Labeling Equipment
The labeling device streamlines the attachment process by incorporating a conveying system for labels and release material, enabling efficient peeling and affixing of labels, thus addressing the time-consuming nature of existing devices.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2021126147
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2021-07-30
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-16
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-07-30
AI Technical Summary
Existing labeling devices are time-consuming to attach label rolls, as users must manually pull out the label paper and backing sheet from the roll and guide them to the peeling roller.
A labeling device with a first conveying section for guiding the label and tape with release material, a peeling section for removing the label from the tape, an attachment section for affixing the label, and a discharge section for ejecting the release material, allowing for easy attachment and peeling of labels.
Facilitates quick and efficient attachment of labels and release material, reducing the time and effort required by users, while ensuring proper alignment and application of labels.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a labeling device for attaching a label to an adherend. [Background technology]
[0002] Devices for attaching labels to adherends are known. Patent Document 1 discloses a label printing device. The label printing device prints display information corresponding to the contents of a package on a label sheet, and then peels the printed label sheet from the backing sheet by a peeling roller. The label printing device cuts the printed label sheet peeled from the backing sheet to match the printing area. The label printing device transports the cut printed label sheet toward a conveyor by a guide belt. The label printing device attaches the printed label sheet transported by the guide belt to the package transported by the conveyor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-63087 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] In order to load a label roll into a label printing device and make it usable, the user must pull out the label paper and backing paper from the label roll and guide them to the peeling roller. In this way, a label application device that peels a label from a release material and applies it has a problem in that it takes time to load the tape containing the label and release material.
[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a label application machine which allows easy application of a label and a tape containing a release material. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] The label application device of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a first transport section that transports a label and a tape having a release material affixed to the label from an upstream side to a downstream side, a peeling section that is arranged downstream of the first transport section in the transport direction of the tape and peels the label from the release material, an application section that is arranged downstream of the peeling section in the transport direction of the label and attaches the label peeled from the release material by the peeling section to an adherend, a discharge section that is arranged downstream of the peeling section in the transport direction of the release material and discharges the release material from which the label has been peeled by the peeling section, and a transport guide that is switchable between a first position that guides the tape toward the discharge section and a second position that guides the label peeled from the release material by the peeling section toward the application section.
[0007] For example, a user loads a tape into the label application device with the transport guide disposed at the first position. In this case, the transport guide guides the loaded tape toward the discharge section. Next, with the transport guide disposed at the second position, the user peels the label off the tape and applies the label to the adherend using the application section. Thus, with the transport guide disposed at the first position, the label application device can facilitate the user's loading of the tape. Also, by switching the transport guide to the second position, the label application device can peel the label off the loaded tape and apply it to the adherend.
[0008] In the present invention, the transport guide and the peeling unit may be linked together, and when the transport guide is located at the first position, the peeling unit does not peel the label from the release material, and when the transport guide is located at the second position, the peeling unit peels the label from the release material. By linking the transport guide and the peeling unit, the label application device can prevent the label from being peeled off the tape guided to the discharge unit, and can guide the label peeled off from the release material by the peeling unit to the application unit.
[0009] In the present invention, a third transport section may be provided that transports the tape or the release material from which the label has been peeled off by the peeling section. The label application device can appropriately transport the tape guided by the transport guide arranged at the first position, or the release material from which the label has been peeled off by the peeling section, toward the discharge section.
[0010] In the present invention, the conveying speed of the tape or the release material by the third conveying section may be faster than the conveying speed of the tape by the first conveying section. Since a strong tension can be applied to the release material conveyed by the third conveying section, the label can be appropriately peeled off from the release material.
[0011] In the present invention, the third transport section may have a third roller and a plurality of third auxiliary rollers that sandwich the tape or the release material between the third roller and the plurality of third auxiliary rollers adjacent to each other in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the tape or the release material, and at least a portion of the transport guide disposed at the first position in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the tape or the release material may be disposed between the plurality of third auxiliary rollers. Since the transport guide can guide the tape or the release material to a portion between the plurality of third auxiliary rollers, the possibility of the tape or the release material being clogged between the transport guide and the plurality of third auxiliary rollers can be reduced.
[0012] In the present invention, the first transport section may have a first roller, a fourth roller facing the first roller across the transport path of the tape, and a first cover that can be opened and closed to expose and not expose a transport path along which the label passes after the release material has been peeled off by the peeling section, and the fourth roller may hold the tape when the first cover is closed, and the fourth roller may be separated from the tape when the first cover is opened. The label application device can facilitate maintenance by a user by setting the first roller and the fourth roller in a separated state in response to the opening of the first cover.
[0013] In the present invention, the transport guide has a first curved portion at a portion facing the peeling portion, and has a guide portion that is provided in a transport path of the tape guided by the transport guide arranged at the first position and guides the tape along the transport path of the tape, the guide portion having a second curved portion, the first curved portion being located upstream of an upstream end of the guide portion in the transport direction of the tape, and the radius of curvature of the first curved portion may be smaller than the radius of curvature of the second curved portion. This reduces the possibility that the tape guided by the transport guide arranged at the first position will get caught in the guide portion. Therefore, the label application device can smoothly transport the tape toward the discharge portion.
[0014] In the present invention, the label application device may include a plurality of transport spurs that guide the label from which the release material has been peeled off by the peeling unit, and the transport guide may have at least one protrusion that passes between the plurality of transport spurs during the process of moving between the first position and the second position. This reduces the possibility that the transport guide will come into contact with the plurality of transport spurs during the process of moving between the first position and the second position.
[0015] In the present invention, the transport guide may be separated from the transport path of the label peeled off from the release material by the peeling unit when disposed at the second position. By retracting the transport guide to a position where it does not interfere with the label being transported, the label application device can reduce the possibility that the label peeled off from the release material will adhere to the transport guide and interfere with the transport.
[0016] In the present invention, the label application device may further include a printing unit that prints on any portion of the tape, and the first transport unit may transport the tape on which printing has been performed by the printing unit. A user can use the label application device to apply the printed label to an object.
[0017] In the present invention, a holding section may be provided that holds the transport guide and the peeling section from both sides of the label in the width direction, and the transport guide and the peeling section may move in conjunction with each other as the holding section moves. The transport guide can be moved in conjunction with each other while appropriately guiding the label and peeling the label by the peeling section.
[0018] In the present invention, the holding section may be rotatable, the transport guide may move between the first position and the second position in response to the rotation of the holding section, and the direction of rotation when the weight of the peeling section acts on the holding section with the transport guide disposed at the second position may be opposite to the direction of rotation of the holding section when the transport guide moves from the second position to the first position. The label application device can prevent the holding section from rotating due to the weight of the peeling section and the transport guide from moving from the second position to the first position.
[0019] In the present invention, a frame that rotatably supports the holding portion and a pin that is inserted into the holding portion and restricts the rotation of the holding portion may be provided. By restricting the rotation of the holding portion, the label application device can stabilize the positions of the transport guide and the peeling portion.
[0020] In the present invention, the label application device may further include a drive mechanism that moves the transport guide between the first position and the second position. The drive mechanism can switch the transport guide between the first position and the second position.
[0021] In the present invention, the drive mechanism may have a pair of drive units that move both ends of the transport guide in the width direction of the label. By applying a force to the transport guide evenly in the width direction of the label, the transport guide can be appropriately moved between the first position and the second position.
[0022] In the present invention, the transport guide moves between the first position and the second position by rotating about a predetermined rotation axis, the drive mechanism includes a cam having an insertion portion that is inserted into an elongated hole provided in a holding portion that holds the transport guide, and the transport guide moves between the first position and the second position by rotating the cam, and the insertion portion may be located at either one of both ends of the elongated hole when the transport guide is located at the first position and the second position. The label application device can reduce the possibility that the transport guide located at the first position or the second position will move when the drive mechanism is not driven. Therefore, the label application device can stably maintain the transport guide at the first position or the second position.
[0023] In the present invention, the position of the insertion portion when the transport guide is disposed at the first position, the position of the insertion portion when the transport guide is disposed at the second position, and the rotation center of the cam may be aligned in a circumferential direction around the rotation axis of the transport guide. Since the label application device can prevent the transport guide from rotating or tilting in response to an external force applied to the transport guide, the label can be appropriately guided by the transport guide.
[0024] In the present invention, the third transport section may have a third roller and a transmission section capable of transmitting a rotational driving force to the third roller, and the transmission section may prohibit the transmission of the rotational driving force to the third roller when the transport guide moves between the first position and the second position. In this case, the label application device can suppress the third roller from transporting the release material when the transport guide moves between the first position and the second position.
[0025] In the present invention, the label application device may include a conveying motor that drives at least the first conveying section, and a moving motor that moves the conveying guide between the first position and the second position, and the conveying motor and the moving motor may be provided on the same side of an imaginary plane that passes through a conveying path of the labels. By efficiently arranging the conveying motor and the moving motor, the label application device can be made compact.
[0026] In the present invention, the label application device may further include a printing unit that prints on any portion of the tape, and the first transport unit may further include a starting means that transports the tape printed by the printing unit and starts printing by the printing unit when the transport guide is located at the first position. Since the label application device can reduce the transport load on the tape when printing on the label starts, printing on the printing unit can be performed appropriately.
[0027] In the present invention, a first driving means may be provided for disposing the transport guide at the first position in a standby state before printing is started by the starting means. The label application device can reduce the possibility of the tape being bent by the transport guide disposed at the second position.
[0028] In the present invention, the standby state may be a state before the tape is loaded. Since the tape is loaded with the transport guide disposed at the first position, the label application device can further reduce the possibility of the loaded tape becoming bent.
[0029] In the present invention, a second driving means may be provided which switches the transport guide from the first position to the second position at any timing from when the first transport unit starts transporting the tape to when an end of the label on the transported tape that is on the upstream side in the transport direction of the tape reaches the peeling unit. The label application device can peel the label printed by the printing unit from the release material by the peeling unit and guide it toward the application unit.
[0030] In the present invention, the label sticking device may include a second conveying section that conveys the label peeled from the release material by the peeling section toward the sticking section, and a third conveying section that conveys the tape or the release material from which the label has been peeled by the peeling section, and may further include a third driving means that, when the label peeled from the release material by the peeling section is guided by the conveying guide arranged at the second position and an upstream end of the label in the label conveying direction moves downstream of the peeling section in the label conveying direction, does not convey the release material by the third conveying section and conveys the label by the second conveying section. After the label peeled from the release material by the peeling section moves downstream of the peeling section, the label sticking device stops conveying the release material by the third conveying section and conveys only the label by the second conveying section. In this case, the label sticking device can stop conveying the release material while the printed label is being stuck to the adherend in the sticking section, thereby reducing the possibility of the tape being clogged due to the conveyance of the release material. In addition, since the label can be fed independently, the position where the label is peeled off by the peeling section and the position where the label is applied can be separated, so that the label application device can apply labels of various lengths to the adherend.
[0031] In the present invention, the label application device may further include a discharge unit that conveys the tape by the first conveying section with the conveying guide disposed at the first position and conveys the tape toward the discharge section. The label application device can discharge the tape remaining in the conveying path to the outside via the discharge section.
[0032] In the present invention, the label application device includes a third transport section which transports the tape or the release material from which the label has been peeled off by the peeling section, a receiving section which receives an instruction to replace the tape, and a cutting section which cuts the tape by a cutting section arranged upstream of the peeling section in the tape transport direction when the receiving section receives the instruction to replace the tape, and the discharging section may transport the tape by the third transport section until an end of the tape on the upstream side in the tape transport direction moves downstream of the third transport section after cutting the tape by the cutting section. The label application device can replace the tape after discharging all of the tape remaining in the transport path.
[0033] In the present invention, the discharge means may stop the conveyance of the tape by the first conveyance section and the third conveyance section when conveyance of the tape by the third conveyance section is started and a first sensor arranged downstream of the third conveyance section in the conveyance direction of the tape detects a cut portion of the tape. The label application device can reduce the possibility of the tape getting stuck and clogging between the first conveyance section and the third conveyance section.
[0034] In the present invention, the label application device may further comprise a detection means for detecting an operational malfunction or a printing malfunction, and a reprinting means for causing the printing unit to print, when the detection means detects the operational malfunction or the printing malfunction, an image identical to the image printed before the detection means detected the operational malfunction or the printing malfunction. The label application device can detect the operational malfunction or the printing malfunction and then resume printing.
[0035] In the present invention, the peeling section may include a second sensor provided downstream in the label transport direction and capable of detecting the presence or absence of the label, and the detection means may detect a malfunction due to label jamming in the peeling section if the label peeled from the release material by the peeling section is not detected by the second sensor for a predetermined time or more after the peeling of the label by the peeling section, and may detect a malfunction due to label jamming in the application section if the second sensor continues to detect the label for a predetermined time or more after the detection of the label by the second sensor. The label application device can detect the malfunction by identifying the location where the label jam has occurred. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0036] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the label winding device 1A. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the label winding device 1A (third cover 123: open). [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the label winding device 1A (first cover 121: open, fourth cover 124: absent). [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the label winding device 1A (first cover 121: open). [Diagram 5] 2 is a perspective view of the label winding device 1A taken along line AA in FIG. 1. [Figure 6] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, seen from the direction of the arrow. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the area within the frame line W1 in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the area within the frame line W2 in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the peeling guide mechanism 4 (second position). [Figure 10] 1 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of first roller 301, second roller 302, and fourth roller 304 (at the clamping position). [Figure 11] 1 is a cross-sectional view of the peeling guide mechanism 4 (first position), the first roller 301, and the fourth roller 304 (separated position). [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the peeling guide mechanism 4 (first position). [Figure 13] 1 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of first roller 301, second roller 302, and fourth roller 304 (at the clamping position). [Figure 14] 1 is a cross-sectional view of the peeling guide mechanism 4 (first position), the first roller 301, and the fourth roller 304 (clamping position). [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of driven rollers 311 to 313. [Figure 16] 13 is a perspective view of a transmission portion 3B (a link mechanism 38: a contact position). FIG. [Figure 17] 13 is a right side view of the transmission unit 3B (motor Mw2: normal rotation, link mechanism 38: contact position). FIG. [Figure 18] 13 is a right side view of a transmission unit 3B (motor Mw2: reverse rotation, link mechanism 38: contact position). FIG. [Figure 19] 13 is a perspective view of the peeling guide mechanism 4 (second position) and the link mechanism 38 (contact position). FIG. [Figure 20] 13 is a perspective view of the peeling guide mechanism 4 (in an intermediate position) and the link mechanism 38 (in a separated position). FIG. [Figure 21] 1 is a perspective view of a peeling guide mechanism 4 (first position) and a link mechanism 38 (contact position). FIG. [Figure 22] 13 is a right side view of a transmission part 3B (link mechanism 38: in a separated position). FIG. [Diagram 23] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the area within the frame line W3 in FIG. 6. [Figure 24] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the opening / closing member 5 (closed position). [Diagram 25] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the opening / closing member 5 (open position). [Figure 26] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the sticking mechanism 6 (opening / closing member 5: closed position) taken along line AA in FIG. 1, as viewed from the direction of the arrow. [Figure 27] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the attachment mechanism 6 (opening / closing member 5: open position) taken along line AA in FIG. 1, as viewed from the direction of the arrow. [Figure 28] 2 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the attachment mechanism 6 taken along the line AA in FIG. 1. [Figure 29]2 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the attachment mechanism 6 (opening / closing member 5: open position) taken along line AA in FIG. 1, as viewed from the direction of the arrow. [Diagram 30] FIG. 13 is a right side view of the vicinity of the holding member 7A (close position). [Diagram 31] 31 is a diagram showing the state in which cover 117A has been removed from the state shown in FIG. [Diagram 32] 32 is a cross-sectional view of the holding member 7A in the state shown in FIG. 31. [Diagram 33] 13 is a right side view showing a state in which a cover 117A is removed in the vicinity of the holding member 7A (at the separated position). [Diagram 34] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a holding member 7 (close position). [Diagram 35] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a holding member 7 (at a separated position). [Diagram 36] 13 is a diagram for explaining the operation of a first clamping member 71 and an opening / closing member 5 (closed position) when a cable 19 is inserted into an insertion portion 62A. FIG. [Figure 37] 13 is a diagram for explaining the operation of a first clamping member 71 and an opening / closing member 5 (in an open position) when a cable 19 is inserted into an insertion portion 62A. FIG. [Figure 38] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the label winding device 1A. [Figure 39] 13 is a flowchart showing a process when a tape is mounted. [Diagram 40] 13 is a flowchart showing a main process. [Diagram 41] 41 is a flowchart showing the main processing, which is a continuation of FIG. 40. [Diagram 42] 13 is a flowchart showing a wrapping process. [Diagram 43] 1A is a diagram showing how a label 10A is wrapped around a cable 19. FIG. [Diagram 44] 13 is a flowchart showing a process at the time of changing a tape. [Diagram 45] 13 is a flowchart showing a process to be performed when an operational malfunction occurs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0037] An embodiment of a label winding device 1A embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings are used to explain technical features that the present invention can employ, and the configuration of the device described is merely an explanatory example, and is not intended to limit the present invention. The label winding device 1A is a device for generating a label 10A by printing on a tape 10 of a tape cassette TC, and winding and attaching the generated label 10A to a cable 19. Hereinafter, the lower left, upper right, upper left, lower right, upper, and lower of FIG. 1 are respectively referred to as the front, rear, left, right, upper, and lower of the label winding device 1A.
[0038] <Outline of Label Winding Device 1A> An overview of the label wrapping device 1A will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6. The label wrapping device 1A has a box-shaped housing 11. The housing 11 houses a frame 13 (see Fig. 4) consisting of side plates 13A and 13B facing each other in the left-right direction, and a frame 14 (see Fig. 3). The frame 13 supports a transport mechanism 3A (first roller 301, second roller 302, third roller 303), a transmission unit 3B, a peeling guide mechanism 4, an opening / closing member 5, an attachment mechanism 6, a holding member 7, etc. The frame 14 is provided behind the frame 13, and supports a printing unit 2B and a cutting unit 2C.
[0039] 1 and 6, the bottom surface of the housing 11 forms an installation surface 110 that faces a table or the like when the housing 11 is placed on the table or the like. The installation surface 110 has a flat shape and extends horizontally. The label winding device 1A is used in a state in which the housing 11 is installed on a table or the like via the installation surface 110.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 1, the tape accommodating section 2A, the printing section 2B, and the cutting section 2C are provided in a portion rearward of the center in the front-rear direction of the housing 11. A tape cassette TC (see FIG. 6) is removably accommodated in the tape accommodating section 2A. The tape cassette TC is a laminated type tape cassette. The second cover 122 is rotatably provided at the lower end of the housing 11. A rotation center 122C of the second cover 122 extends in the front-rear direction. The second cover 122 can open and close the tape accommodating section 2A. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the second cover 122 in the closed state is shown by a dashed line. In this state, the tape accommodating section 2A, the printing section 2B, and the cutting section 2C are covered by the second cover 122 and are not exposed. On the other hand, when the second cover 122 is in the open state, the tape accommodating section 2A, the printing section 2B, and the cutting section 2C are exposed. The opening formed when second cover 122 is in the open state is referred to as second opening 122A. Second opening 122A opens to the right.
[0041] The label 10A, which is printed on the tape 10 by the printing unit 2B and produced by cutting the tape 10 by the cutting unit 2C, is peeled off from the release material 10B by the peeling guide mechanism 4 (see Figs. 5 and 6). The label 10A peeled off from the release material 10B passes through a passing area 300A in the housing 11, and is guided to the guide member 8A and the application mechanism 6. Meanwhile, the release material 10B from which the label 10A has been peeled passes through the passing area 300B in the housing 11, and is discharged to the outside by a discharge unit 16 provided at the upper end of the housing 11. The passing areas 300A, 300B are formed below the first cover 121 of the housing 11 (see Fig. 8).
[0042] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the first cover 121 is provided rotatably in front of the tape storage unit 2A. A rotation center 121K (see FIG. 1) of the first cover 121 extends in the left-right direction. The first cover 121 opens and closes the peeling guide mechanism 4, the conveying path R2 arranged in the passing area 300A, and the conveying paths R3 and R4 arranged in the passing area 300B. More specifically, the first cover 121 opens and closes the peeling guide mechanism 4, a second roller 302 (described later) for conveying the label 10A along the conveying path R2, and a third roller 303 (described later) for conveying the release material 10B and the tape 10 along the conveying paths R3 and R4. As shown in FIG. 8, the conveying path R2 is a path through which the label 10A peeled off from the release material 10B by the peeling guide mechanism 4 passes when it is conveyed toward the guide member 8A and the attachment mechanism 6 housed in the front end of the housing 11. The conveying path R3 is a path through which the peeling material 10B from which the label 10A has been peeled off by the peeling guide mechanism 4 passes when it is conveyed toward the discharge section 16 of the housing 11. As shown in Fig. 11, the conveying path R4 is a path through which the tape 10 of the tape cassette TC passes when it is conveyed directly toward the discharge section 16.
[0043] 1 and 18 show the first cover 121 in a closed state. In this state, the peeling guide mechanism 4 and the transport paths R2 to R4 are covered by the first cover 121 and are not exposed. FIGS. 3 and 4 show the first cover 121 in an open state. In this state, the peeling guide mechanism 4 and the transport paths R2 to R4 are exposed. As shown in FIG. 4, an opening formed by opening the first cover 121 is called a first opening 121S. The first opening 121S opens upward. The opening direction (upward) of the first opening 121S is different from the opening direction (rightward) of the second opening 122A (see FIGS. 1 and 2).
[0044] The label 10A peeled off from the peeling material 10B by the peeling guide mechanism 4 is wrapped around the cable 19 and attached by the attaching mechanism 6. The third cover 123 is rotatably provided at the front end of the housing 11 to open and close the attaching mechanism 6. The rotation center 123C of the third cover 123 extends in the left-right direction. Figures 1 and 3 show the third cover 123 in a closed state. In this state, the attaching mechanism 6 is covered by the third cover 123 and is not exposed. Figure 2 shows the third cover 123 in an open state. In this state, the attaching mechanism 6 is exposed. An opening formed by opening the third cover 123 is called a third opening. The third opening opens upward. The opening direction (upward) of the first opening 121S coincides with the opening direction (upward) of the third opening (see Figure 2).
[0045] The fourth cover 124 is detachably provided on the opposite side of the tape accommodating unit 2A to the second cover 122. Figures 1 and 2 show the state in which the fourth cover 124 is attached. In this state, the drive unit 9B that drives the printing unit 2B and the cutting unit 2C is covered by the fourth cover 124 and is not exposed. Figure 3 shows the state in which the fourth cover 124 has been detached. In this state, the drive unit 9B is exposed.
[0046] The operation unit 120A is provided at the front end of the housing 11, in other words, at the end of the housing 11 on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the label 10A conveyed along the conveying path R2. The operation unit 120B is provided at the top end of the housing 11, in other words, at the end of the housing 11 on the opposite side to the side on which the installation surface 110 is arranged. The operation units 120A and 120B are multiple push buttons for performing input operations on the label winding device 1A.
[0047] <Print section 2B> The printing unit 2B shown in Figures 1 and 2 is capable of printing using a laminate type tape cassette TC. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the tape storage unit 2A is provided with a thermal head 21, a platen holder 22, etc. as the printing unit 2B.
[0048] When the tape cassette TC is attached to the tape accommodating section 2A, the thermal head 21 is inserted into the head insertion section of the tape cassette TC. The platen holder 22 is provided below the tape accommodating section 2A and is supported rotatably about a rotation shaft 22C (see FIG. 6). As shown in FIG. 7, a platen roller 22A and a tape sub-roller 22B are rotatably supported by the platen holder 22. The platen roller 22A faces the thermal head 21. The tape sub-roller 22B is provided in front of the platen roller 22A and faces the drive roller Ts of the tape cassette TC. The platen holder 22 rotates in response to the drive of the motor Mp2 (see FIG. 38) and moves between the standby position and the printing position. When the platen holder 22 is placed in the standby position, the platen roller 22A is separated from the thermal head 21. When the platen holder 22 is disposed in the printing position, the platen roller 22A is adjacent to the thermal head 21, and the tape sub-roller 22B is adjacent to the drive roller of the tape cassette TC.
[0049] As shown in Fig. 7, the tape cassette TC contains a first tape 101, a second tape 103, and an ink ribbon Ir. The first tape 101 is a transparent PET film tape. The second tape 103 is a tape in which a base material 102 and a release material 10B are laminated together with an adhesive therebetween. The first tape 101 and the ink ribbon Ir are paid out from the tape cassette TC with the ink ribbon Ir disposed above the first tape 101.
[0050] When the platen holder 22 moves from the standby position to the printing position, the platen roller 22A overlaps the first tape 101 and the ink ribbon Ir and presses them against the thermal head 21. The platen roller 22A rotates and transports the first tape 101 forward. At the same time, the thermal head 21 generates heat and the ink ribbon Ir is heated. As a result, the ink of the ink ribbon Ir is transferred to the upper surface of the first tape 101. This causes character information including letters and the like to be printed. After printing, the ink ribbon Ir is separated from the first tape 101 and taken up into the tape cassette TC.
[0051] Next, the second tape 103 is superimposed on the upper surface of the printed first tape 101. The substrate 102 of the second tape 103 contacts the upper surface of the first tape 101. In this state, the first tape 101 and the second tape 103 pass between the drive roller Ts and the tape sub-roller 22B of the tape cassette TC. The substrate 102 adheres closely to the upper surface of the first tape 101, thereby generating a printed label 10A. The upper surface of the label 10A corresponds to the adhesive surface Ur of the substrate 102 to which the adhesive is attached, and the release material 10B is attached to the adhesive surface. The label 10A and the release material 10B are referred to as "tape 10". The width direction of the tape 10 corresponds to the left-right direction. The transport path of the tape 10 from the printing unit 2B to the peeling guide mechanism 4 described later is referred to as "transport path R1". The transport direction of the tape 10 in the transport path R1 is referred to as "transport direction Y1". The transport direction Y1 faces forward.
[0052] <Cut section 2C> The cutting unit 2C is disposed downstream in the transport direction Y1 with respect to the tape sub-roller 22B of the printing unit 2B. The cutting unit 2C has a full-cut cutting blade 23 and a half-cut cutting blade 24. The full-cut cutting blade 23 and the half-cut cutting blade 24 each have a fixed blade fixed above the transport path R1 and a movable blade movable below the transport path R1. The fixed blade and the movable blade extend in the left-right direction. The left end of the movable blade is supported rotatably to the left of the transport path R1 with respect to the fixed blade. The right end of the movable blade faces rightward. The direction in which the right end of the movable blade faces coincides with the opening direction of the second opening 122A of the second cover 122 (see Figures 1 and 2).
[0053] The full-cut cutting blade 23 is capable of dividing (full-cutting) the tape 10 by moving the movable blade relative to the fixed blade. The half-cut cutting blade 24 is capable of cutting (half-cutting) only the label 10A of the tape 10 while leaving the release material 10B behind by moving the movable blade relative to the fixed blade.
[0054] <First roller 301> As shown in FIG. 8, the first roller 301 is provided downstream of the cutting unit 2C (see FIG. 7) in the transport direction Y1 of the tape 10 and below the transport path R1. As shown in FIG. 9, the first roller 301 is composed of cylindrical bodies 301A, 301B, and 301C arranged at intervals in the left-right direction. The cylindrical bodies 301A, 301B, and 301C are arranged in order from right to left. The cylindrical bodies 301A, 301B, and 301C are supported so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 301K extending in the left-right direction. The first roller 301 transports the tape 10, which has been printed by the printing unit 2B and passed through the cutting unit 2C, downstream in the transport direction Y1 toward the peeling guide mechanism 4, which will be described later.
[0055] As shown in FIG. 8, a fourth roller 304 is provided above the first roller 301. As shown in FIG. 10, the fourth roller 304 is composed of three cylinders arranged at intervals in the left-right direction. The three cylinders are lined up in order from right to left. Each of the three cylinders faces each of the cylinders 301A, 301B, and 301C of the first roller 301, with the conveying path R1 in between (see FIG. 8). The fourth roller 304 is supported by a support 31 provided above the first roller 301 so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in the left-right direction.
[0056] The fourth roller 304 is rotatably supported by a support 31. The support 31 has a bent plate shape and is biased upward by a spring (not shown). As shown in Fig. 8, the support 31 biases the fourth roller 304 downward by a spring 31A held on the lower side.
[0057] As shown in Fig. 10, a D-cut shaft 31B is disposed above the support 31. The shaft 31B extends in the left-right direction and contacts the upper surface of the support 31 from above. A lever 31S connected to the left end of the shaft 31B swings in response to the opening and closing of the first cover 121 (see Fig. 1). The shaft 31B rotates in response to the swinging of the lever 31S.
[0058] 8 and 10 show the lever 31S and the shaft 31B when the first cover 121 is in the closed state (see FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 10, the curved surface 310B of the shaft 31B is in contact with the support 31, and the distance between the center of the shaft 31B and the support 31 is the largest. In this case, the support 31 moves downward against the biasing force of a spring (not shown). The fourth roller 304 supported by the support 31 approaches the first roller 301. Therefore, when the first cover 121 is in the closed state, the fourth roller 304 sandwiches the tape 10 passing through the conveying path R1 between the first roller 301 and the fourth roller 304 as shown in FIG. 8. In this case, the tape 10 can be conveyed toward the peeling section 4A described later by the rotation of the first roller 301, so that the peeling section 4A can peel off the label 10A. Hereinafter, the position of the fourth roller 304 in this state is referred to as the "clamping position."
[0059] 11 and 13 show the lever 31S and the shaft 31B when the first cover 121 is in the open state (see FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 13, the flat portion 310A of the shaft 31B is in contact with the support 31, and the distance between the center of the shaft 31B and the support 31 is the smallest. In this case, the support 31 moves upward under the biasing force of a spring (not shown). The fourth roller 304 supported by the support 31 moves upward away from the first roller 301. Therefore, when the first cover 121 is in the open state, the fourth roller 304 moves away from the tape 10 passing through the conveying path R1 as shown in FIG. 11. In this case, even if the first roller 301 rotates, the tape 10 cannot be conveyed toward the peeling section 4A, so that the peeling section 4A cannot peel off the label 10A. Hereinafter, the position of the fourth roller 304 in this state is referred to as the "separated position."
[0060] <Peeling guide mechanism 4> The peeling guide mechanism 4 has a peeling unit 4A, a transport guide 4B, a pair of holding units 4C, and a drive mechanism 4D. As shown in FIG. 9, the peeling unit 4A peels the label 10A from the release material 10B. The transport guide 4B guides the label 10A, the release material 10B, and the tape 10 in an appropriate transport direction. The pair of holding units 4C hold the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B. The drive mechanism 4D drives the peeling unit 4A, the transport guide 4B, and the pair of holding units 4C.
[0061] As shown in Fig. 8, the peeling portion 4A is disposed downstream of the first roller 301 in the transport direction Y1 of the tape 10. As shown in Fig. 9, the peeling portion 4A has a long and narrow plate shape and extends in the left-right direction. The corners of the front end portion (hereinafter referred to as the "tip portion 400") of the peeling portion 4A are curved.
[0062] As shown in FIG. 8, the transport guide 4B is disposed at a predetermined interval from the peeling portion 4A. As shown in FIG. 9, the transport guide 4B has a base 411 and a protruding portion 412. The base 411 has a plate shape and faces the tip 400 of the peeling portion 4A of the transport guide 4B. A concavely curved curved portion 41R is formed on the surface of the base 411 facing the tip 400 of the peeling portion 4A. The radius of curvature of the curved portion 41R is referred to as r1. The protruding portion 412 is composed of three protruding pieces 412A, 412B, and 412C protruding from the front end portion of the base 411. The protruding pieces 412A, 412B, and 412C are arranged in this order from right to left with an interval in the left-right direction.
[0063] The pair of holding parts 4C each have a long and narrow plate shape and are separated in the left-right direction. The pair of holding parts 4C are connected to both left-right ends of the peeling part 4A and the conveying guide 4B, and hold the peeling part 4A and the conveying guide 4B from both left-right sides. The pair of holding parts 4C each have a hole through which the rotating shaft 301K of the first roller 301 is inserted. The pair of holding parts 4C each can rotate around the rotating shaft 301K. As the pair of holding parts 4C rotates, the peeling part 4A and the conveying guide 4B move in conjunction with each other between a first position shown in Figs. 11 to 13 and a second position shown in Figs. 8 to 10. In addition, the pair of holding parts 4C each have a long hole 431 at a position opposite to the side to which the peeling part 4A is connected with respect to the hole through which the rotating shaft 301K is inserted.
[0064] As shown in FIG. 8, the tip 400 of the peeling section 4A and the conveying guide 4B arranged at the second position are located downstream of the first roller 301 in the conveying direction Y1 of the tape 10. The conveying path R1 of the tape 10 passes between the first roller 301 and the fourth roller on the downstream side, extends diagonally downward along the first roller 301, and reaches the tip 400 of the peeling section 4A. The label 10A of the tape 10 is peeled off from the peeling material 10B as the peeling section 4A bends the peeling material 10B, and is conveyed forward from the tip 400 of the peeling section 4A. At this time, the adhesive surface Ur of the label 10A to which the peeling material 10B was attached faces upward, and the surface opposite to the adhesive surface (hereinafter referred to as the "opposite surface Us") faces downward. On the other hand, the peeling material 10B from which the label 10A has been peeled is conveyed diagonally upward backward from the tip 400 of the peeling section 4A.
[0065] As shown in FIG. 14, the tip 400 of the peeling section 4A arranged at the first position is located above the upper end of the first roller 301. The transport path R1 of the tape 10 passes between the first roller 301 and the fourth roller on the downstream side and reaches the tip 400 of the peeling section 4A. Since the bending angle of the peeling material 10B in the peeling section 4A is gentler than that in the second position, the label 10A of the tape 10 is not peeled off from the peeling material 10B. The tape 10 is transported obliquely upward and rearward toward the discharge section 16 (see FIG. 1) with the label 10A attached to the peeling material 10B. The transport path of the tape 10 transported through the peeling section 4A arranged at the first position is called the transport path R4.
[0066] As shown in Fig. 9, the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B arranged at the second position are held at a position forward and above the hole through which the rotation shaft 301K is inserted, among the pair of holding units 4C. Therefore, when the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B are arranged at the second position, the weight of the peeling unit 4A applies a counterclockwise force to the pair of holding units 4C when viewed from the right. This direction coincides with the rotation direction (counterclockwise direction) of the pair of holding units 4C when the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B move from the first position (see Fig. 11) to the second position (see Fig. 8), and is opposite to the rotation direction (clockwise direction) of the pair of holding units 4C when the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B move from the second position (see Fig. 8) to the first position (see Fig. 11).
[0067] The drive mechanism 4D moves the peeling portion 4A and the conveying guide 4B of the peeling guide mechanism 4 between the first position and the second position in cooperation with each other. As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 12, the drive mechanism 4D has a pair of drive parts 46A and a rotating shaft 46C. Each of the pair of drive parts 46A is a circular plate-shaped cam and is perpendicular to the left-right direction. The pair of drive parts 46A are separated in the left-right direction. The right drive part 46A is adjacent to the left side of the right holding part 4C. The left drive part 46A is adjacent to the right side of the left holding part 4C. The rotating shaft 46C extends in the left-right direction and is installed between the pair of drive parts 46A. The pair of drive parts 46A can rotate around the rotating shaft 46C.
[0068] As shown in FIG. 32, the motor Mw1 is provided below the left drive unit 46A. The motor Mw1 is located below the conveying path R2 of the label 10A in the vertical direction. A gear group G1 is interposed between a gear connected to the rotating shaft of the motor Mw1 and the left drive unit 46A. The gear group G1 transmits the rotational driving force of the motor Mw1 to the left drive unit 46A. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 12, the rotational driving force of the left drive unit 46A rotated by the motor Mw1 is transmitted to the right drive unit 46A via the rotating shaft 46C. Therefore, as the motor Mw1 rotates, the pair of drive units 46A rotate in conjunction with each other.
[0069] The pair of drive units 46A each have an insertion portion 461 provided on a left and right outer surface thereof. The insertion portion 461 has a cylindrical shape and protrudes outward to the left and right. The insertion portion 461 is inserted into an elongated hole 431 of a holding unit 4C disposed on the outer side of each of the pair of drive units 46A.
[0070] For example, when moving the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B from the second position shown in FIG. 9 to the first position shown in FIG. 12, the pair of driving units 46A rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed from the right side from the state shown in FIG. 9. In this case, the insertion unit 461 moves downward once along the long hole 431 from a state in which it contacts the upper end of the long hole 431 of the holding unit 4C, and then changes direction and moves upward along the long hole 431. Then, as shown in FIG. 12, the insertion unit 461 moves to a state in which it contacts the upper end of the long hole 431. In this process, the pair of holding units 4C rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed from the right side, and move the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B from the second position to the first position. In other words, regardless of whether the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B are disposed at the first position or the second position, the insertion unit 461 is in a state in which it contacts the upper end of each of the long holes 431 of the pair of holding units 4C.
[0071] 9 and 12, when viewed from the left-right direction, a virtual arc Cm is defined with its center at the rotation axis 301K, which is the rotation center of the pair of holding parts 4C. A radius rm of the virtual arc Cm is equal to the distance between the rotation axis 301K and the rotation axis 46C of the drive mechanism 4D. In this case, the position of the insertion part 461 when the peeling part 4A and the conveying guide 4B are disposed at the first position (see FIG. 12), the position of the insertion part 461 when the peeling part 4A and the conveying guide 4B are disposed at the second position (see FIG. 9), and the position of the rotation axis 46C of the drive mechanism 4D are all disposed in the circumferential direction along the virtual arc Cm when viewed from the right.
[0072] A load is applied to the peeling unit 4A when peeling the label 10A from the peeling material 10B. Similarly, a load is applied to the conveying guide 4B when guiding the label 10A, the peeling material 10B, the tape 10, etc. These loads are transmitted to the insertion parts 461 of the pair of driving units 46A as rotational forces centered on the rotation shaft 301K. Here, as described above, the position of the insertion part 461 and the position of the rotation shaft 46C when the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B are disposed at the first position and the second position, respectively, are disposed along a virtual arc Cm centered on the rotation shaft 301K. Therefore, even if a rotational force is transmitted to the insertion part 461 in response to the load applied to the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B in a state where the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B are disposed at the first position or the second position, respectively, the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B do not move due to this rotational force. Therefore, the position of the peeling unit 4A can be stabilized at the second position, so that the label 10A can be appropriately peeled off. Furthermore, since the position of the conveying guide 4B can be stabilized at the first position or the second position, the label 10A, the release material 10B, and the tape 10 can be appropriately guided.
[0073] <Passing area 300A, 300B> 8, a passing area 300A, which is a space through which the label 10A passes, is provided downstream of the peeling guide mechanism 4 in the conveying direction of the label 10A peeled off from the peeling material 10B. The passing area 300A is a space sandwiched in the vertical direction between a lower wall 121A of the first cover 121 in the closed state and an opposing wall 121B facing downwardly to the lower wall 121A. A second roller 302 and parts of driven rollers 311 to 313, which will be described later, are exposed in the passing area 300A.
[0074] The conveying path R2 of the label 10A peeled off by the peeling unit 4A arranged at the second position is arranged within the passing area 300A. The conveying direction of the label 10A conveyed along the conveying path R2 is referred to as the "conveying direction Y2." The conveying guide 4B arranged at the second position guides the label 10A along the conveying path R2 toward the conveying direction Y2. The conveying guide 4B is spaced downward from the conveying path R2. In other words, the conveying guide 4B arranged at the second position is arranged at a position that does not interfere with the movement of the label 10A along the conveying path R2, thereby guiding the label 10A in the conveying direction Y2.
[0075] 8 and 14, a passing area 300B, which is a space through which the separation material 10B or the tape 10 passes, is provided downstream of the peeling guide mechanism 4 in the transport direction of the separation material 10B or the tape 10. The passing area 300B is a space sandwiched in the front-rear direction between the rear wall 121C of the first cover 121 in the closed state and an opposing wall 121D facing rearward from the rear wall 121C. A third roller 303 and a driven roller 323, which will be described later, are partially exposed in the passing area 300B.
[0076] As shown in FIG. 8, a conveyance path R3 of the release material 10B from which the label 10A has been peeled off by the peeling unit 4A arranged at the second position is disposed in the passing area 300B. The conveyance direction of the release material 10B conveyed along the conveyance path R3 is referred to as the conveyance direction Y3. As shown in FIG. 14, a conveyance path R4 of the tape 10 conveyed after passing through the peeling unit 4A arranged at the first position is disposed in the passing area 300B. The conveyance direction of the tape 10 conveyed along the conveyance path R4 is referred to as the conveyance direction Y4. The conveyance guide 4B arranged at the first position guides the tape 10 in the conveyance direction Y4.
[0077] <Second roller 302> As shown in FIG. 8, the second roller 302 is provided downstream of the first roller 301 in the conveying direction Y2 of the label 10A. As shown in FIG. 4, the second roller 302 is composed of cylindrical bodies 302A, 302B, and 302C arranged at intervals in the left-right direction. The cylindrical bodies 302A, 302B, and 302C are arranged in order from the right side to the left side. As shown in FIG. 8, the cylindrical bodies 302A, 302B, and 302C are supported rotatably around a rotation shaft 302K extending in the left-right direction. The second roller 302 contacts the opposite surface Us of the label 10A from which the release material 10B has been peeled off by the peeling unit 4A arranged at the second position, and conveys the label 10A downstream along the conveying path R2.
[0078] The driven roller 312 is provided above the second roller 302. As shown in Figs. 4 and 15, the driven roller 312 is composed of spurs 312A, 312B, and 312C arranged at intervals in the left-right direction. The spurs 312A, 312B, and 312C are arranged in order from right to left. The spurs 312A to 312C are cylindrical and have projections and recesses on their circumferential ends. The spurs 312A to 312C are supported by the first cover 121 to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction.
[0079] The lower end portions of the spurs 312A, 312B, and 312C contact the upper ends of the cylindrical bodies 302A, 302B, and 302C of the second roller 302. The driven roller 312 contacts the adhesive surface Ur of the label 10A conveyed along the conveying path R2, and sandwiches the label 10A between the driven roller 312 and the second roller 302.
[0080] As shown in FIG. 8, the driven roller 311 is provided upstream of the driven roller 312 in the conveying direction Y2 of the label 10A and above the conveying path R2 of the label 10A. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 15, the driven roller 311 is composed of spurs 311A, 311B, 311C, and 311D arranged at intervals in the left-right direction. The spurs 311A, 311B, 311C, and 311D are arranged in order from right to left. The spurs 311A to 311D are cylindrical and have unevenness on their peripheral ends. The spurs 311A to 311D are supported by the first cover 121 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction. The spurs 311A to 311D come into contact with the adhesive surface Ur of the label 10A conveyed along the conveying path R2, and guide the label 10A in the conveying direction Y2.
[0081] When the conveying guide 4B moves between the first position and the second position, the protruding pieces 421A, 412B, and 412C (see FIG. 9 and the like) of the protruding portion 412 pass between the spurs 311A, 311B, 311C, and 311D of the driven roller 311. Specifically, the protruding piece 421A passes to the left of the spur 311A, and the protruding piece 421C passes to the left of the spur 311D. The protruding piece 421B passes between the spurs 311B and 311C. Therefore, when the conveying guide 4B moves between the first position and the second position, the protruding portion 412 does not come into contact with the driven roller 311.
[0082] As shown in FIG. 8, the driven roller 313 is provided downstream of the driven roller 312 in the conveying direction Y2 of the label 10A and above the conveying path R2 of the label 10A. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 15, the driven roller 313 is composed of spurs 313A, 313B, 313C, 313D, 313E, and 313F arranged at intervals in the left-right direction. The spurs 313A, 313B, 313C, 313D, 313E, and 313F are arranged in order from right to left. The spurs 313A to 313F are cylindrical and have unevenness on their peripheral ends. The spurs 313A to 313F are supported by the first cover 121 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction. The spurs 313A to 313F come into contact with the adhesive surface Ur of the label 10A conveyed along the conveying path R2.
[0083] <Support part 32> As shown in Fig. 8, the support part 32 is provided below the driven roller 313, and is disposed in the passing area 300A. As shown in Fig. 4, the support part 32 is composed of ribs 32A, 32B, 32C, 32D, 32E, and 32F arranged at intervals in the left-right direction. The ribs 32A to 32F have a plate shape that is long in the front-rear direction, and protrude upward from the opposing wall 121B. An inclined portion is formed at the rear end of the ribs 32A to 32F, inclining upward toward the front.
[0084] Each of the ribs 32A to 32F contacts the lower end of each of the spurs 311A to 311F of the driven roller 313. The support part 32 contacts the opposite side Us of the label 10A conveyed along the conveying path R2, and sandwiches the label 10A between the support part 32 and the driven roller 313. As a result, the support part 32 supports the opposite side Us of the label 10A from below in a state in which the label 10A has been completely peeled off from the peeling material 10B by the peeling part 4A. The side on which the support part 32 supports the opposite side Us of the label 10A coincides with the side on which the installation surface 110 of the housing 11 is disposed with respect to the label 10A. That is, the support part 32 supports the label 10A from the installation surface 110 side. The label 10A supported by the support part 32 extends horizontally and is parallel to the installation surface 110.
[0085] <Third roller 303> As shown in Fig. 8, the third roller 303 is provided above a support 31 that supports the fourth roller 304. As shown in Fig. 3, the third roller 303 has a cylindrical shape. As shown in Fig. 8, the third roller 303 is supported rotatably about a rotation shaft 303K that extends in the left-right direction.
[0086] As shown in FIG. 8, the third roller 303 comes into contact with the release material 10B from which the label 10A has been peeled off by the peeling unit 4A arranged at the second position, and conveys the release material 10B along a conveying path R3. The release material 10B is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction Y3 toward the discharge unit 16 (see FIG. 1). The conveying path R3 of the release material 10B is located above the conveying path R2 of the label 10A peeled off from the release material 10B by the peeling unit 4A in the vertical direction. Meanwhile, the installation surface 110 of the housing 11 (see FIG. 1) is located below the conveying path R2 of the label 10A in the vertical direction. Therefore, the conveying path R3 is located on the opposite side of the conveying path R2 to the installation surface 110 in the vertical direction.
[0087] 14, the third roller 303 comes into contact with the tape 10 from which the label 10A has not been peeled off by the peeling unit 4A disposed at the first position, and transports the tape 10 along the transport path R4. The tape 10 is transported downstream in the transport direction Y4 toward the discharge unit 16 (see FIG. 1).
[0088] As shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 14, driven roller 323 is provided diagonally above and forward of third roller 303. As shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 15, driven roller 323 includes cylindrical bodies 323A, 323B, and 323C that are arranged in order from right to left. Cylindrical bodies 323A, 323B, and 323C are supported by first cover 121 to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction.
[0089] Each of the cylindrical bodies 323A, 323B, and 323C contacts the third roller 303. As shown in Fig. 8, the cylindrical bodies 323A, 323B, and 323C contact the separation material 10B transported along the transport path R3, and sandwich the separation material 10B between themselves and the third roller 303. Also, as shown in Fig. 14, the cylindrical bodies 323A, 323B, and 323C contact the tape 10 transported along the transport path R4, and sandwich the tape 10 between themselves and the third roller 303.
[0090] The length of the conveying guide 4B in the left-right direction is approximately the same as the length from the right end of the cylinder 323A to the left end of the cylinder 323C of the third roller 303. In other words, in the left-right direction, a part of the conveying guide 4B is disposed between the cylinders 323A and 323B and between the cylinders 323B and 323C.
[0091] As shown in Figs. 8, 11 and 14, the guide portion 127 is provided on the rear wall 121C of the first cover 121 on the upstream side in the conveying directions Y3 and Y4 with respect to the driven roller 323. As shown in Fig. 15, the guide portion 127 is composed of plate-shaped guides 127A, 127B, 127C, 127D, 127E and 127F. The guides 127A, 127B, 127C, 127D, 127E and 127F are arranged in order from right to left. The guides 127A to 127B are orthogonal to the left-right direction and protrude from the rear wall 121C toward the passing area 300B.
[0092] The downstream ends of the inducers 127A and 127B in the transport directions Y3 and Y4 are disposed on both the left and right sides of the cylindrical body 323A of the driven roller 323. The downstream ends of the inducers 127C and 127D in the transport directions Y3 and Y4 are disposed on both the left and right sides of the cylindrical body 323B of the driven roller 323. The downstream ends of the inducers 127E and 127F in the transport directions Y3 and Y4 are disposed on both the left and right sides of the cylindrical body 323C of the driven roller 323. The inducers 127A to 127F guide the tape 10, which is guided by the transport guide 4B disposed at the first position and passes through the passing area 300B, toward the discharge section 16 along the transport path R4.
[0093] At the tip of each of the guide members 127A to 127F, a curved portion 127R that is curved in a concave shape is formed. As shown in FIG. 11, the curved portion 41R of the conveying guide 4B that is disposed at the first position is disposed upstream of the upstream end of the curved portion 127R in the conveying direction Y4. The radius of curvature of the curved portion 127R is referred to as r2. The radius of curvature r1 of the curved portion 41R of the conveying guide 4B is smaller than the radius of curvature r2 of the curved portion 127R (r1 <r2)。
[0094] <Transmission part 3B> The transmission unit 3B transmits the rotational driving force of the motor Mw2 to the first roller 301, the second roller 302, and the third roller 303 (see FIG. 8). As shown in FIG. 16, the motor Mw2 is disposed below the conveying path R2 (see FIG. 8) of the label 10A in the up-down direction. The motor Mw2 can rotate in either the counterclockwise direction (see FIG. 17) or the clockwise direction (see FIG. 18) as viewed from the right. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the rotation direction (clockwise direction or counterclockwise direction) will be described assuming a state viewed from the right. The rotation of the motor Mw2 in the counterclockwise direction is referred to as "the motor Mw2 rotates forward". The rotation of the motor Mw2 in the clockwise direction is referred to as "the motor Mw2 rotates in the reverse direction".
[0095] As described above, the motor Mw1 (see FIG. 3) that moves the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B between the first position and the second position is also disposed below the conveying path R2 of the label 10A in the vertical direction. Therefore, both the motors Mw1 and Mw2 are disposed on the same side (lower side) of the imaginary plane that passes through the conveying path R2 of the label 10A.
[0096] 16 to 20, the transmission unit 3B includes a gear group consisting of gears 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365A, 365B, 366A, 366B, 367, 368, and 369. The gear 360 is connected to a rotating shaft of the motor Mw2. The gears 361 to 364 are located on the right side of the side plate 13A perpendicular to the left-right direction, and are rotatably supported by the side plate 13A.
[0097] The gear 365A is connected to the rotating shaft 365C. The gear 365B is connected to the rotating shaft 365C via a clutch C2, which will be described later. The gear 366A is connected to the rotating shaft 302K of the second roller 302 via a clutch C1, which will be described later. The gear 366B is connected to the rotating shaft 302K of the second roller 302 via a clutch C3, which will be described later. The gear 367 is connected to the rotating shaft 301K of the first roller 301 via a stepwise conveying mechanism 39, which will be described later. The clutches C1 to C3 are one-way clutches.
[0098] Gears 360 and 361 mesh with each other. Gears 361 and 362 mesh with each other. Gears 362 and 363 mesh with each other. Gears 363 and 364 mesh with each other. Gears 364 and 365A mesh with each other. Gears 364 and 366A mesh with each other. Gears 365B and 366B mesh with each other. Gears 365B and 367 mesh with each other. Gears 365B and 368 mesh with each other.
[0099] As shown in Fig. 17, when the motor Mw2 rotates in the normal direction, the gear 364 rotates in the clockwise direction and the gear 365A rotates in the counterclockwise direction. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 18, when the motor Mw2 rotates in the reverse direction, the gear 364 rotates in the counterclockwise direction and the gear 365A rotates in the clockwise direction.
[0100] As shown in FIG. 17, when the gear 364 rotates in the clockwise direction, the clutch C1 connects the gear 366A, which rotates in the counterclockwise direction in response to the rotation of the gear 364, to the rotating shaft 302K. As a result, the rotational driving force of the gear 364 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 302K, and the second roller 302 rotates in the counterclockwise direction. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 18, when the gear 364 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, the clutch C1 disconnects the gear 366A, which rotates in the clockwise direction in response to the rotation of the gear 364, from the rotating shaft 302K. As a result, the rotational driving force of the gear 364 is not transmitted to the rotating shaft 302K. Also, when the rotating shaft 302K rotates in the counterclockwise direction, the clutch C1 disconnects the rotating shaft 302K from the gear 366A. As a result, the counterclockwise rotation of the rotating shaft 302K is not suppressed by the gear 366A.
[0101] As shown in FIG. 17, when the gear 365A rotates counterclockwise, the clutch C2 disconnects the rotating shaft 365C, which rotates clockwise in response to the rotation of the gear 365A, from the gear 365B. As a result, the rotational driving force of the gear 365A is not transmitted to the gear 365B. In this case, the gear 367 meshing with the gear 365B does not rotate, and the first roller 301 does not rotate either. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 18, when the gear 365A rotates clockwise, the clutch C2 connects the rotating shaft 365C, which rotates clockwise in response to the rotation of the gear 365A, to the gear 365B. As a result, the rotational driving force of the gear 365A is transmitted to the gear 365B, and the gear 365B rotates clockwise. In this case, the gear 367 meshing with the gear 365B rotates counterclockwise, and the first roller 301 also rotates counterclockwise.
[0102] As shown in FIG. 17, when the rotational driving force of the gear 366A rotates the rotational shaft 302K in the counterclockwise direction, the clutch C3 disconnects the rotational shaft 302K from the gear 366B. Therefore, the counterclockwise rotation of the rotational shaft 302K is not suppressed by the gear 366B. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 18, when the gear 365B rotates in the clockwise direction, the clutch C3 connects the gear 366B, which rotates in the counterclockwise direction in response to the rotation of the gear 365B, to the rotational shaft 302K. As a result, the rotational driving force of the gear 366B is transmitted to the rotational shaft 302K, and the second roller 302 rotates in the counterclockwise direction.
[0103] That is, whether the motor Mw2 rotates forward or backward, the second roller 302 rotates counterclockwise. This rotation direction coincides with the rotation direction in which the second roller 302 can transport the label 10A in the transport direction Y2 along the transport path R2. Furthermore, when the motor Mw2 rotates forward, the first roller 301 does not rotate, and when the motor Mw2 rotates backward, the first roller 301 rotates counterclockwise. This rotation direction coincides with the rotation direction in which the first roller 301 can transport the tape 10 in the transport direction Y1 along the transport path R1.
[0104] Furthermore, when the second roller 302 rotates counterclockwise, the clutch C1 disconnects the gear 366A from the rotating shaft 302K, and the clutch C3 disconnects the gear 366B from the rotating shaft 302K. Therefore, for example, when the label 10A is forcibly moved in the conveying direction Y2 during the application process of the label 10A, the rotation of the second roller 302 is not suppressed by the transmission unit 3B including the gears 366A and 366B.
[0105] 19 to 21, the transmission unit 3B has a switching unit 3C that switches the meshing state between the gears 368, 369 depending on the positions of the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B. The switching unit 3C has link mechanisms 37, 38. The link mechanisms 37, 38 are disposed to the left of the right-hand holding unit 4C of a pair of holding units 4C that hold the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B.
[0106] The link mechanism 37 has a cylindrical base 370 and arms 371 and 372 extending from the base 370. The base 370 has a through hole penetrating in the left-right direction. The rotation shaft 302K (see FIG. 16) of the second roller 302 is inserted into the through hole of the base 370. The link mechanism 37 can swing around the rotation shaft 302K. The arm 371 extends downward from the base 370. A protrusion 371A protruding to the right is provided at the tip of the arm 371. In addition, an annular groove 47 is formed on the left surface of the right drive unit 46A of the pair of drive units 46A that drive the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B. The protrusion 371A of the arm unit 371 enters the groove 47. The arm unit 372 extends upward from the base 370. The arm portion 372 is provided with a long hole 372A that is long in the extension direction of the arm portion 372.
[0107] Link mechanism 38 has a long and narrow plate shape. Gear 368 meshed with gear 365B is rotatably supported at the upper end of link mechanism 38. A protrusion 381 protruding leftward is provided at the lower end of link mechanism 38. Protrusion 381 enters elongated hole 372A provided in arm portion 372 of link mechanism 37.
[0108] 19, when the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B are disposed in the second position, the gear 368 meshes with the gears 365B and 369. Similarly, as shown in FIG 21, when the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B are disposed in the first position, the gear 368 meshes with the gears 365B and 369.
[0109] In this state, when the motor Mw2 rotates in the reverse direction as shown in FIG. 18, the rotational driving force of the gear 365B is transmitted to the gear 369 via the gear 368. As a result, the rotating shaft 303K connected to the gear 369 rotates, and the third roller 303 connected to the rotating shaft 303K rotates in the clockwise direction. This rotation direction coincides with the rotation direction in which the third roller 303 can transport the separation material 10B in the transport direction Y3 along the transport path R3. This rotation direction also coincides with the rotation direction in which the third roller 303 can transport the tape 10 in the transport direction Y4 along the transport path R4. Here, in the transmission unit 3B, the gear ratio of the gears 360 to 369 is adjusted so that the transport speed of the tape 10 or the separation material 10B transported by the rotation of the third roller 303 is greater than the transport speed of the tape 10 transported by the rotation of the first roller 301 when the motor Mw2 is driven in the reverse direction.
[0110] For example, as shown in FIG. 17, when the motor Mw2 rotates forward, the gear 365B does not rotate, so that the rotational driving force is not transmitted to the gear 369 via the gear 368, and the third roller 303 does not rotate.
[0111] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 20, in the process in which the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B move between the first position and the second position, the pair of driving units 46A rotate, and the protruding unit 371A of the arm unit 371 of the link mechanism 37 moves along the groove 47. As a result, the link mechanism 37 swings around the rotation shaft 302K. In response to the swinging of the link mechanism 37, a force acts on the protruding unit 381 inserted into the long hole 372A of the arm unit 372, and the link mechanism 38 moves. As a result, the gear 368 supported by the link mechanism 38 moves away from the gear 369. As a result, the transmission path of the rotational driving force between the gears 368 and 369 is interrupted. For this reason, for example, in this state, even if the motor Mw2 is reversely driven and the gears 365B and 368 rotate as shown in FIG. 22, the gear 369 does not rotate, and therefore the third roller 303 does not rotate either.
[0112] That is, when the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B are disposed at the first position or the second position, the switching unit 3C transmits the rotational driving force of the motor Mw2 to the third roller 303 to rotate the third roller 303. On the other hand, when the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B are disposed between the first position and the second position, the switching unit 3C places the third roller 303 in a freely rotatable state. Therefore, even if the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B move between the first position and the second position to cause the tape 10 to move along the transport path R4, the switching unit 3C allows the third roller 303 to move without interfering with the movement of the tape 10, and the tape 10 can be placed in a movable state.
[0113] As shown in Figures 17 and 18, the staged transport mechanism 39 is provided inside a gear 367 having an annular shape. The staged transport mechanism 39 has a pair of protruding pieces 39A protruding from the inside of the gear 367 toward the center, and a base 39B fixed to a rotating shaft 301K. The pair of protruding pieces 39A are provided at positions on opposite sides of the rotating shaft 301K inside the gear 367. The base 39B has a pair of protruding pieces 39C protruding in opposite directions from each other with the rotating shaft 301K in between. The pair of protruding pieces 39A, 39C are spaced apart in the circumferential direction.
[0114] As shown in Fig. 18, when the gear 367 rotates counterclockwise in response to the rotation of the gear 365B, the rotating shaft 301K connected to the base 39B does not rotate until the pair of protruding pieces 39A of the gear 367 abuts against the pair of protruding pieces 39C of the base 39B. After that, when the pair of protruding pieces 39A of the gear 367 abuts against the pair of protruding pieces 39C of the base 39B, the rotational driving force of the gear 367 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 301K via the pair of protruding pieces 39A and 39C, and the rotating shaft 301K rotates. In other words, when the reverse drive of the motor Mw2 is started as shown in Fig. 18, the first roller 301 starts to rotate after a predetermined time has elapsed since the second roller 302 and the third roller 303 started to rotate.
[0115] <Opening and closing member 5> 23, the opening / closing member 5 is disposed downstream of the support portion 32 and above the conveyance path R2 of the label 10A.
[0116] The base 51 has a cylindrical portion 51A, an extension portion 51B, and a pair of side plate portions 51C. The cylindrical portion 51A is disposed around a rotation shaft 50 that is installed between side plates 13A, 13B (see FIG. 16) that are separated in the left-right direction, and is rotatable about the rotation shaft 50. The extension portion 51B extends downward from the cylindrical portion 51A. The pair of side plate portions 51C are provided on both left and right ends of the extension portion 51B, and are perpendicular to the left-right direction.
[0117] The opening / closing member 5 is supported by the side plates 13A and 13B by the rotating shaft 50 so as to be able to swing. The base 51 can swing around the rotating shaft 50 in a direction in which the lower end of the extension portion 51B moves in the front-rear direction. The position of the opening / closing member 5 in a state in which the lower end of the extension portion 51B moves forward is called the closed position. The opening / closing member 5 arranged in the closed position covers from above the adhesive surface Ur of the label 10A moving along the conveying path R2. The position of the opening / closing member 5 in a state in which the lower end of the extension portion 51B moves backward is called the open position. The opening / closing member 5 arranged in the open position does not cover the adhesive surface Ur of the label 10A. The first cover 121 is also supported by the rotating shaft 50 so as to be able to swing on the side plates 13A and 13B.
[0118] As shown in Fig. 24, the rotating body 52 has rotating bodies 52A, 52B, 52C, 52D, and 52E arranged in the left-right direction. The rotating bodies 52A, 52B, 52C, 52D, and 52E are arranged in this order from right to left. The rotating bodies 52A to 52E are disk-shaped and have irregularities on their peripheral ends. The rotating bodies 52A to 52E protrude outward from the extension part 51B at the front side and lower end portions rather than approximately the center in the front-rear direction.
[0119] A rotating shaft 520 shown in FIG. 23 is inserted into a hole provided at the center of the rotating body 52. The rotating shaft 520 is rod-shaped and extends in the left-right direction. The rotating body 52 is rotatably supported on the base 51 by the rotating shaft 520. The rib 53 has pairs of ribs 53A, 53B, 53C, 53D, and 53E arranged in the left-right direction. Each pair of ribs 53A to 53E is plate-shaped and perpendicular to the left-right direction. The pair of ribs 53A is adjacent to both the left and right sides of the rotating body 52A. The pair of ribs 53B is adjacent to both the left and right sides of the rotating body 52B. The pair of ribs 53C is adjacent to both the left and right sides of the rotating body 52C. The pair of ribs 53D is adjacent to both the left and right sides of the rotating body 52D. The pair of ribs 53E is adjacent to both the left and right sides of the rotating body 52E. The pair of ribs 53A to 53E have the same shape. The peripheral end of the rib 53 extends from the vicinity of the cylindrical portion 51A at the upper end of the extension portion 51B in a direction inclined forward with respect to the extension portion 51B. The rib 53 curves at the lower end and extends rearward.
[0120] 23, when the opening / closing member 5 is disposed in the closed position, the rib 53 covers, from the left and right, a portion of the rotating body 52 that protrudes forward from the extension portion 51B. That is, the rib 53 protrudes outward from the radial end of the rotating body 52 at the portion of the rotating body 52 that protrudes forward from the extension portion 51B. The lower end of the rotating body 52 protrudes downward beyond the lower end of the rib 53.
[0121] A biasing portion 56 is provided on the rear side of the base portion 51 of the opening / closing member 5. The biasing portion 56 is a compression coil spring. The biasing portion 56 applies a forward biasing force to the opening / closing member 5. The opening / closing member 5 is biased by the biasing portion 56 from the open position (see FIG. 25) toward the closed position (see FIG. 24).
[0122] The label 10A conveyed by the second roller 302 passes under the opening / closing member 5 along the conveying path R2 and is supported by the support part 32. At this time, the rotating body 52 of the opening / closing member 5 contacts the adhesive surface Ur of the label 10A from above. As a result, the opening / closing member 5 corrects the curvature of the label 10A that is trying to bend upward.
[0123] <Guide member 8A> The guide member 8A is disposed downstream of the opening / closing member 5 in the conveying direction Y2 of the label 10A and above the conveying path R2. As shown in FIG. 25, the guide member 8A has an inclined surface 81A at the rear. The inclined surface 81A extends obliquely downward from the front end to the rear end. The front end of each inclined surface 81A, i.e., the upper end 811 arranged at the uppermost position of the inclined surface 81A, is located below the rotation shaft 50 that rotatably supports the opening / closing member 5 in the up-down direction. As shown in FIG. 23, the rear end of the inclined surface 81A, i.e., the lower end 812 arranged at the lowermost position of the inclined surface 81A, is close to the conveying path R2.
[0124] As shown in Fig. 24, the lower end of the opening / closing member 5 approaches the lower end 812 of the guide member 8A when the opening / closing member 5 is disposed at the closed position. At this time, the rib 53 of the guide member 8A comes into contact with the lower end 812 of the guide member 8A. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 25, the lower end of the opening / closing member 5 moves rearward away from the lower end 812 of the guide member 8A when the opening / closing member 5 is disposed at the open position.
[0125] As shown in Fig. 26, the cable 19 for winding the label 10A is attached to the label winding device 1A from above the guide member 8A while extending in the left-right direction. The label 10A supported by the support part 32 is placed above an insertion part 62A (see Fig. 18) of the application mechanism 6 described later.
[0126] As shown in FIG. 26 and FIG. 27, the guide member 8A guides the cable 19 along the inclined surface 81A from a position near the upper end 811, i.e., a position P11 away from the label 10A, to a position near the lower end 812, i.e., a position P13 close to the label 10A. The position P11 corresponds to a position downstream in the conveying direction Y2 of the label 10A and away from the support part 32. The position P13 corresponds to a position close to the adhesive surface Ur of the label 10A. The moving direction of the cable 19 guided by the guide member 8A (diagonally downward and rearward; hereinafter, referred to as the "guide direction Y11") is inclined toward the upstream side of the conveying direction Y2 of the label 10A, with respect to the downward direction perpendicular to the label 10A. The guide member 8A guides the cable 19 toward the adhesive surface Ur of the label 10A and the insertion part 62A of the attachment mechanism 6.
[0127] The guide direction Y11 of the cable 19 faces diagonally downward and rearward. An installation surface 110 (see FIG. 1, etc.) of the housing 11, which is installed on a table or the like, is disposed on an extension line of the guide direction Y11. The guide direction Y11 has a component facing downward and a component facing in the opposite direction (rearward) to the conveying direction Y2 of the label 10A. In other words, the guide member 8A guides the cable 19 in the guide direction Y11 by applying a force to the cable 19 parallel to and opposite to the conveying direction Y2 of the label 10A.
[0128] With the opening / closing member 5 in the closed position, the cable 19, guided by the guide member 8A and moving in the guide direction Y11, comes into contact with the rib 53 of the opening / closing member 5. An external force is applied from above to the lower end of the opening / closing member 5 by the cable 19. In this case, as shown in FIG. 27, the lower end of the opening / closing member 5 moves backward against the biasing force of the biasing part 56, thereby moving from the closed position to the open position. As a result, an opening 620B of the attachment mechanism 6, which will be described later, is switched from a state closed by the opening / closing member 5 (see FIG. 26) to an open state (see FIG. 27).
[0129] The vertical position of the upper end 811 of the guide member 8A coincides with a part of each of the curved portions 127R (see Figs. 8 and 15) of the guides 127A to 127F constituting the guide section 127 provided on the rear wall 121C of the first cover 121. The vertical position of the lower end 812 of the guide member 8A is located lower than the lower end of each of the curved portions 127R (see Figs. 8 and 15) of the guides 127A to 127F constituting the guide section 127 provided on the rear wall 121C of the first cover 121. Therefore, the vertical positions of the guide member 8A and each of the parts of the guide section 127 coincide with each other. Also, when viewed in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the label 10A, that is, from the front-rear direction, each of the guide member 8A and each of the parts of the guide section 127 overlap with each other.
[0130] <Regulation part 8B> As shown in Figs. 26 and 27, a regulating portion 8B is formed below the lower end 812 of the guide member 8A. The regulating portion 8B has a recess 85 recessed forward. The recess 85 extends linearly in the left-right direction. The opening of the recess 85 faces backward. The label 10A conveyed by the second roller 302 passes through the opening / closing member 5 and is further conveyed until the downstream end (hereinafter referred to as "end 105") contacts the regulating portion 8B. The regulating portion 8B can regulate the label 10A from being conveyed excessively downstream by bringing the end 105 of the label 10A into contact with the inner wall of the recess 85. The label 10A in the state in which conveyance is regulated is supported by the support portion 32 from the opposite surface Us side.
[0131] As shown in FIG. 27, the cable 19 comes into contact with the label 10A from above while being guided downward by the guide member 8A toward the application mechanism 6. A part of the cable 19 is applied to the adhesive surface Ur of the label 10A. As the cable 19 moves downward, the end 105 of the label 10A tries to move vertically. In response to this, the regulating unit 8B regulates the end 105 of the label 10A from moving upward relative to the conveying path R2 by the inner wall of the recess 85. Hereinafter, the position of the label 10A in a state where the end 105 is disposed inside the recess 85 of the regulating unit 8B is referred to as the "application possible position." All of the B portions of the label 10A disposed in the application possible position have been peeled off by the peeling unit 4A.
[0132] <Attachment mechanism 6> The application mechanism 6 applies the label 10A, which is supported by the support portion 32 while the label is disposed in the application position, to the cable 19 guided by the guide member 8A. As shown in Figures 26 and 27, the application mechanism 6 has a substantially cylindrical base portion 61 with a side surface partially missing. The center of the base portion 61 is supported by the side plates 13A, 13B of the frame 13 so as to be rotatable about a predetermined axis line 6A. The axis line 6A extends in the left-right direction.
[0133] 26 to 28, the base 61 has a pair of bottom surface portions 62 provided on both left and right ends, and side surface portions 63A, 63B, 63C. Each of the pair of bottom surface portions 62 is disk-shaped and faces each other while being spaced apart in the left-right direction.
[0134] 26 and 27, an insertion portion 62A recessed from a peripheral end toward the axis 6A is provided in each of the pair of bottom surface portions 62. The insertion portion 62A is substantially U-shaped and extends radially from a position on the bottom surface portion 62 a predetermined distance below the axis 6A (hereinafter referred to as a bottom portion 620A; see FIG. 29) to an opening portion 620B corresponding to a part of the peripheral end of the bottom surface portion 62.
[0135] The application mechanism 6 is capable of inserting the cable 19 and the label 10A into the insertion portion 62A in a state where the opening 620B is located at the upper end of the bottom 620A. Hereinafter, a rotational position where the application mechanism 6 can insert the cable 19, that is, a rotational position of the application mechanism 6 in a state where the opening 620B is located at the upper end of the bottom 620A, is referred to as an initial position. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, it is assumed that the application mechanism 6 is located at the initial position.
[0136] The insertion unit 62A is disposed downstream of the second roller 302 and the support unit 32 in the conveying direction Y2 of the label 10A and below the conveying path R2. An opening 620B of the insertion unit 62A opens toward the opposite side Us (lower side) of the label 10A supported by the support unit 32 when the label 10A is disposed in the attachment position. As shown in FIG. 26, the opening 620B of the insertion unit 62A is closed by the opening / closing member 5 disposed in the closed position. As shown in FIG. 27, the opening 620B of the insertion unit 62A is not closed by the opening / closing member 5 disposed in the open position and is open.
[0137] The application mechanism 6 has a first arm member 66, a second arm member 67, a first spring 68, and a second spring 69 inside the base 61. The first arm member 66 and the second arm member 67 sandwich and hold the cable 19 when the application mechanism 6 wraps the label 10A around the cable 19 (see FIG. 29 ). The first spring 68 and the second spring 69 bias the first arm member 66 and the second arm member 67 so that the first arm member 66 and the second arm member 67 hold the cable 19.
[0138] The first arm member 66 and the second arm member 67 each have a bent plate shape and extend in the left-right direction between the pair of bottom surface portions 62. The first arm member 66 is provided downstream of the second arm member 67. The first arm member 66 and the second arm member 67 face each other in the front-rear direction.
[0139] As shown in FIG. 28, the upper end of the first arm member 66 is supported to be swingable around a rotating shaft 661 extending between the pair of bottom surface portions 62. The rotating shaft 661 is supported by the pair of bottom surface portions 62 near the downstream side of the opening 620B of the insertion portion 62A in the conveying direction Y2 of the label 10A. Therefore, the upper end of the first arm member 66 is disposed near the downstream side of the opening 620B of the insertion portion 62A in the conveying direction Y2 of the label 10A. The upper end of the second arm member 67 is supported to be swingable around a rotating shaft 671 extending between the pair of bottom surface portions 62. The rotating shaft 671 is supported by the pair of bottom surface portions 62 near the upstream side of the opening 620B of the insertion portion 62A in the conveying direction Y2 of the label 10A. Therefore, the upper end of the second arm member 67 is disposed near the upstream side of the opening 620B of the insertion portion 62A in the conveying direction Y2 of the label 10A.
[0140] A bent portion 66A recessed toward the front is formed near the lower end of the first arm member 66. A bent portion 67A recessed toward the rear is formed near the lower end of the second arm member 67. The bent portions 66A, 67A face each other in the front-rear direction with the axis 6A in between.
[0141] The first spring 68 is interposed between the side surface portion 63B of the base 61 and the first arm member 66. The second spring 69 is interposed between the side surface portion 63C of the base 61 and the second arm member 67. The first spring 68 and the second spring 69 are compression springs having the same characteristics. The first spring 68 biases the first arm member 66 in a direction in which the first arm member 66 approaches the second arm member 67. The second spring 69 biases the second arm member 67 in a direction in which the second arm member 67 approaches the first arm member 66.
[0142] An upwardly protruding rib 630 is provided on the side surface portion 63A. The rear surface of the lower end portion of the first arm member 66 abuts against the front surface of the rib 630 due to the biasing force of a first spring 68. Similarly, the front surface of the lower end portion of the second arm member 67 abuts against the rear surface of the rib 630 due to the biasing force of a second spring 69.
[0143] 29, the label 10A, which is placed in the affixable position by being supported by the support portion 32, covers the entire opening 620B of the insertion portion 62A. The cable 19 guided downward by the guide member 8A comes into contact with the label 10A and enters the insertion portion 62A together with the label 10A. At this time, the cable 19 moves diagonally rearward following the direction in which it is guided along the inclined surface 81A of the guide member 8A, so that it first comes into contact with the second arm member 67 and moves the second arm member 67 rearward against the biasing force of the second spring 69. The cable 19 is then guided downward by coming into contact with the second arm member 67 (guiding direction Y12).
[0144] Next, cable 19 comes into contact with first arm member 66, causing first arm member 66 to move forward against the biasing force of first spring 68. Cable 19 moves further downward. Cable 19 reaches bottom portion 620A of insertion portion 62A, and is sandwiched and held between bent portion 66A of first arm member 66 and bent portion 67A of second arm member 67 from the front-rear direction. Hereinafter, the position of cable 19 that has reached bottom portion 620A is referred to as winding position Pm.
[0145] The label 10A is interposed between the cable 19 arranged at the winding position Pm and the first arm member 66 and the second arm member 67. The label 10A is wrapped around and affixed to approximately the lower half of the region of the cable 19, i.e., approximately the lower half of the outer circumferential surface of the cable 19. In this state, the label winding device 1A rotates the application mechanism 6. The application mechanism 6 rotates around the cable 19 about the axis 6A. In this case, the label 10A is guided to be wrapped around the cable 19 arranged at the winding position Pm. As a result, the label 10A is wrapped around and affixed to the cable 19.
[0146] <Retaining member 7> As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the holding member 7 has holding members 7A and 7B. The holding member 7A is disposed on the right side of the application mechanism 6 (see Fig. 6, etc.). As shown in Fig. 30, a cover 117A connected to the right surface of the side plate 13A covers the lower part of the holding member 7A from the right. The holding member 7B is disposed on the right side of the application mechanism 6 (see Fig. 6, etc.). As shown in Fig. 4, a cover 117B connected to the left surface of the side plate 13B covers the lower part of the holding member 7B from the left. The holding members 7A and 7B have a symmetrical structure with respect to a symmetry plane that passes through the center of the label winding device 1A in the left-right direction and is perpendicular to the left-right direction.
[0147] The holding members 7A and 7B guide the cable 19, which has entered the insertion portion 62A (see FIGS. 26 and 27) of the attachment mechanism 6, downward to a winding position Pm (see FIG. 29) at two positions spaced apart in the left-right direction, and hold the cable 19 at the winding position Pm. In the following, details of the holding member 7A will be described, and a description of the holding member 7B will be omitted.
[0148] As shown in Figs. 30 to 33, the holding member 7A includes a first clamping member 71, a second clamping member 72, and a biasing portion 73 (see Fig. 32). As shown in Figs. 31 to 33, the first clamping member 71 extends obliquely downward from the rear of the guide member 8A, bends forward midway, and further extends obliquely downward. The second clamping member 72 extends obliquely downward from below the lower end portion 812 of the guide member 8A, bends backward midway, and extends obliquely downward. The first clamping member 71 and the second clamping member 72 intersect near the lower ends. The first clamping member 71 and the second clamping member 72 are supported to be swingable about a swing shaft 70 that passes through the point where they intersect and extends in the left-right direction. The swing shaft 70 is provided on the side plate 13A of the frame 13, and extends to the right.
[0149] 33, the swing shaft 70 is provided at a position spaced downward from a winding position Pm, which is the position of the cable 19 when the application mechanism 6 wraps the label 10A around it. In other words, the position of the winding position Pm is spaced from the swing shaft 70 in the movement direction Y22 of the cable 19 inserted into the insertion part 62A of the application mechanism 6.
[0150] 32, a protruding portion 110A protruding to the right is provided on the side plate 13A below the swing shaft 70. The lower end of the first clamping member 71 abuts against the protruding portion 110A from behind. The lower end of the second clamping member 72 abuts against the protruding portion 110A from the front. The first clamping member 71 and the second clamping member 72 are maintained in a position where their respective lower ends abut against the protruding portion 110A by the biasing force of the biasing portion 73 described below.
[0151] 30, the cover 117A covers the lower parts of the first clamping member 71 and the second clamping member 72. The cover 117A has a recess 119A recessed downward. The wrapping position Pm is located at the bottom of the recess 119A.
[0152] As shown in Figs. 31 to 33, a portion of the front end of the first clamping member 71 that is above the swing shaft 70 is referred to as a first opposing portion 710. A portion of the rear end of the second clamping member 72 that is above the swing shaft 70 is referred to as a second opposing portion 720. The second opposing portion 720 of the second clamping member 72 is disposed forward of the first opposing portion 710 of the first clamping member 71. The holding member 7 guides the cable 19 downward to the winding position Pm by the gap between the first opposing portion 710 of the first clamping member 71 and the second opposing portion 720 of the second clamping member 72, and holds the cable 19 from the front-rear direction at the winding position Pm.
[0153] The first clamping member 71 has a first inclined portion 711 at the upper end of the first opposing portion 710. The first inclined portion 711 extends in a direction inclined with respect to the up-down direction, more specifically, obliquely upward toward the rear toward the tip. The first inclined portion 711 is disposed rearward with respect to the inclined surface 81A of the guide member 8A. The distance between the first inclined portion 711 and the inclined surface 81A in the front-rear direction increases toward the top. That is, the first inclined portion 711 is inclined so that the distance between the first inclined portion 711 and the inclined surface 81A increases toward the top. The first inclined portion 711 guides the cable 19 toward the insertion portion 62A. The first inclined portion 711 is inclined with respect to the moving direction Y22 (see FIG. 33) when the cable 19 is inserted into the insertion portion 62A.
[0154] As shown in FIG. 32, the biasing portion 73 is a torsion spring wound around the swing shaft 70. One end 73A of the biasing portion 73 is connected to the inside of the first clamping member 71. The other end 73B of the biasing portion 73 is connected to the inside of the second clamping member 72. The biasing portion 73 biases the first clamping member 71 in the counterclockwise direction and biases the second clamping member 72 in the clockwise direction. As a result, the biasing portion 73 biases the first clamping member 71 and the second clamping member 72 in a direction in which the first opposing portion 710 and the second opposing portion 720 approach each other. The biasing force of the biasing portion 73 keeps the first clamping member 71 and the second clamping member 72 in a position where their respective lower ends abut against the protrusion 110A.
[0155] 34 and 35, the holding member 7 is provided with a pressing member 76 and a protruding portion 71D. The pressing member 76 has a first pressing member 77 and a second pressing member 78.
[0156] The first pressing member 77 is installed between the first clamping members 71 of the holding members 7A and 7B. The first pressing member 77 has a rod shape elongated in the left-right direction and perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The first pressing member 77 is connected to the vicinity of the upper end of the first opposing portion 710 of the inner surface 71U, which is the surface of the first clamping member 71 that is close to the opening / closing member 5. The length between the first clamping members 71 of the holding members 7A and 7B is longer than the length in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction Y2 of the label 10A, that is, the width of the label 10A. Therefore, the length of the first pressing member 77 in the left-right direction is also longer than the width of the label 10A.
[0157] The second pressing member 78 is installed between the second clamping members 72 of the holding members 7A and 7B. The second pressing member 78 is a cylindrical rotating member and can rotate around a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction. The second pressing member 78 is made of elastic rubber. The rotation axis of the second pressing member 78 is connected to the upper end portion of the inner surface of the second clamping member 72. As shown in Figures 31 to 45, when the holding member 7 is viewed from the left-right direction, a part of the second pressing member 78 protrudes upward and backward from the upper end portion of the second clamping member 72. Hereinafter, this protrusion is referred to as the "protrusion 78A." The length between the second clamping members 72 of the holding members 7A and 7B is longer than the length in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction Y2 of the label 10A, that is, the width of the label 10A. Therefore, the length of the second pressing member 78 in the left-right direction is also longer than the width of the label 10A.
[0158] As shown in FIG. 34, in a state where the first clamping member 71 and the second clamping member 72 of each of the holding members 7A and 7B are not clamping the cable 19 (see FIG. 31 and FIG. 32), the first pressing member 77 is located on the rear side of the second pressing member 78. The front end of the first pressing member 77 contacts the rear end of the second pressing member 78. Also, as shown in FIG. 26, the first pressing member 77 and the second pressing member 78 are located below the label 10A supported by the support part 32 in the state where the label 10A is placed in the attachment position, and are close to the opposite surface Us of the label 10A. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 37, in a state where the first clamping member 71 and the second clamping member 72 of each of the holding members 7A and 7B are clamping the cable 19 therebetween (see FIG. 33), the first pressing member 77 and the second pressing member 78 are separated in the front-rear direction.
[0159] A protrusion 71D protruding inward is further provided on an inner surface 71U of each of the first clamping members 71 of the holding members 7A and 7B. As shown in Fig. 36 and Fig. 37, the protrusion 71D is located in front of the protrusion 51D protruding outward from the side plate portion 51C of the opening / closing member 5. The protrusions 51D and 71D are disposed outside the insertion portion 62A of the attachment mechanism 6 in the left-right direction.
[0160] As shown in FIG. 31, when the cable 19 is attached to the label winding device 1A, the cable 19 is guided diagonally downward toward the rear along the inclined surface 81A of the guide member 8A and moves in the moving direction Y21. The cable 19 contacts the lower end of the opening / closing member 5, and the opening / closing member 5 moves from the closed position toward the open position. The cable 19 further moves diagonally downward toward the rear. At this time, as shown in FIG. 27, the cable 19 contacts from above the adhesive surface Ur of the label 10A supported by the support part 32 in the state where it is arranged in the attachment position, and moves downward. At this time, the label 10A is sandwiched between the cable 19 and the first pressing member 77 and the second pressing member 78 located below the label 10A. The first pressing member 77 and the second pressing member 78 contact the opposite surface Us of the label 10A and support the label 10A from the opposite surface Us side. As a result, the label 10A is pressed against the cable 19 above.
[0161] The cable 19 further moves downward and comes into contact with the first inclined portion 711 of the first clamping member 71. As shown in FIG. 33, the first clamping member 71 swings in the clockwise direction against the biasing force of the biasing portion 73. The first clamping member 71 and the second clamping member 72 move away from each other. At this time, as shown in FIG. 29, the first pressing member 77 and the second pressing member 78 move away from each other in the front-rear direction. The first pressing member 77 comes into contact with the opposite surface Us of the cable 19 located at the rear and presses the label 10A forward toward the cable 19. The protruding portion 78A of the second pressing member 78 guides the cable 19 backward while rotating. Then, the second pressing member 78 comes into contact with the opposite surface of the cable 19 located at the rear and presses the label 10A backward toward the cable 19. As a result, the first pressing member 77 and the second pressing member 78 come into contact with the opposite surface Us of the label 10A from both the front and rear sides, and press the label 10A against the cable 19.
[0162] As shown in FIG. 36, the protruding portion 71D of the first clamping member 71 contacts the protruding portion 51D of the opening / closing member 5 from the front and pushes the opening / closing member 5 backward. The opening / closing member 5 moves from the closed position toward the open position, and the opening 620B of the insertion portion 62A of the attachment mechanism 6 is opened as shown in FIG. 37. As shown in FIG. 33, the cable 19 passes through the opened opening 620B and enters the insertion portion 62A. The first clamping member 71 and the second clamping member 72 clamp the cable 19 from the front-rear direction. After the cable 19 moves in the moving direction Y22 toward the downward winding position Pm, it is held at the winding position Pm.
[0163] On the other hand, when the cable 19 is detached from the label winding device 1A, an upward force is applied to the cable 19 at the winding position Pm. The cable 19 passes through the opening 620B in the open state and is taken out from the insertion section 62A. After the cable 19 is taken out from the insertion section 62A, the first clamping member 71 swings clockwise against the biasing force of the biasing section 73, and the second clamping member 72 swings counterclockwise against the biasing force of the biasing section 73 (see Figures 31 and 32). At this time, the protrusion 71D of the first clamping member 71 moves forward relative to the protrusion 51D of the opening / closing member 5. The opening / closing member 5 returns from the open position (see Figure 37) to the original closed position (see Figure 36). The opening 620B of the insertion section 62A is closed by the opening / closing member 5 arranged at the closed position.
[0164] <Electrical configuration> The electrical configuration of the label wrapping device 1A will be described with reference to Fig. 38. The label wrapping device 1A includes a CPU 91A, a ROM 91B, a RAM 91C, a flash memory 91D, and an input / output interface 91E, which are connected via a data bus 92. The CPU 91A controls the label wrapping device 1A. The ROM 91B stores constants required when the CPU 91A executes various programs. The RAM 91C stores temporary data generated when the CPU 91A executes processing. The flash memory 91D stores programs, variables, etc. executed by the CPU 91A.
[0165] The input / output interface 91E is connected to an alarm unit 93A, operation units 120A and 120B, drive circuits MC and HC, a sensor S, and an external interface (I / F) 94. The alarm unit 93A is an LED capable of notifying the state of the label winding device 1A. The operation units 120A and 120B are buttons for operating the label winding device 1A. The drive circuit MC is an electronic circuit for driving the motor M. The drive circuit HC is an electronic circuit for driving the thermal head 21. The external I / F 94 is connected to and communicates with an external terminal 94A (not shown). For example, the CPU 91A can update a program by storing a program received from the external terminal 94A in the flash memory 91D. The external terminal 94A is a general-purpose personal computer (PC) or a mobile terminal.
[0166] The motor M includes motors Mw1 to Mw3 and Mp1 to Mp4. The motor Mw1 is a motor for moving the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B between the first position and the second position. The motor Mw2 is a motor for driving the first roller 301, the second roller 302, and the third roller 303. The motor Mw3 is a motor for driving the bonding mechanism 6. The motor Mp1 is a motor for driving the platen roller 22A. The motor Mp2 is a motor for moving the platen holder 22 between the standby position and the printing position. The motor Mp3 is a motor for driving the full-cut cutting blade 23. The motor Mp4 is a motor for driving the half-cut cutting blade 24.
[0167] The sensor S includes sensors Sw1 to Sw7, Sp1, and Sp2. The sensor Sw1 is an optical reflection sensor provided at a position (position Ps1 in FIG. 8) between the second roller 302 and the support portion 32 on the conveying path R2. The sensor Sw1 can detect the presence or absence of the label 10A at the position Ps1. The sensor Sw2 is an optical reflection sensor provided at a position (position Ps2 in FIGS. 11 and 14) downstream of the third roller 303 in the conveying directions Y3 and Y4 on the conveying paths R3 and R4. The sensor Sw2 can detect the presence or absence of the release material 10B or the tape 10 at the position Ps2. The sensor Sw3 is a displacement sensor capable of detecting at the right end of the application mechanism 6 whether the cable 19 is disposed at the winding position Pm (see FIGS. 1 and 30). The sensor Sw4 is a displacement sensor capable of detecting whether or not the cable 19 is disposed at the winding position Pm at the left end of the joining mechanism 6 (see FIG. 3). The sensor Sw5 is a position sensor for detecting the rotational position and rotation speed of the joining mechanism 6 (see FIGS. 26 and 27). The sensor Sw6 is a contact sensor for detecting the open / closed state of the first cover 121. The sensor Sw7 is a contact sensor for detecting the open / closed state of the third cover 123. The sensor Sp1 is a contact sensor for detecting the open / closed state of the second cover 122. The sensor Sp2 is a contact sensor for detecting whether or not a tape cassette TC is attached to the tape accommodating section 2A.
[0168] <Tape loading process> The tape loading process will be described with reference to Fig. 39. The tape loading process is started by the CPU 91A reading and executing a program stored in the flash memory 91D when an operation for loading a new tape cassette TC is input via the operation unit 120A when no tape cassette TC is loaded. It is assumed that the second cover 122 is closed when the tape loading process starts. Also, since the first cover 121 is closed, the fourth roller 304 is disposed in a clamping position adjacent to the first roller 301.
[0169] The CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to rotate the motor Mw1 and place the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B in the first position (S101, see FIG. 14). Therefore, in the label winding device 1A, the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B are placed in the first position before the tape cassette TC used for printing is loaded into the tape accommodating unit 2A, and in this state, the printing process (see FIG. 40), which will be described later, is started.
[0170] Next, when an input operation indicating that the mounting of the tape cassette TC is completed is input via the operation unit 120A, the CPU 91A judges whether a signal indicating that the second cover 122 is closed is output from the sensor Sp1 and whether a signal indicating that a new tape cassette TC is mounted in the tape accommodating unit 2A is output from the sensor Sp2 (S107). When the CPU 91A judges that the second cover 122 is not closed or a new tape cassette TC is not mounted (S107: NO), the CPU 91A returns the process to S107. When the CPU 91A judges that the second cover 122 is closed and a new tape cassette TC is mounted in the tape accommodating unit 2A (S107: YES), the CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to rotate the motor Mp2 and move the platen holder 22 from the standby position to the print position. As a result, the platen roller 22A approaches the thermal head 21, and the tape sub-roller 22B approaches the drive roller Ts of the tape cassette TC. The platen roller 22A overlaps the first tape 101 and the ink ribbon Ir that are fed out of the tape cassette TC, and presses them against the thermal head 21 (see FIG. 7).
[0171] The CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to drive the motor Mw2 in the reverse direction. In this case, as shown in Fig. 18, the first roller 301 and the second roller 302 rotate in the counterclockwise direction, and the third roller 303 rotates in the clockwise direction (S109). The first roller 301 sandwiches the tape 10 reeled out from the tape cassette TC between itself and the fourth roller 304, and transports the tape 10 in the transport direction Y1 along the transport path R1 (see Fig. 14).
[0172] Based on the signal output from the sensor Sw2, the CPU 91A determines whether the leading edge of the tape 10 has reached a position Ps2 (see FIG. 14) downstream of the third roller 303 in the transport direction Y4 (S111). If the CPU 91A determines that the leading edge of the tape 10 has not reached the position Ps2 (S111: NO), the CPU 91A returns the process to S111. If the CPU 91A determines that the leading edge of the tape 10 has reached the position Ps2 (S111: YES), the CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to stop the reverse drive of the motor Mw2 that was started in the process of S109 (S113). This stops the rotation of the first roller 301, the second roller 302, and the third roller 303. Since the leading edge of the tape 10 has reached the position Ps2, the third roller 303 is in a state of sandwiching the tape 10 between itself and the driven roller 323. That is, the tape 10 is ready to be transported by the rotation of the third roller 303. The CPU 91A ends the tape loading process.
[0173] <Main processing> The main processing will be described with reference to Figs. 40 to 43. The user operates operation unit 120A to select print data indicating the desired print content from among a plurality of preset print data. The user inputs the number of labels 10A to be produced, and performs an operation to start the operation of winding labels 10A around cable 19. The main processing is started by CPU 91A reading and executing a program stored in flash memory 91D. Since first cover 121 is in a closed state, fourth roller 304 is disposed in a clamping position adjacent to first roller 301.
[0174] As shown in Fig. 40, first, the CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to rotate the motor Mw1, and places the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B in the first position (S131, see Fig. 14). Note that when the main process is executed immediately after the tape mounting process shown in Fig. 39, the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B have already been placed in the first position by the process of S101.
[0175] The CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to drive the motor Mw2 in the reverse direction. In this case, as shown in FIG. 18, the first roller 301 and the second roller 302 rotate in the counterclockwise direction, and the third roller 303 rotates in the clockwise direction (S133). The first roller 301 holds the tape 10 fed out from the tape cassette TC between itself and the fourth roller 304, and transports the tape 10 in the transport direction Y1 along the transport path R1 (see FIG. 14). The third roller 303 holds the tape 10 between itself and the driven roller 323, and transports the tape 10 in the transport direction Y4 along the transport path R4 (see FIG. 14).
[0176] The CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to rotate the motor Mp1. This rotates the platen roller 22A, and transports the first tape 101 and the ink ribbon Ir of the tape 10, which are sandwiched between the platen roller 22A and the thermal head 21, in the transport direction Y1 (see FIG. 7). The CPU 91A controls the drive circuit HC to heat the thermal head 21. The ink of the ink ribbon heated by the heat of the thermal head 21 is transferred to the first tape 101 of the tape 10. This starts printing on the first tape 101 (S135). In addition, the first tape 101 and the second tape 103, which have already been printed, pass between the drive roller Ts and the tape sub-roller 22B of the tape cassette TC. The base material 102 of the second tape 103 is brought into close contact with the upper surface of the first tape 101, and the production of the printed label 10A starts. Printing on the first tape 101 continues as the tape 10 is transported. After starting printing through the process of S135, the CPU 91A controls the print position on the tape 10 in accordance with the number of rotations of the motor Mw1 that drives the platen roller 22A.
[0177] When reverse driving of the motor Mw2 is started by the process of S133, the stepwise conveying mechanism 39 (see FIGS. 17 and 18) starts rotating the first roller 301 a predetermined time after the second roller 302 and the third roller 303 start to rotate. The CPU 91A also adjusts the rotation speed of the motor Mp1 that drives the platen roller 22A so that the conveying speed of the tape 10 by the third roller 303, which has started to rotate by the process of S133, is faster than the conveying speed of the tape 10 by the platen roller 22A. This suppresses slack in the tape 10 downstream of the third roller 303 in the conveying direction Y4.
[0178] When the end 105 on the downstream side in the conveying direction Y1 when the label 10A is produced, i.e., the part that will be the tip of the label 10A, moves to the position of the cutting section 2C based on the number of rotations of the motor Mw1 after printing starts, the CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to stop the reverse driving of the motor Mw2 that was started in the process of S133 (S137). As a result, the rotation of the first roller 301, the second roller 302, and the third roller 303 stops. The CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to rotate the motor Mp4. As a result, the half-cut cutting blade 24 half-cuts the part that will be the end 105 on the downstream side in the conveying direction Y1 of the label 10A that has started to be produced (S139).
[0179] The CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to drive the motor Mw2 in the reverse direction. The first roller 301 and the second roller 302 rotate in the counterclockwise direction, and the third roller 303 rotates in the clockwise direction (S141). The first roller 301 sandwiches the tape 10 between itself and the fourth roller 304, and transports the tape 10 in the transport direction Y1 along the transport path R1. The third roller 303 sandwiches the tape 10 between itself and the driven roller 324, and transports the tape 10 in the transport direction Y4 along the transport path R4. The CPU 91A continues to control the print position on the tape 10 in accordance with the rotation speed of the motor Mw1 (S142).
[0180] After the downstream end 105 of the label 10A that has started to be produced has moved downstream of the cutting unit 2C in the conveying direction Y1 and upstream of the peeling unit 4A in the conveying direction Y1 based on the number of rotations of the motor Mw1 since the start of printing, the CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to stop the reverse drive of the motor Mw2 that was started in the process of S141 (S143). This stops the rotation of the first roller 301, the second roller 302, and the third roller 303. The CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to rotate the motor Mw1, and moves the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B from the first position to the second position (S144, see FIG. 8).
[0181] The CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to drive the motor Mw2 in the reverse direction. The first roller 301 and the second roller 302 rotate in the counterclockwise direction, and the third roller 303 rotates in the clockwise direction (S145). The first roller 301 and the fourth roller 304 sandwich the tape 10 and transport it in the transport direction Y1 along the transport path R1. The third roller 303 sandwiches the tape 10 between itself and the driven roller 323 and transports it in the transport direction Y4 along the transport path R4. The CPU 91A continues to control the print position on the tape 10 in accordance with the number of rotations of the motor Mw1 (S146). The CPU 91A advances the process to S147 (see FIG. 41).
[0182] As shown in FIG. 41, based on the number of rotations of the motor Mw1 after the start of printing, when the upstream end (hereinafter referred to as "end 106") of the label 10A in the transport direction Y1 when the label 10A is produced, that is, the part that will be the rear end of the label 10A, moves to the position of the cutting section 2C, the CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to stop the reverse drive of the motor Mw2 started in the process of S133 (S147). As a result, the rotation of the first roller 301, the second roller 302, and the third roller 303 stops. The CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to rotate the motor Mp4. As a result, the half-cut cutting blade 24 half-cuts the part that will be the upstream end 106 in the transport direction Y1 of the label 10A that has started to be produced (see S148).
[0183] The CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to drive the motor Mw2 in the reverse direction. In this case, as shown in FIG. 18, the first roller 301 and the second roller 302 rotate in the counterclockwise direction, and the third roller 303 rotates in the clockwise direction (S151). The first roller 301 sandwiches the tape 10 fed out from the tape cassette TC between itself and the fourth roller 304, and transports the tape 10 in the transport direction Y1 along the transport path R1 (see FIG. 8). The third roller 303 also sandwiches the tape 10 between itself and the driven roller 323, and transports the tape 10 in the transport direction Y4 along the transport path R4 toward the discharge section 16. The label 10A is peeled off from the release material 10B as it passes through the peeling section 4A arranged at the second position. The label 10A peeled off from the release material 10B is transported in the transport direction Y2 along the transport path R2 toward the second roller 302 (see FIG. 8). Furthermore, the third roller 303 holds the separation material 10B from which the label 10A has been peeled off between itself and the driven roller 323, and transports the separation material 10B along the transport path R4 in the transport direction Y3 toward the discharge section 16 (see FIG. 8). The CPU 91A continues to control the printing position on the tape 10 in accordance with the rotation speed of the motor Mw1 (S152). Note that since printing on the first label 10A has been completed, the CPU 91A controls printing on the second label 10A.
[0184] The CPU 91A determines whether the end 106 of the label 10A that was half-cut in the process of S148 has passed the peeling unit 4A (S153). When the number of rotations of the motor Mw2 after the reverse driving of the motor Mw2 is started in the process of S151 is less than the first specified number, the CPU 91A determines that the end 106 of the label 10A has not passed the peeling unit 4A (S153: NO). In this case, the CPU 91A returns the process to S153.
[0185] On the other hand, if the number of rotations of the motor Mw2 after the reverse drive of the motor Mw2 is started by the process of S151 becomes equal to or greater than the first specified number, the CPU 91A determines that the end 106 of the label 10A has passed through the peeling unit 4A (S153: YES). In this case, the entirety of the produced label 10A has been peeled off by the peeling unit 4A. The CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to stop the reverse drive of the motor Mw2 that was started by the process of S151 (S155). This stops the rotation of the first roller 301, the second roller 302, and the third roller 303.
[0186] The CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to drive the motor Mw2 in the forward direction. In this case, as shown in Fig. 17, the first roller 301 and the third roller 303 do not rotate, and only the second roller 302 rotates counterclockwise (S157). As a result, only the label 10A peeled off from the separation material 10B by the peeling unit 4A is transported in the transport direction Y2 by the second roller 302. On the other hand, since the second roller 302 does not rotate, the tape 10 is not paid out from the tape cassette TC. Furthermore, since the third roller 303 does not rotate, the separation material 10B from which the label 10A has been peeled off is not transported.
[0187] The CPU 91A determines whether the second roller 302, which has started to rotate in the process of S157, transports the label 10A and reaches the position where the label 10A can be attached (S161). When the number of rotations of the motor Mw2 after the motor Mw2 starts to rotate in the forward direction in the process of S157 is less than a second specified number, the CPU 91A determines that the label 10A has not reached the position where the label 10A can be attached (S159: NO). In this case, the CPU 91A returns the process to S159.
[0188] On the other hand, if the number of rotations of the motor Mw2 after the motor Mw2 starts to rotate in the forward direction by the process of S157 becomes equal to or greater than the second specified number, the CPU 91A determines that the label 10A has reached the position where the label 10A can be attached (S159: YES). The CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to stop the forward drive of the motor Mw2 started by the process of S157 (S161). This stops the rotation of the second roller 302. The CPU 91A executes a winding process (see FIG. 42) to attach and wind the label 10A around the cable 19 (S163). After the winding process is completed, the CPU 91A updates a counter (not shown) that counts the number of labels 10A to be created, and returns the process to S145 if the number of labels to be created has not reached the number input by the user (S165: NO). When the number of labels 10A to be produced reaches the number input by the user (S165: YES), the CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to rotate the motor Mw1 and place the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B in the first position (S166, see FIG. 14). The CPU 91A ends the main process.
[0189] A user places the cable 19 above the guide member 8A in order to attach the cable 19 to the label winding device 1A for attaching and winding the label 10A. As shown in Figs. 43(A) and (B), the user moves the cable 19 downward along the inclined surface 81A of the guide member 8A (arrow Y71). The cable 19 comes into contact with the rib 53 of the opening / closing member 5 while being guided by the guide member 8A toward the insertion portion 62A of the attachment mechanism 6. An external force is applied to the lower end of the opening / closing member 5. The opening / closing member 5 moves from the closed position toward the open position against the biasing force of the biasing portion 56 (arrow Y73). Furthermore, in response to the cable 19 coming into contact with the first inclined portion 711 of the first clamping member 71, the protruding portion 71D pushes the protruding portion 51D of the opening / closing member 5 backward as shown in Fig. 37. The opening / closing member 5 moves further from the closed position toward the open position. As a result, the opening 620B of the attachment mechanism 6 is switched from a closed state (see FIG. 43(A)) by the opening / closing member 5 to an open state (see FIG. 43(B)). After that, the cable 19 is attached to the upper surface of the label 10A placed in the attachment position by the support part 32, i.e., the adhesive surface Ur.
[0190] As shown in Fig. 43(C), the user further moves the cable 19 downward (arrow Y75). At this time, as shown in Fig. 27, the first pressing member 77 and the second pressing member 78 of the pressing member 76 located below the label 10A pinch the label 10A between them and the cable 19, and support the label 10A from the opposite surface Us side. When the user further moves the cable 19 downward, as shown in Fig. 29, the first pressing member 77 and the second pressing member 78 come into contact with the opposite surface Us of the label 10A from both the front and rear sides, and press the label 10A against the cable 19.
[0191] As shown in Fig. 43(D), thereafter, the cable 19 passes through the opening 620B and enters the insertion portion 62A of the application mechanism 6 from above, and moves inside the insertion portion 62A from the opening 620B to the bottom portion 620A (arrow Y77). The cable 19 is clamped by the first clamping member 71 and the second clamping member 72 (see Fig. 33) of the holding member 7 and the first arm member 66 and the second arm member 67 of the application mechanism 6, and is held at the winding position Pm. In addition, since the label 10A is attached to the cable 19, the label 10A is also inserted into the insertion portion 62A of the application mechanism 6 as the cable 19 moves.
[0192] 16, the clutch C1 interposed between the rotating shaft 302K of the second roller 302 and the gear 366A of the transmission unit 3B is in a state of disconnecting the rotating shaft 302K from the gear 366A, and the clutch C3 interposed between the rotating shaft 302K of the second roller 302 and the gear 366B is in a state of disconnecting the rotating shaft 302K from the gear 366B. Therefore, even if the label 10A moves downstream in the conveying direction Y2 in response to the cable 19 being inserted into the insertion portion 62A, the movement is not hindered by the transmission unit 3B.
[0193] 43(D), with cable 19 held at wrapping position Pm, label 10A is interposed between first arm member 66 and second arm member 67 and cable 19. Label 10A is wrapped around and affixed to approximately half of the lower half of cable 19.
[0194] As shown in Fig. 42, the CPU 91A determines whether both of the sensors Sw1 and Sw2 (see Fig. 4, etc.) have detected the cable 19 based on the signals output from the sensors Sw1 and Sw2 (S31). If neither of the sensors Sw1 and Sw2 has detected the cable 19, the cable 19 has not reached the bottom 620A of the insertion section 62A and is not positioned at the winding position Pm. If only one of the sensors Sw1 and Sw2 has detected the cable 19 and the other has not detected the cable 19, the cable 19 is tilted in the left-right direction and is not positioned properly at the winding position Pm.
[0195] Therefore, if at least one of the sensors Sw1, Sw2 has not detected the cable 19 (S31: NO), the CPU 91A advances the process to S51. The CPU 91A determines whether only one of the sensors Sw1, Sw2 has detected the cable 19 (S51). If neither of the sensors Sw1, Sw2 has detected the cable 19 (S51: NO), the CPU 91A returns the process to S31 and continues to monitor the signals output from the sensors Sw1, Sw2.
[0196] On the other hand, when the CPU 91A determines that only one of the sensors Sw1 and Sw2 has detected the cable 19 (S51: YES), it determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed since it was first determined that only one of the sensors Sw1 and Sw2 has detected the cable 19 (S53). When the CPU 91A determines that the predetermined time has not elapsed (S53: NO), it returns the process to S31 and continues to monitor the signals output from the sensors Sw1 and Sw2. On the other hand, when the CPU 91A determines that the predetermined time has elapsed since it was first determined that only one of the sensors Sw1 and Sw2 has detected the cable 19 (S53: YES), it notifies the user that the cable 19 is not normally attached by the notification unit 93A (S55). The CPU 91A returns the process to the main process (see FIG. 41).
[0197] On the other hand, if both the sensors Sw1 and Sw2 detect the cable 19, the cable 19 is positioned at the winding position Pm at each of the two positions of the sensors Sw1 and Sw2, and is therefore correctly positioned at the winding position Pm. If the CPU 91A determines that both the sensors Sw1 and Sw2 have detected the cable 19 (S31: YES), the process proceeds to S33. Note that while the application mechanism 6 rotates and the label 10A is wound around the cable 19 by the processes of S33 to S41 described below, the cable 19 is maintained in a state of being held by the holding member 7 at a position on the outer side in the left-right direction of the application mechanism 6.
[0198] The CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to rotate the motor Mp3 so that the joining mechanism 6 rotates in the first rotation direction Y81 (see FIG. 43(E)) (S33). The CPU 91A rotates the joining mechanism 6 by a first predetermined amount (rotation angle) based on the signal output from the sensor Sw5, and then stops the rotation of the joining mechanism 6 (S35).
[0199] As shown in Figure 43 (E), when the application mechanism 6 rotates in the first rotation direction Y81, the portion of the label 10A between the application position with the cable 19 and the end 105 is wrapped around the cable 19 and applied by the first clamping member 71.
[0200] As shown in Fig. 42, the CPU 91A then controls the drive circuit MC to rotate the motor Mp3 so that the application mechanism 6 rotates in the second rotation direction Y83 (see Fig. 43(F)) (S37). The CPU 91A rotates the application mechanism 6 by a second predetermined amount (rotation angle) greater than the first predetermined amount based on the signal output from the sensor Sw5, and then stops the rotation of the application mechanism 6 (S41). The CPU 91A then returns the process to the main process (see Fig. 41).
[0201] As shown in Figure 43 (F), when the application mechanism 6 rotates in the second rotation direction Y83, the portion of the label 10A from the application position to the cable 19 to the end 106 is wrapped around the cable 19 and applied by the first clamping member 71 and the second clamping member 72.
[0202] The cable 19 with the label 10A wound around it and affixed thereto is moved upward from the winding position Pm in order to be detached from the label winding device 1A. The cable 19 passes through the opening 620B opened by the opening / closing member 5 arranged in the open position, and is taken out from the insertion section 62A. After the cable 19 is withdrawn, the first clamping member 71 rotates counterclockwise due to the urging force of the urging section 73, and the second clamping member 72 rotates clockwise due to the urging force of the urging section 73, and each returns to its original position. In addition, the opening / closing member 5 moves from the open position to the closed position due to the urging force of the urging section 56, and closes the opening 620B of the insertion section 62A of the application mechanism 6.
[0203] <Tape exchange process> The tape replacement process will be described with reference to Fig. 44. When any operation is input to the operation unit 120A, the tape replacement process is started by the CPU 91A reading and executing a program stored in the flash memory 91D. Since the first cover 121 is closed, the fourth roller 304 is disposed in a clamping position adjacent to the first roller 301.
[0204] First, the CPU 91A determines whether an operation to start replacing the tape cassette TC has been input to the operation unit 120A (S170). If the CPU 91A determines that an operation other than the operation to start replacing the tape cassette TC has been input (S170: NO), the CPU 91A ends the tape replacement process. If the CPU 91A determines that an operation to start replacing the tape cassette TC has been input (S170: YES), the process proceeds to S171.
[0205] The CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to rotate the motor Mp3. This causes the full-cut cutting blade 23 to fully cut the tape 10 placed on the transport path R1 (S171). Hereinafter, the cut end of the tape 10 is referred to as the "cut portion."
[0206] Next, the CPU 91A determines whether the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B are disposed at the second position (S172). If the CPU 71A determines that the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B are disposed at the first position (S172: NO), the process proceeds to S175. If the CPU 91A determines that the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B are disposed at the second position (S172: YES), the CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to rotate the motor Mw1, and disposes the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B at the first position (S173, see FIG. 14).
[0207] The CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to drive the motor Mw2 in the reverse direction. In this case, as shown in Fig. 18, the first roller 301 and the second roller 302 rotate in the counterclockwise direction, and the third roller 303 rotates in the clockwise direction (S175). The tape 10 cut by the processing of S173 is transported in the transport direction Y4 along the transport path R4 in response to the clockwise rotation of the third roller 303. As a result, a part of the tape 10, including the leading end, is discharged from the discharge section 16.
[0208] The CPU 91A determines whether the cut portion of the tape 10, which is the upstream end in the transport direction Y4, has reached a position Ps2 downstream of the third roller 303 in the transport direction Y4. When the number of rotations of the motor Mw2 since the reverse drive of the motor Mw2 is started by the process of S175 is less than the third specified number, the CPU 91A determines that the cut portion of the tape 10 has not reached the position Ps2 (S177: NO), and returns the process to S177. When the number of rotations of the motor Mw2 since the reverse drive of the motor Mw2 is started by the process of S175 is equal to or greater than the third specified number, the CPU 91A determines that the cut portion of the tape 10 has reached the position Ps2 (S173: YES). The CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to stop the reverse drive of the motor Mw2 started by the process of S175 (S179). This stops the rotation of the first roller 301, the second roller 302, and the third roller 303.
[0209] It should be noted that, because the cut portion of the tape 10 has reached position Ps2, the cut portion of the tape 10 has moved downstream in the transport direction Y4 relative to the third roller 303. In other words, the entire tape 10 is now positioned downstream in the transport direction Y4 of the third roller 303. The CPU 91A executes the same processes as S107 to S113 of the tape mounting process (see FIG. 39).
[0210] When an input operation indicating that the mounting of the tape cassette TC is completed is input via the operation unit 120A, the CPU 91A judges whether a signal indicating that the second cover 122 is closed is output from the sensor Sp1 and whether a signal indicating that a new tape cassette TC is mounted in the tape accommodating unit 2A is output from the sensor Sp2 (S107). When the CPU 91A judges that the second cover 122 is closed and that a new tape cassette TC is mounted in the tape accommodating unit 2A (S107: YES), the CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to rotate the motor Mp2 and move the platen holder 22 from the standby position to the print position. As a result, the platen roller 22A approaches the thermal head 21, and the tape sub-roller 22B approaches the drive roller Ts of the tape cassette TC.
[0211] The CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to drive the motor Mw2 in the reverse direction (S109). The first roller 301 sandwiches the tape 10 unwound from the tape cassette TC between itself and the fourth roller 304, and transports the tape 10 in the transport direction Y1 along the transport path R1 (see FIG. 14). When the CPU 91A determines that the leading end of the tape 10 has reached the position Ps2 based on the signal output from the sensor Sw2 (S111: YES), it controls the drive circuit MC to stop the reverse drive of the motor Mw2 (S113). This stops the rotation of the first roller 301, the second roller 302, and the third roller 303. Note that since the leading end of the tape 10 has reached the position Ps2, the third roller 303 is in a state of sandwiching the tape 10 between itself and the driven roller 323. That is, the tape 10 can be transported by the rotation of the third roller 303. The CPU 91A ends the tape replacement process.
[0212] <Processing when a malfunction occurs> The malfunction processing will be described with reference to Fig. 45. The malfunction processing is started by the CPU 91A reading and executing a program stored in the flash memory 91D during execution of the main processing (see Figs. 41 and 42). The main processing and the malfunction processing are executed in parallel.
[0213] First, after peeling of the label 10A by the peeling unit 4A is started by the process of S151 (see FIG. 41) in the main process and conveyance of the label 10A by the second roller 302 is started, the CPU 91A determines whether the label 10A has been detected at a position Ps1 on the conveying path R2 downstream of the second roller 302 in the conveying direction Y2 based on a signal output from the sensor Sw1 (see FIG. 8) (S201). If the CPU 91A determines that the label 10A has not been detected at the position Ps1 for a predetermined first time period or more after peeling of the label 10A by the peeling unit 4A is started (S201: NO), it determines that a jam of the label 10A has occurred in the peeling unit 4A (S203).
[0214] The CPU 91A suspends ongoing print control in the main process (FIGS. 40 and 41) (S204). In the main process (FIGS. 40 and 41), the CPU 91A identifies the image printed immediately before the jam of the label 10A occurred as the image printed on the jammed label 10A (S205). The CPU 91A notifies the fact that the jam of the label 10A occurred in the peeling unit 4A via the notification unit 93A (S207).
[0215] Next, the CPU 91A judges whether the first cover 121 has been opened or closed based on the signal output from the sensor Sw6 (S209). When the CPU 91A judges that the first cover 121 has not been opened or closed (S209: NO), the process returns to S209. Here, in order to clear the jam of the label 10A in the peeling unit 4A, the user opens the first cover 121, removes the jammed label 10A from the peeling unit 4A, and then closes the first cover 121. When the CPU 91A judges that the first cover 121 has been opened or closed (S209: YES), the process proceeds to S221. The CPU 91A reprints the image of the label 10A identified by the process of S205, and resumes print control in the main process (S221). The CPU 91A ends the malfunction process.
[0216] On the other hand, if the CPU 91A detects the label 10A at the position Ps1 during the first time period from when the peeling unit 4A starts peeling the label 10A by the process of S151 (see FIG. 41) in the main process (S201: YES), the CPU 91A determines whether the label 10A has been continuously detected at the position Ps1 for a predetermined second time period or more based on the signal output from the sensor Sw1 (S231). If the CPU 91A determines that the label 10A has been continuously detected for a second time period or more since the label 10A was first detected at the position Ps1 (S231: YES), the CPU 91A determines that a jam of the label 10A has occurred in the application mechanism 6 (S233).
[0217] The CPU 91A suspends ongoing print control in the main process (FIGS. 40 and 41) (S234). In the main process (FIGS. 40 and 41), the CPU 91A identifies the image printed immediately before the jam of the label 10A occurred as the image printed on the jammed label 10A (S235). The CPU 91A notifies the user via the notification unit 93A that a jam of the label 10A has occurred in the application mechanism 6 (S237).
[0218] Next, the CPU 91A judges whether the third cover 123 has been opened or closed based on the signal output from the sensor Sw7 (S239). When the CPU 91A judges that the third cover 123 has not been opened or closed (S239: NO), the process returns to S239. Here, in order to clear the jam of the label 10A in the application mechanism 6, the user opens the third cover 123, removes the jammed label 10A from the application mechanism 6, and then closes the third cover 123. When the CPU 91A judges that the third cover 123 has been opened or closed (S239: YES), the process proceeds to S221. The CPU 91A reprints the image of the label 10A identified by the process of S235, and resumes print control in the main process (S221). The CPU 91A ends the malfunction process.
[0219] <Actions and Effects of the Present Embodiment> For example, the user mounts the tape cassette TC in the label winding device 1A with the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B in the first position (S101, S103, S105). In this case, the conveying guide 4B guides the tape 10 of the mounted tape cassette TC toward the discharge unit 16 (S109). Next, with the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B in the second position (S141), the user peels the label 10A from the tape 10, and causes the attaching mechanism 6 to wrap and attach the label 10A to the cable 19 (S163). Thus, the label winding device 1A can facilitate the user's mounting of the tape cassette TC with the conveying guide 4B in the first position. Also, the label winding device 1A can peel the label 10A from the tape 10 of the mounted tape cassette TC and wrap and attach the label 10A to the cable 19 by switching the conveying guide 4B to the second position.
[0220] The label winding device 1A moves the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B between the first position and the second position in cooperation with each other. This allows the label winding device 1A to prevent the label 10A from being peeled off from the tape 10 guided to the discharge unit 16 with the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B located at the first position. Furthermore, the label winding device 1A can guide the label 10A peeled off from the release material 10B by the peeling unit 4A toward the application mechanism 6 with the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B located at the second position.
[0221] The third roller 303 of the label winding device 1A can appropriately transport the tape 10 guided by the transport guide 4B arranged in the first position, or the release material 10B from which the label 10A has been peeled off by the peeling section 4A, toward the discharge section 16.
[0222] In the transmission unit 3B, the gear ratio of the gears 360 to 369 is adjusted so that, when the motor Mw2 is driven in the reverse direction, the conveying speed of the tape 10 or the separation material 10B conveyed by the rotation of the third roller 303 is greater than the conveying speed of the tape 10 conveyed by the rotation of the first roller 301. In this case, with the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B disposed at the second position, a strong tension can be applied to the separation material 10B conveyed by the third roller 303, so that the label 10A can be properly peeled off from the separation material 10B.
[0223] The driven roller 323 facing the third roller 303 is composed of cylindrical bodies 323A, 323B, and 323C spaced apart in the left-right direction. On the other hand, the transport guide 4B in the state of being arranged at the first position extends between the pair of holding parts 4C. The right holding part 4C is located to the right of the rightmost cylindrical body 323A of the driven roller 323 in the left-right direction. The left holding part 4C is located to the left of the leftmost cylindrical body 323C of the driven roller 323 in the left-right direction. In other words, a part of the transport guide 4B is arranged at a position overlapping with the cylindrical bodies 323A to 323C of the driven roller 323 in the left-right direction, and the other part of the transport guide 4B is located between the cylindrical bodies 323A and 323B and between the cylindrical bodies 323B and 323C of the driven roller 323 in the left-right direction. In this case, the conveying guide 4B can appropriately guide the tape 10 or the release material 10B to the portions between the cylindrical bodies 323A, 323B and between the cylindrical bodies 323B, 323C of the driven roller 323. Therefore, the label winding device 1A can reduce the possibility that the tape 10 or the release material 10B will become clogged between the conveying guide 4B and the driven roller 323.
[0224] When the first cover 121 is opened, the fourth roller 304 moves to the separated position and moves away from the tape 10. In this case, the user can easily remove the tape 10 from between the first roller 301 and the fourth roller 304 with the first cover 121 open, so that maintenance can be easily performed when the tape 10 is stuck between the first roller 301 and the fourth roller 304. On the other hand, when the first cover 121 is closed, the fourth roller 304 moves to the clamping position and clamps the tape 10. Therefore, the label winding device 1A can appropriately perform the operation of conveying the tape 10 toward the peeling guide mechanism 4 by the first roller 301, by the fourth roller 304.
[0225] The conveying guide 4B has a curved portion 41R with a curvature radius r1 at the base 411. The rear wall 121C of the first cover 121 is provided with a guide portion 127 with a curved portion 127R with a curvature radius r2. The curved portion 41R of the conveying guide 4B is located upstream of the upstream end of the guide portion 127 in the conveying direction Y4 of the tape 10. The curvature radius r1 of the curved portion 41R of the conveying guide 4B is smaller than the curvature radius r2 of the curved portion 127R of the guide portion 127. That is, the tape 10 conveyed in the conveying direction Y4 is first guided by the curved portion 41R of the conveying guide 4B with a smaller curvature radius, and then guided by the guide portion 127 with a larger curvature radius. In this case, the possibility that the tape 10 guided by the peeling portion 4A and the conveying guide 4B arranged at the first position will be caught in the guide portion 127 can be reduced. Therefore, the label winding device 1A can smoothly transport the tape 10 toward the discharge section 16.
[0226] The label winding device 1A has a driven roller 311 for conveying the label 10A peeled off by the peeling unit 4A. When the conveying guide 4B moves between the first position and the second position, the protruding pieces 421A, 412B, and 412C of the protruding part 412 of the conveying guide 4B pass between the spurs 311A, 311B, 311C, and 311D of the driven roller 311. Specifically, the protruding piece 421A passes on the left side of the spur 311A, and the protruding piece 421C passes on the left side of the spur 311D. The protruding piece 421B passes between the spurs 311B and 311C. In this case, the label winding device 1A can bring the conveying guide 4B and the driven roller 311 close to each other while reducing the possibility that the conveying guide 4B will come into contact with the driven roller 311 in the process of moving between the first position and the second position, so that the label 10A can be conveyed smoothly along the conveying path R2. can.
[0227] When the conveying guide 4B is disposed in the second position, it is spaced downward with respect to the conveying path R2 of the label 10A peeled off from the release material 10B by the peeling unit 4A. In this case, the label winding device 1A retracts the conveying guide 4B to a position where it does not interfere with the label 10A being conveyed, thereby reducing the possibility that the label 10A peeled off from the release material 10B will adhere to the conveying guide 4B and impede conveyance.
[0228] The label winding device 1A transports the tape 10 printed by the printing unit 2B toward the peeling guide mechanism 4 using the first roller 301, and peels off the label 10A using the peeling unit 4A. Therefore, a user can use the label winding device 1A to wrap the printed label 10A around and attach it to a cable 19.
[0229] The pair of holding parts 4C hold the peeling part 4A and the transport guide 4B from both the left and right sides, in other words, from both sides in the width direction of the label 10A. The label winding device 1A moves the peeling part 4A and the transport guide 4B in conjunction with each other in response to the movement of the pair of holding parts 4C. In this case, it is possible to prevent the peeling part 4A and the transport guide 4B from being distorted at both ends in the left and right direction, and to stabilize the positions of both ends in the left and right direction. This allows the label winding device 1A to move both in conjunction with each other while appropriately performing the peeling of the label 10A by the peeling part 4A and the guiding of the label 10A by the transport guide 4B.
[0230] When the weight of the peeling unit 4A acts on the pair of holding units 4C while the conveying guide 4B is disposed at the second position, the pair of holding units 4C tend to rotate counterclockwise as viewed from the right. This rotation direction is opposite to the rotation direction (clockwise direction) of the pair of holding units 4C when the conveying guide 4B moves from the second position to the first position. In other words, the conveying guide 4B disposed at the second position does not move to the first position even if the weight of the peeling unit 4A acts on it. Therefore, the label winding device 1A can prevent the pair of holding units 4C from rotating due to the weight of the peeling unit 4A, causing the conveying guide 4B to move from the second position to the first position.
[0231] The label winding device 1A has a drive mechanism 4D that moves the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B between a first position and a second position. The label winding device 1A can switch the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B between the first position and the second position by the drive mechanism 4D.
[0232] The drive mechanism 4D has a pair of drive units 46A that move both left and right ends of the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B, i.e., both left and right ends of the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B in the width direction of the label 10A. In this case, the pair of drive units 46A move the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B to the first position and the second position by applying a force evenly to the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B in the width direction of the label 10A. Therefore, the label winding device 1A can balance the forces acting on both left and right ends of the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B, and can appropriately move the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B.
[0233] The pair of drive units 46A are provided with insertion parts 461. The pair of holding units 4C have long holes 431. Regardless of whether the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B are arranged at the first position or the second position, the insertion parts 461 are in contact with the upper ends of the long holes 431 of the pair of holding units 4C. Therefore, the state in which the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B are arranged at the first position or the second position is stabilized. Therefore, the label winding device 1A can reduce the possibility that the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B arranged at the first position or the second position will move when the drive mechanism 4D is not driven. Therefore, the label winding device 1A can stably maintain the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B at the first position or the second position.
[0234] The position of the insertion part 461 when the peeling part 4A and the conveying guide 4B are arranged at the first position (see FIG. 12), the position of the insertion part 461 when the peeling part 4A and the conveying guide 4B are arranged at the second position (see FIG. 9), and the position of the rotation shaft 46C of the drive mechanism 4D are all arranged in the circumferential direction along a virtual arc Cm when viewed from the right. Note that the virtual arc Cm is an arc of a circle whose center is the rotation shaft 301K that is the rotation center of the pair of holding parts 4C and whose radius rm is the distance between the rotation shaft 301K and the rotation shaft 46C of the drive mechanism 4D. In this case, the label winding device 1A can suppress the peeling part 4A and the conveying guide 4B from rotating in response to a force that the peeling part 4A and the conveying guide 4B receive from the outside.
[0235] The switching unit 3C transmits the rotational driving force of the motor Mw2 to the third roller 303 to rotate the third roller 303 when the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B are located at the first position or the second position, and limits the rotation of the third roller 303 when the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B are located between the first position and the second position. In other words, the label winding device 1A prevents the third roller 303 from conveying the release material or the tape 10 while the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B are moving between the first position and the second position. This allows the label winding device 1A to reduce the possibility that the tension of the release material 10B or the tape 10 acts on the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B, causing misalignment, etc., by conveying the release material 10B and the tape 10 while the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B are moving between the first position and the second position.
[0236] The motor Mw2 that drives the first roller 301 to the third roller 303 and the motor Mw1 that moves the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B between the first position and the second position are provided on the same side (lower side) of an imaginary plane that extends horizontally through the conveying path R2 of the label 10A. In this case, the label winding device 1A can be made compact by efficiently arranging the motors Mw1 and Mw2 in the housing 11.
[0237] After the tape cassette TC is loaded, the label winding device 1A starts printing on the tape 10 (see FIG. 40) with the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B in the first position (S131, see FIG. 40). In this case, the label winding device 1A can reduce the transport load on the tape 10 at the start of printing on the label 10A, and therefore can appropriately print on the printing unit 2B.
[0238] After the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B move to the first position (S101, see FIG. 39), the label winding device 1A allows the tape cassette TC to be mounted (see FIG. 39). In this case, the tape cassette TC is mounted with the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B disposed at the first position, so the label winding device 1A can reduce the possibility that the tape 10 that is unwound after the tape cassette TC is mounted is bent. Also, the label winding device 1A maintains the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B at the first position (S101) in the state before the printing process is started, that is, in the state in which the tape cassette TC is accommodated in the tape accommodation unit 2A. In this case, the label winding device 1A can reduce the possibility that the tape 10 before printing is bent by the transport guide 4B disposed at the second position.
[0239] The label winding device 1A switches the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B from the first position to the second position (S141) at a timing between when the first roller 301 starts conveying the tape 10 (S133) and when the upstream end of the tape 10 in the conveying direction Y1 reaches the peeling unit 4A. In this case, the label winding device 1A can peel the label 10A, which is printed by the printing unit 2B and cut by the cutting unit 2C and generated, from the release material 10B by the peeling unit 4A and guide it toward the application mechanism 6.
[0240] After the label 10A peeled off from the release material 10B by the peeling unit 4A moves downstream of the peeling unit 4A, the label winding device 1A stops the conveyance of the release material 10B by the third roller 303 (S155). After that, the label winding device 1A conveys only the label 10A in the conveyance direction Y2 by the second roller 302 (S157). In this case, the label winding device 1A can stop the conveyance of the release material 10B while the application mechanism 6 wraps and attaches the printed label 10A around the cable 19, thereby reducing the possibility that the tape 10 will be jammed due to the conveyance of the release material 10B. In addition, since the label winding device 1A can convey the label 10A independently, the position where the label 10A is peeled off by the peeling unit 4A can be separated from the position of the application mechanism 6 where the label 10A is attached to the cable 19. In this case, even if the length of the label 10A is long, the possibility of the label 10A getting stuck in the passing area 300A for the label 10A can be reduced. Therefore, the label winding device 1A can attach labels 10A of various lengths to the cable 19.
[0241] When the label winding device 1A receives an instruction to replace the tape 10, the cutting unit 2C fully cuts the tape 10 (S171). Thereafter, the label winding device 1A drives the third roller 303 until the cut portion of the tape 10 reaches a position Ps2 downstream of the third roller 303 (S175, S179). This allows the label winding device 1A to discharge the tape 10 remaining in the passing area 300B including the conveying path R4 to the outside via the discharge unit 16. Therefore, the user can replace the tape cassette TC after all the tape 10 in the passing area 300B has been discharged. Furthermore, the label winding device 1A can reduce the possibility that the tape 10 will be stuck and jammed between the first roller 301 and the third roller 303.
[0242] When the label winding device 1A detects a jam of the label 10A in the peeling unit 4A (S203) or a jam of the label 10A in the application mechanism 6 (S233), the printing unit 2B prints (S221) the same image as the image printed before the jam of the label 10A occurred. That is, the same image as the image printed on the jammed label 10A is printed again by the process of S221. In this case, the label winding device 1A can resume printing even if a label is jammed by printing the same image as the image printed on the jammed label 10A.
[0243] When the label winding device 1A determines that the label 10A has not been detected at the position Ps1 for a predetermined first time or more since the peeling unit 4A started peeling the label 10A (S201: NO), it determines that a jam of the label 10A has occurred in the peeling unit 4A (S203). When the label winding device 1A determines that the label 10A has been continuously detected for a second time or more since the label 10A was first detected at the position Ps1 (S231: YES), it determines that a jam of the label 10A has occurred in the application mechanism 6 (S233). This allows the label winding device 1A to identify the location where the label jam has occurred and detect the malfunction.
[0244] <Modification> The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. The printing method by the printing unit 2B is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the label winding device 1A may perform printing using a receptor type tape cassette TC. In this case, the tape cassette TC may contain a label 10A and a tape 10 having a release material 10B adhered to an adhesive surface Ur of the label 10A on which an adhesive is applied. The printing unit 2B may perform printing on the opposite surface Us of the label 10A of the tape 10, which is the surface opposite to the adhesive surface Ur. In this case, for example, the label 10A may be a die-cut label that has been cut to a predetermined size in advance. The label winding device 1A may not have a cutting unit 2C.
[0245] The label winding device 1A does not need to have the printing unit 2B and the cutting unit 2C. Printing on the tape 10 may be performed by an external printing device. The label winding device 1A may use the tape 10 printed by the printing device to wrap and affix a label to a cable 19. The object to which the label 10A is affixed is not limited to the cable 19, and may be another adherend.
[0246] When the conveying guide 4B is disposed at the first position, it may come into contact with the tape 10 from below and guide the tape 10 toward the conveying path R4. When the conveying guide 4B is disposed at the second position, it may come into contact with the opposite surface Us of the label 10A from below and guide the label 10A toward the conveying path R2.
[0247] The shape of the transport guide 4B is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the transport guide 4B may be a pair of plate-like members spaced apart in the vertical direction. The transport guide 4B may guide the tape 10 toward the transport path R4 when placed at the first position. In this case, the transport guide 4B may guide the tape 10 by bringing the tape 10 into contact with the opposing surfaces of the pair of plate-like members. On the other hand, the transport guide 4B may guide the label 10A toward the transport path R2 when placed at the second position. In this case, the transport guide 4B may guide the label 10A by bringing the label 10A into contact with the opposing surfaces of the pair of plate-like members. A roller may be provided on the pair of opposing surfaces to reduce friction between the tape 10 or the label 10A.
[0248] The peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B may not be connected, and each may be moved between the first position and the second position by a separate driving mechanism. In this case, the timing at which the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B switch between the first position and the second position may not be the same. For example, the label winding device 1A may move the peeling unit 4A from the first position to the second position after the transport guide 4B moves from the first position to the second position. Also, for example, the label winding device 1A may move the transport guide 4B from the second position to the first position after the peeling unit 4A moves from the second position to the first position.
[0249] Instead of the third roller 303, a driven roller may be provided opposite the driven roller 323. These driven rollers may guide the tape 10 transported by the first roller 301, or the separation material 10B from which the label 10A has been peeled off by the peeling unit 4A, along the transport paths R3 and R4 toward the discharge unit 16.
[0250] When the motor Mw2 is reverse driven, the conveying speed of the tape 10 or the separation material 10B conveyed by the rotation of the third roller 303 may be slower than the conveying speed of the tape 10 conveyed by the rotation of the first roller 301. When the motor Mw2 is reverse driven, the conveying speed of the tape 10 conveyed by the rotation of the first roller 301 may be the same as the conveying speed of the tape 10 or the separation material 10B conveyed by the rotation of the third roller 303.
[0251] The driven roller 323 may be a single cylindrical body. In this case, the driven roller 323 may sandwich the tape 10 or separation material 10B across the entire width direction between the driven roller 323 and the third roller 303, and transport the tape 10 or separation material 10B toward the discharge section 16.
[0252] The lever 31S may be manually operable by a user. In this case, the label winding device 1A can switch the fourth roller 304 between the clamping position and the separated position regardless of the state of the first cover 121. The fourth roller 304 may be switched between the clamping position and the separated position by driving a motor.
[0253] The curvature radius r1 of the curved portion 41R of the conveying guide 4B and the curvature radius r2 of the curved portion 127R of the guiding portion 127 may be the same. In this case, the curved portions 41R and 127R may be arranged along an arc passing through a common center. The curvature radius r1 of the curved portion 41R of the conveying guide 4B may be larger than the curvature radius r2 of the curved portion 127R of the guiding portion 127.
[0254] The driven roller 311 may have only spurs 311A and 311D, and may not have spurs 311B and 311C. In this case, the transport guide 4B may not have the protrusion 412, and may be composed of only the base 411. The base 411 of the transport guide 4B may pass between the spurs 311A and 311D when the transport guide 4B moves between the first position and the second position. Alternatively, the transport guide 4B may pass upstream of the driven roller 311 in the transport direction Y2 during the process of moving between the first position and the second position.
[0255] The curved portion 41R of the conveying guide 4B arranged at the second position may be arranged along the conveying path R2 of the label 10A. In other words, the conveying guide 4B arranged at the second position may guide the label 10A in the conveying direction Y2 by contacting the label 10A.
[0256] The label winding device 1A may not have the first roller 301, and may instead transport the tape 10 toward the peeling guide mechanism 4 by the platen roller 22A.
[0257] The peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B may be held by only one of the left and right ends. That is, the label wrapping device 1A may have only one of the pair of holding units 4C.
[0258] When the weight of the peeling unit 4A acts on the pair of holding units 4C with the transport guide 4B disposed at the second position, the pair of holding units 4C may rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed from the right. In other words, this rotation direction may be the same as the rotation direction (clockwise direction) of the pair of holding units 4C when the transport guide 4B moves from the second position to the first position. In this case, the label winding device 1A can use the weight of the peeling unit 4A to move the transport guide 4B from the second position to the first position.
[0259] The pair of holding parts 4C may each have a holding through hole that passes through in the left-right direction. The side plates 13A and 13B of the frame 13 may each have a first through hole at a position overlapping the through hole when the peeling part 4A and the transport guide 4B are in the first position, and a second through hole at a position overlapping the through hole when the peeling part 4A and the transport guide 4B are in the second position. The user may restrict the movement of the pair of holding parts 4C when the peeling part 4A and the transport guide 4B are arranged at the first position by inserting a pin into the holding through hole and the first through hole when the peeling part 4A and the transport guide 4B are in the first position. The user may also restrict the movement of the pair of holding parts 4C when the peeling part 4A and the transport guide 4B are arranged at the second position by inserting a pin into the holding through hole and the second through hole when the peeling part 4A and the transport guide 4B are in the second position. In this case, the label winding device 1A can regulate the rotation of the pair of holding parts 4C by inserting the pins, so that the positions of the peeling part 4A and the conveying guide 4B can be stabilized.
[0260] The label winding device 1A may have a lever for switching the positions of the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B between a first position and a second position. A user may be able to switch the positions of the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B by operating the lever.
[0261] The driving mechanism 4D may have only one of the pair of driving parts 46A. In this case, the driving mechanism 4D may apply force to only one of the pair of holding parts 4C to move the peeling part 4A and the conveying guide 4B between the first position and the second position.
[0262] The position of the insertion portion 461 with respect to the long hole 431 may be different between when the peeling portion 4A and the transport guide 4B are arranged at the first position and when they are arranged at the second position. For example, when the peeling portion 4A and the transport guide 4B are arranged at the first position, the insertion portion 461 of each of the pair of driving portions 46A may be in contact with the upper end portion of each of the long holes 431 of the pair of holding portions 4C. On the other hand, when the peeling portion 4A and the transport guide 4B are arranged at the first position, the insertion portion 461 of each of the pair of driving portions 46A may be in contact with the lower end portion of each of the long holes 431 of the pair of holding portions 4C.
[0263] The rotation shaft 46C of the pair of driving parts 46A may be disposed at a position offset from the center of the pair of driving parts 46A. In this case, the position of the insertion part 461 when the peeling part 4A and the conveying guide 4B are disposed at the first position, the position of the insertion part 461 when the peeling part 4A and the conveying guide 4B are disposed at the second position, and the position of the rotation shaft 46C of the driving mechanism 4D may not be disposed along the imaginary arc Cm when viewed from the right. Each of the pair of driving parts 46A may be provided with a groove on the outer surface instead of the insertion part 461. Each of the pair of holding parts 4C may be provided with an insertion part that is inserted into the groove of the pair of driving parts 46A instead of the long hole 431.
[0264] The link mechanism 37 of the switching unit 3C may be swung by driving a motor. For example, the link mechanism 37 may be connected to a motor Mw1 for moving the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B between the first position and the second position, and may be swung in response to the rotation of the motor Mw1. The transmission unit 3B may not have the switching unit 3C, and the gear 368 may be constantly engaged with the gears 365B and 369.
[0265] The motors Mw1 and Mw2 may be provided on different sides of an imaginary plane that extends horizontally through the conveyance path R2 of the label 10A. For example, the motor Mw1 may be disposed above the imaginary plane in a space covered by the fourth cover 124.
[0266] The label winding device 1A may place the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B in the second position when printing on the tape 10 starts (S135). In this case, the label 10A on the tape 10 immediately after printing can be peeled off from the release material 10B. The label winding device 1A may also be capable of loading the tape cassette TC into the tape accommodating unit 2A with the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B placed in the second position.
[0267] The label winding device 1A may perform printing by the printing unit 2B and cutting by the cutting unit 2C with the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B in the second position. The label winding device 1A may transport the label 10A by the first roller 301 toward the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B that are maintained in the second position.
[0268] The first roller 301, the second roller 302, and the third roller 303 may always rotate in unison to transport the label 10A, the release material 10B, and the tape 10.
[0269] The label winding device 1A may determine whether the cut portion of the tape 10, which is the upstream end of the tape 10 in the transport direction Y4, has reached a position Ps2 downstream of the third roller 303 in the transport direction Y4, based on a signal output from the sensor Sw2 (S177). If the CPU 91A determines that the sensor Sw2 has not detected the cut portion of the tape 10 and that the cut portion of the tape 10 has not reached the position Ps2 (S177: NO), the CPU 91A may return the process to S177. If the CPU 91A determines that the sensor Sw2 has detected the cut portion of the tape 10 and that the cut portion of the tape 10 has reached the position Ps2 (S173: YES), the CPU 91A may control the drive circuit MC to stop the reverse drive of the motor Mw2 that was started in the process of S175 (S179). This causes the rotation of the first roller 301, the second roller 302, and the third roller 303 to stop.
[0270] The user may notify the label winding device 1A via the operation unit 120A that a printing problem (printing defect) has occurred in the printing unit 2B. When the occurrence of a printing defect is notified via the operation unit 120A, the label winding device 1A may execute the processes of S209 to S221 in FIG.
[0271] <Other> The label winding device 1A is an example of the "label application device" of the present invention. The first roller 301 is an example of the "first conveying section" of the present invention. The second roller 302 is an example of the "second conveying section" of the present invention. The application mechanism 6 is an example of the "application section" of the present invention. The third roller 303 is an example of the "third conveying section" of the present invention. The cylindrical bodies 323A to 323C of the driven roller 323 are an example of the "third auxiliary roller" of the present invention. The curved portion 41R is an example of the "first curved section" of the present invention. The curved portion 127R is an example of the "second curved section" of the present invention. The spurs 311A to 311D of the driven roller 311 are an example of the "transport spurs" of the present invention. The motor Mw2 is an example of the "transport motor" of the present invention. The motor Mw1 is an example of the "movement motor" of the present invention. The CPU 91A that performs the process of S135 is an example of the "starting means" of the present invention. The CPU 91A performing the processes of S101 and S131 is an example of the "first driving means" of the present invention. The CPU 91A performing the processes of S144 is an example of the "second driving means" of the present invention. The CPU 91A performing the processes of S157 is an example of the "third driving means" of the present invention. The CPU 91A performing the processes of S175 and S179 is an example of the "discharging means" of the present invention. The CPU 91A performing the processes of S170 is an example of the "receiving means" of the present invention. The CPU 91A performing the processes of S171 is an example of the "cutting means" of the present invention. The CPU 91A performing the processes of S203 and S233 is an example of the "detecting means" of the present invention. The CPU 91A performing the processes of S221 is an example of the "reprinting means" of the present invention. The sensor Sw1 is an example of the "second sensor" of the present invention. The sensor Sw2 is an example of the "first sensor" of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]
[0272] 1A: Label winding device 2B: Printing department 2C: Cutting section 3C: Switching section 4: Peeling guide mechanism 4A: Peeling part 4B: Transport guide 4C: Holding part 4D: Drive mechanism 6: Application mechanism 10: Tape 10A: Label 10B: Release material 13: Frame 16: Discharge section 19: Cable 41R, 127R: Curved section 91A: CPU 301: First roller 302: 2nd roller 303: 3rd Roller 311, 323: driven roller 431: Long hole 461: Insertion part Mw1: Motor Mw2: Motor
Claims
1. a first conveying unit that conveys the label and the tape having a release material attached to the label from an upstream side to a downstream side; a peeling section disposed downstream of the first feed section in a feed direction of the tape, the peeling section peeling the label from the release material; an attachment section disposed downstream of the peeling section in a label transport direction, the attachment section attaching the label peeled off from the release material by the peeling section to an adherend; a discharge section that is disposed downstream of the peeling section in a conveying direction of the release material and that discharges the release material from which the label has been peeled off by the peeling section; a conveying guide switchable between a first position for guiding the tape toward the discharge portion and a second position for guiding the label peeled off from the release material by the peeling portion toward the application portion; Equipped with The conveying guide and the peeling unit are interlocked, When the transport guide is disposed at the first position, the peeling unit does not peel the label from the release material, With the transport guide disposed at the second position, the peeling unit peels the label off the release material. A label application device comprising:
2. 2. The label application device according to claim 1, further comprising a third transport section that transports the tape or the release material from which the label has been peeled off by the peeling section.
3. 3. The label application device according to claim 2, wherein a transport speed of the tape or the release material by the third transport section is faster than a transport speed of the tape by the first transport section.
4. the third conveying section has a third roller, a plurality of third auxiliary rollers that sandwich the tape or the release material between the third roller and the third roller, the plurality of third auxiliary rollers being adjacent to each other in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of the tape or the release material; 4. The label application device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the tape or the release material, at least a portion of the conveying guide arranged at the first position is arranged between the plurality of third auxiliary rollers.
5. The first conveying section has a first roller a fourth roller facing the first roller across the tape transport path; a first cover that can be opened and closed so as to expose and not expose a conveying path through which the label passes after the release material is peeled off by the peeling unit; Equipped with When the first cover is closed, the fourth roller holds the tape, When the first cover is opened, the fourth roller is separated from the tape.
5. A label application device according to claim 1, wherein the label application device is a label attachment device.
6. the conveying guide has a first curved portion at a portion facing the peeling portion, a guide portion provided in a transport path of the tape guided by the transport guide disposed at the first position and configured to guide the tape along the transport path of the tape; The guide portion has a second curved portion, The first curved portion is the tape guide portion is located upstream of the upstream end of the tape guide portion in the tape feed direction; The radius of curvature of the first curved portion is smaller than the radius of curvature of the second curved portion.
6. A labelling device according to claim 1, wherein the labelling device is a labelling device for attaching a label to a substrate.
7. a plurality of conveying spurs for guiding the label from which the release material has been peeled off by the peeling unit; The conveying guide is the at least one protrusion passing between the plurality of carrier spurs during movement between the first position and the second position; 7. A labelling device according to claim 1, wherein the labelling device is a labelling device for attaching a label to a substrate.
8. The conveying guide is 8. The label application device according to claim 1, wherein, when disposed at the second position, the label application device is spaced apart from a transport path of the label peeled off from the release material by the peeling section.
9. A printing unit that prints on any part of the tape, The first conveying unit is 9. The label application device according to claim 1, further comprising: a printing section for printing the tape;
10. a holding portion that holds the conveying guide and the peeling portion from both sides in a width direction of the label, 2. The label application device according to claim 1, wherein the transport guide and the peeling section move in conjunction with each other in response to the movement of the holding section.
11. the holding portion is rotatable, and the conveying guide moves between the first position and the second position in response to the rotation of the holding portion; The label application device according to claim 10, characterized in that the rotation direction when the weight of the peeling section acts on the holding section while the transport guide is positioned at the second position is opposite to the rotation direction of the holding section when the transport guide moves from the second position to the first position.
12. A frame that rotatably supports the holding portion; a pin that is inserted into the holding portion and restricts rotation of the holding portion; 12. The labelling device according to claim 10, further comprising:
13. 13. The label application device according to claim 1, further comprising a drive mechanism for moving the transport guide between the first position and the second position.
14. The drive mechanism includes:
14. The label application device according to claim 13, further comprising a pair of drive units for moving both ends of the label in the width direction of the transport guide.
15. The conveying guide is a first position and a second position by rotating about a predetermined rotation axis; The drive mechanism includes: a cam having an insertion portion that is inserted into a long hole provided in a holding portion that holds the conveying guide, When the cam rotates, the conveying guide moves between the first position and the second position, 15. The label application device according to claim 13, wherein the insertion portion is disposed at either one of both ends of the long hole when the transport guide is disposed at the first position and the second position.
16. The label application device of claim 15, characterized in that the position of the insertion portion when the transport guide is positioned at the first position, the position of the insertion portion when the transport guide is positioned at the second position, and the center of rotation of the cam are aligned in a circumferential direction around the rotation axis of the transport guide.
17. the third conveying unit includes a third roller and a transmission unit capable of transmitting a rotational driving force to the third roller, The transmission unit prohibits transmission of a rotational driving force to the third roller when the transport guide moves between the first position and the second position.
3. The labelling device according to claim 2.
18. a transport motor that drives at least the first transport unit, and a movement motor that moves the transport guide between the first position and the second position, 18. The label application device according to claim 1, wherein the transport motor and the movement motor are provided on the same side of an imaginary plane passing through a transport path of the label.
19. A printing unit that prints on any part of the tape, The first conveying unit is conveying the tape on which printing has been performed by the printing unit; 19. The label application device according to claim 1, further comprising an initiation unit that initiates printing by the printing unit when the transport guide is in the first position.
20. 20. The label application device according to claim 19, further comprising a first driving means for disposing the transport guide at the first position in a standby state before printing is started by the starting means.
21. 21. The label application device according to claim 20, wherein the standby state is a state before the tape is loaded.
22. 22. The label application device according to claim 19, further comprising a second driving means for switching the transport guide from the first position to the second position at any timing between when the first transport section starts transporting the tape and when an end of the label on the transported tape that is upstream in the tape transport direction reaches the peeling section.
23. a second conveying unit that conveys the label peeled off from the release material by the peeling unit toward the attaching unit; a third conveying unit that conveys the tape or the release material from which the label has been peeled off by the peeling unit; Equipped with a third driving means for, when the label peeled off from the release material by the peeling unit is guided by the transport guide arranged at the second position, and an end of the label on an upstream side in the label transport direction moves downstream of the peeling unit in the label transport direction, not transporting the release material by the third transport unit but transporting the label by the second transport unit; 23. The labelling device according to claim 22, further comprising:
24. 24. The label application device according to claim 19, further comprising: a discharge means for transporting the tape by the first transport section with the transport guide disposed at the first position, and transporting the tape toward the discharge section.
25. a third conveying unit that conveys the tape or the release material from which the label has been peeled off by the peeling unit; a receiving means for receiving an instruction to replace the tape; a cutting unit that cuts the tape by a cutting unit that is disposed upstream of the peeling unit in a feeding direction of the tape when the replacement instruction is received by the receiving unit; Equipped with The discharge means is 25. The label application device according to claim 24, wherein after the tape is cut by the cutting means, the tape is transported by the third transport section until an end of the tape on an upstream side in a tape transport direction moves downstream of the third transport section.
26. The discharge means is 26. The label application device according to claim 25, wherein when transport of the tape by the third transport unit is started and a first sensor arranged downstream of the third transport unit in the tape transport direction detects a cut portion of the tape, transport of the tape by the first transport unit and the third transport unit is stopped.
27. A detection means for detecting an operational malfunction or a printing malfunction; a reprinting means for, when the detection means detects the malfunction or the printing defect, printing, by the printing unit, an image identical to an image printed before the detection means detects the malfunction or the printing defect; 25. The labelling device according to claim 24, further comprising:
28. a second sensor provided on a downstream side of the peeling unit in a label transport direction and capable of detecting the presence or absence of the label; The detection means includes: when the label peeled off from the release material by the peeling unit is not detected by the second sensor for a predetermined time or longer after the peeling of the label by the peeling unit, a malfunction due to label jamming in the peeling unit is detected; When the second sensor continues to detect the label for a predetermined time or more after the second sensor detects the label, a malfunction of the label application unit due to a label jam is detected.
28. The labelling device of claim 27.
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