JP4143001B2 - Label continuum and printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet and an electronic device, and more particularly to a sheet and an electronic device in which a sheet is perforated and an index for recognizing the presence of the perforation is provided.

A sheet of paper, for example, a long board coated with a release agent , a plurality of labels are temporarily attached to the board at predetermined intervals, and perforations are formed in the width direction of the board between the labels. There is a continuous label continuum.
The mount portion between the labels is generally only a few millimeters apart, and a perforation is applied to the substantially center line of the mount portion between the labels.
There is a case where such a continuous label body is loaded into a printer as an electronic device, and the mount portion is cut by a cutter provided in the printer while printing on the label.

At this time, the cutting position by the cutter is set to the substantially center line in which the perforated portion of the mount is made, so that the perforated portion is cut, and paper dust is generated and the cutter blade is cut. Or sticking to the heating element of the thermal head, various problems such as defective cutting or defective printing occur.
Although it is conceivable to shift the cutting position from the perforation, there is a problem that a cutting error may occur at the cutting position, and this error causes the label to be cut, resulting in a decrease in commercial value. is there.
Furthermore, although it is conceivable to lengthen the mount between the labels, there is a problem that when the predetermined number of labels is rolled, the winding diameter becomes large and the number of prints is reduced in the portable printer.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that, in a single sheet having a perforation, in order to avoid the perforation from the printing position, the operator visually confirms and operates to retract the printing position. .
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-254470

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a sheet and an electronic device that prevent a cut defect or a print defect caused by cutting a perforated portion.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a paper and an electronic device that do not cut the label itself even when the cutting position is shifted.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a paper and an electronic device that do not increase the winding diameter and reduce the number of printed sheets when the paper is rolled.

Since the present invention focuses on determining the presence or absence of perforations, the gist of the invention of claim 1 is
A series of labels that are temporarily attached to a long mount at predetermined intervals and printed on the labels
Body,
A perforation formed in a mount portion between the label and the label temporarily attached to the mount, and an index indicating that the perforation is applied ,
The perforation is
A continuous label is formed in a direction perpendicular to the mount to be transported for printing, and is shifted in the transport direction from the center line between the labels .
The gist of the invention of claim 2 is as follows:
2. The label continuum according to claim 1, wherein the index is any one of a visible color, a cutout portion formed by cutting out a mount, and magnetism.
The gist of the invention described in claim 3 is that the plurality of labels are temporarily attached to the long mount at a predetermined interval and conveyed for printing.
In a direction orthogonal to the perforation formed by shifting in the transport direction from the center line between the labels, a label continuum having an index indicating that this perforation has been applied , A printer for printing while conveying this continuous label ,
A printing unit, a conveyance unit that conveys the label continuum toward the printing unit, a cutter unit that cuts a mount portion between the labels, and a detection that detects the presence or absence of an index formed on the mount A portion is provided in the conveyance path of the label continuum ,
When the index is detected, the printer is characterized in that it is cut from the center line between the labels in the direction opposite to the transport direction .

In the present invention, since the index indicating that the perforation has been applied is formed on the perforated paper, the presence or absence of the index is read by the detection unit, and the cutting position is shifted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of cutting defects and printing defects.
In addition, when the mount width is not perforated, control is performed so as to cut the substantially center line of the mount width, so that troublesome operations by the operator are unnecessary, and the sheet can be cut efficiently.
Furthermore, since the winding diameter is not increased, it contributes to resource saving, and the portable printer is efficient without reducing the number of printed sheets with one roll paper.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a part of the label continuum from the mount side (back side), FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the printer, FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the printer, and FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of the printer.

The label continuum 1 has a plurality of labels 3 each having an adhesive on a surface of a long mount 2 (hereinafter referred to as “mount mount” as appropriate) coated with a release agent such as silicone at predetermined intervals. Has been.
Further, a perforation 4 is provided in the width direction of the mount 2 at the mount 2 portion between the labels 3. The perforation 4 is formed by the label continuous body 1 from the substantially center line of the mount 2 portion (mount width 5) between the label 3 and the label 3 when the label continuous body 1 is conveyed by the printer 10 described later. It has been shifted to the direction of conveyance. (F direction in Fig. 1)
In addition, the label continuous body 1 has a predetermined mount width 5 along the conveyance direction at the portion of the mount 2 between the labels 3 and 3.

A reference mark 7 for setting a reference position such as a print start reference position or a cut reference position for printing on the label 3 and a perforation 4 are provided on the other surface of the long mount 2. A perforation mark 8 is provided as an index.
The reference mark 7 and the perforation mark 8 are printed in black and rectangular as marks, respectively, and printed so as to be visible at a predetermined interval along the transport direction.
The predetermined interval between the reference mark 7 and the perforation mark 8 is shorter than the pitch of one label. Further, a reference mark 7 and a perforation mark 8 are provided for each label.

The printer 10 mainly includes a supply unit 11, a detection unit 12, a printing unit 13, a cutter unit 14, and a control unit 20.
The supply unit 11 has a supply shaft 15 that rotatably holds the roll-shaped label continuous body 1 and is capable of being fed toward the printing unit 13.
The detecting unit 12 emits light (not shown) that emits predetermined light and receives light reflected from the mount 2 for light emitted from the light emitting unit and corresponds to the intensity of the received light (the amount of light received per unit time). A light receiving portion (not shown) that outputs an electrical signal to be transmitted, a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion are arranged on the back side of the mount 2, and a reference mark 7 and a perforation mark 8 formed on the back side of the mount 2 by printing or the like. A light reflection sensor 16 that detects (a black rectangular mark) based on the amount of light received by the light receiving unit is disposed in the conveyance path of the label continuum 1.

The printing unit 13 includes a platen roller 17 and a thermal head 18, and the thermal head 18 is provided so as to be able to contact with and separate from the platen roller 17. Further, the platen roller 17 is configured such that the platen roller 17 rotates forward and backward by driving a stepping motor 19 controlled by a signal from a control unit 20 described later.
Although not shown, the cutter unit 14 includes a fixed blade and a movable blade, and is provided so that the movable blade moves up and down toward the fixed blade in response to a signal from the control unit 20 described later. The part is cut in the width direction.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the control unit in FIG. 2. As shown in the figure, the control unit 20 stores a printer control program, various fixed data, control table data, IO constants, a motor control program, a communication control program, and the like in a ROM (read only memory) 22 and a ROM 22. A CPU (central processing unit) 21 that operates according to various control programs that are operated and controls each part, a work area that stores various data necessary for the CPU 21 to operate, and a print development area in which print data is developed A stepping motor 19 for driving the label continuum 1 in the transport direction or in the direction opposite to the transport direction by rotating a platen roller 17, and a stepping motor 19. 9 generates a control signal corresponding to print data such as characters, figures, and barcodes to be printed developed in the print development area of the RAM 23 under the control of the motor control circuit 24 that controls the CPU 9 and the CPU 21. A print control circuit 25 for supplying a signal to the thermal head 18 to perform a printing operation, and a light emitting unit (not shown) of the light reflection sensor 16 are controlled under the control of the CPU 21 to emit light and a light receiving unit (not shown). The mark detection circuit 26 that receives the electrical signal output from the printer and converts it into digital data and supplies it to the CPU 21 as print reference detection data, cut reference data, and cut reference change data, and an input for inputting various data and commands. Unit 28 and display unit 2 for supplying data and commands input from input unit 28 to CPU 21 and displaying various information An external interface 31 for connecting to an external device such as a host computer (not shown), an interface 30 for connecting the input unit 28 and the display unit 29 to the CPU 21, a cutter unit 14 for cutting the label continuous body 1, A cutter control circuit 27 that controls the cutter unit 14 and a cut position switching control circuit 32 that detects the perforation mark 8 and controls to shift the cut reference position based on the signal of the light reflection sensor 16 are configured. .

Next, a description will be given based on the flowchart of FIG.
First, a continuous label body in a roll shape is loaded on the supply shaft 11 of the printer, and the fed continuous label body 1 is sandwiched between the platen roller 17 and the thermal head 18.
In step A1, when a paper feed key (not shown) is operated from the input unit 28, the stepping motor 19 is driven, and the platen roller 17 is rotated forward so that the label continuous body 1 is transferred toward the cutter unit 14. Control.
As the label continuous body 1 is transferred, the light detection sensor 16 detects the reference mark 7 or the reference mark 7 and the perforation mark 8 printed on the mount 2. At this time, it is determined how many times the mark has been detected during a predetermined feed amount. (Step A2)

If it is determined that the mark is detected once during the predetermined feed amount, it is determined as the reference mark 7 and the process proceeds to step A3.
In step A <b> 3, the cutter reference position (cut reference position) is set to a substantially central line of the mount width 5 between the label 3 and the label 3 of the label continuum 1. Further, the print base point position is set by the reference mark 7.
When only one mark is printed, it is determined as the reference mark 7, so that the continuous label 1 is not provided with the perforation 4 in the mount width 5.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step A2 that the mark is detected twice during the predetermined feed amount, the reference mark 7 and the perforation mark 8 are determined, and the process proceeds to step A4.

In step A4, the cutter reference position (center line) is slightly shifted from the center line of the mount width 5 between the label 3 and the label 3 of the label continuous body 1 in the direction opposite to the direction in which the label continuous body 1 is transferred. Switching is performed by the cut position switching control circuit 32 so as to set. That is, it is set by being shifted in the direction opposite to the position where the perforation 4 is applied.
If it is determined that the mark is detected twice during a predetermined feed amount, the first detected mark is the perforation mark 8, and it is recognized that a perforation is formed. The reference mark 7 detected at the second time is set to be a reference for setting the print reference position.
When the setting process in step A3 or step A4 is completed, the process proceeds to step A5, the feed operation is stopped, and a print start signal wait state is entered.

As described above, when the mark is detected twice, the printer 10 rotates the platen roller 17 in the forward direction based on a print start signal from an external host (not shown) and conveys the continuous label in the conveying direction. Print data is supplied to the thermal head 18 and desired characters, barcodes, figures, etc. are printed on the label 3.
The label continuum 1 performs printing on one label while being conveyed, and the label continuum 1 is further conveyed in the conveyance direction, and is shifted in the opposite direction to the label continuum from the approximate center of the mount width 5 in the cutter unit 14. The mount 2 is cut along the cut line 6 indicated by the one-dot chain line thus set. (See Figure 1)

Then, the cut label 3 with the mount 2 is discharged, and the label continuum 1 is conveyed in the direction opposite to the conveying direction by the reverse rotation of the platen roller 17 to be the earliest label. When the print data remains, the print operation described above is repeated. If there is no print data, the printer waits until the print data is received.

As is conventional, the sewing machine a weakness in central line in between the label 3 and the label 3.
That is, the perforation is shifted from the central line in the transport direction, and the cut line 6 is also shifted from the substantially central line of the mount width 5 to the side opposite to the perforation 4 for cutting. Since the perforation 4 and the cut line 6 are not overlapped and cut between the perforation 4 and the cut line 6 due to a cut error, no paper dust is generated. In addition, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of cut defects and printing defects.
The light detection sensor 16 for detecting the perforation mark 8 is economical because it is not necessary to provide a new detection sensor, and the convenience of a portable printer or the like is improved without increasing the size of the device.
Furthermore, when the perforation 4 is not provided in the mount width 5, since the control is performed so that the substantially center line of the mount width 5 is cut, the troublesome operation of the operator becomes unnecessary, and printing can be efficiently issued. it can.

Next, another example of the label continuum will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part same as the code | symbol mentioned above, and description is abbreviate | omitted.
In the continuous label body 33, a plurality of labels 3 having an adhesive are temporarily attached to a surface of a long mount 2 on which a release agent such as silicone is applied at a predetermined interval.
Further, a perforation 4 is formed in the width direction of the mount 2 at the portion of the mount width 5. The perforation 4 is shifted by the printer 10 in the direction in which the label continuous body 33 is conveyed.

A reference mark 7 for setting a reference position such as a print start reference position or a cut reference position for printing on the label 3 is formed on one side of the mount 2 and a perforation 4 is formed on the other side of the mount 2. A perforation mark 8 is provided on the other side to indicate that it has been applied.
Further, a reference mark 7 and a perforation mark 8 are provided for each label.

In the label continuum 33 as described above, the light reflection sensors 16 and 16 are provided at positions where the respective marks pass through the conveyance path of the label continuum 33 of the printer 10. If the perforation 4 is not provided, the perforation mark 8 is not printed. Further, when the perforation 4 is applied, the perforation mark 8 is applied to the position of the cut line 6 (dashed line) so as to slightly shift from the cut reference position (center line) as described above. Can be set and controlled.
It should be noted that the distance slightly shifted by the cut line 6 is about 0.5 mm. That is, it is about 0.5 mm from the approximate center of the mount width 5.
As a result, since there is a distance of about 1 mm between the perforation 4 and the cut line 6, even if there is a cut error, the perforation 4 and the cut line 6 do not overlap. Printing defects can be prevented.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the perforation mark is shown as an example in which a visible color is printed, but magnetism may be provided. When magnetism is applied, a magnetic detector is further provided at a position for detecting magnetism.
Further, the perforation mark may be formed as a cutout portion in which a mount portion between the labels is cut out. In this case, a transmission type sensor is provided along with the light reflection sensor.

In the present embodiment, the example has been described in which the perforation is shifted in the conveyance direction of the label continuum and the cut line is shifted in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction. You may make it shift a cut line to the conveyance direction side.
In addition, although a long mount is described as an example of the paper, any printable print medium having a perforation such as a long print paper, a label having a long adhesive, or a form may be used. .

It is the top view which showed a part from the mount surface side (back surface side) of the label continuous body of this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the printer. 2 is a control block diagram of the printer. 3 is an operation flowchart of the printer. It is the top view which showed a part from the mount surface side (back surface side) explaining another label continuous body same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

1 Label continuum (paper)
2 Band-shaped mount 3 Label 4 Perforation 5 Mount width 6 Cut line 7 Reference mark (mark)
8 Perforation mark (mark)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer 12 Detection part 13 Printing part 14 Cutter part 16 Light reflection sensor 17 Platen roller 18 Thermal head 19 Stepping motor 20 Control part 21 CPU
22 ROM
23 RAM
24 Motor control circuit 25 Print control circuit 26 Mark detection circuit 27 Cutter control circuit 32 Cut position switching control circuit 33 Label continuum (another example)

Claims (3)

A label continuous body in which a plurality of labels are temporarily attached to a long mount at predetermined intervals, and printed on the label,
A perforation formed in a mount portion between the label and the label temporarily attached to the mount, and an index indicating that the perforation is applied ,
The perforation is
A label continuum formed in a single line in a direction perpendicular to the mount to be transported for printing and shifted in the transport direction from a center line between the labels . 2. The label continuum according to claim 1, wherein the index is any one of a visible color, a notch portion obtained by notching a mount, and magnetism. A plurality of labels are temporarily attached to a long mount at a predetermined interval and conveyed for printing.
In a direction orthogonal to the perforation formed by shifting in the transport direction from the center line between the labels, a label continuum having an index indicating that this perforation has been applied , A printer for printing while conveying this continuous label ,
A printing unit, a conveyance unit that conveys the label continuum toward the printing unit, a cutter unit that cuts a mount portion between the labels, and a detection that detects the presence or absence of an index formed on the mount A portion is provided in the conveyance path of the label continuum ,
A printer characterized in that, when the index is detected , the sheet is cut from the center line between the labels in a direction opposite to the conveying direction .

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