JPH0767815B2 - Electronic labeler thermal head device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial field of application> The present invention relates to a thermal head device provided to print a label on an electronic labeler.

<Prior Art> This type of thermal head device is configured to perform required printing, for example, a barcode, on a label in accordance with an input signal from a keyboard, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-15376. Further, the above-mentioned label is sequentially stuck on the transfer tape and is configured to be sequentially brought into contact with the thermal head as the transfer tape moves.

The label tape in which the labels are sequentially attached to the transfer tape is spread on a heat-resistant platen roller, and the label is printed by a thermal head using the platen roller as a support. It is transported by the rotation of the platen roller while being pinched between the rollers.

In such a thermal head device, in order to bring the thermal head into full contact with the platen roller with a uniform pressure, it is required to maintain the parallelism between the thermal head and the platen roller accurately. As the parallelism maintaining means, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 57-78295 (No. 58-182555), a head holder equipped with a thermal head, that is, a pivotal support side of a support frame is supported at one point. There is provided a structure in which it is swingably supported by.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> As described above, in the thermal head device in which the supporting frame is supported by the one-point supporting means, even though the parallelism between the thermal head and the platen roller can be maintained, the heat of the thermal head is generated. It is not considered to position the part on the axis of the platen roller.Therefore, misalignment of printing or printing due to the heat generating part of the thermal head not being pressed against the surface of the platen roller along the axis of the platen roller. There is a problem that blurring often occurs, and there is also a problem that repair and adjustment are troublesome when such an accident occurs.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In the device of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the support frame 42 for supporting the thermal head 45 has a support plate 422 for directly supporting the thermal head 45, and It is composed of an outer frame 421 that holds the support plate 422.

The outer frame 421 is provided with a support mechanism 46 at its rear part, and is pivotally supported by the labeler main body by the support mechanism 46.
Supports an outer frame 421 swingably by a single point support means.

The outer frame 421 and the support plate 422 are screwed at a right angle to the axis L of the platen roller 51, and a pair of coupling screws 42 are arranged side by side in the axial direction of the platen roller 51.
It is connected by 3,423 '.

<Operation> In the device of the present invention, since the support frame 42 for supporting the thermal head 45 is pivotally supported by the one-point supporting means in this manner, when the thermal head 45 is pressed against the platen roller 51, the support frame 42 is supported. 7 automatically swings in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 7 to maintain the parallelism between the thermal head 45 and the platen roller 51 accurately, and the support 422 for supporting the thermal head 45 is formed by a pair of coupling screws 423, 423 '. Since it is connected to the outer frame 421, by adjusting the screwing degree of the pair of coupling screws separately, the heat generating portion of the thermal head 45, for example, the heat generating element group, is positioned so as to match with the axis of the platen roller 51. Can be adjusted.

That is, by individually changing the screwing degree of the pair of coupling screws 423, 423 ', the support plate 422 can be moved forward or backward in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the platen roller 51 with respect to the outer frame 421.
As a result, the position of the support plate 422 can be shifted so as to match the axis L of the platen roller 51 at the screwing position of the coupling screws 423, 423 '.

<Examples> A labeler using the device of the present invention has an operation section 10, a grip section 20 and a mechanism section 30, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
The operation unit 10 and the mechanism unit 30 form a housing.

The operation section 10 is provided with an input keyboard section 11 and a display section 12 for displaying an input signal of the keyboard section 11, for example, a liquid crystal panel, and the keyboard section 11 and the display section 12 have a rectangular shape. It is arranged on the front surface side of the operation unit exterior body 13. The grip portion 20 is provided, for example, at a right angle on the back surface side of the operation portion exterior body 13 so as to extend rearward from one end of the exterior body 13 and has a power source 21 such as a dry battery inside. It is housed.

The mechanism portion 30 is extended in parallel with the grip portion 20 on the back surface side of the operation portion 10, and the extension end side thereof is the grip portion 20.
For example, it is detachably coupled to the extended end of the grip portion 20, so that below the grip portion 20, the operation portion 10 and the mechanism portion 30.
The finger hanging window 22 formed by the above is formed.

The mechanism section 30 has a case 31 formed integrally with the exterior body 13 of the operation section 10, and the case 31 has an opening / closing means for opening and closing a bottom frame, for example, a push button 32 and a main switch operation piece 3.
3, there is provided a cut window 311 for confirming the remaining amount of the label and a pressing roll 34 for attaching the label, and the pressing roll 34 is the above-mentioned exterior body.
It is provided on the lower side of the base end of the case 31 in contact with 13.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the operation unit 10 has an exterior body 13 as shown in FIG.
The electric circuit 14 composed of the printed boards 141, 142 and the like is built in behind the front panel 131 of the device, and an input signal is given to the electric circuit 14 by operating a key of the keyboard section 11. By the start switch 15 provided on the operation unit 10 with a print symbol obtained in this way, for example, a number indicating a printed barcode is displayed on the display unit 12,
As described later, the label is configured to be printed.

The grip portion 20 is a spindle provided at the extending end of the case 31 forming the mechanism portion 30 so that the internal battery can be charged or the internal battery can be replaced, for example, as shown by the chain line in FIG. 312
Is configured so that the inner end can be rotated outward with the fulcrum as a fulcrum.

In the embodiment, the grip portion 20 is configured to be replaceable as a whole, and accordingly, the locking portion 23 formed at the extending end is detachably attached to the support shaft 312.

For this reason, the starting switch 15 is provided on the operation portion 10 with the grip portion 20.
The start switch 15 is fixed to the operating portion 10 in combination with the terminal holder 151, and is configured to operate the electric circuit 14 via the terminal holder 151.

On the other hand, the grip portion 20 is provided with a connector 24, and when the grip portion 20 is connected to the operation portion 10 by this, the connector 24 and the terminal holder 151 are coupled and the circuit of the power supply 21 is electrically connected. It is configured to be connected to the circuit 14.

In the above process, the power source 21 may be an external power source that the user attaches to his / her waist or the like, and in this case, the electric circuit 14 uses a cord provided by, for example, a connecting means provided in the grip 20. Via an external power supply circuit.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the grip portion 20 is provided with a lock mechanism 25, and the locking piece 251 of the lock mechanism 25 is provided on the engaging portion of the exterior body 13, for example, the terminal holder 151. By engaging with the engaging hole 152, the grip portion 20 is fixed with the support shaft 312 as a fulcrum.

The mechanism unit 30 includes a printing unit 40, a bottom frame 50, a label tape holder 60, and a drive mechanism 70, and a large number of labels 81 are sequentially attached to the transfer tape 80 in the label tape holder 60. Label tape is wrapped. Printing section
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, 40 is provided in the case 31 close to the pressing roll 34, and a cam piece 41 that interlocks with the main switch operation piece 33 and is released by the cam piece 41 during printing. On the other hand, when the printing is stopped, the support frame 42 is rotated in a direction away from the label 81, that is, is rotated upward in FIG. 5, the ridge 43 for constantly pressing the support frame 42 toward the label 81, and the support frame 42. Is rotated toward the label 81,
That is, when the support frame 42 is released from the cam piece, the electric circuit 14 is connected to the power supply circuit to bring it into an operating state, while the support frame 42 moves the cam piece 41.
When it is rotated against the spring 43 by means of the support frame 42
When is separated from the label 81, the micro switch 44 as a main switch is operated by the support frame 42 to disconnect the electric circuit 14 from the power supply circuit and put it in the inoperative state.
A thermal head 45 for printing a bar code corresponding to an input signal from the keyboard switch 11 on the label 81 by operating the start switch 15 in a state where the electric circuit 14 is connected to a power supply circuit; And a support mechanism 46 for supporting the support frame 42.

As described above, the cam piece 41 is made to interlock with the main switch operation piece 33, and when the main switch operation piece 33 is in the operating position as shown by the chain line in FIG. 5, the supporting frame 42 is released as shown in the figure. On the other hand, when the main switch operation piece 33 rotates in the arrow direction and moves to the inoperative position, it rotates counterclockwise in the figure to rotate the support frame 42 against the spring 43.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the thermal head 45 of the support frame 42 is
Since the sheet comes into pressure contact with the platen roller 51 on the side of the bottom frame 50 only during printing, it is possible to prevent the surface of the platen roller 51 from being constantly deformed due to pressure reception.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the support frame 42 has an outer frame 421 and a support plate 422 fitted in the outer frame 421, and a surface of the frame body 422 facing the label. The thermal head 45 is attached to the support plate 422 and the outer frame 421.
Are connected to each other by a pair of connecting screws 423, 423 'which are screwed at right angles to the axis L of the platen roller 51, and the heat generating portion of the thermal head 45 is connected to the platen roller 423 by the screwing degree of the pair of screws 423, 423'. It can be adjusted so that it is located on the axis (L) of the roller 51.

Furthermore, the support plate 422 is made of a material having good heat conductivity and has a heat dissipation plate 424, which is designed to dissipate heat generated from the thermal head 45.

The support mechanism 46 is provided so as to form a rotation fulcrum of the support frame 42, and in the embodiment, a bearing hole portion 461 formed in the rear portion of the support frame 42 and a loose fit in the hole portion 461. And a swinging fulcrum provided on either one of the support shaft 462 and the inner wall of the hole 461, for example, an annular protrusion 463 provided on the hole inner wall as shown in FIG. The bearing hole portion 461, and thus the support frame 42, is configured to be able to swing in the arrow direction with respect to the support shaft 462 by the swing support point.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, since the support frame 42 can bring the thermal head 45 of the platen roller 51 into close contact with the platen roller 51, printing with uniform density can be performed accurately. As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the bottom frame 50 has a platen roller 51 which is in pressure contact with the thermal head 45 via the label 81 on the transfer tape 80 on the rotating end side.
A stripping member that folds back the transfer tape 80 from the platen roller 51 to the tip side, for example, a pin 52 having a small diameter is provided, and a space 501 for inserting the transfer tape 80 in front of the pin 52 and the space 501 are provided. A structure in which a projecting piece 53 for a label guide forming a bottom frame rotating end is provided in the front, and the rear end side is a pivot
By being pivotally supported by the case 31 at 54, the rotating end having the projecting piece 53 is rotated as shown by the chain line in FIG. 3 to open the bottom surface of the case 31, or the bottom surface of the case 31 is opened by the solid line. It is a structure that can be returned to close.

The bottom frame 50 is constructed so as to be locked or released by the push button 32. For this reason, the bottom frame 50 is provided with an engaging piece 502, and the engaging piece 502 is engaged with the push button 32. Piece 32
1 is designed so that it can be engaged or disengaged by operating the push button.

In the embodiment, the locking piece 321 is fixed to the push button 32, and the bottom frame 5
When 0 is closed, the locking piece 321 is configured to retreat along the inclined edge of the engaging piece 502 and to be biased and engaged with the engaging piece 502 side by a spring (not shown). Bottom frame 50 by pressing the push button and sliding it in the direction against the spring
Is made to release.

The bottom frame 50 is further provided with a sensor means for detecting the position of the label, for example, a position sensor 55 using a photoelectric conversion element supported by a support plate 551, and the position of the label 81 is determined by the sensor 55. The operation of the drive mechanism 70 is controlled so as to accurately contact the thermal head 45.

For this reason, detection marks 82 are printed on the back surface of the transfer tape 80 at regular intervals as shown in FIG. 8, and the sensor 55 detects the marks 82 to send a drive control signal to the electric circuit 14. Is designed like.

After the transfer tape 80 is folded back at the pin 52, the bottom frame 50
The vehicle is made to run along the outer surface of, and is then fed into the frame through the cut window 503 formed in the bottom frame 50 and is intermittently transferred by the drive mechanism 70.

Further, in the bottom frame 50, a suitable number of guide rollers 56 and bottom window 50 for adjusting the width of the guide surface according to the label width.
3 guide means such as a guide roller 561 provided in the vicinity and a tape presser 562 arranged on the upper surface side of the bottom frame, and a detection switch 57 for confirming the closed state of the bottom frame 50 on the case 31 side. Is attached.

The detection switch 57 is connected to the micro switch 44 in series, for example, and is designed so that the electric circuit 14 does not operate when the bottom frame 50 is not completely closed.

The bottom frame 50 is provided with a label tape guide 58 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9 to 11, and this guide 58 is provided.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, rotors 581 and 581 'are provided inside both sides of the bottom frame 50, and the rotors 581 (58
1 ′) has two stoppers 582 (582 ′), 58 extending in the orthogonal direction.
3 (583 ') are provided so that these stoppers are located at a predetermined interval, and when the outer stopper 582 stands upright, the width W between the stoppers becomes large as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, the width W between the stoppers is reduced when the stoppers 583 are upright, and in order to secure the positions of these stoppers, the rotor 581 is set to 90 mm in width. Engagement notches 581a are provided at intervals, and an elastic locking piece 581b extending from the bottom frame 50 side is engaged with this as shown in FIG.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the label tape guides 58 can be adjusted so as to fit the two types of labels having different widths.

Further, the bottom frame 50 is provided with a label tape holder 60 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 12 to 15, and the label tape holder 60 has a transfer tape 80 and a label 81 sequentially attached thereto. While the label tape is wound, the transfer tape 80 is folded back by the pin 52 via the label guide 58, is stretched along the outer surface of the bottom frame 50, and is fed into the case from the cut window 503. .

This label tape holder 60 is designed so that the holder width can be changed in conformity with two types of labels having different widths, like the label guide 58.

For this reason, the label tape holder 60 is fixed to the bottom frame 50, and a supporting frame 61 having a receiving cylinder 611 projecting in a direction traversing the bottom frame 50 is fitted onto the outside of the receiving cylinder of the supporting frame 61. The outer sleeve 62 and the inner sleeve fitted inside the receiving tube of the support frame 61.
63, and two receiving holes 612, 613 are arranged in parallel in the receiving cylinder 611 in the axial direction thereof.

Further, the outer sleeve 62 is provided with a tape retainer 621 on the outer side and a projection 622 which is selectively engaged with the engaging holes 612, 613 on the inner surface, while the inner sleeve 6 is
3, a tape retainer 631 is provided on the outside and a protrusion 632 that is selectively engaged with the locking holes 612 and 613 is provided on the outer surface.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the protrusion 622 of the outer sleeve 62 is engaged with the outer locking hole 612, and the protrusion 632 of the inner sleeve 63 is locked with the inner locking hole 613. , The width W between the pair of label retainers 621, 631 becomes wider, and conversely, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the protrusion 622 of the outer sleeve 62 is engaged with the inner locking hole 613. However, when the protrusion 632 of the inner sleeve 63 is engaged with the outer locking hole 612, the width W between the pair of label retainers 621 and 631 becomes narrow.

In this embodiment, since the width W between the label pressers changes due to the inner and outer sleeves 62 and 63 moving in the same direction in the crossing direction, the position of the center line C of the width W is immovable. Therefore, there is an effect that the print center on the label 81 is always constant.

Since the label tape holder 60 is one in which the label tape is wound around the outer sleeve 62, the label retainer 631 of the inner sleeve 63 is normally rotated outward as shown by the chain line in FIG. 15 to form a roll. Fit the wound label tape.

A motor 17 driven by the electric circuit 14 and a feed roll 72 rotated by the motor 71 are provided in the case 31 of the mechanism section 30, while the bottom frame 50 is fed when the bottom frame is closed. A drive mechanism 70 composed of a roll 72 and a pressure contact roll 73 provided so as to be in pressure contact is incorporated, and the transfer tape 80 inserted from the cut window 503 is moved by this drive mechanism 70.

In the embodiment, a reduction gear 74 is provided between the feed roll 72 of the drive mechanism 70 and the motor 71.
It is arranged so as to be interposed between the gear 721 of 72 and the drive gear 711 of the motor 71, and the support shaft 722 of the feed roll 72 is made so that it can be connected to an external attachment through a communication hole formed in the case 31. ing.

Furthermore, the pressure contact roll 73 is applied with a pressure contact force by a ridge 75 provided on the bottom frame 50. The ridge 75 is also used to urge the bottom frame 50 in the opening direction. Then, when the bottom frame 50 is released by operating the push button 32, the bottom frame 50 projects out of the case 31 by the spring 75.

Furthermore, in the case 31, a discharge guide 76 for the transfer tape 80 is
The transfer tape 80 is delivered by the feed roll 72 and the pressure contact roll 73, is ejected to the outside from the ejection window 313 of the case 31 via the ejection guide 76, and is cut at any time by the cutter 314 provided in the ejection window 313. It

As described above, the transfer tape 80 has a structure in which the detection mark 82 is printed on the back surface and a large number of labels 81 made of, for example, heat-sensitive paper are sequentially attached on the front surface side, which is obtained by the detection mark 82. When the motor 71 is driven by the control signal, the thermal head 45 prints the barcode selected by the keyboard 11, for example, while the motor 71 is being sent to the predetermined length.

Examples of the external attachment connected to the support shaft 722 of the feed roll 72 in the drive mechanism 70 include, for example, FIGS.
A printer attachment 90 as shown in FIG. 20 is conceivable.

This attachment 90 is, as shown in FIGS. 18 to 20, a receiving shaft 91 that is coupled to the support shaft 722 of the feed roll 72,
A toothed pulley 92 connected to the receiving shaft 91, a toothed belt 93 rotated by the pulley 92, a toothed pulley 94 on the receiving side rotated by the belt 93, and rotation by rotation of the pulley 94. It has a feed roll 95 that can be pressed and a mounting case 96 that incorporates the above-mentioned components and presses the feed roll 95 against the pressing roll 34.
Is provided with, for example, a support piece 97 that is inserted into the case 31 of the mechanism portion 30 and is locked by the bottom frame 50, and is thereby fixed to the case 31.

Therefore, when mounting the attachment 90, rotate the bottom frame 50 as shown by the chain line in FIG.
Should be received in the case 31.

In this attachment 90, the feed roll 95 is in pressure contact with the pressing roll 34, and as shown in FIG.
Since it can be sent together with 80, if the label 81 is attached without folding the transfer tape 80 and it is inserted between the feed roll 95 and the pressing roll 34, the printed label on the transfer tape 80 can be used as a mount. You can get the attached label tape. That is, the use of this attachment 90 has an advantage that the labeler of the present invention can be used as a printer.

It is desirable that the cover 96 of the attachment 90 is provided with an engaging portion 961 and is engaged with the connecting hole 315 of the case 31 as shown in FIG.

<Effect of the Invention> In the apparatus of the present invention, the attitude of the thermal head 45 with respect to the platen roller 51 can be changed by adjusting the connecting screws 423, 423 'as described above.
The heat generating portion of the thermal head 45 can be positioned so as to match the axis L of the thermal head 45. Therefore, the position of the thermal head 45 with respect to the platen roller 51 is properly maintained in cooperation with the one-point supporting means, and the label 81 There is an effect that good printing can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a labeler using the device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway side view showing essential parts of the labeler, and FIG. 4 shows parts of the labeler of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the same, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view showing the printing portion of the same labeler.
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a support frame of the same printing unit, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a support mechanism of the same printing unit, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the back surface of a transfer tape used in the labeler of the present invention. 9th
Fig. 10 is a cutaway front view of the main part of the bottom frame used for the above labeler, showing the label tape guide provided on the bottom frame, and Fig. 10 is the main part of the bottom frame of the same. 11 is a sectional view showing a deformed state of the label tape guide shown in FIG. 9, FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional plan view showing the label tape holder of the labeler, and FIG. 13 is a front view of the same. First
FIG. 14 is a transverse plan view showing the state of the label tape holder when it is deformed, FIG. 15 is a front view of the same, FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing another example of use of the labeler, and FIG. 17 is FIG. FIG. 18 is a side view of the labeler shown in FIG. 18, FIG. 18 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a main part of the labeler of FIG. 16, FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an attachment used in the labeler of FIG. 16, and FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the same attachment. Is. In the figure, 42 is a support frame, 421 is an outer frame, 422 is a support plate, 423 and 423 'are coupling screws, 43 is a spring, 45 is a thermal head, 46 is a bearing mechanism, 461 is a bearing hole portion, 462 is a spindle, and 463 is An annular protrusion as a swing fulcrum, 51 a platen roller, 80 a transfer tape,
81 indicates the label, respectively.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A thermal head driven by an electric circuit,
It has a supporting frame to which the thermal head is attached, a spring for urging the supporting frame toward the platen roller, and a supporting mechanism for supporting the supporting frame, and the rear part of the supporting frame is pivotally supported by the supporting mechanism. As a result, the thermal head is rotatably supported so as to come into contact with and separate from the platen roller, and the supporting mechanism includes a bearing hole formed in the rear portion of the support frame and a support shaft inserted in the hole. , A swing fulcrum provided on either one of the support shaft and the inner wall of the hole, and the swing fulcrum is arranged in the axial direction of the support shaft so that both ends of the support frame can swing. In a labeler thermal head device configured to come into contact with the center, the support frame is configured by a support plate to which the thermal head is attached, and an outer frame that holds the support plate and is provided with the support mechanism. The plate and the outer frame are the platen Spaced apart in the axial direction together provided the Ra, linked by a pair of coupling screws that are engaged at a right angle screw to the axis of the platen roller, to the support frame, the
In order to separate the thermal head from the platen roller, the main frame of the electric circuit is turned off while the supporting frame is moved against the force of the spring, and the thermal head is pressed against the platen roller. , A main switch operation piece that can alternately set the state in which the force of the spring is applied to the support frame and the main switch of the electric circuit is turned on is attached, and each time the thermal head is pressed against the platen roller. The supporting frame swings to secure parallelism with the platen roller, and the supporting plate is moved with respect to the outer frame by the coupling screw, whereby the heat generating portion of the thermal head is aligned with the axis of the platen roller. An electronic labeler thermal head device characterized by being configured so that they can be matched.