Patent Publication Number: US-8979406-B2

Title: Label producing apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a CIP application PCT/JP2011/079108, filed Dec. 15, 2011, which was not published under PCT article 21(2) in English. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a label producing apparatus for producing a label to be used affixed to a target object. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Heretofore, there have been known label producing apparatuses configured to produce labels. In this label producing apparatus (tape printing apparatus) of prior art, a cartridge (tape cassette) around which a label tape (tape) is wound into a roll shape is mounted. Preferred printing is performed by printing device (a thermal head) provided to the label producing apparatus on the tape fed out from the roll inside the cartridge, thereby forming a label tape with print. Subsequently, the tag label tape with print is cut at a preferred length by a cutting mechanism, thereby generating a label with print. The generated label is discharged to the outside of the apparatus by a tape discharging mechanism positioned further on the downstream side in the transport direction than the cutting mechanism. 
     The cutting mechanism at this time comprises a movable blade capable of advancing and retreating with respect to the transport path of the tape by the driving force of a cutter motor, and a fixed blade provided on the side opposite the movable blade with the tape transport path therebetween. Further, the tape discharging mechanism comprises a driving roller that is driven by the rotational driving force of the tape discharging motor, and a driven roller (pressure roller) for inserting a label between itself and the driving roller and discharging the label. 
     According to the above prior art, two motors, a motor (cutter motor) for driving a movable blade of a cutting mechanism and a motor (tape discharging motor) for driving a driving roller of the tape discharging mechanism, are provided separately. As a result, the number of motors increases, leading to an increased size and weight of the overall apparatus. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a label producing apparatus capable of decreasing the number of motors, thereby achieving a reduction in the size and weight of the overall apparatus. 
     In order to achieve the above-described object, according to the aspect of the present application, there is provided a label producing apparatus. The label producing apparatus comprises a cartridge holder capable of attaching and detaching a cartridge configured to supply a label tape, a feeder configured to pull out and feed the label tape from the cartridge mounted to the cartridge holder, a movable blade configured to advance and retreat with respect to a tape transport path by the feeder, and cut the label tape fed by the feeder at a desired length, a driving roller configured to contact and discharge the label tape, provided further on a downstream side than the movable blade on the tape transport path, a driven roller provided so that it can advance and retreat between a contact position where it can contact the label tape positioned on the tape transport path with the driving roller from an opposite side and insert the label tape between itself and the driving roller, and a separated position where it separates from the label tape positioned on the tape transport path in an amount equivalent to a predetermined distance, a motor configured to rotate in a single direction only and generate a driving force for an advancing and retreating movement of the movable blade with respect to the tape transport path, and a rotational movement of the driving roller, a gear mechanism configured to transmit the driving force of the motor to the driving roller so that the driving roller rotates along with a rotational movement of the motor, and an advancing and retreating adjustment device configured to adjust an advancing and retreating movement of the driven roller with respect to the driving roller and an advancing and retreating movement of the movable blade with respect to the tape transport path, associated with a rotation of the motor in the single direction, to a desired mode in coordination with each other, the advancing and retreating adjustment device advancing and retreating the driven roller and the movable blade in coordination so that the driven roller is in the contact position for a predetermined time period after cutting of the label tape is completed by the movable blade. 
     In the aspect of the present disclosure, the label tape is pulled out from the cartridge mounted to the cartridge holder and fed on the transport path by feeder. The cutting blade then advances toward the label tape fed to a suitable cutting position and cuts the label tape at a preferred length, thereby forming the label. The driving roller contacts the label thus produced and discharges the label to outside the apparatus. At the time of that discharge, the driven roller inserts the label tape between itself and the driving roller and, with the driving roller and driven roller operating in coordination, the label is discharged. 
     Here, in the aspect of the present disclosure, the rotational driving of the driving roller and the advancing and retreating movement of the movable blade are performed by the driving force from a single common motor. First, the driving roller is directly connected to and rotates with the rotational driving of the motor in a single direction via a gear mechanism, and thus always rotates when the motor is rotationally driven. At this time, the driven roller is provided so that it can advance and retreat between a contact position and a separated position. When in the contact position, the driven roller inserts the label tape between itself and the driving roller as previously described. As a result, the rotational driving force of the driving roller acts on the label tape via a friction force, feeding the label tape in the discharging direction. Conversely, in a case where the driven roller is in the separated position, the driven roller and the driving roller are separated (by a distance greater than the thickness of the tape). As a result, the friction force between the driving roller and label tape substantially no longer acts on the label tape and thus, even if the driving roller rotates due to the rotational driving of the motor as described above, that rotational driving force is not transmitted to the label tape, and the label tape is not discharged. 
     On the other hand, the cutting of the label tape by the advancing and retreating movement of the moveable blade with respect to the tape transport path is also performed by utilizing the driving force of the above type of motor. Further, when tape cutting is completed, the label tape is inserted between the driven roller and the driving roller and the driving force is transmitted to the label tape, making it possible to feed the cut label tape, that is, the label, in the discharging direction. Furthermore, with the contact of the label tape by the driven roller maintained for a predetermined time period after cutting is completed, the discharging movement of the label continues for the predetermined time period. As a result, it is possible to reliably discharge the label generated by the cutting to outside the apparatus by sufficiently lengthening the predetermined time period. 
     As described above, in the aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to smoothly and reliably cut a label tape by a movable blade and subsequently discharge a label utilizing the driving force of a single common motor. Accordingly, compared to a case where two motors, a motor for driving a movable blade and a motor for discharging the label, are provided separately, it is possible to decrease the number of motors. As a result, the size and weight of the overall apparatus can be reduced, and a cost reduction can also be achieved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a system configuration diagram showing a label manufacturing system comprising an embodiment of the label producing apparatus of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the overall structure of the label producing apparatus. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view showing the structure of the internal unit. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged plan view schematically showing the detailed structure of a cartridge. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the discharging mechanism and cutting mechanism of the internal unit, as viewed from the downstream side in the tape transport direction. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the discharging mechanism and cutting mechanism of the internal unit, as viewed from the downstream side in the tape transport direction. 
         FIG. 7  is a horizontal sectional view taken along a line A-A in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  is a rear view of the discharging mechanism and cutting mechanism of the internal unit, as viewed from the upstream side in the tape transport direction. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the discharging mechanism and cutting mechanism of the internal unit, as viewed from the upstream side in the tape transport direction. 
         FIG. 10  is a functional block diagram showing the control system of the label producing apparatus. 
         FIG. 11A  is a top view showing the outer appearance of an exemplary produced label. 
         FIG. 11B  is a bottom view showing the outer appearance of an exemplary produced label. 
         FIG. 11C  is a top view showing the outer appearance of an exemplary produced label. 
         FIG. 11D  is a bottom view showing the outer appearance of an exemplary produced label. 
         FIG. 12A  is a diagram showing the cross-sectional view of the XIIA-XIIA′ cross-section. 
         FIG. 12B  is a diagram showing the XIIB-XIIB′ cross-section in  FIG. 11A , rotated 90° counterclockwise. 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart showing a control procedure executed by the control circuit. 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S 55 . 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective explanatory view for explaining the coordination between the advancing and retreating movement of the movable blade and the advancing and retreating movement of the pressure roller, showing each movement stage. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective explanatory view for explaining the coordination between the advancing and retreating movement of the movable blade and the advancing and retreating movement of the pressure roller, showing each movement stage. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective explanatory view for explaining the coordination between the advancing and retreating movement of the movable blade and the advancing and retreating movement of the pressure roller, showing each movement stage. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective explanatory view for explaining the coordination between the advancing and retreating movement of the movable blade and the advancing and retreating movement of the pressure roller, showing each movement stage. 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective explanatory view for explaining the coordination between the advancing and retreating movement of the movable blade and the advancing and retreating movement of the pressure roller, showing each movement stage. 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective explanatory view for explaining the coordination between the advancing and retreating movement of the movable blade and the advancing and retreating movement of the pressure roller, showing each movement stage. 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective explanatory view for explaining the coordination between the advancing and retreating movement of the movable blade and the advancing and retreating movement of the pressure roller, showing each movement stage. 
         FIG. 22  is a perspective explanatory view for explaining the coordination between the advancing and retreating movement of the movable blade and the advancing and retreating movement of the pressure roller, showing each movement stage. 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective explanatory view for explaining the coordination between the advancing and retreating movement of the movable blade and the advancing and retreating movement of the pressure roller, showing each movement stage. 
         FIG. 24  is a perspective explanatory view for explaining the coordination between the advancing and retreating movement of the movable blade and the advancing and retreating movement of the pressure roller, showing each movement stage. 
         FIG. 25  is a flowchart showing the control procedure of a modification in which the driving roller is driven in advance of the timing of the cutting performed by the movable blade. 
         FIG. 26  is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S 85 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following describes one embodiment of the present disclosure with reference to accompanying drawings. 
     In a label manufacturing system LS shown in  FIG. 1 , a label producing apparatus  1  of this embodiment is connected to a terminal  118   a  and a general-purpose computer  118   b  via a communication line NW in a wired or wireless manner in this example. Note that the terminal  118   a  and the general-purpose computer  118   b  will hereinafter be suitably and simply referred to as a “PC  118 ” collectively. The label producing apparatus  1 , in this example, produces a label with preferred print based on an operation from the above described PC  118 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the label producing apparatus  1  comprises an apparatus main body  2  and an opening/closing lid  3  provided to a top side of this apparatus main body  2  in an openable and closeable manner. 
     The apparatus main body  2  comprises a front wall  10 , which is positioned at the front side (the left front side in  FIG. 2 ) and comprises a label discharging exit  11  configured to discharge a label L produced inside the apparatus main body  2  to the outside, and a front lid  12  with a rotationally supported bottom end that is provided below the label discharging exit  11  on the front wall  10 . 
     The front lid  12  comprises a pressing part  13 , which is designed to release the front lid  12  forward when pressed from above. Further, a power button  14  that turns the power source of the label producing apparatus  1  on and off is provided to one end of the front wall  10 . A cutter driving button  16  for driving a cutting mechanism  15  (refer to  FIG. 3  described later) provided inside the apparatus main body  2  by a manual operation performed by the user is provided below the power button  14 , and is designed to cut a label tape  109  with print (details described later) when pressed so as to detach the label L from the apparatus main body. 
     The opening/closing lid  3  is rotatably supported by a shaft at the end of the right rear side in  FIG. 2  of the apparatus main body  2 , and is always biased in the release direction via a biasing member such as a spring, etc. Then, the opening/closing lid  3  and the apparatus main body  2  are unlocked by the pressing of an open/close button  4  disposed adjacent to the opening/closing lid  3  on the top side of the apparatus main body  2 , and released by the action of the above described biasing member. Furthermore, an inspection window  5  covered by a transparent cover is provided in the center side area of the opening/closing lid  3 . 
     Internal Unit 
     Next, the structure of an internal unit  20  in the interior of the label producing apparatus  1  will be described. The internal unit  20 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , schematically comprises a cartridge holder  6  configured to house a cartridge  7 , a printing mechanism  21  comprising a print head  23 , the cutting mechanism  15  as a cutter, a half-cutting unit  35  comprising a half-cutter  34 , and a label discharging mechanism  22  configured to discharge the generated label L from the label discharging exit  11  (refer to  FIG. 2 ). 
     Cartridge Holder and Printing Mechanism 
     The cartridge holder  6  houses the cartridge  7  so that the orientation of the width direction of the label tape  109  with print to be discharged from the label discharging exit  11  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) is orthogonal. 
     Next, the detailed structure of the cartridge  7  will be described. As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 3 , the cartridge  7  comprises a housing  7 A, a first roll  102  disposed inside the housing  7 A and around which a tape-shaped base tape  101  is wound, a second roll  104  around which a clear cover film  103  with substantially the same width as the above described base tape  101  is wound, a ribbon supply side roll  111  configured to feed out an ink ribbon  105  (thermal transfer ribbon, but unneeded if the print-receiving tape is thermal tape), a ribbon take-up roller  106  for taking up the ribbon  105  after printing, a feeding roller  27  rotatably supported near a tape discharging part  30  of the cartridge  7 , and a guide roller  112 . 
     The feeding roller  27  is configured to adhere the above described base tape  101  and the above described cover film  103  to each other by applying pressure and feeding the above described label tape  109  with print in the direction of an arrow A (i.e. functioning as a pressure roller as well). 
     The first roll  102  has the above described base tape  101  wound around a reel member  102   a . In this example, the base tape  101  comprises a four-layer structure (refer to the partially enlarged view in  FIG. 4 ) comprising an adhesive layer  101   a  made of a suitable adhesive material, a colored base film  101   b  made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or the like, an adhesive layer  101   c  made of a suitable adhesive material, and a separation sheet  101   d . The four layers of the base tape  101  are layered in that order from the side rolled to the inside (the right side in  FIG. 4 ) to the opposite side (the left side in  FIG. 4 ). 
     The above described adhesive layer  101   a  is formed on the front side of the base film  101   b  (the right side in  FIG. 4 ) for adhering the cover film  103  thereon at a later time. The above described separation sheet  101   d  is also adhered to the back side (the left side of  FIG. 4 ) of the base film  101   b  by the above described adhesive layer  101   c.    
     The separation sheet  101   d  is eventually peeled off when the label L is to be affixed as a finished label-like product to a desired article or the like, making it possible to adhere the label L to the article or the like by the adhesive layer  101   c.    
     The second roll  104  has the above described cover film  103  wound around a reel member  104   a . The cover film  103  fed out from the second roll  104  is pressed against the ribbon  105  driven by the above described ribbon supply side roll  111  and the above described ribbon take-up roller  106 , which are disposed inward from the back side of the cover film  103  fed out from the second roll  104  (i.e., the side of the cover film  103  which is adhered to the above described base tape  101 ), by the above described print head  23 , such that the ribbon  105  is brought into close contact with the back side of the cover film  103 . 
     The ribbon take-up roller  106  and the feeding roller  27  are rotationally driven in coordination by the driving force of a feeding motor  119  (refer to  FIG. 10  described later), which is a pulse motor, for example, provided on the outside of each of the cartridges  7 , that is transmitted to a ribbon take-up roller driving shaft  107  and a feeding roller driving shaft  108  via a gear mechanism (not shown). 
     Meanwhile, the above described print head  23  comprising a great number of heating elements is mounted to a head mounting part  24  provided in a standing condition on the cartridge holder  6 , and is disposed on the upstream side in the transport direction of the cover film  103  than the feeding roller  27 . 
     In front of the cartridge  7  of the cartridge holder  6  (on the lower side in  FIG. 3 ), a roller holder  25  is rotatably pivoted by a support shaft  29 , and is designed so as to be switchable between a print position (refer to  FIG. 3 ) and a release position by a switching mechanism. A platen roller  26  and a tape pressure roller  28  are rotatably provided to this roller holder  25 . When the roller holder  25  switches to the above described print position, the platen roller  26  and the tape pressure roller  28  press against the above described print head  23  and the above described feeding roller  27 . 
     In the above described configuration, the cartridge  7  is mounted to the above described cartridge holder  6 , and the base tape  101  fed out from the above described first roll  102  is supplied to the feeding roller  27 . On the other hand, on the back side of the cover film  103  fed out from the second roll  104  as previously described, the ink ribbon  105  is pressed against and made to contact the above described print head  23 . When the roller holder  25  is moved from the above described release position to the above described print position, the cover film  103  and the ink ribbon  105  are sandwiched between the print head  23  and the platen roller  26 , while the base tape  101  and the cover film  103  are sandwiched between the feeding roller  27  and the pressure roller  28 . Then, the ribbon take-up roller  106  and the feeding roller  27  are synchronously rotationally driven along the directions denoted by an arrow B and an arrow C, respectively, in  FIG. 4 , by the driving force of the feeding motor  119 . The aforementioned feeding roller driving shaft  108 , the above described pressure roller  28 , and the platen roller  26  are connected to one another at this time by a gear mechanism (not shown). With such an arrangement, upon driving the feeding roller driving shaft  108 , the feeding roller  27 , the pressure roller  28 , and the platen roller  26  rotate, thereby feeding out and supplying the base tape  101  from the first roll  102  to the feeding roller  27  as previously described. On the other hand, the cover film  103  is fed out from the second roll  104 , and a plurality of heating elements of the print head  23  are powered by a print-head driving circuit  120  (refer to  FIG. 10  described later). As a result, a label print R (refer to  FIG. 11  described later) is printed on the back side of the cover film  103 . Then, the above described base tape  101  and the above described printed cover film  103  are adhered to each other by the above described feeding roller  27  and the pressure roller  28  so as to form a single tape, thereby forming the label tape  109  with print, which is then fed to outside the cartridge  7  via the tape discharging part  30 . The ribbon take-up roller driving shaft  107  is then driven to rewind the ink ribbon  105 , with which printing to the cover film  103  was completed, onto the ribbon take-up roller  106 . 
     A tape identification display part  8  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) configured to display the tape width, tape color, etc., of the above described base tape  101  built into the cartridge  7  is provided on the top side of the above described housing  7 A of the cartridge  7 , for example. 
     On the other hand, as previously described, the internal unit  20  is provided with the above described cutting mechanism  15  and the above described label discharging mechanism  22 . The above described cutter driving button  16  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) is operated with respect to the label tape  109  with print bonded and generated as previously described, causing the label tape  109  with print to be cut by the cutting mechanism  15  (or to be automatically cut based on suitable timing), thereby generating the label L. This label L is subsequently further discharged from the above described label discharging exit  11  formed on the front wall  10  (refer to  FIG. 2 ), by the label discharging mechanism  22 . 
     Cutting Mechanism 
     Next, the cutting mechanism  15  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 5-9  and the above described  FIG. 3 . Note that  FIGS. 5-9  exclude the half-cutting unit described later to avoid complexities in illustration. Note that a configuration that omits the half-cutting unit as illustrated in these figures is also acceptable. 
     As a result of bonding such as previously described, in the label tape  109  with print, the cover film  103 , the adhesive layer  101   a , the base film  101   b , the adhesive layer  101   c , and the separation sheet  101   d  are layered along the layering direction, in that order. The cutting mechanism  15  cuts all of these layers, thereby producing the print label L comprising the above described print. That is, the cutting mechanism  15  comprises a fixed blade  40 , a movable blade  41  that performs a cutting movement along with this fixed blade  40 , a cutter helical gear  42  that engages with this movable blade  41 , and a driving motor  43  that is operably linked by a gear train  43 A made of a plurality of gears to the cutter helical gear  42  and rotates in a single direction. 
     A boss  50  formed in a protruding shape is provided to a section of the cutter helical gear  42  other than the rotational center, and is inserted into and engaged with a long hole  49  formed on a handle part  46  of the movable blade  41  (refer to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 ). The boss  50  and the long hole  49  constitute conversion device configured to convert the rotation of the above described driving motor  43  in the single direction into an advancing and retreating movement of the movable blade  41 . With this arrangement, the rotational motion of the cutter helical gear  42  based on the rotational driving of the driving motor  43  is converted to a motion in the advancing and retreating direction utilizing the engaging structure between the boss  50  and the long hole  49 , making it possible to advance and retreat the movable blade  41  with respect to the tape transport path of the label tape  109  with print. 
     The fixed blade  40  is fixed by screws, etc., through fixing holes on a side plate  44  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) provided in a standing state on the side part of the cartridge holder  6 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9 , etc., the movable blade  41  forms a substantial V-shape, and comprises a blade part  45  provided to the cutting section, the handle part  46  positioned opposite the blade part  45 , and an elbow part  47 . A shaft hole  48  is provided to the fixed blade. The movable blade  41  is supported by the above described side plate  44  so that it can rotate via a rotating shaft (not shown) provided to the shaft hole  48 , using the elbow part  47  as a fulcrum. Further, the above described long hole  49  is formed on the handle part  46  on the side opposite the blade part  45  of the movable blade  41 . The blade part  45  is formed by a double-step blade, for example, with the blade surface comprising two inclined surfaces, a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface, with different angles of incline and a thickness of the blade part  45  that gradually decreases. 
     In the cutting mechanism  15  of the above described configuration, when the cutter helical gear  42  rotates by the driving motor  43 , the movable blade  41  oscillates due to the boss  50  and the long hole  49 , using the rotating shaft of the above described shaft hole  48  as the fulcrum, and advances toward the transport path of the label tape  109  with print, cutting the label tape  109  with print. 
     That is, first, when the boss  50  of cutter helical gear  42  is positioned on the inside (the right side in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 ), the blade part  45  of the movable blade  41  is positioned away from the fixed blade  40  (initial state). Then, when the driving motor  43  in this initial state drives and the cutter helical gear  42  rotates clockwise in  FIG. 8  (the direction of an arrow  70 ), the boss  50  moves to the outside and the movable blade  41  rotates clockwise in  FIG. 8  (in the direction of an arrow  73 ) around the above described rotating shaft, operates in coordination with the fixed blade  40 , and cuts the label tape  109  with print (for details, refer to  FIGS. 15-24  described later as well). 
     Label Discharging Mechanism 
     On the other hand, the above described label discharging mechanism  22  is provided near the label discharging exit  11  provided to the front wall  10  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) of the apparatus main body  2 , and forcibly discharges the label tape  109  with print (in other words, the label L; hereafter the same) from the label discharging exit  11  after being cut by the cutting mechanism  15 . That is, the label discharging mechanism  22  is provided further on the downstream side of the tape transport path than the moveable blade  41 , and comprises a driving roller  51  for contacting and discharging the label tape  109  with print, and a pressure roller  52  that faces the driving roller  51  with the transport path of the label tape  109  with print therebetween. 
     The driving roller  51  is rotationally driven by the transmission of the driving force of the above described driving motor  43  to a roller shaft  51   a  by the above described gear train  43 A (gear mechanism). 
     At this time, first guide walls  55  and  56  and second guide walls  63  and  64  for guiding the label tape  109  with print to the label discharging exit  11  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) are provided to the inside of the above described label discharging exit  11 . The first guide walls  55  and  56  and the second guide walls  63  and  64  are integrally formed, respectively, and disposed so that they are separated from each other at a predetermined interval at the discharging position of the label tape  109  with print cut by the above described fixed blade  40  and the movable blade  41 . 
     Note that, at this time, a tape guide part  55 A comprising a protruding rib shape is provided to the first guide wall  55 . This tape guide part  55 A fulfills the function of providing guidance so that, in a state where the pressure roller  52  is separated from the tape transport path, the leading edge of the label tape  109  with print and the driving roller  51  (which is in a stopped state since, at this point in time, the movable blade  41  has not yet moved) do not come in contact when the label tape  109  with print is discharged from the cartridge  7 . Note that the tape guide part  55 A is separately provided in two locations on either side of the driving roller  51  on the first guide wall  55  so that, in a state where the pressure roller  52  contacts the label tape  109  with print on the tape transport path, the insertion of the label tape  109  with print between the driving roller  51  and the pressure roller  52  is not hindered. 
     Half-Cutting Unit 
     Next, the detailed structure of the half-cutting unit will be described. As previously described, in the label tape  109  with print, the cover film  103 , the adhesive layer  101   a , the base film  101   b , the adhesive layer  101   c , and the separation sheet  101   d  are layered along the layering direction, in that order. Of these layers, the half-cutting unit cuts all layers other than the separation sheet  101   d  (the cover film  103 , the adhesive layer  101   a , the base film  101   b , and the adhesive layer  101   c ). That is, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the half-cutting unit comprises, in this example, a receptacle  38  disposed in alignment with the fixed blade  40 , a half-cutter  34  configured to cut the layers other than the above described separation sheet  101   d  and disposed on the movable blade  41  side facing the receptacle  38 , a first guide part  36  disposed in alignment with the fixed blade  40 , between the fixed blade  40  and the receptacle  38 , and a second guide part  37  disposed in alignment with the movable blade  41 , facing this first guide part  36 . 
     In the above basic configuration, the special characteristics of this embodiment lie in the fact that the rotational driving of the driving roller  51  and the advancing and retreating movement of the blade part  45  of the movable blade  41  are performed by the driving force from the single common driving motor  43 . That is, according to this embodiment, the previously described advancing and retreating movement of the blade part  45  of the movable blade  41  with respect to the tape transport path, and the advancing and retreating movement of the pressure roller  52  with respect to the driving roller  51  are adjusted to a preferred mode in coordination with each other, according to the rotation of the driving motor  43  in this single direction. In the following, details on the functions will be described in order. 
     At the time of the above described coordination, a so-called crank and oscillating lever mechanism that converts rotational motion into advancing and retreating (translational back-and-forth) motion, for example, is used. That is, a substantially inverted triangle shaped support member  60  configured to rotatably support the pressure roller  52  pressed by the driving roller  51  at one end is disposed so that it can rotate (oscillate) via a rotating shaft  163  provided to that end. 
     The support member  60  is biased by a spring member  62  wound via the rotating shaft  163  so that the rear side that retreats from the tape transport path, that is, the pressure roller  52 , is separated from the driving roller  51 . Further, a boss  61  of a discharging cam that protrudes toward the movable blade  41  side and is capable of contacting a corner side outer edge  46 A of the handle part  46  of the movable blade  41  that is bent in a substantial inverted V shape is provided to the lower end of the support member  60 . Based on such a configuration, it is possible to rotate (oscillate) the support member  60  around the rotating shaft  163  by contacting and separating the above described outer edge  46 A of the handle part  46  of the movable blade  41  with and from the boss  61  of the discharging cam in coordination with the advancing and retreating movement of the blade part  45  of the movable blade  41  caused by the rotation of the driving motor  43  in the above described single direction. 
     Based on the above described configuration, the support member  60  is caused to oscillate around the rotating shaft  163  in coordination with the advancing and retreating movement of the movable blade  41 , thereby realizing the advancing and retreating movement of the pressure roller  52  with respect to the driving roller  51 . That is, the pressure roller  52  is capable of advancing and retreating between the contact position where the driving roller  51  can contact the label tape  109  with print positioned on the tape transport path with the driving roller  51  from the opposite side and insert the label tape  109  with print between itself and the driving roller  51 , and the separated position (the entire area from a most separated position to a slightly separated position) where the driving roller  51  separates from the label tape  109  with print positioned on the tape transport path in an amount equivalent to a predetermined distance (for the detailed movement mode, refer to  FIGS. 15-24  described later). 
     Control System 
     Next, the control system of the label producing apparatus  1  will be described with reference to  FIG. 10 . In  FIG. 10 , a control circuit  110  is disposed on a control board (not shown) of this label producing apparatus  1 . 
     A CPU  111  that internally comprises a timer  111 A and is configured to control each device, an input/output interface  113  connected to this CPU  111  via a data bus  112 , a CG ROM  114 , ROMs  115  and  116 , and a RAM  117  are provided to the control circuit  110 . 
     The CG ROM  114  stores dot pattern data corresponding with code data for each of the great number of characters, for example. 
     The ROM (dot pattern data memory)  115  classifies print dot pattern data on a per font (Gothic font, Ming-style font, etc.) basis, and stores the data correspondingly with the code data on a per font basis for the print character sizes of each font, in relation to the respective great number of characters used for printing characters such as letters, symbols, etc. Additionally, the ROM  115  also stores graphic pattern data for printing graphic images including gradation expressions. 
     The dot pattern data for display and printing that is stored in the CG ROM  114  and the ROM  115  above can be read from the PC  118  side via the above described communication line NW, and may be displayed on and printed from the PC  118  side that received the data. 
     The ROM  116  stores a print-head drive control program configured to read print buffer data in relation to the code data of the characters such as the letters and numbers inputted from the above described PC  118 , and drive the above described print head  23  and the feeding motor  119 , a pulse count determining program configured to determine a pulse count corresponding to the formation energy amount of each print dot, a cutting drive control program configured to drive the feeding motor  119  so as to feed the label tape  109  with print to the cutting position when printing is completed, and subsequently drive the above described driving motor  43  so as to cut the label tape  109  with print, a tape discharging program configured to drive the driving motor  43  so as to forcibly discharge the cut label tape  109  with print (the label L) from the label discharging exit  11 , and other various programs required for controlling the label producing apparatus  1 . The CPU  111  performs various operations based on such various programs stored in the ROM  116 . 
     The RAM  117  is provided with a text memory  117 A, a print buffer  117 B, a parameter storage area  117 E, and the like. The text memory  117 A stores document data inputted from the PC  118 . The print buffer  117 B stores dot patterns for printing a plurality of characters, symbols, and the like, as dot pattern data, and the print head  23  prints the dots in accordance with the dot pattern data stored in this print buffer  117 B. The parameter storage area  117 E stores the various operation data. 
     The PC  118 , the above described print-head driving circuit  120  for driving the print head  23 , a feeding motor driving circuit  121  for driving the feeding motor  119 , a driving circuit  122  for driving the driving motor  43 , a half-cutter motor driving circuit  128  for driving a half-cutter motor  129 , a tape cutting detection sensor  124 , and a cutting release detection sensor  125  are each connected to the input/output interface  113 . Note that, in a case where the half-cutter  34  is not provided as previously described, the half-cutter motor  129  and the half-cutter motor driving circuit  128  are omitted. 
     In such a control system with the control circuit  110  at its core, when character data and the like are inputted via the PC  118 , the text (document data) is sequentially stored in the text memory  117 A, the print head  23  is driven via the driving circuit  120 , and each heating element is selectively exothermically driven in accordance with the print dots of one line so as to print the dot pattern data stored in the print buffer  117 B, while the feeding motor  119  synchronously controls the feeding of the tape via the driving circuit  121 . 
     At this time, the tape cutting detection sensor  124  and the cutting release detection sensor  125  comprise a cutter helical gear cam  42 A provided so as to protrude in a flange shape in a predetermined circumferential range of the cylindrical outer wall of the cutter helical gear  42 , and a micro switch  126 , as shown in  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9 , etc. 
     Specifically, in a regular standby state (home position), the micro switch  126  is pressed by the action of the cutter helical gear cam  42 A, changing to an ON state (refer to  FIG. 15  described later). From this state, when the label tape  109  with print is cut as previously described, the cutter helical gear  42  rotates in a single direction (in the direction of the arrow  70  in  FIG. 8 ) by the driving motor  43 , causing the blade part  45  of the movable blade  41  to advance. Subsequently, at the timing in which the cutting of the label tape  109  with print is completed due to the advancing of the blade part  45  of the movable blade  41 , the micro switch  126  is no longer pressed since the cutter helical gear cam  42 A no longer exists in the circumferential position, and returns from the ON state to the OFF state (refer to  FIG. 20  and step S 65  of  FIG. 14  described later). As a result, completion of the cutting of the label tape  109  with print by the movable blade  41  is detected. The tape cutting detection sensor  124  is configured based on this process. 
     Further, when the cutter helical gear  42  further rotates in a single direction (in the direction of the arrow  70  of  FIG. 8 ), the cutter helical gear cam  42 A once again appears in a certain circumferential position, causing the micro switch  126  to be pressed and switch from the OFF state to the ON state (refer to  FIG. 24  and step S 70  of  FIG. 14  described later). As a result, the return of the movable blade  41  to the above described home position is detected. The cutting release detection sensor  125  is configured based on this process. 
     Label Configuration 
     As shown in  FIG. 11A ,  FIG. 11B ,  FIG. 12A , and  FIG. 12B , the label L formed upon completion of the cutting of the label tape  109  with print by the label producing apparatus  1  of a configuration such as previously described comprises a five-layer structure with the cover film  103  added to the four-layer structure shown in  FIG. 4  as previously described. That is, the label L is configured with five layers including the cover film  103 , the adhesive layer  101   a , the base film  101   b , the adhesive layer  101   c , and the separation sheet  101   d , from the cover film  103  side (the upper side in  FIG. 12 ) to the opposite side (lower side in  FIG. 12 ). Then, the label print R (the characters “ABCD” in this example) is printed on the back side of the cover film  103 . 
     Further, on the cover film  103 , the adhesive layer  101   a , the base film  101   b , and the adhesive layer  101   c  are formed half-cut lines HC (two lines in this example: a front half-cut line HC 1  and a rear half-cut line HC 2 ) substantially along the tape width direction by the above described half-cutter  34  as already described. On the cover film  103 , the area between these half-cut lines HC 1  and HC 2  is a print area S where the label print R is to be printed, and a front margin area  51  and a rear margin area S 2  are respectively formed on either side in the tape longitudinal direction from the print area S, with the half-cut lines HC 1  and HC 2  therebetween. 
     Note that, in a case where the half-cutting unit is omitted as previously described, the outer appearance changes to one where the above described half-cut lines HC 1  and HC 2  do not exist, as in  FIG. 11C  and  FIG. 11D  respectively corresponding to  FIG. 11A  and  FIG. 11B . 
     Control Procedure 
     Next, the control procedure executed by the above described control circuit  110  will be described with reference to  FIG. 13 . 
     In  FIG. 13 , the flow starts when a label producing operation is performed using the above described PC  118 , for example. First, in step S 1 , the control circuit  110  inputs an operation signal from the above described PC  118  (via the communication line NW and the input/output interface  113 ) and, based on this operation signal, executes a preparation process configured to generate print data and set the front/rear half-cut position, the full-cut position, etc. Note that, at this time, a print length L 1  described later is included in the above described print data. 
     In step S 5 , the control circuit  110  outputs a control signal to the feeding motor driving circuit  121  via the input/output interface  113 , causing the feeding roller  27  and the ribbon take-up roller  106  to be rotationally driven by the driving force of the feeding motor  121 . With these actions, the base tape  101  is fed out from the first roll  102  and supplied to the feeding roller  27 , while the cover film  103  is fed out from the second roll  104 . Then, the base tape  101  and the cover film  103  are adhered to each other by the above described feeding roller  27  and the pressure roller  28  so as to form a single tape, thereby forming the label tape  109  with print, which is then fed from the direction outside the cartridge  7  further toward the outside of the label producing apparatus  1 . 
     Subsequently, in step S 10 , the control circuit  110  determines whether or not a fed distance D by the tape feeding that was started in the above described step S 5  has reached a predetermined Do. This Do is a value that determines whether or not the leading edge of the above described print area S in the transport direction has arrived at a position directly opposite the print head  23  based on the aforementioned print data (in other words, whether or not the cover film  103  has arrived at the print start position of the print head  23 ). The value of Do is determined by the setting of the above described print area S as well as the preparation process of the above described step S 1 . Until D=Do and the cover film  103  arrives at the print start position, the decision is made that the condition of step S 10  is not satisfied, and the sequence loops and enters a standby state. Once the cover film  103  arrives at the print start position, the decision is made that the condition of step S 10  is satisfied, and the flow proceeds to step S 15 . 
     In step S 15 , the control circuit  110  outputs a control signal to the print-head driving circuit  120  via the input/output interface  113  so as to supply power to the print head  23  and start the printing of the label print R of the print length L 1 , such as characters, symbols, barcodes, or the like, corresponding to the print data generated in step S 1 , in the aforementioned print area S of the cover film  103 . 
     Subsequently, in step S 20 , the control circuit  110  determines whether or not the label tape  109  with print has been fed to the front half-cut position set in the previous step S 1  (in other words, whether or not the label tape  109  with print has arrived at the position where the half-cutter  34  of the half-cutting mechanism  35  is directly opposite the front half-cut line HC 1  set in step S 1 ). The decision at this time may be made by simply counting the pulse count output by the feeding motor driving circuit  121  configured to drive the feeding motor  119 , which is a pulse motor, after the timing of the above described step S 10 , and detecting whether or not the pulse count has reached a predetermined value, for example. Until the label tape  109  with print has arrived at the front half-cut position, the decision is made that the condition is not satisfied and this step is repeated. Once the label tape  109  with print arrives at the front half-cut position, the decision is made that the condition is satisfied, and the flow proceeds to step S 25 . 
     In step S 25 , the control circuit  110  outputs a control signal to the feeding motor driving circuit  121  via the input/output interface  113  so as to stop the driving of the feeding motor  119 , thereby stopping the rotation of the feeding roller  27  and the ribbon take-up roller  106 . With this arrangement, in the process wherein the label tape  109  with print fed out from the cartridge  7  moves in the discharging direction, the feed-out of the base tape  101  from the first roll  102 , the feed-out of the cover film  103  from the second roll  104 , and the feeding of the label tape  109  with print are stopped with the half-cutter  34  of the half-cutting mechanism  35  directly opposite the front half-cut line HC 1  set in step S 1 . At this time, the control circuit  110  also outputs a control signal to the print-head driving circuit  120  via the input/output interface  113  so as to stop the power supply to the print head  23 , thereby stopping (interrupting) the printing of the above described label print R. 
     Subsequently, in step S 30 , the control circuit  110  outputs a control signal to the half-cutter motor driving circuit  128  via the input/output interface  113  so as to drive the half-cutter motor  129  and rotate the half-cutter  34 , thereby cutting the cover film  103 , the adhesive layer  101   a , the base film  101   b , and the adhesive layer  101   c  of the label tape  109  with print and performing the front half-cutting process which forms the front half-cut line HC 1 . 
     Then, the flow proceeds to step S 35  where, similar to the above described step S 5 , the feeding roller  27  and the ribbon take-up roller  106  are rotationally driven so as to resume the feeding of the label tape  109  with print, and, similar to step S 15 , power is supplied to the print head  23  so as to resume the printing of the label print R. Note that, in a case where the half-cutter  34  is not provided as previously described, the above described steps S 20 , S 25 , S 30 , and S 35  are omitted. 
     In step S 250 , the control circuit  110  determines whether or not the fed distance D is greater than or equal to the print length L 1 , that is, whether or not the rear end of the above described print area S in the transport direction has arrived at a position directly opposite the print head  23  (in other words, whether or not the cover film  103  has arrived at the print start position of the print head  23 ). This decision at this time can also be made by counting the pulse count that drives the feeding motor  119 , as described above. Until D≧L 1  and the cover film  103  arrives at the print end position, the decision is made that the condition is not satisfied and this step is repeated. Once the cover film  103  arrives at the print end position, the decision is made that the condition is satisfied, and the flow proceeds to step S 260 . 
     In step S 260 , similar to the above described step S 25 , the power supply to the print head  23  is stopped, thereby stopping the printing of the above described label print R. As a result, the printing of the label print R in the print area S of the cover film  103  is completed. 
     Subsequently, the flow proceeds to step S 270  where a rear half-cutting process in which the half-cutter  34  of the half-cutting unit  35  forms the rear half-cut line HC 2  after tape feeding is performed to the rear half-cut position set in a fixed manner at a predetermined position from the rear end of the above described print area S (set in step S 1 ). 
     Then, the flow proceeds to step S 45  where the control circuit  110  determines whether or not the label tape  109  has arrived at a position where a cut line CL (set in step S 1 ) of the label tape  109  with print is directly opposite the movable blade  41  of the cutting mechanism  15  (in other words, whether or not the label tape  109  with print was fed to the full-cut position). This decision at this time can also be made by counting the pulse count that drives the feeding motor  119 , as described above. Until the label tape  109  with print arrives at the full-cut position, the decision is made that the condition is not satisfied and this step is repeated. Once the label tape  109  with print arrives at the full-cut position, the decision is made that the condition is satisfied, and the flow proceeds to step S 50 . 
     In step S 50 , similar to the above described step S 25 , the rotation of the feeding roller  27  and the ribbon take-up roller  106  is stopped, thereby stopping the feeding of the label tape  109  with print. With this arrangement, the feed-out of the base tape  101  from the first roll  102 , the feed-out of the cover film  103  from the second roll  104 , and the feeding of the label tape  109  with print are stopped with the movable blade  41  of the cutting mechanism  15  directly opposite the cut line CL set in step S 1 . 
     Subsequently, in step S 55 , the control circuit  110  outputs a control signal to the motor driving circuit  122  so as to drive the driving motor  43  and rotate the movable blade  41  of the cutting mechanism  15 , thereby performing a cutting and discharging process wherein the cover film  103 , the adhesive layer  101   a , the base film  101   b , the adhesive layer  101   c , and the separation sheet  101   d  of the label tape  109  with print are all cut (scissioned) to form the cut line CL, and the cut label L is discharged (refer to  FIG. 14  for details). According to this cutting and discharging process, the label L of a label shape on which desired printing was performed is generated by detaching the label tape  109  with print by the scission performed by the cutting mechanism  15  and then inserting the label tape  109  with print between the driving roller  51  and the pressure roller  52  to discharge the label tape  109  with print. This process then terminates here. 
     The detailed procedure of the cutting and discharging process of the above described step S 55  will now be described with reference to  FIG. 14 . Note that, as previously described, at the point in time when this flow starts, the movable blade  41  is returned to its home position, and the micro switch  126  of the cutting release detection sensor  125  is pressed by the cutter helical gear cam  42 A and already in the ON state. 
     First, in step S 60 , the control circuit  110  outputs a control signal to the driving circuit  122  so as to start the driving of the driving motor  43  in the above described single direction. With this arrangement, the cutter helical gear  42  rotates in a corresponding direction, and the cutting of the label tape  109  with print by the movable blade  41  as well as the discharging of the label L by the driving roller  51  and the pressure roller  52  coordinated therewith start (the detailed mode of coordination is described later). 
     Subsequently, the flow proceeds to step S 65  where the control circuit  110  determines whether or not the rotation of the above described cutter helical gear  42  caused the aforementioned cutter helical gear cam  42 A to no longer exist, thereby switching the micro switch  126  from the ON state to the OFF state. If the micro switch  126  switched from the ON state to the OFF state, the decision is made that the condition is satisfied and, as previously described, the cutting of the label tape  109  with print by the movable blade  41  is regarded as completed, and the flow proceeds to step S 70 . 
     In step S 70 , the control circuit  110  determines whether or not the cutter helical gear  42  has further rotated, causing the appearance of the aforementioned cutter helical gear cam  42 A to switch the micro switch  126  from the OFF state to the ON state. If the micro switch  126  switched from the OFF state to the ON state, the decision is made that the condition is satisfied, the movable blade  41  is regarded as having returned to its home position, and the flow proceeds to step S 75 . 
     In step S 75 , the control circuit  110  outputs a control signal to the driving circuit  122  so as to stop the driving of the driving motor  43 . As a result, the rotation of the cutter helical gear  42  stops, and the movable blade  41  changes to a standby state, waiting for the next operation in its home position. 
     Coordinated Movement of Movable Blade Advancing and Retreating and Pressure Roller Advancing and Retreating 
     Next, the details of the coordination between the aforementioned advancing and retreating movement of the blade part  45  of movable blade  41  with respect to the tape transport path and the advancing and retreating movement of the pressure roller  52  with respect to the driving roller  51  will be described. 
     According to this embodiment, the most significant characteristics lie in the fact that the above described advancing and retreating movement of the movable blade  41  and the advancing and retreating movement of the pressure roller  52  are coordinated so that the pressure roller  52  contacts the label tape  109  with print for a predetermined time period after the cutting of the label tape  109  with print is completed by the movable blade  41 , at the least. In particular, in this example, the above described predetermined time period is configured so that the pressure roller  52  contacts the label tape  109  with print until the rear end of the label L arrives at the driving roller  51 . 
     Then, during the above, until the cutting of the label tape  109  with print is completed by the movable blade  41 , at the latest, the pressure roller  52  is configured to advance from the previously described separated position to the tape transport path and contact the label tape  109  with print. Furthermore, until the movable blade  41  contacts and starts cutting the label tape  109  with print positioned on the tape transport path, at the latest, the pressure roller  52  is configured to be in a position retreated from the tape transport path to the rear side. 
     The following describes the functions of the above described coordination mode in order, based on  FIGS. 15-24 . 
     First, the blade part  45  of the movable blade  41  of the cutting mechanism  15  is initially in a standby state (refer to  FIG. 15 ) at its home position, separated from the label tape  109  with print positioned on the transport path, as previously described. In this example, in this state, the boss  50  is in the same horizontal height position as viewed from the center of the cutter helical gear  42 . Note that, as previously described, the micro switch  126  of the cutting release detection sensor  125  is already in the ON state at this point in time. 
     Subsequently, the driving motor  43  starts rotating. This rotational driving force is transmitted to the cutter helical gear  42  via the gear train  43 A as previously described, and the rotation of this cutter helical gear  42  causes the blade part  45  of the movable blade  41  to start advancing toward the label tape  109  with print. Further, the above described rotational driving force is transmitted to the roller shaft  51   a  by the above described gear train  43 A, causing the driving roller  51  to also start rotating. Note, however, that the outer edge  46 A of the handle part  46  of the movable blade  41  is separated from the boss  61  of the support member  60  at this point in time. As a result, since the support member  60  is biased toward the spring member  62 , the pressure roller  52  maintains its initial state in which it is retreated rearward from the tape transport path and separated from the driving roller  51 . Accordingly, while the driving roller  51  positioned on one side of the label tape  109  with print positioned on the tape transport path is rotating very near the label tape  109  with print, the pressure roller  52  positioned on the other side is separated from the label tape  109  with print, causing the friction force to substantially not act between the label tape  109  with print and the driving roller  51  and the rotation of the driving roller  51  to not be transmitted to the label tape  109  with print (if the driving roller  51  makes contact, the driving roller  51  simply glides over the label tape  109  with print). Accordingly, the label tape  109  with print is not fed in the direction of the label discharging exit  11 . 
     Subsequently, when the cutter helical gear  42  further rotates due to the rotation of the driving motor  43 , rotating 85° from the position of the above described home position, the blade part  45  of the movable blade  41  starts cutting the label tape  109  with print (refer to  FIG. 16 ). In this state as well, the outer edge  46 A of the movable blade  41  is separated from the boss  61  of the support member  60 . 
     Subsequently, the cutter helical gear  42  further rotates due to the rotation of the driving motor  43 , causing the blade part  45  of the movable blade  41  to proceed cutting the label tape  109  with print in the width direction (vertical direction in the figure). Then, when the cutter helical gear  42  rotates 102° from the position of the above described home position, the outer edge  46 A of the movable blade  41  contacts the boss  61  of the support member  60  (refer to  FIG. 17 ). 
     With the above described contact between the outer edge  46 A and the boss  61 , the support member  60  then starts rotating in the clockwise direction as shown around the rotating shaft  163  as the blade part  45  of the movable blade  41  starts advancing toward the tape transport path. As a result, the pressure roller  52  starts advancing toward the tape transport path, approaching the driving roller  51 . Then, when the cutter helical gear  42  further rotates due to the rotation of the driving motor  43 , rotating 132° from the position of the above described home position, the pressure roller  52  that advanced as described above contacts the label tape  109  with print. As a result, the label tape  109  with print is inserted between and pressed by the pressure roller  52  and the driving roller  51 , and the rotation of the driving roller  51  starts to be transmitted to the label tape  109  with print. Note that, at this point in time, the blade part  45  of the movable blade  41  has cut approximately one-half of the length of the width dimension of the label tape  109  with print, for example, and the remaining approximate one-half remains uncut. That is, the label tape  109  with print is gripped by having been cut into by the blade part  45  of the movable blade  41  partway in the width direction, causing gliding to occur with the driving roller  51  and the label tape  109  with print not be fed in the direction of the label discharging exit  11 , even if the rotation of the driving roller  51  is transmitted as described above (refer to  FIG. 18 ). 
     Subsequently, when the cutter helical gear  42  further rotates due to the rotation of the driving motor  43 , causing the blade part  45  of the movable blade  41  to proceed cutting and the cutter helical gear  42  to rotate 170° from the position of the above described home position, the cutting (full-cut) of the entire width dimension of the label tape  109  with print by the blade part  45  of the movable blade  41  is completed (refer to  FIG. 19 ). As a result, the transmission of the rotation of the driving roller  51  by the driving force of the driving motor  43  starts feeding the label tape  109  with print toward the label discharging exit  11 . Note that, at this time, the fixed blade  40  and the blade part  45  of the movable blade  41  are in a state of zero overlap in which they are not shearing against each other. 
     Subsequently, when the cutter helical gear  42  further rotates due to the rotation of the driving motor  43 , rotating 183° from the position of the above described home position, the cutter helical gear cam  42 A of the cutter helical gear  42  that had pressed the micro switch  126  up to this time disappears (or its height decreases; refer to  FIG. 20 ). As a result, the micro switch  126  switches to the OFF state, and the above described control circuit detects the completion of the cutting of the label tape  109  with print (refer to step S 65  of  FIG. 14 ). 
     Subsequently, when the cutter helical gear  42  further rotates due to the rotation of the driving motor  43 , rotating 205° from the position of the above described home position, the fixed blade  40  and the blade part  45  of the movable blade  41  shear against each other, overlapping a predetermined amount (refer to  FIG. 21 ). 
     Subsequently, when the cutter helical gear  42  further rotates due to the rotation of the driving motor  43 , the movable blade  41  starts rotating around the above described rotating shaft from a certain point in time in a direction that causes the blade part  45  to separate from the tape transport path (in the counterclockwise direction in the figure) by the action of the shape and orientation of the long hole  49  of the handle part  46  of the movable blade  41 . As a result, the blade part  45  starts to separate from the label tape  109  with print. Further, with this, the support member  60  that caused the boss  61  to contact the above described outer edge  46 A of the movable blade  41  and had integrally oscillated therewith starts rotating in the direction opposite the direction until then (the counterclockwise direction in the figure), around the above described rotating shaft  163  as well. Then, when the cutter helical gear  42  rotates 268° from the position of the above described home position, the pressure roller  52  supported by the support member  60  separates rearward away from the tape transport path of the label tape  109  with print (to the left side in the figure) due to the rotation of the above described support member  60  in the opposite direction (refer to  FIG. 22 ). That is, the feeding rate as well as the shape, dimension, material, and the like of each component are set so that, once the rotation of the driving roller  51  caused by the driving force of the driving motor  43  is transmitted and the feeding of the label tape  109  with print starts in  FIG. 19 , at least the rear end of the label L generated by the cutting of the label tape  109  with print arrives at the position of the driving roller  51  within the period up to the state in  FIG. 22 , thereby causing the label L to be reliably discharged from the label discharging exit  11 . 
     Subsequently, when the cutter helical gear  42  further rotates due to the rotation of the driving motor  43 , causing the blade part  45  of the movable blade  41  to further retreat and separate from the tape transport path and the cutter helical gear  42  to rotate 284° from the position of the above described home position, the support member  60  returns to its initial state corresponding to the aforementioned home position. As a result, the contact between the outer edge  46 A of the movable blade  41  and the boss  61  of the support member  60  hereinafter terminates and the outer edge  46 A separates from the boss  61 . 
     Subsequently, when the cutter helical gear  42  further rotates due to the rotation of the driving motor  43 , rotating 354° from the position of the above described home position, the cutter helical gear cam  42 A of the cutter helical gear  42  appears (or its height increases), pressing and changing the micro switch  126  to the ON state. With this arrangement, the above described control circuit detects that the movable blade  41  has returned to the above described home position (refer to step S 70  of  FIG. 14 ). 
     As described above, in this embodiment, the rotational driving of the driving roller  51  and the advancing and retreating movement of the moveable blade  41  are performed by the driving force from the single common driving motor  43 . The driving roller  51  is directly connected to and rotates with the rotational driving of the driving motor  43  in a single direction, and thus always rotates when the driving motor  43  is rotationally driven. The pressure roller  52  is provided so that it can advance and retreat to and from the transport path of the label tape  109  with print. When the pressure roller  52  advances and contacts the label tape  109  with print on the transport path, it inserts the label tape  109  with print between itself and the pressure roller  51 . As a result, the rotational driving force of the driving roller  51  acts on the label tape  109  via a friction force, feeding the label tape  109  in the discharging direction. Conversely, when the pressure roller  52  is in a position separated from the label tape  109  with print, that rotational driving force is not transmitted to the label tape  109  and the label tape  109  is not discharged, even if the driving roller  51  has rotated due to the rotational driving of the driving motor  43  as described above. 
     On the other hand, the cutting of the label tape  109  with print by the advancing and retreating movement of the moveable blade  41  with respect to the tape transport path is also performed by utilizing the driving force of the driving motor  43  such as described above. However, since it is difficult to cut the label tape  109  with print while the label tape  109  with print is moving, the label tape  109  with print must be completely stopped and not moving during cutting. In response, the above described advancing and retreating movement of the pressure roller  52  and the movable blade  41  is mutually coordinated as previously described with respect to the driving roller  51  that always rotates when the driving motor  43  is rotating. 
     That is, during cutting, the label tape  109  with print is not inserted between the pressure roller  52  and the driving roller  51  to the extent possible, and the driving force is not transmitted to the label tape  109  with print to the extent possible (from the state of  FIG. 16  to the state immediately prior to that of  FIG. 18 ). With this arrangement, it is possible to perform cutting smoothly. Further, when tape cutting is completed, the label tape  109  with print is inserted between the pressure roller  52  and the driving roller  51 , and the driving force is transmitted to the label tape  109  with print (from the state of  FIG. 19  to the state immediately prior to that of  FIG. 22 ). With this arrangement, it is possible to feed out the cut label tape  109  with print, that is, the label L, in the discharging direction. Further, after cutting is completed, the contact between the pressure roller  52  and the label tape  109  with print is maintained for a predetermined time period (until the state immediately prior to that of  FIG. 22 ), causing the discharging movement of the above described label L to continue for a predetermined time period. As a result, the label L generated by the above described cutting can be reliably discharged to outside the apparatus by sufficiently lengthening the predetermined time period. 
     As described above, in this embodiment, it is possible to smoothly and reliably cut the label tape  109  with print by the movable blade  41  and subsequently discharge the label L utilizing the driving force of the single common driving motor  43 . Accordingly, compared to a case where two motors, a motor for driving the movable blade  41  and a motor for discharging the label L, are provided separately, it is possible to decrease the number of motors. As a result, the size and weight of the overall apparatus can be reduced, and a cost reduction can also be achieved. 
     Further, the pressure roller  52  and the movable blade  41  advance and retreat in coordination so that the pressure roller  52  is in the contact position for a period from cutting completion of the label tape  109  with print by the movable blade  41  to the arrival of the label L rear end at the driving roller  51  as the predetermined time period. With this arrangement, it is possible to reliably discharge the label L generated by the cutting to outside the apparatus. 
     Furthermore, by the time the movable blade  41  completes cutting the label tape  109  with print, at the latest, the pressure roller  52  and the movable blade  41  are caused to advance and retreat in coordination so that the pressure roller  52  advances from the separated position and contacts the label tape  109  with print (in this example, the pressure roller  52  contacts the label tape  109  with print in the state of  FIG. 18  prior to the state of  FIG. 19  where the cutting of the label tape  109  with print is completed). With this arrangement, by the time the tape cutting is completed, at the least, the label tape  109  with print is inserted between the pressure roller  52  and the driving roller  51 , making it possible to transmit the driving force of the driving roller  51  to the label tape  109  with print and promptly start the feeding of the cut label tape  109  with print, that is, the label L, in the discharging direction in a reliable manner. 
     Further, by the time the movable blade  41  contacts and starts cutting the label tape  109  with print positioned on the tape transport path, at the latest, the pressure roller  52  and the movable blade  41  are caused to advance and retreat in coordination so that the pressure roller  52  separates from the transport path of the label tape  109  with print (in this example, the pressure roller  52  is already separated from the transport path of the label tape  109  with print in the state of  FIG. 15  prior to the state of  FIG. 16  in which cutting is started). With this arrangement, when the motor rotates in a single direction and the movable blade  41  advances toward the label tape  109  with print side positioned on the tape transport path, the pressure roller  52  is separated from the label tape  109  with print. With this arrangement, by the time cutting starts, at the least, the label tape  109  with print is not inserted between the pressure roller  52  and the driving roller  51 , making it possible to not transmit the driving power of the driving roller  51  that rotates in accordance with the rotation of the above described motor to the label tape  109  with print. As a result, it is possible to reliably and smoothly start cutting. 
     Further, in particular, according to this embodiment, the tape guide part  55 A is provided. With the guide function of this tape guide part  55 A, even when the leading edge of the label tape  109  with print fed on the tape transport path arrives at the position of the driving roller  51 , the label tape  109  with print does not contact the driving roller  51  (in a rotation stopped state prior to the start of the cutting movement of the movable blade  41 ), as previously described. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of feeding failures and tape jams caused by the label tape  109  with print getting caught due to contact with the driving roller  51 . 
     Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the above described embodiment, and various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 
     (1) When the Roller is Driving During Introduction of the Label Tape 
     That is, in the above described embodiment, the guide part  55 A is provided so that feeding failures and tape jams do not occur due to contact with the driving roller  51  when the leading edge of the label tape  109  with print fed on the tape transport path arrives at the position of the driving roller  51 . According to this modification, instead of the provision of this guide part  55 A, the driving roller  51  is driven at a predetermined timing close to when the leading edge of the label tape  109  with print arrives at the position of the driving roller  51  (in advance of the timing at which the cutting by the movable blade  41  is performed). 
     Specifically, according to this modification, control is performed so that the driving motor  43  is rotated in a single direction in a time range around when the leading edge of the fed label tape  109  with print arrives near the driving roller  51 , within a predetermined time range when the advancing and retreating movable blade  41  does not contact and start cutting the label tape  109  with print, i.e., in the range where the above described cutter helical gear  42  is at a slight rotational angle from the position of the above described home position, for example. The control procedure executed by the above described control circuit  110  of this modification will now be described with reference to  FIG. 25  and  FIG. 26 . 
     In  FIG. 25 , the flow of this modification differs in that step S 80  and step S 85  are newly provided between step S 270  and step S 45  of the flow of  FIG. 13 . 
     That is, when the rear half-cutting process ends in step S 270  as described above, the flow proceeds to the newly provided step S 80 . In step S 80 , the control circuit  110  determines whether or not the fed distance D is equivalent to a distance L 2  or greater. This distance L 2  is a distance along the transport path of the label tape  109  with print, from the movable blade  41  of the cutting mechanism  15  to the driving roller  51 , and is stored in a suitable location (in the ROM  116 , etc.) as a specific value in the label producing apparatus  1  in advance. 
     With this arrangement, the control circuit  110  determines whether or not the leading edge of the label tape  109  with print in the transport direction has arrived at the position of the driving roller  51 . This decision at this time can also be made by counting the pulse count that drives the feeding motor  119 , as previously described, for example. Until D≧L 2 , the decision is made that the condition is not satisfied and the step is repeated. When D≧L 2 , the decision is made that the condition is satisfied and the flow proceeds to step S 85 . 
     In step S 85 , a tape introduction process in which the control circuit  110  outputs a control signal to the motor driving circuit  122  so as to drive the driving motor  43 , causing the driving roller  51  to rotate for a predetermined time period (described later) and thus smoothly introduce the leading edge of the label tape  109  with print along the transport path is performed (for details, refer to  FIG. 26 ). The subsequent steps S 45  and thereafter are the same as those of  FIG. 13 , and descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
       FIG. 26  shows the detailed procedure of step S 85 . As previously described, at the point in time in which this flow starts, the movable blade  41  is returned to its home position. In  FIG. 26 , first, in step S 120 , the control circuit  110  outputs a control signal to the driving circuit  122  so as to start the driving of the driving motor  43  in the above described single direction. As a result, the rotation of the driving roller  51  starts. 
     Subsequently, the flow proceeds to step S 125  where the control circuit  110  determines whether or not a predetermined time period to (for example, to=100 msec) defined in advance has elapsed since the above described step S 120 . If to has elapsed, the decision is made that the condition is satisfied, and the flow proceeds to step S 130 . 
     In step S  130 , the control circuit  110  outputs a control signal to the driving circuit  122 , stopping the driving of the driving motor  43 . As a result, the rotation of the driving roller  51  stops. With the above, when the leading edge of the label tape  109  with print in the transport direction arrives at the position of the driving roller  51 , the driving roller  51  rotates for a period equivalent to the time period to. 
     Note that the cutter helical gear  42  rotates from the home position in an amount equivalent to a predetermined angle range as previously described due to the driving of the driving motor  43  of this time period to and, as a result, the blade part  45  of the movable blade  41  moves slightly from the home position to the transport path side of the label tape  109  with print. Accordingly, in the subsequent cutting and discharging process of step S 55  of  FIG. 25 , the process is started from this slightly moved state. 
     According to this modification, when the leading edge of the label tape  109  with print fed on the tape transport path arrives at the position of the driving roller  51 , the driving roller  51  rotates based on the control of the driving motor  43 , making it possible to smoothly bring in the label tape  109  with print while contacting the leading edge. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of feeding failures and tape jams caused by the label tape  109  with print contacting and getting caught on the driving roller  51  in a stopped state. At this time, the above described control rotates the driving motor  43  for rotating the above described driving roller  51  for a time period restricted to a predetermined time period range to around when the leading edge of the label tape  109  with print arrives near the driving roller  51  as described above. With this arrangement, is it possible to prevent the movable blade  41  from mistakenly contacting and starting to cut the label tape  109  with print, based on the rotation of the motor for bringing in the above described tape leading edge. 
     (2) Other 
     While the above employs a method wherein printing is performed on the cover film  103  separate from the base tape  101  and then the two are bonded together, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the present disclosure may also be applied to a method (a type that does not perform bonding) wherein printing is performed on the print-receiving tape layer provided to the base tape. 
     Further, while in the above the label producing apparatus  1  is connected to the PC  118  via the communication line NW, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, all of the functions of the above described PC  118 , etc., may be provided to the label producing apparatus  1  side (in other words, a stand-alone type label producing apparatus is acceptable). 
     Further, the arrows shown in  FIG. 10 , etc., denote an example of signal flow, but the signal flow direction is not limited thereto. 
     Also note that the present disclosure is not limited to the procedure illustrated in the above described flowcharts of the above described  FIG. 13 ,  FIG. 14 ,  FIG. 25 ,  FIG. 26 , etc., and additions and deletions as well as sequence changes to the procedure may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 
     Further, other than that already stated above, techniques based on the above described embodiments and each of the modifications may be suitably utilized in combination as well. 
     Although other examples are not individually described herein, various changes can be made according to the present disclosure without deviating from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.