JP2010015461A - Radio tag cartridge, tag tape roll manufacturing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve manageability for a radio tag cartridge. <P>SOLUTION: The radio tag cartridge 100 includes: a base material tape 210 configured by arranging therein a plurality of radio tag circuit elements To each of which is provided with an IC circuit part 151 for storing information and a loop antenna 152 for transmitting/receiving information; and a housing 100A for storing the base material tape 210 in its inside so as to deliver the base material tape 210, wherein, the radio tag circuit element To of a managing radio tag Tgm located on a top along a delivery direction out of the plurality of radio tag circuit elements To is arranged so as to be exposed to the outside of the housing 100A, and the IC circuit part 151 of the radio tag circuit element To of the managing radio tag Tgm is allowed to store cartridge related information capable of specifying the radio tag cartridge 100. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a RFID tag cartridge capable of continuously supplying a tag tape including a RFID circuit element capable of wireless communication of information with the outside, and a tag tape for manufacturing a tag tape roll around which the tag tape is wound The present invention relates to a roll manufacturing apparatus.

  There is known an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system that reads / writes information in a non-contact manner between a small wireless tag and a reader (reading device) / writer (writing device).

  For example, a wireless tag circuit element provided in a label-like wireless tag includes an IC circuit unit that stores predetermined wireless tag information and an antenna that is connected to the IC circuit unit and transmits and receives information. Even if the battery is dirty or placed in an invisible position, the reader / writer side can access (read / write information) the RFID tag information of the IC circuit unit, and there are already various Practical use is progressing in various fields.

  The label-like wireless tag (= wireless tag label) is used by being attached to a target product or article. At this time, if tag information stored in the RFID circuit element or article information corresponding to the tag information is printed on a label and used, the information can be visually recognized from the user side, which is convenient. . Therefore, in recent years, a tag label producing apparatus that creates a wireless tag label with printing by performing both reading / writing of information on the RFID circuit element and printing on a label has already been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .

In this tag label producing apparatus, the tag tape is continuously fed out from the tag tape roll stored in the wireless tag cartridge attached to the cartridge holder. Then, by accessing the IC circuit portion of each RFID circuit element provided on the tag tape, the RFID tag information is read / written, and predetermined printing is performed on the print-receiving tape to be attached to the tag tape. The RFID label with a print is continuously generated. In response to the fact that a plurality of types of RFID tag cartridges can be exchanged and mounted in the cartridge holder, the RFID tag cartridge itself is also provided with a RFID circuit element, and the (cartridge) By reading information from the tag circuit element, optimum communication conditions and the like at the time of creating the RFID label are acquired.
JP 2007-108893 A

  In general, it is already widely performed to provide RFID tag circuit elements on articles distributed in the market, read information from the RFID tag circuit elements, and manage the articles. In many cases, a plurality of types and a plurality of types of the RFID tag cartridges are prepared, stored and distributed in advance on the assumption that the RFID tag cartridge is used while being properly attached to and removed from the cartridge holder. Therefore, it is conceivable to manage the RFID tag cartridge by storing information for cartridge management in the RFID circuit element provided in the RFID tag cartridge of the above prior art and reading this information.

  However, when a RFID circuit element that records information for cartridge management is separately prepared and provided in the RFID tag cartridge, it is necessary to properly manage the correspondence between each RFID circuit element and each RFID tag cartridge to be installed. There is. In particular, when many RFID tag cartridges are manufactured, the correspondence between the RFID tag circuit element and the RFID tag cartridge of interest is likely to be mistaken.

  On the other hand, a plurality of RFID tag circuit elements for producing RFID label are originally provided in the RFID tag cartridge. Therefore, if the information for cartridge management is recorded by utilizing a part of the RFID tag circuit elements and is provided in the RFID tag cartridge (the RFID tag label using the RFID tag circuit element is attached), the wireless tag circuit element is used. There is no error in the correspondence between the tag circuit element and the RFID tag cartridge, and the manageability should be improved. In the prior art described above, such a point has not been particularly taken into consideration.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a RFID tag cartridge capable of improving manageability, and a tag tape roll manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a tag tape roll built in the RFID tag cartridge.

  In order to achieve the above object, the first invention is a tag tape in which a plurality of RFID circuit elements each having an IC circuit section for storing information and a tag antenna for transmitting and receiving information are arranged, and the tag tape A RFID tag cartridge having a housing for storing the IC tag in an inside thereof, wherein the IC of the first RFID tag circuit element located at the head of the plurality of RFID tag circuit elements along the extension direction is provided. The circuit unit stores cartridge-related information that can identify the RFID tag cartridge.

  The RFID tag cartridge according to the first aspect of the present invention is used in a tag label producing apparatus that produces an RFID label using a tag tape. When the wireless tag cartridge is attached to the tag label producing apparatus, the tag tape is sequentially fed out of the casing. Information reading or information writing is performed via the tag antenna to the IC circuit portion of the RFID circuit element provided on the fed tag tape, thereby creating a RFID label.

  On the other hand, in the RFID tag cartridge of the first invention of the present application, the IC of the first RFID circuit element that is at the leading position in the feeding direction of the tag tape that is fed out as described above (= appears from the inside of the housing first when feeding out). Cartridge-related information is stored in the circuit section. Thus, by reading the first RFID tag circuit element with the RFID tag communication device (without performing information transmission / reception with each RFID tag circuit element inside the RFID tag cartridge), The wireless tag cartridge can be specified and various managements can be performed.

  As described above, one of a plurality of RFID tag circuit elements included in the RFID tag cartridge itself is utilized, and the RFID tag cartridge is managed by reading information into the one RFID tag circuit element. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably prevent an erroneous attachment as in the case where cartridge-related information is written in a separately prepared RFID tag circuit element and attached to the corresponding RFID tag cartridge. As a result, the one-to-one correspondence between the wireless tag cartridge and the wireless tag circuit element is reliably ensured without being disturbed, so that the manageability of the wireless tag cartridge can be improved.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the housing stores a tag tape roll in which the tag tape is wound around an axis perpendicular to the tape longitudinal direction, and the tag tape roll rotates. The plurality of RFID tag circuit elements are configured so that they can be sequentially fed out.

  Since the tag tape is wound in a roll shape, the tag tape is transported using the driving force and rotated by rotating the tag tape roll, so that a plurality of RFID tag circuit elements are sequentially and smoothly fed out from the RFID tag cartridge. RFID tag labels can be created continuously.

  In a third aspect of the present invention based on the second aspect, the housing houses a print-receiving tape roll in which the print-receiving tape to be bonded to the tag tape is wound around an axis perpendicular to the tape longitudinal direction. The print-receiving tape roll is configured to be attached to the tag tape and fed out with the rotation of the print-receiving tape roll.

  By adopting a bonded structure of the tape to be printed and the tag tape, it is possible to print on the tape to be printed by the tag label producing apparatus and produce a wireless tag label with printing. At this time, if printing is performed on the bonding side of the print-receiving tape, and then the above-mentioned bonding is performed, the printing surface becomes the back side and is not exposed to the front side after the printing tape is applied. Printing with excellent aesthetics and durability without fading can be realized.

  According to a fourth invention, in the second or third invention, the first RFID circuit element includes individual identification information, tape type information, manufacturing factory information, manufacturing date, and destination information of the RFID tag cartridge. At least one of them is stored in the IC circuit unit.

  Thus, by reading the first RFID tag circuit element with the RFID tag communication device, the RFID tag cartridge tape type information (tape width, ink color, base color, cloth tape, or strong adhesive type) Etc.), manufacturing factory / manufacturing date, and other manufacturing information and destination information can be easily obtained.

  According to a fifth invention, in the fourth invention, a predetermined area including the first RFID circuit element is exposed to the outside of the casing, and the other area is stored inside the casing. It is characterized by.

  As a result, from the initial state in which all the RFID tag circuit elements including the first RFID circuit element at the leading position in the feed-out direction are inside the housing, only the first RFID circuit element is brought out of the housing by slightly pulling out the tag tape. Can be exposed. That is, it is possible to easily realize a state in which cartridge-related information can be acquired without using each RFID circuit element in the RFID tag cartridge.

  A sixth invention is characterized in that, in the fourth invention, a predetermined area including the first RFID circuit element is separated from other areas of the tag tape and attached to the housing.

  In the sixth invention of the present application, a predetermined area of the tag tape including the first RFID tag circuit element is separated from other areas and arranged in the housing. As a result, a cartridge-related information recording unit can be constructed in a form completely independent of the tag tape housed in the housing (for example, as a wireless tag label). As a result, cartridge-related information can be acquired more easily by the wireless tag communication device.

  In a seventh aspect based on the sixth aspect, the tag tape includes an adhesive layer for attaching to the object to be attached, and the predetermined area including the first wireless tag circuit element is defined as the adhesive layer. It is affixed on the surface of the said housing | casing.

  In the seventh invention of the present application, the sticking is performed by utilizing the adhesive provided on the tag tape for the pasting of the RFID label after the production. Thereby, the predetermined area including the first RFID circuit element can be reliably attached to the surface of the housing only by separating from the other area. As a result, a cartridge-related information recording unit can be easily constructed.

  In order to achieve the above object, an eighth invention provides a tag tape in which a predetermined number of RFID tag circuit elements each having an IC circuit section for storing information and a tag antenna for transmitting and receiving information are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the tape. A tag tape roll manufacturing apparatus that manufactures a tag tape roll by winding around an axis orthogonal to the first one, wherein the tag tape roll manufacturing device is located at the end of the predetermined number of RFID tag circuit elements along the winding direction. 2 It has a writing means which writes the tag tape roll relevant information which can specify the said tag tape roll via radio | wireless communication in the said IC circuit part of a radio | wireless tag circuit element.

  In the tag tape roll manufacturing apparatus according to the eighth invention of the present application, a tag tape roll in which a predetermined number of RFID tag circuit elements are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the tarp by sequentially winding the tag tape around the axis in a roll shape. Manufacturing.

  At this time, the tag tape roll is wound by the writing means on the IC circuit portion of the second RFID circuit element as the last in the order along the winding direction in which the tag tape is wound in a roll shape as described above. Related information is written. As a result, when the tag tape roll is fed out, the second RFID tag circuit element is at the leading position along the feeding direction.

  As a result, when the RFID tape cartridge is manufactured by storing the tag tape roll, it is at the leading position in the feeding direction of the tag tape fed out as described above (= appears from the inside of the housing first when feeding out). ) The second RFID circuit element can be exposed outside the casing of the RFID tag cartridge. In this case, the RFID tag communication device reads the exposed second RFID tag circuit element (without transmitting / receiving information to / from each RFID tag circuit element inside the RFID tag cartridge) to acquire tag tape roll related information. Thus, based on this, it is possible to specify the RFID tag cartridge containing the tag tape roll and perform various management.

  That is, one of a plurality of RFID tag circuit elements included in the RFID tag cartridge itself is utilized, one RFID tag circuit element is exposed outside the casing of the RFID tag cartridge, and the RFID tag cartridge is managed by reading information. be able to. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably prevent an erroneous attachment as in the case where cartridge-related information is written in a separately prepared RFID tag circuit element and attached to the corresponding RFID tag cartridge. Therefore, since the one-to-one correspondence between the RFID tag cartridge and the RFID tag circuit element is reliably ensured without being disturbed, the manageability of the RFID tag cartridge can be improved.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention based on the eighth aspect, the writing means uses, as the tag tape roll-related information, cartridge-related information that can specify a wireless tag cartridge that houses and arranges the tag tape roll, and the second wireless tag circuit Writing into the IC circuit portion of the element is characterized.

  Accordingly, by reading the exposed second RFID tag circuit element (without performing information transmission / reception with each RFID tag circuit element inside the RFID tag cartridge) and acquiring cartridge related information, the RFID tag cartridge is It is possible to specify and perform various management.

  A tenth invention is the ninth invention, wherein the writing means includes, as the cartridge-related information, individual identification information of the RFID tag cartridge, tape type information, manufacturing factory information, manufacturing date, and destination information , At least one is written in the IC circuit portion of the second RFID circuit element.

  As a result, the RFID tag communication device reads the second RFID tag circuit element exposed to the outside of the cartridge casing, and the RFID tag cartridge tape type information (tape width, ink color, base color, cloth tape) Manufacturing information such as whether it is a strong adhesive type or a manufacturing plant / manufacturing date, and destination information can be easily acquired.

  According to the present invention, the manageability of the RFID tag cartridge can be improved.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a tag tape roll manufacturing apparatus 1 that manufactures a tag tape roll housed in the RFID tag cartridge of the present embodiment includes a first tape 200A (detailed structure will be described later) and a second tape 200B (detailed structure is described below). A base tape (tag tape) 210 is prepared by inserting a wireless tag Tg between the two tapes and bonding them together, and winding the base tape 210 to form a roll base tape. A roll (tag tape roll) 215 is manufactured. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 to be described later, the wireless tag Tg is a wireless tag circuit including an IC circuit unit 151 that stores information and a tag antenna 152 that is connected to the IC circuit unit 151 and transmits and receives information. An element To is provided.

  In the tag tape roll manufacturing apparatus 1, the first tape roll 211 around which the first tape 200A is wound, the first tape shaft drive motor 212 that drives the first tape roll 211, and the second tape 200B are wound around. Second tape roll 213, second tape shaft drive motor 214 that drives the second tape roll 213, and first tape 200A and second tape 200B fed out from the first and second tape rolls 211 and 213 The first and second tape rolls 211 and 213 provide the first and second tape rolls 211 and 213 by applying driving force to the bonding rollers 225A and 225B and the tapes 200A and 200B that are bonded together after the RFID circuit element To is inserted. And a driving-side conveying roller 219A and a driven-side conveying roller for feeding out the second tapes 200A and 200B 19B, a transport roller drive motor 220 for driving the drive-side transport roller 219A, and a base tape 210 generated by peeling a separator 209 (details will be described later) of the second tape 200B from the bonded tape and the separator 209 and guide rollers 240A and 240B for guiding them away from each other, the base tape roll 215 having a reel member (axis) 215a for winding the base tape 210, and a base tape for driving the reel member 215a A shaft drive motor 216, a separator roll 217 having a reel member 217a for winding the separator 209, and a separator shaft drive motor 218 for driving the reel member 217a are provided.

  Further, the tag tape roll manufacturing apparatus 1 is provided along the tape transport path of the first tape 200A between the first tape roll 211 and the bonding rollers 225A and 225B, and the tape transport direction of the first tape 200A that is fed out. The first dancer roller 221 provided so as to be able to advance and retreat in a crossing direction (in this example, orthogonal), and provided along the tape conveyance path of the base tape 210 between the guide rollers 240A and 240B and the base tape roll 215. The second dancer roller 222 provided so as to be able to advance and retreat in the intersecting direction that intersects the tape transport direction of the base tape 210 (orthogonal in this example), and the second between the second tape roll 213 and the bonding rollers 225A and 225B. Tape transport of the second tape 200B provided along the tape transport path of the two tapes 200B and fed out A third dancer roller 223 provided so as to be able to advance and retreat in a crossing direction (orthogonal in this example), and a separator 209 provided between the guide rollers 240A and 240B and the separator roll 217. The fourth dancer roller 224 provided so as to be capable of advancing and retreating in the intersecting direction intersecting with the tape transport direction 209 (orthogonal in this example) and the first to fourth dancer rollers 221 to 224 are respectively in the intersecting direction (in this example, the tape transport path). And air cylinders 262A, 262B, 262C, 262D that are advanced and retracted in the direction orthogonal to the direction).

  Furthermore, the tag tape roll manufacturing apparatus 1 is provided on the upstream side of the bonding rollers 225A and 225B, and the wireless tag circuit of the wireless tag Tg inserted between the first tape 200A and the second tape 200B to be bonded together. A tag checker 270 for inspecting the tag characteristics of the element To (here, the tag sensitivity of the RFID circuit element To) and determining whether or not the RFID circuit element To is normal, and the tag checker 270 are provided. The first tape antenna 271 that measures the tag sensitivity without contact with the RFID circuit element To and the RFID tag Tg attached to the second tape 200B are attached to the first tape 200A and the second tape 200B that are bonded together. A tag inserter 226 for disposing the wireless tag Tg at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction between the tape 200B and the transport rollers 219A, 219. A sensor 228 that optically detects the feed amount of the first tape 200A and the second tape 200B that are attached to each other, and an upstream side of the base tape roll 215, and is provided in the base tape 210. Cartridge-related information (to be described in detail later) that can identify the RFID tag cartridge 100 (see FIGS. 11 and 12 described later) that accommodates the base tape roll to be manufactured for the RFID circuit element To of the RFID tag Tg. A writing device (writing means) 274 for writing data, a second loop antenna 272 that is provided in the writing device 274 and performs wireless communication without contact with the RFID circuit element To, and downstream of the writing device 274 Provided on the side and necessary for obtaining one base tape roll 215 by winding the base tape 210 around the reel member 215a. A cutter 227 for cutting the base tape 210 to a fixed length (so-called small roll length), and provided in the vicinity of the downstream side of the conveying rollers 219A and 219B and the guide roller 240A, respectively. Each static elimination brush 280 which removes the static electricity which generate | occur | produced in 219B and the base-material tape 210, and the controller 230 are provided. The tag sensitivity is a combination of the sensitivity (minimum operable power) of the IC circuit 151 (chip) itself and the gain of the tag antenna 152.

  Furthermore, the tag tape roll manufacturing apparatus 1 outputs two modulated waves for outputting (writing or reading) the RFID circuit element To to each of the first loop antenna 271 and the second loop antenna 272. Transmitting circuits 32i and 32r, and two receiving circuits 33i and 33r for demodulating the response signals received from the RFID circuit element To via the first loop antenna 271 and the second loop antenna 272, respectively, and outputting them to the controller 230; Is provided. The first tape drive circuit 231 that controls the drive of the first tape shaft drive motor 212, the second tape drive circuit 232 that controls the drive of the second tape shaft drive motor 214, and the base material described above. A base tape drive circuit 233 that controls the drive of the tape shaft drive motor 216, a separator drive circuit 234 that controls the drive of the separator shaft drive motor 218, and a transport roller that controls the drive of the transport roller drive motor 220 described above. A drive circuit 235, a solenoid 236 that drives the cutter 227 to perform a cutting operation, and a solenoid drive circuit 237 that controls the solenoid 236 are provided. Furthermore, an on-off valve (not shown) controlled to an opening degree corresponding to an electric signal input from the controller 230, and an air cylinder using gas from a gas source (not shown) as a working gas having a pressure corresponding to the electric signal. The electropneumatic regulators 265A, 265B, 265C, and 265D functioning as electric-air conversion means for supplying the electric power to 262A, 262B, 262C, and 262D, and the open / close valves of the electropneumatic regulators 265A, 265B, 265C, and 265D, respectively. A regulator drive circuit (not shown) and a tension arm that supports the dancer rollers 221, 222, 223, and 224 rotatably at the tip thereof, and is rotatable about a rotation fulcrum by the air cylinders 262A, 262B, 262C, and 262D. 267A, 267B, 267C, 267 In this example, the angle sensor 268A is provided near the rotation fulcrum, and detects the tension of the corresponding tape 200A, 210, 200B, 209 by detecting the angle of the tension arm 267A, 267B, 267C, 267D. , 268B, 268C, 268D.

  In the first tape roll 211, the first tape 200A is wound around a reel member 211a driven by the first tape shaft drive motor 212. Similarly, in the second tape roll 213, the second tape 200B is wound around the reel member 213a driven by the second tape shaft drive motor 214. The base tape roll 215 is wound around the reel member 215a when the reel member 215a is driven by the base tape shaft drive motor 216. Similarly, in the separator roll 217, the reel member 217a is driven by the separator shaft drive motor 218, whereby the separator 209 is wound around the reel member 217a.

  Each of the air cylinders 262A to 262 includes a piston 262a and a cylinder body 262b, and the piston 262a included in the cylinder body 262b is advanced and retracted by the working gas supplied from the electropneumatic regulators 265A to 265D, respectively. As a result, the tension arms 267A to 267D connected to the piston 262a are rotated around the rotation fulcrum, thereby changing the positions of the dancer rollers 221, 222, 223, and 224, and the tension of the tapes 200A, 210, 200B, and 209. Is to control.

  As the advance / retreat actuator, a direct drive using electromagnetic force of a solenoid instead of the air cylinder 262, an electric motor (various motors including a linear motor or a pulse motor), or the like may be used.

  The sensor 228 includes a photo sensor including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, for example. The sensor 228 emits sensor light toward the second tape 200B bonded to the first tape 200A on the downstream side of the transport rollers 219A and 219B, and when the bonded tapes 200A and 200B pass, A predetermined marking provided in advance on the surface of the tape 200B at the arrangement pitch of the wireless tags Tg is detected. Thus, it is possible to detect whether or not the tape has been sent by the arrangement pitch of the wireless tag Tg (a detailed description is omitted because a known method is sufficient). A detection signal of the sensor 228 is input to the controller 230.

  The controller 230 is a so-called microcomputer and has a CPU, which is a central processing unit, and a memory 276 composed of a ROM, a RAM, and the like, although not shown in detail, and temporarily stores the RAM in the memory 276. The signal processing is performed according to a program stored in advance in the ROM while using the function.

  In the above configuration, the first tape 200A is fed from the first tape roll 211 mainly by the transport driving force of the transport rollers 219A and 219B, and is supplied to the bonding rollers 225A and 225B via the dancer roller 221. Similarly, the second tape 200B fed from the second tape roll 213 is also supplied to the bonding rollers 225A and 225B via the dancer roller 223 and the roller 273. Then, on the upstream side of the bonding rollers 225A and 225B, the wireless tag Tg is sequentially attached to the second tape 200B by the tag inserter 226, and then the first tape 200A and the wireless tag Tg are attached by the bonding rollers 225A and 225B. The second tape 200B thus bonded is pasted.

  Note that the tag attachment is a so-called intermittent conveyance drive system in which the conveyance drive of the first tape 200A and the second tape 200B is stopped and inserted when a predetermined insertion position with an equal interval is reached (at this time) Is controlled in accordance with the detection signal of the sensor 228). At this time, when the conveyance drive of the first tape 200A and the second tape 200B is stopped at a predetermined insertion position by this intermittent conveyance, the RFID tag Tg (RFID tag circuit element To) provided in the base tape 210 is used as the writing device. It is positioned in the vicinity (downstream access position) of the 274 loop antenna 272.

  The tape thus inserted and pasted with the wireless tag Tg is separated from the separator layer 200Bd provided in the second tape 200B in the guide rollers 240A and 240B located on the downstream side of the transport rollers 219A and 219B. 209 and a base tape 210 composed of other parts. The base tape 210 is wound around the reel member 215a and is cut by the cutter 227 when it reaches a predetermined length. On the other hand, the separator 209 is wound and collected by the reel member 217a. As a result, the base tape 210 in which a plurality of wireless tags Tg are sequentially formed in the longitudinal direction at predetermined equal intervals is wound around the reel member 215a, and the base tape roll 215 (that is, the tag tape roll) is manufactured. .

  Although not particularly illustrated, a separator layer 200Ad with a cut mark from the first tape 200A in the base tape 210 is disposed at an appropriate position (such as an upstream position of the writing device 274) in the tape transport path (FIG. 2A described later). You may provide the half cutter which cuts only a reference). In this way, it is possible to produce a base tape 210 in which only the separator layer with a cut mark 200Ad is cut and the other layers are not cut (continuous). In this case, when a RFID label having a predetermined length is produced by the tag label producing apparatus using the base tape 210, the above-mentioned is performed in the middle portion in the longitudinal direction (even if no half cut means is provided on the tag label producing apparatus side). An RFID label can be created in which only the corresponding separator layer is cut (= with a half-cut line). As a result, when the user uses the created RFID label, the separator layer can be easily peeled off from the half cut line, and the convenience of the user when using the label can be improved.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the first tape 200A has a four-layer cross-sectional structure in this example. That is, an adhesive layer 200Aa made of an appropriate adhesive material from the side wound around the outside of the first tape roll 211 (lower side in FIG. 2A) toward the opposite side (upper side in FIG. 2A). , A colored tape base material layer 200Ab made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), an adhesive material layer (adhesive layer) 200Ac made of an appropriate adhesive material, and a separator layer (release material layer) 200Ad in this order. . In addition, this separator layer 200Ad is made to be able to adhere to the product etc. by the adhesive layer 200Ac by peeling off the RFID tag label finally completed in the form of a label when it is attached to a predetermined product etc. It is.

  As shown in the cross-sectional structure of FIG. 2B, the wireless tag Tg is provided on a substantially sheet-like tag base 160 and on the back side of this tag base 160 (the lower side in FIG. 2B). IC chip holding member 161 including a tag antenna 152 that transmits and receives data and an IC circuit unit 151 (see FIG. 6 to be described later) that stores information renewably (rewritable) so as to be connected to the tag antenna 152. And. The tag antenna 152 and the IC circuit unit 151 constitute the RFID tag circuit element To of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (c), the second tape 200B has a four-layer cross-sectional structure in this example, and is on the opposite side (FIG. 2) from the side wound outward (upper side in FIG. 2 (c)). (C) Middle and lower side) Adhesive material layer 200Ba made of an appropriate adhesive material, colored tape base material layer 200Bb made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), etc., adhesive material layer 200Bc made of an appropriate adhesive material, separator The layers 200Bd are stacked in this order. The separator layer 200Bd is finally wound around the reel member 217a and collected as a separator roll 217.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the base tape 210 produced as described above has a wireless tag Tg inserted between the first tape 200A having the four-layer structure and the second tape 200B having the four-layer structure. After that, as described above, the separator layer 200Bd is wound and removed by the reel member 217a, so that a ten-layer structure is formed in this example. That is, the separator layer 200Ad, the adhesive material layer 200Ac, the tape base material layer 200Ab, and the adhesive material from the side wound on the outside of the reel member 215a (upper side in FIG. 3) to the opposite side (lower side in FIG. 3). The layer 200Aa, the tag base 160, the tag antenna 152, the IC chip holding member 161, the adhesive material layer 200Ba, the tape base material layer 200Bb, and the adhesive material layer 200Bc are laminated in this order.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the tag checker 270 and the writing device 274 of the tag tape roll manufacturing apparatus 1 access the RFID circuit element To (read / write) to each of the loop antennas 271 and 272, respectively. Transmitting circuits 32i and 32r for generating a carrier wave and modulating the carrier wave based on a control signal input from the controller 230, and response signals received from the RFID circuit element To via loop antennas 271 and 272, respectively. And receiving circuits 33i and 33r for outputting to the controller 230. The controller 230 performs carrier wave modulation control in the transmission circuits 32i and 32r and processing of signals demodulated by the reception circuits 33i and 33r.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the tag checker 270 and the transmission circuits 32i and 32r of the writing device 274 are connected to the non-grounded side of the loop antennas 271 and 272 grounded via the capacitor 310, and The receiving circuits 33i and 33r are connected to the ground side of the loop antennas 271 and 272.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the RFID circuit element To transmits and receives signals without contact with the loop antennas 271 and 272 of the tag checkers 270 and 274 on the tag tape roll manufacturing apparatus 1 side as described above. And the IC circuit portion 151 connected to the tag antenna 152.

  The IC circuit unit 151 includes a rectification unit 153 that rectifies the interrogation wave received by the tag antenna 152, a power supply unit 154 that accumulates the energy of the interrogation wave rectified by the rectification unit 153, and serves as a drive power source. A clock extraction unit 156 that extracts a clock signal from the interrogation wave received by the tag antenna 152 and supplies the clock signal to the control unit 155, a memory unit 157 that can store a predetermined information signal, and a modulation / demodulation connected to the tag antenna 152 And a control unit 155 for controlling the operation of the RFID circuit element To via the memory unit 157, the clock extraction unit 156, the modulation / demodulation unit 158, and the like.

  The modulation / demodulation unit 158 demodulates the interrogation waves received from the tag antenna 152 from the loop antennas 271 and 272 of the tag checkers 270 and 274 on the tag tape roll manufacturing apparatus 1 side, and returns the response from the control unit 155. The signal is modulated and transmitted as a response wave (a signal including a tag ID) from the tag antenna 152.

  The clock extraction unit 156 extracts a clock component from the received signal and supplies a clock corresponding to the frequency of the clock component of the received signal to the control unit 155.

  The control unit 155 interprets the received signal demodulated by the modulation / demodulation unit 158, generates a return signal based on the information signal stored in the memory unit 157, and sends the return signal to the tag antenna by the modulation / demodulation unit 158. Basic control such as control returned from 152 is executed.

  In the present embodiment, in order to perform the above operation, the control procedure shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, first, in step S105, it is determined whether or not the winding operation of the base tape 210 around the reel member 215a is completed. This determination is performed, for example, by determining whether or not an operator who has completed the winding operation has input an operation signal indicating that the winding operation has been completed via an operating unit (not shown). If the winding operation is completed, the determination is satisfied, and the routine goes to the next Step S110.

  In step S110, the pitch conveyance position number j indicating the number of times of conveyance of the pitch interval of the base tape 210 counted from the attachment of the first wireless tag Tg by the tag inserter 226 in the production of one base tape roll 215 is set to 1. Normal use for attaching to one base tape roll 215 with a pitch interval number N1 (described in detail later) between the attachment position of the wireless tag Tg and the subsequent writing position on the transport path of the base tape 210 as 10 The number N2 of wireless tags Tgn is initially set to 40, respectively. The tag tape roll manufacturing apparatus 1 of this example attaches 40 (= N2) wireless tags Tgn for normal use to one base tape roll 215 to be manufactured, and immediately after that, a management wireless tag (First RFID tag circuit element, second RFID tag circuit element) One Tgm is attached. In other words, the wireless tag Tgm for management is attached to the end of the roll-up direction (winding direction) of the base tape 210 with 41 wireless tags as one unit (predetermined number). The normal use wireless tag Tmn and the management wireless tag Tgm are collectively referred to as a wireless tag Tg.

  In the next step S115, the tape drive is started in response to an operation signal indicating the start of the production of the base tape 210 input through an operation means (not shown). That is, a control signal is output to the conveyance roller drive circuit 235, and the first tape 200A and the second tape 200B are driven out from the first tape roll 211 and the second tape roll 213 by the driving force of the conveyance roller drive motor 220. At the same time, control signals are also output to the first and second tape drive circuits 231 and 232, the base tape drive circuit 233, and the separator drive circuit 234, and the first and second tape shaft drive motors 212 and 214, The substrate tape shaft drive motor 216 and the separator shaft drive motor 218 are also driven. As a result, the first tape 200A is fed out from the first tape roll 211 and the second tape 200B is fed out from the second tape roll 213, and is bonded and integrated by the bonding rollers 225A and 225B. It is conveyed to the 219B side.

  Although not particularly described in this flow, when the tape drive is started in step S115, the first and second tape shaft drive motors 212 and 214, the base tape shaft drive motor 216, and the separator shaft While controlling the motor speed of the drive motor 218, the tension arms 267A-D are rotated by the air cylinders 262A-D, and each of the tapes at the time of tape conveyance calculated from the angles of the tension arms 267A-D detected by the angle sensors 268A-D is used. Tension control (hereinafter referred to as “drive tape tension control” as appropriate) is performed so that the tension of the tapes 200A, 200B, 209, and 210 has an appropriate value. This tape tension control during driving is always performed during tape driving.

  In the next step S120, it is determined whether or not the base tape 210 being wound by the reel member 215a has reached a predetermined winding end position. Specifically, after the attachment of the N2 (40 in this example) normal use wireless tag Tgn and one management wireless tag Tgm is completed, the base tape 210 is further wound up, whereby the management wireless It is determined whether the tape cutting position set on the upstream side in the tape transport direction of the tag Tgm has reached the arrangement position of the cutter 227. Since this determination is not satisfied immediately after the start of winding of the normal base tape roll 215, the process proceeds to the next step S125.

  In step S125, it is determined based on the detection signal from the sensor 228 whether or not the bonded first tape 200A and second tape 200B have been fed by a predetermined arrangement pitch of the wireless tag Tg. In other words, after one RFID tag Tg is inserted at a certain transport position (see step S145 described later), whether or not the next RFID tag Tg is to be inserted by further tape transport. Is to determine. This step S125 is repeated until the determination is satisfied, and when the determination is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S130.

  In step S130, the control signal is output again to the transport roller drive circuit 235, the drive of the transport roller drive motor 220 is stopped, and the first tape 200A and the second tape 200B from the first tape roll 211 and the second tape roll 213 are stopped. The feeding drive of is stopped. At this time, the first and second tape shaft drive motors 212 and 214, the base tape shaft drive motor 216, and the separator shaft drive motor 218 are automatically stopped by the tape tension control during driving.

  Although not particularly described in this flow, when stopping the tape drive in step S130, in order to prevent the tape from being displaced when the tape drive is stopped in this way. Tension control (hereinafter referred to as “tape tension control when stopped” as appropriate) so that the tension of the first tape 200A and the second tape 200B on the supply side is substantially equal to the tension of the base tape 210 and the separator 209 on the winding side. ”).

  In the next step S135, it is determined whether or not the management wireless tag Tgm attached to the end of the winding direction of the base tape roll 215 has reached the writing position by the writing device 274 at the subsequent stage. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the pitch conveyance position number j is equal to or greater than the total value of 1 which is the pitch interval number N1, the number N2 of normal use wireless tags Tgn, and the number of management wireless tags Tgm. To do.

  That is, the separation distance from the attachment position of the wireless tag Tg by the tag inserter 226 to the write position by the subsequent writing device 274 on the transport path of the base tape 210 is an integral multiple of the attachment pitch interval of the wireless tag Tg. In this example, it is 10 times (= number of pitch intervals N1). That is, when the first RFID tag Tg is attached by the tag inserter 226 and pitch conveyance is performed ten times (pitch conveyance position number j = pitch interval number N1), the first RFID tag Tg is written by the writing device 274 for the first time. The position is reached. Then, when the pitch conveyance is further performed (N2 + 1) times, the management wireless tag Tgm attached to the tail end of the base tape roll has reached the writing position by the writing device 274 at the subsequent stage.

  When the pitch transport position number j is less than the total value of 1 (j <N1 + N2 + 1), which is the pitch interval number N1, the number N2 of normal use RFID tags Tgn, and the number of management RFID tags Tgn, the determination is made. It is not satisfied and it is considered that the management wireless tag Tgm has not yet reached the writing position, and the process proceeds to the next step S140.

  In step S140, it is determined whether or not all of the wireless tags Tgn and Tgm necessary for creating one base tape roll 215 have been attached. Specifically, whether the pitch transport position number j, which increases with the attachment of the wireless tags Tgn, Tgm, exceeds the total value of 1 which is the number N2 of normal use wireless tags Tgn and the number of attachments of the management wireless tags Tgm. Determine whether.

  If the pitch transport position number j is less than the total value of 1 (j <N2 + 1), which is the number N2 of normal use wireless tags Tgn and the number of management wireless tags Tgm, the determination is not satisfied, that is, Since it is considered that the wireless tags Tgn and Tgm need to be attached, the process proceeds to the next step S200.

  In step S200, tag selection processing (see the flow of FIG. 8 described later) for selecting a wireless tag Tg having a normal tag sensitivity is performed by the tag checker 270 in the previous stage.

  After step S200, the process proceeds to step S145. In step S145, as described above, with the tape drive stopped at the predetermined tag insertion position, a control signal is output to the tag inserter 226, and the wireless tag circuit element To determined to be normal is provided with the wireless tag circuit element To. A tag Tg (j-th wireless tag Tg) is attached to the second tape 200B. At this time, if the tag sensitivity is normal as described above, the RFID tag Tg is not automatically attached (inserted), but a display for confirming whether or not to insert is displayed to the operator. The wireless tag Tg may be inserted only when the input instruction is made by the operator.

  In the next step S150, 1 is added to the pitch transport position number j indicating the number (order) of the RFID tag Tg attached by the tag inserter 226, and the process proceeds to the next step 155.

  In step S155, as in step S115, a control signal is output to the conveyance roller drive circuit 235, and the conveyance drive of the first tape 200A and the second tape 200B is resumed by the driving force of the conveyance roller drive motor 220. In this case as well, in the same manner as in step S115, the driving tape tension control is performed to adjust the tension of each of the tapes 200A, 200B, 209, 210 during the tape transport. And it returns to step S120 and repeats the same procedure.

  By repeating the above steps S120 to S155, after the first wireless tag Tg is attached to the base tape 210, the pitch conveyance position number j indicating how many times the pitch conveyance and the attachment of the wireless tag Tg are repeated. The value also increases. When the pitch transport position number j reaches N1 + N2 + 1, that is, the management wireless tag Tgm (the 41st wireless tag Tg in this example) attached to the tail end of the base tape roll is transferred by the writing device 274 at the subsequent stage. When the writing position is reached, the determination in the previous step S135 is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S300.

  In step S300, for the RFID circuit element To of the management RFID tag Tgm attached to the tail end of the base tape roll by the writing device 274 (the RFID tag Tg attached to the 41st in this example), The cartridge related information (in other words, tag tape roll related information that can specify the base tape roll 215) that can specify the wireless tag cartridge that houses the material tape roll is written and stored. The cartridge related information writing process will be described later. After step S300, the process proceeds to step S150.

  On the other hand, when the pitch transport position number j exceeds the total value of 1 which is the number N2 of normal use wireless tags Tgn and the number of management wireless tags Tgm attached in the determination of step S140, that is, one substrate. When all of the wireless tags Tgn and Tgm necessary for creating the tape roll are attached, the determination is satisfied, that is, it is considered that the attachment of the wireless tags Tgn and Tgm according to the procedures of Step S200 and Step S145 is not necessary, and Step S150 is performed as it is. Move on.

  While repeating step S120 to step S155 as described above, when the base tape 210 wound by the reel member 215a reaches a predetermined winding end position, the determination of the previous step S120 is satisfied, The process moves to step S160.

  In step S160, as in step S130, the control signal is output again to the transport roller drive circuit 235, the drive of the transport roller drive motor 220 is stopped, and the first tape from the first tape roll 211 and the second tape roll 213 is stopped. The feeding drive of 200A and the second tape 200B is stopped. At this time, as in step S130, the tension of the base tape 210 and the separator 209 on the winding side is the tension of the first tape 200A and the second tape 200B on the supply side when the tape drive is stopped. The tension control during stop is performed so that

  Thereafter, in step S165, a control signal is output to the solenoid drive circuit 237 to drive the solenoid 236, and the base tape 210 is cut (divided) using the cutter 227. Thereby, the base tape roll 215 around which the base tape 210 having a predetermined length is wound, that is, the tag tape roll is completed.

  The detailed procedure of the tag selection process in step S200 is shown in FIG. In the following, the tag inserter 226 and the tag checker 270 handle both the normal use wireless tag Tgn and the management wireless tag Tgm (they are the same in terms of hardware, and the order of attachment and writing by the writing device 274 are performed. The wireless tags Tgn and Tgm are simply referred to as a wireless tag T because the information to be received is different.

  In FIG. 8, first, in step S201, the tag checker 270 measures the tag sensitivity at the time of reading and writing of the RFID circuit element To of the RFID tag T attached by the tag inserter 226. The tag sensitivity of the RFID circuit element To is measured as follows. That is, first, the interrogation signal is read from the first loop antenna 271 to the transmission circuit 32i on the tag checker 270 side while the access power (output power amount) value for the RFID circuit element To is increased stepwise. Send to tag circuit element To and prompt reply. As a result, the tag sensitivity is calculated based on the access power when a response is received from the RFID circuit element To via the first loop antenna 271 and the reception circuit 33i on the tag checker 270 side. In this way, the tag sensitivity at the time of reading is calculated.

  Next, the tag sensitivity at the time of writing is measured. In the same manner as described above, the “Write” command signal is sent from the first loop antenna 271 to the transmission circuit 32i on the tag checker 270 side while increasing the access power (output power amount) value for the RFID circuit element To in a stepwise manner. A "Read" command signal for reading the written contents and transmitting the information is transmitted to prompt a reply. As a result, the tag sensitivity is calculated based on the access power when a response is received from the RFID circuit element To in response to the “Read” command signal. In this way, the tag sensitivity at the time of writing is calculated.

  In the next step S202, it is determined whether or not the tag sensitivity calculated in step S201 is within a predetermined normal range value. If the tag sensitivity is not within the normal range value, the determination is not satisfied and the routine goes to Step S203. In step S203, a control signal is output to the tag inserter 226 to prepare for attachment of the wireless tag T next to the wireless tag T having the wireless tag circuit element To determined to be abnormal. And it returns to previous step S201 and performs tag sensitivity measurement again. Note that the RFID tag T determined to be not normal is automatically ejected to the outside of the tag inserter 226 (or by the operation of the operator) and is not attached to the second tape 200B. On the other hand, if the tag sensitivity is within a predetermined normal range value, the determination in step S202 is satisfied and this routine is terminated.

  The detailed procedure of step S300 is shown in FIG. As described above, the procedure of step S300 is performed only for the management wireless tag Tgm attached to the tail end of the base tape roll.

  In FIG. 9, first, in step S305, a “Write” command signal including cartridge-related information to be written (to be described in detail later) is generated and transmitted to the RFID circuit element To to be written via the transmission circuit 32r and the loop antenna 272. Then, the information is written in the memory unit 157 of the RFID circuit element To.

  Thereafter, in step S310, a “Read” command signal for reading the contents of the memory unit 157 is generated and transmitted to the RFID circuit element To as a write target via the transmission circuit 32r and the antenna 272, and a reply is prompted.

  Then, the process proceeds to step S315, where the reply (response) signal transmitted (returned) from the RFID circuit element To in response to the “Read” command signal is received via the antenna 272 and taken in via the receiving circuit 33r. .

  Next, in step S320, based on the reception result in step S315, the information stored in the memory unit 157 of the RFID circuit element To is confirmed, and the transmitted cartridge-related information is normally stored in the memory unit 157. It is determined whether or not it has been stored.

  If the cartridge related information is not normally stored, the determination in step S320 is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S325, 1 is added to N, and it is further determined in step S330 whether N = 5. If N ≦ 4, the determination is not satisfied and the routine returns to step S305 and the same procedure is repeated. If N = 5, the process proceeds to step S335. In step S335, an error display signal is output to a predetermined display means (not shown), a corresponding writing failure (error) display is performed, and this routine is terminated. As described above, even if information writing is not successful, retry is performed up to five times, so that the writing reliability can be ensured and the completeness can be ensured.

  On the other hand, if the cartridge related information has been stored normally, the determination in step S320 is satisfied, and the routine goes to step S340. In step S340, a lock command signal for prohibiting subsequent information writing is generated and transmitted to the RFID circuit element To as the information writing target via the transmission circuit 32r, and new information to the RFID circuit element To is generated. Writing is prohibited. As a result, the writing of the cartridge related information to the RFID circuit element To to be written is completed, and this routine is finished.

  Although not specifically described above, normally, when starting the manufacturing work of the base tape roll for the first time, the base tape 210 of the base tape 210 by the reel member 215a is started from the attachment position of the wireless tag T by the tag inserter 226. There is a blank portion (in this example, the length of 10 wireless tag T attachments) where the wireless tag T cannot be attached until the winding position. With respect to the margin part, when the position where the margin part ends (slightly downstream position in the tape transport direction at the position where the wireless tag T is first attached) comes to the cutter 227, by cutting with the cutter 227, It is to be excised. Thereafter, when the base tape 210 from which the blank portion has been cut is wound around the reel member 215a, the determination in step S105 of FIG. 7 is satisfied, and the base tape roll 215 is manufactured according to the procedure after step S110. It starts and repeats step S120 to step S155.

  Now, as described above, the most significant feature of the present embodiment is that the RFID tag circuit element of the management RFID tag Tgm attached to the tail end of the backing tape 210 conveyed in the production of one backing tape roll 215. The To-related IC circuit unit 151 is made to store and hold cartridge-related information that can identify the RFID tag cartridge that houses the base tape roll by writing with the writing device 274 according to the control procedure of step S300. It is. That is, each time the base tape roll 215 including 40 normal-use radio tags Tgn and management radio tags Tgm is created as described above, the radio tag cartridge in which each base tape roll 215 is accommodated. Are associated in advance, and the cartridge related information related to the RFID tag cartridge is written into the management RFID tag Tgm (prior to cartridge storage).

  An example of cartridge-related information stored and held in the RFID circuit element To of the management RFID tag Tgm is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, cartridge individual identification information such as a cartridge serial number that can uniquely identify an individual RFID tag cartridge, a manufacturing lot number given at the time of manufacturing each RFID tag cartridge, and a base tape roll The name of the manufacturing factory when the tag tape roll manufacturing apparatus 1 is manufactured, the identification number / specification information of the tag tape roll manufacturing apparatus 1, or the manufacturing factory name when the wireless tag cartridge that stores the base tape roll is manufactured Manufacturing factory information such as identification number / specification information of the cartridge manufacturing apparatus (not shown), manufacturing date of the base tape roll, manufacturing date of the RFID tag cartridge, etc. Information, which model of tag label creation device that creates RFID label labels, or specifications for which country or region Or corresponding to the model, or whether it is one that corresponds to the model of the specification of a particular delivery destination customers, there is a destination information, and the like and the like. Alternatively, tape type information such as the tape width of the base tape 210, the ink color, the base color, the cloth tape, or the strong adhesion type may be considered. At least one of these various types is written in the management wireless tag Tgm as the cartridge-related information.

  The base tape roll provided with the management RFID tag Tgm for storing the cartridge related information as described above is stored and distributed in a form housed in the RFID tag cartridge as described above. The RFID tag cartridge is attached to the cartridge holder of the tag label producing apparatus, whereby the base tape 210 is fed out of the cartridge, and the RFID tag label is produced. An example of the appearance of such a RFID tag cartridge is shown in FIG. 11, and an example of the internal structure of the RFID tag cartridge is shown in FIG.

  11 and 12, the RFID tag cartridge 100 has a housing 100A having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and is fed out from a base tape roll (see FIG. 12) built in one corner. A tape discharge port 100Aa for discharging the base tape 210 is formed. In the casing 100A, the base tape roll 102 (= tag tape roll; equivalent to the base tape roll 215 described above) around which the belt-like base tape 210 is wound. However, it is simplified and shown as a concentric circle), a print-receiving tape roll 104 around which a transparent cover film (print-receiving tape) 103 having the same width as the base tape 210 is wound, and an ink ribbon 105 (thermal transfer ribbon, but not necessary when the cover film is a thermal tape), a ribbon supply side roll 111, a ribbon take-up roller 106 for winding the ribbon 105 after printing, the base tape 210, and the cover film 103 And tape-feed in the direction indicated by the arrow A while being used as a tag label tape 110 with print (= as a tape feed roller) Functional) and pressure roller 107 is disposed.

  The print-receiving tape roll 104 has the cover film 103 wound around a reel member 104a. The cover film 103 fed out from the print-receiving tape roll 104 is a ribbon 105 driven by a ribbon supply side roll 111 and a ribbon take-up roller 106 disposed on the back side thereof (that is, the side to be bonded to the base tape 210). However, it is brought into contact with the back surface of the cover film 103 by being pressed by the print head 10 of the tag label producing apparatus (the whole is not shown).

  The ribbon take-up roller 106 and the pressure roller 107 are driven by a driving force of a cartridge motor (not shown) (for example, a pulse motor) provided on the tag label producing apparatus side. By being transmitted to the roller drive shaft 12, it is rotationally driven.

  In the RFID tag cartridge 100 configured as described above, the base tape 210 fed out from the base tape roll 102 is supplied to the pressure roller 107. On the other hand, the cover film 103 fed out from the print-receiving tape roll 104 is driven by a ribbon supply side roll 111 and a ribbon take-up roller 106 arranged on the back side thereof (that is, the side to be bonded to the base tape 210). The ink ribbon 105 is brought into contact with the back surface of the cover film 103 by being pressed by the print head 10.

  When the RFID tag cartridge 100 is mounted on the cartridge holder portion of the label producing apparatus and a roll holder (not shown) is moved from the separation position to the contact position, the cover film 103 and the ink ribbon 105 are moved between the print head 10 and the platen roller. The base tape 210 and the cover film 103 are sandwiched between the pressure roller 107 and the sub-roller 109. The ribbon take-up roller 106 and the pressure roller 107 are rotationally driven in synchronization with the directions indicated by the arrows B and D by the driving force of the cartridge motor 23, respectively. At this time, the tape feed roller drive shaft 12 is connected to the sub roller 109 and the platen roller 108 by a gear (not shown), and as the tape feed roller drive shaft 12 is driven, the pressure roller 107, the sub roller 109, Then, the platen roller 108 rotates, and the base tape 210 is fed out from the base tape roll 102 and supplied to the pressure roller 107 as described above. On the other hand, the cover film 103 is fed out from the print-receiving tape roll 104, and a plurality of heating elements of the print head 10 are energized by the print drive circuit 25. As a result, the print R is printed on the back surface of the cover film 103. Then, the base tape 210 and the cover film 103 after the printing are bonded and integrated by the pressure roller 107 and the sub-roller 109 to form a printed tag label tape 110, which is wireless in the direction indicated by the arrow C. It is carried out of the tag cartridge 100. The ink ribbon 105 that has finished printing on the cover film 103 is taken up by the ribbon take-up roller 106 by driving the ribbon take-up roller drive shaft 11.

  Then, the IC of the RFID circuit element To from the antenna (not shown) provided on the tag label producing apparatus side with respect to the RFID circuit element To provided on the tag label tape 110 with print carried out of the RFID tag cartridge 100 is provided. Information is transmitted to and received from the circuit unit 151 via wireless communication, and a wireless tag label is created.

  As described above, the RFID label is created by the bonding structure (so-called laminate type) of the cover film 103 and the base tape 210, so that after the cover film 103 is attached, the printing surface becomes the back side and the front side. Therefore, it is possible to realize printing with excellent aesthetics and durability without being stained or fading.

  The RFID cartridge 100 according to the present embodiment having the above-described configuration has, as its greatest feature, the leading position in the feeding direction of the built-in first tape roll 102 (that is, the last position along the winding direction at the time of roll manufacture). And the base tape 210 in a predetermined area including the same are exposed to the outside of the housing 100A from the tape outlet 100Aa (see FIG. 11). In other words, when the base tape roll 215 including 40 normal-use radio tags Tgn and one management radio tag Tgm is created in the tag tape roll manufacturing apparatus 1 described above, the base tape 210 is first set in advance. It is slightly pulled out from the tape roll 102 and exposed to the outside of the housing 100A from the tape discharge port 100Aa (the management wireless tag Tgm is at the head in the feed-out direction, so that the tape can be easily pulled out and exposed). In this state, the base tape roll 215 is accommodated in the wireless tag cartridge 100.

  As a result, when handling the RFID tag cartridge 100, cartridge-related information stored and held in the management RFID tag Tgm disposed exposed outside the casing 100A is separately stored in the RFID tag communication device (reader). And can be read easily. Note that, as in the example shown in the figure, various information may be printed on the surface of the base tape 210 in the arrangement area of the management wireless tag Tgm so that it can be visually confirmed. The information to be printed is not limited to the contents of the cartridge-related information, and corresponds to the number of normal use wireless tags Tgn (40 in this example) initially provided in the built-in base tape roll, for example, as shown in the example in the figure. Information such as the number of RFID tag labels that can be created (“40 sheets” in the illustrated example) may be printed.

  And when producing a RFID label using the base tape 210 equipped with the normal use RFID tag Tgn, the RFID tag cartridge 100 containing the substrate tape roll is used, and the RFID tag cartridge 100 is used as a tag label producing device. Install (as described above) and create label. In that case, before mounting on the tag label producing apparatus, the base tape 210 in the region corresponding to the management wireless tag Tgm is cut and removed (further, the portion including the cut management wireless tag Tgm is added to the housing 100A. You may make it stick).

  As described above, in the wireless tag cartridge 100 of the present embodiment, cartridge-related information is stored in the IC circuit portion 151 of the wireless tag circuit element To of the management wireless tag Tm exposed outside the housing 100A. . Thereby, the RFID tag communication device reads the exposed management RFID tag Tgm (without performing information transmission / reception with each RFID circuit element To in the RFID tag cartridge 100) to acquire cartridge related information. Thus, the RFID tag cartridge 100 can be identified (for example, by the manufacturing information and the destination information), and various management such as inventory management and distribution management can be easily performed.

  That is, the wireless tag cartridge 100 is managed by using the wireless tag Tgm for management that was inside the wireless tag cartridge 100 and exposing it to the outside of the housing 100A to read information. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of a mounting error such as when cartridge-related information is written in the RFID circuit element To prepared separately from the RFID tag cartridge 100 and attached to the corresponding RFID tag cartridge 100. As a result, the one-to-one correspondence between the RFID tag cartridge 100 and the RFID tag circuit element To of the management RFID tag Tgm is reliably guaranteed without being disturbed, so that the manageability of the RFID tag cartridge 100 can be improved. it can.

  In the present invention, the RFID label to be produced is not limited to this laminate type, and for example, it may be applied to a so-called non-laminate type in which printing is not performed directly on the surface of a base tape. An example of the internal structure of such a non-laminate type RFID tag cartridge 100 'is shown in FIG. FIG. 13 corresponds to FIG.

  The difference between the non-laminate type shown in FIG. 13 and the laminate type shown in FIG. 12 is that the print head 10 is applied to the surface of the base tape 210 '(tag tape) fed out from the base tape roll 102' (tag tape roll). The point is that the ribbon 105 is in direct contact with the pressing of printing to perform printing.

  In order to enable such printing, the adhesive material layer 200Bc (see FIG. 3) is omitted from the base tape 210 ′ used, and the adhesive material layer 200Bc (see FIG. 2) is also applied to the second tape 200B. Is omitted. Moreover, in the structure shown in FIG. 13, since the surface of the inner peripheral side of the base tape roll (the left side or the upper side of the base tape 210 ′ in FIG. 13) is the printing surface, the base tape roll 102 of the above embodiment is used. The relationship between the base tape 210 and the front and back sides is reversed. About another structure, it is equivalent to embodiment shown by the said FIG. 12, The corresponding code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted. Also in this modification, the same effect as described above is obtained.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 14, a predetermined area (an area corresponding to one RFID tag) including the management RFID tag Tgm exposed outside the housing 100 </ b> A is separated from other areas of the base tape. Alternatively, it may be attached to the surface (outer periphery) of the housing 100A. Thereby, a cartridge-related information recording unit can be constructed in a form completely independent from the base tape 210 housed in the housing 100A (for example, as the management RFID label Tm shown in the figure). As a result, cartridge-related information can be acquired more easily by the wireless tag communication device.

  In this case, in particular, the sticking is performed by utilizing the adhesive material layer 200Ac (see FIG. 3) provided on the base tape 210 for sticking the RFID label after creation. Thus, the management RFID tag Tm can be reliably attached to the surface of the housing 100A simply by separating the predetermined area including the management RFID tag Tgm from other areas.

  In the label production work by the tag label production device described above, the tape label that has been printed and accessed (read or written) to the RFID circuit element To is cut with a cutter to produce a tag label. However, the present invention is not limited to this. . That is, when a label mount (so-called die-cut label) previously separated into a predetermined size corresponding to the label is continuously arranged on the tape fed out from the roll, the tape can be cut without being cut with a cutter. After the label has been discharged from the discharge port of the tag label producing apparatus, only the label mount (the one with the already accessed RFID circuit element To and the corresponding print printed) is peeled off from the tape to create the RFID label. .

  Further, the present invention is not limited to reading or writing RFID tag information from the IC circuit unit 151 of the RFID circuit element To and printing for identifying the RFID circuit element To by the print head 10. This printing does not necessarily have to be performed, and the present invention can also be applied to those that only read or write the RFID tag information.

  Note that, in the above, the arrows shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 6, etc. show an example of the signal flow, and do not limit the signal flow direction.

  The flowcharts shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9 and the like do not limit the present invention to the procedure shown in the above flow, and the addition / deletion or order of the procedures within the scope of the gist and technical idea of the invention. May be changed.

  In addition to those already described above, the methods according to the above-described embodiments and modifications may be used in appropriate combination.

  In addition, although not illustrated one by one, the present invention is implemented with various modifications within a range not departing from the gist thereof.

It is a conceptual diagram showing the whole schematic structure of the tag tape roll manufacturing apparatus which manufactures the tag tape roll accommodated in the wireless tag cartridge of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram showing the whole schematic structure. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line P-P in FIG. 1 representing the detailed cross-sectional structure of the first tape, a cross-sectional view taken along the line Q-Q in FIG. 1 representing the detailed cross-sectional structure of the wireless tag, and the detailed cross-sectional structure of the second tape. It is a cross-sectional view by the RR cross section in FIG. It is a cross-sectional view by the SS cross section in FIG. 1 showing the detailed cross-section of the base tape produced with the tag assembly manufacturing apparatus. It is a functional block diagram showing the functional structure regarding the access (write or read) function to a radio | wireless tag circuit element among the functions of a tag tape manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram schematically illustrating a circuit configuration of a connection portion between a transmission circuit, a reception circuit, and a loop antenna of the tag checker and the writing device illustrated in FIG. 4. It is a functional block diagram showing the functional structure of a wireless tag circuit element. It is a flowchart showing the control procedure performed with the controller with which the tag tape manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 1 is equipped. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of the tag selection process of step S200 in FIG. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of the cartridge related information writing process of step S300 in FIG. 10 is a table showing some examples of cartridge-related information to be stored and held in the RFID circuit element by the writing process in step S300 of FIG. 9. It is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of a wireless tag cartridge. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the internal structure of the wireless tag cartridge with which a tag label production apparatus is equipped. It is explanatory drawing showing the modification internal structure of the RFID tag cartridge applied to a non-laminate type. It is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the other modification of a wireless tag cartridge.

Explanation of symbols

1 Tag tape roll manufacturing equipment 100 cartridge (wireless tag cartridge)
100A housing 103 cover film (printed tape)
104 Second roll (printed tape roll)
151 IC circuit part 152 Tag antenna 200Ac Adhesive layer (adhesive layer)
210 Base material tape (tag tape)
215 Base material tape roll (tag tape roll)
215a Reel member (axial center)
230 controller 270 tag checker 271 first loop antenna 272 second loop antenna 274 writing device (writing means)
Tgn Normal use wireless tag Tgm Management wireless tag To wireless tag circuit element (first wireless tag circuit element, second wireless tag circuit element)

Claims (10)

A tag tape having a plurality of RFID tag circuit elements each having an IC circuit unit for storing information and a tag antenna for transmitting and receiving information;
A wireless tag cartridge having a housing for accommodating the tag tape in a payable manner,
Cartridge-related information capable of specifying the RFID tag cartridge is stored in the IC circuit portion of the first RFID tag circuit element located at the head of the RFID tag circuit elements in the extending direction. A wireless tag cartridge. The wireless tag cartridge according to claim 1,
The housing is
A tag tape roll in which the tag tape is wound around an axis perpendicular to the tape longitudinal direction is accommodated, and the plurality of RFID tag circuit elements can be sequentially fed with the rotation of the tag tape roll. The wireless tag cartridge characterized by the above-mentioned. The wireless tag cartridge according to claim 2, wherein
The housing is
A print-receiving tape roll in which a print-receiving tape to be bonded to the tag tape is wound around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tape; A wireless tag cartridge, wherein the wireless tag cartridge is configured to be attached to a tape so as to be fed out. The wireless tag cartridge according to claim 2 or 3,
The first RFID tag circuit element includes:
The RFID tag cartridge, wherein at least one of the individual identification information, the tape type information, the manufacturing factory information, the manufacturing date, and the destination information of the RFID tag cartridge is stored in the IC circuit unit. . The wireless tag cartridge according to claim 4, wherein
A wireless tag cartridge, wherein a predetermined area including the first RFID circuit element in the tag tape is exposed to the outside of the casing, and the other area is accommodated in the casing. The wireless tag cartridge according to claim 4, wherein
A wireless tag cartridge, wherein a predetermined region including the first wireless tag circuit element is separated from other regions of the tag tape and attached to the housing. The wireless tag cartridge according to claim 6, wherein
The tag tape is
It has a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer for pasting on the object to be pasted,
A RFID tag cartridge, wherein a predetermined region including the first RFID tag circuit element is attached to a surface of the casing via the adhesive layer. A tag tape on which a predetermined number of RFID tag circuit elements each having an IC circuit unit for storing information and a tag antenna for transmitting and receiving information is arranged is wound around an axis perpendicular to the tape longitudinal direction, and the tag A tag tape roll manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a tape roll,
Of the predetermined number of RFID tag circuit elements, tag tape roll related information that can identify the tag tape roll is wirelessly transmitted to the IC circuit portion of the second RFID tag circuit element located at the end along the winding direction. A tag tape roll manufacturing apparatus comprising a writing means for writing via communication. In the tag tape roll manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8,
The writing means includes
As the tag tape roll related information, cartridge related information capable of specifying the RFID tag cartridge storing and arranging the tag tape roll is written in the IC circuit portion of the second RFID tag circuit element. Manufacturing equipment. In the tag tape roll manufacturing apparatus according to claim 9,
The writing means includes
As the cartridge related information, at least one of the individual identification information, tape type information, manufacturing factory information, manufacturing date, and destination information of the RFID tag cartridge is used as the IC circuit of the second RFID tag circuit element. The tag tape roll manufacturing apparatus characterized by writing in a part.

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