Patent Description:
A label known in the art is fitted around a cylindrical adherend such as a cable, for example. The label in this conventional technology is provided with a layered structure including a base material, an adhesive layer, and a release material and is used by wrapping the label around an adherend to form a loop shape. Here, the user forms the label into a loop shape by bonding an exposed section of the adhesive layer with the release material or adhesive layer. In the conventional technology described above, bonding is carried out so that the inner diameter of the loop-shaped portion is approximately equivalent to the outer diameter of the adherend. Owing to the release material contacting the adherend, the label does not adhere to the adherend and is used as a rotating label.

PTL <NUM> discloses a label according to the preamble of claim <NUM>. PTL <NUM> further discloses a printing apparatus which includes: a conveyor configured to convey a medium including a transparent base layer and a separation layer stacked on each other, the medium further including a printing background layer; a printer configured to print a character on the medium conveyed by the conveyor, wherein the medium on which the character is printed is a printed medium; and a controller configured to control the conveyor and the printer. The controller is configured to: obtain outside-diameter relating information relating to an outside diameter of a wrapped member; and based on the obtained outside-diameter relating information, set a character printable region in which the printer is allowed to print the character on the printing background layer.

PTL <NUM> discloses a device for labelling an item , wherein the device includes a first portion, and second portion , the second portion being attached to the first portion, where the first portion and the second portion are moveable to a folded position, such that at least a portion of the item is enclosed between the first portion and the second portion, in the folded position. <CIT> discloses an alternate type of label that can be wrapped around a cable and rotated.

However, a user unfamiliar with this operation might leave no gap between the adherend and label when forming the label into the loop shape, making the label too tight around the adherend so that the label cannot rotate.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a label whose rotation relative to an adherend is unlikely to be impeded.

In order to provide the above and other objects, the present invention provides a label to be wrapped around an adherend after being printed. The adherend has a diameter equal to or smaller than a prescribed diameter. The label includes: a base material; an adhesive layer; a release material; and a mark for alignment. The base material has a printing surface. The adhesive layer is provided on an opposite side surface of the base material from the printing surface. The release material is bonded to the adhesive layer with a portion of the adhesive layer exposed. The release material has a higher stiffness than the base material. The mark or special shape for alignment is to be used when bonding together exposed sections of the adhesive layer or an exposed section of the adhesive layer with the release material in order to form the label into a loop shape. The mark or special shape is provided at a position for forming the label in the loop shape having an inner diameter greater than the prescribed diameter.

The label according to the present invention is used by forming the label in a loop shape that is wrapped around the adherend. That is, the user first forms the label into a loop shape by bonding together exposed sections of the adhesive layer or an exposed section of the adhesive layer and the release material. The mark or special shape is provided on the label according to the present invention for alignment when forming this loop shape. Further, this mark or special shape is provided at a position such that the inner diameter of the loop shape formed in the label is greater than the outer diameter of the adherend (the prescribed diameter). By using the mark or special shape for alignment to form the loop shape in this way, even users unfamiliar with the operation can always ensure a gap is formed between the adherend and the label. Hence, at the stage of forming this loop shape, the label can be prevented from becoming too tight around the adherend.

After the label is formed in a loop shape as described above, the user reduces the gap between the adherend and the label while wrapping the free portion of the label protruding out from the loop-shaped portion to cover the printing surface of the base material and attaching the label to the adherend. Here, the label can be suppressed from being wrapped tightly relative to the adherend since the release material having greater stiffness than the base material must be folded over.

When the label is ultimately attached to the adherend as a result of the above operations, a gap can be secured between the label and the adherend, thereby preventing the label from becoming difficult to rotate relative to the adherend.

According to the present invention, rotation relative to an adherend is unlikely to be impeded.

Below, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail while referring to the accompanying drawings. In general, components having essentially the same functions are designated with the same reference numerals in the following specification and the drawings. Duplicate descriptions of such components are omitted accordingly.

First, the functional configuration of a label-creating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG>.

In <FIG>, a label-creating device <NUM> (also called a printing device) has a control circuit <NUM>, an operation unit <NUM> on which a user (also called an operator) can perform desired operations, a display unit <NUM> for displaying prescribed information, a RAM <NUM> for storing various types of information, a conveying roller <NUM> (also called a conveying unit), a print head <NUM> (also called a printing unit), a cutting lever <NUM>, and a cutter <NUM>.

A cartridge holder <NUM> is provided in the label-creating device <NUM>. A tape cartridge <NUM> is detachably mounted in the cartridge holder <NUM>. The tape cartridge <NUM> has a housing <NUM> that accommodates a tape roll 10A (depicted as concentric circles for simplification, but actually wound into a roll). A printing tape To (also called a tape and a long medium) is wound into the tape roll 10A. Here, the tape cartridge <NUM> may be a die-cut label type or a continuous length type. In the die-cut label type, a printing tape To having cuts HC (described later with reference to <FIG>) formed by half-cutting the printing tape To is wound about the tape roll A. In the continuous length type, a printing tape To having no cuts HC is wound about the tape roll A. Either type of tape cartridge <NUM> can be used in the label-creating device <NUM>. Unless otherwise stated, the following example describes a case of using the die-cut label type tape cartridge <NUM>.

The control circuit <NUM> is provided with a CPU and a ROM not shown in the drawings. The control circuit <NUM> executes various programs pre-stored in the ROM while utilizing the temporary storage function of the RAM <NUM> in order to perform overall control of the label-creating device <NUM>.

The conveying roller <NUM> is disposed in opposition to the print head <NUM>. The printing tape To paid out from the tape roll 10A is interposed between the conveying roller <NUM> and print head <NUM>. By rotating, the conveying roller <NUM> conveys the printing tape To while pulling the printing tape To from the tape roll 10A.

The print head <NUM> prints desired print objects (see printed images R described later) on individual label parts (described later in greater detail) of the printing tape To conveyed by the conveying roller <NUM>. The print objects are user-specified characters, icons, and the like.

When actuated through a user operation on the cutting lever <NUM>, the cutter <NUM> cuts off a printed section of a printing tape T (described later in greater detail) having a plurality of labels L formed along the conveying direction.

<FIG> show a detailed structure of the printing tape To. <FIG> is a plan view showing the printing tape To in an unprinted state. The up-down direction in the drawing constitutes the conveying direction (also called the tape length direction and the first direction), the left-right direction in the drawing constitutes the tape width direction (also called the second direction), and the near-far direction in the drawing constitutes the tape thickness direction. Further, <FIG> shows a plan view of the printing tape T after the printed image R has been printed with the label-creating device <NUM>, <FIG> shows a cross-sectional view taken along a section I-I of the printed printing tape T, and <FIG> shows a rear view of the printed printing tape T.

As shown in <FIG>, the printing tape To includes a transparent base material <NUM>, a transparent adhesive layer <NUM>, and a transparent release material <NUM> that are layered in this order from the left side to the right side in <FIG> (from the near side to the far side in <FIG>) along the tape thickness direction (the depth direction when viewing <FIG> and the left-right direction in <FIG>; that is, the direction in which each layer is laminated, as will be described later). Note that all of the base material <NUM>, adhesive layer <NUM>, and release material <NUM> may be provided with a semitransparent color. Further, the release material <NUM> may be opaque.

At this time, a printing surface <NUM> (also called a print background layer) is partially provided on the front-side (the left side in <FIG>; hereinafter called the "first side in the thickness direction" for convenience) surface of the base material <NUM>. The printing surface <NUM> is provided with a suitable non-transparent color and is the surface on which the thermal head <NUM> forms the printed image R. Note that the adhesive layer <NUM> may be provided over part of the surface, rather than the entire surface, on the back side (the right side in <FIG>; hereinafter called the "second side in the thickness direction" for convenience) of the base material <NUM>, i.e., between the base material <NUM> and the release material <NUM>.

In the printing tapes To and T having the layered structure described above, a plurality of label parts Lo (or labels L configured of printed images R formed on the label parts Lo) is arranged successively in the tape length direction (the up-down direction in the drawings) while interposed by cuts HC extending along the tape width direction. The base material <NUM> is aligned in the vertical direction in the drawings, i.e., the first direction, perpendicular to the thickness direction in correspondence with the plurality of cuts HC (in correspondence with slits S described later). In other words, the base material <NUM> is divided by half-cut-type cuts HC into a label portion LA and a non-label portion LB and is bonded via the adhesive layer <NUM> to the surface of the release material <NUM> on the first side of the thickness direction.

Owing to the layered structure described above, each label part Lo has four areas: an adhesive area D1 (also called the first area) constituting the end portion on the upper side of the drawings along the first direction (also called the second side of the first direction), a non-adhesive area D2a (also called the second area) provided adjacent to the adhesive area D1 on the lower side in the drawings (also called the first side of the first direction), a non-adhesive area D2b (also called the second area together with the non-adhesive area D2a) provided adjacent to the non-adhesive area D2a on the lower side in the drawings, and a partial adhesive area D3 (also called the third area) provided adjacent to the non-adhesive area D2b on the lower side in the drawings. The partial adhesive area D3 is provided with a non-adhesive area D3a (also called the first partial area) provided adjacent to the non-adhesive area D2b on the lower side in the drawings, and an adhesive area D3b (also called the second partial area) provided adjacent to the non-adhesive area D3a on the lower side in the drawings.

At this time, a width Ws of the release material <NUM> in the second direction is greater than a width Wb of the base material <NUM> in the left-right direction (the second direction). Further, a thickness dimension ts of the release material <NUM> is smaller than a thickness dimension tb of the base material <NUM> and a thickness dimension tn of the adhesive layer <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, (half-cut) rectangular slits S (also called break lines) having substantially the same length in the second direction as the base material <NUM> are provided in the release material <NUM>. These slits S are arranged such that the adhesive area D1 and adhesive area D3b of each slit S are positioned in a slit outer area SO outside the slit S in a plan view, while the non-adhesive area D2a, non-adhesive area D2b, and non-adhesive area D3a of each slit S are positioned in a slit inner area SI inside the slit S (a rectangular area having the same width dimension as the base material <NUM>) in a plan view. As a result, the rectangular slits S are juxtaposed along the up-down direction and the printing surfaces <NUM> are positioned within the slit inner areas SI enclosed by the slits S in the printing tapes To and T. A printed image R is formed on the print background layer <NUM> of each label L. In this example, the printed images R are print objects configured of the text "A01," "A02," "A03,".

As shown in <FIG>, marks PM are provided on the release material <NUM> in intermediate parts between two neighboring slits S for positioning control when the conveying roller <NUM> conveys the printing tape To. That is, the label-creating device <NUM> is provided with a well-known reflective optical sensor (not shown) having a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit. During positioning control, the optical sensor emits light from the light-emitting unit while the light-receiving unit receives light reflected off the release material <NUM>. The marks PM on the release material <NUM> are detected based on the difference in the amount of light received between portions of the release material <NUM> on which the marks PM are provided and all other portions at this time, and the printing tape To is positioned based on these detections. As shown in <FIG>, marks GM are further provided on the release material <NUM> inside the slits S. These marks GM will be described later.

<FIG> show the process for separating each label L from the printing tape T after printing. <FIG> is a plan view showing a printed printing tape. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the structure shown in <FIG> taken along the section II-II. <FIG> is a rear-side view showing the printed printing tape. <FIG> is a plan view showing the state of the printed printing tape after one label has been peeled off. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the structure shown in <FIG> taken along the section III-III. <FIG> is a rear-side view of the printing tape after a label was peeled off.

As described above, the width Ws of the release material <NUM> in the second direction is prepared larger than the width Wb of the base material <NUM> in the printing tapes To and T, and rectangular slits S having the same width Wb in the second direction as the base material <NUM> are provided in the wide release material <NUM>. Owing to these slits S, each label L included on the printing tape T and having a printed image R formed on the printing surface <NUM> as described above can be peeled off the printing tape T while the rectangular-shaped portion of the release material <NUM> located inside the slit S (the portion included in the slit inner area SI) is separated from the other portion of the release material <NUM> and remains on the adhesive layer <NUM> side (i.e., while the adhesive layer <NUM> remains covered with the rectangular-shaped portion described above), as shown in <FIG>. In the following description, this peeled-off portion will simply be called the "label L" for convenience. After the label L has been peeled off, a space (a window WD) is left in the strip-like release material <NUM> inside the rectangular slit S, as illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> show a detailed structure of the label L separated from the printing tape T. <FIG> shows a plan view of one label L, and <FIG> shows a cross-sectional view of the structure in <FIG> taken along the section IV-IV.

Once printed, the label L is wrapped around an adherend <NUM> having a prescribed diameter or less and is used as a rotatable label. The labels L are packaged in a clear plastic bag or other packaging material as preprinted printing tapes To, printed printing tapes T, or the labels L themselves that have been separated from these printing tapes To and T. The packaging material is then placed in a packing box such as an outer case to be stored or distributed. The recommended maximum diameter is noted in the description "Can be used on a LAN cable having a maximum diameter of _ _ mm," for example, on at least one of this packaging material, the packing box in which the packaging material is inserted, and an instruction manual included in the packing box together with the packaging material. This recommended maximum diameter corresponds to the prescribed diameter described above. Thus, the label L can be wrapped around an adherend <NUM> having a diameter equal to or smaller than the recommended maximum diameter.

As shown in <FIG>, the label L has the base material <NUM>, adhesive layer <NUM>, release material <NUM>, printing surface <NUM>, and mark GM. The base material <NUM>, adhesive layer <NUM>, and release material <NUM> are layered from the front side to the rear side along the thickness direction of the label L, i.e., from the near side toward the far side along the depth direction in <FIG> or from the left side toward the right side in <FIG> along the left-right direction in <FIG>.

The base material <NUM> has the printing surface <NUM> on the front side thereof. The label-creating device <NUM> forms the printed image R on the printing surface <NUM>. The base material <NUM> is configured of a transparent material provided with a lower stiffness than the release material <NUM>. Such a base material <NUM> can be formed of a transparent resin material like PET, PVC, PE, or PP, for example. When formed of PET, for example, the base material <NUM> may be configured with a thickness of <NUM> and a stiffness of <NUM> Gpa (Young's modulus). As described with reference to <FIG>, this portion of the base material <NUM> is separated from the remaining portion as part of the label L by means of the cuts HC.

The adhesive layer <NUM> is provided on the opposite side surface of the base material <NUM> from the printing surface <NUM>. The adhesive layer <NUM> possesses adhesive strength and may also be provided transparently.

The release material <NUM> is bonded to the adhesive layer <NUM> with a portion of the adhesive layer <NUM> exposed. The release material <NUM> is configured of a transparent material and has a higher stiffness than the base material <NUM>. This type of release material <NUM> is also called a separator and may be formed of glassine paper, PET, kraft paper, and the like, for example. When formed of kraft paper, the release material <NUM> may be configured with a thickness of <NUM> and a stiffness of <NUM> Gpa (Young's modulus). As described with reference to <FIG>, this portion of the release material <NUM> is separated as part of the label L from the remainder of the release material <NUM> through the slits S.

The mark GM is used for alignment when bonding together exposed sections of the adhesive layer <NUM> or the exposed adhesive layer <NUM> with the release material <NUM> in order to form the label L in a loop shape. Accordingly, the mark GM is provided at a position for forming the label L in a loop shape having an inner diameter greater than the prescribed diameter. Since the release material <NUM>, adhesive layer <NUM>, and base material <NUM> are all formed transparently, the mark GM can be seen through these layers in the plan views of <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>.

In the present embodiment, the mark GM is arranged in a position for bonding the exposed adhesive layer <NUM> with the release material <NUM>. More specifically, the mark GM is separated a prescribed distance from the bottom edge of the release material <NUM> after the label L has been created and is disposed below the bottom edge of the printing surface <NUM>, i.e., in the non-adhesive area D3a, as illustrated in <FIG>. The mark GM is preferably provided in the non-adhesive area D3a at a position near the bottom edge of the printing surface <NUM>. As a result, the adhesive area D1 (the adhesive layer <NUM>) can be bonded with the non-adhesive area D3a (the release material <NUM>) by wrapping the label L around the adherend <NUM> until the bottom edge of the adhesive area D1 (the top edge of the release material <NUM>) is approximately aligned with the mark GM. A method of using this mark GM when wrapping the label L around the adherend <NUM> will be described later.

The label L will be described for each functional area. That is, the label L is provided with the adhesive area D1, non-adhesive area D2a, non-adhesive area D2b, and partial adhesive area D3 (the non-adhesive area D3a and adhesive area D3b) from the second side of the first direction (the upper side in the drawing) toward the first side of the first direction (the lower side in the drawing).

In the adhesive area D1, the base material <NUM> and adhesive layer <NUM> are layered in order from the first side toward the second side in the thickness direction (from the left side toward the right side in <FIG>). Thus, the entire region of the adhesive area D1 is provided with an adhesive property owing to the adhesive layer <NUM>. Note that the adhesive area D1 has a length L1 in the first direction.

In the non-adhesive area D2a, the base material <NUM>, adhesive layer <NUM>, and release material <NUM> are layered in order from the first side toward the second side in the thickness direction (from the left side toward the right side in <FIG>). Thus, the entire region of the non-adhesive area D2a is non-adhesive, as the adhesive property of the adhesive layer <NUM> is inhibited by the release material <NUM>. The non-adhesive area D2a has a length L2 in the first direction.

In the non-adhesive area D2b, the printing surface <NUM>, base material <NUM>, adhesive layer <NUM>, and release material <NUM> are layered in order from the first side toward the second side of the thickness direction (from the left side toward the right side in <FIG>). Thus, the entire region of the non-adhesive area D2b is non-adhesive, as the adhesive property of the adhesive layer <NUM> is inhibited by the release material <NUM>. At this time, the printing surface <NUM> provided with the printed image R is disposed in the non-adhesive area D2b adjacent to the non-adhesive area D3a. In this example, the printing surface <NUM> is prepared by applying ink (an ink coating layer) of a suitable color to the base material <NUM>. As has been described, the thermal head <NUM> forms the printed image R, which is the text "A01," on the printing surface <NUM>. The non-adhesive area D2b has a length L3 in the first direction.

In the non-adhesive area D3a of the partial adhesive area D3, the base material <NUM>, adhesive layer <NUM>, and release material <NUM> are layered in order from the first side toward the second side of the thickness direction (from the left side toward the right side in <FIG>). Thus, the entire region of the non-adhesive area D3a is non-adhesive, as the adhesive property of the adhesive layer <NUM> is inhibited by the release material <NUM>. The non-adhesive area D3a has a length L4A in the first direction.

Note that the non-adhesive area D2a, non-adhesive area D2b, and non-adhesive area D3a are portions positioned within the slit inner area SI described above (refer to the notation in <FIG>).

In the adhesive area D3b of the partial adhesive area D3, the base material <NUM> and adhesive layer <NUM> are layered in order from the first side toward the second side of the thickness direction (from the left side toward the right side in <FIG>). (A portion of the release material <NUM> may also be included in this region by adjusting the position of the slit S. ) Thus, the entire region or at least part of the region of the adhesive area D3b is provided with an adhesive property through the adhesive layer <NUM>. The adhesive area D3b has a length L4B in the first direction. As a result, the partial adhesive area D3 has a length L4 in the first direction (L4A + L4B), and at least part of the partial adhesive area D3 is an adhesive area.

The base material <NUM> is provided with no particular perforations or slits (excluding the cuts HC described above), and the cross-sectional shape of this layer in the thickness direction is continuous along the first direction.

Here, a method of printing and attaching a label L will be described. The method of printing and attaching a label L has roughly three steps (first through third steps). As described above, the label L has: the base material <NUM>; the adhesive layer <NUM> provided on the back surface, i.e., the first surface of the base material <NUM>; and the release material <NUM> bonded to the adhesive layer <NUM> with a portion of the adhesive layer <NUM> exposed. The release material <NUM> has a higher stiffness than the base material <NUM>. In the first step, the label-creating device <NUM> is used to print the top surface, i.e., the second surface of the base material <NUM> constituting this label L, and specifically to print the printing surface <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and other drawings, the printed label L is separated from the printing tape T through the cuts HC in the base material <NUM> and the slit S in the release material <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the non-label portion LB is first separated from the printing tape T, after which the label L is separated from the printing tape T. After completing this first step, the process advances to the second step.

<FIG> show a procedure for attaching the label L to the adherend <NUM> in the second step and the third step. <FIG> are explanatory diagrams that explain the second step through a cross section in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the adherend <NUM>. <FIG> are explanatory diagrams that explain the second step through a schematic perspective view when the label L is formed in a loop shape around the adherend <NUM>. <FIG> are explanatory diagrams that explain the third step through a cross section in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the adherend <NUM>. <FIG> are explanatory diagrams that explain the third step with schematic perspective views showing a state in which a gap is reduced and a protruding portion is wrapped. These examples show shown cases in which the label L is attached by wrapping the label L around a cylindrical or cable-like adherend <NUM> having a diameter 2r.

In the second step, the label L is wrapped around the adherend <NUM> to form a loop shape, and exposed sections of the adhesive layer <NUM> or an exposed section of the adhesive layer <NUM> and the release material <NUM> are bonded together while leaving a gap between the label L and the adherend <NUM>. More specifically, the label L has areas extending continuously in the order shown in <FIG>: adhesive area D1 → non-adhesive area D2a → non-adhesive area D2b → partial adhesive area D3. First, the adherend <NUM> is placed on the release material <NUM> side of the non-adhesive area D2a. At this time, the adherend <NUM> is arranged near the printed image R on the printing surface <NUM>. Next, the adhesive area D1, non-adhesive area D2a, and non-adhesive area D2b of the label L are bent into a concave shape with the release material <NUM> on the inside, as illustrated in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the adhesive layer <NUM> in the adhesive area D1 is bonded to the release material <NUM> in the non-adhesive area D3a while aligning the upper edge of the release material <NUM> in <FIG> with the mark GM. Through this action, the label L is formed into a loop shape around the adherend <NUM> (a cable, for example), as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. In the present embodiment, the mark GM can suppress positional deviation when the adhesive layer <NUM> and release material <NUM> are bonded together. Note that instead of arranging the adherend <NUM> first in the second step, the label L may be first formed into a loop shape and the adherend <NUM> may be subsequently inserted into the loop of the label L. After completing the second step, the process advances to the third step.

In the third step, the release material <NUM> is folded over to reduce the gap between the release material <NUM> and adherend <NUM>. More specifically, a large gap exists between the release material <NUM> of the label L (the inside of the loop) and the adherend <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. In this state, the user can gradually reduce the inner area of the loop using a finger or the like to constrict the end of the loop on the mark GM side inward from the mark GM, as shown in <FIG>. Here, the user does not decrease the gap to the extent that the gap becomes nothing since the label L is to be used as a rotatable label. However, by pressing with a finger or the like the user can easily adjust the gap between the adherend <NUM> and the release material <NUM>.

After reducing the gap, the user then begins laying the free portion of the label L protruding out from the loop-shaped portion over the second surface of the base material <NUM>, that is, the printing surface <NUM>, in the direction indicated by the arrow G, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>. That is, the remaining portion of the partial adhesive area D3 that is not used in the structure encircling the adherend <NUM> (the adhesive area D3b in this example) is wrapped in the direction of the arrow G indicated in <FIG> so that the bonded portion of the adhesive area D1 and non-adhesive area D3a are on the inside (for example, the adhesive area D1 is folded back as indicated by an arrow Z and comes in contact with a region Y). At this time, the remaining portion of the partial adhesive area D3 is wrapped around the outer circumferential portions of the non-adhesive area D2a and non-adhesive area D2b configuring a cylinder while sequentially covering the areas D2a and D2b in this order. Using the adhesive property of the adhesive layer <NUM>, the adhesive area D3b of the partial adhesive area D3 is then bonded to the outer circumferential portions of the non-adhesive area D2a and non-adhesive area D2b to complete attachment of the label L to the adherend <NUM>. Through the above process, the label L is rotatably wrapped around the adherend <NUM> and can be used as a rotatable label.

<FIG> shows a sample application of the label L described above. In this example, a cable for use with a switching hub that relays information over a network, such as a wired LAN, is applied as the adherend <NUM>. The adherend <NUM> will be referred to as cable <NUM> here. The switching hub <NUM> in <FIG> has eight slots <NUM> in each of a top row and a bottom row (a total of sixteen slots). In the example of the drawing, plates PL indicating the ID names "A01" through "A08" are provided in sequence from the left to correspond to the eight slots <NUM> in the top row, and plates PL indicating the ID names "A09" through "A16" are provided in sequence from the left to correspond to the eight slots <NUM> in the bottom row.

The cable <NUM> must be appropriately connected to the corresponding slot <NUM>. To facilitate connections, the label L described above is mounted on the end of each cable <NUM> that is to be inserted into one of the connector slots <NUM>, and the printed image R formed on each label L has the same content as the ID name for the slot <NUM> to which the cable <NUM> is to be connected. In other words, a label L printed with the same text as the ID name on the plate PL of the slot <NUM> to which the cable <NUM> is to be connected is affixed to the cable <NUM>. This clarifies the correlations between slots <NUM> and cables <NUM> that are to be connected to the slots <NUM>, thereby preventing incorrect wiring.

<FIG> schematically shows the attached state of the label L on the cable <NUM>. An axial center k of the cable <NUM> is also indicated in the drawing. According to the structure described above, the label L is affixed to the cable <NUM> constituting the adherend so as to be rotatable about the cable <NUM>. In the sample state shown in <FIG>, the non-adhesive area D2b is arranged such that the printed image R of "A01" provided on the non-adhesive area D2b is facing the viewer of the drawing. Although the transparent adhesive area D3b is actually present so as to cover the outer circumferential side of the non-adhesive area D2b, the adhesive area D3b has been omitted from <FIG> described later to prevent complicating the diagram and to facilitate understanding. The label L can be shifted to the orientation in which the partial adhesive area D3 faces the viewer of the drawing as shown in <FIG> by rotating the label L in the direction of the dashed arrow (i.e., a circumferential direction) from the state shown in <FIG>. Similarly, if the printed image R is not easily readable when the label L is fixed to the cable <NUM> in the position shown in <FIG>, the label L is rotatable. Accordingly, by rotating the label L in the direction opposite that described above to the position shown in <FIG>, the printed image R can be made visible.

As described above, the label L according to the present embodiment is used by forming the label L in a loop shape that is wrapped around the adherend <NUM>. That is, the user first forms the label L in a loop shape by bonding together exposed sections of the adhesive layer <NUM> or an exposed section of the adhesive layer <NUM> and the release material <NUM>. The mark GM is provided on the label L for alignment when forming this loop shape. Further, this mark GM is provided at a position such that the inner diameter of the loop shape formed in the label L is greater than the outer diameter of the adherend <NUM> (the prescribed diameter). By using the mark GM for alignment to form the loop shape in this way, even users unfamiliar with the operation can always ensure a gap is formed between the adherend <NUM> and the label L. Hence, at the stage of forming this loop shape, the label L can be prevented from becoming too tight around the adherend <NUM>.

After the label L is formed in a loop shape as described above, the user reduces the gap between the adherend <NUM> and the label L while wrapping the free portion of the label L protruding out from the loop-shaped portion over the printing surface <NUM> of the base material <NUM> and attaching the label L to the adherend <NUM>. Here, the label can be suppressed from being wrapped tightly relative to the adherend <NUM> since the release material <NUM> having greater stiffness than the base material <NUM> must be folded over.

When the label L is ultimately attached to the adherend <NUM> as a result of the above operations, a gap can be secured between the label L and the adherend <NUM>, thereby preventing the label L from becoming difficult to rotate relative to the adherend <NUM>.

According to the present embodiment, the mark GM is also disposed at a position for bonding the exposed section of the adhesive layer <NUM> with the release material <NUM>. Hence, by using the mark GM for alignment when bonding the exposed section of the adhesive layer <NUM> with the release material <NUM> to form the label L into a loop shape, a gap can always be formed between the adhesive layer <NUM> and the label.

In the present embodiment, the labels L are packaged in a packaging material. The prescribed diameter is a recommended maximum diameter that is noted on this packaging material, or on the packing box in which the packaging material is included, or in an instruction manual included in the packing box together with the packaging material. Accordingly, labels can be prevented from being difficult to rotate about an adherend when wrapped around an adherend having the recommended maximum diameter for usage noted on the packaging material, on the packing box, or in the instruction manual.

According to the present embodiment, the base material <NUM> and adhesive layer <NUM> are provided with a transparent or semitransparent color. Therefore, when the label L is formed into a loop shape and the free portion of the label L protruding out from the loop-shaped portion is subsequently wrapped so as to cover the printing surface <NUM>, the content of the printed image R on the printing surface <NUM> can be seen through the base material <NUM> and adhesive layer <NUM> covering the printing surface <NUM>.

An embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail while referring to the accompanying drawings. However, it goes without saying that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described herein. Those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs may arrive at many modifications, adjustments, and combinations within the scope of the technical ideas in the present invention defined by the claims. Therefore, technologies produced from these modifications, adjustments, combinations, and the like naturally also fall within the technical scope of the invention. Some of these variations will be described below. In these variations, the same reference numerals are assigned to parts similar to those in the first embodiment, and descriptions of these parts will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

In the example of the first embodiment described above, the mark GM is formed on the release material <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. By aligning the upper edge of the release material <NUM> with the mark GM, as shown in <FIG>, the adhesive layer <NUM> (the adhesive area D1) and the release material <NUM> (the non-adhesive area D3a) are bonded together. However, the position in which the mark GM is formed is not limited to this example. For example, the mark GM may be formed on the base material <NUM>, and the edge of the base material <NUM> may be aligned with the mark GM when bonding. This first variation will be described below.

<FIG> show a detailed structure of the label L that has been separated from the printing tape T according to the first variation. <FIG> is a plan view of a single label L, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the structure in <FIG> taken along the section V-V. <FIG> are explanatory diagrams that explain the second step according to the first variation through a cross section in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the adherend <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> correspond to <FIG> and <FIG> in the first embodiment.

In the label L according to the first variation, the printing surface <NUM> is formed at approximately the same length as the release material <NUM> in the tape length direction (the first direction), and the mark GM is formed on the base material <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. Here, the mark GM may be disposed below a bottom edge 25a of the printing surface <NUM> and arranged closer to the bottom edge 25a side than a bottom edge La of the label L. The distance from this bottom edge to the mark GM may be set approximately the same as the distance from a top edge 25b of the printing surface <NUM> to a top edge Lb of the label L. Thus, the adhesive layer <NUM> in the adhesive area D1 may be bonded with the adhesive layer <NUM> in an adhesive area D4 by wrapping the label L around the adherend <NUM> such that the top edge Lb of the label L is approximately aligned with the mark GM. A method of using this mark GM when wrapping the label L around the adherend <NUM> will be described later.

The label L according to this variation will be described for each functional area. That is, the label L is provided with the adhesive area D1, a non-adhesive area D23, and an adhesive area D4 from the second side of the first direction (the upper side in the drawing) toward the first side of the first direction (the lower side in the drawing). The non-adhesive area D23 corresponds to the non-adhesive areas D2a and D2b and the non-adhesive area D3a of the first embodiment and the adhesive area D4 corresponds to the adhesive area D3b of the first embodiment. While the printing surface <NUM> is arranged only in the non-adhesive area D2b in the first embodiment, the printing surface <NUM> is arranged throughout the entire non-adhesive area D23 in the present variation.

The method of printing and attaching a label L according to this first variation differs from that in the first embodiment primarily in the second step. Therefore, the second step will be described here. The label L in the present variation has areas extending continuously in the order shown in <FIG>: adhesive area D1 → non-adhesive area D23 → adhesive area D4. In the second step according to this variation, the adherend <NUM> is first placed on the release material <NUM> side of the non-adhesive area D23. At this time, the adherend <NUM> is arranged near the printed image R on the printing surface <NUM>. Next, the adhesive area D1 and non-adhesive area D23 of the label L are bent into a concave shape with the release material <NUM> on the inside, as illustrated in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the adhesive layer <NUM> in the adhesive area D1 is bonded to the adhesive layer <NUM> in the adhesive area D4 while aligning the top edge Lb of the label L in <FIG> with the mark GM. Through this action, the label L is formed into a loop shape around the adherend <NUM> (a cable, for example), as illustrated in <FIG>. In this variation, the mark GM can suppress positional deviation between the adhesive layers <NUM> when the adhesive layers <NUM> are bonded together. Note that instead of arranging the adherend <NUM> first in this second step, the label L may be first formed into a loop shape, and the adherend <NUM> may be subsequently inserted into the loop formed in the label L. After completing the second step, the process advances to the third step. As in the first embodiment, the release material <NUM> is folded over to reduce the gap between the label L and the adherend <NUM>, and the attachment of the label L to the adherend <NUM> is completed by wrapping the free portion of the label L protruding out from the loop-shaped portion in the direction of the arrow G so as to cover the second surface of the base material <NUM>, i.e., the printing surface <NUM>. Through the above process, the label L is rotatably wrapped around the adherend <NUM> and can be used as a rotatable label. The label L according to the first variation described above can obtain the same operations and effects as the first embodiment.

In the first embodiment described above, the base material <NUM> is provided with no perforations or slits other than the cuts HC, but the present invention is not limited to such cases. For example, the base material <NUM> may be provided with a hole or a series of holes. <FIG> show a detailed structure of the label L according to a second variation after the label L has been separated from the printing tape T. <FIG> is a plan view of a single label L. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the structure in <FIG> taken along the section V-V. <FIG> corresponds to <FIG> in the first embodiment.

In the label L of this variation, perforations MH comprising a series of holes are formed in the base material <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The perforations MH are formed along the tape width direction (the second direction) and a plurality of rows of perforations are juxtaposed in parallel in the tape length direction (the first direction). Since the stiffness of the base material <NUM> is weakened, making the stiffness of the release material <NUM> relatively stronger, the label L according to this variation can suppress the label L from becoming tightly wrapped about the adherend <NUM>. The perforations MH may also be configured of a single hole or a combination of a single hole and a series of holes.

While the slits S are rectangular-shaped and the portions of the release material <NUM> that have been separated on the sides with the labels L are also formed in a rectangular shape in the first embodiment described above, the present invention is not limited to this example. The slits S, and hence the portions of the release material <NUM> that have been separated on the sides with the labels L, may have any of various shapes. <FIG> show the process of separating each label L according to this variation from the printing tape T after printing. <FIG> is a plan view showing the printed printing tape. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the structure in <FIG> taken along the section VII-VII. <FIG> is a rear view of the printed printing tape. <FIG> is a plan view showing a single label that has been peeled off the printed printing tape. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the structure in <FIG> taken along the section VIII-VIII. <FIG> is a rear view of the printing tape after the label has been peeled off. <FIG> corresponds to <FIG> in the first embodiment.

As shown in <FIG>, the slit S in the label L according to this variation has a shape that includes a horseshoe shape combined on the bottom of the rectangular slit S in <FIG> relative to the tape length direction. In other words, at the bottom of the slit S, both edges in the tape width direction extend to a position corresponding to the label L, that is, the cut HC, while the center in the tape width direction has an inverted U-shape. Accordingly, after the label L is separated from the printing tape T in this variation, the release material <NUM> is arranged in the adhesive area D3b according to the slit S so as to have a portion on the non-adhesive area D3a side and portions on both sides in the tape width direction (the left and right sides in the drawing), as illustrated in <FIG>. However, the portion of the release material <NUM> in which the positioning mark PM is located remains on the printing tape T side. The label L according to this third variation can obtain the same effects as the first embodiment and the like.

In the first embodiment described above, the label L has a mark GM for alignment when wrapping the label L around the adherend <NUM>, and a separate mark PM for positioning when conveying the printing tape To, but the present invention is not limited to this example. The mark GM may also take on the positioning function of the mark PM. <FIG> show the process of separating a label L from a printing tape T after printing according to this variation. <FIG> is a plan view showing the printed printing tape. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the structure in <FIG> taken along the section IX-IX. <FIG> is a rear view showing the printed printing tape. <FIG> is a plan view showing a single label that has been peeled off the printed printing tape. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the structure shown in <FIG> taken along the section X-X. <FIG> is a rear view of the printing tape after the label has been peeled off. <FIG> corresponds to <FIG> in the first embodiment.

Unlike the label L in <FIG> in which a mark GM and a mark PM are arranged, a mark GM alone is arranged in the label L according to this variation, as shown in <FIG>. Here, the mark GM is formed with the same shape, format, and the like as the mark PM according to the first embodiment so that the positioning mechanism of the label-creating device <NUM> can recognize or detect the mark GM. Accordingly, the mark GM can serve as the positioning mark PM during conveyance in order to execute a print on the printing surface <NUM>. Hence, with the labels L according to the present variation, when being mounted in the label-creating device <NUM>, positioning marks PM do not need to be provided separately for positioning during conveyance when printing on the printing surfaces <NUM>.

While labels L in the first embodiment described above have marks GM for alignment, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the label L may have a special shape for alignment. <FIG> and <FIG> show an example of this special shape. <FIG> show a detailed structure of the label L according to the fourth variation after being separated from the printing tape T. <FIG> is a plan view of a single label L. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the structure in <FIG> taken along the section IX-IX. <FIG> are schematic perspective views showing the label L formed into a loop shape around the adherend <NUM> through the second step. <FIG> and <FIG> correspond to <FIG> and <FIG> in the first embodiment.

As shown in <FIG>, the label L according to the present variation has a guide slit GS and a guide tab GT as an example of the special shape for alignment in place of the mark GM.

The guide slit GS is an example of the cut-out part and is used for alignment together with the guide tab GT described later when bonding together two exposed sections of the adhesive layer <NUM> or an exposed section of the adhesive layer <NUM> and the release material <NUM> in order to form the label L into a loop shape. Accordingly, the guide slit GS is provided at a position for forming the label into a loop shape having an inner diameter greater than the prescribed diameter. As shown in <FIG>, the guide slit GS is formed in a slit shape arranged longitudinally in the tape width direction. The guide slit GS penetrates the release material <NUM>, adhesive layer <NUM>, and base material <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the guide slit GS is separated a prescribed distance from the bottom edge of the release material <NUM> after the label L is formed and provided below the bottom edge of the printing surface <NUM>, i.e., in the non-adhesive area D3a, as illustrated in <FIG>. The guide slit GS is preferably provided in the non-adhesive area D3a at a position near the bottom edge of the printing surface <NUM>. In this example, the guide slit GS is formed as a through-hole, but the guide slit GS may be formed as a slit having a prescribed depth sufficient for inserting the guide tab GT described later.

The guide tab GT is an example of the insertion part and is inserted into the guide slit GS described above when forming the label L into a loop shape. Accordingly, the guide tab GT is provided on the upper edge of the label L. More specifically, the guide tab GT is provided in the adhesive area D1, as shown in <FIG>. In order to be insertable into the guide slit GS, the guide tab GT is formed in a position corresponding to the guide slit GS in the tape width direction and has a length equal to or smaller than the length of the guide slit GS in the tape width direction. Further, since the top edge of the guide tab GT shown in <FIG> is to be inserted into the guide slit GS, the guide tab GT is preferably shaped so that its length in the tape width direction increases downward from the top edge of the label L, as shown in <FIG>, in order to facilitate insertion.

When bending the label L into a concave shape with the release material <NUM> on the inside in the second step of the method of printing and attaching the label L, the label L in the first embodiment is positioned by aligning the upper edge of the release material <NUM> with the mark GM, as shown in <FIG> and other drawings. However, the label L in this variation is positioned by inserting the guide tab GT into the guide slit GS from the back side (the side of the release material <NUM>), as shown in <FIG>. Thus, the guide tab GT is inserted into the guide slit GS formed in the non-adhesive area D3a from the near side shown in <FIG> (the side with the release material <NUM>) toward the far side (the side with the base material <NUM>). Other than this alignment method, the method for printing the label L is identical to that in the first embodiment and will not be described here.

According to the label L of the present variation described above, even users unfamiliar with the operation can always form a gap between the adherend <NUM> and the label L by aligning the guide slit GS and guide tab GT constituting the special shape to form the loop shape described above. Hence, at the stage of forming this loop shape, the label does not become too tight around the adherend <NUM>. Since the release material <NUM> having a higher stiffness than the base material <NUM> must be subsequently folded over when wrapping the free portion of the label L protruding out from the loop-shaped portion so as to cover the printing surface of the base material <NUM>, the label L is prevented from being wrapped too tightly around the adherend <NUM>. When the label L is ultimately attached to the adherend <NUM> as a result of the above operations, the label L is prevented from becoming difficult to rotate relative to the adherend <NUM>. Further, by forming the loop shape while aligning the guide slit GS and the guide tab GT, a gap can always be produced between the adherend <NUM> and the label L.

When descriptions such as "perpendicular," "parallel," and "flat" appear in the above description, these descriptions are not intended to be taken in their strictest sense. In other words, "perpendicular," "parallel," and "flat" may signify "substantially perpendicular," "substantially parallel," and "substantially flat" to allow for design and manufacturing tolerances and error.

When dimensions and sizes are described as being "identical," "equivalent," "different," and the like in appearance in the above description, these terms are not intended to be taken in their strictest sense. In other words, the terms "identical," "equivalent," and "different" may signify "substantially identical," "substantially equivalent," and "substantially different" to allow for design and manufacturing tolerances and error.

Claim 1:
A label (L) to be wrapped around an adherend (<NUM>) after being printed, the adherend (<NUM>) having a diameter equal to or smaller than a prescribed diameter, the label (L) comprising:
a base material (<NUM>) having a printing surface (<NUM>);
an adhesive layer (<NUM>) provided on an opposite side surface of the base material (<NUM>) from the printing surface (<NUM>);
a release material (<NUM>) bonded to the adhesive layer (<NUM>) with a portion of the adhesive layer (<NUM>) exposed; and
a mark (GM, PM) or a special shape (GS, GT) for alignment to be used when bonding together exposed sections of the adhesive layer (<NUM>) or an exposed section of the adhesive layer (<NUM>) with the release material (<NUM>) in order to form the label (L) into a loop shape,
wherein the mark (GM, PM) or the special shape (GS, GT) is provided at a position for forming the label (L) in the loop shape having an inner diameter greater than the prescribed diameter, characterized in that the release material (<NUM>) has a higher stiffness than the base material (<NUM>).