CA1255806A

CA1255806A - Thermal label printer

Info

Publication number: CA1255806A
Application number: CA000507298A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Yo Sato; Tadao Kashiwaba
Original assignee: Sato Corp
Current assignee: Sato Corp
Priority date: 1985-04-26
Filing date: 1986-04-22
Publication date: 1989-06-13
Also published as: EP0199201B1; EP0199201A3; DE3680569D1; US4734710A; EP0199201A2; DE199201T1

Abstract

SATO-194 (17-103) IMPROVED THERMAL LABEL PRINTER

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A portable label printer comprising a label printer unit and an electrically and mechanically detachable data terminal unit is disclosed. When mated, the data terminal unit and the label printer unit are angularly adjustable with respect to each other. The printer unit has an interface for communication with external devices.

Description

SATO-lg4 (l7-/0~?3 j I~P~QVED THERMAL LABEL PRINTER

BACKGRQ~ND OF T~E I~VENTION
This i~vention relates, to a thermal label printer capable of receiving from, and transmitting to an e~ternal device. More parti¢ularly, a thermal label printer having an interace for oommunication with ex-ternal devices and ~or printing labels is taught. ~ur-ther, a label printer portion may be detached ~rom a data terminal portion. Also, the label printer portion -~ and the terminal portion when mated are angularl~ ad-justable with respect to each other.
Various types of portable data collectors, ~ata terminals and the like have been developed. These devices use a data reader, such as a pen scanner, to scan ~ar codes or the like. The collector temporarily stores the data read by the data reader. This stored data is supplied to a small printer which prints on ordinary paper for confirmation or later reference.
; The stored data may also be supplied to a host computer or the li~e for various types of data processing.
These oonventional collectors are disad~anta-geous in that they are only capable of printing out data on ordinary paper for the purpose of confirmation or ~uture reference. They there~ore have only limi~ed applications since they are not capable of reproduoing the data for display on articles o merchandise or the e.

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Another drawback of conventional data colleo-tors is that in applications that require data input and label printing operation at; dlfferent places, the printer section of the devioe i.nterferes with the data input operation. More specifioally, data collectors o~
this type are commonl~ used as data terminals whioh ar~
taken out of the offioe into the warehouse or out into the fleld. They therefore ~ave to be ruggedl~ con-structed in order to withstand dropping, extreme tem~
peratures and high humidity and are therefore invari-ably heavy for their size. Thus, when the collector is to be used only for data input, and ~ot for simultaneous printout, the ~eed to c~rry arour.d a heavy printer section hinders the operator`s work.
Conventional data collectors also have an economic disadvantage where it is necessar~ to print out labels of diferent sizes (especiall~ of different widths~. Since printing of different size labels ne-cessitates the use of different print heads and other mechanical elements, it is necessary for the user to purchase two or more different types of thermal label printers.
Another disadvantage in conventional devices is that they cannot be angularly adjusted. This is im-portant where, in one mode data is being inputtedthrough the keyboard, and in another mode labels are being applied to merchandise or other ob;ects. This is particularly so where a label printer is used both as a desktop device in an office and as a portable device to be taken out o~ the of~ice into the warehouse or out in the field. As a result, the co~ventional devices have often been inconvenient for the operator to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INV~TION

', ~1~5~ 16 Accordingly, it ls an object of the present invention to provide a thermal. label printer which is capable of receiving and processing inputted data with an interface for transmitting received or processed data to a host computer or other external device.
It,is another object of the present i~ve~t:Lon to provide a thermal la~el printer which is capable o:E
- printlng data on thermal labels for af~ixing to arti-cles of merchandise and the li~e, or to files.
- 10 It is a further objeot of the present inven-tion to provide a thermal label printer which is wel~
adapted ~or use in applications where data input and label printing are carried out at different locations or where labels of different sizes may be printed.
It is an other o~ject ~f the present invention to produce a portable device for tracklng and mar~ing packages or the like and having information thereon which uses a printing medium in co~junctio~
with a printing unit for pri~ting on the printing medi~
um. A data terminal u~it includes a first input de~
vice for receiving the information contained on the package, memory for storing therein the information contained in the package and for storing therein prede-termined package information. A controller is connected to the printing unit, the first input device and memory for controlling the printing unit and the memory. A means is pro~ided for connecting the printing unlt to the data terminal unit in adjustable angular relationship thereto. Another means is provid-ed ~or making the printing uuit and the data terminalunit readily detachable from each other. Also interface is used for communication with an external computer.

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~ 4 --The present invention attains these objeots by providing a thermal label p:rinter comprising a data input means such as a pen scanner or keyboard, a data memory means for storing the data from the data input means, a data transmission means for transmitting data to a microcomputer or a host computer, and a printer means for printing required da1;a on thermosensltive la-bels.
These labels are separable for attaohment, to prescribed artioles or at presoribed places. Further5 - the thermal label printer is divided into a label printer unit which is detachable from a data terminal unit. Therefore, the thermal label printer according to the present invention may be applied to uses not possible o$ previous data collectors.
The thermal label printer according to this invention is thu`s not only able to receive and output data, but also to print labels. As a result of print-ing required data on labels, it becomes possible to in- -dicate the data on articles of merchandise and the likeor on files therefor, to display the data at a later time, or to use the data for data administration at a later time. Moreover, in cases where data input and data output operation are carried out at different places, the efficiency of the data input operation may be improved by disconnecting the terminal unit from the printer unit. Also, by providing a plurality of print-er units each adapted ~or printing labels of a differ-ent size, it becomes poss~ble to print labels of the desired size simply by selecting an appropriate printer unit and connecting it with the terminal unit.
Further, the capability of the th~rmal label printer can be further egpanded by the use of function keys for entering commands ~or different data input , ,:

~ ~5~ ~6 and output modes. Also, the angular relation between the terminal uni-t and the printer unit may be adjusted.
Therefore the angle o inclination of the thermal label printer may be varied to obtai.n optimum operability and utility when it is used as a cLesktop devioe as well as when it is used as a portable device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIO~_OF ~XE D~AWI~~
Fig. l is a perspective view of an embodiment of the thermal label pri~ter of the present invention;
~ig. 2 is a sectional view o~ Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a segment o a label strip;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing how the thermal label printer according to the present inven-tion is connected to a microcomputer;
Fig. 5 is a view showing how the thermal printer is connected to a host computer;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view o~ a thermal la-bel printer with the data terminal unit separated from the label printer unit; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the thermal label printer shown in Fig. l with the data terminal unit and the label printer unit connected at an angle.

D~CRIPTIO~ OF THE PREFERRED ENBODINE~T
The thermal label printer l shown in Fig. 1 comprises of a data terminal unit 2a and a label printer unit 2b which combine to form a main or desktop type unit l. The units 2a and 2b have respective fla-t bottom surfaces 3a and 3b which can be used for supporting the thermal label printer on any desired flat surface.

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~2 Data terminal unit 2a is provided on its top side with a keyboard 6. The ke~board 6 consists o~ a numeric pad 4 and a number o~ function keys 5. Above the keyboard 6 is a data display 7 which may, ~or e~am-ple, be a liquid crystal display. One side surface ofthe,data te~minal unit 2a is p:rovided with a power switch 8. The printer unit 2b is provided on either side with an open/close button 9 (only one shown). A
support member 10 is used for holding a thermal label roll R consisting of a thermal label strip T wound into a roll. The thermal label strip T comprises a backing sheet S (Fig. 2) bearing numerous labels. After ~eing printed and detached ~rom the backing sheet S; bhe la-bels are disoharged from the front end o~ the thermal label printer 1 as indicated by the arrow. A discharge outlet 1~ (Figs. 2 and 6) is used ~or the backing sheet S which is formed at the rear end o~ bhe printer unit 2b.
At the rear end o~ the terminal unit 2a there is provided a socket 12 for oonnecting a pen scanner 11. A socket 15 is used to connect a battery charger 31 to an internal batter~ 2~ (Fig. 2).
The pen scanner 11 is passed over a bar code B which is printed on a shelf tag F. The code repre-sents a merchandise code or the like. The bar codedata is inputted in this ~orm to the thermal label printer 1.
The terminal unit 2a and the printer unit 2b are shown detached ~rom each other in Fig. 6. A yoke ao is provided on the ~orward end o~ the terminal unit 2a ~or holding the two units 2a, 2b together and they can therefore be connected and disconnected as desired.
Printer un~t 2b has a pair of steel balls ~1 (only one shown) which are countersunk at symmetrical - . .
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3L2~S5~06 positions in the let and right side surfaces.
Symmetrically disposed steel balls 42, 43 and 4~ (only one of each pair shown) are provided ~or adjusting the angular position therebetween the terminal unit 2a ad the printer unit 2b. A pair of upper position stops 45 and a pair of lower position stops 46 are used to de~ine the upper and lower lim:its of angular travel o~
the printer unit 2b. The stee:l ba~ls 4l, ~2! g~ and aA
are outwardly urged by associated springs ~not shown) and normally protrude above the side sur~ace o~ the unit 2b while to receding under externally applied pressure to a position which is substantially ~lush with the associated side sur~ace.
The yoke 40 has a guide groove 47 running along the i~side sur~ace o~ either leg. Each guide groove 4~ is provided with a pivot hole 41 and an angu--lar position fixing hole 49. When the units 2a, 2b are co~nected, steel balls ~1 pass along groove 47 until they snap into eng~gement wit~ pivot holes ~a. At that time, depending upon the orientation of the printing unit, one pair o steel balls 42, 45, 44 will snap into engagement with the angular position ixing holes 49.
The angular relation between the units 2a and 2~ where the yoke 40 is in abutment with the lower position ixing holes 49 is shown in Fig. l.
Fig. 7 shows where the angular relation be-tween the units 2a and 2b is such that the yoke 40 iS
in abutment with the upper position stops 45 when the ; steel balls 42 are engaged in the angular position ~ixing holes 49. A connector 50 is provided for elec-trical connection between units 2a, 2b.
It is to be understood that the mechanism ~or mechanically connecting the units 2a and 2b in angular relationship may be accomplished in many ways without ~S~3~6 departing from the spirit and scope o~ the present ln-vention. For e~ample, screws, cams, lea~ springs, linkages and the like may be used. ~urther, it is not required that the units 2a, 2b be detachable. ~or ex-S ample, units 2a and 2b may be connected by replacingthe steel balls 41 and the pivot holes ~8 with pivot bosses and tapped holes (neither shown), respectively, and using bolts to ~ix the two u~its together.
The thermal label strip T (Fig. 5) as used in the present invention consists of a continuous series of labels L detachably adhered to a continuous backing sheet S. The labels L have adhesive applied to their rear surfaces while the backing sheet S is coated with a parting agent to ~acilitate separation of the labels L therefrom. The labels L are intended to be printed with information I and may include a bar code B which represents a merchandise code or a manufacturer code, or a division code or a price. The backing sheet S has holes D for strip T position detection as well as for engagement with the conveyor roller 19 (Fig. 2).
The internal structure o~ the thermal printer 1 may be seen by re~erring to Fig. 2. The thermal la-bel strip T is drawn off the thermal label roll sup-ported on the support member 10 of the label printer unit 2b. The strip T is passed along a label strip passage 18 and passes through position sensor 14 and along the guide rollers 17 of an upper press member 16.
The thermal label strip T passes via the con~
veyor roller 19 to a thermal print head 20 and a platen 21. The st~ip T is redirected at the platen 21. There the labels L are peeled off, so that just the backing strip is directed for engagement with the conveyor roller 19. The backing is then guided by guide rollers 23 of lower press member 22. The bac~ing sheet S then .
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_ 9 _ feeds out from the unit 2b via discharge outlet 14. A
sheet be~ding pin P ~shown in phantom) may be provided i~ ~ront o~ the platen 21 as the label peeling means T or peeling the labels L ~rom the backing sheet S as the backing sheet S is redirected.
The loading o~ the label strip T is aooom-plished by moving the open/olose buttons 9 and allowing the bottom cover 23 to swing downwardly about pivot 25 as shown in phantom. This makes it possible to insert a roll of thermal label strip T therein. The bottom cover 2g is coupled to platen 21 and to the lower press member 22 and therefore also swings downwardly. Any oonventional type opening~/closing mechanism 5 may be used for this purpose, details thereo~ are not pro-vided. The conveyor roller 19 is driven by the steppedrotation action o~ stepping motor ~ and moves the ther-mal label strip T in the required direction ~or print-i~g and conveyance.
The control circuit 26, which is housed in terminal unit ~a, is connected to battery 27, an inter-face 28 for data input from and output to external de-vices, a ROM program memory 29 ~or communication and control programs, a RAM data memory 30, and a keyboard 6. The display 7, sensor 15, thermal print head 20 and stepping motor N and inter~ace 51 are also connected to the control circuit 26 via connector 50 and are there-fore controlled by control circuit 26. The interface 51 allows communication with external devices. The battery 27 is pre~erably a rechargeable type and can be connected via socket 13 to an external battery charger 31.
Figure 4 shows the thermal label printer 1 connected to a microcomputer 32 thereby allowing I/O
data operations therebetween. This data may be trans-~2~

ferred to microcomputer 32 via socket 12 by use of acable 33. Alternately, an acoustic coupler 34 (Fig. 5) may be used to link the printer 1 to a large host com-puter 37 via a telephone 35~ and any suitable wired or wireless li~k.
The operation of the present invention will now be described with reference to an application ~or replenishing stock at a supermarket or the like.
Accordingly, an operator carries the thermal label printer l and the pen scanner ll to a merchandise display shelf. The operator scans a shel~ tag F, thus inputting the merchandise code and other pertine~t data to the thermal label printer l. The keys of the numer-ic pad 4 are then used to input the quantity of mer-chandise to be ordered to bring the stock up to the d~-sired level. This inputted data ls displayed on the display 7 so that the operator is able to confirm its accuracy. The operator then repeats the process moving to succeeding shelves or racks. During the course of work, the operator may or may ~ot ~ant to immediately print labels using the inputted data. Therefore, if there is no need to immediately print labels, the oper-ator may simply detach the printer unit 2b and carry only the ter~inal unit 2a. This will reduce the weight of the equipment which is to be carried and therefore result in a lower amount of required labor. This is typically the case where a large store is involved.
The inputted data is temporarily stored in the data memory 30. After the work of inputting the data for stoc~ replenishment has been completed, it may then be transmitted from the thermal label printer l to a microcomputer 52 or a host computer 37. The trans-mission of data from the thermal label printer l to the microcomputer 52 or the host computer 37 preferably 80~

does not erase i-t from the data memory 30. Upon arriv-al of the ordered merchandise, it is then possible for the user to go to a more convenient location such as the freight receiving area, recon~ect terminal 2a with printer unit 2b and pri~t the required labels. In or-der to print the labels in this fashion, the user need only press the function key 5 marked PR. This will oause the conveyor roller 19 to advance the thermal la bel strip T and aotivate the 1;hermal prlnt head 20.
This will then print the labels L with bar codes B or any other information I corresponding to the merchan-dise codes which have been stored in memory 30 as de-scribed.
Since only the backing sheet S is redirected at the platen 21, the labels L may be peeled off as each is ejected from unit 2b. As each label is e~ected, the user takes the label L and affixes it to the appropriate item of merchandise (not shown).
Thus the labels may be printed merely by use of a function key, without the troublesome work of man-ually inputting the merchandise code and ~uantity data as has conventionally been required.
When a large number of ~abels is to be ap-plied to merchandise, an application roller 58 for~ard of the platen 21 may be used. In this case, the work of applying the labels ca~ be carried out with high ef-ficiency by adjusting the angular relation between the units 2a and 2b as shown in Fig. 7, and using the ter-minal unit 2a as a handle.
It is to be noted that the structure o~ the thermal label printer may be simplified, if desired, by omitting the keyboard and providing only the pen scan-ner ll or a touch scanner as the data input means.
Also, the display may be omitted or ano~her input sock-~2~ 6 et 12 may be provided. Further, where it is desired to make the thermal label printer more easily portable, a handle (not shown) may be provi.ded on the bottom of one of the two units 2a and 2b. This handle may be of either fixed, detachable or a f`oldable type.
Although the invention has been described with respect to a~ application for ordering merchandise to replenish stock at a supermarket or the like, thi.s usage is exemplary only. Other means for inputting and . outputting of data may be used. As a result, the ther-mal label printer according to this invention is able to print labels based on various data from ~arious sources, and is therefore applicable to a widé range of uses, many o~ which could not ~e handled by conventio~-al label printers.
These uses may include, for example, stockadministration at retail shops, office data file admin-istration, printing of blood data cards, test tube la-bels at blood banks, printing of bar code labels for patient charts, medical certificates at medical clinics and hospitals, administration of manufacturing process-es, parts and inventory co~trol at ~actories, printing of labels for confirmation of freight shipment, admin-istration of data, printing of labels relating to out-side suppliers at department stores or supermarkets,and administration of customer data at department stores and supermarkets.
Al~hough the present invention has been de~
soribed in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, many other variations and modifications will now become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is pre~erred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A portable device for tracking and marking packages or the like having information thereon, comprising:
a separate printing unit means for printing on a print medium;
a separate data terminal means, including:
a first input means for storing therein said information contained on said package and also for storing therein other predetermined package information;
control means connected to said printing unit means, said first input means and said memory means, for receiving said information from said first input means and for transferring said information to said memory means, for developing data, based on said predetermined package information and said information contained on said packages, which data is to be printed on said print medium, and for controlling said printing unit means and said memory means to cause said data to be printed, by said printing unit means, on said print medium; and means for connecting said printing unit means to said data terminal unit means, said connecting means being effective to provide adjustable angular orientation between said printing unit means and said data terminal means, said connecting means being effective to enable said printing unit means to carry out its printing function regardless of the angular orientation between said printing unit means and said data terminal unit means.

2. A portable device for tracking and marking packages or the like according to claim 1, wherein said printing unit means and said data terminal unit means are readily detachable from each other.

3. A portable device for tracking and marking packages or the like according to claim 1, wherein said printing means is comprised of a thermal printer.

4. A portable device for tracking and marking packages or the like according to claim ], wherein said first input means is comprised of a keyboard.

5. A portable device for tracking and marking packages or the like according to claim 1, wherein said first input means is comprised of a pen scanner.

6. A portable device for tracking and marking packages or the like according to claim 1, wherein said information contained on said packages is in the form of a bar code.

7. A portable device for tracking and marking packages or the like according to claim 1, wherein said print medium is comprised of a label.

8. A portable device for tracking and marking packages or the like according to claim 1, further comprising an I/O port means connected to said control means for communication with an external computer.

9. A portable device for tracking and marking packages or the like according to claim 1, further comprising alignment holes disposed at predetermined positions in said print medium and further comprising a print medium position detector means adjacent said alignment holes for registering the relative position of said print medium in said printing unit means.

10. A portable device for tracking and marking packages or the like according to claim 9, further comprising a print medium passage in said device and a print medium transport means connected to said print medium and to said control means, said transport means moving said print medium in response to printing by said printing unit means on said print medium, said print medium disposed in said print medium passage.

11. A portable device for tracking and marking packages or the like and having information thereon, comprising:

a separate printing unit means for printing on a print medium;
a separate data terminal means, including:
first input means for detecting and receiving said information contained on said packages;
memory means for storing therein said information contained on said package and for storing therein predetermined package information;
control means connected to said printing means, said first input means and said memory means, for receiving said information from said first input means and for transferring said information to said memory means, for developing data, based on said predetermined package information and said information contained on said packages, which data is to be printed on said print medium and for controlling said printing unit means and said memory means to cause said data to be printed, by said printing unit means, on said print medium, and for controlling said printing unit means and said memory means to cause said data to be printed, by said printing unit means, on said print medium; and means for freely connecting and disconnecting said print unit means and said data terminal unit means,, said connecting means being effective to enable connection of said printing unit means essentially directly to said data terminal unit means.

12. A portable device for tracking and marking packages or the like according to claim 11, further comprising an I/O port means connected to said control means for electrical communication with an external computer.

13. A portable device for tracking and marking packages or the like according to claim 1, further comprising pivot means connected to said printing unit means and said data terminal unit means for angular adjustment of said printer unit means with respect to said data terminal unit means.

14. A portable device for tracking and marking packages or the like according to claim 13, further comprising a biasing means between said printing units means and said data terminal unit means for alignment of said printing unit means in said angular relationship to data terminal unit means.

15. A portable device for tracking and marking packages or the like according to claim 11, further comprising a yoke means connected to said data terminal unit means, said yoke means electrically and mechanically engaging and holding said printing unit means.

16. The portable device of claim 11, wherein the data terminal unit is operable independently of the printing unit means.

17. The portable device of claim 11, in which the printing unit means comprises a hand held printing unit means.

18. The portable device of claim 17, in which the data terminal unit means comprises a hand held data terminal unit means.

19. A portable printer for printing labels or the like, comprising:
means for advancing a printing medium through the printer thermal print head for printing information on the printing medium;
a mechanically adjustable connection means for enabling the printer to be detachably connected directly to a data terminal unit; and electrical connector means for providing a detachable and direct electrical connection between the printer and a data terminal unit and for transmitting through the electrical connector means printing information for the printer.

20. The printer of claim 19, in which the printer further comprises mechanical adjustment means for providing an adjustable angular orientation between the printer and the data terminal unit, without affecting the operability of the portable device.

21. The printer of claim 20, in which the means for advancing the printing medium include means for advancing a roll of backing sheet containing a plurality of detachable labels adheringly disposed thereon.