JP2000168181A - Method and apparatus for identifying label and stripe mounting paper - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent erroneous operation of label printer by detecting a data mark on the rear side of a stripe mounting paper and making a decision whether a label is appropriate or not based on the detection results thereby determining an appropriate label automatically. SOLUTION: A magnetic stripe 9 also serving as a detection mark is provided on the back side of a stripe mounting paper 8 and an identification data is recorded on the magnetic stripe 9. The identification data comprises a printer identification code (n1 bits) and a value (n2 bits) being derived according to a specified logical operation formula. The identification data includes a label ID, label size, format ID, and the like, a cyclic CRC code is employed as a value being derived according to a logical formula. The magnetic stripe 9 is provided on one side of a stripe mounting paper 8 in the carrying direction thereof and a plurality of labels 11 are applied temporarily to the surface side of the stripe mounting paper 8 while aligning one end of each label 11 with the magnetic stripe 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention provides a label on which identification data is recorded on the back of a band-shaped backing on which a label is temporarily attached.
The present invention relates to a label identification device, a label identification method, and a band-shaped backing sheet which are configured to automatically determine a label by determining identification data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, labels used in label printers have been temporarily attached at regular intervals to the surface of a band-shaped backing paper. A detection mark is provided on the back of the band-shaped backing paper. The detection mark is detected by the detection mark sensor during the transfer to the thermal head side of the label printer. By detecting the detection mark by the detection mark sensor, the printing position for the label is grasped, and information such as a bar code and characters is printed on each label.

[0003]

By the way, the labels described above are generally used in accordance with the specifications of the label printer. This is to prevent malfunction of the label printer. However, various types of labels temporarily attached to the surface of the band-shaped backing paper having different lengths and widths are prepared in accordance with products to be affixed.

[0004] For this reason, if the detection mark sensor attached to the back of the band-shaped backing sheet is simply detected by a detection mark sensor, it is determined whether or not a label corresponding to the product to be attached is set on the label printer. Cannot be automatically determined. In this case, visual confirmation of the worker is required. Further, when a label that is not suitable for the label printer is set, the label printer may malfunction.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a label identification apparatus and a label identification method capable of automatically determining an appropriate label and preventing malfunction of a label printer. In addition, it is possible to provide a band-shaped backing.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a label identifying apparatus for identifying a plurality of labels temporarily attached to a front side of a band-shaped backing sheet, the label identifying apparatus being provided on a back side of the band-shaped backing sheet. Detecting means for detecting the attached data mark;
And a label suitability judging means for judging whether or not the label is appropriate from the detection result of the detecting means. Further, the data mark can be used as both a detection mark for detecting the printing position of the label and a magnetic mark on which the identification data is recorded. The detecting means may include a detection mark sensor for detecting the data mark and a magnetic sensor. The label identification method according to claim 4 is a label identification method for identifying a label conveyed by a label conveyance system, wherein a first data mark for detecting a data mark attached to the back side of the band-shaped backing paper in correspondence with the label is provided. And a second step of judging from the detection result whether or not the label is appropriate. Further, the first step may include a step of detecting a detection mark for detecting a print position of the label and a magnetic mark on which identification data is recorded. In addition, the second step may include a step of stopping the conveyance of the band-shaped backing sheet when the detection of the detection mark and the magnetic mark is determined to be an improper label. . In addition, the second step may include a step of displaying an error when it is determined that the label is incorrect as a result of the detection of the detection mark and the magnetic mark. . In the second step,
A step of determining whether or not the identification data of the magnetic mark is appropriate may be included. The band-shaped backing according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of labels to be printed by a label printer are temporarily attached to a front side, and the backing side is a detection mark for detecting a label printing position, and identification data. Characterized in that a magnetic stripe which is also used as a magnetic mark on which the information is recorded is provided. In the label identification device, the label identification method, and the band-shaped backing sheet according to the present invention, a data mark attached to the back side of the band-shaped backing corresponding to the label is detected by the detection mark sensor and the magnetic sensor, and is recorded on the data mark. Then, if it is determined that the label is improper, the conveyance of the band-shaped mount is stopped or an error is displayed.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. (First Embodiment)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a label printer according to the label identification apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view showing the back side of a band-shaped backing sheet set on the label printer of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the label identification device of FIG. 1, and FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control system of the label printer of FIG. 1;
3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the label identification device of FIG.

In FIG. 1, a printer body 2 of a label printer 1 is provided with a thermal head 5 which is supported by a support mechanism 3 so as to be able to freely move toward and away from a platen 4. A magnetic sensor 6 and a detection mark sensor 7 are provided on the front side of the platen 4. In the present embodiment, the case where the magnetic sensor 6 is disposed at a position closer to the platen 4 with respect to the detection mark sensor 7 is shown. It can also be arranged. Between the thermal head 5 and the platen 4, a band-shaped backing material 8 on which a plurality of labels are temporarily attached is inserted.

As shown in FIG. 2, a magnetic stripe 9 which is also used as a detection mark is provided on the back side of the band-shaped backing paper 8. Identification data is recorded on the magnetic stripe 9. The identification data is the printer identification code (n1 bit)
And a value (n2 bits) determined by a certain logical operation expression. Further, as the identification data, a label ID, a label size, a format ID (indicating a printing position, a position where a product name or a barcode is to be printed, and the like), and the like can be used. It is also possible to count the number of labels in advance by using a known writing unit at the time of creation of, so that the remaining number when used can be known. Note that, for example, a cyclic CRC code is used as the value determined by the logical expression. The magnetic stripe 9 is provided on one side of the band-shaped mount 8 along the transport direction (the direction of the arrow) of the band-shaped mount 8.

A plurality of labels 1 are provided on the front side of the band-shaped mount 8.
1 is temporarily attached. In this embodiment, one end of each label 11 is temporarily attached so as to match the magnetic stripe 9. Thus, the pitch between the labels 11 is equal.

The magnetic sensor 6 and the detection mark sensor 7 are
As shown in FIG. 3, they are arranged with an interval of L.
In addition, in FIG. 3, the code | symbol 12 has shown the roll which wound the band-shaped base material 8.

The control system of the label printer is as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the control system includes a CPU 13,
RAM 14, ROM 15, motor control circuit 16, thermal head control circuit 17, detection mark detection circuit 18, magnetic sensor detection circuit 19, label / ribbon out detection circuit 2
0, a liquid crystal display circuit 21, a key input circuit 22, and a label appropriateness determination circuit 23. Each of these components is I /
It is connected via an O bus 24. Motor control circuit 1
6, the operation of the thermal head control circuit 17, the detection mark detection circuit 18, the magnetic sensor detection circuit 19, the label / ribbon out detection circuit 20, the liquid crystal display circuit 21, the key input circuit 22, and the label appropriateness determination circuit 23
3 is controlled.

The RAM 14 stores a magnetic detection counter, motor control data, print data, detection mark detection data, magnetic detection data, label / ribbon detection data, a liquid crystal message buffer, and a key input data buffer.
The ROM 15 stores a control program, various data, display system data, constants, and a label determination program. Here, the label determination program is used when determining the data recorded on the magnetic stripe 9.

The motor control circuit 16 controls the transport speed of a label transport system 25 having a stepping motor based on the motor control data of the RAM 14. The thermal head control circuit 17 controls the printing operation of the thermal head 5 based on the print data in the RAM 14. The detection mark detection circuit 18 converts the detection result of the magnetic stripe 9 by the detection mark sensor 7 into an electric signal and outputs it. The magnetic sensor detection circuit 19 converts the detection result of the magnetic stripe 9 by the magnetic sensor 6 into an electric signal and outputs it.

The label / ribbon break detection circuit 20 converts the detection result of the break of the band-shaped backing paper 8 by the detection sensor 26 into an electric signal and outputs it. The liquid crystal display circuit 21 causes the liquid crystal display 27 to display a message that the label 11 is inappropriate, for example. The key input circuit 22
Key input from key panel 28 is accepted. The label appropriateness determination circuit 23 includes a magnetic sensor 6 and a detection mark sensor 7.
It is determined whether or not the label is appropriate based on the result of the detection. The label appropriateness determination circuit 23 is provided with a magnetic detection counter (not shown). If the count value is not equal to or more than a predetermined value, erroneous detection due to noise is performed, and NG processing is performed.

Of these components, the label identification device of the present embodiment comprises a magnetic sensor 6, a detection mark sensor 7, and a label appropriateness determination circuit 23.

Next, a label identification method by the label identification device of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the band-shaped backing sheet 8 is conveyed by the label conveying system 25 between the thermal head 5 and the platen 4. At this time, after the count value of the magnetic detection counter of the PAM 14 in FIG. 4 has been cleared (step 501),
A head control process is performed (step 502). In this process, the label 1 is applied to the thermal head 5 shown in FIGS.
In other words, one line of print data to be printed is transferred. Also, here, by turning on the strobe,
By generating heat in the thermal head 5 for the strobe time, printing on the label 11 is performed.

Next, a paper pitch sensor process is performed (step 503). Here, the magnetic sensor 6 and the detection mark sensor 7 are arranged at intervals of L as shown in FIG. For this reason, the magnetic stripe 9 is detected first by the detection mark sensor 7, and when the magnetic stripe 9 is detected, an A / D converter (not shown) is activated and the detection signal from the detection mark sensor 7 is digitalized. And is taken into the label appropriateness determination circuit 23 of FIG.

After the magnetic stripe 9 is detected, a magnetic sensor process is performed (step 504). Here, when the A / D converter (not shown) is activated, the magnetic sensor 6 is activated.
The detection signal of the magnetic stripe 9 is converted into a digital signal and taken into the label appropriateness determination circuit 23 of FIG. 4 (steps 505 and 506). This detection signal indicates identification data composed of the above-described printer identification code and cyclic CRC code.

When the detection signal of the magnetic stripe 9 is received, the magnetic detection counter of the label appropriateness determination circuit 23 performs a counting operation (steps 507 and 508). The count value here corresponds to the number of steps obtained by dividing the width of the magnetic stripe 9 by the movement amount of one step by the stepping motor of the label transport system 25 in FIG.

Further, in (Step 507), data determination processing of the magnetic stripe 9 is performed. The determination process here is to read a printer identification code from the data of the magnetic stripe 9 and calculate a division value by a cyclic code generation polynomial. This process is performed by the label appropriateness determination circuit 23 in FIG.

When the counting operation by the magnetic detection counter and the data determination process are completed, the transport operation is performed by driving the stepping motor until printing of one label 11 is completed (steps 510 and 51).
1).

Next, at (Step 512), it is determined whether or not the count value of the magnetic detection counter has exceeded n. In this process, as described above, it is determined whether or not a count value corresponding to the number of steps obtained by dividing the width of the magnetic stripe 9 by the movement amount of one step by the stepping motor of the label transport system 25 in FIG. 4 has been obtained. Is what you do. Here, the count value may be an appropriate value equal to or less than a value corresponding to the number of steps of the stepping motor. If an appropriate count value is not obtained, it is determined that an erroneous detection due to noise has occurred, and an error signal is output from the label appropriateness determination circuit 23 of FIG.

At this time, an error such as an improper label is displayed on the liquid crystal display 27 by the liquid crystal display circuit 21 of FIG. 4 (step 513). In this case, under the control of the thermal head control circuit 17, error contents can be printed on the label 11 by the thermal head 5. After the error display is performed, the motor control circuit 16 and the thermal head control circuit 1 are controlled by the CPU 13 in FIG.
7, detection mark detection circuit 18, magnetic sensor detection circuit 1
9, label / ribbon out detection circuit 20, liquid crystal display circuit 2
1. The operations of the key input circuit 22 and the label appropriateness determination circuit 23 are stopped (step 514).

If it is determined that the magnetic sensor detection is appropriate, it is determined whether the data read from the magnetic stripe 9 is appropriate (step 515). The determination here is to determine that the label is appropriate if the count value of the magnetic detection counter processed in (Step 508) is equal to or greater than a certain value (n).

Here, if the calculation result is less than n, it is determined that the label is an illegal label or a dirty label (step 5).
13, 514).

In step (514), the stopped motor control circuit 16, thermal head control circuit 17,
The operations of the detection mark detection circuit 18, the magnetic sensor detection circuit 19, the label / ribbon break detection circuit 20, the liquid crystal display circuit 21, the key input circuit 22, and the label properness determination circuit 23 are as follows.
Turn on the power again or operate the reset button to
Restarting U13 makes it possible to operate again.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the detection mark and the magnetic stripe 9 serving as the magnetic mark, which are provided in correspondence with the label 11 on the back side of the band-shaped backing sheet 8, are combined with the detection mark sensor 7 and the magnetic sensor. 6, when it is determined that the identification data of the magnetic stripe 9 is inappropriate, the conveyance of the band-shaped mount 8 is stopped or an error is displayed. And a malfunction of the label printer can be prevented. Further, erroneous detection due to noise can be prevented by determining whether or not the magnetic stripe has been properly detected based on the detection count value of the magnetic stripe.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the back side of a band-shaped backing sheet 8 according to a second embodiment of the label identifying apparatus of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the magnetic mark 9a and the detection mark 9b are provided separately. These magnetic marks 9a and detection marks 9b are juxtaposed along the transport direction. Note that the positions of the magnetic mark 9a and the detection mark 9b may be reversed. In any case, the magnetic sensor 6 and the detection mark sensor 7 may be provided at positions corresponding to the magnetic mark 9a and the detection mark 9b.

As described above, the detection by the magnetic sensor 6 and the detection mark sensor 7 can also be performed by arranging the magnetic mark 9a and the detection mark 9b along the transport direction.

[003]

As described above, according to the label identifying apparatus, the label identifying method, and the band mount according to the present invention, the data mark attached to the back side of the band mount corresponding to the label is detected by the detection mark sensor and the magnetic sensor. Detected by
The identification data recorded on the data mark is determined, and if the label is determined to be incorrect, the transport of the band-shaped backing sheet is stopped or an error message is displayed. This can be performed, and malfunction of the label printer can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a label printer according to a label identification device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a back side of a band-shaped backing sheet set in the label printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the label identification device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system of the label printer of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the label identification device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view showing the back side of a band-shaped backing sheet according to a second embodiment of the label identification device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Label printer 2 Printer main body 4 Platen 5 Thermal head 6 Magnetic sensor 7 Detection mark sensor 8 Strip mount 9 Magnetic stripe 9a Magnetic mark 9b Detection mark 11 Label 12 Roll 23 Label appropriateness judgment circuit

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A label identifying device for identifying a plurality of labels temporarily attached to the front side of a band-shaped backing sheet, comprising: detecting means for detecting a data mark attached to the back side of the band-shaped backing sheet; A label identification device for determining whether or not the label is appropriate from a detection result of the device. 2. The label identification device according to claim 1, wherein the data mark is used as both a detection mark for detecting a printing position of the label and a magnetic mark on which identification data is recorded. Equipment. 3. The label identification device according to claim 1, wherein said detection means comprises a detection mark sensor for detecting said data mark, and a magnetic sensor. 4. A label identification method for identifying a label transported by a label transport system, comprising: a first step of detecting a data mark attached to the back side of the band-shaped backing sheet in correspondence with the label; A second step of determining whether or not the label is appropriate from the detection result. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first step includes a step of detecting a detection mark for detecting a print position of the label and a magnetic mark on which the identification data is recorded. Item 5. The label identification method according to Item 4. 6. The second step includes a step of stopping the conveyance of the band-shaped backing sheet when the detection of the detection mark and the magnetic mark is determined to be an inappropriate label. The label identification method according to claim 4, wherein: 7. The method according to claim 7, wherein the second step includes a step of displaying an error when the detection mark and the magnetic mark are determined to be improper as a result of the detection of the detection mark and the magnetic mark. The label identification method according to claim 4, wherein: 8. The label identification method according to claim 4, wherein the second step includes a step of determining whether or not the identification data of the magnetic mark is appropriate. 9. A plurality of labels to be printed by a label printer are temporarily attached to the front side to form a band-shaped backing sheet, and a detection mark for detecting a print position of the label is provided on the back side;
A band-shaped backing sheet provided with a magnetic stripe which is also used as a magnetic mark on which identification data is recorded.