JP6187082B2 - Printing device and packaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that prints and cuts a band-shaped sheet, and a packaging apparatus that band-wraps a product using the cut sheet.

  Conventionally, a sheet wound in a roll shape is fed out, a desired printing is sequentially performed on the fed sheet by using a printing unit, and the printed sheet is sequentially cut into strips by a cutter for each printing portion. A wrapping apparatus that uses a band-shaped sheet and rolls a product using the cut band-shaped sheet is used. And this kind of packaging device is in a state where a plurality of prints are made in advance on the sheet before being cut (that is, a plurality of sheets are printed on the sheet in advance in order to improve the efficiency of the production line and increase the production speed. In this state, this sheet was cut in order for each printed portion and wound around a product for packaging.

JP 2002-225823 A

By the way, if the ink ribbon of the printing means is cut during printing on the sheet, printing failure occurs. In addition, when the emergency stop button of the packaging device is pressed during band wrapping, the interlocking printing means will cause defective printing as described above. This is because if printing stops due to ink ribbon breakage or emergency stop during printing, the printing means remains in the middle of printing, and when printing is restarted, printing that has progressed to the middle Since the printing is resumed subsequently, the joint portion of the print before and after the resumption is vacant, or conversely, the joint portion of the print overlaps easily.
For this reason, control is performed so that printing is resumed using the print data that has been stopped from the beginning of the next sheet to be printed, which is located upstream from the position of the sheet that has stopped printing during printing. A portion of defective printing is included in the sheets that are printed and stocked in advance for the plurality of sheets.

  Thus, if there is a printing defect in the sheet, the operator cannot easily determine where the printing defect has occurred in the part of the sheet that has been printed in advance for a plurality of sheets. Also, if the part with defective printing is cut and the product is wrapped with a sheet with defective printing, it is difficult and troublesome for the operator to find and remove the product, and the operator overlooks it. In such a case, there is a possibility that a product wrapped in a band using a poorly printed sheet may be displayed and sold in a store. There is a problem in that the entire portion that has been printed and stocked in advance is discarded, resulting in waste of consumables.

  In Patent Document 1, in a device for applying a label to a product using a printed label, the label attached to the product is read, the read information is compared with the print data, and there is a defective label (defective) A product) is disclosed.

  However, in this system, in order to find a printing defect, it is necessary not only to install a reading unit such as a CCD camera or a barcode scanner, but also to control the assembled reading unit. Become.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of easily eliminating only a portion where a printing defect has occurred without passing it to the next process even if a printing defect occurs. It is to provide a packaging device.

The present invention provides a printing apparatus in which a sheet wound in a roll shape is fed, the printed sheet is sequentially printed by a printing unit based on printing information, and the printed sheet is sequentially cut by a cutter. Control means for performing sheet feeding control, printing control by the printing means, sheet cutting control for cutting the sheet, detection means for detecting an error affecting printing during the printing control, and and a storage means for storing a sheet when an error is detected as a defective sheet by the detection means, the control means, the defective sheets the storage implement eliminate control you eliminated after sheet cutting control, the features from the error detection by the detection means, until elimination control defective sheet based on the error, to implement a print control to another sheet It is.
Accordingly, the position of the sheet on which the printing failure has occurred can be identified based on an error that affects printing such as ink ribbon running out, ink ribbon feeding failure, or emergency stop button being pressed. For this reason, even if printing failure occurs, only the sheet of the portion where printing failure has occurred can be accurately excluded. That is, it is not necessary to discard a sheet on which printing without a printing defect before and after a printing defect has occurred. This eliminates waste of consumables.

In addition, the present invention preferably includes display means for displaying a message to remove the defective sheet when the exclusion control is executed .

Further, the present invention preferably includes an input unit that inputs sheet number information generated by the printing apparatus and an update unit that updates the sheet number information based on the number of errors detected by the detection unit .

  In addition, the present invention is a packaging device that includes the printing device and performs packaging by winding a belt-like sheet cut into a belt shape by a cutter of the printing device around an outer periphery of an article to be packaged.

1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a packaging device 1. FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a main part for explaining a printing state in the vicinity of the leading end of a sheet. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the goods A which wound the strip | belt-shaped sheet | seat 50. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the packaging device 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the status information file memorize | stored in the packaging apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the printing information file memorize | stored in the packaging apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the log | history information file memorize | stored in the packaging apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation flowchart of the printing apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a packaging apparatus 1 including a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a main part schematic diagram for explaining the printing state in the vicinity of the front end of the sheet 13, and particularly shows a part from the mark sensor 21 until the sheet 13 is cut. FIG. 2 shows a state in which printing is to be performed on the portion that will become the 27th (n = 27) belt-like sheet 50 from now on. A vertical dotted line C shown in FIG. 2 is a planned cut line (virtual line) to be cut in a later process.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the packaging device 1 includes guide rollers 15 and 17 and a dancer roller 19 that guide a roll 11 arranged in a roll placement unit 10 and a packaging material (hereinafter referred to as “sheet”) 13 drawn from the roll 11. A mark sensor 21 for detecting a mark M described below provided on the sheet 13, a printing means (printer) 23 for printing on the sheet 13, a feed roller 25 for nipping and conveying the sheet 13, and a sheet 13 Is installed on the downstream side of the belt-wrapping portion 31 and the belt-wrapping portion 31 for winding the belt-like sheet (hereinafter referred to as “band-like sheet”) 50 cut by the cutter 27 onto the product A. The shrink device 33 is provided. In addition, the part except the band packaging part 31 and the shrink apparatus 33 among the said packaging apparatuses 1 comprises the printing apparatus.

  Here, the roll 11 is installed so as to be rotatable about a shaft 11a. The sheet 13 wound around the roll 11 is a uniaxially stretched film. For example, a plastic film such as a polypropylene film, a polyester film, or a polyethylene terephthalate film is used. As shown in FIG. 2, marks M are formed by printing or the like in the vicinity of one end of the sheet 13 one pitch at a time. In addition, a desired print (design or the like) D such as a logo mark of a store or a manufacturer that sells the product A is formed in advance on the sheet 13 one pitch at a time.

  The dancer roller 19 is a device that can be moved up and down by a guide mechanism (not shown) and applies a certain tension to the sheet 13 by its own weight. The mark sensor 21 is a device that optically detects the mark M shown in FIG. In this example, the printing unit 23 uses a thermal transfer type printer using an ink ribbon, and performs desired printing on the sheet 13. The mark sensor 21 is arranged at a position for detecting the mark M on the upstream side of the printing means 23. The printing unit 23 is arranged such that the printer head 231 is positioned at the head position of one pitch, that is, the position of the planned cutting line C.

  The feed roller 25 is driven so as to feed out the sheet 13 to the cutter 27 side by sandwiching and driving the sheet 13. The cutter 27 cuts the sheet 13 for each desired width to form a belt-like sheet 50. The band-wrapping unit 31 is a device that band-wraps the band-like sheet 50 around the outer periphery of the product A transferred on a belt conveyor (not shown), and heat-welds both ends of the sheet A on the bottom side of the product A, for example. The shrink device 33 is a device that applies heat to the product A wound with the belt-like sheet 50 to contract the belt-like sheet 50.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a finished product in which a belt-like sheet 50 is wound around the outer periphery of the product A. As shown in the figure, a belt-like sheet 50 is attached to the outer periphery of the product A so that the product A is tightly fastened. On the belt-like sheet 50 located on the upper surface of the product A, the print D and the print (ramen) E are displayed.

  FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the packaging device 1. As shown in the figure, the packaging device 1 includes a CPU 100, a ROM 101, a RAM 103, a display unit (display means) 105, an operation unit 107, a communication unit 109, a feeding control unit 111, and a print control unit 113. The cutter control unit 115, the band winding control unit 117, and the mark detection control unit 119 are configured.

  The CPU 100 reads out the control program stored in the ROM (storage unit) 101 and various types of information stored in the RAM (storage unit) 103, and comprehensively manages and operates the packaging apparatus 1 based on the read-out control program and the various types of information. Is. Further, the CPU 100 stores necessary information in the RAM 103. The ROM 101 stores a control program. The RAM 103 is a temporary storage area that stores information used by the CPU 100. The RAM 103 stores the following various files.

  The display unit 105 includes a liquid crystal display or the like, and displays a type and status of a printing error, a current printing progress status, and other various types of display. The operation unit 107 includes a keyboard, a touch panel, and the like for instructing start, stop, emergency stop, etc., and inputting the content and number of prints. When the operation unit 107 is a touch panel, the display unit 105 may be integrated.

  The communication unit 109 transmits the results of band wrapping to a higher-level management device (such as a personal computer) and receives product data of products to be printed from the management device.

  The feeding control unit 111 controls the feeding of the sheet 13 from the roll 11, and specifically controls the rotational driving of the feeding roller 25 and the like. The print control unit 113 controls the content of printing on the sheet 13 and the printing timing, and specifically controls the operation of the printing unit 23 and the like. The cutter control unit 115 controls the width of the band when the printed sheet 13 is cut into a band shape, and specifically controls the operation timing of the cutter 27 and the like. The band packaging control unit 117 controls the operation of the band packaging unit 31. The mark detection control unit 119 controls the mark sensor 21, receives a detection signal from the mark sensor 21, and transmits it to the CPU 100 or the like.

  5, 6, and 7 are diagrams illustrating an example of information stored in the packaging device 1, FIG. 5 is an example of a status information file, FIG. 6 is an example of a print information file, and FIG. An example of an information file is shown. The status information file shown in FIG. 5 is obtained by assigning a number to each of the printing states by the printing unit 23 and assigning a number to each of them. “1” when cut out, “2” when an ink ribbon feed failure occurs during printing, “3” when the packaging device 1 is stopped during printing “3”, and “4” for other reasons. " Among other reasons, other than the reasons “1” to “3” described above, when the printing unit 23 is mechanically stopped, and improper printing information (for example, expiration date or consumption) in the printing information This includes all cases where a date such as a deadline etc.) is included.

  The print information file shown in FIG. 6 is data related to the print command content input from the operation unit 107, and the number of prints and the print content are recorded for each lot. The contents described in the upper column are the contents of the newly commanded print command. The history information file shown in FIG. 7 has “print number n” data, “print process” data, “cut process” data, and “status information” data for each print in one lot. The blank portion indicates that the processing has not yet been performed, and currently indicates a state in which printing of the print number n = 27th is about to start.

  Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation flowchart of the printing apparatus 1. Here, 50 products to be wrapped with a band sheet were specified, and printing was normally performed from the printing number n = 1 to 21, but the ink ribbon was cut off at the printing number n = 22, and the ink ribbon was replaced. Then, printing and packaging will be resumed until 50 product 50 are completed with a belt-wrap sheet without printing defects.

  First, from the operation unit 107 shown in FIG. 4, the number of products A to be banded (50 in this example) and the content to be printed on the band sheet (in this example, “ramen”) are input as print command information. For example, the execution key is depressed (step ST1). As a result, the CPU 100 automatically generates the lot number “XXX”, and records the lot number, the number N of prints “50”, and the print content “ramen” in the print information file shown in FIG. .

  Next, in step ST2, “n = 1” is set. n indicates the number of prints to be printed in the lot, and is set to 1 at the beginning. At this time, a column of print number n = 1 is provided in the history information file shown in FIG. Next, in step ST3, the total number N of prints is compared with the print number n currently being printed. At present, since n (= 1) is smaller than N (= 50), the process proceeds to step ST4, and the CPU 100 controls the rotational driving of the feed roller 25 using the feeding control unit 111, whereby the sheet shown in FIG. 13 is fed by one pitch, that is, one interval between adjacent marks M, and the printing control unit 113 is used to cause the printing unit 23 to perform a printing operation at the same time, thereby printing “ramen” on the sheet 13. (In other words, sheet feeding control and printing control are performed simultaneously).

  Next, in step ST5, when printing is normally performed, “printing” in the column of the print number n = 1 of the history information file is set to “present”, and “status information” is set to “0” (step ST6). ). “0” of “status information” means that normal printing has been performed as shown in FIG.

  Next, in step ST7, the print number n is set to n + 1 = 2, and a column of print number n = 2 is provided in the history information file shown in FIG. Next, in step ST8, since n (= 2) is smaller than 5, the process proceeds to step ST11. Since n (= 2) is smaller than N + 4 (= 54), the process proceeds to step ST3 and the same processing as described above is performed. Do. When the printing number n is smaller than 5, as shown in FIG. 2, the cutting of the sheet 13 by the cutter 27 is not yet required, so steps ST9 and ST10 are omitted.

  The above process is repeated, and when the print number n is 6 in step ST7, that is, before printing the sixth sheet, the process proceeds to step ST9 in step ST8, and the leading edge of the sheet 13 is moved to the cutter. 27 is cut by a width corresponding to one pitch to form a first belt-like sheet 50 (sheet cut control is performed). At this time, the CPU 100 records “cut” in the “cut” column of the history information file shown in FIG. 7 that the sheet 13 with the print number n = 1 has been cut.

  After the sheet 13 is cut in step ST9, in step ST10, it is determined whether or not the status information shown in FIG. 7 of the cut belt-like sheet 50 (print number n-5) is “0” (normal). To do. In this example, since the status information of the print number n = 1 is “0”, the process proceeds to step ST11, returns to step ST3 as described above, and thereafter repeats steps ST3 to ST11 while cutting the sheet 13. .

  The cut belt-like sheet 50 is wound on the outer periphery of the product A that is transported on a belt conveyor (not shown) in the belt-wrapping unit 31 shown in FIG. Is done. Further, the product A is conveyed to the shrink device 33, and the belt-like sheet 50 is contracted by the heat applied when passing through the inside thereof, and the product A is tightly bound by the belt-like sheet 50, and the packaging is completed.

  Returning to FIG. 8, when the print number n = 22, it is assumed that the ink ribbon of the printing means 23 has run out during printing in step ST4. At this time, the operation of the printing apparatus 1 is stopped by another control process, and a message for ink ribbon replacement is displayed on the display unit 105. By this message, the operator replaces the ink ribbon of the printing unit 23 and restarts the printing apparatus 1. When restarted, printing resumes from the middle of printing with print number n = 22. However, as described above, the joints between the print before resuming and after resuming are vacant or conversely overlapped. Printing may not be performed normally. For this reason, when restarted, in step ST5, it is determined that printing has not been performed normally, the process proceeds to step ST12, and the status information of the print number n = 22 in the history information file is set to “1”. Then, N = N + 1 (= 51) is set (step ST13). In other words, even if the printing is not performed normally, the number of the belt-like sheets 50 that are normally printed is set to 50. If an abnormality occurs in printing, the value of N is increased accordingly. . Then, steps ST3 to ST11 are repeated.

  Next, in step ST7, when the print number n = 27, in step ST9, the belt-like sheet 50 of the print number n = 22 where the print defect has occurred is cut. In step ST10, the cut sheet is cut. Since the status information of the belt-like sheet 50 (print number n−5 = 22) is “1”, the process proceeds to step ST <b> 14 and the CPU 100 stops driving the packaging device 1. At this time, the CPU 100 displays on the display unit 105 a message to remove the cut belt-like sheet 50 with the print number n = 22. Then, the belt-like sheet 50 with poor printing is removed by the operator. For example, when the operator inputs the removal from the operation unit 107 (step ST15), the process returns to step ST11, and printing and cutting on the sheet 13 are continued. . In addition, you may remove the strip | belt-shaped sheet | seat 50 of printing defect by installing the apparatus which removes automatically.

  Next, when the print number n = 52 in step ST7, the print portion with the print number n = 47 is cut in steps ST8, ST9, ST10, and then the process returns from step ST11 to step ST3. In step ST3, n Since (= 52) is larger than N (= 51), the process proceeds to step ST16, the sheet 13 is fed out by one pitch without performing the printing operation, and then the process proceeds to step ST7, where the print number n is incremented by one. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step ST8 and step ST9, the sheet 13 with the print number n = 48 is cut, and the process returns from step ST10 and ST11 to step ST3. That is, when the print number n = 52 or later, printing is not performed, and only sheet cutting is continued while the sheet 13 is being fed out.

  In step ST7, when the print number n = 56, that is, when the print is advanced by 4 pitches, the print portion of the print number n = 51 is cut in steps ST8, ST9, and ST10, and then in step ST11, step ST17. Then, the sheet 13 is fed back by 4 pitches to align the top of the unprinted sheet 13 with the printer head 231 of the printing means 23, and the operation of the packaging device 1 in this lot is finished.

  As described above, according to the packaging device (printing device) 1, by utilizing the history information when printing is performed (information indicating that printing has not been performed normally is stored in the history information). Thus, it is determined whether or not the cut belt-like sheet is defective in printing (step ST10), and when it is determined that the print is defective, the belt-like sheet removal control for removing the cut belt-like sheet (step ST14, Since it is configured to perform ST15), it is possible to easily eliminate only a belt-like sheet with poor printing by simply changing the control program without installing a camera or the like that separately detects defective printing. .

  In the above-described operation example, the case where the ink ribbon has run out has been described as an example of the occurrence of printing failure. However, an emergency stop of the packaging device 1 or a failure in feeding the ink ribbon can also be dealt with as a printing failure. Further, the history information for determining that the printing on the sheet is a printing failure includes mechanically such as the head failure of the printing means, in addition to the above-mentioned ink ribbon running out, ink ribbon feeding failure, emergency stop of the packaging device, etc. All other history information that stops the printing means and the packaging device is also included.

  Further, in the above operation example, the total number N of printed sheets is directly used as a unit of the number of printed sheets (print number n = 1 to 50). However, the unit of the number of printed sheets may be determined separately in advance and controlled by repeating the unit. good. For example, when 5 sheets are used as the unit of the number of prints, in the above example, this unit (print number n = 1 to 5) is repeated 10 times to print 50 sheets. If a printing failure occurs, more printing is performed for that number.

  Moreover, although the example which applied the printing apparatus concerning this invention to the packaging apparatus 1 was shown in the said example, this invention is applicable not only to the printing apparatus for packaging apparatuses but to other various printing apparatuses. For example, in the above example, since the printed sheet is wound around the outer periphery of the package to be wrapped, the sheet is cut into a band shape by a cutter. However, the sheet may be cut into various shapes other than the band shape depending on the application. . That is, for example, after printing on a sheet wound in a roll shape, a label may be manufactured by cutting with a cutter so that the printed portion of the sheet is cut out into a label shape. Moreover, you may manufacture the printing sheet used for various uses by cutting into other various shapes (a strip | belt shape and a sheet-like shape are included). As the sheet to be used, a sheet whose surface is heat-sensitive and non-adhesive processed may be used, and for example, a mountless label may be manufactured. Or you may manufacture a transparent thermal label using a transparent thermal sheet.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims and the specification and drawings. Is possible. Note that any shape or structure not directly described in the specification and drawings is within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention as long as the effects and advantages of the present invention are achieved. For example, the structure of the printing apparatus is not limited to the structure of the printing apparatus used for the packaging apparatus, and it goes without saying that printing apparatuses having other various shapes and structures may be used. In short, any structure can be used as long as the printing apparatus is configured to feed a sheet wound in a roll shape, sequentially print the fed sheet with a printing unit, and sequentially cut the printed sheet with a cutter. The present invention can also be applied to a printing apparatus. Further, the structure of the packaging device is not limited to the structure of the packaging device 1, and needless to say, the packaging device may have other various shapes and structures.

  In the above example, an example using a thermal transfer type printer using an ink ribbon as a printing means has been shown. However, other various methods such as an ink jet method, an electrostatic copying method, a method of irradiating a thermal sheet with a laser beam and printing. The present invention can be applied to any printing means.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Packaging apparatus A Goods 10 Roll arrangement | positioning part 11 Roll 11a Shaft 13 Sheet (packaging material)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Guide roller 17 Guide roller 19 Dancer roller 21 Mark sensor 23 Printing means (printer) 231 Printer head 25 Feed roller 27 Cutter 31 Band winding part 33 Shrink device 50 Band-shaped sheet (sheet) C Cut planned line E Printing M Mark D Printing (Design, etc.) 100 CPU
101 ROM 103 RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 105 Display part (display means) 107 Operation part 109 Communication part 111 Feeding control part 113 Print control part 115 Cutter control part 117 Band-wrapping control part 119 Mark detection control part

Claims (4)

In a printing apparatus that feeds out a sheet wound in a roll shape, sequentially prints the fed sheet based on print information with a printing unit, and sequentially cuts the printed sheet with a cutter,
Control means for performing sheet feeding control for feeding out the sheet, printing control by the printing means, and sheet cutting control for cutting the sheet;
Detecting means for detecting an error affecting printing during the printing control;
Storage means for storing a sheet when an error is detected by the detection means as a defective sheet ;
With
It said control means, a defective sheets the storage implement eliminate control you eliminated after sheet cutting control,
A printing apparatus that performs printing control on another sheet between an error detection by the detection unit and a rejection sheet rejection control based on the error . The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays a message to remove the defective sheet when the exclusion control is executed . Input means for inputting sheet number information generated by the printing apparatus;
It said detecting means based on the number of errors detected, the printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises updating means for updating the sheet number information. A printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , comprising a belt-like sheet cut into a belt-like shape by a cutter of the printing device and wrapped around an outer periphery of a packaged object. Packaging equipment to do.

Images