System for barcode scanning and RFID label printing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11080583-B2
Application number	US-201816133095-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2018
Priority date	Sep 15, 2017
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

A system for processing barcode information provided by the user, which may be used to print and encode RFID-enabled product labels. The system may include a bar code scanner or may include a manual bar code entry interface such as a keyboard and mouse, and may be configured to output a label corresponding to a barcode once the barcode has been scanned, optionally with user customization by an operator and optionally including variable data provided through a variable data module. This system may allow for the calculation of EPC values, the tracking of serial values used in the printing process, exporting of the printing history, and printing and encoding of tag.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of using a label printing system, the method comprising:
inputting a barcode value;
based on the barcode value, generating a corresponding RFID label with associated label information for a product;
extracting variable data and combining the variable data with the label information; and
printing and encoding a first label having the label information and the variable data; and
printing and encoding a second label having the label information and the variable data.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising starting a process, wherein starting the process further comprises activating a label printing system and initiating an interface.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the value is inputted by scanning a barcode with a scanner that is communicatively coupled with the label printing system.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the value is inputted manually.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises storing values in print history.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the values are stored locally or provided to a product tracking database.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the variable data includes information relating to a consumer product.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the consumer product is an article of clothing.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the variable data includes at least one of size or color of the consumer product.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
preventing an additional label from being printed based on the type of product, the variable data, and the quantity of labels that have already been printed using the label printing system.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
preventing a label type from being printed and encoded based on a type of product associated with the barcode value, the variable data, and an incompatibility of the type of product with the label type.

12. A method for processing barcode information provided by a user or print and encode RFID-enabled labels, the method comprising:
starting a process by initiating a variable data add-on;
loading at least one variable data file;
determining if a file has been changed, deleted or added in the at least one variable data file;
updating the at least one variable data file;
entering or scanning a barcode;
associating the barcode with a product or data and determining if any variable information corresponds to the barcode and if there is, retrieving the variable information;
compiling label data including the variable information; and
printing and encoding the labels,
wherein scanning the barcode comprises automatically displaying barcode lines so that a user may visually compare the barcode on a label to a barcode on a screen.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein updating the at least one variable data file includes loading any new set of variable data files and continuing variable data add-on process.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the label data comprises the at least one variable data file, and type and quantity of labels.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises ending the method and looping back to the start if more barcodes are entered by a user.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein scanning the barcode comprises automatically displaying barcode lines behind a barcode field.

Assignees

• Avery Dennison Retail Information Services Llc

Inventors

• Cotoc Victor

Classifications

• G06K1/18 Primary

  by transferring data from one type of record carrier on to another type of record carrier, e.g. from magnetic tape to punched card · CPC title

• G06K1/20

  Simultaneous marking of record carrier and printing-out of data, e.g. printing-punch · CPC title

• G06K19/0776

  the adhering arrangement being a layer of adhesive, so that the record carrier can function as a sticker · CPC title

• G06K7/1413

  1D bar codes · CPC title

• G06K19/07716 Primary

  the record carrier comprising means for customization, e.g. being arranged for personalization in batch · CPC title