JP5771093B2 - Variety detection / transfer position inspection method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for inspecting a label type difference and its direction and inspecting an accurate placement position of a label with respect to an adherend during thermal transfer of a transfer label, and a relatively inexpensive transfer position for carrying out this inspection method. It relates to an inspection device.

  In the transfer operation of the thermal transfer label, it is important to observe the transfer conditions of specified temperature, pressure, and time, and to transfer accurately to the position specified by the customer. Among these conditions, the transfer conditions of temperature, pressure, and time are stable without changing during the transfer operation once the necessary items in the thermal transfer machine are set. However, the transfer position is likely to be inaccurate due to variations in worker placement in the case of manual work, and in the case of automatic transport from the label cassette, it may be appropriate depending on the ambient conditions such as the condition of the cassette and ventilation. It may be out of position and may be transferred in an inaccurate and misaligned state.

  At present, the thermal transfer work of transfer labels is carried out by placing the transfer label on an adherend such as a T-shirt by hand in a thermal transfer machine as shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 54-8711 in the case of a small variety of products. Has been done. Further, when the number of transferred sheets becomes large to some extent, the transfer label is transferred by placing it in a label cassette and placing it on the adherend by automatic conveyance from the cassette. Simple work such as label transfer work is often performed overseas with low wages or in poorly populated areas as the production line shifts overseas, and worker training is sufficient to maintain low manufacturing costs. Not done.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 54-8711 JP 2003-132335 A

  When an inexperienced worker who has not received sufficient work training performs label transfer work, when replacing the label type, a simple problem such as changing to the wrong type or changing the direction of the label upside down or upside down Is likely to occur. If the label transfer fails, the adherend itself such as clothes becomes a defective product. If the failure is repeated, the manufacturing cost of the adherend is significantly increased.

  On the other hand, as an apparatus capable of confirming the label type, the wrong direction, or the positional deviation, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-132335, an image for recognizing an object to be recognized formed of a retroreflecting material. There is a recognition device. This image recognition apparatus is also widely used in the production process of electronic parts and the like, and can be used to confirm misdirection or misalignment of a transfer label in a thermal transfer machine if some changes are made.

  However, this type of image recognition apparatus is equipped with at least one set of video camera and light. Even if an inexpensive video camera is used for this image recognition device, it is usually very expensive because it performs computer processing and costs millions of yen. Further, in an image recognition apparatus using a camera, image processing is performed by a computer. Therefore, when the label type (recognition image) changes, an engineer having image recognition skills must change the setting. In addition, this type of image recognition device cannot be easily changed by the label transfer operator himself, and is equivalent to only changing the setting if the image recognition engineer is a low-volume, high-mix production in a production factory. It takes a lot of time and is very inconvenient.

  The present invention has been proposed in order to improve the above-mentioned problems inherent in the label position confirmation method using a conventional image recognition apparatus, and it is easy to change the label production instruction data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for detecting a difference in product type and inspecting a transfer position, in which a change in power label should be easy. Another object of the present invention is to provide a transfer position inspection apparatus having a relatively small number of parts and easy transfer work.

  In the type difference detection / transfer position inspection method according to the present invention, a data identification code is printed at a predetermined position in the margin of the carrier film for each transfer label. In the method of the present invention, a label cassette containing a transfer label on which an identification code has been printed is set in a thermal transfer machine, and immediately after the label is automatically conveyed onto an adherend, the identification printed on the label by a code reader for label identification is used. In this code reading process, if the read data matches the production instruction data, the next operation of the thermal transfer machine is continued, while the read data does not match the production instruction data or the label code If the position is different from the specified position, an abnormal signal is sent from the controller to the thermal transfer machine to stop the operation of the thermal transfer machine.

  In the product type difference detection / transfer position inspection method according to the present invention, the data identification code printed on the transfer label is a bar code or a QR code. Further, the data identification code printed on the thermal transfer label needs to remain on the carrier film without being transferred to the adherend in the thermal transfer machine.

  A transfer position inspection apparatus according to the present invention includes a thermal transfer machine that thermally transfers a transfer label to an adherend, a code reader for label identification that is mounted near a cradle of the thermal transfer machine, and a production instruction from a label that should be transferred before the transfer operation. It consists of a code reader for production instructions that recognizes data, and a code reader controller connected to both code readers, and the data identification code of each transfer label is read at the time of transfer set by the code reader for label identification. The identification code from the label identification code reader is compared with the production instruction data from the production instruction code reader, and the next operation after the label is placed on the adherend in the thermal transfer machine is determined.

  In the transfer position inspection apparatus according to the present invention, the production instruction code reader is preferably a stationary type independent of the thermal transfer machine and the code reader controller.

  In the product type detection / transfer position inspection method according to the present invention, data of a transfer label, which is a material instructed by a production manager, is input and stored, and the quality of the label is determined by comparison with an identification code of a label to be transferred. Only. In the method of the present invention, when a bar code is used as a data identification code, the bar code specification is standardized by an international standard. No change is necessary. As a result, if the method of the present invention is used, even if there is no technician with image recognition skills, any worker can easily perform inspection operations anytime and anywhere regardless of domestic or overseas, like supermarket cashier work. It is.

  The transfer position inspection apparatus according to the present invention only uses two code readers and a code reader controller in addition to a normal thermal transfer machine. With respect to the transfer position inspection apparatus of the present invention, when a barcode is used as a data identification code, the barcode reader is very cheaply supplied to the market. Can be produced. On the other hand, an image recognition apparatus using a camera requires about 1 million yen even if an inexpensive camera is used as a reading apparatus, and the present invention is very advantageous in terms of cost.

It is a schematic plan view which shows an example of the transfer label with a barcode. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the barcode recognition apparatus which is a transcription | transfer position inspection apparatus based on this invention. It is a partial top view which shows the state which the laser beam of the barcode reader for label identification irradiated the barcode of the transfer label correctly. (1), (2), and (3) are partial plan views showing states in which the laser beam of the label identification barcode reader is displaced with respect to the barcode of the transfer label. It is an expansion perspective view of the label cassette attached to a heat transfer machine so that attachment or detachment is possible. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the thermal transfer machine in a code reader controller.

  In the product type difference detection / transfer position inspection method according to the present invention, the data identification code is generally a bar code or a QR code (registered trademark). This bar code is used for general merchandise, JAN code in Japan, EAN in Europe, UPC in North America, ITF code, CODE39, CODE128, NW-7, etc. are used for logistics purposes. In customer barcodes are used. Most barcode readers support one or more of these standards.

  Regarding the data identification code, the barcode is meaningful only in the horizontal direction, and the data to be represented is a numerical sequence or a character string, both of which are one-dimensional. Currently, two-dimensional codes in which dots are arranged vertically and horizontally, such as QR codes, are quite widespread, and there are also three-dimensional codes such as Color Zip Code (registered trademark). The barcode has information only in the horizontal direction, whereas the QR code has information in the vertical and horizontal directions. Therefore, the amount of information that can be stored is large, and not only numbers but also multilingual data such as English and Chinese characters can be stored.

  In the transfer label used in the present invention, it is necessary to print the entire data identification code in the blank portion 7 around the carrier film 2 which is a non-transfer area. This data identification code is usually formed at the same time as or separately from the printing of the label main body 3. If it is simultaneous, the data identification code is printed with the white ink and the black ink simultaneously with the printing of the pattern layer of the label main body 3. Therefore, no adhesive layer is provided. This data identification code may be printed before or after printing the label body 3 separately from the printing of the label body 3.

  The normal transfer label 1 has a margin portion 7 of about 5 mm outside from the label body 3 to be transferred, and a data identification code such as a bar code 8 may be printed at a predetermined position of the margin portion 7. Since this data identification code is formed inside the margin portion 7, it is smaller in size than the margin portion, and can be added to the horizontal margin portion as shown in FIG. 1 or independently printed on the vertical margin portion. It is. On the other hand, if printing of non-transfer data identification code is universalized on the transfer label, a transfer label with a larger margin may be proposed for this purpose. In this case, a QR code or the like can be used, and the label The structure and mounting position of the identification code reader are also different from those shown in FIG.

  The transfer position inspection apparatus of the present invention includes a thermal transfer machine 12 that thermally transfers a transfer label to an adherend, a label identification code reader, a production instruction code reader that recognizes production instruction data, and a code connected to both code readers. These devices are composed of a reader controller, and these devices are known per se. In the case of a barcode, this code reader is a barcode reader, and the barcode reader is also referred to as a barcode scanner.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a label cassette 20 is detachably attached to the thermal transfer machine 12, and a large number of transfer labels 1 on which an identification code has been printed are stored in the label cassette. Although the label cassette 20 is replaceable, it is also possible to use a fixed label supply device that replenishes the transfer label 1 as appropriate. The label cassette 20 or the label supply device sends a large number of stored transfer labels 1 one by one onto the receiving table 22, that is, the adherend.

  When the barcode 8 is printed on the transfer label 1, the label identification code reader is the barcode reader 14, and the production instruction code reader is the barcode reader 16. The label identification code reader is usually installed in the thermal transfer machine 12 so as to face downward or obliquely downward, so that the label identification code reader is required to be placed in the vicinity of the label receiving base 22 and to accurately read the identification code of the input transfer label. The production instruction code reader can be attached or detached or moved up and down, or the laser beam emission angle can be changed according to the identification code position on the transfer label.

  The production instruction code reader is preferably an independent stationary type that can be used at an arbitrary place, but can be attached to the thermal transfer machine 12 or the code reader controller. The code reader controller includes a CPU, a RAM, a register, and the like, and compares the identification code read by the label identification code reader with production instruction data.

  In order to determine whether the identification code is correct by operating the transfer position inspection device, set a production instruction code such as a production instruction code in the production instruction code reader before the transfer operation, and send the predetermined production instruction data to the code reader controller. Send to and save. The production instruction code is usually exchanged every time the transfer label adhered to the adherend is changed, and the optimum data is always transmitted to the code reader controller. Further, when the thermal transfer machine 12 is turned on and the movable upper iron is heated to a desired temperature, the transfer temperature, the transfer pressure, and the transfer time are stabilized according to arbitrary settings in the thermal transfer machine 12.

  The operator may set the label cassette 20 containing the transfer label printed with the identification code on the thermal transfer machine 12 and perform a predetermined transfer operation. When the operator places a predetermined portion of the adherend on the receiving base 22, the transfer label is automatically conveyed onto the adherend, and immediately after that, a label identification code reader is printed on the transfer label. Read the identification code. As a result, if the identification code position is not an appropriate position, as shown in FIGS. 4 (1) to (3), an abnormal signal is sent from the code reader controller to the thermal transfer machine body. Send out and stop the operation of the thermal transfer machine. If the identification code that matches the production instruction code is read, the next operation of the thermal transfer machine is continued.

  In the method for detecting the difference in type and the transfer position inspection according to the present invention, if the data of the transfer label, which is the material instructed by the production manager, and the transfer label prepared by the worker who has received the production instruction are incorrect, the label identification Even if the correct transfer label is inserted by detecting it automatically with a code reader and the correct transfer label is inserted, if the position of the transfer label is misaligned due to one side facing upside down or upside down or for some reason The operation of the thermal transfer machine is automatically stopped. When the bar code 8 is used as the data identification code, the bar code reader is supplied to the market at a very low price in the transfer position inspection apparatus of the present invention. ) Can be produced. On the other hand, an image recognition apparatus using a camera requires about 1 million yen even if an inexpensive camera is used as a reading apparatus, and the present invention is very advantageous in terms of cost.

  In the method of detecting the product type difference / transfer position inspection according to the present invention, when the barcode 8 is used as the data identification code, the barcode specification is standardized by the international standard. If so, there is no need to change the setting every time the barcode changes. As a result, if the method of the present invention is used, even if there is no technician with image recognition skills, any worker can easily perform inspection operations anytime and anywhere regardless of domestic or overseas, like supermarket cashier work. It is. On the other hand, in the conventional image recognition and image processing method using a camera, when the type of transfer label, that is, the recognized image, changes, an engineer with image recognition skills must change the setting. It is very inconvenient because it takes a considerable amount of time to change the settings of a small number of engineers in a small number of production plants.

    Next, the present invention will be described based on examples, but the present invention is not limited to the examples. As shown in FIG. 1, an ordinary transfer label 1 has a transfer body 3 on a carrier film 2, that is, a release sheet. The transfer body has a protective layer, a design layer, an uppermost adhesive layer 5 and the like. The layers may be sequentially laminated, and an intermediate layer or a backup layer may be further provided.

  In a normal transfer label 1, the carrier film 2 has a blank portion 7 of about 5 mm outward from the rectangular periphery of the transfer body 3 to be thermally transferred. The barcode 8 is formed at a predetermined position of the horizontal margin 7 of the carrier film 2. This predetermined position is a position where the laser beam emitted from the label identification barcode reader 14 is not easily blocked by the operator's hand, and is preferably determined at the center of the upper margin of the carrier film 2 in FIG.

  In the transfer label 1, the barcode 8 is not transferred to the adherend during heat transfer and needs to remain on the carrier film 2. For this reason, the barcode 8 is printed simultaneously with the printing of the design layer of the transfer body 3, and no adhesive layer is provided. The barcode 8 has a height of 0.8 mm and a width of 44.7 mm.

  On the other hand, FIG. 2 shows a barcode recognition apparatus 10 which is a transfer position inspection apparatus. The bar code recognition device 10 includes a thermal transfer machine (trade name: T100, manufactured by Japan Polymer Co.) 12 that thermally transfers a transfer label to an adherend, and a label identification bar code reader (manufactured by Keyence) 14 attached to the thermal transfer machine. A production instruction bar code reader (FK system) 16 for recognizing production instruction data and a bar code reader controller (Mitsubishi sequencer) 18 electrically connected to both bar code readers.

  A label cassette (manufactured by Japan Polymer Co., Ltd.) 20 is detachably attached to the thermal transfer machine 12 at a substantially intermediate height on the front surface. The label cassette 20 stores a large number of transfer labels 1 on which barcodes have been printed. The label cassette is set in the thermal transfer machine 12, and the cassette is replaced when the stored label is exhausted. As shown in FIG. 5, the label cassette 20 prevents the left and right mounting guides 30 and 32 from having different horizontal widths, thereby preventing the cassette from being set in the thermal transfer machine 12 in the reverse direction. Further, by fixing the triangular corner bar 34 vertically inside the cassette, when the transfer label 1 with the corner cut is stored, it is possible to prevent the label from being put in the reverse direction.

  A fixed label cradle 22 is horizontally disposed below the thermal transfer machine 12, and a heating upper iron (not shown) is installed above the cradle so as to be movable up and down. And approach from above. The label cassette 20 sends a large number of stored transfer labels 1 one by one onto a receiving table 22, that is, an adherend.

  The label identification barcode reader 14 is disposed in the vicinity of the label cradle 22 by being installed obliquely downward on the lower support 24 of the thermal transfer machine 12. The production instruction bar code reader 16 is an independent stationary type, and can be arranged and used at any place desired by an operator. On the front surface of the barcode reader controller 18, as shown in FIG. 2, it is preferable to display the result of discriminating the barcode 8 of the transfer label 1 by the barcode reader 14 with an LED or a light.

  In order to determine whether the barcode is correct by operating the barcode recognition device 10, a production instruction barcode 26 such as a manufacturing instruction is set on the production instruction barcode reader 16 before the transfer operation, and the barcode reader 16 The production instruction data read in is transmitted to the barcode reader controller 18 and stored. The controller 18 processes the operation of the thermal transfer machine 12 according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Next, when the power is applied to the thermal transfer machine 12 and the movable upper iron is heated to a desired temperature, the transfer temperature, the transfer pressure, and the transfer time are stabilized according to arbitrary settings in the thermal transfer machine 12.

  Next, the operator sets the label cassette 20 containing the transfer label 1 on which the barcode has been printed in the thermal transfer machine 12. When the operator places a predetermined portion of the adherend on the receiving base 22, the transfer label 1 is automatically conveyed onto the adherend, and immediately after that, the label barcode reader 14 is attached to the transfer label 1. The printed barcode 8 is read. The read data is transmitted to the bar code reader controller 18 where it is compared with the production instruction data from the production instruction bar code reader 16. As a result, if the barcode of the label different from the designated transfer label or the position of the barcode is not an appropriate position, an abnormal signal is transmitted from the controller 18 to the thermal transfer machine 12, and the operation of the thermal transfer machine 12 is stopped. Let If the data of the barcode 8 read by the barcode reader 14 coincides with the production instruction data, the next operation of the thermal transfer machine 12 is continued.

  In the label barcode reader 14, the height of the laser beam 28 (FIG. 3) is set to 0.2 mm, and the width is set to 53.7 mm (the blank zone is required to have a quiet zone of about 4 mm on the left and right sides). It is impossible to read without discriminating the label displacement and without a quiet zone of about 4 mm. At this time, the barcode 8 of the transfer label 1 has a height of 0.8 mm and a width of 44.7 mm. In this combination mode, as shown in FIG. 3, when the laser beam 28 is set at the center of the bar code 8 in the upper, lower, left and right directions, and the entire bar code is irradiated, a permission signal is sent from the bar code reader 14 to the controller 18, and thermal transfer is performed. The next operation of the machine 12 is continued. During this irradiation, if a deviation of 0.3 mm or more in the vertical direction or a deviation of 0.5 mm or more occurs in the horizontal direction, the barcode 8 does not enter the laser beam 28 and the barcode cannot be read.

  4 (1), (2), and (3) show examples of misalignment of the bar code 8 of the transfer label 1, respectively. FIG. 4A shows the vertical shift of the barcode 8 of the transfer label 1. FIG. 4B shows the lateral shift of the bar code 8 of the transfer label 1, and a quiet zone of about 4 mm cannot be detected on the left side of the bar code 8. FIG. FIG. 4 (3) shows an oblique shift of the barcode 8 of the transfer label 1. In these cases, a stop signal is sent from the barcode reader 14 to the controller 18, and an abnormal signal is transmitted from the controller to the thermal transfer machine 12 to stop the operation of the thermal transfer machine 12.

  In the barcode recognition apparatus 10 of this embodiment, if the transfer label of the material instructed by the production manager and the transfer label 1 prepared by the worker who has received the instruction are incorrect, this error is automatically detected. The operation of the thermal transfer machine 12 is stopped. Even if the correct transfer label 1 is inserted, if one of the label bundles in the cassette 20 is face down or upside down, these are automatically detected and the operation of the thermal transfer machine 12 is stopped. Even if the correct transfer label 1 is inserted in the correct orientation, if the label is misaligned for some reason, it is automatically detected and the operation of the thermal transfer machine 12 is stopped.

  Since the bar code reader is supplied to the market at a very low price in the bar code recognition device 10, the bar code reader for label identification 14 and the bar code reader 16 for production instruction are used for these two reading devices from 50,000 to 20 yen. Can be produced for 10,000 yen. On the other hand, in the case of an image recognition / image processing apparatus using a camera, even if an inexpensive camera is used as a reading apparatus, it costs about 1 million yen, which is very expensive. Also, in image recognition and image processing using a camera, an engineer with image recognition skills must change the settings when the label type of the recognized image changes, which is economical for small and medium-sized businesses with few personnel The burden is heavy. In the barcode recognition device 10, since the barcode specification is unified by the international standard, it is not necessary to change the setting every time the barcode is changed if the barcode is a standard barcode set in the device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Transfer label 2 Carrier film 3 Transfer body 5 Adhesive layer 7 Blank part 8 Bar code 10 Bar code recognition device 12 Thermal transfer machine 14 Bar code reader for label identification 16 Bar code reader for production instruction 18 Bar code reader controller 20 Label cassette 22 Label Cradle

Claims (3)

A data identification code is printed at a predetermined position in the margin of the carrier film at the same time as printing of the transfer body. At this time, an adhesive layer is laminated on the uppermost layer only on the transfer body, and the transfer label printed with the identification code is inserted. The label cassette is set in the thermal transfer machine, and immediately after the label with the carrier film is automatically conveyed onto the adherend, the identification code printed on the carrier film is read by the code reader for label identification. If the read data matches the production instruction data, the next operation of the thermal transfer machine is continued. On the other hand, if the read data does not match the production instruction data, the position of the identification code is the designated irradiation zone of the laser beam. in the case of both the case and said deviates, by transmitting an abnormality signal to the thermal transfer device from the controller Breed difference detection and transfer position inspection method for stopping the operation of the thermal transfer machine.   2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data identification code printed on the transfer label is a bar code or a QR code (registered trademark).   The method according to claim 1, wherein the data identification code printed on the thermal transfer label remains on the carrier film without being transferred to the adherend in the thermal transfer machine.

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