Print Label Apparatus Displaying Cut Positions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulty in intuitively recognizing the pattern and length of print labels produced, leading to inconvenience, especially when the amount of print content is small, resulting in excessively short labels due to the placement of cut positions.
Innovation Solution
A print label producing apparatus equipped with a feeder, printing head, half-cutter, full-cutter, and display device, controlled by a controller that acquires print contents and cut patterns, and displays an appearance image of the label with identified cut positions before production, allowing users to adjust settings and avoid unintended long labels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the full-cutter unit is placed at a relatively large distance from the discharging exit for safety, then safety is improved, but the print label becomes excessively long when the amount of print contents is small
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cutting function into two separate units: a half-cutter that creates a partial cut (leaving a margin) and a full-cutter that creates a complete cut. This segmentation allows the system to produce shorter labels when needed while maintaining the safety distance between the full-cutter and discharging exit, as the half-cutter can create functional labels without requiring the full-cutter to be positioned close to the exit.
2Ease of operation
If the cut pattern is not displayed to the user, then device complexity is reduced, but the user cannot intuitively recognize the cut pattern and length of produced labels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a display device to create a visual copy (image) of the print label showing the cut positions and pattern before actual production. This allows users to recognize and verify the cut pattern without adding significant complexity to the physical cutting mechanism itself, as the display merely replicates information rather than requiring additional mechanical components.
3Reliability
If the half-cut position is formed automatically to provide margin, then reliability is improved by avoiding excessively short labels, but the print label becomes longer than intended by the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the cut pattern dynamic and adjustable through user input. The system can switch between different cutting modes (half-cut with margin, full-cut, or no cut) based on user specifications. This dynamic control allows the label length to be optimized for each specific case, providing reliability when needed while avoiding unnecessary length when the user requires precise control.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure discloses a print label producing apparatus including a controller. The controller is configured to execute a print contents acquisition process, a cut pattern acquisition process, a coordination control process, and a display control process. In a cut pattern acquisition process, specification of a cut pattern related to formation of a full-cut position and a half-cut position in producing a print label is acquired. In a coordination control process, print contents acquired are formed on a print-receiving tape, and the half-cut position or the full-cut position are formed in accordance with the cut pattern acquired. In a display control process, a display device is controlled to display an appearance image of a print label together with an identification display of all cut positions of the full-cut position and the half-cut position.