JP2006000936A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer making printing on a long-sized base material mounted with RFID devices, without impairing the communicating function of the RFID devices and cutting the base material at appropriate parts. <P>SOLUTION: This printer 10 is provided with: at least a conveying means 11 charged inside with the long-sized base material 20 with the RFID devices mounted at equal spaces along a longitudinal direction, and to convey the base material; a printing means 12 for printing the base material 20; an identification means 13 for identifying information A which the RFID devices of the base material 20 have, and/or information B on printing of the base material 20; a determining means 14 for determining the parts to cut the base material 20 based on the information A and/or the information B; and a cutting means 15 for cutting the base material 20 according to signals from the determining means 14, to form single pieces. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing on a long substrate.

  Conventionally, as a technique for printing along a longitudinal direction on a long base material coated with an adhesive such as a tape, for example, one of tapes wound in a roll shape by a thermal transfer method in Patent Document 1 is used. A printing apparatus has been proposed for printing on the surface. The printing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 can pressure-bond a transparent film having high transparency to the printing surface in order to protect the printing surface. Further, in such a conventional printing apparatus, when printing is completed, the base material is cut immediately after the last printed character in the transport direction of the base material to be separated into single pieces.

  However, Patent Document 1 discloses a long tape such as a tape on which a semiconductor device having an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) function (hereinafter also abbreviated as “RFID device”) is mounted at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction. A printing method and a printing apparatus for printing on a shaped substrate are not disclosed.

Even when printing is performed on a long substrate on which the RFID device is mounted, when printing is completed, the substrate is cut into a single piece behind the printed region in the conveyance direction of the substrate. However, in order not to damage the RFID device by cutting the base material, the base material must be sent to a portion where the RFID device is not mounted and then the base material is cut at this portion. Therefore, when the base material is cut, it is necessary to identify the printed region and the region where the RFID device exists on the base material.
JP-A-5-69565

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and applies a printing process to a long base material on which an RFID device is mounted without impairing the communication function of the RFID device. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of cutting a substrate at an appropriate location.

  The present invention is a printing apparatus for printing on a long substrate, and a long substrate on which semiconductor devices having RFID functions are mounted at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction is loaded into the printing device. And identifying information A and / or information B relating to the printing of the base material, which is included in the semiconductor device having the RFID function of the base material, a transport means for transporting the base material, a printing means for printing on the base material, An identification unit, a determination unit that determines a location where the base material is cut based on the information A and / or the information B, and a base material that is cut based on a signal from the determination unit. And a cutting device provided with at least cutting means.

  In the printing apparatus having such a configuration, when printing of the base material by the printing unit is completed, the determination unit determines an appropriate location for cutting the base material based on the information A and information B identified by the identification unit. Then, based on the signal from the judging means, the transport means feeds the base material to a portion other than the printed region and the portion where the RFID device does not exist, and then cuts the base material. The substrate can be cut at an appropriate place without impairing the communication function. That is, by identifying the arrangement of the RFID device mounted on the base material by the information A and identifying the area where characters, patterns, images, etc. printed on the base material exist by the information B, the size of this area is determined. The base material can be cut to an arbitrary length according to (the length of the base material) and the number and arrangement of the RFID devices included in this region. In addition, printing can be performed on an arbitrary region (length) of the base material in accordance with the number and arrangement (interval) of the RFID devices mounted on the base material.

  In the printing apparatus configured as described above, the printing unit may print on a surface of the substrate on which a semiconductor device having an RFID function is mounted.

  When printing processing is performed on the surface on which the RFID device is mounted on the base material, the position where the RFID device is mounted can be clarified, or the mounting of the RFID device can be made inconspicuous.

  In the printing apparatus configured as described above, it is preferable that the printing unit prints on a surface opposite to a surface on which the semiconductor device having an RFID function is mounted on the base material.

  When performing printing on the surface opposite to the surface on which the RFID device is mounted on the base material, it is possible to clarify the position where the RFID device is mounted, Images can also be printed.

  According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, a printing process is performed on a long base material on which an RFID device is mounted without impairing the communication function of the RFID device, and the base material is appropriately used. Cutting can be performed at various points. In addition, it is possible to cut a long base material on which an RFID device is mounted to an arbitrary length, and to print on an arbitrary region of the base material.

  Hereinafter, a printing apparatus embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a printing apparatus, 11 denotes a conveying means, 12 denotes a printing means, 13 denotes an identification means, 14 denotes a judgment means, 15 denotes a cutting means, 16 denotes a control means, and 20 denotes a substrate.

  In the printing apparatus 10 of this embodiment, a long base material 20 on which semiconductor devices having RFID functions are mounted at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction is loaded into the printing apparatus 10, and the base material 20 is Conveying means 11 for conveying in the longitudinal direction; printing means 12 for printing on the substrate 20; identification means 13 for identifying information A on the IC chip of the substrate 20 and information B relating to printing of the substrate 20; And determining means 14 for determining a location to cut the base material 20 based on the information B, cutting means 15 for cutting the base material 20 into a single piece based on a signal from the judging means 14, and these operations. The control unit 16 is configured schematically.

  In the printing apparatus 10, the base material 20 is loaded into the apparatus so that the base material 20 can be conveyed while being sent out at a desired speed in the longitudinal direction. In addition, a printing unit 12, an identification unit 13, a determination unit 14, and a cutting unit 15 are arranged in this order from the side closer to the substrate 20 wound in a roll shape along the conveyance direction of the substrate 20. Further, the printing unit 12, the identification unit 13, the determination unit 14, and the cutting unit 15 are disposed on the one surface 20 a side of the base material 20. Further, the transport unit 11, the printing unit 12, the identification unit 13, the determination unit 14, the cutting unit 15, and the control unit 16 are electrically connected via various cables so that signals can be communicated with each other. It has become.

  As the transport means 11, a long base material 20 in which RFID devices are mounted at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction is loaded into the printing apparatus 10, and the long base material 20 is placed in the longitudinal direction. There is no particular limitation as long as it can be conveyed (sent out) along a desired speed, and any material can be applied. Examples of the transport means 11 include a pair of rollers 11a and 11a that transport the base material 20 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 by rotating the base material 20 between both surfaces.

  The printing unit 12 is not particularly limited as long as it can print a character, pattern, or image of any size on the base material 20, and any one can be applied. Examples of the printing means 12 include a thermal transfer printer, an inkjet printer, a microdrive printer, a sublimation thermal transfer printer, and a thermoautochrome printer.

 The identification unit 13 has a function of identifying information A included in the RFID device mounted on the base material 20 and a function of identifying information B related to printing performed on the base material 20 by the printing unit 12. Any device provided with a device is not particularly limited, and any device can be applied. As a device having a function of identifying information A possessed by the RFID device, for example, a device having a function of reading information written in advance on an IC chip constituting the RFID device, and a function of identifying a position where the RFID device is mounted And the like. Examples of the device having a function of identifying information B related to printing performed on the substrate 20 include an imaging device having a function of identifying characters, patterns, or images printed on the substrate 20.

 The determination unit 14 is not particularly limited as long as it has a function of determining a location where the base material 20 is cut based on the information A and information B identified by the identification unit 13, and any device is applicable. . As the judging means 14, for example, a personal computer in which criteria for judgment based on the information A and the information B are programmed in advance can be cited.

 The cutting means 15 is not particularly limited as long as it can cut the base material 20 being transported into a single piece based on a signal from the determination means 14, and any cutting means 15 is applicable. Examples of the cutting means 15 include a tooth cutter and a fusing cutter.

 The control unit 16 is not particularly limited as long as it has a function of controlling the operations of the transport unit 11, the printing unit 12, the identification unit 13, the determination unit 14, and the cutting unit 15. Any type of control unit 16 is applicable. Examples of the control means 16 include a personal computer that inputs commands relating to operations of the transport means 11, the printing means 12, the identification means 13, the determination means 14, and the cutting means 15.

Further, examples of the base material 20 on which the printing process is performed by the printing apparatus 10 include a long base material in which RFID devices 21 are mounted at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG.
The substrate 20 is not particularly limited as long as it can print characters, patterns, or images by the printing means 12, and any substrate can be applied. Examples of the substrate 20 include a laminate such as a tape made of paper, a resin material, a resin material or paper, and an adhesive. Further, a layer made of an adhesive (hereinafter abbreviated as “adhesive layer”) or an adhesive on the surface of the substrate 20 on which the RFID device 21 is mounted or on the surface opposite to the surface on which the RFID device 21 is mounted. May be provided (hereinafter abbreviated as “adhesive layer”). When an adhesive layer or an adhesive layer is provided on the substrate 20, release paper is provided on the surface of the adhesive layer or the adhesive layer in order to protect them.

 The RFID device 21 is not particularly limited as long as it has a non-contact automatic recognition function using electromagnetic waves, and any device can be applied. As the RFID device 21, for example, an IC chip mounted on a coil-shaped, pole-shaped or loop-shaped antenna, or an IC chip provided separately from these antennas is connected to these antennas. And those having a communication function such as those in which these antennas are formed on an IC chip. Specifically, a minute RFID chip capable of communication in the entire frequency band from 13.56 MHz to 2.45 GHz is exemplified.

In this embodiment, the example in which the printing unit 12, the identification unit 13, the determination unit 14, and the cutting unit 15 are arranged on the one surface 20a side of the substrate 20 is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Not. In the printing apparatus of the present invention, the printing unit 12, the identification unit 13, the determination unit 14, and the cutting unit 15 are arranged on the one surface 20a side or the other surface 20b side of the base material 20 as necessary. The
In the printing apparatus of the present invention, an apparatus having a function of arbitrarily writing and erasing information on an IC chip constituting the RFID device mounted on the substrate may be provided. In addition, the printing apparatus of the present invention is configured in such a manner that input means such as a personal computer for inputting information relating to printing (characters, patterns, images, etc.) applied to the base material is integrally provided. It may be connectable to various input means via various cables.

 Next, with reference to FIGS. 1-4, the printing process which prints a character, a pattern, or an image on the elongate base material 20 using the printing apparatus 10 is demonstrated.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a printing process on the long base 20 by the printing apparatus 10.
First, the long base material 20 wound in a roll shape is loaded into a predetermined position of the printing apparatus 10 (step S1).

Subsequently, the conveyance unit 11 starts conveying the base material 20 (step S2).
Subsequently, a desired character, pattern, or image is printed on the one surface 20a of the substrate 20 by the printing unit 12 (step S3).

Subsequently, the information A (information A1, information A2, and information A3) held by the RFID device 21 mounted on the base material 20 is identified by the identification unit 13 (step S4).
In step S4, information A1 written in advance on the IC chip constituting the RFID device 21 is read, information A2 on the type of the RFID device 21 (size and arrangement of the IC chip and antenna constituting the RFID device 21), RFID Information A3 regarding the position where the device 21 is mounted is identified.

  Subsequently, information B relating to the position, region (size), etc., where characters, patterns or images are printed on the base material 20 is identified by the identifying means 13 (step S5).

  In addition, since this step S4 and step S5 are performed by the identification means 13, they may be performed in the reverse order or simultaneously.

  Subsequently, based on the information A and information B identified by the identifying unit 13, the determining unit 14 determines an appropriate location for cutting the base material 20 without impairing the communication function of the RFID device 21 (step S6). ).

Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, in the base material 20, when one end 23 a of a region 23 on which characters, a pattern, or an image is printed ends at a portion overlapping with the RFID device 21, that is, the region Consider a case where the RFID device 21 is included in 23. Note that the region 23 includes the RFID device 21 means that at least a part of the RFID device 21 exists in the region 23.
In this state, when the substrate 20 is cut immediately after the region 23 in the conveyance direction of the substrate 20 (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4) at the same time as the printing is finished, the IC chip and the antenna constituting the RFID device 21 are damaged. Thus, the communication function of the RFID device 21 is impaired. Therefore, the determination unit 14 determines an appropriate location for cutting the base material 20 based on the information A and the information B identified by the identification unit 13, and the conveyance unit 11 determines based on the signal from the determination unit 14. The base material 20 is sent out to a portion other than the printed region 23 and a portion where the IC chip and the antenna constituting the RFID device 21 are not present.

  Subsequently, the cutting means 15 cuts the base material 20 at an appropriate location based on the signal from the determination means 14 to make a single piece (step S7).

  These steps S1 to S7 are all controlled by the control means 16.

The printing process performed on the base material 20 by the printing apparatus 10 is a surface (for example, one surface 20a) on which the RFID device 21 is mounted or a surface opposite to the surface on which the RFID device 21 is mounted (for example, the other surface 20b). ) May be applied to either side.
When printing processing is performed on the surface of the base material 20 on which the RFID device 21 is mounted, the position where the RFID device 21 is mounted should be clarified or the RFID device 21 mounted should not be noticeable. Can do. In addition, when the printing process is performed on the surface of the base material 20 opposite to the surface on which the RFID device 21 is mounted, the position where the RFID device 21 is mounted is clarified or restricted by the presence of the RFID device 21. A desired character, pattern or image can be printed without any problem.

  Note that the printing apparatus 10 is integrally provided with input means for inputting information related to printing (characters, patterns, images, etc.) applied to the substrate 20, or the input means and various cables. If the connection is made via the input means, it is also possible to determine the area (length to be printed, width) to be printed on the base material 20 based on the information related to printing input in advance by the input means. Therefore, in such a case, since the area for printing on the base material 20 is determined at the same time when the information regarding printing is input by the input means, it is necessary to identify the information B regarding the printing of the base material 20 by the identifying means 13. Disappear. In such a case, in the identification means 13, the information A (information written in advance on the IC chip constituting the RFID device 21, the IC chip constituting the RFID device 21 and the antenna) is stored in the RFID device 21 of the base material 20. Only information on size and arrangement, information on the position where the RFID device 21 is mounted) are identified. Then, based on the information A identified by the identification unit 13, the determination unit 14 determines an appropriate location for cutting the base material 20 without impairing the communication function of the RFID device 21.

  The printing apparatus of the present invention is subjected to a printing process, cut into a single piece, the RFID device on which predetermined information is written is mounted, and a character, pattern or image is on one side It is printed. Therefore, for example, if the base material is an adhesive tape having an adhesive layer on the other surface, a printing process is performed on the surface of the base material opposite to the surface on which the adhesive layer is provided, so that a single piece is obtained. After that, if the singulated substrate is affixed to an object such as a document, the object can be visually recognized and can be recognized in a non-contact manner using electromagnetic waves.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the elongate base material printed by the printing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the printing process to the elongate base material by the printing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining the printing process to the elongate base material by the printing apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Printing apparatus, 11 ... Conveyance means, 12 ... Printing means, 13 ... Identification means, 14 ... Judgment means, 15 ... Cutting means, 16 ... Control means, 20 ... base material, 21 ... IC chip, 23 ... area.

Claims (3)

A printing apparatus for printing on a long substrate,
A long base material on which semiconductor devices having an RFID function are mounted at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction is loaded into the printing apparatus, and transporting means for transporting the base material and printing for printing on the base material Means, identification means for identifying information A and / or information B relating to printing of the base material of the semiconductor device having the RFID function of the base material, and the base material based on the information A and / or the information B A printing apparatus comprising at least determination means for determining a portion to be cut, and cutting means for cutting the base material into single pieces based on a signal from the determination means.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit performs printing on a surface of the base material on which a semiconductor device having an RFID function is mounted. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit performs printing on a surface opposite to a surface on which a semiconductor device having an RFID function is mounted on the base material.

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