JP2004262499A - Label printer - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided a label printer capable of preventing a slack of a backing sheet at a part of a turning bar for peeling off a label, and capable of reliably peeling off a label from a backing sheet of a label continuous body without accompanying printing extension. To provide.
A torque limiter (34) is mounted between a drive roller (32) and a motor (10), and the peripheral speed of the drive roller (32) is adjusted via the torque limiter (34) to be slightly higher than the peripheral speed of a platen roller (15). Thereby, the label 13 can be reliably peeled off from the label continuous body 2 without accompanying printing elongation.
[Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a label printer, and more particularly, to a label printer provided with a label peeling device for peeling a label from a continuous label.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The conventional label printer 1 will be outlined based on FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the label printer 1. The label printer 1 includes a label supply unit 3 for feeding out a label continuous body 2, a printing unit 4, a peeling unit 5, a mount winding unit 6, a thermal transfer unit. The apparatus includes a ribbon supply unit 8 for feeding out the ribbon 7 and a ribbon winding unit 9, and a motor 10 for applying a driving force to the peeling unit 5, the backing sheet winding unit 6, and the ribbon winding unit 9.
[0003]
The label continuum 2 is composed of a band-shaped backing sheet 12 having a release surface 11 and a plurality of labels 13 temporarily attached on the backing sheet 12, and is wound around the label supply means 3 in a roll shape.
[0004]
The printing unit 4 has a thermal head 14 and a platen roller 15, and prints predetermined information on the surface of the label 13 while the label head 2 passes between the thermal head 14 and the platen roller 15.
[0005]
The peeling means 5 has a turning bar 16 for turning only the mount 12, an upstream guide roller 17 and a downstream guide roller 18, a drive roller 19 and a driven roller 20 (a pair of tension rollers).
[0006]
The upstream guide roller 17 is capable of pressing the label continuous body 2 in the direction of the upper plane 16B of the turning bar 16 on the upstream side of the leading end 16A of the turning bar 16. The downstream guide roller 18 can press the mount 12 toward the lower inclined surface 16 </ b> C of the turning bar 16 on the downstream side of the tip 16 </ b> A of the turning bar 16.
[0007]
The drive roller 19 pulls the mount 12 with a predetermined tension by sandwiching and rotating the mount 12 with the driven roller 20, turns only the mount 12 at the tip 16 A of the turning bar 16, and turns the label 13 itself. Is separated from the backing paper 12 by the rigidity of the base material. After the label 13 is peeled off, the backing paper 12 is wound up by the backing paper winding means 6.
[0008]
The thermal transfer ribbon 7 is wound in a roll shape around a ribbon supply means 8, and the printing means 4 performs transfer printing on the label 13 based on a print pattern from the thermal head 14, and then takes up the ribbon via a turning member 21. Winded by means 9.
[0009]
In the label printer 1 and the peeling means 5 having such a configuration, in order to peel the label 13 by turning the backing sheet 12 at the turning bar 16, the backing sheet 12 is driven with a predetermined tension by the driving roller 19 and the driven roller 20. It is necessary to pull in the direction of the downstream side by the mount winding means 6. At this time, since the mount 12 itself has a predetermined rigidity, the label continuous body 2 or the mount 12 is turned along the turning bar 16 (the leading end 16A, the upper flat surface 16B, the lower inclined surface 16C), and the label 13 The peripheral speed of the drive roller 19 is adjusted so as to be slightly higher than the peripheral speed of the platen roller 15 so that the peeling is performed smoothly.
[0010]
However, as a result of making the peripheral speed of the drive roller 19 higher than the peripheral speed of the platen roller 15, slippage occurs between the platen roller 15 and the label continuous body 2, and the label on the label is printed based on the print pattern from the thermal head 14. However, there is a problem in that the printing performed in the above-mentioned manner may extend in the transport direction of the label continuous body 2 to cause so-called “print extension”.
[0011]
[Patent Document]
JP-A-11-29125
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a label printer capable of reliably peeling off a label from a backing sheet of a label continuous body without causing print extension.
[0013]
It is another object of the present invention to provide a label printer capable of preventing a backing sheet from sagging at a turning bar for peeling off a label.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, the present invention provides a printing unit having a platen roller for nipping and transferring the label continuity between a print head that prints on a label continuum in which a plurality of labels are temporarily attached to a band-shaped mount, and the mount. Label peeling means for peeling off the label by reversing the direction of transfer of the backing sheet by a driving roller and a driven roller for nipping and transferring,
A label printer having a peripheral speed of the drive roller slightly higher than a peripheral speed of the platen roller, wherein a torque limiter is provided between the drive roller and a motor that applies torque to the drive roller. It is a label printer characterized by being provided.
[0015]
Further, the torque limiter releases an excessive torque supplied from a motor and transmits a predetermined torque to the drive roller, thereby causing a slip between the platen roller and the label continuous body conveyed by the platen roller. It can be adjusted so as not to occur.
[0016]
Further, the torque limiter may be provided on a shaft inserted into a driving roller.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, a label printer 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. However, the same parts as those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. 1 is a schematic side view of the label printer 30, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part including the label peeling device 31, FIG. 3 is a rear view of the same, and FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a peripheral portion of the torque limiter. .
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 1, the label printer 30 includes a label supply means 3, a printing means 4, a label peeling device 31, a mount winding means 6, a ribbon supply means 8, a ribbon winding means 9, a motor 10 And
[0019]
The label peeling device 31 includes a drive roller 32 and a driven roller 20 together with the upstream guide roller 17 (upstream pressing member), the downstream guide roller 18 (downstream pressing member), and the turning bar 16.
[0020]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a shaft 33 is inserted into the drive roller 32, and a torque limiter 34 is attached to an end of the shaft 33, and a gear 35 is provided in the torque limiter 34. The gear 35 meshes with the gear 36, and is further connected to a gear 39 provided on a shaft 38 of the motor 10 via a gear 37 coaxial with the gear 36 so as to obtain a driving force from the motor 10.
[0021]
A shaft 41 is inserted into the winding roller 40, and a gear 42 is provided at an end of the shaft 41. The gear 42 meshes with the gear 36, and is further connected to a gear 39 provided on a shaft 38 of the motor 10 via a gear 37 coaxial with the gear 36 so as to obtain a driving force from the motor 10.
[0022]
A shaft 43 is inserted into the platen roller 15, and the shaft 43 is provided with a gear 44. The gear 44 meshes with the gear 45, is further connected to a gear 47 via a gear 46 coaxial with the gear 45, and is further provided on a shaft 38 of the motor 10 by a belt 49 via a gear 48 coaxial with the gear 47. 50 to obtain the driving force from the motor 10.
[0023]
FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the periphery of the torque limiter 34. The torque limiter 34 has a housing 51, an inner ring 52, a coil spring 53, and a shield plate 54. The coil spring 53 is wound around the inner ring outer peripheral portion 55 with a certain interference, and the coil spring end 56 is provided as a free end so as to protrude into a hollow portion 57 provided in the housing 51. A gear 35 is integrally attached to the housing extension portion 58, and a shaft 33 of the drive roller 32 is passed through the inside of the inner ring 52 so that the shaft 33 and the inner ring 52 do not rotate with each other. ) And the like.
[0024]
For example, when a torque greater than a predetermined value is applied to the housing 51 in a state where the inner ring 52 is fixed, the torque limiter 34 causes the coil spring 53 wound around the inner ring outer peripheral portion 55 and a predetermined interference to act in a loosening direction. This is a mechanism in which a slip occurs between the inner peripheral portion 59 and the inner ring outer peripheral portion 55. That is, by using the torque limiter 34, the transmission torque from the shaft 33 to the drive roller 32 is adjusted according to the magnitude of the external force applied to the drive roller 32, so that the drive roller 32 rotates with a necessary and sufficient torque. Become.
[0025]
Next, the operation of the label printer 30 having the above configuration will be described.
First, the label continuous paper is set in the label printer 30 as follows. That is, after loading the label continuous body 2 into the label printer 30, the end of the label continuous body 2 is pulled out, inserted between the thermal head 14 and the platen roller 15, and passed under the turning member 21, and After turning with the turning bar 16 while urging in the direction of the turning bar 16 with the guide roller 17, it is further guided between the driving roller 32 and the driven roller 20 while urging in the direction of the turning bar 16 with the further downstream guide roller 18, The mounting is performed by fixing the mount with the mount locking portion 60 of the winding roller 40. Here, after the turning bar 16, the label 13 is removed from the label continuum 2 in advance, and the winding roller 40 winds up only the base material 12.
[0026]
Also, after filling the thermal transfer ribbon 7 with the ink surface 61 on the inside into the ribbon supply means 8, the end of the thermal transfer ribbon 7 is pulled out along the guide member 62, and the ink surface 61 is placed on the surface of the label 13. The paper is inserted between the thermal head 14 and the platen roller 15 via the label continuum 2 while being directed, and is set so as to be wound by the ribbon winding means 9 while being guided by the turning member 21 and the guide member 63.
[0027]
After setting the label continuous body 2 and the thermal transfer ribbon 7 in this manner, the thermal head 14 is pressed against the platen roller 15 side to sandwich the label continuous body 2 and the thermal transfer ribbon 7, and the platen roller 15 is driven to rotate. A predetermined print information signal is supplied to a heating element (not shown) of the thermal head 14 while transporting the label continuous body 2 and the thermal transfer ribbon 7 to thermally transfer the ink of the thermal transfer ribbon 7 to the surface of the label 13 and print. Form. The printed label 13 is separated from the backing sheet 12 by turning the transfer direction of the backing sheet 12 at an acute angle at the tip 16A of the turning bar 16.
[0028]
On the other hand, the mount paper 12 is transferred by the rotation driving force of the drive roller 32 adjusted to be slightly faster than the peripheral speed of the platen roller 15 in association with the printing operation, and is taken up by the take-up roller 40. At this time, even if an excessive rotation torque exceeding a predetermined value acts on the gear 35 of the drive roller 32, the coil spring 53 of the torque limiter 34 rotates by a predetermined amount in the loosening direction according to the rotation torque. Thus, the shaft 33 rotates the drive roller 32 within the range of the predetermined torque.
[0029]
In this way, by adjusting the peripheral speed of the drive roller 32 through the torque limiter 34 so as to be slightly higher than the peripheral speed of the platen roller 15, it is possible to adjust the position of the mount 12 at the position of the turning bar 16 for peeling off the label 13. No slack occurs, the rotational torque of the drive roller 32 falls within a predetermined range, and no slip occurs between the label continuous body 2 and the platen roller 15. As a result, the label 13 can be reliably peeled off from the label continuum 2 without accompanying printing elongation.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, by attaching the drive roller main body to the drive shaft via the torque limiter, the rotational torque of the drive roller is kept within a predetermined range even if an excessive rotational torque is given from the shaft. Therefore, it is possible to supply a label printer capable of reliably peeling off a label from the backing sheet of the label continuum without accompanying printing elongation caused by pulling the label backing sheet.
[0031]
In addition, by providing a torque limiter on the drive roller, the peripheral speed of the drive roller is set to be slightly higher than the peripheral speed of the platen roller, so that the label can be prevented from sagging at the part of the turning bar for peeling the label. A label peeling device for a printer can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a label printer 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part including the label peeling device 31;
FIG. 3 is a rear view of the same.
FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the periphery of the torque limiter 34;
FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a conventional label printer 1.
[Explanation of symbols]
1. Conventional label printer (Fig. 5)
2 label continuum 3 label supply means 4 printing means 5 peeling means 6 mount winding means 7 thermal transfer ribbon 8 ribbon supply means 9 ribbon winding means 10 motor 11 mount release surface 12 label mount 2 (strip-shaped mount)
13 Label of Label Continuous Body 2 Thermal Head 15 Platen Roller 16 Turning Bar 16A Tip 16B of Turning Bar 16 Upper Flat Surface 16C of Turning Bar 16 Lower Inclined Surface 17 of Turning Bar 16 Upstream Guide Roller 18 Downstream Guide Roller 19 Drive roller (tension roller)
20 driven roller (pulling roller)
21 Turning member 30 of thermal transfer ribbon 7 Label printer (FIG. 1)
31 Label peeling device 32 of the label printer 30 Drive roller 33 Shaft of the drive roller 32 Torque limiters 35, 36, 37, 39, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50 Gear 38 Rewinding of the shaft 40 of the motor 10 Roller 41 Shaft 43 of the take-up roller 40 Shaft 49 of the platen roller 15 Belt 51 Housing 52 Inner ring 53 Coil spring 54 Shield plate 55 Inner ring outer periphery 56 Coil spring end 57 Cavity 58 Housing extension 59 Housing inner periphery 60 Locking portion 61 Ink surface 62, 63 Guide member

Claims (3)

Printing means having a platen roller for nipping and transferring the label continuity between a print head that performs printing on a label continuum in which a plurality of labels are temporarily attached to a band-shaped mount,
Label peeling means for turning the transfer direction of the mount by a driving roller and a driven roller for nipping and transferring the mount and peeling the label;
A label printer having a peripheral speed of the drive roller slightly higher than a peripheral speed of the platen roller,
A label printer, wherein a torque limiter is provided between the drive roller and a motor for applying a torque to the drive roller. The torque limiter releases excessive torque supplied from a motor and transmits a predetermined torque to the drive roller, so that no slip occurs between the platen roller and the label continuity conveyed by the platen roller. The label printer according to claim 1, wherein the label printer is adjusted as described above. The label printer according to claim 1, wherein the torque limiter is provided on a shaft inserted into a drive roller.

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