Barcode label and method of using the same

A shipping label includes a shipping label and an advertising label, and a tear-off tab is formed in the back liner sheet by a score line. After removing the tear-off tab and forming an exposed adhesive layer portion, the label part where the second barcode is printed is folded to the back side of the label to form a back-folded portion, which is held to the back side of the label by the exposed adhesive layer portion. The liner sheet portion contiguous to the tear-off tab is then removed, and the label is attached to the product. Because the second barcode is hidden on the back, only the first barcodes containing tracking information can be read, while the second barcode can be read as needed by unfolding the back-folded portion to the front.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to barcode labels on which plural barcodes are printed for use as luggage tags for airline passenger luggage or product shipping labels, for example. More particularly, the invention relates to barcode labels that can be used applied to a labelled object so that an existing barcode can be read by existing barcode readers without being affected by a newly added barcode, and the newly added barcode can be read as needed. The invention also relates to a method of using the barcode labels.

2. Related Art

Management systems that use barcodes to manage product distribution and shipping, for example, are common. Such barcode management systems affix a label (a shipping label) on which a barcode is printed on the product or other object to be tracked by means of the barcode, read the barcode from the label affixed to the product at each stage of the shipping process, and manage the information captured from the barcode on a computer terminal.

Coupons, product advertisements, and similar content can also be added with a barcode to the label so that additional services can be offered to customers based on the information carried in the added barcode. However, if the barcode added to provide additional services is also read when the product shipping bode is read, the shipping information carried in the shipping barcode may not be accurately read, resulting in problems with shipping management. To avoid such problems, a management system that uses a special barcode reader such as taught in Japanese Unexamined Patent Appl. Pub. JP-A-H05-081460 must be used.

However, in order to use a special barcode reader such as taught in JP-A-H05-081460, the management system that uses conventional barcodes must be modified, and such modifications incur additional costs.

SUMMARY

A barcode label and a method of using a barcode label according to the invention enable applying the barcode label to a labelled object so that an existing barcode can be correctly read without being affected by the newly added barcode and the newly added barcode can be read as necessary by the existing management system without modifying the management system.

A first aspect of the invention is a barcode label including a label sheet of a specific length, including a first label part on which first printed information including a first barcode is printed, and a second label part on which second printed information including a second barcode is printed; an adhesive layer formed on the back side of the label sheet; and a liner sheet. The liner sheet removably covers the adhesive layer, and includes a first liner sheet portion positioned on the back side of the first label part, a second liner sheet portion positioned on the back side of the second label part, and a tear-off portion that enables removing only a part of the liner sheet from the label sheet, is formed in at least one of the first liner sheet portion and second liner sheet portion. The tear-off portion is formed so that, when at least the portion of the second label part where the second barcode is printed is folded to the back side of the second label part and forms a back-folded portion, the tear-off portion is positioned to at least one of the back side of the back-folded portion, the back side of the second label part facing the back-folded portion, and the back of the first label part facing the back-folded portion.

A folding line may be printed on the label sheet at the position where it is folded to form the back-folded portion. However, to enable a simple and clean fold, an easy-to-fold part that defines where to fold is preferably formed. The easy-to-fold part may be a perforation that is formed in at least one of the label sheet and liner sheet. If the label sheet is precut at the folding position, the easy-to-fold part can be defined by the score in the label sheet, and the liner sheet can be easily and cleanly folded along the score line.

The barcode label of the invention can be applied to an object and used as described below. First, the tear-off portion is removed to form an exposed adhesive layer portion where part of the adhesive layer is exposed.

Next, the second label part is folded to the back side along a folding line that extends widthwise at a specific position, forming a back-folded portion that is affixed to the back side of the barcode label by the exposed adhesive layer portion. The second barcode can thus be hidden on the back side of the barcode label. Folding is even easier when an easy-to-fold part is provided.

The first liner sheet portion of the first label part is then removed, and the first label part is affixed to the target object. As a result, the first barcode printed in the first label part can be read using a barcode reader, and the second barcode will not be read because it is hidden on the back side. To read the second barcode in the second label part, the back-folded portion is peeled from the back side of the barcode label and unfolded to the front of the barcode label to expose the second barcode.

As a result, the first barcode can be read from the front of a barcode label affixed to a target object, and the second barcode hidden on the back side of the label will not be read by the barcode reader. Therefore, if a second barcode is added, first barcode read errors caused by the second barcode being read with the first barcode will not occur.

The adhesive layer on the back side of the back-folded portion where the second barcode is printed is covered by the second liner sheet portion, and is attached to the back side of the label by only this exposed adhesive layer portion. Therefore, if the back-folded portion is appropriately sized, the back-folded portion can be easily peeled off, and the second barcode can be exposed to the front side of the label and read by the barcode reader by removing the back-folded portion. After reading, it can be folded back and reattached to the back side of the first label part. Alternatively, the second label part to which the second barcode is printed can be separated from the first label part.

If the second label part including the second barcode is positioned at a lengthwise end of the label sheet, the second barcode part can be easily folded to the back side of the label.

The tear-off portion can alternatively be formed across both the second liner sheet portion and the first liner sheet portion.

In this configuration, the tear-off portion is defined by a score line that goes from one widthwise edge of the first liner sheet portion through the second liner sheet portion to the other widthwise edge of the first liner sheet portion. In this aspect of the invention the tear-off portion is contiguous to the first liner sheet portion on the first label part side. Therefore, if the tear-off portion is pulled in the tear-off direction after removing the tear-off portion and forming the back-folded portion, the first liner sheet portion contiguous thereto can be easily peeled from the back of the first label part.

In another aspect of the invention the tear-off portion is defined by two score lines that extend from one widthwise edge to the other edge in the liner sheet. Because the first liner sheet portion and second liner sheet portion will be completed separated from each other if the tear-off portion is removed, there is no need to cut the first liner sheet portion from the second liner sheet portion, and peeling off the first liner sheet portion is simple.

The tear-off portions can also be formed in plural locations. By increasing or decreasing the number of tear-off portions, the adhesive strength of the back-folded portion can be adjusted.

The barcode label of the invention can also be used as an airline luggage tag or as a shipping label for overland shipping. In such configurations tracking information may be printed in the first label part, and a barcode containing corporate or product advertising information, or additional service information, may be printed in the second label part.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

The barcode label of the invention can be affixed to a target object so that only the first barcode can be read from the front and the second barcode is hidden on the back side of the label. The second barcode hidden on the back side can also be unfolded as needed and exposed to the front for reading. Therefore, when a barcode label according to the invention having an added second barcode is used in place of a label that is used in a management system that uses a first barcode, first barcode reading problems caused by the second barcode being read with the first barcode will not occur. The invention can therefore be used with existing management systems that use barcodes without modifying the existing management system, and additional services that are based on a newly added second barcode can be provided. Other objects and attainments together with a fuller understanding of the invention will become apparent and appreciated by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of a barcode label according to the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying figures.

Configuration of a Shipping Label

FIGS. 1A-1Cshows an example of the invention used to produce barcode labels as shipping labels such as used in the package delivery industry,FIG. 1Abeing a plan view of the front,FIG. 1Bbeing an enlarged section view through the thickness of the label, andFIG. 1Cbeing a plan view of the back side of the label. As shown in the figures, the shipping label1is rectangular with a constant width and constant length, and has a label sheet2on the front side. Information can be printed in color by an inkjet printer, for example, on the surface2aof the label sheet2. An adhesive layer3is formed on the back2bof the label sheet2, and is covered by a liner sheet4. The liner sheet4can be peeled off. The liner sheet4is slightly wider and longer than the label sheet2.

The label sheet2is divided lengthwise into two parts with a regular shipping label5occupying one part and an added advertising label6occupying the other part. Tracking information7(first printed information) is printed on the front of the shipping label5. The tracking information7includes the destination address, a tracking number, and other such information that is also encoded and printed in barcode form. In this example first barcodes7aand7beach carrying the tracking information are printed.

Product advertising information8(second printed information) is printed on the front of the advertising label6. This product advertising information includes a second barcode8athat contains additional service information, for example, and the second barcode8ais also printed on the front of the advertising label6. In this example the second barcode8ais printed widthwise at the lengthwise end of the label sheet2. A plurality of second barcodes may obviously be printed.

In the following description, the part of the liner sheet4that covers the back of the shipping label5is referred to below as the first liner sheet part4a, and the part covering the back of the advertising label6is referred to as the second liner sheet part4b. A tear-off tab9enabling peeling at least part of the liner sheet4from the label sheet2is formed in at least one of the first liner sheet part4aand second liner sheet part4b. In this embodiment of the invention the tear-off tab9is defined by a score line10formed in the liner sheet4. The score line10extends from one widthwise edge4cto the other edge4dof the liner sheet4at the second liner sheet part4bside end of the first liner sheet part4a, and the liner sheet4is separated into two parts along the score line10. The score line10goes to a narrowed peak on the second liner sheet part4bside in the widthwise middle part of the liner sheet4such as shown in the figure.

The tear-off tab9defined by the score line10is therefore the peak-shaped portion of the first liner sheet part4athat extends into the second liner sheet part4bside. The tear-off tab9may be formed at any position satisfying the following conditions. That is, the tear-off tab9can be formed at any position where, when the part where at least the second barcode8ais printed on the advertising label6is folded over to the back side of the advertising label6, the tear-off tab9is positioned at the back side of at least one of the following: the back side of the folded portion, the back side of the advertising label6that is opposite this folded portion, and the back side of the shipping label5that is opposite this folded portion.

If the tear-off tab9thus shaped is peeled off from the peak9a, the liner sheet portion4A on the shipping label side of the score line10(that is, the tear-off tab9and the first liner sheet part4acontiguous thereto) can be separated from the label sheet2. After these parts are peeled off, the liner sheet remainder4B on the advertising label side of the score line10is left.

Using the Shipping Label

FIGS. 2A-2Bdescribe how the foregoing shipping label1is used. Before the shipping label1is affixed to the product P to be shipped, the second barcode8ais folded over to the back side of the label so that it cannot be seen from the front.

First, as shown inFIG. 2AandFIG. 2B, only a specific length of the tear-off tab9on the back of the shipping label1is peeled back from the peak9aalong the score line10. This creates an exposed adhesive layer portion3awhere the adhesive layer3is exposed on the back side of the label sheet2from which the tear-off tab9was removed.

The advertising label6is then folded to the back side along a folding line6athat extends widthwise at a specific position. This folding line6ais set to a position where the entire second barcode8acan be completely folded to the back side. The entire advertising label6could be folded back, but so that the advertising information printed in addition to the second barcode8acan always be seen, the folding line6ais preferably positioned so that the second barcode8aalone can be folded to the back. By folding the advertising label6to the back at the folding line6a, a back-folded portion1B is formed as shown inFIG. 2C.

Note that the folding line6acan be positioned as desired, and a folding line6aindicating the folding position may be printed on the label sheet. An easy-to-fold part is also preferably formed along the folding position (folding line6a) so that the advertising label6is easy to fold. For example, a perforation may be formed in either or both of the label sheet and the liner sheet. The label itself could also be cut along the folding position (folding line6a). Even if the label is cut along this line, the liner sheet remains connected and the label will separate from the liner. Because the liner sheet4is typically easier to bend than the advertising label6, the label can be cleanly and easily folded along the easy-to-fold part defined by the cut.

The exposed adhesive layer portion3ais formed on the back side of the label facing the back-folded portion1B thus formed. The exposed adhesive layer portion3aalso extends to the back of the back-folded portion1B. Therefore, as shown inFIG. 2D, the back-folded portion1B is held affixed to the back side of the label by the exposed adhesive layer portion3a, and the second barcode8aformed on the front of the back-folded portion1B is hidden on the back side of the label.

As shown inFIG. 2D, by pulling the tear-off tab9in the direction away from the back side of the label sheet2, the liner sheet portion4A contiguous thereto can be peeled off. After the liner sheet portion4A is peeled off, the shipping label1is attached to a specific position on the surface Pa of the product P to be shipped. When the shipping label1is thus affixed, only the first barcodes7aand7bcontaining the tracking information can be read by a barcode reader from the front of the label, and the second barcode8ais hidden facing the back and cannot be read.

Therefore, during the shipping process the shipping label1can be read using a barcode in the same way as any other shipping label, and the tracking information contained in the first barcodes7aand7bcan be read and used for shipping control.

However, when the second barcode8aprinted on the advertising label6needs to be read, the back-folded portion1B can be raised from the surface Pa of the product P, and as shown inFIG. 2Fthe back-folded portion1B can be unfolded to the front and returned to its original position. The back-folded portion1B can be easily lifted up because it is not fastened to the surface Pa of the product P. In addition, the back-folded portion1B is only partially held by the exposed adhesive layer portion3ato the back side, and the adhesive layer3on other parts of the back-folded portion1B are covered by the liner sheet remainder4b. As a result, the back-folded portion1B can be easily unfolded and returned to the original position.

Because the second barcode8ais again exposed to the front after being unfolded to the front, it can be read using the barcode reader. If the second barcode8aonly needs to be read once, the second barcode8acan be easily torn off and read by the barcode reader by, for example, forming a perforation between the advertising label6and shipping label5. The advertising label6could, of course, be previously separated from the shipping label5. If the second barcode8amust be read multiple times, the second barcode8amay be again folded to the back to form the back-folded portion1B again.

Use as a Luggage Tag

FIGS. 3A-3Bdescribe using the barcode label according to the invention as a luggage tag for luggage checked onto an airplane.FIG. 3Ais a plan view of the barcode label andFIG. 3Bshows how the barcode label is used. The basic configuration of the luggage tag11is the same as the shipping label1described above, and is a long, thin label of a constant width with a label sheet12on the front side and a liner sheet14that covers an adhesive layer formed on the back of the label sheet12.

A shipping label15on which tracking information17is printed, and an advertising label16on which advertising information18is printed are formed on both sides of the label sheet12rotationally symmetrical to the lengthwise center. First and second barcodes17aand17bcontaining the tracking information (such as destination and flight number) are printed on the shipping label15. The advertising label16may be a delivery service ticket that is used when shipping luggage from the airport by means of a package delivery service, for example, and a second barcode18ais printed on the advertising label16.

A tear-off tab19similar to that described inFIG. 1andFIG. 2is formed at both lengthwise ends of the liner sheet14of the luggage tag11. As shown inFIG. 3B, a back-folded portion11B is formed on both ends of the label by folding the entire advertising label16, which can be used as a coupon, to the back side along a folding line16aat the border to the shipping label15. The liner sheet portions14A of the liner sheet14on the back side of the shipping label can thus be removed, and the luggage tag11can be passed through the handle Pb of the package P1, folded at the lengthwise center, and the opposite ends of the luggage tag11can be stuck together. As a result, the first and second barcodes17aand17bused for luggage control can be read by a barcode reader, and the second barcode18ais hidden on the back side so that it will not be read. As a result, the second barcode18awill not be accidentally read when reading the tracking information, thus avoiding creating problems with shipping (routing) control due to misread labels and other read errors.

Other Embodiments

In the embodiments described above the tear-off tab9formed in the liner sheet is contiguous to the liner sheet portion4A,14A on the back side of the shipping label. A configuration in which only the tear-off tab9can be peeled from the back of the label is also conceivable, however.

FIGS. 4A-4Cshow an example of a barcode label with this type of tear-off tab. As shown inFIG. 4A, the barcode label21has a score line30aformed extending widthwise to the liner sheet between a first label25and a second label26, separating the liner sheet part24aon the first label side and the liner sheet part24bon the second label side. In addition, near the score line30aside of the liner sheet part24b, a rectangular tear-off portion29is defined by a score line formed in a specific closed shape, such as a rectangular score line30b.

A second barcode28ais printed on the label end side of the second label26, and is folded to the back side along the folding line26aso that the second barcode28awill be hidden on the back side. The back-folded portion formed by folding to the back side is affixed to the back of the label by the exposed adhesive layer portion23athat is rendered by removing the tear-off portion29. The liner sheet part24aon the first label side is then removed and the barcode label21is affixed to the surface of the intended object.

The barcode label31shown inFIG. 4Bhas a tear-off portion39formed by two parallel score lines40aand40bthat extend widthwise to the label with a specific gap therebetween formed near the second label36end of the first label35.

A second barcode38ais printed on the label end side of the second label36, and is folded to the back side along the folding line36aat the border between the first and second labels so that the second barcode38awill be hidden on the back side. The back-folded portion formed by folding to the back side is affixed to the back of the label by the exposed adhesive layer portion33athat is rendered by removing the tear-off portion39. The liner sheet part34aon the first label side is then removed and the barcode label31is affixed to the surface of the intended object.

The barcode label41shown inFIG. 4Chas two tear-off portions49aand49bformed by three parallel score lines50a,50b, and50cthat extend widthwise to the label with a specific gap therebetween formed near the first label45end of the second label46.

A second barcode48ais printed on the label end side of the second label46, for example, and is folded to the back side along the folding line46aat the border between the first and second labels so that the second barcode48awill be hidden on the back side. The back-folded portion formed by folding to the back side is affixed to the back of the label by the exposed adhesive layer portions43aand43bthat are rendered by removing the tear-off portions49aand49b. The liner sheet part44aon the first label side is then removed and the barcode label41is affixed to the surface of the intended object. This configuration has the benefit of being able to change the adhesive strength of the back-folded portion by selectively removing only one of the tear-off portions49aand49bor by removing both.