Patent Application
20240308248
Embodiments described herein relate generally to, for example, a printer that prints a barcode or the like on a long print medium.
There has been a printer that conveys a long print medium in a longitudinal direction and prints a barcode or the like on the print medium. The printer of this type includes, for example, a pair of conveyance guides that guides both the ends of the print medium in a width direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction. The pair of conveyance guides defines a conveyance position in the width direction of the print medium and conveys the print medium at center reference. The distance between the pair of conveyance guides can be adjusted according to the width of the print medium.
In contrast, there has also been a printer that puts a long print medium on one end side in the width direction of the print medium and conveys the print medium at side reference. The side-reference printer conveys the print medium with one end in the width direction of the print medium set in contact with a conveyance reference surface. Therefore, the side-reference printer includes one conveyance guide in a position opposed to the conveyance reference surface across a conveyance path for the print medium. The one conveyance guide can be adjusted, according to the width of the printing medium, in a direction separating from and coming into contact with the conveyance reference surface and guides the other end of the print medium.
In the printer that conveys the print medium at the side reference, since the conveyance position of one end in the width direction of the print medium is determined by the conveyance reference surface, a printing start position in the width direction is always fixed even if a print medium having different width is set in the printer. In contrast, in the printer that conveys the print medium at the center reference, since a conveyance position of both the ends in the width direction of the print medium changes according to the width of the print medium, a printing start position in the width direction also needs to be changed according to the width of the print medium. Therefore, in the center-reference printer, it is necessary to input the width of the print medium and set the printing start position in the width direction before a print start.
In general, in the center-reference printer, after the print medium is set, the position in the width direction of the conveyance guides is adjusted according to both the ends of the print medium, and the position in the width direction of the conveyance guides after the position adjustment is detected by a sensor. The width of the print medium is determined based on a result of the detection and the printing start position in the width direction for the print medium is automatically set.
However, since the center-reference printer moves the pair of conveyance guides to be separated from and brought into contact with each other, fluctuation more easily occurs in the conveyance position in the width direction of the print medium compared with the side-reference printer. If small gaps are provided between the print medium and the conveyance guides to prevent the conveyance guides from hindering conveyance of the print medium, the fluctuation in the conveyance position in the width direction of the print medium further increases. Further, the sensor that detects the position in the width direction of the conveyance guides has an individual difference. Accordingly, in the center-reference printer, it is likely that the conveyance position in the width direction of the print medium is unstable and the printing start position in the width direction greatly deviates.
A printer according to an embodiment includes a conveyance guide, a printing section, a position sensor, an arithmetic section, and a setting section. The conveyance guide is movable in a width direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of a print medium and guides an end portion in the width direction of the print medium and determines a conveyance position in the width direction of the print medium. The printing section prints on the print medium guided by the conveyance guide and conveyed in the conveyance direction. The position sensor outputs a signal, which changes in proportion to a position in the width direction of the conveyance guide, and detects the position in the width direction of the conveyance guide. The arithmetic section creates, based on a first output signal of the position sensor at a time when the conveyance guide is disposed in a first position in the width direction and a second output signal of the position sensor at a time when the conveyance guide is disposed in a second position different from the first position in the width direction, a linear function indicating a proportional relation between the position in the width direction of the conveyance guide and the output signals of the position sensor. The setting section calculates, from the output signals of the position sensor, the position in the width direction of the conveyance guide using the linear function created by the arithmetic section and sets, based on the calculated positions, a printing start position in the width direction by the printing section for the print medium.
A label printer 100 according to an embodiment is explained below with reference to the drawings. The label printer 100 is an example of the printer described in the claims of this application. In the following explanation, in a state illustrated in
As illustrated in
The cover 4 is turnably connected to the upper end of the vertical wall 202 of the housing 2 via two hinges 3 including a turning shaft extended to the front and the rear. The cover 4 is turnable between an open position illustrated in
The front wall 203 of the housing 2 includes an operation and input section 206, a display section 207, and a power switch 208. For example, the length in a width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the label paper 121 is input to the operation and input section 206 as information concerning label paper 121 (
The label printer 100 includes a supply shaft 6 to which a label paper roll 12 (
A fixing plate 9 is present in a position opposed to the end portions on the right side of the feeding shaft 7 and the winding shaft 8 separated from the vertical wall 202. The fixing plate 9 is turnably connected to, via a hinge 901, a supporting plate 205 erected upward from the bottom wall 201 of the housing 2. The supporting plate 205 turnably supports the fixing plate 9 between an illustrated fixing position that lies along a surface orthogonal to the left-right direction and a fixing release position illustrated in
The label paper roll 12 is obtained by winding long belt-like label paper 121 in a roll shape. The label paper 121 is obtained by pasting a plurality of labels 123 side by side on one surface of a long mount 122. The label 123 includes an adhesive layer on a surface on the mount 122 side, can be pasted to and removed from the mount 122, and can be pasted to another object after being peeled from the mount 122. The label paper roll 12 is obtained by winding the label paper 121 on a tubular core material in a direction in which the surface of the mount 122 on which the label 123 is pasted is on the inner side. The label paper 121 is an example of the print medium described in the claims of this application. The print medium is not limited to the label paper 121 and may be, for example, belt-like heat sensitive paper.
The ribbon roll is obtained by winding a long ribbon in a roll shape. The ink ribbon holds ink to be transferred to the label paper 121 by heat. The ribbon roll before use is obtained by winding the ink ribbon before transfer of the ink on a tubular shaft section. The diameter of the ribbon roll decreases if the ribbon roll is used. The ribbon roll after the use is obtained by winding the ink ribbon after the transfer of the ink with the tubular shaft section. The diameter of the ribbon roll gradually increases. The two ribbon rolls on the feeding side and the winding side may be integrally provided as a ribbon cassette.
The supply shaft 6 includes, near both the ends in the longitudinal direction thereof, two hold plates 601 and 602 that are respectively in contact with both the end faces in the axial direction of the label paper roll 12. The hold plate 601 on the left side close to the vertical wall 202 is movable to the left and the right in the longitudinal direction of the supply shaft 6. The hold plate 601 determines an attachment position in the axial direction of the label paper roll 12 to match the center in the axial direction of the label paper roll 12 to a center surface of the label printer 100. The center surface of the label printer 100 is an imaginary flat surface extending in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction that passes the center in the left-right direction of the printing unit 10. In the following explanation, the imaginary surface is referred to as center surface of the label printer 100. The hold plate 602 on the right side separated from the vertical wall 202 is also movable to the left and the right along the longitudinal direction of the supply shaft 6. The hold plate 602 is fixed by a fixture 603 in any position that lies along the supply shaft 6.
If the label paper roll 12 is attached to the supply shaft 6, the label paper roll 12 is attached to the supply shaft 6 in a state in which the hold plate 602 on the right side is detached from the supply shaft 6. A direction in which the label paper roll 12 is attached is a direction in which the label paper 121 is drawn out in the direction of the printing unit 10 from the lower end side of the label paper roll 12 as illustrated in
If the ribbon rolls (or the ribbon cassette) are attached, the fixing plate 9 is opened to the fixing release position (
The printing unit 10 is turnably connected to the right side surface of the vertical wall 202 of the housing 2 via a hinge mechanism. A turning shaft of the hinge mechanism extends in the front-rear direction. The printing unit 10 is extended in the left-right direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the label paper 121. The printing unit 10 is turnable between an actuation position illustrated in
The label printer 100 includes a conveyance guide unit 30 illustrated in
As illustrated in
The pair of guide members 31 and 32 is concurrently moved in the left-right direction by a rack and pinion mechanism 33. The rack and pinion mechanism 33 includes a rack 331 extended in the right direction from a halfway portion in the up-down direction of the guide member 31 on the left side, a rack 332 extended in the left direction from a halfway portion in the up-down direction of the guide member 32 on the right side, and a pinion 333 that mashes with the two racks 331 and 332. The racks 331 and 332 have lengths vertically overlapping across the pinion 333. The pinion 333 includes a turning shaft extending in the front-rear direction and turnably attached to the housing 2. The pair of guide members 31 and 32 is openable and closable in the left-right direction centering on the center surface of the label printer 100 by the rack and pinion mechanism 33. Since the rack and pinion mechanism 33 is the well-known technique for those skilled in the art, detailed explanation of the rack and pinion mechanism 33 is omitted.
The horizontal wall 204 of the housing 2 includes a slit 2041 (
The arm 35 includes, in the proximal end portion 351 thereof, an insertion hole 352 through which the fixing screw 34 is inserted. A nut with which the fixing screw 34 is screwed is fixed on the front surface of the insertion hole 352. The distal end of the arm 35 is connected to a position sensor 36 explained below. In
The pair of guide members 31 and 32 is openable and closable in the left-right direction by the rack and pinion mechanism 33 based on the center surface of the label printer 100. The pair of guide members 31 and 32 adjusts an opening and closing width to match the length in the width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the label paper 121 that passes between the pair of guide members 31 and 32. Since the pair of guide members 31 and 32 is coupled by the rack and pinion mechanism 33, one guide member moves in association with a movement of the other guide member. Therefore, the pair of guide members 31 and 32 can be fixed by fastening and fixing the guide member 32 on the right side to the horizontal wall 204 with the fixing screw 34 explained above. At the same time, the fixing screw 34 fixes the arm 35 to the horizontal wall 204. In
A position sensor 36 for detecting the position in the width direction of the guide member 32 on the right side is present between the pair of guide members 31 and 32. The position sensor 36 is extended in the left-right direction and fixed to a sheet metal 37 disposed in parallel to the horizontal wall 204 in the front of the horizontal wall 204. The sheet metal 37 is fixed to the housing 2. The position sensor 36 includes a slider pin 362 projecting to the rear via a slit 361 extended in the left-right direction. The slider pin 362 is movable to the left and the right along the slit 361. A movable range of the slider pin 362 covers an entire movable range between the fully opened position and the fully closed position of the pair of guide members 31 and 32.
The position sensor 36 is a component of the conveyance guide unit 30 and is in close contact with the pair of guide members 31 and 32. The conveyance guide unit 30 is in close contact with the printing unit 10 in a degree in which a movable range of the conveyance guide unit 30 and a movable range of the printing unit 10 do not interfere with each other. That is, the position sensor 36 is in close contact with the rear of the printing unit 10.
The arm 35 includes the proximal end portion 351 fixed to the guide member 32 on the right side and extends in the left direction. The arm 35 includes, near the distal end thereof, a slit 353 that receives the slider pin 362 of the position sensor 36. The slit 353 pierces through the distal end of the arm 35 and extends in the up-down direction. If the guide member 32 on the right side moves in the left-right direction and the arm 35 moves in the left-right direction, the slider pin 362 of the position sensor 36 received in the slit 353 moves along the slit 361.
The position sensor 36 detects the position in the left-right direction of the slider pin 362. As illustrated in
The guide members 31 and 32 respectively include pressing blocks 311 and 321 and guide plates 312 and 322. For example, the pressing block 321 of the guide member 32 on the right side includes, at the lower end thereof, a pressing surface 3211 extending substantially horizontally. The pressing surface 3211 is opposed to the upper surface near the right end of the label paper 121 and presses the right end of the label paper 121 downward. The guide plate 322 of the guide member 32 on the right side includes, on the left side surface thereof, a guide surface 3221 parallel to the center surface of the label printer 100. The guide surface 3221 is opposed to the right end of the label paper 121 and guides the right end of the label paper 121. The pressing block 311 of the guide member 31 on the left side includes a pressing surface 3111 functioning in the same manner as the pressing surface 3211. The guide plate 312 on the left side includes, on the right side surface thereof, a guide surface 3121 that functions in the same manner as the guide surface 3221.
A procedure until the label paper 121 drawn out from the label paper roll 12 attached to the supply shaft 6 is projected from the front wall 203 of the label printer 100 through the printing unit 10 is explained with reference to
First, as illustrated in
Thereafter, as illustrated in
Further, thereafter, as illustrated in
Finally, the fixing plate 9 is turned from the fixing release position illustrated in
The label printer 100 includes a control section 50, the operation and input section 206, the display section 207, the position sensor 36, a lock sensor 52, a storage section 54, an arithmetic section 56, a section setting 58, and a communication section 59.
The control section 50 includes a CPU that controls an operation of the label printer 100. The width of the label paper 121 used in the label printer 100 is input to the operation and input section 206. The position sensor 36 detects the position in the width direction of the pair of guide members 31 and 32. The lock sensor 52 senses that the lock lever 101 of the printing unit 10 is turned to the lock position. The lock sensor 52 is an example of the fixing sensor described in the claims of this application.
The storage section 54 stores a voltage value output by the position sensor 36 if the pair of guide members 31 and 32 is disposed in the fully opened position and a voltage value output by the position sensor 36 if the pair of guide members 31 and 32 is disposed in the fully closed position. The fully closed position of the pair of guide members 31 and 32 is an example of the first position described in the claims of this application. The voltage value output by the position sensor 36 if the pair of guide members 31 and 32 is disposed in the fully opened position is an example of the first output signal described in the claims of this application. The fully closed position of the pair of guide members 31 and 32 is an example of the second position described in the claims of this application. The voltage value output by the position sensor 36 if the pair of guide members 31 and 32 is disposed in the fully closed position is an example of the second output signal described in the claims of this application.
The arithmetic section 56 creates, based on the two voltage values stored in the storage section 54, a linear function indicating a characteristic of the position sensor 36. The setting section 58 substitutes an output of the position sensor 36 in the linear function created by the arithmetic section 56 to determine width of the label paper 121 and sets a printing start position in the width direction for the label paper 121. The setting section 58 is also an example of the correcting section described in the claims of this application. The communication section 59 transmits and receives various data to and from external equipment such as a host computer.
A setting method for the printing start position by the label printer 100 is explained with reference to
Before the label paper roll 12 is attached, in ACT 1 in
In ACT 2, the control section 50 creates, based on the respective positions in the width direction at the time when the pair of guide members 31 and 32 is disposed in the fully opened position and the fully closed position and the two voltage values stored in the storage section 54 in ACT 1, with the arithmetic section 56, a linear function indicating a characteristic of the position sensor 36. The linear function created in ACT 2 is stored in the storage section 54. The positions in the width direction at the time when the pair of guide members 31 and 32 is fully opened and fully closed are positions in the width direction of the slider pin 362 of the position sensor 36 and are values including an individual difference and a detection error of the position sensor 36.
For example, as illustrated in
The label printer 100 can cause the storage section 54 to store, in advance, the widths of usable several kinds of label paper 121. An operator attaches the label paper roll 12 to the supply shaft 6 as explained above and disposes, according to the procedure explained with reference to
After ACT 2, if the label paper roll 12 is attached by the operator and the control section 50 senses, via the lock sensor 52, that the lock lever 101 is turned to the lock position (YES in ACT 3), in ACT 4, the control section 50 detects the position in the width direction of the pair of guide members 31 and 32 via the position sensor 36. At this time, the control section 50 substitutes the voltage value detected via the position sensor 36 in the linear function created in ACT 2 and detects the position in the width direction of the pair of guide members 31 and 32.
A gap of approximately 1 mm often occurs between the pair of guide members 31 and 32, and the label paper 121 which is detected in ACT 4. Therefore, assuming that a gap of 0.5 mm is present on each of the left and the right between the label paper 121 and the pair of guide surfaces 3121 and 3221, in ACT 5, the control section 50 corrects the printing start position to be shifted 0.5 mm in the paper center direction. For example, if the distance between the guide surfaces 3121 and 3221 which is detected in ACT 4, is 121 mm, the width of the label paper 121 attached to the label printer 100 is 120 mm. Gaps of 1 mm occur between the label paper 121 and the pair of guide surfaces 3121 and 3221.
That is, the control section 50 controls the setting section 58 based on a position obtained by adding the correction in ACT 5 to the position in the width direction of the pair of guide members 31 and 32 detected in ACT 4 and, in ACT 6, sets a printing start position in the width direction for the label paper 121. The printing start position is the position at the right end in the width direction of a printing region based on the guide surface 3221 of the guide plate 322 of the guide member 32 on the right side.
After setting the printing start position in ACT 6, in ACT 7, the control section 50 displays setting information to the operator via the display section 207. The information displayed via the display section 207 at this time is information concerning the position in the width direction of the pair of guide members 31 and 32, information concerning the printing start position set in ACT 6, and the like. The information concerning the printing start position includes a shift amount in the case in which the printing start position is shifted in the width direction. The information to be displayed can also be transmitted to external equipment via the communication section 59.
The operator can input a shift amount in the width direction of the printing start position via the operation and input section 206. In this case, for example, if the operator inputs 10 mm as the shift amount in the width direction, the operator can shift the printing start position 10 mm in the left direction from a printing start reference, that is, the guide surface 3221 of the guide plate 322 of the guide member 32 on the right side.
Effects of the embodiment explained above are explained below.
According to this embodiment, based on an output of the position sensor 36 at the time when the pair of guide members 31 and 32 is disposed in the fully opened position and an output of the position sensor 36 at the time when the pair of guide members 31 and 32 is disposed in the fully closed position, a linear function indicating a relation between the outputs of the position sensor 36 and the position in the width direction of the pair of guide members 31 and 32 is created and the position in the width direction of the pair of guide members 31 and 32 is detected using the linear function. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to correct a lot or individual error or fluctuation of the position sensor 36 and more accurately detect the position in the width direction of the pair of guide members 31 and 32. It is possible to securely set a printing start position in the width direction for the label paper 121.
In this embodiment, if the linear function serving as a control reference is created, sensor outputs at the time when the pair of guide members 31 and 32 is fully opened and at the time when the pair of guide members 31 and 32 is fully closed are sampled. Therefore, it is possible to minimize the influence of a characteristic error specific to the position sensor 36. It is possible to more accurately detect the position in the width direction of the pair of guide members 31 and 32. In the embodiment explained above, the data at the two points of the fully opened position and the fully closed position are sampled to create the linear function. However, for example, data at three points including an intermediate point illustrated in
The label printer 100 in this embodiment includes, in close contact with the rear of the printing unit 10, the conveyance guide unit 30 including the pair of guide members 31 and 32. The conveyance guide unit 30 includes the position sensor 36 adjacent to the pair of guide members 31 and 32. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to detect a conveyance position in the width direction of the label paper 121 immediately before the printing unit 10 in the conveyance direction of the label paper 121. There is no concern that the label paper 121 deviates in the width direction and the printing start position deviates in a period until printing is performed after the conveyance position is detected. Therefore, according to this embodiment, even if a skew occurs in the label paper 121, it is possible to prevent deviation from occurring in the printing start position in the width direction.
In this embodiment, after the label paper roll 12 is set in the label printer 100 and the printing unit 10 is fixed in the actuation position, the data of the fully opened position and the fully closed position of the pair of guide members 31 and 32 are sampled to create the linear function serving as the control reference. Therefore, it does not occur that the pair of guide members 31 and 32 moves after the linear function creation to cause an error. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to accurately set the printing start position in the width direction.
In this embodiment, if the operator holds the label paper 121 between the pair of guide members 31 and 32 and determines a conveyance position in the width direction, even if gaps of approximately 1 mm occur between the guide surfaces 3121 and 3221 of the pair of guide members 31 and 32 and the end portions of the label paper 121, it is possible to correct the printing start position in the width direction. If the operator desires to intentionally change the printing start position, the operator can set a shift amount of the printing start position via the operation and input section 206.
In this embodiment, the arm 35 is fixed to the guide member 32 on the right side and the slider pin 362 of the position sensor 36 is coupled to the distal end of the arm 35. Therefore, the position in the width direction of the pair of guide members 31 and 32 can be directly detected by the position sensor 36. It is possible to markedly reduce a detection error.
In the embodiment explained above, the data at the time when the pair of guide members 31 and 32 is disposed in the fully opened position and the fully closed position are sampled to create the linear function serving as the control reference. However, data to be sampled in order to create the linear function only has to be a plurality of data at the time when the pair of guide members 31 and 32 is disposed in different positions. The number of data to be sampled and the position in the width direction can be optionally set.
In the embodiment explained above, the printing start position is corrected in ACT 5 in
While certain embodiment have been described, this embodiment has been presented by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the scope of invention. Indeed, the novel apparatus and methods described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the apparatus and methods 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.
