Printing device

Abstract

To provide a printer which can suppress the peeling failure of a label and smoothly convey the label.SOLUTION: A rib part 46 includes a first rib 47 having a first surface 47a, a second rib 48 having a second surface 48a and a third rib 49 having a third surface 49a continuously toward the downstream side in the vertical direction upper side from the upstream side in the vertical direction lower side. The first surface 47a of the first rib 47 is inclined in the direction apart from a first virtual straight line L1 (refer to the end surface shape in Fig.5) connecting the outer peripheral surface of a peeler part 52 and the second surface 48a of the second rib 48 as further heading toward the vertical direction upstream side from the end on the vertical direction upstream side of the second surface 48a of the second rib 48. The third surface 49a of the third rib 49 is inclined in the direction apart from the first virtual straight line as further heading toward the vertical direction downstream side from the end on the vertical direction downstream side of the second surface 48a of the second rib 48.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing device, and more particularly to a printing device capable of performing a peeling process on a print medium. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Printing devices are known that perform a printing process on a print medium in which a plurality of labels having an adhesive layer are discretely attached to a long backing sheet.

[0003] Here, the label that constitutes the print medium after the printing process is peeled off from the backing by a peeling unit. At this time, since the label has an adhesive layer, it is desirable to prevent the label from sticking to the peeling unit.

[0004] Therefore, a technique is known in which a rib is provided on the peel substrate of the peeling unit to prevent the label discharged from the label discharge port from adhering to the peel substrate and becoming difficult to remove (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-008061 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, if the adhesive strength of the adhesive layer of the label is strong, there is a risk of the label not being peeled off the backing properly and sticking to the peel substrate, resulting in poor transport.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that can suppress label peeling failure and smoothly transport labels. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a printing device that prints on a print medium having a plurality of labels, each having an adhesive layer, discretely affixed to a long backing paper, the printing device including a platen roller rotatably supported by a platen holder, the platen roller transporting the print medium in a first transport direction, a peeling member disposed downstream of the platen roller in the first transport direction, the peeling member peeling the labels from the backing paper by bending the backing paper in a second transport direction that is different from the first transport direction, a driven roller that sandwiches the backing paper bent by the peeling member between the platen roller and the driven roller and transports it in the second transport direction, a support member disposed downstream of the peeling member in the first transport direction and rotatably supporting the driven roller, and a support member disposed downstream of the peeling member in the first transport direction and rotatably supporting the driven roller, the label peeled off from the backing paper, and a support member disposed downstream of the peeling member in the first transport direction and rotatably supporting the driven roller. and a rib portion that guides a strip in the first transport direction and is provided on the support member so as to extend along the first transport direction, the rib portion having a first rib having a first surface, a second rib having a second surface, and a third rib having a third surface, which are continuously arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side in the first transport direction, the first surface of the first rib inclined in a direction away from a first imaginary straight line connecting the outer circumferential surface of the peeling member and the second surface of the second rib as it moves further upstream in the first transport direction from an end of the second surface of the second rib on the upstream side in the first transport direction, and the third surface of the third rib inclined in a direction away from the first imaginary straight line as it moves further downstream in the first transport direction from an end of the second surface of the second rib on the downstream side in the first transport direction.

[0009] In the present invention, a plurality of labels are discretely attached to a long backing paper of the print medium. The print medium is transported by a platen roller, and the backing paper is bent by the outer peripheral surface of a peeling member, so that the labels are peeled off from the backing paper. The backing paper from which the labels have been peeled off is sandwiched between the platen roller and the driven roller and transported.

[0010] The support member is provided with a rib portion that guides the label after it has been peeled off from the backing paper. The rib portion has a first rib, a second rib, and a third rib, which are arranged continuously in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction. When a first imaginary straight line connecting the outer circumferential surface of the peeling member and the second surface of the second rib is assumed, the first surface of the first rib is inclined in a direction that moves away from the first imaginary straight line from the upstream end of the second surface of the second rib in the conveying direction toward the further upstream side. The third surface of the third rib is inclined in a direction that moves away from the first imaginary straight line from the downstream end of the second surface of the second rib in the conveying direction toward the further downstream side.

[0011] As a result of the positional relationship between the first rib, the second rib, and the third rib as described above, the label after being peeled off from the backing paper exhibits the following transport behavior.

[0012] In the case of a label with a relatively strong adhesive force of the adhesive layer to the backing paper, the downstream end of the adhesive layer of the label peeled off from the backing paper is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction while contacting the first surface of the first rib. When the downstream end of the adhesive layer of the label reaches the second surface of the second rib, the adhesive layer of the label is no longer in contact with the first surface of the first rib. After that, the label advances downstream in the conveying direction while maintaining a state in which the adhesive layer is in contact with the second surface of the second rib and is not in contact with the third surface of the third rib. However, in the case of a label with a particularly strong bending tendency (so-called curl), there are exceptional cases in which the downstream end of the adhesive layer of the label peeled off from the backing paper is conveyed in the conveying direction while contacting the third surface of the third rib.

[0013] In the case of a label with a relatively weak adhesive strength of the adhesive layer to the backing paper, the downstream end of the adhesive layer of the label peeled off from the backing paper reaches the second surface of the second rib without contacting the first surface of the first rib. After that, the label advances downstream in the conveying direction while maintaining a state in which the adhesive layer is in contact with the second surface of the second rib and is not in contact with the third surface of the third rib. However, if the label has a relatively high rigidity, the downstream end of the adhesive layer of the label in the conveying direction may be conveyed without contacting the second surface of the second rib. In the case of a label with a particularly strong bending tendency, as in the above case, the downstream end of the adhesive layer of the label in the conveying direction may exceptionally be conveyed in the conveying direction while in contact with the third surface of the third rib. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress problems in peeling the label and to transport the label smoothly, regardless of the strength of the adhesive strength of the adhesive layer of the label. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the printing apparatus. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the central portion of the printing device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of the printing device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an upper unit of the separation unit. [Diagram 5] 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams showing the shape of a rib of the peeling unit and its relationship with a sensor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Next, a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the front, back, left, right, top and bottom directions are defined with the printing device 1 placed on a table as shown in FIG.

[0017] In FIG. 1, the printing device 1 includes a lower case 10 as a main body, an upper front cover 11, and an upper rear cover 12, which together form a housing 2 having a substantially rectangular three-dimensional shape.

[0018] The lower case 10 has an operation panel section 3 on its front surface on which various operation switches are arranged, and hook sections 4 are provided at the left and right corners extending from the front surface to the sides, for engaging both ends of a carrying strap (not shown).

[0019] Although not shown, the lower case 10 is provided with various connection parts such as a USB port and an RS-232C connector as communication means, which allow connection to a print data input terminal (for example, a personal computer or a barcode reader) in addition to power supply. In addition to the above communication means, various functions such as wired LAN, wireless LAN, and Bluetooth (registered trademark) are also installed, and labels including variable data (text, barcode) can be printed by simply transmitting text data to the printing device 1 using these various communication means.

[0020] Labels issued can include labels used in various fields, such as item tag labels and shipping labels for manufacturing / logistics, food labeling labels and price tags for retail, and specimen labels and medicine notebook labels for medical use. In this case, the printing medium used in this embodiment is a long-shaped mount on which multiple labels having an adhesive layer are discretely attached.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 2, inside the printer 1, located below the upper front cover 11, there are provided electronic components related to drive and control, such as a rechargeable battery 5 and a circuit board 6, a detection unit 13 including an optical sensor that detects the presence or absence of a label, a mountain-shaped front tear bar 14 that continues in the left-right direction, an ejection port 15 (see Fig. 1) located between the rear end of the upper front cover 11 and the tip of the upper rear cover 12, a print head 16 that performs a predetermined printing process, and a platen roller 17. The print head 16 is positioned opposite the platen roller 17.

[0022] An upper unit 40 of the peeling unit 30 is detachably provided on the upper front cover 11 by a pair of left and right screws 19 .

[0023] A roll 20 around which the print medium is wound is replaceably housed below the upper rear cover 12. The print medium is formed by a plurality of labels L each having an adhesive layer discretely affixed to a long backing paper P. The upper rear cover 12 can swing between a closed position that covers the upper portion including the roll 20 and an open position that opens the roll 20 so that it can be removed, and functions as an opening and closing cover that is supported with the rear end of the lower case 10 as a rotation fulcrum.

[0024] In addition, the rear end of the upper front cover 11 and the front end of the upper rear cover 12 are spaced apart, and this space is provided with an outlet 15 through which the printed medium is discharged according to the type of label production described above.

[0025] On the other hand, a lower unit 50 of the peeling unit 30 is detachably provided on the upper rear cover 12 via screws (not shown).

[0026] 3, the discharge outlet 15 is composed of a discharge outlet 15a on the front side for the label L peeled off from the liner P, and a discharge outlet 15b on the rear side for the liner P. Here, the upper-rear cover 12 is provided with an inclined surface 12a that is inclined in a low-front-high-rear manner so as to serve as the bottom surface of the liner discharge outlet 15b for the convenience of mounting when the lower unit 50 is installed and for guiding the liner P when it is discharged.

[0027] As described above, the peeling unit 30, which peels off the label L from the backing paper P, includes an upper unit 40 attached to the upper front cover 11 via screws 19, and a lower unit 50 attached to the upper rear cover 12 via screws (not shown).

[0028] As shown in Figure 4, the upper unit 40 includes a pair of left and right bracket portions 41, a base portion 42 arranged between the tip ends of the bracket portions 41, a driven roller 18 spanning the rear end portions of the bracket portions 41, a roller holder portion 43 as a support member that axially supports both ends of the driven roller 18, and a guide portion 44 formed on the front side of the roller holder portion 43.

[0029] The bracket portion 41 is supported by a shaft portion 41a so as to be able to swing on the base portion 42.

[0030] The driven roller 18 comes into contact with the platen roller 17 near the upper rear portion thereof, and is rotated by the platen roller 17 to nip and transport the mount sheet P.

[0031] The roller holder portion 43 rotatably supports the driven roller 18 so as to cover the upper portion of the driven roller 18, and separates the discharge opening 15 into a label L discharge opening 15a and a backing-sheet P discharge opening 15b.

[0032] The guide portion 44 is integrally provided with a guide surface portion 45 serving as an installation surface that is bent and curved so that its lower middle portion in the up-down direction is located at the frontmost position and forms a ridge line extending in the left-right direction, and a plurality of rib portions 46 that protrude forward from the guide surface portion 45 and are provided at multiple locations in the left-right direction at predetermined intervals.

[0033] The lower unit 50 includes a pair of left and right bracket portions 51, a peeler portion 52 as a peeling member that bends the backing paper P to separate it from the label L, and a platen roller 17 that is disposed below the peeler portion 52 and is journaled on the bracket portion 51 as a platen holder.

[0034] The peeler unit 52 has a tip end with an R-shaped cross section and bends the backing paper P. The bent backing paper P is sandwiched between the platen roller 17 and the driven roller 18 and transported. The label L affixed to the backing paper P does not bend due to its own rigidity even when the backing paper P is bent, and is peeled off from the backing paper P. In this way, the peeler unit 52 transports the bent backing paper P to gradually peel off the printed label L from the backing paper P.

[0035] In this way, the printing device 1, which prints on a print medium (roll 20) having a plurality of labels L each having an adhesive layer discretely affixed to a long backing paper P, includes a platen roller 17 that is rotatably supported by a bracket portion 51 and transports the print medium upward in the vertical direction, a peeler portion 52 that is arranged vertically downstream of the platen roller 17 and peels the label L from the backing paper P by bending the backing paper P backward in the front-to-back direction, a driven roller 18 that sandwiches the backing paper P bent by the peeler portion 52 between the platen roller 17 and transports it backward in the front-to-back direction, a roller holder portion 43 that is arranged vertically downstream of the peeler portion 52 and rotatably supports the driven roller 18, and a rib portion 46 that extends vertically on the front side of the roller holder portion 43 to guide the label L peeled from the backing paper P upward in the vertical direction.

[0036] The roller holder portion 43 has an integral guide surface portion 46 as a mounting surface extending approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the platen roller 17, and a plurality of ribs 46 (a total of six in FIG. 4) are provided on the guide surface portion 46 at predetermined intervals.

[0037] In this way, in the roller holder portion 43 extending along the axis R of the platen roller 17, multiple rib portions 46 are provided at predetermined intervals along the axis R, so that the rib portions 46 can provide a guiding function evenly across the width of the printing medium.

[0038] In this case, the label L can also be printed simultaneously in two places on the left and right (two sheets), for example.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 5, the rib portion 46 has a first rib 47 having a first surface 47a, a second rib 48 having a second surface 48a, and a third rib 49 having a third surface 49a, which are continuously arranged from the upstream side on the lower side in the vertical direction to the downstream side on the upper side in the vertical direction.

[0040] In addition, the first rib 47 is formed by bending back and forth, with a rear rib 47b located downstream in the discharge direction of the backing paper P, a middle rib 47c located upstream of the rear rib 47b in the discharge direction of the backing paper P, and a front rib 47d located upstream of the discharge direction of the label L.

[0041] The central rib 47c faces the peeler unit 52 via a predetermined gap S. The gap S has a size (height) that allows the backing-sheet P bent by the peeler unit 52 to pass through.

[0042] This allows a predetermined gap S to be provided between the upstream end of the first rib 47 in the transport direction and the peeler unit 52, allowing the backing paper P bent by the peeler unit 52 to pass smoothly. Note that by swinging the upper unit 40, this gap S can be further widened, and for example, the user can easily manually pass the backing paper P through the peeler unit 52 before the start of printing process and nip it between the platen roller 17 and the driven roller 18.

[0043] When a first imaginary straight line L1 (see the end face shape in FIG. 5 ) connecting the outer peripheral surface of the peeler portion 52 and the second surface 48a of the second rib 48 is imagined, the first surface 47a of the first rib 47 is inclined in a direction away from the first imaginary straight line L1 connecting the outer peripheral surface of the peeler portion 52 and the second surface 48a of the second rib 48 as it moves further upstream in the vertical direction from the vertical upstream end of the second surface 48a of the second rib 48, and the third surface 49a of the third rib 49 is inclined in a direction away from the first imaginary straight line L1 as it moves further downstream in the vertical direction from the vertical downstream end of the second surface 48a of the second rib 48.

[0044] In this case, "surface" includes, for example, the case where the protruding end faces of each rib 47, 48, 49 have a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. 5(B) and are designated as the first surface 47a, the second surface 48a, and the third surface 49a, as well as the case where the ridge lines of each rib 47, 48, 49 have a semi-elliptical cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. 5(C).

[0045] In this manner, in the printing medium, a plurality of labels L are discretely affixed to the long backing paper P. The printing medium is transported by the platen roller 17, and the backing paper P is bent by the outer circumferential surface of the peeler unit 52, whereby the labels L are peeled off from the backing paper P.

[0046] The backing paper P from which the label L has been peeled off is conveyed while being sandwiched between the platen roller 17 and the driven roller 18. The driven roller 18 is disposed along the axis of the platen roller 17. The driven roller 18 is rotatably supported by a roller holder portion 43 that extends along the axis.

[0047] The guide surface 46 of the roller holder 43 is provided with a rib portion 46 that guides the label L after it has been peeled off from the backing paper P. The rib portion 46 has a first rib 47, a second rib 48, and a third rib 49 that are successively arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction.

[0048] As a result of the positional relationship between the first rib 47, the second rib 48, and the third rib 49 as described above, the label L after being peeled off from the backing paper P exhibits the following transport behavior.

[0049] In the case of the label L having a relatively strong adhesive force of the adhesive layer to the backing paper P, the label L peeled off from the backing paper P is transported downstream in the transport direction while the downstream end of the adhesive layer of the label L is in contact with the first surface 47a of the first rib 47. When the downstream end of the adhesive layer of the label L reaches the second surface 48a of the second rib 48, the adhesive layer of the label L is no longer in contact with the first surface 47a of the first rib 47.

[0050] Thereafter, the label L advances downstream in the conveying direction while maintaining a state in which the adhesive layer is in contact with the second surface 48a of the second rib 48 and is not in contact with the third surface 49a of the third rib 49. However, in the case of a label L that has a particularly strong bending tendency (so-called curl), exceptionally, the downstream end of the adhesive layer of the label L peeled off from the backing paper P may be conveyed in the conveying direction while in contact with the third surface 49a of the third rib 49.

[0051] In the case of the label L whose adhesive layer has a relatively weak adhesive strength to the backing paper P, the downstream end of the adhesive layer of the label L peeled off from the backing paper P reaches the second surface 48a of the second rib 48 without contacting the first surface 47a of the first rib 47. Thereafter, the label L advances downstream in the conveyance direction while maintaining a state in which the adhesive layer is in contact with the second surface 48a of the second rib 48 and is not in contact with the third surface 49a of the third rib 49.

[0052] However, when the rigidity of the label L is relatively high, the downstream end of the adhesive layer of the label L in the transport direction may be transported without contacting the second surface 48a of the second rib 48. When the label L has a particularly strong bending tendency, the downstream end of the adhesive layer of the label L in the transport direction may exceptionally be transported in the transport direction while contacting the third surface 49a of the third rib 49, as described above.

[0053] In this way, regardless of the strength of the adhesive force of the adhesive layer, in principle, the adhesive layer of the label L is transported without contacting the third surface 49a of the third rib 49. This reduces the transport load when transporting the label L, allowing the label L to be transported smoothly.

[0054] The peeling unit 30 uses a printing medium (roll 21) having multiple labels L discretely attached to a long backing P, and can peel (separate) the labels L from the backing P, and can discharge the backing P and the labels L in a separated state to the discharge outlet 15.

[0055] The detection unit 13 is provided in the front mounting unit 20 and detects in a non-contact manner the presence or absence of a label L that is being peeled off from the backing paper P and discharged from the discharge port 15 via the peeling unit 30 mounted in the rear mounting unit 25.

[0056] Specifically, the detection unit 13, which is arranged opposite the guide surface portion 46, emits sensor light and detects the label L by receiving the sensor light reflected by the label L that has been at least partially peeled off from the backing paper P and is guided by the rib portion 46.

[0057] In this case, the detection unit 13 is disposed at either a first portion (see FIG. 5) where the optical axis Q of the sensor light intersects with a second virtual straight line connecting the multiple rib portions 46 (along the direction of the axis R of the platen roller 17), or a second portion where one rib portion 46 is located on the optical axis Q of the sensor light. In particular, it is desirable to dispose the detection unit 13 at a position where the optical axis Q of the sensor light intersects with a second virtual straight line connecting the second surface 48a of the second rib 48 along the direction of the axis R of the platen roller 17, or at a position where the second surface 48a of one second rib 48 is on the optical axis Q of the sensor light.

[0058] As described above, the label L is peeled off by bending the backing P at the peeler portion 52, and the peeled label L is guided by the rib portion 46.

[0059] In principle, the label L is maintained in a state in which the adhesive layer is in contact with the second surface 48 a of the second rib 48 and is not in contact with the third surface 49 a of the third rib 49 .

[0060] Then, the detection unit 13 emits sensor light to the label L that is in a stable position in this state, and performs detection.

[0061] Considering such an environment, the detection unit 13 is disposed in the first portion or the second portion. When disposed in the first portion, the optical axis Q of the emitted sensor light intersects with a second imaginary line connecting the multiple rib portions 46 (for example, a line connecting the second rib 48 along the axis R direction of the platen roller 17). When disposed in the second portion, one rib portion 46 is located on the optical axis Q of the sensor light. In either case, the distance from the detection unit 13 to the rib portion 46 can be determined as short and stably as possible, thereby improving the detection accuracy for the label L that has been peeled off from the mount P and guided to the rib portion 46.

[0062] Then, after creating the label L using the desired print data, the user can attach the label L discharged from the discharge port 15a to a desired object.

[0063] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it goes without saying that the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described here. It is clear that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs can make various changes, modifications, combinations, etc. within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention described in the claims. Therefore, the technologies subsequent to these changes, modifications, combinations, etc. naturally belong to the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention.

[0064] In addition to the above, the methods according to the above embodiments and their modifications may be used in appropriate combination.

[0065] Although not specifically illustrated, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1 Printing device 10 Lower case 11 Upper front cover 12 Upper rear cover 13 Detection unit (optical sensor) 14 Front tear bar 15 Outlet 16 Print head 17 Platen roller 18 Driven roller 19 Screws 20 rolls 30 Peeling unit 40 Upper Unit 41 Bracket part 41a Shaft 42 stand Department 43 Roller holder part (support member) 44 Guide part 45 Guide surface (installation surface) 46 Rib section 47 First Rib 48 Second Rib 49 Third Rib 50 Lower Unit 51 Bracket part (platen holder) 52 Peeler part (peeling member) L Label P mount Q Optical axis R axis center

Claims

1. A printing device that prints on a print medium having a plurality of labels each having an adhesive layer attached discretely to a long backing paper, comprising: a platen roller rotatably supported by a platen holder, the platen roller transporting the print medium in a first transport direction; a peeling member disposed downstream of the platen roller in the first transport direction, the peeling member peeling off the label from the backing paper by bending the backing paper in a second transport direction that is different from the first transport direction; a driven roller that conveys the backing paper bent by the peeling member in the second conveying direction while sandwiching the backing paper between the platen roller and the driven roller; a support member disposed downstream of the peeling member in the first transport direction and configured to rotatably support the driven roller; a rib portion that guides the label peeled off from the mount in the first transport direction, the rib portion being provided on the support member so as to extend along the first transport direction; Equipped with The rib portion is a first rib having a first surface, a second rib having a second surface, and a third rib having a third surface, which are continuously arranged from an upstream side to a downstream side in the first transport direction, The first surface of the first rib is the more the second surface of the second rib extends from an end portion on the upstream side in the first transport direction to a further upstream side in the first transport direction, the more the second surface of the second rib is inclined in a direction away from a first virtual straight line that passes through the second surface of the second rib and is tangent to an outer peripheral surface of the peeling member at one point, as viewed in the axial direction of the platen roller, The third surface of the third rib is the second surface of the second rib is inclined in a direction away from the first virtual straight line as it moves further downstream in the first transport direction from an end portion on the downstream side in the first transport direction of the second surface of the second rib, The end portion of the first rib on the upstream side in the first conveying direction is The peeling member is opposed to the peeling member via a predetermined gap, The gap is The size is such that the mount bent by the peeling member can pass through. A printing device comprising:

2. the support member has a mounting surface extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the platen roller, The rib portion is provided at a plurality of positions at predetermined intervals on the installation surface.

2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. an optical sensor disposed opposite the support member and emitting a sensor light, the optical sensor detecting the label in a state where the label is at least partially peeled off from the backing and guided by the rib portion; The optical sensor includes: The rib is disposed in a first portion where the optical axis of the sensor light intersects with a second virtual straight line connecting the plurality of rib portions, or in a second portion where one of the ribs is located on the optical axis of the sensor light.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2.

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