Tag-label producing apparatus

• US 20080025778A1
• Filed: 06/05/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Ito, Akira, Ohta, Kiyoiohi, Yamada, Shiro, Nagae, Tsuyoshi
• Application Number:
  US11/810,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20080025778A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/76
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/46 by marks or formations on the paper being fed
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/666 Cutting partly, e.g. cutting only the uppermost layer of a multiple-layer printing material
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/703 Cutting of tape
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4075 Tape printers; Label printers
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/50 Mechanisms producing characters by printing and also producing a record by other means , e.g. printer combined with RFID writer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0025 the arrangement consisting of a wireless interrogation device in combination with a device for optically marking the record carrier

Abstract

In a tag-label producing apparatus for producing an RFID label using a tag-label tape having an adhesive layer, a separation sheet, and an RFID circuit element, a tape feeding roller, a loop antenna for information transmission/reception, and a print head are provided, in which a tag print corresponding to transmission/reception contents by the loop antenna is carried out by a control circuit on a tag print area provided at a position corresponding to the RFID circuit element in a cover film, and the print head and the tape feeding roller are controlled in coordination so that a predetermined pattern print is carried out on a front print area located on the tape tip end side than the tag print area.

Claims

1. A tag-label producing apparatus comprising:

a label producing portion capable of producing an RFID label, including at least a feeding portion that feeds a tag-label tape having a print-receiving medium layer and an RFID circuit element provided with an IC circuit part that stores information and an antenna that transmitting/receiving information, a communicating portion that performs transmitting/receiving the information contactlessly with said RFID circuit element, and a printing portion that carries out predetermined print on said print-receiving medium layer; and

a margin utilization processing portion that performs predetermined processing for utilizing a margin area where the print by said printing portion is not carried out in said print-receiving medium layer at the time of producing said RFID label.

2. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said feeding portion feeds the tag-label tape provided with said print-receiving medium layer, an affixing adhesive layer for affixing said print-receiving medium layer to an affixing target, a separation material layer covering said affixing adhesive layer, and said RFID circuit element; and

said margin utilization processing portion includes a control device that controls said printing portion and said feeding portion in coordination so that tag print corresponding to the transmission/reception contents by said communicating portion is carried out on a first print area provided at a position corresponding to said RFID circuit element in said print-receiving medium layer, and predetermined pattern print is carried out on a second print area located at a tape tip end side than said first print area in said print-receiving medium layer.

3. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a first half-cutter that cuts the layers other than said separation material layer of said tag-label tape between said first print area and said second print area of said tag-label tape.

4. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said control device controls said printing portion and said feeding portion in coordination so that predetermined pattern print is carried out on a third print area located on a side opposite to said second print area than said first print area in said print-receiving medium layer.

5. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

said control device controls said printing portion and said feeding portion in coordination so that said print patterns different from each other are printed on said second print area and said third print area.

6. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a second half-cutter that cuts the layers other than said separation material layer of said tag-label tape between said first print area and said third print area of said tag-label tape.

7. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said control device controls said printing portion and said feeding portion in coordination so that label-related information relating to production of said RFID label is printed on said second print area or said third print area as said pattern print.

8. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:

said control device controls said printing portion and said feeding portion in coordination so that information on production date and time when the RFID label is produced is printed as said label-related information.

9. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:

said control device controls said printing portion and said feeding portion in coordination so that information on time of use to be notified to a user at use of the RFID label is printed as said label-related information.

10. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein:

said control device controls said printing portion and said feeding portion in coordination so that information on cautions for users of the RFID label is printed as said information on time of use.

11. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an operation signal input portion that inputs an operation signal of an operator, wherein

said control device includes a pattern setting portion that variably sets the contents of said pattern print according to said operation signal input with said operation signal input portion.

12. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

said operation signal input portion inputs a selection signal from a plurality of said label-related information set in advance as said operation signal; and

said pattern setting portion sets the contents of said pattern print according to said selection signal input with said operation signal input portion.

13. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

said pattern setting portion makes setting by limiting the contents of said pattern print so that it is contained in a range of said second print area.

14. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said control device controls said printing portion and said feeding portion in coordination so that said print pattern is printed repeatedly for a plurality of times on said second print area or said third print area.

15. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said control device controls said printing portion and said feeding portion in coordination so that a print given decoration including at least one addition or change of predetermined line, colors, designs, icons, marks, and symbols in said print pattern or its peripheral area is carried out on said second print area or said third print area.

16. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a detecting device that detects an identifier for detection at a position corresponding to said first print area in the tag-label tape.

17. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a bonding device that bonds a base layer for mounting said RFID circuit element to said print-receiving medium layer through a bonding adhesive layer.

18. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said feeding portion feeds a tag tape included in said tag-label tape that has said RFID circuit element;

said printing portion carries out predetermined print on said print-receiving medium layer provided at said tag tape or a print-receiving tape as said print-receiving medium layer to be bonded to said tag tape;

said label producing portion can produce both an RFID label including said RFID circuit element and an ordinary label not provided with said RFID circuit element; and

said tag-label producing apparatus further comprises a JOB accepting portion that accepts a producing operation signal for producing said RFID label or said ordinary label; and

a JOB memory portion that sequentially stores JOB identification information, label length information and an RFID tag information identification signal corresponding to said producing operation signal accepted by said JOB accepting portion;

said margin utilization processing portion includes a first JOB allocating portion that sequentially allocates said JOB identification information, said label length information and said RFID tag information identification signal stored by said JOB memory portion in a predetermined order; and

said tag-label producing apparatus further comprises a first instruction signal output portion that generates and outputs a first instruction signal for instructing label production to said label producing portion according to the allocated state by said first JOB allocating portion.

19. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein:

said first JOB allocating portion allocates said JOB identification information, said label length information and said RFID tag information identification signal relating to said producing operation signal having said RFID tag information at allocated positions corresponding to arrangement information of said RFID circuit element in said tag tape.

20. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein:

said first JOB allocating portion allocates said JOB identification information, said label length information and said RFID tag information identification signal relating to said producing operation signal not having said RFID tag information at allocated positions not overlapping the allocated positions corresponding to arrangement information of said RFID circuit element in said tag tape.

21. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a determining portion that determines if the allocated state by said first JOB allocating portion satisfies a predetermined condition or not based on the arrangement information of said RFID circuit element in said tag tape, wherein

said first instruction signal output portion outputs said first instruction signal according to a determination result by said determining portion.

22. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein:

said first JOB allocating portion carries out said allocation by the unit of a predetermined length based on the arrangement information of said RFID circuit element in said tag tape.

23. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a forced instruction signal output portion that generates and outputs an instruction signal for instructing label production to said label producing portion regardless of the determination result in said determining portion.

24. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising an allocation information output portion that outputs allocation information by said first JOB allocating portion.

25. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a label-length information output portion that outputs length information of said RFID label or said ordinary label which can be produced by said label producing portion according to the allocation information by said first JOB allocating portion.

26. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising an end notice output portion that outputs a production end notice correspondingly when the label production by said label producing portion is finished based on the instruction signal from said first instruction signal output portion or said forced instruction signal output portion.

27. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein:

said JOB memory portion is a non-volatile memory portion.

28. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein:

said JOB accepting portion is configured capable of accepting said producing operation signal from a plurality of operation terminals provided outside said tag-label producing apparatus.

29. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising an operating device which can be operated by an operator,

said JOB accepting portion accepts said producing operation signal from said operating device.

30. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said feeding portion feeds a tag tape included in said tag-label tape that has said RFID circuit element;

said printing portion carries out predetermined print on said print-receiving medium layer provided at said tag tape or a print-receiving tape as said print-receiving medium layer to be bonded to said tag tape;

said label producing portion can produce both an RFID label including said RFID circuit element and an ordinary label not provided with said RFID circuit element;

The tag-label producing apparatus further comprises a JOB accepting portion that accepts a producing operation signal of said RFID label or said ordinary label; and

said margin utilization processing portion includes a label-length display signal generating portion that generates a label-length display signal for displaying label length information of the producing operation signal which can be newly accepted by said JOB accepting portion.

31. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising a second JOB allocating portion that allocates sequentially said label length information, JOB identification information and RFID tag information identification signal corresponding to said producing operation signal accepted by said JOB accepting portion in a predetermined order;

and a second instruction signal output portion that generates and outputs a second instruction signal for instructing the label production to said label producing portion according to the allocated state by the second JOB allocating portion, wherein

said label-length display signal generating portion generates said label-length display signal according to the allocated state of said second JOB allocating portion.

32. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising an allocation history display signal generating portion that generates an allocation history display signal for displaying allocation history information by said second JOB allocating portion.

33. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising an end notice output portion that outputs a production end notice correspondingly when the label production by said label producing portion is finished based on said second instruction signal from said second instruction signal output portion.

34. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising a third instruction signal output portion that generates and outputs a third instruction signal for instructing label production to said label producing portion correspondingly when said producing operation signal is accepted by said JOB accepting portion, wherein

said label-length display signal generating portion generates said label-length display signal according to said producing operation signal accepted by said JOB accepting portion and said third instruction signal.

35. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising a production history display signal generating portion that generates a production history display signal for displaying production history information by said label producing portion.

36. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 32, wherein:

said allocation history display signal generating portion or said production history display signal generating portion generates said allocation history display signal or said production history display signal for displaying a substantially band-state icons, marks, and symbols whose length changes according to progress of said allocation history or said production history.

37. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 32, wherein:

said allocation history display signal generating portion or said production history display signal generating portion generates said allocation history display signal or said production history display signal for displaying a plurality of substantially band-state icons, marks, and symbols respectively corresponding to said allocation history or said production history.

38. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 30, wherein:

said JOB accepting portion is configured capable of accepting said producing operation signal from a plurality of operation terminals provided outside said tag-label producing apparatus; and

said label-length display signal generating portion generates said label-length display signal for displaying the label length information of the producing operation signal which can be newly accepted by said JOB accepting portion on a terminal-side display device provided at said plurality of operation terminals.

39. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising an operating device capable of operating by an operator, and an apparatus-side display device that executes predetermined display to the operator, wherein

said JOB accepting portion accepts said producing operation signal from said operating device;

and

said label-length display signal generating portion generates said label-length display signal for displaying the label length information of the producing operation signal which can be newly accepted by said JOB accepting portion on said apparatus-side display device.