LABELING APPARATUS AND DISCHARGE PORTION AND GRIPPING PORTION THEREOF

A labeling apparatus includes: a housing; a printing portion provided in the housing and configured to print on a plurality of labels of a label sheet being provided with an adhesive layer; a peeling portion provided in the housing and configured to peel the label printed by the printing portion from the elongated mount; a discharge portion provided in the housing and having a discharge port for discharging the label peeled by the peeling portion, the discharge port being arranged at an end portion that is away from the housing; and a gripping portion provided on a side of the housing different from the discharge portion and configured to allow a user to grip with one hand, wherein the discharge portion includes a holder configured to hold the label peeled by the peeling portion before the label is discharged from the discharge port.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-136907 filed on Aug. 30, 2022. The entire content of the priority application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND ART

The present disclosure relates to a labeling apparatus and a discharge portion and a gripping portion thereof.

An electronic hand labeler is known in which a user grips and operates a grip and sticks a label printed by a thermal head to a sticking target surface. For example, in the related-art electronic hand labeler, i.e., one example of a labeling apparatus, the label printed by the thermal head is peeled from a mount by a turning pin, is discharged from a label issuing port while being placed on an auxiliary peeling pin, and is fed below a sticking roller. The user holds the grip to place the label on the sticking target surface, pulls the hand labeler toward the user, and presses the label against the sticking target surface with the sticking roller, thereby sticking the label to the sticking target surface.

DESCRIPTION

In a case where a label longer than the related art is stuck to the sticking target surface, when the label is placed on the auxiliary peeling pin in a state of being peeled, a leading end side (downstream side in a conveyance direction) of the label is suspended downward, and it is difficult to stick the label. In addition, in the related-art electronic hand labeler, since a discharge direction of the label is different from a direction in which the label is peeled from the mount, it is difficult to pull out the label at the time of sticking when the label is placed on the auxiliary peeling pin in a state where a part of the label is not peeled.

The present disclosure is to provide a labeling apparatus capable of holding a label before sticking in a state of being peeled from a mount and accurately sticking the label to a sticking target surface, and a discharge portion and a gripping portion thereof.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a labeling apparatus including: a housing; a printing portion provided in the housing and configured to print on a plurality of labels of a label sheet being provided with an adhesive layer; a peeling portion provided in the housing and configured to peel the label printed by the printing portion from the elongated mount; a discharge portion provided in the housing and having a discharge port for discharging the label peeled by the peeling portion, the discharge port being arranged at an end portion that is away from the housing; and a gripping portion provided on a side of the housing different from the discharge portion and configured to allow a user to grip with one hand, wherein the discharge portion includes a holder configured to hold the label peeled by the peeling portion before the label is discharged from the discharge port.

The holder can hold the label before being stuck to the sticking target surface in a state of being peeled from the mount before the label is discharged from the discharge port. After positioning and sticking an end portion on a downstream side of the label in a discharge direction to the sticking target surface, the user can easily discharge the label from the discharge portion and stick the label to the sticking target surface simply by moving the housing. Since a force applied when the label is peeled from the mount does not act on the label in the sticking of the label, the user can accurately stick the label to the sticking target surface.

The holder of the first aspect may hold the label peeled by the peeling portion in a state in which the end portion on the downstream side of the label in the discharge direction, which is a direction in which the label is conveyed in the discharge portion, protrudes downstream of the discharge port. By causing the end portion on the downstream side of the label in the discharge direction to protrude from the discharge port, the user can easily position the end portion of the label on the sticking target surface while viewing a position of the end portion of the label, and thus the user can accurately stick the label on the sticking target surface.

The holder of the first aspect may include a rotation body that is brought into contact with an adhesive surface on which the adhesive layer of the label is formed. The rotation body is in contact with the adhesive layer of the label, supports the label in the holder, and can feed the label in the discharge direction by rotation. The rotation body is only in contact with the adhesive layer, and it is difficult to apply a load to movement of the label by feeding the label in the discharge direction while rotating. Therefore, the user can accurately stick the label to the sticking target surface.

A plurality of rotation bodies of the first aspect are provided, and the plurality of rotation bodies are disposed side by side along the discharge direction. Since the plurality of rotation bodies are disposed side by side along the discharge direction, the label is less likely to be conveyed while being inclined at the time of sticking. Therefore, the user can accurately stick the label to the sticking target surface.

The rotation body of the first aspect may hold a plurality of spurs in each of which tooth tips protruding in a needle shape are radially formed along an outer periphery of a shaft body extending in a width direction orthogonal to the discharge direction. Since the rotation body holds the plurality of spurs in the same shaft, the label is less likely to be conveyed while being inclined at the time of sticking. Therefore, the user can accurately stick the label to the sticking target surface.

The spur of the first aspect may be fixed to the shaft body. Since the spur is fixed to the shaft body and does not idle, the rotation body can prevent the label from being wound around the rotation body. Further, since rotation amounts of the plurality of spurs are aligned, the rotation body can convey the label straight in the discharge direction, and it is possible to more reliably prevent the label from being obliquely inclined at the time of sticking.

The discharge portion of the first aspect may have a main body portion disposed on a sticking target surface side with respect to a conveyance path of the label along the discharge direction when the label is stuck and holding the rotation body, and a cover portion disposed on a side opposite to the sticking target surface and covering the conveyance path by being assembled to the main body portion, and the cover portion may have a window portion through which the label held by the holder is visible. The user can stick the label to the sticking target surface while confirming a size and an orientation of the label by visually observing the label held by the holder through the window portion. Therefore, the user can accurately stick the label to the sticking target surface.

The cover portion of the first aspect may be detachably attached to the main body portion. When jamming occurs in the holder, the user can easily perform jam processing by detaching the cover portion from the main body portion. In addition, the user can easily perform maintenance of the rotation body. Therefore, the user can maintain a state in which the holder is normally operated, and thus the user can accurately stick the label to the sticking target surface at the time of sticking.

The peeling portion of the first aspect includes a peeling body peeling the label from the mount and a pulling portion disposed downstream of the peeling body in the conveyance path and pulling the mount from which the label is peeled off, and the label peeled from the mount in the peeling body may be fed to the discharge portion by a pulling force by which the pulling portion pulls the mount. Therefore, the labeling apparatus does not require power for conveying the label peeled from the mount to the discharge portion and can reduce the number of components and the production cost.

The discharge direction of the discharge portion of the first aspect may be the same as a peeling direction which is a direction in which the label sheet is conveyed immediately before the label is peeled from the mount in the peeling portion. When being peeled from the label sheet, the label is pushed out in the peeling direction of the label sheet. In the discharge portion, the label is conveyed in the discharge direction, which is the same as the peeling direction, and is held by the holder. That is, the label is conveyed in the same direction from peeling to holding. Therefore, a load is less likely to be applied to the label during conveyance of the label, and oblique feeding and the like during the conveyance can be prevented.

The discharge portion of the first aspect may include an intake port taking in the label peeled by the peeling portion and guiding the label to the holder, a guide path guiding the mount peeled by the peeling portion to the outside of the housing, and a cutting portion provided in the guide path and cutting the mount. The labeling apparatus can cut the peeled mount by the cutting portion. The cutting portion can be disposed at a position closer to the peeling portion by providing the cutting portion in the discharge portion, and thus the sticking of the label can be prevented from being hindered by an uncut mount.

The labeling apparatus of the first aspect may include a driver driving the rotation body of the holder, and a detector provided on a downstream side in the peeling direction with respect to the peeling body of the peeling portion and detecting an end portion on an upstream side of the label which is peeled from the mount in the peeling direction. When a length of the label in the discharge direction is shorter than a length of the holder, the end portion on the downstream side of the label in the discharge direction cannot be protruded from the discharge port only by the pulling force when peeling the label from the label sheet. By detecting a position of the end portion on the upstream side of the label in the peeling direction by the detector and driving the rotation body of the holder according to a detection result, even an end portion on the downstream side of a short label in the discharge direction can be reliably protruded from the discharge port. Therefore, the labeling apparatus can be used even for labels having different lengths in the discharge direction.

The housing of the first aspect may include a housing discharge port disposed to face the intake port of the discharge portion and discharging the label peeled by the peeling portion from the housing, and the discharge portion may be detachably attached to the housing. The discharge portion is attachable and detachable to the housing. Therefore, the user can easily perform maintenance of the housing and the discharge portion by removing the discharge portion.

The gripping portion of the first aspect may be detachably attached to the housing. The gripping portion is attachable and detachable to the housing. Therefore, the user can easily perform maintenance of the housing and the gripping portion by removing the gripping portion.

A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a discharge portion of a labeling apparatus. The labeling apparatus includes a housing, a printing portion printing on a plurality of labels of a label sheet in which the plurality of labels are stuck on an elongated mount, the label being provided with an adhesive layer, a peeling portion peeling the label printed by the printing portion from the mount, a housing discharge port discharging the label peeled by the peeling portion from the housing, and a gripping portion provided on a side different from the housing discharge port in the housing and capable of gripping the housing with one hand. The discharge portion is provided on a side different from the gripping portion in the housing of the labeling apparatus. The discharge portion includes an intake port taking in the label discharged from the housing discharge port, a discharge port provided at an end portion on a side away from the housing and discharging the label taken in from the intake port, and a holder holding the label before the label is discharged from the discharge port. The discharge portion is detachably attached to the housing. Therefore, the second aspect has the same effect as the first aspect.

A labeling apparatus1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, a lower right side, an upper left side, an upper right side, a lower left side, an upper side, and a lower side inFIG.1are respectively defined as a right side, a left side, a rear side, a front side, an upper side, and a lower side of the labeling apparatus1. The labeling apparatus1is an apparatus in which a discharge portion50and a gripping portion80are attached to a printing portion10. The printing portion10is a printing device capable of printing on a label8stuck to a mount7. The printing portion10can print characters such as letters and figures on the label8. The discharge portion50is a portion that receives the label8that is printed and peeled from the mount7from the printing portion10and holds an edge portion on a downstream side in a conveyance direction in a state of being exposed from the discharge port62. The gripping portion80is a portion having a handle for a user to hold the labeling apparatus1with one hand. As shown inFIG.5, the discharge portion50is detachably attached to an upper surface side of the printing portion10with screws51. The gripping portion80is detachably attached to a lower surface side of the printing portion10with screws81.

Next, the printing portion10of the labeling apparatus1will be described with reference toFIGS.1to3. As shown inFIGS.1and2, the printing portion10includes a box-shaped housing11. The housing11is formed of a main body case12and a cover13. The main body case12has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box shape. The main body case12includes a bottom portion12A and a front cover portion12B. The bottom portion12A covers an inner region of the printing portion10from the lower side. The front cover portion12B covers a front side substantial half of the inner region of the printing portion10from the upper side. An operating portion5and a display5are provided on a front surface of the main body case12. The operating portion5is used to input various instructions to the printing portion10. The display5displays various kinds of information. As shown inFIG.3, an attachment portion24is provided on a rear side substantial half portion of the bottom portion12A. A roll M is attached to the attachment portion24. The roll M has a roll shape in which a label sheet9is wound around a tubular core material. The label sheet9is a sheet in which a plurality of labels8are stuck to the elongated sheet-shaped mount7. Holders (not shown) are attached to both ends of the core material. Since the holders are attached to the attachment portion24, the roll M is rotatably supported within the attachment portion24.

As shown inFIGS.1and2, the main body case12includes an opening20formed by an upper end portion of the rear side substantial half of the bottom portion12A and a rear end portion of the front cover portion12B. An upper side of the attachment portion24(seeFIG.3) is opened by the opening20. The opening20can be opened and closed by the cover13. The cover13is rotatably supported by a rear end portion of the bottom portion12A of the main body case12. The cover13can swing around the rear end portion between a closed state and an open state. The cover13covers the attachment portion24from the upper side in the closed state and opens the attachment portion24in the open state. The cover13ofFIG.1is in the closed state.

As shown inFIG.4, a label discharge port14is formed a rear end portion12E of the front cover portion12B of the main body case12and a front end portion13E of the cover13. As shown inFIG.1, the label discharge port14extends in a left-right direction. The label discharge port14discharges the label8printed by a thermal head17(seeFIG.3) inside the printing portion10to the outside of the housing11. A mount discharge port22is formed behind the label discharge port14. The mount discharge port22discharges the mount7from which the label8is peeled to the outside of the housing11. The mount discharge port22is formed in a portion of an upper surface of the cover13where an intermediate portion in the left-right direction of the front end portion13E is cut out rearward. A guide wall22A for guiding the mount7to the mount discharge port22is provided behind the thermal head17. The guide wall22A partitions the mount discharge port22and the attachment portion24in the housing11(seeFIG.3).

A platen roller15is provided in the vicinity of the front end portion13E of a lower surface of the cover13. The platen roller15has a cylindrical shape and is rotatably supported about an axis extending in the left-right direction. A drive motor (not shown) is connected to the platen roller15via a plurality of gears (not shown).

The thermal head17is provided in front of the platen roller15when the cover13is closed. The thermal head17includes a plurality of heating elements (not shown) and prints characters on the label8by heating the label8. The thermal head17extends in the left-right direction. A heatsink18is disposed on the front side of the thermal head17. The heatsink18dissipates heat from the thermal head17. A rear end portion of a spring19is connected to the front side of the heatsink18. A front end portion of the spring19is held within the front cover portion12B of the main body case12. The heatsink18and the thermal head17are biased to the rear side by an elastic force of the spring19. When the cover13is closed, the platen roller15is brought into contact with the thermal head17from the rear side. A position at which the platen roller15and the thermal head17are in contact with each other is referred to as a “printing position P”. The thermal head17forms an image on the label8at the printing position P by generating heat while the label sheet9is sandwiched between the thermal head17and the platen roller15.

As shown inFIGS.3and4, the label sheet9is fed out from the vicinity of a lower end portion of the roll M in a state of being accommodated in the attachment portion24of the housing11. A conveyance path T1of the label sheet9fed out from the roll M extends obliquely upward and forward and from the vicinity of the lower end portion of the roll M. The conveyance path T1is further bent upward at the vicinity of the rear side of the thermal head17and extends upward through the printing position P. The platen roller15is in contact with the conveyance path T1at the printing position P. Further, the conveyance path T1is slightly bent rearward and extends obliquely upward and rearward toward the label discharge port14. When the label sheet9is conveyed along the conveyance path T1, the label8is disposed on the front side of the mount7. A surface of the label8to which an adhesive adheres is referred to as an “adhesive surface”. The adhesive surface of the label8is disposed on a back surface side in the conveyance path T1.

A peeler21is provided obliquely upward and forward of the platen roller15when the cover13is closed. The peeler21has a rod shape extending in the left-right direction, has a curved surface bent at an acute angle toward a leading end side facing obliquely upward and forward, and is disposed parallel to the platen roller15. The conveyance path T1is a path along which the label sheet9fed out from the roll M passes through the printing position P and moves upward until the label sheet9comes into contact with a leading end portion of the peeler21that peels the label8from the mount7. The mount7, on which the label8is peeled by the peeler21, is folded obliquely downward and rearward and heads toward a conveyance path T2. The conveyance path T2is a path along which the mount7, on which the label8is peeled by the peeler21, heads toward the mount discharge port22. The label8is fed to an upper conveyance path T3. The conveyance path T3is a path along which the label8peeled by the peeler21heads toward the label discharge port14. A position at which the peeler21is brought into contact with the conveyance path T1of the label sheet9is referred to as a “peeling position Q”. The label8is peeled from the mount7at the peeling position Q.

A label guide member16is disposed above the platen roller15. The label guide member16is provided in the discharge portion50, which will be described later. The label guide member16includes a peeling roller16A, a guide roller16B, a guide rib16C, and a guide arm16D. The peeling roller16A is disposed above the platen roller15and behind the peeler21when the cover13is closed. The peeling roller16A has a cylindrical shape rotatable about an axis extending in the left-right direction. The peeling roller16A sandwiches the mount7, from which the label8is peeled by the peeler21, between the peeling roller16A and the platen roller15and conveys the mount7along the conveyance path T2toward the mount discharge port22. Both ends of the peeling roller16A are supported by the guide arm16D. A pair of guide arms16D are provided, extend forward, and are swingably supported by a base portion52of the discharge portion50, which will be described later.

The guide rib16C is disposed in front of the peeling roller16A and above the platen roller15when the cover13is closed. A plurality of guide ribs16C are disposed in the left-right direction and have a rib shape extending in an up-down direction. Both ends of the guide rib16C in the left-right direction are fixed to the guide arm16D. The guide roller16B is disposed at an upper end portion of the guide rib16C and near a central portion of the guide rib16C in the left-right direction. The guide roller16B is a two-wheel spur in which blade edges protruding in a needle shape are radially formed along an outer periphery, and rotates in the left-right direction in an axial direction. The guide rib16C and the guide roller16B guide the label8along the conveyance path T3to the label discharge port14while preventing the adhesive surface of the label8after being peeled by the peeler21from being rounded inward due to curling tendency of the roll M. The conveyance path T3is substantially in the same direction as a path through which the label sheet9passes immediately before the label8is peeled by the peeler21in the conveyance path T1of the label sheet9. The label guide member16, together with the platen roller15, partitions the label discharge port14and the mount discharge port22in the housing11.

A reflection-type photoelectric sensor25is provided obliquely upward and forward of the platen roller15. The photoelectric sensor25emits light from a light projecting portion toward the upper side of the peeler21. When the label8is directly above the peeler21, the photoelectric sensor25detects presence or absence of the label8by receiving the reflected light from the label8by a light receiving portion. A controller (not shown) of the printing portion10controls printing on the next label8in accordance with a detection result of the label8by the photoelectric sensor25.

Next, the gripping portion80of the labeling apparatus1will be described. As shown inFIG.5, the gripping portion80is a portion extending in the up-down direction and having a grip shape to be gripped by a user with one hand. The gripping portion80has recesses on the rear side for placing fingers of the user. When the user grips the gripping portion80, a front surface side of the printing portion10is disposed on a front side of the user. The gripping portion80is connected to a mounting portion83. The mounting portion83is a portion on which the gripping portion80is attached to the printing portion10and has a plate shape that covers a bottom surface of the printing portion10. A front end portion of the mounting portion83is provided with two claw portions83A that engage with two engagement holes11A formed in a front lower portion of the housing11of the printing portion10. The mounting portion83includes a pair of through holes83B arranged in the left-right direction substantially at a center in a front-rear direction. The screw81is inserted through the through hole83B and fastened to the bottom surface of the printing portion10to fix the mounting portion83to the printing portion10. The rear end portion of the mounting portion83is provided with lock portions85. The lock portions85are formed in a pair and have a claw portion85A at respective end portions thereof. The claw portion85A is engaged with the claw portion54A of the discharge portion50, which will be described later, and holds the discharge portion50at a position (described later) close to the printing portion10. Each of the pair of lock portions85is biased outward in the left-right direction, and an engagement state between the claw portion85A and the claw portion54A of the discharge portion50is maintained. The user moves the lock portions85toward the center, and thus the claw portions85A releases the claw portions54A of the discharge portion50from being held.

Next, the discharge portion50of the labeling apparatus1will be described. As shown inFIGS.1and2, the discharge portion50includes a base portion52, the label guide member16, a support arm53, a fixing arm54, a main body portion70, a cover portion65, and a cutting portion56. The base portion52is a portion on which the discharge portion50is attached to the printing portion10and has a plate shape extending in the left-right direction. The base portion52includes through holes52A at two end portions in the left-right direction. The screw51(seeFIG.5) is inserted into the through hole52A to be fastened to the upper surface of the printing portion10and fixes the base portion52to a front side of the label discharge port14of the printing portion10. In the label guide member16, front end portions of the pair of guide arms16D are pivotally supported by both ends of the base portion52. A biasing member (not shown) is provided between the guide arm16D and the base portion52. When the cover13is in the open state, the peeling roller16A of the label guide member16moves above a contact position between the peeling roller16A and the platen roller15by a biasing force. When the cover13is in the closed state, the peeling roller16A is pressed by the front end portion13E of the cover13to move downward and comes into contact with the platen roller15.

A pair of support arms53are provided and extend in the front-rear direction. A front end portion of the support arm53is pivotally supported at a position obliquely upward and forward than a front end portion of the guide arm16D at both ends of the base portion52. A rear end portion of the support arm53is positioned obliquely upward and rearward. A pair of fixing arms54are provided and are connected to the support arm53. The fixing arm54extends rearward in accordance with a shape of the cover13, is bent obliquely downward, and further extends downward. The fixing arm54includes a claw portion54A at a lower end portion. The claw portion54A is engaged with the claw portion85A of the lock portion85of the gripping portion80, and thus the discharge portion50is held at a close position. The close position is a position of the discharge portion50at which the support arm53pivots and the main body portion70is closed to the label discharge port14of the printing portion10. As shown inFIG.6, a position of the discharge portion50at which the support arm53is pivoted and the main body portion70is separated from the label discharge port14is referred to as a separation position. When the discharge portion50is at the close position, the discharge portion50can take in and hold the label8printed by the printing portion10and discharged from the label discharge port14.

As shown inFIGS.1and2, the fixing arm54includes contact portions54B above the claw portions54A. The contact portion54B has a semicircular plate shape and protrudes obliquely upward and rearward from a rear surface of each of the fixing arms54. The contact portions54B are formed at a right end portion of the fixing arm54at a right side and at a left end portion of the fixing arm54at a left side. Here, as shown inFIG.3, a region in which a holder60(described later) including the discharge port62of the discharge portion50is formed with respect to the housing11is referred to as A1, and a region in which the gripping portion80is formed with respect to the housing11is referred to as A2. A region connecting the region A1and the region A2is referred to as A3. In this case, the contact portion54B protrudes outward (rearward) of the housing11from the region A3. With this configuration, when the printed label8is stuck to a sticking target surface S (seeFIG.10), the user can cause only the contact portion54B to come into contact with the sticking target surface S in a state in which the user grips the gripping portion80. Since the contact portion54B has a semicircular shape, the user can swing the labeling apparatus1while maintaining a state in which the contact portion54B is in contact with the sticking target surface S.

As shown inFIGS.1and2, the pair of fixing arms54are disposed apart from each other in the left-right direction by an amount corresponding to a length of the mount discharge port22in the left-right direction. That is, the mount7discharged from the mount discharge port22can pass between the fixing arms54. The contact portion54B protrudes from the fixing arm54. Accordingly, even in a state where the contact portion54B is in contact with the sticking target surface S, the labeling apparatus1can guide the mount7in a direction away from the mount discharge port22via a guide portion55(seeFIG.2) which is a gap through which the mount7can pass between the two contact portions54B.

Abridge portion54C has a plate shape extending in the left-right direction and bridges the pair of fixing arms54behind the mount discharge port22. The mount discharge port22exposes between the bridge portion54C and the main body portion70. A cutting portion56is provided on an upper surface of the bridge portion54C. The user can cut the mount7discharged from the mount discharge port22to the outside of the housing11by the cutting portion56.

The holder60is provided at a connection portion between the support arm53and the fixing arm54. The holder60is a portion that holds the label8discharged from the housing11before the label8is stuck to the sticking target surface S. The holder60includes the cover portion65and the main body portion70. The main body portion70has a plate shape and extends obliquely upward and rearward from the connection portion between the support arm53and the fixing arm54. A rear surface of the main body portion70is connected to the fixing arms54at two end portions in the left-right direction and is supported by the fixing arms54in a state in which a front surface is directed obliquely upward and forward. The cover portion65is disposed on a front surface side of the main body portion70. The cover portion65has a plate shape that covers the front surface of the main body portion70and is pivotally supported by a shaft extending in the left-right direction in an upper portion of the main body portion70. As shown inFIG.7, the cover portion65is pivoted and opened, and the inside of the holder60can be exposed. As shown inFIGS.3and4, a conveyance path T4of the label8in the discharge portion50is provided in the holder60. When the discharge portion50is at the close position, the label8discharged from the label discharge port14enters the holder60from an intake port61, which is a gap between the main body portion70and the cover portion65at a lower end portion of the main body portion70, and is conveyed along the conveyance path T4. A direction in which the label8is conveyed along the conveyance path T4in the holder60is referred to as the conveyance direction. The conveyance direction in a case in which the discharge portion50is at the close position is a direction from an obliquely upward and forward side to an obliquely upward and rearward side. The cover portion65includes a window portion66for viewing the conveyance path T4from the outside. Before sticking the printed label8to the sticking target surface S, the user can confirm that the label8is held in the conveyance path T4via the window portion66.

As shown inFIG.7, the main body portion70includes a plurality of spur bodies75. One spur body75includes a shaft body74extending in the left-right direction and a plurality of spurs73. The plurality of spurs73are fixed to the shaft body74. That is, all spurs73fixed to the shaft body74rotate as the shaft body74rotates. Since rotation amounts of the plurality of spurs73are aligned, the spur body75can convey the label8straight in the discharge direction. The plurality of spur bodies75are arranged side by side along the conveyance path T4(seeFIG.4) in which the label8is conveyed in the holder60. Each of the spur bodies75is supported by the holder60and is rotatable. The conveyance path T4is a front surface side of each spur body75. The label8conveyed along the conveyance path T4is conveyed with the adhesive surface facing rearward, that is, a spur body75side. Therefore, the label8is conveyed with the adhesive surface in contact only with needle portions of the spur73, and thus jamming in the holder60is less likely to occur. In one spur body75, all of the plurality of spur73arranged in the left-right direction, that is, in a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the label8along the conveyance path T4, rotate at the same time. Therefore, when being conveyed along the conveyance path T4, the label8is less likely to be inclined with respect to the conveyance direction.

As shown inFIGS.4and7, the holder60includes spur bodies78in the intake port61. The spur body78has the same configuration as the spur body75and is disposed at an opening end on the rear side of the intake port61. The label8peeled from the mount7receives a force applied to the mount7conveyed to the rear of the peeler21and pulled rearward. The leading end portion (end portion on the downstream side) of the label8has the curling tendency when the label8is wound as the roll M, and comes close to, after the peeling, an opening end on the rear side of the intake port61by receiving the force pulled toward an adhesive surface side. The spur body78captures the leading end portion of the label8approaching the opening end with the spur73and guides the leading end portion to the conveyance path T4, thereby preventing the leading end portion of the label8from being not capable of entering the conveyance path T4from the intake port61.

Next, as shown inFIGS.3and8, the label8conveyed along the conveyance path T4is discharged from the discharge port62to the outside of the holder60. The discharge port62is a gap between the cover portion65and the main body portion70at an upper end portion of the main body portion70. The discharge port62is provided with a spatula plate63. The spatula plate63has a plate shape extending in the left-right direction and is fixed to an upper end portion of the cover portion65. A leading end portion of the spatula plate63protrudes toward the outside of the discharge port62. At the time of sticking the label8, the spatula plate63presses the label8against the sticking target surface S, thereby preventing the label8from floating.

Operations at the time of exchanging the roll M will be described. As shown inFIG.6, the user slides the lock portions85of the gripping portion80and releases the engagement between the claw portion85A and the claw portion54A of the discharge portion50. The user pivots the discharge portion50from the close position to the separation position. As shown inFIG.9, the user opens the cover13to pivot the cover13from the closed state to the open state and exposes the attachment portion24. The platen roller15is provided at the front end portion13E of the cover13, and moves upward away from the thermal head17as the cover13is opened. The peeling roller16A of the label guide member16moves upward away from the contact position between the peeling roller16A and the platen roller15by the biasing force as the cover13is opened. Therefore, the label discharge port14and the mount discharge port22are not partitioned by the platen roller15and the label guide member16inside the housing11.

The user exchanges the roll M and attaches the roll M on the attachment portion24. The user places the label sheet9pulled out from the roll M along the conveyance path T1and closes the cover13. The user peels a part of the label8from the mount7at the end portion on the downstream side of the label sheet9and sandwiches the mount7between the peeling roller16A and the platen roller15. The label8is placed at a label discharge port14side. The user moves the discharge portion50from the separation position to the close position and engages the claw portion54A to the claw portion85A of the gripping portion80. The exchanging of the roll M and setting of the label sheet9are completed.

Next, an electrical configuration of the labeling apparatus1will be described with reference toFIG.12. The printing portion10of the labeling apparatus1includes an electronic circuit board30for control. The electronic circuit board30includes a CPU31, a ROM32, a CGROM33, a RAM34, a flash memory35, and drive circuits36to38.

The CPU31centrally controls the labeling apparatus1. The ROM32stores various programs and various parameters required when the CPU31executes the various programs. The CGROM33stores printing dot pattern data for printing characters. The RAM34includes a plurality of storage regions such as a text memory and a print buffer. The flash memory35stores various parameters and the like for the CPU31to control the labeling apparatus1. The flash memory35stores various data to be saved even when a power of the labeling apparatus1is turned off. The drive circuit36is an electronic circuit for driving the thermal head17and drives the thermal head17according to instructions from the CPU31. The drive circuit37is an electronic circuit for driving a conveyance motor39and drives the conveyance motor39according to the instructions from the CPU31. The conveyance motor39rotates and drives the platen roller15. The drive circuit38is an electronic circuit for driving the display5and drives the display5according to the instructions from the CPU31.

The CPU31is connected to the operating portion5and the photoelectric sensor25.

The operating portion5receives an input of an operation on the operating portion5by the user and transmits the input to the CPU31. The photoelectric sensor25inputs a detection result of presence or absence of a measurement target object (the printed label8) to the CPU31.

Next, operations at the time of printing will be described with reference toFIGS.3,4, and8. The user operates the operating portion5provided on the front surface of the printing portion10to instruct printing on the label8. A size of the label8that can be printed in the present embodiment is defined in advance. Therefore, the label sheet9is a sheet in which the labels8having the defined size are continuously stuck to the mount7. In addition, print data indicating print content for the label8is stored in the flash memory35of the printing portion10in advance. The CPU31of the printing portion10drives the peeling roller15to convey the mount7, which is sandwiched between the platen roller15and the peeling roller16A, toward the mount discharge port22. The label sheet9is pulled out from the roll M by conveying the mount7. The CPU31drives the thermal head17, and executes printing based on the print data read from the flash memory35on the label8. When the label sheet9is pulled out from the conveyance path T1as the mount7is conveyed, the label8is peeled from the mount7by the peeler21and is fed toward the label discharge port14along the conveyance path T3.

When being discharged from the label discharge port14to the outside of the housing11, the label8enters the holder60of the discharge portion50from the intake port61. Adhesion of the adhesive surface of the label8is prevented by contact between the adhesive surface of the label8and the needle-shaped blade edges of the spur73. The label8is peeled by the peeler21by the pulling force of the platen roller15and the peeling roller16A pulling the mount7and is conveyed along the conveyance path T3toward the label discharge port14. The label8has the defined size, and the CPU31controls a drive amount of the platen roller15so that a distance by which the platen roller15conveys the mount7at the time of printing coincides with a length of the label8in the conveyance direction. The CPU31executes the printing on the label8based on the print data in accordance with the conveyance of the label8. When the driving of the platen roller15is stopped, the end portion on the downstream side in the conveyance direction is discharged by a predetermined length from the discharge port62of the holder60. The label8is peeled from the mount7, and is held by the holder60along the conveyance path T4in a state in which the adhesive surface is supported by the spur bodies75. When being completely peeled from the mount7, the label8cannot move in the conveyance direction. Therefore, the lengths of the conveyance path T2and the conveyance path T4are designed to be slightly shorter than the length of the label8in the conveyance direction. As a result, the label8is completely peeled from the mount7when the end portion on the downstream side in the conveyance direction is discharged by a predetermined length from the discharge port62. While the label8is held by the holder60, the photoelectric sensor25is in a state where the end portion on the upstream side of the label8in the conveyance direction is detected. The user may cut the mount7discharged from the mount discharge port22with the cutting portion56or may leave the mount7without cutting.

Next, operations at the time of sticking will be described. As shown inFIG.10, the user grips the gripping portion80, faces the back surface side of the labeling apparatus1toward the sticking target surface S of the label8, and brings only the sticking target surface S into contact with the contact portion54B. As described above, the contact portion54B protrudes outward from the housing11beyond the region A3connecting the region A1in which the holder60is formed and the region A2in which the gripping portion80is formed (seeFIG.3). Therefore, the gripping portion80and the holder60are in a state separated from the sticking target surface S. The user can move the position of the label8exposed from the discharge port62of the holder60relative to the gripping portion80by moving the gripping portion80with respect to the sticking target surface S. When the mount7is not cut by the cutting portion56, the user can dispose the mount7on a gripping portion80side via the guide portion55(seeFIG.3) and avoid contact between the mount7and the contact portion54B. The user can confirm whether the printed label8is held by the holder60via the window portion66of the cover portion65.

As shown inFIG.11A, the user lifts the gripping portion80while keeping the contact portion54B in contact with the sticking target surface S and brings the discharge port62of the holder60closer to the sticking target surface S. After positioning the end portion on the downstream side of the label8in the conveyance direction at a sticking position on the sticking target surface S, the user further lifts the gripping portion80and sticks the end portion on the downstream side of the label8in the conveyance direction to the sticking target surface S. The label8is pressed by the spatula plate63and does not float from the sticking target surface S.

As shown inFIG.11B, the user pulls the labeling apparatus1toward the gripping portion80side with respect to the holder60while maintaining at least the state of pressing the spatula plate63against the sticking target surface S through the label8. The label8is pulled out from the holder60and stuck to the sticking target surface S while being pressed by the spatula plate63. The plurality of spurs73of the spur body75are fixed to the same shaft body74and rotate at the same time, and thus the label8is pulled out without being inclined and is directly stuck to the sticking target surface S. The photoelectric sensor25is in a state where the label8is not detected. When the user operates the operating portion5, the printing portion10prints the next label8and causes the holder60to hold the printed label8.

As described above, the holder60can hold the label8before being stuck to the sticking target surface S in a state of being peeled from the mount7before the label8is discharged from the discharge port62. After positioning and sticking the end portion on the downstream side of the label8in the discharge direction to the sticking target surface S, the user can easily discharge the label8from the discharge portion50and stick the label8to the sticking target surface S simply by moving the housing11. Since the force applied when the label8is peeled from the mount7does not act on the label8in the sticking of the label8, the user can accurately stick the label8to the sticking target surface S.

By causing the end portion on the downstream side of the label8in the discharge direction to protrude from the discharge port62, the user can easily position the end portion of the label8on the sticking target surface S while viewing the position of the end portion of the label8, and thus the user can accurately stick the label8on the sticking target surface S.

The spur body75is in contact with the adhesive layer of the label8, supports the label8in the holder60, and can feed the label8in the discharge direction by rotation. The spur body75is only in contact with the adhesive layer, and it is difficult to apply a load to movement of the label8by feeding the label8in the discharge direction while rotating. Therefore, the user can accurately stick the label8to the sticking target surface S.

Since the plurality of spur bodies75are disposed side by side along the discharge direction, the label8is less likely to be conveyed while being inclined at the time of sticking. Therefore, the user can accurately stick the label8to the sticking target surface S.

Since the spur body75holds the plurality of spurs73in the same shaft body74, the label8is less likely to be conveyed while being inclined at the time of sticking. Therefore, the user can accurately stick the label8to the sticking target surface S.

Since the spur73is fixed to the shaft body74and does not idle, the spur body75can prevent the label8from being wound around the spur body75. Further, since rotation amounts of the plurality of spurs73are aligned, the spur body75can convey the label8straight in the discharge direction, and it is possible to more reliably prevent the label8from being obliquely inclined at the time of sticking.

The user can stick the label8to the sticking target surface S while confirming the size and an orientation of the label8by visually observing the label8held by the holder60through the window portion66. Therefore, the user can accurately stick the label8to the sticking target surface S.

When jamming occurs in the holder60, the user can easily perform jam processing by detaching the cover portion65from the main body portion70. In addition, the user can easily perform maintenance of the spur body75. Therefore, the user can maintain a state in which the holder60is normally operated, and thus the user can accurately stick the label8to the sticking target surface S at the time of sticking.

The spur body75is not driven, and the label8is conveyed by pulling the mount7with the platen roller15and the peeling roller16A. Therefore, the labeling apparatus1does not require power for conveying the label8peeled from the mount7to the discharge portion50, and can reduce the number of components and the production cost.

When being peeled from the label sheet9, the label8is pushed out in the peeling direction of the label sheet9. In the discharge portion50, the label8is conveyed in the discharge direction, which is the same as the peeling direction, and is held by the holder60. That is, the label8is conveyed in the same direction from peeling to holding. Therefore, a load is less likely to be applied to the label8during the conveyance of the label8, and oblique feeding and the like during the conveyance can be prevented.

The labeling apparatus1cuts the peeled mount7by the cutting portion56. The cutting portion56can be disposed at a position closer to the platen roller15, the peeling roller16A, and the peeler21by providing the cutting portion56in the discharge portion50, and thus the sticking of the label8can be prevented from being hindered by an uncut mount7.

The discharge portion50is attachable and detachable to the housing11. Therefore, the user can easily perform maintenance of the housing11and the discharge portion50by removing the discharge portion50.

The gripping portion80is attachable and detachable to the housing11. Therefore, the user can easily perform maintenance of the housing11and the gripping portion80by removing the gripping portion80.

In the embodiment described above, the platen roller15, the peeling roller16A and the peeler21correspond to the “peeling portion” of the present disclosure. The spur body75corresponds to the “rotation body” of the present disclosure. The conveyance path T4corresponds to the “conveyance path” of the present disclosure. The peeler21corresponds to the “peeling body” of the present disclosure. The platen roller15and the peeling roller16A correspond to the “pulling portion” of the present disclosure. The conveyance path T2corresponds to the “guide path” of the present disclosure. The conveyance motor39corresponds to the “driver” of the present disclosure. The photoelectric sensor25corresponds to the “detector” of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The discharge portion50and the gripping portion80are optional parts to be attached on the housing11of the printing portion10, so that the discharge portion50and the gripping portion80can be attached to and detached from the housing11, and the base portion52and the gripping portion80may be provided directly on the housing11instead of being attached to or detached from the housing11, and the number of components may be reduced. The holder60may be provided on the front end portion13E of the cover13or may be provided on the label guide member16.

In the housing11, the label8is directed toward the label discharge port14along the conveyance path T2, and the conveyance direction thereof is the same as the conveyance direction in a portion of the conveyance path T1in which the label sheet9is directed from the printing position P to the peeling position Q and may be different from the conveyance direction.

The lengths of the conveyance path T2and the conveyance path T4are designed to be slightly shorter than the length of the label8in the conveyance direction, and may be designed to be even shorter. In this case, the controller stops driving the platen roller15when the end portion on the downstream side of the label8in the conveyance direction is discharged from the discharge port62by a predetermined length. The end portion on the upstream side of the label8in the conveyance direction is stuck to the mount7. The conveyance direction of the label8along the conveyance path T4of the holder60is close to the conveyance direction in the portion of the conveyance path T1in which the label sheet9is directed from the printing position P to the peeling position Q, and thus the label sheet9can be pulled by a pulling force of the label8at the time of sticking, and the label8can be peeled from the mount7. In this case, it is preferable to set an orientation in which the holder60is arranged or a position relation between the peeling position Q with respect to the printing position P such that the conveyance direction of the label8in the holder60coincides with the direction from the printing position P toward the peeling position Q.

Since the cover portion65of the discharge portion50includes the window portion66, it is possible to confirm the state in which the discharge portion50holds the label8. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the cover portion65may be formed of, for example, a transparent or translucent material, so that the cover portion65functions as an observation window of the label8held in the conveyance path T4and the label8can be confirmed. The contact portion54B is provided on the fixing arm54of the discharge portion50, and may be provided at the rear end portion of the main body case12or the rear end portion of the cover13of the housing11, or may be provided at the rear end portion of the gripping portion80.

The shaft body74of the spur body75may include a clutch mechanism that prevents reverse rotation. Accordingly, while the label8is being held in the holder60, it is possible to prevent the end portion on the downstream side of the label8in the conveyance direction protruding from the discharge port62due to the curling tendency of the label8from being retracted into the discharge port62. Instead of the spur body75, a roller made of a material that is hard to adhere to the adhesive surface of the label8may be used.

Further, a driving force may be transmitted to the spur body75of the holder60, and the label8may be conveyed by the rotation and driving of the spur73. For example, as shown inFIG.13, a drive shaft39A of the conveyance motor39(seeFIG.12) is provided with a gear171, and gears172,173,174, and175are sequentially meshed with one another. The gear175is connected to a rotation shaft15A of the platen roller15. The gear174of a fourth stage is meshed with a gear165for distributing the driving force. Three gears166,167, and168sequentially mesh with the gear165. The gear168is meshed with a gear169fixed to the shaft body74of the spur body75to be driven. These gears166to169are assembled to the inside of the left side fixing arm54of the discharge portion50and the inside of a left side surface of the holder60. The driving force of the conveyance motor39is transmitted to the spur body75to be driven, which can pivot together with the platen roller15. The plurality of spurs73of the spur body75are fixed to the shaft body74, and the label8can be conveyed in the holder60by the pivoting of the spur body75.

The gear175and the gear166are one-way clutches and transmit the driving force of the conveyance motor39in the orientation in which the platen roller15and the spur body75are rotated in the direction in which the label8is conveyed, and the transmission of the driving force is released in the orientation in which the platen roller15and the spur body75are rotated in the opposite direction. That is, when the conveyance motor39is stopped, the platen roller15and the spur body75can rotate in the conveyance direction of the label8, and cannot rotate in the opposite direction a holding torque of the conveyance motor39.

According to this configuration, even a label whose length in the conveyance direction is smaller than the defined size can be conveyed to the discharge port162after printing and held in the holder60. As shown inFIG.14, the CPU31starts the printing of the label8according to the operation of the operating portion5by the user. The CPU31drives the conveyance motor39(S2) and conveys the mount7sandwiched between the platen roller15and the peeling roller16A along the conveyance path T4. Accordingly, the label sheet9is pulled and conveyed along the conveyance path T1. The CPU31executes printing processing and drives the thermal head17to execute printing on the label8of the label sheet9. While the photoelectric sensor25detects the label8, the label8is not peeled from the mount7(S4: YES), and the CPU31returns the process to S3to continue the printing processing.

When the photoelectric sensor25does not detect the label8(S4: NO), the CPU31continues to drive the conveyance motor39based on a drive amount of the conveyance motor39until the drive amount reaches a drive amount corresponding to the length of the label8in the conveyance direction (S6: NO). When determining that the drive amount of the conveyance motor39reaches the drive amount according to the length of the label8in the conveyance direction (S6: YES), the CPU31stops the driving of the conveyance motor39(S7) to end the process. Since the label8is conveyed along the conveyance path T4by the spur body75even after the platen roller15is stopped, the label8is held in the holder60in a state in which the end portion on the downstream side in the conveyance direction is discharged from the discharge port62by a predetermined length. Since the spur body75cannot rotate in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction of the label8due to the holding torque of the conveyance motor39, the spur body75maintains the label8in a holding state. At the time of sticking the label8, the spur body75is in a state in which the transmission of the driving force of the conveyance motor39is released and can rotate in the conveyance direction of the label8, and thus the label8can be discharged from the discharge port62.

In a case where the length of the label8in the discharge direction is shorter than the length of the holder60, the end portion on the downstream side of the label8in the discharge direction cannot be protruded from the discharge port62only by the pulling force when the label8is peeled from the label sheet9. By detecting the position of the end portion on the upstream side of the label8in the peeling direction by the photoelectric sensor25and driving the spur body75of the holder60according to the detection result, even an end portion on the downstream side of a short label8in the discharge direction can be reliably protruded from the discharge port62. Therefore, the labeling apparatus1can be used even for the labels8having different lengths in the discharge direction.