label printer

Abstract

To provide a label printer mounting a fault diagnosis function of a DC fan.SOLUTION: A label printer includes at least either a first fan or a second fan, a detection circuit, and a fault diagnosis part. The first fan is provided with a DC motor and cools down an atmosphere inside a case of the label printer. The second fan is provided with a DC motor and cools down a motor for an ink ribbon. The detection circuit is provided with a sensing pattern wired in proximity in a power supply line so as to be influenced by crosstalk from the power supply line that supplies power for the DC motor at least one of the fans is provided with. Crosstalk caused by power supply for at least one of the fans is detected. The fault diagnosis part diagnoses at least one of the fans fails when crosstalk is detected by the detection circuit with regulated frequency within a fixed time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Some label printers are equipped with a thermal head as a print head and are capable of printing using both a thermal transfer method using a thermal head and ink ribbon, and a thermal printing method in which the thermal head directly colors thermal paper.

[0003] Such label printers are equipped with multiple fans to cool the atmosphere around the circuit boards arranged inside the housing of the label printer, and to cool heat-generating elements such as the print paper transport motor, ink ribbon feed motor, and ink ribbon winding motor.

[0004] Conventionally, in electronic devices such as personal computers (PCs), fan fault diagnosis is performed using the fan's own lock detection function and the rotation speed feedback function in pulse width modulation (PWM) control. However, incorporating these functions into the fan increases costs, so for this reason they are sometimes not installed.

[0005] Furthermore, label printers generally use inexpensive direct current (DC) fans. These DC fans use DC motors that are driven by two wires: a power line and a ground (GND) line, and there is no way to provide feedback on whether the motor is clogged or whether the fan is rotating. As a result, label printers are currently used in environments where it is not possible to know whether the DC fan has failed.

[0006] Therefore, if the DC fan breaks down, the temperature guarantee of the label printer that uses it cannot be met, which can lead to issues such as the label printer breaking down. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-333487 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] To solve the above problem, a label printer equipped with a DC fan fault diagnosis function is provided. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] According to an embodiment, the label printer is capable of thermal transfer printing using a thermal head and an ink ribbon, and includes at least one of a first fan and a second fan, a detection circuit, and a fault diagnosis unit. The first fan includes a DC motor and cools the atmosphere inside the label printer case. The second fan includes a DC motor and cools the motor for the ink ribbon. The detection circuit includes a sensing pattern wired in proximity to the power supply line so as to be affected by crosstalk from the power supply line that supplies power to the DC motor of at least one of the fans, and detects the occurrence of crosstalk due to the supply of power to at least one of the fans. The fault diagnosis unit diagnoses at least one of the fans as faulty when the detection circuit detects the occurrence of crosstalk a specified number of times within a certain period of time. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of a label printer according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the internal configuration of the label printer according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the label printer according to the embodiment. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a pattern configuration of a sensing pattern that is part of the detection circuit in the label printer according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the configuration of a detection circuit in the label printer according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of operations of the CPU fault diagnosis unit in the label printer according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of the pattern configuration of the sensing pattern that is part of the detection circuit in the label printer according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] A label printer according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of a label printer 10 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the label printer 10 comprises a left-side case 11 and a case 12 connected to the right side of the case 11 by a hinge 13. A front panel 14 of the case 11 comprises a power switch 15, a display unit 16, and an operation unit 17. The display unit 16 is formed of a backlit liquid crystal display, although other types of display devices may also be used. The operation unit 17 comprises a plurality of operation buttons 18.

[0013] The right-side case 12 is designed so that the interior of the housing (i.e., cases 11 and 12) can be opened widely by rotating a hinge 13. As will be described later in conjunction with Figure 2, the label printer 10 has, inside the housing, label paper 27 wound in a roll, an ink ribbon 41 stretched across two shafts, and a printing unit 23 that prints on the ink ribbon. Therefore, by rotating the hinge 13 and lifting the case 12, the ink ribbon 41 and label paper 27 can be easily replaced or internal maintenance can be performed. A label dispensing opening 20 is provided on the front panel 19 of the case 12. The label printer 10 dispenses printed labels from the label dispensing opening 20.

[0014] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the internal configuration of the label printer 10. As shown in Figure 2, the label printer 10 mainly comprises a paper holder 21, a paper transport unit 22, a printing unit 23, a frame 24, and an ink ribbon supply device 25 inside its housing.

[0015] The paper holding unit 21 is a shaft that holds a roll of label paper 27. The label paper 27 is pulled out from the paper holding unit 21, passes through the paper transport unit 22, is printed by the printing unit 23, and is then discharged from the label issuing port 20. An example of the label paper 27 is a backing paper with a label attached thereto.

[0016] The paper transport section 22 mainly comprises a paper transport roller 28, a pinch roller 29, a frame 30, a support section 31, and a leaf spring 32. The pinch roller 29 is rotatably supported by the support section 31. The paper transport roller 28 and the pinch roller 29 come into contact with each other via the label paper 27 being transported along the transport path 26. The paper transport roller 28 is rotatably attached to the frame 24, and is rotated by being driven by a drive structure (not shown).

[0017] The support portion 31 is attached to the frame 30 so as to be able to swing freely. One end of a leaf spring 32 is attached to the frame 30, and the other end of the leaf spring 32 abuts against the pinch roller 29. The pinch roller 29 is biased by the leaf spring 32 and is configured to abut against the paper transport roller 28.

[0018] Conveyance path 26 for label paper 27 begins where label paper 27 is pulled out from paper holder 21. Conveyance path 26 then passes through a position where pinch roller 29 and paper conveyance roller 28 abut in paper conveyance section 22. Conveyance path 26 then passes through a position where print head 33 and platen 34 of printing section 23 abut, and ends at label issuing port 20.

[0019] A label peeling plate 35 is provided on the conveying path 26 downstream of the printing unit 23 in the conveying direction. The label peeling plate 35 bends the label paper 27 being conveyed to separate the label from the backing. The peeled backing is taken up on a take-up shaft (not shown), while the label peeled from the backing is dispensed from the label issuing port 20.

[0020] The printing unit 23 mainly comprises a platen 34 and a print head 33, which is a line-type thermal printer head. The configuration of the print head 33 corresponds to the printing method. For example, in the case of a dot impact printer, a dot impact print head 33 is used. The platen 34 is rotatably attached to the frame 24, and is rotated by a drive unit (not shown).

[0021] The print head 33 is fixed to a head holder 36 that is rotatably attached to a frame (not shown).

[0022] The ink ribbon supply device 25 mainly comprises a ribbon holding shaft 37, a ribbon take-up shaft 38, a ribbon end sensor 39, and a guide frame 40. An unused ink ribbon 41 is wound in a roll around the ribbon holding shaft 37. A guide roller 42 is provided at the end of the guide frame 40 on the ribbon holding shaft 37 side, and guides the ink ribbon 41 pulled out from the ribbon holding shaft 37. The guide roller 42 is rotatable relative to the guide frame 40.

[0023] Before printing, the ink ribbon 41 contacts the guide roller 42, passes through the detection target area of ​​the ribbon end sensor 39, and reaches the position where the print head 33 and platen 34 contact, where the image is transferred by the print head 33. After printing, the ink ribbon 41 contacts the end 43 of the guide frame 40 on the ribbon take-up shaft 38 side, and is then wound onto the ribbon take-up shaft 38 and collected.

[0024] That is, the transport path 44 of the ink ribbon 41 begins at the point where the ink ribbon 41 is pulled out from the ribbon holding shaft 37, passes through a position where the ink ribbon 41 abuts against the guide roller 42 of the guide frame 40. The transport path 44 then passes through the detection target area of ​​the ribbon end sensor 39 and the position where the print head 33 abuts against the platen 34 (i.e., the printing position). Furthermore, the transport path 44 passes through a position where the ink ribbon 41 abuts against the end 43 of the guide frame 40, and ends at the point where the ink ribbon is taken up by the ribbon take-up shaft 38.

[0025] The ribbon end sensor 39 is a sensor that detects the ribbon end, i.e., the terminal end of the ink ribbon 41. As shown in Fig. 2, the ribbon end sensor 39 is disposed on a transport path 44 between the printing unit 23 and the ribbon holding shaft 37. As shown in Fig. 2, the ribbon end sensor 39 is preferably provided along the transport path 44 of the ink ribbon 41, and is preferably provided on the transport path 44 between the printing unit 23 and the guide roller 42. More preferably, the ribbon end sensor 39 is preferably provided between the guide roller 42 and a position where the print head 33 and the platen 34 abut in the printing unit 23 (i.e., the printing position or the transfer position).

[0026] If the guide frame 40 is a type of frame that does not have a guide roller 42, the preferred installation position for the ribbon end sensor 39 is between the position where the print head 33 and platen 34 abut and the end of the guide frame 40 on the ribbon holding shaft 37 side.

[0027] An optical sensor that optically detects the ink ribbon 41 can be used as the ribbon end sensor 39. A suitable example is a reflected light sensor equipped with a light emitting element and a light receiving element as the ribbon end sensor 39. Note that a sensor that mechanically detects the ink ribbon 41 may also be used as the ribbon end sensor 39.

[0028] Next, the hardware configuration of the label printer 10 will be described.

[0029] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the label printer 10. As shown in Figure 3, the label printer 10 is equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 45, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 46, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 47. In addition to the ROM 46 and RAM 47, the CPU 45 is connected to a communication interface 48, a display controller 49, an operation unit controller 50, a head driver 51, a motor driver 52, and a ribbon end sensor 39 via a bus and an interface. In Figure 3, "interface" is abbreviated as "I / F."

[0030] The ROM 46 stores programs and various data executed by the label printer 10. The RAM 47 is a development memory that temporarily stores programs and data when the CPU 45 executes the various programs. The communication interface 48 connects the label printer 10 to a host computer (not shown) and controls data communication between the label printer 10 and the host computer. The host computer sends print data (or print commands) to the RAM 47 via the communication interface 48. The print data may also be input via the operation unit 17.

[0031] The display controller 49 is connected to the display unit 16 (see Figure 1). The operation unit controller 50 is connected to the operation unit 17 (see Figure 1). The head driver 51 is connected to the print head 33 (see Figure 2). The print head 33 is a thermal head in which heating elements are arranged in a line in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the label paper 27. The head driver 51 switches on and off the power supply to the heating elements of the print head 33 based on the print data, thermally transferring the print image onto the label paper 27.

[0032] The motor driver 52 is connected to a platen motor 53, a transport motor 54, a feed motor 55, and a winding motor 56. The platen motor 53 is a motor that rotates and drives the platen 34 of the printing unit 23 (see FIG. 2 for both). The transport motor 54 is a motor that rotates and drives the paper transport roller 28 of the paper transport unit 22 (see FIG. 2 for both). The feed motor 55 is a motor that rotates and drives the ribbon holding shaft 37 (see FIG. 2). The winding motor 56 is a motor that rotates and drives the ribbon winding shaft 38 (see FIG. 2). The configuration of these motors 53 to 56 is not limited, but for example, a stepping motor can be used. Furthermore, the motor driver 52 is connected to a plurality of fan motors 57 and 58 (two in this embodiment). The fan motor 57 is a DC motor that rotates and drives a fan 59, and the fan motor 58 is a DC motor that rotates and drives a fan 60. For example, fan 59 is used to cool the main atmosphere in the internal space of this label printer 10, and fan 60 is used to cool, in particular, the feed motor 55 and the take-up motor 56. Generally, the fan and the fan motor are provided as an integrated component. That is, fan motors 57 and 59 are provided as a single DC fan, and fan motors 58 and 60 are provided as a single DC fan. Therefore, hereinafter, the DC fan consisting of fan motor 57 and fan 59 will be referred to as main fan 61, and the DC fan consisting of fan motor 58 and fan 60 will be referred to as ribbon fan 62.

[0033] For example, a circuit board on which electronic circuits such as the CPU 45, ROM 46, RAM 47, communication interface 48, display controller 49, operation unit controller 50, head driver 51, and motor driver 52 are arranged, as well as the motors 53 to 58, are housed within the case 11 of the label printer 10. The ribbon fan 62 can be provided in a position suitable for cooling the feed motor 55 and the take-up motor 56. For example, in FIG. 2, the feed motor 55 and the take-up motor 56 are arranged so that the rotation shaft of the feed motor 55 is coaxial with the ribbon holding shaft 37, and so that the rotation shaft of the take-up motor 56 is coaxial with the ribbon take-up shaft 38. Therefore, the ribbon fan 62 can be arranged between the feed motor 55 (ribbon holding shaft 37) and the take-up motor 56 (ribbon take-up shaft 38), as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 2.

[0034] Detection circuits 63 and 64 are also connected to the CPU 45. A detection circuit is provided corresponding to each fan, and therefore, in this embodiment, the label printer 10 is equipped with two detection circuits. The detection circuit 63 is provided near a power supply line 65 of the fan motor 57, which is a two-wire drive DC motor in the main fan 61, and detects crosstalk from the power supply line 65. Similarly, the detection circuit 64 is provided near a power supply line 66 of the fan motor 58, which is a two-wire drive DC motor in the ribbon fan 62, and detects crosstalk from the power supply line 66. The detection circuits 63 and 64 will be described in detail below.

[0035] Next, the program executed by the label printer 10 according to this embodiment will be described. The program executed by the label printer 10 according to this embodiment is provided by being pre-installed in the ROM 46 or the like. The program executed by the label printer 10 according to this embodiment may be provided by being recorded in an installable or executable file format on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, or DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). Furthermore, the program executed by the label printer 10 according to this embodiment may be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. The program executed by the label printer 10 according to this embodiment may also be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

[0036] As shown in Figure 3, the program executed by the label printer 10 according to this embodiment has a modular configuration including a fault diagnosis unit 67, a print control unit 68, a motor control unit 69, etc. The CPU 45 (processor) reads the program from a storage medium such as the ROM 46, and loads the above-mentioned units into a main memory device (for example, RAM 47). As a result, the fault diagnosis unit 67, the print control unit 68, and the motor control unit 69 are created in the main memory device. Next, the function of each unit will be described.

[0037] The fault diagnosis unit 67 periodically performs fault diagnosis on the main fan 61 and ribbon fan 62, which are DC fans, based on the detection signals from the detection circuits 63 and 64. This fault diagnosis will be described after the detailed description of the detection circuits 63 and 64.

[0038] When print data is input via the communication interface 48 or the operation unit controller 50 , the print control unit 68 controls the operation of the print head 33 via the head driver 51 and transfers the print data onto the label paper 27 .

[0039] The motor control unit 69 controls, via the motor driver 52, the rotational drive of the platen motor 53, the transport motor 54, the feed motor 55, and the take-up motor 56, which are required to transfer print data to the label paper 27. Furthermore, in response to the power switch 15 being turned on, the motor control unit 69 drives and rotates the fan motors 57 and 58 of the main fan 61 and the ribbon fan 62 via the motor driver 52.

[0040] Some of the various functions realized by the CPU 45 executing the programs may be realized by hardware circuits such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), etc. In this case, the CPU 45 controls the functions executed by the hardware circuits.

[0041] Next, the detection circuits 63 and 64 will be described. FIG. 4 shows an example of the pattern configuration of sensing patterns that are part of the detection circuits 63, 64 in the label printer 10 according to the embodiment. For example, the power supply cable for the fan motor 57 of the main fan 61 is routed within the case 11 to a fan connector 71 located on a circuit board 70 on which the CPU 45 and motor driver 52 are mounted. Meanwhile, a power supply line 65 for the fan motor 57, a two-wire DC motor, is patterned on the circuit board 70 from the motor driver 52 to the fan connector 71. The power supply line 65 includes a fan power line 65a as a power line and a fan GND line 65b as a ground line. The sensing pattern 72, which constitutes part of the detection circuit 63, is patterned so as to extend parallel to the fan power line 65a, with a specified distance W from the fan power line 65a, which is patterned on the circuit board 70. The specified distance W is set close enough to avoid crosstalk from the fan power line 65a. Since the sensing pattern 72 is susceptible to crosstalk and the like other than that from the fan power line 65 a, the sensing pattern 72 is surrounded by a ground (GND) 73 .

[0042] The detection circuit 64 for the fan motor 58 of the ribbon fan 62 also has a similar sensing pattern 72 .

[0043] FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the configuration of the detection circuits 63, 64 in the label printer 10 according to the embodiment. For example, the detection circuit 63 generates a reference voltage by dividing the specified fan voltage V_FAN using resistors R1 and R2. This reference voltage is input to the + input terminal of the comparator COM. However, since a high output impedance is required to reduce susceptibility to crosstalk from the fan power line 65a, a resistor R3 of approximately 100 K to 1 MΩ is inserted, and a sensing pattern 72 is formed between the resistor R3 and the + input terminal of the comparator COM. In FIG. 4, the sensing pattern 72 is connected via a via 74 to a wiring pattern to the resistor R3 or the comparator COM, which is patterned on another layer of the circuit board 70.

[0044] The negative input of the comparator COM receives a voltage obtained by dividing the V_REF voltage using resistors R4 and R5. The constants of the resistors R4 and R5 are changed and set so that the voltage input to the negative input of the comparator COM is higher than the voltage input to the positive input when no crosstalk is superimposed. Specifically, the constants of the resistors R4 and R5 are set so that the comparator COM does not output a high level even when external noise is present on the sensing pattern 72 when the fan motor 57 is not rotating. The comparator COM has an open collector output, and outputs a high level when the negative input voltage is less than the positive input voltage, and outputs a low level when the positive input voltage is less than the negative input voltage. The output of the comparator COM is input to the GPIO terminal of the CPU 45.

[0045] In the CPU 45, the fault diagnosis unit 67 detects the presence of crosstalk from the fan power line 65a at the rising edge of the signal input to the terminal GPIO, which changes from the "L" level to the "H" level. The presence of crosstalk means that the fan motor 57 is rotating normally. That is, if the signal from the comparator COM changes from the "L" level to the "H" level when the power is turned on, the fault diagnosis unit 67 can diagnose that the fan motor 57 is rotating, that is, that the main fan 61 is not faulty. In other words, if the signal from the comparator COM does not change from the "L" level to the "H" level, the fault diagnosis unit 67 can diagnose that the main fan 61 is faulty.

[0046] Furthermore, since the current fluctuations occur at the same timing after the power is turned on, the output level from the comparator COM always changes as long as the main fan 61 is running. Therefore, if the number of times the signal from the comparator COM changes from "L" level to "H" level within a certain period of time is less than a specified number, the fault diagnosis unit 67 diagnoses that the main fan 61 is not at fault. This specified number is a value determined according to the above-mentioned certain period of time. Furthermore, if the number of changes within the certain period of time is equal to or greater than the specified number, the fault diagnosis unit 67 diagnoses that the main fan 61 is at fault.

[0047] Similarly, the detection circuit 64 detects the effect of crosstalk from the fan power line 66a on the sensing pattern 72 using the comparator COM, and the fault diagnosis unit 67 of the CPU 45 can diagnose a fault in the fan motor 58 of the ribbon fan 62, i.e., a fault in the ribbon fan 62.

[0048] When the main fan 61 or ribbon fan 62 is driven (when the fan motor 57 or 58 is driven to rotate), current noise is generated in the power supply line 65 or 66 of the fan motor 57 or 58. Therefore, if the sensing pattern 72 is placed near the power supply line 65 or 66, for example, near the fan power line 65a or 66a, crosstalk occurs, affecting the sensing pattern 72. In this embodiment, the sensing pattern 72 is intentionally placed near the fan power line 65a or 66a so that the sensing pattern 72 is affected by crosstalk. Then, by detecting this crosstalk using an electronic component such as a comparator COM, it becomes possible to diagnose a fault in the main fan 61 or ribbon fan 62 (fan motor 57 or 58).

[0049] Next, an example of the operation of the label printer 10 configured as described above will be described with reference to Figure 6. Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of operation of the fault diagnosis unit 67 of the CPU 45 in the label printer 10 according to this embodiment. The operation shown in this flowchart starts when the power switch 15 is turned on. In response to the power switch 15 being turned on, the fan motor 57 of the main fan 61 and the fan motor 58 of the ribbon fan 62 start to rotate under the control of the motor control unit 69 of the CPU 45.

[0050] First, the failure diagnosis unit 67 initializes the value of the detection count register n provided in the CPU 45 or the RAM 47 to "0" and starts counting time (ACT 11).

[0051] Then, the fault diagnosis unit 67 determines whether the signal from the comparator COM of the detection circuits 63, 64 has changed from "L" level to "H" level (ACT12). Because the current fluctuations occur at the same timing, the output level from the comparator COM always changes as long as the main fan 61 and the ribbon fan 62 are driven. If the output from the comparator COM has not changed from "L" level to "H" level (ACT12, NO), the fault diagnosis unit 67 proceeds to the processing of ACT14.

[0052] On the other hand, if the output from the comparator COM has changed from the "L" level to the "H" level (ACT12, YES), the fault diagnosis unit 67 increments the value of the detection count register n by "1" (ACT13).

[0053] Thereafter, the fault diagnosis unit 67 determines whether or not a specified time has elapsed (ACT 14). The specified time is not limited to this, but may be, for example, 100 milliseconds. If the specified time has not yet elapsed (ACT 14, NO), the fault diagnosis unit 67 proceeds to the processing of ACT 12.

[0054] Then, when the specified time has elapsed (ACT14, YES), the fault diagnosis unit 67 determines whether the value of the detection count register n is "0" (ACT15). If the value of the detection count register n is "0" (ACT15, YES), the fault diagnosis unit 67 diagnoses that the corresponding DC fan has failed, and proceeds to the processing of ACT18.

[0055] If the value of the detection count register n is not "0" (ACT15, NO), the fault diagnosis unit 67 further determines whether the value of the detection count register n is equal to or greater than a certain number of times (ACT16). The certain number of times is not limited to this, but may be, for example, 10 times. If the value of the detection count register n is equal to or greater than the certain number of times (ACT16, YES), the fault diagnosis unit 67 diagnoses that the corresponding DC fan is faulty, and proceeds to the processing of ACT18.

[0056] On the other hand, if the value of the detection count register n is less than the certain number (ACT16, NO), the fault diagnosis unit 67 diagnoses that the corresponding DC fan is not at fault. In this case, the fault diagnosis unit 67 sets the value of the detection count register n to "1" and restarts time measurement (ACT17). Then, the fault diagnosis unit 67 proceeds to the processing of ACT12.

[0057] In this way, the processes of ACT 12 to ACT 17 are repeated. In other words, while the label printer 10 is powered on, it performs a fault diagnosis on the main fan 61 and ribbon fan 62 at regular time intervals corresponding to a specified time.

[0058] On the other hand, if the corresponding DC fan is diagnosed as faulty in ACT15 or ACT16 (ACT15 or ACT16, YES), the fault diagnosis unit 67 determines whether the corresponding DC fan is the ribbon fan 62 (ACT18). If the DC fan diagnosed as faulty is the ribbon fan 62 (ACT18, YES), the fault diagnosis unit 67 proceeds to the processing of ACT23. If the DC fan diagnosed as faulty is not the ribbon fan 62, that is, if it is the main fan 61 (ACT18, NO), the fault diagnosis unit 67 proceeds to the processing of ACT19.

[0059] If the DC fan diagnosed as faulty is the main fan 61 (ACT18, NO), the fault diagnosis unit 67 stops the power supply to the main fan 61 (ACT19). That is, the fault diagnosis unit 67 instructs the motor control unit 69 to stop the power supply to the fan motor 57. In response to this instruction to stop the power supply, the motor control unit 69 controls a switch such as an FET arranged in the motor driver 52 on the supply path of power (fan voltage V_FAN) to the fan motor 57, thereby stopping the power supply to the fan motor 57. Note that the fault diagnosis unit 67 may also be configured to directly control the switch in the motor driver 52 without going through the motor control unit 69. Furthermore, in ACT19, the fault diagnosis unit 67 may stop the power supply not only to the main fan 61 but also to the ribbon fan 62.

[0060] Furthermore, in addition to stopping the power supply to the main fan 61, the fault diagnosis unit 67 instructs the print control unit 68 to disable the print function (ACT20), thereby preventing any subsequent printing operations.

[0061] Thereafter, the fault diagnosis unit 67 causes the display controller 49 to display a warning on the display unit 16 (ACT21). This warning may include a message urging inspection of the main fan 61 and a message indicating that printing cannot be performed.

[0062] When the user of the label printer 10 sees this warning message on the display unit 16, they will turn off the power to the label printer 10 and inspect the main fan 61 themselves or by asking a service technician, etc. Alternatively, the user may try to restart the label printer 10 by turning it off and then on again.

[0063] If a restart is attempted, the fault diagnosis unit 67 repeats the above-described operation, and if it still diagnoses the main fan 61 as being faulty, it displays a warning on the display unit 16 in ACT21.

[0064] If the inspection reveals that the main fan 61 is faulty, the main fan 61 is replaced. After the main fan 61 is replaced, when the power switch 15 is turned on, the fault diagnosis unit 67 performs the above-described operation and repeats the processing of ACT12 to ACT17. That is, fault diagnosis of the main fan 61 and ribbon fan 62 is performed at regular intervals.

[0065] On the other hand, if the DC fan diagnosed as faulty is the ribbon fan 62 (ACT18, YES), the fault diagnosis unit 67 stops the power supply to the ribbon fan 62 (ACT22). That is, the fault diagnosis unit 67 instructs the motor control unit 69 to stop the power supply to the fan motor 58. In response to this instruction to stop the power supply, the motor control unit 69 controls a switch such as an FET arranged in the motor driver 52 and disposed in the supply path of power (fan voltage V_FAN) to the fan motor 58, thereby stopping the power supply to the fan motor 58. Note that the fault diagnosis unit 67 may also be configured to directly control the switch in the motor driver 52 without going through the motor control unit 69. In ACT22, unlike ACT19 described above, the fault diagnosis unit 67 does not perform any operation on the power supply to the main fan 61.

[0066] Furthermore, the fault diagnosis unit 67 instructs the motor control unit 69 to turn on the detachment function (ACT23). In response to this instruction to turn on the detachment function, the motor control unit 69 prevents the feed motor 55 and the take-up motor 56 from being driven thereafter. In other words, the ribbon transfer printing function is stopped, and only the thermal printing function is available.

[0067] Then, the fault diagnosis unit 67 causes the display controller 49 to display a warning on the display unit 16 (ACT24). The warning display in this case can include a message urging inspection of the ribbon fan 62 and a message that ribbon transfer printing operation cannot be performed and only thermal printing operation is possible.

[0068] Thereafter, the fault diagnosis unit 67 proceeds to the processing of ACT 17, sets the value of the detection count register n to "1", and restarts the time measurement. In this case, however, only the detection count register n for the main fan 61 is reset, and in ACT 12 to ACT 17, only the fault diagnosis of the main fan 61 is performed at regular intervals.

[0069] When the user of the label printer 10 sees the warning message displayed on the display unit 16 in ACT24, the user will turn off the power to the label printer 10 and inspect the ribbon fan 62 by themselves or by asking a service technician, etc. Alternatively, the user may try to restart the label printer 10.

[0070] If a restart is attempted, the failure diagnosis unit 67 repeats the above-described operation, and if it still diagnoses the ribbon fan 62 as being faulty, it displays a warning message on the display unit 16 in ACT24.

[0071] If the inspection reveals that the ribbon fan 62 is faulty, the ribbon fan 62 is replaced. After the ribbon fan 62 is replaced, when the power switch 15 is turned on, the fault diagnosis unit 67 performs the operation described above and repeats the processing of ACT12 to ACT17. That is, fault diagnosis of the main fan 61 and ribbon fan 62 is performed at regular intervals.

[0072] The label printer 10 according to the embodiment configured as described above is a label printer capable of thermal transfer printing using the print head 33, which is a thermal head, and the ink ribbon 41, and includes at least one of a main fan 61, which is a first fan equipped with a fan motor 57, which is a DC motor, and cools the atmosphere inside the case of the label printer 10, and a ribbon fan 62, which is a second fan equipped with a fan motor 58, which is a DC motor, and cools the feed motor 55 and the take-up motor 56, which are motors for the ink ribbon. The label printer 10 further includes detection circuits 63, 64 that are equipped with a sensing pattern 72 wired in proximity to the power supply lines 65, 66 so as to be affected by crosstalk from the power supply lines 65, 66 that supply power to the DC motors equipped in at least one of the fans, and that detect the occurrence of crosstalk due to the supply of power to at least one of the fans, and a fault diagnosis unit 67 that diagnoses at least one of the fans as faulty when the detection circuit detects the occurrence of crosstalk a specified number of times within a certain period of time.

[0073] Therefore, it is possible to provide a label printer 10 equipped with a fault diagnosis function for the main fan 61 and ribbon fan 62, which are DC fans.

[0074] Furthermore, the label printer 10 according to the embodiment further includes a display unit 16 that displays information, and when the fault diagnosis unit 67 diagnoses at least one of the fans as faulty, it causes the display unit 16 to display a warning indicating that the fan is faulty.

[0075] Therefore, upon seeing this warning display, the user can inspect the fan diagnosed as faulty and replace it if it is faulty.

[0076] Furthermore, in the label printer 10 according to the embodiment, if the fault diagnosis unit 67 diagnoses at least one of the fans as faulty, it stops the power supply to that fan via the power supply line 65 or 66, and does not stop functions that are not affected even if the fan is stopped.

[0077] Therefore, the user can continue to use functions that are not affected even if the diagnosed fan stops.

[0078] Here, in addition to printing using the thermal transfer method, the label printer 10 is capable of printing using a thermal printing method in which a thermal head directly develops color on thermal paper. If the fault diagnosis unit 67 diagnoses the ribbon fan 62, which is the second fan, as being faulty, it stops the power supply to the ribbon fan 62 via the power supply line 66, prohibits the operation of the feed motor 55 and take-up motor 56, which are functional units related to thermal transfer printing, and only allows the operation of the print head 33, platen motor 53, transport motor 54, etc., which are functional units related to thermal printing.

[0079] Therefore, even if the ribbon fan 62 breaks down, the user can still print labels on thermal paper using the thermal transfer method.

[0080] Furthermore, in the label printer 10 according to the embodiment, the power supply lines 65, 66 include fan power lines 65a, 66a, which are power lines, and fan GND lines 65b, 66b, which are ground lines, patterned on the circuit board 70, and the sensing pattern 72 is patterned on the circuit board 70 so as to extend parallel to and spaced a specified distance W from either the power line or the ground line.

[0081] Figure 7 is a diagram showing another example of the pattern configuration of the sensing pattern that is part of the detection circuits 63, 64 in the label printer 10 according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 7, the sensing pattern 72 may be patterned so as to extend parallel to the fan GND lines 65b, 66b at a specified distance W from the fan GND lines 65b, 66b instead of the fan power supply lines 65a, 66a.

[0082] In this way, the sensing pattern 72 may be patterned to correspond to either of the two pattern lines, which are the power supply lines 65, 66 of the fan motors 57, 58, which are two-wire drive DC motors, from the motor driver 52 to the fan connector 71.

[0083] It is not preferable to place the sensing pattern 72 between the fan power supply lines 65a, 66a and the fan GND lines 65b, 66b, because in such a position, the sensing pattern 72 is subject to the effects of crosstalk from both the fan power supply lines 65a, 66a and the fan GND lines 65b, 66b, which may cancel each other out and prevent successful detection by the detection circuits 63, 64.

[0084] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0085] For example, the flow of operations shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is an example and is not limited to this order. For example, the order of ACT19 and ACT20 may be reversed. In this way, the order of the processes may be changed as long as there is no discrepancy with the preceding or subsequent processes. Furthermore, one process may be performed in parallel with another process.

[0086] As described above, the novel embodiments described above 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 modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the inventions, and are also included in the inventions and their equivalents set forth in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 10...label printer, 11,12...case, 15...power switch, 16...display unit, 17...operation unit, 20...label issuing port, 23...printing unit, 27...label paper, 33...print head, 37...ribbon holding shaft, 38...ribbon winding shaft, 41...ink ribbon, 45...CPU, 46...ROM, 47...RAM, 48...communication interface, 49...display controller, 50...operation unit controller, 51...head driver, 52...motor driver, 53...platen motor, 54...transport motor, 55...feed motor, 56...winding motor, 57...fan motor, 58...fan motor, 59,60...fan, 61...main fan, 62...ribbon fan, 63,64...detection circuit, 65,66...power supply line, 65a, 66a...Fan power supply wires, 65b, 66b...Fan GND wires, 67...Fault diagnosis unit, 68...Printing control unit, 69...Motor control unit, 70...Circuit board, 71...Fan connector, 72...Sensing pattern, 73...Ground (GND), 74...Via.

Claims

1. A label printer capable of printing by a thermal transfer method using a thermal head and an ink ribbon, at least one of a first fan having a DC motor and cooling the atmosphere inside the case of the label printer, and a second fan having a DC motor and cooling the motor for the ink ribbon; a detection circuit including a sensing pattern wired in proximity to a power supply line that supplies power to the DC motor of the at least one fan so as to be affected by crosstalk from the power supply line, the detection circuit detecting occurrence of the crosstalk due to the supply of power to the at least one fan; a fault diagnosis unit that diagnoses that at least one of the fans is faulty when the occurrence of the crosstalk is detected by the detection circuit a specified number of times within a certain period of time; A label printer comprising:

2. Further comprising a display unit for displaying information, The label printer according to claim 1 , wherein the failure diagnosis unit, when diagnosing that the at least one fan is faulty, causes the display unit to display a warning indicating that the at least one fan is faulty.

3. When the failure diagnosis unit diagnoses the at least one fan as having a failure, The power supply to the fan diagnosed as having a fault through the power supply line is stopped, and The label printer according to claim 1 , wherein functions that are not affected by the fan being stopped even if the fan diagnosed as having a fault is stopped are not stopped.

4. The label printer is capable of printing by a thermal printing method in which the thermal head directly develops color on thermal paper, in addition to printing by the thermal transfer method, When the failure diagnosis unit diagnoses the second fan as having a failure, stopping the power supply to the second fan through the power supply line; 4. The label printer according to claim 3, wherein operation of a functional unit in the label printer related to printing by the thermal transfer method is prohibited, and operation of only a functional unit related to printing by the thermal printing method is permitted.

5. the power supply lines include power lines and ground lines patterned on a circuit board, 5. The label printer according to claim 1, wherein the sensing pattern is formed on the circuit board so as to extend parallel to and at a specified interval from either the power supply line or the ground line.

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