JP2010030108A - Recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that in a recording apparatus in which an antenna for writing data on an RFID tag is mounted near a recording head to write on the RFID tag information while recording data is recorded on the surface of a recording medium, and the recording is once stopped so that the recording medium can be discriminated in the case when writing on the RFID tag is failed, and after the recording medium is fed backward, an error pattern is recorded on the recording medium on which writing is failed, however, in this method, for the error pattern is printed, a too much time is required for processing for stopping the conveyance, performing backward feed and returning it to a position for starting the printing. <P>SOLUTION: Even when writing the data to the RFID tag is failed, without stopping recording once, the printing information on the recording medium to which the writing is failed is changed to the error pattern so that it can be made visually discriminated and the recording operation is continuously performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for continuously recording (printing) an image on a recording medium and writing information on the RFID tag in parallel using a recording medium to which an RFID tag is attached.

  In recent years, recording on the surface of a recording medium having a built-in RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) tag and writing wireless non-contact information to an RFID tag attached to the recording medium at the same time, without stopping the recording medium, 2. Description of the Related Art Line printer type recording apparatuses that continuously perform a recording operation and an information writing operation are becoming widespread.

  As an example of a recording medium, FIG. 2 shows an outline of a continuous temporary attachment of a label with a built-in RFID tag. A plurality of labels 201 are temporarily attached to a long and translucent separator 206 in a peelable manner.

  An IC chip 203 equipped with a nonvolatile memory for storing electronic information and an antenna 202 electrically connected to the IC chip 203 are enclosed inside the label 201. A combination 204 of the IC chip 202 and the antenna 203 is called an RFID tag.

In a line printer type recording apparatus that continuously performs a recording operation and an information writing operation, when an information writing error to the RFID tag occurs, the conveying operation of the non-recording medium is temporarily stopped and back fed in the reverse direction. The label in which the writing error occurred is visually identified by recording the error pattern while transporting again in the forward direction.
(For example, Patent Document 1)
JP 2006-88705 A

  However, according to the method of Patent Document 1, when an error pattern is recorded on a label, an extra process is required in which the feeding operation is once stopped and then back-feeding is performed.

  Especially in applications where high productivity is required such that the recording operation and the writing operation to the RFID tag are performed in parallel while continuing the recording medium conveyance operation in the line printer format, even if a writing error occurs, Time loss should be kept to a minimum.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention implements the following means.

That is, the recording apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is
Conveying means for conveying a recording medium to which an RFID tag is attached;
Writing means for writing information to the RFID tag;
In a recording apparatus having recording means for recording record information on the recording medium,
Comprising recording information changing means for changing the recording information during recording on the recording medium by the recording means;
When the writing of information to the RFID tag fails, the recording information changed by the recording information changing means is recorded on the recording medium until the end of recording on the recording medium to which the RFID that has failed to be written is attached. It is characterized by recording.

Moreover, the recording apparatus according to claim 2
The recorded information changing means in claim 1 comprises:
The information is changed to error pattern information different from the recording information.

Moreover, the recording apparatus according to claim 3
The error pattern information in the recording apparatus according to claim 2 is developed in a print buffer different from the recording information.

In addition, the recording apparatus according to claim 4
The error pattern information in the recording apparatus according to claim 2 is repeatedly generated by a pattern generation circuit.

Further, the recording apparatus according to claim 5 is:
The recording unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the writing unit is arranged upstream of the recording unit in the transport direction.

In addition, the recording apparatus according to claim 6 is:
6. The RFID writing process performed by the writing unit of the recording apparatus according to claim 1 and the recording process performed on the recording medium by the recording unit have portions that overlap in time.

Further, the recording apparatus according to claim 7 is:
The recording medium of the recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is a label temporarily attached to a belt-like mount.

In addition, the recording apparatus according to claim 8
The recording medium of the recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is a sheet.

The recording apparatus according to claim 9
The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein writing of information to the RFID tag has failed, and when the error pattern is recorded on a recording medium to which the RFID that has failed to be written is attached, The recorded recording information to be recorded on the recording medium and the writing information to be written on the RFID tag are re-recorded on a new recording medium on the upstream side in the transport direction from the recording medium, and are also re-written on the new RFID tag. It is characterized by that.

In addition, the recording apparatus according to claim 10 is:
The recording of the error pattern in the recording apparatus according to claim 9, re-recording on a new recording medium upstream of the recording medium on which the error pattern is recorded, and re-writing on a new RFID tag are transport operations. It is characterized by carrying out while continuing.

In addition, the recording apparatus according to claim 11
10. The recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein after the error pattern is recorded, the recording medium is once back-fed to a new recording medium upstream in the transport direction from the recording medium on which the error pattern is recorded. Recording and rewriting to a new RFID tag are performed.

A recording apparatus according to claim 12 is provided.
The information writing to the RFID tag by the information writing unit of the recording apparatus according to claim 1 and the recording of the recording information to the recording medium by the recording unit are performed while the recording medium is being transported. It is characterized by.

In addition, the recording apparatus according to claim 13
A plurality of the recording heads in the recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein recording information on the recording medium or the error pattern is recorded in color.

A recording apparatus according to claim 14 is provided.
A plurality of the recording heads in the recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein recording information on the recording medium or the error pattern is recorded in the same color.

In addition, the recording apparatus according to claim 15
15. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit performs recording using a line recording head having a recording width corresponding to a width of the recording medium.

In addition, the recording apparatus according to claim 16
16. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is an ink jet recording head in which a plurality of ejection openings are arranged.

  By implementing the present invention, even in the case of a recording apparatus that performs recording of an image on a recording medium and writing of information on an RFID tag incorporated in the recording medium in parallel, even if an RFID writing error occurs. Therefore, error recovery can be performed without reducing the productivity of the recording apparatus.

  In particular, when information is written to the RFID tag without stopping the conveyance of the recording medium, the probability of occurrence of a write error is inevitably increased, so the effect of the present invention is enhanced.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In the embodiment described below, a recording apparatus using an inkjet line head 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).

Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the “nozzle” collectively refers to an ejection port or a liquid channel communicating with the ejection port and an element that generates energy used for ink ejection.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a recording system using a color recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a recording apparatus) using an inkjet line head and a host computer (hereinafter referred to as a host), which is a typical embodiment of the present invention. It is. As shown in FIG. 1, the recording apparatus 101 and the host 100 are connected by a printer cable 107 so that various types of data processed by the host 100 are recorded by the recording apparatus 101.

  The recording apparatus 101 includes a full-line recording head (to be referred to as a recording head hereinafter), an RFID communication antenna, an upper cover 103 for opening and closing a conveyance unit, and liquid ink as a recording agent supplied to the recording head. A front cover 104 for opening and closing a tank unit for storing, a paper feed unit 102 for feeding a recording medium to the recording unit 108, and a cutter unit 109 for cutting the recording medium conveyed from the recording unit 108 are configured. ing.

Further, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 105 denotes a power switch of the recording apparatus, and 106 denotes an operation panel including input keys for setting the operating environment in the recording apparatus 100 and display means for notifying the user of an error occurrence state of the recording apparatus. is there. The operation panel 106 includes an LED 110, an LCD 111, and a button 112.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a long recording medium 200 used by the recording apparatus 101.

  A long recording medium 200 shown in FIG. 2 includes a label 201 whose back surface is adhesively processed, a mount 206 for temporarily attaching the label, and an RFID tag 205. The RFID tag 205 includes an IC chip 203 mounted with a nonvolatile memory for storing electronic information and a loop antenna 202, and is covered with a paper or PET resin film 204. The RFID tag built-in label 201 does not have a power source, and generates electric power using radio waves generated from an RFID communication antenna (described later) disposed in the recording apparatus 101, and uses the RFID tag as an internal power source via the RFID communication antenna. Electronic information can be written in 205.

  3 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the recording apparatus 101 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the arrangement of recording heads and RFID communication antennas used by the recording apparatus 101 shown in FIG. It is a perspective view.

  The recording apparatus 101 can be mounted with a full-line recording head of up to six colors. Here, an example in which recording heads for four colors are mounted is illustrated.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the recording head 306K that ejects black ink, the recording head 306C that ejects cyan ink, and the recording head 306M that ejects magenta ink in order from the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium. , And a recording head 306Y that discharges yellow ink. It should be noted that reference numeral 306 is used to collectively refer to these four recording heads. Further, a communication antenna 303 for wireless communication with the RFID tag is provided on the upstream side of the recording head 306.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the conveyance unit 302 positioned below the recording head 306, the label 201 on the recording medium 200 set in the sheet feeding unit 102 is recorded by the recording head 305 by a feeding method described later. When transported toward the position, the position is managed by the TOF sensor 304. When transported to the communication position of the RFID communication antenna 303, electronic information is stored in the RFID tag 205 built in via the RFID communication antenna 303. Writing starts.

  Further, the label 201 is conveyed, and when the recording position is reached, ink is ejected by the four recording heads 306K, 306C, 306M, and 306Y, an image is recorded on the label 201, and finally the cutter unit 109 is ejected. It is configured to be carried out. In the cutter unit, the mount 206 is cut when the rear end of the label 201 with a built-in RFID recorded by the operation setting set by the host passes.

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

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of various control commands transmitted from the host.

  As shown in FIG. 5, 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 regarding the command follows the identification code. Depending on the type of command, there may be no operand and only an identification code.

  As control commands, for example, a sheet setting command 501 for setting the size of a recording medium, for example, a label size, a format command 502 having a reference setting for recording data, and a recording apparatus operation setting command 512 for setting operation of the recording apparatus main body. , Data commands 503, 504, and 505 for setting detailed information on characters, images, and RFID, and a job start command 510 that indicates the end of recording data and instructs 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 511.

  The type of the IC chip 203 of the RFID tag 205 is set in the IC chip type operand 506 of the paper setting command 501, and the RFID tag size is set in the RFID tag mounting position operand 507. Also, the paper feed mode of the printing apparatus is set to the paper feed mode operand 513 of the printing apparatus operation setting command 502, the conveyance speed of the printing apparatus is set to the conveyance speed operand 514, and the RFID tag communication start position of the printing apparatus is set to start RFID tag communication. Set to position operand 515. The RFID tag communication start position operand is an operand for setting a transport distance from when the RFID medium is detected to when communication with the RFID tag is started. The amount of data written to the IC chip 203 is set in the data length operand 508 of the RFID data command 505, and the write data is set in the data operand 509.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the recording apparatus 101.

  In FIG. 6, reference numeral 601 denotes a main controller that controls the entire recording apparatus. The CPU 601a has a built-in control function for storing input data 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 601 is connected to the host 100 via an interface (not shown) and can exchange signals with each other. Reference numeral 602 denotes a ROM which is connected to the main controller 601 and stores control programs and the like. The main controller 601 operates using the RAM 612 as a work area according to these programs.

  The RAM 612 includes an RFID buffer memory 614 that stores RFID data in units of pages, stores data transferred from the host 100 and written to the RFID tag 205, and an RFID communication circuit 609 connected to the main controller 601. Writes the data stored in the RFID buffer 614 to the RFID tag through the RFID communication antenna 610.

  Reference numeral 606 denotes an image buffer memory that stores image data transmitted from the host 100 in units of pages. Reference numeral 606Bk denotes a black image buffer that temporarily stores image data of a black component. Similarly, reference numerals 606C, 606M, and 606Y denote cyan components. The image buffer memory temporarily stores image data of a magenta component, a cyan component, and a yellow component.

  Reference numeral 603 denotes a head driving circuit for driving a heating element (not shown) built in the recording heads 306Bk, 306C, 306M, and 306Y. A driver controller 607 connected to the main controller 601 is stored in the image buffer memory 606. An image is recorded by controlling the head drive circuit 603 according to the image data recorded in the bitmap format of each color component.

  Reference numeral 604D denotes a motor driver that drives a feed motor 604 provided in the conveyance unit 302, 600 denotes a drive circuit that drives a motor 605 that drives a roll unit of the paper feed unit 102, and 613 drives a motor 608 that drives a cutter unit. These are drive circuits, both of which are controlled by the main controller 601.

  Reference numeral 611 denotes a sensor circuit that collectively refers to various sensors including the TOF sensor 304 described above.

  FIG. 7A is a diagram showing recording data stored in the image buffer memory 606 for storing image data and data stored in the RFID buffer memory 614 for storing information to be written to the RFID tag.

  In the example of this figure, image data of 6 pages, RFID tag writing information corresponding to the image, and error pattern information for switching an image and recording an error pattern when writing to the RFID tag fails are stored.

Page # 1, Page # 2, Page # 3, Page # 4, Page # 5, and Page # 6 are stored in the image buffer memory 606K, 606C, 606M, 606Y for each color information, and RFID tag writing information of each page Is stored in the RFID buffer memory 614.
In this embodiment, an error pattern is developed in the black image buffer memory as the error pattern 706, and when a write error occurs, the error pattern is recorded using a black recording head.

  In FIG. 7B, the error pattern is developed in the magenta and yellow image buffer memories 606M and 606Y.

  In this case, when a write error occurs, an error pattern is recorded using magenta and yellow recording heads.

  There is a method for generating an error pattern in the print buffer as described above. However, the method is not limited to this, and a method using a pattern generation circuit that generates a repetitive pattern may be used. A generation circuit may be used.

  FIG. 8A is a diagram showing the transition of the image data recording process and the RFID tag writing information writing process shown in FIG. 7, and recovery is performed without stopping the conveyance of the recording medium even if an intermediate writing error occurs. Indicates.

  The long recording medium is conveyed from the right to the left in the figure, and the positional relationship of the communication antenna 303 for writing information to the RFID tag 202, the recording heads 306K, 306C, 306M, and 306Y in the conveyance direction is as follows. As shown.

  The state transition changes in the order of [1] ⇒ [2] ⇒ [3] ⇒ [4] ⇒ [5].

First in [1],
Label 801: RFID tag writing completed, image 810-1 completed Label 802: RFID tag writing completed, image 810-2 completed Label 803: RFID tag writing completed, image 810-3 recording in progress Label 804: RFID tag writing failed, error Image recording is about to begin.

Then in [2],
Following the part 810-4 of the image to be recorded with the label 803, recording of the error recording pattern 812 is started.

Next, in [3]
Recording of the error recording pattern 812 on the label 804 is completed. In this embodiment, the error recording pattern 812 is recorded by the black recording head 306. Then, the recording of the image 810-4A that should be originally recorded on the label 804 has started on the next label 805. At this time, the writing of the label 805 to the RFID tag is finished.

Next in [4],
Recovery recording on the label 805 is completed, and an image 810-5 of 806 is started on the next label.

And in [5],
Recording of the image 810-5 on the label 806 is completed, and the image 810-6 on the next label 807 is also in progress.

  Although a series of state transitions has been described so far, the recording operation and recovery operation of an error pattern are automatically performed without interrupting the operation of conveying a long recording medium.

  Another embodiment will be described using the state transition of FIG. 8B.

  In this embodiment, after the error pattern is recorded, the recovery operation is performed after stopping and back feeding.

  As in FIG. 8A, the long recording medium is conveyed from the right to the left in the figure, and the communication antenna 303 for writing information to the RFID tag 202, the conveying directions of the recording heads 306K, 306C, 306M, and 306Y. The upper positional relationship is as shown.

  The state transition changes in the order of [1] ⇒ [2] ⇒ [3] ⇒ [4] ⇒ [5].

First in [1],
Label 821: RFID tag writing completed, image 830-1 completed Label 822: RFID tag writing completed, image 830-2 completed Label 823: RFID tag writing completed, image 830-3 recording in progress Label 824: RFID tag writing failed, error The recording of the pattern image is about to begin.

Then in [2],
Following the portion 830-4 of the image to be recorded with label 824, the recording of error recording pattern 832 has been completed.

Next, in [3]
The recording medium is back-fed.

Next in [4],
The recording operation has resumed, and recovery recording of the image 830-4A on the label 825 is in progress. Furthermore, image recording to the next label 826 has started.

And in [5],
Recovery recording on the label 825 is completed, and an image 830-5 on the next label 826 is also in progress. Further, image recording has started on the label 827 on the upstream side in the transport direction. Of course, writing of information to the RFID tags included in these labels 825, 826, and 827 is also progressing through the communication antenna 303.

  The above is a flow in the case of temporarily stopping, backfeeding, recording, and resuming the writing operation after the error pattern is recorded.

    The operation flow of the CPU 601a corresponding to the state transition of FIGS. 8A and 8B will be described with reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B, respectively.

  First, FIG. 9A corresponds to FIG. 8A, and is a method of recovery without stopping the recording medium conveyance operation even if an error in writing to the RFID tag occurs.

  When an image recording command for a label is received (900), an error pattern is developed in advance (901). In this case, the error pattern by the black recording head described above with reference to FIG. 8A is used.

  Next, the recording medium conveying operation is started (902), and it is checked whether or not there is an RFID write command for the first label. If there is (903-Yes), information is written to the RFID tag (904). .

  Subsequently, image recording to the corresponding label is started (905). If an error occurs in writing to the RFID tag (906-No), the image being recorded is switched to an immediate error pattern (907).

  Then, it is checked whether or not an error flag is set. If not (908-No), an error flag is set (909), and the process returns to step 900 for retry. The same procedure is repeated, and if writing to the RFID tag is normal (906-Yes), after clearing the error flag (913), it is checked whether a predetermined number of recording operations have been completed, and if not completed (914) -No) Return to step 900. When the operation is repeated and a predetermined number of sheets are completed (914-Yes), the conveyance of the recording medium is stopped (915) and the process is terminated. If there is no command to write to the RFID tag in step 903, only image recording on the label is performed (912), and the process proceeds to the next.

  In addition, after the error flag is set in step 909, if an error occurs in writing to the RFID tag, the recording is switched to the error pattern recording, but immediately identifies that the error flag is set (908-Yes). The operation is temporarily stopped (910), and an alarm is output (911).

  Next, FIG. 9B corresponds to FIG. 8B, and shows a method in which when an error in writing to the RFID tag occurs, after switching to an error pattern, the process temporarily stops and then proceeds to a recovery operation.

  When an image recording command to the label is received (940), an error pattern is developed in advance (941). In this case, the error pattern by the black recording head described above with reference to FIG. 8B is used.

  Next, the recording medium conveyance operation is started (942), and it is checked whether or not there is an RFID write command for the first label. If there is (943-Yes), information is written to the RFID tag (944). .

  Subsequently, image recording on the corresponding label is started (945). If an error occurs in writing to the RFID tag (946-No), the image being recorded is switched to an immediate error pattern (947).

  Then, it is checked whether the error flag is set before that. If it is not set (948-No), the error flag is set (949), and the recording medium is back-fed by a predetermined amount (960). Then, the process returns to step 940 for retry. The same procedure is repeated, and if writing to the RFID tag is normal (946-Yes), after clearing the error flag (953), it is checked whether a predetermined number of recording operations have been completed, and if not completed (954). -No) Return to step 940. When the operation is repeated and a predetermined number of sheets are completed (954-Yes), the conveyance of the recording medium is stopped (955) and the process is terminated. If there is no command to write to the RFID tag in step 943, only image recording on the label is performed (952), and the process proceeds to the next.

  In addition, after the error flag is set in step 949, if an error in writing to the RFID tag continues, the recording is switched to error pattern recording, but immediately identifies that the error flag is set (950-Yes). An alarm is output (951).

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an error pattern development process used when a write error to the RFID tag occurs.

  The error pattern development processing is performed every time one page of recording data is received as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B.

  When the recording data is received, an error pattern development process is executed, and the process proceeds to step S1001 to determine whether the error pattern has already been developed.

  If it is determined in step S1001 that the error pattern has not been developed in the image buffer memory 606, the process proceeds to step S1004 and the error pattern is developed in the image buffer memory 606. If it is determined that the error pattern has been developed, the process proceeds to step S1002.

  In step S1002, it is checked whether the paper vertical size information 516 and the paper horizontal size 517 of the already developed error pattern are the same size as the recording information received this time. If it is determined that the sizes are different, the process advances to step S1004 to develop the error pattern in the image buffer memory 606. If it is determined that the sizes are the same, the process proceeds to step S1003.

In step S1003, it is determined whether the error pattern to be developed is the same as the previous error pattern. If it is determined that the error pattern to be developed is different from the previous one, the process advances to step S1004 to develop the error pattern in the image buffer memory 606. If the error patterns to be developed are the same, the error pattern development is not performed and the process is terminated.
(Second embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the recording medium is a long recording medium on which the RFID tag built-in label is continuously attached. However, the present invention is also effective for a card having a built-in RFID tag.

  An embodiment using an RFID tag built-in card will be described below.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram in which a host computer is connected to the recording apparatus used in this embodiment. As this recording apparatus, an ink-jet color card recording apparatus using a long line head is used.
The recording device 1101 and the host computer 1100 are connected by a printer cable 1107, and are configured so that various data processed by the host computer 1100 are recorded by the recording device 1101. The recording apparatus 1101 opens and closes a later-described line head, an RFID communication antenna, and an upper cover 1103 for opening and closing a conveyance unit, and a tank unit that stores liquid ink as an ejection medium supplied to the later-described line head. A front cover 104 for printing, a paper feed unit 1109 for feeding a recording medium loaded on a paper feed tray 1102 to be described later to the recording unit 1108, and a paper discharge unit 1110 for storing the recording medium conveyed from the recording unit 1108. The outer shell is constructed. Reference numeral 1105 denotes a power switch of the recording apparatus, 1106 an input means for setting an operating environment in the recording apparatus, and an operation panel as a means for notifying the user of an error occurrence state of the image recording apparatus, and an LED 1111, an LCD 1112, and a button 1113. Consists of

  FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of an RFID tag built-in card 1201 as a recording medium used by the recording apparatus 1101 of this embodiment. The RFID tag 1205 includes an IC chip 1203 on which a nonvolatile memory for storing electronic information is mounted and a loop antenna 1202 and is covered with a paper or PET resin film 1204. The RFID tag built-in card 1201 does not have a power source, generates electric power using radio waves generated from an RFID communication antenna (described later) disposed in the recording device 1101, and uses the RFID tag as an internal power source via the RFID communication antenna. Electronic information can be written in 1205.

  The structure of various control commands transmitted from the host and the block diagram showing the control configuration of the recording apparatus 1101 are the same as those in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the first embodiment.

  The same applies to FIG. 7 showing data stored in the image buffer memory 606 for storing image data and data stored in the RFID buffer memory 614 for storing RFID tag recording information.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining a recording process in the recording apparatus 1101 having the above configuration. Note that the difference from the process shown in FIG. 9B, which is a recording process using a continuous label sheet with a built-in RFID tag, is that the recording apparatus 1101 uses a cut recording medium and therefore does not back feed the recording medium. .

  Hereinafter, description will be given along the flowchart shown in FIG.

  As in the first embodiment, when the recording device 1101 receives data for six pages as recording information transmitted from the host 1100, in step S1300, the information transmitted from the host is received and recorded as shown in FIG. Image information is stored in the image buffer memories 606K to 606Y, and RFID tag recording information is stored in the RFID buffer memory 614.

  After development of the recording information from the host, when the writing to the RFID tag fails in step S1301, the recording information for recording the error pattern 706 indicating that the writing has failed on the surface of the recording medium is stored in the image buffer memory 606K. Expand to 606Y. In this embodiment, the error pattern is expanded to 306K so that it is not necessary to perform back feed and record the error pattern when writing fails. The error pattern expansion process in step S1301 is expanded as necessary, and it is determined whether the error pattern is expanded according to the content of the control command transmitted from the host 1100, or the previous expanded error pattern is used. .

  When the development of the error pattern is completed, the process proceeds to step S1302. First, in order to record the recording information of Page # 1, in step S1302, it is determined whether or not there is information to be written to the RFID tag. Since RFID tag record information exists in Page # 1, the process advances to step S1303 to start conveying the recording medium. When the recording medium is transported to the communication range position of the RFID communication antenna 303 after the transport is started, in step S1304, writing of information to the RFID tag 1205 incorporated via the RFID communication antenna 303 is started. . Subsequently, when the recording medium is conveyed and reaches a recording position (directly below each recording head), ink is ejected by each recording head 306Bk, 306C, 306M, 306Y in parallel with writing to the RFID tag 1205, An image is recorded on the recording medium 201 (S1305).

  After the writing of the electronic information to the RFID 1205 tag is completed, the process checks in step S1306 whether the writing has been completed normally. If it is determined that the writing has been normally completed, it is determined in step S1313 that the recording medium is carried out to the paper discharge unit 1110 and the recording process for Page # 1 has been normally completed.

  This recording apparatus is configured to repeat the process as long as there is page data for each recording medium that has received the processes from S1300 to S1313.

  However, if it is determined in step S1306 that writing to the RFID tag did not end normally during the recording process, the process proceeds to step S1307 as a communication error has occurred, and the recording medium that has failed to write to the RFID tag The data to be recorded is changed to the error pattern (706) and recording is continued. When the error pattern recording is completed, the process proceeds to step S1308, and the recording medium on which the error pattern is recorded is discharged. After discharging, the process proceeds to step S1309 to stop the conveyance. After the conveyance stops, the process proceeds to step S1303 to re-record the record data that failed to be recorded, and the record data that failed to be recorded is recorded.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, all of the information written to the RFID tag exists. However, if there is no data written to the RFID tag, it is determined in step S1302 that there is no information written to the RFID tag, and normal recording is performed. Then, the process proceeds to step S1311, and after the recording medium is conveyed, the process proceeds to step S1312, and recording on the recording medium is started. When recording on the recording medium is completed, the process advances to step S1313 to eject the recording medium.
(Other examples)
In the error patterns 706 and 726 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, black or magenta and yellow are used, but not limited to this, a recording head of any color can be selected.

  Also, instead of recording the developed error pattern in a memory area such as the image buffer memory 606, for example, the head drive circuit 603 has a register for one line of the recording head, and the specific pattern stored in the register is repeatedly generated. If the hardware to be installed is installed and an error pattern is recorded, a method of accessing the hardware may be used.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is applicable to a recording apparatus that performs recording of an image on a recording medium and writing of information to an RFID tag built in the recording medium in parallel and at high speed, particularly a line printer capable of color recording.

1 is a configuration diagram in which a recording apparatus of the present invention is connected to a host computer. It is the structure schematic of the elongate recording medium incorporating the RFID tag. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an arrangement of an inkjet recording head and an RFID antenna mounted on the recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the control command system of the recording device shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the state by which the image recording data, the write data to RFID tag, and the error pattern were stored in the image buffer memory. It is a figure which shows the error pattern by the color different from FIG. 7A. State transition of recovery operation without back feed is shown. State transition of recovery operation with back feed is shown. It is a flowchart corresponding to FIG. 8A. It is a flowchart corresponding to FIG. 8B. It is a flowchart regarding the expansion process of an error pattern. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram in which a recording apparatus using card paper and a host computer are connected. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a card-like recording medium incorporating an RFID tag. It is a flowchart explaining the recording process according to 2nd Example.

Explanation of symbols

100 Host computer 101 Recording device 106 Operation panel 107 Printer cable

200 RFID tag built-in label paper 201 label 202 antenna 203 IC chip 204 film 205 RFID tag

303 Communication antenna 306K Recording head (black)
306C print head (cyan)
306M recording head (magenta)
306Y recording head (yellow)

601a CPU

706 Error pattern 726 Error pattern

Claims (16)

Conveying means for conveying a recording medium to which an RFID tag is attached;
Writing means for writing information to the RFID tag;
In a recording apparatus having recording means for recording record information on the recording medium,
Comprising recording information changing means for changing the recording information during recording on the recording medium by the recording means;
When the writing of information to the RFID tag fails, the recording information changed by the recording information changing means is recorded on the recording medium until the end of recording on the recording medium to which the RFID that has failed to be written is attached. A recording apparatus for recording. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording information changing unit changes to error pattern information different from the recording information. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the error pattern information is developed in a print buffer different from the recording information. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the error pattern information is repeatedly generated by a pattern generation circuit. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the writing unit is disposed upstream of the recording unit in a transport direction. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a writing process to the RFID by the writing unit and a recording process to the recording medium by the recording unit have portions that overlap in time. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is a label temporarily attached to a belt-like mount. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is a sheet. Recording information to be recorded on the recording medium on which the error pattern is recorded when the writing of the information to the RFID tag fails and the error pattern is recorded on the recording medium to which the failed RFID is attached. The write information to be written to the RFID tag is re-recorded on a new recording medium upstream in the transport direction from the recording medium, and is also re-written to the new RFID tag. The recording device described. The recording of the error pattern, re-recording on a new recording medium upstream in the transport direction from the recording medium on which the error pattern is recorded, and rewriting on a new RFID tag are performed while continuing the transport operation. The recording apparatus according to claim 9. After recording the error pattern, the recording medium is once back-fed, re-recorded on a new recording medium upstream of the recording medium on which the error pattern is recorded, and re-recorded on a new RFID tag. The recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein writing is performed. Writing information to the RFID tag by the information writing means and recording information to the recording medium by the recording means are:
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus is performed during conveyance of the recording medium. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a plurality of the recording heads are provided to perform color recording of information recorded on the recording medium or the error pattern. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of the recording heads, and recording information on the recording medium or the error pattern in the same color. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit performs recording using a line recording head having a recording width corresponding to a width of the recording medium. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is an ink jet recording head in which a plurality of ejection openings are arranged.

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