JP2003208573A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem wherein a recording device with an RF-ID tag writing function sets the feed speed of a recording medium at a feed speed predetermined by information, such as the type, amount of writing information, and writing time of an RF-ID tag, when executing recording and information writing, to pose frequent loss of time by a failure in writing. <P>SOLUTION: Upon a determination of a failure in writing into an RF-ID tag, the feed speed of a recording medium for the next recording and writing operation is reset. The reset feed speed is selected as a speed lower than the feed speed for the preceding operation. Information in the RF-ID tag with the writing failure is acquired and compared with the amount of full writing information, whereby a more optimal feed speed is selected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to RF-ID (Radio
The present invention relates to a recording device having an RF-ID writing function for communicating with a continuous label paper having a built-in frequency identification tag.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the development of semiconductor technology and electronic communication technology, an automatic identification system called RF-ID capable of transmitting and receiving information without contact has been developed. This RF-
An ID system is equipped with an electronic circuit including an antenna and a non-volatile memory element, and holds an RF-ID tag and RF-ID that holds information.
It consists of an RF-ID reader / writer that controls the ID tag.

The features of the RF-ID system include data writing and additional writing, simultaneous communication with a plurality of RF-ID tags, and resistance to obstacles. These have functions not found in automatic recognition systems such as barcodes and two-dimensional codes. Due to its convenience, attention is focused not only on fields that were difficult to automate with barcodes and 2D codes up to now, but also in logistics and distribution fields where automation was performed by conventional automatic recognition systems. Has been done.

Built in a recording medium such as a card or label,
The RF-ID tag used in the above system needs to write information on the surface of a recording medium at the same time as recording, but in recent years, these operations are not shared by separate apparatuses, but are performed by a recording apparatus. By incorporating a read / write function for an RF-ID tag, a recording apparatus that collectively performs a recording operation on the surface of a recording medium and a writing operation on an RF-ID tag is becoming popular. There are many types of RF-ID tags, such as different antenna sizes and different IC chips used, and different communication ranges and required write times. Furthermore, since the communication environment changes depending on the surrounding radio wave condition, the presence or absence of a substance such as metal that affects the radio wave condition, the required writing time changes.

In the recording apparatus with the RF-ID tag writing function, the recording medium carrying speed is determined in advance from information such as the type of the RF-ID tag, the amount of information to be written, and the writing time when recording and writing information. It was operating at the transport speed.

[0006]

However, the required writing time is not always constant because the communication environment changes depending on the surrounding radio wave condition, the presence or absence of a substance such as metal that affects the radio wave condition. Since the writing time changes depending on the situation at that time, it may be possible that the measurement cannot be performed in advance.
In such a case, there is a problem that writing defects frequently occur at a predetermined transport speed.

According to the present invention, when the writing of information to the RF-ID tag fails, the transport speed is set at the time of the next recording and writing operation to reduce the time loss and to improve the reliability. Provide a high system.

[0008]

RF-ID according to the present invention
A recording device with a tag writing function proposes the following means in order to solve the above problems.

(1) In a recording apparatus having recording means for recording an image on the surface of a recording medium containing an antenna and an information storage element, and a means for writing information in the information storage element, the speed at which the recording medium is conveyed. A transport speed setting means capable of setting a plurality of stages, and a comparing means for comparing the data transmitted to the information storage element and the data after writing,
A recording apparatus, wherein the conveying speed is set based on a comparison result of the comparison means.

(2) The recording apparatus, wherein the conveying speed setting means reduces the conveying speed when the comparison results of the comparing means do not match.

(3) A recording apparatus characterized in that the carrying speed is determined from a data amount and a total write data amount which are coincident with each other as a result of comparison by the comparing means.

(4) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the next processing is changed depending on the data content which is not matched as a result of the comparison by the comparison means.

(5) A recording apparatus, wherein when a non-coincidence of data ended before the coincident data section is detected in the comparison result of the comparison means, the writing operation is executed again.

[0014]

According to the present invention, in a recording device equipped with an RF-ID writing function for communicating with a continuous label paper having a built-in RF-ID tag, when a writing error occurs when writing information to the RF-ID tag. By resetting the appropriate transport speed at the time of the next recording and writing operation, highly reliable operation becomes possible.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram in which a label recording device having an RF-ID tag writing function in this embodiment and a host computer are connected.

A label recording device (100) having an RF-ID writing function (hereinafter referred to as an RF-ID printer) and a host computer (101) are connected by an interface cable (102), and the host computer (101).
Outputs the recording information, the writing information to the RF-ID tag, and the like as control commands to the RF-ID printer (100) through the interface cable (102).

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the RF-ID printer (100) used in this embodiment. The RF-ID printer (100) is a label printer for recording on continuous label paper, and the continuous label paper in which the label pieces are temporarily attached to the mount is mounted on the roll unit (205) and supplied to the transport section. The transport unit is mainly configured by a transport motor (206) and a transport belt (207), and transports the continuous label paper in the arrow direction during recording. Here, the roll unit (205) side on the transport path is the transport inlet, and the opposite side is the transport outlet.

The RF-ID printer (100) has, as recording means, for example, an ink jet recording head, a black (K) head (203K) and a cyan (C) head (2).
03C), a magenta (M) head (203M), and a yellow (Y) head (203Y), and these heads are full-line type inkjet recording heads having a nozzle row having a length corresponding to the label width. It is possible to perform color recording by ejecting K, C, M, and Y inks from these four heads, respectively. The ink to be ejected is
From the black (K) ink cartridge (204K), the cyan (C) ink cartridge (204C), the magenta (M) ink cartridge (204M), and the yellow (Y) ink cartridge (204Y) to the respective print heads by a pump (not shown). Supplied.

The roll unit (205) drives the roll drive shaft (208) on which the roll paper (210) is mounted, the roll sensor lever (209) whose position changes due to the slack of the roll paper, and the roll drive shaft (208). It is composed of a roll motor (not shown), and the continuous label paper is fed by driving and stopping the roll motor depending on the state of the roll sensor lever (209). In addition, R
There is an RF-ID communication unit (200) for writing information to the F-ID tag, and the RF-ID communication unit (200)
Is composed of a fixed RF-ID communication antenna (201) and an RF-ID reader / writer (202) that controls RF-ID communication, and communicates with an RF-ID tag to write information.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of a control command transmitted from the host computer (101) used in this embodiment. As the control command, a paper setting command (30
1), a format command (302) in which there is a setting that is a reference for recording data, a character, an image, and an RF-ID
Data command (303, 30
4, 305) and a job start command (310) that indicates the end of the print data and starts the job, and outputs those commands as in the print command transfer example (311). There are 3 types of IC chips (803) for RF-ID tags.
06, the RF-ID tag size is designated by 307, the write data amount is designated by 308, and the write data is designated by 309.

FIG. 4 is an electrical block diagram of the RF-ID printer (100). Host computer (10
In 1), the image data used for recording and the write data to the IC chip of the RF-ID tag are transferred to the RF-ID printer (100) as the data command (303) of FIG. 3 and the recording start is instructed. Also, the number of continuous label sheets to be recorded by the RF-ID printer (100), the sheet setting command (301) and the format command (302) shown in FIG.
It can be instructed by transferring to the F-ID printer (100). The RF-ID printer (100) controls communication by the communication driver (403) and receives commands from the host.

The RF-ID printer (100) uses the received recording data as image data of each color component in the RAM.
Bit map expansion is performed on each of (410K) to (410Y) and drawing is performed. Further, the RF-ID data command (305) which is electronic information to be written in the RF-ID tag, the paper setting command (301) such as the label size and the number of recording sheets, and the format command (302) are stored in the RAM (410).
R). When the recording data and the RF-ID writing data have been developed in the RAMs (410K) to (410R) in this way, the inkjet recording heads (409K) to (409Y) are moved to the recording position by the head drive mechanism control motor (407). Let

The transport speed can be selected from a plurality of speeds,
It is selected according to the required communication time with the RF-ID tag and the communicable range. Here, the required communication time is determined by the IC chip type of the RF-ID tag and the amount of data to be written in the IC chip, and is designated by the RF-ID data command (305).

FIG. 5 shows an RF-ID communication antenna (40
6) and an RF-ID tag to be written indicate a one-to-one communicable range (FIG. 5A), and are numerically determined according to the size of the RF-ID tag (corresponding to the antenna size) or the like, as shown in the table of FIG. 5B. Are summarized in.

FIG. 6 shows a required communication time reference table for the write data size for each IC chip type.

FIG. 7 shows an equation (FIG. 7A) for deriving the carrier speed from the communication time and the communicable range and a table of the calculation results.

The ROM (408) stores the tables shown in FIGS. 5B, 6 and 7B, and the transport speed is determined in a table format from the required communication time and the communicable range. .

The recording operation is synchronized with the conveyance of continuous label paper, and the main controller (401) causes the RAM (410) to operate.
Inkjet recording heads (409K) to (409Y) for sequentially reading image data of corresponding colors from K) to (410Y) and ejecting inks of corresponding colors via the head control circuit (404). Output to.

Thus, the ink jet recording head (40
Each of 9K) to (409Y) selectively ejects ink in accordance with the input image data to perform color recording. The continuous label paper for which recording has been completed continues to be RF-
It is conveyed to the ID communication unit (200), and the RF-ID communication antenna (40) is fed by the RF-ID reader / writer (402).
RF-I built into continuous label paper via 6)
Data is written in the IC chip (803) of the D tag. In this way, the continuous label paper that has been recorded on the label and written on the IC chip (803) of the RF-ID tag is
It is discharged to the transport outlet.

FIG. 9 relating to the above series of controls and the present invention,
The control corresponding to the flow shown in FIG.
This is performed by the main controller (401) executing the control program stored in (08).

FIG. 8 shows a continuous label paper with a built-in RF-ID tag used in this embodiment. The long continuous label paper (800) is in the form of being rolled into a cylindrical core having a hollow portion, and FIG. 8 shows a part of this continuous label paper. Recordable label pieces (802) are temporarily attached to the mount (801) at regular intervals, and a nonvolatile memory for storing electronic information is mounted inside the label pieces (802). IC chip (80
The antenna (804) electrically connected to 3) and the IC chip (803) is enclosed. In this embodiment, the IC chip (803) is an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the processing operation of the RF-ID printer (100) which receives the print data and the write data to the IC chip of this embodiment, and FIG.
It is the figure which showed the process when the writing of RF-ID information with respect to the IC chip of an F-ID tag fails. Various parameters such as the number of recorded sheets, paper size, antenna size of RF-ID tag and recording data, and write data to the IC chip (403) are transmitted from the host computer (101) to the RF together with a command for instructing recording.
-Recorded data sent to the ID printer (100) is RA
In M (410K) to (410Y), the write data to the IC chip is recorded in the RAM (410R) (S9).
01).

Accompanying information indicating attributes is added to each of the recording data and the writing data. After the reception of the recording data, the conveying speed is set (S902), and the continuous label paper is started to be conveyed (S903). .

In the label paper recording and RF-ID tag writing processing of step 904 (S904), the leading label to be recorded and written is recorded while passing the recording position, and thereafter, the label is the RF-ID communication antenna (201). ) Built-in IC chip (80
Writing operation is performed in 3). This process is repeated until the specified number of recording sheets is reached. When the writing to the RF-ID tag is completed (S905) and the number of recorded sheets reaches the designated value (S906), the final label is ejected to the conveyance exit, and the conveyance is finished (S907).

When writing the RF-ID tag into the IC chip, if the communication is not completed while the IC chip is moving within the communicable range, it is determined that the writing has failed and the operation is interrupted (S).
908). The position of the RF-ID tag when it is determined that writing has failed (S905) is shown in FIG. 10A, and the position when operation is interrupted (S908) is shown in FIG. 10B. Here, the interruption of the operation means that for the label paper (1001C and 1001D in FIG. 10) which is being printed by the print head at that time, the operation is continued until the printing is completed, and the label which is not started yet is printed. For paper (1001E and after in FIG. 10), recording does not start even when it reaches under the recording head (recording position), and similarly, writing into the RF-ID tag does not start.

After the interruption processing is completed, the conveyance motor is driven in the opposite direction to that at the time of recording (S909), and the RF-ID tag (built-in label paper 1001a in FIG. 10) in which writing has failed becomes the antenna for RF-ID communication. Unrecorded label paper (100 in FIG. 10) on the entrance side of the communication range and during the interruption operation.
The label paper is returned until 1e) is positioned closer to the entrance side than the recording head (S909), and then stopped. The position of the label paper at this time is generally shown in FIG. 10C.

Next, referring to the transport speed reference table (FIG. 7B), the transport speed is determined to be one step lower (step 91).
0), writing to the RF-ID tag (incorporating the label sheet 1001a in FIG. 10) after the writing failure, and recording operation for the unrecorded label sheet (1001e in FIG. 10) and thereafter are restarted. As described above, in the first embodiment, if writing fails when writing information to the RF-ID tag, reliable writing is performed by setting the transport speed at the time of restarting the next recording and writing operations. Is possible. (Second Embodiment) RF-ID printer (1) of the first embodiment
In (00), when the writing of the RF-ID tag to the IC chip fails, the amount of correctly written data is confirmed, and an appropriate transport speed is determined based on the value, so that the present invention can be implemented.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the processing of the RF-ID printer (100) after receiving the recording data of this embodiment and the writing data to the IC chip, and FIG.
It is the figure which showed the process when recording of RF-ID information with respect to the IC chip of an F-ID tag fails. Various parameters such as the number of recorded sheets, paper size, antenna size of RF-ID tag, and recording data, and writing data to the IC chip (403) are transmitted from the host computer (101) to the RF-I together with a command instructing recording.
The recording data transmitted to the D printer (100) is a RAM
The write data is RA from (410K) to (410Y).
It is recorded on the M (410R) (S1101).

Accompanying information indicating attributes is added to each of the print data and the write data. After the reception of the print data is completed, the transport speed is set (S1102), and the transport of continuous label paper is started (S1103). .

In the label paper recording and RF-ID tag writing processing in step 1104 (S1104), the leading label to be recorded and written is recorded while passing through the recording position, and thereafter, the label is the RF-ID communication antenna (20).
Writing operation is performed on the built-in IC chip (803) while passing the upper part of 1). This process is repeated until the specified number of recording sheets is reached. When the writing to the RF-ID tag is completed (S1105) and the number of recorded sheets reaches the designated value (S1106), the final label is ejected to the conveyance exit, and the conveyance is finished (S1107).

When writing the RF-ID tag to the IC chip, if the communication is not completed while the IC chip is moving within the communicable range, it is determined that the writing has failed and the operation is interrupted (S).
1108). When it is determined that writing has failed (S110
The position of the RF-ID tag of 5) is generally shown in FIG. 12A, and the position at the time of operation interruption (S1108) is shown in FIG. 12B.

Here, the interruption of the operation means the label paper (1201 in FIG. 12) which is being printed by the print head at that time.
c and 1201d), the operation is continued until the recording is completed, and the label paper which is not yet recorded (see FIG. 1).
For 1201e and after 2), recording does not start even when the recording head reaches the position below the recording head (recording position), and similarly, writing to the RF-ID tag does not start.

After the interruption processing is completed, the conveyance motor is driven in the opposite direction to that at the time of recording (S1109), and the RF-ID tag in which writing has failed (built-in label paper 1201a in FIG. 12).
Is on the entrance side of the communication range of the RF-ID communication antenna, and the unrecorded label paper (120 in FIG.
The label paper is returned until 1e) is located on the entrance side of the recording head and stopped (S1109 to S1111).

The position of the label paper at this time is generally shown in FIG. 12d. The data written in the IC chip of the RF-ID tag for which recording has failed is read out via the RF-ID antenna and compared with the correct data to be written,
The matched data amount A is checked (S1110) (the position at this time is roughly as shown in FIG. 12C).

The data amount A is information in the middle of writing in many cases, and is information written when the RF-ID tag is within the communicable range.

The new transport speed is determined by the communication time and the communicable range with the RF-ID tag (S111).
2). The communication time is (total write data amount / data amount A) against the value determined from the communication time reference table (Fig. 6).
And the communication range reference table (see FIG. 5).
The transport speed is determined by the transport speed reference table (FIG. 7B) together with the communicable range determined in B). The following is a formula for calculating the new communication time. Communication time = communication time reference table value × (total write data amount / data amount A) Write on unsuccessful writing of RF-ID tag (label paper 1201a shown in FIG. 12) and subsequent labels and unrecorded label paper (FIG. The recording operation is restarted for 1001e) and thereafter.

Here, processing step 1110 of FIG.
A method for further evolution in (S1110) will be described.

The data written in the IC chip of the RF-ID tag in which recording has failed is read out via the RF-ID antenna and compared with the correct data to be written, for example, written before the matched portion. If a discrepancy is detected at a location, it can be determined that the writing failure has occurred due to an accidental factor, and therefore the same speed may be restarted when the transport speed is reset.

In this embodiment, the full line type ink jet type printing apparatus has been described, but it is also effective for a serial type printer in which the recording head is made to scan perpendicularly to the sheet conveying direction.
It is also effective for a printer to which a light-colored ink recording head is added in order to enhance the gradation of a recorded image and a printer having a recording head other than the inkjet method.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, R
If a writing error occurs when writing information to the F-ID tag, the transport speed at the time of the next printing and writing operation is reset to ensure reliable operation.

[0052]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram in which an inkjet type continuous label paper printing apparatus with an RF-ID tag recording function and a host computer are connected in the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an inkjet type continuous label paper recording apparatus with an RF-ID tag recording function used in this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a control command system of the recording apparatus in this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recording apparatus in this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a communicable range of a continuous label sheet and a reference table showing a communicable range corresponding to a label sheet size and an IC chip type in the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a reference table showing a communication time corresponding to an RF-ID write information size and an IC chip type in the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a transport speed calculation table and a transport speed reference table corresponding to the transport speed calculation formula in the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a continuous label paper with a built-in RF-ID tag used in this embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a recording process and RF-ID in the first embodiment.
9 is a flowchart for explaining a process when information writing fails.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining a process when the RF-ID information writing has failed in the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a recording process and RF-I in the second embodiment.
9 is a flowchart for explaining a process when D information writing fails.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining a process when the RF-ID information writing fails in the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Recording device (RF-ID printer) 101 host computer 102 interface cable 200 RF-ID communication unit 201 RF-ID communication antenna 202 RF-ID reader / writer 203K Black (K) head 203C Cyan (C) head 203M Magenta (M) head 203Y Yellow (Y) head 204K Black (K) ink cartridge 204C Cyan (C) ink cartridge 204M Magenta (M) ink cartridge 204Y Yellow (Y) ink cartridge 205 roll unit 206 Conveyor motor 207 Conveyor belt 208 Roll drive shaft 209 Roll sensor lever 210 roll paper 301 Paper setting command 302 Format command 303 character data command 304 Image data command 305 RF-ID data command 400 host computer 401 Main controller 402 RF-ID reader / writer 403 Communication driver 404 head drive circuit 405 Paper feed motor 406 RF-ID communication antenna 407 Head mechanism control motor 408 ROM 409K Black (K) head 409C Cyan (C) head 409M Magenta (M) head 409Y Yellow (Y) head 410K RAM (K) 410C RAM (C) 410M RAM (M) 410Y RAM (Y) 410R RAM (R) 411 Conveyor motor 800 continuous label paper 801 mount 802 Label piece 803 IC chip 804 antenna

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus comprising a recording means for recording an image on a surface of a recording medium having an antenna and an information storage element built-in, and a means for writing information in the information storage element, wherein a speed at which the recording medium is conveyed is set. It has a conveying speed setting means capable of setting a plurality of stages, and a comparing means for comparing the data transmitted to the information storage element and the data after writing,
A recording apparatus, wherein the conveying speed is set based on a comparison result of the comparison means. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carrying speed setting means reduces the carrying speed when the comparison results of the comparing means do not match. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport speed is determined based on a data amount and a total write data amount that are coincident with each other as a result of comparison by the comparison means. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the next process is changed depending on the data content which is not matched as a result of the comparison by the comparison means. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a non-coincidence of data ended earlier than a coincident data section is detected in the comparison result of the comparison unit, the writing operation is executed again.