label printer

Abstract

To provide a label printer capable of improving travel stability and take-up properties of a mount when taking up and backfeeding a mount after printing.SOLUTION: A label printer includes: a platen roller (a transportation part) transporting a long label paper in which a plurality of labels are stuck onto a mount in a forward direction and a backward direction; a thermal head (a printing part) performing printing to the labels while the label paper is transported; a release bar (a label release part) releasing printed labels from the mount by bending the label paper that have passed the thermal head; a take-up shaft (a mount take-up part) taking up the mount from which the labels are released by rotating the take-up shaft; and a driven roller (a pressing part) following rotations of the take-up shaft and movements of the mount taken up by the take-up shaft by pressing the mount taken up by the take-up shaft.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention relates to a label printer. [Background technology]

[0002] Printers that print on label paper use a peeling unit to separate the backing paper and then discharge the labels. After printing, the printer winds up the backing paper onto a take-up shaft and returns it to the printing start position for the next label, a process known as backfeeding (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] However, in such a printer, when a large amount of backing paper is wound up, backfeeding causes the unwound backing paper to bend. Furthermore, if rewinding is attempted after backfeeding, the bent backing paper may not be wound neatly around the winding shaft, and in the worst case, the backing paper may come off the shaft, preventing normal winding. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a label printer that can improve the running stability and winding performance of the backing paper when winding and backfeeding the backing paper after printing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The label printer of the embodiment includes a conveying unit, a printing unit, a label peeling unit, a backing paper winding unit, and a pressing unit. , a pressure release portion andThe conveying unit conveys long label paper, which has multiple labels affixed to a backing paper, in forward and backward directions. The printing unit prints labels on the label paper as it is conveyed. The label peeling unit bends the label paper that has passed through the printing unit to peel the printed label from the backing paper. The backing paper take-up unit takes up the backing paper from which the label has been peeled onto the take-up shaft. The pressing unit presses the backing paper taken up on the take-up shaft and is driven by the rotation of the take-up shaft and the movement of the backing paper taken up on the take-up shaft. The pressure release section maintains a state in which the pressure on the mount by the pressure section is released. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a schematic structure of a label printer according to an embodiment. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the label printer according to the embodiment performing a printing operation. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the label printer according to the embodiment performing a peeling operation on a printed label. [Figure 2C] FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the label printer according to the embodiment performing backfeed. [Figure 3A] FIG. 3A is an external perspective view showing an example of a driven roller. [Figure 3B] FIG. 3B is a side view showing an example of a state in which the driven roller is in contact with the backing paper wound around the winding shaft. [Figure 3C] FIG. 3C is a side view showing an example of a state in which the driven roller is retracted. [Figure 4A] FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an example of the behavior of the liner when the label printer of the comparative example performs backfeed when the amount of wound liner is small. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B is a diagram showing an example of the behavior of the liner when the label printer of the comparative example performs backfeed when a large amount of liner has been wound up. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] (Embodiment) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A label printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0008] (Overall configuration of label printer) The general configuration of a label printer 10 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 1. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the general structure of a label printer according to an embodiment.

[0009] The label printer 10 includes a label roll 12, which is a roll of label paper 13, an example of printing paper, inside a housing 11. The label printer 10 performs printing while pulling out the label paper 13 from the label roll 12.

[0010] The label paper 13 is wound in a roll with labels 14 affixed to a backing paper 15. The label paper 13 pulled out from the label roll 12 is conveyed toward the paper discharge outlet 19 while being sandwiched between the platen roller 17 and the thermal head 16. At this time, the label 14, which is the printing surface, is positioned on the thermal head 16 side. The platen roller 17 is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown), such as a stepping motor. The platen roller 17 conveys the label paper 13 forward by rotating counterclockwise in FIG. 1. The platen roller 17 conveys the label paper 13 backward by rotating clockwise in FIG. 1. The platen roller 17 is an example of a conveying unit in the present disclosure.

[0011] The thermal head 16 has a structure in which multiple heating elements are aligned, and prints on the label 14 by heating the heating elements corresponding to the print pattern, while the label paper 13 is being conveyed between the thermal head 16 and the platen roller 17. The thermal head 16 is an example of a printing unit in the present disclosure. Note that the label printer 10 may also employ a printing method in which an ink ribbon (not shown) is sandwiched between the thermal head 16 and the label paper 13, and ink on the ink ribbon heated by the thermal head 16 is transferred to the label 14.

[0012] The back side of the label 14 is an adhesive layer, and the label 14 is attached to the backing paper 15 by this adhesive layer. The label paper 13 on which printing has been completed is separated into the label 14 and the backing paper 15 by the peeling bar 18. The peeling bar 18 is a V-shaped columnar member having two faces that intersect with each other at an acute angle. The peeling bar 18 is installed along the Y axis. The label paper 13 on which printing has been completed is folded back at an acute angle by the peeling bar 18. At this time, the label 14 is peeled off from the bent label paper 13. The peeling bar 18 is an example of a label peeling unit in the present disclosure.

[0013] The label 14 thus peeled off from the backing sheet 15 is discharged from the paper discharge port 19.

[0014] The liner 15 from which the label 14 has been peeled is passed over a pinch roller 21 and taken up by a take-up shaft 22 that is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown). The take-up shaft 22 is an example of a liner take-up section in the present disclosure.

[0015] The backing paper 15 wound around the winding shaft 22 is pressed by the driven roller 23. The driven roller 23 is rotatably attached to the tip of a support member 24 that is biased in the direction of arrow A. The driven roller 23 presses the backing paper 15 wound around the winding shaft 22, and is driven by the rotation of the winding shaft 22 and the movement of the backing paper 15 wound around the winding shaft 22. The driven roller 23 is an example of a pressing section in the present disclosure.

[0016] 1 around a rotation shaft 25. For example, a torsion spring (not shown) is provided on the rotation shaft 25, and the support member 24 is biased in the direction of arrow A by this torsion spring.

[0017] (Label paper and backing paper transport structure) The transport structure of label paper 13 and backing paper 15 in label printer 10 will be described using Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C. Figure 2A is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the label printer according to the embodiment performing a printing operation. Figure 2B is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the label printer according to the embodiment performing a peeling operation of a printed label. Figure 2C is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the label printer according to the embodiment performing a backfeed.

[0018] When performing a printing operation, the label printer 10 operates a motor (not shown) that rotates the platen roller 17, causing the platen roller 17 to rotate in the direction of arrow B, i.e., counterclockwise in FIG. 2A. As a result, the label paper 13 pulled out from the label roll 12 is stretched over the pinch roller 20 and transported in the direction of arrow D. The label printer 10 then prints on the label 14 held between the thermal head 16 and the platen roller 17.

[0019] At this time, the motor (not shown) that rotates the take-up shaft 22 and the motor (not shown) that rotates the platen roller 17 rotate simultaneously. That is, the take-up shaft 22 rotates in the direction of arrow C, that is, counterclockwise in FIG. 2A. As a result, the liner 15 from which the labels 14 have been peeled off from the label paper 13 is hung on the pinch roller 21, transported in the direction of arrow E, and taken up onto the take-up shaft 22. Note that transporting the label paper 13 in the direction of arrow D and transporting the liner 15 in the direction of arrow E will be referred to as transporting in the forward direction.

[0020] At this time, a drive circuit (not shown) for a motor that rotates the platen roller 17 and a drive circuit (not shown) for a motor that rotates the take-up shaft 22 operate in synchronization with each other.

[0021] The backing paper 15 wound around the winding shaft 22 is pressed in a direction toward the winding shaft 22 by a driven roller 23 supported at the tip of a support member 24. Therefore, the backing paper 15 is wound around the winding shaft 22 stably.

[0022] The label paper 13 containing the printed label 14 is transported in the direction of arrow D shown in FIG. 2B and changes direction at an acute angle at the position of peeling bar 18. At this time, the label 14 is peeled off from the label paper 13. The peeled label 14 is pushed out in the direction of arrow F and discharged from the paper discharge port 19 (see FIG. 1).

[0023] After the label 14 has been peeled off, the label printer 10 performs a so-called backfeed, which transports the backing sheet 15 and label paper 13 in the opposite direction to that during printing, as shown in Figure 2C. Backfeeding is performed to pull the leading edge of the next label 14 to be printed back to the upstream side of the thermal head 16.

[0024] At this time, the motor (not shown) that rotates the platen roller 17 and the motor (not shown) that rotates the take-up shaft 22 rotate simultaneously. The platen roller 17 and the take-up shaft 22 are then rotated clockwise in Fig. 2C. That is, the platen roller 17 rotates in the direction of arrow G, and the take-up shaft 22 rotates in the direction of arrow H.

[0025] As the platen roller 17 and the take-up shaft 22 rotate, the liner 15 is transported in the direction of arrow I, and the label paper 13 is transported in the direction of arrow J. The transport amount when performing backfeeding is set appropriately depending on the size of the labels 14 affixed to the label paper 13, the spacing between adjacent labels 14, and the distance from the thermal head 16 to the peeling bar 18. The amount of rotation of the take-up shaft 22 when performing backfeeding is constant, regardless of the amount of liner 15 taken up. Note that transporting the liner 15 in the direction of arrow I and transporting the label paper 13 in the direction of arrow J by performing backfeeding is referred to as transporting in the backward direction.

[0026] It has been explained that when the label paper 13 and backing paper 15 are transported forward and backward, the motor that rotates the platen roller 17 and the motor that rotates the take-up shaft 22 rotate simultaneously. However, they do not need to rotate exactly simultaneously; it is sufficient that no more tension than necessary is applied to the label paper 13 and backing paper 15.

[0027] Specifically, when the label paper 13 and backing paper 15 are transported forward, the platen roller 17 may be rotated first, and then the take-up shaft 22 may be rotated slightly later. When the label paper 13 and backing paper 15 are transported backward, the take-up shaft 22 may be rotated first, and then the platen roller 17 may be rotated slightly later.

[0028] (Structure of driven roller) The structure of the driven roller 23 will be described using Figures 3A, 3B, and 3C. Figure 3A is an external perspective view showing an example of the driven roller. Figure 3B is a side view showing an example of a state in which the driven roller is in contact with a backing paper wound around a winding shaft. Figure 3C is a side view showing an example of a state in which the driven roller is retracted.

[0029] 3A and 3B, driven roller 23 is installed so as to be freely rotatable around rotation shaft 27, which is installed along the Y-axis at the tip of support member 24. Support member 24 extends in the X-axis direction, and rotation shaft 25, which is installed along the Y-axis, is installed at the end opposite rotation shaft 27. Both ends of rotation shaft 25 are rotatably fixed to a pair of mounting members 26, which are installed upright on the bottom surface of housing 11 and are installed along the X-axis. A torsion spring (not shown) is installed around rotation shaft 25, and support member 24 and driven roller 23 are urged toward the positive side of the Z-axis by this torsion spring.

[0030] A thin plate-shaped abutment member 30 is installed on the negative side of the X-axis of the mounting member 26. The negative side of the Y-axis of the abutment member 30 is fixed to the side surface of the mounting member 26. The positive side of the Y-axis of the abutment member 30 is bent toward the positive side of the X-axis to form a release lever 32. In other words, the abutment member 30 and the release lever 32 form a cantilever beam with the negative side of the Y-axis fixed.

[0031] An opening 31 shown in FIG. 3A is formed in the abutting member 30. When the operator of the label printer 10 presses the support member 24 in the negative direction of the Z axis, the surface of the support member 24 on the negative side of the Z axis abuts against the abutting member 30. At this time, a protrusion 28 (see FIG. 3B) provided on the surface of the support member 24 on the negative side of the Z axis engages with the opening 31. This maintains a state in which the driven roller 23 and the winding shaft 22 are not in contact with each other, i.e., the pressure on the backing paper 15 is released, as shown in FIG. 3C. The protrusion 28 and the opening 31 are examples of a pressure release portion in the present disclosure.

[0032] In this way, by holding the driven roller 23 in a state where it is not in contact with the winding shaft 22, it is possible to easily remove the backing paper 15 wound around the winding shaft 22 and attach the backing paper 15 to the winding shaft 22.

[0033] Additionally, the operator of the label printer 10 can depress the release lever 32 in the direction of arrow K to deflect the thin plate-shaped abutting member 30 in the direction of arrow L. This operation disengages the opening 31 from the protrusion 28, and the driven roller 23 returns to a state in which it abuts against the take-up shaft 22 due to the aforementioned biasing force around the rotating shaft 25.

[0034] (Operational description of comparative example) The backfeed operation of a conventional label printer as a comparative example will be described using Figures 4A and 4B. Figure 4A is a diagram showing an example of the behavior of the liner when the label printer of the comparative example performs backfeed when the amount of liner wound up is small. Figure 4B is a diagram showing an example of the behavior of the liner when the label printer of the comparative example performs backfeed when the amount of liner wound up is large.

[0035] 4A, when the amount of backing paper 15 wound around the winding shaft 22 is small, the diameter of the winding shaft 22 is small, so there is not much difference between the amount of backing paper 15 fed back by the platen roller 17 and the amount of backing paper 15 fed back by the winding shaft 22. Therefore, the back-fed backing paper 15 does not bend significantly.

[0036] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, when a large amount of liner 15 has been wound around the winding shaft 22, even though the winding angle of the winding shaft 22 is the same as in FIG. 4A, the large amount of wound liner 15 causes the amount of backfeed of the winding shaft 22 to be greater than the amount of backfeed of the liner 15 by the platen roller 17, resulting in a sagging of the unwound liner 15. The sagging liner 15 is resolved when the liner 15 is rewound (when the liner 15 is transported in the forward direction). While this would not be a problem if the sagging could be resolved so that the liner 15 is neatly wound around the winding shaft 22, there is a risk of twisting the liner 15. Furthermore, minor external factors can cause the liner 15 to become misaligned during winding, and in the worst case scenario, the liner 15 may come off the spool. If the liner 15 comes off the spool, normal winding cannot be performed, which could result in a paper jam and the inability to continue printing.

[0037] The label printer 10 of the present embodiment described above can solve the problems of conventional label printers by including a driven roller 23 that presses the backing paper 15 wound around the winding shaft 22, as shown in FIG.

[0038] (Effects of the embodiment) As described above, the label printer 10 of the embodiment comprises a platen roller 17 (conveying section) that conveys long label paper 13, which has multiple labels 14 affixed to a backing paper 15, in forward and backward directions; a thermal head 16 (printing section) that prints on the labels 14 as the label paper 13 is conveyed; a peeling bar 18 (label peeling section) that bends the label paper 13 that has passed the thermal head 16 and peels the printed labels 14 from the backing paper 15; a winding shaft 22 (backing paper winding section) that rotates the winding shaft 22 to wind up the backing paper 15 from which the labels 14 have been peeled; and a driven roller 23 (pressing section) that presses the backing paper 15 wound around the winding shaft 22 and is driven by the rotation of the winding shaft 22 and the movement of the backing paper 15 wound around the winding shaft 22. Therefore, when winding and backfeeding the printed mount 15, the running stability and winding properties of the mount 15 can be improved.

[0039] Furthermore, in the label printer 10 according to the embodiment, the driven roller 23 (pressing portion) is supported by a support member 24 that is biased in a direction toward the winding shaft 22. Therefore, when backfeeding is performed, it is possible to prevent the backing paper 15 from bending.

[0040] Furthermore, in the label printer 10 of the embodiment, the wound backing paper 15 is sandwiched between the driven roller 23 (pressing portion) and the winding shaft 22. Therefore, the running stability of the backing paper 15 can be improved.

[0041] In the label printer 10 according to the embodiment, the driven roller 23 (pressing portion) includes a protrusion 28 and an opening 31 (pressure releasing portion) that maintain the backing paper 15 in a released state. This allows the backing paper 15 wound around the take-up shaft 22 to be easily removed and a new backing paper 15 to be attached to the take-up shaft 22.

[0042] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This novel embodiment can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the inventions and their equivalents as set forth in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 10. Label Printer 11. Housing 12 label rolls 13 Label paper 14 Label 15 Mount 16 Thermal head (printing unit) 17 Platen roller (transport section) 18 Peel bar (label peeling part) 19 Paper output slot 20,21 Pinch roller 22 Winding shaft (backing paper winding section) 23 Follower roller (pressure part) 24 Support member 25 Rotating Axis 26 Mounting material 27 Rotation axis 28 Protrusion (pressure release part) 30 Stop member 31 Opening (pressure release part) 32 Release lever [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0044] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-51736

Claims

1. a conveying unit that conveys a long label sheet having a plurality of labels attached to a backing sheet in a forward direction and a backward direction; a printing unit that prints on the labels while the label paper is being conveyed; a label peeling unit that bends the label paper that has passed through the printing unit to peel the printed label from the backing paper; a liner winding section that winds the liner from which the label has been peeled onto a winding shaft; a pressing section that presses the backing paper wound around the winding shaft and is driven by the rotation of the winding shaft and the movement of the backing paper wound around the winding shaft; a pressure release unit that maintains a state in which the pressure applied to the mount by the pressing unit is released; A label printer comprising:

2. The pressing portion is supported by a support member that is biased in a direction toward the winding shaft. The label printer according to claim 1 .

3. The wound backing paper is sandwiched between the pressing portion and the winding shaft.

3. The label printer according to claim 1.

4. The pressure release portion is When the support member is moved in a direction opposite to the biasing force applied to the pressing portion, a protrusion provided on the support member engages with an opening formed at a position not involved in the movement of the support member, thereby maintaining a state in which the pressure on the mount is released.

3. The label printer according to claim 2.

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