JPH0462550B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a label printer that prints labels to be attached to various products, and is particularly suitable for printing large quantities of other types of labels. Regarding.

[Terminology] In front of the label, there is a frame, "product name", "weight", etc.
If display characters such as "unit price" and "price" are not printed at all, the label document is generally determined by the label size. In other words, label size and label type are synonymous. In this case, even if the label type is the same, the print format may be different.

On the other hand, fixed data such as a frame and display characters such as "product name", "weight", "unit price", and "price" are printed in advance on the label. in this case,
Even if the label size is the same, if the printing is different, the type of label will be different. Once the label type is determined, the print format and label size are usually determined. In this specification, the label type includes the former case as well as the latter case.

[Conventional technology] In recent years, with the development of supermarkets that sell a wide variety of products in large quantities, many types of labels with different types and printing formats are being issued in large quantities depending on the size, shape, or nature of the product. There is a demand for a label printer that can In response to these demands, label printers have been developed that are equipped with multiple printing formats and can issue different types of labels (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1983-1999).
Publication No. 101379).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, in the invention described in JP-A-59-101379, if a label format that does not match the label actually attached is specified, the printing position may shift. There was a problem in that the label was wasted due to incorrect printing.

This invention was made against this background. If the specified label type does not match the label type actually attached, the label is not issued and an alarm is issued, thereby reducing waste of the label. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a label printer that prevents this from occurring.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a label printer that can mount at least one type of label among a plurality of types of labels.
type detection means for detecting the type of label attached; storage means for storing print data indicating printed content and label type data indicating the type of label in association with each item number unique to each item; and item number. input means for inputting the item number, reading means for reading out from the storage means print data and label type data corresponding to the item number input by the input means, and label type data read by the reading means. , a determining means for determining whether the type of the label detected by the type detecting means matches or not; and a notifying means for notifying the user when the determining means determines that they do not match; The apparatus is characterized by comprising a printing means for printing the print data read by the reading means on the attached label when it is determined by the determining means that they match.

[Operation] According to the above configuration, the storage means stores print data and label type data regarding the label type.
The data is stored in advance for each item number unique to each item, and by inputting the item number using the input means, the print data and label type data corresponding to the input item number are read. If the read label type data and the attached label type do not match, the notification means will notify you of this, so the print data corresponding to the item number will be printed on a different label. This prevents labels from being wasted.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIGS. 1 to 8, 1 is a label printer main body, and 2 is a stand that supports the label printer main body 1. As shown in FIGS. A display section 5 and an operation section 6 are provided at the top of the front panel 3 of the label printer main body 1, and a switch section 7 is provided at the bottom of the front panel 3. Further, from the lower right end of the front panel 3, a label 8 affixed to a mount 8a is let out and taken up on a take-up reel 9.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the configuration of the display section 5, operation section 6, and switch section 7. As shown in FIG.

First, the display section 5 displays each item to be printed on the label 8, and includes an area 5a for displaying the product name, product attributes, or various messages, and an area 5a for displaying the manufacturing date, product weight, and sales date. Area 5b for displaying the item number and selling price, etc., and Area 5 for displaying the product number and selling price.
Area 5 that displays c, flight number, label type, etc.
It consists of d. In addition, each area 5a to 5d
consists of a liquid crystal display.

The operating section 6 is composed of a flat keyboard 6a consisting of a numeric keypad and function keys, and a mode changeover switch 6b for changing the operating mode of the label printer. Note that the operation modes include a label issuing mode, an online mode, a master registration mode, and a date mode.

The switch section 7 includes a power switch 7a, a label rewind switch 7b, a label feed switch 7c, and a label detection sensor sensitivity adjustment knob 7.
d, and a connector 7e for connecting external equipment.

Next, the main parts of the label printer main body 1 and the cassette 30 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 to 8.

In these figures, 10 is a side plate fixed perpendicularly to the main body 1. The side plate 10 is fixed to the front surface of the support plate 11 so that the central and lower parts thereof are overlapped with each other (FIG. 6). Further, the upper part of the support plate 11 is bent forward into a step shape, and a cassette attachment plate 12 is fixed to this part in parallel with the side plate 10.

A stepping motor 13 is fixed to the back side of the side plate 10 where the side plate 10 and the support plate 11 overlap. Shaft 13a of stepping motor 13
protrudes forward of the support plate 11, the motor side gear 14 is fitted into the protruding part, and the shaft 13
The tip of a is the bearing 1 attached to the bearing plate 15.
6 (Fig. 3). Note that the bearing plate 15 is fixed to the front surface of the support plate 11 with screws. In addition, the shaft 13a of the stepping motor 13
A pulley 17 is fitted on the back side of the side plate 10 (FIG. 8) to drive a timing belt 18. The timing belt 18 rotationally drives the platen roller 21 of the printing section 20, and is stretched horizontally between the pulley 17 and the pulley 22, and has a gear 22a that shares a common axis with the pulley 22.
and a gear 2 that shares a shaft with the platen roller 21.
The platen roller 21 is rotationally driven via the platen roller 1a.

A thermal head 23 is disposed above and facing the platen roller 21, and is pressed against the platen roller 21 by a head pressing spring 24 that urges it downward. Then, printing is performed on the label 8 that is transferred between the platen roller 21 and the thermal head 23. This label 8 is
It is unrolled from the cassette 30, guided between a pair of upper and lower guide plates 25a and 25b, reaches a platen roller 21, and is unwound to the outside by the platen roller 21. Moreover, in the middle of the guide plate 25,
A label detection sensor 26 consisting of an issuing element 26a and a light receiving element 26b is provided to detect the label 8. This detection is performed by utilizing the fact that the amount of light received increases at intervals between the labels 8 attached to the mount 8a in a row.

The printing section 20 is also provided with a lever 27 that rotates around a pin 27a, and when the upper end of the lever 27 is rotated counterclockwise, the support section 2 of the platen roller 21
1a rotates downward around the pin 21b, the platen roller 21 separates from the thermal head 23,
The heating element of the thermal head 23 can be cleaned. The support portion 21a is supported by a pin 21c that fits into a recess at the lower end of the lever 27.
It is stopped in the position shown in FIG. 3 or 4. Also,
There is a cutter 28 at the front upper part of the platen roller 21.
However, there is a guide plate 29 below the thermal head 23.
is provided.

Next, the cassette 30 will be explained with reference to FIG. 5 and the like.

The cassette 30 houses a label roller and feeds out the tip of the label 8 to the printing part 20, and includes a circular container-shaped storage part 30a having a bottom plate 30c, and a feeding part 3 provided at the bottom thereof.
0b.

The storage portion 30a is covered by a circular cassette lid 32 with a handle 31 attached to the center. When the cassette lid 32 is removed, a label roll set shaft 33 is provided at the center of the storage section 30a, protruding from the bottom plate 30c, and when the center hole of the label roll is fitted into the shaft 33, the label roll is mounted. The cassette lid 32 has a lock pin 33a protruding inward from the label roll set shaft 33;
A fixing plate 31a (FIG. 6) attached to the tip of the handle 31 is engaged and fixed. Further, a guide hole 42a' is provided at the center of the rear end surface of the label roll set shaft 33, passing through the bottom plate 30c.
A guide hole 42b' is provided near the feeding portion 30b.

The feeding section 30b includes a feeding roller 35,
It is composed of a pinch roller 36 that is pressed by the pinch roller 36, a guide plate 37 that guides the unreeled label, and a rewind guide plate 38.

The rear end of the shaft of the feeding roller 35 is connected to the cassette 3.
0 protrudes rearward from the bottom plate 30c, and a gear 35a is fixed to this protruding portion. gear 3
Reference numeral 5a denotes a gear that meshes with the above-mentioned motor-side gear 14 when the cassette 30 is mounted on the main body 1, thereby rotating the feeding roller 35. On the other hand, a coil spring 35b that biases the roller 35 rearward is fitted into the front end of the shaft of the feeding roller 35. This means that when the cassette 30 is attached to the main body 1, the motor side gear 1
Even if the gear 35a and the gear 35a do not mesh with each other, they will automatically mesh with each other when the stepping motor 13 starts rotating. Note that a manual knob 35c is attached to the front end of the feeding roller 35, so that the label 8 can be fed out manually. Further, the gear 35a is covered by a cover 35d.

The pinch roller 36 is rotatably fitted onto a shaft 36a, and both ends of the shaft 36a are supported by coil springs 36.
b in the direction of the feeding roller 35 (FIG. 8). Also, the bearing 36c of the shaft 36a
is formed in the shape of a long hole, and is configured such that the pinch roller 36 comes into contact with the feeding roller 35 and moves away from it. The reason for this will be explained later.

The label 8 transferred between the feeding roller 35 and the pinch roller 36 is moved to the upper and lower guide plates 37.
It is guided by a guide plate 37 consisting of a and 37b and transferred to the guide plate 25 on the main body side. Note that a cutter 37c is formed at the tip of the upper guide plate 37a.

The rewinding guide plate 38 is opened and closed by a hinge provided at its lower end (FIG. 4 shows the closed state and FIG. 5c shows the open state), and the label 8
When it is unwound, it is prevented from escaping outward and is stored in the storage section 30.

Next, the mounting portion 40 of the cassette 30 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3, 6, and 8. First, the support plate 11 includes two support rods 41,
41 is erected and protrudes forward. Similarly, a guide rod 42b is provided near the gear 14,
The guide rod 42a is provided at the center of the cassette mounting plate 12. And the support rod 41,
41 and push the cassette 30 into the main body, the label roll set shaft 33 of the cassette 30
The guide hole 42a' provided in the guide rod 42
At the same time, the guide rod 42b is fitted into the guide hole 42b', and the cassette 30 is mounted in a predetermined position. In this case, the guide rod 42b
is provided near the gear 14, so that the cassette 3
0, the main outer gear 14 and the cassette side gear 35a are configured to mesh reliably. Furthermore, four spacers 43...
A constant spacing is maintained by... Furthermore, the legs 30f of the cassette 30 fit into escape holes 44, 44 provided in the cassette mounting plate 12. Furthermore,
The bottom plate 30c is attracted and fixed by magnets 45, 45. Note that in this embodiment, the magnet 4
Although the cassette 30 is fixed by the levers 5 and 45, a locking mechanism may be provided to prevent the cassette 30 from being removed unless the lever is actuated.

Next, the cassette type discrimination mechanism will be explained. This determination is made by detecting a backing plate 50 (FIG. 7) fixed to the upper part of the bottom plate 30c of the cassette 30 using four limit switches 51a to 51d fixed to the upper bent part of the cassette mounting plate 1. . Here, the limit switches 51a to 5
1d is turned on when the backing plate 50 is detected and turned off when the backing plate 50 is not detected, so by appropriately arranging the backing plate 50, it is possible to detect whether a cassette 30 is attached or not and to detect 15 types of cassettes 30. That is, all limit switches 51a to 51d
When the cassette 30 is off, it is detected that the cassette 30 is not installed, and the limit switch 51 is turned off.
Based on the binary values (1 to 15) formed by a to 51d, the cassette 30 containing 15 types of labels is detected.

Next, the electrical configuration of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11.

In these figures, 60 is a CPU.
The CPU 60 controls printing of the label 8 using a program stored in the ROM 61. ROM61
In addition to the above-mentioned programs, there are stored print formats corresponding to each type of label, a character generator for generating character patterns, and the like. 62 is a RAM, which includes a work area for the CPU 60, an instruction data memory 81 to be described later, a preset memory 91, various registers for storing data read from these memories, a number counter for counting the number of printed labels, and a label. Provides an area such as a print screen memory in which a pattern image to be printed is written. 63
is an interface for communicating with external equipment such as a host computer.

The print control unit 70 is connected to the CPU 60 via a printer interface 71. This printer interface 71 receives output signals from limit switches 51a to 51d for label type detection, and a light receiving element 26b of the label detection sensor 26.
is supplied with the output of Further, from the printer interface 71, a DC motor 72 that drives the take-up reel 9 and a stepping motor 1 are connected.
At the same time, a control signal is sent to the drive circuit 73 of the thermal head 23, and a drive signal DP is sent to the shift register 74 connected to the front stage of the drive circuit 73.
Print data DATA and clock CP are supplied to .

The drive circuit 73 is composed of an AND gate group 73a and a driver circuit 73b, and is adapted to drive the heating elements R1 to Rn of the thermal head 23 to perform dot printing. Further, the shift register 74 is connected via the printer interface 71.
The print data DATA supplied from the CPU 60 in 8-bit units is shifted and taken in, and is supplied to the AND gate group 73a.

Next, referring to FIG.
2 instruction data memory 81 and preset memory 9
The contents stored in 1 will be explained.

The instruction data memory 81 stores reservation data sent to the base unit A from the host computer. In other words, for 1000 types of items, each product number (item number),
It is designed to memorize the delivery number, price, date of sale, date of manufacture, number of sheets issued, type of label, processing flag, etc., and except for the processing flag, data sent from host computer C is written.
These become instruction data.

The preset memory 91 is capable of storing product numbers, product names, font sizes of product names (full-width/half-width), additional characters, label types, etc. for 1200 types of items. Then, the preset memory 91 is searched based on the product number selected from the instruction data memory 81, and these instruction data memory 81 and preset memory 9 are searched.
Label printing is performed based on the contents of 1.

The preset memory 91 is also provided with an area (not shown) in which data extracted from the instruction data memory 81 is transferred and stored. This is later used as data for additionally printing the same label as the pre-issued label.

In the above configuration, when the cassette 30 in which the label roll is set is mounted on the mounting section 40,
The limit switches 51a to 51d detect this, and the stepping motor 13 is driven to rotate in the normal direction under the control of the CPU 60. As a result, the feed roller 35 and the platen roller 21 are rotationally driven in conjunction with each other, and the feed roller 35 feeds out the label 8. Then, the label 8 passes through the guide plate 25 and the label detection sensor 26, and then passes through the platen roller 2.
1 and the thermal head 23, and is stopped at a predetermined printing position. This stopping at the printing position is performed by driving the stepping motor 13 a predetermined number of steps after the end of the label 8 passes the label detection sensor 26. Note that this predetermined number of steps is determined by the ROM6 for each type of label.
1 is stored.

Here, the label transport speed by the platen roller 21 is slightly higher than the label transport speed by the feed roller 35. Thereby, even if the label 8 becomes loose between the feeding roller 35 and the platen roller 21, it can be returned to a naturally taut state. Also, if the tension is too high, the pinch roller 36 will cause the feed roller 3
Escape in the direction away from 5 to eliminate this tension. This is why the bearing 36c of the shaft 36a of the pinch roller 36 is formed into a long hole. In this way, the amount of label 8 to be transported is determined by the platen roller 21, and the label 8 is reliably transported by a predetermined amount.

On the other hand, if the stepping motor 13 is reversed,
The platen roller 21 and the feed roller 35 rotate in the opposite direction to rewind the label 8. At this time, the guide plate 38 prevents the label 8 from escaping outward.
By using this rewinding, the cassette 30
There is no need to waste the label 8 located between the cassette 30 and the printing section 20 when removing it.

Next, the label issuing operation, which is the gist of this embodiment, will be explained. To issue a label, the host computer sends the label printer the instruction data stored in the instruction data memory 81 and the instruction data registered in the preset memory 91.
There are two types of issue: reserved issue, which is executed based on stored preset data, and additional issue, which involves issuing an additional label that is the same as the label that has already been reserved.

The additional issuing operation will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 12 to 14.

Before explaining label issuing, an overview of the operation of the label printer control program will be explained.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the main routine of the label printer. First, when the power switch 7a is turned on, each part of the input/output device is initialized (stage S1), and the main routine begins. In this main routine, the mode changeover switch 6b is read (stage
S2), depending on the switching position, issue mode routine (stage S3), online mode routine (stage S4), master registration mode routine (stage S5), date mode routine (stage
Each routine in S6) is executed.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an overview of the operation of the issue mode routine. In this mode routine, the function key and feed switch 7c in the flat keyboard 6a are read (stage S11), and depending on the on state of these switches, the label issuing routine (stage
S12), a level check routine for the label detection sensor 26 (stage S13), etc. are executed.

The above is an overview of the label printer control program. Label issuance is performed in the label issuance routine described above.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing details of additional label issuance. After the operator has installed the cassette 30 containing the desired label, the operator presses the online/offline key on the flat keyboard 6a offline (in this case, online/offline has nothing to do with the online mode selection switch 6b). , in this embodiment, reservations are issued online in issue mode, and additional issues are issued offline in issue mode), press the numeric keypad and the flight key to specify the flight number, and then press the numeric keypad and the flight key. After inputting the product number using the product number key, further specifying the number of sheets using the numeric keys, and pressing the issue key, the following additional label issuing routine is started. In this case, the label type is not directly input, but the label type corresponding to the product number is read out from the instruction data memory 81 or preset memory 91 and used.

First, in step SP1, the instruction data memory 81 is searched using the flight number and product number as keys, and it is found whether the instruction data memory 81 contains data for the corresponding flight number and product number.

If the data exists, this data is read from the instruction data memory 81. Furthermore, the preset memory 91 is searched using the product number of the read data as a key, and print data such as the product name is read out (step SP2). It should be noted that all the read data is set in a register reserved in the RAM 62 and displayed in each area of the display section 5. However, regarding the number of sheets, the number entered by the key is set in the register and displayed.

Next, proceeding to step SP3, it is checked whether the label types detected by the limit switches 51a to 51d match the label types of the read data. If the label types match, print the number of labels specified above (Step SP4). In other words, the print format corresponding to the label type is retrieved from the ROM61.
Based on this print format, patterns such as product name, date of manufacture, date of sale, product attributes such as additives, price, etc. are written into the print screen memory, and the specified number of labels are printed. Print.

After the specified number of sheets have been printed in this way, the process returns to stage S7 in FIG. 12 via stage S12 in FIG.

On the other hand, if the label types do not match in step SP3 above, in step SP5, a message "The label types are different" will be displayed in area 5a of display section 5.
is displayed and returns. As a result, the operator replaces the label and inputs the label designation again.

In step SP1, if the instruction data memory 81 does not contain the corresponding data, it is checked whether the preset memory 91 contains the corresponding data. This preset memory 91 stores the product number, delivery number, price, sale date, and manufacturing date extracted from the instruction data memory 81 at the time of reservation issuance in case additional labels need to be issued. Since the date, label type, etc. are transferred and stored, this data is searched (step SP6). When the relevant data is found, this data is read out from the preset memory 91 (step SP7), and then steps SP3 to SP4 are performed.
In this step, a specified number of labels are printed as described above.

On the other hand, if the corresponding data is not found in step SP6, then in step SP8, "No data" is displayed in area 5a of display section 5, and the process returns.

The above are the main operations of this embodiment. According to this embodiment, when the label type specification does not match the label type actually attached,
This can prevent printing on the wrong label.

Note that the following modifications can be considered to this embodiment.

(1) In this embodiment, a limit switch is used to detect the type of cassette and then the type of label. This is because in this embodiment, label type=print format, and even if the label size is the same, the types are different.

However, when label type=label size, it is also possible to directly detect the label size using a sensor. At this time, the label length (label width in the traveling direction) can be measured by the output of the label detection sensor.

In this case, it is conceivable that the label types may be the same even if the printing formats are different.
In order to apply the present invention to such a case, it is necessary to store data specifying the print format rather than the label type in the instruction data memory. A table showing the correspondence between print formats and label types is provided, and this table is used to determine which size (=type) of label the print format can be printed on. That is, although the print format in this case does not directly specify the label type, it indirectly corresponds to the label type.

In the present invention, even if the data does not directly specify the label type, such as the above-mentioned "data specifying the print format," the data that allows the label type to be determined based on that data, all the data that can be used to specify the label type. It is considered to be included in the scope of "data".

(2) In this embodiment, the label printer connected to the host computer is configured to print labels, but the label printer connected to the host computer is used as the parent device, and a label printer that is a slave device is further connected to it. However, it is also possible to configure the device so that both the parent device and the slave device print labels.

(3) In this embodiment, the label type is not input, but the instruction data memory 81 and preset memory 91 are searched for the product number to find the corresponding data, and the label type is obtained from the corresponding data. The label type may be input directly from the keyboard.

(4) In this embodiment, the case of additional issuance has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to normal label printing in which printing data is stored in advance in a preset memory and the contents of this preset memory are recalled and printed. Furthermore, the specific operations described in the examples are not limited to these. For example, in the above embodiment, the product number was input using the numeric keypad, but a barcode scanner is connected to the label printer, and a label sample with a barcode printed thereon is read by the barcode scanner and input. It is also possible.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in this invention, when printing, there is no need to input the type of label or the content to be printed, and it is only necessary to input the item number, which eliminates the possibility of input errors. However, the burden on the operator can be reduced. Furthermore, if the label type read based on the input item number and the attached label do not match, a notification to that effect will be sent by the notification means, so if the label type with incorrect print data is This prevents the label from being wasted.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing the configuration of the display section, operation section, and switch section of the same label printer, and FIG.
The figure is a side view showing the state of the same label printer before the cassette 30 is installed, FIG. 4 is a side view showing the state of the same label printer after the cassette 30 is installed, and FIG. Figure a is a front view, b is a side view, c is a front view showing the inside, Figures 6 to 8 are views showing the state when the cassette 30 is installed, Figure 6 is a side sectional view, and Figure 7 is a side view. The figure is a plan view,
8 is a plan sectional view, FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the label printer, FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the print control section 70, and FIG. 11 is the instruction data memory 81 and preset. 12 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the memory 91, and FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an outline of the control program of the label printer.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an overview of the issue mode routine of the program, and FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the additional label issuing operation. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Label printer main body, 5... Display section (notification means), 6... Operation section (input means), 8... Label, 20... Printing section (printing means), 26... Label detection sensor, 30 . . . cassette, 40 . . . mounting portion, 51 a to 51 d .

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A label printer capable of mounting at least one type of label among a plurality of types of labels, comprising: type detection means for detecting the type of label mounted; print data indicating printed content and a label; storage means for storing label type data indicating the type of item for each item-specific item number; input means for inputting the item number; and printing corresponding to the item number input by the input means. reading means for reading data and label type data from the storage means; and determining whether the label type data read by the reading means and the label type detected by the type detecting means match. a determining means; a notifying means for notifying when the determining means determines that they do not match; 1. A label printer comprising: printing means for printing printed data on an attached label.