Label attaching device

Abstract

In the present invention, a label (160) is half-cut at a cutting section, and a tape (150) is conveyed along a conveyance path (R2) toward a peeling section (4) in a conveyance direction (Y2) facing obliquely upward and forward. In the peeling section (4), an end section of the label (160) is peeled from a peeling material (170) and is arranged at an attaching position (P1). A cable (19) to which the end section of the label (160) is attached at the attaching position (P1) moves along a guide surface (51) in a guide direction (Y4) facing vertically downward. The conveyance direction (Y2) and the guide direction (Y4) intersect at an angle of 90 degrees or less. As a result, the label (160) is peeled from the peeling material (170) due to the movement of the cable (19).

Description

Labeling Device

[0001] The present invention relates to a labeling device for attaching a label to an adherend.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a labeling device that attaches a label to an adherend. The labeling device completely peels the label off the release material and transports it to a support section. The label is placed horizontally on the support section with its adhesive surface facing upward.

[0003] As the cable is guided downward by the guide member toward the application mechanism, it comes into contact with the label from above. The adhesive side of the label is applied to a portion of the cable. The cable is inserted into the application mechanism together with the label. The application mechanism wraps the label around the cable and applies it.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-20663

[0005] To miniaturize the device, we considered a configuration in which the label is not completely peeled off from the release material beforehand, but is peeled off from the release material during the process of inserting the cable into the labeling mechanism.In this case, there were cases in which the labeling device was unable to completely peel the label off from the release material.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a label application device that can stably peel a label from a release material.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a label application device comprising: a peeling section that peels an edge of a label from a release material of a tape having a label and a release material to which the label is affixed, and positions the edge at an application position where it will be affixed to an adherend to which the label is to be affixed; a transport path along which the tape is transported toward the peeling section; and a guide path that has a guide surface that contacts the adherend and guides movement of the adherend in a guide direction in which the adherend moves along the guide surface, the guide direction being a direction from the application position towards a peeling completion position where the edge of the label that has not been peeled from the release material is positioned when the edge is peeled from the release material as the adherend to which the edge of the label is affixed moves, and transport of the tape in the transport path is stopped during the process of movement of the adherend, and the guide surface of the guide path forms an angle of 90 degrees or less with respect to the transport direction in which the tape is transported in the transport path.

[0008] When a user applies a label to an adherend, the tape is stopped from feeding in the feeding path. The guide direction of the adherend intersects with the tape feeding direction at an angle of 90 degrees or less. Therefore, the user can easily peel the label from the release material by simply moving the cable with the label edge attached in the guide direction.

[0009] However, the labeling device of Patent Document 1 transports labels with all labels peeled off from the release material and places them in the position to be attached to the cable, which results in a problem of the device being large in size. Furthermore, the position of the label relative to the cable is easily unstable. This causes issues such as the label being wrapped around the cable at an angle or the position of the characters printed on the label being misaligned with the intended position on the cable.

[0010] Therefore, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a label-removing device, comprising: a wrapping section for wrapping the label around an adherend to which the label is to be affixed; a guide member having a guide surface extending in a guide direction, which is a direction in which the adherend contacts the guide surface, toward the wrapping section, the guide member being positioned downstream of the guide surface in the guide direction; and a guide member arranged in a direction in which the guide surface is positioned relative to a passage area of ​​the adherend that contacts the guide surface and moves in the guide direction, and upstream of the guide surface in the guide direction, the guide member being arranged in a direction in which the guide surface is positioned relative to a passage area of ​​the adherend that contacts the guide surface and moves in the guide direction, the guide member being arranged upstream of the guide surface in the guide direction, the guide member being arranged to peel an edge of the label from a release material affixed to an adhesive surface that is one side of the label, and to move the adhesive surface toward the upstream side in the guide direction. a pressing surface that faces the guide surface across the passing area and sandwiches the adherend between itself and the guide surface; and a support surface that is connected to the pressing surface and supports the end of the label peeled off by the peeling unit in the starting area, the support surface being biased in a direction to bring the pressing surface closer to the guide surface, and a pressing member that adheres the adhesive surface of the label to the adherend at the support surface and presses the end of the label against the adherend at the pressing surface as the adherend moves in the guiding direction.

[0011] As the adherend moves along the guide surface toward the winding section, the pressing surface presses the edge of the label against the adherend. Therefore, the labeling device guides the adherend to the winding section with the edge of the label affixed to the adherend, thereby stably affixing the label to the adherend. Furthermore, as the adherend with the edge of the label affixed moves in the guide direction, the remaining portion of the label can be peeled off from the release material. Therefore, the labeling device is configured to affix a label to the adherend before the entire label is peeled off from the release material. This shortens the distance between the peeling section and the winding section, allowing the labeling device to peel off labels in a narrower area than before, thereby enabling the device to be made more compact.

[0012] In addition, since the edge of the label is attached to the adherend before peeling it off, the label is less likely to tilt obliquely relative to the adherend when peeled off. Furthermore, the user can easily align the label attachment position on the adherend to the desired position. Therefore, according to the second aspect, it is possible to provide a label attachment device that is compact and can neatly attach labels to cables.

[0013] 1. A perspective view of the labeling device 1. A perspective cross-sectional view of the labeling device 1 taken along line II in FIG. 1. A cross-sectional view of the labeling device 1 taken along line II in FIG. 1 and viewed from the right. An enlarged view of the two-dot chain line W1 in FIG. 3. An enlarged view of the two-dot chain line W2 in FIG. 4. A perspective view of the cutting section 9. A perspective view of the main unit 2. A perspective view of the main unit 2 with the opening / closing member 6 open. An exploded perspective view of the main unit 2 taken from the front upper right. An exploded perspective view of the main unit 2 taken from the front upper left. A cross-sectional view of the main unit 2 taken along line II-II in FIG. 7 and viewed from the right. A perspective view of the moving member 50 taken from above. A perspective view of the moving member 50 taken from below. An enlarged view of the two-dot chain line W3 in FIG. 11. An enlarged view of the pressing section 5 when the cable 19 enters the guide passage R4. An enlarged view of the pressing section 5 when the cable 19 reaches the most downstream position of the guide surface 51. 11A and 11B are enlarged views of the pressing unit 5 when the cable 19 has reached position P2. FIG. 11B is an enlarged view of the pressing unit 5 when the cable 19 has moved along the inclined surface 52. FIG. 11C is an enlarged view of the two-dot chain line W4 in FIG. 11B. FIG. 11C is an oblique view of the winding unit 7. FIG. 11D is an exploded oblique view of the winding unit 7. FIG. 11E is a cross-sectional view of the main unit 2 taken along line III-III in FIG. 7A and viewed from the right. FIG. 11F is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the winding unit 7 when the cable 19 has reached winding position P3. FIG. 11F is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the winding unit 7 with the rotating body 70 rotated. FIG. 11F is an exploded oblique view of the winding unit 8. FIG. 11C is an axial cross-sectional view of the winding unit 8 when the operating unit 86A is in the first position. FIG. 11D is an axial cross-sectional view of the winding unit 8 when the operating unit 86A is in the second position. FIG. 11F is a right side view of the winding unit 8 when the operating unit 86A is in the first position. FIG. 11F is a right side view of the winding unit 8 when the operating unit 86A is in the second position. FIG. 11F is a cross-sectional view of a modified example of the pressing member 60. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a modified example of the moving member 550.

[0014] An embodiment of a label application device 1 embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings are used to explain technical features that may be adopted by the present invention. The configuration of the device described is not intended to be limiting, but is merely an illustrative example.

[0015] The labeling device 1 is a device that generates labels 160 by printing on the tape 150 of the tape cassette 100 (see FIG. 4 ). The labeling device 1 is also a device that wraps the generated labels 160 around and affixes them to a cable 19. Hereinafter, the lower left, upper right, upper left, lower right, upper, and lower sides of FIG. 1 will be referred to as the front, rear, left, right, upper, and lower sides of the labeling device 1, respectively.

[0016] <Overview of Labeling Apparatus 1> We will now describe the labeling apparatus 1. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the labeling apparatus 1 has a box-shaped housing 10. The housing 10 has a base 11, a main unit 2, a main board 12, a cover 15, a tape attachment section 30, a printing section 3, and a cutting section 9.

[0017] The base 11 is a base for the labeling device 1. The base 11 is a rectangular box-like structure with adjustable legs at the bottom to keep the labeling device 1 level when placed on a table or the like. The base 11 houses a power supply board, a battery, etc. The base 11 has a low floor section 11A at its front end.

[0018] The low floor portion 11A is stepped lower than the other portions of the base 11. The low floor portion 11A has a recess 11B. The recess 11B is located in a portion of the low floor portion 11A from approximately the center to the right end in the left-right direction. The main unit 2 is disposed in the recess 11B.

[0019] The main unit 2 is a unit that peels a label 160 from a tape 150 printed in a printing unit 3, which will be described later, and wraps the label 160 around a cable 19. The main unit 2 has a peeling unit 4, a pressing unit 5, an opening / closing member 6, and a wrapping unit 7. The lower end of the main unit 2 is disposed in a recess 11B in a low floor portion 11A of the base 11, and is fixed to the base 11. The main unit 2 will be described later.

[0020] The main board 12 is a plate extending in the vertical and front-to-rear directions, and is positioned to the left of the center of the base 11 in the left-to-right direction, extending upward. The lower end of the main board 12 is fixed to the lower end of the main unit 2 inside the base 11. The main board 12 supports the tape attachment section 30, the printing section 3, the cutting section 9, the winding section 8 (described later), and the operation panel 12A on its right surface, and supports the control section and the drive section (described later) on its left surface.

[0021] The control unit controls the operation of the labeling device 1. The drive unit drives the printing unit 3 and the cutting unit 9. The operation panel 12A is fixed to the upper end of the main board 12. The operation panel 12A has a plurality of buttons that accept operation inputs for the labeling device 1.

[0022] The upper end of the main plate 12 has a handle for carrying the label application device 1. A cover 15 is attached to the left surface of the main plate 12 to protect the control unit and drive unit.

[0023] The tape loading section 30 is located on the right surface of the main board 12, approximately in the center of the housing 10 in the front-to-back and up-to-down directions. As shown in Figure 4, the tape loading section 30 is box-shaped with an open right side. The tape loading section 30 can accommodate various types of tape cassettes, including thermal, receptor, and laminate types. Thermal-type tape cassettes contain thermal paper tape. Receptor-type tape cassettes contain tape and an ink ribbon.

[0024] The tape cassette used in the label application device 1 of this embodiment is a laminated type tape cassette 100. The laminated type tape cassette 100 includes a film tape 110, a double-sided adhesive tape 120, and an ink ribbon 130. The film tape 110 is a tape made of transparent or translucent PET. The double-sided adhesive tape 120 is a tape in which a substrate 140 and a release material 170 (see FIG. 6) are laminated together with an adhesive. The tape cassette 100 will be described later.

[0025] 4 and 5, the printing unit 3 is located below the tape mounting unit 30. The printing unit 3 includes a head holder 31, a thermal head 32, a drive shaft 35, a take-up shaft 36, a platen roller 33, and a transport roller 34. The head holder 31 is located below the tape mounting unit 30. The head holder 31 is plate-shaped and extends in the front-rear and left-right directions.

[0026] The thermal head 32 is located on the underside of the head holder 31. The thermal head 32 has multiple heating elements. The multiple heating elements are arranged in a row in the left-right direction. The thermal head 32 heats the ink ribbon 130 with the multiple heating elements and transfers ink to the film tape 110. The head holder 31 supports the thermal head 32 and also functions as a heat sink for the heating elements.

[0027] The drive shaft 35 is located diagonally below and in front of the head holder 31. The drive shaft 35 extends rightward from the bottom surface of the recess in the tape mounting section 30. The drive shaft 35 is driven to rotate by a transport motor and is used to transport the tape 150. When the tape cassette 100 is mounted, the drive shaft 35 engages with the shaft hole of the drive roller 101 of the tape cassette 100.

[0028] The take-up shaft 36 is located diagonally above and rearward of the head holder 31. The take-up shaft 36 is driven to rotate by the drive of the transport motor. When the tape cassette 100 is installed, the take-up shaft 36 engages with the take-up spool 132 of the tape cassette 100.

[0029] The platen holder 37 is located below the head holder 31. The platen holder 37 is arm-shaped and is supported rotatably around a support shaft 37A that extends in the left-right direction. The support shaft 37A is located at the rear end of the platen holder 37.

[0030] The platen roller 33 and the transport roller 34 are rotatably supported at the tip of a platen holder 37. As the platen holder 37 swings, the platen roller 33 moves toward or away from the thermal head 32. The transport roller 34 is located to the left of the platen roller 33. As the platen holder 37 swings, the transport roller 34 moves toward or away from the drive roller 101 of the tape cassette 100.

[0031] The cassette cover 38 (see FIG. 1) is rotatably supported at the rear end of the tape loading section 30. The center of rotation of the cassette cover 38 extends in the vertical direction. The cassette cover 38 opens and closes the open portion of the tape loading section 30.

[0032] The platen holder 37 swings between a standby position and a printing position in conjunction with the opening and closing of the cassette cover 38. When the cassette cover 38 is opened, the platen holder 37 moves to the standby position. The standby position is a position where the platen roller 33 and the transport roller 34 are separated from the tape mounting unit 30. When the platen holder 37 moves to the standby position, the user can mount or remove the tape cassette 100 in or from the tape mounting unit 30.

[0033] When the cassette cover 38 is closed, the platen holder 37 moves to the printing position, where the platen roller 33 and the transport roller 34 approach the tape mounting section 30. At the printing position, the platen roller 33 presses the film tape 110 and the ink ribbon 130 against the thermal head 32. At the printing position, the transport roller 34 overlaps the double-sided adhesive tape 120 and the film tape 110 and presses them against the drive roller 101.

[0034] The tape cassette 100 accommodates a film tape 110, a double-sided adhesive tape 120, and an ink ribbon 130 in a box-shaped case. A film spool 111 is rotatably supported at an upper rear position inside the case. Unprinted film tape 110 is wound around the film spool 111. A ribbon spool 131 is rotatably supported at a lower rear position inside the case. An unused ink ribbon 130 is wound around the ribbon spool 131.

[0035] The tape spool 121 is rotatably supported in a position diagonally above and in front of the case. Double-sided adhesive tape 120 is wound around the tape spool 121. The take-up spool 132 is rotatably supported in a position between the film spool 111, the tape spool 121, and the ribbon spool 131. Used ink ribbon 130 is wound onto the take-up spool 132. The drive roller 101 is rotatably supported in a position diagonally below and in front of the tape spool 121 in the case.

[0036] The arm portion 102 is located at the bottom of the case. The arm portion 102 extends from the rear lower portion to the front lower portion of the case. The opening 103 is located at the left end of the arm portion 102. The opening 103 is shaped like a slit extending in the left-right direction. The film tape 110 and the ink ribbon 130 are overlapped inside the case and are ejected to the outside of the case through the opening 103.

[0037] The head insertion portion 104 is located above the arm portion 102. The head insertion portion 104 passes through the case in the vertical direction. The head opening 105 is located at the front lower portion of the head insertion portion 104 and opens downward. The head opening 105 is located downstream, i.e., forward, of the opening 103 in the transport direction of the film tape 110. With the tape cassette 100 attached to the tape attachment portion 30, the head holder 31 is inserted into the head insertion portion 104.

[0038] The drive roller 101 is located in front of the head insertion portion 104. In the transport direction of the film tape 110, the drive roller 101 is located between the opening 103 of the arm portion 102 and the guide portion 106. The drive roller 101 is cylindrical and extends in the left-right direction. The lower end of the drive roller 101 is exposed downward from the case. The drive roller 101 supports the double-sided adhesive tape 120 in a state in which the film tape 110 and the double-sided adhesive tape 120 are overlapped.

[0039] With the tape cassette 100 attached to the tape attachment section 30, the drive shaft 35 is inserted into the shaft hole of the drive roller 101. The film tape 110 and the double-sided adhesive tape 120 are sandwiched between the drive roller 101 and the transport roller 34. The drive roller 101 is rotated by the rotation of the drive shaft 35, and transports the film tape 110 and the double-sided adhesive tape 120.

[0040] The guide portion 106 is located at the diagonally lower front corner of the case. The guide portion 106 is located downstream, i.e., to the left, of the opening 103 in the feeding direction of the film tape 110. The guide portion 106 has a slit shape that extends in the left-right direction.

[0041] The tape 150, with the double-sided adhesive tape 120 attached to the film tape 110, is transported by the drive roller 101 and passes through the inside of the guide portion 106. The guide portion 106 supports the tape 150 from both sides in the width direction. As a result, the tape 150 is ejected from the tape cassette 100 with its posture maintained by the guide portion 106.

[0042] When printing, the platen holder 37 moves from the standby position to the printing position. The platen roller 33 overlaps the film tape 110 and the ink ribbon 130 and presses them against the thermal head 32. The platen roller 33 rotates, feeding the film tape 110 forward. At the same time, the thermal head 32 generates heat, heating the ink ribbon 130.

[0043] As a result, the ink on the ink ribbon 130 is transferred to the printing surface Ut (see FIG. 6 ) of the film tape 110. By this transfer, an image including characters and the like is printed on the film tape 110. After printing, the ink ribbon 130 is separated from the film tape 110 and taken up onto the take-up spool 132.

[0044] The double-sided adhesive tape 120 is superimposed on the printing surface Ut of the printed film tape 110. The substrate 140 of the double-sided adhesive tape 120 contacts the printing surface Ut of the film tape 110. The film tape 110 is placed below the double-sided adhesive tape 120. In this state, the film tape 110 and the double-sided adhesive tape 120 pass between the drive roller 101 and the conveying roller 34. The film tape 110 is attached to the substrate 140 by the adhesive, and a printed label 160 (see FIG. 6 ) is produced.

[0045] The upper surface of the label 160 corresponds to the adhesive surface Ur (see FIG. 6 ) to which the adhesive of the base material 140 is attached. A release material 170 is attached to the adhesive surface Ur. That is, the tape 150 is produced by attaching the double-sided adhesive tape 120 to the film tape 110, with the release material 170 attached to the label 160.

[0046] The width direction of the tape 150 corresponds to the left-right direction. The transport path of the tape 150 transported from the printing unit 3, passing through the cutting unit 9, to the main unit 2 is referred to as transport path R1. The transport direction of the tape 150 on transport path R1 is referred to as transport direction Y1. Transport direction Y1 is the direction from the nip between the drive roller 101 and the transport roller 34, passing through the cutting unit 9, toward the main unit 2, and faces forward.

[0047] <Cutting unit 9> As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the cutting unit 9 is disposed downstream of the transport roller 34 of the printing unit 3 in the transport direction Y1 of the tape 150. The cutting unit 9 has a full-cut cutting blade 91 and a half-cut cutting blade 92. The full-cut cutting blade 91 has a fixed blade 91A and a movable blade 91B. The fixed blade 91A is fixed above the transport path R1. The fixed blade 91A extends in the left-right direction, with its cutting edge facing downward.

[0048] The movable blade 91B is located below the conveying path R1. The movable blade 91B is plate-shaped and extends in the left-right direction, with its cutting edge facing upward. The movable blade 91B is supported by a rotating shaft 91C and is rotatable. The rotating shaft 91C is located to the left of the conveying path R1 and extends in the front-to-rear direction. The movable blade 91B rotates around the rotating shaft 91C by the driving force of a motor.

[0049] The full-cut cutting blade 91 moves the cutting edge of the movable blade 91B from below the conveying path R1 upward across the conveying path R1 relative to the cutting edge of the fixed blade 91A. As a result, the full-cut cutting blade 91 cuts the tape 150. In other words, the full-cut cutting blade 91 fully cuts the tape 150.

[0050] The half-cut cutting blade 92 is located downstream of the full-cut cutting blade 91 on the conveying path R1. The half-cut cutting blade 92 has a fixed base 92A and a movable blade 92B. The fixed base 92A is fixed above the conveying path R1. The fixed base 92A extends in the left-right direction and has a blade abutment surface 92D that faces downward, i.e., toward the conveying path R1.

[0051] The movable blade 92B is located below the conveying path R1. The movable blade 92B is plate-shaped and extends in the left-right direction. The movable blade 92B is supported by a rotating shaft 92C and is rotatable. The rotating shaft 92C is located to the left of the conveying path R1 and extends in the front-to-rear direction. The movable blade 92B rotates around the rotating shaft 92C by the driving force of a motor.

[0052] The movable blade 92B has a cutting edge that extends in the left-right direction and faces upward. The protrusion 92E is located at the tip of the movable blade 92B. The protrusion 92E protrudes slightly upward beyond the cutting edge of the movable blade 92B. The amount by which the protrusion 92E protrudes upward beyond the cutting edge is equal to or less than the thickness of the release material 170.

[0053] The tape 150 is transported along the transport path R1 with the film tape 110 attached below the double-sided adhesive tape 120. Therefore, the adhesive surface Ur of the label 160 to which the release material 170 is attached faces upward, and the front surface Us, which is the surface opposite the adhesive surface Ur, faces downward.

[0054] During cutting, the cutting edge of the movable blade 92B of the half-cut cutting blade 92 approaches the blade abutment surface 92D of the fixed base 92A. The cutting edge of the half-cut cutting blade 92 cuts the film tape 110 and substrate 140, i.e., the label 160, which are below the release material 170, from the surface Us toward the adhesive surface Ur. The protrusion 92E of the half-cut cutting blade 92 provides a gap between the cutting edge and the blade abutment surface 92D that is equal to or less than the thickness of the release material 170. This leaves the release material 170 uncut by the half-cut cutting blade 92. In other words, the half-cut cutting blade 92 half-cuts the tape 150.

[0055] <Main Unit 2> As shown in Figures 7 to 11, the main unit 2 reinforces both side surfaces of the base 20 with a left plate 25 and a right plate 26 (see Figure 9). The main unit 2 includes a peeling portion 4, a pressing portion 5, an opening / closing member 6, and a winding portion 7 between the left plate 25 and the right plate 26. The base 20 is made of resin and supports the entire main unit 2. The base 20 has a bottom portion 21, a middle portion 22, an upper portion 23, and a rear portion 24. The left-right dimension of the base 20 is greater than the maximum width of the tape 150 compatible with the label application device 1, i.e., the maximum width of the label 160.

[0056] The bottom 21 is a rectangular cylindrical box-like structure extending in the left-right direction, with a partition plate 212 extending in the front-rear and up-down directions at the center in the left-right direction. The lower part of the bottom 21 is disposed within the recess 11B of the base 11. The storage section 211 is located at the upper part of the bottom 21. The storage section 211 has an axial direction extending in the left-right direction and has a semi-cylindrical concave surface that is open at the top and front.

[0057] The winding unit 7 is located in the bottom 21. The winding unit 7 winds the label 160 around the cable 19. The drive mechanism 705 (see FIG. 9 ) is supported on the right surface of the left side plate 25, and is located in an area to the left of the partition plate 212 within the bottom 21. The drive mechanism 705 transmits a drive force for driving the rotating body 70 of the winding unit 7.

[0058] The motor 705A is mounted on the left surface of the left side plate 25, and the rotation shaft passes through the left side plate 25 and connects to the drive mechanism 705. The motor 705A generates a driving force for driving the rotating body 70. The rotating body 70 is housed in the housing portion 211. The winding portion 7 will be described later. The rear portion 24 protrudes rearward from the bottom portion 21. The rear portion 24 is positioned rearward of the recess 11B in the base 11, and is fixed to the base 11 together with the lower part of the bottom portion 21 with screws.

[0059] The intermediate portion 22 has a left wall 221, a right wall 222, and a connecting wall 223, and is located above the bottom portion 21. The left wall 221 extends upward from the left rear end of the bottom portion 21. The right wall 222 extends upward from the right rear end of the bottom portion 21. The connecting wall 223 connects the left wall 221 and the right wall 222 in the left-right direction at the rear.

[0060] The area between the left wall 221 and the right wall 222 is a peel-off area 224 (see FIG. 11 ). The peel-off area 224 is a space that opens forward and downward. The label 160 is pulled downward in the peel-off area 224 and peeled off from the release material 170.

[0061] The pressing portion 5 is located in the intermediate portion 22. The pressing portion 5 is a portion that presses the end of the label 160 against the cable 19. The guide surfaces 51 are located at the front ends of the left wall 221 and the right wall 222 of the intermediate portion 22. The guide surfaces 51 extend in the vertical direction and face forward. The pressing portion 5 and the guide surfaces 51 will be described later.

[0062] The upper portion 23 is located above the intermediate portion 22. The left wall 221 and the right wall 222 each extend from the intermediate portion 22 to the upper portion 23. As shown in FIG. 11 , the upper portion 23 has a first wall 231 and a second wall 236. The first wall 231 is plate-shaped and bridges the left wall 221 and the right wall 222, extending obliquely upward and forward in a side view. The second wall 236 is plate-shaped and bridges the left wall 221 and the right wall 222, extending obliquely upward and backward in a side view from the front end of the first wall 231.

[0063] The peeling unit 4 is located at the connection between the first wall 231 and the second wall 236. The peeling unit 4 will be described later. The first wall 231 defines the downstreammost portion of the tape 150 in the conveying direction Y1 that has passed through the cutting unit 9 on the conveying path R1, and the conveying path R2 along which the tape 150 is conveyed to the peeling unit 4. The conveying path R2 is connected to the conveying path R1.

[0064] The first wall 231 has a first surface 232 and a second surface 233 facing the transport path R1, and a third surface 234 facing the transport path R2. The first surface 232 is located downstream of the cutting unit 9 in the transport direction Y1 of the tape 150 transported along the transport path R1, and faces diagonally downward and forward. The first surface 232 is disposed at a position where the tape 150, having passed the cutting unit 9, enters the main unit 2. The second surface 233 is located at the most downstream point in the transport direction Y1 on the transport path R1, connects to the first surface 232, and faces downward. The second surface 233 contacts the tape 150, thereby determining the transport direction Y1 of the tape 150.

[0065] The transport direction Y2 is the direction in which the tape 150 is transported along the transport path R2 along the third surface 234, and is diagonally upward and forward. The third surface 234 connects to the second surface 233 at the most upstream position of the transport path R1 in the transport direction Y1, extends toward the peeling unit 4, and faces diagonally downward and forward. The third surface 234 contacts the tape 150 transported along the transport path R2 to define the transport direction Y2 and guides the tape 150 toward the peeling unit 4.

[0066] The second wall 236 defines a transport path R3 for the release material 170 transported toward the rewinding unit 8. The second wall 236 has a fourth surface 237, a fifth surface 238, and rollers 239 that face the transport path R3. The fourth surface 237 is located at the most upstream position in the transport direction Y3 of the release material 170 transported along the transport path R3, and faces diagonally upward and forward. The transport direction Y3 is the direction in which the tape 150 is transported along the transport path R3 along the fourth surface 237, and is diagonally upward and rearward.

[0067] The fourth surface 237 is located at the entrance of a conveying path R3 along which the release material 170, from which the label 160 has been peeled in the peeling section 4, is conveyed toward the winding section 8 located diagonally above and rearward of the main unit 2. The fourth surface 237 guides the release material 170 to a roller 239 along the conveying path R3.

[0068] The roller 239 is located at the connection between the fourth surface 237 and the fifth surface 238. The release material roll 175 (see FIG. 26 ) is a roll of release material 170 wound around the winding section 8, and its outer diameter changes depending on the amount of material wound. The roller 239 adjusts the conveying direction of the release material 170 that passes through the roller 239 in accordance with changes in the outer diameter of the release material roll 175, thereby preventing breakage of the release material 170. The fifth surface 238 extends diagonally upward and rearward at a gentler upward angle than the fourth surface 237.

[0069] The angle θ1 between the conveying direction Y1 and the conveying direction Y2 is greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees. The tape 150 on which an image is printed by the printing unit 3 is conveyed along the conveying path R1 toward the cutting unit 9. At this time, the tape 150 is conveyed with the label 160 positioned below the release material 170.

[0070] The tape 150 is half-cut at the cutting unit 9, and the label 160 is cut off, leaving the release material 170. The tape 150 is transported along the transport path R2 in a tensioned state by being taken up by the winding unit 8, which is located above the peeling unit 4. Therefore, the tape 150 does not come into contact with the first surface 232 on the transport path R2, but comes into contact with the second surface 233, which is located below the first surface 232, and is guided in the transport direction Y1.

[0071] The tape 150 is further guided in the conveying direction Y2 along the third surface 234 toward the peeling unit 4. The tape 150 is bent at an angle greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees at a connection 235 between the second surface 233 and the third surface 234. The release material 170 of the tape 150 is located near the connection 235 relative to the adhesive surface Ur of the base material 140 of the label 160, i.e., above the adhesive surface Ur. Therefore, the surface Us of the label 160 faces downward.

[0072] Therefore, when the half-cut position Ct passes through the connection 235 between the second surface 233 and the third surface 234, the tape 150 is bent at an obtuse angle with the release material 170 positioned inside the label 160. This widens the half-cut position Ct, making it easier for the edge of the label 160 to peel off from the release material 170.

[0073] 7 to 11, the left side plate 25 is a metal plate that extends in the up-down and front-rear directions. The left side plate 25 is fixed with screws to the left side surface of the base 20. When the main unit 2 is fixed to the base 11, the left side plate 25 is located at approximately the center of the low floor portion 11A in the left-right direction.

[0074] Opening 25A is located in the center of left side plate 25. Opening 25A has a circular shape that penetrates left side plate 25 in the left-right direction. The upper end portion of the inner periphery of opening 25A is cut out upward. The cutout portion connects to an opening that cuts out part of the upper end of left side plate 25.

[0075] Of the upper ends of the left side plate 25, the upper end behind the open portion 25A extends upward further than the upper end in front of it. Moreover, the upper end behind the open portion 25A extends upward further than the upper end behind the open portion 26A of the right side plate 26. When the left side plate 25 is assembled to the base 20, the circular portion of the open portion 25A is positioned corresponding to the storage portion 211 of the bottom 21.

[0076] The right side plate 26 is a metal plate extending in the vertical and front-to-rear directions. The right side plate 26 is fixed to the right side surface of the base 20 with screws. When the main unit 2 is fixed to the base 11, the right side plate 26 is positioned near the right end of the low floor portion 11A. The right side plate 26 and the left side plate 25 face each other in the left-right direction.

[0077] The right side plate 26 has approximately the same shape as the left side plate 25. The opening 26A is located in the center of the right side plate 26. The opening 26A has a circular shape that penetrates the right side plate 26 in the left-right direction. The upper end portion of the inner periphery of the opening 26A is cut out upward. The cutout portion connects to an opening that cuts out part of the upper end of the right side plate 26.

[0078] Of the upper ends of the right side plate 26, the upper end behind the open portion 26A extends higher than the upper end in front of it. When the right side plate 26 is attached to the base 20, the circular portion of the open portion 26A is positioned corresponding to the storage portion 211 of the bottom 21.

[0079] The left support part 71 is fixed to the left surface of the left side plate 25 with screws. The left support part 71 is box-shaped and extends in the up-down and front-to-back directions, with a thickness in the left-to-right direction. The left support part 71 is stepped and located approximately in the center in the up-down direction. The thickness of the lower part of the left support part 71 is greater than the thickness of the upper part.

[0080] The guide portion 71B is located on the left support portion 71. The guide portion 71B is generally U-shaped and concave downward from the top end. The bottom portion 71C of the guide portion 71B is semicircular. The bottom portion 71C has an opening. The input portion 706B of the lever member 706 is exposed from the opening in the bottom portion 71C.

[0081] Guide portion 71B guides cable 19 to bottom portion 71C. Bottom portion 71C is a guide position that guides cable 19 to the left of winding position P3. Winding position P3 is a position where winding portion 7 wraps label 160 around cable 19. By being guided by bottom portion 71C, which is a guide position, cable 19 is positioned at winding position P3 to the right of bottom portion 71C.

[0082] The guide surface 71D is located at the upper end of the left support part 71, at a position forward of the guide part 71B. The guide surface 71D is an inclined surface facing diagonally upward and rearward, and guides the cable 19 toward the guide part 71B. If the cable 19 passes through the guide passage R4 and the pressing part 5 and then shifts forward, the cable 19 abuts against the guide surface 71D. In this case, the cable 19 is guided along the guide surface 71D toward the guide part 71B and reaches the winding part 7.

[0083] The rotation receiving portion 71A is located on the right surface of the left support portion 71. The rotation receiving portion 71A is generally C-shaped and protrudes rightward in the circumferential direction, excluding the guide portion 71B, along the semicircular shape of the bottom portion 71C. When the left support portion 71 is attached to the left side plate 25, the rotation receiving portion 71A is located in the circular portion of the open portion 25A of the left side plate 25 and protrudes rightward beyond the left side plate 25.

[0084] The rotational shaft 73C of the rotating body 70 of the winding portion 7 engages with the rotational bearing portion 71A. The inner surface of the rotational bearing portion 71A rotatably supports the rotational shaft 73C. The outer surface of the rotational bearing portion 71A is supported by the circular portion of the open portion 25A of the left side plate 25. The rotational shaft 73C of the rotating body 70 is supported by both the left support portion 71 and the left side plate 25. Therefore, even if the user presses the cable 19 hard against the rotating body 70, the rotating body 70 is unlikely to tilt or shift.

[0085] The right support part 72 is fixed to the right surface of the right side plate 26 with screws. The right support part 72 is box-shaped, extending in the up-down and front-rear directions and having a thickness in the left-right direction. The right support part 72 is stepped and located approximately in the center in the up-down direction. The thickness of the lower part of the right support part 72 is greater than the thickness of the upper part.

[0086] The guide portion 72B is located on the right support portion 72. The guide portion 72B is generally U-shaped and concave downward from the top end. The bottom portion 72C of the guide portion 72B is semicircular. The bottom portion 72C has an opening. The input portion 707B of the lever member 707 is exposed from the opening in the bottom portion 72C.

[0087] Guide portion 72B guides cable 19 to bottom portion 72C. Bottom portion 72C is a guide position that guides cable 19 to the right of winding position P3. Cable 19 is guided by bottom portion 72C, which is the guide position, and is thereby positioned at winding position P3 to the left of bottom portion 72C.

[0088] The guide surface 72D is located at the upper end of the right support part 72, at an upper end that is forward of the guide part 72B. The guide surface 72D is an inclined surface that faces diagonally upward and rearward, and guides the cable 19 toward the guide part 72B. If the moving direction of the cable 19 deviates forward, the cable 19 abuts against the guide surface 72D. In this case, the cable 19 is guided along the guide surface 72D toward the guide part 72B and reaches the winding part 7.

[0089] The rotation receiving portion 72A is located on the left surface of the right support portion 72. The rotation receiving portion 72A is generally C-shaped and protrudes leftward in the circumferential direction, excluding the guide portion 72B, along the semicircular shape of the bottom portion 72C. When the right support portion 72 is assembled to the right side plate 26, the rotation receiving portion 72A is located in the circular portion of the open portion 26A of the right side plate 26 and protrudes leftward beyond the right side plate 26.

[0090] The rotation shaft 74C of the rotating body 70 engages with the rotation receiver 72A. The inner surface of the rotation receiver 72A rotatably supports the rotation shaft 74C of the rotating body 70. The outer surface of the rotation receiver 72A is supported by the circular portion of the open portion 26A of the right side plate 26. The rotation shaft 74C of the rotating body 70 is supported by both the right support part 72 and the right side plate 26. Therefore, even if the user presses the cable 19 hard against the rotating body 70, the rotating body 70 is unlikely to tilt or shift.

[0091] <Removal Unit 4> The peeling unit 4 peels the label 160 from the release material 170. The peeling unit 4 has a round bar-shaped peeling shaft 40 that extends in the left-right direction. A fixing portion that fixes the peeling shaft 40 is located at the connection portion between the first wall 231 and the second wall 236.

[0092] The peeling shaft 40 is disposed at the most downstream position in the conveying direction Y2 along the third surface 234 on the conveying path R2. The peeling shaft 40 is disposed at the most upstream position in the conveying direction Y3 along the fourth surface 237 on the conveying path R3. The peeling shaft 40 is exposed at the guide surface 51 of the pressing unit 5 (see FIG. 8). The peeling shaft 40 has a coating layer on its surface. The coating layer prevents adhesive from adhering when the label 160 is peeled off.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 11 , the angle θ2 between the conveying direction Y2 and the conveying direction Y3 is 90 degrees or less. The tape 150 conveyed along the conveying path R2 reaches the peeling section 4 in a state in which the label 160 is easily peeled from the release material 170 at the joint 235. As the release material 170 is pulled by the winding section 8, the tape 150 is bent at an angle of 90 degrees or less in the peeling section 4 with the release material 170 in contact with the peeling shaft 40. Therefore, when the half-cut position Ct passes through the peeling section 4, the tape 150 is bent at an acute angle or a right angle with the release material 170 positioned inside. The half-cut position Ct of the tape 150 is wider than when it passed through the joint 235. Therefore, the end of the label 160 is peeled off from the release material 170.

[0094] As the release material 170 moves in the conveying direction Y3, the end of the label 160 peeled off from the release material 170 moves along the conveying direction Y2. The end of the label 160 rides up onto the support surface 62 of the opening / closing member 6 and is positioned at the attachment position P1 with the adhesive surface Ur facing upward. The attachment position P1 is the position where the end of the label 160 is attached to the cable 19. The attachment position P1 is the most upstream position in the guiding direction Y4. The guiding direction Y4 is the direction in which the cable 19 inserted into the guide passage R4 of the pressing unit 5 is guided.

[0095] At the half-cut position Ct of the label 160, the adhesive material adhering to the surface of the base material 140 that is bonded to the printed surface Ut of the film tape 110 is exposed on the cut surface. No rollers for transporting the tape 150 are arranged downstream of the cutting section 9 in the transport direction Y1 on the transport path R1, or on the transport path R2. Therefore, the tape 150 is not sandwiched between the rollers on the path from the cutting section 9 to the peeling section 4.

[0096] Furthermore, when the tape 150 passes through the connection portion 235, the release material 170 is positioned closer to the connection portion 235 than the label 160. Therefore, the tape 150 is bent at a moderate angle relative to the release material 170, and is not bent at a moderate angle. The tape 150 passes through the transport paths R1 and R2 configured as described above on its path from the cutting portion 9 to the peeling portion 4. Therefore, the adhesive material exposed on the cut surface at the half-cut position Ct prevents the label 160 from re-adhering to an adjacent label 160.

[0097] <Opening / Closing Member 6> As shown in Figures 7 to 11, the opening / closing member 6 is box-shaped and extends in the vertical direction, and is disposed in front of the base body 20. The opening / closing member 6 has a shaft 6A that penetrates the lower end in the left-right direction and protrudes in the left-right direction from each of the left and right faces of the lower end (see Figure 9). The shaft 6A engages with shaft holes 25B, 26B in the lower front corners of the left side plate 25 and the right side plate 26, respectively, to rotatably support the opening / closing member 6.

[0098] The opening / closing member 6 has a hook 6D. The hook 6D engages with the base body 20 in conjunction with an opening / closing button 6B at the front upper corner. When the opening / closing button 6B is pressed, the opening / closing member 6 disengages the hook 6D from the base body 20, and the upper end of the opening / closing member 6 rotates forward to enter an open state. In the open state, the main unit 2 exposes the peeling area 224 of the pressing portion 5 and the storage portion 211 of the wrapping portion 7 to the front of the label application device 1 (see FIG. 8). In the closed state, the main unit 2 covers the peeling area 224 and the storage portion 211 with the opening / closing member 6 (see FIG. 7).

[0099] The opening / closing member 6 has a pressing member 60. When the opening / closing member 6 is in the closed state, the pressing member 60 protrudes rearward from the rear surface of the opening / closing member 6 and moves forward and backward in the front-to-rear direction. The pressing member 60 extends in the vertical direction, and its lower end is supported by a shaft body 6A. As shown by the dotted line in Figure 11, the upper end of the pressing member 60 swings in the front-to-rear direction. The pressing member 60 is urged rearward by a compression coil spring 6C arranged inside the opening / closing member 6.

[0100] The front surface of the pressing member 60 is a pressing surface 61. When the opening / closing member 6 is in the closed state, the pressing surface 61 extends in the up-down and left-right directions and faces rearward. In this state, the pressing surface 61 is disposed in front of the opening of the peeling region 224 of the pressing portion 5. In a side view, there is a gap in the front-to-rear direction between the pressing surface 61 and the guide surface 51.

[0101] The guide surface 51 is positioned at a position offset in the left-right direction from the pressing surface 61. In other words, the guide surface 51 and the pressing surface 61 do not face each other in the front-rear direction. Furthermore, the size of the pressing surface 61 in the left-right direction is greater than the maximum width of the tape 150 compatible with the label application device 1.

[0102] When the cable 19 passes through the guide passage R4 between the guide surface 51 and the pressing surface 61 in the guide direction Y4, the pressing surface 61 presses the end of the label 160 against the cable 19 by its urging force. The pressing surface 61 extends longer in the guide direction Y4 than the guide surface 51. This is because the pressing surface 61 continues to press the end of the label 160 until the label 160 is peeled off the release material 170.

[0103] An imaginary line connecting the most downstream position P2 of the pressing surface 61 in the guide path R4 in the guide direction Y4 and the connection portion 235 is defined as an imaginary line L. The pressing surface 61 extends to a position P2 where the angle θ3 between the conveyance direction Y2 and the imaginary line L is between 40 degrees and 90 degrees. By setting the angle θ3 to 40 degrees or more, the label application device 1 can increase the angle between the label 160 and the release paper when peeling the label 160, thereby reducing the load required for peeling. In particular, if the angle θ3 is 90 degrees, the release material 170 is not subjected to a load that pulls it out in the conveyance direction Y2.

[0104] In this way, the label application device 1 can reduce the force with which the label 160 pulls the release material 170 when the label 160 is peeled off. Therefore, the label application device 1 can prevent the unprinted tape 150 from being pulled out of the tape cassette 100. This allows the printing unit 3 to suppress distortion when printing on the tape 150. Furthermore, the pressing surface 61 extends from the application position P1 to position P2. Therefore, the pressing surface 61 can maintain a state in which the end portion is pressed against the cable 19 until the label 160 is peeled off from the release material 170.

[0105] The pressing member 60 further has a support surface 62 and an inclined surface 63. The support surface 62 is connected to the upper end of the pressing surface 61 and faces diagonally upward and rearward when the opening / closing member 6 is in the closed state. The support surface 62 guides the position of the cable 19 in the front-rear direction when the user places the cable 19 at the attachment position.

[0106] Furthermore, the end of the label 160 peeled from the release material 170 is disposed in a state of riding on the support surface 62. Therefore, when the user attaches the end of the label 160 to the cable 19, the end of the label 160 is sandwiched between the support surface 62 and the cable 19 and adhered to the cable 19. Furthermore, because the support surface 62 is inclined forward, when it abuts against the cable 19, it receives stress from the cable 19 and can move the upper end of the pressing member 60 forward. As a result, if the outer diameter of the cable 19 is larger than the gap between the pressing surface 61 and the guide surface 51, the support surface 62 can widen the gap between the pressing surface 61 and the guide surface 51.

[0107] The inclined surface 63 is connected to the lower end of the pressing surface 61 and faces diagonally downward and rearward in the closed state. When the cable 19 wrapped around the label 160 is moved upward to be removed from the winding section 7, the inclined surface 63 guides the cable 19 into the gap between the pressing surface 61 and the guide surface 51. Furthermore, because the inclined surface 63 is inclined forward, it receives stress from the cable 19 when it comes into contact with the cable 19, allowing the upper end of the pressing member 60 to move forward. As a result, if the outer diameter of the cable 19 is larger than the gap between the pressing surface 61 and the guide surface 51, the inclined surface 63 can widen the gap between the pressing surface 61 and the guide surface 51.

[0108] <Pressing section 5> The pressing section 5 is a section that presses the end of the label 160 against the cable 19 in the process of guiding the cable 19, to which the end of the label 160 is attached at the attachment position, toward the winding section 7. The pressing section 5 presses the end of the label 160 against the cable 19 so that the end does not peel off. The pressing section 5 includes a pressing member 60 of the opening / closing member 6, an intermediate section 22 of the base 20, and a moving member 50.

[0109] The moving member 50 is disposed in the peeling region 224 of the intermediate portion 22. The peeling region 224 is an area surrounded by the left wall 221, the right wall 222, the connecting wall 223, and the first wall 231. As shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 , the moving member 50 is box-shaped and extends in the width direction and the extension direction, and has a certain thickness. The moving member 50 has a top wall 50A, a left wall 50B, a right wall 50C, and a base wall 50D. The top surface of the top wall 50A is flat. The left wall 50B, the right wall 50C, and the base wall 50D extend from the edges of the left portion, right portion, and base portion of the top wall 50A toward the bottom surface.

[0110] The bottom surface of the moving member 50 is open. The top wall 50A is reinforced on the side opposite the top surface with ribs. The base wall 50D has a notch in the middle in the width direction. The tip portion 50E becomes thinner as it approaches the tip.

[0111] The left wall 50B and the right wall 50C each have a pin 50F at a tip 50E that protrudes in the width direction. The pin 50F engages with a guide hole 225 provided in each of the left wall 221 and the right wall 222 of the peeling region 224. The guide holes 225 include a first guide hole 225A and a second guide hole 225B. The first guide hole 225A extends linearly in the vertical direction in a side view. The second guide hole 225B connects to the lower end of the first guide hole 225A and extends in an arc shape.

[0112] The left wall 50B and the right wall 50C have guide holes 50H in the base 50G. The guide holes 50H are elongated holes extending in the extension direction. A shaft 226 extending in the width direction is inserted into the guide holes 50H. The shaft 226 is supported by the left wall 221 and the right wall 222 of the peeling region 224. A torsion spring 227 is attached to the shaft 226. The torsion spring 227 biases the moving member 50 so that the tip 50E is positioned above the base 50G.

[0113] The guide surfaces 51 are disposed on both the left and right sides of the peeling region 224. The guide surfaces 51 guide the cable 19, to which the label 160 is attached at the attachment position P1, to the winding section 7. The user grasps the cable 19, which extends in the left-right direction, with both hands and brings the cable 19 into contact with the guide surfaces 51. The user moves the cable 19 downward along the guide surfaces 51 toward the winding section 7, which is located below the attachment position P1.

[0114] The cable 19 passes through the guide passage R4 between the guide surface 51 and the pressing surface 61 in the guide direction Y4, and reaches the winding portion 7. The guide direction Y4 is the direction in which the cable 19 moves along the guide surface 51, which extends in the up-down direction. In other words, the guide direction Y4 is the downward direction in the vertical direction.

[0115] 15 , when the cable 19 moves in the guide direction Y4, the transport of the tape 150 along the transport path R2 is stopped. The tape 150 is held sandwiched between the transport roller 34 and the drive roller 101. Even if stress is applied in a direction that pulls the tape 150 out of the printing unit 3, the tape 150 is prevented from being pulled out. The transport path R2 is exposed in the peeling region 224. Therefore, the label 160, whose end is attached to the cable 19, is peeled off from the release material 170 within the peeling region 224 as the cable 19 moves in the guide direction Y4.

[0116] The angle θ4 between the conveying direction Y2 of the tape 150 on the conveying path R2 and the vertically downward direction, which is the extension direction of the guide surface 51, is 90 degrees or less. The angle θ4 is set so that the label 160 can be smoothly peeled off from the release material 170 as the cable 19 to which the end of the label 160 is attached moves. If the angle θ4 is an obtuse angle greater than 90 degrees, the stress required to peel the label 160 from the release material 170 increases. If the label 160 is peeled off in this state, the tape 150 stopped on the conveying path R2 will be pulled up. As a result, it is difficult to peel the label 160 cleanly. Therefore, the inclination angle of the third surface 234 of the first wall 231 is set so that the angle θ4 is 90 degrees or less.

[0117] The moving member 50 is biased by a torsion spring 227. When no load is applied to the moving member 50, the tip 50E protrudes into the guide passage R4 below the application position P1 and is located forward of the guide surface 51 in a side view. When the cable 19, to which the end of the label 160 is attached, moves in the guide direction Y4 from the application position P1 through the guide passage R4, the tip 50E of the moving member 50 abuts against the cable 19. The tip 50E pinches the end of the label 160 between itself and the cable 19 from downstream in the guide direction Y4. The pressing surface 61 of the pressing member 60 maintains a state in which the end of the label 160 is pressed against the cable 19 due to the bias of the compression coil spring 6C.

[0118] As shown in Figure 16, when the cable 19 moves in the guide direction Y4, the tip 50E of the moving member 50 rotates downward around the shaft 226 due to pressure from the cable 19. The guide hole 50H moves relative to the shaft 226, allowing the moving member 50 to shift the position of the pivot point for rotation. The pin 50F moves along the linear first guide hole 225A of the guide holes 225. Therefore, the tip 50E of the moving member 50 maintains a state in which it protrudes into the guide passage R4. The tip 50E maintains a state in which the end of the label 160 is sandwiched between the tip 50E and the cable 19 from downstream in the guide direction Y4, and peels the label 160 from the release material 170 together with the cable 19.

[0119] As shown in FIG. 17 , the guide surface 51 is shorter than the pressing surface 61 in the vertical direction. When the tip 50E moves below the most downstream position of the guide surface 51 in the guide direction Y4, the pin 50F moves along the arc-shaped second guide hole 225B of the guide hole 225. The second guide hole 225B curves in a direction away from the guide path R4. Therefore, as the cable 19 moves in the guide direction Y4, the tip 50E gradually retreats from the guide path R4. When the cable 19 continues to move in the guide direction Y4 and reaches the most downstream position P2 of the pressing surface 61 in the guide path R4, the pressing surface 61 stops pressing the end of the label 160.

[0120] 18 , the middle portion 22 of the base 20 has an inclined surface 52 below the guide surface 51. The inclined surface 52 is connected to the lower end of the guide surface 51 and faces diagonally downward and forward. When the cable 19 around which the label 160 is wound is moved upward to be removed from the winding section 7, the inclined surface 52 guides the cable 19 into the gap between the pressing surface 61 and the guide surface 51.

[0121] When attaching the label 160, the user presses the cable 19 against the guide surface 51 and moves the cable 19 along the guide surface 51. Therefore, the cable 19 may move from the lower end of the guide surface 51 along the inclined surface 52. When the pin 50F is aligned with the second guide hole 225B, the moving member 50 retreats rearward from the inclined surface 52. Therefore, the moving member 50 does not interfere with the movement of the cable 19.

[0122] The label application device 1 cuts the tape 150 with the half-cut cutting blade 92 to a length appropriate for the thickness and application of the cable 19, thereby producing the label 160. The peeling completion position is defined as position P2 at which the pressing surface 61 finishes pressing the end of the label 160. The length of the label 160 is preferably such that peeling of the label 160 from the release material 170 is completed when the cable 19 is at the peeling completion position.

[0123] There are cases where a label 160 is used that is long enough that it cannot be completely peeled from the peeling material 170 even when the cable 19 reaches position P2. As the cable 19 moves, the end of the label 160 is pressed against the cable 19 by the pressing surface 61, and is sandwiched between the label 160 and the cable 19 by the moving member 50. Therefore, when the cable 19 reaches position P2, the label 160 is adhered to the cable 19 with sufficient strength. Therefore, the label application device 1 can peel off even a long label 160 at a position further downstream in the guide direction Y4 from position P2 using only the adhesive force to the cable 19.

[0124] <Winding Unit 7> The winding unit 7 wraps and affixes a label 160, the end of which is attached to the cable 19 arranged at the winding position P3, around the cable 19. As shown in Figures 6, 7, and 19 to 21, the winding unit 7 has a substantially cylindrical rotating body 70 with a partially missing side surface. A rotation axis 70A, which is the center of rotation of the rotating body 70, extends in the left-right direction. The rotation axis 70A is rotatably supported by a left support part 71 fixed to the left surface of the left side plate 25 and a right support part 72 fixed to the right surface of the right side plate 26.

[0125] The rotating body 70 has a left side surface 73, a right side surface 74, and a peripheral surface 75. The left side surface 73 and the right side surface 74 are disk-shaped and face each other while being spaced apart in the left-right direction. The left side surface 73 has an external gear 73A on its left surface. The main unit 2 has a drive mechanism 705 on the bottom 21. The external gear 73A is connected to the drive mechanism 705. The driving force generated by the motor 705A of the drive mechanism 705 is transmitted to the external gear 73A and input to the rotating body 70.

[0126] The left side surface portion 73 has an insertion portion 73B. The insertion portion 73B is generally U-shaped and recessed from the peripheral end toward the rotation axis 70A. The insertion portion 73B extends radially from a semicircular bottom portion 731 centered on the rotation axis 70A to an opening 732 that corresponds to a portion of the peripheral end of the left side surface portion 73.

[0127] The left side surface portion 73 has a generally C-shaped rotation shaft portion 73C. The rotation shaft portion 73C is located radially inward of the rotation axis 70A relative to the external gear 73A and protrudes leftward in the circumferential direction excluding the insertion portion 73B. The left support portion 71 has a rotation receiving portion 71A on its right surface. The rotation shaft portion 73C engages with the rotation receiving portion 71A and is rotatably supported.

[0128] The right side surface portion 74 has a detection plate 74A on the periphery of its right surface. The detection plate 74A is located at a position where it can be detected by a transmission-type photosensor 701 (see FIG. 9 ) when the rotating body 70 is in the initial position. The control unit can stop the rotating body 70 at the initial position by controlling the rotating body 70 to stop rotation when the photosensor 701 detects the detection plate 74A. The initial position is a position where the openings 732, 742 are located at the upper ends of the bottoms 731, 741, and the cable 19 and label 160 can be inserted into the insertion portions 73B, 74B.

[0129] The photosensor 701 is disposed at a position on the bottom 21 of the base 20 diagonally above and rearward of the storage section 211. The photosensor 701 is disposed at a position rearward of the rotor 70 disposed in the storage section 211. In other words, when the opening / closing member 6 is opened and the storage section 211 is viewed from the front, the photosensor 701 is disposed at the back of the storage section 211.

[0130] As will be described later, the rotating body 70 is detachable from the storage section 211 and attachable to the storage section 211. The rotating body 70 is attached to the storage section 211 from the front to the rear of the base 20. That is, the attachment direction of the rotating body 70 to the storage section 211 is rearward. The photosensor 701 is disposed further back than the storage section 211 in the attachment direction of the rotating body 70.

[0131] The right side surface portion 74 has an insertion portion 74B. The insertion portion 74B is generally U-shaped and recessed from the peripheral end toward the rotation axis 70A. The insertion portion 74B extends radially from a semicircular bottom portion 741 centered on the rotation axis 70A to an opening 742 that corresponds to a portion of the peripheral end of the left side surface portion 73.

[0132] The right side surface portion 74 has a generally C-shaped rotation shaft portion 74C. The rotation shaft portion 74C is located radially inward from the rotation axis 70A relative to the peripheral end portion and protrudes rightward along the circumferential direction excluding the insertion portion 74B. The right support portion 72 has a rotation receiving portion 72A on its left surface. The rotation shaft portion 74C engages with the rotation receiving portion 72A and is rotatably supported.

[0133] The peripheral surface portion 75 has a semi-cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction and is located between the left side surface portion 73 and the right side surface portion 74. The peripheral surface portion 75 is generally U-shaped in a side view, with both ends connected to the left side surface portion 73 and the right side surface portion 74, respectively. The open portion of the peripheral surface portion 75 and the open portions of the insertion portions 73B, 74B are arranged in the same direction in the radial direction of the rotation axis 70A. The peripheral surface portion 75 houses the arm members 76, 77 therein and supports them so that they can swing.

[0134] With the openings 732, 742 located at the upper ends of the bottoms 731, 741 of the rotating body 70, the cable 19 and the label 160 can be inserted into the insertion portions 73B, 74B. The rotational position of the rotating body 70 in this state is the initial position. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, it is assumed that the rotating body 70 is located in the initial position. The insertion portions 73B, 74B are located vertically below the attachment position P1 and downstream in the guide direction Y4 from position P2 of the guide path R4. The openings 732, 742 of the insertion portions 73B, 74B open toward the surface Us of the end of the label 160 located at the attachment position P1.

[0135] The winding unit 7 has arm members 76 and 77, coil springs 78 and 79, and a support shaft 702 inside the rotating body 70. The arm members 76 and 77 sandwich and hold the cable 19 when the winding unit 7 wraps the label 160 around the cable 19. The arm members 76 and 77 are metal members of the same shape.

[0136] The arm members 76, 77 each have a clamping portion 76A, 77A, a receiving portion 76B, 77B, a bearing portion 76C, 77C, a spacer 76D, 77D, and a fastening portion 76E, 77E. The clamping portions 76A, 77A are flat plates extending in the left-right and up-down directions and are arranged opposite each other with a gap in the front-to-back direction. The spacers 76D, 77D are located closer to both the left and right edges of the clamping portions 76A, 77A than the left-to-right center of the clamping portions 76A, 77A. The spacers 76D, 77D abut against each other to ensure a gap between the clamping portions 76A, 77A.

[0137] The bearings 76C and 77C are located near the spacers 76D and 77D of the clamping portions 76A and 77A. A single support shaft 702 is inserted through the bearings 76C and 77C. Therefore, the arm members 76 and 77 swing around the common support shaft 702.

[0138] The left end of the support shaft 702 is supported on the left side surface 73 of the rotating body 70 at a position radially outward from the rotation axis 70A relative to the bottom 731 of the insertion portion 73B. The right end of the support shaft 702 is supported on the right side surface 74 of the rotating body 70 at a position radially outward from the rotation axis 70A relative to the bottom 741 of the insertion portion 74B. Therefore, the ends of the arm members 76, 77 opposite the support shaft 702 swing, moving toward and away from each other.

[0139] The bearing portions 76C, 77C have protrusions 76F, 77F (see FIG. 21). The protrusions 76F, 77F extend in the opposite direction from the clamping portions 76A, 77A. The rotating body 70 has an opening 75A (see FIG. 19) in the bottom portion of the peripheral surface portion 75. The protrusions 76F, 77F are disposed within the opening 75A.

[0140] When the arm members 76, 77 swing about the support shaft 702 and reach a predetermined swing range, the protrusions 76F, 77F abut against the edge of the opening 75A. That is, the opening 75A defines the swing range (see dotted lines in FIG. 19 ) of the arm members 76, 77. The swing range is the range in which the tips 76G, 77G of the arm members 76, 77 do not extend beyond the outer peripheries of the left side surface portion 73 and the right side surface portion 74, i.e., the outer periphery of the rotating body 70.

[0141] The receiving portions 76B, 77B are located at the ends of the arm members 76, 77 opposite the support shaft 702 and are connected to the clamping portions 76A, 77A, respectively. The receiving portions 76B, 77B bend in directions separating them in the front-to-rear direction. That is, the size of the gap between the receiving portions 76B, 77B gradually narrows toward the inside in the radial direction of the rotation axis 70A when viewed from the side.

[0142] The surfaces of the clamping portion 76A and the receiving portion 76B facing the rotation axis 70A are smoothly continuous. The continuous surfaces of the clamping portion 76A and the receiving portion 76B have a coating layer on the surface that suppresses adhesion of adhesive materials. The surfaces of the clamping portion 77A and the receiving portion 77B facing the rotation axis 70A are also smoothly continuous. The continuous surfaces of the clamping portion 77A and the receiving portion 77B have a coating layer on the surface that suppresses adhesion of adhesive materials. The receiving portions 76B and 77B guide the cable 19 moving from the pressing portion 5 to the winding portion 7 toward the rotation axis 70A in the front-to-rear direction, guiding it into the gap between the clamping portions 76A and 77A.

[0143] The fastening portions 76E, 77E are located on the opposite sides of the clamping portions 76A, 77A from the opposing sides, and hold one ends of coil springs 78, 79. The other ends of the coil springs 78, 79 are held on the inner surface of the peripheral surface portion 75 of the rotating body 70. The arm members 76, 77 are biased by the coil springs 78, 79 toward the rotation axis 70A, respectively. The clamping portions 76A, 77A clamp and hold the cable 19 inserted into the gap.

[0144] The winding portion 7 further includes lever members 706, 707 and microswitches 708, 709. The microswitches 708, 709 detect the cable 19 when it reaches the guide positions of the left support portion 71 and the right support portion 72, i.e., the bottom portions 71C, 72C. When the portions of the cable 19 corresponding to the guide portions 71B, 72B are located in the guide positions, the portion of the cable 19 corresponding to the rotating body 70 is located in a winding position P3. The winding position P3 is located at or near the rotation axis 70A at the bottom portions 731, 741 of the insertion portions 73B, 74B.

[0145] The bottoms 731, 741 are semicircular curved surfaces centered on the rotation axis 70A, which is the center of rotation of the rotating body 70. The radius of curvature of the bottoms 731, 741 is a size corresponding to the cable 19 with the largest outer diameter among the outer diameters of the cables 19 around which the label application device 1 can wrap a label 160. Therefore, when a cable 19 with an outer diameter other than the largest diameter comes into contact with the bottoms 731, 741, the position of the center line of the cable 19 does not coincide with the rotation axis 70A.

[0146] The winding unit 7 can wind the label 160 even if the position of the center line of the cable 19 is misaligned with the position of the rotation axis 70A of the rotating body 70. Therefore, the winding position P3 is the position where the portion of the cable 19 corresponding to the rotating body 70 is located when the cable 19 is located in the guide position. Therefore, the winding position P3 does not necessarily coincide with the rotation axis 70A.

[0147] As shown in Figure 22, the lever member 707 is a plate-like member that extends and bends in steps in the front-to-rear direction. The lever member 707 has a support portion 707A, an input portion 707B, and an action portion 707C. The support portion 707A is a fulcrum that rotatably supports the lever member 707, and is located at the front end of the lever member 707. The lever member 707 is attached to the left surface of the right support portion 72. The right support portion 72 has a shaft on its left surface. The shaft protrudes to the left of the right support portion 72 and engages with the support portion 707A.

[0148] The rear end of the lever member 707 is biased upward by a coil spring 707D. The input portion 707B is located on the upper surface of the middle portion of the lever member 707 and protrudes upward. The right support portion 72 has an opening in the bottom portion 72C of the guide portion 72B. A portion of the input portion 707B is exposed at the bottom portion 72C through the opening. The input portion 707B swings the lever member 707 when pressed by the cable 19 guided by the bottom portion 72C.

[0149] The acting portion 707C is located at the rear end of the lever member 707. When the input portion 707B is exposed at the bottom portion 72C, the acting portion 707C is located rearward and above the input portion 707B and the support portion 707A. The microswitch 709 is located below the acting portion 707C and is fixed to the right surface of the right side plate 26. The microswitch 709 is a switch for driving a drive portion that rotates the rotating body 70.

[0150] The action portion 707C is located above the input portion 707B. Therefore, even if foreign matter such as water adheres to the input portion 707B through the opening in the bottom portion 72C, the foreign matter is unlikely to reach the action portion 707C. Therefore, the lever member 707 can prevent foreign matter from adhering to the microswitch 709.

[0151] The lever member 706 shown in Figure 10 has the same configuration as the lever member 707. The lever member 706 is a plate-like member that extends and bends in a stepped manner in the front-to-rear direction. The lever member 706 has a support portion 706A, an input portion 706B, and an action portion 706C. The support portion 706A is a fulcrum that rotatably supports the lever member 706, and is located at the front end of the lever member 706. The lever member 706 is attached to the right surface of the left support portion 71. The left support portion 71 has a shaft on its right surface. The shaft protrudes to the right of the left support portion 71 and engages with the support portion 706A.

[0152] The rear end of the lever member 706 is biased upward by a coil spring. The input portion 706B is located on the upper surface of the middle portion of the lever member 706 and protrudes upward. The left support portion 71 has an opening in the bottom portion 71C of the guide portion 71B. A portion of the input portion 706B is exposed at the bottom portion 71C through the opening. The input portion 706B swings the lever member 706 when pressed by the cable 19 guided by the bottom portion 71C.

[0153] The acting portion 706C is located at the rear end of the lever member 706. When the input portion 706B is exposed at the bottom portion 71C, the acting portion 706C is located rearward and above the input portion 706B and the support portion 706A. The microswitch 708 is located below the acting portion 706C and is fixed to the left surface of the left side plate 25. The microswitch 708 is a switch for driving a drive portion that rotates the rotating body 70.

[0154] The action portion 706C is located above the input portion 706B. Therefore, even if foreign matter such as water adheres to the input portion 706B through the opening in the bottom portion 71C, the foreign matter is unlikely to reach the action portion 706C. Therefore, the lever member 706 can prevent foreign matter from adhering to the microswitch 708.

[0155] After moving in the guide direction Y4 along the guide passage R4 and peeling the label 160 from the release material 170, the cable 19 moves further downward from position P2. The guide surfaces 71D of the left support part 71 and the guide surfaces 72D of the right support part 72 abut on portions of the cable 19 that are laterally outward of the portion to which the label 160 is attached. The guide surfaces 71D and 72D guide the cable 19 to the guide parts 71B and 72B.

[0156] The cable 19 moves downward along the guide portions 71B and 72B. As shown in FIG. 19 , the rotating body 70 is stopped in the initial position. Therefore, the cable 19 can enter the insertion portions 73B and 74B. The cable 19 is guided by the guide portions 71B and 72B and the insertion portions 73B and 74B and enters the gap between the clamping portions 76A and 77A of the arm members 76 and 77. The gap between the receiving portions 76B and 77B gradually narrows downward. Therefore, even if the moving direction of the cable 19 deviates in the forward / backward direction, the cable 19 is guided by the receiving portions 76B and 77B and enters the gap between the clamping portions 76A and 77A.

[0157] 23 , when cable 19 enters the gap between clamping portions 76A and 77A, cable 19 presses against arm members 76 and 77. Arm members 76 and 77 swing around a common support shaft 702. This allows cable 19 to push open the gap between clamping portions 76A and 77A. The biasing force of arm members 76 and 77 maintains the state in which cable 19 is clamped and held between clamping portions 76A and 77A.

[0158] Cable 19 reaches bottoms 71C, 72C of guide portions 71B, 72B, i.e., the guide positions. At this time, the portion of cable 19 to which the end of label 160 is attached is positioned at winding position P3 within rotating body 70. As shown in Figure 23, the portion of cable 19 that has reached the guide positions presses input portions 706B, 707B downward. As input portions 706B, 707B move downward, action portions 706C, 707C move downward.

[0159] The action portions 706C and 707C are located farther from the support portions 706A and 707A than the input portions 706B and 707B, respectively. Therefore, the action portions 706C and 707C move downward a distance longer than the distance that the input portions 706B and 707B move downward when pressed by the cable 19. When the action portions 706C and 707C move downward, they come into contact with and turn on the microswitches 708 and 709, respectively, thereby transmitting the detection result of the cable 19.

[0160] When both microswitch 708 and microswitch 709 are turned on, the control unit drives motor 705A to rotate rotating body 70. As shown in FIG. 24 , as rotating body 70 rotates, label 160 is wrapped around the outer surface of cable 19. The surfaces of clamping portions 76A and 77A of arm members 76 and 77 that contact cable 19 are flat. Arm members 76 and 77 are biased. Therefore, even if the center position of cable 19 deviates from the position of rotation axis 70A of rotating body 70, clamping portions 76A and 77A can always maintain a state in which they hold the outer surface of cable 19.

[0161] Similarly, even if the outer diameter of cable 19 is different, clamping portions 76A and 77A can always maintain a state in which they hold the outer peripheral surface of cable 19. Rotating body 70 rotates with clamping portions 76A and 77A holding cable 19. As a result, label 160 is wrapped around the outer peripheral surface of cable 19 and attached to cable 19 with the adhesive.

[0162] The control unit controls the number of rotations and rotation position of the rotating body 70 by detecting the detection plate 74A of the rotating body 70 with the photosensor 701. When the number of rotations of the rotating body 70 reaches a preset number, the control unit controls the rotating body 70 to stop at the initial position. In the initial position, the openings 732 of the insertion sections 73B and 74B are located above the bottom section 731. Therefore, the cable 19 around which the label 160 is wound can be removed from the insertion sections 73B and 74B and the guide sections 71B and 72B. When the cable 19 is ejected from the guide section 72B, the biasing force of the lever member 707 moves the operating section 707C upward, turning off the microswitch 709.

[0163] After the label 160 is wrapped around the cable 19, the cable 19 moves in the direction opposite to the guide direction Y4. As shown in FIG. 11 , the inclined surface 63 of the pressing member 60 and the inclined surface 52 of the middle portion 22 of the base 20 guide the cable 19 to the position of the guide passage R4. Furthermore, as the cable 19 passes through the guide passage R4, it presses against the pressing surface 61 along the inclined surface 52. This causes the upper end of the pressing member 60 to move forward, and the guide passage R4 is pushed open in the front-to-rear direction. The cable 19 passes through the guide passage R4, and the cable 19 with the label 160 attached thereto is removed from the label application device 1.

[0164] By opening the opening / closing member 6, the user can remove the rotating body 70 from the storage section 211 and perform maintenance. As shown in Figure 8, the user presses the opening / closing button 6B of the opening / closing member 6 to open the opening / closing member 6. The peeling area 224 of the pressing unit 5 and the storage section 211 of the winding unit 7 are exposed at the front of the label application device 1.

[0165] The user removes the screws of the left support part 71 and the right support part 72 and removes them from the left side plate 25 and the right side plate 26, respectively. The rotation shaft parts 73C and 74C of the rotating body 70 are disengaged from the rotation receiving parts 71A and 72A of the left support part 71 and the right support part 72. The user can then remove the rotating body 70 from the storage part 211.

[0166] The photosensor 701 detects the detection plate 74A of the rotating body 70 in a non-contact manner. Furthermore, the photosensor 701 is disposed at a position deep inside the housing section 211. Therefore, when removing the rotating body 70, there is no need to disconnect the signal line of the photosensor 701 or to disengage the photosensor 701 from the detection plate 74A.

[0167] Furthermore, the microswitches 708 and 709 are fixed to the left side plate 25 and the right side plate 26, respectively. Therefore, the user does not need to disconnect the signal lines of the microswitches 708 and 709 when removing the left support part 71 and the right support part 72 from the left side plate 25 and the right side plate 26. The lever members 706 and 707 are attached to the left support part 71 and the right support part 72, respectively. In the left support part 71 and the right support part 72, the lever members 706 and 707 are held in positions spaced apart from the microswitches 708 and 709 by the spring force of the coil spring 707D. Therefore, when the user removes the left support part 71 and the right support part 72 from the left side plate 25 and the right side plate 26, the lever members 706 and 707 do not interfere with the microswitches 708 and 709.

[0168] When attaching the rotating body 70 to the storage section 211, the user performs the work in the reverse order of removal. The user places the rotating body 70 in the storage section 211. The user temporarily places the rotation receiving portions 71A, 72A of the left support portion 71 and the right support portion 72 in the circular portions of the open portions 25A, 26A of the left side plate 25 and the right side plate 26. The user temporarily engages the rotation shaft portions 73C, 74C of the rotating body 70 by fitting them into the rotation receiving portions 71A, 72A of the left support portion 71 and the right support portion 72, respectively.

[0169] The user rotates the left support part 71 and the right support part 72 around the rotation receiving parts 71A and 72A, respectively. This aligns the guide parts 71B and 72B of the left support part 71 and the right support part 72 with the openings 25A and 26A of the left side plate 25 and the right side plate 26. The user then tightens the screws to secure the left support part 71 and the right support part 72 to the left side plate 25 and the right side plate 26, respectively, completing the installation of the rotating body 70.

[0170] 3 and 11 , the winding unit 8 is located above the upper front corner of the tape attachment unit 30, on the right side of the main plate 12, and diagonally above and rearward of the peeling unit 4. The winding unit 8 winds up the release material 170, from which the label 160 has been peeled in the peeling unit 4, into a roll. In this way, the winding unit 8 applies to the tape 150 the tension required for feeding the tape 150 and peeling the label 160.

[0171] As shown in Figure 1, the winding unit 8 has a cylindrical shape. The rotation axis 80A of the winding unit 8 extends in the left-right direction. The left-right length of the winding unit 8 is greater than the maximum width of the tape 150, i.e., the maximum width of the label 160, that is compatible with the label application device 1. The left end of the winding unit 8 is connected to the drive unit of the main plate 12, and is controlled by the control unit to rotate counterclockwise as viewed from the right side.

[0172] The right end of the winding unit 8 is open. The release material 170 is wound around the outer circumferential surface of the winding unit 8. When the release material 170 is to be disposed of, the rolled release material roll 175 is pulled out to the right from the right end of the winding unit 8.

[0173] As shown in Figures 25 to 29, the winding unit 8 has a reel 80, a rotating shaft 81, an advancing / retracting member 82, a presser member 84, a cover member 85, and an operating member 86. The reel 80 is cylindrical and extends in the axial direction of a rotating shaft 80A. The left side of the reel 80 is closed, and has an opening in the center, into which the rotating shaft 81 extending from a group of gears 88 of the drive unit is inserted. The opening of the rotating shaft 81 connects to the inner circumferential surface of a cylindrical shaft 80D that extends cylindrically from the left side to the right within the reel 80. The rotating shaft 81 is fastened to the cylindrical shaft 80D with a screw at the right end of the cylindrical shaft 80D, and is fixed to the reel 80.

[0174] A group of gears 88 of the drive unit transmits the driving force of a motor 89 of the drive unit to the rotation shaft 81. The reel 80 rotates according to the control of the motor 89 by the control unit.

[0175] The right side of the reel 80 is open. The reel 80 has an opening 80C that penetrates the outer peripheral surface 80B. The opening 80C opens to the outer peripheral surface 80B with an area that is approximately one-quarter of the outer peripheral surface 80B. The opening 80C is open on the right side.

[0176] A protruding / retracting member 82 is disposed in the opening 80C. The protruding / retracting member 82 is plate-shaped and has a size approximately equal to the width of the opening 80C. The protruding / retracting member 82 has an outer surface 82A that curves along the outer peripheral surface 80B. The protruding / retracting member 82 has a shaft hole 82C (see FIG. 27 ) at one circumferential end of the outer surface 82A, through which a shaft 82B extending in the axial direction is inserted.

[0177] One circumferential end of the shaft 82B at the opening 80C of the reel 80 is held by a bearing 80E inside the reel 80. Therefore, the retractable member 82 swings around the shaft 82B, with the other circumferential end on the outer surface 82A as the free end. The free end can move in and out radially between the inside and outside of the reel 80 via the opening 80C.

[0178] The reel 80 has an insertion port 80F on the outer peripheral surface 80B at the other end in the circumferential direction than the opening 80C. The insertion port 80F is shaped like a slit extending in the axial direction. The inner wall of the insertion port 80F extends to approximately the center in the radial direction within the reel 80. An end of the release material 170 taken up by the winding unit 8 is inserted into the insertion port 80F.

[0179] The pressing member 84 is a metal leaf spring. One end of the pressing member 84 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction is bent, and the edge of the bent end has a pressing portion 84A having a plurality of teeth aligned in the axial direction.

[0180] The other end of the pressing member 84 is divided into three parts in the axial direction. The support parts 84C are both parts in the axial direction at the other end of the pressing member 84. Each of the support parts 84C is bent into a cylindrical shape with a curvature larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical shaft 80D. The support parts 84C engage with the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical shaft 80D and support the pressing member 84 rotatably around the cylindrical shaft 80D.

[0181] The restricting portion 84B is the central portion in the axial direction at the other end of the pressing member 84. The restricting portion 84B extends to the other end while bending in a stepped manner. With the pressing portion 8A positioned on the inner wall of the insertion port 80F, the restricting portion 84B is hooked onto the hook portion 80G located near the bearing 80E inside the reel 80. The restricting portion 84B restricts counterclockwise rotation of the pressing member 84 when viewed from the right side.

[0182] The flexible portion 84D is a portion between the support portion 84C and the pressing portion 84A. The flexible portion 84D is bent by the pressure of the first cam 87A. When the pressure is released, the flexible portion 84D returns to its original state by its elastic force.

[0183] The insertion port 80F has a toothed portion 80H (see FIG. 27) on its inner wall. The toothed portion 80H has a plurality of teeth. The teeth extend in the axial direction and are stepped relative to the insertion direction of the end of the release material 170. The insertion direction is perpendicular to the axial direction. The pressing portion 84A of the pressing member 84 is positioned so that its teeth face the toothed portion 80H.

[0184] The cover member 85 closes the right side of the reel 80. The cover member 85 is placed inside the right end of the reel 80 and fixed with a screw. The cover member 85 has a long, notched outlet 85A. The outlet 85A is located at a position corresponding to the opening on the right side of the insertion port 80F and is connected to the insertion port 80F. The end of the release material 170 can be removed from the outlet 85A by sliding it to the right from the state where it is inserted into the insertion port 80F.

[0185] The operating member 86 moves the free end of the protruding / retracting member 82 and the pressing portion 84A of the pressing member 84. The operating member 86 has an operating portion 86A and a cam member 87. The operating portion 86A has a rotation shaft 86B. The rotation shaft 86B is inserted into a support hole 85B of the cover member 85 and is rotatably supported.

[0186] The operating unit 86A is disposed on the right side surface of the cover member 85. The operating unit 86A rotates between a first position (see FIG. 28) and a second position (see FIG. 29). In the first position, the operating unit 86A axially overlaps with the outlet 85A and the insertion port 80F. In the second position, the operating unit 86A does not axially overlap with the outlet 85A and the insertion port 80F.

[0187] The cam member 87 is disposed within the reel 80. The cam member 87 has a thick shaft 87C, a first cam 87A, a second cam 87B, and a thin shaft 87D. The thick shaft 87C extends axially and is connected to the rotation shaft 86B of the operation unit 86A. The first cam 87A and the second cam 87B are connected to the left end of the thick shaft 87C. The thin shaft 87D extends axially and is connected to the left ends of the first cam 87A and the second cam 87B.

[0188] The thick shaft 87C and the thin shaft 87D are coaxial. The reel 80 has a bearing portion 80J on the left side surface inside. The thin shaft 87D is supported by the bearing portion 80J. The cam member 87 is disposed within the reel 80 between the free end of the protruding / retracting member 82 and the pressing portion 84A of the pressing member 84. The first cam 87A changes the position of the free end of the protruding / retracting member 82 in response to the rotation of the operating portion 86A.

[0189] When the operating unit 86A is in the first position, the first cam 87A pushes the free end of the protruding / retracting member 82 radially outward. As a result, the protruding / retracting member 82 is positioned in the extended position. The extended position is a position where the position of the outer surface 82A of the protruding / retracting member 82 in the radial direction is approximately the same as the position of the outer peripheral surface 80B of the reel 80 (see FIG. 26). When the operating unit 86A is in the second position, the first cam 87A releases the pushing of the free end of the protruding / retracting member 82. As a result, the protruding / retracting member 82 is positioned in the retracted position. The retracted position is a position where the position of the outer surface 82A of the protruding / retracting member 82 in the radial direction is positioned radially inward relative to the position of the outer peripheral surface 80B of the reel 80 (see FIG. 27).

[0190] The circumferential length of the reel 80 when the protruding / retracting member 82 is in the extended position is referred to as the first circumferential length. The circumferential length is the shortest circumferential length of the reel 80. In other words, the circumferential length is the shortest length of the outline of a cross section that is perpendicular to the rotation axis 80A and includes the opening 80C. The first circumferential length is the length of the outline connecting a line along the outer circumferential surface 80B of the reel 80 and a line along the outer surface 82A of the protruding / retracting member 82 at the opening 80C. The first circumferential length is approximately equal to the length of the outer circumferential surface 80B of the reel 80 when the opening 80C is not present.

[0191] The circumferential length of the reel 80 when the protruding / retracting member 82 is in the retracted position is referred to as the second circumference. The second circumference is the length of an outline connecting a line along the outer peripheral surface 80B of the reel 80, a line along a portion of the outer surface 82A of the protruding / retracting member 82 at the opening 80C, and a tangent extending from the edge of the opening 80C to the outer surface 82A. The tangent extending from the edge of the opening 80C to the outer surface 82A passes through the opening 80C. Therefore, the second circumference is shorter than the first circumference.

[0192] The second cam 87B changes the position of the pressing portion 84A of the pressing member 84 in response to the rotation of the operating portion 86A. When the operating portion 86A is in the first position, the second cam 87B is in a pressing state, pressing the flexible portion 84D. As the flexible portion 84D bends, the pressing portion 84A moves to the abutment position. The abutment position is where the pressing portion 84A abuts against the receiving tooth portion 80H on the inner wall of the insertion port 80F (see FIG. 26).

[0193] When the operating portion 86A is in the second position, the second cam 87B is released from pressing the flexible portion 84D. As the flexible portion 84D returns to its original state due to its elastic force, the pressing portion 84A moves to the separated position, where the pressing portion 84A is separated from the receiving tooth portion 80H (see FIG. 26).

[0194] When the user wants to wind up the release material 170 from which the label 160 has been peeled, he or she rotates the operating part 86A to the second position. The pressure on the flexible part 84D by the second cam 87B is released. The flexible part 84D returns to its original position due to its elastic force, and the pressing part 84A moves to the separated position.

[0195] The user inserts the end of the release material 170 into the insertion port 80F of the reel 80. The end of the release material 170 is inserted all the way into the insertion port 80F without coming into contact with the pressing portion 84A. The user rotates the operating portion 86A to place it in the first position. The flexible portion 84D is pressed by the second cam 87B. The pressing portion 84A moves to the abutting position.

[0196] The pressing portion 84A bites into and clamps the end of the release material 170 between itself and the receiving tooth portion 80H. The flexible portion 84D also biases the pressing portion 84A by its elastic force. When biased, the pressing portion 84A applies a load to the end of the release material 170, pressing the end of the release material 170 against the receiving tooth portion 80H. Therefore, the end of the release material 170 is unlikely to come out of the insertion port 80F when the winding unit 8 starts to wind it.

[0197] The user operates the operation panel 12A to issue an instruction to rotate the winding unit 8. The control unit drives the motor 89 of the drive unit to rotate the rotary shaft 81 and rotate the reel 80 counterclockwise as viewed from the right side. The release material 170 is wound onto the winding unit 8. This eliminates slack in the release material 170. Because the protruding / retracting member 82 is in the extended position, the length of the inner circumference of the release material roll 175 of the release material 170 wound onto the winding unit 8 becomes the first circumference.

[0198] The outer peripheral surface 80B of the reel 80 is preferably a cylindrical surface whose radial distance from the rotation axis 80A is constant. Furthermore, the outer surface 82A of the protruding / retracting member 82 when in the extended position preferably forms a cylindrical surface whose radial distance from the rotation axis 80A is the same as that of the outer peripheral surface 80B of the reel 80. By having the outer peripheral surface 80B of the reel 80 and the outer surface 82A of the protruding / retracting member 82 form a cylindrical surface, the winding unit 8 can suppress unevenness in the speed at which the reel 80 winds up the release material 170. Therefore, the printing unit 3 is less likely to produce unevenness in printing on the label 160.

[0199] Within the tape cassette 100, the release material 170 is wound around the tape spool 121 as the double-sided adhesive tape 120 attached to the adhesive surface Ur of the base material 140. Therefore, the release material 170 is coated on both sides to prevent adhesion of the adhesive, so that the double-sided adhesive tape 120 can be unwound from the tape spool 121. For this reason, the release material 170 is prone to slipping during transport. The take-up unit 8 winds up the release material 170 using the driving force of the motor 89, thereby pulling the release material 170 and assisting transport. Therefore, the take-up unit 8 can apply sufficient peeling force to the peeling unit 4 to resist slippage of the release material 170.

[0200] It is preferable that the change in the outer diameter of the release material roll 175 when the winding unit 8 finishes winding the release material 170 relative to the outer diameter when the winding unit 8 starts winding the release material 170 be kept within 20% of the outer diameter of the reel 80. A portion of the surface of the label 160 is cut off from the release material 170 at the half-cut position Ct of the label 160 (see FIG. 6 ). Therefore, if the change in the pulling force due to winding by the winding unit 8 becomes large, the release material 170 may tear at the half-cut position Ct. Therefore, the label application device 1 keeps the change in the outer diameter of the release material roll 175 from the start of winding to the end of winding within 20% of the outer diameter of the reel 80. As a result, the label application device 1 can suppress the change in the pulling force on the release material 170 and prevent the release material 170 from tearing during winding.

[0201] The winding unit 8 pulls the release material 170 while winding it onto the outer peripheral surface 80B of the reel 80. As a result, the release material roll 175 is tightly wound around the reel 80 and cannot be easily removed from the reel 80. To remove the release material roll 175, the user rotates the operating unit 86A to place it in the second position. The pressing unit 84A moves to the remote position.

[0202] Furthermore, the pushing force of the first cam 87A on the advancing / retracting member 82 is released, allowing it to move to the retracted position. The advancing / retracting member 82 is pushed into the opening 80C by the separation material roll 175 tightly wound around the reel 80, and is placed in the retracted position. The circumferential length of the reel 80 becomes the second circumferential length, which is shorter than the length of the inner circumference of the separation material roll 175. Therefore, a gap is created between the inner surface of the separation material roll 175 and the outer surface 82A of the advancing / retracting member 82, making it easier for the separation material roll 175 to move along the outer peripheral surface 80B.

[0203] As shown in Figure 28, when the operating unit 86A is in the first position, the operating unit 86A overlaps with the outlet 85A in the axial direction. In this case, the user cannot see inside the insertion port 80F. As shown in Figure 29, when the operating unit 86A is in the second position, the operating unit 86A does not overlap with the outlet 85A in the axial direction. In this case, the user can see inside the insertion port 80F. Therefore, the user can know whether the release material roll 175 is ready to be removed simply by looking at the right side of the winding unit 8 and checking whether the outlet 85A and the operating unit 86A overlap.

[0204] The user moves the release material roll 175 in the axial direction and removes it from the right end of the reel 80. The operation unit 86A has moved to a position where it does not overlap with the outlet 85A. This allows the user to remove the end of the release material 170 in the axial direction out of the insertion port 80F through the outlet 85A.

[0205] As described above, when the user attaches the label 160 to the cable 19, the transport of the tape 150 is stopped along the transport path R2. The guide direction Y4 of the cable 19 intersects with the transport direction Y2 of the tape 150 at an angle of 90 degrees or less. Therefore, the user can easily peel the label 160 from the release material 170 simply by moving the cable 19, to which the end of the label 160 is attached, in the guide direction Y4.

[0206] The user moves the cable 19 in the guide direction Y4, which is vertically downward, and can therefore stably operate the cable 19. Therefore, the label application device 1 can improve the state in which the label 160 is applied to the cable 19, thereby improving the quality of application.

[0207] There may be cases where the length of the label 160 is longer than the distance from the application position P1 to the position P2. In this case, if the label 160 is shorter than the distance from the application position P1 to the winding position P3, the label application device 1 can peel the label 160 from the release material 170 before the cable 19 reaches the winding position P3 of the winding section 7. Therefore, the label application device 1 can also apply a label 160 that is shorter than the distance from the application position P1 to the winding position P3 to the cable 19.

[0208] The length of the label 160 may be the same as or shorter than the length from the application position P1 to the position P2. In this case, the label application device 1 positions the cable 19 at the winding position P3 of the winding unit 7 and wraps the label 160 around it after the label 160 has been peeled off as the cable 19 moves in the guide direction Y4. This allows the label application device 1 to perform a stable application operation.

[0209] After the labels 160 are cut by the half-cut cutting blade 92, if they are subjected to pressure from the conveying mechanism during the process of conveying them to the peeling unit 4, there is a possibility that the ends of the labels 160 will stick together at the half-cut position Ct. The conveying roller 34 is located upstream of the half-cut cutting blade 92 on the conveying path R1. The conveying mechanism for conveying the tape 150 is not located in the portion of the conveying path R1 downstream of the half-cut cutting blade 92 or on the conveying path R2. Therefore, the label application device 1 can prevent the ends of the labels 160 from sticking together at the half-cut position Ct.

[0210] As the tape 150 is transported, the release material 170 passes a position closer to the connection 235 between the transport paths R1 and R2 than the label 160 with respect to the adhesive surface Ur. The connection 235 is a minor angle. Therefore, the tape 150 is bent at the connection 235 so that the label 160 faces outward with respect to the adhesive surface Ur. By bending the label 160 outward, the ends of the label 160 are separated on either side of the half-cut position Ct, making it easier to peel the label 160 from the release material 170. Furthermore, re-adhesion of the ends to each other during transport can be suppressed. Therefore, the label application device 1 can reliably peel the ends of the label 160 at the peeling unit 4.

[0211] The labeling device 1 includes a printing unit 3 , which allows it to generate printed labels 160 and apply them to the cables 19 .

[0212] The double-sided adhesive tape 120 with the release material 170 attached thereto is wound and stored in the tape cassette 100. Therefore, the release material 170 is subjected to a coating treatment that suppresses adhesion of the adhesive material. By winding up the release material 170, the winding unit 8 applies sufficient tension to the release material 170 to resist slippage caused by the coating treatment. Therefore, the peeling unit 4 can reliably peel off the label 160.

[0213] The second surface 233 of the first wall 231 defines the conveying direction Y1 of the release material 170, and the third surface 234 defines the conveying direction Y2 of the release material 170. Therefore, the label application device 1 can optimize the angle θ1 between the conveying direction Y1 and the conveying direction Y2 and the angle θ4 between the conveying direction Y2 and the guide direction Y4, depending on the setting of the arrangement orientation of the second surface 233 and the third surface 234. Therefore, the label application device 1 can more reliably peel the label 160 from the release material 170.

[0214] The peeling unit 4 bends the release material 170 at an angle of 90 degrees or less, thereby enabling the label 160 to be stably peeled off from the release material 170. Furthermore, since the conveying direction Y3 does not intersect with the guiding direction Y4, the release material 170 after the label 160 has been peeled off does not interfere with the movement of the cable 19.

[0215] The guide surface 51 is located outside the peeling region 224 in the left-right direction. When the cable 19 contacts the guide surface 51 at the most upstream position, the portion of the cable 19 that is not in contact with the guide surface 51 between the two portions of the cable 19 that contact the guide surface 51 is located at the application position P1. Therefore, the label application device 1 can guide the cable 19 with the end of the label 160 attached to it directly to the winding section 7 using the guide surface 51.

[0216] The end of the label 160 peeled from the release material 170 in the peeling unit 4 is attached to the cable 19 and moves in the guide direction Y4 together with the cable 19. In this case, the unpeeled portion of the release material 170 is pulled in the conveying direction Y2 by the movement of the peeled portion of the label 160. In other words, stress is applied to the tape 150 in a direction that pulls it out of the printing unit 3. The conveying roller 34 suppresses rotation due to external stress, and therefore can prevent the tape 150 from being pulled out of the printing unit 3.

[0217] As the cable 19 moves along the guide surface 51 toward the winding unit 7, the pressing surface 61 presses the end of the label 160 against the cable 19. Therefore, the labeling device 1 guides the cable 19 to the winding unit 7 with the end of the label 160 attached to the cable 19. Therefore, the labeling device 1 can stably attach the label 160 to the cable 19.

[0218] Furthermore, by moving the cable 19 with the end of the label 160 attached in the guide direction Y4, the remaining portion of the label 160 can be peeled off from the release material 170. Therefore, the labeling device 1 is configured to attach the label 160 to the cable 19 before the entire label 160 is peeled off from the release material 170. This allows the labeling device 1 to shorten the distance between the peeling unit 4 and the winding unit 7. Therefore, the labeling device 1 can peel off the label 160 in a narrower area than before, allowing for a more compact device.

[0219] Furthermore, because the end of the label 160 is attached to the cable 19 before being peeled off, the label 160 is less likely to tilt obliquely relative to the cable 19 when being peeled off. Furthermore, the user can easily align the attachment position of the label 160 on the cable 19 to the desired position.

[0220] As the cable 19 moves along the guide surface 51 toward the winding section 7, the pressing surface 61 maintains the state in which the end of the label 160 is attached to the cable 19. In this state, the label 160 is peeled off at an angle of 40 to 90 degrees relative to the release material 170. The load that pulls the release material in the conveyance direction during peeling is reduced. Therefore, the label application device 1 can reliably peel the label 160 off the release material 170.

[0221] The cable 19 moves along the guide surface 51 toward the winding unit 7. During this process, the cable 19 passes through guide passage R4 between the pressing surface 61 and the guide surface 51, and is no longer pressed by the pressing surface 61 and the guide surface 51 until it reaches the winding unit 7. The label application device 1 can reliably guide the cable 19, which has passed through guide passage R4 between the pressing surface 61 and the guide surface 51, to the winding unit 7 by the guide surfaces 71D and 72D.

[0222] As the cable 19 moves toward the winding unit 7, it passes through the guide passage R4 between the pressing surface 61 and the guide surface 51. After passing through the guide passage R4, the receiving portions 76B, 77B guide the cable 19 into the winding unit 7. The receiving portions 76B, 77B have a shape that gradually narrows from upstream to downstream in the guide direction Y4. Therefore, the label application device 1 can smoothly insert the cable 19 into the winding unit 7.

[0223] After the wrapping unit 7 has wrapped the label 160 around the cable 19, the cable 19 moves upstream in the guide direction Y4, thereby being removed from the labeling device 1. The inclined surfaces 63 and 52 guide the cable 19 into the guide path R4 between the pressing surface 61 and the guide surface 51. The guide path R4 is pushed open by the cable 19 against the biasing force of the pressing member 60. Therefore, the labeling device 1 allows the cable 19 to smoothly pass through the guide path R4 between the pressing surface 61 and the guide surface 51, allowing the cable 19 to be removed from the labeling device 1.

[0224] When a label 160 to be affixed to a cable 19 jams, the label affixing device 1 opens the opening / closing member 6. This allows the label affixing device 1 to expose the guide passage R4 between the pressing surface 61 and the guide surface 51 and the winding portion 7. Therefore, the label affixing device 1 can easily resolve jams and perform maintenance.

[0225] The rotating body 70 of the winding unit 7 can be removed from the housing 10 when the opening / closing member 6 is open. Therefore, the label application device 1 allows for easy maintenance of the winding unit 7, and also makes it easy to replace parts in the event of a malfunction.

[0226] When the cable 19 is in the guide passage R4 between the pressing surface 61 and the guide surface 51 while it is moving in the guide direction Y4, the moving member 50 protrudes into the guide passage R4. This prevents the end of the label 160 from peeling off from the cable 19. Therefore, the label application device 1 can maintain the state in which the end of the label 160 is attached to the cable 19, and prevent failure of the label from being attached to the substrate.

[0227] The moving member 50 holds the end of the label 160 between itself and the cable 19. Therefore, the moving member 50 can ensure the peeling force required to peel the remaining portion of the label 160 from the release material 170.

[0228] When the movable member 50 moves from within the formation range of the guide surface 51 to outside the formation range in the guide direction Y4, it retreats to the outside of the guide passage R4 between the pressing surface 61 and the guide surface 51. Therefore, the movable member 50 does not hinder the movement of the cable 19 in the guide direction Y4. Therefore, the label application device 1 can prevent the movable member 50 from adhering the label 160 to the cable 19 before the cable 19 reaches the winding section 7.

[0229] When the end of the label 160 is located at the attachment position P1, the movable member 50 is biased to be located downstream of the label 160 in the guide direction Y4. Therefore, the movable member 50 can reliably position the end of the label 160 between the movable member 50 and the cable 19. When the movable member 50 moves the cable 19 in the guide direction Y4, the movable member 50 is subjected to a load due to the bias and a load due to pressure from the cable 19. Therefore, the movable member 50 can move in the guide direction Y4 together with the cable 19 while holding the end of the label 160 between the movable member 50 and the cable 19.

[0230] The load applied to the tip 50E of the moving member 50 when moving the cable 19 in the guide direction Y4 is applied to the tip 50E away from the base 50G, causing the moving member 50 to rotate against the biasing force. Therefore, the cable 19 can move the moving member 50 in the guide direction Y4 with a light load, making it easy to attach the label 160.

[0231] As the tip 50E of the moving member 50 moves in the guide direction Y4, the first guide hole 225A, the second guide hole 225B, and the guide hole 50H stabilize the amount of protrusion of the tip 50E into the guide passage R4. Therefore, the moving member 50 can stably maintain the state in which the tip 50E clamps the end of the label 160 between the tip 50E and the cable 19. Furthermore, when the tip 50E moves from within the formation range of the guide surface 51 to outside the formation range in the guide direction Y4, the first guide hole 225A, the second guide hole 225B, and the guide hole 50H can reliably retract the tip 50E out of the guide passage R4. Therefore, the moving member 50 does not impede the movement of the cable 19 in the guide direction Y4.

[0232] <Others> In the above embodiment, the cable 19 is an example of an adherend of the present invention. The conveying path R2 is an example of a conveying path of the present invention. The guide passage R4 is an example of a guide path in claims 1 to 12 of the present invention, and an example of a passing area in claims 13 to 40 of the present invention. The position P2 is an example of a peeling completion position in claims 1 to 12 of the present invention, and an example of the most downstream position in the guide direction on the pressing surface in claims 13 to 40 of the present invention. The half-cut position Ct is an example of a predetermined portion of the present invention. The half-cut cutting blade 92 is an example of a half-cutting portion of the present invention. The conveying roller 34 is an example of a conveying mechanism of the present invention. The conveying path R1 is an example of a passing path of the present invention. The conveying direction Y1 is an example of a passing direction of the present invention.

[0233] The connection portion 235 is an example of a connection portion that is a minor angle in claims 1 to 12 of the present invention. The connection portion 235 is also an example of the most upstream position in the conveying direction in the conveying path in claims 13 to 40 of the present invention. The adhesive surface Ur is an example of a bonding surface in the present invention. The film tape 110 is an example of a resin film tape in the present invention. The tape attachment portion 30 is an example of an attachment portion in the present invention. The half-cut cutting blade 92 is an example of a half-cutting blade in the present invention. The second surface 233 is an example of a first contact surface in the present invention. The third surface 234 is an example of a second contact surface in the present invention. The conveying path R3 is an example of a discharge path in the present invention. The conveying direction Y3 is an example of a discharge direction in the present invention.

[0234] The base 20 is an example of a guide member of the present invention. The attachment position P1 is an example of a start area of ​​the present invention. The left support portion 71 and the right support portion 72 are examples of a guide member of the present invention. The receiving portions 76B and 77B are examples of an insertion opening of the present invention. The inclined surface 63 is an example of a first inclined surface of the present invention. The inclined surface 52 is an example of a second inclined surface of the present invention. The left side plate 25 and the right side plate 26 are examples of a housing of the present invention.

[0235] The storage section 211 is an example of an area in which the winding section of the present invention is arranged. The opening / closing member 6 is an example of a cover of the present invention. The rotating shaft sections 73C and 74C are an example of a rotating shaft of the present invention. The first guide hole 225A is an example of a first guide section of the present invention. The second guide hole 225B is an example of a second guide section of the present invention. The guide hole 50H is an example of a third guide section of the present invention.

[0236] <Modifications> The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. The printing method used by the printing unit 3 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the label application device 1 may perform printing using a receptor-type tape cassette. In this case, the tape cassette contains a substrate, a tape having a release material laminated on the adhesive surface Ur of the substrate coated with an adhesive, and an ink ribbon. The printing unit 3 prints on the surface opposite the adhesive surface of the tape. Note that the tape may use, for example, a die-cut label pre-cut to a predetermined size as the substrate.

[0237] The labeling device 1 does not need to have the printing unit 3 and the cutting unit 9. Printing on the tape 150 may be performed by an external printing device. The labeling device 1 may use the tape 150 printed by the printing device, and wrap the label around the cable 19 to apply the label. The object to which the label 160 is applied is not limited to the cable 19, but may be another adherend. Furthermore, the adhesive surface Ur of the tape 150 is not limited to being coated with an adhesive, and may be made adhesive by processing.

[0238] The second wall 236 that defines the conveying path R3 of the release material 170 after the label 160 has been peeled may not be necessary, and the conveying direction Y3 may be set solely by the relative positions of the peeling unit 4 and the winding unit 8. The peeling unit 4 peels the label 160 using the peeling shaft 40. However, the peeling unit 4 may peel the label 160 using a plate-shaped peeling member with a curved end instead of the peeling shaft 40. Although the guide surfaces 51 are arranged on both the left and right sides of the peeling region 224, they may be arranged on only one side.

[0239] The connection portion 235 between the second surface 233 and the third surface 234 is a curved corner. The connection portion 235 may be curved into a smooth curved surface. The conveying direction Y2 of the conveying path R2 along which the tape 150 is conveyed to the peeling unit 4 faces diagonally upward and forward, but may also face forward. The guide direction Y4 along which the cable 19 is guided along the guide path R4 defined by the guide surface 51 is a vertically downward direction. The guide direction Y4 may also be, for example, diagonally downward, as long as the angle formed with the conveying direction Y2 can be maintained at 90 degrees or less.

[0240] The receiving portions 76B, 77B of the arm members 76, 77 of the rotating body 70 are bent in a curved shape. This is not a limitation, and the receiving portions 76B, 77B may also be flat. The opening / closing member 6 opens and closes the peeling region 224 and the storage section 211 by rotating its upper portion around its lower portion as a fulcrum. This is not a limitation, and the opening / closing member 6 may be opened and closed by rotating around a rotation axis extending in the vertical direction as a fulcrum, or by attaching and detaching.

[0241] As shown in Figure 30, the pressing member 60 of the opening / closing member 6 may be provided with an operating unit 500. For example, the pressing member 60 is provided with the operating unit 500, which protrudes upward, at the upper end opposite the lower end supported by the shaft body 6A. The operating unit 500 protrudes upward from an opening in the upper wall 501 of the opening / closing member 6. The operating unit 500 is provided with a hook, which can be hooked onto a fastening portion of the upper wall 501 when the pressing member 60 moves rearward. When the hook is hooked, the pressing member 60 can maintain a widened gap in the front-to-rear direction between the pressing surface 61 and the guide surface 51, as shown by the dotted line in the figure.

[0242] When removing the cable 19 from the winding portion 7, it is not necessary to press the inclined surface 63 with the cable 19 to widen the gap between the pressing surface 61 and the guide surface 51 in the front-to-rear direction. Therefore, in this modified example, the inclined surface 63 is not necessary. Also, the hook and fastening portion may not be required. In this case, the user may, for example, operate the operation unit 500 with one hand while removing the cable 19 from the winding portion 7 with the other hand.

[0243] After the label 160 is wrapped around the cable 19 by the wrapping unit 7, the cable 19 moves upstream in the guide direction Y4 and is removed from the labeling device 1. By operating the operating unit 500, the pressing surface 61 moves in a direction away from the guide surface 51. Therefore, the cable 19 after the label is attached can smoothly pass through the guide passage R4 between the pressing surface 61 and the guide surface 51 and be removed from the labeling device 1.

[0244] 31 , the label application device 1 may include a movable member 550 in the peeling region 224 that is rotatably supported by a shaft 551 and does not move forward or backward. In this case, the tip of the movable member 550, opposite the base supported by the shaft 551, moves in an arc centered on the shaft 551. Therefore, the amount by which the tip protrudes into the guide passage R4 varies depending on the rotational position of the movable member 550. Therefore, the pressing surface 61 of the pressing member 60 of the opening / closing member 6 has a second pressing surface 561 that protrudes into the guide passage R4 with a width shorter in the left-right direction than the pressing surface 61.

[0245] The moving member 550 has a retracted portion 552 at its tip that is recessed toward the base. Even when the moving member 550 swings and the tip moves vertically in an arc, the second pressing surface 561 does not come into contact with the retracted portion 552. When the tip is positioned forward of the base, the moving member 550 can clamp and support the end of the label 160 between the cable 19 and the portion of the tip where the retracted portion 552 is located. When the tip is positioned diagonally above or below the base, the moving member 550 can clamp and support the end of the label 160 between the cable 19 and the portion of the tip where the retracted portion 552 is not located. In this way, the moving member 550 can have a simpler configuration than the moving member 50 of this embodiment, thereby reducing costs in manufacturing the label application device 1.

Claims

a peeling section which peels an end of a label from a release material of a tape having a label and a release material with the label affixed thereto, and positions the end at an attachment position where it will be affixed to an adherend to which the label is to be affixed; a transport path along which the tape is transported toward the peeling section; and a guide path which has a guide surface which comes into contact with the adherend, and which guides movement of the adherend in a guide direction in which the adherend moves along the guide surface, the guide direction being a direction from the attachment position to a peeling completion position where the end of the label that has not been peeled from the release material is positioned when the part of the label that has not been peeled from the release material is peeled from the release material as the adherend moves, the transport of the tape on the transport path being stopped during the process of the adherend moving, and the angle which the guide surface of the guide path makes with the transport direction in which the tape is transported on the transport path is 90 degrees or less.

2. The label application device according to claim 1, characterized in that the guiding direction is a downward direction in a vertical direction.

3. The label application device according to claim 1, further comprising a wrapping section for wrapping the label around the adherend downstream of the peeling completion position in the guiding direction, and wherein the length of the label before it is peeled off from the release material in the transport direction is shorter than the length in the guiding direction from the application position to the wrapping position where the label is wrapped around the adherend in the wrapping section.

4. A label application device as described in claim 2, characterized in that the length of the label before it is peeled off from the release material in the transport direction is shorter than the length in the guide direction from the application position to the peeling completion position.

5. The label application device according to claim 4, further comprising a semi-cutting section upstream of the transport path in the transport direction for cutting a predetermined portion of the tape while leaving the release material behind to generate the label, and a transport mechanism for transporting the tape towards the peeling section is disposed upstream of the semi-cutting section in the transport direction and is not disposed in the transport path.

6. A label application device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that it is connected to said transport path, has the half-cut portion on its path, and has a passageway along which the tape passes the position of the half-cut portion and heads towards said transport path, a passing direction of the tape passing through said passageway intersects with the transport direction of said transport path, and a connection portion between said passageway and said transport path which has a minor angle is in a direction in which a bonding surface which is the surface of the label of the tape transported from said passageway to said transport path faces, the bonding surface being the surface to which the release material is affixed.

7. A label application device as claimed in claim 5, comprising: an attachment section for attaching a tape cassette containing a transparent or translucent resin film tape, a double-sided adhesive tape having a release material affixed to one side thereof, and an ink ribbon used for printing on the resin film tape; and a printing section for transferring ink from the ink ribbon to the resin film tape to print an image, wherein the tape is formed by attaching a side of the double-sided adhesive tape to which the release material is not affixed, to a printed side of the resin film tape, the tape being formed by attaching a side of the double-sided adhesive tape to which the release material is not affixed, the semi-cutting section being disposed between the peeling section and the attachment section, and cutting the resin film tape and the double-sided adhesive tape while leaving the release material by pressing a semi-cutting blade against the side of the resin film tape opposite the printed side, thereby generating the label consisting of the resin film tape and the double-sided adhesive tape.

8. The label application device according to claim 6, further comprising a winding section for winding up the release material from which the label has been peeled off in the peeling section.

9. A label application device as described in claim 5, characterized in that: the label application device is connected to the transport path, the half-cut portion is provided on the path, and the tape passes the position of the half-cut portion and heads toward the transport path; the passage path has a first contact surface on the path from the half-cut portion to a connection portion between the passage path and the transport path, which contacts the release material when the tape is transported and determines the direction of travel of the tape passing through the passage path; and the transport path has a second contact surface on the path from the connection portion between the passage path and the transport path to the peeling portion, which contacts the release material when the tape is transported and determines the direction of travel.

10. The label application device according to claim 7, further comprising a discharge path through which the release material from which the label has been peeled off is discharged in the peeling section, and the angle between the conveying direction in which the tape is conveyed in the conveying path and the discharge direction in which the release material is discharged through the discharge path is 90 degrees or less.

11. A label application device as described in claim 10, characterized in that the peeling portion is exposed at the guiding surface, and when the adherend contacts the guiding surface at a position most upstream in the guiding direction, a portion of the adherend that does not contact the guiding surface is located at the application position.

12. The label application device according to claim 6, further comprising: a printing unit that prints an image on the tape; and a transport roller that is disposed in the area between the printing unit and the peeling unit and transports the tape printed by the printing unit toward the peeling unit.

13. A winding section which winds the label around the adherend; a guide member which guides the adherend in contact with the guide surface towards the winding section which is located downstream of the guide surface in the guiding direction; a peeling section which is arranged in a direction in which the guide surface is located relative to a passing area of ​​the adherend which contacts the guide surface and moves in the guiding direction and is upstream of the guide surface in the guiding direction, peeling off the end of the label from the release material affixed to an adhesive surface which is one side of the label, and with the adhesive surface facing upstream in the guiding direction, locating the end in a start area where the guide surface starts guiding the adherend; 2. The label sticking device according to claim 1, further comprising: a pressing surface that faces the guide surface across the passing area and sandwiches the adherend between itself and the guide surface, and a support surface that is connected to the pressing surface and supports the end of the label peeled off by the peeling section in the start area, the pressing surface being biased in a direction to bring the pressing surface closer to the guide surface, and a pressing member that adheres the adhesive surface of the label to the adherend with the support surface and presses the end of the label against the adherend with the pressing surface during the process of the adherend moving in the guiding direction.

14. A label application device as described in claim 13, characterized in that it comprises a transport path along which the label and the release material are transported towards the peeling section, wherein transport of the label and the release material in the transport path is stopped during the process of the adherend contacting the guide surface and moving, and the angle formed between the transport direction in which the label and the release material are transported in the transport path and an imaginary line connecting the upstream most position in the transport direction on the transport path and the downstream most position in the guide direction on the pressing surface is 40 degrees or more.

15. The label application device according to claim 14, further comprising a guide member disposed downstream in the guiding direction from the pressing surface of the pressing member, the guide member having a guide surface for guiding the adherend that has passed through the passage area between the pressing surface and the guide surface, towards the winding section.

16. The label application device according to claim 15, wherein the winding section has an insertion opening through which the adherend is inserted toward the inside of the winding section, and the insertion opening has a shape that narrows from the upstream side to the downstream side in the guiding direction.

17. The label application device as described in claim 16, characterized in that the pressing member has a first inclined surface that is connected to the pressing surface downstream of the pressing surface in the guiding direction and inclined in a direction away from the guiding surface toward the downstream of the guiding direction, and the guide member has a second inclined surface that is connected to the guiding surface downstream of the guiding surface in the guiding direction and inclined in a direction away from the pressing surface toward the downstream of the guiding direction.

18. The label application device according to claim 17, wherein the pressing member is provided with an operating portion which is operated to move the pressing surface in a direction away from the guiding surface.

19. A label application device as described in claim 18, further comprising a cover supported by a housing and capable of closing and opening the passing area between the pressing surface and the guiding surface and the area in which the winding portion is arranged, the pressing member being supported by the cover so as to be able to swing, and the pressing surface being biased in a direction approaching the guiding surface when the cover is closed.

20. The label application device described in claim 19, characterized in that the wrapping unit includes a rotating body that rotates around the adherend with the adherend inserted therein to wrap the label around the adherend, the rotation axis of the rotating body being supported by the housing, and the housing is configured such that the rotating body can be removed from the area in which the wrapping unit is located when the cover is opened.

21. A label application device as described in any one of claims 13 to 20, further comprising a movable member that is located downstream of the peeling section in the guiding direction and that moves in the guiding direction together with the adherend as the adherend moves in the guiding direction, and when the movable member is located within the range in which the guide surface is formed in the guiding direction, the movable member protrudes into the passing area between the pressing surface and the guide surface.

22. The label application device as described in claim 21, characterized in that when the movable member is located within the range in which the guide surface is formed in the guiding direction, the movable member is located downstream of the adherend in the guiding direction and clamps the end of the label between the movable member and the adherend.

23. The label application device according to claim 22, wherein the movable member retracts to outside the passing area between the pressing surface and the guide surface when the movable member is positioned outside the range in which the guide surface is formed in the guiding direction.

24. The label application device according to claim 23, wherein the moving member is biased toward the upstream side of the guiding direction, and moves in the guiding direction due to the load from the adherend as the adherend moves in the guiding direction.

25. The label application device described in claim 24, characterized in that the movable member extends in a direction intersecting the guiding direction, and has a base located away from the guide surface in the direction opposite the pressing surface, and a tip located opposite the base in the direction in which the movable member extends, the base is journaled on the guide member, and the tip moves in the guiding direction within the passing area between the pressing surface and the guide surface by the movable member rotating about the base as a fulcrum.

26. The label application device described in claim 25, characterized in that the guiding member or the moving member or both are provided with a plurality of guiding portions that guide the movement of the moving member, the plurality of guiding portions including: a first guiding portion that guides the movement of the tip of the moving member in the guiding direction within the passing area between the pressing surface and the guide surface when the tip of the moving member is located within the forming range of the guide surface in the guiding direction; a second guiding portion that guides the retraction of the tip of the moving member to outside the passing area between the pressing surface and the guide surface when the tip of the moving member is located outside the forming range of the guide surface in the guiding direction; and a third guiding portion that guides the movement of a position of a fulcrum at the base in accordance with the movement of the tip of the moving member.

27. A wrapping section that wraps a label around an adherend to which the label is to be affixed; a guide member that has a guide surface extending in a guide direction, which is the direction in which the adherend moves toward the wrapping section, and that guides the adherend that contacts the guide surface toward the wrapping section that is located downstream of the guide surface in the guide direction; and a peeling section that is positioned in a direction in which the guide surface is located relative to a passing area of ​​the adherend that contacts the guide surface and moves in the guide direction and upstream of the guide surface in the guide direction, and peels an end of the label from a release material affixed to an adhesive surface that is one side of the label, and positions the end in a start area where the guide surface starts guiding the adherend with the adhesive surface facing upstream in the guide direction. a pressing surface facing the guide surface across the passing area and sandwiching the adherend between the guide surface and the pressing surface, and a support surface connected to the pressing surface and supporting the end of the label peeled off by the peeling section in the start area, the pressing surface being biased in a direction to bring the pressing surface closer to the guide surface, and a pressing member that adheres the adhesive surface of the label to the adherend with the support surface and presses the end of the label against the adherend with the pressing surface as the adherend moves in the guiding direction.

28. A label application device as described in claim 27, characterized in that it comprises a transport path along which the label and the release material are transported toward the peeling section, wherein transport of the label and the release material in the transport path is stopped during the process in which the adherend contacts the guide surface and moves, and an angle formed between a transport direction in which the label and the release material are transported in the transport path and an imaginary line connecting the upstream most position in the transport direction on the transport path and the downstream most position in the guide direction on the pressing surface is 40 degrees or more.

29. The label application device according to claim 28, further comprising a guide member disposed downstream in the guiding direction from the pressing surface of the pressing member, the guide member having a guide surface for guiding the adherend that has passed through the passage area between the pressing surface and the guide surface, towards the winding section.

30. The label application device as described in claim 29, characterized in that the winding section has an insertion opening through which the adherend is inserted toward the inside of the winding section, and the insertion opening has a shape that narrows from the upstream side to the downstream side in the guiding direction.

31. The label application device as described in claim 30, characterized in that the pressing member has a first inclined surface that is connected to the pressing surface downstream of the pressing surface in the guiding direction and inclined in a direction away from the guiding surface toward the downstream of the guiding direction, and the guide member has a second inclined surface that is connected to the guiding surface downstream of the guiding surface in the guiding direction and inclined in a direction away from the pressing surface toward the downstream of the guiding direction.

32. The label application device according to claim 31, wherein the pressing member is provided with an operating portion which is operated to move the pressing surface in a direction away from the guiding surface.

33. A label application device as described in claim 32, further comprising a cover supported by a housing and capable of closing and opening the passing area between the pressing surface and the guiding surface and the area in which the winding portion is arranged, the pressing member being supported by the cover so as to be able to swing, and the pressing surface being biased in a direction approaching the guiding surface when the cover is closed.

34. The label application device described in claim 33, characterized in that the wrapping unit includes a rotating body that rotates around the adherend with the adherend inserted therein to wrap the label around the adherend, the rotation axis of the rotating body being supported by the housing, and the housing is configured such that the rotating body can be removed from the area in which the wrapping unit is located when the cover is opened.

35. A label application device as described in any one of claims 27 to 34, further comprising a movable member which is located downstream of the peeling section in the guiding direction and which moves in the guiding direction together with the adherend as the adherend moves in the guiding direction, and wherein when the movable member is located within the range in which the guide surface is formed in the guiding direction, the movable member protrudes into the passing area between the pressing surface and the guide surface.

36. The label application device as described in claim 35, characterized in that when the movable member is located within the range in which the guide surface is formed in the guiding direction, the movable member is located downstream of the adherend in the guiding direction and clamps the end of the label between the movable member and the adherend.

37. The label application device according to claim 36, wherein the movable member retracts to outside the passing area between the pressing surface and the guide surface when the movable member is positioned outside the range in which the guide surface is formed in the guiding direction.

38. The label application device according to claim 37, characterized in that the moving member is biased toward the upstream side of the guiding direction, and moves in the guiding direction due to the load from the adherend as the adherend moves in the guiding direction.

39. The label application device described in claim 38, characterized in that the movable member extends in a direction intersecting the guiding direction, and has a base located away from the guide surface in a direction opposite to the pressing surface, and a tip located opposite the base in the direction in which the movable member extends, the base is journaled on the guide member, and the tip moves in the guiding direction within the passing area between the pressing surface and the guide surface by the movable member rotating about the base as a fulcrum.

40. The label application device described in claim 39, characterized in that the guiding member or the moving member or both are provided with a plurality of guiding portions that guide the movement of the moving member, the plurality of guiding portions including: a first guiding portion that guides the movement of the tip of the moving member in the guiding direction within the passing area between the pressing surface and the guide surface when the tip of the moving member is located within the forming range of the guide surface in the guiding direction; a second guiding portion that guides the retraction of the tip of the moving member to outside the passing area between the pressing surface and the guide surface when the tip of the moving member is located outside the forming range of the guide surface in the guiding direction; and a third guiding portion that guides the movement of the position of the fulcrum at the base in accordance with the movement of the tip of the moving member.

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