JP2004192655A - Label-issuing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a label issuing apparatus that can issue a label of which information is visually recognizable, which is strong against soiling, of which information is also recognizable even if in a state of the label surface being unable to be seen, and in which the contents of information is changeable, and also that is prevented from writing errors when issuing the label. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus includes a plurality of labels fed sequentially, each having an embedded wireless chip 6, a print unit for printing on the fed label, and a wireless data writing circuit 55 for writing data in the wireless chip of the fed label by radio waves. The wireless data writing circuit 55 sends label ID data to be processed to the wireless chip when issuing the label. The wireless chip, if the ID data matches its own one, sends back a signal notifying the matching. The wireless data writing circuit sends writing data to the wireless chip only when receiving from the wireless chip the signal notifying the matching of the ID data. This permits the wireless chip to receive and store the writing data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a tag issuing device that issues tags such as labels, tags, and cards.

As this type of bill issuing device, there is a label issuing device that issues a label (for example, see Patent Document 1). 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a label issuing device issues a label by printing, on a label surface, character or graphic information that can be visually recognized by humans, or symbol information such as a barcode or a two-dimensional code that can be read by a machine using an optical reader. I was
JP-A-6-328749

However, labels and the like issued by such an apparatus have the following problems.
Firstly, there is a problem that it is vulnerable to dirt. If the surface of the label becomes dirty, characters and figures cannot be read by human eyes, and symbols such as bar codes cannot be read accurately by an optical reader or the like.

  Secondly, if articles with labels are stacked, the labels may not be visible, and the information of the labels cannot be recognized while the articles are stacked. There was a problem that was bad.

  Third, since information is printed on a label and issued, once the label is issued, the content of the information on the label cannot be changed, and it is difficult to add information.

  By the way, in a tool management or the like for identifying tools stored in a plurality of plates and recognizing the lending status of the tools, a wireless data carrier capable of reading and writing data by wireless communication is attached to the plates, and the wireless data carrier reading is performed. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a device that performs wireless communication with a wireless data carrier by a device or a device constituting a system and recognizes information of a tool in a plate thereof. At present, there is no example in which such a wireless data carrier is applied to a label. However, if the wireless data carrier is a label, the first to third problems do not occur.

  However, if the wireless data carrier is a label, the information can be read indirectly by a wireless data carrier reading device or a device constituting the system, but the wireless data carrier requires that the human recognize the information directly with the eyes. There is a problem that can not be. Therefore, the wireless data carrier cannot be directly applied as a label.

  Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned first to third problems and to issue a label that allows a person to directly recognize information with eyes, a label printed on a wireless data carrier must be attached. It may be good. However, if the label sticking operation is performed manually, a sticking error is likely to occur.

  In this case, the label is automatically and continuously attached to the wireless data carrier, or the wireless data carrier, which is not yet known, is embedded in the label as a wireless chip composed of an IC (integrated circuit), and these are integrated. It may be necessary to process. However, in any case, the data to be written on the wireless data carrier and the data to be printed on the label must be data of one label.

  In other words, when writing data to a wireless data carrier, due to the nature of transmitting data by radio waves, if there are multiple wireless data carriers within a certain range, data is transmitted to all of the wireless data carriers. Therefore, the same data may be written to a plurality of wireless data carriers. Also, even if data is written once, when writing the next data, if the written wireless data carrier is within the range of the radio wave of the next write data, the data is overwritten again. Is also conceivable. When such a writing error occurs, there is a problem that the data printed on the label and the data written on the wireless data carrier of the label become data of different labels. In particular, when the wireless data carriers are continuously processed in close proximity to each other, it is more necessary to solve these problems.

  Therefore, the present invention sequentially transports a tag embedded with a wireless chip, enables printing on the surface of the tag and writing data to the wireless chip, thereby enabling information to be confirmed by human eyes, It is resistant to dirt and can recognize information even when the surface of the tag is not visible, can issue a tag that can change the content of the information of the tag, and can prevent writing errors when issuing the tag. It is intended to provide a bill issuing device.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of tags which are stored with identification chips to be distinguished from others and perform wireless communication in advance and are sequentially conveyed, a printing unit which prints data on the conveyed tags, and A wireless communication control unit for writing data to a wireless chip of the tag wirelessly, wherein the wireless communication control unit issues a tag based on a series of data for printing on one tag and writing by wireless communication. When performing, the identification data of the tag to be processed is transmitted by wireless communication to the wireless chip conveyed in the vicinity of the wireless communication control unit, and a signal indicating that the identification data matches its own identification data is transmitted from the wireless chip. Upon receipt, the write data is transmitted to the wireless chip by wireless communication, and the wireless chip of the tag, upon receiving the identification data, determines whether the identification data matches its own identification data, Transmitting a signal to that effect to the wireless communication control unit when it is determined that the write data has been transmitted, and receiving and storing the write data when the write data is transmitted by wireless communication from the wireless communication control unit. This is a bill issuing device.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the identification data is received at the time of issuing the tag, the wireless chip of the tag determines whether write-protection is set, and the received identification data matches its own identification data. Only when it is determined that write protection has not been set, a signal indicating that the data coincides with its own identification data is transmitted to the wireless communication control unit, and the wireless communication control unit writes by wireless communication. The tag issuing device is characterized in that when data is transmitted, the write data is received and stored, and write protection is set.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of tags which are stored with identification chips to be distinguished from each other and perform wireless communication in advance and which are sequentially transported, a printing unit which prints data on the transported tags, and A wireless communication control unit for writing data to a wireless chip of the tag wirelessly, wherein the wireless communication control unit issues a tag based on a series of data for printing on one tag and writing by wireless communication. When performing, the identification data of the tag to be processed is transmitted by wireless communication to the wireless chip conveyed in the vicinity of the wireless communication control unit, and a signal indicating that the identification data matches its own identification data is transmitted from the wireless chip. Upon receipt, the tag issuing device transmits write data to be stored in the wireless chip by wireless communication.

  As described in detail above, according to the present invention, a tag in which a wireless chip is embedded is sequentially conveyed, and it is possible to print data on the surface of the tag and write data to the wireless chip, thereby enabling human eyes to perform the operation. In addition to being able to check the information, it is resistant to dirt and can recognize the information even when the surface of the tag is not visible, and can issue a tag that can change the information content of the tag.

  Also, every time one tag is issued, the identification data of the tag to be processed is checked by the wireless chip of the transported tag, and the write data is written only when the wireless chip determines that the identification data matches. By transmitting and writing to the wireless chip, a writing error at the time of issuing a bill can be prevented.

  In addition, when wireless data is stored, write protection is set, and when it is determined that write protection is set even when it is determined that the received identification data matches its own identification data, Since the wireless communication control unit does not transmit a signal indicating that its own identification data matches and does not receive the next wireless data, even if the wireless communication control unit continuously transmits the same identification data, the wireless data Can be prevented from being overwritten.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a label issuing device will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a main part configuration inside a label issuing apparatus according to the present embodiment, wherein 1 is a label paper, 2 is a printing unit as a printing unit for outputting print data, and 3 is a wireless unit. It is a wireless unit. The wireless unit 3 is provided between a sheet holding roller 13 to be described later and a platen 14.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the label paper 1 is formed by winding a long backing paper 5 on which a plurality of labels 4 are adhered at predetermined intervals in a roll shape. The label 4 is embedded with a wireless chip 6 having a memory in which wireless data can be written as described later.

The label paper 1 is held by a paper supply shaft 11, and is wound by a mount winding shaft 12 through a predetermined paper path passing through the printing unit 2. The paper path extends from the paper supply shaft 11 to the platen 14 through the paper holding roller 13 disposed on the upstream side, and reaches the mount paper winding shaft 12 via the relay rollers 15 and 16. The paper path forms a straight path from the paper holding roller 13 to the platen 14, and the downstream side of the platen 14 is diverted by the label peeling plate 17 into two paths in a straight direction and a bending direction bent at an acute angle. The label paper 1 is peeled off the label 4 from the backing paper 5 by the label peeling plate 17, the label 4 goes straight and is discharged from a label issuing port (not shown), and the backing paper 5 is passed through the relay rollers 15 and 16 and the backing paper winding shaft. 12 is wound.
The printing unit 2 includes a platen 14, a thermal head 18 facing the platen 14, and a ribbon supply device 19 for supplying an ink ribbon 22 between the platen 14 and the thermal head 18. The ribbon supply device 19 is configured to wind the ink ribbon 22 held on the ribbon supply shaft 21 from the ribbon supply shaft 21 between the platen 14 and the thermal head 18 by the ribbon take-up shaft 23. The paper path of the ribbon is formed by the ribbon path frame 24. The ribbon path frame 24 is provided with a light transmission type ribbon sensor 25 for detecting the presence or absence of the ink ribbon 22.

  The thermal head 18 has a plurality of heating elements arranged in a line. The thermal head 18 applies heat to the ink ribbon 22 transported between the platen 14 and the thermal head 18 to perform printing output on the label 4. Further, the thermal head 18 is held by a head holding portion 27 which is rotatable about a fulcrum 26. The head holding portion 27 is urged by an urging member (not shown) in a direction of pressing against the platen 14, and the thermal head 18 is supported by a head contacting / separating mechanism (not shown) against the fulcrum 26 against the urging force of the urging member. And the heating element of the thermal head 18 can be separated from the platen 14 so as to be in a state as shown in FIG.

  Each component of the printing unit 2 is held by a paper path frame 28 that forms a paper path. Further, the paper path frame 28 is provided with the paper holding roller 13 and a paper width guide 31 for regulating the width direction of the label paper 1. A paper sensor 32 that detects the presence or absence of a paper is provided in a paper path between the paper holding roller 13 and the wireless unit 3. The paper sensor 32 detects the leading end of the label 4 based on the difference in thickness between the backing sheet 5 and the label 4. The output of the paper sensor 32 is monitored by a CPU 41 of a label issuing device described later. When the CPU 41 determines that the paper sensor 32 has detected the leading end of the label 4, the CPU 41 conveys the label 4 by a predetermined distance from the timing, and the label 4 is conveyed. To the print output position.

  Further, the paper holding roller 13 is configured such that a capstan roller 13a and a pinch roller 13b are arranged to face each other via a paper path, and the pinch roller 13b is pressed against the capstan roller 13a by a leaf spring (not shown). .

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the label issuing apparatus according to the present embodiment. Reference numeral 41 denotes a CPU constituting a control unit main body; 42, a ROM storing program data for the CPU 41 to control each unit; 43 is a RAM provided with a memory area used for data processing, a memory area for storing ID data as identification data for distinguishing from others used for ID check of a label 4 described later, and 44 is a label A drawing memory for developing output data into an image, an I / O (input / output) port 45, and an I / F (interface) 46 connected to a host computer 47 by a communication cable.

  The CPU 41 is electrically connected to the ROM 42, the RAM 43, the drawing memory 44, the I / O port 45, and the I / F 46 by bus lines 48 such as an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus.

  The I / O port 45 has a head driver 51 for driving the thermal head 18, the platen 14, the capstan roller 13 a of the paper holding roller 13, the mount winding shaft 12, and the like. A motor driver 53 for driving the transport motor 52 and various sensors 54 such as the ribbon sensor 25 and the paper sensor 32 are connected.

  In addition, a wireless data writing circuit 55 as a wireless communication control unit provided in the wireless unit 3 is connected to the I / O port 45. The wireless data writing circuit 55 writes predetermined wireless data to the wireless chip 6 of the label 4 by wireless communication. The wireless data writing circuit 55 supplies an unmodulated wave signal from the power sending circuit 61 to the power sending antenna 62 as shown in FIG. 6 and a modulated wave signal modulated by a modulation / demodulation circuit 63 with wireless data input through the I / O port 45 to a data communication antenna 64, and the data communication antenna A second system for transmitting radio data to the radio chip 6 of the label 4 by radiating the radio wave from the radio wave 64 as a modulation wave is constituted by a two-frequency system. The signal received from the data communication antenna 64 is demodulated by the modulation / demodulation circuit 63, and is input to the control unit via the I / O port 45 as received data.

  The power transmission circuit 61 supplies an unmodulated wave signal from the power transmission circuit 61 to the power transmission antenna 62 when the power of the label issuing apparatus is turned on. The modulation / demodulation circuit 63 controls the CPU 41. To be driven.

  On the other hand, the wireless chip 6 includes a CPU 70 constituting a control main body, and the CPU 70 is connected to a memory 71 composed of a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM and an I / O port 72. In the memory 71, write data received as wireless data from the wireless data writing circuit 55 of the label issuing device by wireless radio communication, program data performed by the CPU 70, own ID data for performing ID check, write inhibit A data area for storing a write end flag as a flag is provided. In the ID data storage area in the memory 71 of each label, ID data of 0, 1, 2,... Is stored in advance from the label at the leading end of the unused label paper 1 in order.

  Further, the wireless chip 6 includes a data communication antenna 73 for receiving a modulated wave from the wireless data writing circuit 55, and a signal received by the communication antenna 73 is demodulated by a modulation / demodulation circuit, and is received as I / O port 72 as reception data. Through the memory 71. Further, the wireless chip 6 includes a power receiving antenna 75 for receiving the unmodulated wave from the wireless data writing circuit 55. The unmodulated wave signal received by the power receiving antenna 75 is rectified by the rectifier circuit 77, and The power is supplied to the power supply circuit 67. Each unit of the wireless chip 6 operates by the power from the power supply circuit 67. Note that the wireless chip is formed of a very small IC that can be embedded in the label 4, and each antenna is arranged around the wireless chip.

  In the embodiment of the present invention having such a configuration, when the label issuance device is turned on, an initial process is performed and the label issuing device is ready for printing. At this time, the power transmission circuit 61 of the wireless data writing circuit 55 is driven to supply an unmodulated wave signal to the power transmission antenna, and the power transmission antenna 62 supplies the unmodulated wave signal for supplying power to the wireless chip 6 labeled 4. Emits waves.

  When outputting and issuing predetermined information to the label 4, the CPU 41 of the label issuing device performs the processing shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 based on the program stored in the ROM.

  That is, the CPU 41 first waits for reception of data from the host computer 47 in ST (step) 1. The data referred to here includes print data (character and graphic data recognizable by human eyes and symbol data such as barcodes recognizable by a machine, etc.) to be printed out from the thermal head 18. ), Wireless data to be transmitted to the wireless chip of the label 4, and command data such as a print issuing command for executing print output.

  If it is determined in ST1 that data has been received from the host computer 47, it is determined in ST2 whether the received data is print data. If it is determined in ST2 that the data is print data, it is determined in ST3 whether or not the data is barcode print data. If it is determined in ST3 that the print data is not barcode print data, the print data received in ST4 is image-developed in the drawing memory 44, and the process proceeds to ST8.

  If it is determined in ST3 that the data received from the host computer 47 is barcode print data, the print data received in ST5 is developed into an image in the drawing memory 44, and the data is written in wireless data in ST6. The data is transferred to the circuit 55 and the process proceeds to ST8.

  If it is determined in ST2 that the data received from the host computer 47 is not print data, the process waits for reception of a print issuance command in ST8. If it is determined in ST8 that the data received from the host computer 47 is not a print issuing command, the process returns to ST1. If it is determined that the data is a print issuing command, the paper transport motor 52 is controlled in ST9 to perform wireless communication. The label paper 1 is retracted to the data writing position. This is because when the label 4 is processed, the label 4 is conveyed to the print output position past the position facing the wireless unit 3 as the home position of the label 4, so that the wireless data write position, ie, the wireless data The label sheet 1 is retracted to a position within a range where the radio wave from the writing circuit 55 reaches the label 4 sufficiently. In addition, in order to transmit data more reliably, it is preferable to move backward to the position facing the wireless unit 3.

  Next, a write process of wireless data is performed in ST10. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, “0” is stored as ID data in RAM 43 in ST21. Subsequently, the ID data is transmitted to the wireless chip 6 of the label 4 as wireless data by wireless communication with the ID check command. Specifically, the ID data is transferred from the RAM 43 to the wireless data writing circuit 55 together with the ID check command, and is radiated from the data communication antenna 64 as wireless data.

  Then, in ST23, it waits for reception of the ID response from the wireless chip 6 of the label 4. That is, it is determined whether or not the ID response has been received as wireless data via the data communication antenna 64 of the wireless data writing circuit 55. When it is determined that the ID response has not been received within the predetermined time, the ID data in the RAM 43 is incremented and updated in ST24, and the process proceeds to ST22.

If it is determined in ST23 that the ID response has been received within the predetermined time, the write data is transmitted from the wireless data writing circuit 55 as wireless data to the wireless chip 6 of the label 4 by wireless radio communication in ST25. The processing returns to the processing shown in FIG.
Then, in step ST11, the sheet transport motor 52 is controlled to advance the label sheet 1 to feed the label 4 to the print output position.
Next, in ST12, print output is performed from the thermal head 18 on the surface of the label 4 based on the data in the drawing memory 44, and the process returns to ST1.

  On the other hand, the wireless chip 6 of the label 4 receives an unmodulated wave from the power receiving antenna 75 when the wireless chip 6 enters the range where the radio wave of the wireless data writing circuit 3 reaches. As a result, the power supply circuit 77 operates to supply power to the CPU 70 and the like of the wireless chip 6. Then, the CPU 70 of the wireless chip 6 performs the processing shown in FIG. 8 based on the program stored in the memory 71.

  That is, the CPU 70 waits for reception of an ID check command from the wireless data writing circuit 55 in ST31. Then, in ST31, when an ID check command is received as wireless data from the data receiving antenna 73 by wireless radio communication, ID data is subsequently received, and the ID data matches its own ID data already stored in the memory 71. It is determined whether or not to do.

  If it is determined in ST32 that the ID data received from the wireless data writing circuit 55 does not match its own ID data, the process is terminated. If it is determined that the ID data matches, the writing end flag is determined in ST33. Determine whether it is set. If it is determined in ST33 that the write end flag has been set, the process is terminated. If it is determined that the write end flag has not been set, an ID response is transmitted from the data communication antenna 73 to the radio wave in ST34. The data is transmitted to the wireless data writing circuit 55 as wireless data by communication.

  Subsequently, in ST35, the write data from the wireless data writing circuit 55 is received as wireless data from the data communication antenna 73 by wireless radio communication. Then, the received write data is written into a predetermined area of the memory 71, and a write end flag of the memory 71 is set in ST37, and this processing ends.

Next, a case in which an actual tag used in the field of manufacturing is issued by the above-described label issuing apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG.
FIG. 9 shows an example of data output to a label. This data is constructed as a database in a hard disk device or the like of the host computer 47. This database is roughly divided into "data used only for printing" and "common data". “Data used only for printing” is data that is printed only on the surface of the label 4 and is not written on the wireless chip 6. “Common data” is data printed on the surface of the label 4 and printed on the surface of the label 4. This is the data that is also written.

  The “data used only for printing” includes fields of a product name, a delivery destination, an order destination, and a storage bin, and the “common data” includes fields of a product number and a delivery quantity (quantity). Here, the product number is displayed as a bar code as print data and can be read by a machine using a bar code reader or the like, and is displayed as bar code product number information as wireless data.

  Further, in the wireless chip 6, three types of information of the number of components taken out of the storage box, in addition to the above-mentioned part number information and the number of delivered pieces, are prepared in advance as fields for writing the wireless data.

  Upon receiving such data from the host computer 47, the label issuing device develops the print data into an image in the drawing memory 44. In this case, since “data used only for printing” and “common data” are the print data, the data of the six fields of the product name, the delivery destination, the ordering destination, the shelf number, the product number, and the delivery quantity (quantity) are stored. The image is developed in the drawing memory 44. At the same time, the "common data" is also transferred to the wireless data writing circuit 55. As described above, the "common data" is received once from the host computer 47 and is processed not only as print data but also as wireless data, so that the processing speed can be improved.

  Subsequently, when a print issue command is received from the host computer 47, the label paper 1 is retracted to the wireless data write position, and an ID check is performed by wireless radio communication. That is, when the label issuing device transmits ID data together with the ID check command, the wireless chip 6 of the label 4 determines whether or not the ID data matches its own ID data. Unless set, an ID response is returned to the label issuing device side. Thus, the label issuing device can determine that the label 4 is for writing data, and thus can prevent a writing error such as writing on another label 4.

  When the wireless data has already been written, a write flag is set. Unless this write flag is set, another wireless data is not written, so that another wireless data is overwritten. It is also possible to prevent such a writing mistake.

Upon receiving the ID response from the wireless chip 6 of the label 4, the label issuing device writes wireless data. In this case, the number information taken out of the storage box is not written. Therefore, the area of the information on the number of components taken out of the storage box is reserved as a writable area after the label is issued.
Then, the label 4 is fed to a print output position, and print output is performed by the thermal head 18. FIG. 10 shows the label of the tag thus issued.

  The label of the issued tag is attached to a storage box in which the parts are stored. When the operator takes out the parts from the storage box, the information of the bar code printed on the label surface of the tag is read by an optical reader (bar code scanner) (not shown), or the information is read by a wireless chip reader (not shown). By reading the information stored in the wireless chip of the tag on the tag, or by checking the parts, the required number of parts are taken out. After the parts are taken out, the cumulative number taken up to now by the wireless chip writing device is written into the wireless chip of the label of the tag.

  The data of the total number thus far taken out is used at the time of inventory management, when checking the actual number and the inventory number written on the wireless chip on the label of the actual tag. In this example, the data written to the wireless chip is the number of extracted components, but the remaining number may be written. In this case, if the number of delivered chips in the wireless chip is directly rewritten, a field for storing the number of parts taken out can be omitted.

Next, a case where the label issuing apparatus as described above issues an invoice for use in the field of transportation will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG.
FIG. 11 shows an example of data output to a label. This data is constructed as a database in a hard disk device or the like of the host computer 47. This database is roughly divided into "data used only for printing", "common data", and "data used only for wireless communication". “Data used only for wireless communication” is data that is written on the wireless chip 6 but is not printed out on the surface of the label 4.

“Data used only for printing” includes a consignee and a consignor, and “common data” includes a load management code and the number. Here, the load management code is displayed as a bar code as print data, can be read by a machine with a bar code reader or the like, and is displayed as code information as wireless data.
The “data used only for wireless communication” includes a routing (transport route) indicating through which relay point the package has been transported. This routing may be one or more. The example shown in FIG. 11 is a case where there are two routing possibilities.

  Upon receiving such data from the host computer 47, the label issuing device develops the print data into an image in the drawing memory 44. In this case, since the data used only for printing and the common data are the print data, the data of the four fields of the consignee, the consignor, the load management code, and the number are image-developed in the drawing memory 44. At the same time, the common data is also transferred to the wireless data writing circuit 55. In addition, routing data, which is data used only for wireless communication, is also transferred to the wireless data writing circuit 55.

  Subsequently, when a print issuance command is received from the host computer 47, an ID check is performed in the same manner as in the case of the label issuance of the physical tag described above, and only when an ID response is received, based on the data as described above. Print on the label surface or write data on the wireless chip. The invoice label thus issued is shown in FIG.

The issued invoice label is attached to the package. Then, during transportation of the package, by checking the routing data using a wireless chip reader (not shown) at each relay point, it is possible to check the mixing of the wrong package. If the planned routing cannot be used due to a traffic obstacle or the like, a new routing may be written.
Also, instead of storing the routing data of the package in advance in the wireless chip of the label, a field for storing a relay point through which the package is transported (relay point field) and a time for storing the time at that time A field may be prepared in advance so that data is not written in this area when a label is issued. Thus, by writing data in the relay point field and the time field for each relay point, and finally reading the contents of the relay point field of this label, it is possible to determine through which route the package has arrived.

  It should be noted that the relay point field in this case needs to be equal to or more than the number of passing relay points in order to enable writing of data at all the relay points. However, when the actual number of relay points is larger than the number of relay fields, the routing data to be written in the relay field can be transmitted from the relay point even if only two points, the data of the current relay point and the data of the next relay point. Sometimes mixing check is possible.

  In this way, by sequentially transporting the label embedded with the wireless chip, printing it on the surface of the label, and writing data to the wireless chip, it is possible to confirm information with the eyes of humans and to remove dirt. It is strong and can recognize information even when the surface of the tag is not visible, and can issue a tag that can change the content of the information of the tag.

  Also, every time one label is issued, the ID of the label 4 to be processed is checked with the wireless chip 6 of the transported label 4 and the write data is written only when the wireless chip 6 transmits an ID response. By transmitting and writing to the wireless chip 6, it is possible to prevent crosstalk and to prevent a writing error when a label is issued.

  Further, when the wireless data is stored, the write end flag is set, and it is determined that the write end flag is set even when it is determined that the received ID data matches its own ID data. When the wireless data writing circuit 55 continuously transmits the same ID data, the wireless communication device does not transmit its own ID response to the wireless data writing circuit 55 and does not receive the next wireless data. However, overwriting of wireless data can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, the wireless unit 3 is arranged upstream of the print output position of the printing unit 2, and if the wireless chip 6 does not transmit an ID response in the process of issuing a label, printing on the label 4 is also performed. Since this is not performed, it is possible to prevent erroneous printing on the label 4 with different ID data, and it is possible to prevent the label 4 from being wasted.

  Note that the wireless unit 3 may be arranged downstream of the print output position of the printing unit 2. In this case, it is not necessary to retract the label paper when writing data to the wireless chip 6 of the label 4, and the processing speed can be improved.

  Further, the wireless chip 6 may be embedded in the non-printing area of the label 4. Accordingly, when the wireless chip 6 is thick, it is considered that accurate printing cannot be performed because the thickness of the label 4 is different in the embedded portion of the wireless chip 6 in the direction in which the heating elements of the thermal head 18 are arranged. It is possible to avoid printing out to the user. This is particularly effective when printing is performed by pressing the head against the label 4 as in a thermal printer as in the present embodiment.

  In this case, when the portion in which the wireless chip 6 is embedded further passes between the thermal head 18 and the platen 17, the thermal head 18 may be separated from the platen 17 as shown in FIG. Thus, when the wireless chip 6 is thick and passes between the thermal head 18 and the platen 17, it is possible to prevent the wireless head 6 from hitting the thermal head 18 and causing the thermal head 18 to fail.

  Although the printing unit 2 has been described as being provided with the thermal head 18, the printing unit 2 is not necessarily limited to this, and the printing unit 2 may be provided with an ink jet head, an impact head, or the like.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a case has been described in which the present invention is applied to a label issuing device that issues a label as a tag.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a configuration of a main part inside a label issuing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state where the thermal head according to the embodiment is separated from a platen. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a label sheet illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the label issuing device according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating details of configurations of a wireless data writing circuit and a wireless chip illustrated in FIG. 4. 5 is a flowchart showing a process performed by the CPU of the label issuing device shown in FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the wireless data writing process shown in FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing performed by the CPU of the wireless chip shown in FIG. 5; The figure which shows an example of the database built in the host computer side when the label of the tag is issued by the label issuing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The figure which shows the label of the tag which is issued by the label issuing device concerning this execution form. The figure which shows an example of the database built in the host computer side when issuing the label of the invoice with the label issuing apparatus concerning this Embodiment. The figure which shows the label of the invoice issued by the label issuing device concerning this Embodiment.

Explanation of reference numerals

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Label paper 2 ... Printing unit 3 ... Wireless unit 4 ... Label 6 ... Wireless chip 18 ... Thermal head 55 ... Wireless data writing device

Claims (3)

A plurality of tags that are stored in advance and wirelessly communicate with the identification data to be distinguished from the others and perform wireless communication, a plurality of tags that are sequentially transported, a printing unit that prints data on the transported tags, and a wireless chip that is wirelessly transported to the transported tags A wireless communication control unit for writing data,
When issuing a tag based on a series of data for printing on one tag and performing writing by wireless communication, the wireless communication control unit processes the wireless chip conveyed in the vicinity of the wireless communication control unit from now on. When the identification data of the tag to be transmitted is transmitted by wireless communication, and a signal indicating that the identification data matches its own identification data is received from the wireless chip, the writing data is transmitted to the wireless chip by wireless communication,
Upon receiving the identification data, the wireless chip of the tag determines whether or not the identification data matches its own identification data, and transmits a signal to that effect to the wireless communication control unit when it determines that the identification data matches. When writing data is transmitted by wireless communication from the wireless communication control unit, the writing data is received and stored. Upon receiving the identification data at the time of issuing the tag, the wireless chip of the tag determines whether write-protection is set, and determines that the received identification data matches its own identification data. Only when it is determined that the prohibition is not set, a signal indicating that the identification data matches the own identification data is transmitted to the wireless communication control unit, and the write data is transmitted from the wireless communication control unit by wireless communication. A tag issuing device for receiving and storing the write data and setting write protection. A plurality of tags that are stored in advance and wirelessly communicate with the identification data to be distinguished from the others and perform wireless communication, a plurality of tags that are sequentially transported, a printing unit that prints data on the transported tags, and a wireless chip that is wirelessly transported to the transported tags A wireless communication control unit for writing data,
When issuing a tag based on a series of data for printing on one tag and performing writing by wireless communication, the wireless communication control unit processes the wireless chip conveyed in the vicinity of the wireless communication control unit from now on. Transmitting identification data of the tag to be transmitted by wireless communication, and when receiving from the wireless chip a signal indicating that the identification data matches its own identification data, transmitting write data to be stored in the wireless chip by wireless communication A bill issuing device characterized by the above-mentioned.

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