Printer device

Abstract

To provide a printer device with which the mount from which a label has been peeled off after printing can be easily set in a conveyance path provided at the bottom of the printer device when the label paper is to be replaced.SOLUTION: A label printer (printer device) includes a peeling roller and a peeling pinch roller that clamp and transport the mount after the label has been peeled off, a peeling cover part provided at the bottom of the printer device that supports the peeling pinch roller and rotates it around a rotation axis perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the mount, thereby holding the peeling pinch roller in a state where it is pressed against the peeling roller, and a protrusion part and a magnet (holding means) that, when replacing label paper, rotate the peeling cover part around the rotation axis to release the pressure between the peeling pinch roller and the peeling roller, and align the rotated peeling cover part along a guide surface on the opposite side to the side that supports the peeling pinch roller, holding it in the label paper replacement position where the mount is inserted between the peeling roller and the peeling pinch roller.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD An embodiment of the present invention relates to a printer device. [Background technology]

[0002] Printers that print on labels attached to a label paper backing have been put into practical use. In such printers, an operator who wants to replace label paper must open the printer's housing and load new label paper from above the printer (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] When such a printer is used on a shipping line in a factory or the like to affix printed labels to packages whose bottoms are being transported, the backing paper after the label is peeled off is located at the bottom of the printer, so when opening the printer's housing and replacing label paper from above, it is difficult to reach the bottom of the printer and set the tip of the backing paper in the transport path. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a printer device that, when replacing label paper, allows the backing paper from which the label has been printed and peeled off to be easily set into a transport path provided at the bottom of the printer device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The printer device in one embodiment affixes a printed label that has been peeled off from a label paper backing to an object being transported along its bottom surface, and is equipped with a peeling roller and peeling pinch roller that clamp and wind up the backing from which the label has been peeled, a peeling cover section provided on the bottom of the printer device that supports the peeling pinch roller and rotates it about a rotation axis perpendicular to the transport direction of the backing, thereby holding the peeling pinch roller in a state where it is in pressure contact with the peeling roller, and a holding means that, when replacing the label paper, rotates the peeling cover section about the rotation axis to release the pressure between the peeling pinch roller and the peeling roller, and aligns the rotated peeling cover section along a guide surface on the opposite side to the side where the peeling cover section supports the peeling pinch roller, and holds the rotated peeling cover section in a label paper replacement position where a replacement backing can be inserted between the peeling roller and the peeling pinch roller. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a label printer according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the main configuration of a conveying unit that conveys label paper in a label printer. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the main configuration of a liner transport unit including a peeling roller and a peeling pinch roller for transporting the liner after the label has been peeled off. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the peelable cover portion. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a label printer in which the peel-off cover is positioned at the label paper replacement position. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the process of setting a backing sheet when replacing label paper in a label printer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] (Embodiment) A label printer 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0008] (Overall configuration of label printer) The schematic configuration of a label printer 10 according to the first embodiment will be described using Figure 1. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the schematic configuration of a label printer according to the embodiment. The label printer 10 is an example of a printer device in the present disclosure.

[0009] The label printer 10 prints on labels 14 attached to a backing sheet 15 of the label paper 13 while pulling out the label paper 13 from a label roll 12 wound in a roll shape. The back side of the label 14 is an adhesive layer, and the label 14 is removably attached to the backing sheet 15 by the adhesive layer.

[0010] As the label paper 13 is pulled out from the label roll 12, it is sandwiched between a platen roller 18, which is driven to rotate by a drive motor such as a stepping motor (not shown), and a printing unit 19, and is transported along the X-axis shown in FIG.

[0011] A thermal head (not shown) provided in the printing unit 19 prints code symbols such as barcodes and two-dimensional codes, information indicating the delivery address, and the like, on the labels 14 attached to the backing paper 15 of the label paper 13. That is, the backing paper 15 is located on the side of the platen roller 18, and the labels 14 are located on the side of the printing unit 19 (thermal head).

[0012] After printing is completed, the label 14 is peeled off from the label paper 13 and affixed to the package 60 that is conveyed along the bottom surface of the label printer 10. The package 60 is conveyed along the X-axis by a belt 63 that is stretched over a pair of conveying rollers 61 and 62.

[0013] (Label printer label transport mechanism) The conveying mechanism by which the label printer 10 conveys the label paper 13 will be described with reference to Figure 2. Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of the main configuration of a conveying unit that conveys the label paper in the label printer.

[0014] The label paper 13 pulled out from the label roll 12 is sandwiched between a capstan roller 17 and a capstan pinch roller 16, which are in contact with each other. The capstan roller 17 is driven to rotate by a drive motor such as a stepping motor (not shown), and rotates clockwise in Figure 2, thereby transporting the label paper 13 sandwiched between the capstan roller 17 and the capstan pinch roller 16 toward the positive side of the X axis.

[0015] The label paper 13 is then conveyed while being sandwiched between a platen roller 18, which is driven to rotate clockwise in FIG. 2, and a printing unit 19. A thermal head (not shown) provided in the printing unit 19 then prints various types of information on the labels 14.

[0016] The thermal head has a structure in which multiple heating elements are aligned, and prints on labels 14, which are thermal paper, held between the thermal head and platen roller 18 by heating the heating elements that correspond to the print pattern. Note that the label printer 10 may also use a printing method in which an ink ribbon (not shown) is held between the thermal head and the label 14, and ink on the ink ribbon is heated by the thermal head and transferred to the label 14.

[0017] The label printer 10 is equipped with a label detection mechanism (not shown) that detects the position of the label 14 in order to print accurately at the position of the label 14. Any type of label detection mechanism may be used, but for example, a marker that specifies the print start position is attached to the label paper 13, and an optical sensor such as a photointerrupter equipped in the label printer 10 detects the position of the marker to determine the print start position.

[0018] The printed label 14 is peeled off from the backing sheet 15 at the peeling guide 20. Thereafter, the label 14 is attached to a package 60 shown in FIG.

[0019] The peeling guide 20 is formed in a V-shape with two surfaces that intersect each other at an acute angle. The peeling guide 20 bends the conveyed label paper 13 to peel the label 14 from the backing paper 15.

[0020] After passing through the peeling guide 20 and peeling off the label 14, the backing sheet 15 turns to the negative side of the X axis and is sandwiched between the peeling roller 21 and the peeling pinch roller 22. The peeling roller 21 is driven to rotate by a drive motor such as a stepping motor (not shown), and rotates clockwise in Fig. 2. In other words, the peeling roller 21 is a drive roller, and the peeling pinch roller 22 is a driven roller.

[0021] The backing paper 15 is sandwiched between the peeling roller 21 and the peeling pinch roller 22 and transported to the negative side of the X-axis. Note that the backing paper 15 that has passed through the peeling roller 21 and the peeling pinch roller 22 may be taken up on a take-up shaft (not shown).

[0022] (Main components of the mount transport unit) The main configuration of the liner transport unit including the peeling roller 21 and peeling pinch roller 22 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the main configuration of the liner transport unit including the peeling roller and peeling pinch roller that transport the liner after the label has been peeled off.

[0023] The peeling pinch roller 22 is supported by the peeling cover portion 23 and is pressed against the peeling roller 21. The backing sheet 15 is conveyed downstream (negative side of the X-axis in FIG. 3) while being sandwiched between the peeling roller 21 and the peeling pinch roller 22.

[0024] The peel-off cover unit 23 is installed at the bottom of the label printer 10 so as to be rotatable around a rotation shaft 24 along the Y axis. When replacing the label paper 13, the operator opens the peel-off cover unit 23 and sets the backing paper 15 in the transport path.

[0025] A protrusion 25 is formed on the side of the peel-off cover part 23 along the Y-axis. The protrusion 25 is made of a material that is attracted to a magnet. When the peel-off cover part 23 is closed, the protrusion 25 is locked to a stopper 30 provided in the label printer 10. When the peel-off cover part 23 is closed, the stopper 30 is pressed by the protrusion 25 and bends, and locks the protrusion 25 in a state where the peel-off pinch roller 22 is in pressure contact with the peel-off roller 21. The protrusion 25 is an example of a locking member in the present disclosure.

[0026] It should be noted that the structure of the stopper 30 is not limited to this. For example, the stopper 30 may be installed in a state where it is biased by an elastic member such as a spring toward the positive side of the X-axis, and when the peel-off cover part 23 is closed, the pressing force of the protrusion 25 overcomes the bias and locks the protrusion 25.

[0027] An operator replacing the label paper 13 opens an opening (not shown) located on the top or side of the label printer 10 and inserts a new label roll 12. The leading edge of the label paper 13 is then inserted between the platen roller 18 and the printing unit 19 and hung on the peeling guide 20. The peeling cover unit 23 is then opened toward the bottom of the label printer 10, and the leading edge of the label paper 13 (backing paper 15) is inserted between the peeling roller 21 and the peeling pinch roller 22. The function of the peeling cover unit 23 when replacing the label paper 13 will be described in detail later (see Figure 6).

[0028] (Structure of the peel-off cover) The detailed structure of the peel-off cover part 23 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is an external perspective view showing an example of the peel-off cover part.

[0029] 4, the peel-off cover portion 23 has a pair of protrusions 27 on both ends of a planar backing sheet guide surface 26. The pair of protrusions 27 are formed to protrude from the backing sheet guide surface 26 along the transport direction of the backing sheet 15. The distance between the pair of protrusions 27 is greater than the width of the backing sheet 15. The backing sheet guide surface 26 is an example of a guide surface in the present disclosure.

[0030] The peeling cover portion 23 supports the peeling pinch roller 22 at both ends thereof on the side opposite to the protruding direction of the convex portion 27, i.e., on the back side of the backing guide surface 26. More specifically, the peeling pinch roller 22 is rotatably supported at both ends thereof by wall portions 32 formed at both ends of the peeling cover portion 23.

[0031] Walls 32 formed on both ends of the peel-off cover part 23 are provided with columnar protrusions 25 that protrude outward from the peel-off cover part 23 along the rotation axis 24. The protrusions 25 are made of a material such as iron, which is attracted to a magnet 28 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) when the peel-off cover part 23 is opened.

[0032] (How to set the backing paper when replacing label paper) 5 and 6, a method for setting the backing paper 15 when replacing the label paper 13 in the label printer 10 will be described. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the state in which the peel-off cover is positioned in the label paper replacement position in the label printer. Fig. 6 is a diagram explaining the work of setting the backing paper when replacing the label paper in the label printer.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows an example of a state in which the peel-off cover part 23 is opened when replacing the label paper 13 and is fixed at the label paper replacement position.

[0034] By pulling the peeling cover part 23 toward the bottom side of the label printer 10, i.e., toward the negative side of the Z axis, the engagement between the protrusion 25 and the stopper 30 is released. Then, the peeling cover part 23 rotates around the rotation shaft 24, and the peeling roller 21 and the peeling pinch roller 22 move apart.

[0035] When the peel-off cover unit 23 is rotated, the protrusion 25 provided on the peel-off cover unit 23 is attracted to a magnet 28 installed on the label printer 10. This fixes the peel-off cover unit 23 in the label paper replacement position. The protrusion 25 and the magnet 28 constitute the holding means in the present disclosure. In the label paper replacement position, as shown in FIG. 5 , the liner guide surface 26 is held in the upward position, i.e., on the positive side of the Z axis. The operator inserts the leading edge of the liner 15 along the liner guide surface 26. At this time, because a pair of protrusions 27 is formed on both ends of the liner guide surface 26, the inserted liner 15 is easily guided along the pair of protrusions 27 to the back of the liner guide surface 26.

[0036] In Figure 5, the magnet 28 is installed only on one side of the peel-off cover portion 23, i.e., on the positive side of the Y axis, but the magnet 28 may also be installed on both sides of the peel-off cover portion 23 so that both protrusions 25 are attracted to each other.

[0037] FIG. 6 shows how the operator sets the leading edge of the backing paper 15 when the peel-off cover section 23 is held in the label paper replacement position.

[0038] When replacing the label paper 13, the operator opens the peel-off cover part 23 and rotates it around the rotation shaft 24 counterclockwise in Fig. 6, i.e., in the direction of the dotted arrow in Fig. 6. Then, the operator holds the peel-off cover part 23 in a position where the protrusion 25 is attracted to the magnet 28.

[0039] At this time, the liner guide surface 26 of the peel-off cover unit 23 is held in a position that protrudes further outward from the bottom of the label printer 10 toward the side where the liner 15 is inserted. This allows the operator to locate the position of the liner guide surface 26 by feel and insert the leading edge of the liner 15 without visually checking the insertion opening for the liner 15. In this state, the operator inserts the liner 15 along the liner guide surface 26 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 6.

[0040] At this time, since the pair of protrusions 27 (see Figure 5) mentioned above are formed on both widthwise ends of the backing paper guide surface 26, the inserted backing paper 15 is guided along the pair of protrusions 27 toward the peeling roller 21 located at the back of the backing paper guide surface 26.

[0041] The label printer 10 also includes a paper guide 29 at the back of the backing paper guide surface 26. The paper guide 29 has an arc-like shape that guides the leading edge of the backing paper 15 inserted along the backing paper guide surface 26 so that it faces the underside (negative side of the Z axis) of the peeling roller 21. This paper guide 29 guides the backing paper 15 inserted at the label paper replacement position so that it passes between the peeling roller 21 and the peeling pinch roller 22. The paper guide 29 is an example of a guide member within the present disclosure.

[0042] The operator replacing the label paper 13 confirms that the tip of the inserted backing paper 15 is protruding from the bottom of the label printer 10 as shown in Figure 6, and then applies force to the peel-off cover part 23 in a direction that releases the attraction between the magnet 28 and the protrusion 25, thereby releasing the retention of the peel-off cover part 23 at the label paper replacement position.

[0043] 6, the operator rotates the peeling cover portion 23 clockwise to lock the protrusion 25 into the stopper 30. At this time, the backing paper 15 is clamped between the peeling roller 21 and the peeling pinch roller 22, completing the setting of the backing paper 15 in association with the replacement of the label paper 13.

[0044] (Effects of the embodiment) As described above, the label printer 10 (printer device) of the embodiment is a printer device that affixes printed labels 14 peeled from the backing 15 of label paper 13 to an object being conveyed along the bottom surface of the printer device itself, and includes a peeling roller 21 and a peeling pinch roller 22 that sandwich and convey the backing 15 from which the label 14 has been peeled, and a supporting mechanism that supports the peeling pinch roller 22 and rotates it about a rotation axis 24 perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the backing 15, thereby pressing the peeling pinch roller 22 against the peeling roller 21. and a protrusion 25 and a magnet 28 (holding means) that hold the replacement backing paper 15 at the label paper replacement position where, when replacing the label paper 13, the peeling cover part 23 is rotated about a rotation shaft 24 to release the pressure contact between the peeling pinch roller 22 and the peeling roller 21, and the rotated peeling cover part 23 is aligned along the surface opposite to the side that supports the peeling pinch roller 22, and the replacement backing paper 15 is inserted between the peeling roller 21 and the peeling pinch roller 22. Therefore, when replacing the label paper 13, the backing paper 15 from which the label 14 has been printed and peeled can be easily set in the transport path provided at the bottom of the label printer 10.

[0045] Furthermore, in the label printer 10 of this embodiment, the holding means comprises a protrusion 25 that protrudes from the peel-off cover part 23 in a direction along the rotation shaft 24, and a magnet 28 that is installed on the housing of the label printer 10 (printer device) and attracts the protrusion 25 when the peel-off cover part 23 is rotated to the label paper replacement position. Therefore, with a simple configuration, the peel-off cover part 23, which also serves as a guide when setting the backing paper 15 in the transport path, can be held in the label paper replacement position.

[0046] Furthermore, in the label printer 10 of this embodiment, the protrusion 25 also serves as a locking member that locks the peeling cover part 23 when the peeling pinch roller 22 and the peeling roller 21 are held in a pressed state. Therefore, the protrusion 25 can be used both as a holding means for holding the peeling cover part 23 in the label paper replacement position and as a locking means for locking the peeling cover part 23 when it is closed.

[0047] Furthermore, in the label printer 10 of this embodiment, the backing paper guide surface 26 (guide surface) is held in a position at the label paper replacement position that protrudes further out from the bottom of the label printer 10 toward the side where the backing paper 15 is inserted. Therefore, an operator replacing the label paper 13 can insert the leading edge of the backing paper 15 by feel, for example, without visually checking the insertion port for the backing paper 15, thereby improving operability when replacing the label paper 13.

[0048] Furthermore, in the label printer 10 of this embodiment, the peeling cover unit 23 is provided on the surface opposite to the side that supports the peeling pinch roller 22 with a pair of protrusions 27 that have a width wider than the width of the liner 15 and guide the liner 15 in a direction perpendicular to the peeling pinch roller 22. Therefore, when the liner 15 is inserted into the liner guide surface 26 at the label paper replacement position, the insertion direction of the liner 15 is guided, and therefore, operability when inserting the liner 15 into the liner guide surface 26 can be improved even at the bottom of the label printer 10, which may be difficult to see visually in some cases.

[0049] The label printer 10 of this embodiment also includes a paper guide 29 (guide member) that guides the backing paper 15 inserted at the label paper replacement position so that it passes between the peeling roller 21 and the peeling pinch roller 22. This further improves the operability when setting the backing paper 15 in the transport path.

[0050] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This novel embodiment can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the inventions and their equivalents as set forth in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 10 Label printer (printer device) 12 label rolls 13 Label paper 14 Label 15 Mount 16 Capstan pinch roller 17 Capstan roller 18 Platen roller 19 Printing section 20 Peeling guide 21 Peeling roller 22 Peeling pinch roller 23 Peelable cover 24 Rotating Axis 25 Projection part (locking member, holding means) 26 Mounting guide surface (guide surface) 27 Convex part 28 Magnet (holding means) 29 Paper guide (guide component) 30 Stopper 32 Wall 60 Packaging (Attached Items) 61,62 Conveyor roller 63 Belt [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0052] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-75445

Claims

1. A printer device that affixes a printed label peeled from a label paper backing to an object being conveyed along the bottom surface of the printer device, comprising: a peeling roller and a peeling pinch roller that sandwich and transport the backing sheet from which the label has been peeled; a peeling cover provided at the bottom of the printer device, which supports the peeling pinch roller and rotates the peeling pinch roller about a rotation axis perpendicular to the conveying direction of the backing sheet, thereby holding the peeling pinch roller in a state of being in pressure contact with the peeling roller; a holding means for holding the peeling cover part at a label paper replacement position where a replacement backing sheet is inserted between the peeling roller and the peeling pinch roller by rotating the peeling cover part around the rotation shaft to release the pressure contact between the peeling pinch roller and the peeling roller and aligning the rotated peeling cover part along a guide surface on the side opposite to the side where the peeling cover part supports the peeling pinch roller; and A printer device comprising:

2. The holding means is a protrusion protruding from the peel-off cover in a direction along the rotation axis; a magnet that is installed on the housing of the printer device and attracts the protrusion when the peel-off cover unit is rotated to the label paper replacement position; 2. The printer device according to claim 1.

3. The protrusion is the peeling cover also serves as a locking member that locks the peeling cover when the peeling pinch roller and the peeling roller are held in a pressed-contact state.

3. The printer device according to claim 2.

4. the guide surface is held at a position protruding outward from the bottom of the printer device toward the side where the backing paper is inserted at the label paper replacement position; 2. The printer device according to claim 1.

5. the peeling cover portion has a pair of protrusions on a surface opposite to a surface supporting the peeling pinch roller, the protrusions having a width greater than a width of the backing sheet in a direction perpendicular to the peeling pinch roller and guiding the backing sheet; 5. The printer device according to claim 1.

6. a guide member that guides the backing paper inserted at the label paper replacement position so that the backing paper passes between the peeling roller and the peeling pinch roller; 5. The printer device according to claim 1.

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