Label printer with a label peeling mechanism and a control method for the same

• US 8,118,505 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2010
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Hiroike, Go, Tsukada, Toshihiro, Takami, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Evanisko, Leslie J
• Assistant Examiner(s): FERGUSON SAMRETH, MARISSA LIANA
• Application Number:
  US12/693,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20100124451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 400/76, 400/611, 400/613, 400/74, 400582-583, 400/586, 400/614, 400/615.2, 156/378, 156/384
• US Class Current: 400/583
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0095 Detecting means for copy material, e.g. for detecting or sensing presence of copy material or its leading or trailing end
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4075 Tape printers; Label printers
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 11/0289 using electrical or electro-mechanical means B65C11/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 2009/0018 Preparing the labels
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 2009/0084 Means for reversing the transport of label or web for repositioning the next to be dispensed label, e.g. printing
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 2009/0093 Devices switching between a peelable and a non peelable position

Abstract

A label printing apparatus having a label peeling mechanism determines the appropriate time to run a process for setting the paper. Paper having a plurality of labels continuously affixed to a web liner is loaded inside the label printing apparatus when a main cover is open. A peeling mechanism cover is attached and openable from the main cover. When opened, the paper is routed through one path or another to exit the printer from one or another exit depending on whether or not the peeling mechanism is used. A control method for this printer has a step of waiting for a switch to be pressed by an operator after the operator puts the paper inside the label printer and closes the main cover, and a step of executing a paper setup process when the switch is pressed.

Claims

1. A printing apparatus comprising:

a printer case that stores labels affixed to a web liner;

a printer case cover that opens and closes;

a detector that detects if the printer case cover is opened or closed;

a peeling mechanism that peels a label from the web liner;

a first transportation path through which the web liner is transported so that a label is peeled from the transported web liner by the peeling mechanism, the first transportation path formed when the printer case cover is closed;

a second transportation path through which the peeled label or the labels affixed to the web liner without peeling are transported, the second transportation path formed when the printer case cover is closed;

a manual switch positioned on the printer case; and

a control unit that sets an input standby state in response to the detector detecting a closed position of the printer case cover, and that cancels the input standby state and executes a label indexing process in response to an activation of the manual switch.

2. A printing apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

an indicator that starts indicating in response to the detector detecting the closed position of the printer case cover, and stops indicating in response to the activation of the manual switch.

3. A printing apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a transportation mechanism and a label detector that detects a label position while the labels affixed to the web liner are transported;

wherein the control unit executes a mechanical initialization process, and while the label detector detects the label position in the mechanical initialization process, the control unit controls the transportation mechanism to transport the labels affixed to the web liner to a position where a label can be removed.

4. A printing apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a print head, a transportation mechanism, and a label detector that detects a label position while the labels affixed to the web liner are transported;

wherein while the label detector detects the label position, the control unit controls the transportation mechanism to transport the label to a position adjacent the print head.

5. A printing apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a peeled label detector that detects if a peeled label or the web liner is in a label discharge opening, a print head, and a transportation mechanism that transports the labels affixed to the web liner;

wherein, when the web liner is transported through the first transportation path and the manual switch is activated, the control unit controls the transportation mechanism to transport the labels affixed to the web liner to a position adjacent the print head when the peeled label detector detects that the peeled label or the web liner is not in the label discharge opening.

6. A printing apparatus comprising:

a printer case that stores labels affixed to a web liner;

a printer case cover that opens and closes;

a detector that detects if the printer case cover is opened or closed;

a manual switch positioned on the printer case;

a control unit that sets an input standby state in response to the detector detecting a closed position of the printer case cover, and that cancels the input standby state and executes a label indexing process in response to an activation of the manual switch; and

a communication unit that reports the input standby state to a host computer in response to the detector detecting the closed position of the printer case cover, and that cancel the input standby state reported to the host computer in response to an activation of the manual switch.

7. A control method for a printing apparatus having

a printer case that stores labels affixed to a web liner, and

a printer case cover that opens and closes, and

a detector that detects if the printer case cover is opened or closed, and

a peeling mechanism that peels a label from the web liner, and

a first transportation path through which the web liner is transported so that a label is peeled from the transported web liner by the peeling mechanism, the first transportation path formed when the printer case cover is closed, and

a second transportation path through which the peeled label or the labels affixed to the web liner without peeling are transported, the second transportation path formed when the printer case cover is closed, and

a manual switch positioned on the printer case;

the control method comprising;

detecting the closed position of the printer case cover by the detector;

setting an input standby state in response to the detector detecting the closed position of the printer case cover; and

cancelling the input standby state and executing a label indexing process in response to an activation of the manual switch.

8. A control method for a printing apparatus as in claim 7, further comprising:

reporting the input standby state to a host computer in response to the detector detecting the closed position of the printer case cover; and

cancelling the input standby state reported to the host computer in response to the activation of the manual switch.

9. A control method for a printing apparatus as in claim 7, further comprising:

starting an indication in response to the detector detecting the closed position of the printer case cover; and

stopping the indication in response to the activation of the manual switch.

10. A control method for a printing apparatus as in claim 7, further comprising:

executing a mechanical initialization process; and

transporting the labels affixed to the web liner to a position where a label can be removed during the mechanical initialization process.

11. A control method for a printing apparatus as in claim 7, further comprising:

transporting one label of the labels affixed to the web liner to a position adjacent a print head after the manual switch is activated.

12. A control method for a printing apparatus as in claim 7, further comprising:

detecting by a peeled label detector if a label or web liner is in a label discharge opening; and

when the web liner is transported through the first transportation path, transporting one label of the labels affixed to the web liner to a position adjacent a print head when the label or the web liner is not detected in the label discharge opening after the manual switch is activated.