AU8034387A - Multipurpose labeling and inventory control - Google Patents

Description

MULTIPURPOSE LABELING

AND INVENTORY CONTROL

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the labeling and inventory control of articles such as merchandise, and more particularly to the multipurpose labeling and inventory control of merchandise.

Many items of merchandise are commonly labeled by a hand-holdable device in which a supply of labels is stored and the labels are imprinted with desired information. Following imprinting, each label is expelled from the machine and typically applied by a wiping action with a roller applicator on the articles to be labeled.

Such machines can be mechanically or electro- mechanically operated. T.ypical examples of mechanical hand- labelers are provided by U.S. Patents 3,960,642 and 3,911,817. In completely mechanical machines, information to be imprinted is set manually and printing takes place by mechanical inking and impact. Such machines may be adapted for non-impact printing by incorporating a suitable structure as typified by U.S. Patent 4,004,672, in which a thermographic print head is employed and information for the print head is entered using an associated keyboard.

When the non-impact printer of U.S. 4,004,672 is incorporated into a completely mechanical la-beler, the result is an electro-mechanical hand-labeler , such as that exemplified by U.S. Patent 4,264,396. In the electro¬ mechanical hand-labeler, of U.S. 4,004,672 the keyboard is used to enter the information into storage, following which the stored information is applied to the label by a thermographic print head. In the case of hand-labelers exemplified by U.S. 3,911,817, 3,960,642, and 4,264,396, information that is to be imprinted on labels must be applied at the site where the machine is used. This is because these machines integrally incorporate the print-setting mechanism, which is an integral and permanent part of the hand-labeler. It is, therefore, a necessary accompaniment, even when the setting unit is not needed. Once the printhead has been set for a particular job, the setting mechanism is no longer necessary for that job and represents both an unnecessary adjunct and a source of possible error. An erroneous and inadvertent change in print setting, in conjunction with large scale imprinting, can cause significant wastage by creating a large number of erroneously printed labels in a short space of time.

In addition, since the print setting mechanism is integrated into the hand-labeler, there is no facility for .receiving printing information in other formats. Nor is there any facility for receiving printing information from other sources.

Moreover, the print-setting elements are themselves of restricted utility. They can only be used to enter information for the print control mechanism of the labeler.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to facilitate the imprinting of items. A related object is to facilitate the imprinting of labels. Another related object is to facilitate imprinting of labels with non-impact print heads.

Another object of the invention is to permit elimination of components from the labeling unit when they become superfluous and non-essential. A related object is to eliminate non-essential components while simultaneously increasing the versatility and flexibility of labeling machines.

Still another object is to provide accessories which increase the versatility of the printing unit.

A further object of the invention is to deal with information in a multiplicity of formats. A still further object of the invention is to achieve multipurpose labeling of objects.

Yet another object of the invention is to record and transmit various kinds of transactions in various formats.

A yet further object of the invention is to scan imprinted data and verify its accuracy. Such a facility is used from time to time to enter data for recording and transmission.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accomplishing the foregoing and related objects, the invention provides for the processing of information and the imprinting of labels or tags, within a print housing, using information that is controlled externally beyond the housing. This can be from a second, separate housing that can be attached to the print housing. The external housing for the control of printing information can include a display for information transmitted from^" the control housing to the receiver or print housing. This can serve as an operator prompt for data entry.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the control housing can be associated with an optical reader or scanner and desirably include a keyboard for the transmission of the information to the print housing. The scanner can be operated separately or in conjunction with the keyboard of the control housing.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, signals corresponding to labeling information are generated and transmitted to a receiver at the print housing.

When both a detector and keyboard are provided at the control housing, they may act in combination to permit information that is scanned to be supplemented by keyboard entries and then dispatched to a receiver. The latter may be in a separate print housing to which the control housing is attachable.

In accordance with a further aspect, processing of signals within the print housing is advantageously by a microprocessor and the printing of the information can be controlled by accessories which are attachable to the housing. A removably attachable handle can be used to adapt the print housing for hand labeling. Control signals for the print housing can be transmitted electromagnetically or by a connecting cable.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Other aspects of the invention will be apparent after considering several illustrative embodiments, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1A is a frontal view of a multipurpose labeling machine in accordance with the invention.

Fig. IB is a further perspective view of the labeling machine of Fig. 1A as seen from the back.

Fig. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the forward housing of Figs. 1A and IB.

Fig. 2B is a block and wiring diagram for the control circuitry of Fig. 2A.

Fig. 3A is a disassembly perspective view of the labeling machine of Figs. 1A & IB.

Fig. 3B is a perspective view of the back housing of Figs. 1A and IB, with an associated scanner.

Fig. 3C is a cross-sectional view of the back housing of Figs. 3B.

Fig. 4A is a perspective view of an adaptation of the labeling machine of Fig. 1A.

Fig. 4B is a further adaptation in perspective of the labeling machine of Fig. 4A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION With reference to the drawings, a composite, multipurpose labeling machine 100 is shown in Figures 1A and

IB.

The machine 100 is a composite of a number of distinct housings 110, 120 and 130, which provide a multipurpose capability as described below.

(a) Overview of the Machine

The first or print housing 110 is used to store blank labels which are imprinted and expelled, such as the illustrative label 111. The second or control housing 120 is the source of print information and includes an outlet 121 for accessory components which are described below. The housing 130 is an accessory handle. It is provided to facilitate manual manipulation of the print housing 110 of the machine 100.

In manual use of the machine 100, the han-dle 130 is gripped to direct the frontal portion of the housing 110 to an object to be labeled. An ^• applicator roller 112 of the housing 110 is used in applying i.e. wiping, the illustrative label 111 on the object being labeled. _ The label 111 is seen to bear bar-code information which is imprinted within the housing 110 based on commands originating outside and beypnd the housing 110, for example at the second housing 120 by selective manipulation of a keyboard 123. The label 111 originates at a roll 113 and is fed within the housing 110 in conventional fashion

The feed-print cycle is initiated by operating a switch such as the button 131 on the handle 130 or the button 110b on the housing 110.

In addition, during labeling operations, the control housing 120 can be separated from the print housing 110. This is possible because the second housing 120 is used only for auxiliary functions such as setting the desired printing information within the first housing 110. (b) The Print Housing Cross-Section

A schematic cross-section of the print housing 110 is set forth in Figure 2A. A magazine 114 is provided for the roll 113 which is unwound and fed forwardly to a thermographic print head 115.

The housing 110 includes access (not detailed) to permit both replacement of the roll 113 and threading of a label strip from the roll 113 into the feed mechanism.

As indicated in Figure 2A, the strip is formed by a carrier 113c for individual unprinted labels 111¹. The strip lll-113c initially extends from the periphery of the roll past a sensor 117.

The strip lll-113c is then engaged between a drive roll 118a and an idler 118b. After emerging from the nip of the rollers 118a and 118b the strip lll-113c extends between the print head 115 and a support 115s. The latter is shaped to provide appropriate engagement with the elements of the print head 115.

After being imprinted, the label 111 is fed outwardly beneath the dispensing roller 112 and can be applied to an article by a wiping motion.

Each label 111 can be self-adhering with an underlying adhesive layer that is temporarily secured to the carrier 113c. Separation of the label 111 from the carrier 113c takes place at the support 115s. For that purpose the support 115s has a frontal edge against which the backing strip 113s is turned and received between the idler roll 118b and a second drive roller 118c and outwardly of the housing 110 through an aperture 110a.

(c) The Stepping Motor

The drive rollers 118a and 118c are driven by a motor 116, which is desirably a stepping motor.

When an energizing signal is applied to a coil of the stepping motor 116 by, for example a ring counter (hot shown) , the motor rotates the drive rollers 118a and 118c one step, through gearing, to advance the labels by the distance equivalent of one column. Consequently, when a print signal is applied, the print head is in position opposite that column. Application of the print signal is by a character generator, for example, from a microprocessor, in order to print a prescribed dot pattern in the form of bars or letters depending upon the portion of the label where the imprint appears. As seen in Fig. 1A, the imprint includes both bars and characters.

The imprint operation is repeated for successive columns to form the final print pattern. The print head is then opposite the last column of the imprint. When the printing at one position is completed, and a print control signal is applied to the next position, no space will be left between characters and the result is a bar code. When a bar code is not desired, the stepping motor is advanced by an added step using a further step control signal to secure- a space equivalent to one column between successive imprints.

(d) The Control Circuitry

The machine 100 operates under the control of electric circuitry 119 shown schematically in Figure 3B and within the housing 110 as shown in Figure 2A.

The control circuitry 119 includes a microprocessor 119m which can be in chip form with standard microprocessor constituents including a read-only memory, a random-access memory, various registers, and logic and data input and output gates. The microprocessor 119m receives inputs from the keyboard 123 or the optical reader 124 of Figure 3C. Operation is initiated by the control switch 131 of Figure 3A or, alternatively, by a control switch of the keyboard.

Also applied to the microprocessor 119 are signals from the sensor 117. The microprocessor 119m provides outputs to the driver control 119c which in turn acts upon the stepping drive motor 116 of Figure 3A and the print head.

The control circuitry 119 of Figure 2A also includes a "clock" 119k which generates a pulse train that times the n r tiπns of he micronrocessor. (e) The Print Head

The print head 115 of Figure 2A is of a solid-state thermographic member formed by needles or films in a plate with a matrix array of protruding print elements.

In addition, there are connections to the print head 117 from the line driver circuitry 119d-l through 119d-3 of Figure 3B.

As a result, elements of the print head are selected in accordance with the Operation of the keyboard 123 or optical reader 124. The selected print elements are energized and heated to produce desired marks on the label 112.

In a typical arrangement the print head 115 has a plurality of character groups (in rows with multiple heating elements) so that a multiple character line can be printed at a time. After a line has been printed, the stepping motor 116 advances the label strip 113s so that the next line of characters to be imprinted is in engagement with the print head. In the case of bar-code printing the characters are bars which join one another end-to-end.

The print head 115 can include any appropriate number of heating elements and can be arranged to print sequentially or simultaneously in rows or columns as desired.

(f) The Label Roll

As indicated in Figure 2A the roll 113 is a wound label strip. Each label is of paper or plastics and provided on one surface with a suitable heat-sensitive coating, which responds to the application of heat. On the opposite side of each label there is a layer of adhesive to provide temporary adhesion to the carrier 113c. The laminate formed by- the labels and the carrier can have spaced separation of the labels 111' as shown in Figure 3A, or the labels may be separated by lines of weakness or transverse cuts in a label strip.

Indicia on the labels are read by the sensor 117 which can be optic, or magnetic, or other. In any case, the sensor 117 provides a signal to the control circuitry 119 to adjust the feed of the labels and correct any errors in registration.

(g) The Control Housing

A back view in perspective showing the organization of the keyboard 123 on the second housing 120 is pictured in Figure IB. It is convenient to detach the second housing 120 from the first housing 110 when labeling is to take place for a large number of items. For short runs, however, where only a few labels of a particular type are desired, the second housing 120 can be retained with the first housing 110 so that an operator may easily change the printing information on the labels that are being dispensed. Separation of the second housing 120 from the first housing is illustrated in Figure 3A.

In addition. Fig. 3A shows the handle 130 separated from the print housing 110. With the separation shown in Fig. 3A the control housing 120 may nevertheless be used to supply print information to the print housing 110 by connecting the cable C with one end to the outlet 110c of the print housing 110 and the other end to the outlet 120c (Fig. 3c) . When this connection is made, the information that is to be entered into the control circuitry of the print housing is entered by manipulation of the keyboard 123. This information appears on a display 124 of the control housing.

Besides permitting the direct entry of information for printing purposes from the keyboard, the control housing permits other functions as well. This is illustrated in Fig. 3B where the control housing is accompanied by a scanner 126 that is connected to the outlet 121 by a cable 126c. An illustrative scanner for this purpose is available from the Data Bar Company of Eden Prairy, Minnesota. The scanner autodiscriminates among twelve bar codes and reads 0.005 inch bar code and includes a system for ignoring inputs that provide false triggers such as label edges and text. The information that is read by the scanner 126 enters a register 127 and can be supplemented by information from the keyboard 123 at an output register 129a. Once the information that has been read and supplemented is complete, as indicated on the display window 124w, it can be sent to the print housing 110 or it can be sent to some other receiver (not shown) .

Where the other receiver or print housing is at a remote location, transmission takes place electromagnetically instead of by connecting cable. For that purpose, the control housing 120 includes a solid state transmitter 129f which can operate on a fixed frequency. The transmission is by an antenna 120a to a similar antenna, e.g. 110a of Fig. 2A where a receiver operates at a lløv frequency set by a crystal lløx.

Still another adaptation of the control housing is given in Fig. 4A with a bar code reader. The bar code reader is a scanner for various bar codes including 3 of 9, 2 of 5, and interleaved 2 of 5. Such a scanner is available from the Norad Corporation of Des Moines, Iowa. The scanner of Fig. 3B as well as that of Fig. 4A has the advantage of eliminating or reducing the input keyboard function and errors caused by reading and transcription.

The scanner 126 of Fig. 3B with the control housing 120 assembled to the print housing 110 is shown in Fig. 4B.

While various aspects of the invention have been set forth by the drawings and the specification, it is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is for illustration only and that various changes in parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent constituents for those shown and described, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (1)

1. WHAT IS CLAIMED IS;

   1. Labeling apparatus comprising a print and receiving housing; means in said housing for holding a supply of labels; means within said housing, and controlled externally therebeyond, for storing information to be printed on said labels; means for feeding said labels through said housing; means responsive to the storing means for printing said information on said labels during their passage through said housing.

   2. Apparatus as defined in Claim 1 further including a handle which can be removably a^'ttached to said print housing to- adapt said apparatus for hand-labeling.

   3. Apparatus as defined in Claim 1 further including means external to said print housing for transmitting printing information thereto.

   4. Apparatus as defined in Claim 3 wherein the external means comprises a control housing that is separate from said print housing.

   5. Apparatus as defined in Claim 4 wherein said control housing is attachable to said print housing.

   6. Apparatus as defined in Claim 3 wherein said external means includes means for displaying said printing information.

   7. Apparatus as defined in Claim 3 wherein said external means includes means for optically reading said printing information. 8. Apparatus as defined in Claim 3 wherein said external means includes a keyboard.

   keybo

   10. The method of labeling objects which comprises ' the steps of:

   (a) storing signals within a housing for the printing of information therein and

   (b) controlling said signals remotely from said housing.

   11. The method of Claim 10 further includes the step of feeding labels through said housing.

   12. The method of Claim 11 further including the step of imprinting said labels during their feed through said housing.

   13. .Apparatus for processing labeling or inventory information which comprises a housing, means in said housing for generating- signals corresponding to said labeling or inventory information; and means for transmitting said information beyond said housing to a receiver.

   14. Apparatus as defined in Claim 13 wherein the generating means comprises an optical detector.

   15. Apparatus as defined in Claim 13 wherein the generating means comprises a keyboard.

   16. Apparatus as defined in Claim 15 wherein the keyboard acts in conjunction with an optical detector.

   17. The method of Claim 10 wherein said signals are stored within a micro-processor which controls the printing of said information. 18. The method of Claim 10 wherein the printing of said information is controlled by a hand-holdable accessory which is attachable to said housing.

   19. The method of Claim 10 wherein said housing acts as a receiver for the storage of said signals which are generated remotely therefrom.

   20. The method of Claim 19 wherein the remotely generated signals are transmitted to said housing over an electrical cable.