JP6744883B2 - RFID medium read/write verification device and read/write verification method thereof - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a read/write verification device for an RFID medium and a read/write verification method therefor, and more particularly to a read/write verification device for an RFID medium and a read/write verification method for the same, to which RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology is applied. It is a thing.

Conventionally, an RFID medium such as an RFID tag or an RFID label, which has an IC chip and an RFID antenna and is capable of wireless data communication, exchanges various medium data with an apparatus antenna in a reader/writer (RFID medium reading/writing apparatus). It is used in various management systems by performing read processing and write processing.
The RFID medium is transferred on the transfer path as a strip-shaped continuous body including a plurality of sheets or as a sheet-like member including a plurality of sheets, and the medium data is read/written at the portion of the device antenna (wireless data communication). By carrying out (), a large number of RFID media can be processed at high speed.

However, it is necessary to ensure that it is possible to quickly, properly and surely deal with the case where an error occurs in the read/write processing when trying to process a large number of RFID media at high speed. Is.
That is, it is required to quickly verify whether or not the read/write processing is normal and, in the unlikely event that an error occurs, the occurrence of trouble due to this error should be minimized.

JP, 9-254501, A

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an RFID medium read/write verifying device and a reading/writing device that can quickly verify whether or not the process of reading/writing medium data to/from an RFID medium was normal. The challenge is to provide a verification method.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an RFID medium read/write verification device and a read/write verification method capable of processing a large number of RFID media at high speed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an RFID medium read/write verifying apparatus and a read/write verifying method which can easily cope with an error in the read/write processing of medium data to/from the RFID medium.

That is, the present invention focuses on providing a plurality of device antennas along the transfer path of the RFID medium and providing a device antenna (data verification unit) for verifying the medium data. A read/write verification device for an RFID medium, which has an IC chip and an RFID antenna and is capable of wireless data communication, and is capable of transferring the RFID medium along a transfer path from an upstream side to a downstream side. , A data reading/writing unit having a first device antenna, a second device antenna, and a third device antenna, which are sequentially provided on the transfer path from the upstream side to the downstream side, and the downstream side of the third device antenna. And a data verifying unit having a fourth device antenna provided on the downstream side of the printing unit, the first device antenna, the second device antenna, and the third device antenna. While transferring the RFID medium to the transfer path between the device antenna and the RFID medium, it is possible to sequentially perform reading and writing of the medium data by the wireless data communication. A read/write verification device for an RFID medium, which is capable of printing corresponding print data on the RFID medium and reading the medium data from the RFID medium by the fourth device antenna to perform verification thereof. Is.

A second invention is a read/write verification method for an RFID medium having an IC chip and an RFID antenna and capable of wireless data communication, wherein the RFID medium is transferred from an upstream side to a downstream side along a transfer path thereof. Between the RFID medium and a data reading/writing unit that has a first device antenna, a second device antenna, and a third device antenna that are transferred and are sequentially provided on the transfer path from the upstream side to the downstream side. Then, while the RFID medium is being transferred to the transfer path, the reading and writing of the medium data by the wireless data communication are sequentially executed, and the medium data is read by the printing unit provided on the downstream side of the third device antenna. In addition to printing the corresponding print data on the RFID medium, the data verifying unit having a fourth device antenna provided on the downstream side of the printing unit reads the medium data from the RFID medium and verifies it. It is a characteristic read/write verification method for an RFID medium.

The RFID medium may be arranged in a plurality of rows along the width direction of the transfer path and may be supplied to the transfer path.

The RFID medium can be supplied to the transfer path in a form in which a plurality of the RFID media are collectively arranged for each unit sheet.

The first device antenna may be capable of reading the unique identification number of the RFID medium.

The second device antenna may be capable of writing the medium data on the RFID medium.

The third device antenna may be capable of writing the medium data on the RFID medium.

The fourth device antenna may be capable of reading the medium data written in the RFID medium for each unit sheet.

The first device antenna and the second device antenna may be provided with a plurality of them in accordance with the plurality of rows of the RFID medium.

The third device antenna and the fourth device antenna may be provided as a single antenna capable of performing the wireless data communication with each of the RFID media in the plurality of rows.

An image reading unit capable of reading the print data by the printing unit may be provided between the printing unit and the fourth device antenna.

The print data by the printing unit may include medium display data on the RFID medium for displaying each RFID medium visually or optically identifiable.

The RFID medium is a form in which a plurality of unit sheets are collectively arranged for each unit sheet, and it is possible to supply this to the transfer path, and the print data by the printing unit is the unit sheets of the RFID medium. It can include sheet data that can be specified.

The RFID medium is a form in which a plurality of sheets are collected for each unit sheet, and is capable of being supplied to the transfer path, and the image reading unit displays the medium display data on the RFID medium by the printing unit. It can be readable for each unit sheet of the RFID medium.

A die-cutting section can be provided on the downstream side of the image reading section.

The die-cutting unit can perform die-cutting capable of identifying the RFID medium when the reading of the unique identification number of the RFID medium by the first device antenna is not normal.

When the writing of the medium data to the RFID medium by the second device antenna or the third device antenna is not normal, the die-cutting unit can perform die-cutting that can identify the RFID medium. it can.

In the RFID medium read/write verification device and the read/write verification method according to the present invention, a plurality of device antennas (first, second and third device antennas) for reading and writing medium data are provided along a transfer path of the RFID medium. ) And a device antenna for verifying the medium data (fourth device antenna) are provided, so whether the reading and writing process of the medium data is normal as well as the reading process and the writing process of the medium data in the transfer path of the RFID medium. Whether or not it can be verified quickly and a large number of RFID media can be processed at high speed.

Particularly, according to the RFID medium read/write verification device of the first invention, the first device antenna, the second device antenna, and the third device which are sequentially provided in the transfer path of the RFID medium from the upstream side to the downstream side. An antenna and a fourth device antenna provided on the downstream side of the printing unit are provided, and a transfer path is provided between the first device antenna, the second device antenna, or the third device antenna and the RFID medium. Since it is possible to sequentially read and write the medium data by wireless data communication while transferring the RFID medium to the device, and read the medium data at the fourth device antenna to perform the verification, the medium to the RFID medium can be read. The data can be read and written more reliably and at high speed, and when an error occurs, it can be dealt with immediately.

Particularly, according to the RFID medium read/write verification method of the second invention, the first device antenna, the second device antenna, or the third device antenna, which are sequentially provided on the transfer path from the upstream side to the downstream side, are provided. While the RFID medium is transferred to the transfer path between the RFID medium and the RFID medium, reading and writing of the medium data by wireless data communication can be sequentially executed, and the medium is provided in the fourth device antenna provided on the downstream side of the printing unit. Since the data is read and the verification is performed, the medium data to the RFID medium can be read and written more reliably and at high speed, and the error can be immediately dealt with.

1 is a schematic side view of an RFID medium read/write verification device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the RFID medium reading/writing verification device 1. FIG. 6 is a flowchart diagram of a read/write verification method of the RFID medium 14 of the same.

According to the present invention, a plurality of device antennas for reading/writing the medium data are provided along with the transfer path of the RFID medium, and a device antenna for verifying the medium data is provided. Thus, an RFID medium read/write verification apparatus and its read/write verification method capable of processing a large number of RFID media at high speed have been realized.

An RFID medium read/write verification apparatus 1 and a read/write verification method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an RFID medium read/write verification device 1, and FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the RFID medium read/write verification device 1. The RFID medium read/write verification device 1 includes a supply unit 2. The data reading/writing unit 3, the printing unit 4, the image reading unit 5, the data verification unit 6, the die cutting unit 7, the stacking unit 8, and the control unit 9.

The supply unit 2 holds the RFID medium continuous paper 10 in the form of fan-hold paper in a folded and stacked state, and enables the RFID medium continuous body 10 to be fed in a strip shape onto the transfer path 11 in the read/write verification device 1.
The RFID medium continuum 10 has perforations 13 formed at predetermined intervals on the sheet body 12 and can be separated as unit sheets 10A. A plurality of sheets (10 rows in the example shown in FIG. 2 in each unit sheet 10A) can be separated. , A total of 30 vertically arranged three rows) of RFID media 14 are arranged.
Further, the transfer holes 15 are formed on both left and right edges of the sheet main body 12 at a predetermined pitch, respectively, and position detection marks (not shown) are printed in advance on the back surface side thereof.

As shown in an enlarged plan view of a part of FIG. 2, the RFID medium 14 has an IC chip 17 provided at a substantially central position on the medium film 16 and a band (for example, UHF band) connected to the IC chip 17 ( The RFID antenna 18 is used at 300 MHz to 3 GHz), and wireless data communication (data reading/writing processing) is possible with the data reading/writing unit 3.
By appropriately designing the IC chip and the RFID antenna, the IC chip and the RFID antenna can be used in other frequency bands such as microwave (1 to 30 GHz) or HF band (3 MHz to 30 MHz).

In the illustrated example, the RFID medium 14 can be supplied to the transfer path 11 in a form in which a plurality of the sheets are collectively arranged for each unit sheet 10A, but the perforation 13 is formed in the RFID medium continuum 10. Without (i.e., the RFID medium 14 is not the unit sheet 10A), it is in the form of continuous strip members that are still arranged in a plurality of rows along the width direction of the transfer path 11 or as independent single-leaf sheet paper. Can also be supplied to the transfer path 11.

In the transfer path 11, a transfer mechanism such as a sprocket that engages with the transfer hole 15 and a position detection mark sensor (not shown) are provided, and the RFID medium 14 (RFID medium continuum 10 ) Can be transferred from the upstream side to the downstream side along the transfer path 11.

The data reading/writing unit 3 has a first device antenna 19, a second device antenna 20, and a third device antenna 21, which are sequentially provided on the transfer path 11 from the upstream side to the downstream side, It enables wireless data communication with the RFID medium 14 by a reader/writer (not shown) connected to each.

The first device antenna 19 can read the unique identification number given at the manufacturing stage of each RFID medium 14.
The second device antenna 20 can write various kinds of article information or article information (not shown) to which the RFID medium 14 is attached and other necessary medium data in the RFID medium 14 (IC chip 17).
Similarly, the third device antenna 21 can write the medium data to the RFID medium 14, and performs the write operation again when the writing process by the second device antenna 20 is not normal.

The first device antenna 19 and the second device antenna 20 are provided with a plurality (10 in the illustrated example) of the RFID medium 14 in accordance with the plurality of rows. However, as shown in FIG. 2, the respective first device antennas 19 and second device antennas 20 are arranged in the transfer direction of the RFID medium continuum 10 alternately on the upstream side and the downstream side, respectively, with slight offsets. By doing so (so-called staggered arrangement), these can be compactly arranged in a limited space.
The third device antenna 21 is provided as a single antenna capable of wireless data communication with each of the RFID media 14 by covering the RFID media 14 in a plurality of rows over the entire width direction from above in the drawing. There is.
Thus, the RFID medium 14 is transferred to the transfer path 11 between the first device antenna 19, the second device antenna 20 or the third device antenna 21, and the RFID medium 14 in the data reading/writing unit 3. It is possible to sequentially read and write medium data by wireless data communication.

The printing unit 4 is provided on the downstream side of the third device antenna 21, and a printer according to an arbitrary printing method having a predetermined printing speed, for example, a laser printer 22 (or an inkjet printer or the like) can be adopted.
In the printing unit 4, print data corresponding to the medium data stored in the IC chip 17 of the RFID medium continuum 10 is printed on the RFID medium 14.
The print data by the printing unit 4 includes medium display data on the RFID medium 14 for visually identifying each RFID medium 14 or optically identifying the RFID medium 14 by a barcode or a two-dimensional code.
Further, when a plurality of the RFID media 14 are collected for each unit sheet 10A and can be supplied to the read/write verification device 1 (transfer path 11), the print data by the printing unit 4 is RFID. Sheet data (for example, a sheet serial number, “0003” is exemplarily drawn in FIG. 2) that can identify each unit sheet 10A of the medium 14 can be included.

The image reading unit 5 is provided on the downstream side of the printing unit 4 and on the upstream side of the data verifying unit 6, and an arbitrary reading device such as a CCD camera 23 is adopted to print data by the printing unit 4. Is readable.
That is, the CCD camera 23 can read the print data (medium display data) on the RFID medium 14 and the print data (sheet data) on the sheet body 12 of the RFID medium continuum 10.
If the CCD camera 23 can read at least the above-mentioned sheet data (sheet serial number) among the print data by the printing unit 4, the medium display data and the medium data are recognized and managed in association with the sheet data. It is possible.
When the RFID medium 14 can be supplied to the read/write verification device 1 (transport path 11) in a form in which each unit sheet 10A (sheet body 12) is collected, the RFID medium 14 can be used as the image reading unit 5. If a plurality of CCD cameras 23 (phantom lines in the figure) are provided as many as the number of rows of the medium 14 (10 rows in the width direction of the RFID medium continuum 10 in the illustrated example), the RFID medium 14 by the printing unit 4 is provided. The medium display data can be directly read for each unit sheet 10A of the RFID medium 14, and it can be verified whether the print data (medium display data) is normally printed.

The data verification unit 6 has a fourth device antenna 24, and the fourth device antenna 24 is provided as a single antenna capable of wireless data communication with each of the RFID media 14 in a plurality of rows. There is.
The fourth device antenna 24 can read the medium data written in the RFID medium 14 for each unit sheet 10A.
Therefore, the fourth device antenna 24 reads the medium data written in the sheet body 12 and verifies whether the read medium data and the medium data to be originally read match (that is, the medium data Verification of whether or not the writing process is normal) can be executed.

The die cutting section 7 is provided on the downstream side of the image reading section 5.
The die-cutting section 7 is provided with a plurality of notch forming tools 25 in accordance with a plurality of rows of the RFID medium 14 in the RFID medium continuum 10. For example, print data or a medium can be formed by an arbitrary notch forming claw (not shown). By cutting the edge portion of the error medium (RFID medium 14) for which the data reading/writing process is not normal, the upright piece 26 standing up from the in-plane of the RFID medium 14 is formed. The standing piece 26 may have any shape and size, and may be formed as a punch hole instead of the standing piece 26.
Specifically, the die-cutting unit 7 performs die-cutting that can identify the RFID medium 14 when the reading process of the unique identification number of the RFID medium 14 by the first device antenna 19 is not normal.
Further, when the writing process of the medium data to the RFID medium 14 by the second device antenna 20 or the third device antenna 21 is not normal, the die cutting unit 7 performs the die cutting capable of identifying the RFID medium 14. ..

The stacking unit 8 stacks the RFID medium continuum 10 that has been processed by the data reading/writing unit 3, the printing unit 4, the image reading unit 5, the data verification unit 6, and the die-cutting unit 7 in a fan-hold form.
The RFID medium continuum 10 including the print data and the medium data issued to the stack unit 8 is cut into individual RFID media 14, and the RFID medium 14 is attached to a predetermined product or managed article.

The control unit 9 includes an operation display 27 and a necessary control circuit 28, and controls the data reading/writing unit 3, the printing unit 4, the image reading unit 5, the data verification unit 6, and the die-cutting unit 7, respectively.

A read/write verification method for the RFID medium 14 by the RFID medium read/write verification apparatus 1 having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the read/write verification method of the RFID medium 14 by the RFID medium read/write verification apparatus 1. In step S1, the RFID medium continuum 10 is transferred from the supply unit 2 into the read/write verification apparatus 1. Start transfer to path 11.
In step S2, it is determined whether the RFID medium continuum 10 has reached the wireless communicable area in the data reading/writing unit 3, and if it reaches the wireless communicable area, first, in step S3, the first device antenna 19 causes the RFID medium to move. Read 14 unique identification numbers.
In step S4, it is determined whether or not this reading is normal. If not normal, in step S5, error printing by the printing unit 4 (for example, "error") on the surface of the RFID medium 14 for which the unique identification number could not be read I do.

If the reading of the unique identification number of the RFID medium 14 is determined to be normal in step S4, the medium data is written to the RFID medium 14 (IC chip 17) by the second device antenna 20 in step S6, and step S7 is performed. Then, it is judged whether or not this writing is normal, and if it is not normal, the medium data is rewritten by the third device antenna 21 in step S8.

In the next step S9, the medium display data is printed by the printing unit 4 (laser printer 22). For example, when the RFID medium 14 is attached to clothing (not shown), the size of the clothes such as arbitrary letters, numbers and patterns, and other necessary visible product data, further, a bar code, a two-dimensional code, etc. Print the optically readable data of.
Further, sheet data (for example, a sheet serial number, “0003” is drawn as an example in FIG. 2) is printed on each unit sheet 10A (sheet body 12) of the RFID medium continuum 10.

Further, in step S10, the medium data for each unit sheet 10A of the RFID medium continuum 10 is read.
That is, the CCD camera 23 of the image reading unit 5 reads and recognizes the sheet serial number (sheet data) by the printing unit 4, and writes the RFID medium 14 of each of the RFID medium continuous bodies 10 managed by the sheet serial number. Read the media data.
Next, in step S11, the medium data from the RFID medium 14 by the fourth device antenna 24 in the data verification unit 6 is read, and the medium data of each RFID medium 14 of the RFID medium continuum 10 managed by the sheet serial number is read. Then, it is determined whether these read medium data match.
If the written medium data and the read medium data do not match with each other, it is determined in step S12 that the writing process is not normal, the transfer of the RFID medium read/write verification device 1 is stopped, and the operation display 27 is required. Error warnings will be issued and necessary actions can be instructed. For example, the RFID medium continuum 10 is removed from the transfer path 11 of the read/write verification device 1 and transferred again, and the read/write processing as described above is performed again, or the RFID medium 14 in which the normal write processing has not been performed. The unit sheet 10A including is cut off at the perforations 13.

If the data match in step S11, it is determined in step S13 whether there is a reading failure of the unique identification number of the RFID medium 14 by the first device antenna 19, and if there is a failure, in step S14, By performing a die-cutting operation on the RFID medium 14 by the notch forming tool 25 and forming a standing piece 26 on the RFID medium 14, it is clearly indicated that the RFID medium 14 cannot be used.
If there is no failure in reading the unique identification number, it is determined in step S15 based on the data matching determination result in step S13 whether or not there is a failure in writing the medium data. If there is a failure, in step S14, By performing a die-cutting operation on the RFID medium 14 by the notch forming tool 25 and forming a standing piece 26 on the RFID medium 14, it is clearly indicated that the RFID medium 14 cannot be used. If there is no defect, this flow ends.

Thus, the RFID medium 14 is transferred from the upstream side to the downstream side along the transfer path 11, and the first device antenna 19 and the second device antenna 19 are sequentially provided on the transfer path 11 from the upstream side to the downstream side. While the RFID medium 14 is being transferred to the transfer path 11 between the apparatus antenna 20 or the third apparatus antenna 21 and the RFID medium 14, the reading and writing of the medium data by wireless data communication are sequentially executed, and the printing unit 4, the print data corresponding to the medium data is printed on the RFID medium 14, and the print data (medium display data, sheet data) is read by the image reading unit 5, and the fourth device antenna 24 in the data verification unit 6 is read. In the above, the medium data is read and verified, and the standing piece 26 is formed on the defective RFID medium 14 in the die-cutting portion 7 to facilitate the separation.

Therefore, along with the transfer of the RFID medium continuum 10 on the transfer path 11, the reading and writing of the medium data and the display of the print data are performed, the verification by the image reading unit 5 and the data verification unit 6 can be performed, and the error in the reading and writing of the data occurs. It is possible to immediately and accurately determine that the occurrence has occurred.
Further, by supplying and processing the RFID medium continuum 10 as a plurality of unit sheets 10A in which a large number of RFID media 14 are arranged, high-speed and large-volume processing is possible, and when an error occurs, this unit It is possible to deal with each sheet 10A.

1 RFID medium read/write verification device (Example, FIGS. 1 and 2)
2 supply unit 3 data reading/writing unit 4 printing unit 5 image reading unit 6 data verification unit 7 die-cutting unit 8 stack unit 9 control unit 10 RFID medium continuous body 10A unit sheet 11 of RFID medium continuous body 10 transfer path 12 sheet body 13 Perforations 14 RFID medium 15 Transfer hole 16 Medium film 17 IC chip 18 RFID antenna 19 First device antenna 20 Second device antenna 21 Third device antenna 22 Laser printer 23 CCD camera 24 Fourth antenna 25 Cut formation Tool 26 Standing piece 27 Operation display display 28 Control circuit

Claims (5)

A reading/writing verification device for an RFID medium, which has an IC chip and an RFID antenna and is capable of wireless data communication,
A data read/write unit that is provided in a transfer path that allows the RFID medium to be transferred from an upstream side to a downstream side, and that reads and writes medium data to and from the RFID medium by the wireless data communication;
The print data corresponding to the medium data is provided on the downstream side of the data reading/writing unit and is printed on the RFID medium, and a sheet number for identifying each unit sheet among a plurality of unit sheets is printed on the unit sheet. Print part,
An image reading unit capable of reading the sheet number printed on each unit sheet by the printing unit ,
A data verification unit that is provided on the downstream side of the printing unit and that can perform verification by reading the medium data written by the data reading and writing unit from the RFID medium;
The sheet number is associated with the medium data to be written on the RFID medium included in each unit sheet,
The data verification unit,
It is determined whether the medium data to be written in the RFID medium associated with the sheet number read by the image reading unit and the medium data read from the RFID medium included in the unit sheet specified by the sheet number match. , reading and writing apparatus for verifying RFID medium and judging whether the normal writing process to the RFID media contained unit sheet specified by said sheet number for each of the unit sheet. The data verification unit is medium data to be written in an RFID medium associated with a sheet serial number that identifies the sheet as the sheet number, and a medium read from an RFID medium included in a unit sheet identified by the sheet serial number. The read/write verification device for an RFID medium according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not the data matches. The data reading/writing unit has a first device antenna, a second device antenna, and a third device antenna that are sequentially provided on the transfer path from an upstream side to a downstream side,
The read/write verification device for an RFID medium according to claim 1, wherein the data verification unit has a fourth device antenna for reading media data from the RFID medium. The RFID medium according to claim 4, wherein the third device antenna performs the write operation again when the medium data is not normally written to the RFID medium by the second device antenna. Read/write verification device. A reading/writing verification method of an RFID medium, which has an IC chip and an RFID antenna and is capable of wireless data communication,
A data reading/writing unit provided in a transfer path that enables the RFID medium to be transferred from an upstream side to a downstream side, performs reading and writing of medium data by the wireless data communication with respect to the RFID medium,
A printing unit provided on the downstream side of the data reading/writing unit prints print data corresponding to the medium data on the RFID medium, and a sheet number that identifies each unit sheet among a plurality of unit sheets is the unit. Print on the sheet ,
The image reading unit reads the sheet number printed on each unit sheet by the printing unit ,
By the data verification unit provided on the downstream side of the printing unit, the medium data written by the data reading/writing unit is read from the RFID medium and verification is performed,
The sheet number is associated with the medium data to be written on the RFID medium included in each unit sheet,
By the data verification unit, the medium data to be written in the RFID medium associated with the sheet number read by the image reading unit and the medium data read from the RFID medium included in the unit sheet specified by the sheet number are stored. match and whether the determination to the verification method or writes the RFID medium, characterized in that the writing process for the RFID media contained unit sheet identified by the sheet number to determine whether normal or not for each of the unit sheet.

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