printer

Abstract

To provide a technology which can prevent peeling of label paper in a damper.SOLUTION: A printer forms images on continuous paper by a print head and includes: a damper 15 that is biased so as to move a predetermined distance toward the continuous paper and apply tensile force to the continuous paper in a conveying path from a roll formed by winding the continuous paper to a feeding roller which conveys the continuous paper unrolled from the roll; and a limiter 16 configured to be switchable between a non-limited state in which a moving distance of the damper 15 is not limited and a limited state in which the moving distance of the damper 15 is limited to reduce the tensile force to be applied to the continuous paper.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a printer. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, linerless label printers are equipped with dampers. Linerless label paper is supplied by being unwound from a roll, but a large force is required to peel it off the roll. A damper applies tension to the paper unwound from the roll, preventing printing defects caused by the paper not being properly fed to the print head. Damper mechanisms are also effective when using large-diameter roll paper, which requires a large force to unwind due to inertia.

[0003] When label paper with labels attached to a backing is used in a printer equipped with such a damper mechanism, labels can peel off. The cutter that cuts the label paper is located downstream of the print head in the paper transport direction. Therefore, if the distance between the cutter and the print head is large, after the label paper is cut between the printed label and the adjacent label, the adjacent label must be returned to a position where it can be printed. In this case, the label may peel off at the point where the paper is bent by the damper. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-208319 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The problem to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a technique that can prevent label paper from peeling off due to a damper. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One embodiment is a printer that forms an image on continuous paper using a print head, and is equipped with a damper that is biased to move a predetermined distance toward the continuous paper and apply tension to the continuous paper on a transport path from a roll on which the continuous paper is wound to a feed roller that transports the continuous paper unwound from the roll, and a limiter that is configured to be switchable between a non-limiting state that does not limit the distance the damper moves and a limiting state that limits the distance the damper moves to reduce the tension applied to the continuous paper. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a printer that stores roll paper according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view illustrating an internal configuration of a printer according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view showing the configuration of the damper according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view showing the configuration of the damper according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view illustrating a biased damper according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a damper in a restricted state according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing the damper in a restricted state according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the damper in the restricted state according to the embodiment and swung in the direction opposite to the biasing direction. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a label sheet tensioned by a damper in an unrestricted state according to an embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating label paper to which tension is applied by a damper in a restricted state according to an embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system of the printer according to the embodiment. [Figure 12]10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a state switching process according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0009] (Printer configuration) The configuration of a printer according to this embodiment will be described. Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a printer that stores roll paper according to this embodiment. Figure 2 is a schematic side view showing the internal configuration of the printer according to this embodiment.

[0010] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the printer 1 according to this embodiment is configured as a thermal printer and includes a housing 10, a print head 11, a platen roller 12, a cutter 13, an auxiliary roller 14, a damper 15, and a limiter 16 (see Figures 6 and 7).

[0011] The housing 10 is formed in a roughly box shape that defines a storage space for the above-mentioned components and the roll paper R, and has an outlet 101 formed in part of its top surface for discharging printed paper. The roll paper R is formed by winding a backing sheet S, which is continuous paper with multiple labels L continuously attached at intervals, around a core (not shown). The labels L are thermal paper coated with an adhesive on one side. In the following description, the side to which the labels L are attached will be referred to as the front side of the backing sheet S, and the back side will be referred to as the back side of the backing sheet S.

[0012] The print head 11 is located near the discharge port 101 and has multiple heating elements adjacent to each other in the width direction of the label L. The multiple heating elements generate heat in response to the input pulse waves, causing the print head 11 to form an image on the label L. The platen roller 12 is a feed roller that is located so as to press the label L onto the print head 11 from the back side of the backing sheet S. When the platen roller 12 is driven to rotate, it transports the backing sheet S unwound from the roll paper R so that it can be discharged from the discharge port 101.

[0013] The cutter 13 is located closer to the discharge port 101 than the print head 11, i.e., downstream in the conveyance direction than the print head 11. The cutter 13 cuts the backing sheet S between the label L printed by the print head 11 and the label L subsequent to this label L. The damper 15 is located between the roll paper R and the platen roller 12 in the conveyance direction of the backing sheet S. The damper 15 applies tension to the backing sheet S between the roll paper R and the platen roller 12 by pressing the backing sheet S from the front side. The damper 15 will be described in detail later, along with the limiter 16.

[0014] The auxiliary roller 14 is provided between the position where the damper 15 presses the backing sheet S and the platen roller 12. The auxiliary roller 14 abuts against the back side of the backing sheet S pressed by the damper 15, and assists the damper 15 in applying tension.

[0015] (Damper and limiter configuration) The configuration of the damper and limiter according to this embodiment will now be described. FIGS. 3 and 4 are respectively an upper perspective view and a lower perspective view showing the configuration of the damper according to this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing an actuated damper according to this embodiment. FIGS. 6 and 7 are respectively a perspective view and a side cross-sectional view showing a damper in a restricted state according to this embodiment. FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view showing a damper in a restricted state according to this embodiment, swung in the direction opposite to the biasing direction. FIGS. 9 and 10 are schematic views showing label paper to which tension is applied by a damper in a non-restricted state and a restricted state according to this embodiment, respectively. For the sake of explanation, the limiter is omitted in FIG. 5, and the lever is omitted in FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the damper 15 includes a main body 150, two roller groups 151, and two levers 152. The main body 150 is a generally plate-shaped member formed to be wide enough to correspond to the width of the backing sheet S. The two roller groups 151 are provided at one end of the main body 150 in a direction perpendicular to the width direction, and spaced apart in the width direction. Each of the two roller groups 151 has a plurality of rollers.

[0017] The two levers 152 are provided at the other end of the main body 150, spaced apart in the width direction. As shown in Fig. 5, the main body 150 is provided so that the vicinity of one end thereof can swing about a rotation axis C with respect to a bottom wall that defines the storage space of the housing 10. The two levers 152 penetrate the bottom wall that defines the storage space of the housing 10 when the main body 150 is attached inside the housing 10. Two attachment portions 158 corresponding to the two levers 152, respectively, are provided on the back side of the bottom wall, i.e., on the surface opposite to the surface that defines the storage space.

[0018] The two levers 152 and the two corresponding mounting portions 158 are each connected by a tension spring 159. As a result, the damper 15 is constantly biased to swing clockwise in FIG. 5, pressing the backing paper S between the auxiliary roller 14 and the roll paper R. At this time, the two roller groups 151 come into contact with the surface of the backing paper S, thereby reducing the friction generated between the damper 15 and the backing paper S.

[0019] 3, 4, 6, and 7, the limiter 16 is composed of a locked portion 160 and a locking portion 162. The locked portion 160 is provided between two roller groups 151 at one end of the main body 150 of the damper 15 in the orthogonal direction. The locked portion 160 is a substantially frame-shaped member that protrudes from the main body 150 in the direction opposite to the biasing direction of the damper 15 and has an opening 161 that penetrates in the radial direction of the rotation axis C.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the locking portion 162 is a generally plate-shaped member that is guided by guide portions 163 formed as two grooves facing each other in the width direction so as to be movable radially about the rotation axis C. When the locking portion 162 protrudes toward the rotation axis C so as to pass through the opening 161, it locks the locked portion 160. At this time, the damper 15 is in a limited state in which the swing distance due to the bias is limited. On the other hand, when the locking portion 162 is housed within the guide portions 163 and does not lock the locked portion 160, the damper 15 is in an unrestricted state in which the swing distance due to the bias is not limited. As shown in FIG. 7 , a through-hole through which the locked portion 160 can be inserted is formed in the bottom wall that forms the storage space of the housing 10. By forming such a through-hole, the damper 15 can swing in the direction opposite to the bias direction, i.e., in the direction away from the backing sheet S, as shown in FIG. 8 .

[0021] As shown in Figure 9, when the damper 15 is in the non-restrictive state and the platen roller 12 moves the backing sheet S in the opposite direction to the print head 11, the label L peels off near the point pressed by the damper 15. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 10, when the damper 15 is in the restrictive state and the backing sheet S is moved in the opposite direction, the curvature of the backing sheet S is alleviated, preventing the label L from peeling off.

[0022] (Control system configuration and operation) The configuration and operation of the control system of the printer according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 11, which is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the printer according to this embodiment.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 11, the printer 1 further includes an MPU (Micro Processor Unit) 22, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 22, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 23, a communication I / F (Interface) 24, a platen motor 31, and a solenoid 32.

[0024] The platen motor 31 rotates the platen roller 12. The solenoid 32 linearly moves the engaging portion 162 so as to protrude and retract.

[0025] The communication I / F 24 communicates with a host device of the printer 1. The MPU 21, in cooperation with the RAM 22, controls the print head 11 and platen motor 31 and forms the image received from the host device on the label L. Furthermore, the MPU 21 sets the printer 1 to linerless label printing mode or label printing mode and executes the state switching process described below. The ROM 23 stores programs and data used in processing by the MPU 21.

[0026] (State switching process) The operation of the state switching process will be described. Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the state switching process according to this embodiment. Note that the operation shown in Fig. 12 is executed at predetermined intervals.

[0027] 12, the MPU 21 determines whether the print mode has been changed in the printer 1 (S101). If the print mode has been changed (S101, YES), the MPU 21 determines whether the print mode has been changed to the label print mode (S102). On the other hand, if the print mode has not been changed (S101, NO), the MPU 21 ends the state switching process.

[0028] If the mode is changed to the label printing mode (S102, YES), the MPU 21 controls the solenoid 32 to project the engaging portion 162, thereby putting the damper 15 into the restricted state (S103), and ends the state switching process.

[0029] On the other hand, if the mode is not changed to the label printing mode, i.e., if the mode is changed to the linerless label printing mode (S102, NO), the MPU 21 controls the solenoid 32 so that the engaging portion 162 is stored, putting the damper 15 into the non-restricted state (S104), and ends the state switching process.

[0030] In this way, the damper 15 is engaged against the biasing force to reduce the tension applied to the backing sheet S, thereby entering a restricted state, and the movement distance of the damper 15 is shortened compared to the non-restricted state, thereby preventing the label L from peeling off due to the damper 15. Note that in the above-described embodiment, the engaging portion 162 is moved by the solenoid 32, but the engaging portion 162 may also be configured to be moved manually by the user of the printer 1. Also, while the printer 1 is configured to perform thermal printing, other methods of printing may also be used. Also, the damper 15 is not limited to a swinging type, and may, for example, be a type that applies tension to the backing sheet S by linearly moving its tip.

[0031] Although an embodiment of the invention has been described, this embodiment is presented as an example and is 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. This embodiment and its modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 1. Printer 15 Damper 16 Limiter

Claims

1. A printer that forms an image on continuous paper using a print head, a damper that is constantly biased by an elastic body to move a predetermined distance toward the continuous paper and apply tension to the continuous paper, along a transport path from a roll on which the continuous paper is wound to a feed roller that transports the continuous paper unwound from the roll; a limiter configured to be switchable between a non-limiting state in which the movement distance of the damper is not limited and a limiting state in which a locking portion is locked to a locking portion formed on the damper, thereby limiting the movement distance of the damper so as to weaken the tension applied to the continuous paper; A printer comprising:

2. 2. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a processor that drives and controls the limiter to switch the damper to a limiting state when label paper with labels affixed to a backing is used as the continuous paper.

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