JP2007015313A - Label printer system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To propose a label printer system which can easily take out even the label of highly-charging material or a long label from a label issue opening without sticking. <P>SOLUTION: The label printer system 100 comprises a label printer 1 with a peeler and a label guide unit 50 which is mounted at the outside of the label issue opening 3 of the label printer 1 in the manner enabling the easy attachment and detachment. When issuing a common label, the label printer 1 is used in the state that the label guide unit 50 has been detached. When issuing the label of highly-charging material or the long one, the issued label is prevented from sticking to the portion such as the surface of a label printer case 2 and getting hard to be held by the way of mounting the label guide unit 50 and adding a label guide surface 54a to the outside of the label issue opening 3 when the label of highly-charging material or the long one is issued. Thereby, the label printer system with high versatility which is suitable for issuing the label of different material and length can be provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a label printer system that peels off printed labels from a mount using a built-in peeler and issues them from a label issuing port, and in particular, a highly versatile label that can be issued even for highly charged labels and long labels. The present invention relates to a printer system.

In general, a label printer transports a label forming paper having a structure in which a label is attached to a long mount on a regular interval through a printing position (printing head) to print on the label, and then peels off the peeler. The label is peeled off from the mount and the label created from the label issuing port is issued. The peeler is configured to convey the label forming paper while curving it at an angle of 90 degrees or more, and peel off the label attached to the mount surface from the mount using its own waist strength. Yes. Further, the mount after the label is peeled is discharged to the outside from the mount discharge port via the mount discharge path. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-228561 discloses a printer including a peeler having this configuration.
Japanese Patent No. 2992363

  In label printers, when a label peeled off from the mount is issued from the label issuing port, the label guide surface is covered with thin ribs so that it does not stick to the surface of the printer case that defines the label issuing port. It is desirable to reduce the contact area between the label adhesive surface and the label guide surface. It is desirable to form a rib on the surface of the printer case outside the label issuing port so that the label issued from the label issuing port does not stick to the surface of the printer case. It is easy to put the finger between the issued label and the surface of the printer case and grab the label.

  Here, when the label is made of a material that is easily charged, such as synthetic paper, the amount of charge of the label peeled off from the mount is large. For this reason, if the label issued from the label issuing port is not sufficiently separated from the surface of the printer case, the label is electrostatically attracted to the surface of the printer case and sticks to it or is difficult to grasp with a finger. turn into. Further, in the case of a long label, there is a possibility that the leading end portion of the label issued from the label issuing port reaches the printer case surface portion beyond the label guide rib and sticks there.

  In order to prevent such sticking of the label, a label issued from the label issuing port by sufficiently lengthening the rib formed at the label issuing port (that is, sufficiently protruding from the label issuing port) In addition, it is necessary to be able to secure a distance from the surface of the printer case outside the label issuing port.

  In view of these points, the object of the present invention is suitable for issuing various labels by enabling the length of the label guide surface of the label issuing port to be switched according to the material and length of the label. Another object is to propose a highly versatile label printer system.

In order to solve the above problems, a label printer system according to the present invention includes:
A label printer having a peeler for peeling the label after printing from the mount, and a label issuing port for issuing the label after peeling;
A label guide unit for guiding a label delivered from the label issuing port,
The label guide unit is detachably attached to the outside of the label issuing port of the label printer.

  In the label printer system of the present invention, the label guide unit is attached to the label issuing port in a detachable state. When issuing labels of general material and length, remove the label guide unit. By removing the label guide unit, it is possible to reduce the occupied space when using a normal label, and it is advantageous in that the work can be easily performed in the case of a generally used length (shorter) label. When issuing labels that are easily charged or long labels, attach a label guide unit. When the label guide unit is attached, a label guide surface is added to the outside of the label issuing port, and the interval between the label issued from the label issuing port and the surface of the printer case outside the label issuing port can be sufficiently widened. Therefore, even a label made of a material that is easily charged or a long label can be reliably prevented from sticking to the surface of the printer case, and the work of picking up the label from the label issuing port can be simplified.

  Here, the label guide unit of the present invention includes guide ribs arranged at a predetermined interval extending in the feeding direction of the labels fed from the label issuing port, and the label guide surfaces are defined by the upper end surfaces of these guide ribs. It is characterized by that.

  Further, the label guide unit of the present invention is characterized in that it includes a label guide roller disposed at a tip side of the guide rib in the label feeding direction.

  Thus, if the label guide surface is formed using the rib and the label guide roller, the label can be smoothly fed out. In addition, the work of picking up the label from the label issuing port becomes easy.

  Next, the label guide unit of the present invention includes an insertion protrusion formed on one side surface, a screw hole formed on the opposite side surface, and a fixing screw that can be screwed into the screw hole. The label printer is capable of inserting the insertion screw formed on one side surface of the label issuing port into which the insertion protrusion can be inserted and the fixing screw formed on the other side surface. A screw insertion hole is provided.

  According to this configuration, the label guide unit can be attached to and detached from the label printer with a simple operation.

  On the other hand, the label printer according to the present invention is a mount for transporting the mount after the label is peeled off by the peeler toward the mount discharge port so that the work for setting the label producing sheet can be easily performed. An opening / closing unit is disposed between the discharge path and the label issuing port, and the mount discharge path is opened when the opening / closing unit is opened. In this case, the insertion hole is formed on one side surface of the opening / closing unit, the screw insertion hole is formed on the other side surface, the opening / closing unit is opened, and the screw insertion hole and the screw The fixing screw screwed into the screw hole through the insertion hole may be exposed so that the label guide unit can be attached and detached.

  In the label printer system of the present invention, the label guide unit is detachably attached to the outside of the label issuing port of the label printer. Therefore, the length of the label guide surface of the label issuing port can be switched according to the label material and the label length. Therefore, a versatile label printer system suitable for issuing labels of various materials and labels having different lengths can be realized.

  Embodiments of a label printer system to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a label printer system, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing a label printer and a label guide unit constituting the label printer system. The label printer system 100 includes a label printer 1 and a label guide unit 50 as shown in these drawings. In the label printer 1, a label issuing port 3 extending in the width direction of the printer is formed at a top end portion of the front surface of a vertically long rectangular parallelepiped printer case 2, and a label guide unit 50 is provided outside the label issuing port 3. It is attached in a detachable state. When issuing a general label, as shown in FIG. 2, the label printer 1 is used with the label guide unit 50 removed. When a label made of a material such as synthetic paper having a high chargeability or a long label is issued, the label printer 1 is used with the label guide unit 50 attached as shown in FIG.

(Label printer)
FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing the internal structure of the label printer. The configuration of the label printer 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As described above, the label printer 1 includes the printer case 2 having a vertically long rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole. In the front portion of the printer case 2, a label issuing port 3 is formed on the upper side, and a mount discharge port 4 is formed on the lower side. Further, on the front portion, a paper feed button 2a, LEDs 2b to 2d for informing operation states, and the like are arranged.

  Inside the printer case 2, a roll paper loading unit 5 is formed in the lower half portion thereof. The roll paper loading unit 5 is loaded with a roll paper 6A having a configuration in which the label producing paper 6 is wound in a roll shape. The label producing paper 6 has a configuration including a long mount 7 having a constant width and rectangular labels 8 attached to the surface at regular intervals (see FIG. 4 described later).

  The label producing paper 6 fed out from the roll paper 6A loaded in the roll paper loading unit 5 is guided between the thermal head 12 and the platen roller 13 through the conveyance path 11. The platen roller 13 is pressed against the printing surface of the thermal head 12 and defines the position where the thermal head 12 prints on the label 8 on the label producing paper 6. The label producing sheet 6 sent out from the printing position of the thermal head 12 is conveyed to the peeler 20.

  The peeler 20 includes a mount bending guide 21 that is bent at an acute angle as a whole, a mount pressing roller 22 disposed in the vicinity of the mount folding position of the guide 21, and a platen roller at a position opposite to the thermal head 12. 13 is provided with a peeler roller 23 that rotates in contact with the roller 13. The mount 7 of the label forming sheet 6 passes along the mount discharge path B that passes between the mount bending guide 21 and the mount pressing roller 22, passes between the platen roller 13 and the peeler roller 23, and reaches the mount discharge port 4. When transported, the label 8 is peeled off from the mount 7 without being bent together with the mount 7 due to the strength of the waist at the mount bending position of the mount bending guide 21, and is sent out along the discharge path A to be sent to the label issuing port 3. Issued by. The discharge path A is defined by a label feed roller 24 and a label guide roller 25.

  In the normal label issuance mode, the mount 7 of the label producing paper 6 drawn from the printing position of the thermal head 12 is set so as to be drawn along the mount discharge path B and pulled out from the mount discharge path 4. When set in this way, the label 8 is peeled from the mount 7 by the peeler 20, the labels 8 are issued one by one from the label issuing port 3, and the mount 7 is discharged from the mount discharge port 4. On the other hand, in the continuous label issuing mode, the label producing paper 6 is set in a state of being pulled out from the label issuing port 3 along the discharge path A. Since the peeler 20 does not function when set in this way, the label 8 is continuously issued from the label issuing port 3 while being stuck to the mount 7.

  Here, the lower part from the label issuing port 3 in the front part of the printer case 2 is a printer cover 31 that can be opened forward with the lower end as a center. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where the printer cover 31 is opened. As shown in this figure, when the printer cover 31 is opened, the transport path for the roll paper loading unit 5 and the label producing paper 6 is opened. That is, on the printer cover 31 side, a platen roller 13, a backing sheet pressing roller 22, a peeler roller 23, a label feed roller 24, and a label guide roller 25 are mounted. When the printer cover 31 is opened, the roll paper loading unit 5 , The conveyance path 11 for conveying the label producing paper 6 via the printing position (thermal head 12) and the discharge paths A and B for conveying the label producing paper 6 after printing are opened. The printer cover 31 can be opened by releasing a lock (not shown) by operating a cover opening / closing lever 31a.

(Label printer open / close unit)
Next, an opening / closing unit 32 is attached to the upper end portion of the printer cover 31 so that only the opening / closing unit 32 can be opened / closed alone. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which only the opening / closing unit 32 is opened, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the opening / closing unit 32 and the label guide unit 50 taken out.

  5 and 6, the opening / closing unit 32 includes a unit housing 33, and the opening / closing unit 32 is opened and closed in a rotatable state on one side surface of the unit housing 33 in the printer width direction. The operating lever 34 is attached. When the operation lever 34 is pulled in front of the printer, the operation lever 34 rotates, and the engagement protrusion 35 protruding sideways from the side surface of the unit housing 33 is pulled in, so that the engagement with the main body side of the printer case 2 is performed. The lock of the open / close unit 32 is released. When the opening / closing unit 32 is closed, the engaging protrusion 35 is once pushed in and then protrudes again, and engages with the main body side of the printer case 2 to lock the opening / closing unit 32 in the closed state.

  Rotating shafts 36 projecting laterally are formed at the lower ends of the side walls 33a and 33b of the unit housing 33. These rotating shafts 36 are bearing portions 37 (see FIG. 4)). Further, the mount pressing roller 22, the label feeding roller 24, and the label guide roller 25 are attached to the upper end portion of the unit housing 33 in a rotatable state. Further, a support arm 38 extends to the inside of the printer from both sides of the unit housing 33, and the peeler roller 23 is supported in a freely rotatable manner therebetween.

  Therefore, when the opening / closing unit 32 is opened, the discharge paths A and B are opened. For example, in the operation of setting the label producing paper 6 in the normal label issuing mode, the label producing paper 6 pulled out from the printing position is formed between the upper end of the printer cover 31 and the lower end of the opening / closing unit 32. When the label producing paper 6 is pulled out from the mount discharge port 4 and the label producing paper 6 is pushed in this state by closing the opening / closing unit 32, the label producing paper 6 (mount 7) is drawn along the paper ejecting path B and discharged. The state pulled out from the outlet 4 can be easily formed.

  On the front surface 33c of the printer housing in the unit housing 33 of the open / close unit 32, narrow label guide vertical ribs 39 projecting forward of the printer are formed at predetermined intervals in the printer width direction. A label guide surface 39a is defined by the upper end surfaces of the label guide vertical ribs 39, and the label 8 delivered from the label issuing port 3 by the label delivery roller 24 and the label guide roller 25 follows the label guide surface. Are guided almost horizontally.

  Further, a plurality of narrow vertical ribs 40 are formed on the surface 33c of the unit housing 33, and the area where the adhesive surface of the label 8 issued from the label issuing port 3 contacts the surface 33c is reduced. It is configured to prevent sticking to the surface 33c. This also works effectively when the label guide unit 50 is removed. The label guide vertical rib 39 has the same effect.

  Next, a rectangular insertion hole 41 for attaching the label guide unit 50 is formed on the inner surface of one side wall 33a of the unit housing 33 of the opening / closing unit 32. A circular screw insertion hole 42 for attaching the label guide unit 50 is formed in the other side wall 33b.

(Label guide unit)
Next, the configuration of the label guide unit 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 6. The label guide unit 50 includes a vertical plate portion 51 extending in the printer width direction, and a top plate portion 52 extending at the upper end in the printer front-rear direction. The top plate portion 52 is formed with a collar portion 53 that projects in a tapered trapezoidal shape toward the front of the printer, and an upper surface 52a of the top plate portion 52 has a narrow width of the same height extending in the front-rear direction of the printer. Guide ribs 54 are formed at predetermined intervals. A label guide surface 54 a is defined by the upper surfaces of the guide ribs 54.

  A label guide roller 55 is rotatably disposed at the front end of the guide rib 54. On the front side of the label guide roller 55, a narrow guide rib 56 is formed from the front end surface 53a of the flange portion 53 to the inclined surface 53b on the back surface side.

  On one side surface of the vertical plate portion 51 of the label guide unit 50, an insertion protrusion 57 protruding laterally is formed at the lower end thereof. The insertion protrusion 57 can be inserted into the insertion hole 41 in the opening / closing unit 32 of the label printer 1. Further, a screw hole 58 in which a female thread portion is formed on the inner peripheral surface is formed on the other side surface of the vertical plate portion 51. A fixing screw 59 can be screwed into the screw hole 58 and fixed.

  The insertion protrusion 57 of the label guide unit 50 is inserted into the insertion hole 41 of the opening / closing unit 32 of the label printer 1, and the screw hole 58 is aligned with the screw insertion hole 42 of the opening / closing unit 32. Is inserted into the screw hole 58 through the screw insertion hole 42, whereby the label guide unit 50 can be attached to the outside of the label issuing port 3 of the label printer 1.

  Here, when the open / close unit 32 is closed, the side walls 33a and 33b on both sides thereof are covered with the left and right side portions 43 and 44 formed on the printer case body side (see FIG. 2). . Accordingly, the fixing screw 59 and the screw insertion hole 42 are hidden. When the opening / closing unit 32 is opened, these are exposed, so that the label guide unit 50 can be removed.

(Usage form)
In the label printer system 100 configured as described above, when issuing a label 8 having a general material and length, the label printer 1 is used with the label guide unit 50 removed. By removing the label guide unit 50, it is possible to reduce an occupied space when using a normal label, and it is advantageous in that the work can be easily performed in the case of a generally used length (shorter) label.

  FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a portion of the label issuing port 3 when the label guide unit 50 is removed. The label 8 after being peeled from the mount 7 by the peeler 20 is transported along the discharge path A and discharged to the outside. That is, the label feed roller 24 and the label guide roller 25 feed almost horizontally toward the front of the printer 1 and along the label guide surface 39a defined by the upper surface of the label guide vertical rib 39 formed on the front side thereof. It is guided forward and stops in a state where it protrudes forward by a predetermined amount. After this, the operator enters a standby state until the label 8 is removed from the label issuing port 3 by the operator. Since the label 8 is on the upper surface of the label guide vertical rib 39, it does not stick to the surface 33c or the like. Further, by inserting a finger between the rib 39 and the surface 33c, the label 8 can be easily grasped and taken out from the label issuing port 3.

  However, when issuing a label 8 made of a material such as synthetic paper having a high chargeability, it is electrostatically adsorbed as shown by an arrow C in FIG. There is a possibility that the finger cannot be put on the back surface of the label 8 and the label cannot be easily picked up. Further, even in the case of a long label, there is a possibility that the tip portion of the issued label goes over the rib 39 to the back surface side and sticks to the front surface 33c side. Even in this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the surface 33c has the vertical rib 40, and the adhesive surface of the label 8 has a limited contact surface with the vertical rib 40 even when the label 8 is attached to the surface 33c. Because it sticks only with, it can be easily pulled apart.

  In this example, when issuing such a label 8, the label printer 1 is used with the label guide unit 50 attached to the outside of the label issuing port 3. FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a portion of the label issuing port 3 in a state where the label guide unit 50 is attached. As shown in this figure, when the label guide unit 50 is attached, the label guide surface 54a defined by the guide rib 54 and the guide roller 55 on the upper surface is added in front of the label guide surface 39a, and a long label guide surface is formed. It becomes a state.

  Therefore, even when a long label 8 or the like is issued, the label 8 does not go around the label guide surface 54a and stick to the surface of the printer case 2. In addition, since a gap for inserting a finger is surely secured on the back side of the issued label 8, the work of picking up the label 8 can be easily performed.

  Therefore, a highly versatile label printer system suitable for issuing labels of different materials and different lengths can be realized.

1 is an external perspective view of a label printer system to which the present invention is applied. It is a disassembled perspective view of the label printer system of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the label printer of FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the label printer of FIG. 1 with a printer cover opened. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a state where only the opening / closing unit of the label printer of FIG. 1 is opened. It is a perspective view of the opening / closing unit and label guide unit of FIG. It is a partial expanded sectional view of the label issuing port of a state without a label guide unit. It is a partial expanded sectional view of the label issuing port of the state which attached the label guide unit.

Explanation of symbols

100 label printer system, 1 label printer, 2 printer case, 3 label issuing port, 4 mount discharge port, 5 roll paper loading section, 6 label creation paper, 7 mount, 8 label, 11 transport path, 12 thermal head, 13 platen Roller, 20 peeler, 21 backing paper guide, 22 backing paper roller, 23 peeler roller, 24 label feed roller, 25 label guide roller, 31 printer cover, 32 opening / closing unit, 33 housing, 34 operation lever, 36 rotating shaft, 39 Vertical rib, 40 rib, 41 insertion hole, 42 screw insertion hole, 50 label guide unit, 51 vertical plate part, 52 top plate part, 53 collar part, 54 guide rib, 55 guide roller, 56 rib, 57 insertion protrusion 58 screw holes, 59 fixing screws, A Departure route, B Mount discharge route

Claims (7)

A label printer having a peeler for peeling the label after printing from the mount, and a label issuing port for issuing the label after peeling;
A label guide unit for guiding a label delivered from the label issuing port,
The label printer system, wherein the label guide unit is detachably attached to the outside of the label issuing port of the label printer. In claim 1,
The label guide unit includes guide ribs arranged at a predetermined interval extending in the feeding direction of the label fed from the label issuing port,
A label printer system in which a label guide surface is defined by upper end surfaces of these guide ribs. In claim 2,
The label printer system according to claim 1, wherein the label guide unit includes a label guide roller disposed at a front end portion of the guide rib in the label feeding direction. In any one of claims 1 to 3,
The label guide unit includes an insertion protrusion formed on one side, a screw hole formed on the opposite side, and a fixing screw that can be screwed into the screw hole.
The label printer has an insertion hole formed on one side of the label issuing port, into which the insertion protrusion can be inserted, and a screw insertion formed on the other side, into which the fixing screw can be inserted. A label printer system comprising a slot. In claim 4,
The label printer has a mount discharge port, a mount discharge path for transporting the mount after the label is peeled off by the peeler toward the mount discharge port, and the mount discharge path can be opened. An opening / closing unit arranged to be openable and closable between the label issuing port and the mount discharge port,
The insertion hole is formed on one side of the opening / closing unit, and the screw insertion hole is formed on the other side,
The label printer system, wherein when the opening / closing unit is opened, the screw insertion hole and a fixing screw screwed into the screw hole through the screw insertion hole are exposed.   The label printer used in the label printer system according to claim 1.   The label guide unit used in the label printer system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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