JP2007237678A - Manufacturing method of product - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manufacturing method of a product capable of simplifying processes. <P>SOLUTION: In a manufacturing process of an ink cartridge, a writing step 120B of writing individual identification information to an IC memory incorporated in the ink cartridge is carried out after a set step 120A of fixing the position of the ink cartridge with the position of the ink cartridge maintained. Then, a reading step 120C of reading the individual identification information written to the IC memory is performed, and a check step 120D of confirming that the individual identification information read in the reading step 120C is appropriate is performed. Furthermore, a transfer step 120E of transferring the individual identification information to a laser marker is performed. Then, a printing step 120F of executing printing by the laser marker is performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a product on which individual identification information is printed.

  Conventionally, in products such as ink cartridges, unique individual identification information is printed as a barcode, for example. Individual identification information is printed and displayed on each product as a bar code, and the bar code is read from time to time by a bar code reader to manage production of the product. Some of such products include an IC memory that stores detailed information such as the contents of the product along with the barcode. Individual identification information is also stored in this type of IC memory.

  By the way, as a method of giving a barcode indicating individual identification information to a product including the IC memory, there is a method of manufacturing a photographic film cartridge (consumable item) disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.

  In Patent Document 1, first, in a cartridge case assembling step, an IC memory is incorporated in the cartridge case. During this assembly process, an ID number (individual identification information) and film information (detailed information on the product) are written into the IC memory using a data writing device such as a ROM writer.

Next, the ID number (individual identification information) written earlier is read from the IC memory in the photographic film strip winding process or ID number printing process, which is a subsequent process of the assembly process, and based on the ID number (individual identification information) The printing apparatus is controlled to perform recording on a photographic film strip and printing on a label.
JP 2002-23319 A

  However, in the above-described conventional manufacturing method, a process of writing an ID number (individual identification information) into the IC memory (cartridge case assembly process), and an ID number (individual identification information) is read from the IC memory and printed. Since the processes (the entraining process and the ID number printing process) are separate processes, it is necessary to transfer the product for each process.

  Specifically, in the cartridge assembly process, the product is positioned and fixed with respect to the writing device for writing the ID number (individual identification information), and in that state, a plurality of terminals are connected to the IC memory to identify the ID number (individual identification information). And film information (detailed information on the product). When the writing is finished, the positioning is released and the terminal is disconnected, and then the product is transferred to the subsequent process.

  In a subsequent process, the product is positioned and fixed with respect to the reading device for reading the ID number (individual identification information) from the IC memory, and a plurality of terminals are connected to the IC memory in this state to connect the ID number (individual identification information). ). Subsequently, the ID number (individual identification information) read out by the printing apparatus is printed directly on the product or on an attached label or the like.

  For this reason, there has been a problem that the work for positioning the product accompanying the writing / reading of the ID number (individual identification information) and the work such as connection to the IC memory are performed a plurality of times and become very complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a product manufacturing method capable of simplifying the process.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a memory for storing individual identification information, and a manufacturing method of a product on which the individual identification information is printed, wherein the product is fixed at the same place, The gist is to write individual identification information to the memory and to print individual identification information to the product.

  According to the above configuration, the individual identification information can be written to the memory and the product can be printed at the same place, so it is necessary to write the individual identification information to the memory and to print the product at different places. Absent. For this reason, the manufacturing process can be simplified.

  The present invention also includes a memory for storing unique individual identification information for each individual, and a manufacturing method of a product on which the individual identification information is printed, wherein the position of the product is fixed. Thereafter, in a state where the position of the product is held, a writing step of writing the individual identification information in a memory assembled in the product, and a transfer step of transferring the individual identification information to a printing unit that prints on the product Then, the gist is to perform a printing step of performing printing by the printing unit.

  According to the above configuration, the individual identification information is written in the memory while the product position is fixed, and the data is transferred to the printing unit to print the product. There is no need to transport the product to another location for printing. Therefore, the manufacturing process can be simplified as compared with the case where the product is transferred and the position is fixed again each time data is written to or read from the memory.

  In the manufacturing method of the product described above, after the writing step and before the transferring step, a reading step of reading the individual identification information written in the memory is performed in a state where the position of the product is held, and the reading is performed. The gist is to perform a check process for confirming that the individual identification information read in the process is appropriate.

  According to the above configuration, before the individual identification information is transferred to the laser marker, data is read from the memory to check that the individual identification information is appropriate, so that erroneous writing to the memory can be prevented. .

  In the manufacturing method of the above product, in the setting step, an electrical connection for writing / reading data to / from the memory is performed, and the connection state is maintained from the setting step to the printing step. The gist.

  According to the above configuration, since data is written to and read from the memory while maintaining electrical connection to the memory of the product, the memory is connected each time individual identification information is written to or read from the memory. Compared with the case of changing the state, the manufacturing process can be simplified.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, an ink cartridge 1 as a product according to the present invention includes a resin container 2 formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and an ink pack (not shown) filled with ink in the container 2. Is housed. The ink cartridge 1 is mounted on a cassette holder provided on the main body side of a printer (not shown), and ink filled in the ink pack is supplied to ejection nozzles mounted on a carriage. An IC memory 3 is incorporated in one corner of the container 2, and a label 4 is attached to the outer surface of the container 2.

  The IC memory 3 includes a substrate on which electrical contacts connected to an external electrical connector are formed. On the substrate, a memory chip and a control circuit for writing / reading data to / from the memory chip are mounted. The memory chip is a memory such as an EEPROM capable of writing and updating data, and data (information on the ink cartridge 1) is written from the external electrical connector to the memory chip by connecting a terminal to the electrical contact.・ Reading is possible.

  Here, the information related to the ink cartridge 1 stored in the IC memory 3 changes with the use of the ink cartridge 1 and the data common to that type of ink cartridge 1 such as the useful life of the ink cartridge 1 and the number of times it can be reproduced. Data such as the remaining amount of ink to be performed, individual identification information of each ink cartridge 1, and the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the label 4 attached to the outer surface of the container 2 is identification information on which individual identification information 6 stored in the IC memory 3 of each ink cartridge 1 is printed. A print area 5 is provided. The individual identification information 6 printed in the identification information printing area 5 is printed in the form of a barcode. More specifically, in the present embodiment, a barcode (individual identification information 6) is written by irradiating a laser beam in the identification information printing area 5 with a laser marker. In addition, the parts common information such as the model number and the usage method of the ink cartridge 1 is printed on the part other than the identification information printing area 5 of the label 4. In this embodiment, the information is printed before being attached to the outer surface of the container 2. It has come to be.

Next, the manufacturing process of the ink cartridge 1 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, in the manufacturing process of the ink cartridge 1, a container manufacturing process 100, a label attaching process 110, a data writing / printing process 120, and an ink filling process 130 are sequentially performed.

  In the container manufacturing process 100, after the parts constituting the container 2 are injection-molded, the assembly of the container 2 is performed by an assembly apparatus. At this time, the IC memory 3 is assembled to the container 2.

  Next, the empty container 2 is transferred to a labeling device for performing the labeling process 110. The label attaching device includes a positioning device for positioning the container 2 and a mechanism for attaching the label 4 to the container 2 in the positioned state. The label attaching device holds the transported container 2 in a fixed posture by the positioning device, and then attaches the label 4 to a preset position. At this time, information common to the ink cartridge 1 is already printed on the label 4 except for the identification information printing area 5, but nothing is printed on the identification information printing area 5.

Next, the container 2 to which the label 4 is attached is transferred to a data writing / printing apparatus for performing the data writing / printing process 120.
The data writing / printing device used in the data writing / printing step 120 includes a control unit that comprehensively controls the data writing / printing device, a positioning device for positioning the container 2, and a contact point of the IC memory 3. And a writing device for writing information related to the ink cartridge 1 to the IC memory 3. And the laser marker as a printing part which prints a barcode (individual identification information 6) in the identification information printing area | region 5 of the label 4 affixed on the container 2 is provided. The data writing / printing process 120 using the data writing / printing apparatus includes a setting process 120A, a writing process 120B, a reading process 120C, a checking process 120D, a transfer process 120E, and a printing process 120F. Yes.

  More specifically, the data writing / printing apparatus holds the transferred container 2 in a fixed posture by the positioning device (setting step 120A), and then stores data (information on the ink cartridge 1) in the IC memory 3 by the writing apparatus. Is written (writing step 120B).

  At this time, the information about the ink cartridge 1 written by the writing device includes the data common to the ink cartridge 1 such as the above-mentioned useful life and the number of reproducible times, the remaining ink (initial value) data, and the individual ink cartridges 1. It is the individual identification information 6 to have. Information on the ink cartridge 1 is supplied to the writing device from a control unit that controls the data writing / printing device, and the writing device writes data to the IC memory 3 based on the information.

  Subsequently, when the writing is finished, the writing device reads information relating to the ink cartridge 1 including the individual identification information from the IC memory 3 (reading step 120C). Then, the writing device checks whether the data read from the IC memory 3 (information about the ink cartridge 1) is appropriate (check process 120D). In other words, the writing device compares the data read from the IC memory 3 (information about the ink cartridge 1) with the information about the ink cartridge 1 obtained from the control unit for writing before writing, and the data matches. Then, it is determined that the information regarding the proper ink cartridge 1 is written in the IC memory 3.

  In addition, when the data read from the IC memory 3 and the data that the writing device does not match, the writing device determines that appropriate data is not written in the IC memory 3. Then, the process returns to the writing step 120B, information about the ink cartridge 1 is again written in the IC memory 3, and then the data is read and checked.

  When the check is completed, the writing device extracts the individual identification information from the information about the ink cartridge 1 and transfers it to the laser marker (transfer step 120E). When the laser marker receives the individual identification information, it irradiates a laser beam onto the identification information printing area 5 (see FIG. 1) of the label 4 attached to the container 2 and writes a barcode based on the individual identification information 6. Printing is performed (printing process 120F). The barcode pattern for the individual identification information 6 is prepared in the control unit in advance. When the laser marker receives the individual identification information from the writing device, the barcode pattern for the received individual identification information is received from the control unit. Read and draw a barcode based on the read pattern data.

  In the data writing / printing process 120 (setting process 120A to printing process 120F), the data writing / printing apparatus positions and fixes the container 2 with the positioning device from the beginning to the end, and connects the connection terminal to the contact point of the IC memory 3. Maintained. That is, during the data writing / printing step 120, the container 2 is operated without being moved and without changing the electrical connection state while maintaining a certain state. In other words, when writing information relating to the ink cartridge 1 into the IC memory 3, the lever code (individual identification information 6) is also printed in the identification information printing area 5 of the label 4.

  Next, the container 2 is transferred to an ink filling device for performing the ink filling step 130. The ink filling device includes a positioning device for positioning the container 2 and a mechanism for filling the inside of the container 2 with ink. The ink filling device holds the transferred container 2 in a fixed posture by the positioning device, and then injects the type of ink corresponding to the ink cartridge 1 into the container 2.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) While the position of the container 2 (ink cartridge 1) is fixed, the individual identification information is written into the IC memory 3, and the individual identification information is transferred to the laser marker. A barcode of identification information was printed. Therefore, the individual identification information can be printed on the label 4 immediately after the individual identification information is written to the IC memory 3 at the same place. As a result, the manufacturing process can be simplified as compared with the case where the individual identification information is written to the IC memory 3 and the individual identification information is printed on the label 4 at different locations.

  (2) Individual identification information written in the IC memory 3 for reading the individual identification information written in the IC memory 3 incorporated in the ink cartridge 1 and printing the individual identification information on the ink cartridge 1 (label). And the individual identification information printed on the ink cartridge 1 (label) are guaranteed to be identical.

Note that the present embodiment is not limited to the above configuration, and may be modified to the following modes.
(Modification 1) In the above embodiment, the case where the product is the ink cartridge 1 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the product may be a photographic film, a toner bottle, a developing unit, or the like. Applicable even for different types of products.

  (Modification 2) In the above embodiment, the case of printing on the label 4 attached to the ink cartridge 1 has been described. However, even if the individual identification information is printed on a portion other than the label attached to the product Good. For example, when the product is a photographic film cartridge, the individual identification information may be printed on the photographic film strip.

  (Modification 3) In the above-described embodiment, when data (individual identification information) is transferred to the laser marker in the data writing / printing step 120, the data written in the IC memory 3 is read and data verification is performed. Although the case where data is transferred when it is appropriate has been described, this data collation process may be omitted. That is, in the data writing / printing process 120, the reading process 120C and the checking process 120D may be omitted. In that case, the processing can be speeded up.

  (Modification 4) In the above embodiment, if the individual identification information written in the IC memory 3 is not appropriate in the data writing / printing step 120, the processing from the writing step 120B to the checking step 120D is performed again. However, if the data written in the IC memory 3 is not appropriate, printing on the label 4 may not be performed. That is, if it is detected in the check process 120D that the data is not appropriate, the transfer process 120E and the printing process 120F may be omitted.

  (Modification 5) In the above embodiment, the case where a barcode is printed on the label 4 of the ink cartridge 1 has been described. Of course, as the individual identification information, only the manufacturing serial number or a barcode including the manufacturing serial number is used. The label 4 may be printed.

Next, a technical idea that can be grasped from the embodiment and the modification will be additionally described.
(A) A product manufacturing method comprising a memory for storing individual identification information and printed with the individual identification information, and writing the individual identification information into the memory in a state where the position of the product is fixed; A method for manufacturing a product, comprising: a writing step of transferring the individual identification information to a printing unit that prints on the product and performing a printing process by the printing unit.

  (B) In the manufacturing method of the product described in (a) above, in the writing step, the individual identification information written in the memory is read, and if the individual identification information is appropriate data, it is transferred to the printing unit. A method for producing a product characterized by the above.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an ink cartridge. Explanatory drawing of the label affixed on the ink cartridge. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an ink cartridge manufacturing process.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ink cartridge (product), 2 ... Container (product), 3 ... IC memory (memory), 4 ... Label (product), 6 ... Individual identification information, 120A ... Setting process, 120B ... Writing process, 120C ... Reading process , 120D ... check process, 120E ... transfer process, 120F ... printing process.

Claims (4)

A method for manufacturing a product having a memory for storing individual identification information and printing the individual identification information,
A method for manufacturing a product, comprising writing the individual identification information to the memory and printing the individual identification information to the product while the product is fixed at the same place. A method for producing a product having a memory for storing unique individual identification information for each individual and printed with the individual identification information,
After the setting step of fixing the position of the product, a writing step of writing the individual identification information in a memory assembled in the product while maintaining the position of the product, and printing the individual identification information on the product And a transfer step of transferring to the printing unit to be performed, and then performing a printing step of executing printing by the printing unit. After the writing step, before the transferring step, a reading step of reading the individual identification information written in the memory in a state where the position of the product is held is performed, and the individual read in the reading step 3. The method of manufacturing a product according to claim 2, wherein a check step for confirming that the identification information is appropriate is performed. 4. The electrical connection for writing / reading data to / from the memory is performed in the setting step, and the connection state is maintained from the setting step to the printing step. The manufacturing method of the product described in 1.

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