RFID label and label producing device

• US 7,766,570 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2006
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Koshiro, Tanaka, Mitsugi, Moriyama, Satoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Yan; Ren
• Assistant Examiner(s): FERGUSON SAMRETH, MARISSA LIANA
• Application Number:
  US11/638,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20070147939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 156/234, 156/248, 156/257, 156/353, 156/378, 156/384, 400/621, 4006211-6212, 400/613
• US Class Current: 400/621
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07718 the record carrier being manufactured in a continuous process, e.g. using endless rolls
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0776 the adhering arrangement being a layer of adhesive, so that the record carrier can function as a sticker

Abstract

A label producing device for producing an RFID label using a tag label tape with print includes a tape feed roller for feeding the tag label tape with print, a print head for performing printing on a print area provided in a cover film, a half-cut unit for cutting, on both end sides in the tape length direction of the tag label tape with print with respect to the print area, layers other than a separation sheet in the width direction to thereby form half-cut lines, and a cutting mechanism for cutting the tag label tape with print in the width direction on sides further toward the both ends in the tape length direction with respect to these two half-cut lines.

Claims

1. A label producing device comprising:

a feeding device that feeds a label tape in a tape-length direction,

said label tape including;

a print-receiving medium layer, an affixing adhesive layer for affixing said print-receiving medium layer onto a target affixing object, and a separation layer that covers said affixing adhesive layer;

a printing device that prints content on a first print area provided in said print-receiving medium layer;

a half-cutting device that cuts layers of said label tape, other than said separation layer, in a tape-width direction, to form two half-cutting parts;

said two half-cutting parts including opposing first and second half-cutting parts respectively located on opposing first and second tape-length end sides with respect to said first print area;

a cutting device that forms a cutting part, whereby said label tape is cut in the tape-width direction, on sides further toward both tape-length end sides with respect to said two half-cutting parts;

a detection device that detects a detection identifier that is located on said first of said tape-length end sides, opposite to said first print area of said print-receiving receiving medium layer, across said first of said two half-cutting parts; and

a transmitting/receiving device that performs transmission/reception of information to/from an RFID circuit element in a non-contact manner,

said RFID circuit element being included in said label tape and having an IC circuit part for storing information and an antenna for performing transmission/reception of information;

wherein a distance Lo between said detection device and said printing device along a feed path due to said feeding device is shorter than a distance L in said label tape between a front end portion of said RFID circuit element in the feed direction and said detection identifier.

2. A label producing device comprising:

a feeding device that feeds a label tape in a tape-length direction;

said label tape including;

a print-receiving medium layer;

an affixing adhesive layer for affixing said print-receiving medium layer onto a target affixing object; and

a separation layer that covers said affixing adhesive layer;

a printing device that prints content on a first print area-provided in said print-receiving medium layer;

a half-cutting device that cuts layers of said label tape, other than said separation layer, in a tape-width direction, to form two half-cutting parts;

said two half-cutting parts including opposing first and second half-cutting parts respectively located on opposing first and second tape-length end sides with respect to said first print area;

a cutting device that forms a cutting part, whereby said label tape is cut in the tape-width direction, on sides further toward both tape-length end sides with respect to said two half-cutting parts;

a detection device that detects a detection identifier that is located on said first of said tape-length end sides, opposite to said first print area of said print-receiving medium layer, across said first of said two half-cutting parts; and

a transmitting/receiving device that performs transmission/reception of information to/from an RF1D circuit element in a non-contact manner;

said RFID circuit element being included in said label tape and having an IC circuit part for storing information and an antenna for performing transmission/reception of information;

wherein a distance Lo between said detection device and said printing device along a feed path due to said feeding device is substantially equal to a distance L in said label tape between a front end portion of said RFID circuit element in the feed direction and said detection identifier.

3. A device for producing labels from label tape, said tape comprising layers including:

a print-receiving medium layer including print areas;

an affixing adhesive layer for affixing said print-receiving medium layer onto a target affixing object; and

a separation layer for covering said affixing adhesive layer;

said device comprising;

a feeding device for feeding a front end of said tape in a downstream direction;

a printing device for printing content on each print area;

a half-cutting device for cutting pairs of half-cutting parts, each pair of half-cutting parts cutting through said tape layers, other than said separation layer, in a tape widthwise direction;

each pair of half-cutting parts disposed about one print area so that each pair of half-cutting parts defines a front half-cutting part and a rear half-cutting part;

a cutting device for forming widthwise cutting parts, wherein adjacent to each cutting part, in said downstream direction, said tape forms one label, each label having a front end and a rear end and including one pair of half-cutting parts; and

a cooperative control device for cooperatively controlling said feeding device, said cutting device, and said half-cutting device, whereby;

(i) each label has a substantially same tape total length; and

(ii) within each label, said pair of half-cutting parts is positioned about said print area in accordance with the printed content, so that said labels are capable of having differing lengthwise dimensions between each pair of half-cutting parts.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein:

said printing device prints predetermined information on a second print area in each label, said second area being located between said rear half-cutting part and said cutting part.

5. The device of claim 3, further including:

a detection device that detects detection identifiers, one detection identifier located on each label; and

said control device further controls said devices such that, in each label, each detection identifier is downstream from each front half-cutting part.

6. The device of claim 5, further including:

a transmitting/receiving device that performs transmission/reception of information in a non-contact manner to/from RFID circuit elements, one RFID circuit element located on each label; and

each RFID circuit element having an IC circuit part for storing information and an antenna for performing transmission/reception of information.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising:

a pressure device that bonds said print-receiving medium layer with a base layer where each RFID circuit element is arranged via a bonding adhesive layer.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein a distance Lo between said detection device and said printing device along a feed path due to said feeding device is shorter than a distance L in each label, between a front end portion of each RFID circuit element and each detection identifier.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein a distance Lo between said detection device and said printing device along a feed path due to said feeding device is substantially equal to a distance L in each label between a front end portion of each respective RFID circuit element in the feed direction and each detection identifier.