Patent Publication Number: US-7900675-B2

Title: Label printer

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is based on, and claims priority from, International Application No. PCT/JP06/300466, filed Jan. 17, 2006, and Japan Application Number 2005-017671, filed Jan. 26, 2005, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a label printer, in particular to a label printer suitable for sticking a first label and a second label to an object so as to be stuck in a state that the second label is positioned at an adhesive layer side of the first label and sandwiched between the object and the first label. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Recently, accompanying a global-wide expansion of the Internet, TV shopping and the like, in addition to a conventional over-the-counter sale, mail-order sale has come into wide use. In the mail-order sale, a deliverer delivers an article in place of a seller, and as common payment methods for the cost arisen from that, payment by bank transfer, credit card, postal transfer, and payment through a convenience store are widely employed. On the other hand, a method of payment-on-delivery is often employed by many consumers, who don&#39;t like the idea of going to a monetary institution or the like, or consumers, who are afraid of leaking their private information. 
     In the case of the payment-on-delivery, since the deliverer functions as a money collector as well in place of a seller, when handing over an article to a consumer to receive money, the deliverer has to issue a receipt. Since the receipt has such nature that the value of the packed article can be comprehended from the sum of money, the information should be concealed in view of eliminating the risk of theft. Also, article name or the like indicating the content of the packed article is information to be concealed relevant to privacy of the consumer. Particularly, article name or the like is deemed as information that should be concealed even from the deliverer. 
     In view of this point, when the delivery slip has a structure such that a plurality of forms is laminated and bundled, the article can be handed over to the consumer in a state that confidentiality is ensured by printing the receipt and article name in a part of the delivery slip. However, when a delivery slip of this type is employed, the available label printer is limited. 
     To eliminate such limitation on the printer, a sheet type delivery slip needs to be employed. With the sheet type delivery slip, however, confidential information to be concealed from others is also seen from the outside. 
     A patent document 1 discloses a label used as a sheet type delivery slip. The label is a sheet type label including a confidential information form portion formed continuous with an open information form portion. The label is arranged in such a manner that the confidential information form portion is turned back to the rear face side of the open information form portion, and the open information form portion is stuck to the object, whereby the confidential information form portion is concealed from the outside.
         [Patent document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-246882       

     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Problem to be Solved by the Invention 
     However, a label described in the patent document 1 has such a disadvantage that the label requires a step to be folded back by hand. Also, in the label, an adhesive layer is not exposed all around the peripheral area of the label folded back to the rear face side, but is exposed in a partial area. That is, there is such a disadvantage that an area of the label along a fold line is left in a state unstuck to the object; and accordingly, apart of peripheral portion of the stuck label floats up and waves resulting in an unintended peel-off of the label. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been proposed in view of the foregoing disadvantages. It is an object of the present invention to provide a label printer capable of automatically laminating large and small labels, and suitable for printing confidential information on a label with a smaller plane area and sticking the label in a state being concealed between a label with a larger plane area and the object. 
     Means for Solving Problem 
     To achieve the above-described object, a label printer according to the present invention includes: a feed-out means that feeds out a raw strip sheet temporarily stuck with a first label and a second label having a smaller plane area than that of the first label on one surface of a release liner; a printing means that performs printing on the first and second labels on the way of feeding out the raw strip sheet; a peeling means that peels off the first and second labels from the release liner; first and second label holding means that hold the first and second labels each peeled off by the peeling means; and a laminating means that laminates the first and second labels in such a manner that an adhesive layer of the second label faces an adhesive layer of the first label. 
     The present invention employs an arrangement that the second label is laminated on the first label in such a manner that the adhesive layer of the first label is exposed in a closed loop manner in an outer peripheral side of the second label. 
     Also, an arrangement is employed that the first label holding means is supported by a cylinder device and is arranged to be movable forward and backward with respect to a predetermined object, and when the first label holding means is pressed against the object, the second label is sandwiched between the first label and the object via the adhesive layer exposed in the outer periphery side of the first label. 
     Further, the first and second label holding means respectively include a first label suction plate and a second label suction plate, and the second suction plate is arranged to be movable forward and backward along a label feed-out direction. 
     Furthermore, such an arrangement is employed that the first label is formed with a tear-off line within a face thereof for permitting the first label to be partially torn off in a state being laminated with the second label. 
     On this occasion, a notch portion may be formed at a predetermined portion along the tear-off line, and the notch portion may form a roll-up portion after the second label is stuck in a state being sandwiched between the first label and the object. 
     Further, each of the label suction faces of the first holding means and second holding means is arranged to substantially correspond to the plane area of each of the first and second labels. 
     EFFECT OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the label printer of the present invention, since the second label is formed smaller than the first label in plane area and, after laminating the second label on the first label, the labels are stuck with the second label sandwiched between the first label and the object, the entire peripheral area of the first label can be stuck to the object. Accordingly, partial floating or the like in the outer periphery of the stuck label can be prevented effectively; and thus, the information printed on the second label can be completely concealed. 
     Also, since the second label suction plate is arranged movably forward and backward along the feed out direction of the label, positional adjustment is possible along the feed-out direction when sticking the second label to the adhesive layer side of the first label. 
     Further, by forming the tear-off line and the notch portion within a surface of the first label, the second label can be torn off easily along with a part of the first label; and the roll-up portion can be used on the tearing off. 
     Furthermore, since the label suction faces of the first holding means and the second holding means substantially correspond to the plane area of the first and second labels respectively, the suction position between the labels can be adjusted with great ease; and thus the accuracy of the laminating position between the first and second labels can be satisfactorily ensured. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic front view of a label printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic plan view of an essential portion in the label printer. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic plan view of the essential portion showing a state that a second label suction plate has moved to a peel plate side. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic side view of the label printer. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic side view showing a state that the second label suction plate has rotated to a bottom face side of the first label suction plate. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic side view showing a state that first and second labels are stuck onto an object in a laminated state. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic perspective view showing a state that the labels are stuck to the object. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic perspective view showing a state that an inner portion of the labels stuck on the object is torn off along a perforated line. 
     
    
    
     EXPLANATION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           10 : label printer 
           11 : support roll (feed-out means) 
           12 : printing means 
           13 : peeling means 
           15 : first label holding means 
           16 : second label holding means 
           17 : laminating means 
           27 : peel plate 
           30 : first label suction plate 
           31 : second label suction plate 
           33 : cylinder device 
           52 : forward/backward movement device 
         L 1 : first label 
         L 2 : second label 
         M: raw strip sheet 
         S: release liner 
       
    
     BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Now, referring to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described. 
       FIG. 1  shows a schematic front view of a label printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  shows a schematic plan view thereof. Referring to these figures, a label printer  10  includes a printer case C; a support roll  11  provided within the printer case C and serving as a feed-out means that supports a raw strip sheet M, which is temporarily stuck with first and second labels L 1 , L 2  on one surface of a strip of release liner S, so as to be capable of feeding out the raw strip sheet M therefrom; a printing means  12  that performs printing on the first and second labels L 1 , L 2  on the way of feeding out the raw strip sheet M; a peeling means  13  that peels off the first and second labels L 1 , L 2  from the release liner S; first and second label holding means  15 ,  16  that hold the first and second labels L 1 , L 2 , respectively, which are peeled off by the peeling means  13 ; a laminating means  17  that laminates the first and second labels L 1 , L 2  in such a manner that an adhesive layer of the second label L 2  faces an adhesive layer of the first label; a feed-out force imparting means  18  that imparts a feed-out force to the raw strip sheet M; and a winding means  19  that winds the release liner S from which the first and second labels L 1 , L 2  have been peeled off. It should be noted that the printer case C is formed with a discharge port (not shown) which discharges the first and second labels L 1 , L 2  through a front area of the peeling means  13  (left-hand side in  FIG. 1 ). 
     The raw strip sheet M in this embodiment includes the first and second labels L 1 , L 2 , which are temporarily stuck on one surface of the release liner S as shown in  FIG. 2 . The first and second labels L 1 , L 2  are arranged as a set, in which a pair of the first and second labels L 1 , L 2 , one each, is aligned along a width direction of the release liner S (vertical direction in  FIG. 2 ), and plural sets thereof are disposed intermittently at predetermined intervals along an extending direction of the release liner S. The second label L 2  is formed to have a plane area smaller than that of the first label L 1 . Specifically, the second label L 2  is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, the length (right-left dimension in  FIG. 2 ) and the width (vertical dimension in  FIG. 2 ) of which are smaller than the length and width of the first label L 1 . Also, the second label L 2  and the first label L 1  are arranged so that the respective tail end L 2   e  and tail end L 1   e  are aligned on a substantially same line along the width direction of the release liner S whereby the peeling-start timing of the second label L 2  slightly delays relative to the peeling-start timing of the first label L 1 ; and the respective peeling-end timings substantially coincide with each other. The first and second labels L 1 , L 2  are temporarily stuck on the release liner S via an adhesive layer formed on the rear surface side thereof. The raw strip sheet M is formed in such a manner that incisions (half-cut) corresponding to the configurations of the first and second labels L 1 , L 2  are formed at predetermined intervals in a strip of label base material, which has an identical width to that of the release liner S, and the label base material located at the peripheral side of the labels L 1 , L 2  is peeled off as a waste. It is noted that when a die-cut device for forming the half-cut and a waste winding device are provided within the label printer  10 , the printing can be also carried out on the first and second labels L 1 , L 2  while forming the first and second labels L 1 , L 2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in each surface of the first labels L 1  is formed with a perforated line PL as a tear-off line corresponding to the outer size of the second label L 2 . The perforated line PL is formed for permitting an inner area excluding an outer area of the first label L 1  to be torn off along with the second label L 2 , after the labels L 1 , L 2  are laminated in such a manner that the adhesive layer of the second label L 2  faces the rear surface, i.e., the adhesive layer of the first label L 1 . In place of the perforated line PL, a continuous incision may be formed. Formed in a corner area of the perforated line PL is a roll-up portion La formed by removing a part of the first label L 1 . The roll-up portion La facilitates the roll-up operation when tearing the inner area of the first label L 1  at the position of the perforated line PL along with the second label L 2 . In this embodiment, in the case where the object is, for example, a home-delivery article, on the first label L 1 , non-confidential information such as receiver&#39;s address and sender&#39;s name of the article is printed; and on the second label L 2 , confidential information that should be concealed is printed. 
     The printing means  12  includes a ribbon holding roll  20  that holds an ink ribbon R wound in a roll-like shape; a printing head  21  that prints predetermined printing information with the ink ribbon R, which is fed out from the ribbon holding roll  20  and wound thereon; a platen roll  22  facing the printing head  21  interposing the raw strip sheet M therebetween; a ribbon winding roll  23  for the ink ribbon R; and a driving device (not shown) that drives to rotate the ribbon winding roll  23 . In the present embodiment, the printing head  21  is composed of a thermal head that performs the printing on the first and second labels L 1 , L 2  and the printing is performed using the ink ribbon R. However, when the first and second labels L 1 , L 2  are formed of a heat sensitive paper, the ink ribbon R is not necessary. Further, an ink jet printer, a laser printer or the like may be employed in place of the thermal head. 
     The peeling means  13  is composed of a peel plate  27  disposed at the downstream side in the feed-out direction of the raw strip sheet M with respect to the printing head  21 , and is arranged so that the raw strip sheet M is sharply turned over at the front-end position of the peel plate  27  thereby peeling off the first and second labels L 1 , L 2  from the release liner S. 
     The first and second label holding means  15 ,  16  include first and second label suction plates  30 ,  31 , each having a suction face at the bottom face side thereof which has a plane area substantially corresponding to each plane area of the first and second labels L 1 , L 2 . The first and second label suction plates  30 ,  31  are disposed in lower portion between a rear frame F 1 , which is fixed to the front-end face (left end face in  FIG. 1 ) of the printer case C, and a front frame F 3  coupled with the rear frame F 1  via coupling frames F 2 , F 2 . The first label suction plate  30  is disposed so that a rear end  30 A thereof extends backward exceeding the lower end of the rear frame F 1  (right side in  FIG. 1 ) and is located at a position immediately close to the front end of the peel plate  27 . The first label suction plate  30  is supported by a cylinder device  33 , which is fixed within the plane of the rear frame F 1  via a bracket  32 , an disarranged to move forward and backward with respect to the upper face of the object W passing below the cylinder device  33  along a conveyance pass P (refer to  FIG. 4 ). 
     The second label suction plate  31  is supported between the rear frame F 1  and the front frame F 3  via the laminating means  17 . The laminating means  17  includes a pair of bearing plates  35 ,  36  each fixed to the lower opposed faces of the rear frame F 1  and the front frame F 3  respectively; a rotary shaft  38  that extends between the lower portions of the bearing plates  35 ,  36  and has a length so as to allow the front end side thereof (left end side in  FIG. 1 ) to extend forward penetrating through the bearing plate  36 ; a pair of rotating shaft fixing plates  40 ,  41  that are fixed to the rotary shaft  38  and located inner side of the bearing plates  35 ,  36 ; a rotating shaft  43  fixed to the rotating shaft fixing plates  40 ,  41  in an upper portion thereof; a first arm  45  and a second arm  46  that have a substantially L-like shape in side view and are fixed to the rotating shaft  43  and the rotary shaft  38  in a state of crossing over the both; a plurality of bolts  50  that are located between the first and second arms  45 ,  46  and the second label suction plate  31 , and connects the second label suction plate  31  to the first and second arms  45 ,  46 ; a rotary-driving device  51  that imparts a rotary force to the rotary shaft  38 ; and a forward/backward movement device  52  that moves the second label suction plate  31  forward and backward along the label feed-out direction. 
     The rotating shaft  43  is provided with ring-like spring receiving members  53 ,  54  fixed to the first and second arms  45 ,  46  respectively at the right side thereof in  FIG. 1 . Between the spring receiving members  53 ,  54  and the first and second arms  45 ,  46 , coil springs  56 ,  57  are provided, whereby the first and second arms  45 ,  46  are energized in a forward direction of the rotating shaft  43 . On the other hand, the movement of the first arm  45  is regulated by a stopper  58  fixed in a substantially central area of the rotating shaft  43  so that the first arm  45  stops at an initial position; i.e., at a position where the second label L 2  sucked by the second label suction plate  31 , is stuck to the first label L 1  inside the perforated line PL after rotating. 
     The rotary-driving device  51  includes a rotary actuator  60  fixed to the front frame F 3  at the rear face (inner face) side thereof; an upper pulley  61  fixed to an output shaft of the rotary actuator  60 ; a lower pulley  63  fixed to the front end of the rotary shaft  38 ; and a timing belt  64  laid around between the upper and lower pulleys  61 ,  63 . The rotary-driving device  51  is arranged so that the rotary shaft  38  is driven to rotate by the rotary actuator  60 , and with the rotary shaft  38  as the rotation center, the first and second arms  45 ,  46  rotate along with the rotating shaft  43  whereby the second label suction plate  31  fixed to the first and second arms  45 ,  46  is driven to rotate in a state that the second label suction plate  31  is turned to the bottom face side of the first label suction plate  30  with the upper and lower faces thereof upside down. 
     The forward/backward movement device  52  includes an air cylinder  67  that is fixed to the front face of the front frame F 3  and is disposed so that a piston rod  66  extends to the inside of the front frame F 3  penetrating the front frame F 3 ; and an contact pad  68  that is fixed to the front end of the piston rod  66  and comes into contact with the front end face of the second label suction plate  31 . The forward/backward movement device  52  is arranged so as, when the piston rod  66  protrudes, to move the second label suction plate  31  backward toward the peel plate  27  side against the energizing force of the coil springs  56  and  57  as shown in  FIG. 3 , whereby the rear end  31 A of the second label suction plate  31  is positioned on a substantially same line as the rear end  30 A of the first label suction plate  30 . On the other hand, the second label suction plate  31  is arranged so as, when the piston rod  66  is positioned at a retracted position, to return to its initial position by the energizing force of the coil springs  56 ,  57 . 
     The feed-out force imparting means  18  includes a drive roll  70 ; a pinch roll  71  that nips the release liner S between the same and the drive roll  70 ; and a motor A that drives to rotate the drive roll  70 . 
     The winding means  19  includes a winding roll  80  that holds the lead end of the release liner S and winds the release liner S. In the winding roll  80 , a rotary shaft (not shown) protrudes at the rear face of the printer case C and the rotary shaft is coupled with the output shaft of the motor A constituting the feed-out imparting means  18  so as to be driven via a power transmitting means (not shown) such as pulleys, a belt or the like whereby the release liner S can be wound. 
     Next, referring to also  FIGS. 4 to 8 , overall operation of the embodiment is described. For the convenience of description, it is assumed herein that the object W be a home-delivery article, and the first and second labels L 1 , L 2  be printed with relevant information including delivery destination of the article. 
     A predetermined piece of printing information is inputted in advance through an input device and a control device (not shown). When the motor A as the feed-out imparting means  18  is driven, feeding operation of the raw strip sheet M and winding operation of the release liner S start. At this time, owing to a press force of the contact pad  68  driven by the air cylinder  67  constituting the forward/backward movement device  52 , the second label suction plate  31  positioned at the initial position moves toward the peel plate  27  side along with the first and second arms  45 ,  46  against the pressing force of the coil springs  56 ,  57  (refer to  FIG. 3 ). The movement amount is adapted to a length in which the rear end  31 A of the second label suction plate  31  is substantially aligned with the rear end  30 A of the first label suction plate  30 . This arrangement ensures a state that each of the first and second label suction plates  30 ,  31  sucks and holds the first and second labels L 1 , L 2  with the whole area of the respective suction faces thereof. 
     The first and second labels L 1 , L 2  are printed with the previously inputted information while passing through the printing head  21 . The first label L 1  is printed with non-confidential information such as receiver&#39;s address and name and sender&#39;s address and name. On the other hand, on the second label L 2 , confidential information such as amount of money to be received and article name as well as the date is printed to perform the function of a receipt. The name of the sender may be included in the confidential information depending on the content of the article. 
     The printed first and second labels L 1 , L 2  are peeled off at the front-end of the peel plate  27 , and the first label L 1  is sucked and held by the first label suction plate  30 ; and the second label L 2  is sucked and held by the second label suction plate  31  (refer to  FIG. 4 ). 
     As described above, when the first and second labels L 1 , L 2  are sucked by the respective label suction plates  30 ,  31 , the piston rod  66  of the air cylinder  67  is retracted, and accompanying this, the contact pad  68  moves toward the air cylinder  67 . Consequently, the first and second arms  45 ,  46  are moved by the energizing force of the coil springs  56 ,  57  along the axial lines of the rotary shaft  38  and the rotating shaft  43 , and the second label suction plate  31  held by the shafts is returned to the initial position (refer to  FIG. 2 ). 
     Then, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the rotary actuator  60  of the rotary-driving device  51  rotates and the rotary shaft  38  is driven to rotate via pulleys  61 ,  63  and the timing belt  64 ; whereby the rotating shaft  43 , the first and second arms  45 ,  46  and the second label suction plate  31  are rotated integrally in the clockwise direction in  FIG. 5  via the rotating-shaft fixing plates  40 ,  41  fixed to the rotary shaft  38 . The rotation angle is substantially 180°. Owing to this, the second suction plate  31  is rotated to a position substantially parallel to the first suction plate  30 ; and the first and second labels L 1 , L 2  are laminated, with the adhesive layer of the second label L 2  facing the adhesive layer of the first label L 1 . Thus, the adhesive layer of the first label L 1  is exposed in a closed loop manner in the peripheral area of the second label L 2 . 
     When the lamination is completed, the second suction plate  31  returns to the initial position (refer to  FIG. 6 ), and the first label suction plate  30  is moved downward via the cylinder device  33  and pressed against the surface of the object W, which stands by below the first label suction plate  30 , whereby the adhesive layer of the first label L 1  is stuck onto the surface of the object W in a state that the second label L 2  is sandwiched between the first label L 1  and the object W (refer to  FIG. 7 ). In this state, since the adhesive layer of the first label L 1  is stuck to the entire area around the periphery of the second label L 2 , there is no partially floated area in the outer periphery of the label after the label is stuck. 
     In the first and second labels L 1 , L 2  stuck to the object W, the inner part enclosed by the perforated line PL can be torn off. At this time, by nipping the roll-up portion La with tips of fingers and pulling up the same, the entire area within the perforated line PL can be rolled up and torn off (refer to  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 8 ). Thus, the information printed on the second label L 2  can be confirmed, and the second label L 2  can be stored, if necessary. 
     Consequently, according to the embodiment, such a label printer can be provided that has a function to perform printing using a sheet type label and stick the same to an object in a state that confidential information is concealed. Also, the stuck label does not have any area without sticking in the periphery side thereof; and thus, unintended roll-up or peel-off can be prevented thereafter. 
     The best arrangement, method and the like for carrying out the present invention have been disclosed so far as described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above description. 
     That is, the present invention has been illustrated and described mainly about a specific embodiment. However, it is possible for those skilled in the art to add various modifications, if necessary, to the above-described embodiment with regards to the detailed arrangement such as the shape, location, layout and the like without departing from the technical spirit and the range of the object of the present invention. 
     For example, the perforated line PL of the first label L 1  applied to the present invention is not limited to the examples of illustrated arrangements, but a perforated line enabled to be broken into smaller parts may be adopted. Here, when the second label L 2  is arranged to form the similar perforated line or tear-off line, peeling-off units from the object W can be pluralized. 
     The second label also may be formed with a notch in an area where the roll-up portion La is located. This arrangement will facilitate the roll-up operation when the inner area of the first label L 1  is torn off along with the second label L 2  at the perforated line PL. 
     The plane configuration of the label L is not limited to a square shape, but items having a various plane configuration like a polygonal, circular, elliptical shape may be regarded as the object. In brief, as far as the label is printed and stuck to the object in a state that the confidential information is concealed, and moreover the sticking can be carried out so that the adhesive layer of the first label L 1  is exposed around the entire outer periphery of the second label L 2 , various design change can be introduced.