JP2010231704A - Printer device for automatic application of rfid tag - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic RFID tag application printer device which does not have to newly write information on an RFID tag even when a printing error occurs in a printing medium and does not suffer thermal damage or mechanical damage because of applying an RFID tag on the printing medium after printing of the printing medium. <P>SOLUTION: The printer device includes a printing unit 100 for printing print data on the printing medium, a tag applying part 200 for applying an RFID tag 220 on the printing medium 110 printed by the printing unit 100, and a detector 120 for detecting a printing error of the printing unit 100. The printer device includes a control unit for making applying by the tag applying part 200 ineffective when the detector 120 detects a printing error, and for making the tag applying part 200 apply the RFID tag 220 on the printing medium 110 when no printing error occurs. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an RFID tag automatic pasting and printing apparatus.

  Conventionally, a system including a reader / writer in a printing apparatus has been proposed (Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3). In this system, an RFID tag is provided for a print medium such as paper, and information on contents to be printed on the print medium or information related to the printing, for example, distribution, when the print medium is printed. The reader / writer writes various information such as a user, distribution date and time, distribution location, and unique ID information provided on the print medium.

  By providing the RFID tag in the print medium in this way, it is possible to manage the print medium and the printed content.

JP 2004-310293 A JP 2006-48491 A JP 2007-164426 A

  However, the RFID tag is vulnerable to heat. For example, when the printing apparatus is a laser printer, a heat treatment is performed to fix the toner to the print medium. Therefore, the RFID may be damaged during the heating. Also, in a printing apparatus, a print medium is often conveyed in a state of being wound by a roller. In such a case, the print medium is wound by a roller to mechanically attach to the RFID tag provided on the print medium. In some cases, damage may occur, or the print medium itself may be damaged during transportation, and the RFID tag may be damaged at the same time.

  In such a case, if the RFID is damaged as described above after writing the unique ID information to the RFID tag before or during printing, the unique ID information is wasted. Further, it is necessary to re-attach the RFID tag after writing the same contents on the new RFID tag on the newly reprinted print medium.

  In addition, unlike the above case, it is also conceivable to attach an RFID tag in which unique ID information or the like is written to a printed print medium. However, in this case, there is a possibility that the contents printed on the print medium and the contents included in the RFID tag will not match due to human error.

  The object of the present invention is to perform thermal damage because it is not necessary to newly write information to the RFID tag even when a printing error occurs in the printing medium, and after the RFID tag is attached to the printing medium and the printing medium is printed. Another object of the present invention is to provide an RFID tag automatic pasting and printing device that is not mechanically damaged.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the invention described in claim 1 includes a printing unit that prints print data on a printing medium, and tag attachment that affixes an RFID tag to the printing medium printed by the printing unit. Means, an error detecting means for detecting a printing error of the printing means, and when the error detecting means detects a printing error, the sticking by the tag sticking means is invalidated and a printing error occurs. If not, the gist of the RFID tag automatic pasting and printing apparatus is provided with a control means for causing the tag sticking means to stick the RFID tag to the print medium.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the RFID tag includes a writing unit that writes at least ID information data, and the control unit includes the writing unit when the error detecting unit detects a printing error. When writing to the RFID tag is invalidated and no printing error is detected by the error detecting means, writing of ID information data to the RFID tag is allowed, and the RFID tag is printed on the printing medium by the tag attaching means. It is characterized by making it stick.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the writing unit is arranged to be writable on the RFID tag attached to the print medium after the RFID tag is attached to the print medium by the tag attaching unit. It is characterized by.

  The invention of claim 4 is the RFID tag according to claim 2, wherein the writing means is arranged to be writable on the RFID tag before the RFID tag is attached to the print medium by the tag attaching means. The tag sticking means is arranged to be stickable to a print medium.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the control means attaches the tag to the print medium for which printing has been completed in accordance with the presence / absence of an RFID tag attachment instruction. The sticking operation is validated or invalidated.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a printing error occurs, the RFID tag is not attached to the printing medium in which the printing error has occurred. Therefore, even when a printing error occurs in the printing medium. There is no need to newly write information to the RFID tag. In addition, since it is performed after the RFID tag is attached to the print medium and after the print medium is printed, there is an effect that neither thermal damage nor mechanical damage is caused.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the printing error is met, the writing operation of the ID information data by the writing unit is not performed on the RFID tag which is not attached, and the writing unit is not operated wastefully. There is an effect.

  According to the invention of claim 3, the RFID tag automatic pasting is arranged such that the writing means is writable on the RFID tag stuck to the printing medium after the RFID tag is stuck to the printing medium by the tag sticking means. The effect of claim 2 can be easily realized for the printing apparatus.

  According to the invention of claim 4, before the RFID tag is attached to the print medium by the tag attaching means, the writing means is arranged to be writable on the RFID tag, and the written RFID tag is attached to the tag. The effect of claim 2 can be easily realized with respect to the RFID tag automatic pasting and printing apparatus in which the attaching means is arranged to be attached to the printing medium.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to selectively create a print medium with an RFID tag and a print medium to which no RFID tag is attached on a print medium according to the presence or absence of an RFID tag attachment command.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Schematic of the RFID tag automatic sticking and printing apparatus of 1st Embodiment which actualized this invention. The control block diagram. The flowchart of a control part similarly. The schematic of the RFID tag automatic sticking printing apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. The flowchart of a control part similarly. The flowchart of the control part of 3rd Embodiment.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, an RFID tag automatic pasting and printing apparatus according to a first embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the RFID tag automatic pasting and printing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “printing apparatus”) includes a printing unit 100, a tag pasting unit 200, and a writing unit 300. The printing unit 100 includes a printing medium cassette 102, a printing processing unit 104, a pickup roller 106, and a printing medium conveyance path 108A.

Here, the printing unit 100 corresponds to a printing unit, the tag sticking unit 200 corresponds to a tag sticking unit, and the writing unit 300 corresponds to a writing unit.
In this embodiment, the print processing unit 104 is configured by laser printing, but the printing method is not limited, and a dot printer method, an inkjet method, a thermal melting type, a sublimation method, a thermal method, and a thermal transfer method can be used. Any printing method may be used.

  The print medium cassette 102 contains a print medium 110 made of paper or the like. The print medium 110 may be selected according to the printing method, and is not limited to paper, but includes a printable sheet such as an OHP film, a sheet made of a rigid resin, and photosensitive paper.

  The pickup roller 106 guides the print medium 110 stocked in the print medium cassette 102 to the print medium conveyance path 108A. The print medium conveyance path 108 </ b> A sends the print medium 110 to the print processing unit 104. The print processing unit 104 prints print data sent from the control unit 400 described later on the print medium 110. Then, the print medium 110 that has been subjected to the print processing by the print processing unit 104 is sent to the adjacent tag attaching unit 200 via the print medium conveyance path 108A.

  The print medium conveyance path 108A and the print processing unit 104 are provided with a detector 120 that detects a print error when the print medium 110 cannot be sent due to a jam or the like. The detector 120 corresponds to error detection means. The detector 120 is not limited to detection of a defective delivery of the print medium 110 when the jam occurs, and may be, for example, a detection error of a printing process.

  The tag sticking unit 200 includes a roll unit 202, a pressing unit 204, a take-up collecting unit 206, and a print medium conveyance path 108B. The roll unit 202 has a long release paper 222 wound in a roll shape. On the release paper 222 wound around the roll unit 202, a large number of RFID tags 220 are detachably attached in a dotted line shape along the length direction of the release paper 222. Note that the winding diameter of the roll unit 202 is set so as not to damage the RFID tag 220. An adhesive is applied to the surface of each RFID tag 220. The release paper 222 extended from the roll unit 202 is taken up by the take-up collection unit 206 via the pressing unit 204. That is, the roll unit 202 and the winding recovery unit 206 are provided with a drive motor (not shown), and the drive motor is driven and controlled by the control unit 400 described later.

  In the tag attaching unit 200, the RFID tag 220 attached to the release paper 222 by the pressing unit 204 is pressed from the release paper 222 side to the printing medium 110 that has been printed, and is sent to the pressing unit 204. The surface of the RFID tag 220 is brought into contact with the print medium 110, and at this time, the RFID tag 220 is attached to the print medium 110 by the adhesive. The print medium 110 with the RFID tag 220 attached is moved to the writing unit 300 through the print medium conveyance paths 108B and 108C.

  The RFID tag 220 contains a very small and thin wireless communication IC chip of about several millimeters square. A memory is provided in the chip, and various data can be written and read. That is, the wireless communication IC chip can read the various data stored in the memory in the chip and transmit the data to the outside, or can receive data from the outside and write it in the memory.

The place where the RFID tag 220 is attached to the print medium 110 is preferably an end portion of the print medium 110 that is out of the print area of the print medium 110.
In the present embodiment, the RFID tag 220 can be attached to the surface of the print medium 110, that is, in the case of single-sided printing, the surface to be printed.

  The writing unit 300 is provided with a read undulator 310 that can write and read various data with respect to the RFID tag 220. The read / undryer 310 sends the data sent from the control unit 400 to the RFID tag 220, or sends it back to the control unit 400, and a processing unit comprising an RFID control IC. In order to place the data on the antenna, the digital data is converted into analog data. A known configuration such as a conversion unit that converts or conversely converts analog data from the antenna into digital data is provided.

  The read and unwriter 310 can write data sent from the control unit 400 to the RFID tag 220 attached to the print medium 110. When various data are written by the read / undryer 310, the print medium 110 is discharged to the stacker tray 350 through the print medium conveyance path 108C.

  Data recorded on the RFID tag after printing the print data on the print medium 110 (hereinafter referred to as record data) includes at least a unique ID as ID information data for managing the printed print medium 110. As the recorded data, information (data) other than the unique ID includes, for example, the file name in the database in which the print data is stored together with the print data (content) sent when executing the current print job. As the data, the manager name of the file, the author name of the file, or the name of the printer who instructed printing this time, or any combination thereof can be cited as data. Also, it may include history data such as the printing date and time and the file creation date and time. The recorded data may be words (keywords) that frequently appear by syntactically interpreting print data printed on a print medium.

Next, the electrical configuration of the printing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.
The control unit 400 includes a CPU 410, a ROM 420, a RAM 430, and storage means 440 such as a hard disk. The ROM 420 stores various programs for performing various controls of the printing apparatus. The RAM 430 is a working memory. The storage unit 440 stores various data as print data in units of files.

  The control unit 400 controls the print processing unit 104 of the printing unit 100. Specifically, the control unit 400 can send single-sheet or multiple-sheet print data to the printing unit 100, and can print the print data on the single-sheet print medium 110. As described above, the drive control of the plurality of drive motors 410 provided in the print medium conveyance path 108A is performed. Although the print medium 110 is conveyed to the print medium conveyance paths 108A to 108C by a plurality of drive motors, in FIG. 2, for convenience of explanation, a block diagram of one drive motor is representatively shown. ing.

  In addition, the control unit 400 drives and controls the drive unit (not shown) of the roll unit 202 of the tag sticking unit 200 and the winding collection unit 206 and the drive motor 410 of the print medium conveyance path 108B. Each time the printing medium 110 that has been printed is carried in, the RFID tag 220 is attached, and then the printing medium 110 is controlled to be carried out to the writing unit 300.

  Further, the control unit 400 controls the writing unit 300 and the print medium conveyance path 108C, and sends various data sent from the control unit 400 to the RFID tag 220 of the print medium 110 sent from the tag attaching unit 200. Record. After recording various data on the RFID tag 220, the print medium 110 is discharged onto the stacker tray 350 by controlling the drive motor 410 of the print medium conveyance path 108 </ b> C. The writing unit 300 includes a unique ID management unit 320. The unique ID management unit 320 manages the unique ID so that the same tag is not assigned to the RFID tag 220 of the print medium 110. Then, the read / unwriter 310 records the issued unique ID in the RFID tag 220 together with various data sent from the control unit 400.

(Operation of the embodiment)
Now, the operation of the printing apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.
When the operator receives a print command from an input operation unit (not shown) such as a keyboard (not shown), the CPU 410 of the control unit 400 obtains print data of the file designated by the print command from the storage unit 440 or the RAM 430. The print data is output to the printing unit 100.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a program executed by the CPU 410 each time print data for each sheet is printed on the print medium 110 among the read print data.
In S <b> 10, the CPU 410 determines whether or not an error has been detected from the detector 120. If no error is detected from the detector 120, the CPU 410 determines in S20 whether printing has ended. The determination by the CPU 410 of the end of printing is performed based on a detection signal from a print end confirmation sensor or the like that detects that the print medium 110 has come out of the print processing unit 104.

  If it is confirmed in S20 that printing on the print medium 110 is completed, the CPU 410 controls the tag sticking unit 200 in S30, and the RFID tag is applied to the print medium 110 carried in from the printing unit 100. 220 is attached, and the print medium 110 to which the RFID tag 220 is attached is sent to the writing unit 300.

  Thereafter, in S <b> 40, the CPU 410 controls the writing unit 300, and various data sent from the control unit 400 and the unique ID issued by the unique ID management unit 320 to the RFID tag 220 of the sent print medium 110. Record.

  Therefore, the data recorded on the RFID tag is recording data including at least a unique ID for managing the print medium 110. When the operator operates an input operation unit (not shown) and sets a print command so that data related to print data is not recorded in the RFID tag 220 as data, the control unit 400 performs the printing. Although data related data is not sent, the writing unit 300 records the unique ID issued by the unique ID management unit 320 to the RFID tag 220 of the print medium 110. Thereafter, the CPU 410 controls the print medium transport path 108 </ b> C to discharge the print medium 110 for which data writing has been completed by the read / unwriter 310 to the stacker tray 350.

  In S10, if there is an error detection from the detector 120 in determining whether there is a printing error in the detector 120, the CPU 410 notifies the error in S50 and ends the processing of this flowchart. In this case, the CPU 410 waits until the error detection from the detector 120 is canceled.

  In addition, when this flowchart is temporarily ended through S40, the number of sheets that have been printed is counted after the completion of this flowchart, and when the count value matches the number of printed sheets of the print command. When the printing process is completed and the numbers do not coincide with each other, the control unit 400 repeats the process of this flowchart until it matches the number of printed sheets of the print command.

Now, this embodiment has the following features.
(1) The printing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a printing unit 100 (printing unit) that prints print data on a printing medium, and tag sticking that attaches an RFID tag 220 to the printing medium 110 printed by the printing unit 100. A unit 200 (tag attaching means) and a detector 120 (error detection means) for detecting a printing error of the printing unit 100 are provided. In addition, when the detector 120 (error detection means) detects a printing error, the printing apparatus invalidates the sticking at the tag sticking unit 200 (tag sticking means) and a printing error has occurred. If not, a control unit 400 (control unit) is provided which causes the RFID tag 220 to be adhered to the print medium 110 by the tag adhering unit 200 (tag adhering unit).

  As a result, in the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, when a printing error occurs, the RFID tag 220 is not attached to the printing medium 110 in which the printing error has occurred. When it occurs, it is not necessary to newly write information to the RFID tag 220. In addition, since it is performed after the RFID tag 220 is attached to the print medium 110 and the print medium is printed, there is an effect of not being damaged by heat or mechanical damage.

  (2) The printing apparatus of the present embodiment includes a writing unit 300 (writing means) that writes at least a unique ID (ID information data) to the RFID tag 220. The control unit 400 (control unit) of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment invalidates writing to the RFID tag 220 by the writing unit 300 (writing unit) when the detector 120 (error detecting unit) detects a printing error. When the detection error is not detected by the detector 120, writing of a unique ID (ID information data) to the RFID tag 220 is allowed and the RFID tag 220 is attached to the print medium 110 by the tag attaching unit 200. Make it.

  As a result, according to the printing apparatus of the present embodiment, when a printing error is detected, the unique ID is not written by the tag attaching unit 200 to the RFID tag 220 that is not attached, and the tag is attached. There is an effect that the unit 200 is not operated wastefully.

  (3) In the present embodiment, the position of the writing unit 300 is arranged so that writing can be performed on the RFID tag attached to the print medium 110 after the RFID tag 220 is attached to the print medium 110 by the tag attaching unit 200. Has been.

  As a result, the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment is arranged so that the writing unit 300 can write on the RFID tag attached to the printing medium 110 after the tag attaching unit 200 attaches the RFID tag 220 to the printing medium 110. The effect (2) can be easily realized with respect to the printing apparatus that is used.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a printing apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, about the same structure as 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected, duplication description is abbreviate | omitted and it demonstrates centering on a different structure from 1st Embodiment.

  In the printing apparatus of the second embodiment, in the configuration of the first embodiment, the writing unit 300 is provided between the roll unit 202 and the pressing unit 204 as shown in FIG. Before the RFID tag 220 is pressed against the print medium 110 and pasted, various data (including the unique ID) of the first embodiment can be written by the read / undryer 310 of the writing unit 300. Is different.

The electrical hardware configuration of the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.
(Operation of Second Embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a program executed by the control unit 400 of the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment. Since the processes of S10, S20, and S50 are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  After the processing of S20, the CPU 410 of the control unit 400 first, in S60, roll unit 202, winding so that the RFID tag 220 on the release paper 222 is positioned at a position where writing can be performed by the read / undryer 310 of the writing unit 300. The collection / recovery unit 206 is driven and controlled. Then, in a state where the RFID tag 220 on the release paper 222 is positioned at a position where writing can be performed by the read undulator 310 of the writing unit 300, at least a unique ID is assigned to the RFID tag 220 as in the first embodiment. Write the recorded data. Then, in S70, as in S30 of the first embodiment, the RFID tag 220 on the release paper 222 is pressed by the pressing unit 204, so that it is pasted on the print medium 110 sent from the printing unit 100. Worn. Thereafter, this flowchart is temporarily terminated.

  If this flowchart is temporarily ended via S70, the number of sheets that have been printed is counted after the completion of this flowchart. If the count value matches the number of printed sheets in the print command, When the printing process is finished and the numbers do not coincide with each other, the control unit 400 repeats the process of this flowchart until the number of printed sheets matches the print command.

In addition, when this flowchart is once ended through S50, the CPU 410 stands by until the error detection from the detector 120 is canceled.
Now, this embodiment has the following features.

  (1) In the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the writing unit 300 (writing unit) includes the RFID tag 220 before the RFID tag 220 is attached to the print medium 110 by the tag attaching unit 200 (tag attaching unit). The tag attaching unit 200 is arranged to be able to attach the RFID tag 220 to which the written RFID tag 220 is attached to the print medium 110.

  As a result, according to the present embodiment, before the RFID tag 220 is attached to the print medium 110 by the tag attaching unit 200, the writing unit 300 is arranged to be writable and written on the RFID tag. It is possible to easily realize the effect (2) of the first embodiment with respect to the RFID tag automatic pasting and printing apparatus in which the tag pasting unit 200 is placed so that the RFID tag is pasted on the print medium. it can.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Since the hardware configuration of the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations. In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, part of the processing of the program executed by the CPU 410 is different. In addition, the same step number is attached | subjected to the step of the same process as the flowchart of 1st Embodiment.

In this embodiment, the process of S25 is added between the process of S20 and the process step of S30, and it differs from 1st Embodiment.
In S25, the CPU 410 determines whether or not the RFID tag set command is included in the print command. The RFID tag set command is a command for attaching the RFID tag to the print medium 110. The RFID tag set command corresponds to a sticking command. Here, when the RFID tag set command is not set in the print command, the processing of this flowchart is ended.

If the RFID tag set command is set as the print command, the process of S30 is performed.
In the third embodiment, when this flowchart is ended once through S20 or S40, the number of sheets that have been printed is counted after the end of this flowchart, and the count value is the number of printed sheets of the print command. If the number matches the number of leaves, the printing process is terminated. If the number does not match, the control unit 400 repeats the process of this flowchart until the number matches the number of printed sheets of the print command. In addition, when this flowchart is once ended through S50, the CPU 410 stands by until the error detection from the detector 120 is canceled.

Therefore, in the third embodiment, the operator can select which print medium the RFID tag 220 is attached to by operating the input operation unit (not shown).
(1) In the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the control unit 400 (control unit) allows the tag sticking unit 200 (tag) to the print medium 110 for which printing has been completed depending on the presence or absence of an RFID tag set command (sticking command). The sticking operation of sticking means) is validated or invalidated. As a result, in the present embodiment, the print medium 110 with the RFID tag 220 and the print medium 110 to which the RFID tag 220 is not attached are selectively created on the print medium 110 according to the presence or absence of the RFID tag attachment command. be able to.

For example, when the print data covers a plurality of sheets, the RFID tag can be attached only to a specific number of sheets such as only the first sheet.
In the above embodiment, the RFID tag 220 is attached to the front surface of the print medium 110. However, in the case of single-sided printing, the reverse side of the print medium 110 is the opposite side to the printed surface. An RFID tag may be attached to the surface.

  In the third embodiment, the flowchart of FIG. 6 is executed on the premise of the configuration of the first embodiment. However, the configuration of the third embodiment is changed to the configuration of the second embodiment, and FIG. You may make it perform the process of a flowchart. In this case as well, the same effects as in the third embodiment are achieved.

100: Printing section (printing means),
110: print medium,
120... Detector (error detection means),
200 ... tag sticking part (tag sticking means),
220 ... RFID tag,
300 ... writing part (writing means),
400: Control unit (control means).

Claims (5)

Printing means for printing print data on a print medium;
Tag attaching means for attaching an RFID tag to a printing medium printed by the printing means;
An error detecting means for detecting a printing error of the printing means;
When the error detection means detects a printing error, the sticking by the tag sticking means is invalidated, and if no printing error has occurred, the RFID tag print medium by the tag sticking means An RFID tag automatic pasting and printing apparatus, comprising: a control means for performing pasting on the RFID tag. The RFID tag comprises a writing means for writing at least ID information data,
The control unit invalidates the writing to the RFID tag by the writing unit when the error detection unit detects the printing error, and the ID information to the RFID tag when the printing unit does not detect the printing error. 2. The RFID tag automatic pasting and printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein writing of data is allowed, and the tag pasting unit causes the RFID tag to be pasted on a print medium.   The writing means is arranged to be writable on the RFID tag attached to the printing medium after the RFID tag is attached to the printing medium by the tag attaching means. RFID tag automatic pasting and printing device. The writing means is arranged to be writable on the RFID tag before the RFID tag is attached to the print medium by the tag attaching means,
The RFID tag automatic sticking and printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the tag sticking means is arranged to be able to stick the written RFID tag to a print medium.   2. The control means performs validation or invalidation of the sticking operation of the tag sticking means with respect to a print medium for which printing has been completed, according to the presence or absence of an RFID tag sticking command. The RFID tag automatic sticking printing apparatus of any one of thru | or 4 thru | or 4.

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