Labeling Equipment

Abstract

To provide a label sticking device that can be miniaturized.SOLUTION: A cutting section 2C is arranged downstream in a transport direction Y1 with respect to a printing section 2B. A peeling guide mechanism is arranged downstream of the cutting section 2C. A sticking mechanism is arranged further downstream than the peeling guide mechanism. The cutting section 2C has a half-cut cutting blade 24, and cuts a first tape 101 and a base material 102 while leaving a peeling material 10B of a tape 10 passing through a transport route R1 to generate a label 10A. Therefore, the tape 10 can maintain a state in which the label 10A is attached to the peeling material 10B until the tape 10 is transported to the peeling guide mechanism. That is, a label winding device does not require a mechanism for preventing sticking of the label 10A to the cutting section 2C, and can be miniaturized.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

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] Label printing devices cut the printed label paper after peeling it off from the backing paper. Therefore, if the printing unit, peeling unit, and cutting unit are arranged in that order along the label transport path, a configuration is required to prevent the label paper from sticking to the cutting unit after peeling, which creates the problem of the device configuration becoming larger.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a label application device which can be made compact. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a label application device comprising: a printing unit that prints on a printing surface, which is one side of the substrate, of a tape having a substrate, an adhesive surface for attaching the substrate to an adherend, and a release material covering the adhesive surface on the side opposite the substrate; a cutting unit that is arranged downstream of the printing unit in a transport direction of the tape and cuts a predetermined portion of the tape while leaving the release material to generate a label; a peeling unit that is arranged downstream of the cutting unit in the transport direction and peels the label, which has been printed on the printing surface by the printing unit, from the release material; and an application unit that is arranged downstream of the peeling unit in the transport direction and attaches the label peeled from the release material by the peeling unit to an adherend.

[0007] The labeling device can produce labels by half-cutting the tape while leaving the release material. The cutting section is located upstream of the peeling section in the tape transport direction. Therefore, the labeling device can keep the label attached to the peeling section until the tape is transported to the peeling section. This eliminates the need for a structure to prevent the label from sticking to the cutting section, allowing the labeling device to be made more compact.

[0008] In this aspect, the application unit may apply the label to the adherend when the trailing end in the transport direction of the label generated by cutting in the cutting unit is located downstream of the peeling unit in the transport direction. The application unit applies the label to the adherend after the trailing end of the label is peeled off from the release material. That is, the application unit does not start applying the label when the trailing end of the label is attached to the release material. Therefore, the release material does not pull the trailing end of the label when the label is applied, so the label application device can reliably apply the label to the adherend.

[0009] In this aspect, the cutting unit may cut a portion of the tape that will become the leading end of the label, leaving the release material, before cutting a portion of the tape that will become the trailing end of the label, leaving the release material. The application unit half-cuts the leading end and trailing end of the label from the tape. Therefore, the peeling unit can reliably peel the label from the release material before the application unit applies the label to the adherend. Therefore, the label application device can reliably apply the label to the adherend.

[0010] This aspect may further include a transport roller between the peeling unit and the affixing unit, which transports the label peeled off from the release material by the peeling unit to the affixing unit. The transport roller can transport the label that has been completely peeled off from the release material by the peeling unit to the affixing unit. Therefore, the label affixing device can prevent the label from clogging on the transport path from the peeling unit to the affixing unit, and can reliably affix the label to the adherend. Therefore, the transport roller can transport labels of various label lengths to the affixing unit.

[0011] In this aspect, the printing unit may include a print head that sandwiches the transport path of the tape and prints on the printing surface, and a platen roller that presses the printing surface of the tape transported along the transport path against the print head, the tape being a laminate type tape in which a second substrate having an adhesive surface formed on both sides thereof is attached to the printing surface of a transparent first substrate that is the base material, and the adhesive surface of the second substrate opposite to the first substrate side is covered with the release material, and the tape is transported along the transport path with the release material side relative to the first substrate facing the print head, and the cutting unit may be disposed on the platen roller side relative to the transport path, and may include a cutter blade that moves toward the print head side when cutting the tape and cuts the tape while leaving the release material. The label application device can generate labels by half-cutting the laminate type tape while leaving the release material.

[0012] In this aspect, the printing section includes a print head that sandwiches the transport path of the tape and prints on the printing surface, and a platen roller that presses the printing surface of the tape transported along the transport path against the print head, the tape being a receptor type tape in which the adhesive surface of the substrate opposite to the printing surface is covered with the release material, and the tape is transported along the transport path with the release material side of the substrate facing the platen roller, and the cutting section may be disposed on the print head side of the transport path and include a cutter blade that moves toward the platen roller side when cutting the tape and cuts the tape while leaving the release material. The labeling device can generate a label by half-cutting the receptor type tape while leaving the release material. In addition, since the release material is on the platen roller side and the cutter blade is on the print head side, it is easy to connect the power of the peeling roller and the like disposed on the release material side in the peeling section to the power of the platen roller in a small space. Therefore, the labeling device can be made compact.

[0013] In this aspect, the peeling section includes a tension roller that applies tension to the base material, and a peeling roller that feeds the tape to a peeling claw that peels off the label and the release material from the tape, and the nip release of the peeling roller may be performed in conjunction with a nip release operation that widens the gap in the nip between the print head and the platen roller in the printing section, and a separation operation of the tension roller from the peeling roller. The release material is not cut, so it extends in length depending on the number of labels created. The release of the release material in the nip is performed in conjunction with the release of the tension applied to the release material by the peeling roller, making it easy for the user to collect the release material. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [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. [Figure 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. [Diagram 46] 13 is a perspective view of a cutting portion 2C as viewed from the full-cut cutting blade 23 side. FIG. [Figure 47] 2 is a perspective view of a cutting portion 2C as viewed from the half-cut cutting blade 24 side. FIG. [Figure 48] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the main processing. [Figure 49] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the main processing. [Figure 50] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a cutting portion 902C. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] 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.

[0016] <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.

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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.

[0019] 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).

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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).

[0022] 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).

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] <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.

[0026] 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 a motor Mp2 (see FIG. 38) and moves between a standby position and a printing position. The motor Mp2 is driven in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of a first cover 121, which will be described later. When the motor Mp2 is driven in conjunction with the operation of opening the first cover 121, the platen holder 22 is placed in the standby position, and the platen roller 22A moves away from the thermal head 21. The operation of the platen roller 22A moving away from the thermal head 21 to release the clamping of the tape 10 at the nip portion is called the "nip release operation." When the motor Mp2 is driven in conjunction with the operation of closing the first cover 121, the platen holder 22 is placed in the printing position, the platen roller 22A moves close to the thermal head 21, and the tape sub-roller 22B moves close to the drive roller of the tape cassette TC. The operation of the platen roller 22A moving close to the thermal head 21 to clamp the tape 10 at the nip portion is called the "nip clamping operation."

[0027] As shown in Figures 7 and 46, 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.

[0028] 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 (hereinafter referred to as the "printing surface Ut"). 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.

[0029] Next, the second tape 103 is superimposed on the printed surface Ut of the first tape 101 that has already been printed. The substrate 102 of the second tape 103 comes into contact with the printed surface Ut 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 printed surface Ut 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 Ur. The label 10A and the release material 10B are referred to as the "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 the "transport path R1". The conveying direction of the tape 10 on the conveying path R1 is referred to as the “conveying direction Y1.” The conveying direction Y1 faces forward.

[0030] <Cut section 2C> The cutting unit 2C is disposed downstream of the tape sub-roller 22B of the printing unit 2B in the conveying direction Y1. As shown in FIG. 46 and FIG. 47, the cutting unit 2C has a full-cut cutting blade 23 and a half-cut cutting blade 24. The full-cut cutting blade 23 has a fixed blade 231 fixed above the conveying path R1 and a movable blade 232 movable below the conveying path R1. The fixed blade 231 extends in the left-right direction, with the blade tip facing downward. The movable blade 232 has a plate shape that extends while bending, and is supported rotatably by a rotating shaft 233. The rotating shaft 233 is provided to the left of the conveying path R1 and extends in the front-rear direction. The movable blade 232 has a left end 234 that extends while bending to the left of the rotating shaft 233, and a right end 235 that extends straight to the right of the rotating shaft 233. The left end 234 has a long hole 236. The right end 235 faces to the right, and the blade tip extending in the left-right direction faces upward. That is, the direction in which the right end 235 of the movable blade 232 faces coincides with the opening direction of the second opening 122A (see FIGS. 1 and 2) of the second cover 122. Therefore, if the tape 10 becomes jammed, the user can easily remove the tape 10 jammed in the cutting section 2C from the second opening 122A.

[0031] The cutting section 2C has a transmission section 237 that transmits the driving force of the motor Mp3 to the movable blade 232, located to the left of the conveying path R1 and in front of the full-cut cutting blade 23. The transmission section 237 has a plurality of gear groups, and the drive shaft of the motor Mp3 meshes with the uppermost gear. The lowermost drive gear 238 of the transmission section 237 has a pin 239 that engages with the long hole 236 of the movable blade 232. The motor Mp3 rotates the drive gear 238 and moves the pin 239 in the long hole 236, thereby moving the movable blade 232 between the cutting position and the standby position. The cutting position is a position where the movable blade 232 rotates clockwise from the standby position when viewed from the rear, and the blade tip of the right end 235 intersects with the fixed blade 231. The standby position is a position where the movable blade 232 rotates counterclockwise from the cutting position as viewed from the rear, and the blade tip of the right end portion 235 retreats below the conveying path R1. The full-cut cutting blade 23 is capable of cutting the tape 10 (full-cutting) by moving the blade tip of the movable blade 232 from below the conveying path R1 to above across the conveying path R1 relative to the blade tip of the fixed blade 231.

[0032] The half-cut cutting blade 24 is provided downstream of the full-cut cutting blade 23 in the conveying path R1. The half-cut cutting blade 24 has a fixed base 241 fixed above the conveying path R1 and a movable blade 242 movable below the conveying path R1. The fixed base 241 extends in the left-right direction and has a blade abutment surface 241A facing downward, i.e., toward the conveying path R1. The movable blade 242 has a plate shape extending in the left-right direction and is rotatably supported by a rotating shaft 243. The rotating shaft 243 is provided to the left of the conveying path R1 and extends in the front-rear direction. The movable blade 242 has a left end 244 extending straight to the left of the rotating shaft 243 and a right end 245 extending straight to the right of the rotating shaft 243. The left end 244 has a pin 246 protruding backward at the end. The right end 245 faces to the right, with the blade tip extending in the left-right direction facing upward. That is, the direction in which the right end 245 of the movable blade 242 faces coincides with the opening direction of the second opening 122A (see Figs. 1 and 2) of the second cover 122. Therefore, if the tape 10 becomes clogged, the user can easily remove the tape 10 stuck in the cutting section 2C from the second opening 122A. In addition, the end of the right end 245 has a protrusion 247 that protrudes slightly upward from the blade tip. The amount by which the protrusion 247 protrudes upward from the blade tip is equal to or less than the thickness of the separation material 10B, and is at least greater than half the thickness of the separation material 10B.

[0033] The cutting section 2C has a transmission section 248 that transmits the driving force of the motor Mp4 to the movable blade 242, located to the left of the conveying path R1 and behind the half-cut cutting blade 24. The transmission section 248 has a plurality of gear groups, and the drive shaft of the motor Mp4 meshes with the top gear. The bottom drive gear 249 of the transmission section 248 has a long groove 250 with which the pin 246 of the movable blade 242 engages. The long groove 250 extends from near the rotation center of the drive gear 249 toward the outer periphery. The motor Mp4 rotates the drive gear 249 and moves the pin 246 in the long groove 250, thereby moving the movable blade 242 between the cutting position and the standby position. The cutting position is a position where the movable blade 242 rotates counterclockwise from the standby position when viewed from the front, and the protrusion 247 of the right end 245 abuts against the blade abutment surface 241A of the fixed base 241. In this case, the blade tip of the movable blade 242 forms a gap between the blade abutment surface 241A and the blade tip, which is equal to or smaller than the thickness of the release material 10B. The standby position is a position where the movable blade 242 rotates clockwise from the cutting position when viewed from the front, and the blade tip at the right end portion 245 retreats below the conveying path R1. The half-cut cutting blade 24 cuts the first tape 101 and base material 102, i.e., the label 10A, which are below the release material 10B during conveying, by bringing the blade tip of the movable blade 242 close to the blade abutment surface 241A of the fixed base 241 and forming a gap equal to or smaller than the thickness of the release material 10B, and thereby leaving the release material 10B uncut (half-cutting).

[0034] <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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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 pinches the tape 10 passing through the conveying path R1 at the nip portion between the fourth roller 304 and the first roller 301, 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 label 10A can be peeled off by the peeling section 4A. Hereinafter, the position of the fourth roller 304 in this state is referred to as the "clamping position." Moreover, the operation of lever 31S swinging in conjunction with the operation of closing first cover 121 and causing fourth roller 304 to approach first roller 301 and clamp tape 10 at the nip portion is referred to as a "clamping operation."

[0039] 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 relative to the first roller 301, and the nip portion separates. Therefore, when the first cover 121 is in the open state, the fourth roller 304 separates 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 portion 4A, and therefore the peeling portion 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." Moreover, the operation in which lever 31S swings in conjunction with the operation of opening first cover 121, and fourth roller 304 separates from first roller 301 to release the clamping of tape 10 in the nip portion is referred to as a "separating operation."

[0040] <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.

[0041] 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.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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 Ur (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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] 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).

[0047] 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.

[0048] 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.

[0049] 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.

[0050] 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.

[0051] 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.

[0052] 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.

[0053] <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.

[0054] 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.

[0055] 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.

[0056] 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.

[0057] <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.

[0058] 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.

[0059] 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.

[0060] 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.

[0061] 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.

[0062] 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.

[0063] <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.

[0064] 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.

[0065] <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.

[0066] 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.

[0067] 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).

[0068] As shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 14, driven roller 323 is provided diagonally above and in front of third roller 303. As shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 15, driven roller 323 is made up of cylinders 323A, 323B, 323C arranged at intervals in the left-right direction. Cylinders 323A, 323B, 323C are lined up in order from right to left. Cylinders 323A, 323B, 323C are supported by first cover 121 for rotation around a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction.

[0069] 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.

[0070] 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.

[0071] 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.

[0072] 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.

[0073] 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)。

[0074] <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".

[0075] 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.

[0076] 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.

[0077] 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.

[0078] 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.

[0079] 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.

[0080] 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.

[0081] 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.

[0082] 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.

[0083] 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.

[0084] 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.

[0085] 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.

[0086] 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.

[0087] 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.

[0088] 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.

[0089] 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.

[0090] 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.

[0091] 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.

[0092] 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.

[0093] 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.

[0094] 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.

[0095] <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.

[0096] 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.

[0097] 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.

[0098] 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.

[0099] 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.

[0100] 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.

[0101] 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).

[0102] 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.

[0103] <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.

[0104] 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.

[0105] 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.

[0106] 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.

[0107] 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.

[0108] 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).

[0109] 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.

[0110] <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.

[0111] 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.

[0112] <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.

[0113] 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.

[0114] 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.

[0115] 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.

[0116] 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.

[0117] 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.

[0118] 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.

[0119] 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.

[0120] 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.

[0121] 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.

[0122] 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.

[0123] 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).

[0124] 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.

[0125] 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.

[0126] <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.

[0127] 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.

[0128] 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.

[0129] 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.

[0130] 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.

[0131] 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.

[0132] 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.

[0133] 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.

[0134] 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.

[0135] 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.

[0136] 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.

[0137] 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.

[0138] 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.

[0139] 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.

[0140] 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.

[0141] 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.

[0142] 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.

[0143] 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.

[0144] <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.

[0145] 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.

[0146] 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.

[0147] 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.

[0148] <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.

[0149] 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, before the tape cassette TC used for printing is loaded into the tape accommodating unit 2A, the peeling unit 4A and the conveying guide 4B are placed in the first position, and in this state, the printing process (see FIG. 40), which will be described later, is started.

[0150] 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).

[0151] 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).

[0152] 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.

[0153] <Main processing> The main processing will be described with reference to Figs. 40 to 43, 48, and 49. The user operates operation unit 120A to select print data indicating the desired print content from 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.

[0154] 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 transport guide 4B in the first position (S131, see Fig. 14). When the main process is executed immediately after the tape mounting process shown in Fig. 39, the peeling unit 4A and the transport guide 4B have already been placed in the first position by the process of S101 (see Fig. 48(A)).

[0155] 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).

[0156] 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 printing surface Ut 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.

[0157] 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.

[0158] When the end 105 on the downstream side in the conveying direction Y1 when the label 10A is produced, that is, 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 the start of printing, the CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to stop the reverse driving of the motor Mw2 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, see FIG. 48(B)). Note that in FIG. 48 and FIG. 49, the printed part of the first tape 101 is indicated by blackening.

[0159] 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).

[0160] After the downstream end 105 of the label 10A that has started to be produced has moved to a path switching position 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 FIGS. 8 and 48(C)).

[0161] 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).

[0162] As shown in FIG. 41, based on the number of rotations of the motor Mw1 after printing starts, 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 (S148, see FIG. 49(A)).

[0163] 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.

[0164] 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.

[0165] 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 processing 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 the peeling unit 4A (S153: YES, see FIG. 49(B)). In this case, the entire 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 processing of S151 (S155). This stops the rotation of the first roller 301, the second roller 302, and the third roller 303.

[0166] 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.

[0167] 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.

[0168] On the other hand, if the number of rotations of the motor Mw2 after the start of forward driving of the motor Mw2 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 attachment position (S159: YES, see FIG. 49(C)). The CPU 91A controls the drive circuit MC to stop the forward driving 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 has not reached the number of labels to be created 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.

[0169] 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.

[0170] 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.

[0171] 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.

[0172] 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.

[0173] 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.

[0174] 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.

[0175] 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.

[0176] 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).

[0177] 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.

[0178] 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).

[0179] 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.

[0180] 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).

[0181] 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.

[0182] 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.

[0183] <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.

[0184] 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.

[0185] 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."

[0186] 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).

[0187] 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.

[0188] 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.

[0189] 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).

[0190] 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.

[0191] 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.

[0192] <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.

[0193] 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).

[0194] 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).

[0195] 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.

[0196] 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).

[0197] 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).

[0198] 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.

[0199] <Actions and Effects of the Present Embodiment> The label winding device 1A can produce the label 10A by half-cutting the tape 10 while leaving the release material 10B. The cutting section 2C is located upstream of the peeling guide mechanism 4 in the transport direction Y1 of the tape 10. Therefore, the label winding device 1A can maintain the state in which the label 10A is affixed to the peeling material 10B until it is transported to the peeling guide mechanism 4. This eliminates the need for a configuration to prevent the label 10A from sticking to the cutting section 2C, allowing the label winding device 1A to be made more compact.

[0200] The application mechanism 6 applies the label 10A to the cable 19 after the upstream end 106 of the label 10A has been peeled off from the release material 10B. That is, the application mechanism 6 does not start applying the label 10A when the upstream end 106 of the label 10A is attached to the release material 10B. Therefore, the release material 10B does not pull the upstream end 106 of the label 10A when applying the label 10A, so the label winding device 1A can reliably apply the label 10A to the cable 19.

[0201] The application mechanism 6 half-cuts the downstream end 105 and the upstream end 106 of the label 10A from the tape 10. Therefore, the peeling guide mechanism 4 can reliably peel the label 10A from the release material 10B before the application mechanism 6 applies the label 10A to the cable 19. Therefore, the label winding device 1A can reliably apply the label 10A to the cable 19.

[0202] The second roller 302 can transport the label 10A that has been completely peeled off from the release material 10B by the peeling guide mechanism 4 to the application mechanism 6. Therefore, the label winding device 1A can prevent the label 10A from becoming jammed on the transport path from the peeling guide mechanism 4 to the application mechanism 6, and can reliably apply the label 10A to the cable 19. Therefore, the second roller 302 can transport labels 10A of various lengths to the application mechanism 6.

[0203] The label winding device 1A can produce a label 10A by half-cutting a laminated type tape 10 while leaving a release material 10B.

[0204] Because the release material 10B is not cut, it extends in length depending on the number of times the labels 10A are produced. The release of the release material 10B from the nip portion is performed in conjunction with the release of the tension applied to the release material 10B by the first roller 301, making it easy for the user to collect the release material 10B.

[0205] <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 contains a tape 700 (see FIG. 50) in which a base material 702 and a release material 710B adhered to an adhesive surface Ur of the base material 702 coated with an adhesive are laminated, and an ink ribbon Ir. The printing unit 2B performs printing on the opposite surface Us of the tape 700, which is the surface opposite to the adhesive surface Ur. Note that the tape 700 may use, for example, a die-cut label cut to a predetermined size in advance as the base material 702.

[0206] When a receptor type tape cassette TC is used, as shown in FIG. 50, the full-cut cutting blade 723 of the cutting unit 702C may have a fixed blade 731 below the transport path R1 and a movable blade 732 above the transport path R1. The right end of the movable blade 732 may face rightward, which is the same direction as the opening of the second opening 122A of the second cover 122. Similarly, the half-cut cutting blade 724 of the cutting unit 702C may have a fixed base 741 below the transport path R1 and a movable blade 742 above the transport path R1. The right end of the movable blade 742 may face rightward, which is the same direction as the opening of the second opening 122A of the second cover 122.

[0207] The label winding device 1A can produce the label 10A by half-cutting the receptor type tape 700 while leaving the release material 710B. The release material 710B is on the platen roller 22A side, which is the lower side with respect to the conveying path R1. The movable blade 742 of the half-cut cutting blade 724 is on the thermal head 21 side, which is the upper side with respect to the conveying path R1. Therefore, the power of the first roller 301 and the like arranged on the release material 710B side in the peeling guide mechanism 4 and the power of the platen roller 22A can be easily connected in a small space below the conveying path R1. Therefore, the label winding device 1A can be made compact.

[0208] 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.

[0209] The label winding device 1A may not have the driven roller 312. The second roller 302 may transport the label 10A in the transport direction Y2 alone. The label winding device 1A may not have the driven roller 324. The third roller 303 may transport the release material 10B in the transport direction Y3 alone. Also, the third roller 303 may transport the tape 10 in the transport direction Y4 alone.

[0210] The positions at which the operation units 120A and 120B are provided on the housing 11 are not limited to those in the above embodiment, and may be provided on other parts (for example, the left and right side surfaces or the rear surface of the housing 11). The support unit 32 may be provided outside the passage area 300A. For example, the support unit 32 may be provided on the restriction unit 8B.

[0211] The mechanism for conveying the label 10A at the position of the second roller 302 and the mechanism for conveying the release material 10B and the tape 10 at the position of the third roller 303 are not limited to rollers, and may be other mechanisms (for example, belt conveyors).

[0212] The label winding device 1A may have separate covers that can open and close the passage area 300A of the label 10A and the passage area 300B of the release material 10B. The label winding device 1A may have separate covers that can open and close the passage area 300A of the label 10A and the passage area 300B of the release material 10B, and a cover that can open and close the peeling section 4A. The label winding device 1A may have separate covers that can open and close the tape storage section 2A and a cover that can open and close the cutting section 2C. The opening directions of the first opening 121S when the first cover 121 is opened and the second opening 122A when the second cover 122 is opened may be the same. For example, both the first opening 121S and the second opening 122A may open toward the right.

[0213] Lever 31S swings in response to opening and closing of first cover 121, and switches fourth roller 304 between the clamping position (see FIG. 14) and the separated position (see FIG. 11). Alternatively, lever 31S may be manually operable by a user, for example. In other words, the user may be able to manually switch between a state in which fourth roller 304 is disposed at the clamping position and a state in which it is disposed at the separated position.

[0214] In the cutting section 2C, the full-cut cutting blade 23 is disposed on the upstream side in the conveying direction Y1, and the half-cut cutting blade 24 is disposed on the downstream side. Without being limited to this, the full-cut cutting blade 23 may be disposed on the downstream side in the conveying direction Y1, and the half-cut cutting blade 24 may be disposed on the upstream side. The full-cut cutting blade 23 is not limited to a scissor type in which the movable blade 232 rotates relative to the fixed blade 231 to cut the tape 10. For example, the movable blade may be an arrowhead-shaped blade with an acutely pointed tip, disposed below the conveying path R1, and moved upward during cutting to break through the tape 10 and cut it.

[0215] The cutting unit 2C may be a cassette type that can be removed as a unit from the housing 11 with the second cover 122 open. When a laminate type tape cassette TC is used, the cutting unit 2C may be attached to the housing 11 with the movable blades 232, 242 facing downwards on the transport path R1. When a receptor type tape cassette TC is used, the cutting unit 2C may be attached to the housing 11 with the movable blades 232, 242 facing upwards on the transport path R1.

[0216] The adhesive surface Ur of the tape 10 is not limited to being coated with an adhesive, and may be made adhesive by processing.

[0217] <Other> In the above embodiment, the first tape 101 and the substrate 102, 702 are an example of the "substrate" of the present invention. The cable 19 is an example of the "adherend" of the present invention. The peeling guide mechanism 4 is an example of the "peeling section" of the present invention. The application mechanism 6 is an example of the "application section" of the present invention. The label winding device 1A is an example of the "label application device" of the present invention. The end 106 is an example of the "rear end" of the present invention. The end 105 is an example of the "front end" of the present invention. The second roller 302 is an example of the "conveying roller" of the present invention. The conveying path R1 is an example of the "conveying path" of the present invention. The thermal head 21 is an example of the "printing head" of the present invention. The first tape 101 is an example of the "first substrate" of the present invention. The substrate 102 is an example of the "second substrate" of the present invention. The half-cut cutting blade 24, 724 is an example of the "cutter blade" of the present invention. The fourth roller 304 is an example of the "tension roller" of the present invention. The peeling portion 4A is an example of the "peeling claw" of the present invention. The first roller 301 is an example of the "peeling roller" of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0218] 1A Label winding device 2B Printing Department 2C cutting section 4 Peeling guide mechanism 4A Peeling part 6. Attachment mechanism 10 Tape 10A Label 10B Release material 19 Cable 21 Thermal head 22A Platen roller 24 Half-cut cutting blade 101 Tape 1 102 Base material 105 End 106 End 301 First Roller 302 Second Roller 304 4th Roller 700 Tape 710B Release material 724 Half-cut cutting blade R1 Transport route Ur adhesive surface Printed surface Y1 Transport direction

Claims

1. a printing section for printing on a printing surface, which is one surface of the substrate, of a tape having a substrate, an adhesive surface for attaching the substrate to an adherend, and a release material covering the adhesive surface on the opposite side of the substrate; a cutting unit that is disposed downstream of the printing unit in a feeding direction of the tape and cuts a predetermined portion of the tape while leaving the release material, thereby generating a label; a peeling unit that is disposed downstream of the cutting unit in the conveying direction and that peels off the label, the printing surface of which has been printed by the printing unit, from the release material; an attachment section disposed downstream of the peeling section in the conveying direction and configured to attach the label peeled off from the release material by the peeling section to an adherend; a cover that opens and closes a transport path of the base material and the release material downstream of the peeling unit in the transport direction; Equipped with The peeling portion is A tension roller that applies tension to the substrate; a peeling roller that feeds the tape toward a peeling claw that peels the label and the release material from the tape; Equipped with The tension roller is caused to pinch the peeling roller in association with the closing operation of the cover, The tension roller is moved away from the peeling roller in association with the opening of the cover. A label application device comprising:

2. The sticking section sticks the label to the adherend when a rear end in the transport direction of the label generated by cutting in the cutting section is located downstream in the transport direction with respect to the peeling section.

2. The label application device according to claim 1,

3. The cutting unit cuts a portion of the tape that will be the trailing end of the label while leaving the release material, before cutting a portion of the tape that will be the leading end of the label while leaving the release material.

3. The label application device according to claim 2, wherein

4. A conveying roller is provided between the peeling section and the attaching section, for conveying the label peeled off from the release material by the peeling section to the attaching section.

4. A label application device according to claim 2 or 3.

5. The printing unit sandwiches the transport path of the tape, a print head for printing on the printing surface; a platen roller that presses the printing surface of the tape transported along the transport path against the print head; Equipped with The tape is a laminate type tape in which a second substrate having an adhesive surface formed on both sides thereof is attached to the printing surface of a transparent first substrate, which is the base material, and the adhesive surface of the second substrate opposite to the first substrate side is covered with the release material, and the tape is transported along the transport path with the release material side relative to the first substrate facing the print head, The cutting section is disposed on the platen roller side with respect to the transport path, and is provided with a cutter blade that moves toward the print head side when cutting the tape, and cuts the tape while leaving the release material behind.

5. A label application device according to claim 1, wherein:

6. The printing unit sandwiches the transport path of the tape, a print head for printing on the printing surface; a platen roller that presses the printing surface of the tape transported along the transport path against the print head; Equipped with the tape is a receptor-type tape in which the adhesive surface of the substrate opposite the printing surface is covered with the release material, and the tape is transported along the transport path with the release material side facing the substrate facing the platen roller; The cutting unit is disposed on the print head side with respect to the transport path, and includes a cutter blade that moves toward the platen roller when cutting the tape, and cuts the tape while leaving the release material behind.

5. A label application device according to claim 1, wherein:

7. The nip release of the peeling roller is linked to a nip release operation that widens the gap of the nip portion between the print head and the platen roller in the printing section, and a separation operation of the tension roller with respect to the peeling roller.

7. A label application device according to claim 5 or 6.

Images