JPH0148154B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a label feed control device for single-stage printing and multi-stage printing in a label issuing device.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

2. Description of the Related Art Some label issuing apparatuses that issue labels to be attached to products perform, for example, one-stage printing and two-stage printing on a label by switching a switch.
In the case of one-stage printing, when the printing on the label is completed, the label is fed a certain distance so that the leading edge of the label protrudes a certain length from the label printing port, and when the label is removed from the label printing port in this state, the next label is printed. Feeds to the first printing position. In addition, in the case of two-stage printing, when the first stage of printing on the label is completed, the label is fed a little and the second stage is printed on the label, and when the printing on the label is completed, the label is fed a certain distance and the label is The leading end protrudes a certain length from the label issuing port, and when the label is removed from the label issuing port in this state, the next label is fed to the first printing position. In this way, in the case of one-stage printing, the label is fed to the label printing port when printing is completed, but in the case of two-stage printing, the label is fed into the label printing port.
The label is not fed to the label printing port until the printing of the first stage is completed, and before that, a small feed from the first stage to the second stage is performed once, so in the case of one-stage printing and two-stage printing. The difference is the amount by which the label is fed to the label printing port after printing is completed.

For this reason, in conventional label printing apparatuses, when the number of printing stages on a label is changed, the label feeding amount is re-preset in accordance with the change. However, if the label feed amount was reset every time the number of printing stages on the label was changed, the label printing operation would have to be temporarily stopped and the feed amount would have to be reset, resulting in poor work efficiency. Moreover, there was a problem in that it was easy to make mistakes in setting the feed amount.

[Purpose of the invention]

This invention was made to solve these problems, and provides a label feed control device for a level printing device that can improve the efficiency of label printing work and prevent missetting of feed amount as much as possible. .

[Summary of the invention]

This invention presets a first feed amount that determines how much the label is further fed after the leading edge of the label reaches the label issuing port, and a second feed amount that determines the printing interval of each printing stage. When there is a switch from column printing to multi-column printing, the first feed amount is automatically reset by subtracting the second feed amount from the first feed amount, and the switching from multi-column printing to single-column printing is performed. When switching occurs, the first feed amount is automatically reset by adding the second feed amount to the first feed amount, and the label feed is controlled based on the reset feed amount.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Figure 1 is a diagram showing the front of the label issuing device.
2 is a label issuing section, and 2 is an operating section. The label issuing unit 1 is provided with a label issuing port 3, and the label issuing port 3 is provided with a label detector 4 consisting of, for example, a light emitter and a light receiver, and detects a label 5 projected into the label issuing port 3. That's what I do. The operating section 2 is provided with a display device 6 at the top, and various keys and switches at the bottom. The display device 6 is provided with an upper display 7, a lower display 8, and various status display lamps 9, each of which is composed of a plurality of segment display elements. The upper display 7 is divided into three parts, with the upper digit part serving as a unit price display part, the middle digit part serving as a weight display part, and the lower digit part serving as a price display part. The lower display 8 is divided into three parts, with the upper digit part serving as a numerical value display part, the middle digit part serving as a date/time display part, and the lower digit part serving as a product code display part. The various keys above include "0", "1" and so on.
Numeric keypad 10 of "9", execution key 11 of "*" as a key to specify the delimiter of setting data, label feed key 12, wind setting key 13, tare key 1
4, a clear key 15 and a zero key 16 are respectively provided, and below are a count preset key 17, a weight preset key 18, a pack number key 19, a department code key 20, a correction key 21, a PLU call key 22, an item code key 23, A set key 24, a subtotal key 25, and a total key 26 are provided. As for the above-mentioned various switches, there is a label issuance selection switch 27 at the top that selects the label issuance mode between "automatic", "manual", and "fixed printing", and when the printing is fixed, the fixed contents are "unit price/weight" and "weight/price". A fixed print content setting switch 28 is provided to set the print level to either "Price", and a print level changeover switch 29 is provided below to set the print level to either "1 level" or "2 level", for example, and is set to the "ON" position. A forced tare switch 30 that enables the device to operate only when a tare is set, and a set data designation switch that specifies whether the content set by the set key 24 is PLU data or feed amount data. 31 and an addition/subtraction switch 32 for specifying addition/subtraction of data are provided. In addition, data printing can be turned on and off at the bottom of the operation unit 2.
Tare switch 33, department code switch 34, unit price switch 35, weight switch 3 to be set to OFF
6. A price switch 37 and the like are provided, as well as a key switch 38 for selecting and switching between feed amount setting, label issuing, unit price setting, tare setting, and code setting. A power switch 39 is provided at the bottom end of the operating section 2.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the label issuing mechanism housed in the label issuing section 1.
are attached at regular intervals to a tape-shaped mount 50, and the mount 50 is wound around a label supply roll (not shown). Labels 5 from the label supply roll are supplied from the rear of the label issuing section 1 via a label holding mechanism 52 having a label guide 51, and are supplied via a label guide 53 to a printing mechanism 54. The printing mechanism 54 prints data such as unit price, weight, price, department code, effective date, tare weight, etc. on the label 5 according to settings. Further, as long as the label detector 4 detects that the label 5 is present in the label issuing port 3, subsequent label feeding and printing operations are prohibited. The label 5 sent out from the printing mechanism 54 is supplied to a stamp unit 55, and the product name is printed on the label 5 by the stamp unit 55. This stamp unit 55 has a product name stamp holding metal fitting 56 that is movable up and down inside the casing.
The product name stamp holding metal fitting 56 has a hole for detecting the set position.
Product name stamps 57 each having a wing-like protrusion with a product code hole are detachably attached thereto. The product name is printed on the label 5 by electrically moving the product name stamp holding metal fitting 56 up and down by a solenoid 58. The stamp unit 55 is provided with a label peeling plate 59, and the label 5 is separated from the mount 50 at the tip of the label peeling plate 59. The label detector 4 is attached to the tip of the label peeling plate 59. The mount 50 separated by the label peeling plate 59 is held between a rubber roll 60 and a label feed roll 61 and fed.
It is adapted to be wound onto a winding roll 63 via a guide roller 62. The rubber roll 60
A timing belt 67 is fixed to the end of the timing pulley 64 and a timing pulley 66 of a pulse motor 65.
is being passed around. A spring belt pulley 68 is fixed to the end of the winding roll 63,
A spring belt 70 is stretched between the spring belt pulley 68 and a spring belt pulley 69 of the pulse motor 65. The rolls 60, 61, pulleys 64, 66, 68, pulse motor 65, and belts 67, 70 form a label feed mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the control circuit.
102 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that has built-in arithmetic circuits, instruction decoders, memory control circuits, etc., and 102 stores various programs.
A ROM (read only memory) 103 is a RAM (random access memory) in which various flags, various registers, and various total memories are formed and variable data is stored. Said RAM10
3 is the feed set flag as shown in Figure 4.
F ₁ , subtotal flag F ₂ , label detection flag F ₃ , PLU
Set flag _F4 is formed. Also, a first counter R ₁ , a second counter R ₂ , a unit price part, a code part,
Display register R ₃ consisting of the upper display part of the weight section, price section, setting number section, date section, and lower display section of the product code section, number register R ₄ , product code section, unit price section, tare section, department a setting register _R5 and a preset read register _R6 ,
Print buffer register R ₇ , feed (1) register R ₈ as first feed amount memory, feed (2) register R ₉ as second feed amount memory, pulse (1) as pulse number temporary memory register R ₁₀
and pulse (2) register R ₁₁ , processing date register
R ₁₂ , a subsummer ST, etc. are formed. Also this
Although not shown in the figure, the RAP 103 has a PLU memory in which unit price, tare weight, department code, and valid days are preset for each product code. Said
CPU 101, ROM 102 and RAM 103 are connected to data bus 104 and address bus 105.
are connected via. The CPU 101 is also coupled to a keyboard/display controller 106 via the data bus 104 and address bus 105, and receives input signals from various keys 107 and various switches 108, as well as input signals from the segment displays 7, 8 and Various lamps 9 are operated for display. Also mentioned above
The CPU 101 receives weighing data from the weighing section 109 via the data bus 104, and also receives the set position detection signal and product code from the product name stamp 57 using the product name stamp reader 110. Furthermore, the CPU 101 sends print data to the printing mechanism 54 via the data bus 104. Furthermore, the CPU 101 has an address
motor controller 111 via bus 105;
Buzzer controller 112, stamp unit 5
I am trying to control 5. The motor controller 111 drives and controls the pulse motor 65 via a driver 113.
The buzzer controller 112 drives and controls the buzzer 114. Furthermore, the CPU
Reference numeral 101 controls a clock circuit 115 and reads date and time data from the clock circuit 115.

The CPU 101 operates the product name stamp reader 110 when the product name stamp 57 is set on the stamp unit 55.
It detects whether or not it has been set correctly, and controls the buzzer controller 112 to operate the buzzer 114 unless it is set correctly.
When it is determined that the product name mark 57 has been set correctly, the product code is read from the product name mark 57 by the product name mark reader 110, and the product code is read into the RAM.
Required preset data is read from the PLU memory 103. The CPU 101 controls various keys 107 of the operation section 2 and various switches 1.
08 input information is read through the keyboard/display controller 106, and the ROM 102
Read the required program from RAM10
3. Clock circuit 115, motor controller 11
1. The buzzer controller 112, the keyboard/display controller 106, the stamp unit 55, and the printing mechanism 54 are selectively controlled.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a main part of the main processing performed by the CPU 101, which starts when the power switch 39 is turned on. First, perform initial settings. During this initial setting, RAM is cleared and the display section is inspected. Also, the various switches 108 except the label issue mode selection switch 27 are read and the corresponding flags are set. Next, the product code is read from the product name mark 57.

Then, it is checked whether the read product code matches the previously read product code, and if they do not match, the RAM 103 is
The unit price, tare weight, department code, and valid days data preset corresponding to the product code are read from the PLU memory (not shown) and stored in the preset read register along with the product code read this time.
Set to _R6 .

If they match again, do nothing. Next, the set state of the key switch 38 is read. key switch 38
If the feed amount, unit price, tare, and code are set, key processing (1) is performed by key input. In this key process (1), the feed amount, unit price, tare weight, and code are set by key input. In particular, to set the feed amount, set the key switch 38 to the feed amount setting and set the print stage. This is done by setting the changeover switch 29 to "2nd stage". At this time, the feed set flag
_F1 is set. First, the first feed amount is entered using the numeric keypad 10 and the execution key 11 is pressed, and then the second feed amount is entered using the numeric keypad 10 and the execution key 11 is pressed. In this case, the first feed amount is the feed amount that determines how far the label 5 whose tip has reached the label issuing port 3 is further fed during two-stage printing, and the second feed amount is the feed amount for the first and second stages. The feed amount corresponds to the printing interval of each column. Then, the first feed amount is stored in the feed (1) register R ₈ , the second feed amount is stored in the feed (2) register R ₉ , and the set values are displayed on the upper display 7. Further, if the key switch 38 is set to issue a label, the main business switch is read, and then the mode switch is read. The main task switch is read by reading the setting status of the label issue selection switch 27 and fixed print content setting switch 28, and the mode switch is read by the print stage changeover switch 29,
Forced tare switch 30, set data designation switch 31, addition/subtraction switch 32, tare switch 33, department code switch 34, unit price switch 3
5. Read the settings of the weight switch 36 and price switch 37. By reading both switches, a status flag (not shown) provided in the RAM 103 is set. Further, when reading the mode switch, processing based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 is performed depending on whether the printing stage conversion switch 29 is set to "1 stage" printing or "2 stage" printing. In other words, the feed amount setting is "2 steps"
If the printing stage changeover switch 29 is changed to "1 stage" printing, the first feed amount of the feed (1) register R ₈ is changed to the first feed amount of the feed (2) register R ₉ . Change by adding the second feed amount. If the feed amount setting remains "2 steps" printing, do nothing. After that, set the changeover switch 29 to "2".
When you return to "column" printing, the first of feed (1) register R ₈
The feed amount is changed by subtracting the second feed amount of the feed (2) register _R9 from the first feed amount. (Feeding Amount Changing Means) When the label detector 4 detects that the label is missing from the label issuing port 3 after changing the feeding amount, it feeds the rear label to the printing position of the printing mechanism 54 and sets it. When the next key input is performed in this state, key processing (2) is performed. This key processing (2) is various key processing necessary for label issuance, and key inputs such as product code, unit price, classification code, etc. are performed as necessary. At this time, if the label issue selection switch 27 is set to "Fixed Print" and the fixed print content setting switch 28 is set to "Unit Price/Weight", or if the label issue selection switch 27 is set to "Auto" or "Manual". The price is calculated from the key-input unit price and weight, and this process is not performed at other times. Then, the contents of the key input and the calculated price are displayed. Next, the conditions are checked to see if the label can be issued. This checks whether the weighing data read from the weighing section 109 is stable and whether the label detector 4 is detecting a label. If it is possible to issue a label, then check whether the addition/subtraction switch 32 is set to "subtraction", and if it is set to "subtraction", the weight is simply calculated from the subtotal ST without issuing a label. Subtract the price, etc. If the changeover switch 32 is not set to "subtraction", next check whether the printing stage changeover switch 29 is set to "1 stage" printing or "2 stage" printing.
Check to see if it is printing, and if it is "2-stage" printing, print the upper stage on the label, then convert the second feed amount in feed (2) register R ₉ to the number of pulses and print the pulse (2). The pulse motor 65 is set in the register _R11 and further transferred to the second counter _R2 , and the pulse motor 65 is operated while subtracting and counting the number of pulses of the second counter _R2 , thereby performing a so-called small feed. This process is not performed when printing in "1 stage". Next, print the lower row on the label and feed (1)
The first feed amount in register _R8 is converted into the number of pulses and set in pulse (1) register _R10 . Then, the pulse motor 65 is operated to feed the label, and when the label detector 4 detects that the leading edge of the label has reached the label issuing port 3 of the label issuing port 3, the pulse number of the register R10 is set to pulse ( ₁ ). The number of pulses is transferred to the first counter _R1 , and the pulse motor 65 is operated while subtracting and counting the number of pulses to feed the label. Next, it is checked whether the changeover switch 32 is set to "addition", and if it is set to "addition", the weight, price, etc. are added to the subtotal ST, and the process is completed. If it is not set to "addition", the process ends without doing anything.

With such a configuration, the feed amount can be set by setting the key switch 38 to ``feed amount setting'', setting the printing stage changeover switch 29 to, for example, ``two-step'' printing, and inputting the feed amount using the keys. The key input operation is to input the first feed amount T ₁ using the numeric keypad 10, press the execution key 11, and then enter the second feed amount using the numeric keypad 10.
This is done by inputting the feed amount T ₂ and pressing the execution key 11. As a result, when performing two-stage printing, if the label 5 is fed in the direction of the arrow in the figure as shown in FIG.
T ₁ Distance feed is stopped. Then, when the front label is removed, the first printing position of the rear label is fed to the print position and stopped. Then, the first stage of printing is performed on the label, the label is fed a distance of T ₂ , and then stopped again.
The printing position in the second stage stops at the printing position, and the second stage printing is performed. Then, the label is fed until it projects a distance T ₁ from the label issuing port 3 and then stops. If it is desired to perform one-stage printing in this state, the printing stage changeover switch 29 can be switched to "one-stage" printing. By doing this, the first
The feed amount will be T ₁ + T ₂ . Therefore, from now on, as shown in FIG. 8, the label printed only on the second printing position will be fed until it protrudes from the label issuing port 3 by a distance of T ₁ +T ₂ . Therefore, in either one-stage printing or two-stage printing, the amount by which the rear label is fed to the printing position after the front label is removed is always constant, so that printing can always be performed at the correct printing position.
In this way, the feed amount only needs to be set once, and if you want to change the printing stage after that, press the printing stage changeover switch 29.
It is only necessary to simply switch the feed amount, and there is no need to set the feed amount again.

Therefore, label printing is never interrupted for a long time due to switching of printing stages, and the efficiency of label printing work can be improved. In addition, once the feed amount is set once, there is no need to reset the feed amount after that, making it possible to prevent missetting of the feed amount as much as possible.

In addition, although the above embodiment describes a system that performs printing switching between one stage and two stages, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and can be easily applied to systems that perform printing switching between one stage and three stages or more. It is.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to this invention, even if the printing stage for a label is changed during label printing, there is no need to interrupt label printing and reset the label feed amount each time, and the label printing process can be easily performed by simply switching the switch. It is therefore possible to provide a label feed control device for a label issuing device that can improve efficiency and prevent the occurrence of missetting of feed amount as much as possible.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figures show an embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a front view showing the front side, Fig. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the label issuing mechanism, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration.
Figure 4 is a diagram showing the main memory configuration of RAM, Figure 5
Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the main part of the main process, Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the main part of the mode switch reading process,
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining label feed control during two-stage printing, and FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining label feed control during one-stage printing. 3...Label issuing port, 4...Label detector, 5
... Label, 29 ... Print stage selection switch, 38
...Key switch, 54...Printing mechanism, 65...Pulse motor, 101...CPU (Central Processing Unit), _R1 ...First counter, _R2 ...Second counter, _R8 ...Feed (1) register, R ₉ ... feed (2) register, R ₁₀ ... pulse (1) register,
R ₁₁ ...Pulse (2) register.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. The label feed mechanism feeds the label with data printed on it to the label issuing port, and when the label detector detects that the label is removed from the label issuing port, the label feeding mechanism feeds the next label to the printing mechanism. In a label printing device that feeds the label to a printing position, there is a printing stage changeover switch that switches the printing stage for the label between one stage and multiple stages, and how much further the label is fed after the leading end of the label reaches the label issuing opening. a first feed amount memory that stores a first feed amount that determines the printing interval of each printing step for the label; a second feed amount memory that stores a second feed amount that determines the printing interval of each printing step for the label; and the printing step changeover switch. detects that the printing has been switched from one-stage printing to multi-stage printing, and changes the first feed amount stored in the first feed amount memory from the first feed amount to the second feed amount memory. The second feed amount stored in the memory is changed to a value obtained by subtracting the second feed amount, and the printing step changeover switch detects that the printing step changeover switch has been switched from multi-step printing to single step printing, and stores it in the first feed amount memory. a feed amount changing means for changing the first feed amount that has been set to a value obtained by adding a second feed amount stored in the second feed amount memory to the first feed amount; A label feed control device in a label issuing device, characterized in that it performs label feed control based on the feed amount of each feed amount memory.