JP2009037551A - Recording unit and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording unit for processing as a fault in an RF-ID tag on the occurrence of a communication error, after deciding whether or not the above communication error is caused by the fault in the RF-ID tag. <P>SOLUTION: In a control method of the recording unit having a recording function and a write function to the RF-ID tag, when writing electronic information to the RF-ID tag, embedded in the label of continuous label paper in conveyance, is not completed normally (step S805), the above continuous label paper is returned to an electronic information write position (step S808), and rewrite processing of the electronic information is performed at a conveyance halt state (step S810), so that the decision of whether the RF-ID tag is in a fault state is made (step S811). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a control technique in a recording apparatus, and more particularly to a control technique in a recording apparatus having an electronic information writing function and a recording function for a recording medium incorporating an RF-ID tag.

  In recent years, systems using RF-ID (Radio Frequency Identification) capable of transmitting and receiving electronic information without contact are becoming widespread. An RF-ID system mainly includes an RF-ID tag including an IC chip equipped with a nonvolatile memory for storing electronic information and an antenna electrically connected to the IC chip, and the RF-ID tag. It consists of an RF-ID reader / writer to be controlled.

  In addition to being able to write and store new electronic information, the system is characterized in that it can communicate simultaneously with a plurality of RF-ID tags and is less susceptible to obstacles. For this reason, for example, by mounting an RF-ID tag on a product or the like, a distribution management system or the like for the product can be constructed.

  Here, there are various methods for mounting the RF-ID tag on a product or the like. Among them, generally known is a method of mounting an RF-ID tag on a product by incorporating the RF-ID tag in a label (recording medium) for recording product information and the like, and attaching the label to the product. ing.

  Usually, when a product management system or the like is constructed using such a label, it is necessary to perform a recording process on the label surface and a writing process of electronic information on the RF-ID tag. However, since these processes are divided and performed using different apparatuses, it takes time. Therefore, recently, an RF-ID reader / writer is mounted on the recording apparatus, and the recording process on the label surface and the RF Recording apparatuses with an RF-ID tag writing function capable of performing electronic information writing processing on an ID tag all at once are becoming widespread.

  And until now, in the recording apparatus with the RF-ID tag writing function, after moving the label containing the RF-ID tag under the RF-ID communication antenna provided in the RF-ID reader / writer, The transport of the label is temporarily stopped, and electronic information is written in the transport stopped state.

  This is because the maximum writable capacity and the communication time are different for each RF-ID tag due to the difference in the size of the RF-ID antenna and the difference in the IC chip used.

  However, in the case of a recording apparatus with an RF-ID tag function, a configuration is adopted in which a plurality of full line heads are arranged side by side in the label transport direction for recording processing on the label surface, and transport is stopped for the recording processing. It can be performed continuously without any problems. For this reason, as described above, it is not desirable to stop the conveyance for writing the electronic information to the RF-ID tag in order to improve the overall throughput.

  Under such circumstances, there has been proposed an apparatus capable of writing electronic information to the RF-ID tag in a transported state without stopping the transport of the label (for example, see Patent Document 1).

According to Patent Document 1, electronic information can be reliably written to an RF-ID tag without stopping the conveyance of a continuous label sheet in which a plurality of labels each having a built-in RF-ID tag are arranged. The transport speed of the continuous label paper is controlled based on the recording conditions and communication conditions.
JP 2003-140548 A

  However, if the transport speed is controlled so that electronic information can be reliably written as in Patent Document 1, continuous label paper is caused by the recording conditions and communication conditions of some RF-ID tags. The overall throughput may be significantly reduced.

  On the other hand, if the continuous label paper is conveyed by increasing the conveyance speed, communication may not be completed within the communication time depending on the type of the RF-ID tag, and a communication error (indicating that communication has not been completed normally). Error) will occur sporadically. Here, in the conventional recording apparatus with an RF-ID tag writing function, when a communication error occurs, it is uniformly determined that the RF-ID tag has failed, and the label is discharged as a defective product. However, in the case where the conveyance speed is increased as described above, all of them are not necessarily caused by the failure of the RF-ID tag.

  For this reason, in the case of using at a higher conveyance speed to improve the throughput, it is possible to treat the RF-ID tag in which a communication error has occurred without completing communication within the communication time. desirable.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and even when a communication error occurs, it is determined whether or not the communication error is caused by a failure of the RF-ID tag. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus that can handle an ID tag failure.

  Furthermore, when it is determined that the communication error is not caused by the failure of the RF-ID tag, a recording apparatus capable of rewriting electronic information on the RF-ID tag is provided. For the purpose.

In order to achieve the above object, a recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
Conveying means for conveying a recording medium containing an RF-ID tag;
Recording means for recording on the surface of the recording medium;
Writing means for communicating with the RF-ID tag and writing electronic information to the RF-ID tag;
Determining means for determining whether or not writing by the writing means is normally completed during conveyance of the recording medium by the conveying means;
The conveying means is
As a result of the determination by the determination means, when it is determined that the process has not been completed normally, the recording medium is continuously conveyed until recording on the surface of the recording medium having the RF-ID tag is completed, and thereafter , By transporting the recording medium to the writing position of the electronic information by the writing means, the recording medium is stopped at the writing position,
The writing means includes
Write the electronic information again,
The determination means determines whether or not the rewriting of the electronic information by the writing means has been normally completed. If it is determined that the electronic information has not been normally completed, the RF-ID tag has failed. It is determined that it is present.

  According to the present invention, even when a communication error occurs, it is determined whether or not the communication error is caused by a failure of the RF-ID tag, and is processed as a failure of the RF-ID tag. Is possible.

  Furthermore, when it is determined that the communication error is not caused by the failure of the RF-ID tag, the electronic information can be rewritten to the RF-ID tag.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described specifically and in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiment described below, a recording system including a recording apparatus using a full line recording head according to an ink jet method will be described as an example.

  In this specification, “recording” (sometimes referred to as “printing”) is not only for forming significant information such as characters and figures, but also for human beings visually perceived regardless of significance. Regardless of whether or not it has been manifested, it also represents a case where an image, a pattern, a pattern, or the like is widely formed on a recording medium or the medium is processed.

  “Recording medium” refers not only to paper used in general recording apparatuses but also widely to cloth, plastic film, metal plate, glass, ceramics, wood, leather, and the like that can accept ink. Shall.

  Furthermore, “ink” (sometimes referred to as “liquid”) is to be interpreted broadly in the same way as the definition of “recording (printing)” above. It represents a liquid that can be used for forming a pattern or the like, processing a recording medium, or processing an ink (for example, solidification or insolubilization of a colorant in ink applied to the recording medium).

  Further, the “nozzle” collectively refers to an ejection port or a liquid path communicating with the ejection port and an element that generates energy used for ink ejection unless otherwise specified.

[First Embodiment]
<Configuration of recording system>
FIG. 1 shows a recording using a color recording apparatus 101 (hereinafter referred to as a recording apparatus) using a full-line recording head according to the ink jet system according to the first embodiment of the present invention and a host computer 100 (hereinafter referred to as a host). It is a block diagram of a system. As shown in FIG. 1, the recording apparatus 101 and the host 100 are connected by a printer cable 107, and various data processed by the host 100 are configured to be recorded by the recording apparatus 101.

  The recording apparatus 101 includes a full-line recording head (hereinafter referred to as a recording head), an RF-ID communication antenna, and an upper cover 103 for covering the conveyance unit, and liquid ink as a recording agent supplied to the recording head. A front cover 104 for covering the tank section for storing the image and a continuous label sheet (to be described later) in which a plurality of recording media (labels incorporating an RF-ID tag) are temporarily attached in the longitudinal direction of the mount. The outline of the sheet feeding unit 102 and the cutter unit 109 for cutting the continuous label paper conveyed from the recording unit 108 for each recording medium are configured.

  Further, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 105 denotes a power switch of the recording apparatus, 106 denotes an operation provided with an input key for setting the operating environment for the recording apparatus 101 and a display means for notifying the user of an error occurrence state of the recording apparatus. It is a panel. The operation panel includes an LED 110, an LCD 111, and a button 112.

<Construction of continuous label paper>
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a continuous label sheet 200 on which a plurality of recording media (labels incorporating RF-ID tags) recorded by the recording apparatus 101 are temporarily attached in the longitudinal direction of the mount.

  The continuous label paper 200 shown in FIG. 2 includes a label 201 whose back surface is adhesively processed and a mount 206 for fixing the label as a continuous paper. The label 201 has an RF-ID tag 205 built therein. . The RF-ID tag 205 includes an IC chip 203 on which a nonvolatile memory for storing electronic information is mounted and a loop antenna 202.

  The RF-ID tag 205 does not have a power source, and generates electric power using radio waves generated from an RF-ID communication antenna (described later) disposed in the recording apparatus 101. With this as an internal power supply, the RF-ID tag 205 writes electronic information transmitted from the RF-ID communication antenna to the IC chip.

<Hardware configuration of recording device>
3 is a cross-sectional view showing the hardware configuration of the recording apparatus 101 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 explains the arrangement of the recording head and the RF-ID communication antenna used by the recording apparatus 101 shown in FIG. FIG.

The recording apparatus 101 includes six recording heads so that recording can be performed using a maximum of six different inks. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the recording head 306Bk that discharges black ink, the recording head 306C that discharges cyan ink, in order from the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the continuous label paper 200, A recording head 306LC that discharges cyan ink, a recording head 306M that discharges magenta ink, a recording head 306LM that discharges light magenta ink, and a recording head 306Y that discharges yellow ink are provided. In the following, when these six recording heads are collectively referred to, reference numeral 305 is used.

  The recording apparatus 101 is further provided with an RF-ID communication antenna 303 on the upstream side of the recording head 305.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a continuous label sheet 200 set on the sheet feeding unit 102 is conveyed toward a recording position by the recording head 305 by a feeding method to be described later by a conveyance unit 302 positioned below the recording head 305. Then, a TOF (Top Of Form) sensor 304 operates to manage the position of the label 201 on the continuous label paper 200.

  When the label 201 is conveyed to the writing position of the RF-ID communication antenna 303, electronic information is written to the RF-ID tag 205 incorporated in the label by the RF-ID communication antenna 303.

  Further, when the label 201 containing the RF-ID tag is conveyed and reaches the recording position, ink is ejected by the six recording heads 306Bk, 306C, 306LC, 306M, 306LM, 306Y, and an image is recorded on the label 201. The The label 201 on which the image is recorded is configured to be finally carried out to the cutter unit 109. The cutter unit 109 cuts the continuous label paper 200 for each label.

  Under the conveyance unit 302, a tank unit 301 for storing dedicated ink supplied to the recording heads 306Bk, 306C, 306LC, 306M, 306LM, and 306Y is detachably fixed.

<Functional configuration of recording apparatus>
Next, the functional configuration of the recording apparatus 101 will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the recording apparatus 101.

  In FIG. 5, reference numeral 501 denotes a main controller for controlling the entire recording apparatus, and includes a CPU 501a, which has a storage control function for storing control commands to be described later, a data control function, and various settings necessary for the recording operation. For example, it has a setting control function. The main controller 501 is connected to the host 100 via an interface (not shown) and can exchange signals with each other.

  Reference numeral 502 denotes a ROM that is connected to the main controller 501 and stores control programs and the like. The main controller 501 operates using the RAM 512 as a work area in accordance with these programs.

  The RAM 512 temporarily stores electronic information transferred from the host 100 and written to the RF-ID tag 205, and the RF-ID communication circuit 509 connected to the main controller 501 passes through the RF-ID communication antenna 303 and the RAM 512. Is stored in the RF-ID tag.

  Reference numeral 506 denotes an image buffer memory for storing recording data transmitted from the host 100. Reference numeral 506Bk denotes a black image buffer for temporarily storing black component recording data. Similarly, reference numerals 506C, 506LC, 506M, 506LM, and 506Y denote cyan. This is an image buffer memory that temporarily stores recording data of components, magenta components, light magenta components, cyan components, light cyan components, and yellow components.

  Reference numeral 503 denotes a head driving circuit that drives a heating element (not shown) built in the recording heads 306Bk, 306C, 306LC, 306M, 306LM, and 306Y. The driver controller 507 connected to the main controller 501 controls the head drive circuit 503 according to the recording data of each color component stored in the image buffer memory 506, so that the recording data is recorded.

  Reference numeral 504D denotes a motor driver that drives a feed motor 504 provided in the conveyance unit 302, 500 denotes a drive circuit that drives a motor 505 that drives the roll unit of the paper feed unit 102, and 513 drives a motor 508 that drives the cutter unit 109. These are drive circuits that are controlled by the main controller 501.

  Reference numeral 511 denotes a sensor circuit that collectively refers to various sensors including the TOF sensor 304 described above.

<Control command structure>
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of various control commands transmitted from the host 100. As shown in FIG. 6, in all commands, an identification code for identifying the type of command is arranged at the head of the command, and an operand for setting an incidental instruction related to the command is arranged following the identification code. ing. Depending on the type of command, there may be no operand and only an identification code.

  As control commands, a sheet setting command 601 for setting the size and the like of the continuous label sheet 200, a format command 602 for setting a reference position of recording data, a recording apparatus operation setting command 612 for setting operation of the recording apparatus main body, There are data commands 603, 604, and 605 for setting detailed information for characters, images, and RF-IDs, a job start command 610 for indicating the end of recording data and instructing the start of a job.

  These commands are output from the host 100 to the recording apparatus 101 as a command sequence as shown in the recording command transfer example 611.

  The type of the IC chip 203 of the RF-ID tag 205 is set in the IC chip type operand 606 of the paper setting command 601, and the RF-ID tag size is set in the RF-ID tag attachment position operand 607.

  Further, the paper feed mode of the recording apparatus 101 is set to the paper feed mode operand 613 of the recording apparatus operation setting command 612, the conveyance speed of the recording apparatus 101 is set to the conveyance speed operand 614, and the RF-ID tag communication start position of the recording apparatus is set. RF-ID tag communication start position operand 615 is set. The RF-ID tag communication start position operand is an operand for setting a transport distance from when the leading end of the label is detected to when communication with the RF-ID tag 205 is started.

  The amount of data written to the IC chip 203 is set in the data length operand 608 of the RF-ID data command 605, and the write data is set in the data operand 609.

<Flow of recording process and writing process>
Next, recording processing on the surface of the label 201 and writing processing on the RF-ID tag 205 in the recording system will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 7 a is a diagram illustrating a transition of recording processing when there is no communication error during communication with the RF-ID tag 205. FIG. 7 b is a diagram illustrating a state in which a communication error has occurred during communication with the RF-ID tag. FIG. 7C is a diagram showing a state where only the label surface recording process is continued and discharged when an RF-ID tag communication error occurs. FIG. 7d is a diagram illustrating a state in which the continuous label paper 200 is transported to return the RF-ID tag to the writing position again when a communication error occurs during communication with the RF-ID tag. FIG. 7E is a diagram illustrating a state in which writing is performed again in a conveyance stop state with respect to an RF-ID in which a communication error has occurred during communication with the RF-ID tag.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of recording processing and writing processing in the recording system. Note that the recording process and the writing process are realized by the CPU 501a that is a processing unit of the recording apparatus 101 executing application software stored in the ROM 502, for example. In the following, description will be given along the flowchart shown in FIG.

  Various parameters such as the number of recording sheets, paper size, RF-ID tag communication start position, IC chip type and recording data, and electronic information written in the IC chip 203 are transmitted from the host 100 to the recording apparatus 101 as recording commands.

  When the application software is activated, a recording command transmitted from the host 100 is received in step S801, and the recording data is stored in the image buffer memories 506Bk to 506Y and the others are stored in the RAM 512.

In step S802, the presence / absence of the RF-ID data command 605 is determined. If it is determined that there is an RF-ID data command 605, that is, it is determined that there is electronic information to be written to the IC chip 203, the process proceeds to step S803, and the continuous label paper 200
Start transporting.

  When the label 201 is transported to the writing position 701 of the RF-ID communication antenna 303 after the transport is started, the RF-ID communication antenna 303 is attached to the RF-ID tag 205 built in the label 201 in step S804. On the other hand, writing of electronic information is started.

  Further, when the continuous label sheet 200 is conveyed and the label 201 reaches a recording position (directly below each recording head), each recording head 306Bk, 306C, 306LC, 306M is parallel to the writing to the RF-ID tag 205. , 306LM, 306Y eject ink and record an image on the label 201.

  After the writing of the electronic information to the RF-ID tag is completed, it is checked in step S805 whether the writing has been normally completed. In the writing process, after electronic information is written to the RF-ID tag 205, the electronic information is read from the RF-ID tag 205, and the written electronic information and the read electronic information are identical. It is determined whether or not the writing has been normally completed by determining whether or not the writing has been performed.

  Here, when it is determined that the writing is normally completed and there is electronic information to be written to the next label, writing of the electronic information to the next RF-ID tag is started as shown in FIG. The above processing is executed in parallel. Then, after the recording on the surface of the label 201 incorporating the RF-ID tag is completed, the continuous label paper is discharged to the cutter unit 109 in step S815.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S805 that the writing of the electronic information to the RF-ID tag 205 has not been completed normally, it is determined that a communication error has occurred, and the process proceeds to step S806, as shown in FIG. -Stop writing electronic information to the ID tag 205.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 7c, the conveyance is not stopped, and the recording on the label 201 in which the RF-ID tag is built is continued. After the recording, the process proceeds to step S807, and the label is discharged to the cutter unit 109. .

  In order to perform transport stop writing for the discharged label, in step S808, as shown in FIG. 7d, continuous label paper is placed so that the label 201 containing the RF-ID tag is positioned at the RF-ID tag writing position 701. Transport.

  When the label 201 containing the RF-ID tag returns to the writing position 701, the conveyance of the continuous label paper 200 is stopped in step S809. If it is confirmed that the conveyance is stopped, in step S810, electronic information is written to the RF-ID tag in which the communication error has occurred again in the conveyance stopped state as shown in FIG. 7e.

  After the writing of electronic information is completed, in step S811, it is checked whether the writing has been completed normally. Here, when it is determined that the writing is normally completed and there is electronic information to be written to the next RF-ID tag, writing to the next RF-ID tag is started as shown in FIG. Executes the same processing in parallel. When the recording on the surface of the label 201 incorporating the RF-ID tag is completed, the label is discharged to the cutter unit 109 in step S815.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S811 that the rewriting of the electronic information to the RF-ID tag 205 has not ended normally, the process proceeds to step S812, and the LCD 111 in the operation panel 106 is displayed on the RF-ID. An error message indicating that the ID tag is faulty is displayed and notified to the user.

  In step S816, the label in which the RF-ID tag is built is discharged to the cutter unit 109. After that, in step S817, the conveyance of the continuous label sheet 200 is stopped and the user waits until the error is cleared. After the user cancels the error, the process is restarted from the recording data at the time of the error. The recording process and the writing process are repeated until all the recording data is exhausted.

  As is clear from the above description, in this embodiment, in the recording apparatus with the RF-ID writing function that prevents the throughput from being lowered by writing to the RF-ID tag while the continuous label paper is conveyed. In the case where a communication error occurs, writing to the RF-ID tag is performed again in a state where there is no restriction on the communication time (that is, in a state where the conveyance is stopped). That is, it is determined that the RF-ID tag is faulty for the first time when a painful error occurs even when the conveyance is stopped.

  As a result, according to the present embodiment, the conventional RF-ID tag is treated as a failure of the RF-ID tag even though it is a normal RF-ID tag. Although the tag is normal, it is possible to eliminate a tag that has a communication error without completing processing within the communication time. That is, even when a communication error occurs, it can be determined whether or not the communication error is caused by a failure of the RF-ID tag.

  As a result, even when the conveyance speed is increased, writing can be reliably performed without discharging a normal RF-ID tag as a defective product.

<Second Embodiment>
In the first embodiment, when a communication error occurs, the electronic information is always written again to the RF-ID tag in the transport stop state. However, the present invention is not limited to this. I can't. For example, depending on the type of communication error, it is determined whether or not to write electronic information in a state where transportation is stopped, and only when it is determined that the electronic information is to be written, the electronic information is written again. Good.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of recording processing and writing processing in the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  Various parameters such as the number of recording sheets, paper size, RF-ID tag communication start position, IC chip type and recording data, and electronic information written in the IC chip 203 are transmitted from the host 100 to the recording apparatus 101 as recording commands.

  When the application software is activated, a recording command transmitted from the host 100 is received in step S901, and recording data is stored in the image buffer memories 506Bk to 606Y, and the others are stored in the RAM 512, respectively.

  In step S902, the presence / absence of the RF-ID data command 605 is determined. If it is determined that there is an RF-ID data command 605, that is, it is determined that there is electronic information to be written to the IC chip 203, the process proceeds to step S903, and conveyance of the continuous label sheet 200 is started.

  When the label 201 is transported to the writing position 701 of the RF-ID communication antenna 303 after the transport is started, the RF-ID communication antenna 303 is attached to the RF-ID tag 205 built in the label 201 in step S904. On the other hand, writing of electronic information is started.

  Further, when the continuous label sheet 200 is conveyed and the label 201 reaches a recording position (directly below each recording head), each recording head 306Bk, 306C, 306LC, 306M is parallel to the writing to the RF-ID tag 205. , 306LM, 306Y eject ink and record an image on the label 201.

  After the writing of the electronic information to the RF-ID tag 205 is completed, it is checked in step S905 whether the writing has been completed normally. In the writing process, after electronic information is written to the RF-ID tag 205, the electronic information is read from the RF-ID tag 205, and the written electronic information and the read electronic information are identical. It is determined whether or not the writing has been normally completed by determining whether or not the writing has been performed.

  Here, when it is determined that the writing is normally completed and there is electronic information to be written to the next RF-ID tag, the electronic information is written to the next RF-ID tag as shown in FIG. 7a. Start and execute the process described above in parallel. After the recording on the surface of the label 201 incorporating the RF-ID tag, the continuous label paper is discharged to the cutter unit 109 in step S915.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S905 that the writing of electronic information to the RF-ID tag 205 has not ended normally, it is determined that a communication error has occurred, and the process proceeds to step S918, where the type of communication error that has occurred is set. judge.

  Here, the determination of the type of communication error will be described. As described above, in the process of writing electronic information to the RF-ID tag, the electronic information written to the RF-ID tag is read by the RF-ID reader / writer, and the written electronic information matches the read electronic information. As a result, it is determined that the electronic information writing process to the RF-ID tag has been completed normally.

  Therefore, if the writing process did not end normally (that is, a communication error occurred), the writing of electronic information, reading of the written electronic information, and comparison of both were completed within a predetermined communication time. In some cases, these processes are completed, but as a result of comparison, the written electronic information does not match the read electronic information.

  Among these, the latter occurs when the RF-ID tag is out of order (in the case of outage, electronic information is not written correctly, so the read out electronic information is It does not match the electronic information you are trying to write).

  Accordingly, among the generated communication errors, if the latter reason, it is determined that the communication error is caused by the failure of the RF-ID tag. Otherwise, the RF-ID tag is normal. Judge that there is.

  Returning to FIG. If the communication error is a communication error resulting from the mismatch between the written electronic information and the read electronic information, it is determined that the RF-ID tag built in the label is broken. In step S919, recording on the label is stopped.

  In step S912, an error message indicating that the RF-ID tag is broken is displayed on the LCD 111 in the operation panel 106, and the user is notified. In step S916, the label in which the RF-ID tag is built is discharged to the cutter unit 109. After that, in step S917, the conveyance of the continuous label sheet is stopped and the user waits until the error is cleared. After the user cancels the error, the process is restarted from the recording data at the time of the error.

  On the other hand, in step S918, if the communication error is a communication error due to the processing not being completed within the predetermined communication time, the RF-ID tag built in the label is normal. The determination proceeds to step S906, and writing of electronic information to the RF-ID tag is stopped as shown in FIG. 7b.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 7c, the conveyance is not stopped and the recording on the label is continued. After the recording is finished, the process proceeds to step S907, and the label is discharged to the cutter unit 109. In order to perform transport stop writing, the discharged label is transported in step S908 so that the label with the RF-ID tag is positioned at the RF-ID tag write position as shown in FIG. 7d. I do.

  When the label incorporating the RF-ID tag returns to the writing position, the conveyance of the continuous label paper is stopped in step S909. After confirming the stop of conveyance, in step S910, as shown in FIG. 7E, electronic information is written again to the RF-ID tag in which the communication error has occurred in the conveyance stop state.

  After the writing of the electronic information is completed, in step S911, it is checked whether or not the writing has been completed normally. Here, when it is determined that the writing has been normally completed and there is electronic information to be written to the next RF-ID tag, writing of the electronic information to the next RF-ID tag is started as shown in FIG. 7a. Then, the above-described processing is executed in parallel. When the recording on the surface of the label 201 incorporating the RF-ID tag is completed, the label is carried out to the cutter unit 109 in step S915.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S911 that the rewriting of the electronic information to the RF-ID tag 205 has not ended normally, the process proceeds to step S912, and the RF 111 on the operation panel 106 is displayed on the RF-ID tag. An error message indicating that the ID tag is faulty is displayed and notified to the user.

  In step S916, the label in which the RF-ID tag is built is discharged to the cutter unit 109. After that, in step S917, the conveyance of the continuous label sheet is stopped and the user waits until the error is cleared. After the user cancels the error, the process is restarted from the recording data at the time of the error. The recording process and the writing process are repeated until all the recording data is exhausted.

  As is clear from the above description, according to the present embodiment, when a communication error occurs, the type is determined, and the communication error is caused by the processing not being completed within a predetermined communication time. Only when it is determined, the writing process is performed again in the conveyance stop state.

  As a result, the electronic information is not written again in the transport stop state until the RF-ID tag having a communication error due to the failure of the RF-ID tag, and the first embodiment. As a result, the overall throughput can be further improved.

  In the above description, the predetermined communication time has not been described in detail, but the user may arbitrarily configure the time. Further, it may be determined that a predetermined communication time has elapsed when the leading end position of the label next to the label to be written has reached a predetermined position. Alternatively, it may be determined that a predetermined time has elapsed when the trailing end position of the label to be written has passed a predetermined position.

[Other Embodiments]
In the first and second embodiments, the full-line type ink jet recording apparatus has been described. However, the printer having a recording head other than the ink jet system, that is, other devices such as a thermal type, a thermal transfer type, and an electrophotographic type. The present invention can also be applied to a recording method or a monochrome recording apparatus.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. A medium such as a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the medium in the storage medium or the like. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the medium such as a storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the medium such as the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. . As a medium such as a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM Alternatively, download via a network can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read out by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code performs the actual processing. Needless to say, the present invention includes a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the processing.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from a medium such as a storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted in the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, Needless to say, the present invention includes a case where the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

1 is a configuration diagram of a recording system using a recording apparatus and a host according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a continuous label sheet in which a plurality of labels in which an RF-ID tag used as a recording medium by the recording apparatus is temporarily attached in the longitudinal direction. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of a recording device. It is the figure which showed arrangement | positioning of the recording head with which a recording apparatus is provided, and the communication antenna for RF-ID. It is a block diagram which shows the control function of a recording device. It is the figure which showed the structure of the control command transmitted to a recording device from a host. It is a figure which shows the flow of the recording process to a label, and the write-in process to RF-ID tag. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the recording process to a label, and the write-in process to RF-ID tag. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the recording process to a label, and the writing process to RF-ID tag by the recording device concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Claims (4)

Conveying means for conveying a recording medium containing an RF-ID tag;
Recording means for recording on the surface of the recording medium;
Writing means for communicating with the RF-ID tag and writing electronic information to the RF-ID tag;
Determining means for determining whether or not writing by the writing means is normally completed during conveyance of the recording medium by the conveying means;
The conveying means is
As a result of the determination by the determination means, when it is determined that the process has not been completed normally, the recording medium is continuously conveyed until recording on the surface of the recording medium having the RF-ID tag is completed, and thereafter , By transporting the recording medium to the writing position of the electronic information by the writing means, the recording medium is stopped at the writing position,
The writing means includes
Write the electronic information again,
The determination means determines whether or not the rewriting of the electronic information by the writing means has been normally completed. If it is determined that the electronic information has not been normally completed, the RF-ID tag has failed. A recording apparatus, characterized in that it is determined that A transporting process for transporting a recording medium containing an RF-ID tag;
A recording step for recording on the surface of the recording medium;
A writing step of communicating with the RF-ID tag and writing electronic information to the RF-ID tag;
A determination step of determining whether writing by the writing step is normally completed during conveyance of the recording medium by the conveyance step,
The conveying step is
As a result of the determination by the determination step, when it is determined that the recording has not been completed normally, the recording medium is continuously transported until recording on the surface of the recording medium having the RF-ID tag is completed, and thereafter , By transporting the recording medium to the writing position of the electronic information by the writing step, the recording medium is stopped at the writing position,
The writing step performs the writing of the electronic information again,
In the determination step, it is determined whether or not the rewriting of the electronic information by the writing step has been normally completed. When it is determined that the electronic information has not been normally completed, the RF-ID tag has failed. A control method for a recording apparatus, characterized in that it is determined that the recording apparatus is present.   A storage medium storing a control program for realizing the control method according to claim 2 by a computer.   A control program for realizing the control method according to claim 2 by a computer.

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