JP5113582B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that performs printing on a wristband, and more particularly, to a printing apparatus that performs printing while conveying a wristband continuous body in which the wristband is continuously formed.

  A conventional wristband that performs printing processing using a printing device such as a thermal printer or an ink jet printer is formed in a strip-shaped band main body so that it can be separated by a separation portion, and the band main body is formed continuously in the longitudinal direction. It is provided as a wristband continuum, and is cut into a wristband shape for printing. In addition, after cutting out to the wrist band, the band-shaped band main body, which is a scrap removing portion, is printed with a timing mark for printing positioning and a hole or notch for printing positioning ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

  However, the prior art requires the work of cutting out into the shape of the wristband, and the band main body after cutting out into the wristband becomes a scraping portion and becomes waste, resulting in wasted resources. It was.

JP 2005-133265 A

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to enable printing on a continuous label body in which the wristband itself is continuously formed, and to cut out the shape of the wristband. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus that can eliminate work and contribute to resource saving by eliminating a scraping portion.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration.
The gist of the present invention is that a print area is provided, and a wristband in which a fixed hole and a plurality of adjustment holes are formed on the center line with the print area interposed therebetween is formed continuously. A position detecting means for detecting a hole formed in a center line of the wrist band and outputting a detection signal; Detection signal selection means for selecting a reference hole detection signal serving as a reference for grasping the position of the print area from detection signals output from the detection means, and the center line of the wristband includes The fixing hole and the adjustment hole are formed with position detection holes having different lengths in the transport direction as the reference holes, and the detection signal sorting means is output from the position detection means. Based on the pulse width of that detection signal, and selecting a detection signal of the position detection hole out of the detection signal output from said position detecting means as a detection signal of the reference hole, which is selected by the detection signal sorting means it characterized by applying printing on the printing area in the printing timing based on the detection signal of the reference hole.
Also, comprising a cutter means for cutting the wristband continuous body, said cutter means cuts the wristband continuous body cut timing based on the detection signal of the reference hole which is selected by the detection signal sorting means , it characterized by separating the wristband printing has been performed on the print area.
Also, the detection signal sorting means based on the output interval of the detection signal output from the position detecting means, that selecting a detection signal of the reference hole from the detected signal output from said position detecting means It shall be the feature.

  The printing apparatus of the present invention detects the hole formed in the center line of the wristband and outputs a detection signal, and the position of the print area is detected from the detection signal output from the position detection means. A detection signal selecting means for selecting a reference hole detection signal as a reference for grasping, and configured to print on the print area at a print timing based on the reference hole detection signal selected by the detection signal selecting means Since the print timing can be determined based on the reference hole formed in the center line of the wristband, the wristband itself is not provided with the band-shaped band body that becomes the scraping portion. Can be printed on the label continuum formed in this way, eliminating the work of cutting out into the shape of the wristband, An effect that to be able to contribute to resource saving.

  Further, the printing apparatus of the present invention is provided with a cutter means for cutting the wristband continuum, and cuts the wristband continuum at a cut timing based on the detection signal of the reference hole selected by the detection signal sorting means, so that the print area is printed. Since the cut wristband can be determined based on the reference hole formed in the centerline of the wristband by separating the printed wristband, the band-shaped band body that becomes the scraping part Can be issued separately from a label continuum in which the wristband itself is continuously formed, and the print band is printed on the print area, and the working efficiency is improved.

  Further, in the printing apparatus of the present invention, the position detection hole having a different length in the transport direction as the reference hole is formed in the center line of the wristband as the reference hole. The position detection hole detection signal is selected from the detection signals output from the position detection means as the reference hole detection signal based on the pulse width of the detection signal output from Only by forming the detection hole as a reference hole, the print timing can be determined based on the position detection hole formed in the center line of the wristband.

  Further, in the printing apparatus of the present invention, the detection signal sorting unit sorts the reference hole detection signal from the detection signals output from the position detection unit based on the output interval of the detection signals output from the position detection unit. As a result, the printing timing can be determined based on either the existing fixing hole or the adjustment hole.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram of a printing medium used in the first embodiment of the printing apparatus according to the present invention. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration, FIG. 3 is an explanatory view for explaining the wearing operation of the wristband shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the configuration of the wristband shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit illustrated in FIG. 1.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment includes a platen roller 11 that is rotationally driven by a conveyance motor 10 that can control a rotation angle such as a step motor, and a surface on which a heating element faces the platen roller 11. The print medium 1 is connected to the platen roller 11 so that the surface side of the belt-shaped print medium 1 on which the thermosensitive coloring layer is formed contacts the heating element of the thermal head 12. It is sandwiched and transported between the thermal head 12 and the heat generating element of the thermal head 12 is selectively heated, thereby causing the thermosensitive coloring layer of the printing medium 1 to thermally develop and print desired characters, barcodes, and the like. The cutter unit 13 is configured to be separated and issued to the single-sheet printing medium 1. In addition, a thermal transfer conveyance unit that sandwiches and conveys the thermal transfer ribbon between the platen roller 11 and the thermal head 12 without providing the thermal coloring layer on the print medium 1 is provided, and the ink of the thermal transfer ribbon is transferred to the print medium 1. Printing may be performed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the print medium 1 used in the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment is a wristband continuum in which a wristband 2 used in a medical field or an amusement park is continuously formed. And loaded into the paper supply unit 14 while being wound in a roll. The wristband 2 is provided with a print area 3 on which printing is performed, and two fixed holes 4 are provided on the front side in the transport direction with respect to the print area 3 with the print area 3 interposed therebetween. Further, eight adjustment holes 5 having the same shape as that of the fixing hole 4 are formed on the rear side in the transport direction at the center in the width direction, that is, on the center line, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). Thus, by fixing either the fixing hole 4 or the adjusting hole 5 with the fastener 6, the winding diameter can be adjusted and the arm 6 can be attached to the arm. Further, in the wristband 2, a position detection hole 7 that functions as a reference hole serving as a reference for grasping the print region 3 and the cut position C is formed on the front side in the conveyance direction of the fixed hole 4 and on the center line. Referring to FIG. 4, the length L of the position detection hole 7 in the transport direction is set to be longer than the length M of the fixed hole 4 and the adjustment hole 5 in the transport direction. In FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, symbol C indicates a cutting position cut by the cutter unit 13.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a transmissive sensor in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are arranged so as to sandwich a printing medium 1 conveyed between a platen roller 11 and a thermal head 12 from a paper supply unit 14 is as follows. It is provided as a position detection sensor 15 that detects a position detection hole 7 formed in the wristband 2, and a detection signal of the position detection hole 7 is input from the position detection sensor 15 to the control unit 30. The thermal head 12 and the platen roller at the printing timing based on the detection signal of the position detection hole 7, that is, the timing at which the tip position X of the printing area 3 shown in FIG. 4 reaches between the thermal head 12 and the platen roller 11. 11 is controlled to print the print data received from the host 40 in the print area 3 of the wristband 2 and Cut timing based on the detection signal of the detection hole 7, at a timing when the cutting position C reaches the cutter unit 13 shown in FIG. 4, and controls the cutter unit 13 cuts the cut position C. A reflective sensor may be used as the position detection sensor 15.

  The control unit 30 includes a host 40 such as a personal computer connected via an external interface (external I / F) 21, and various data and commands with the host 40 connected externally via the external I / F 21. Referring to FIG. 5, a ROM (read only memory) 31 in which a predetermined control program is stored and a control program stored in the ROM 31 operate. A CPU (central processing unit) 32 for controlling the operation, a RAM (random access memory) 33 for storing various data necessary for the operation of the CPU 32, and a drive signal such as a pulse signal are supplied to the transport motor 10 for transport. A conveyance control unit 34 that rotates the motor, and a print control unit that causes the thermal head 12 to perform a printing operation based on an instruction from the CPU 32. 5 and under the control of the CPU 32, the detection signal of the position detection sensor 15 is selected from the detection signal input from the position detection sensor 15, and the detected detection signal of the selected position detection sensor 15 is converted into digital data. As a detection signal selection unit 36 to be supplied to the CPU 32, and a cutter control unit 37 that drives the cutter unit 13 based on an instruction from the CPU 32.

  In the wristband 2, the position detection hole 7, the fixing hole 4 and the adjustment hole 5 are formed on the center line, so that the position detection hole 7 detects the position detection hole 7 from the position detection sensor 15. Along with the signal, detection signals for the fixing hole 4 and the adjustment hole 5 are also input. Therefore, the detection signal sorting unit 36 sorts the detection signals of the position detection hole 7 based on the difference in length between the position detection hole 7 and the fixing hole 4 and the adjustment hole 5 in the transport direction. That is, since the length L in the transport direction of the position detection hole 7 is set to be longer than the length M in the transport direction of the fixed hole 4 and the adjustment hole 5, it is detected when transporting at the same speed. A signal having a long pulse width is selected as a detection signal of the position detection hole 7. In the first embodiment, the length L in the transport direction of the position detection hole 7 is set to be longer than the length M in the transport direction of the fixed hole 4 and the adjustment hole 5, and the pulse width of the detection signal is long. The detection signal of the position detection hole 7 is selected, but the length L in the transport direction of the position detection hole 7 is set to be shorter than the length M of the fixed hole 4 and the adjustment hole 5 in the transport direction. A signal having a short pulse width may be selected as a detection signal for the position detection hole 7, and the pulse width of the detection signal selected as the detection signal for the position detection hole 7 is input to the input unit 22 or the host 40. It may be possible to set from the following.

Next, the wristband 2 issuing operation in the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the wristband issuance operation in the first embodiment of the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

  The CPU 32 monitors reception of print data from the host 40 with the tip X of the print area 3 of the wristband 2 positioned between the print position, that is, between the thermal head 12 and the platen roller 11 (step A1). When the print data transmitted from the host 40 is received via the external I / F 21, the bitmap image data corresponding to the print data transmitted from the host 40 is expanded in the drawing area of the RAM 33.

  Next, the CPU 32 instructs the print control unit 35 to print the bitmap image data developed in the drawing area of the RAM 33 and also instructs the transport control unit 34 to transport the print medium 1 in the transport direction. The print control unit 35 supplies a control signal to the thermal head 12 corresponding to the bitmap image data developed in the drawing area of the RAM 33 based on an instruction from the CPU 32, and the conveyance control unit 34 Then, based on an instruction from the CPU 32, a predetermined drive signal is supplied to the transport motor 10 to rotate the transport motor 10, so that the wristband 2 is nipped and transported between the platen roller 11 and the thermal head 12. The print data is printed in the print area 3 (step A2).

  Next, the CPU 32 continues the conveyance of the print medium 1 in the conveyance direction by the conveyance control unit 34 (step A3), and inputs the pitch signal from the detection signal selection unit 36, that is, the position detection by the position detection sensor 15. The detection of the hole 7 is monitored (step A4). In Steps A3 to A4, the adjustment hole 5 formed on the rear side in the transport direction of the print area 3 is detected by the position detection sensor 15. In the detection signal sorting unit 36, the adjustment hole 5 Since the pulse width of the detection signal is shorter than the pulse width of the detection signal of the position detection hole 7, the detection signal of the adjustment hole 5 is ignored. Further, in the wristband 2, the position detection hole 7 is formed on the front side in the transport direction with respect to the printing area 3, so that the next wristband 2 (following the wristband 2 printed on the printing area 3 ( Hereinafter, the position detection hole 7 of the next wristband 2) is detected.

  When the pitch signal is input from the detection signal selection unit 36 in step A4, the CPU 32 uses the pitch signal to print the cut position C on the front side in the transport direction of the next wristband 2, that is, the list on which the printing area 3 is printed. The position of the cutting position C on the rear side of the band 2 and the tip X of the printing area 3 of the next wristband 2 is grasped, and the cutting position C on the front side in the transport direction of the next wristband 2 reaches the cutter unit 13. Is monitored (step A5). Note that the positional relationship between the front cut position C with respect to the position detection hole 7 and the tip X of the print region 3 is set in advance in the ROM 31 and the like, and the CPU 32 is based on the preset positional relationship. The position of the cutting position C on the front side in the transport direction of the next wristband 2 and the tip X of the printing area 3 of the next wristband 2 are grasped. Further, since the positional relationship between the front cut position C with respect to the position detection hole 7 and the tip X of the print area 3 differs depending on the type of the wristband 2, it may be set by the input unit 22 or the host 40. good.

  When the cut position C on the front side in the conveyance direction of the next wristband 2 reaches the cutter unit 13 in step A5, the CPU 32 instructs the conveyance control unit 34 to stop conveyance and also instructs the cutter control unit 37. Then, the conveyance control unit 34 stops the conveyance of the printing medium 1 in the conveyance direction (step A6), and the cutter control unit 37 cuts the cutting position C on the front side of the next wristband 2 in the conveyance direction. That is, the cutting position C on the rear side of the wristband 2 on which printing has been performed in the printing area 3 is cut by the cutter unit 13 (step A7). As a result, the wristband 2 printed on the print area 3 is cut off and issued.

  Next, the CPU 32 instructs the conveyance control unit 34 to convey the print medium 1 in the reverse direction, and the conveyance control unit 34 drives the conveyance motor 10 according to a predetermined drive based on an instruction from the CPU 32. A signal is supplied to rotate the conveyance motor 10 in the reverse direction, and the print medium 1 is conveyed in the reverse direction (step A8). Further, the CPU 32 monitors whether the leading end X of the print area 3 of the next wristband 2 reaches the print position (step A9). If the leading end X of the print area 3 of the next wristband 2 has not reached the print position at step A7, the print medium 1 is conveyed in the conveyance direction at step A8. .

  When the leading end X of the print area 3 of the next wristband 2 reaches the print position, the CPU 32 instructs the conveyance control unit 34 to stop the conveyance, and the conveyance control unit 34 moves the print medium 1 in the reverse direction. The conveyance is stopped (step A10), and the process returns to step A1.

  In the first embodiment, in the wristband 2, the position detection hole 7 is formed on the front side in the conveyance direction of the fixed hole 4. However, the position detection hole 7 is formed at any position. .

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the position detection sensor 15 that detects a hole formed in the center line of the wristband 2 and outputs a detection signal, and the position detection sensor 15 output the detection signal. A detection signal selecting unit 36 for selecting a detection signal of a reference hole serving as a reference for grasping the position of the print region 3 from the detection signals to be detected, and detecting the reference hole selected by the detection signal selecting unit 36 Since the print area 3 is printed at the print timing based on the signal, the print timing can be determined based on the reference hole formed in the center line of the wristband 2. It is possible to perform printing on a label continuum in which the wristband 2 itself is continuously formed without a band-shaped band body, and cut into the shape of the wristband 2. It is possible to eliminate the work of pulling, an effect that can contribute to resource saving by eliminating weed portion.

  Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the cutter unit 13 for cutting the wristband continuum is provided, and the wristband is cut by the cutter unit 13 at the cut timing based on the detection signal of the reference hole selected by the detection signal selection unit 36. By cutting the continuum and separating the wristband 2 printed on the printing area 3, the cut timing can be determined based on the reference hole formed in the center line of the wristband 2. Therefore, the wristband 2 printed in the printing area 3 is issued separately from the continuous label body in which the wristband 2 itself is continuously formed, which is not provided with a band-shaped band main body to be a scrap removing portion. This is advantageous in that the working efficiency is improved.

  Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the position detection hole 7 having a different length in the transport direction is formed as a reference hole in the center line of the wristband 2 with the fixing hole 4 and the adjustment hole 5, and the detection signal Based on the pulse width of the detection signal output from the position detection sensor 15, the selection unit 36 selects the detection signal of the position detection hole 7 from the detection signals output from the position detection sensor 15 as the detection signal of the reference hole. Thus, the print timing can be determined based on the position detection hole 7 formed in the center line of the wristband 2 only by forming the position detection hole 7 as a reference hole in the center line of the wristband 2. There is an effect.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a configuration of a print medium used in the second embodiment of the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

  In the second embodiment, the position detection hole 7 is not formed in the wristband 2, and either the fixing hole 4 or the adjustment hole 5 is used as the reference hole, that is, the position detection hole 7. It is different from the form.

  Referring to FIG. 7, in the wristband 2, the interval A between the adjacent fixing holes 4 and the interval B between the adjacent adjustment holes 5 (the interval A and the interval B may be the same or different), and the most The distance C between the fixing hole 4 located on the rear side and the adjustment hole 5 located on the most front side, and the adjustment hole 5 located on the most rear side and the fixing hole 4 located on the most front side in the subsequent wristband 2. The interval D is set to be different from each other, and the detection signal sorting unit 36 uses either the adjustment hole 5 as a reference based on the interval at which the fixed hole 4 or the adjustment hole 5 is detected, that is, the detection signal output interval. Sort as holes. For example, when the fixing hole 4a located on the most front side is used as the reference hole, after the detection signal is input first, the detection signal subsequent to the interval D is selected as the detection signal of the fixing hole 4a serving as the reference hole. be able to. In addition, when the fixing hole 4b located second from the front side is used as the reference hole, after the detection signal is input first, the second detection signal following the interval D is used as the fixing hole 4b serving as the reference hole. Can be selected as the detection signal. Similarly, when the adjustment hole 5 is used as a reference hole, after the detection signal is input first, the nth (n = 1 to 8) detection signal subsequent to the interval C is detected as the reference hole. Can be sorted as a signal.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the detection signal output from the position detection sensor 15 based on the output interval of the detection signal output from the position detection sensor 15 in the detection signal selection unit 36. By selecting the reference hole detection signal from among these, the print timing can be determined based on either the existing fixed hole 4 or the adjustment hole 5.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is obvious that the embodiments can be appropriately changed within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. In addition, the number, position, shape, and the like of the constituent members are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be set to a suitable number, position, shape, and the like in practicing the present invention. In each figure, the same numerals are given to the same component.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a first embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a print medium used in a first embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the mounting | wearing operation | movement of the wristband shown in FIG. It is a top view which shows the structure of the wristband shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control part shown in FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a wristband issuing operation in the first embodiment of the printing apparatus according to the present invention. It is a top view which shows the structure of the to-be-printed medium used for 2nd Embodiment of the printing apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Print medium 2 Wristband 3 Print area 4 Fixed hole 4a, 4b Fixed hole 5 Adjustment hole 6 Fastening 7 Position detection hole 10 Conveyance motor 11 Platen roller 12 Thermal head 13 Cutter part 14 Paper supply part 15 Position detection sensor 21 External I / F
22 Input unit 30 Control unit 31 ROM
32 CPU
33 RAM
34 Transport Control Unit 35 Print Control Unit 36 Detection Signal Sorting Unit 37 Cutter Control Unit 40 Host

Claims (3)

A wristband in which a print area is provided and a fixed hole and a plurality of adjustment holes are respectively formed on the center line across the print area conveys a continuous wristband body. A printing device for printing on the print area,
Position detecting means for detecting a hole formed in the center line of the wristband and outputting a detection signal;
A detection signal selection means for selecting a detection signal of a reference hole serving as a reference for grasping the position of the print area from the detection signals output from the position detection means;
In the center line of the wristband, a position detection hole having a different length in the transport direction as the reference hole is formed as the fixing hole and the adjustment hole.
The detection signal sorting means converts the detection signal of the position detection hole from the detection signals output from the position detection means based on the pulse width of the detection signal output from the position detection means. As screened and
A printing apparatus characterized in that printing is performed on the print area at a print timing based on the detection signal of the reference hole selected by the detection signal selection means. A cutter means for cutting the wristband continuum,
The cutter means cuts the wristband continuum at a cut timing based on the detection signal of the reference hole sorted by the detection signal sorting means, and detaches the wristband printed on the print area. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The detection signal sorting unit sorts the detection signal of the reference hole from the detection signals output from the position detection unit based on the output interval of the detection signals output from the position detection unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

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