Printing apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides a printing apparatus that can suppress the breakage of the release agent when it is wound up by the winding section. [Solution] The CPU of the control unit reads a load setting value that indicates the cutting load to be applied to the movable blade as a corresponding value (S15). The CPU reads the type of tape (S17). The CPU reads the number of cuts made by the half-cut cutting blade (S19). The CPU reads a correction coefficient corresponding to the type of tape and a correction coefficient corresponding to the number of cuts, and sets a load correction value (S21). The CPU reads a default current value corresponding to the current value of the load setting value and calculates the current value to be supplied to the cutting motor based on the load correction value (S23). The CPU supplies the calculated current value to the cutting motor and half-cuts the tape (S25).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that performs half-cutting on labels.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a label winding apparatus that affixes a label to an adherend. The label winding apparatus prints on a tape fed out from a tape cassette to generate a label. The label is cut into a single-sheet shape on the tape by a half-cutting blade while leaving the release material. The label winding apparatus completely peels the label from the release material, winds the label around a cable, and affixes the label. The release material is discharged to the outside from a discharge portion at the upper end of the housing.

[0003] In order to reduce the labor for handling the release material, it is considered to provide a winding unit configured to wind the release material around a cylindrical member. For example, the leading end of the release material is attached to the cylindrical member, and the cylindrical member is rotated by the driving force of a motor. The winding unit pulls the tape along the transport path by winding up the release material. As a result, tension is applied to the tape, so that the label is peeled from the release material at the peeling portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Incidentally, the cutting load when cutting tape is defined by the amount of deformation relative to the stroke of the cutting blade. The amount of deformation is the depth to which the cutting edge of the cutting blade cuts into the tape. When half-cutting tape, the cutting load is proportional to the length cut by the cutting blade. For example, the cutting load required to cut a 36mm wide tape is three times the cutting load required to cut a 12mm wide tape. Therefore, when performing a half-cut with a constant cutting load regardless of the tape width, the cutting edge of the cutting blade cuts deeper into the tape with narrower tapes compared to wider tapes. As a result, if the release agent is cut during the half-cut, there was a possibility that the release agent would break when it was wound up.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus that can suppress the breakage of the release agent when it is wound up by the winding section. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a printing apparatus having the following features is provided. The printing apparatus comprises a printing unit, a transport unit, a peeling unit, and a winding unit. The printing unit prints an image on a label and on a medium having a long peeling material to which the label is attached.

[0008] The transport unit transports the medium printed by the printing unit. The peeling unit peels the label from the medium transported by the transport unit from the peeling material. The winding unit winds up the peeling material from which the label has been peeled by the peeling unit.

[0009] A printing apparatus with this configuration further comprises a cutting unit and a control unit. The cutting unit is positioned between the printing unit and the peeling unit and cuts the label into single sheets while leaving the peeling material intact. The control unit controls the printing unit, the transport unit and the cutting unit. The cutting unit comprises a support base, a cutting blade and a contact unit. The medium is supported on the support base.

[0010] The cutting blade cuts a portion of the medium, which is supported by the support base, by pressing its cutting edge against the medium. The contact portion is located on either the support base or the cutting blade, and contacts the other when cutting the medium, forming a gap between the cutting edge of the cutting blade and the support base. The control unit performs an acquisition process to acquire the width of the medium. The control unit controls the cutting load according to the width of the medium acquired in the acquisition process.

[0011] The narrower the width of the medium, the greater the compressive deformation force of the release agent, and the deeper the cutting edge of the cutting blade cuts into the medium. The depth to which the cutting edge of the cutting blade cuts into the medium varies depending on the position where the compressive deformation force of the release agent, the deformation force of the cutting blade and support base, and the cutting load are balanced. The control unit can adjust the depth to which the cutting edge of the cutting blade cuts into the medium by controlling the cutting load of the cutting section. In other words, by controlling the cutting load according to the width of the medium, the control unit can prevent the cutting edge of the cutting blade from cutting too deeply into the release agent. Therefore, the printing device can suppress the breakage of the release agent when it is wound up by the winding section. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the label application device 1. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the label application device 1 with the main cover 40 open. [Figure 3] Figure 2 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the dashed line W. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of the cut section 9 from the upper left front. [Figure 5] This is a front view of the full-cut cutting blade 91. [Figure 6] This is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of label application device 1. [Figure 7] This is a flowchart for the half-cut process. [Figure 8] This is a front view of the modified half-cut cutting blade 196. [Figure 9] This is a front view of the modified half-cut cutting blade 296. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0013] An embodiment of a label applying apparatus 1 that embodies the printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The referenced drawings are used to describe technical features that the present invention can employ. The configuration and the like of the apparatus described are not intended to be limited only to the described configuration, and are merely illustrative examples.

[0014] The label applying apparatus 1 is an apparatus that creates a label 160 by printing an image on a tape 150, and winds and applies the created label 160 around a cable 19. The lower left, upper right, upper left, lower right, upper, and lower sides in FIG. 1 are respectively defined as the front, rear, left, right, upper, and lower sides of the label applying apparatus 1.

[0015] <Overview of Label Applying Apparatus 1> As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the label applying apparatus 1 has a box-shaped housing 10. The housing 10 includes a base 11, a main unit 2, a main plate, a left cover 15, a rear cover 16, a main cover 40, a mounting portion 30, a printing mechanism 3, and a cutting portion 9.

[0016] The base 11 is a pedestal of the label applying apparatus 1. The base 11 has a rectangular box shape, and in a plan view, has a shape with the left front corner portion cut away. A power supply board, a battery, and the like are accommodated inside the base 11.

[0017] The main unit 2 is a unit for peeling the label 160 from the tape 150 printed by the printing mechanism 3 and winding the label 160 around the cable 19. The main unit 2 includes a peeling portion 4, a pressing portion 25, an opening / closing portion 6, and a winding portion 7. A lower end portion of the main unit 2 is fixed to the base 11. The main unit 2 will be described later.

[0018] The main plate is a plate-shaped support member extending in the up-down direction and the front-rear direction, and is fixed to the housing 10. The main plate is disposed at a position offset to the left of the center of the base 11 in the left-right direction and extends upward. The lower end portion of the main plate is fixed to the lower end portion of the main unit 2 inside the base 11. The main plate supports the drive unit, the mounting unit 30, the printing mechanism 3, and the winding unit 8 on its right surface, supports the cutting unit 9 on its front end portion, and supports the control unit 50 on its left surface. The control unit 50 controls the operation of the label affixing apparatus 1. The drive unit drives the printing mechanism 3.

[0019] The mounting unit 30 is disposed to the right of the main plate. The printing mechanism 3 is disposed below the mounting unit 30. The cutting unit 9 is disposed in front of the mounting unit 30. The winding unit 8 is disposed obliquely above and in front of the mounting unit 30.

[0020] The left cover 15 is disposed to the left of the main plate, and constitutes the front surface, rear surface, top surface, and left surface of the portion to the left of the center of the housing 10 in the left-right direction. The left cover 15 covers and protects the control unit 50 disposed on the left surface of the main plate. An input unit 13 that receives operation input from a user is disposed on the upper front portion of the left cover 15. The rear cover 16 is disposed to the right of the main plate, and constitutes the rear surface and top surface of the portion to the right of the center of the housing 10 in the left-right direction. The rear cover 16 covers and protects the mounting unit 30 disposed on the right surface of the main plate from the rear side.

[0021] The main cover 40 is disposed to the right of the main plate, and covers and protects the mounting unit 30 and the winding unit 8 from the right side. At the rear end of the main cover 40, hinges 40A that are pivotally supported on the front surface of the left end portion of the rear cover 16 are disposed at two positions in the up-down direction. Accordingly, the front end of the main cover 40 pivots in the left-right direction about the rear end as an axis, to open and close the mounting unit 30 and the winding unit 8. That is, the main cover 40 pivots between a closed state in which it covers the mounting unit 30 and the winding unit 8, and an open state in which it does not cover the mounting unit 30 and the winding unit 8.

[0022] The main cover 40 has a front wall 382, ​​a rear wall 383, a right wall 385, a top wall 386, and an inclined wall 387. The front wall 382, ​​rear wall 383, top wall 386, and inclined wall 387 protrude in a plate-like manner to the left toward the left-right center of the housing 10 from the front end, rear end, upper front part, and upper rear part of the right wall 385, respectively. The front wall 382, ​​rear wall 383, top wall 386, and inclined wall 387 each constitute the front, rear, top front part, and top rear part of the right portion of the housing 10 from the left-right center. The top wall 386 faces upward, and the inclined wall 387 is inclined and faces diagonally upward and backward.

[0023] When the main cover 40 is closed, the area enclosed by the right wall 385, the front wall 382, ​​and the top wall 386 covers and protects the reel 80 of the winding unit 8. That is, the right wall 385 covers the right side of the reel 80 from the right. The front wall 382 and the top wall 386 each cover the outer circumferential surface 80B of the reel 80 from the front and above, respectively.

[0024] The mounting section 30 is box-shaped with an open right side, and can accommodate various types of tape cassettes, such as thermal type, receptor type, and laminate type. The thermal type tape cassette is equipped with thermal paper tape. The receptor type tape cassette is equipped with tape and an ink ribbon.

[0025] As shown in Figure 3, the tape cassette used in the label application device 1 of this embodiment is a laminated tape cassette 100. The laminated tape cassette 100 comprises a film tape 110, a double-sided adhesive tape 120, and an ink ribbon 130. The film tape 110 is a transparent PET tape. The double-sided adhesive tape 120 is a tape in which a base material and a release agent 170 are laminated via an adhesive. The tape cassette 100 will be described later.

[0026] <Print mechanism 3> As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the printing mechanism 3 is located below the mounting section 30. The printing mechanism 3 includes a head holder 31, a thermal head 32, a drive shaft 35, a winding shaft 36, a platen roller 33, and a transport roller 34. The head holder 31 is located below the mounting section 30. The head holder 31 is plate-shaped and extends in the front-rear and left-right directions.

[0027] The thermal head 32 is located on the underside of the head holder 31. The thermal head 32 is equipped with multiple heating elements. The multiple heating elements are arranged in a single row in the left-right direction. With the tape cassette 100 mounted in the mounting section 30, the thermal head 32 heats the ink ribbon 130 with the multiple heating elements. As the ink ribbon 130 is heated, the ink is transferred to the film tape 110.

[0028] The head holder 31 supports the thermal head 32 and also functions as a heat sink for the heat-generating element. A drive shaft 35 for transporting the tape 150 is positioned diagonally downward and in front of the head holder 31. The drive shaft 35 extends to the right from the bottom surface of the recess of the mounting section 30 and is rotationally driven by the transport motor 351. When the tape cassette 100 is mounted, the drive shaft 35 engages with the shaft hole of the drive roller 101 of the tape cassette 100.

[0029] A winding shaft 36 is positioned diagonally above and behind the head holder 31. The winding shaft 36 is rotationally driven by the transport motor 351. When the tape cassette 100 is installed, the winding shaft 36 engages with the winding spool 132 of the tape cassette 100.

[0030] A platen holder 37 is positioned below the head holder 31. The platen holder 37 is arm-shaped, with a support shaft extending in the left-right direction at its rear end. The platen holder 37 is rotatably supported around the axis of the support shaft. The platen roller 33 and the conveyor roller 34 are rotatably supported at the tip of the platen holder 37. As the platen holder 37 swings, the platen roller 33 moves toward and away from the thermal head 32.

[0031] The transport roller 34 is positioned to the left of the platen roller 33. As the platen holder 37 swings, the transport roller 34 moves toward and away from the drive roller 101 of the tape cassette 100. The platen holder 37 swings between the separated position and the printing position in conjunction with the opening and closing of the main cover 40.

[0032] When the main cover 40 is opened, the platen holder 37 moves to a separated position. The separated position is the position where the platen roller 33 and the transport roller 34 are separated from the mounting section 30. With the platen holder 37 in the separated position, the user can attach and detach the tape cassette 100 to and from the mounting section 30. That is, in conjunction with the opening of the main cover 40, the holding of the tape 150, which is caught in the nip between the drive roller 101 and the transport roller 34, is released.

[0033] When the main cover 40 is closed, the platen holder 37 moves to the printing position. The printing position is where the platen roller 33 and the transport roller 34 approach the mounting section 30. At the printing position, the platen roller 33 presses the film tape 110 and the ink ribbon 130 against the thermal head 32. At the printing position, the transport roller 34 overlaps the double-sided adhesive tape 120 and the film tape 110, and presses them together in the nip between it and the drive roller 101. That is, in conjunction with the closing operation of the main cover 40, the tape 150 is held in a transportable state by being sandwiched in the nip between the drive roller 101 and the transport roller 34.

[0034] The tape cassette 100 houses a film tape 110, a double-sided adhesive tape 120, and an ink ribbon 130 in a box-shaped case. Inside the tape cassette 100, the film tape 110, the double-sided adhesive tape 120, and the ink ribbon 130 are wound on their respective corresponding spools. An arm portion 102 is located at the bottom of the case. The arm portion 102 extends from the rear lower part of the case to the front lower part. The film tape 110 and the ink ribbon 130 are pulled out of the case through an opening at the left end of the arm portion 102 and stacked on top of each other.

[0035] The head insertion section 104 is located above the arm section 102. The head insertion section 104 penetrates the case vertically. With the tape cassette 100 mounted in the mounting section 30, the head holder 31 is inserted into the head insertion section 104.

[0036] The drive roller 101 is located in front of the head insertion portion 104. The drive roller 101 is cylindrical and extends in the left-right direction. The lower end of the drive roller 101 is exposed downward from the case.

[0037] The drive roller 101 supports the double-sided adhesive tape 120 when the film tape 110 and the double-sided adhesive tape 120 are superimposed on each other. With the tape cassette 100 mounted in the mounting section 30, the drive shaft 35 is inserted into the axial hole of the drive roller 101. The drive roller 101 rotates due to the rotational drive of the drive shaft 35. The drive roller 101 transports the film tape 110 and the double-sided adhesive tape 120 between itself and the transport roller 34. That is, the tape 150 is transported by being fed out from the nip between the drive roller 101 and the transport roller 34 by the drive of the drive roller 101.

[0038] The guide section 106 is located at the front, diagonally downward corner of the case. The guide section 106 is located to the left of the drive roller 101. In the direction of transport of the film tape 110, the guide section 106 is located downstream of the drive roller 101.

[0039] The guide section 106 is slit-shaped and extends in the left-right direction. The tape 150, on which the double-sided adhesive tape 120 is attached to the film tape 110, is transported by the drive roller 101 and passes through the guide section 106. The guide section 106 supports the tape 150 from both sides in the width direction. With the support of the guide section 106, the tape 150 is discharged from the tape cassette 100 while maintaining its orientation.

[0040] As shown in Figure 6, the case of the tape cassette 100 is provided with an indicator section 107. The indicator section 107 has multiple holes. The indicator section 107 indicates the type of tape 150 to be stored in the tape cassette 100 based on the combination of the arrangement and number of holes. The type of tape 150 indicates, for example, the material, color, and width of the tape 150. The control unit 50 detects the combination of holes indicated by the indicator section 107 using a detection unit 38 located in the mounting unit 30, and obtains the type of tape 150.

[0041] As shown in Figure 3, during printing in the printing mechanism 3, the platen holder 37 moves from the separation position to the printing position. The platen roller 33 overlaps the film tape 110 and the ink ribbon 130 and presses them against the thermal head 32. The platen roller 33 rotates and transports the film tape 110 forward.

[0042] Simultaneously with transport, the thermal head 32 generates heat, and the ink ribbon 130 is heated. The ink in the ink ribbon 130 is transferred to the printing surface of the film tape 110 by the heating. The printing surface of the film tape 110 is the surface facing the thermal head 32 inside the case, i.e., the surface facing upwards. Through the ink transfer, an image including text is printed on the film tape 110. After printing, the ink ribbon 130 is separated from the film tape 110 and wound onto the take-up spool 132.

[0043] The double-sided adhesive tape 120 is placed on top of the printed surface of the printed film tape 110. The base material of the double-sided adhesive tape 120 is in contact with the printed surface of the film tape 110. With the film tape 110 positioned beneath the double-sided adhesive tape 120, the film tape 110 and the double-sided adhesive tape 120 pass between the drive roller 101 and the transport roller 34. The adhesive adheres the film tape 110 to the base material, generating the printed label 160.

[0044] The upper surface of the label 160 corresponds to the adhesive surface to which the adhesive of the base material is attached, and the release agent 170 is attached to the adhesive surface. That is, the tape 150 is produced by attaching the double-sided adhesive tape 120 to the film tape 110, so that the release agent 170 is attached to the label 160. The label 160 is of no fixed length and is cut into single sheets of a predetermined or arbitrary length at the cutting section 9. The width direction of the tape 150 corresponds to the left-right direction. The transport path of the tape 150 from the printing mechanism 3 through the cutting section 9 to the release section 4 is called the transport path R1.

[0045] <Cut section 9> The cutting section 9 is positioned downstream of the conveying direction of the tape 150 relative to the conveying roller 34. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the cutting section 9 has a full-cut cutting blade 91 and a half-cut cutting blade 96. The full-cut cutting blade 91 has a fixed blade 92 fixed above the conveying path R1 and a movable blade 93 that is rotatable below the conveying path R1. The fixed blade 92 extends in the left-right direction, with its cutting edge 921 pointing downwards.

[0046] The movable blade 93 has a bent and extending plate shape and is rotatably supported by a pivot shaft 94. The pivot shaft 94 is located to the left of the transport path R1 and extends in the front-rear direction. The movable blade 93 has a left end portion 931 that bends and extends to the left of the pivot shaft 94 and a right end portion 932 that extends straight to the right of the pivot shaft 94. The left end portion 931 has an elongated hole 933. The right end portion 932 faces to the right and points upward the cutting edge 934 that extends in the left-right direction.

[0047] The cutting section 9 has a connecting section 90 located to the left of the transport path R1 and behind the full-cut cutting blade 91. The connecting section 90 extends in the left-right direction, and its right end is rotatably supported by a pivot shaft 901. The pivot shaft 901 is located diagonally below and to the left of the pivot shaft 94 and extends in the front-rear direction.

[0048] A torsion spring 903 is provided around the pivot shaft 901 on the rear surface of the connecting portion 90. The torsion spring 903 biases the connecting portion 90 clockwise when viewed from the front, with the pivot shaft 901 as the pivot point. A connecting hole 902 opens at the left end of the connecting portion 90. An interlocking bar engages with the connecting hole 902. A pin 904 is provided between the pivot shaft 901 of the connecting portion 90 and the connecting portion 90, which engages with the elongated hole 933 of the movable blade 93.

[0049] As shown in Figure 2, an operating lever 18 that receives user input and slides left and right is located on the right side of the housing 10 below the mounting section 30. The operating lever 18 is connected to the full-cut cutting blade 91 via an interlocking bar. The full-cut cutting blade 91 moves the tip 934 of the movable blade 93 from below the transport path R1 to above the transport path R1 relative to the tip 921 of the fixed blade 92. The movable blade 93 fully cuts the tape 150 being transported along the transport path R1. That is, the tape 150 is sandwiched between the fixed blade 92 and the movable blade 93 and cut in half.

[0050] The half-cut cutting blade 96 is positioned downstream, i.e., in front of, the full-cut cutting blade 91 in the transport path R1. The half-cut cutting blade 96 has a fixed base 97 fixed above the transport path R1 and a movable blade 98 that is rotatable below the transport path R1. The fixed base 97 extends in the left-right direction and has a blade contact surface 971 facing downward, i.e., towards the transport path R1. The movable blade 98 is plate-shaped and extends in the left-right direction and is supported by a pivot shaft 99. The pivot shaft 99 is positioned to the left of the transport path R1 and extends in the front-rear direction.

[0051] The movable blade 98 has a left end portion 981 that extends straight to the left of the pivot axis 99 and a right end portion 982 that extends straight to the right of the pivot axis 99. The left end portion 981 has a pin that protrudes rearward at its end. The right end portion 982 faces upward, and the cutting edge 983 that extends in the left-right direction is also facing upward. A projection 984 is formed at the end of the right end portion 982, which protrudes slightly above the cutting edge 983. The size of the projection 984 that protrudes above the cutting edge 983 is approximately the same as the thickness of the release agent 170.

[0052] The cutting section 9 has a transmission section 95 located to the left of the transport path R1 and behind the half-cut cutting blade 96, which transmits the driving force of the cutting motor 953 to the movable blade 98. The transmission section 95 has multiple gear groups, and the drive shaft of the cutting motor 953 meshes with the uppermost gear. The lowest drive gear 951 of the transmission section 95 has a long groove 952 into which the pin of the left end 981 of the movable blade 98 engages. The long groove 952 extends from near the rotational center of the drive gear 951 toward the outer circumference.

[0053] The cutting motor 953 rotates the drive gear 951 and moves the pin in the long groove 952, thereby moving the movable blade 98 between the cutting position and the standby position. The cutting position is the position where, in a front view, the movable blade 98 rotates counterclockwise from the standby position and the projection 984 of the right end 982 contacts the blade contact surface 971 of the fixed base 97. In this case, the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 98 forms a gap between it and the blade contact surface 971 equal to the thickness of the release agent 170. The standby position is the position where, in a front view, the movable blade 98 rotates clockwise from the cutting position and the cutting edge 983 of the right end 982 is retracted below the transport path R1.

[0054] The half-cut cutting blade 96 uses a projection 984 to create a gap between the cutting edge 983 and the cutting surface 971 equal to the thickness of the release agent 170. The movable blade 98 half-cuts the label 160 of the tape 150 being transported along the transport path R1. That is, the label 160 of the tape 150 is cut, while the release agent 170 remains uncut.

[0055] <Main Unit 2> As shown in Figure 3, the main unit 2 includes a base 20 that supports the entire unit. The base 20 is made of resin and is reinforced on both sides by metal plates. The base 20 includes a peeling section 4, a pressing section 25, an opening / closing section 6, and a winding section 7.

[0056] The bottom of the base 20 is fixed to the front right of the base 11. A winding section 7 for wrapping the label 160 around the cable 19 is located at the bottom. There is a semi-cylindrical housing section 211 at the bottom. The rotating body 70 of the winding section 7 is housed in the housing section 211.

[0057] The middle section of the base 20 is located above the bottom section. The middle section has a peeling area for peeling off the label 160. The peeling area contains a peeling section 4, a pressing section 25, and an opening / closing section 6. The upper section of the base 20 is located above the middle section. The upper section contains a first transport guide 231 and a second transport guide 236.

[0058] The first transport guide 231 is plate-shaped and extends diagonally upward and forward when viewed from the side. The first transport guide 231 guides the tape 150 to the peeling section 4 along the transport path R1. The second transport guide 236 is plate-shaped and extends diagonally upward and backward from the front end of the first transport guide 231 when viewed from the side. The second transport guide 236 guides the release material 170, from which the label 160 has been peeled off at the peeling section 4, to the winding section 8 along the transport path R2. The transport path of the release material 170 being transported from the peeling section 4 to the winding section 8 is called the transport path R2.

[0059] <Peeling area> The peeling section 4 is located at the connection point between the first transport guide 231 and the second transport guide 236. The peeling section 4 is a round rod shape extending in the left-right direction. The surface of the peeling section 4 has a coating layer that suppresses the adhesion of adhesive material when peeling the label 160 from the release agent 170. Transport paths R1 and R2 bend at an acute angle at the peeling section 4. The peeling section 4 peels the label 160 from the release agent 170 due to the tension generated when the winding section 8 winds up the release agent 170.

[0060] The opening / closing section 6 is box-shaped and extends vertically, and is located at the front of the base 20. The opening / closing section 6 pivots its upper part in the front-to-back direction, with a shaft extending horizontally at its lower end as the pivot point. The swinging of the opening / closing section 6 opens and closes the housing section 211 of the winding section 7.

[0061] The opening / closing section 6 has a pressing section 60 on its rear surface when closed. The pressing section 60 has a pressing surface 61 that extends vertically and faces backward. When the user moves the cable 19 from the peeling section 4 towards the winding section 7, the cable 19 is guided by the guide surface 21 and passes downward between the guide surface 21 and the pressing surface 61. The guide surface 21 is located in two places, on the left and right sides of the peeling region, and extends vertically and faces forward. The peeling section 4 is located at the upper end of the guide surface 21 and is positioned between the left guide surface 21 and the right guide surface 21. That is, the peeling section 4 is included in the configuration of the guide surface 21.

[0062] The user grasps the cable 19, which extends in the left-right direction, with both hands and brings the cable 19 into contact with the guide surface 21. The guide surface 21 guides the cable 19, to which the label 160 peeled off at the peeling section 4 is attached, toward the insertion opening 70B of the winding section 7 in the insertion direction K. The insertion opening 70B is the entrance for inserting the cable 19 into the rotating body 70 of the winding section 7. The insertion direction K is the direction in which the cable 19 is inserted into the rotating body 70, and in this embodiment, it is downward from the peeling section 4 toward the winding section 7. When accepting the insertion of the cable 19, the rotating body 70 positions the insertion opening 70B at the top.

[0063] The user moves the cable 19 in the insertion direction K, i.e., downwards, along the guide surface 21, toward the winding section 7 located below the peeling section 4. As the cable passes between the guide surface 21 and the pressing surface 61, the end of the label 160 is pressed against the cable 19 by the pressing surface 61.

[0064] The pressing portion 25 is a member that presses the end of the label 160 against the cable 19. The pressing portion 25 is positioned below the first transport guide 231 and is a plate-shaped member with its rear end pivotally supported. The tip of the pressing portion 25 is exposed between the guide surface 21 and the pressing surface 61. The pressing portion 25 is biased by a torsion spring so that its tip is positioned above its rear end.

[0065] As the user moves the cable 19 downward along the guide surface 21, the pressing part 25 grips the end of the label 160 between the tip and the cable 19. The pressing part 25 rotates under pressure from the cable 19, moving the tip downward. The pressing part 25 rotates while maintaining the state in which the end of the label 160 is pressed against the cable 19 so that the end of the label 160 does not peel off.

[0066] <Wrapping section 7> The winding section 7 wraps around the cable 19, which is guided by the guide surface 21, and attaches a label 160, whose end is attached to the cable 19. The winding section 7 has a substantially cylindrical rotating body 70 with partially missing sides. The rotation axis 70A of the rotating body 70 extends in the left-right direction. The rotating body 70 is rotatably supported by supports 72 fixed to the left and right sides of the base body 20, respectively. The rotating body 70 is rotationally driven by a winding motor 79.

[0067] The rotating body 70 houses and supports the arm portions 76 and 77 so that they can swing. The arm portions 76 and 77 hold the cable 19 by gripping it when wrapping the label 160 around it. As the rotating body 70 rotates, the arm portions 76 and 77 rotate around the cable 19, wrapping the label 160 around the outer surface of the cable 19. The label 160 wrapped around the outer surface of the cable 19 is then attached to the cable 19 by an adhesive.

[0068] <Winding section 8> The winding unit 8 is located diagonally above and behind the peeling unit 4. The winding unit 8 is positioned on the right side of the main plate, above the front upper corner of the mounting unit 30. The winding unit 8 winds the release agent 170 into a roll, thereby applying the tension necessary for transporting the tape 150 and peeling off the label 160 to the tape 150.

[0069] The winding unit 8 has a reel 80 and a shaft 81. The reel 80 is cylindrical in shape, with its rotation axis 80A extending in the left-right direction. The left side of the reel 80 is closed and has an opening in the center into which the shaft 81 is inserted. The shaft 81 extends to the right from the right side of the main plate, which is fixed to the housing 10. The shaft 81 is connected to the winding motor 89 via a plurality of gears located in the drive unit on the right side of the main plate.

[0070] The driving force of the winding motor 89 is transmitted to the shaft 81 via multiple gears, rotating the reel 80 counterclockwise when viewed from the right. The length of the reel 80 in the left-right direction is greater than the maximum width of the tape 150 corresponding to the label application device 1. The right end of the reel 80 is open. The release agent 170 is wound in a roll on the outer surface of the reel 80. When discarded, the rolled release agent is pulled out to the right from the right end.

[0071] <Electrical Configuration> Referring to Figure 6, the electrical configuration of the label application device 1 will be described. The control unit 50 of the label application device 1 includes a CPU 51, ROM 52, RAM 53, flash memory 54, and input / output interface 56. The CPU 51, ROM 52, RAM 53, flash memory 54, and input / output interface 56 are connected via a data bus 55.

[0072] The CPU 51 provides overall control of the label application device 1. The ROM 52 stores constants necessary for the CPU 51 to execute various programs. The RAM 53 stores primary data generated by the CPU 51 when it executes processing. The flash memory 54 stores programs, variables, etc., executed by the CPU 51.

[0073] The input / output interface 56 is connected to drive circuits 57A, 57B, 57C, 57D, 57E, detection unit 38, input unit 13, and external interface 58. Drive circuit 57A is an electronic circuit for driving the winding motor 89. Drive circuit 57B is an electronic circuit for driving the transport motor 351. Drive circuit 57C is an electronic circuit for driving the thermal head 32. Drive circuit 57D is an electronic circuit for driving the winding motor 79.

[0074] The drive circuit 57E is an electronic circuit for driving the cutting motor 953. The input section 13 consists of multiple buttons that receive input for operations on the labeling device 1. The external interface 58 communicates with an external terminal 59. For example, the CPU 51 can execute a program by storing the program received from the external terminal 59 in the flash memory 54. The external terminal 59 can be a general-purpose personal computer, a mobile terminal, etc.

[0075] <Operation of Labeling Device 1> In the labeling device 1, the tape 150 is pulled out from the tape cassette 100 in advance and positioned along the first transport guide 231 and the second transport guide 236. The end of the tape 150 is inserted into the insertion opening 80F of the reel 80 of the winding unit 8. When the operating unit 86A is in the first position, the end of the tape 150 is held by the pressing member 84.

[0076] During printing, the user operates an external terminal 59 such as a PC to create print data for printing the label and sends a print command to the label application device 1. The control unit 50 prints an image on the print surface of the film tape 110 while transporting the tape 150 toward the cutting unit 9 by driving the transport motor 351. The CPU 51 rotates the reel 80 by driving the winding motor 89 to wind up the release agent 170. Note that in printing immediately after the tape 150 is held on the reel 80, the label 160 has not yet been peeled off the release agent 170, so the tape 150 is wound onto the reel 80.

[0077] The label 160, on which the image is printed, is half-cut at the cutting section 9 and transported toward the peeling section 4 in an isolated state. The release agent 170 is wound up by the reel 80 of the winding section 8, thereby applying the tension necessary for peeling off the label 160, i.e., back tension, to the tape 150.

[0078] With the tension necessary for peeling applied, the tape 150 is bent at a sharp angle in the peeling section 4, causing the end of the label 160 with the printed image to peel off from the release agent 170. The winding motor 89 and the transport motor 351 are stopped. The end of the label 160 is positioned in the peeling section 4 with the adhesive side facing upwards.

[0079] The user attaches the end of the label 160 to the cable 19 at the peeling section 4, moves the cable 19 downward along the guide surface 21, and inserts it into the winding section 7. As the cable 19 moves downward, the unpeeled portion of the label 160 is peeled off from the release agent 170. When the switch that detects the cable 19 is turned on, the rotating body 70 is rotated by the winding motor 79. The label 160 is wrapped around the outer surface of the cable 19 and attached to the cable 19 by the adhesive.

[0080] <Half-cut processing> Next, the half-cut process will be explained. When the label 160 is cut by the half-cut cutting blade 96, the projection 984 of the movable blade 98 contacts the blade contact surface 971 of the fixed base 97 before the blade tip 983. At that time, a gap is formed between the blade tip 983 and the blade contact surface 971.

[0081] The size of the projection 984 is set such that the gap between the cutting edge 983 and the blade contact surface 971 is narrower than the thickness of the release agent 170. At the default cutting load, the widest tape 150 of the tapes 150 usable by the label application device 1 is cut. The size of the gap between the cutting edge 983 and the blade contact surface 971 is set such that no residue remains on the label 160 when the widest tape 150 is cut. No residue remains means that the adhesive layer is cut by the cutting edge 983.

[0082] The cutting load is proportional to the width of the tape 150 that the movable blade 98 cuts. Therefore, when cutting the narrowest tape 150 with the default cutting load, the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 98 will cut into the release agent 170. In addition, the depth to which the cutting edge 983 cuts into the label 160 may change due to factors such as the type of tape 150, the deflection of the movable blade 98 and the fixed base 97, and the dulling of the cutting edge 983, not just the width of the tape 150. The depth to which the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 98 cuts into the label 160 varies depending on the position where the compressive deformation force of the release agent 170, the deformation force of the movable blade 98 and the fixed base 97, and the cutting load are balanced.

[0083] Therefore, the CPU 51 of the control unit 50 controls the cutting load applied to the movable blade 98 by performing a half-cut process. Specifically, the CPU 51 corrects the cutting load using the type of tape 150, including the width of the tape 150, and the number of cuts made by the half-cut cutting blade 96 as parameters. The CPU 51 sets the current value to be supplied to the cutting motor 953 according to the corrected cutting load and drives the movable blade 98 to divide the label 160 while suppressing the cutting of the release agent 170.

[0084] The parameters used in the half-cut process are described below. The load setting value is a value that represents the cutting load applied to the movable blade 98 in steps, for example, from 1 to 5. A default current value is set for each load setting value to be supplied to the cutting motor 953. The smallest current value among the current values ​​supplied to the cutting motor 953 is associated with the first load setting value. As the load setting value increases, the current value supplied to the cutting motor 953 increases.

[0085] The cutting motor 953 is a DC motor. Therefore, the larger the current flowing through the cutting motor 953, the greater the torque generated by the cutting motor 953. And as the torque increases, the cutting load that the cutting motor 953 applies to the movable blade 98 increases. The greater the cutting load, the greater the force with which the movable blade 98 pushes the cutting edge 983 against the label 160, thus allowing for a deeper cut in the label 160.

[0086] The load correction value is a correction coefficient used to correct the current value supplied to the cutting motor 953. A correction coefficient is pre-set according to the type of tape 150 read as tape information. For example, the wider the tape 150, the greater the load the release agent 170 receives from the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 98. As a result, the force with which the cutting edge 983 presses against the label 160 decreases, and the cut of the label 160 by the movable blade 98 becomes shallower. Therefore, a table is pre-set that associates the width of the tape 150 with the correction coefficient so that the correction coefficient increases as the width of the tape 150 increases, and this table is stored in the flash memory 54.

[0087] The load correction value is pre-set not only for the width of the tape 150, but also for the material of the tape 150 and the number of cuts made by the half-cut cutting blade 96. Depending on the material of the tape 150, the load that the tape 150 receives from the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 98 differs. Therefore, a correction coefficient corresponding to the material of the tape 150 is pre-set. In addition, as the number of cuts increases, the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 98 becomes dull, requiring a greater load to cut to the same depth as before dulling. Therefore, a table that associates the correction coefficient according to the number of cuts made by the half-cut cutting blade 96 is pre-set and stored in the flash memory 54.

[0088] The program for the half-cut process is stored in the flash memory 54 and is read and executed as one of the control programs when the labeling device 1 is started. As shown in Figure 7, the CPU 51 determines whether or not to switch to the setting mode (S11). The half-cut process has two processing modes: a control mode and a setting mode. The control mode is a mode in which the tape 150 is half-cut according to the cutting command. The setting mode is a mode in which an appropriate load setting value is set according to the type of tape 150, including the width of the tape 150, and the number of cuts made by the half-cut cutting blade 96.

[0089] Mode transitions occur when the input unit 13 receives an operation from the user instructing a mode transition. The mode during the execution of the half-cut process is the control mode. If the CPU 51 is not instructed to transition to the setting mode (S11: NO), it determines whether a cut command has been output in the processing of another program (S13). If no cut command has been output (S13: NO), the CPU 51 returns to processing S11 and waits for an instruction to transition modes or an output of a cut command.

[0090] For example, after the printing process is executed and printing is performed on the label 160, when it is transported to the cutting position, a cutting command is output (S13:YES). The CPU 51 reads the current value of the load setting from the flash memory 54 and stores it in the RAM 53 (S15). The current value of the load setting is set to the optimal load setting value according to the type of tape 150 in the setting mode described later.

[0091] The CPU 51 acquires information indicated by the indicator unit 107 of the tape cassette 100 from the detection unit 38. A table that associates the information indicated by the indicator unit 107 with the type of tape 150 is stored in the ROM 52 or flash memory 54. The CPU 51 reads the type of tape 150 corresponding to the information acquired from the detection unit 38 from the table and stores it in the RAM 53 (S17).

[0092] The CPU 51 reads the number of cuts made by the half-cut blade 96 from the flash memory 54 and stores it in the RAM 53 (S19). The number of cuts is updated each time a cut is made by the half-cut blade 96. The number of cuts is not reset unless the half-cut blade 96 is replaced for repair or other reasons.

[0093] The CPU 51 reads the correction coefficient corresponding to the type of tape 150 and the correction coefficient corresponding to the number of cuts from their respective tables and sets the load correction value (S21). The CPU 51 reads the default current value corresponding to the current value of the load setting and calculates the current value to be supplied to the cutting motor 953 based on the load correction value (S23). The CPU 51 supplies the calculated current value to the cutting motor 953 and half-cuts the tape 150 (S25). The label 160 is cut, and the release agent 170 remains uncut.

[0094] The CPU 51 updates the disconnection count by 1 and stores it in the flash memory 54 (S27). The CPU 51 returns to processing S11 and waits for the output of a mode transition instruction or disconnection command.

[0095] If the CPU 51 receives an instruction to transition to setting mode in S11 (S11:YES), the CPU 51 proceeds to S51. The CPU 51 sets the minimum value as the load setting value and stores it in the RAM 53 (S51). The CPU 51 obtains information from the indicator unit 107 from the detection unit 38, reads the type of tape 150 corresponding to that information from the table, and stores it in the RAM 53 (S53). The CPU 51 reads the number of cuts made by the half-cut cutting blade 96 from the flash memory 54 and stores it in the RAM 53 (S55).

[0096] The CPU 51 reads the correction coefficient corresponding to the type of tape 150 and the correction coefficient corresponding to the number of cuts from their respective tables and sets the load correction value (S57). The CPU 51 reads the default current value corresponding to the minimum load setting value and calculates the current value to be supplied to the cutting motor 953 based on the load correction value (S59).

[0097] The CPU 51 prints the minimum load setting value and the current value on the label 160 (S61). The CPU 51 transports the printed label 160 to the half-cut position (S63). The CPU 51 sends the calculated current value to the cutting motor 953 and cuts the tape 150 in half (S65). The CPU 51 updates the number of cuts by 1 and stores it in the flash memory 54 (S67).

[0098] The CPU 51 determines whether the value to be stored in RAM 53 as the load setting value is the maximum value (S71). When the process S53 to S67 is performed for the first time in setting mode, the load setting value is the minimum value (S71: NO). The CPU 51 sets the load setting value one step larger, i.e., the second stage load setting value, and stores it in RAM 53 (S73).

[0099] The CPU 51 returns to processing S55 and executes S55 to S59 to calculate the corrected current value corresponding to the load setting value in the second stage (S59). The correction coefficient corresponding to the type of tape 150 is the value set in the initial processing S53 to S67. The CPU 51 prints the load setting value and current value in the second stage onto the label 160 (S61) and transports it to the half-cut position (S63). The CPU 51 sends the corrected current value corresponding to the load setting value in the second stage to the cutting motor 953 and cuts the tape 150 in half (S65). The CPU 51 increments the number of cuts by 1 and updates it, storing it in the flash memory 54 (S67).

[0100] Similarly, CPU 51 repeatedly executes S73 and S55-S67. CPU 51 prints the load setting value and current value for each stage onto label 160 and performs a half-cut with the appropriate cutting load for each stage. A sample is created in which the load setting value and current value for each stage from the minimum to the maximum value are printed, and a half-cut sample is experimentally performed with the appropriate cutting load for each stage.

[0101] If the CPU 51 has set the maximum value as the load setting (S71: YES), it proceeds to S81. The CPU 51 accepts the input load setting from the input unit 13 (S81). The user compares the state of the half-cut at each stage performed on the sample and selects the load setting for the stage that resulted in the most appropriate state. The user inputs the selected load setting from the input unit 13.

[0102] The CPU 51 stores the load setting value entered by the user in the flash memory 54, associating it with the type of tape 150 (S83). It also sets the load setting value entered by the user to the current value of the load setting value. As a result, when the tape cassette 100 is replaced, the CPU 51 can set an appropriate load setting value according to the type of tape 150 as the initial value at the time of replacement. The CPU 51 switches the processing mode to control mode (S85) and returns the processing to S11. The CPU 51 waits for the output of a mode transition instruction or a cut command.

[0103] <Effects and Actions> As explained above, the smaller the width of the tape 150, the greater the compressive deformation force of the release agent 170, and the deeper the label 160 is cut by the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 98. The depth to which the label 160 is cut by the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 98 varies depending on the position where the compressive deformation force of the release agent and the deformation force and cutting load of the cutting blade and support base are balanced. The control unit 50 can adjust the depth to which the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 98 cuts into the tape 150 by controlling the cutting load applied to the movable blade 98. In other words, the control unit 50 can prevent the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 98 from cutting too deeply into the release agent 170 by controlling the cutting load according to the width of the tape 150. Therefore, the label application device 1 can suppress the breakage of the release agent 170 when the release agent 170 is wound up by the winding unit 8.

[0104] The control unit 50 acquires not only the width of the tape 150 but also the type of tape 150. By controlling the cutting load according to the type of tape 150, the control unit 50 can prevent the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 98 from cutting too deeply into the release agent 170. Therefore, the label application device 1 can suppress the breakage of the release agent 170 when the release agent 170 is wound up by the winding unit 8.

[0105] The control unit 50 controls the cutting load by changing the current value supplied to the cutting motor 953. This allows the control unit 50 to prevent the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 98 from cutting too deeply into the release agent 170. Thus, the label application device 1 can suppress the breakage of the release agent 170 when it is wound up by the winding unit 8.

[0106] In setting mode, the user can configure the association between the type of tape 150 and the load setting value. Therefore, the control unit 50 controls the cutting load by supplying a current value corresponding to the load setting value according to the type of tape 150 to the cutting motor 953, thereby preventing the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 98 from cutting too deeply into the release agent 170. Thus, the label application device 1 can suppress the breakage of the release agent 170 when the release agent 170 is wound up by the winding unit 8.

[0107] In setting mode, the user can visually check the state of the cuts made by the half-cut tape 150 into the release agent 170 at each stage of the load setting value. Therefore, by setting an appropriate load setting value according to the type of tape 150 in setting mode, the control unit 50 can supply an appropriate current value according to the type of tape 150 to the cutting motor 953. Thus, the label application device 1 can suppress the breakage of the release agent 170 when the release agent 170 is wound up by the winding unit 8.

[0108] The user can visually confirm the load setting value and the state of the cut in the release material as the current value corresponding to that load setting value is supplied to the cutting motor 953. Therefore, by setting an appropriate load setting value according to the type of tape in the setting mode, the control unit 50 can supply an appropriate current value according to the type of tape 150 to the cutting motor 953. Thus, the label application device 1 can suppress the breakage of the release material 170 when the release material 170 is wound up by the winding unit 8.

[0109] As the number of cuts increases, the cutting force of the movable blade 98 decreases due to the adhesion of the adhesive on the label 160 and the rounding of the blade tip 983. Therefore, the control unit 50 can change the cutting load to an appropriate level according to the number of cuts, thereby ensuring that the label is cut reliably and maintaining a state in which the blade tip 983 of the movable blade 98 does not cut too deeply into the release agent. Thus, the label application device 1 can suppress the breakage of the release agent 170 when it is wound up by the winding unit 8.

[0110] By moving the cable 19, to which the peeled-off label 160 has been attached, along the guide surface 21 in the insertion direction, the label 160 is peeled off from the release agent 170. Because the release agent 170 is less likely to be cut during half-cutting due to the control of the cutting load, the release agent 170 is less likely to break during the process of peeling off the label 160. Furthermore, since the peeling section 4 is included in the guide surface 21, the label application device 1 can be made more compact.

[0111] The tape 150 is mounted in the mounting section 30. By placing the tape 150 in the tape cassette 100, the tape cassette 100 can be mounted in the mounting section 30, making it easy to mount the tape 150.

[0112] <Other> In the above embodiment, the label application device 1 is an example of the printing device of the present invention. The tape 150 is an example of the medium of the present invention. The thermal head 32 and platen roller 33 are an example of the printing unit of the present invention. The drive shaft 35 and transport roller 34 are an example of the transport unit of the present invention. The cable 19 is an example of the rod-shaped member of the present invention. The winding unit 7 is an example of the application unit of the present invention.

[0113] The half-cut cutting blade 96 is an example of the cutting part of the present invention. The fixed base 97 is an example of the support base of the present invention. The movable blade 98 is an example of the cutting blade of the present invention. The projection 984 is an example of the contact part of the present invention. The process in S17 is an example of the acquisition process of the present invention.

[0114] The cutting motor 953 is an example of a drive motor of the present invention. The input unit 13 is an example of a reception unit of the present invention. The load setting value is an example of a current-corresponding value of the present invention. The processing in S67 is an example of a test cutting process of the present invention. The flash memory 14 is an example of a storage unit of the present invention.

[0115] The rotating body 70 is an example of a rotating member of the present invention. The guide surface 21 is an example of a guide part of the present invention. The tape cassette 100 is an example of a cassette of the present invention.

[0116] <Variation> The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible. The printing method by the printing mechanism 3 is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the label application device 1 may perform printing using a receptor-type tape cassette. The receptor-type tape cassette contains a base material, a tape in which a release agent is laminated and adhered to the adhesive surface of the base material to which an adhesive is applied, and an ink ribbon. The printing mechanism 3 performs printing on the surface of the tape opposite to the adhesive surface.

[0117] The label application device 1 does not necessarily have to include a printing mechanism 3. In this case, the label application device 1 may half-cut a label with a pre-printed image to a predetermined or arbitrary length, peel it off the release agent, and wrap and apply it to the cable 19. Alternatively, printing on the tape 150 may be performed by an external printing device. The label application device 1 may not have a winding section 7 and may be a printing device that prints on the label.

[0118] The object to which the label 160 is attached is not limited to the cable 19, but may be other surfaces. For example, the label 160 may be attached to stationery such as pens, or tools such as screwdrivers. Also, the adhesive surface of the tape 150 is not limited to one coated with adhesive, but may also have adhesive properties obtained through processing.

[0119] The tape 150 does not necessarily have to be housed in the tape cassette 100. In this case, the tape 150 can be wound into a roll and mounted on the mounting section 30.

[0120] The control unit 50 supplied a current value corresponding to the load setting value to the cutting motor 953, but it may also apply a voltage value corresponding to the load setting value to the cutting motor 953. In addition, the control unit 50 controlled the cutting load applied to the movable blade 98, but it may also indirectly control the cutting load applied to the movable blade 98 by controlling the torque of the cutting motor 953.

[0121] The control unit 50 can change the torque of the cutting motor 953 by changing the current value supplied to the cutting motor 953 or the voltage value applied to the cutting motor 953. Alternatively, the control unit 50 can change the torque of the cutting motor 953 by connecting a gearbox to the output shaft of the cutting motor 953 and changing the gear ratio. By changing the torque of the cutting motor 953 and controlling the cutting load, the control unit 50 can prevent the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 98 from cutting too deeply into the release material 170. Therefore, the label application device 1 can suppress the breakage of the release material 170 when it is wound up by the winding unit 8.

[0122] As shown in Figure 8, the half-cut cutting blade 196 may include an adjustment unit 990 for adjusting the size of the gap between the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 198 and the blade contact surface 971 of the fixed base 197. The adjustment unit 990 is located at the right end of the fixed base 197. The adjustment unit 990 includes an adjustment screw 991, a worm gear 992, and a cam member 993.

[0123] The cam member 993 is rotatably supported by a shaft 996 that extends in the front-rear direction and is located at the right end of the fixed base 197. The cam member 993 is an eccentric cam, and the outer circumferential surface of the flange portion 998 that extends radially from the shaft 996 is eccentric with respect to the shaft 996. The outer circumferential surface of the flange portion 998 abuts against the projection 984 of the movable blade 198.

[0124] The cam member 993 has a disc-shaped worm wheel 997 around a shaft 996. Below the shaft 996, a worm gear 992 is positioned, extending in the left-right direction and supported at both ends on the front surface of a fixed base 197. The worm gear 992 meshes with the worm wheel 997. An adjustment screw 991 is connected to the rotation axis of the worm gear 992. The adjustment screw 991 has its screw head positioned to the right of the worm gear 992 and rotates integrally with the worm gear 992.

[0125] When the user rotates the adjustment screw 991 with a screwdriver or the like, the cam member 993 rotates in a plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction. As the cam member 993 rotates, the position where the projection 984 of the movable blade 198 contacts the outer circumferential surface of the flange 998 changes. The outer circumferential surface of the flange 998 is eccentric with respect to the shaft 996. Therefore, when the position where the projection 984 contacts the outer circumferential surface of the flange 998 changes, the size of the gap between the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 198 and the blade contact surface 971 of the fixed base 197 changes.

[0126] In this way, the half-cut cutting blade 196 allows the adjustment unit 990 to adjust the size of the gap between the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 198 and the blade contact surface 971 of the fixed base 197. Therefore, the half-cut cutting blade 196 can prevent the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 198 from cutting too deeply into the release agent 170. Thus, the label application device 1 can suppress the breakage of the release agent 170 when the release agent 170 is wound up by the winding unit 8.

[0127] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 9 for the half-cut cutting blade 296, the cam member 993 of the adjustment unit 1990 may be driven by a cam motor 995, and its rotational position may be controlled by the control unit 50. The cam member 993 of the adjustment unit 1990 is rotatably supported by a shaft 996 that extends in the front-rear direction and is located at the right end of the fixed base 197. The outer circumferential surface of the flange portion 998 of the cam member 993 is eccentric with respect to the shaft 996 and contacts the projection 984 of the movable blade 198.

[0128] The worm wheel 997 of the cam member 993 extends in the left-right direction and meshes with a worm gear 992 whose ends are supported on the front surface of the fixed base 197. A gear 994 is fixed to the rotating shaft of the worm gear 992. The gear 994 meshes with a gear 999 which is assembled to the drive shaft of the cam motor 995.

[0129] The cam motor 995 is, for example, a stepping motor. The control unit 50 can adjust the position in which the projection 984 of the movable blade 198 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the flange 998 of the cam member 993 by controlling the amount of rotation of the cam motor 995. In other words, the control unit 50 can adjust the size of the gap between the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 198 and the blade contact surface 971 of the fixed base 197 by controlling the adjustment unit 1990.

[0130] In this way, the adjustment unit 1990 adjusts the size of the gap formed by the projection 984 of the movable blade 198. This prevents the half-cut cutting blade 296 from cutting too deeply into the release agent 170 with the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 198. Thus, the label application device 1 can prevent the release agent 170 from breaking when it is wound up by the winding unit 8.

[0131] When controlling the half-cutting process using the half-cutting blade 296, the control unit 50 controls the rotation amount of the cam motor 995 instead of the current value. The control unit 50 then corrects the rotation amount of the cam motor 995 according to the type of tape 150 and the number of cuts.

[0132] The smaller the width of the tape 150, the greater the compressive deformation force on the release agent 170, and the deeper the tape 150 is cut by the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 198. The depth to which the tape 150 is cut by the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 198 can be adjusted by changing the size of the gap between the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 198 and the blade contact surface 971 of the fixed base 197. The control unit 50 can adjust the depth to which the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 198 cuts into the tape 150 by adjusting the size of the gap. In other words, the control unit 50 can prevent the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 198 from cutting too deeply into the release agent 170 by adjusting the size of the gap according to the width of the tape 150. Therefore, the label application device 1 can suppress the breakage of the release agent 170 when the release agent 170 is wound up by the winding unit 8.

[0133] The control unit 50 can adjust the size of the gap according to the type of tape 150, thereby preventing the cutting edge 983 of the movable blade 198 from cutting too deeply into the release agent 170. Therefore, the label application device 1 can suppress the breakage of the release agent 170 when the release agent 170 is wound up by the winding unit 8. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0134] 1. Labeling device 4. Peeled section 7. Wrapping section 8. Winding section 13 Input section 14 Flash memory 19 Cables 21 Guide surface 32 Thermal Heads 33 Platen Roller 34 Conveyor rollers 35 Drive shaft 50 Control Unit 70 Rotating Bodies 70B Insertion port 96 Half-cut cutting blades 97 Fixed stand 98 Movable blade 100 Tape Cassettes 107 Index section 150 Tapes 160 labels 170 Release agent 953 Cutting motor 983 Blade tip 984 Protrusion 990 Adjustment section 1990 Adjustment section

Claims

1. A printing unit for printing an image on a label and on a medium having a long release agent to which the label is attached, A transport unit for transporting the medium printed by the printing unit, A peeling unit for peeling the label of the medium conveyed by the conveying unit from the peeling material, A winding section for winding up the release material from which the label has been peeled off by the aforementioned peeling section, In the provided printing apparatus, A cutting section is positioned between the printing section and the peeling section and cuts the label into single sheets while leaving the release material intact. A control unit that controls the printing unit, the transport unit, and the cutting unit, Equipped with, The aforementioned cut portion is A support base on which the aforementioned medium is supported, A cutting blade that presses its tip against the medium supported by the support base to cut a portion of the medium, A contact portion located on either the support base or the cutting blade, which contacts the other when cutting the medium and forms a gap between the cutting edge of the cutting blade and the support base, Equipped with, The control unit, An acquisition process is performed to acquire the width of the medium, and the cutting load is controlled according to the width of the medium acquired in the acquisition process. A printing apparatus characterized by the following.

2. The control unit, In the acquisition process, the type of the medium, including its width, is acquired, and the cutting load is controlled according to the type of medium acquired in the acquisition process. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the following:

3. The cutting section is equipped with a drive motor, The control unit changes the current value supplied to the drive motor according to the type of medium acquired in the acquisition process, thereby controlling the cutting load. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, characterized by the following:

4. It is equipped with a reception unit that accepts input for operations, The control unit, A control mode for controlling the cutting load according to the type of medium, The receiving unit receives input of a current-corresponding value corresponding to the current value, and sets the current-corresponding value according to the type of medium in a setting mode. It is possible to migrate to, In the control mode, a current corresponding to the current value obtained in the acquisition process according to the type of medium is supplied to the drive motor to control the cutting load. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, characterized by the following:

5. The control unit, In the setting mode, a test cutting process is performed in which the cutting unit cuts the medium by sequentially supplying currents corresponding to all the configurable current values ​​to the drive motor. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, characterized by the following:

6. The control unit, in the test cutting process, prints the current corresponding value corresponding to the current value of the current supplied to the drive motor using the printing unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, characterized by the following:

7. The control unit changes the torque of the drive motor and controls the cutting load. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, characterized by the following:

8. The system includes a storage unit that stores the number of times the cutting unit cuts the medium, The control unit, The cutting load is changed according to the number of cuts stored in the memory unit. A printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the following:

9. A printing unit for printing an image on a label and on a medium having a long release agent to which the label is attached, A transport unit for transporting the medium printed by the printing unit, A peeling unit for peeling the label of the medium conveyed by the conveying unit from the peeling material, A winding section for winding up the release material from which the label has been peeled off by the aforementioned peeling section, In the provided printing apparatus, A cutting section is positioned between the printing section and the peeling section and cuts the label into single sheets while leaving the release material intact. Equipped with, The aforementioned cut portion is A support base on which the aforementioned medium is supported, A cutting blade that presses its tip against the medium supported by the support base to cut a portion of the medium, A contact portion located on either the support base or the cutting blade, which contacts the other when cutting the medium and forms a gap between the cutting edge of the cutting blade and the support base, An adjustment unit for adjusting the size of the gap formed by the contact portion, Having A printing apparatus characterized by the following.

10. The system includes a control unit that controls the printing unit, the transport unit, and the cutting unit, The control unit, An acquisition process is performed to acquire the width of the medium, and the adjustment unit is controlled according to the width of the medium acquired in the acquisition process to adjust the size of the gap. The printing apparatus according to claim 9, characterized by the following:

11. The control unit, In the acquisition process, the type of the medium, including the width of the medium, is acquired, and the adjustment unit is controlled according to the type of medium acquired in the acquisition process to adjust the size of the gap. The printing apparatus according to claim 10, characterized by the following:

12. An insertion opening is provided, and a rotating member is provided that supports and rotates a rod-shaped member inserted through the insertion opening, and a winding section is provided that winds the label peeled off by the peeling section around the rod-shaped member, A guide portion is positioned upstream of the insertion opening in the insertion direction when the rod-shaped member is inserted into the rotating member, and guides the rod-shaped member, to which the label peeled off at the peeling portion is attached, into the insertion opening. Equipped with, The guide portion has a configuration that includes the peeling portion. A printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 9, characterized by the above.

13. The aforementioned medium is stored in a cassette. The cassette is equipped with an indicator unit that shows the type of media, The control unit executes the acquisition process and obtains the type of medium from the indicator unit. A printing apparatus according to claim 2 or 11, characterized by the above.

Images