JPH08268420A - Coding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To print a mark such as bar code on an opaque or semi-opaque label which is affixed on mails, and clearly impart the bar code on mails. CONSTITUTION: By inputting with keys information such as zip codes being put on a postcard 2, the input information is converted into a bar code and imparted to the postcard. For such a coding device, a label paper 29 for which a semi-opaque label is affixed on a support paper 40 is fed out from a label paper reel 28, and the bar code is visibly printed with a fluorescent ink on the label of the label paper by a thermal head unit 33. Then, the label for which the printing is completed is separated from the support paper by a label separating machine 38, and carried to an affixing roller 41 and pressing roller 42, and the label is affixed to a specified location of the postcard by the affixing roller and pressing roller.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coding apparatus for printing a bar code corresponding to a zip code or an address display number on a label by inputting a zip code or an address display number written on a postal matter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-15758 is known as a coding device for directly printing a bar code corresponding to a postal code on the postal matter by inputting the postal code on the postal matter. There is.

The coding device of this publication sends out postal items such as postcards accumulated in a supply unit one by one, and temporarily stops the sent out postal items in a conveying path. Read the information, etc. and enter the key. The postal matter is then conveyed to the bar code printing unit, and the bar code corresponding to the postal code keyed in the printing unit is directly printed on the postal item. After printing, the mail is sent to the stacker. Bar code printing is performed by an inkjet printer or a dot printer.
The mail items printed with the bar codes collected in the stacker are
After that, the barcodes are optically read and sorted.

[0004]

However, in the case of directly printing the bar code on the postal matter as described above, there is a problem that the print quality is deteriorated due to the paper quality and shape of the postal matter and the optical reading is impossible. . For example, a letter or the like contained in a sealed letter causes unevenness. When such a postal matter is printed by, for example, a dot head, the print density becomes uneven, and in the worst case, the bar becomes faint and unreadable.

Further, even when the ink jet is adopted, if there is unevenness, the width of the bar and the length of the bar are changed, and in the worst case, the bar is cut off on the way and is not printed and cannot be read. In addition, even if the mail is fixed, there are many types of paper quality and color,
That is, there is a base, and some ink jet inks cannot clearly print.

Symbols such as bar codes are printed on the edges of the postal matter, but in the case of a postal matter on which information such as an address is written on the entire surface, the characters etc. written on the postal matter by printing the symbol are displayed. In some cases, the information such as a bar code may be cut off by the characters or the like written in the mail, or may be erroneously recognized. Furthermore, if a bar code or the like is directly printed on a postal matter using black ink or fluorescent ink, an extra symbol such as a bar code is added to the postal matter, and it cannot be erased. The problem arises. In addition, there is a problem that the barcode cannot be corrected even if it is erroneously printed.

Therefore, according to the present invention, by using a label, it is possible to clearly attach a symbol such as a bar code to a mail item without being influenced by the shape, background, and characters of the mail item, and the label can be applied to the mail item. A coding device that can be automatically applied is provided. Further, according to the present invention, a label attached to a mail piece can be easily peeled off without damaging the mail piece, there is no fear of causing discomfort to a recipient, and even if a symbol such as a barcode is erroneously printed on the label. (EN) Provided is a coding device which can easily exchange labels.

The present invention also provides a coding device which can confirm the address display number without removing the label even if the label is attached on the address display. Further, the present invention provides a coding device capable of printing not only the address display number but also information for identifying a house on a label and facilitating delivery of mail when there are a plurality of houses having the same address display number.

[0009]

The invention according to claim 1 is
You can read the converted bar code, etc. in the coding device that inputs the information such as the postal code written on the mail and converts this input information into a readable symbol such as a bar code and adds it to the mail A label printing means for printing a different symbol on an opaque or semi-transparent label and a label sticking means for sticking a label on which a symbol is printed by this label printing means to a postal matter are provided. When the means uses fluorescent ink, the transmissivity at the wavelength of the fluorescent ink is 30% or less, or the transmittance at the wavelength of the light source used when reading the symbol printed on the label is 30% or less. It uses a semi-transparent label.

The invention according to claim 2 is the coding device according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive used for adhering the label to the postal matter is made relatively weak in adhesive strength to enable peeling. . In the invention corresponding to claim 3, in the coding device according to claim 1 or 2, the postal code and the address display number are input from the information described in the postal matter, and the label printing means prints the postal code and the address on the label. The barcode corresponding to the address display number is printed, and the zip code and the address display number are printed. In the invention corresponding to claim 4, in the coding device according to claim 3, information for identifying a residence other than the information described in the mail is also input, and the label printing means is information for identifying the residence input on the label. Is also printed.

[0011]

In the invention of such a construction, the information such as the postal code to be inputted is converted into a symbol such as a bar code and printed on an opaque or translucent label. And this label is automatically attached to the mail. As a result, it is possible to reliably read the symbol such as the bar code attached to the postal matter. Further, the label once attached to the mail piece can be easily peeled off without damaging the mail piece.

Further, since the zip code and the address display number are printed on the label together with the bar code, the zip code and the address display number can be easily read from the label. Further, since the postal code, the address display number, and the information identifying the residence are printed on the label together with the barcode, the delivery destination can be easily identified even if there are a plurality of residences having the same address display number.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the coding apparatus. A postal unit, for example, a large number of postcards 2 is stored in the supply unit 1, and the postal unit 2 is placed from the supply unit 1 to the display unit 3 with the front side facing forward. It is designed to send out one by one. The display unit 3
A keyboard 4 provided with keys for inputting address information such as a zip code and keys for starting printing in front of the
Is provided. The postcard 2 sent out from the supply unit 1 is temporarily stopped at the display unit 3, and in this state, the operator manually takes out the postcard 2 and confirms the address information such as the zip code and the address display number, and then the keyboard 4 Will input the address information. After the address information is input, the postcard 2 is returned to the display unit 3 this time with the stamp side facing forward and the sideways position.

The postcard 2 after returning the display section 3 is again conveyed and sent to the label printing / labeling section 5 when there is a key operation for instructing the start of printing on the keyboard 4. Below the label printing / labeling unit 5, a storage unit 6 for the postcard 2 is provided so as to be freely inserted and removed.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic structure in the coding device, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main part structure in the coding device. The supply unit 1 is provided with a cassette 7 in which the postcards 2 are stored, and the postcards 2 are sent from the cassette 7 one by one by an automatic supply roller 8 and a driven roller 9.

The postcard 2 sent out is a pair of rollers 10,
The carrier belt 12 hung between 11 and the carrier belt 15 hung between a pair of rollers 13 and 14 conveys the paper, and the carrier belt 15 hangs between a pair of rollers 16 and 17. Transport belt 18 and pair of rollers 19, 20
It is configured to be sandwiched by a transport belt 21 that is stretched between and to be transported.

Each of the conveyor belts 12, 15, 18, 2
1 is arranged at the display unit 3, and the postcard 2 is temporarily stopped when it reaches the positions of the conveyor belts 18 and 21. The conveyor belt 21 has a narrow width and is arranged on the lower side so that the operator can easily take out the postcard 2. When there is a key operation for instructing to start printing with the keyboard 4 in a state where the postcard 2 is returned to the transport belts 18 and 21 sideways, the transport belts 18 and 21 print the postcard 2 on a label and Label pasting part 5
Transport to. The label printing / labeling unit 5 is used for the postcard 2 transported by the transport belts 18 and 21.
Is sandwiched between a pair of rollers 22 and 23, and a pair of rollers 25 and 26, and a pair of rollers 25 and 26.

While the postcard 2 is being carried by the carrying belts 24 and 27, the label paper 29 is fed from the label paper reel 28 and carried to the platen roller 32 through the rollers 30 and 31, and this platen is carried out. At the position of the roller 32, for example, a barcode corresponding to the address information is visibly printed on the label paper 29 by the thermal head unit 33.

The thermal head unit 33 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the thermal head 34 is arranged to face the platen roller 32, an ink ribbon supply reel 35 and an ink ribbon take-up reel 36 are provided, and the ink ribbon 37 from the ink ribbon supply reel 35 is transferred to the thermal head 34. The ink ribbon take-up reel 36 is wound between the label paper 29 and the label paper 29.

As the ink ribbon 37, an organic fluorescent pigment or a dye or an inorganic fluorescent pigment which is excited when irradiated with irradiation light of a specific wavelength to emit light of a specific wavelength, or an absorber which absorbs only a specific wavelength, etc. A fluorescent ink ribbon for thermal transfer containing at least is used. The fluorescent pigment is, for example, 600 n which is visible light when irradiated with ultraviolet rays (black light having a central emission wavelength at 365 nm).
An organic daylight fluorescent pigment or a dye or an inorganic fluorescent pigment that emits light around m is used.

The organic daylight fluorescent pigment or dye also absorbs light in the visible region and emits light so that it can be seen clearly in the visible region. For example, there is a material such as FZ-3044 manufactured by Shin Roihi Co., and the absorption peak of this material is around 420 nm, and it absorbs light from the ultraviolet region to around 580 nm.
Since it emits 0 nm light, it exhibits fluorescence even in the visible region, and thus visible printing is possible. Further, in the case of the inorganic fluorescent pigment, the absorption wavelength is only in the ultraviolet region, but since the original material is a white powder, the resulting ink is also white and visible printing is possible.

Further, depending on the thickness of the base film,
The film thickness of the ink layer of the fluorescent ink ribbon for thermal transfer using the above-mentioned materials can be from 2 to 3 μm to the base thickness of the base film. The thickness of the base film is generally 3 μm to
It is 10 μm. Therefore, the ink layer can be provided up to about 10 μm. (The film thickness can be increased within the range allowed by the power of the thermal head.) Therefore, the thickness of the ink printed on the label can be controlled as needed. Further, it is possible to make the film thickness thicker than the method of directly printing on the postal matter 2 such as an ink jet.

The label paper 29 is a thermal head 34.
When the bar code is printed by, the bar code is sent to the label peeling machine 38, and the label peeling machine 38 bends it at an acute angle as shown in FIG. 5 to separate it into a label 39 and a mount 40. And the label 39 separated from the mount 40
Is attached to the postcard 2 that is conveyed by the attaching roller 41 and the pressure roller 42 that form the label attaching means. At this time, the postcard 2 and the label 39 are synchronized,
The label 39 is always affixed to the reference position of the postcard 2, for example, the same position based on the tip of the postcard.

As shown in FIG. 6, the label sheet 29 is formed by attaching a label 39 to a mount sheet 40 at regular intervals. The mount sheet 40 is a release mount sheet so that the label 39 can be easily peeled off. A black label position detection mark 43 for positioning the label 39 is printed on the mount between the labels 39. By printing while detecting the label position detection mark 43 by the sensor, it is possible to always print the barcode on the label 39 at an accurate position.

The label 39 is, for example, a material such as a white pigment mixed in an ink receiving layer of a PET film, and has a transmittance of 30% or less for the emission wavelength of the fluorescent ink of the fluorescent ink ribbon 37 for thermal transfer. It is a transparent label. An adhesive layer coated with an adhesive is formed on the surface of the label 39 opposite to the printed surface, and the adhesive strength of this adhesive is 50 to 5 in 90 degree peeling and 180 degree peeling tests.
The thing of about 00g / 2cm is used.

The bar code printed on the label 39 is
As shown in FIG. 7, a long bar 39a, a short timing bar 39b, and two types of half bars 39 that are long above or below
It is composed of a total of four types, c and 39d, and is a four-state three-bar that represents one number by three. The label 39 also prints the numerical value of the bar under the bar code.

The mount 40 from which the label 39 has been separated is wound by a mount take-up reel 46 via rollers 44 and 45. The postcard 2 with the label 38 attached
Is transported by the transport belts 24 and 27 and stored in the storage section 6.

In the embodiment having such a structure, the cassette 7 of the supply unit 1 is automatically fed to the automatic feed roller 8 and the driven roller 9.
The postcards 2 are sent out one by one. The postcard 2 sent out is conveyed by the conveyor belts 12 and 15, and further conveyed by the conveyor belts 18 and 21. Then, the conveyance belts 18 and 21 are stopped midway. At this time, the postcard 2 has reached the position of the display unit 3.

In this state, the operator picks up the postcard 2 by hand, reads the address information of the postal code and the address display number written on the postcard 2, and inputs it by the key operation of the keyboard 4. When the key input operation is completed, the operator returns the postcard 2 to the transport belts 18 and 21 with the stamp side facing forward and the stamp side facing upward. Then, a key for starting printing on the keyboard 4 is operated.

As a result, the transport belts 18 and 21 transport the postcard 2 again. In this way, the postcard 2 is turned sideways and sent to the label printing / labeling unit 5. In the label printing / labeling unit 5, the postcard 2 is transported by the transport belts 24 and 27. Further, in the label printing / labeling unit 5, the bar code and the address information number corresponding to the address information input by the thermal head 34 of the thermal head unit 33 is applied to the label 39 of the label paper 29 delivered from the label paper reel 28. Print. At this time, a bar code is visibly printed on the label 39 with the fluorescent ink by the thermal transfer fluorescent ink ribbon 37. The print start position of the bar code is accurately determined by detecting the label position detection mark 43.

The printed label 39 is a label peeling machine 38.
It is separated from the mount 40 by the sheet and is conveyed to the sticking roller 41. By the sticking roller 41 and the pressure roller 42, the postcard 2
It is affixed to a predetermined position of. In this way, the label 39 is attached to the postcard 2 as shown in FIG. The postcard 2 to which the label 39 is attached is further transported by the transport belts 24 and 27 and stored in the storage unit 6.

As described above, since the bar code corresponding to the address information is once printed on the label 39 and the label 39 is attached to the postcard 2, the bar code is not affected by the material and state of the postcard 2. Can be clearly attached to the postcard 2. Therefore, it is possible to reliably read the barcode when sorting later. Also, the bar code is a postcard 2.
It does not stain the characters listed in. Also, postcard 2
The adhesive strength of the pressure-sensitive adhesive used for sticking the label 39 to the 50-500 g / 2 in 90 degree peeling and 180 degree peeling tests.
Since the size is about cm, the label 39 attached to the postcard 2 can be easily peeled off without damaging the postcard. Therefore, even if the label 39 is delivered while being attached to the postcard 2, the recipient returns to the original state of the sender by peeling off the label, so that there is no fear of causing discomfort to the recipient. Further, even if the operator makes a mistake in inputting the address information and prints an incorrect barcode on the label 39 and attaches it to the postcard 2, the label 39 is peeled off and the correct barcode is printed again on the label and attached to the postcard. be able to.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the label 39 has the bar code corresponding to the inputted address information and the number of the address information, that is, the zip code "12345" and the address display number "6-78" printed on the label. Therefore, even if the label 39 is pasted on the postal address written on the postcard, the delivery destination can be confirmed by the address display number "6-78" at the time of delivery. Therefore, remove the label and read the letters on the postcard 2. There is no trouble.

Furthermore, after the label 39 is separated from the mount 40, it is automatically attached to the postcard 2 by the attaching roller 41 and the pressure roller 42, so that the work of attaching the bar code to the postcard 2 can be performed easily and at high speed.

By the way, when the influence of the postal matter when the semi-transparent label was used was examined, the results shown in Table 1 were obtained. That is, a postcard is used as a postal matter, and the address and the like are written on the postcard using a carbon ink such as ink, a pencil, and a brush pen. As a result of reading the test with the label printed on it (bar code reading A), the labels with 5%, 10% and 30% transmittance of the label are not affected by the carbon ink. I was able to read the barcode printed on. On the other hand, when the transmittance of the label was 40% and 85%, barcode reading was partially disabled.

Further, a barcode was directly printed on the postcard with a fluorescent ink, and a label printed with the fluorescent ink was applied to the label. As a result of the reading test (barcode reading B), the transmittance of the label was 5%. In the case of each label of 10% and 30%, the barcode printed on the label could be read without being affected by the fluorescent ink directly printed on the postcard. On the other hand, when the transmittance of the label was 40% and 85%, the barcode reading became impossible due to the influence of the fluorescent ink directly printed on the postcard.

From the above, by setting the transmissivity of the translucent label to 30% or less, the barcode printed on the label can be reliably read without being affected by the destination address written on the postcard. it can.

[0039]

[Table 1]

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same parts as those in the above embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of printing on the label. For the label 39, the bar code corresponding to the postal code and the address display number and the postal code "1" are shown.
2345 "and the address display number" 6-78 ", and information" A23 "that identifies the residence other than the address display number
A is also printed.

This is because when there are a plurality of houses in the area designated by the postal code "12345" and the address display number "6-78", the delivery destination cannot be specified only by the above designation. Therefore, when there are a plurality of houses in the area when the zip code "12345" and the address display number "6-78" are keyed in, the names of the plurality of houses are displayed on the monitor (not shown). When the operator looks at the monitor and selects the corresponding house, the information "A23" a for identifying the residence is printed on the label 39.

In this way, if the number of digits to be entered is limited and the address display number cannot be entered to the end, the number that could not be entered at the time of delivery is removed without removing the label 39 and reading the label 39. It can be easily confirmed by the information "A23" a for identifying the house printed on. Therefore, the delivery work becomes easy.

Further, there is a limit to the number of digits of the address display number converted into the bar code printed on the label. For example,
The number of digits is 10 and the address display number is 605-78.
In the case of 05-1A23, "-" is also considered as one character, and 605-
Up to 7805-1 is bar coded, and A23 is not bar coded. When the operator inputs all the letters and numbers of the address display number, the coding device automatically converts the part up to A23 into a bar code, and other than A2.
Print 3 on the edge of the label as described above.

FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the label sticking means, in which the sticking roller 41 is replaced with a label conveying / rotating member 51. This label conveying rotary member 5
Reference numeral 1 denotes a cylindrical shape. A large number of suction holes 52 are provided on the outer peripheral surface thereof, each suction hole 52 is connected to a suction pump (not shown), and each suction hole 52 is sucked by this suction pump. The label 39 separated from the label paper 29 is adsorbed on the outer peripheral surface of the label conveying rotary member 51 and conveyed to the position of the pressure roller 42. Even in this case, the label 39 can be automatically attached to the postcard 2 by the label conveying rotary member 51 and the pressure roller 42.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the case where the translucent label is used as the label has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an opaque label may be used. As the opaque label, for example, paper, paper coated with a coating layer, or thermal paper is used. In the case of an opaque label, there is no influence of the background of the mail or the characters written on the mail, so the bar code can always be read reliably.

Further, in the above embodiment, the bar code or the like was printed on the label by using the fluorescent ink, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the label or the like may be printed by using the coloring ink such as black ink. Good. In this case, a label that can sufficiently reflect light with respect to the light source used for reading the barcode is used. By doing so, it is not necessary to use a relatively expensive fluorescent ink ribbon, so the running cost can be reduced.

Further, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the case where the label is coated with the adhesive in advance was described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. And the adhesive tape may be overlapped.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the printing on the label is performed by thermal transfer using a thermal head, but the present invention is not limited to this, and printing may be performed using an ink jet printer. Good.

Further, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, a case in which a label printed with a bar code is attached to a postcard as a postal item has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be another postal item such as a sealed letter. It should be noted that the present invention can be applied to deliveries other than postal items such as home delivery services.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the bar code is used as the symbol printed on the label, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be another symbol such as a two-dimensional code or a character code.

Furthermore, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the one in which a label is printed on a label and then attached to a postcard has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. A bar code or the like may be printed on the label.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention, by using a label, it is possible to clearly attach a symbol such as a bar code to a mail item without being influenced by the shape, background, or characters of the mail item. Labels can be automatically attached to mail items. Further, according to the present invention, a label attached to a mail piece can be easily peeled off without damaging the mail piece, there is no fear of causing discomfort to the recipient, and a symbol such as a barcode is erroneously printed on the label. However, the label can be easily replaced. Further, according to the present invention, even if the label is attached on the address display, the address display number can be confirmed without removing the label.
Further, according to the present invention, in addition to the address display number, information for identifying the house can be printed on the label, and the mail can be easily delivered when there are a plurality of houses having the same address display number.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main configuration of the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a thermal head unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a configuration of a label separation and label sticking portion of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the label sheet of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a barcode-printed label of the same embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a postcard to which the label of the same example is attached.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another embodiment of label printing.

FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing another embodiment of the label sticking portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 ... Postcard (postal matter) 4 ... Keyboard 5 ... Label printing and labeling section 12,15,18,21,24,27 ... Conveying belt 29 ... Label paper 33 ... Thermal head unit 34 ... Thermal head 37 ... For thermal transfer Fluorescent ink ribbon 38 ... Label peeling machine 39 ... Label 41 ... Sticking roller 42 ... Pressure roller

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Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A coding device for inputting information such as a postal code written on a mail piece, converting the input information into a readable symbol such as a bar code and adding the converted information to the mail piece. A label printing means for printing a readable symbol such as a bar code on an opaque or semi-transparent label and a label sticking means for sticking the label to the mail are provided, and the label printing is performed as the semi-transparent label. When the means uses a fluorescent ink, a translucent label having a transmittance of 30% or less at the wavelength of the fluorescent ink, or
A coding device, wherein a translucent label having a transmittance of 30% or less at a wavelength of a light source used when reading a symbol printed on the label is used. 2. The coding device according to claim 1, wherein the label is peelable by relatively weakening the adhesive strength of an adhesive used for adhering to a mail item. 3. The label printing means inputs the postal code and the address display number among the information described in the postal matter.
The coding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a bar code corresponding to the postal code and the address display number is printed on the label, and the postal code and the address display number are printed. 4. The information for identifying a residence other than the information described in the mail is also input, and the label printing means also prints the information for identifying the residence input on the label. Coding equipment.