CN112396141B

CN112396141B - Wireless tag writing device, calibration method, and storage medium

Info

Publication number: CN112396141B
Application number: CN202010626755.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 土本宏志
Original assignee: Toshiba TEC Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba TEC Corp
Priority date: 2019-08-19
Filing date: 2020-07-02
Publication date: 2024-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 2040-07-02
Also published as: JP2021033429A; CN112396141A; JP7319135B2

Abstract

The invention discloses a wireless tag writing device, a calibration method and a storage medium, wherein the wireless tag writing device comprises: a conveying section that conveys a sheet provided with a wireless tag; a transmitting unit configured to transmit a first radio wave for communicating with the wireless tag, the transmitting unit being disposed on a transport path of the sheet; a receiving unit that receives a second radio wave transmitted from the wireless tag in response to the first radio wave; a measuring unit configured to reduce, by the conveying unit, the radio wave intensity from a predetermined level of the radio wave intensities of the plurality of levels transmittable by the transmitting unit, excluding a minimum level of the radio wave intensity of the predetermined level, to a level of the radio wave intensity of the second radio wave received by the receiving unit, the radio wave intensity being less than a threshold value, and to obtain a combination of the radio wave intensity of the first radio wave and the radio wave intensity of the second radio wave; and a deriving unit that derives a writing condition related to writing of the tag based on a combination of the first electric wave intensity and the second electric wave intensity acquired at each transport position of the sheet.

Description

Wireless tag writing device, calibration method, and storage medium

The present application claims priority from japanese application No. JP2019-150003, filing date 08, 19, and the contents of the above-mentioned applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a wireless tag writing apparatus, a calibration method, and a storage medium.

Background

In a printer apparatus that prints on a label sheet attached with a wireless label such as an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification: radio frequency identification) label, the following processing is performed when a writing condition of the wireless label is determined. First, the wireless tag to be actually used is transported at a predetermined transport pitch. When the radio waves are stopped at each transport position, the radio waves are sequentially transmitted at a plurality of radio wave intensities, and the radio wave intensity of the response wave received from the radio tag is recorded in association with the radio wave intensity used at the time of transmission. Then, the position (writing position) of the label paper when writing to the wireless label, the radio wave intensity when writing to the wireless label, and the like are determined as the conditions for writing to the wireless label from the recording results at the respective conveyance positions.

For example, conventionally, a process related to the setting of the writing conditions has been proposed as a technique for executing calibration.

Therefore, in order to obtain the most suitable writing conditions and prevent writing to other wireless tags than the wireless tag to be written, it is necessary to examine the relationship between the radio wave intensity at the time of transmission and the radio wave intensity of the response wave transmitted from each wireless tag. Therefore, at present, a search for a wireless tag using all the radio wave intensities from low output to high output is performed in the range of at least one wireless tag.

However, in the above-described conventional method, the radio wave is transmitted even at a level of the radio wave intensity predicted to be not responded from the radio tag, and therefore, there is a problem that it takes time and is inefficient.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides a wireless tag writing device, a calibration method and a storage medium capable of effectively deriving writing conditions of a wireless tag.

The wireless tag writing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a conveying unit, a transmitting unit, a receiving unit, a measuring unit, and a deriving unit. And a conveying unit configured to convey the paper provided with the wireless tag. And a transmitting unit configured to transmit a first radio wave for communicating with the wireless tag, the first radio wave being disposed on a transport path of the paper. And a receiving unit configured to receive a second radio wave transmitted from the wireless tag in response to the first radio wave. And a measuring unit configured to reduce, by the conveying unit, a radio wave intensity from a radio wave intensity of a specified level other than a minimum level among a plurality of levels of radio wave intensities transmittable by the transmitting unit to a radio wave intensity of a level of which the radio wave intensity of the second radio wave received by the receiving unit is less than a threshold value, and to obtain a combination of the radio wave intensity of the first radio wave and the radio wave intensity of the second radio wave, for each conveyance of a predetermined amount of the paper. And a deriving unit configured to derive a writing condition related to writing of the tag based on a combination of the first radio wave intensity and the second radio wave intensity obtained at each transport position of the sheet.

According to the tag writing apparatus described above, it is possible to suppress transmission of radio waves whose reception intensity of response waves is predicted to be smaller than the transmission intensity of the threshold.

In the tag writing apparatus, the measuring unit may decrease the radio wave intensity from a maximum level of the radio wave intensities among the plurality of levels of radio wave intensities transmittable by the transmitting unit to a level of the radio wave intensity at which the second radio wave received by the receiving unit has a radio wave intensity less than a threshold value.

According to the tag writing apparatus described above, it is possible to transmit radio waves in an exhaustive manner from the level of maximum transmission intensity to all transmission intensities at which the reception intensity of the response wave is less than the threshold value.

In the tag writing apparatus, the measuring unit may decrease the radio wave intensity from a radio wave intensity of a predetermined level higher than the intermediate level among the plurality of levels of radio wave intensities transmittable by the transmitting unit to a radio wave intensity of the second radio wave received by the receiving unit at a level less than a threshold value.

According to the tag writing apparatus described above, it is possible to quickly specify the level of the reception intensity to be the transmission intensity smaller than the threshold value.

In the tag writing apparatus, the measurement unit may be configured to, when there is a level at which the first radio wave is not transmitted in the predetermined level or a level higher than the level at which the second radio wave intensity is smaller than the threshold value, transmit the first radio wave at the radio wave intensity of the level not transmitted, and acquire a combination of the radio wave intensity of the first radio wave and the radio wave intensity of the second radio wave.

According to the tag writing apparatus described above, it is possible to transmit radio waves having a reception intensity equal to or higher than the threshold value among transmission intensities that can be transmitted by the transmission unit.

In the above-described tag writing apparatus, the measuring unit sequentially reduces the radio wave intensity.

According to the tag writing apparatus described above, since the level control in one direction is performed, the control related to the level shift can be easily and effectively performed.

In the above-described tag writing apparatus, the measurement unit may set a step size of 1 when the level is lowered.

According to the tag writing apparatus described above, radio waves of transmission intensity can be transmitted in an exhaustive manner.

In the above-described tag writing apparatus, the measurement unit may decrease the step size at every plurality of steps.

In the tag writing apparatus described above, the measurement unit dynamically changes the starting level of the transmission radio wave.

According to the tag writing apparatus described above, since the start level can be dynamically changed, efficient derivation of the writing condition can be achieved.

A calibration method according to another aspect of the present invention is a calibration method executed by a wireless tag writing apparatus including a conveyance section that conveys a sheet provided with a wireless tag, a transmission section that is disposed on a conveyance path of the sheet and transmits a first radio wave for communication with the wireless tag, and a reception section that receives a second radio wave transmitted from the wireless tag in response to the first radio wave, or an information processing apparatus that controls an operation of the wireless tag writing apparatus, the calibration method including: a measurement step of reducing, by the conveying unit, a radio wave intensity from a radio wave intensity of a specified level other than a minimum level among a plurality of levels of radio wave intensities transmittable by the transmitting unit to a radio wave intensity of a level of which a radio wave intensity of the second radio wave received by the receiving unit is less than a threshold value, and obtaining a combination of the radio wave intensity of the first radio wave and the radio wave intensity of the second radio wave, each time the predetermined amount of paper is conveyed by the conveying unit; and deriving a writing condition related to writing of the tag based on a combination of the first and second electric wave intensities acquired at each transport position of the sheet.

In the calibration method described above, a method is provided in which transmission of radio waves whose reception intensity of response waves is predicted to be less than a threshold value can be suppressed.

A storage medium according to another aspect of the present invention stores a program for causing a computer of a wireless tag writing apparatus or a computer of an information processing apparatus that controls an operation of the wireless tag writing apparatus to function as each of a conveying section that conveys a sheet provided with a wireless tag, a transmitting section that is disposed on a conveying path of the sheet and transmits a first radio wave for communicating with the wireless tag, and a receiving section that receives a second radio wave transmitted from the wireless tag in response to the first radio wave, the respective sections including: a measuring unit configured to reduce, for each time a predetermined amount of the paper is conveyed by the conveying unit, a radio wave intensity from a radio wave intensity of a specified level other than a minimum level among a plurality of levels of radio wave intensities transmittable by the transmitting unit to a radio wave intensity of a level at which a radio wave intensity of the second radio wave received by the receiving unit is less than a threshold value, and to obtain a combination of the radio wave intensities of the first and second radio waves; and a deriving unit configured to derive a writing condition related to writing of the tag based on a combination of the first radio wave intensity and the second radio wave intensity obtained at each transport position of the sheet.

In the storage medium, a program for causing a computer to function can be stored to suppress transmission of radio waves whose reception intensity of the response wave is predicted to be less than a threshold value.

Drawings

The wireless tag writing apparatus, the calibration method, and the program according to the embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. The invention, together with a further understanding of the many of its attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and the accompanying drawings, illustrate and do not constitute a part of this application, and are not intended to limit the invention, in any way:

fig. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of a label paper according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of section A-A of the label paper shown in FIG. 1;

fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the label printer according to the embodiment;

fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the label printer according to the embodiment;

fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the label printer according to the embodiment;

Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of calibration processing performed by the label printer according to the embodiment; and

fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of label printing processing performed by the label printer according to the embodiment.

Description of the reference numerals

1. Web 2 label backing paper

3. Label paper 4 wireless label

10. Label printer 11 conveying roller

12. Tag sensor 13 antenna

14. Reader/writer 15 print head

16. Platen roller 30 control part

301. Write processing unit 302 print control unit

303. Calibration processing unit 3031 information acquisition unit

3032. Position determining unit 3033 measuring unit

3034. Condition setting unit

43. Tag arrangement order designating unit (reading result combining unit)

44. A second reading section (second reading section) of the label paper position detecting section 45

46. Label information writing part (writing part)

47. Label printing section Ia, ib, ic information

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the wireless tag writing apparatus are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below are examples in which the wireless tag writing apparatus of the present invention is applied to a printer apparatus.

First, a roll paper 1 used in the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 1 and 2. Here, fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the label paper. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of section A-A of the label paper shown in fig. 1.

As shown in fig. 1, a roll paper 1 has a strip-shaped backing paper 2 and label sheets 3 adhered at equal intervals on the surface of the backing paper 2. The backing paper 2 is a release paper or the like, and the label paper 3 can be released from the backing paper 2.

The label paper 3 is adhered at equal intervals in the length direction of the interleaving paper 2. As shown in fig. 2, each label sheet 3 has a wireless label 4 enclosed on the back side (the side of the adhesive surface with the backing sheet 2) of the label sheet. The wireless tag 4 is called an RFID tag, an IC tag, or the like, and has a structure in which an IC chip 5 and an antenna 6 are incorporated in a film. Then, the surface of the label paper 3 is a print surface of the visible information.

The IC chip 5 of the wireless tag 4 is provided with a power generation unit, a demodulation unit, a modulation unit, a memory unit, a control unit, and the like. The power supply generating unit rectifies and stabilizes a signal corresponding to the radio wave received by the antenna 6 to supply power to each unit of the IC chip 5. The demodulation unit demodulates a signal corresponding to the radio wave received by the antenna 6 and transmits the demodulated signal to the control unit. The modulation unit modulates the data transmitted from the control unit and transmits the modulated data from the antenna 6. The control unit controls writing of the data demodulated by the demodulation unit into the memory unit or reading of the data from the memory unit and sends the data to the modulation unit.

The memory unit is configured by a setting area in which data is stored so as not to be rewritable, a user area in which arbitrary data can be written, and the like. Then, a predetermined ID code is written in the setting area. The ID code is a code unique to each wireless tag set to identify each wireless tag 4.

Next, a label printer that prints visible information such as a character string on the surface (printing surface) of the label paper 3 while writing label data in a noncontact manner on the wireless label 4 of the label paper 3 by wireless communication will be described.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the label printer according to the present embodiment. The label printer 10 includes a label holder (not shown) for holding the roll-wound web 1. The label printer 10 performs writing of label data and printing of visible information on the label paper 3 attached to the backing paper 2 of the roll paper 1 while conveying the leading end of the roll paper 1 fed from the label holder along a predetermined conveying path.

On the conveyance path of the roll paper 1, from the upstream side toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction (arrow C direction in the drawing), a conveyance roller 11, a tag sensor 12, an antenna 14 of a reader/writer 13, and a print head 15 are provided. Here, the label sensor 12 and the print head 15 are provided at the upper part of the conveyance path. The antenna 14 is provided at the lower part of the conveyance path. A platen roller 16 is provided at a position facing the print head 15 via the conveyance path. The antenna 14 may be provided at an upper portion of the conveyance path.

The conveyance roller 11 nips the web 1, and rotates counterclockwise to convey the nipped web 1 in the conveyance direction.

The label sensor 12 detects the label paper 3 provided on the web 1. Specifically, the label sensor 12 detects the label paper 3 conveyed on the conveying path by optically detecting the leading edge of the label paper 3. The detection signal of the tag sensor 12 is supplied to a controller 18 described later through a sensor signal input unit 21.

The tag sensor 12 can be implemented by a reflective type photosensor or a transmissive type photosensor. For example, in the case of a reflective photoelectric sensor, the tag sensor 12 detects a black mark indicating a reference position, which is printed in advance on the front edge portion of the tag paper 3 of the base paper 2. In the case of a transmissive photoelectric sensor, for example, the label sensor 12 is composed of a dispensing section and a light receiving section that are disposed to face each other with the web 1 interposed therebetween. At this time, the light emitted from the light emitting section is detected at the light receiving section through the interleaving paper 2 or through the interleaving paper 2 and the label paper 3. The intensity of light detected by the light receiving portion when the backing paper 2 and the label paper 3 are transmitted is smaller than when the backing paper 2 is transmitted alone. In short, the position where the intensity of light detected by the light receiving portion changes from small to large corresponds to the front end edge of the label paper 3, and the position where the intensity of light detected by the light receiving portion changes from large to small corresponds to the rear end edge of the label paper 3.

An antenna 14 is provided at a short distance from the conveying surface of the conveying path. Then, the antenna is directed to the conveying surface immediately above (immediately below when the antenna is disposed on the upper side of the conveying path) and has strong directivity. The antenna 14 transmits a radio wave (first radio wave) under control of the reader/writer 13, and receives a response wave (second radio wave) transmitted from the wireless tag 4 that received the radio wave. Here, the response wave includes the ID code of the wireless tag 4 of the transmission source.

The reader/writer 13 writes or reads tag data to or from the wireless tag 4 existing in the communication area of the radio wave transmitted from the antenna 14. The reader/writer 13 and the antenna 14 are examples of a transmitting unit and a receiving unit.

The print head 15 is driven by a print head driving section 17, and prints various kinds of visible information on the surface of the label paper 3 positioned on the platen roller 16. The print head 15 can use, for example, a thermal print head or the like. Further, the ink ribbon may be interposed between the print head 15 and the label paper 3.

The reader/writer 13 and the head driving section 17 are connected to a controller 18, respectively. In addition, the controller 18 is connected to an operation panel 19, a communication interface 20, a sensor signal input unit 21, a conveying unit 22, and the like.

The operation panel 19 has various keys and a display portion. The operation panel 19 receives operation instructions such as setting and calibration of various parameters.

The communication interface 20 has a function of interfacing with a superior device. A host device such as a personal computer is connected to the communication interface 20 via a communication line. The label printer 10 receives, from the host device via the communication interface 20, data written to the wireless label 4 of the label paper 3, print data such as characters printed on the print surface of the label paper 3, and the like. Further, the operations of the label printer 10 can be instructed (controlled) from the host device as in the case of the operation panel 19, and various parameters can be set, calibration can be executed, and the like.

Signals from various sensors including the tag sensor 12 are input to the sensor signal input unit 21. Various sensors include an open/close sensor, not shown, for detecting the opening/closing of a member that can be opened and closed for replacing the roll paper 1, such as a cover, a door, or a lid.

The conveying section 22 has a driving source such as a motor, and rotates the conveying roller 11 and the platen roller 16 under the control of the control section 30. Specifically, the conveying section 22 rotates the conveying roller 11 and the platen roller 16 in the counterclockwise direction. By this rotation, the roll paper 1 (label paper 3) is conveyed in the conveyance direction of arrow C. The conveying section 22 functions as a conveying section together with the conveying roller 11 or the platen roller 16.

Next, with reference to fig. 4, a hardware configuration of the label printer 10 will be described. Fig. 4 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the label printer 10.

As shown in fig. 4, the label printer 10 includes a control section 30, a storage section 32, and a controller 18.

The control unit 30 has a configuration of a general computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit: central processing unit) 30a, a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Momory: random access Memory). The CPU30a reads various programs, data files, and the like stored in the ROM30b or the storage section 32, and expands them in the RAM30 c. The CPU30a collectively controls the operation of the label printer 10 by cooperating with a seed program, a data file, or the like developed in the RAM30 c.

The control unit 30 is connected to the storage unit 32 and the controller 18 via an internal bus 31.

The storage unit 32 includes storage devices such as HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive) and flash memory. The storage unit 32 stores various programs and various setting information executed by the CPU30 a.

The controller 18 is connected to the control unit 30 and input/output devices for performing various settings, operation control, and the like of the label printer 10. Specifically, the controller 18 is connected to the reader/writer 13 (antenna 14), the head driving section 17 (head 15), the operation panel 19, the communication interface 20, the sensor signal input section 21 (tag sensor 12), and the conveying section 22.

Here, the operation panel 19 includes a display portion 19a and an operation portion 19b. The display unit 19a displays various display screens under the control of the control unit 30. The operation unit 19b detects operation information of the operator and transmits the operation information to the control unit 30.

Next, the functional configuration of the label printer 10 will be described with reference to fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the label printer 10.

As shown in fig. 5, the label printer 10 includes a writing processing section 301, a print control section 302, and a calibration processing section 303 as functional sections. Some or all of these functional units may be implemented by software in cooperation with a processor (CPU 30 a) and a program stored in a memory (ROM 30b, storage unit 32), or may be implemented by hardware such as a dedicated circuit.

The writing processing unit 301 performs writing of tag data to the wireless tag 4 of the tag paper 3 by controlling the reader/writer 13. Specifically, the writing processing unit 301 performs writing of tag data to the wireless tag 4 by controlling the operation of the reader/writer 13 based on writing conditions set in the calibration processing unit 303 described later.

The print control section 302 prints visible information on the surface of the label paper 3 conveyed through the conveying path by controlling the print head 15. Specifically, the writing processing section 301 prints visible information on the surface of the label paper 3 to which the label data has been written by the writing processing section 301.

The calibration processing unit 303 executes a calibration process for adjusting various parameters (hereinafter, also referred to as writing conditions) related to writing of the wireless tag 4.

Here, the writing conditions include, for example, a position (writing position) of the tag paper 3 (wireless tag 4) with respect to the antenna 14 when writing tag data on the wireless tag 4, a radio wave intensity (hereinafter also referred to as transmission intensity) when writing tag data on the wireless tag 4, and the like. The writing condition of the wireless tag 4 includes a threshold value for discriminating a response wave from the wireless tag 4 to be written and a response wave from the wireless tag 4 other than the writing target.

Therefore, in order to obtain the most suitable writing conditions, it is necessary to check the relationship between the transmission intensity of the radio wave transmitted from the antenna 14 and the radio wave intensity (hereinafter, also referred to as the reception intensity) of the response wave received from the radio tag 4, so as to prevent writing to other radio tags than the radio tag to be written. Here, the reception strength of the response wave is a measured value of RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator: received signal strength indication) or the like.

Currently, at least a range in which a wireless tag exists is moved at a predetermined conveyance pitch, and a search is performed for a wireless tag using all output intensities from low output to high output. For example, when the output intensity is classified into ten stages, electric waves are sequentially transmitted from the stage of the minimum output to the ten stages of the maximum output, and the reception intensity of the wireless tag 4 in response to each stage is recorded.

However, in the above method, since the radio wave is also transmitted for the radio wave intensity of the level at which the response from the radio tag is not predicted, there is a problem that it takes time and is not efficient.

Therefore, the calibration processing section 303 of the present embodiment suppresses transmission of the transmission intensity of the response wave of the wireless tag 4, which is smaller than the predetermined threshold value, from among the transmission intensities that can be transmitted from the antenna 14, thereby reducing the number of times and the transmission time of the radio wave transmitted to the wireless tag 4. Next, the calibration processing unit 303 will be described in detail.

As shown in fig. 5, the calibration processing unit 303 includes an information acquisition unit 3031, a position determination unit 3032, a measurement unit 3033, and a condition derivation unit 3034. Here, the information acquisition unit 3031 is an example of an acquisition unit. The position determining unit 3032 is an example of the determining unit. The measurement unit 3033 is an example of a measurement unit.

The information acquisition unit 3031 acquires the arrangement position information indicating the arrangement position of the wireless tag 4 on the label paper 3 at the arrangement position of the label paper 3 on the roll paper 1. Specifically, the information acquisition unit 3031 acquires, as the arrangement position information, a length in the conveyance direction of the sheets 3 (hereinafter, referred to as a label length) attached to the web 1, an interval between the label sheets 3 (hereinafter, referred to as a sheet pitch), a length in the conveyance direction of the wireless labels 4 (arrow C) set on the label sheets 3 (hereinafter, referred to as a label length), and the like.

The information acquisition unit 3031 acquires the sensor type of the tag sensor 12. The relevant sensor type is information indicating which of the reflection type sensor and the transmission type sensor the tag sensor 12 is.

The method for acquiring the arrangement position information and the sensor type is not particularly limited, and various modes can be adopted. For example, the information acquisition unit 3031 may acquire the arrangement position information or the sensor type input by the operator from various operation switches included in the operation panel 19 or a host device to which the label printer 10 is connected. For example, the information acquisition unit 3031 may acquire, as the setting information, the arrangement position information or the sensor type stored in advance in the storage unit 32 or the like.

The position determining unit 3032 determines the start position and the end position of the calibration defining the measurement range on the label paper 3 as the processing target of the measuring unit 3033 described later, based on the arrangement position information acquired by the information acquiring unit 3031.

Specifically, the position determining unit 3032 determines the start position and the end position of the calibration from the range of the tag length+the sheet pitch based on the tag length, the sheet pitch, the tag length, and the like acquired by the information acquiring unit 3031. Here, the start position and the end position of the calibration can be defined by, for example, a distance from the front end edge of the label paper 3.

The measurement range defined by the start position and the end position of the calibration is preferably at least larger than the tag length, and includes a range in which the wireless tag 4 is set. The position determining unit 3032 may adjust the start position and the end position of the calibration according to the sensor type acquired by the information acquiring unit 3031.

In this way, the position determining unit 3032 determines the measurement range based on the arrangement position of the wireless tag 4 on the label paper 3, so that the later-described measuring unit 3033 can efficiently scan the wireless tag 4 for deriving the writing condition. The position determining unit 3032 can limit the movement range of each transport pitch by the measuring unit 3033 described later to the range in which the wireless tag 4 is set on the tag sheet 3 or the range of the tag sheet 3 including the range. Therefore, the position determining unit 3032 can realize efficient derivation of the writing condition while improving the processing accuracy by the measuring unit 3033.

The measurement unit 3033 measures the reception intensity of the response wave by using the wireless signals having a plurality of output intensities within the measurement range defined by the start position and the end position of the calibration set by the position determination unit 3032.

Specifically, the measuring unit 3033 controls the conveying unit 22 by detecting the tip of the label paper 3 by the label sensor 12, and conveys the label paper 3 to the calibration start position. Next, the measuring unit 3033 conveys the tab sheet 3 in the conveyance direction at a predetermined conveyance pitch unit from the start position to the end position of the calibration. Here, the conveyance pitch may be smaller than the label length, for example, a value obtained by dividing the label length P a plurality of times (dividing ten times or the like). The measurement unit 3033 preferably intermittently performs conveyance of the conveyance pitch unit.

The measuring unit 3033 sequentially transmits radio waves of a plurality of transmission intensities from the antenna 14 by controlling the reader/writer 13 every time the label paper 3 is conveyed by the conveyance pitch amount. Then, the measuring unit 3033 acquires the reception intensity of the response wave received from the wireless tag 4 by the reader/writer 13, and records the combination of the transmission intensity (or level) and the reception intensity in correspondence with the transport position of the tag paper 3.

Here, the measurement unit 3033 selects any one of the designated levels (hereinafter, referred to as the start level) from the levels of the transmission intensities transmittable by the reader/writer 13, excluding the minimum level of the transmission intensities and the remaining levels. The start level can be arbitrarily set, but is preferably set to a level (a level having a higher transmission intensity) higher than the intermediate level among the transmission intensities of the plurality of levels that can be transmitted by the reader/writer 13.

After setting the start level, the measurement unit 3033 sequentially transmits radio waves from the start level while decreasing the transmission intensity level. Then, when the reception intensity of the response wave of the wireless tag 4 is smaller than the threshold value, the measurement unit 3033 stops the radio wave transmission while stopping the level lowering operation. Here, the step size at the time of lowering the level is not limited to 1. For example, the number of steps may be decreased by two steps from the start level (interval), or the number of steps may be decreased by a plurality of steps.

When the step size is 1, the radio waves of the transmission intensity (meaning of the total radio wave intensity) can be transmitted exhaustively.

On the other hand, when the step size is 2 (every plural steps), the step size at which the reception intensity is smaller than the threshold transmission intensity can be specified at high speed.

For example, the storage unit 32 sets a step size storage unit that stores step sizes, and the step size storage unit stores step sizes in a changeable manner. Thereby, an appropriate step size can be changed.

The threshold value of the reception intensity may be arbitrarily set, but it is preferable to use a value not considering the necessary reception intensity as the threshold value in addition to determining the writing condition. For example, a value that specifies that the wireless tag 4 does not respond may be set as the threshold value.

In addition, in a higher level than the level at which transmission of radio waves is started or stopped, when there is an untransmitted level of radio waves, the measurement unit 3033 transmits radio waves at the transmission intensities of the untransmitted levels, respectively, and acquires the reception intensities of response waves in the respective levels. Thus, the measurement unit 3033 can transmit the radio wave having the transmission intensity equal to or higher than the threshold value, out of the transmission intensities transmittable by the reader/writer 13. In this case, the radio waves may be transmitted sequentially from a higher level or sequentially from a lower level, regardless of the order in which the radio waves are transmitted at the level not to be transmitted.

An operation example of the measuring unit 3033 will be described below. In the following, the reader/writer 13 can transmit electric waves with transmission intensities of ten levels of the level L1L 10. Further, the transmission intensity is greater as the value of n (n is an integer) of the level Ln is greater.

First, an example in which the level L10 at which the transmission intensity is maximum is set as the start level will be described as an example. At this time, the measurement unit 3033 reduces the transmission intensity of the radio wave transmitted from the antenna 14 from the level L10 to the level, and obtains the reception intensity of the response wave received at each level. Then, for example, if the reception intensity of the response wave is smaller than the threshold value at the level L4, the measurement unit 3033 predicts that the reception intensity of the response wave is smaller than the threshold value in the transmission intensities of L3 or less (L1L 3), and stops the level lowering and the transmission of the radio wave. In this case, since there is no level higher than the start level (level L10), the measuring unit 3033 controls the conveying unit 22 to convey the tab sheet 3 by the conveyance pitch amount, and then resumes the transmission of radio waves from the start level.

According to the related operation example, the measurement unit 3033 can transmit the radio wave having the reception intensity equal to or higher than the threshold value (the radio wave having the transmission intensity from the maximum level to the transmission intensity where the reception intensity of the response wave is lower than the threshold value) among the transmission intensities transmittable by the reader/writer 13 in an exhaustive manner. Further, the measurement unit 3033 performs the level control in one direction in which the level of the transmission intensity is sequentially lowered from the start level (maximum level), so that it is possible to easily and effectively perform the control related to the level transition.

Next, as another example, an example in which the level L6 is set to the start level will be described. In this case, the measurement unit 3033 reduces the transmission intensity of the radio wave transmitted from the antenna 14 from the level L6 to the level L6, and obtains the reception intensity of the response wave received at each level. Then, for example, if the reception intensity of the L4 response wave is smaller than the threshold value, the measurement unit 3033 predicts that the reception intensity of the response wave is smaller than the threshold value among the transmission intensities of L3 or less (L1 to L3), and stops the level decrease and the transmission of the radio wave. In this case, since there are levels higher than the start level, the measurement unit 3033 transmits radio waves at each of the levels L7 to L10, and obtains the reception intensities of response waves received at each level. Then, the measuring unit 3033 controls the conveying unit 22 to convey the label paper 3 by the conveyance pitch amount, and then starts transmission of radio waves from the start level.

According to the related operation example, the measurement unit 3033 can transmit the radio wave having the reception intensity equal to or higher than the threshold value among the transmission intensities transmittable by the reader/writer 13. In addition, the measurement unit 3033 can specify the reception intensity at a higher speed than the above operation example in which the maximum level is the start level, and the reception intensity is a level lower than the threshold. Further, the measurement unit 3033 sets the start level to a level higher than the intermediate level, thereby lengthening the period of performing the level control in one direction in which the level of the transmission intensity is sequentially lowered from the start level, and thus can easily and efficiently perform the control related to the level transition.

The measurement unit 3033 obtains each set of transmission intensity and reception intensity obtained at each transport position as a measurement result every time the label paper 3 is transported at the transport pitch between the start position and the end position of the calibration. More specifically, the measurement unit 3033 records the unique ID of the wireless tag 4 that returns the response wave and the output intensity of the response wave thereof in association with the transmission intensity. When a plurality of wireless tags 4 return response waves, all of the unique IDs and output intensities of the wireless tags 4 are recorded.

In this way, the measurement unit 3033 sets, as the start level, one level out of the radio wave intensities of the radio waves transmittable from the antenna 14, excluding the minimum transmission intensity level, and sequentially transmits the radio waves while lowering the level from the start level. Then, if the reception intensity of the response wave is smaller than the threshold value at a certain level, the measurement unit 3033 stops the lowering of the level or less and the transmission of the radio wave. In this way, the measurement unit 3033 can suppress the transmission of the radio wave whose reception intensity is predicted to be less than the threshold, and thus can reduce the number of times and the transmission time of the radio wave transmitted from the antenna 14.

The condition derivation unit 3034 derives the writing condition based on the measurement result obtained by the measurement unit 3033. Specifically, the condition deriving unit 3034 derives the writing position, transmission intensity, and threshold value for discriminating the wireless tag 4 to be written from other wireless tags 4 of the label paper 3 when the wireless tag 4 is written. Then, the condition derivation unit 3034 stores the derived writing condition as setting information in the storage unit 32 or the like, and sets the writing condition in the label printer 10. The method of deriving the writing condition is not particularly limited, and a known derivation method can be used.

Next, a flow of calibration processing performed by the label printer 10 will be described with reference to fig. 6. Here, fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the calibration process performed by the label printer 10. The calibration process is started according to the operation of the user, for example, when the use of the label printer 10 is started or when the roll paper 1 is taken out and replaced. In this process, a description will be given of a process example in which the maximum level among the levels of the transmission intensities transmittable by the reader/writer 13 is set as the start level.

First, the information acquisition unit 3031 acquires the arrangement position information such as the tag length, the paper pitch, the tag length, and the sensor type (step S11). Next, the position determining unit 3032 determines the start position and the end position of the calibration based on the arrangement position information and the sensor type acquired in step S11 (step S12).

Next, the measuring unit 3033 conveys the tab sheet 3 to the calibration start position determined in step S12 based on the detection result of the tab sensor 12 (step S13). Next, the measurement unit 3033 sets the value of the level index i indicating the transmission intensity as the level value n (n is an integer) indicating the maximum intensity (step S14).

Next, the measurement unit 3033 controls the reader/writer 13 to transmit the radio wave from the antenna 14 at the transmission intensity Li of the index i (step S15). Next, the measurement unit 3033 determines whether or not the reception intensity of the response wave transmitted from the wireless tag 4 is equal to or higher than a threshold value (step S16).

Here, when the reception intensity of the response wave is equal to or greater than the threshold value (step S16; yes), the measurement unit 3033 records the combination of the transmission intensity Li and the reception intensity in association with the conveyance position of the label paper 3 (step S17). Next, the measurement unit 3033 decreases the value of the index i by 1 (step S18), and returns to the process of step S15. In addition, when the index i cannot be reduced in step S18, in short, when the index i is a value (for example, 1 or the like) indicating a level of the minimum intensity, the process proceeds to step S19 even if the reception intensity is equal to or greater than the threshold value in step S16.

On the other hand, in step S16, when the reception intensity of the response wave is smaller than the threshold value (step S16; no), the measurement unit 3033 stops the transmission of the radio wave (step S19) and proceeds to step S20.

In step S20, the measurement unit 3033 determines whether or not the tab sheet 3 reaches the end position of the calibration. Here, when the label paper 3 does not reach the end position of the calibration (step S20; no), the measuring unit 3033 returns the label paper 3 to step S14 by the conveyance pitch amount (step S21). When the label paper 3 reaches the end position of the calibration (step S20; yes), the measurement unit 3033 advances to the process of step S22.

Next, the condition derivation unit 3034 derives the writing condition based on the measurement result obtained (recorded) in the process of step S13 and step S21 (step S22). Then, the condition derivation unit 3034 sets the derivation write condition in the label printer 10 (step S23), and ends the present process.

The calibration processing unit 303 can set appropriate writing conditions for writing data to the label paper 3 (wireless label 4) in the label printer 10 by executing the above-described calibration processing. Then, the writing processing section 301 performs data writing to the wireless tag 4 by controlling the operation of the reader/writer 13 based on the writing conditions set in the tag printer 10.

In the processing of fig. 6, an example of deriving the writing condition based on the result obtained from one label paper 3 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the processing of step S13 and step S21 may be executed for each of the plurality of label sheets 3, and the writing condition may be derived from the measurement results obtained from each of the label sheets 3.

Next, a flow of the label printing process performed by the label printer 10 will be described with reference to fig. 7. Here, fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the label printing process performed by the label printer 10.

First, the control unit 30 controls the conveying unit 22 to convey the tab sheet 3 (roll paper 1) (step S31).

Next, the writing processing unit 301 performs writing of tag data to the wireless tag 4 based on the writing conditions set in the calibration processing (step S32). Specifically, the writing processing unit 301 detects that the label paper 3 has reached the writing position of the label data set in the writing condition based on the detection result of the label sensor 12, and then writes the label data at the output intensity set in the writing condition. Next, the print control section 302 prints visible information on the label paper 3 to which the label data has been written, which is conveyed in the conveyance direction (step S33).

Next, the control unit 30 determines whether or not the required number of label sheets 3 (writing of label data and printing of visible information) has been processed (step S34). Here, when there is No required number of tab sheets 3 to be processed (step S34: no), the control section 30 returns to the process of step S31.

When the required number of label sheets 3 has been processed (Yes in step S34), the control unit 30 stops the conveyance of the label sheets 3 and ends the process.

As described above, when the tag printer 10 determines the writing conditions of the wireless tag 4, each time the tag paper 3 provided with the wireless tag 4 is conveyed by a predetermined conveyance pitch, one of the radio wave intensities of the radio waves transmittable from the antenna 14, excluding the level at which the transmission intensity is the smallest, is set as the start level, and the radio waves are transmitted in order while being lowered from the start level. Then, when the reception intensity of the response wave is smaller than the threshold value at a certain level, the label printer 10 stops degrading to the level or lower and transmits the electric wave.

In this way, the label printer 10 can suppress transmission of the radio wave whose reception degree of the response wave is predicted to be the transmission intensity smaller than the threshold, so that the number of times and the transmission time of the radio wave transmitted from the antenna 14 can be reduced. Therefore, the tag printer 10 can efficiently derive the writing conditions of the wireless tag 4.

The above-described embodiment can be modified and implemented as appropriate by changing a part of the configuration and functions of the label printer 10. Therefore, several modifications of the above-described embodiments will be described below as other embodiments. In the following, points different from the above-described embodiments will be mainly described, and detailed description will be omitted for points similar to those already described. The modification examples described below may be implemented alone or in combination as appropriate.

Modification 1

In the above-described embodiment, the measurement unit 3033 fixes the start level of the transmission radio wave at each transport position for each transport pitch, but the present invention is not limited thereto and may be dynamically changed. For example, the measurement unit 3033 may set the level at which the reception intensity at the last transport position is lower than the threshold value to the start level of the last transport position. For example, the measurement unit 3033 may determine the level set as the start level of the last time by increasing or decreasing the level of the reception intensity lower than the threshold value at each of the most recent conveyance positions.

Thus, the label printer 10 can dynamically switch the start level according to the reception condition of the response wave for each conveyance pitch, and thus can efficiently derive the writing condition.

Modification 2

In the above embodiment, the write conditions were derived for the label printer 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the writing condition may be derived in an information processing apparatus such as a host apparatus connected to the label printer 10.

In this case, the information processing apparatus realizes the functions of the calibration processing section 303 (the position determining section 3032, the measuring section 3033, and the condition deriving section 3034) by cooperation with a processor (CPU) of the own apparatus and a program stored in the storage device. Then, the information processing apparatus controls each section of the label printer 10 to execute the calibration process described above, and sets the derived writing conditions to the label printer 10.

Thus, the information processing apparatus can derive the writing condition outside the label printer 10, so that the writing condition can be derived irrespective of the CPU power or the memory capacity of the label printer 10.

Further, the program executed in the label printer 10 of the above-described embodiment is recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a Flexible Disk (FD), a CD-R, DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and the like in an installable form or a file in an installable form and is provided.

The program executed by the label printer 10 according to the above embodiment may be stored in a computer connected to a network such as the internet, and may be downloaded via the network. Further, the program executed by the label printer 10 of the above embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the internet.

Further, the program executed in the label printer 10 of the above embodiment may be provided by being installed in a ROM or the like in advance.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The novel embodiment may be embodied in other various forms, and various omissions, substitutions, changes, and the like may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The above-described embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the scope of the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A wireless tag writing apparatus comprising:

a conveying section that conveys a sheet provided with a wireless tag;

a transmitting unit configured to transmit a first radio wave for communicating with the wireless tag, the transmitting unit being disposed on a transport path of the paper;

A receiving unit that receives a second radio wave transmitted from the wireless tag in response to the first radio wave;

a measuring unit configured to reduce, by the conveying unit, a radio wave intensity from a predetermined level of radio wave intensities among a plurality of levels of radio wave intensities transmittable by the transmitting unit, excluding a minimum level, to a level of radio wave intensity at which the radio wave intensity of the second radio wave received by the receiving unit is less than a threshold value, and to obtain a combination of the radio wave intensity of the first radio wave and the radio wave intensity of the second radio wave; and

a deriving unit configured to derive a writing condition related to writing of the tag based on a combination of a radio wave intensity of the first radio wave and a radio wave intensity of the second radio wave obtained at each transport position of the sheet,

the measurement unit sets the level of the first radio wave at which the second radio wave has a radio wave intensity smaller than a threshold value at the last transport position transported by the transport unit to the level of the first radio wave at which the transmission unit starts to transmit at the next transport position, and when there is a level at which the first radio wave has not been transmitted at a level higher than the level at which the second radio wave has a radio wave intensity smaller than the threshold value, transmits the first radio wave at the radio wave intensity of the non-transmitted level, and obtains a combination of the radio wave intensity of the first radio wave and the radio wave intensity of the second radio wave.

2. The wireless tag writing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

the measuring unit reduces the radio wave intensity from a maximum level radio wave intensity, which is a specified level, among the plurality of levels of radio wave intensities transmittable by the transmitting unit, to a level where the radio wave intensity of the second radio wave received by the receiving unit is less than a threshold value.

3. The wireless tag writing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

the measuring unit reduces the radio wave intensity from a radio wave intensity of a predetermined level higher than a middle level among the plurality of levels of radio wave intensities transmittable by the transmitting unit to a radio wave intensity of a level lower than a threshold value of the second radio wave received by the receiving unit.

4. The wireless tag writing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein,

the measuring unit sequentially reduces the radio wave intensity.

5. The wireless tag writing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein,

the measuring unit sets the step size at the time of the level decrease to 1.

6. The wireless tag writing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein,

the measuring unit makes the step size at the time of the level decrease every plural levels.

7. A calibration method executed by a wireless tag writing apparatus including a conveying section that conveys a sheet provided with a wireless tag, a transmitting section that is disposed on a conveying path of the sheet and transmits a first radio wave for communication with the wireless tag, and a receiving section that receives a second radio wave transmitted from the wireless tag in response to the first radio wave, or an information processing apparatus that controls an operation of the wireless tag writing apparatus, the calibration method comprising:

a measurement step of reducing, by the conveying unit, a radio wave intensity from a radio wave intensity of a specified level other than a minimum level among a plurality of levels of radio wave intensities transmittable by the transmitting unit to a radio wave intensity of a level of which a radio wave intensity of the second radio wave received by the receiving unit is less than a threshold value, and obtaining a combination of the radio wave intensity of the first radio wave and the radio wave intensity of the second radio wave, each time the predetermined amount of paper is conveyed by the conveying unit; and

a deriving step of deriving a writing condition concerning writing of the tag based on a combination of the first electric wave intensity and the second electric wave intensity obtained at each transport position of the sheet,

The measurement step sets the level of the first radio wave at which the second radio wave has a radio wave intensity smaller than a threshold value at the last transport position transported by the transport unit to the level of the first radio wave at which the transmission unit starts to transmit at the next transport position, and when there is a level at which the first radio wave has not been transmitted at a level higher than the level at which the second radio wave has a radio wave intensity smaller than the threshold value, transmits the first radio wave at the radio wave intensity of the non-transmitted level, and obtains a combination of the radio wave intensity of the first radio wave and the radio wave intensity of the second radio wave.

8. A storage medium storing a program for causing a computer of a wireless tag writing apparatus or a computer of an information processing apparatus that controls an operation of the wireless tag writing apparatus to function as each of a conveying section that conveys a sheet provided with a wireless tag, a transmitting section that is disposed on a conveying path of the sheet and transmits a first radio wave for communication with the wireless tag, and a receiving section that receives a second radio wave transmitted from the wireless tag in response to the first radio wave, the respective sections including:

A measuring unit configured to reduce, for each time a predetermined amount of the paper is conveyed by the conveying unit, a radio wave intensity from a radio wave intensity of a specified level other than a minimum level among a plurality of levels of radio wave intensities transmittable by the transmitting unit to a radio wave intensity of a level at which a radio wave intensity of the second radio wave received by the receiving unit is less than a threshold value, and to obtain a combination of the radio wave intensities of the first and second radio waves; and