JPH07302001A - Label printer transfer current control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent transfer deficiency and transfer defect by setting the transfer current in the prescribed section from the start of the electrostatic charge of a label to be printed larger than the transfer current in other sections at the time of printing the conductive label. CONSTITUTION:The transfer current Icf in the prescribed section (initial section) Zf from the start of the electrostatic charge of the label L to be printed is so controlled as to be larger than the transfer current Icm and Icr in the other sections Zm and Zr. The transfer current Icf in the initial period of the electrostatic charge is made relatively large in order to promptly distribute charges over the entire surface for the electrical conductivity of the vapor deposited aluminum label in the case of this label, by which the charge quantity is rapidly increased up to the normal quality even at the time of starting printing and the transfer deficiency on the front end side of the label L to be printed is eliminated. In such a case, the transfer currents Icm and Icr in the other sections Zm and Zr are so corrected as to offset the decrease in the charges of the label L to be printed in accordance with the conductive member arranged in proximity to the moving label L to be printed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transfer current control method for a label printer using an electrophotographic method for controlling a transfer current flowing in a transfer charger for charging a label to be printed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a label printer using an electrophotographic method is known from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-299150.

This type of label printer is designed to sequentially print on a large number of labels to be printed, which are attached to a continuous backing sheet at regular intervals, by an electrophotographic method. At the time of printing, a space between the photosensitive drum and the transfer charger is printed. When the label to be printed is passed through, the toner having the print information attached to the photosensitive drum is transferred to the label to be printed. In this case, a high voltage of about -7 kV is applied to the charger wire parallel to the width direction of the label to be printed provided in the transfer charger, and the label to be printed is charged by the generated corona discharge.

[0004]

When the label to be printed is charged, since the label to be printed passes at a constant speed in the vicinity of the charger wire provided in the fixed transfer charger, the label to be printed is a paper label. In this case, the label to be printed is sequentially and uniformly charged from the front end side to the rear end side where charging starts.

However, when printing on an aluminum vapor-deposited label as a label to be printed, even if printing is carried out under the same printing conditions as those of a paper label, the print on the leading end side of the label to be printed becomes thin and the transfer is made. In addition to the shortage, there is a problem that the rear end side causes a transfer failure due to excessive charging.

The present invention solves the problems existing in the prior art as described above, and prevents insufficient transfer or defective transfer of a conductive label such as an aluminum vapor-deposited label to improve and uniform the print quality. It is an object of the present invention to provide a transfer current control method for a label printer which can be realized.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a transfer current control method for a label printer using an electrophotographic method for controlling a transfer current Ic flowing through a transfer charger 2 which charges a moving label L. Particularly, when a conductive label such as an aluminum vapor-deposited label is printed as the label L to be printed, the transfer current Icf in a predetermined section Zf from the start of charging the label L to be printed and the transfer current Icm in the other sections Zm and Zr. , Icr.

In this case, according to the optimum embodiment, the transfer currents Icm and Icr in the other sections Zm and Zr are the same as those of the printable label L based on the conductive member M arranged in the vicinity of the moving printable label L. Correct so as to offset the decrease in charge.

[0009]

According to the transfer current control method for the label printer of the present invention, since a high voltage is applied to the transfer charger 2,
The label L to be printed is charged by the generated corona discharge. At this time, the transfer current I is applied to the transfer charger 2.
c flows.

Now, assume that a conductive label such as an aluminum vapor deposition label is printed as the label L to be printed. In the case of a conductive label, the electric charge immediately distributes over the entire surface of the label because of its conductivity, and therefore there is a time delay from the start of charging until the charge reaches a specified amount. In the present invention, the transfer current I in the predetermined section Zf from the start of charging the label L to be printed
cf is the transfer current Icm in the other sections Zm and Zr,
Since the control is performed so as to be larger than Icr, the time delay is corrected and the shortage of transfer on the leading end side of the label L to be printed which starts printing is eliminated.

On the other hand, when the conductive member M is disposed in proximity to the moving label L, the charge charged on the label L when the label L passes through the conductive member M is reduced. The electrically-conductive member M robs the charged label L of the charged label L. On the other hand, if the label L to be printed is separated from the conductive member M, the charge in the label L to be printed does not decrease. In the present invention, in another section, that is, the section Zm in which the electric charge is absorbed by the conductive member M, an appropriate transfer current Ic is obtained.
By selecting m, transfer shortage due to insufficient charge is corrected, and in the section Zr away from the conductive member M, a small transfer current Icr is passed to cause transfer failure due to excessive charging on the rear end side of the label L to be printed. Will be resolved.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, a schematic structure of a label printer P capable of implementing the transfer current control method according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a machine body, and a supply reel 21 and a take-up reel 22 are arranged on reel shafts provided at the front and rear ends thereof.
The take-up reel 22 and the cutter 23 provided on the discharge side can be selectively attached. On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 12 is arranged in the middle of the machine body 20. As a result, the continuous paper 13 supplied from the supply reel 21 has a guide post 25, a plurality of roller mechanisms 26 including a pair of driving rollers and driven rollers, a plurality of guide plates 27, and the guide posts 2.
Take-up reel 2 through a traveling path N formed by 8 and the like.
It is wound up in 2. At this time, the continuous paper 13 is the photosensitive drum 12
Touch the surface of. As shown in FIG. 2, the continuous paper 13 has a large number of labels L, L, L ...
It is configured by sequentially attaching.

A transfer charger 2 is arranged on the traveling path N. The transfer charger 2 has an arm 2 whose fulcrum 29 is the center of rotation.
3, the continuous paper 13 can be moved to a proximity position facing the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 12 by rotating it clockwise in FIG. 3, and by rotating it counterclockwise in FIG. It can be separated from the drum 12. On the other hand, the traveling path N located in front of the photosensitive drum 12
Includes a label sensor 3 for detecting the presence or absence of the continuous paper 13.
0 on the other hand, on the other hand, on the traveling path N located after the photosensitive drum 12, the continuous paper 13 fed from the photosensitive drum 12
Belt-use suction device 31 that sucks by a negative pressure for stably taking out the toner, and a pair of heat rollers 33, 3 that attach the toner attached to the continuous paper 13 guided by the suction device 31.
A fixing device 32 for fixing the toner by means of No. 4 is provided.

On the other hand, around the photosensitive drum 12, a primary charger 35 which gives electric charges to the photosensitive drum 12, and a print head 3 which gives information such as transferred figures and characters to the photosensitive drum 12.
6. A developer (developing device) 37 for adhering toner to the information portion of the photosensitive drum 12 is sequentially arranged. Further, for the drum surface after printing, a peeling claw 38 for peeling the continuous paper 13 from the photosensitive drum 12, a sponge roller 3
9 and a cleaner (toner collector) 41 having a magnet roller 40, and an eraser 42 for erasing charges on the photosensitive drum 12.

Next, the structure of the main part of the label printer P will be described with reference to FIG.

First, 2 is the above-mentioned transfer charger, which has an elongated rectangular parallelepiped charger box 11, and
An opening 11s is provided on one surface. Inside the charger box 11, a charger wire 3 parallel to the longitudinal direction, that is, the width direction of the label L to be printed is arranged. As shown in FIG. 2, the transfer charger 2 is arranged such that the opening 11s faces the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 12, and as described above, the space between the photosensitive drum 12 and the transfer charger 2 is continuous paper. 13 passes.

On the other hand, the charger wire 3 is connected to the charger power source unit 14
Connect to. As a result, a high voltage of about -7 kV is applied to the charger wire 3 of the transfer charger 2 from the charger power supply unit 14, and corona discharge is generated to cause the label L to be printed.
Is charged. Reference numeral 15 is a control unit, which is connected to the charger power supply unit 14. The control unit 15 is the charger power supply unit 1
4 is given a control command to control the transfer current Ic flowing through the charger wire 3. The size of the transfer current Ic, the control section (time or position), etc. can be set by the setting unit 16.

On the other hand, there is provided an identification sensor 17 for identifying the material of the print-receiving label L, that is, for identifying whether it is a paper label or an aluminum vapor deposition label. The identification sensor 17 is arranged close to or in contact with the print-receiving labels L ... And this identification information is given to the control unit 15. Further, a position sensor 18 for detecting the position of the label L to be printed, in particular, the tip position is provided,
This position information is given to the control unit 15. Position sensor 1
The timing at which the front end of the label L to be printed reaches the transfer charger 2 is obtained from the arrangement position of 8 and the position information from the position sensor 18. In FIG. 2, H1 is continuous paper 13
, H2 indicates the rotation direction of the rotary drum 12.
Further, M is a conductive member (a chassis made of sheet metal) arranged in the vicinity of the label L ...

Next, the transfer current control method according to the present invention including the operation of the main part of the label printer P will be described with reference to FIG.
2 and FIG. 2.

First, at the time of printing, by passing the continuous paper 13 (printed label L ...) Between the photosensitive drum 12 and the transfer charger 2, the toner having the print information attached to the photosensitive drum 12 is printed. Transfer to label L ... In this case, the print labels L ... Are charged by corona discharge generated in the charger wire 3 provided in the transfer charger 2.

When the label L to be printed is a paper label, the control section 15 controls the charger power source section 14 based on the identification information of the identification sensor 17 so that the transfer current Ic at the time of corona discharge is set in advance. The control is performed so that the set constant current is obtained.

On the other hand, when the label L to be printed is an aluminum vapor-deposited label, it operates as follows. In this case, the aluminum vapor deposition label is a label obtained by subjecting the surface of a polyester film to aluminum vapor deposition and has conductivity. First, the control unit 15 controls the charger power supply unit 14 so that the transfer current Ic has the current characteristics shown in FIG. 1 based on the identification information of the identification sensor 17.

That is, the transfer current Icf in a predetermined section (initial section) Zf from the start of charging the label L to be printed is controlled so as to be larger than the transfer currents Icm, Icr in the other sections Zm, Zr. In the case of an aluminum vapor-deposited label, the electric charge is immediately distributed over the entire surface of the label due to its conductivity. Therefore, by making the transfer current Icf relatively large at the initial stage of charging, the charge amount of the label L to be printed is reduced even at the start of printing. The specified amount is quickly reached, and the shortage of transfer on the leading end side of the label L to be printed is eliminated.

On the other hand, the end of the initial section Zf causes the transition to the middle section Zm. In the middle period Zm, a predetermined transfer current Icm set in advance is maintained. In the middle section Zm, as shown in FIG. 2, since the conductive member M is close to the print target label L, the charges charged on the print target label L ...
, And the charges on the labels L to be printed are reduced.
Therefore, the magnitude of the transfer current Ic is set so as to cancel this decrease.

Further, when the middle-term section Zm ends, the latter-stage section Zr is entered. The latter section Zr is shown in FIG.
The rear end of the moving label L moves away from the conductive member M, and the transfer current Icr in the second period Zr
Is set smaller than the transfer current Icm in the middle period Zm. If the print-receiving label L is separated from the conductive member M, the charge in the print-receiving label L does not decrease, so that the transfer current Icm for canceling the decrease in the charge in the middle period Zm becomes unnecessary. Therefore, the latter section Z
The transfer current Icr of r is set to a relatively small value, preferably a value close to zero. As a result, the transfer failure due to excessive charging on the rear end side of the label L to be printed is eliminated.

The embodiment has been described in detail above.
The present invention is not limited to such an embodiment.
For example, as the conductive label, an aluminum vapor-deposited label has been illustrated, but the present invention can be similarly applied to other conductive labels such as a copper label. Further, the magnitude, section, number of changing steps, etc. of the transfer current can be arbitrarily set according to the shape, position, quantity, etc. of the conductive member. In addition, in the configuration of details, shape, material, etc.,
It can be arbitrarily changed without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0029]

As described above, the present invention relates to a transfer current control method for a label printer using an electrophotographic method for controlling a transfer current flowing through a transfer charger for charging a moving label to be printed, and particularly to a transfer current control method. When printing a conductive label as a print label, the transfer current in a predetermined section from the charging start of the print target label is set to be larger than the transfer current in other sections. There is a remarkable effect that it is possible to improve the printing quality and make it uniform by preventing insufficient transfer and defective transfer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a current characteristic diagram of a transfer current by a transfer current control method according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a main part of a label printer capable of implementing the transfer current control method.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of a label printer using an electrophotographic method,

[Explanation of symbols]

 P Label printer 2 Transfer charger L ... Label to be printed Ic Transfer current Zf Initial section (predetermined section) Zm Middle section (other section) Zr Late section (other section) M Conductive member

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A transfer current control method for a label printer using an electrophotographic method for controlling a transfer current flowing through a transfer charger for charging a moving label to be printed,
A transfer current control method for a label printer, which is characterized in that, when a conductive label is printed as a print target label, a transfer current in a predetermined section from the charging start of the print target label is made larger than a transfer current in another section. . 2. The transfer current control method for a label printer according to claim 1, wherein the conductive label is an aluminum vapor deposition label. 3. The transfer current in the other section is corrected so as to offset the decrease in the charge of the printing target label due to the conductive member arranged in the vicinity of the moving printing target label. Item 2. A transfer current control method for a label printer according to Item 1.