic, metal, etc., and can be appropriately selected depending on the tape 20 to be manufactured. In the following, as an example, a case where the raw web 10 has a base material and a release layer will be described. In other words, in the following, an example will be described where each of the multiple tapes 20 manufactured by the tape manufacturing system 1 is a type of tape that is used by peeling the release layer from the base material, such as a sticker, label, etc.

[0014] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3 , the raw web 10 has a substrate 11 and a release layer 12 bonded to the substrate 11. The release layer 12 is releasably bonded to the substrate 11 with an adhesive. The surface of the raw web 10 facing the substrate 11 corresponds to the front surface, and the surface of the raw web 10 facing the release layer 12 corresponds to the back surface. Hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between the front surface (the surface facing the substrate 11) and the back surface (the surface facing the release layer 12) of the raw web 10, they will simply be referred to as the front surface of the raw web 10. The conveying device 3 conveys the back surface of the raw web 10, i.e., the surface facing the release layer 12, vertically upward (+Z direction).

[0015] As shown in FIG. 4, the surface of the web 10 is divided into marginal regions R1 and R2 and a tape region R3. The marginal regions R1 and R2 are used as margins on the web 10 and are discarded as scrap after slitting. The marginal regions R1 and R2 are provided on both sides of the web 10 in the transverse direction (Y direction). More specifically, the marginal regions R1 and R2 are provided at one edge and the other edge of the web 10 in the transverse direction, with a constant width W2 along the longitudinal direction (X direction). The marginal regions R1 and R2 are also referred to as the first marginal region R1 and the second marginal region R2, respectively. The tape region R3 is an area of ​​width W1 (= width W0-2 × W2 of the web 10) on the web 10 other than the marginal regions R1 and R2, and is an area cut out from the web 10 as multiple tapes 20.

[0016] In FIG. 4, for ease of understanding, the boundaries between each of the two marginal regions R1, R2 and the tape region R3 are shown with dashed lines. However, in reality, no such visible markers are formed at the boundaries between the marginal regions R1, R2 and the tape region R3. Similarly, no markers indicating the cutting position are formed within the tape region R3 at the cutting position by the slitting device 5, which will be described later. Similarly, no markers indicating the cutting position are formed on the front surface of the raw web 10, just like on the back surface of the raw web 10. This is to avoid the markers indicating the cutting position remaining on the surface of the tape 20 cut from the raw web 10 by slitting, which would detract from the appearance of the manufactured tape 20.

[0017] 1 and 2, the printing device 4 prints a predetermined image on the web 10 transported by the transport device 3. The printing device 4 prints the image using a known printing method, such as a toner method or an inkjet method. The printing device 4 prints markers M1 and M2 in the marginal regions R1 and R2 of the web 10 along the longitudinal direction of the web 10. The markers M1 and M2 are visible marks for detecting misalignment and for aligning the web 10, making it easier to detect any misalignment of the web 10 transported by the transport device 3.

[0018] More specifically, misalignment occurs when the web 10 being conveyed by the conveying device 3 meanders and shifts left or right. When misalignment occurs, the cutting position of the web 10 shifts when the slitting device 5 slits it. As a result, the quality of the multiple tapes 20 cut out from the web 10 deteriorates. To prevent this from happening, the marker M is printed as a mark that allows for immediate recognition of misalignment.

[0019] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the printer 4 prints markers M1 and M2 along the longitudinal direction of the web 10 in margin areas R1 and R2 on both sides of the surface of the release layer 12, which is the back surface of the web 10. More specifically, the printer 4 prints a first marker M1 in the first margin area R1 and a second marker M2 in the second margin area R2. The positions at which the markers M1 and M2 are printed are, for example, the centers of the margin areas R1 and R2, respectively. More specifically, the printer 4 prints linear markers M1 and M2 along the transport direction (X direction) of the web 10 at a position W2 / 2 from the side edge of the web 10 transported by the transport device 3. In Figure 5, markers M1 and M2 are shown with dashed lines to make it easier to understand, but markers M1 and M2 may be printed in any manner as long as they are visible to the worker, such as solid lines or dotted lines.

[0020] In addition to these markers M1 and M2, the printing device 4 prints a predetermined pattern P1 at a predetermined pitch H in a tape region R3, which is an area other than the margin regions R1 and R2 of the raw web 10. The pattern P1 is a pattern used for alignment when using each of the multiple tapes 20 manufactured by the tape manufacturing system 1. For example, when an operator performs a process such as half-cutting on the surface of the tape 20 cut out from the raw web 10, the operator can perform the half-cutting process using the position of the pattern P1 as a reference. Alternatively, when a label printer user prints characters, pictures, etc. on the surface of the tape 20, the operator can print the characters, pictures, etc. using the position of the pattern P1 as a reference.

[0021] The printer 4 prints pattern P1 as bar-shaped figures extending in the short direction of the web 10, repeatedly at a constant pitch H. Pattern P1 is printed on the surface of the release layer 12, which corresponds to the back surface of the web 10, and can therefore be used as a mark for alignment without affecting the appearance of the front surface of the web 10. In this way, the printer 4 prints markers M1 and M2 in margin regions R1 and R2 on the surface of the release layer 12 of the web 10, and prints pattern P1 in tape region R3. The printer 4 is an example of a forming means for forming markers M1 and M2 and pattern P1 on the web 10.

[0022] Returning to Figures 1 and 2, the slitting device 5 performs slitting on the raw web 10 on which the markers M1, M2 and the pattern P1 have been printed by the printing device 4. Here, slitting refers to cutting the material to be cut in the conveying direction while conveying it. By slitting, it is possible to produce a product narrower than the material to be cut from a wide material to be cut. Known slitting methods include the score cut method, shear cut method, razor cut method, and gang cut method. Below, as an example, a case where the slitting device 5 performs slitting using the score cut method will be described. The slitting device 5 is an example of a slitting means.

[0023] The slitting device 5 includes a slit roll 51 and a receiving roll 52. The slitting device 5 sandwiches the raw web 10 conveyed by the conveying device 3 between the slit roll 51 and the receiving roll 52 and cuts it in the conveying direction. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6 , the slit roll 51 includes a predetermined rotating shaft 53 extending in the short-side direction of the conveyed raw web 10, a plurality of slit blades 54a to 54d provided on the rotating shaft 53, and contact members 55a and 55b provided on the rotating shaft 53.

[0024] Each of the multiple slit blades 54a to 54d is a disk-shaped blade rotatably provided around a rotation shaft 53. The multiple slit blades 54a to 54d are aligned in the short-side direction of the raw web 10 being transported. The multiple slit blades 54a to 54d sandwich the raw web 10 being transported by the transport device 3 between themselves and the receiving roll 52, and press the blades against the surface of the receiving roll 52 to cut the raw web 10 being transported along the transport direction. The receiving roll 52 is a cylindrical member extending in the short-side direction of the raw web 10 being transported. The surface of the receiving roll 52 is made of metal, rubber, or the like so as to absorb the pressure of the multiple slit blades 54a to 54d.

[0025] Of the multiple slit blades 54a to 54d, the slit blade 54a and the slit blade 54d located at both ends are provided at positions corresponding to the side edges of the tape region R3 of the web 10 transported by the transport device 3. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the slit blade 54a and the slit blade 54d are provided at a position W2, which is the width of the marginal regions R1 and R2, from the side edges of the web 10 transported by the transport device 3. The slit blade 54a cuts the boundary between the first marginal region R1 and the tape region R3. The slit blade 54d cuts the boundary between the second marginal region R2 and the tape region R3. In contrast, the slit blades 54b and 54c are provided at positions corresponding to the inside of the tape region R3 of the web 10 transported by the transport device 3. The slit blades 54b and 54c cut the tape region R3 of the web 10.

[0026] These slitting blades 54a to 54d are aligned at equal intervals in the short direction of the web 10, and cut the tape region R3 of the web 10 to cut out a plurality of tapes 20 having the same width. Specifically, Figures 6 and 7 show, as an example, a case in which three tapes 20 are cut out from the tape region R3 of the web 10. Therefore, as shown in Figure 7, the slitting blades 54a to 54d are aligned in the short direction of the web 10 at intervals of W1 / 3, which is obtained by dividing the width W1 of the tape region R3 into thirds. As a result, the slitting blades 54a to 54d cut out three tapes 20 each having a width of W1 / 3 from the tape region R3 of the web 10.

[0027] The number of tapes 20 cut out from the tape region R3 by the slitting device 5 is not limited to three, and may be two, or four or more. When the number of tapes 20 cut out from the tape region R3 is N, the number of slit blades is N+1, and the slit blades are arranged at intervals of W1 / N, which is the width W1 divided into N equal parts.

[0028] In addition to the slit blades 54a-54d, the rotary shaft 53 is provided with contact members 55a and 55b at positions outside the slit blades 54a-54d and corresponding to both sides of the web 10. The contact members 55a and 55b are members that contact, i.e., are pressed against, the surface of the web 10 being transported by the transport device 3 so that an operator can recognize misalignment. The first contact member 55a is provided at a position corresponding to the first marginal region R1, and the second contact member 55b is provided at a position corresponding to the second marginal region R2. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the contact members 55a and 55b are each provided at a position W2 / 2, which is half the width W2 of the marginal regions R1 and R2, from the side edge of the web 10 being transported by the transport device 3.

[0029] The contact members 55a, 55b come into contact with the markers M1, M2 printed by the printing device 4 while the multiple slit blades 54a to 54d are cutting the raw web 10. In other words, the slitting device 5 slits the raw web 10 with the multiple slit blades 54a to 54d while bringing the first contact member 55a into contact with the first marker M1 printed in the first marginal region R1 and bringing the second contact member 55b into contact with the second marker M2 printed in the second marginal region R2.

[0030] More specifically, each of the contact members 55a and 55b is a slit blade having the same shape as the plurality of slit blades 54a to 54d. In other words, like the plurality of slit blades 54a to 54d, each of the contact members 55a and 55b sandwiches the web 10 being conveyed by the conveying device 3 between itself and the receiving roll 52, and presses the blade against the surface of the receiving roll 52, thereby cutting the conveyed web 10 along the conveying direction.

[0031] The contact members 55a and 55b are provided at positions corresponding to the markers M1 and M2 printed by the printing device 4, and therefore cut the web 10 at the positions of the markers M1 and M2. In other words, the contact members 55a and 55b cut the marginal regions R1 and R2 on both sides of the web 10 at the center thereof. In this way, the slitting device 5 slits the web 10 with the multiple slitting blades 54a to 54d while cutting the web 10 at the positions of the markers M1 and M2 with the contact members 55a and 55b.

[0032] By performing this slitting process, the slitting device 5 cuts out a plurality of tapes 20 and marginal regions R1, R2 from the raw web 10, as shown in FIG. 8. This produces a plurality of tapes 20. Each of the marginal regions R1, R2 is divided into two pieces in the center by contact members 55a, 55b, and ultimately discarded. Note that for ease of understanding, FIG. 8 shows the plurality of tapes 20 (three in the example of FIG. 8) and the marginal regions R1, R2 spaced apart from each other, but the plurality of tapes 20 cut out from the raw web 10 may also be transported to the winding device 6 without being spaced apart from each other.

[0033] During this slitting process, the web 10 conveyed by the conveying device 3 may meander and shift left and right, causing misalignment between the slitting device 5 and the web 10. If no misalignment occurs, the multiple slitting blades 54a-54d cut the web 10 at the correct positions, and the contact members 55a and 55b cut the web 10 at the positions of the markers M1 and M2. In contrast, if misalignment occurs, the cutting positions of the contact members 55a and 55b will be offset from the printed positions of the markers M1 and M2. The operator can confirm whether misalignment has occurred by comparing the printed positions of the markers M1 and M2 with the cutting positions of the contact members 55a and 55b.

[0034] Specifically, as shown in Figure 9, if misalignment occurs between the slitting device 5 and the web 10, the contact members 55a and 55b will contact at positions that are offset from the positions of the markers M1 and M2. As a result, the contact members 55a and 55b cut at positions that are offset from the positions of the markers M1 and M2. When misalignment occurs in this way, the worker can visually confirm that the cutting positions made by the contact members 55a and 55b are offset from the printing positions of the markers M1 and M2. Therefore, the worker can easily recognize that misalignment has occurred.

[0035] More specifically, if the markers M1 and M2 were not formed on the web 10, the web 10 would have no marks at the positions where it will be cut by the slitting blades 54a to 54d, making it difficult for the worker to accurately determine whether misalignment has occurred. This becomes even more difficult to determine if misalignment has occurred, particularly when the web 10 is transported at high speed. In contrast, the tape manufacturing system 1 according to embodiment 1 performs slitting while the contact members 55a and 55b are in contact with the markers M1 and M2, making it possible for the worker to easily determine if misalignment has occurred, even when the web 10 is transported at high speed.

[0036] If a positional deviation occurs, the worker can correct the positional deviation by stopping the conveyance of the raw web 10 by the conveyance device 3 and adjusting the positions of the multiple slit blades 54a-54d. For example, if the positions of the contact members 55a and 55b are deviated in the +Y direction relative to the markers M1 and M2, the worker moves the position of the slit roll 51 in the -Y direction so that the positions of the contact members 55a and 55b overlap with the positions of the markers M1 and M2. Conversely, if the positions of the contact members 55a and 55b are deviated in the -Y direction relative to the markers M1 and M2, the worker moves the position of the slit roll 51 in the +Y direction so that the positions of the contact members 55a and 55b overlap with the positions of the markers M1 and M2.

[0037] If the markers M1 and M2 were not formed on the raw web 10, the worker would have to visually check the position of the slit roll 51 using a ruler or the like. In contrast, in the first embodiment, the markers M1 and M2 are formed on the raw web 10, so the worker can align the positions of the slit roll 51 and the raw web 10 based on the positions of the markers M1 and M2. Therefore, even if misalignment occurs, the worker can easily correct the misalignment.

[0038] 1 and 2, the winding device 6 winds up the plurality of tapes 20 produced by the slitting process performed by the slitting device 5. The winding device 6 is equipped with a rotatable winding roll for winding and holding the plurality of tapes 20. The winding device 6 rotates the winding roll by driving a motor (not shown), and continuously winds up the plurality of tapes 20 produced by the slitting process. Note that marginal regions R1 and R2 cut out from both sides of the raw web 10 are regions to be discarded as scrap material, and therefore may be wound up by the winding device 6 together with the plurality of tapes 20, or may be discarded without being wound up by the winding device 6.

[0039] As an example, each of the multiple tapes 20 wound around the winding device 6 is subjected to half-cut processing in a half-cutting process, thereby forming multiple patterns P2 as shown in FIG. 10 . As a result, each tape 20 is processed into a state where it can be loaded into a label printer and used. Here, the half-cutting process is a process of cutting only the substrate 11 of the tape 20 without cutting the release layer 12. By performing the half-cutting process, the area of ​​the substrate 11 where the pattern P2 is formed can be peeled off and used as a sticker. Although not shown, the tape manufacturing system 1 includes a half-cutting device capable of half-cutting as a means for forming the multiple patterns P2. The half-cutting device performs half-cutting on the surface of the tape 20 facing the substrate 11 (front surface). As a result, the multiple patterns P2 shown in FIG. 10 are formed on the surface of the tape 20 facing the substrate 11 (front surface). At this time, the half-cutting device performs half-cutting using the positions of the multiple patterns P1 formed on the back surface of the tape 20 as a reference. Because the positions of the multiple patterns P1 are used as a reference, the multiple patterns P2 can be formed in accurate positions. The patterns P1 and P2 may be called the first pattern and the second pattern, respectively.

[0040] Next, the flow of the tape manufacturing method executed by the tape manufacturing system 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in Fig. 11. The tape manufacturing method shown in Fig. 11 is executed when an operator prepares a web 10 for manufacturing tape 20 and sets it in the tape manufacturing system 1. Here, setting the web 10 in the tape manufacturing system 1 means that the operator places the web 10 on the holding roll of the supply device 2 and sets the web 10 in a state where it can be transported from the supply device 2 to the winding device 6.

[0041] When the tape manufacturing method is started, the supplying device 2 supplies the raw web 10 (step S1). Specifically, the supplying device 2 rotates a holding roll to send out the raw web 10 wound around the holding roll to the conveying device 3.

[0042] Next, the conveying device 3 conveys the raw web 10 supplied by the supplying device 2 (step S2). Specifically, the conveying device 3 drives a conveying stage, a pair of rollers, etc. to convey the raw web 10 along a determined conveying path at a conveying speed V.

[0043] Next, the printing device 4 prints markers M1 and M2 and a pattern P1 on the web 10 being transported by the transport device 3 (step S3). Specifically, as shown in Fig. 5, the printing device 4 prints line-shaped markers M1 and M2 along the transport direction in margin regions R1 and R2 on the release layer 12 of the web 10 being transported by the transport device 3. Furthermore, the printing device 4 repeatedly prints, at a predetermined pitch H, multiple patterns P1 for alignment when forming multiple patterns P2 on the tape 20 cut out from the web 10 in a tape region R3 on the release layer 12 of the web 10 being transported by the transport device 3. Step S3 is an example of a forming process.

[0044] Next, the slitting device 5 slits the web 10 on which the markers M1, M2 and the pattern P1 have been printed by the printing device 4 (step S4). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the slitting device 5 slits the web 10 with the multiple slitting blades 54a-54d while bringing the contact members 55a, 55b into contact with the markers M1, M2 to cut the web 10 at the positions of the markers M1, M2. In this way, the slitting device 5 cuts multiple tapes 20 from the web 10. Step S4 is an example of a slitting process.

[0045] Next, the winding device 6 winds up the plurality of tapes 20 cut out from the raw web 10 by slitting in the slitting device 5 (step S5). Specifically, the winding device 6 rotates the winding roll and winds each of the plurality of tapes 20 conveyed from the slitting device 5 around the winding roll. Thereafter, the half-cutting device performs half-cutting on each of the plurality of tapes 20 from the surface facing the substrate 11 (step S6). As a result, a plurality of patterns P2 as shown in FIG. 10 are formed by half-cutting on the surface facing the substrate 11 of each tape 20. As a result, each tape 20 is processed into a state where it can be loaded into a label printer and used. Step S6 is an example of a half-cutting step. This completes the tape manufacturing method shown in FIG. 11.

[0046] As described above, the tape manufacturing system 1 according to the first embodiment forms markers M1 and M2 in the marginal regions R1 and R2 of the long web 10 along the longitudinal direction of the web 10. The tape manufacturing system 1 then slits the web 10 with the slitting blades 54a to 54d provided on the rotating shaft 53 while bringing the abutting members 55a and 55b provided on a predetermined rotating shaft 53 into contact with the markers M1 and M2, thereby cutting out multiple tapes 20 from the web 10. Because the tape manufacturing system 1 according to the first embodiment thus performs slitting while bringing the abutting members 55a and 55b into contact with the markers M1 and M2, an operator can easily determine whether misalignment has occurred by visually comparing the positions of the markers M1 and M2 with those of the abutting members 55a and 55b. As a result, the operator can easily determine whether misalignment has occurred during slitting. Furthermore, if a positional deviation occurs during slit processing, the worker can easily correct the positional deviation by aligning the markers M1 and M2 with the positions of the contact members 55a and 55b.

[0047] Furthermore, the tape manufacturing system 1 according to the first embodiment uses slit blades having the same shape as the plurality of slit blades 54a to 54d as the contact members 55a, 55b, and utilizes the blank areas R1, R2 that are to be discarded, so there is no need to introduce any new members. Therefore, the tape manufacturing system 1 according to the first embodiment has a simple configuration while keeping costs down, and can make it easy for the worker to grasp misalignment.

[0048] Furthermore, if the raw web 10 is a plain medium with nothing printed on it, even if misalignment occurs during slitting, the quality of the manufactured tape 20 will not be reduced. In contrast, in embodiment 1, the pattern P1 is printed on the raw web 10, so accurate alignment is required during slitting. Therefore, the tape manufacturing system 1 according to embodiment 1 is more effective when cutting out multiple tapes 20 from a raw web 10 on which some kind of figure, picture, design, etc., such as pattern P1, is formed.

[0049] Next, a second embodiment will be described. Descriptions of configurations and functions similar to those of the first embodiment will be omitted where appropriate. In the first embodiment, each of the contact members 55a and 55b is a slit blade having the same shape as the plurality of slit blades 54a to 54d, and cuts the web 10 at the positions of the markers M1 and M2 printed in the marginal regions R1 and R2. In contrast, in the second embodiment, each of the contact members 55a and 55b is not a slit blade.

[0050] 12, in the second embodiment, the contact members 55a and 55b are each a disk-shaped member provided on the rotary shaft 53 outside the plurality of slit blades 54a to 54d. The contact members 55a and 55b each come into contact with the surface of the web 10 being transported by the transport device 3, but because they are not slit blades, they do not cut the web 10. More specifically, the contact members 55a and 55b come into contact with the positions of the markers M1 and M2 printed in the marginal regions R1 and R2 of the web 10 being transported by the transport device 3, as in the first embodiment.

[0051] As described above, in the second embodiment, the contact members 55a and 55b contact the positions of the markers M1 and M2, but do not cut the web 10. Even if the contact members 55a and 55b do not cut the web 10 as in the first embodiment, the operator can visually check whether the positions where the contact members 55a and 55b contact the positions of the markers M1 and M2 overlap, thereby determining whether misalignment has occurred. Furthermore, if misalignment occurs during slitting, the operator can easily correct the misalignment by aligning the positions of the markers M1 and M2 with the positions of the contact members 55a and 55b.

[0052] Next, a third embodiment will be described. Descriptions of configurations and functions similar to those of the first and second embodiments will be omitted where appropriate. In the first and second embodiments, after a plurality of tapes 20 are cut out from the raw web 10, the plurality of patterns P2 shown in FIG. 10 are formed by half-cutting. In contrast, in the third embodiment, the plurality of patterns P2 are formed by half-cutting on the raw web 10 before the plurality of tapes 20 are cut out.

[0053] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13 , in the third embodiment, a plurality of patterns P2 are formed in a tape region R3 on the surface (front surface) of the web 10 facing the substrate 11. Specifically, three tapes 20 are cut out from the web 10, and a plurality of patterns P2 are formed in each of the regions of the three tapes 20 cut out from the web 10. As in the first embodiment, these patterns P2 are formed by a half-cutting device capable of half-cutting. The half-cutting device performs half-cutting from the substrate 11 side of the web 10, thereby cutting only the substrate 11 of the web 10 without cutting the release layer 12. In the third embodiment, the half-cutting device performs this half-cutting before the slitting device 5 performs slitting. The slitting device 5 slits the web 10 on which the plurality of patterns P2 are printed, thereby producing a plurality of tapes 20 each printed with a pattern P2.

[0054] The half-cutting device may perform the half-cutting process before the printing device 4 prints the markers M1, M2 and the multiple patterns P1. In this case, the half-cutting device may form the multiple patterns P2 together with the markers M1, M2 and the multiple patterns P1 in one pass (conveyance path) from the supplying device 2 to the winding device 6, or may form the multiple patterns P2 in a pass separate from the printing of the markers M1, M2 and the multiple patterns P1. Alternatively, the half-cutting device may perform the half-cutting process after the printing device 4 prints the markers M1, M2 and the multiple patterns P1. In this case, the half-cutting device can perform the half-cutting process based on the positions of the multiple patterns P1 formed on the back surface of the tape 20.

[0055] In this way, the tape manufacturing system 1 according to the third embodiment forms a plurality of patterns P2 in the tape region R3 of the substrate 11, which is the front surface of the raw web 10. If misalignment occurs during slitting, the position of the patterns P2 in the manufactured tape 20 will be misaligned, resulting in a decrease in the quality of the tape 20. In contrast, according to the tape manufacturing system 1 according to the third embodiment, the slitting is performed while the contact members 55a, 55b are in contact with the markers M1, M2, so that the worker can easily grasp the misalignment. This makes it possible to manufacture high-quality tapes 20 on which the patterns P2 are formed.

[0056] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above embodiments are merely examples, and the scope of application of the present invention is not limited to these. In other words, the embodiments of the present invention are applicable to various applications, and all embodiments are included in the scope of the present invention.

[0057] For example, in the above embodiment, the printing of the markers M1, M2, and the pattern P1 by the printing device 4 and the slitting by the slitting device 5 are performed in one pass from the supply device 2 to the winding device 6. However, the printing and the slitting may be performed in separate passes. For example, after the printing device 4 prints the markers M1, M2, and the pattern P1 on the web 10, the web 10 may be wound into a roll by the winding device 6 before the slitting is performed by the slitting device 5. In this case, the printing device 4 and the slitting device 5 may be installed in separate locations. In this way, the printing device 4 and the slitting device 5 in the tape manufacturing system 1 do not have to be installed on the transport path of a single transport device 3.

[0058] In the above embodiment, in the forming process, the printing device 4 printed the markers M1 and M2 and the pattern P1 on the web 10. However, the markers M1 and M2 may be formed by half-cutting, perforations, or the like, instead of printing, as long as the markers M1 and M2 are visible to the operator for misalignment detection and alignment purposes. Similarly, the pattern P1 may be formed by half-cutting, perforations, or the like, instead of printing. In this case, the tape manufacturing system 1 includes a device capable of half-cutting, perforations, or the like, instead of the printing device 4, as a forming means for forming the markers M1 and M2 and the pattern P1 in the forming process. This device may be the same as the half-cutting device that forms the multiple patterns P2 on the surface of the tape 20 shown in FIG. 10, or it may be a different device.

[0059] In the above embodiment, the slitting device 5 performed slitting using the score cut method. However, the slitting device 5 is not limited to the score cut method, and may perform slitting using other methods, such as the shear cut method, razor cut method, and gang cut method. However, in the shear cut method and gang cut method, the backing roll 52 is also provided with multiple slit blades, and the raw web 10 is sandwiched between the multiple slit blades 54a to 54d of the slit roll 51 and the multiple slit blades of the backing roll 52 to cut it. In the razor cut method, recesses are provided on the surface of the backing roll 52 at positions facing the multiple slit blades 54a to 54d, and when cutting the raw web 10, each of the multiple slit blades 54a to 54d engages with the recesses of the backing roll 52. As such, in the shear cut method, gang cut method, and razor cut method, the backing roll 52 is provided with structures corresponding to the slit blades 54a to 54d. Therefore, when correcting misalignment, the operator needs to adjust not only the position of the slit roll 51 but also the position of the backing roll 52. In contrast, with the score cut method, the position of the slit roll 51 can be adjusted to correct the misalignment, and there is no need to adjust the position of the receiving roll 52, so the misalignment can be easily corrected.

[0060] In the above embodiment, the printing device 4 printed the markers M1 and M2 in the margin areas R1 and R2 on both sides of the release layer 12 of the web 10. However, the printing device 4 may print the markers in only one of the margin areas R1 and R2. In this case, the contact member of the slitting device 5 only needs to be located in a position corresponding to only one of the margin areas where the markers are printed, and does not need to be located in a position corresponding to the other margin area where the markers are not printed. Even when the marker and contact member are located on only one side, the operator can determine whether misalignment has occurred by comparing the position of the marker with the position of the contact member.

[0061] In the above embodiment, each of the plurality of patterns P1 is a bar-shaped figure. However, each of the plurality of patterns P1 may have any shape as long as it can be used for alignment when cutting the tape 20 in the short direction. For example, each of the plurality of patterns P1 may be formed with a registration mark (trim mark) for alignment.

[0062] In the above embodiment, the raw web 10 has the base material 11 and the release layer 12 to manufacture the tape 20 that is loaded into a label printer for use. However, the tape 20 cut from the raw web 10 is not limited to being loaded into a label printer for use. Therefore, the raw web 10 and the tape 20 are not limited to having the release layer 12. The raw web 10 and the tape 20 may be any medium that can be slit, that is, any long, thin medium such as a film or sheet, and various media are possible depending on the intended product to be manufactured from the raw web 10.

[0063] The above describes preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1...Tape manufacturing system, 2...Supply device, 3...Conveyor device, 4...Printing device, 5...Slitting device, 6...Winding device, 10...Original roll, 11...Substrate, 12...Release layer, 20...Tape, 51...Slit roll, 52...Receiving roll, 53...Rotating shaft, 54a to 54d...Slit blades, 55a, 55b...Abutting members, M1, M2...Markers, P1, P2...Pattern, R1, R2...Margin area, R3...Tape area

Claims

1. a forming step of forming a marker in a margin area of ​​a long raw web along the longitudinal direction of the raw web; a slitting process in which a contact member provided on a predetermined rotating shaft is brought into contact with the marker formed in the forming process, and the raw web is slit with a plurality of slit blades provided on the rotating shaft, thereby cutting out a plurality of tapes from the raw web; A tape manufacturing method comprising the steps of:

2. the abutting member is a slit blade having the same shape as each of the plurality of slit blades, In the slitting process, the raw web is slit by the plurality of slit blades while the raw web is cut by the abutting member at the positions of the markers formed in the forming process.

2. The tape manufacturing method according to claim 1.

3. In the forming step, the markers are formed along the longitudinal direction in each of a first margin area and a second margin area provided on both sides in the short-side direction of the raw web, and a first contact member and a second contact member are provided on the rotation shaft at positions corresponding to the first marginal area and the second marginal area, respectively; In the slitting process, the raw web is slit with the plurality of slit blades while the first contact member is brought into contact with the marker formed in the first marginal region and the second contact member is brought into contact with the marker formed in the second marginal region.

3. The tape manufacturing method according to claim 1 or 2.

4. In the forming step, a predetermined pattern is formed in an area other than the margin area of ​​the raw sheet.

3. The tape manufacturing method according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The raw sheet has a substrate and a release layer, In the forming step, the marker is formed along the longitudinal direction in the margin area of ​​the release layer of the raw sheet.

3. The tape manufacturing method according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The method further includes a half-cutting step of forming a predetermined pattern by half-cutting each of the plurality of tapes cut out from the raw roll by the slitting step.

6. The tape manufacturing method according to claim 5.

7. In the slitting process, the raw web is slit by a score cut method.

3. The tape manufacturing method according to claim 1 or 2.

8. forming means for forming markers in a marginal area of ​​a long raw web along the longitudinal direction of the raw web; a slitting means including a contact member provided on a predetermined rotating shaft and a plurality of slit blades provided on the rotating shaft, the contact member being brought into contact with the marker formed by the forming means while slitting the raw web with the plurality of slit blades, thereby cutting out a plurality of tapes from the raw web; A tape manufacturing system comprising:

Images