JP2009237693A - Radio tag processing apparatus, radio tag processing system, and radio tag - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase user convenience by allowing a user to always visually confirm information stored in a radio tag. <P>SOLUTION: A card processing apparatus 100 includes: an erasing thermal head 120 and a forming thermal head 121 for erasing and re-printing a character R formed in a reversible printing area S of an IC card 200 having a radio tag circuit element To, and a loop antenna 130 for transmitting/receiving information by radio communication to/from the radio tag circuit element To, which stores in an IC circuit part 150 predetermined information and a flag indicating whether the character R matches the information stored in the IC circuit part 150. When the predetermined information and flag are read and acquired from the IC circuit part 150, if the flag is 1, the thermal heads 120 and 121 erase the character R in the reversible printing area S and then form a character R corresponding to the predetermined information read in the reversible printing area S. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless tag processing device, a wireless tag processing system, and a wireless tag that transmit and receive information to and from a wireless tag by wireless communication and perform predetermined printing. Is.

  It is widely performed to provide a small wireless tag capable of transmitting / receiving information to / from an external object to search and manage the object. The wireless tag circuit element provided in the wireless tag includes an IC circuit unit that stores information and a tag antenna that transmits and receives information, and can transmit and receive information without contact with the wireless tag communication device.

As one of the wireless tags that are being used in various fields as described above, there is one provided with a reversible printing area (for example, see Patent Document 1). In this prior art, the delivery information is written in the RFID tag circuit element (IC chip) of the RFID tag (IC tag) provided in the delivery table, and the print (bar) corresponding to the reversible printable area (rewrite layer) of the RFID tag. Code), and the delivery operation is performed using these writing information and printing information. After the delivery is completed, the wireless tag is separated from the delivery table, the delivery information is erased from the RFID circuit element, and the print is erased. Thereafter, new delivery information is written to the RFID circuit element, and new printing corresponding to the reversible printing area is performed, so that the RFID tag circuit element can be used again for delivery work. In this way, the wireless tag can be reused in the delivery work.
JP 2002- 211755 A

  In the prior art, when the wireless tag is reused, the previous information is erased from the wireless tag circuit element and rewritten with new information, and new printing corresponding to the reversible printing area is performed. Therefore, the contents of the information stored in the wireless tag and the printing are basically the same. However, although it was in a matched state at the beginning, there is a possibility that only the information in the IC circuit unit is rewritten for some reason, and the print contents of the reversible print area may not be changed. In such a case, the user cannot visually recognize that the information in the IC circuit unit and the printed content are inconsistent, and therefore misunderstands that information equivalent to the printed content is stored in the wireless tag. there is a possibility. That is, the contents of the information stored in the wireless tag cannot always be visually confirmed, which is very inconvenient.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless tag processing device, a wireless tag processing system, and a wireless tag that can always visually check the stored information of the wireless tag and can improve the convenience for the user.

  To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, an RFID circuit element having an IC circuit section for storing information and a tag antenna for transmitting and receiving information is arranged, and the first printing is performed on the reversible printing area. The first printing of the formed wireless tag is erased and reprintable printing forming means, and predetermined information is stored in the IC circuit unit, and the predetermined information and the first printing are substantially matched. The device antenna for transmitting and receiving information by wireless communication to the RFID circuit element of the RFID tag, in which the identifier related to the IC circuit unit is stored, and the IC circuit unit from the IC circuit unit via the device antenna An information reading unit that reads and acquires information; and an identifier reading unit that reads and acquires the identifier from the IC circuit unit via the device antenna. The generating means substantially performs the first printing of the reversible printing area of the wireless tag according to whether the identifier acquired by the identifier reading means is a match index value or a non-match index value. A second print having contents corresponding to the predetermined information erased and acquired by the information reading means is formed in the reversible print area.

  In the wireless tag processing device according to the first aspect of the present invention, a wireless tag including a wireless tag circuit element and a reversible printing area is a processing target. Predetermined information is stored in the IC circuit unit provided in the wireless tag circuit element. The first print is already formed in the reversible print area.

  The IC circuit portion of the RFID circuit element also stores an identifier indicating whether or not the predetermined information substantially matches the first print. This identifier is acquired by the identifier reading means via the device antenna. The predetermined information is acquired by the information reading means via the device antenna.

  At this time, the identifier read by the identifier reading unit is in advance either a match index value indicating a substantial match or a mismatch index value indicating a substantial mismatch. If the identifier is a match index value, the contents of the first print in the reversible printable area and the contents stored in the IC circuit portion of the RFID circuit element are substantially matched. . On the other hand, if the identifier is a non-matching index value, the content of the first print in the reversible printable area and the content stored in the IC circuit portion of the RFID circuit element are not substantially matched. It has become. The reason for this state is that it was in the above-mentioned matching state at first, but only the information in the IC circuit unit was changed by communication with the RFID circuit element after that, and printing of the reversible printing area was performed. It is possible that has not been changed.

  In response to such a situation, in the first invention of this application, the print forming means erases the first print of the reversible printable area depending on whether the identifier is the match index value or the mismatch index value. Thus, a second print (corresponding to the read predetermined information) can be formed. As a result, when the identifier is a mismatch index value, the display content of the reversible printable area can be matched with the storage content of the IC circuit unit by deleting the first print and forming the second print. It becomes possible.

  As a result, printing corresponding to the stored information of the IC circuit unit is always displayed in the reversible printable area of the wireless tag. Therefore, since the user can always confirm the information stored in the wireless tag by visual observation, the convenience can be improved.

  According to a second invention, in the first invention, when the identifier acquired by the identifier reading means is the match index value, the first printing of the reversible printable area of the wireless tag is substantially performed. When the identifier acquired by the identifier reading means is the non-matching index value, the first printing of the reversible printing area of the wireless tag received by the transport means is substantially performed. And a print control means for controlling the print forming means so as to form a second print having a content corresponding to the predetermined information in the reversible printable area.

  If the identifier is a match index value, the display content of the reversible print area matches the storage content of the IC circuit unit (the display content of the reversible print area need not be changed). Therefore, in such a case, the first print is held as it is. Thereby, the printing corresponding to the information stored in the IC circuit unit can always be surely displayed in the reversible printing area of the wireless tag.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the second aspect of the invention, when the identifier acquired by the identifier reading unit is the non-matching index value, the print control unit causes the print forming unit to erase the first print. Linked with control, it has an identifier writing means for writing the identifier of the match index value to the IC circuit unit via the device antenna.

  Based on the fact that the identifier is a non-matching index value, the print control means controls the print forming means, so that the print display content of the reversible printable area changes to the second print and matches the storage content of the IC circuit section. Will come to do. Accordingly, by setting the identifier value as the matching index value by the identifier writing means accordingly, it is confirmed that the printing content of the reversible printable area of the wireless tag is consistent with the storage information of the IC circuit unit thereafter. It can be shown reliably.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a transport unit that receives and transports the wireless tag, and the apparatus antenna is provided upstream of the print forming unit along a transport direction of the transport unit. It is characterized by being.

  As a result, when processing is carried out along with the conveyance of the conveyance means that receives the wireless tag, the identifier of the identifier reading means can be acquired prior to the erasing / print formation operation of the print formation means. Accordingly, the operation of the print forming unit can be reliably controlled based on the identifier value acquired by the identifier reading unit.

  In a fifth aspect based on the fourth aspect, the RFID tag is transported to an upstream transport position where the RFID circuit element is located in the vicinity of the device antenna, the identifier is acquired, and the predetermined information is acquired. And after the writing of the match index value, the transport means, the wireless tag is further transported downstream in the transport direction, and the first print is erased and the second print is formed. It has a cooperation control means for controlling the identifier reading means, the information reading means, the identifier writing means, and the print forming means in cooperation.

  In the fifth invention of the present application, under the control of the cooperation control means, first, at the upstream transport position, the identifier is obtained by the identifier reading means and the predetermined information is obtained by the information reading means via the device antenna, and the identifier is further obtained. The identifier of the coincidence index value is written by the writing means via the device antenna (= linked in a form prior to the operation of the print forming means). Thereafter, the wireless tag is conveyed downstream by the conveying means, and the first printing is erased and the second printing is formed by the printing forming means. Thus, each process can be smoothly performed in a series of flows along the transport direction.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the print forming unit performs the first printing on a reversible thermosensitive recording unit provided as the reversible printable area on the wireless tag. It is at least one thermal head capable of erasing and forming the second print.

  By heating the reversible thermosensitive recording portion with a thermal head, the first print can be erased by making the arrangement of the thermosensitive particles uniform, and by arranging the thermosensitive particles in a desired form, Formation can be performed.

  According to a seventh invention, in the sixth invention, the print forming means is a thermal head for erasing / forming that performs both erasure of the first print and formation of the second print.

  Since one thermal head serves both as an erasing function and a print forming function, space saving and cost reduction can be achieved as compared with a case where a total of two heads are provided for erasing and printing.

  An eighth invention is characterized in that, in the sixth invention, the print forming means comprises an erasing thermal head for erasing the first print and a forming thermal head for forming the second print. To do.

  By providing dedicated heads dedicated for erasure and print formation without using both the erasure function and the print formation function with one thermal head, the erasure performance and the print formation performance can be improved.

  In order to achieve the above object, a ninth invention is a wireless tag processing system including a wireless tag communication device that performs communication with a wireless tag and a wireless tag printing device that performs printing with respect to the wireless tag, wherein the wireless tag processing system includes: The tag communication device accepts the wireless tag in which a wireless tag circuit element having an IC circuit unit for storing information and a tag antenna for transmitting and receiving information is disposed and the first print is formed in a reversible printable area. The wireless tag having a first transport means for transporting, storing predetermined information in the IC circuit unit and storing an identifier relating to substantial matching between the predetermined information and the first print in the IC circuit unit A device antenna for transmitting and receiving information by wireless communication to and from the RFID circuit element, and reading the identifier from the IC circuit unit via the device antenna Identifier reading means, and information reading means for reading and obtaining the predetermined information from the IC circuit section via the recording device antenna, and the RFID tag printing apparatus is unloaded from the RFID tag communication apparatus Depending on whether the identifier acquired by the second transport means for receiving and transporting the wireless tag and the identifier reading means of the wireless tag communication device is a match index value or a non-match index value, The first print of the reversible printable area of the wireless tag received by the conveying means is substantially erased, and the second print of the content corresponding to the predetermined information acquired by the information reading means is reversible. And a print forming unit capable of forming in a print area.

  The wireless tag processing system according to the ninth aspect of the present invention includes a wireless tag communication device and a wireless tag printing device. The wireless tag communication device receives a wireless tag including a wireless tag circuit element and a reversible printable area, and is transported by the first transport means. Predetermined information is stored in the IC circuit unit provided in the wireless tag circuit element. The first print is already formed in the reversible print area. The IC circuit portion of the RFID circuit element also stores an identifier indicating whether or not the predetermined information substantially matches the first print. This identifier is acquired by the identifier reading means via the device antenna. The predetermined information is acquired by the information reading means via the device antenna.

  At this time, the identifier read by the identifier reading unit is in advance either a match index value indicating a substantial match or a mismatch index value indicating a substantial mismatch. If the identifier is a match index value, the contents of the first print in the reversible printable area and the contents stored in the IC circuit portion of the RFID circuit element are substantially matched. . On the other hand, if the identifier is a non-matching index value, the content of the first print in the reversible printable area and the content stored in the IC circuit portion of the RFID circuit element are not substantially matched. It has become. The reason for this state is that it was in the above-mentioned matching state at first, but only the information in the IC circuit unit was changed by communication with the RFID circuit element after that, and printing of the reversible printing area was performed. It is possible that has not been changed.

  Corresponding to such a situation, in the first invention of the present application, the wireless tag printer is provided with a print forming means. When the wireless tag carried out from the wireless tag communication device is received by the second transport means, the print forming means for the received wireless tag, depending on whether the identifier is the match index value or the mismatch index value, The first print in the reversible printable area can be erased to form a second print (corresponding to the read predetermined information). As a result, when the identifier is a mismatch index value, the display content of the reversible printable area can be matched with the storage content of the IC circuit unit by deleting the first print and forming the second print. It becomes possible.

  As a result, printing corresponding to the stored information of the IC circuit unit is always displayed in the reversible printable area of the wireless tag. Therefore, since the user can always confirm the information stored in the wireless tag by visual observation, the convenience can be improved.

  In order to achieve the above object, a tenth aspect of the invention comprises a tag medium configured in a sheet shape or a card shape, an IC circuit unit that is disposed on the tag medium and stores information, and a tag antenna that transmits and receives information. A wireless tag having a wireless tag circuit element provided and a reversible printable area that is provided on one surface of the tag medium and can be repeatedly overwritten, and stores predetermined information in the IC circuit unit In addition, an identifier relating to substantial matching between the predetermined information and the predetermined print formed in the reversible print area is stored in the IC circuit unit.

  The tag medium of the wireless tag according to the tenth aspect of the present invention includes a wireless tag circuit element and a reversible printing area. Information can be stored in the IC circuit portion of the RFID circuit element, and overprinting can be repeatedly performed on the reversible printing area. In such a case, if the contents printed in the reversible printable area substantially match the contents stored in the IC circuit portion of the RFID tag circuit element, the user can always visually check the information stored in the RFID tag. It can be confirmed by convenient. However, because information can be written to the IC circuit section and printing can be separately performed on the reversible print area, the print contents of the reversible print area and the IC circuit section of the RFID circuit element can be used for some reason. The stored contents may not substantially match. The reason is considered that only the information in the IC circuit unit is changed by communication with the RFID circuit element and the printing of the reversible printable area is not changed.

  Corresponding to such a situation, in the tenth invention of the present application, an identifier relating to the substantial match between the stored information of the IC circuit unit and the print formed in the reversible printable area is stored in the IC circuit unit. ing. As a result, wireless communication is performed with respect to the wireless tag, and by reading this identifier, it is easily detected whether the stored information of the IC circuit portion substantially matches the print formed in the reversible printable area. It becomes possible to do. As a result, if they do not match, the print of the reversible printable area is erased by an appropriate print forming means, and corresponds to the stored information of the IC circuit unit (for example, obtained by reading separately). By newly forming the print, the display content of the reversible printable area can be matched with the storage content of the IC circuit unit.

  As a result, printing corresponding to the stored information of the IC circuit unit is always displayed in the reversible printable area of the wireless tag. Therefore, since the user can always confirm the information stored in the wireless tag by visual observation, the convenience can be improved.

  According to the present invention, the stored information of the wireless tag can always be visually confirmed, and the convenience for the user can be improved.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the wireless tag processing device of the present invention is applied to a card processing device for writing and printing information on an IC card.

  FIG. 1 shows the overall structure of the card processing apparatus of this embodiment.

  The card processing device (wireless tag processing device) 100 writes data input from an input terminal (not shown) to the IC card 200 (wireless tag) by wireless communication (including non-contact signal transmission / reception such as electromagnetic induction, and so on). In addition, it has a function of forming a print corresponding to the written information.

  The card processing apparatus 100 includes an insertion port 101 for inserting an IC card 200 formed on the front surface thereof, a discharge port 103 (see FIG. 2) for discharging the IC card 200 formed on the rear surface, and an insertion. The display unit 102 is provided above the mouth 101 and is configured by a liquid crystal panel or the like. The display unit 102 performs various displays such as various information stored in the IC card.

  The IC card 200 includes an RFID circuit element To including an IC circuit unit 150 for storing information and a tag antenna 151 (configured in a loop coil shape in this example) for transmitting and receiving information. The above-described input data is stored in the IC circuit unit 150. Further, the IC card 200 has a reversible printing area S in which printing can be formed / erased by a thermal head (thermal heads 120 and 121 described later), and when the IC card 200 is inserted into the card processing apparatus 100. The print R is formed on the reversible print area S.

  The IC card 200 is configured such that the reversible print area S and the arrangement area of the RFID circuit element To do not overlap in the card thickness direction. Thereby, the RFID circuit element To can be protected from heat by the thermal head (thermal heads 120 and 121 described later).

  FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration of the card processing apparatus 100. In addition, the arrow shown in a figure shows an example of the flow of a signal, and does not limit the flow direction of a signal.

  The card processing apparatus 100 drives a plurality of transport rollers 110 (transport means) capable of transporting the IC card 200 carried in from the insertion port 101 in the insertion direction (left direction in FIG. 2), and the plurality of transport rollers 110. A conveyance motor (for example, a pulse motor) 111, a motor drive circuit 112 that controls driving of the conveyance motor 111, and a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the IC card 200 (the width direction of the IC card 200) are provided. The erasing thermal head 120 (print forming means) for substantially erasing the print R formed on the reversible print area S in the IC card 200 and the predetermined print R are formed on the reversible print area S. A forming thermal head 121 (print forming means), a print drive circuit 122 for controlling energization of these thermal heads 120 and 121, and I A loop antenna 130 (device antenna) that transmits and receives information to and from the RFID tag circuit element To provided in the card 200 by radio communication such as HF band, and accesses the RFID circuit element To through the loop antenna 130. A transmission circuit 131 and a reception circuit 132 (for reading or writing), a control circuit 140 for controlling the motor drive circuit 112, the print drive circuit 122, the transmission circuit 131, the reception circuit 132, and the like, and the IC card 200 Is inserted optically into the insertion slot 101, and an insertion sensor 150 that outputs a detection signal to the control circuit 140 and a display unit 102 for performing the various displays described above are provided. The control circuit 140 is a so-called microcomputer, and is connected to the above-described input terminal via an input / output interface (not shown).

  Note that the substantial erasure of the print R performed by the erasure thermal head 120 is to completely erase the print R due to functional restrictions of the erasure thermal head 120 and the reversible thermosensitive recording layer 204 (described later). Although it cannot be performed, it includes erasing to the extent that there is no problem in using the IC card 200. In addition, when the print R is formed by the forming thermal head 121 after erasure, there is a case where there is an overlapping area between the formed print R and the print R before erasure.

  The transmission circuit 131 generates a carrier wave for accessing (reading / writing) the RFID circuit element To via the loop antenna 130, and based on a control signal input from the control circuit 140, The carrier wave is modulated and an interrogation wave is output. The receiving circuit 132 demodulates a response wave (response signal) received from the RFID circuit element To via the loop antenna 130 and outputs the demodulated signal to the control circuit 140. The transmission / reception circuits 131 and 132 and the loop antenna 130 are connected via an antenna duplexer 133.

  The loop antenna 130 is arranged on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the IC card 200 by the conveyance roller 110 (in other words, on the insertion port 101 side, closer to the right side in FIG. 2). The erasing thermal head 120 and the forming thermal head 121 are arranged close to each other in this order on the downstream side in the transport direction of the IC card 200 (in other words, on the discharge port 103 side, closer to the left side in FIG. 2). The arrangement position of the loop antenna 130 is a so-called access position where information is transmitted / received. At the time of information transmission / reception, the IC card 200 is positioned at the access position so that the RFID circuit element To faces the loop antenna 130 substantially. .

  In the above description, information is transmitted and received by one loop antenna using the antenna duplexer 133. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and two loop antennas are provided corresponding to the transmission circuit 131 and the reception circuit 132. It may be. In addition to the optical sensor, the insertion sensor 150 may be a sensor that performs mechanical detection such as a mechanical switch, a sensor that performs magnetic detection, or the like.

  FIG. 3 shows the entire structure of the IC card 200, and FIG. 4 conceptually shows a side cross section taken along the line IV-IV ′ in FIG. Note that FIG. 4 is a conceptual cross-sectional view for illustrating the layer configuration of the IC card 200, and therefore, the dimensions in the thickness direction are enlarged.

  3 and 4, the IC card 200 has a five-layer structure, and is formed of a suitable base material from the back side (lower side in FIG. 4) to the front side (upper side in FIG. 4). Card base layer 201 (tag medium) configured in an adhesive layer, an adhesive layer 202 composed of a suitable adhesive, a card base layer 203 composed of a suitable base material and configured in a card shape, and reversible printing R by heating The reversible thermosensitive recording layer 204 (reversible thermosensitive recording portion) that can be formed / erased automatically, and the protective layer 205 that protects the reversible thermosensitive recording layer 204 and constitutes the surface of the IC card 200 are provided. The RFID circuit element To is provided in the card base layer 201 and the adhesive layer 202, and the print R corresponding to the information stored in the RFID circuit element To is recorded on the reversible thermosensitive recording layer 204 (in this example, “ABCD”). ")" Is formed.

  When the reversible thermosensitive recording layer 204 is heated to a predetermined temperature by the erasing thermal head 120, the arrangement of the thermosensitive particles becomes uniform and the print R can be erased. In addition, when the predetermined arrangement portion is heated to a predetermined temperature by the forming thermal head 121, the heat-sensitive particles are arranged in a desired manner so that the print R can be formed.

  The reversible thermosensitive recording layer 204 is provided over the entire surface of the IC card 200. However, as described above, in order to avoid the overlap with the arrangement area of the RFID circuit element To and the installation position of the thermal heads 120 and 121, in this example, the central portion in the longitudinal direction on the surface of the IC card 200 is used. Only the reversible print area S is formed.

  FIG. 5 shows a functional configuration of the RFID circuit element To. In addition, the arrow shown in a figure shows an example of the flow of a signal, and does not limit the flow direction of a signal.

  In FIG. 5, the RFID circuit element To includes a tag antenna 151 that transmits and receives signals without contact with the loop antenna 130 on the card processing apparatus 100 side, and the IC circuit unit 150 connected to the tag antenna 151. have.

  The IC circuit unit 150 includes a rectification unit 152 that rectifies the interrogation wave received by the tag antenna 151, a power supply unit 153 that accumulates the energy of the interrogation wave rectified by the rectification unit 152, and uses it as a drive power source. A clock extraction unit 154 that extracts a clock signal from the interrogation wave received by the tag antenna 151 and supplies the clock signal to the control unit 157; a memory unit 155 that can store a predetermined information signal; and a modulation / demodulation connected to the tag antenna 151 And a controller 157 for controlling the operation of the RFID circuit element To via the rectifier 152, the clock extractor 154, the modem 156, and the like.

  The modulation / demodulation unit 156 demodulates the interrogation wave received from the tag antenna 151 from the loop antenna 130 of the card processing apparatus 100, modulates the reply signal from the control unit 157, and responds from the tag antenna 151. Send as.

  The clock extraction unit 154 extracts a clock component from the received signal and supplies a clock corresponding to the frequency of the clock component to the control unit 157.

  The control unit 157 interprets the received signal demodulated by the modulation / demodulation unit 156, generates a return signal based on the information signal stored in the memory unit 155, and transmits the return signal to the tag antenna by the modulation / demodulation unit 156. Basic control such as control returned from 151 is executed.

  As described above, in the IC card 200, information stored in the IC circuit unit 150 and the print R usually correspond to each other and match contents. A feature of the card processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is that, when this matchability is lost for some reason, the content of the print R is changed in accordance with the storage content of the IC circuit unit 150 to ensure the match. There is to do. Hereinafter, the contents will be sequentially described.

  FIGS. 6A and 6B conceptually show the print R of the IC card 200 and the stored contents of the IC circuit unit 150 in comparison.

  FIG. 6A shows the initial state of the IC card 200, for example. In addition to the tag ID, predetermined information “abcd” is stored in the IC circuit unit 150 of the wireless tag circuit element To. In the reversible printable area S, a print R “ABCD” having a content substantially corresponding to the stored information “abcd” of the IC circuit unit 150 is formed.

  On the other hand, FIG. 6B shows another state. That is, in addition to the tag ID, the information “klmn” is stored in the IC circuit unit 150, whereas the reversible printable area S has a print R “ABCD” that does not match the information “klmn” of the IC circuit unit 150. Is formed. In the state of FIG. 6B, after the creation of the IC card 200, for some reason, only the information in the IC circuit unit 150 is changed by communication with the RFID circuit element To, and the printing R of the reversible printing area S is performed. This can happen if the is not changed. As described above, when the state in which the print R in the reversible print area S does not match the information stored in the RFID circuit element To may occur, even if the user sees the print R display, Does not necessarily confirm the stored information of the RFID circuit element To, and the convenience of the IC card 200 is reduced.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the information stored in the IC circuit unit 150 of the RFID tag circuit element To of the IC card 200 and the reversible printing area S The flag F (identifier) indicating whether or not the print R (first print) formed in the above is matched is stored in the IC circuit unit 150. In this example, the value of this flag is F = when the stored information of the IC circuit unit 150 and the print R of the reversible print area S substantially correspond to each other as shown in FIG. 0 (match index value). If the content does not correspond, F = 1 (non-match index value) as shown in FIG. 7B.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the consistency between the print content and the stored content is represented by the flag value. When the card processing apparatus 100 reads information from the IC circuit unit 150 of the RFID circuit element To, when the flag is F = 1 (FIG. 8A), the reversible print area S The print R (first print) is (substantially) erased to form a print R (second print) corresponding to the information stored in the IC circuit unit 150 (FIG. 8B). At this time, F = 0 is written in the flag. As a result, it is possible to always match the display content of the reversible print area S with the storage content of the IC circuit unit 150.

  FIG. 9 shows control contents executed by the control circuit 140 of the card processing apparatus 100 in order to realize the above-described method.

  First, in step S <b> 5, the control circuit 140 determines whether the IC card 200 has been inserted from the insertion slot 101 based on the detection signal from the insertion sensor 150. This step is repeated until the IC card 200 is inserted, and when inserted, the process proceeds to step S10.

  In step S <b> 10, the control circuit 140 outputs a control signal to the motor drive circuit 112 to drive the transport motor 111 to drive the plurality of transport rollers 110 in the normal direction. Thereby, the IC card 200 is conveyed in the forward direction (card insertion direction; left direction in FIG. 2). When the IC card 200 is transported to the access position described above for a predetermined distance, the control circuit 140 outputs a control signal to the motor drive circuit 112, stops the transport motor 111, and stops the plurality of transport rollers 110. As a result, the RFID circuit element To of the IC card 200 faces the loop antenna 130 on the card processing apparatus 100 side.

  In step S15, the control circuit 140 outputs a control signal to the transmission circuit 131, and acquires information stored in the RFID circuit element To (specifically, the memory unit 155 of the IC circuit unit 150; the same applies hereinafter). As an inquiry signal, the interrogation wave subjected to predetermined modulation is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To via the loop antenna 130. Then, the response signal returned from the RFID circuit element To in response to the inquiry signal is received via the loop antenna 130 and taken in via the receiving circuit 132. Then, based on the received response signal, predetermined information stored in the RFID circuit element To is acquired together with the tag ID and the value of the flag F (information reading unit, identifier reading unit).

  In step S20, the control circuit 140 determines whether or not the flag F = 1 in the information read from the RFID circuit element To in step S15. When the content of the information stored in the IC circuit unit 150 and the content of the first print R formed in the reversible printable area S of the IC card 200 substantially match, the flag F = Since it is 0, the determination is not satisfied, and this routine is finished as it is (without rewriting the print R of the reversible print area S).

  On the other hand, when the content of the information stored in the IC circuit unit 150 and the content of the first print R formed in the reversible printable area S of the IC card 200 do not substantially match, the flag is set as described later. Since F = 1, the determination is satisfied, and the routine goes to Step S25.

  In step S25, the control circuit 140 outputs a control signal to the transmission circuit 131, designates the tag ID read in step S15, and transmits the interrogation wave that has been subjected to predetermined modulation via the loop antenna 130 to the RFID circuit element. “0” is substituted into the flag transmitted to To and stored in the IC circuit unit 150 (identifier writing means). Thereby, the process of writing flag = 0 in the IC circuit unit 150 is completed, and the process proceeds to step S30.

  In step S30, the control circuit 140 outputs a control signal to the motor drive circuit 112, drives the transport motor 111 to rotationally drive the plurality of transport rollers 110, and resumes transport of the IC card 200.

  In step S <b> 35, the control circuit 140 outputs a control signal to the print drive circuit 122, and performs print erasure / formation processing using the erasing thermal head 120 and the forming thermal head 121. That is, the print R formed in the reversible print area S of the IC card 200 by the erasing thermal head 120 is sequentially erased from the front end in the transport direction of the IC card 200 to the rear side, and then the erased portion is completed. On the other hand, the printing thermal head 121 sequentially forms printing R (second printing) corresponding to the predetermined information read in step S15. When this print erasure / formation process ends, this flow ends.

  In the above, step S20 and step S35 constitute the print control means described in each claim. Moreover, step S10, step S15, step S20, step S25, step S30, and step S35 including these step S20 and step S35 constitute the cooperation control means described in each claim.

  As described above, in this embodiment, a flag indicating whether the information stored in the IC circuit unit 150 of the RFID circuit element To and the print R substantially match each other is stored in the IC circuit unit 150. I am letting. When the flag F is 1 when reading is performed on the RFID circuit element To (the contents of the print R in the reversible printable area S and the contents stored in the IC circuit unit 150 do not substantially match). In the case), the thermal head 120 erases the print R in the reversible print area S, and the thermal head 121 forms the print R corresponding to the information acquired by the reading.

  Thereby, the display content of the reversible printable area S can be matched with the storage content of the IC circuit unit 150. As a result, the print R corresponding to the stored information of the IC circuit unit 150 is always displayed in the reversible print area S of the IC card 200. Therefore, the user can always confirm the stored information visually by the printing R of the IC card 200, so that convenience can be improved.

  Further, particularly in the present embodiment, after changing the print display content of the reversible print area S to the print R (matching the content of the stored information of the IC circuit unit 150) as described above, the flag F = By setting it to 0, it is possible to reliably indicate that the print contents of the reversible printable area S of the IC card 200 match the stored information of the IC circuit unit 150 thereafter.

  In this embodiment, in particular, the print R is erased by the thermal head 120 and the print R is formed by the thermal head 121 in the reversible print area S of the IC card 200. That is, the thermal head 120 can be a dedicated head specialized for erasing, and the thermal head 121 can be a dedicated head specialized for printing, so that one thermal head has both an erasing function and a printing forming function. Unlike the above, the erasing performance and the print forming performance can be improved.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and technical idea of the present invention. Hereinafter, such modifications will be described in order.

(1) Case of having one thermal head capable of erasing and forming prints In the above embodiment, the card processing apparatus 100 has two thermal heads, the thermal head for erasure 120 and the thermal head for formation 121. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one thermal head that performs both erasing of printing and formation of printing may be provided.

  FIG. 10 shows a functional configuration of the card processing apparatus 100A of the present modification. Note that parts similar to those in FIG. In addition, the arrow shown in a figure shows an example of the flow of a signal, and does not limit the flow direction of a signal.

  The card processing apparatus 100 </ b> A is provided along a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the IC card 200 (the width direction of the IC card 200), and substantially includes the printing R formed in the reversible printing area S in the IC card 200. An erasing / forming thermal head 123 (printing forming means) that performs both erasing and formation of a predetermined printing R, and control of printing erasing / forming, a conveyance roller 110, and the like by the erasing / forming thermal head 123 (see below) 11)). The erasure / formation thermal head 123 is energized by the print drive circuit 122 in the same manner as in the previous embodiment.

  The erasing / forming thermal head 123 is arranged on the insertion port 101 side (in other words, upstream side along a series of transport directions in the forward direction → reverse direction to be described later), and is opposite to the erasing / forming thermal head 123. The loop antenna 130 (apparatus antenna) described above is arranged on the insertion port 101 side (in other words, on the downstream side along a series of transport directions in the forward direction → the reverse direction described later).

  The arrangement position of the loop antenna 130 is an access position at which the RFID circuit element To of the IC card 200 is substantially directly opposed when information is transmitted / received. The card insertion port 101 also serves as a discharge port for the IC card 200. With respect to the IC card 200 inserted from the card insertion port 101, the card insertion direction (forward direction) is opposite to the card insertion direction (reverse direction). The reciprocating conveyance is performed twice, and the card 200 is ejected from the card insertion slot 101. Then, tag reading processing is performed by wireless communication via the loop antenna 130 on the upstream side in the transport direction in the reciprocal transport of the IC card 200, and erasure / deletion is performed on the downstream side in the transport direction of the IC card 200. The print thermal eraser 123 performs print erasure and print formation.

  That is, in this modification, when the contents of the stored information in the IC circuit unit 150 and the contents of the print R (first print) in the reversible print area S do not match, the IC card 200 is placed in the reverse direction. While transporting, the erase / formation thermal head 123 sequentially erases the print R (first print) from the front end in the transport direction to the rear side. When the print R has been erased to the rear end in the transport direction in this way (since the erasing / forming thermal head 123 is located at the rear side in the transport direction of the reversible print area S) at this time, a new IC circuit unit 150 In order to print the print R (second print) corresponding to the stored information from the front side in the transport direction of the reversible print area S, the IC card 200 is transported by a predetermined distance in the forward direction. As a result, the erasure / formation thermal head 123 is made to face the portion (printing start portion) corresponding to the front end in the printing conveyance direction in the reversible printing area S, and then the IC card 200 is conveyed again in the reverse direction. Then, the print R (second print) is sequentially formed from the front end in the transport direction to the rear side by the erasing / forming thermal head 123.

  FIG. 11 shows the contents of control performed by the control circuit 140A of the present modification in order to realize the above behavior.

  11, step S105, step S110, step S115 (information reading means, identifier reading means), step S120, and step S125 (identifier writing means) are the same as step S5, step S10, step S15, step in FIG. This is almost the same as S20 and Step S25. That is, when the IC card 200 is inserted, the control circuit 140A drives the transport roller 110 in the normal direction to transport the IC card 200 to the access position, and reads information from the RFID circuit element To. Then, the flag in the read information is determined (if flag F = 1, then the flag is rewritten to F = 0).

  In step S130 after step S125, the control circuit 140 outputs a control signal to the motor drive circuit 112 to drive the transport motor 111 to drive the plurality of transport rollers 110 in the reverse direction. Thereby, the reverse conveyance which conveys IC card 200 to a discharge direction (right direction in FIG. 10) is started.

  Thereafter, in step S135, the control circuit 140A outputs a control signal to the print drive circuit 122, and erases the print R (first print) using the thermal head 123 for erasing and forming.

  Then, the process proceeds to step S140, and the control circuit 140A outputs a control signal to the motor drive circuit 112, drives the transport motor 111, and drives the plurality of transport rollers 110 to rotate forward. As a result, the IC card 200 is conveyed again in the forward direction (card insertion direction; left direction in FIG. 10). Such a change in the transport direction is necessary because the single thermal head 123 erases the print R (first print) and forms the print R (second print) on the same reversible print area S. Because it does. When the erasing / forming thermal head 123 is transported at a predetermined distance (a distance until the erasing / forming thermal head 123 reaches at least the printing start position (right end in FIG. 10) of the reversible printing area S), the control circuit 140A A control signal is output to the motor drive circuit 112, the transport motor 111 is stopped, and the plurality of transport rollers 110 are stopped.

  In the next step S145, the control circuit 140A outputs a control signal to the motor drive circuit 112 to drive the transport motor 111 and reversely drive the plurality of transport rollers 110 in the same manner as in step S130. Thereby, the reverse conveyance in the discharge direction (right direction in FIG. 10) of the IC card 200 is started again.

  In the next step S150, the control circuit 140A outputs a control signal to the print drive circuit 122, and print R (second print) corresponding to the predetermined information read in step S115 using the erase / formation thermal head 123. Form. Thereby, this flow is complete | finished.

  In the above, step S120, step S135, and step S150 constitute the print control means described in each claim. In addition, step S110, step S115, step S120, step S125, step S130, step S135, step S140, step S145, and step S150, including step S120, step S135, and step S150, are linked control means described in each claim. Configure.

  The flowchart is not intended to limit the present invention to the procedure shown in the flowchart, and the procedure may be added / deleted / changed without departing from the spirit and technical idea of the invention.

  The same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained by the modification described above. In addition, since one thermal head 123 has both an erasing function and a print forming function, space saving and cost can be reduced as compared with the case where a total of two heads are provided for erasing and printing as in the above embodiment. Reduction can be achieved.

(2) Others In the above, the card processing apparatus 100 includes the transport roller 110 and transports the inserted IC card 200 (in the insertion direction and the ejection direction). However, it is not always necessary to transport the card. In other words, in the card processing apparatus 100, when the user inserts the IC card 200 into the insertion slot 101, the RFID circuit element To and the loop antenna 130 are positioned substantially opposite to each other, information is transmitted / received, and erasure / formation is performed. The reversible print area S may be erased / formed (no conveying means) while the IC card 200 is stopped by the thermal head 123. Then, the user may pull out the IC card 200 after the process is completed. With such a configuration, the card processing apparatus 100 does not require the transport roller 110 or transport drive control, and the configuration and control can be simplified.

  Further, in the above description, a card is used as an example of a tag medium on which the RFID circuit element To is arranged.

  The card processing device to which the wireless tag communication device of the present invention is applied has a function of communicating with the IC card 200 (function as a wireless tag communication device) and a function of performing printing on the IC card 200 (wireless tag printing). However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, it can be systemized as a card processing system (wireless tag processing system) provided as a separate device for each function (including a wireless tag communication device and a wireless tag printing device).

  In this case, although not shown in the figure, the RFID tag communication device includes a RFID circuit element To having an IC circuit unit 150 that stores information and a tag antenna 151 that transmits and receives information, and a reversible printable area. The first transport means for receiving and transporting the IC card 200 on which the first print R is formed on S, the predetermined information is stored in the IC circuit unit 150, and the predetermined information and the first print R are substantially A device antenna for transmitting / receiving information to / from the RFID tag circuit element To of the IC card 200, in which a flag related to conformity is stored in the IC circuit unit 150, and a flag from the IC circuit unit 150 via the device antenna. An information reading unit that reads and acquires the predetermined information from the IC circuit unit 150 through an apparatus antenna and an identifier reading unit that reads and acquires the information. Ri a configuration and a means.

  In addition, the RFID tag printing apparatus has a match index value (2) when the flag acquired by the second conveyance means that receives and conveys the IC card 200 carried out from the RFID tag communication apparatus and the identifier reading means of the RFID tag communication apparatus. The first print R in the reversible print area S of the IC card 200 received by the second transport means is substantially erased depending on whether it is “0”) or a non-match index value (“1”). And a print forming unit capable of forming a second print having a content corresponding to the predetermined information acquired by the information reading unit in the reversible print area S.

  Even with such a card processing system, the same effects as the card processing apparatus of the above-described embodiment can be obtained. That is, by always displaying the print R corresponding to the information stored in the IC circuit unit 150 in the reversible print area S of the IC card 200, the user can always visually check the information stored in the IC card 200. Therefore, convenience can be improved.

  In addition to those already described above, the methods according to the above-described embodiments and modifications may be used in appropriate combination.

  In addition, although not illustrated one by one, the present invention is implemented with various modifications within a range not departing from the gist thereof.

It is a perspective view showing the whole structure of the card processing apparatus of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram showing the functional structure of a card processing apparatus. It is a top view showing the whole structure of an IC card. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view taken along the line IV-IV ′ in FIG. 3. It is a functional block diagram showing the functional structure of a wireless tag circuit element. It is explanatory drawing shown notionally by contrasting the printing of an IC card, and the memory content of an IC circuit part. It is explanatory drawing shown notionally by contrasting the printing of an IC card, and the memory content of an IC circuit part. It is explanatory drawing which shows notionally the process when the printing of an IC card and the memory content of an IC circuit part do not correspond. It is a flowchart showing the control content performed by a control circuit. It is a functional block diagram showing the functional structure of the card processing apparatus in the modification using one thermal head. It is a flowchart showing the control content performed by a control circuit.

Explanation of symbols

100 Card processing device (wireless tag processing device)
100A card processing device (wireless tag processing device)
110 Conveying roller (conveying means)
120 Thermal head for erasing (printing means)
121 Thermal head for forming (printing means)
123 Thermal head for erasing and forming (printing means)
130 Loop antenna (device antenna)
150 IC circuit unit 151 Tag antenna 200 IC card (wireless tag)
201 Card base material layer (tag medium)
204 Reversible thermosensitive recording layer (reversible thermosensitive recording part)
F identifier S reversible printable area To RFID circuit element

Claims (10)

An RFID circuit element having an IC circuit section for storing information and a tag antenna for transmitting and receiving information is disposed, and the first printing of the wireless tag that has formed the first printing in the reversible printing area is erased, Print forming means capable of printing; and
Predetermined information is stored in the IC circuit unit and an identifier relating to substantial matching between the predetermined information and the first print is stored in the IC circuit unit. A device antenna for transmitting and receiving information by wireless communication;
Information reading means for reading and obtaining the predetermined information from the IC circuit unit via the device antenna;
An identifier reading unit that reads and acquires the identifier from the IC circuit unit via the device antenna;
The print forming means includes
Depending on whether the identifier acquired by the identifier reading means is a match index value or a non-match index value, the first printing of the reversible printable area of the wireless tag is substantially erased, A wireless tag processing apparatus, wherein a second print having a content corresponding to the predetermined information acquired by an information reading unit is formed in the reversible printing area. The wireless tag processing device according to claim 1,
If the identifier acquired by the identifier reading means is the match index value, the first printing of the reversible printable area of the wireless tag is substantially retained and acquired by the identifier reading means When the identifier is the non-matching index value, the first print of the reversible printable area of the wireless tag received by the transport unit is substantially erased and corresponds to the predetermined information And a print control means for controlling the print forming means so as to form the second print of the content in the reversible printable area. The wireless tag processing device according to claim 2,
When the identifier acquired by the identifier reading means is the non-matching index value, the print forming means interlocks with the control of the print control means for erasing the first print, and the An RFID tag processing apparatus, comprising: an identifier writing unit that writes the identifier of the match index value in an IC circuit unit. The wireless tag processing device according to claim 3,
A transport means for receiving and transporting the wireless tag,
The wireless tag processing device according to claim 1, wherein the device antenna is provided upstream of the print forming unit along a transport direction of the transport unit. The wireless tag processing device according to claim 4,
The RFID tag is conveyed to an upstream conveyance position where the RFID circuit element is located near the device antenna, and the identifier is acquired, the predetermined information is acquired, and the match index value is written. Thereafter, the carrying means, the identifier reading means, the information reading means, the identifier, so as to carry the wireless tag further downstream in the carrying direction so as to erase the first print and form the second print. An RFID tag processing apparatus comprising: a writing unit; and a linkage control unit that controls the print forming unit in a linked manner. The wireless tag processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The print forming means includes
The wireless tag is at least one thermal head capable of erasing the first print and forming the second print with respect to a reversible thermosensitive recording section provided as the reversible printable area in the wireless tag. RFID tag processing device. The wireless tag processing device according to claim 6,
The print forming means includes
An RFID tag processing apparatus, comprising: an erasing / forming thermal head that performs both erasing of the first printing and forming of the second printing. The wireless tag processing device according to claim 6,
The print forming means includes
An erasing thermal head for erasing the first print;
An RFID tag processing apparatus comprising: a forming thermal head for forming the second print. A wireless tag processing system having a wireless tag communication device that performs communication with a wireless tag and a wireless tag printing device that performs printing on the wireless tag,
The wireless tag communication device includes:
1st conveyance which receives and conveys the said RFID tag which arranged the RFID circuit element which has IC circuit part which memorizes information, and the tag antenna which transmits and receives information, and formed the 1st printing in the reversible printing area Means,
Predetermined information is stored in the IC circuit unit and an identifier relating to substantial matching between the predetermined information and the first print is stored in the IC circuit unit. A device antenna for transmitting and receiving information by wireless communication;
Identifier reading means for reading and acquiring the identifier from the IC circuit unit via the device antenna;
Information reading means for reading and acquiring the predetermined information from the IC circuit unit via the device antenna;
The wireless tag printer is
Second transport means for receiving and transporting the wireless tag carried out from the wireless tag communication device;
The reversible printing of the wireless tag received by the second transport unit according to whether the identifier acquired by the identifier reading unit of the wireless tag communication device is a match index value or a non-match index value Print forming means capable of substantially erasing the first print in the area and forming a second print having contents corresponding to the predetermined information acquired by the information reading means in the reversible print area. A wireless tag processing system. A tag medium configured in a sheet shape or a card shape;
A wireless tag circuit element that is disposed on the tag medium and includes an IC circuit unit that stores information and a tag antenna that transmits and receives information;
A wireless tag provided on one side of the tag medium and having a reversible printable area that can be repeatedly overwritten and printed,
Predetermined information is stored in the IC circuit unit, and an identifier relating to substantial matching between the predetermined information and the predetermined print formed in the reversible printable area is stored in the IC circuit unit. A featured wireless tag.

Images