JP6168969B2 - Thermal printer device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermal printer apparatus that prints a printing unit on an empty bag.

  Conventionally, as a packaging machine for packaging an object in a bag, a pre-formed sheet-like empty bag (hereinafter referred to as “empty bag”) is supplied, and the supplied empty bag is filled with the filling. A machine is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the bag supply and packaging machine, for example, a printing process for printing a printing unit on an empty bag or an empty bag printed on an empty bag that is intermittently transferred to a plurality of stations by repeatedly transferring and stopping. After passing through each process such as an inspection process for inspecting the printing unit and a filling process for filling the empty bag with the filler, the empty bag is filled with the filler and packaged.

  A thermal printer apparatus may be used in a printing process in a bag supply packaging machine or the like. A thermal printer apparatus generally has a thermal head (print head) and a platen (print receiving part). In the bag-feeding packaging machine, the empty bag is suspended and held by a pair of pinch claws (a pair of pinching portions) with the opening portion disposed on the upper side, and is transferred between the thermal head and the platen. Is done.

The printing section is printed on the empty bag transferred between the thermal head and the platen in a state where the empty bag is sandwiched between the thermal head and the platen. When printing the printing part on the empty bag, printing by moving the thermal head from below to the upper side or printing by moving it laterally stabilizes the empty bag that is suspended and held in the printing position. It is difficult to stop. Therefore, in printing the printing unit on the empty bag, it is common to print the printing unit on the empty bag by moving the thermal head from above to below.
Here, the width of the empty bag transferred to the printing position may be longer or shorter than the thermal head. The width of the empty bag is usually longer than the width of the thermal head. However, the width of the empty bag may be shorter than the width of the thermal head. Further, in order to surely press the platen over the entire width of the thermal head, the width of the platen is formed longer than the width of the thermal head.

JP 2012-232780 A

  When the width of the empty bag is shorter than the width of the thermal head and the width of the platen, the thermal head and the platen are arranged in the width direction of the empty bag when printing on the empty bag. Insert the upper side of the bag. When printing on the empty bag, the thermal head is moved downward from above with the opening of the empty bag being closed. Therefore, since the thermal head is moved from the top to the bottom without air being discharged from the inside to the outside of the empty bag, the air in the empty bag is compressed and an air pocket is formed on the lower side of the empty bag. Is done. In a state where an air pocket is formed on the lower side of the empty bag, the print head is lifted from the platen and cannot be normally pressed, so that a normal printing portion cannot be printed on the empty bag. Accordingly, there is a demand for a thermal printer apparatus that can print a printing unit on an empty bag in a state where air (gas) does not accumulate inside the empty bag.

  An object of this invention is to provide the thermal printer apparatus which can print a printing part on an empty bag in the state which gas does not accumulate inside an empty bag.

  The present invention provides an empty bag that is suspended and held by a pair of holding portions that hold both side end portions of the upper portion of the empty bag, with the opening portion of the empty bag having an opening portion on one side being disposed on the upper side. A thermal printer device for printing a printing unit, comprising: a print head that prints a printing unit while moving from the upper side to the lower side of an empty bag; and a print receiving unit that is disposed to face the print head. The width of the bag is formed to be shorter than the width of the print head, the width of the print receiving portion is formed to be shorter than the width of the empty bag, and when printing the printing unit on the empty bag, The present invention relates to a thermal printer apparatus capable of discharging gas to the outside.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the thermal printer apparatus which can print a printing part on an empty bag in the state in which gas does not accumulate inside an empty bag can be provided.

It is a top view explaining the whole structure of the thermal printer apparatus 1 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. In the thermal printer device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the width PH of the thermal head 4, the width B of the empty bag E, and the width PL of the platen plate 65 are omitted in the state where the pair of pinch claws 12 are not shown. It is a top view which shows the relationship. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a case where the print receiving mechanism 6 is located at a standby position in the thermal printer device 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state in which the print receiving mechanism 6 is moved to a pressing position from the state shown in FIG. 3 in the thermal printer device 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state in which the thermal head 4 during printing is moved downward from the state shown in FIG. 4 in the thermal printer device 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state in which a vent T is formed in an empty bag E during printing in the thermal printer device 1 according to the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a plan view for explaining the overall configuration of a thermal printer apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a thermal printer apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the pair of nail claws 12 are not shown, the width PH of the thermal head 4, the width B of the empty bag E, and the platen plate. It is a top view which shows the relationship with 65 width | variety PL. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the case where the print receiving mechanism 6 is located at the standby position in the thermal printer apparatus 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state in which the print receiving mechanism 6 has been moved to the pressing position from the state shown in FIG. 3 in the thermal printer apparatus 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state in which the thermal head 4 during printing is moved downward from the state shown in FIG. 4 in the thermal printer device 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state in which the vent T is formed in the empty bag E during printing in the thermal printer device 1 according to the present invention.

  In the following description and drawings, the direction in which the empty bag E is transferred is referred to as a transfer direction P in this embodiment. The direction in which the print receiving mechanism 6 moves in the direction orthogonal to the transfer direction P is referred to as the forward / backward direction X, and the direction in which the platen plate 65 of the print receiving mechanism 6 approaches the ink ribbon R is referred to as the forward direction X1. A direction in which the platen plate 65 of the receiving mechanism 6 is separated from the ink ribbon R is referred to as a backward direction X2.

  The thermal printer device 1 according to the present embodiment is used in a printing process in a bag supply packaging machine 10 or the like, for example. The bag supply and packaging machine 10 is a pre-formed bag that supplies an empty bag (hereinafter referred to as “empty bag”) that is not filled with an object, and fills the empty bag E with the filler. A device that packs things in bags. In the present embodiment, the empty bag E has a film-like sheet formed in a bag shape, and is formed in a sheet shape as a whole, and has an opening on one side.

  In the bag supply and packaging machine 10, the empty bag E is filled with a filling material and packaged through each process. As each process in the bag supply packaging machine 10, for example, a printing process for printing a printing part on an empty bag E by the thermal printer device 1, an inspection process for inspecting a printing part printed by the thermal printer device 1, or an empty bag There is a filling step for filling E with a filling material.

  In each process in the bag supply and packaging machine 10, the empty bag E is intermittently sequentially transferred by repeating the transfer and stop along the transfer direction P shown in FIG. Is done. The empty bag E is arranged along the transfer direction P in a state where the opening of the empty bag E is arranged on the upper side and the extending surface of the sheet-like empty bag E is arranged substantially parallel to the transfer direction P. Be transported.

  In the present embodiment, the transport mechanism 11 includes a pair of sandwiching claw portions (a pair of sandwiching portions) 12 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. The pair of sandwiching claws 12 sandwich both upper end portions of the empty bag E in a state where the opening of the empty bag E is disposed on the upper side. The pair of pinch claws 12 suspend and hold the empty bag E. The pair of pinch claws 12 are configured to move in the transfer direction P with the upper side of the empty bag E sandwiched between the front end and the rear end in the transfer direction P, and transfer the empty bag E in the transfer direction P. .

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the thermal printer device 1 of this embodiment includes a printer main body 2 and a print receiving mechanism 6.
The thermal printer device 1 prints a printing unit (not shown) on the empty bag E that is stopped at the print stop position while the empty bag E that is intermittently transferred by repeatedly transferring and stopping is stopped at the print stop position. To do. The thermal printer device 1 prints the printing unit on an empty bag E that is suspended and held by a pair of pinch claws 12.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the thermal printer device 1 includes a printer main body 2 and a print receiving mechanism 6. The printer body 2 is held on a support base 9. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the printer main body 2 includes a ribbon transport mechanism 3, a thermal head 4 as a print head, and a holding frame 5. The holding frame 5 holds the ribbon transport mechanism 3 and the thermal head 4.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the thermal head 4 is arranged to face the empty bag E located at the printing stop position. The thermal head 4 is arranged so that the tip side protrudes toward the empty bag E side. The thermal head 4 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction Z. The thermal head 4 prints a printing unit (not shown) while moving from the upper side to the lower side of the empty bag E. The width B of the empty bag E is formed shorter than the width PH of the thermal head 4 as shown in FIG. Here, the width B of the empty bag E is the length along the transfer direction P of the empty bag E, and the length from the front end portion to the rear end portion of the empty bag E in the transfer direction P of the empty bag E. That's it. The width PH of the thermal head 4 is the length in the direction along the transfer direction P of the empty bag E and the length in the direction along the width direction of the empty bag E.

  The thermal head 4 includes a plurality of heating elements at the tip thereof. In the thermal head 4, a desired heating element generates heat when the thermal printer device 1 energizes the thermal head 4.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the ribbon transport mechanism 3 includes a raw fabric side ribbon holder 31 that holds a wound unused ink ribbon R, a winding side ribbon holder 32 that winds up the ink ribbon R, and a plurality of ribbon ribbons 32. Guide rollers 33, 34, 35, and 36 and a peel roller 37 are provided. The ribbon transport mechanism 3 transports the unused ink ribbon R wound around the raw fabric side ribbon holder 31 toward the thermal head 4 and also transports the ink ribbon R used in the thermal head 4 to the winding side ribbon holder. Transport toward 32.

  The plurality of guide rollers 33, 34, 35, 36 are rollers that guide the ink ribbon R that is conveyed from the original fabric side ribbon holder 31 toward the take-up side ribbon holder 32.

  The peel roller 37 is provided downstream of the thermal head 4 in the transport direction of the ink ribbon R. The peel roller 37 is rotatably attached. The peel roller 37 moves in the vertical direction Z integrally with the thermal head 4. The peel roller 37 sends out the used ink ribbon R that has been printed by the thermal head 4 toward the take-up side ribbon holder 32 side.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the print receiving mechanism 6 is disposed on the opposite side of the thermal head 4 with respect to the empty bag E located at the print stop position. The print receiving mechanism 6 is mounted and fixed on the upper surface of the mounting plate 7 via the support portion 8.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the print receiving mechanism 6 includes a print receiving drive unit 61, a holding plate 64, and a platen plate 65 as a print receiving unit. The print receiver driving unit 61 includes a driving unit main body 62 and a rod unit 63. The drive part main body 62 holds the rod part 63 so as to be able to advance and retreat, and moves the rod part 63 in the advancing / retreating direction X (traveling direction X1, retreating direction X2).

  A holding plate 64 is attached to the tip of the rod portion 63. A platen plate 65 is attached to the holding plate 64.

  The platen plate 65 is disposed to face the thermal head 4. The platen plate 65 is formed in a plate shape in which the empty bag E side surface has a plane parallel to the empty bag E when the empty bag E is positioned at the printing stop position. The width PL of the platen plate 65 is shorter than the width B of the empty bag E as shown in FIG. The width PL of the platen plate 65 is the length in the direction along the transfer direction P of the empty bag E and is the length in the direction along the width direction of the empty bag E.

  The platen plate 65 is formed of a member having a predetermined elasticity such as silicon rubber, for example. The platen plate 65 is moved in the advance / retreat direction X so that the empty bag E that stops at the print stop position moves in the advance direction X1 that approaches the empty bag E or the reverse direction X2 that moves away from the empty bag E. Moved to.

  The platen plate 65 is configured to be movable in the advancing / retreating direction X by driving the print receiving drive unit 61, so that the empty bag E is removed from the ink ribbon R and the thermal head 4 with respect to the empty bag E positioned at the print stop position. It is possible to move to a pressing position (see FIG. 4) that presses to the side and a standby position (see FIG. 3) that is separated from the empty bag E. During the transfer of the empty bag E, the platen plate 65 is positioned at a standby position (see FIG. 3) that is separated from the thermal head 4, and the empty bag E is at a printing stop position between the thermal head 4 and the platen plate 65. When stopped, it is positioned at a pressing position (see FIG. 4) for pressing toward the thermal head 4 side. Thereby, when the platen plate 65 is located at the standby position (see FIG. 4), even if the transferred empty bag E is moved while being shaken by air resistance or the like, the empty bag E is removed from the thermal head 4 and the platen. It can be easily introduced between the plate 65. In the present embodiment, the print receiver driving unit 61 is configured by an actuator such as an air cylinder, for example.

Next, the operation of the thermal printer apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described.
The thermal printer apparatus 1 configured as described above prints a printing unit (not shown) on the empty bag E that is stopped at the print stop position. First, the empty bag E is intermittently transferred by repeating transfer and stop, and stops at the print stop position as shown in FIGS.

  Next, while the empty bag E is stopped at the printing stop position, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the platen plate 65 of the print receiving mechanism 6 is moved from the standby position (see FIG. 3) to the pressing position (see FIG. 4). Is moved in the advancing direction X1 toward As a result, the platen plate 65 of the print receiving mechanism 6 is moved from the standby position (see FIG. 3) to the pressing position (see FIG. 4) to press the empty bag E toward the ink ribbon R and the thermal head 4 side.

  Next, the thermal head 4 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. As a result, the ink ribbon R in contact with the desired heat generating element that has generated heat contacts the empty bag E on the surface of the platen plate 65 of the print receiving mechanism 6. Thereby, the thermal printer apparatus 1 adheres the ink applied to the ink ribbon R to the empty bag E and prints a printing unit (not shown).

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the width B of the empty bag E is formed shorter than the width PH of the thermal head 4. The width PL of the platen plate 65 is formed shorter than the width B of the empty bag E. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, when printing the printing portion on the empty bag E, vents T are formed at both ends of the opening portion of the empty bag E so as not to block the opening portion of the empty bag E. Is done. Thereby, the thermal printer device 1 can discharge the air (gas) inside the empty bag E to the outside when the printing unit prints on the empty bag E. Therefore, even when the thermal head 4 is moved from the upper side to the lower side, the air inside the empty bag E can be discharged to the outside when the printing unit prints on the empty bag E.

  Next, the platen plate 65 of the print receiving mechanism 6 is moved from the pressing position shown in FIG. 5 to the standby position shown in FIG. Separate from bag E. In this way, a printing unit (not shown) is printed on the empty bag E.

According to the thermal printer device 1 of the present embodiment, for example, the following effects are exhibited.
The thermal printer device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a pair of nail claws 12 that sandwich both side end portions of the upper portion of the empty bag E in a state where the opening portion of the empty bag E having an opening portion on one side is disposed on the upper side. A thermal printer apparatus 1 that prints a printing part on an empty bag E that is suspended and held, and that is opposed to the thermal head 4 and a thermal head 4 that prints the printing part while moving from above the empty bag E downward. The width B of the empty bag E is shorter than the width PH of the thermal head 4, and the width PL of the platen plate 65 is shorter than the width B of the empty bag E. It is possible to discharge the air inside the empty bag E to the outside when the printing unit is printed on the empty bag E.

  Therefore, the air inside the empty bag E can be discharged to the outside during printing of the printing unit on the empty bag E. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the accumulation of air inside the empty bag E. Therefore, the printing unit can be printed on the empty bag E in a state where air does not accumulate inside the empty bag E.

As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment was described, this invention can be implemented with a various form, without being limited to embodiment mentioned above.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the thermal printer device 1 of the present invention is provided in the bag-feeding packaging machine 10, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the transfer direction P of the empty bag E was made into linear form, it is not restrict | limited to this. For example, in the bag-feeding packaging machine, the stations of the respective processes may be arranged along an annular shape. In this case, the transfer direction P of the empty bag E may be an arc.

1 Thermal printer device 4 Thermal head (print head)
12 A pair of clamping claws (a pair of clamping parts)
65 Platen plate (print receiving part)
E Blank bag B Blank bag width PH Thermal head width PL Platen plate width

Claims (1)

Printing part is printed on the empty bag that is suspended and held by a pair of holding parts that hold both side ends of the upper part of the empty bag with the opening part of the empty bag having an opening part on one side on the upper side A thermal printer device,
A print head that prints the printing part while moving from the upper side to the lower side of the empty bag;
A print receiving portion disposed to face the print head,
The width of the empty bag is formed shorter than the width of the print head,
The width of the print receiving portion is formed shorter than the width of the empty bag,
A thermal printer device capable of discharging gas inside an empty bag to the outside during printing of the printing unit on the empty bag.

Images