JPH07149025A - Label publishing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To publish a formal label and a trial label in distinction from each other without mixing them by providing a formal label publishing means printing the formal label to publish the same and a trial label publishing means printing a trial label to publish the same independently of the publishing operation of the formal label. CONSTITUTION:In a label publishing system, a file server 2, a label forming WS (work station) 3, a publishment indicating WS 4, a nameplate publishing WS 5, a notice label publishing WS 6 and a carton label publishing WS 7 are respectively connected to an LAN 1. The label forming WS 3 is a device forming a format and the format formed by this device is transmitted to the file server 2 to be stored in a memory device controlled by the file server 2. A trial label printer 8 being a trial label publishing means is connected to the label forming WS 3 and the trial label formed by the label forming WS 3 is printed and published by the trial label printer 8.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label issuing device for printing and issuing a label attached to a product or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when manufacturing a product, a nameplate (label) with a product name attached to (attached to) each product, a serial number, etc. is printed, and precautions and usage instructions are printed. The caution label, the type of the product, the number of stored products, etc. are printed, and a carton label, etc., to be attached (attached) to the box in which the products are stored in multiple units is required.

There are many types of products, and the format of nameplate, caution label, carton label, etc. is different for each product. Therefore, the conventional label issuing device is equipped with a format master that stores the format for each product, and when issuing the label, the format of the corresponding product is called from this format master, and the name plate, caution label, carton label is called by this called format. It is designed to print out and issue.

On the other hand, the product is improved, that is, the version of the product is upgraded. With the version upgrade of the product, the product is distinguished from the old product.
The format of nameplate, caution label, carton label, etc. used for the product may be changed. In this case, there are a method of creating a completely new format and a method of calling a format from a format master and changing a part of the called format to create a new format. The format created in this way is usually called a prototype format, and when it is officially confirmed, it will be registered in the format master as an official format.

[0005] However, the prototype format must be stored as needed when the production is interrupted or when it is used only temporarily, and in that case, it is registered as the official format. I can't.
Therefore, it is stored as a prototype format in the format master and managed.

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional label issuing apparatus, since the format master stores the official format and the trial format,
There was a problem that format management in the format master was troublesome. Further, since the formal label issued in the formal format and the trial label issued in the trial format are mixed and issued from one printer, it is necessary to distinguish the formal label and the trial label for the label issued by the printer. There was a problem that there is.

Further, since there are a plurality of formats registered with the same product name for the upgraded product, the problem that the official label is issued by the format of the old version unless careful selection is made. was there.

Therefore, according to the present invention, a formal label and a prototype label can be printed and issued without being confused with each other, and a formal label can be printed and issued in a format suitable for a version-up product. It is intended to provide a label issuing device.

[0009]

The invention according to claim 1 is
In a label issuing device for printing and issuing labels attached to products etc., a formal format storage means for storing a pre-registered format, a trial format storage means for storing a trial format, and a trial format as a predetermined confirmation input Accordingly, a format registration means for storing the formal format in the formal format storage means, a formal label issuing means for printing and issuing a formal label based on the format stored in the formal format storage means, and an issuing operation by the formal label issuing means Is independently provided with a prototype label issuing means for printing and issuing a prototype label based on the prototype format.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a label issuing device for printing and issuing a label or the like attached to a product or the like, a formal format storage means for storing a preregistered format and a trial format storage for storing a trial format. Means, a format registration means for storing the prototype format in the formal format storage means as a formal format with a new version of the corresponding product in response to a predetermined confirmation input, and a product designated in the formal format storage means if the version designation is not input The formal label issuing means for printing and issuing a formal label based on the format stored in the latest version and the trial label issuing means for printing and issuing a trial label based on the trial format are provided.

[0011]

In the invention according to claim 1, the officially registered format is stored in the official format storage means, and the prototype format is stored in the prototype format storage means.

By the format registration means, the prototype format is stored in the formal format storage means as a formal format in response to a predetermined confirmation input.

The official label issuing means prints and issues the official label based on the format stored in the official format storage means.

Further, the trial label issuing means prints and issues the trial label based on the trial format stored in the trial format storage means, independently of the issuing operation by the formal label issuing means.

In the invention according to claim 2, the officially registered format is stored in the official format storage means, and the prototype format is stored in the prototype format storage means.

By the format registration means, the prototype format is stored in the formal format storage means as a formal format with a new version of the corresponding product in response to a predetermined confirmation input.

The official label issuing means prints and issues the official label based on the format stored in the official format storage means in the latest version of the specified product unless the version designation is input.

The trial label issuing means prints and issues the trial label based on the trial format stored in the trial format storage means, independently of the issuing operation by the formal label issuing means.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to LAN (loca
multiple terminals (WS =
work station: is applied to a label issuing system composed of work stations.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of this label issuing system.

A file server 2, a label producing WS3, an issuing instruction WS4, a nameplate issuing WS5, a caution label issuing WS6, and a carton label issuing WS7 are connected to the LAN 1, respectively.

The label creating WS3 is a device for creating a format. The format created by the label creating WS3 is transferred to the file server 2 via the LAN 1 and is controlled and managed by the file server 2. Stored in the device.

A prototype printer 8 as a prototype label issuing means is connected to the label producing WS3, and the prototype label produced by the label producing WS3 is:
It is printed and issued by the prototype printer 8.

The issuance instruction WS4 sends each issuance instruction data of a nameplate, a caution label, and a carton label via the LAN1 based on an issuance instruction input by a key or an issuance instruction input by a host computer (not shown). To the file server 2 and store it in the storage device of the file server 2.

A nameplate printer 9, a caution label printer 10 and a carton label printer 11 are connected to the nameplate issuing WS 5, the caution label issuing WS 6 and the carton label issuing WS 7, respectively.

When the nameplate issuing instruction data is stored in the file server 2, the nameplate issuing WS 5 sends the specified nameplate format from the file server 2 to the LAN 1 based on the nameplate issuing instruction data. The print data is sent together with this format to the nameplate printer 9 to issue an issue instruction. The nameplate printer 9 prints and issues a formal nameplate based on the issuing instruction of the nameplate issuing WS5.

When the caution label issuing instruction data is stored in the file server 2, the caution label issuing WS 6 formats the specified caution label based on the caution label issuing instruction data. From the LAN via the LAN 1 to send print data together with this format to the caution label printer 10 to issue an issue instruction. This caution label printer 10
Prints and issues a formal caution label based on the issue instruction of the caution label issue WS6.

When the carton label issuance instruction data is stored in the file server 2, the carton label issuing WS 7 sets the format of the designated carton label on the basis of the carton label issuance instruction data. From the LAN via the LAN1,
Print data together with this format is sent to the carton label printer 11 to issue an issue instruction. The carton label printer 11 prints and issues a formal carton label based on the issue instruction of the carton label issue WS7.

Therefore, the nameplate issuing WS 5 and the nameplate printer 9, the caution label issuing WS 6 and the caution label printer 10, the carton label issuing WS 7 and the carton label printer 11 respectively form a formal label issuing means. ing.

Each of the WSs 3 to 7 has the structure shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a schematic circuit configuration of the WS.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a CPU (ce
ntral processing unit). A ROM (read o) in which program data for the processing performed by the CPU 21 is stored.
nlymemory) 22, a RAM (random) in which various memory areas used when the CPU 21 performs processing are formed.
An access memory 23, a LAN interface 24 connected to the LAN 1 and controlling data transmission are connected to the CPU 21 via a system bus 25.

A keyboard interface 27 for controlling data transmission with the keyboard 26 and a display 28.
The printer interface 33 for controlling data transmission between the display controller 29 and the corresponding printer 20, for example, the prototype printer 8 for the label producing WS3 and the caution label printer 10 for the caution label issuing WS6, respectively. It is connected to the CPU 21 via a system bus 25.

As shown in FIG. 3, the file server 2 includes a formal format master 2a serving as a formal format storage means (together with a product master 2c which will be described later) in which a formal format is stored, and, as shown in FIG. A prototype format master 2b is formed as a prototype format storage unit that stores a prototype format. The formal format master 2a and the prototype format master 2b have almost the same configuration,
Format No. For each serial number. , X coordinate, Y
Each area for storing format data such as coordinates, character type, character vertical magnification, character horizontal magnification, ..., Print data is formed. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, for each product name,
Number of specified number of issued version, nameplate, caution label and carton label, format number of each nameplate, caution label and carton label , Registration date, ..., And the like, a product master 2c formed of areas for storing product information data is formed.

Further, the file server 2 stores the issuance instruction file 2 in which issuance instruction data created by the issuance instruction WS4 is stored by an issuance instruction by key input or transmission input from a host computer (not shown).
d, a nameplate issuance instruction file 2e, which stores the nameplate issuance instruction data, the caution label issuance instruction data, and the carton label issuance instruction data created by the issuance instruction WS4 based on the issuance instruction file 2d, and the caution label issuance instruction file 2f, Carton label issuance instruction file 2g
Is formed.

As shown in FIG. 6, the issuance instruction file 2d has an area for storing data of the number of products produced for each product name. The nameplate issuance instruction file 2e, the caution label issuance instruction file 2f, and the As shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the carton label issuance instruction file 2g includes the version, the number of issued sheets, the format number for each product name. An area for storing the issue instruction data is formed.

FIG. 10 shows the CPU of the label producing WS3.
The flow of the trial production and registration process of the official format is shown below.

First, it is confirmed whether or not the format is copied from the official format master 2a to the prototype format master 2b according to the input from the keyboard, and only when the copy is performed, the designated official format is used as the prototype format. Is copied from the official format master 2a to the prototype format master 2b.

Next, as the processing of step 1 (ST1), the data input from the keyboard is processed to create / change the prototype format. When this creating / changing processing is completed, the prototype printer 8 Send the prototype format to and issue a prototype label.

When the issuance of the prototype label is completed, it is determined whether or not the issued prototype label is certified according to the input from the keyboard. If the issued prototype label is not certified, the process returns to the above step 1 again.

When the issued prototype label is recognized in response to the input from the keyboard, the created prototype format is copied (registered) from the prototype format master 2b to the official format master 2a as the official format. (Format registration means).

When the copying (registration) of the trial format as the official format is completed, the data of the trial format is deleted from the trial format master 2b, and the new product is registered in the product master 2c based on the formal format registered. Register the name (product code) or the corresponding product and its latest version.

Then, the trial production and the registration process of the formal format are completed.

FIG. 11 shows a flow of label issuance instruction extraction processing performed by the CPU of the issuance instruction WS4.

In response to keyboard input or transmission input from a host computer (not shown), the device is in a standby state until the issuing instruction data is input or received.

When the issuing instruction data is input or received, it is determined in step 2 (ST2) whether or not there is the remaining issuing instruction data.

Here, if there is the remaining issue instruction data,
For the remaining first issuance instruction data, it is confirmed whether or not there is a version designation input from the keyboard, and if there is a version designation input, the above-mentioned issuance instruction data causes the product of the designated version Information is read from the product master 2c, and if there is no version designation input, the product information of the latest version of the corresponding product is retrieved from the product master 2c and read.

Next, based on the read product information,
Issuance instruction data for each label such as a nameplate, a caution label, and a carton label is created, and an issuance instruction file for each label is formed (written) in the file server 2 by the created issuance instruction data.

When the writing of the issuing instruction file is completed, the process returns to the above-mentioned step 2 again.

Further, if it is judged in the process of step 2 that there is no remaining issue instruction data, this label issue instruction extraction process is terminated.

FIG. 12 shows a flow of label issuing processing performed by each CPU of the nameplate issuing WS5, the caution label issuing WS6, and the carton label issuing WS7 (hereinafter, for example, in the case of the nameplate issuing WS5 CPU).

First, as a first process, it is determined whether or not there is a remaining label (name plate) issue instruction data in the corresponding label issue instruction file (name plate issue instruction file 2e).

If there is the rest of the issue instruction data of the corresponding label (name plate), the corresponding formal format is read from the formal issue master data 2a from the remaining first issue instruction data, and the read formal format is connected. To the printer (nameplate printer 9), and label printing data such as a serial number as variable data during formatting is also transmitted to the printer (nameplate printer 9).

Next, the above printer (nameplate printer 9)
From the label printing process to the standby state until receiving the printing completion status. When the printing completion status is received, the process returns to the first label printing process.

If it is determined in the first process of the label issuing process that there is no remaining label (name plate) issuing instruction data in the corresponding label issuing instruction file (name plate issuing instruction file 2e), this label issuing process is executed. Is supposed to end.

In the present embodiment having such a configuration, the prototype format is created by the label creating WS3. There are two ways to create it. The first method is to create a completely new prototype format.
In this method, the formal format stored in the formal format master 2a is copied to the prototype format master 2b, and the copied format is changed / corrected to create the prototype format.

For example, the format No. shown in FIG. F
01 is changed and modified to create a prototype format, the format No. shown in FIG. It becomes S01. That is, first, the serial number. The data of No. 1 is used as it is without changing, and the serial No. The data of 2 is the Y coordinate,
Change each parameter of character type and character horizontal magnification, and change the serial number. The data of No. 3 is changed to the print data, and the serial No. In the data of No. 4, the character type, the character vertical magnification, and the character horizontal magnification are changed, and the serial number. In the data of No. 5, the parameter of the lateral magnification of the character is changed, and the serial No. The data No. 6 is obtained by changing the X coordinate parameter and the print data.

The prototype format created by either of the above two methods is the prototype format master 2b.
And the prototype printer 8 prints and issues a prototype label based on this prototype format.

For example, regarding a formal label as shown in FIG. 13 which is printed and issued based on the formal format, the voltage display "100V 50 / 60Hz" printed on one line is changed to "100V" and "50V". / 60Hz]
, The product name "barcode printer" is changed to "BACORD PRINTER", and the product name "B-1-A" is changed to "B-2-A". If a prototype format in which the version “V1.1” is changed to “V2.0” is created, a prototype label as shown in FIG. 14 is printed and issued.

The operator (label creator) looks at the issued prototype label and determines whether or not the prototype label is acceptable. When it is determined that the prototype label is acceptable, the operator inputs a confirmation key from the keyboard.

When the confirmation key is input from the keyboard, the label producing WS changes the produced prototype format to
It is stored in the formal format master 2a and registered as the formal format, and the formal format is registered as product information in the product master 2c with the latest version of the corresponding product or new product.

To issue a formal label, first issue the instruction WS
4, the nameplate issuing instruction file 2e, the caution label issuing instruction file 2f, the carton label issuing instruction file 2g based on the issuing instruction data input from the host computer (not shown) via the line or the issuing instruction data input from the keyboard. Is created in the file server 2.

In the issuance instruction WS4, when the inputted issuance instruction data includes the product name and the number of manufactured units, and when the version is not specified, the product name is changed from the product master 2c to the formal format master 2a. Format No. of the corresponding latest version stored. Is read, and the read format number. And the number of sheets to be issued, a nameplate issuance instruction file 2e, a caution label issuance instruction file 2f, and a carton label issuance instruction file 2g are created in the file server 2.

When the label issuing instruction files 2e to 2g are created in the file server 2, the corresponding label is printed and issued by the corresponding label printer by the corresponding issuing WS.

That is, the nameplate issuance WS5 is the format No. stored in the nameplate issuance instruction file 2e. The corresponding format is read from the official format master 2a, and the data of the number of issued sheets stored in the nameplate issuing instruction file 2e together with the print data based on the read format is output to the nameplate printer 9 to issue the above nameplate. Print and issue the number of sheets.

Further, the caution label issuing WS 6 has the format N stored in the caution label issuing instruction file 2f.
o. By reading the corresponding format from the official format master 2a, the caution label issuance instruction file 2f together with the print data based on the read format.
The number-of-issues data stored in (1) is output to the caution label printer 10, and the caution label is printed and issued.

Further, the carton label issuance WS7 is a format No. stored in the carton label issuance instruction file 2g. A more proper format is read from the formal format master 2a, and the print data based on the read format and the data of the number of printed sheets stored in the carton label issuance instruction file 2g are output to the carton label printer 11 to display the carton label. Issue the above-mentioned number of printed sheets.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the formal format master 2 for storing the registered formal format is used.
a, a prototype format master 2b for storing the created prototype format, and a format No. used for each label for each version of each product. Product master 2c storing the label and label creation WS for creating a prototype label
3, a prototype printer 8 for printing and issuing a prototype label, an issuing instruction WS4 for creating issuing instruction files 2e, 2f, 2g for each label, a nameplate issuing WS5 and a nameplate for printing and issuing a nameplate. Printer 9, warning label issuing WS6 for printing and issuing caution labels and caution label printer 10, carton label issuing WS7
And the carton label printer 11 are provided, and based on the created prototype label, the prototype printer 8 prints and issues the prototype label by the label creation WS3, and the issue instruction W
When the issue instruction file for each label is created in S4, if the version designation is not input, the format No. stored in the product master 2c is the latest version of the product. Based on the format stored in the formal format master 2a, each label printer 9-9 prints and issues a formal label by the label issuing WS 5-7, thereby producing a prototype label during issuance of the formal label. It is possible to print and issue, and it is possible to separately issue and print the official label and the prototype label without confusion. Furthermore, if there is no input for specifying the version, the official label will be printed and issued based on the format stored in the latest version of the product.Therefore, the official label should be printed and issued in the appropriate format for the upgraded product. You can

[0069]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a label issuing device that can print and issue a formal label and a prototype label separately without being confused with each other, and that can issue and issue a formal label in a format suitable for a version-up product.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a label issuing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating each W constituting the label issuing system according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic circuit configuration of S (workstation).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a formal format master of the label issuing system of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a prototype format master of the label issuing system of the same embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a product master of the label issuing system of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of an issuance instruction file of the label issuing system of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a nameplate issuance instruction file of the label issuing system of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a caution label issuance instruction file of the label issuing system of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a carton label issuance instruction file of the label issuing system of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flow of trial production and formal format registration processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a flow of label issuance instruction extraction processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a flow of label issuing processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a formal label printed and issued based on the formal format of the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a trial label printed and issued based on a trial format in which the formal format of the formal label of FIG. 13 of the embodiment is changed.

[Explanation of symbols]

2a ... Official format master, 2b ... Prototype format master, 2c ... Product master, 3 ... Label creation WS (workstation), 4 ... Label issuing instruction WS, 5,
6, 7 ... Issue WS, 8 ... Prototype printer, 9, 10, 1
1 ... Printer for each label.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A label issuing device for printing and issuing a label or the like attached to a product or the like, a formal format storage means for storing a pre-registered format, a trial format storage means for storing a trial format, and the trial format. Format registration means for storing in the formal format storage means as a formal format in response to a predetermined confirmation input, and formal label issuing means for printing and issuing a formal label based on the format stored in the formal format storage means, A label issuing device comprising: a trial label issuing means for printing and issuing a trial label based on the trial format independently of the issuing operation by the formal label issuing means. 2. A label issuing device for printing and issuing a label or the like attached to a product or the like, a formal format storage means for storing a pre-registered format, a trial format storage means for storing a trial format, and the trial format. In accordance with a predetermined confirmation input, a format registration means for storing in the formal format storage means as a formal format with a new version of the corresponding product, and the latest version of the designated product in the formal format storage means if no version designation is input. A label issuing device comprising: a formal label issuing means for printing and issuing a formal label based on the format stored in 1. and a trial label issuing means for printing and issuing a trial label based on the trial format.