JPH106564A - Coding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To correct securely the erroneous printing and reduce the running cost. SOLUTION: A device provided with a label paper reel 22 on which a label paper is wound, a second adhesive mass feed reel 39 on which a pressure sensitive adhesive tape formed of a pressure sensitive adhesive piece, to which an infrared absorbent for absorbing phosphor exciting light of fluorescent ink is added, stuck on a mounting paper is wound, and a first pressure sensitive adhesive feed reel 38 on which a pressure sensitive adhesive tape formed of a pressure sensitive adhesive piece, to which the infrared absorbent is not at all added, stuck on a mounting paper is wound. Usually bar codes are printed on the label paper by a thermal head unit 26, and then the pressure sensitive adhesive piece brought from the first pressure sensitive adhesive feed reel is fixed by pressure on the label paper, and the paper is stuck on a postcard. At the time of modifying the bar codes, modified bard codes are printed on the label paper, and then the pressure sensitive adhesive piece brought from the second pressure sensitive adhesive feed reel is fixed by pressure on the label paper, and the paper is overlapped on the label stuck on the postcard and stuck thereon.

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 readable symbol such as a bar code on a translucent label using fluorescent ink and affixing it to a mail or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the postal service, for example, in order to further streamline the postal service, mechanization of mail sorting work has been further promoted. As a part of this, there is known a coding apparatus that inputs information such as a postal code written on a postal matter, converts the information into a barcode, and prints the barcode directly on the postal matter. Such a coding apparatus, for example, as described in JP-B-61-15758, sends out postal matters such as postcards accumulated in a supply unit one by one and temporarily stops the sent out postal matter in a transport path. In this state, when the operator reads information such as the postal code from the postal matter and key-in, the barcode corresponding to the keyed-in postal code is printed directly on the postal matter, and the printed postal matter is stored in the storage unit. It can be collected in a certain stacker. Then, the barcode-printed postal matter collected in the stacker is then automatically sorted by optically reading the barcode. In such a coding apparatus, an ink jet printer, a dot printer, or the like is used for barcode printing. However, if a method of directly printing on a mail is used, printing may not be performed depending on the material of the mail.

[0003] For this reason, the present applicant has proposed and applied for a coding apparatus in which a bar code is printed on a transparent label with inconspicuous fluorescent ink and then the label is attached to mail. (Japanese Patent Application No. 6-88255) If this coding device is used, a barcode can be added to a mail without being affected by the material of the mail.

[0004]

By the way, when a bar code is added to a mail using a coding device, if an operator makes an error in inputting information such as a postal code, an erroneous bar code is printed on a label and the mail is printed. Will be stuck on. To correct this, for example, provide a layer that absorbs the excitation wavelength of the fluorescent ink or the emission wavelength of the fluorescent ink on the label, and overlay the label with the correct barcode on the label with the wrong barcode. Adhering is conceivable. In this way, when the barcode is read optically for sorting later, the excitation or emission wavelength from the incorrect barcode printed on the lower label is absorbed by the absorbing layer, so that the light rises. It does not come out to the surface through the label, and can read only the correct barcode on the label attached above.

[0005] However, if this method is adopted, a label provided with an absorbing layer is used even in normal times other than the time of correction. By the way, the absorbent contained in the absorption layer is expensive, and therefore, the label provided with the absorption layer becomes considerably expensive. Therefore, the use of such a label at a normal time other than the time of correction has a problem that running cost is high and practicability is poor.

Accordingly, the first aspect of the present invention provides a method of printing a readable symbol such as a bar code on a translucent label using fluorescent ink and attaching the same to mail or the like. And a coding device that can reliably correct the error and reduce the running cost.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, a readable symbol such as a bar code is printed on a translucent label using fluorescent ink, and is attached to a mail or the like. A coding device that can reliably correct printing, reduce running costs, and has no influence such as making it difficult to distinguish characters such as addresses printed on mail or the like. I will provide a.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
Enter information such as the postal code written on the mail, etc.
The coding device converts this input information into a readable symbol such as a barcode, prints it on a translucent label using fluorescent ink, and affixes it to mail or the like. -Shaped adhesive pieces are separately conveyed, the adhesive pieces are pressed on a label printed with a symbol, and then attached to a mail, etc., and the adhesive pieces are excited light of fluorescent ink or light of emitted light. Two types of adhesive strips containing an absorbent or a reflective agent and adhesive strips without these absorbents or a reflective agent are provided. Usually, the adhesive strips containing no absorbent or a reflective agent are pressed on a label. At the time of correction, a pressure-sensitive adhesive piece containing an absorbing agent or a reflecting agent is pressed against a label.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the coding apparatus according to the first aspect, the fluorescent ink contains a phosphor which emits light by excitation of infrared light, and the pressure-sensitive adhesive piece containing the absorbent contains a fluorescent material. An infrared absorbing agent that absorbs the excitation light of the ink is contained, and the content of the infrared absorbing agent in the pressure-sensitive adhesive piece is set to 0.5% by weight or more and 2% by weight or less based on the entire pressure-sensitive adhesive piece. is there.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a coding apparatus. 1 is a supply unit for storing mail, for example, a large number of postcards 2, 3 is a conveyance unit for conveying postcards 2, and 4 is address information such as a postal code. A keyboard 5 provided with a key for performing printing, a print execution key for starting printing, and the like, a printing unit 5 that prints a readable symbol on the postcard 2, for example, a bar code. The printing unit 5 includes a postcard 2 after printing.
Is provided so as to be freely inserted and removed.

The apparatus automatically feeds out and transports postcards 2 one by one from a supply section 1 to a transport section 3 and transports the same.
Is temporarily stopped, and in this state, the operator takes the postcard 2 from the transport unit 3 and checks the address information such as the postal code and the address display number, and inputs the address information using the keyboard 4.
Then, after inputting the address information, the postcard 2 is returned to the transporting unit 3 in a horizontal position such that the stamp is on the near side, and the print execution key of the keyboard 4 is operated in this state. As a result, the postcard 2 of the transport unit 3 is sent to the printing unit 5, and a label printed with a bar code is attached to a predetermined position, and
A series of operations of storing the information in the storage area are performed.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration in the coding apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a printing unit in the coding apparatus. The supply section 1 is provided with a cassette 7 in which the postcards 2 are stored, and the postcards 2 are fed out of the cassette 7 to the transport section 3 one by one by an automatic supply roller 8 and a driven roller 9. The transport unit 3 clamps the fed postcard 2 by a transport belt 12 stretched between a pair of rollers 10 and 11 and a transport belt 15 stretched between a pair of rollers 13 and 14. Transport.

The printing unit 5 is provided with each of the transport belts 1.
Postcard 2 conveyed by the pair of rollers 16
The transport belt 18 is stretched between the pair of rollers 17 and the transport belt 21 stretched between a pair of rollers 19 and 20 so as to be nipped and transported.

The printing unit 5 is provided with a label paper reel 22 on which label paper to which no adhesive is attached is wound.
The label paper 23 is sent out from the label paper reel 22 and is conveyed to a platen roller 25 via a pulley 24.
At the position of the platen roller 25, a bar code corresponding to the address information is thermally transferred and printed on the label paper 23 by using a fluorescent ink by the thermal head unit 26.

The thermal head unit 26 is composed of a thermal printer. As shown in FIG. 4, a thermal head 27 is arranged so as to face the platen roller 25, and an ink ribbon supply reel 28 and an ink ribbon take-up reel 29 are connected. The fluorescent ink ribbon 30 from the ink ribbon supply reel 28 is wound between the thermal head 27 and the label paper 23 by the ink ribbon take-up reel 29.

The label paper 23 on which the barcode is printed by the thermal head unit 26 is supplied to an automatic label cutter 32 via a pulley 31 and cut by the cutter 32 into a predetermined length. And the backing paper stripper 34.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the printing unit 5 mounts a plate-shaped adhesive piece 35 at a predetermined interval on a backing paper 36.
The first and second adhesive supply reels 38 and 39 provided with the adhesive tape 37 wound thereon are provided, and the adhesive tape 37 is sent out from the respective adhesive supply reels 38 and 39, and the pulley 40 and the backing paper are mounted. The first and second mount paper take-up reels 42 and 43 take up the film via the peeler 34 and the pulley 41. The pressure-sensitive adhesive piece 35 on the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 37 sent out from the first pressure-sensitive adhesive supply reel 38 is, for example, an aqueous acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive having a thickness of about 20 μm and a backing paper 36.
Of the adhesive strip 35 on the adhesive tape 37 which is applied from the second adhesive supply reel 38.
Contains an absorbing agent or a reflecting agent that absorbs excitation light of the fluorescent ink of the fluorescent ink ribbon 30 or an absorbing agent or a reflecting agent that absorbs light emitted by the fluorescent ink.

The adhesive tape 37 sent from each of the adhesive supply reels 38 and 39 is supplied between the backing stripper 34 and the adhesive pressure roller 33, and is conveyed in synchronization with the cut label. The pressure-sensitive adhesive piece 35 is pressed against the back surface side of the roller 44 by the pressure-sensitive adhesive pressure roller 33, and thereafter, the backing sheet 36 is peeled from the pressure-sensitive adhesive piece 35 by the backing sheet peeling device 34. Which of the adhesive tapes 37 of the adhesive supply reels 38 and 39 is to be used can be selected by, for example, key input from the keyboard 4. The label 44 to which the pressure-sensitive adhesive piece 35 has been pressed is then applied to label pressing rollers 45 and 46.
Thus, the postcard 2 is attached to the postcard 2 conveyed by the pair of conveying belts 18 and 21. At this time, the postcard 2 and the label 44 are synchronized, and the label 44 is stuck to a reference position of the postcard 2, for example, at the same position at a predetermined distance from the position of the front end of the postcard.

The transport belt 18 is connected to a pulley 47.
The tension of the transport belt 21 is adjusted by pulleys 48 and 49. In this coding device, after the postcard 2 is fed from the cassette 7 of the supply unit 1 to the conveyance unit 3 by the automatic supply roller 8 and the driven roller 9, the conveyance belt 12,
The transport belt 15 stops the transport belts 12 and 15.

In this state, the operator takes the postcard 2 by hand, reads the address information of the postal code and the address display number, and inputs the information by operating the keyboard 4.
When the key input operation is completed, the postcard 2 is returned to the conveyor belts 12 and 15 with the postage stamp sideways on the front side.
Then, a print execution key on the keyboard 4 is operated. Thereby, the transport belts 12 and 15 transport the postcard 2 again.
In this way, the postcard 2 is sent to the printing unit 5 in the horizontal direction.

In the printing section 5, the postcard 2 is conveyed by the conveying belts 18, 21. Further, the printing unit 5 prints a barcode corresponding to the address information input by the thermal head 27 of the thermal head unit 26 on the label paper 23 sent out from the label paper reel 22. At this time, the fluorescent ink is thermally transferred from the fluorescent ink ribbon 30 to the label paper 23, and barcode printing is performed.

The printed label paper 23 is cut into a predetermined length by the automatic label cutter 32, and then the label 44 is cut.
Is supplied between the adhesive pressure roller 33 and the backing stripper 34. On the other hand, normally, the first adhesive supply reel 38 is selected, and the first adhesive supply reel 38 is selected.
The adhesive tape 37 is supplied between the adhesive pressure roller 33 and the backing stripper 34 via the pulley 40.

Then, the adhesive piece 35 is pressed against the back surface of the label 44 by the adhesive pressure roller 33, and then the backing sheet 36 is peeled off from the adhesive piece 35 by the backing stripper 34. It will be wound up by the take-up reel 42. The label 44 to which the pressure-sensitive adhesive piece 35 has been pressed is applied to the transport belt 1 by label pressing rollers 45 and 46.
Affixed to postcard 2 conveyed by 8, 21.

If the barcode printing is to be corrected due to an error, the second adhesive supply reel 39 is selected, and the adhesive tape 37 sent from the second adhesive supply reel 39 is attached to the second adhesive supply reel 39. After the agent piece 35 is pressed on the label 44, the label 44 is pasted on the postcard 2 conveyed by the conveying belts 18, 21 by the label pressing rollers 45, 46, on which the label has already been pasted. Will be done.

The fluorescent ink of the fluorescent ink ribbon 30 used in this coding apparatus is a cyanine dye NK-2204 (Nippon Dye Co., Ltd.) as a fluorescent dye, as shown in FIG. Research Institute) is used. As is clear from this characteristic, the peak of the excitation light of this fluorescent ink is around 800 nm, and the peak of the emission wavelength is around 877 nm.

As shown in FIG. 9, the fluorescent ink ribbon 30 includes ink (wax + binder + other) 51
Containing a resin solid solution 52 and a reflective agent 53,
As shown in FIG. 10, as the resin solid solution 52, for example, a polymethacrylic acid ester, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride vinyl chloride copolymer is used for 1 part by weight of the cyanine dye 55 of NK-2204 in the resin 54. A resin solid solution containing 100 parts by weight of a resin such as a coalesced resin, an alkyd resin, an aromatic sulfonamide, a melamine resin, a benzoguanamine resin, and a copolymer thereof is used. In order to improve the light fastness, the quencher 56 such as Ni complex is replaced with cyanine dye 1
One part by weight is added to the parts by weight.

The resin solid solution 52 is prepared, for example, by a lump resin pulverization method and pulverized to an average particle diameter of about 2 μm or less. For example, as a fluorescent ink ribbon 30, on a support made of a polyethylene terephthalate film having a thickness of 4.5 μm, 70 parts by weight of a binder made of wax and an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and 30 parts by weight of the resin solid solution 52 are used. A part of the ink coated with a hot melt coater at a thickness of 4.5 μm is used.

As the label paper 23, as shown in FIG. 11, used is a PET 61 having a base material thickness of 50 μm provided with an ink receiving layer 62 formed by mixing silica in a polyester resin. FIG. 12 shows a state in which the adhesive piece 35 on the mount 36 is pressed against the PET 61 of the label 44 obtained by cutting the label paper 23. The adhesive piece 35 on the adhesive tape 37 delivered from the second adhesive supply reel 38
Specifically, the phosphor NK- of the fluorescent ink of the fluorescent ink ribbon 30 is used for 100 parts by weight of the acrylic adhesive.
An infrared absorbing agent that absorbs the excitation light of 2204 is used.

Here, an infrared absorbent 801W (manufactured by Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.) having an absorption characteristic shown in FIG.
The result of an experiment in which 0 parts by weight to 2.5 parts by weight are added to 00 parts by weight will be described. In this experiment, as shown in FIG. 14, a sample was prepared in which a label 44a on which a barcode was printed with fluorescent ink 30a was attached to postcard 2, and a correction label 44b on which a barcode was printed with fluorescent ink 30b was prepared. A sample of the pressure-sensitive adhesive piece 35 to which the infrared absorbent 801W was added in the range of 0 to 2.5 parts by weight was pressure-bonded, and the sample was overlaid on the label 44a and adhered. In the drawing, reference numeral 61a denotes PET, and 62a denotes an ink receiving layer.

In this case, as a sample of the adhesive piece 35, the addition amount of the infrared absorbing agent 801W was set to 0% by weight, 0.2%
Measurement of luminescence output using 5% by weight, 0.5% by weight, 0.75% by weight, 1.0% by weight, 1.5% by weight, 2.0% by weight and 2.5% by weight Then, the visibility of the characters on postcard 2 was visually evaluated, and the quality of the read result was determined.
The emission wavelength is 8 as the excitation light when reading a bar code.
The irradiation was performed by irradiating a semiconductor laser light of 10 nm. In addition,
The luminous output was determined as 100% when the amount of the infrared absorbing agent 801W added was 0% by weight, and was calculated as a relative value.

As a result, the relationship between the content of the infrared absorber and the luminous output is as shown in FIG.
The results shown in the following table were obtained. Addition amount Character visibility Read result Emission output 0% by weight ○ × 100% 0.25% by weight ○ △ 41% 0.5% by weight ○ ○ 20% 0.75% by weight ○ ○ 15.5% 1.0% by weight % ○ ○ 10% 1.5% by weight ○ ○ 5% 2.0% by weight ○ ○ 3% 2.5% by weight △ ○ 2% Note that ○ indicates good, × indicates poor, and Δ indicates somewhat good.

From the above results, it is desirable that the range in which the characters on postcard 2 can be reliably discriminated visually is 2.0% by weight or less, and the range in which the corrected barcode can be read reliably is 0.5%. It has been found that more than weight% is desirable. That is, the fluorescent ink 30a is not affected by the barcode fluorescent ink 30a printed on the lower label 44a.
To ensure that the bar code corrected in b can be read and that the characters on postcard 2 can be visually observed, the amount of infrared absorber 801W added must be 0.5% by weight or more and 2.0% by weight or more.
It has been found that the following is desirable.

FIGS. 16A and 16B are diagrams for explaining the mechanism of whether or not the corrected bar code can be reliably read. FIG. 16A is a diagram in which the postcard 2 is directly printed with the fluorescent ink 30a, and the PET 61a and the ink are printed thereon. A label 44b composed of a receiving layer 62a and having a corrected barcode printed with the fluorescent ink 30b on the ink receiving layer 62a is adhered using an adhesive 351 to which an absorbent that absorbs the wavelength of the excitation light of the fluorescent ink is added. (B) shows the case where the adhesive 352 to which no absorbent is added is used. The fluorescent inks 30a and 30b are the same.

In FIG. 16A, even if the excitation light is transmitted through the label 44b, it is absorbed by the adhesive 351 and the fluorescent ink 30a does not emit light. On the other hand, the fluorescent ink 30b emits light by the excitation light. Thereby, the corrected barcode printed with the fluorescent ink 30b can be accurately read.

On the other hand, in FIG. 16B, since the excitation light is transmitted through the label 44b and the adhesive 352 and is applied to the fluorescent ink 30a, the fluorescent ink 30a also emits light. For this reason, since the light emitted from the fluorescent ink 30a and the light emitted from the fluorescent ink 30b are output in a mixed state, the corrected barcode and the barcode formed by the fluorescent ink 30a overlap, and it is not possible to read the corrected barcode accurately. become unable.

As described above, as the adhesive used for the correction label, a substance to which an infrared absorber that absorbs the excitation light of the fluorescent substance NK-2204 of the fluorescent ink is added is used.
After sticking the label with the barcode printed with fluorescent ink on the postcard, and overlaying the label with the modified barcode printed with the same fluorescent ink, or printing the barcode directly on the postcard with fluorescent ink Even if a label on which the correction barcode is printed is attached, the correction barcode can be accurately read.

When sticking a label with a bar code printed on a postcard, a pressure-sensitive adhesive to which no absorbent is added is used, and the use of a pressure-sensitive adhesive to which an absorbent is added is switched. Since it can be limited only to the time of correcting the cord, the amount of the pressure-sensitive adhesive to which the expensive absorbent is added can be reduced, and the running cost can be reduced.

Further, an infrared absorber 801 for the pressure-sensitive adhesive is used.
By setting the addition amount of W to 0.5% by weight or more and 2.0% by weight or less, the visibility of the characters on the postcard can be kept good, whereby the characters such as the address printed on the postcard can be added. On the other hand, there is no influence such as difficulty in determination.

In this embodiment, the case where NK-2204, which is one of cyanine dyes, is used as the fluorescent ink has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
As well as other cyanine dyes, dyes having excitation light in the ultraviolet region may be used.

Further, in this embodiment, as the pressure-sensitive adhesive used for the correction label, a pressure-sensitive adhesive to which an absorber for absorbing the excitation light of the fluorescent ink is added is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The modified barcode can be accurately read even if a reflective agent that reflects light, an absorbent that absorbs emitted light obtained by emitting fluorescent ink by excitation light, or a reflective agent that reflects this emitted light can be used. .

In this embodiment, the postcard is described as an object to which a barcode is added. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, other postal items or other postal items, such as a courier service, etc. It may be. In this embodiment, the case where a barcode is used as a readable symbol has been described, but it is a matter of course that the present invention is not limited to this.

[0042]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a readable symbol such as a bar code is printed on a translucent label using fluorescent ink, and is affixed to a mail or the like. In this case, erroneous printing can be surely corrected, and the running cost can be reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a readable symbol such as a bar code is printed on a translucent label using fluorescent ink, and this is affixed to a mail or the like. Correction of erroneous printing can be surely performed, and running cost can be reduced. Further, there is no possibility that it becomes difficult to distinguish characters such as an address printed on a mail or the like. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

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

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a printing unit according to the embodiment.

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

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view showing the configuration of the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a partial side view showing the configuration of the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing excitation characteristics of a fluorescent dye used in the fluorescent ink of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing emission characteristics of a fluorescent dye used in the fluorescent ink of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of the fluorescent ink ribbon of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining a configuration of a resin solid solution contained in the fluorescent ink ribbon of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a partial configuration of the label sheet of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a partial configuration diagram showing a state in which an adhesive piece of an adhesive tape is pressure-bonded to the label paper of the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing absorption characteristics of the infrared absorbent used in the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an exemplary view for explaining an experimental method of correcting a barcode in the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a graph showing the relationship between the content of an infrared absorber contained in the pressure-sensitive adhesive of the embodiment and the relative value of the light emission output.

FIG. 16 is a view for explaining a mechanism of whether or not a corrected bar code can be read;

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 postcard (postal matter) 5 printing section 22 label paper reel 23 label paper 26 thermal head unit 30 fluorescent ink ribbon 35 adhesive strip 37 adhesive tape 38 first adhesive supply reel 39 ... Second adhesive supply reel

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Agency reference number FI Technical display location G09F 3/00 G09F 3/00 G Q

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Input information such as a postal code written on a mail or the like, convert the input information into a readable symbol such as a bar code, and use fluorescent ink for a translucent label. In a coding device for printing and affixing to the postal matter, the label and a plate-shaped adhesive piece to be pressure-bonded to the label were separately transported, and the adhesive piece was pressure-bonded to the label on which a symbol was printed. Later, the configuration to be affixed to the mail, etc., the adhesive piece, the adhesive piece containing an absorber or a reflector of the excitation light or emitted light of the fluorescent ink,
Providing two types of pressure-sensitive adhesive pieces that do not contain these absorbers or reflectors, usually pressure-bonding the pressure-sensitive adhesive pieces that do not contain absorbers or reflectors to the label, and containing an absorber or reflector at the time of correction A pressure-sensitive adhesive piece pressed against the label. 2. The fluorescent ink contains a phosphor that emits light when excited by infrared light, and the adhesive piece containing an absorbent includes:
An infrared absorbing agent that absorbs the excitation light of the fluorescent ink is contained, and the content of the infrared absorbing agent in the pressure-sensitive adhesive piece is set to 0.5% by weight or more and 2% by weight or less based on the entire pressure-sensitive adhesive piece. The coding device according to claim 1, wherein: