JP2001001424A - Device and method for manufacturing label - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the work when labels of different sizes and shapes are to be continuously manufactured and eliminate waste papers. SOLUTION: In the case two kinds of labels, namely first and second labels, of different sizes or shapes are manufactured by using one same recording medium 106 in a label manufacturing method, an end mark 607 displaying the completion of recording of the first labels is recorded on the corresponding position when the last label of the first labels is recorded by a label printer, and then the recording of the second labels is carried out continuously, and the end mark 607 is detected by and end detecting sensor 606 of a die cut section 403, and the last label of the first labels is released. Then the label printer and the die cutter are stopped synchronously for a while, and after a cutter blade 601 is replaced with the cutter corresponding to the second labels, the label printer and the die cutter are started to operate synchronously.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label manufacturing apparatus and a label manufacturing method, and more particularly, to a label manufacturing apparatus and a label manufacturing method capable of manufacturing a plurality of types of labels having different sizes using rolled paper or the like. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the era of high growth, many kinds of products were mass-produced in small varieties. However, in order to meet various tastes and demands of consumers, many kinds of products are produced in small varieties in small quantities. Along with this, in order to manage sales information, it has become necessary to manufacture a large number of labels attached to products in small numbers corresponding to the product types.

For example, conventionally, in order to mass-produce labels, there are cases where a plurality of label manufacturing apparatuses are used to manufacture the same label, and a blade of a die cutter for die-cutting a label in each label manufacturing apparatus is used. The replacement cycle was at most about once a day.

However, in response to the above-mentioned low-volume production of many kinds, the number of labels to be manufactured at one time has been reduced as the number of labels has been increased. Need to be done.

[0005]

Conventionally, conventionally, when two types of labels having different sizes and shapes are manufactured by the same manufacturing apparatus, the printing operation is temporarily stopped when the printing of the first label is completed, and the paper is temporarily stopped. The first label was manufactured by carrying only the die and the die cutting was performed. Then, the roll-shaped paper and the blade of the die cutter were exchanged, and the recording data of the second label was input to adjust the punching position. Later, various operations such as restarting the operation are required.

In addition, a space is required between the first label and the second label, which is longer than the distance between the recording portion and the die-cut portion. Would.

[0007] Therefore, even when a variety of labels are manufactured in small quantities, if similar operations are performed each time labels of different sizes and shapes are manufactured, the time required for the above operations and waste of paper are serious problems. Become.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can simplify the operation of continuously manufacturing labels having different sizes and shapes and eliminate wasteful paper. An object of the present invention is to provide a label manufacturing apparatus and a label manufacturing method.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a label manufacturing apparatus of the present invention uses a long recording medium and a recording means for recording on the long recording medium. Or, a label manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing first and second labels having different shapes, wherein information on the first and second labels is created by selection and input by a user, and the created information is converted into data on recording. Label data generating means, and one of two types of blades corresponding to the first and second labels can be selectively mounted, and the recording medium on which recording has been performed by the recording means is used to remove the blade. Die cutting means for using and die-cutting,
When recording the last label of the first label, the recording means records an end mark indicating the end of recording of the label at a corresponding position, and then continuously records the second label. The die-cutting means has a detecting means for detecting the end mark, the recording means and the die-cutting means have communication means for communicating an operating state, respectively, and the die-cutting means has a detecting means , The end mark is detected, the last label of the first label is die-cut, and then synchronously temporarily stopped, and the operation is restarted synchronously after the user replaces the blade. .

A label manufacturing method according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a label manufacturing method for manufacturing first and second labels having different sizes or shapes using a long recording medium. A label data creating step of creating information on the first and second labels by selection and input of the label, and converting the created information into data on recording, based on the data on recording while transporting the recording medium. A recording step of performing recording with a recording head, and selectively using one of two types of blades corresponding to the first and second labels, and using the recording medium on which recording has been performed in the recording step to form the blade. And a die-cutting step of die-cutting using the method. The recording step includes, when recording the last label of the first label, recording the end of the label. After recording the end mark at the corresponding position, the recording of the second label is continuously performed, and the die cutting step includes a detecting step of detecting the end mark, and the recording step and the die cutting step Operates in a synchronous manner after detecting the end mark in the detecting step of the die cutting step and punching out the last label of the first label, and in synchronism after the user replaces the blade. To resume.

That is, the first of different sizes or shapes
When the second label is manufactured by using the same recording medium and the last label of the first label is recorded by the recording means, an end mark indicating the end of recording of the first label is used. After that, the second label is continuously recorded, the end mark is detected by the die cutter, and the last label of the first label is die-cut. Is synchronized and temporarily stopped, and the user replaces the blade of the die cutter with a blade corresponding to the second label. Then, the recording means and the die cutter are operated in synchronization to manufacture the second label.

In this way, after performing only the work of exchanging the blade of the die cutter, two types of labels are manufactured using the same recording medium by a simple operation of restarting the label printer and the die cutter. be able to.

Accordingly, various operations conventionally required when changing the type of label are simplified to reduce the load on the user and the operation time, and the waste required between the two types of labels is wasted. The recording medium can be used effectively by eliminating the blank portion.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the label manufacturing apparatus of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a label manufacturing apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, a host computer 101 for creating a label image, A label printer 102 for recording a label image on a sheet of paper,
It consists of three devices, die cutter 103, which cuts out each sheet.

The host computer 101 and the label printer 102 are connected by a cable 104, and can transmit and receive data to and from each other. On the other hand, the label printer 102 and the die cutter 103 are connected by a cable 105, and can transmit and receive data to and from each other by serial communication.

The recording medium 106, which is plain continuous paper, is supplied to the label printer 102 in the form of a roll, and a label image including characters and images created by the user via the host computer 101 is transferred to the label printer 102.
Recorded by The recording medium 106 on which the label image is recorded is supplied to the die cutter 103, where die cutting is performed to the designated label size, and the labels are cut out one by one.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining creation of a label image by the host computer 101 of the present embodiment.

The host computer 101 is provided with a keyboard 2 as a means for the user to make various inputs regarding labels.
01, a mouse 202 as a pointing device, a processing unit 220 including a CPU for processing input data to create a label image, various kinds of windows for input, and a label image 20 created.
And a CRT 204 for displaying C.3.

Further, an interface having a function of transmitting recording data corresponding to the label image 203 and various setting items to the label printer 102 and a function of receiving data from the label printer 102 are provided.

The host computer 101 displays several windows as a user interface on the CRT 204.
Can be displayed. In the illustrated example, three windows, ie, a window 203 for displaying a label image, a window 205 for inputting a label size, and a window 211 for specifying the number of recordings are displayed on the screen.

The window 203 includes a keyboard 201
And a rectangle 206, a line 207, a character 208, a barcode 209, image data 210, and the like input and designated by the mouse 202 are displayed in accordance with the size entered in the window 205, and the user checks the label layout. While creating a label image. Each of the above input data can specify a size and an angle.

Also, variable information (not shown) of partial data such as the number of recordings specified by the window 211 and a serial number can be added, and these information are transmitted to the label printer 102 as recording data.

The label image 203 is displayed in full color on the CRT 204, and the processing unit converts the full color image into a recording material (ink) used in the label printer 102.
Is divided into print data for each color of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, and transmitted to the label printer 102.

FIG. 3 shows a label printer 10 according to this embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the structure and operation of No. 2;

The label printer 102 has a transmitting / receiving unit (not shown) for transmitting / receiving data to / from the host computer 101, a transmitting / receiving unit (not shown) for transmitting / receiving data to / from the die cutter 103, and a memory (not shown) for temporarily storing recording data. (Not shown), a paper feed unit 301, a transport unit 302, a recording unit 3
03.

The recording medium 106, which is plain continuous paper supplied to the paper supply unit 301 in the form of a roll, includes a mount and a label, and the label is adhered to the entire mount.

The recording medium 106 is pulled out from the paper feeding unit 301 by the transport unit 302, is transported and supplied into the main body of the label printer 102, and the recording unit 303 located above the transport unit.
Is continuously recorded on the label surface. After the recorded recording medium 106 is discharged from the label printer 102, the recording medium 106 is temporarily slackened between the label printer 102 and the die cutter 103 and sent to the die cutter 103.

The recording unit 303 has four ink jet recording heads for ejecting black, cyan, magenta, and yellow inks, and each recording head is supplied with a corresponding color ink from a corresponding ink tank. .

Each recording head is a so-called full-line type recording head, and has a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink droplets. These nozzles move in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording medium 106. The recording area is arranged so as to cover the entire width.

When the recording medium 106 transported by the transport unit 302 passes through the recording unit 303, each recording head discharges ink based on the recording data for each color, and adds the ink discharged from the four recording heads. The label is recorded in full color by color mixing or the like. When recording labels, a mark used for alignment by the die cutter 103 is also recorded for each label.

The print data is print data for each color transmitted from the host computer 101 and is temporarily stored in a memory inside the label printer 102 until printing is completed.

The label printer 102 includes a die cutter 1
From the transmitting / receiving unit to the die cutter 103, information such as status information on the operation state of the label printer, the size of the recorded label, and the number of labels is transmitted to the die cutter 103. The transmitting and receiving unit also receives status information and the like regarding the operating state of the die cutter transmitted from the die cutter 103.

As will be described in detail later, the label printer 102 and the die cutter 103 transmit and receive status information on the operating state to each other, and perform synchronous control so that only one of them does not operate.

For example, the label printer 102 is capable of recording when the die cutter 103 is in operation or in an operable state, and is capable of recording on the label printer 102 such as when recording data is transmitted from the host computer 101. If they are complete, record.

If the die cutter 103 is not operating or becomes inoperable during the printing operation of the label printer 102, the label printer 102 suspends the printing operation and waits until the die cutter 103 becomes operable. When the die cutter 103 becomes operable, the label printer 102 automatically restarts the recording operation.

FIG. 4 shows a die cutter 103 according to this embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the structure and operation of the device.

The die cutter 103 is a label printer 1
02, a transmission / reception unit (not shown) for transmitting / receiving data to / from the recording medium 1
Adhesive part 4 for adhering 06 and laminating film 401
02, a die cut section 403 for cutting out a label from the recording medium 106, a peeling section 404 for peeling off a label and a waste as an unnecessary portion, a label winding section 405 for winding a peeled label, and a waste winding section 406 for winding a waste. , Operation panel 4 as user interface
07.

The recording medium 106 on which the label is recorded by the label printer 102 is adhered to the laminate film 401 at the adhesive section 402, sent to the die cut section 403, and cut out while leaving the backing paper in the designated size. The recording medium 106 from which the label has been cut out has a peeling unit 404.
Then, the label is separated into a label and unnecessary waste, and is wound by the label winding unit 405 and the waste winding unit 406, respectively.

The transmission / reception unit with the label printer transmits status information and the like on the operation state of the die cutter 103 to the label printer 102. The die cutter 103 receives status information of the label printer 102, information on the size of the label being recorded, the number of recordings, and the like transmitted from the label printer 102, and the die cutter 103 operates according to the information.

When the operation start of the die cutter 103 is instructed via the operation panel 407, the die cutter 103 transmits an operable status to the label printer 102. The label printer 102 starts a printing operation based on the print data sent from the host computer 101, and sends a status of printing to the die cutter 103. The die cutter 103 that has received the recording status starts the die cutting operation.

When an instruction to stop the operation of the die cutter 103 is given via the operation panel 407, or when an abnormality occurs inside the die cutter and the die cutter 103 is stopped in an emergency, the die cutter 103 operates the label printer 102. Send outage status. Upon receiving the operation stop, the label printer 102 interrupts the recording and transmits the status of the conveyance stop. The die cutter 103 that has received the conveyance stop stops the operation. In this way,
The label printer 102 and the die cutter 103 operate in synchronization.

FIG. 5 shows the bonding portion 40 of the die cutter 103.
2 is a diagram for explaining the operation in FIG.

The bonding section 402 includes the recording medium 106 recorded by the label printer 102 and the laminate film 401 supplied in a roll form and protecting the recording surface of the label.
It is passed between two pressure rollers 501, and at this time, both are pressed and compressed by applying an appropriate pressure. The two pressure rollers are attached so that the interval between them can be changed according to the thickness and material of the recording medium 106 and the laminate film 401.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the die cutting section 403 of the die cutter 103.

The die cutting section 403 includes a cutter blade 601.
Roll 602, anvil roll 603, and mark 605 recorded on recording medium 106
And a transport device (not shown) for transporting the recording medium 106.

Here, the cutter blade 601 is detachably attached to the die cut roll 602, and can be exchanged appropriately according to the type of label. It is configured.

The die cut section 403 detects the mark 60 added for each label on the recording medium 106 by the sensor 604.
5 is detected, the die cut roll 602 and the anvil roll 603 are rotated to convey the recording medium 106, and the laminate film 401 on the recording medium 106 and the recording medium 1
06 and a label portion other than the mount paper are cut into a predetermined shape by a cutter blade 601.

When the sensor 604 detects the mark 605 recorded for each label, the die cutting unit 403 is controlled in timing so that the cutter blade 601 performs die cutting of the label. The sensor 604 detects this mark 605 for each label, and can prevent a deviation between a label recording position and a position where die cutting is performed.

Further, by comparing the label size transmitted from the label printer 102 with the detection timing of the mark 605 recorded for each label, it is possible to detect the conveyance abnormality of the recording medium 106.

Further, in this embodiment, the same recording medium 1 is used.
06, different types of label images can be recorded. In this case, in order to indicate that a label image of a different type is recorded, the mark 60 on the recording medium 106 is displayed.
The end mark 607 is recorded by the label printer 102 on the opposite side in the width direction of the recording position of No. 5, and when the end detection sensor 606 detects this end mark 607, the rotation of the die cut roll 602 is stopped. By exchanging the cutter blade 601, die cutting can be performed in accordance with a new label image.

Also, instead of providing a dedicated end detection sensor 606 for detecting the end mark 607 as shown in FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. 13, a fixed interval is set between the mark 607 using the end mark 1301 as the die cut timing. Label printer 1 so that it is arranged continuously
02, and when the mark 607 and the end mark 1301 are detected at a predetermined timing by the sensor 604, the end data of the same label may be recognized. In this case, the same effect can be obtained without providing the dedicated end detection sensor 606.

The end detection sensor 606 and the sensor 604 correspond to the mark 605 recorded on the recording medium 106.
And the end mark 607 is preferably detected in a non-contact manner, and is constituted by an optical sensor or the like using reflected light.

FIG. 7 shows the separation section 40 of the die cutter 103.
4 is a diagram for explaining the operation in FIG.

The recording medium 106 die-cut by the die-cutting section 403 is sent to the peeling section 404 and peeled off as a label as a product and the remaining unnecessary waste. It is wound into a roll by the take-up section 406.

FIG. 8 shows a recording medium 10 according to this embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a change in state until the label No. 6 is manufactured.

FIG. 8A shows a state before processing in which the sheet is supplied to the sheet feeding unit 301 of the label printer 102 in a roll form, and the recording medium 106 is plain continuous paper.

FIG. 8B shows a state after recording is performed by the recording unit 303 of the label printer 102. The mark 605 used as the die cut timing is continuously recorded on the recording medium 106 together with the label. Have been.

FIG. 8C shows a state after die cutting is performed by the die cutting section 403 of the die cutter 103, and each label portion of the recording medium 106 is cut out.

FIG. 8D shows a state where the waste is separated from the waste at the peeling section 404 of the die cutter 103 and is obtained as a final product. Has been removed from.

Hereinafter, a process for producing labels having different sizes or shapes will be described by comparing a conventional label producing apparatus with the present embodiment.

First, referring to FIG. 9, the processing in the host computer 101, label printer 102, and die cutter 103 in the conventional label manufacturing apparatus will be described. Here, a description will be given assuming a label manufacturing apparatus having a configuration similar to that shown in FIG. 1 and capable of communicating data and status between the apparatuses.

First, data indicated by reference numeral 901 in the figure, that is, the label size, the number of prints, and the print data are transmitted to the label printer 102 as information relating to the first label A created and designated by the user in the host computer 101. You.

When the label printer 102 receives the data 901 from the host computer 101 when the label printer 102 is activated and operable, it is in a recordable state, and the label printer status (recording) 902 shown in FIG. Possible).

After being activated, the die cutter 103 sends a label printer status 90 from the label printer 102.
2 is received, and when the user instructs the operation on the operation panel 407, the die cutter status 903 indicating the operability is transmitted to the label printer 102.

The label printer 102 includes a die cutter 1
Upon receiving the die cutter status 903 transmitted from the printer 03, the printing operation of the first label A is started, and the label printer status 904 indicating that printing is in progress is transmitted to the die cutter 103. When the die cutter 103 receives the label printer status 904, the die cutter 103
Each time the mark 605 recorded in No. 6 is detected, the die cutting of the label A is performed.

When the label printer 102 records the specified number of labels A, the label printer 102 sends a label printer status 905 indicating the end of recording to the die cutter 103 and stops. Upon receiving this, the die cutter 103 temporarily suspends the operation, and the user instructs the operation panel to restart the die cutting for the remaining portion of the label A.

At this time, the die cutter 103 transmits a transport instruction 906 so as to cause the label printer 102 to perform only the transport process without performing the recording operation. The status 907 is transmitted to the die cutter 103, and the recording paper is conveyed.

The die cutter 103 performs die cutting on the remaining portion of the label A recorded on the recording medium conveyed in this manner. If the mark for detecting die cut timing cannot be detected within a predetermined time, the die cutter 103 It is determined that the die cutting has been completed, the operation is completed, and an operation stop instruction 908 is transmitted to the label printer 102. In response to the operation stop instruction 908, the label printer 102 stops, and when the die cutter 103 receives the label printer status 909 indicating the stop, the first label A
Production is completed.

Thereafter, the user replaces the cutter blade of the die cutter 103 with the next label B. Then, the size, the number of prints, and the print data 910 of the second label B are created and designated from the host computer 102 and transmitted to the label printer 102. Also, here the user
The user instructs the die cutter 103 to operate via the operation panel, and the die cutter 103 displays a die cutter status 911 indicating that the die cutter 103 is operable.
02 to start the operation.

Upon receiving the die cutter status 911, the label printer 102 starts the recording operation of the second label B, and transmits a label printer status 912 indicating that recording is in progress to the die cutter 103. Die cutter 1
In step 03, the label B is die-cut by detecting the detection mark of the label B.

Here, the description has been made assuming that the label printer 102 and the die cutter 103 communicate status information with each other. However, in a label manufacturing apparatus having no such communication function, the processing after the final data recording is performed. The user performs the die cutting process manually, such as cutting the recording medium while leaving the length that can transport the final label data to the position where the die can be cut after the last label, and operating the die cutter with a manual handle or the like. ing.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state of the recording medium 106 when a conventional label manufacturing apparatus is used.
10A shows a state after the last label of the first label A is recorded by the label printer 102, and FIG. 10B shows a state after the last label A is die-cut by the die cutter 103, respectively. I have.

FIG. 10C shows a state after the start portion of the second label B has been recorded by the label printer 102.
FIG. 10D shows the start portion of the second label B after the die cutter 103 performs the die cutting process.

FIG. 10 (e) shows a recording medium 10 which is a product in which the residue has been peeled off by the peeling portion of the die cutter 103.
6, there is a considerable space between the manufactured first label A and the manufactured second label B, and this portion of the recording medium is wasted. This interval is required to be equal to or greater than the distance between the recording portion of the label printer 102 and the die cut portion of the die cutter 103 plus the slack portion of the recording medium.

As described above, in the conventional label manufacturing apparatus,
When labels having different sizes and shapes are manufactured, a considerable space is required between recording media, which causes a problem that the recording media is wasted.

Further, as described with reference to FIG. 9, when manufacturing labels having different sizes and shapes, in addition to replacing the cutter blade, the user must perform a great deal of work on each device. In addition, there is a problem that correct manufacturing cannot be performed unless the operation sequence is adhered to.

Next, processing for manufacturing labels having different sizes or shapes in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. Also in the present embodiment, communication of recording data, status information, and the like is performed between the devices, and the devices can operate in synchronization. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the end mark 607 and the end detection sensor 606 can detect the recorded position of different labels, and use this to eliminate unnecessary blank portions between different labels. It is.

First, data indicated by reference numeral 1101 in the figure as information on the first label A created and designated by the user in the host computer 101, that is, the label size, the number of prints, and the print data are transmitted to the label printer 102. You.

When the label printer 102 receives data 1101 from the host computer 101 while being activated and operable, the label printer 102 enters a recordable state.
A label printer status (recordable) indicated by 1102 in the figure is transmitted to the die cutter 103.

After the die cutter 103 is activated, the label printer 102 sends the label printer status 11
02 is received, and when the user instructs the operation on the operation panel 407, the die cutter status 1103 indicating that the operation is possible is transmitted to the label printer 102.

The label printer 102 has a die cutter 1
Upon receiving the die cutter status 1103 transmitted from the printer 03, the printing operation of the first label A is started, and the label printer status 1104 indicating that printing is in progress is transmitted to the die cutter 103. Upon receiving the label printer status 1104, the die cutter 103 performs die cutting of the label A every time the mark 605 recorded on the recording medium 106 is detected. The above operation is the same as that of the conventional label manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG.

The user creates and instructs the data indicated by reference numeral 1105 in the figure as information relating to the second label B, that is, the label size, the number of prints, and the print data by the host computer 101, and transmits the information to the label printer 102. This timing may be any time after the transmission 1101 of the information on the first label A, while the label printer 102 is recording the label A.

The label printer 102 has the first label A
When the final data is recorded, an end mark 607 is added and recorded. After that, without stopping the recording operation,
The data of the second label B is recorded. Thus the first
Between the label A and the second label B, there is no blank space that only records the end mark 607.

The data of the end mark 607 may be created by either the host computer 101 or the label printer 102. Even if the host computer 101 transmits image data to the label printer 102, the host computer 101 An end mark addition instruction may be transmitted to automatically generate and record the end mark 607 on the label printer 102 side.

The die cutter 103 is a label printer 1
When the end detection sensor 606 detects the end mark 607 indicating the end of the first label A recorded by the second data 02, the end data is recognized as the end data of the label A. The cutter 103 stops operating and transmits a die cutter status 1106 indicating stop to the label printer 102.
Upon receiving this, the label printer 102 immediately stops the recording operation, transmits the label printer status 1107, and waits for the die cutter 103 to become operable.

In this state, the user replaces the cutter blade, and when the replacement is completed, the operation panel 40 is replaced.
7, the operation start of the die cutter 103 is instructed. As a result, the die cutter 103 transmits a die cutter status 1108 indicating that the label printer 102 is operable to the label printer 102, and upon receiving this, the label printer resumes the suspended recording operation of the label B, and the label printer status indicating that recording is in progress. 1109 is transmitted to the die cutter 103. Upon receiving the label printer status 1109, the die cutter 103 performs die cutting of the label B every time the mark 605 recorded on the recording medium 106 is detected.

FIG. 12 shows a recording medium 1 according to this embodiment.
FIG. 12A illustrates a state after the label printer 102 records the first part of the last label A and the first part of the label B. FIG. In the last label of the label A, a mark 605 used as a die cut timing and an end mark 607 indicating the last data of the label A are recorded.

FIG. 12B shows the state of the corresponding recording medium 106 after the die cutting process has been performed by the die cutter 103, and FIG. 12C shows the state in which the residue has been peeled off and the product has been completed. I have. There is no useless blank space between the label A and the label B.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when labels having different sizes and shapes are manufactured, an end mark is added to a portion corresponding to the last one of the first labels, and the first label is recorded. Is subsequently recorded on the same recording medium. When the die cutting process for the last sheet is completed, the die cutter and the label printer are stopped, and only the blade cutter blade replacement work is performed, and then the label printer and the die cutter are restarted. In addition, two types of labels can be manufactured using the same recording medium.

As a result, various operations conventionally required when changing the type of label are simplified to reduce the load on the user and the operation time, and the waste required between the two types of labels is reduced. It is possible to effectively use the recording medium by eliminating a blank portion.

In the above-described embodiment,
Although the case where two types of labels are manufactured has been described as an example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that three or more types of labels can be manufactured in the above-described embodiment.

The above-described embodiment is particularly provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink even in an ink jet recording system. By using a method in which a change in the state of the ink is caused by energy, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical structure and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding the film boiling to the electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path holding the Since thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer and film boiling occurs on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed. It is valid.

By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening by the growth and shrinkage of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

The configuration of the recording head is not limited to the combination of a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications. A configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting surface is arranged in a bent region, is also included in the present invention. In addition, for multiple electrothermal transducers,
JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which a common slot is used as a discharge part of an electrothermal transducer, and JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy corresponds to a discharge part. A configuration based on 138461 may be adopted.

Further, as a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording section, the length is determined by combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification. This may be either a configuration satisfying the above requirements or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally.

In addition to the cartridge type recording head in which the ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself described in the above embodiment, the recording head is electrically connected to the apparatus main body by being mounted on the apparatus main body. A replaceable chip-type recording head, which can make an appropriate connection and supply ink from the apparatus main body, may be used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the print head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like to the configuration of the printing section described above, since the printing operation can be further stabilized. Specific examples thereof include capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, preheating means using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof. It is also effective to provide a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection that is different from printing, in order to perform stable printing.

In the embodiments described above, the description is made on the assumption that the ink is a liquid. However, even if the ink solidifies at room temperature or lower, it is possible to use an ink that softens or liquefies at room temperature. Or, in the ink jet method, it is common to control the temperature of the ink itself in a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range.
It is sufficient that the ink is in a liquid state when the use recording signal is applied.

In addition, in order to positively prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy as energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, the temperature is positively prevented.
Alternatively, in order to prevent evaporation of the ink, an ink which solidifies in a standing state and liquefies by heating may be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start to solidify when reaching the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used.

In such a case, the ink is disclosed in JP-A-54-5
No. 6,847, or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-71260, in which the porous sheet is opposed to the electrothermal converter while being held as a liquid or solid substance in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. It may be. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (a computer) of the system or the apparatus. It is needless to say that the present invention can also be achieved by a CPU or an MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. By executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where some or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the CPU included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the above-described communication procedure (shown in FIG. 11).

[0108]

As described above, according to the present invention,
After only replacing the blade of the die cutter, the label printer and the die cutter can be restarted to produce two types of labels using the same recording medium with a simple operation. Various operations required for changing the type are simplified to reduce the load on the user and the operation time, and the recording medium is eliminated by eliminating a wasteful space between the two types of labels. There is an effect that it can be used effectively.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an entire configuration of an embodiment of a label manufacturing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining processing in the host computer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the configuration and operation of the label printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the configuration and operation of the die cutter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the configuration and operation of the bonding section in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the configuration and operation of a die cut unit in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the configuration and operation of a peeling unit in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state of each unit of the recording medium.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a process for manufacturing two types of labels in a conventional label manufacturing apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state of a recording medium when two types of labels are manufactured by a conventional label manufacturing apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a process when two types of labels are manufactured in the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a state of a recording medium when two types of labels are manufactured in the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a modification of the end mark and its detection sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 host computer 102 label printer 103 die cutter 104 cable 105 cable 201 keyboard 202 mouse 203 label image 204 CRT 205 label size input 206 rectangle 207 line 208 character 209 barcode 210 image data 211 print number designation 301 feeder 302 transporter 303 Recording unit 401 Laminated film 402 Adhesive unit 403 Die cut unit 404 Peeling unit 405 Label winding unit 406 Scrap winding unit 407 Operation panel 501 Pressure roller 601 Cutter blade 602 Die cut roll 603 Anvil roll 604 Sensor 605 Mark 606 End detection sensor 607, 1301 End mark

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06K 19/06 G06K 19/00 A (72) Inventor Tadashi Saito 5540-11 Sakate-cho, Mizukaido-shi, Ibaraki CANON APP Within TEX Corporation (72) Inventor Moritaku Inaba 5540-11 Sakate-cho, Mizukaido-shi, Ibaraki F-term in Canon Aptex Co., Ltd. (reference) 2C056 EB13 EB29 FB01 2C058 AB12 GA15 GB36 LB07 2C087 AA07 AC07 3E075 AA15 BA83 CA02 DA04 DA14 DB02 DB16 DB32 DE23 FA04 FA15 FA19 GA02 5B035 BA03 BB01 BB11 BC00

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A label manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing first and second labels having different sizes or shapes using a long recording medium and recording means for performing recording on the long recording medium. A label data creating means for creating information on the first and second labels by a user's selection and input, and converting the created information into data on recording; and a label data creating means corresponding to the first and second labels. Die cutting means capable of selectively mounting one of the types of blades, and die-cutting the recording medium on which recording has been performed by the recording means using the blades. When recording the last label of the first label, after recording an end mark indicating the end of recording of the label at a corresponding position, the recording of the second label is continuously performed, and the die cut is performed. The stage has detecting means for detecting the end mark, the recording means and the die cutting means each have communication means for communicating an operation state, and the die cutting means is configured to detect the end by the detecting means. The method is characterized in that a mark is detected and the last label of the first label is die-cut and then paused synchronously, and the operation is synchronously resumed after the user replaces the blade. Label manufacturing equipment. 2. The label manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording data of the end mark is generated by the label data generating unit. 3. The label manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording data of the end mark is generated by the recording unit based on data relating to the recording. 4. The label manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects the end mark in a non-contact manner. 5. The label manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the detection unit optically detects the end mark. 6. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium includes a backing sheet and a sheet adhered to the backing sheet and on which the recording is performed, and the die cutting means performs the die cutting while leaving the backing sheet. 6. The label manufacturing apparatus according to any one of 5. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said die cutting means includes an adhesive means for adhering a film on a recording surface of said recording medium before said die cutting is performed. The label manufacturing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the die cutting means includes a separating means for separating the cut recording medium into a label and an unnecessary portion. Label manufacturing equipment. 9. The label manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the label data creating unit is a computer having a keyboard and a display unit. 10. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit has a plurality of recording heads, and each recording head performs full-color recording using recording materials of different colors. 2. The label manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1. 11. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit includes a full-line type recording head having a recording area corresponding to a width of a recording area of the recording medium. A label manufacturing apparatus according to the item. 12. The label manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit has an ink jet recording head that performs recording by discharging ink. 13. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head ejects ink using thermal energy, and includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy applied to the ink. Item 13. The label manufacturing apparatus according to Item 12. 14. A label manufacturing method for manufacturing first and second labels having different sizes or shapes using a long recording medium, wherein the first and second labels are selected and input by a user. A label data creating step of creating information on the recording medium and converting the created information into data on the recording; a recording step of performing recording by a recording head based on the data on the recording while transporting the recording medium; And a die cutting step of selectively using one of two types of blades corresponding to the second label, and die-cutting the recording medium on which recording has been performed in the recording step using the blade. The recording step, when recording the last label of the first label, after recording an end mark indicating the end of recording of the label at a corresponding position, The recording of the second label is performed continuously, and the die cutting step includes a detecting step of detecting the end mark. The recording step and the die cutting step are performed by the detecting step of the die cutting step. A label manufacturing method, characterized in that a mark is detected, the last label of the first label is die-cut, synchronously temporarily stopped after the last label is removed, and operation is restarted synchronously after the user replaces the blade. 15. The label manufacturing method according to claim 14, wherein the recording data of the end mark is generated by the label data generating step. 16. The label manufacturing method according to claim 14, wherein the recording data of the end mark is generated in the recording step based on data relating to the recording. 17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the detecting step detects the end mark in a non-contact manner.
The label manufacturing method according to any one of the above. 18. The label manufacturing method according to claim 17, wherein the detecting step optically detects the end mark. 19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the die cutting step includes a bonding step of bonding a film on a recording surface of the recording medium before performing the die cutting. The label manufacturing method according to the paragraph. 20. The label according to claim 14, wherein the die cutting step includes a separation step of separating the die-cut recording medium into a label and an unnecessary portion. Production method.