This application claims priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-274893, filed on Dec. 9, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Embodiments described herein relate generally to a label and a label printer.
At present, in supermarket and other shops, the commodity (object), for example, meat, which is packaged with a piece of plastic film with its main body placed in a plate, can be adhered with a label to display related commodity information. The label, which is issued by a label printer, displays commodity information including the name or the shelf life of the commodity.
The customers of such shops include the ones who take the main body of a purchased labeled commodity out of the commodity and place the main body of the commodity into a plastic bag in the shop and then take the plastic bag home, and the ones who directly take a purchased labeled commodity home and considering the large space occupied by the whole commodity in their refrigerator, take out the main body of the commodity, place the main body of the commodity in a plastic bag and then place the plastic bag in their refrigerator.
However, if the main body of a labeled commodity is taken out and then placed in a plastic bag without a label, the name or the shelf life of the main body of the commodity will be lost.
In accordance with one embodiment, a label has: a base sheet unit having a first adhesive area adhered to an object, and a separable sheet unit that is connected with the base sheet unit via a first predetermined cutoff portion having a first incision, wherein the information on the object is printed on the separable sheet unit.
In accordance with another embodiment, a label has: a base sheet unit having, on one side, a first adhesive area adhered to an object, and a separable sheet unit having the information on the object on one side and a second adhesive area on the other side, wherein the second adhesive area is adhesively laminated on the other side of the base sheet unit in a peelable manner.
The label and the label printer involved in embodiments are described below in detail with reference to accompanying drawings. In addition, identical components are used in the following several embodiments. Thus, these identical components are represented with the same identifier to avoid repeated description. Besides, the following embodiments are examples of objects that can serve as commodities.
Embodiment 1 is described first.
Front panels 105a and 106a are respectively arranged on the front sides of the printing units 105 and 106. Label issuing openings 105b and 106b are arranged on the upper portions of the front panels 105a and 106a. Holding units 105c and 106c are arranged on the lower portions of the front panels 105a and 106a. In addition, each of the printing units 105 and 106 can be pulled out from the front side of the housing 102 and supported by and putted in the housing 102 in an accommodated manner. The operator can hold the holding units 105c and 106c to pull the printing units 105 and 106 out of the housing 102.
In
In this embodiment, the label paper 112 used by the printing unit 105 is roll paper that is rolled into a roller shape. The label paper 112 is formed by adhering a plurality of labels 113 on a slender backing paper 114 in columns and winding the backing paper into a roller shape on a paper core 115. The label 113 uses a thermally sensitive label which serves as the main body of the label 113 and produces a color by heating the paper.
A pair of tracks 111 is designed on the lower inner portion of the housing 102. The tracks 111 extend horizontally towards the inside of the housing 102 from the opening portion on the front side of the housing 102 and support the printing unit 105 freely. Therefore, the operator can pull out the holding unit 105c of the printing unit 105 to enable the printing unit 105 to slide towards the front side of the housing along the tracks 111 so that the printing unit 105 in an in-housing 102 state (as shown in
The printing unit 105 has a paper holding shaft 117, a platen 118, a backing paper rolling shaft 119 and a side wall 120. The paper holding shaft 117 enables the insertion of the label paper 112 into the paper core 115 and holds the label paper 112. The backing paper rolling shaft 119 rolls the backing paper 114 with the label paper 112. The paper holding shaft 117, the platen 118 and the backing paper rolling shaft 119 all protrude from the side wall 120 and are all kept open-side. With the paper holding shaft 117, the platen 118 and a label peeling unit 121 that will be described later, the backing paper rolling shaft 119 forms a guide path 122 for the label paper 112 on the printing unit 105. The guide path 122 starts from the paper holding shaft 117 and ends at the backing paper rolling shaft 119.
The printing unit 105 has a label peeling unit 121, which is located at a downstream side of the guide path 122 in an impressing plate conveying direction and is arranged next to the label issuing opening 105b. The label peeling unit 121 is composed of a V-shaped component. During the conveying process of the backing paper 114, the label peeling unit 121 peels a printed label 113 off the backing paper 114 by upward curving the backing paper 114 into an acute angle in a label-separated direction. Specifically, the label peeling unit 121 peels the label 113 off the backing paper 114 by curving the second side (the back side) of the backing paper 114 into an acute angle, wherein the second side is opposite to the first side of the backing paper 114 adhered with the label 113. Moreover, the label 113 peeled off from the backing paper 114 is issued from the label issuing opening 105b. The label-peeled backing paper 114 is rolled by the backing paper rolling shaft 119. In addition, although the label-peeled backing paper 114 is rolled by the backing paper rolling shaft 119 in this embodiment, it should be appreciated that the label-peeled backing paper 114 may be output to the outside of the label printer 100, instead of being rolled.
As described above, the paper holding shaft 117 is horizontally kept open-side on the side wall 120 of the printing unit 105. The paper holding shaft 117 holds the label paper 112 by inserting the label paper 112 in the paper core 115 for the label paper 112. That is, the side wall 120 serves as a reference surface. The reference surface (the side wall 120) positions a first end surface 112a which serves as one end surface of the label surface 112. In addition, the paper holding shaft 117 serves as a paper holding unit. The paper holding unit (the paper holding shaft 117) takes the side wall 120 serving as a reference surface as a reference to rotationally maintain the label paper 112 rolled into a roller shape.
A second end surface 112b which do not turn on the side wall 120 (the depth side shown in
The rotating component 202 is rotationally mounted on the front end of an arm main body 203 by the rotating component with a rotating shaft 207. The arm main body 203 constitutes one part of a roll paper holding mechanism 201. The rotating component 202 causes interference on the second end surface 112b of the label paper 112 through the rotation of the arm main body 203. The rotating component 202 is rotationally displaced by causing interference on the second end surface 112b of the label paper 112.
The platen 118 is located below the guide path 122. The platen 118 is rotated via a gear column (not shown) under the drive of a platen motor (not shown). The rotating platen 118 endows the label paper 112 on the guide path 122 with a conveying force to pull the label paper 112 held on the paper holding shaft 117 out along the guide path 122. The imprinting platen 118, the imprinting plate motor and the gear column serve as a conveyor unit, which pulls out the label paper 112 and conveys the label paper 112 along the guide path 122.
The backing paper rolling shaft 119 receives a driving forth from a rolling motor (not shown) via a gear column (not shown) on the back side of the side wall 120 to rotate. The rotating backing paper rolling shaft 119 only rolls the backing paper 114 in the label paper 112 passing the label peeling unit 121. The label peeling unit 121 and the rotating backing paper rolling shaft 119 are respectively positioned at locations where the backing paper rolling shaft 119 rolls the backing paper 114 and where the backing paper 114 is curved into an acute angle at the label peeling unit 121.
A thermally sensitive head 125 is arranged on the inner upper portion of the housing 102. The thermally sensitive head 125 is a linear thermally sensitive printing head. The thermally sensitive head 125 is installed at a position opposite to the platen 118 when the printing unit 105 is accommodated in the housing 102. The thermally sensitive head 125 constitutes the printing part 126 of the platen 118.
In addition, the printing unit 105 is provided with a cutter 140. The cutter 140 is located between the paper holding shaft 117 and the platen 118 in the guide path 122. The cutter 140 has a movable blade 141, a fixed blade 142 and a paper supporter 143. The movable blade 141 and the fixed blade 142 are located at the position of the guide path 122 therebetween. The movable blade 141 has a saw-shaped point. Under the drive of a driving motor (not shown), the movable blade 141 reciprocates linearly with respect to the fixed blade. The cutter 140 can support the backside of the label paper 113 with the paper supporter 143. The cutter 140 drives the movable blade 141 so as to form perforation incisions on the label 113 by means of the movable blade 141 and the fixed blade 142. In this case, the movable blade 141 is driven to implement an incomplete cutoff on the label 113. Specifically, the movable blade 141 is driven from the initial position to the position where performations are formed on the label 113 by the saw-shaped blade point and then driven back to the initial position.
Further, the label printer 100 has a controller unit (not shown). The controller unit drives and controls each component of the label printer 100. The controller unit is a computer provided with a CPU or RAM, an ROM and a communication interface.
The label printer 100 with the above-described components conveys the label paper 113 while pulling out the label paper 113 with a platen 118. When conveying the label 113, the label printer 100 forms incisions on the label 113 with the cutter 140. Besides, the label printer 100 prints letters with the thermally sensitive head 125. Moreover, the label printer 100 issues, from the label issuing opening 105b, the label 113 that is peeled off from the backing paper 114 with the label peeling unit 121.
The label 113 issued by the label printer 100 is described below.
As shown in
A first adhesive area 113d with adhesiveness is arranged on one side (the back side) 113c of the base sheet unit 113a. The first adhesive area 113d is adhered to a commodity. The first adhesive area 113d substantially covers the whole side 113c of the base sheet unit 113a.
The separable sheet unit 113b is connected with the base sheet unit 113a via a first predetermined cutoff portion 113e. A second adhesive area 113g with adhesiveness is arranged on one side (the back side) 113f of the separable sheet unit 113b. The side 113f of the separable sheet unit 113b is located on the same side with the side 113c of the base sheet unit 113a. The second adhesive area 113g can be repeatedly adhered to or peeled off from an object. The second adhesive area 113g substantially covers the whole side 113f of the separable sheet unit 113b. The second adhesive area 113g is less adhesive than the first adhesive area 113d. In this way, a plurality of adhesive areas with different adhesive forces are arranged on the label 113 in this embodiment. This construction can be achieved by coating adhesives with different adhesive forces on corresponding areas on one side of the label 113 during the production process of the label 113.
Commodity information 113i and commodity information 113j are respectively printed on the other sides (the surfaces) 113i and 113h of the base sheet unit 113a and the separable sheet unit 113b. The commodity information 113i and the commodity information 113j include the name, the shelf life and the production place of the commodity. The shelf life is the service life related to the quality of the commodity. In accompanying drawings, for example, ‘for steak of Japanese black cattle’ is the name of commodity, ‘09. 5. 28’ which shows May 28, 2009 is the shelf life of commodity. The commodity information 113i printed on the base sheet unit 113a further includes price information. In addition, barcodes 113k serving as a barcode mark are printed on the base sheet unit 113a. Further, the commodity information 113j printed on the separable sheet unit 113b may include at least one of the service life related to the quality of the commodity and the name of the commodity. Further, the service life related to the quality of the commodity is not limited to the shelf life and may further be a freshness period.
A plurality of first incisions 113m are formed on the first predetermined cutoff portion 113e. The first incisions 113m are spaced from each other and arranged into a column. The first incisions 113m are arranged at equal intervals. That is, the first incisions 113m are formed in a perforation form on the first predetermined cutoff portion 113e. The first predetermined cutoff portion 113e constitutes a border between the base sheet unit 113a and the separable sheet unit 113b. The first predetermined cutoff portion 113e can be cut off.
The label with the above-described structure is adhered to a commodity by an operator in, for example, a shop. The commodity refers to a commodity packaged with a piece of plastic film (not shown) with its main body 301 (serving as an object main body) placed in a plate (not shown), wherein in this embodiment, the main body 301 of the commodity refers to meat (referring to
As discussed above, the label 113 involved in this embodiment has a base sheet unit 113a and a separable sheet unit 113b. The base sheet unit 113a has a first adhesive area that is adhered to a commodity. Commodity information 113j is printed on the separable sheet unit 113b. The separable sheet unit 113b is connected with the base sheet unit 113a via the first predetermined cutoff portion 113e. A plurality of first incisions 113m are formed on the first predetermined cutoff portion 113e. Thus, the separable sheet unit 113b separated from the base sheet unit 113a can be adhered to a container (referring here to a plastic bag 400) in which the main body 301 of a commodity is contained. In this way, the label involved in this embodiment eliminates the problem that the name or shelf time of a commodity main body 301 placed in another container such as a plastic bag 400 may be lost.
The label involved in a variation of this embodiment is described below.
Even in the labels 113A, 113B and 113C involved in the first, second and third variation embodiments above, the separable sheet unit 113b can be separated from the base sheet unit 113a. Thus, like the label 113, the labels 113A, 113B and 113C each eliminate the problem that the name or shelf time of a commodity main body 301 placed in another container such as a plastic bag 400 may be lost.
Then, the second embodiment is described below.
One side (the back side) of the label 113D can be wholly adhered to a commodity. As the third adhesive area 113n is more adhesive than the second adhesive area 113g, the separable sheet unit 113b can be firmly adhered to a commodity.
Even in the label 113D involved in the above-described embodiment, the separable sheet unit 113b can be separated from the base sheet unit 113a. Thus, like the label 113, the label 113D eliminates the problem that the name or shelf time of a commodity main body 301 placed in another container such as a plastic bag 400 may be lost.
Then, the third embodiment is described below.
The first sheet portion 113p is connected with the base sheet unit 113a via the first predetermined cutoff portion 113e.
The second sheet portion 113r without any adhesive area is connected with the first sheet portion 113p via a second predetermined cutoff portion 113q.
A plurality of second incisions 113s are formed on the second predetermined cutoff portion 113q. The second incisions 113s are spaced from each other and arranged into a column. That is, the second incisions 113s are arranged on the second predetermined cutoff portion 113q in a perforation form. Thus, the second predetermined cutoff portion 113q constitutes a border between the first sheet portion 113p and the second sheet portion 113r. Besides, the second predetermined cutoff portion 113q can be cut off.
Even in the above-described label 113E, the first predetermined cutoff portion 113e can be cut off, and the separable sheet unit 113b can be separated from the base sheet unit 113a. In this case, the separable sheet unit 113b separated from the base sheet unit 113a has a second adhesive area 113g. Thus, the separable sheet unit 113b can be adhered to a plastic bag 400 via the second adhesive area 113g. In addition, in the label 113E, the second predetermined cutoff portion 113q can be cut off, and only the second sheet portion 113r of the separable sheet unit 113b is separated from the base sheet unit 113a. In this case, the second sheet portion 113r of the separable sheet unit 113b separated from the base sheet unit 113a has no adhesive area. As a consequence, the sheet portion 113r can be easily inserted into the label insertion unit of a container.
Even in the label 113E involved in the above-described embodiment, the separable sheet unit 113b can be separated from the base sheet unit 113a. Thus, like the label 113, the label 113E eliminates the problem that the name or shelf time of a commodity main body 301 placed in another container such as a plastic bag 400 may be lost.
Then, the fourth embodiment is described below.
A first adhesive area 113d, which is adhered to a commodity, is arranged on one side (the back side) 113c of the base sheet unit 113a, on which no commodity information is printed.
Commodity information 113j is printed on one side (the surface) of the separable sheet unit 113b. Further, barcodes 113k are printed on one side of the separable sheet unit 113b. A second adhesive area 113g is arranged on one side 113f of the separable sheet unit 113b. The second adhesive area 113g is adhered to the other side (the surface) 113i of the base sheet unit 113a. The separable sheet unit 113b is adhesively laminated on the other side 113i of the base sheet unit 113a in a peelable manner. In this embodiment, the line 113t formed between the separable sheet unit 113b and the base sheet unit 113a constitutes a border for these two units.
In the label 113F with the structure above, the separable sheet unit 113b peeled off from the base sheet unit 113a can be adhered to a plastic bag 400.
Even in the above-described label 113F involved in this embodiment, the separable sheet unit 113b can be separated from the base sheet unit 113a. Thus, like the label 113, the label 113F eliminates the problem that the name or shelf time of a commodity main body 301 placed in another container such as a plastic bag 400 may be lost.
Then, the fifth embodiment is described below.
In this embodiment, the separable sheet unit 113b has a plurality of fourth sheet portions 113u. As an example of this embodiment, there are three fourth sheet portions 113u. The commodity information 113j serving as object information is printed on each fourth sheet portion 113u.
The fourth sheet portions 113u are connected with each other via a third predetermined cutoff portion 113v. A plurality of third incisions 113w are formed on the third predetermined cutoff portion 113u. The third incisions 113w are spaced from each other and arranged into a column. That is, the third incisions 113w with perforations are arranged on the third predetermined cutoff portion 113u. In this way, the third predetermined cutoff portion 113u shows a border for the adjacent fourth sheet portion 113u. Besides, the third predetermined cutoff portion 113u can be cut off.
Then, the sixth embodiment is described below.
The base sheet unit 113a has a first adhesive area 113d and a non-adhesive area 113x on one side 113c. Besides, the separable sheet unit 113b has a second adhesive area 113g and a non-adhesive area 113y on one side 113f. That is, one part of the side 113c of the base sheet unit 113a constitutes the non-adhesive area 113x, and one part of the side 113f of the separable sheet unit 113b constitutes the non-adhesive area 113y.
Then, the seventh embodiment is described below.
Then, the eighth embodiment is described below.
Then, the ninth embodiment is described below.
Then, the tenth embodiment is described below.
In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various other embodiments can be devised without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For instance, in the labels 113, 113A-113E and 113G-113K described in embodiments 1-3, the separable sheet unit 113b may have a non-adhesive area but not an adhesive area (the second adhesive area 113g, the third adhesive area 113n). In this case, the customer can paste the separable sheet unit 113b separated from the base sheet unit 113a onto a container such as a plastic bag 400 with an adhesive tape and the like.
In addition, the object is not limited to commodity and may be other goods.
As described above, the labels 113 and 113A-113K involved in the embodiments above and the label printer 100 eliminate the problem that the name or shelf time of a commodity main body 301 placed in another container such as a plastic bag 400 may be lost.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2010-274893 | Dec 2010 | JP | national |