JP2014087968A - Label printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a label printer which does not generate a failure in printing to label paper even when a label roll with different width is attached whenever the label roll is replenished.SOLUTION: A label printer comprises: a detection section which detects positions of both ends of label paper for a width direction of the label paper perpendicular to a delivery direction of the label paper; a generation section which calculates width of the label paper on the basis of the positions of both ends and generates printing data on the basis of the calculated width of the label paper; and a control section which detects a position shift amount of the label paper in the width direction on the basis of the positions of both ends and prints the printing data to the label paper at a position obtained by shifting the label paper in the width direction by the position shift amount.

Description

  The present invention relates to a label printer.

 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228707 discloses a label printer for correcting a printing deviation on a label sheet without complicating control.

JP 2005-219382 A

  By the way, when the label roll mounted on the label printer is consumed, the operator manually replenishes the label printer with a label roll having a width corresponding to the purpose of use. However, this replenishment may cause a defect in the alignment of the label roll with respect to the label guide, or the position of the label guide itself may shift. In such a case, since the label sheet is fed out in a state of being skewed (skew) from the attached label roll, there is a problem that printing on the label sheet is defective.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a label printer that does not cause a defect in printing on a label sheet even when a label roll having a different width is mounted each time it is replenished. Objective.

One aspect of the present invention is a detection unit that detects positions of both ends of the label sheet in the width direction of the label sheet orthogonal to a feeding direction of the label sheet, and the label based on the positions of the both ends. Determining a width of the label sheet, generating print data based on the determined width of the label sheet, and determining a positional deviation amount in the width direction of the label sheet based on the positions of the both ends. A label printer comprising: a control unit that prints the print data on the label paper at a position shifted in the width direction by a shift amount.
With this configuration, the control unit generates print data based on the obtained amount of positional deviation in the width direction of the label sheet, and executes shift printing on the label sheet on the print unit based on the generated print data. Let As a result, the label printer can prevent the printing on the label paper from being defective even when a label roll having a different width is mounted each time it is replenished.

  That is, even if the label roll is replenished, the label guide is misaligned, the position is forgotten to be aligned, or the label guide is not sufficiently aligned, the detection unit detects the misalignment in the width direction of the label sheet. Get it. In addition, since the control unit causes the printing unit to perform shift printing based on the detected amount of misalignment and the direction of misalignment, it is possible to prevent the printing on the label sheet from being defective.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit may determine the position of the label sheet based on a distance from one end of the both ends to a reference position and a distance from the other end of the both ends to the reference position. The label printer is characterized in that a shift amount is obtained.
As a result, even when a label roll having a different width is mounted each time the label printer is replenished, the label printer determines the amount of misalignment in the width direction of the label paper and prevents the printing on the label paper from causing a defect. be able to.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the control unit determines whether or not the amount of positional deviation in the width direction of the label sheet is greater than or equal to a threshold, and the amount of positional deviation in the width direction of the label sheet is greater than or equal to the threshold. In some cases, the label printer is configured to cause the printing unit to perform shift printing on the label paper.
As a result, the label printer can prevent the printing on the label sheet from being defective when the amount of positional deviation in the width direction of the label sheet is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the control unit determines the amount of positional deviation in the width direction of the label paper every predetermined time, and print data based on the obtained amount of positional deviation in the width direction of the label paper. The label printer is characterized in that, based on the generated print data, the print unit is caused to execute shifted printing on the label paper every predetermined time.
With this configuration, the control unit causes the printing unit to execute the shift printing on the label paper at the predetermined time based on the generated print data. That is, the control unit shifts (moves) the print position of the print data printed on the label sheet fed out in a skew (position shift) state in accordance with the amount of position shift of the label sheet. As a result, the label printer can print the print data in the correct orientation and position parallel to the feeding direction of the label paper fed obliquely with respect to the printing unit (printing head).

According to another aspect of the present invention, the display unit displays information indicating a print format of the print data, and the control unit associates a plurality of the print formats with a width of a predetermined range of the label sheet. In the label printer, the information indicating the print format is displayed on the display unit for each use frequency of the print format.
With this configuration, when a plurality of print formats having a width of the label sheet within a predetermined range are stored in the memory, the control unit displays the print formats on the display unit in a descending order of use frequency. . Thereby, the operator can select a print format appropriately.

  According to the present invention, the control unit generates print data based on the detected amount of positional deviation of the label paper in the width direction, and executes shift printing on the label paper on the print unit based on the generated print data. Let As a result, the label printer can prevent the printing on the label paper from being defective even when a label roll having a different width is mounted each time it is replenished.

It is the schematic which shows the mechanism example of a label printer in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the label printer in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a format file in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a goods file in one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a print example when the width of a label sheet is not detected in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a print example when detecting the width of a label sheet in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the example of an operation | movement procedure of a label printer in one Embodiment of this invention.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, the label paper may be either mountless or with a mount, but as an example, it will be described as a mountless label paper.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of the mechanism of a label printer. The label paper 1 has a thermosensitive coloring surface on the front surface and an adhesive surface on the back surface. The label paper 1 is configured as a label roll 2 by being wound in a roll shape. When the label roll 2 mounted on the label printer 100 is consumed, the operator manually replenishes the label printer 100 with a label roll having a width corresponding to the purpose of use.

  The label printer 100 feeds the label paper 1 from the label roll 2 with the label paper 1 sandwiched between the platen roller 4 and the thermal head 17. Further, the label printer 100 performs predetermined printing on the fed label paper 1 by the thermal head 17. Further, the label printer 100 cuts the printed label sheet 1 with a cutter 19 and issues it as a sheet-like label 6.

  The sensor 20 is arranged in the width direction of the label paper 1 orthogonal to the feeding direction of the label paper 1. The sensor 20 detects the width of the label paper 1. The sensor 20 is, for example, a transmission type detection sensor. The sensor 20 includes a light emitting unit 20a and a light receiving unit 20b. The label paper 1 is fed out between the light emitting unit 20a and the light receiving unit 20b. That is, the sensor 20 is configured such that the light from the light emitting unit 20a is received by the light receiving unit 20b unless the light from the light emitting unit 20a is blocked by the label paper 1. The light emitting unit 20a may be located on either the upper side or the lower side of the light receiving unit 20b.

  The position where the light from the light emitting unit 20 a is not received by the light receiving unit 20 b when the light is blocked by the label paper 1 is the position where the label paper 1 is present in the width direction of the label paper 1. On the other hand, the position received by the light receiving unit 20 b is a position where there is no label sheet 1 in the width direction of the label sheet 1. The position where the light receiving unit 20b does not receive the light and the light receiving unit 20b adjacent to the position indicates the position of the end of the label paper 1 in the width direction of the label paper 1. Accordingly, the length in the width direction from one end to the other end of the label sheet 1 is equal to the width of the label sheet 1.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the label printer. The label printer 100 includes a CPU 10, a flash memory 11, a RAM 12, an operation unit 13, a display unit 14, a communication unit 15, an interface 16, a thermal head 17, a stepping motor 18, a cutter 19, and a sensor. 20.

  A CPU 10 (Central Processing Unit: central processing unit: control unit) controls the operation of the label printer 100 by executing a control program stored in the flash memory 11. For example, when a plurality of print formats are associated with the same or approximate width (width of a predetermined range) of various label sheets 1, the CPU 10 displays information indicating the print format for each use frequency of the print format. It is displayed on the display unit 14.

  When the operator inputs the operation unit 13, the product number of the product name to be printed on the label sheet 1 (described later with reference to FIG. 3) is input to the CPU 10. The CPU 10 causes the display unit 14 to display the input product number and a data item (described later with reference to FIG. 4) associated with the product number. Further, when printing on the label printer 100, the operator depresses a print button included in the operation unit 13 or a print button displayed on the operation unit 13 configured integrally with the display unit 14. A signal corresponding to the pressing operation is input to the CPU 10 from the operation unit 13.

  When a signal corresponding to the pressing operation is input, the CPU 10 selects a format number associated with the width of the label sheet 1 from a format file (described later with reference to FIG. 3). The CPU 10 expands the print data generated based on the selected format number and the input product number into dot data, and causes the thermal head 17 to execute printing on the label paper 1.

  The flash memory 11 stores a control program for the label printer 100, control data, and the like. The control data includes, for example, a format file and a product file. Note that the flash memory 11 may be a read-only memory.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of a format file in a table. Each data item of the format file is associated with a format number. The format file includes a product name, an additive, and a label length indicating the cut length of the label paper 1 as data items. In addition, the format file may include a message, a raw material, a price, a barcode, a unit, a shelf life, a processing date and time, and a store name as data items.

  When the format file is used for a label paper without a mount, the format file may not include the label length. In this case, the label printer 100 uses the length of the print data before printing generated in accordance with the product file data and the format file (length in the issuing direction) as the label length, A sheet-like label 6 is issued by cutting the rear end portion based on the label length.

  In each data item of the format file, “position” indicating the printing position on the label 6, “height” indicating the printing range on the label 6 in the feeding direction of the label paper 1, and orthogonal to the feeding direction A “length” indicating the print range on the label 6 in the width direction to be performed and a “font” indicating the type of character font are defined. Here, the printing position and the printing range may be expressed with the upper left of the label 6 as the origin, for example.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a product file in a table. Each data item of the product file is associated with a product number (product number). The product file includes product names, prices, barcodes, and additives as data items. Further, the product file may include a message and raw materials as data items. When each data item is printed on the label sheet 1 over a plurality of lines, a line feed code is inserted at the end of each line.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the description of the configuration example of the label printer is continued. The RAM 12 has a work area for temporarily reading and processing various data. The work area includes, for example, a dot development area for expanding print data into dot data, a format area for selecting a print format from a format file (see FIG. 3), and storing the format number, There is a product data area for reading and storing product data from the product file (see FIG. 4).

  The RAM 12 also includes, for example, a format file (format file) in which a print format is defined, a product file (to be described later with reference to FIG. 4) in which various product data to be printed on the label paper 1 are defined, a font Stores a file (character generator). The RAM 12 stores information indicating the current operation mode of the label printer 100 (for example, a pricing mode, a setting mode, a report mode, and a maintenance mode), for example.

  Note that a battery (not shown) may be incorporated in the label printer 100 so that the RAM 12 can continue to store various data even when power is not supplied from the outside.

The operation unit 13 is an input device for operating the label printer 100 and receives an operation input by an operator. The operation unit 13 may be a touch panel configured integrally with the display unit 14. The operation unit 13 outputs a signal corresponding to the operation input to the CPU 10.
The display unit 14 displays various data such as a menu screen. For example, the display unit 14 displays information indicating the print format of the print data for each use frequency of the print format. The display unit 14 is, for example, a liquid crystal display.
The communication unit 15 executes communication with the host computer. The communication unit 15 may receive a format file (see FIG. 3) and a product file (see FIG. 4) from the host computer.

The interface 16 executes input / output of data among the thermal head 17, the stepping motor 18, the cutter 19 and the sensor 20, and the CPU 10.
The thermal head 17 generates heat based on control by the CPU 10 to generate heat on the portion of the label paper 1 that is in contact with the thermal head 17.

The stepping motor 18 rotationally drives the label roll 2 and the platen roller 4 based on the control by the CPU 10 so that the label paper 1 is fed to the printing position.
The cutter 19 cuts the printed label sheet 1 based on the control by the CPU 10.
The sensor 20 is a transmissive detection sensor. The sensor 20 has, for example, a U-shape so that the label sheet 1 is fed out between the light emitting unit 20a and the light receiving unit 20b (see FIG. 1).

  FIG. 5 shows an example of printing when the width of the label paper is not detected for comparison. In FIG. 5, the center axis A of the label sheet 1 and the center axis B (reference position) of the thermal head 17 and the sensor 20 are determined in the width direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the label sheet 1. A label indicating the central axis A may be drawn on the label paper 1. In FIG. 5, the sensor 20 detects the distance L1 between the center axis A of the label paper 1 and the center axis B of the thermal head 17 and the sensor 20 as a positional deviation in the width direction of the label paper 1.

  The sensor 20 is not limited to the U-shape, and for example, the light emitting unit 20a and the light receiving unit 20b are independently arranged above and below the label sheet 1 in the width direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the label sheet 1. Form may be sufficient. Further, the sensor 20 may have a configuration in which a plurality of light emitting units 20 a and light receiving units 20 b are arranged downstream in the feeding direction of the label paper 1. Further, the sensor 20 is not limited to the transmission type detection sensor, and may be a reflection type detection sensor, for example. In this case, the sensor 20 may be disposed only on either the upper or lower side of the label sheet 1 in the width direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the label sheet 1.

  In FIG. 5, since the sensor 20 does not detect the width of the label paper 1, the CPU 10 does not know the width of the attached label roll 2, and prints the print data at a position shifted in the width direction by the detected displacement amount. The control to be performed cannot be executed. Therefore, when the label paper 1 is fed out from the label roll 2 in a state of being biased to one side in the width direction, a state where a part of the print data (dot data) is not printed on the label paper 1 occurs.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of printing when the width of the label paper is detected. The position where the light from the light emitting portion of the sensor 20 is not received by the light receiving portion of the sensor 20 is the position where the label paper 1 is present in the width direction of the label paper 1. On the other hand, the position received by the light receiving unit 20 b is a position where there is no label sheet 1 in the width direction of the label sheet 1. The position where the light receiving unit 20b does not receive the light and the light receiving unit 20b adjacent to the position indicates the position of the end of the label paper 1 in the width direction of the label paper 1. Accordingly, the length in the width direction from one end to the other end of the label sheet 1 is equal to the width of the label sheet 1.

  In FIG. 6, the center axis A of the label sheet 1 and the center axis B (reference position) of the thermal head 17 and the sensor 20 are determined in the width direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the label sheet 1. In FIG. 6, the sensor 20 detects a distance L <b> 2 between the thermal head 17 and the central axis B of the sensor 20 and one of both end portions of the label paper 1. Further, the sensor 20 detects a distance L3 between the center axis B of the thermal head 17 and the sensor 20 and the other end of the label paper 1.

  The CPU 10 calculates a difference between a distance L2 from one end of the label sheet 1 to the central axis B (reference position) and a distance L3 from the other end of the label sheet 1 to the central axis B (reference position). The amount of displacement in the width direction of the label sheet 1 is obtained. Here, the CPU 10 determines that the distance L3 from the center axis B (reference position) to the end with the longest distance is half the distance between both ends of the label sheet 1 (= (distance L2 + distance L3) / 2). A value obtained by subtracting is obtained as a positional deviation amount in the width direction of the label sheet 1.

  Further, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the positional deviation amount in the width direction of the label sheet 1 is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance. The CPU 10 selects a print format (format number) from the format file (see FIG. 3) based on the width of the label paper 1 when the positional deviation amount in the width direction of the label paper 1 is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance. Here, the CPU 10 selects a print format associated with the width of the predetermined range of the label paper 1.

  The CPU 10 generates print data based on the selected print format and the input product number. Further, the CPU 10 obtains the positional deviation direction of the label sheet 1 by comparing the distance L2 and the distance L3. Here, the CPU 10 determines that the position of the label sheet 1 is shifted (skewed) in the direction of the end portion having the longest distance from the reference position.

  When the difference (the positional deviation amount in the width direction of the label sheet 1) is not equal to or greater than the predetermined distance, the CPU 10 causes the thermal head 17 to print on the label sheet 1 based on the generated print data. On the other hand, if the difference is equal to or greater than the predetermined distance, the CPU 10 causes the thermal head 17 to print on the label paper 1 based on the print data corrected so that the printing position is shifted by the difference. Thereby, the thermal head 17 can print the dot data based on the print data at the correct position (for example, the center) on the label paper 1 whose position is shifted.

  Further, the CPU 10 may stop the positional deviation of the label paper 1 every predetermined time. The CPU 10 causes the print data to be printed on the label paper 1 fed out obliquely with respect to the thermal head 17 while shifting the position every predetermined time. Thereby, the thermal head 17 can print the dot data based on the print data at the correct position (for example, the center) on the label paper 1 whose position is shifted.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation procedure of the label printer.
(Step S <b> 1) The sensor 20 detects the positions of both ends of the label paper 1 in the width direction of the label paper 1 orthogonal to the feeding direction of the label paper 1.
(Step S <b> 2) The CPU 10 detects the width of the label sheet 1 based on the positions of both ends of the label sheet 1.
(Step S3) The CPU 10 selects a print format (format number) from the format file based on the width of the label paper 1.
(Step S4) The CPU 10 generates print data based on the selected print format.

  (Step S5) The CPU 10 detects the amount of positional deviation in the width direction of the label paper 1. Specifically, the CPU 10 calculates the difference between the distance from one end of the label sheet 1 to the reference position and the distance from the other end of the label sheet 1 to the reference position in the width direction of the label sheet 1. It is detected as a displacement amount. The CPU 10 determines whether or not the difference between the distance from one end of the label sheet 1 to the reference position and the distance from the other end of the label sheet 1 to the reference position is a predetermined distance or more.

  If the difference (the positional deviation amount in the width direction of the label sheet 1) is not equal to or greater than the predetermined distance (step S6: No), the CPU 10 causes the thermal head 17 to print on the label sheet 1 based on the generated print data. . On the other hand, if the difference is equal to or greater than the predetermined distance (step S6: Yes), the CPU 10 causes the thermal head 17 to print on the label paper 1 based on the print data corrected so that the printing position is shifted by the difference.

  As described above, the label printer 100 includes the sensor 20 that detects the positions of both ends of the label paper 1 in the width direction of the label paper 1 orthogonal to the feeding direction of the label paper 1, and the positions of the both ends. Based on the width of the label paper 1 (= distance L3 + distance L2) is obtained (for example, the width is obtained by requesting a detection value, or the width is obtained by calculation). A CPU 10 that generates print data, and a positional deviation amount (= distance L3−distance L2) in the width direction of the label paper 1 are detected based on the positions of both ends, and a reference position (for example, a central axis) is detected by the positional deviation amount. CPU 10 for printing the print data on label paper 1 at a position shifted in the width direction from B).

  Further, the CPU 10 is based on a distance L3 from one end of the both ends to a reference position (for example, the central axis B) and a distance L2 from the other end of the both ends to the reference position (for example, the central axis B). Thus, the positional deviation amount (= distance L3−distance L2) of the label sheet 1 may be obtained.

  Further, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the amount of positional deviation in the width direction of the label paper 1 is equal to or greater than a threshold value. Printing may be performed by the thermal head 17.

  Further, the CPU 10 determines the amount of positional deviation in the width direction of the label paper 1 every predetermined time, generates print data based on the obtained amount of positional deviation in the width direction of the label paper 1, and adds the generated print data to the generated print data. On the basis of this, the thermal head 17 may be caused to perform the offset printing on the label paper 1 at every predetermined time.

  In addition, a display unit 14 that displays information indicating the print format of the print data is provided, and the CPU 10 associates a plurality of print formats with a width (the same or approximate width) of a predetermined range of the label paper 1. In this case, information indicating the print format may be displayed on the display unit 14 for each use frequency of the print format.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes designs and the like that do not depart from the gist of the present invention.

  The program for realizing the label printer described above may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program may be read into a computer system and executed. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those holding programs for a certain period of time are also included. The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Label paper 2 ... Label roll 4 ... Platen roller 6 ... Label 10 ... CPU 11 ... Flash memory 12 ... RAM 13 ... Operation part 14 ... Display part 15 ... Communication part 16 ... Interface 17 ... Thermal head 18 ... Stepping motor 19 ... cutter

Claims (5)

A detection unit for detecting positions of both ends of the label sheet in the width direction of the label sheet perpendicular to the feeding direction of the label sheet;
A generation unit that determines the width of the label sheet based on the positions of the both end portions, and generates print data based on the width of the label sheet determined;
A control unit for determining the amount of positional deviation in the width direction of the label paper based on the positions of the both end portions, and printing the print data on the label paper at a position shifted in the width direction by the amount of positional deviation;
A label printer comprising:   The control unit obtains a positional deviation amount of the label sheet based on a distance from one of the both end portions to a reference position and a distance from the other of the both end portions to the reference position. The label printer according to claim 1.   The control unit determines whether or not the amount of positional deviation in the width direction of the label sheet is greater than or equal to a threshold value, and when the amount of positional deviation in the width direction of the label sheet is equal to or greater than the threshold value, The label printer according to claim 1, wherein printing is performed by a printing unit.   The control unit determines the amount of positional deviation of the label paper in the width direction at predetermined intervals, generates print data based on the obtained amount of positional deviation of the label paper in the width direction, and generates the print data 4. The label printer according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit is configured to cause the printing unit to execute the shift printing on the label paper every predetermined time. A display unit for displaying information indicating a print format of the print data;
The control unit causes the display unit to display information indicating the print format for each use frequency of the print format when a plurality of the print formats are associated with the width of the predetermined range of the label sheet. The label printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:

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