1. A label detection method, comprising steps of:
conveying label paper having labels affixed at intervals on a continuous liner through a transportation path;
detecting a plurality of detection beams of emitted light that are emitted to the label paper at a plurality of detection positions in the transportation direction of the label paper on the transportation path; and
detecting the labels or marks printed on the label paper based on a detected difference in the plurality of detection beams.
2. The label detection method described in claim 1, further comprising a step of:
determining if an edge part of a label or an edge part of a mark printed on the label paper is between the plurality of detection positions by determining if the difference in the plurality of detection beams is greater than a specific value.
3. The label detection method described in claim 1, wherein:
the emitted light is emitted from a single light-emitting device.
4. The label detection method described in claim 1, wherein:
a plurality of photodetection devices disposed to receive light from the plurality of detection positions to detect the transmission of the emitted light through the label paper, or to detect the reflection of the emitted light reflected by the label paper.
5. The label detection method described in claim 1, wherein:
a plurality of photodetection devices are disposed to receive light from the plurality of detection positions; and
a single light-emitting device is disposed opposite the photodetection devices with the transportation path therebetween.
6. The label detection method described in claim 1, wherein:
a plurality of photodetection devices are disposed to receive light from the plurality of detection positions; and
a single light-emitting device is disposed beside and between the photodetection devices, and emits the emitted light to the plurality of detection positions.
7. The label detection method described in claim 1, wherein:
two photodetection devices are disposed to receive light from two detection positions; and
the label detection method also has a step of determining if the difference of the outputs of the two photodetection devices based on the detected light is greater than a specified value.
8. A label printer, comprising:
a transportation mechanism that conveys label paper having labels affixed at intervals on a continuous liner through a transportation path;
a light-emitting unit that emits an emitted light to the label paper at a plurality of detection positions in the transportation direction of the label paper on the transportation path;
a plurality of detection units that detect detection beams of the emitted light at the plurality of detection positions; and
an evaluation unit that evaluates the position of the label or marks printed on the label paper based on a difference of the output values of the plurality of detection units.
9. The label printer described in claim 8, wherein:
the evaluation unit determines if an edge part of a label or an edge part of a mark printed on the label paper is between the plurality of detection positions by determining if the difference in the output values of the plurality of detection units is greater than a specific value.
10. The label printer described in claim 8, wherein:
the light-emitting unit is a single light-emitting device.
11. The label printer described in claim 8, wherein:
the detection units are photodetection devices, and detect the transmission of the emitted light through the label paper, or detect the reflection of the emitted light reflected by the label paper.
12. The label printer described in claim 8, wherein:
the detection units are photodetection devices;
the light-emitting unit is a single light-emitting device; and
the plurality of photodetection devices and the light-emitting device are disposed in opposition with the transportation path therebetween.
13. The label printer described in claim 8, wherein:
the detection units are photodetection devices;
the light-emitting unit is a single light-emitting device; and
the light-emitting device is disposed beside and between the photodetection devices.
14. The label printer described in claim 8, wherein:
the detection units are photodetection devices;
the label printer also has a differential signal extraction unit to which output from two photodetection devices is input, and which outputs a difference of the output values of the two photodetection devices to the evaluation unit; and
the evaluation unit determines if the label or an edge part of a mark printed on the label paper is between the two detection positions by determining if said difference is greater than a specified value.
15. The label printer described in claim 8, wherein:
the detection units are photodetection devices;
the label printer also has a differential amplifier unit that receives output from two photodetection devices, obtains and amplifies a difference of the outputs from the two photodetection devices, and outputs the amplified differential value to the evaluation unit; and
the evaluation unit determines if the label or an edge part of a mark printed on the label paper is between the two detection positions by determining if the amplified differential value is greater than a specified value.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A portable and compact children’s training sink, comprising:
a main housing having a basin, a drain hole disposed in said basin, and a back splash panel substantially adjacent to and projecting above said basin, said basin being sloped towards said drain hole;
support legs supporting said main housing, including at least one front support leg and at least one rear support leg, said front and rear support legs being spaced just enough apart to accommodate the width of a wall of a household bathtub or shower stall;
a fluid reservoir selectively disposable in and removable from said back splash panel which is waterproof and due to its lightweight nature can be easily moved when empty; and
a spigot in fluid communication with said reservoir and extending over and emptying into said basin,
and wherein when said rear support leg is placed inside a bathtub or shower and said front support leg is placed outside a bathtub or shower, fluid entering said basin exits via said drain hole and into the bathtub or shower.
2. A portable and compact children’s training sink according to claim 1, said spigot being selectively openable and closable to allow fluid in said reservoir to flow out of said spigot and into said basin.
3. A portable and compact children’s training sink according to claim 2, further comprising a selectively removable waste water receptacle in fluid communication with said drain hole, wherein fluid exiting said basin via said drain hole is collected in said waste water receptacle.
4. A portable and compact children’s training sink according to claim 1, wherein said reservoir is removable from said back splash panel.
5. A portable and compact children’s training sink according to claim 1, wherein the height of said front and rear support legs is adjustable.
6. A portable and compact children’s training sink according to claim 1, said main housing further comprising a vanity.
7. A portable and compact children’s training sink according to claim 6, said vanity having at least one of the following: a mirror; toothbrush holder; soap receptacle; tissue holder; or towel holder.
8. A portable and compact children’s training sink according to claim 6, said vanity further comprising a counter top sloped downwardly and inwardly toward said basin.
9. A portable and compact children’s training sink according to claim 1, further comprising a flexible tube in fluid communication with said drain hole,
wherein fluid entering said drain hole is conducted away from said basin via said tube.
10. A portable and compact children’s training sink according to claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism selectively retaining said reservoir in said back splash panel.
11. A portable and compact children’s training sink according to claim 10, said locking mechanism further comprising a retaining pin passing through a first bore in said back splash panel and an aligned second bore in said reservoir.
12. A portable and compact children’s training sink according to claim 10, said locking mechanism further comprising a retaining pin having an enlarged distal end section slidingly fittable into a recess formed on the exterior of said reservoir.
13. A portable and compact children’s training sink according to claim 12, said proximal end of said retaining pin terminating in a toothbrush holder.
14. A portable and compact children’s training sink according to claim 10, said locking mechanism further comprising a retaining frame hingedly attached to said back splash panel, said retaining frame including latches to secure said retaining frame around said reservoir and to said back splash panel.
15. A portable and compact children’s training sink according to claim 1, wherein a width of said main housing is dimensioned to less than the width of a conventional sliding shower door.