JP2014052765A - Medium processor, method for controlling medium processor and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent information from being written in an IC tag which is not a writing object.SOLUTION: A printer 1 is constituted such that a medium continuously loaded with a plurality of IC tags with intervals can be mounted. The printer includes: a tag reading/writing device 46 for wirelessly communicating with the IC tags to read and write information; and a conveyance section 52 for conveying the medium. After information is written in one IC tag, only the next IC tag is put in a state that it is able to communicate with the tag reading/writing device 46 in a standby state prior to the writing of information in the next IC tag. A control section 54 monitors the number of the communicable IC tags in the standby state, and when there exists two or more communicable IC tags, issues a warning with predetermined configurations.

Description

  The present invention relates to a medium processing apparatus capable of writing information to an IC tag of a medium, a method for controlling the medium processing apparatus, and a program for controlling the medium processing apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a medium processing apparatus (label printer) configured to be able to write information on a medium (label) provided with a non-contact IC tag (RFID tag) is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-83459 A

In the case of writing information to an IC tag as in the medium processing device described above, it is necessary to prevent information from being written to an IC tag that is not a write target and erroneous information from being written to the IC tag.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to prevent information from being written to an IC tag that is not a write target.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a medium processing apparatus configured to be able to mount a medium in which a plurality of IC tags are provided at intervals, and transports the medium along a transport path. The information reading unit that reads information from the IC tag by wireless communication, reads the information from the IC tag, the transport unit, and the information reading unit, and controls the IC of the medium. A control unit capable of continuously writing information to the tag, and the control unit communicates in a standby state after writing information to one IC tag and before writing information to the next IC tag. The number of possible IC tags is monitored, and if there is not one IC tag that can communicate, a warning is given in a predetermined manner.
According to this configuration, in the standby state, there is a possibility that information is erroneously written to the IC tag, for example, a medium including an IC tag in which information is already written is placed near the medium processing apparatus. Since a warning is issued when a situation occurs, it is possible to prevent information from being written to an IC tag that is not a write target.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the standby state, the control unit controls so that only the next IC tag is located in a communicable area on the transport path that can communicate with the information reading unit. To do.
According to this configuration, in the standby state, only the IC tag to be processed can be accurately communicated with the information reading unit.

In the present invention, the control unit monitors the number of communicable IC tags in the standby state, and writes information to the IC tag when the number of communicable IC tags is not one. It is characterized by prohibition.
According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent a situation in which information is written to the IC tag and erroneous information is written to the IC tag in a state where there are a plurality of communicable IC tags. .

In the present invention, the control unit is in a state where there is only one IC tag capable of communication after prohibiting writing of information to the IC tag, and when a predetermined instruction is input. The prohibition of writing is canceled.
According to this configuration, in response to the warning, since the prohibition of writing is released only after the user intentionally constructs a state where there is only one IC tag that can communicate, incorrect information is stored in the IC tag. Can be more reliably prevented from being written.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a plurality of IC tags are provided so as to be mounted at intervals, and a carrier unit that conveys the medium along a conveyance path, and wireless communication. An information reading unit that writes information to the IC tag of the medium and reads information from the IC tag, and a method for controlling the medium processing apparatus, wherein after writing information to one IC tag, In a standby state before writing information to an IC tag, the number of communicable IC tags is monitored, and if there is not one communicable IC tag, a warning is given in a predetermined manner.
According to this control method, in a standby state, there is a possibility that information is erroneously written to an IC tag such as a medium including an IC tag in which information has already been written is placed near the medium processing apparatus. When a certain state occurs, a warning is issued, so that it is possible to prevent information from being written to an IC tag that is not a write target.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the standby state, only the next IC tag is positioned in a communicable area on the transport path that can communicate with the information reading unit.
According to this control method, only the IC tag to be processed can be accurately communicated with the information reading unit in the standby state.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a plurality of IC tags are provided so as to be mounted at intervals, and a carrier unit that conveys the medium along a conveyance path, and wireless communication. An information reading unit that writes information to the IC tag of the medium and reads information from the IC tag, and is a program executed by a control unit that controls a medium processing apparatus. In the standby state before writing information to the next IC tag after the information is written, the control unit monitors the number of communicable IC tags in the standby state, and the communicable IC tag If there is not one, a warning is given in a predetermined manner.
According to this program, there is a possibility that information is erroneously written to an IC tag, such as a medium including an IC tag in which information has already been written is placed near the medium processing device in a standby state. Since a warning is issued when a situation occurs, it is possible to prevent information from being written to an IC tag that is not a write target.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the control unit positions only the next IC tag in the communicable area on the transport path that can communicate with the information reading unit in the standby state.
According to this program, in the standby state, only the IC tag to be processed can be accurately communicated with the information reading unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent information from being written to an IC tag that is not a write target.

1 is a perspective view of a printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer with a cover opened. It is explanatory drawing which shows the internal mechanism of a printer main body. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer control system. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a printer.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer 1 (medium processing apparatus).
The printer 1 according to the present embodiment is provided at a service counter of an airline company at an airport and issues a so-called baggage tag. The baggage tag issued by the printer 1 is equipped with an IC tag. Necessary predetermined information such as the flight number of the plane on which the baggage (baggage) should be boarded, the date and time when the baggage tag is issued, etc. Information is recorded. On the surface of the baggage tag, predetermined necessary information such as the flight number of the airplane and the name of the owner of the luggage is printed.
The printer 1 includes a paper feeding device 2 that supplies roll paper 7 (medium) to a printer main body 3 that executes printing. The paper feeding device 2 is horizontally attached to a base plate 4 detachably connected to the printer main body 3, a vertical support plate 5 attached to the base plate 4, and a portion on the upper end side of the vertical support plate 5. The roll paper spindle 6 is provided. A roll paper 7 is attached to the roll paper spindle 6 from the front end side. At the front end of the roll paper support shaft 6, a roll prevention shaft 8 for preventing the roll paper from coming off is attached in a direction perpendicular to the roll paper support shaft 6. In addition, a disc-shaped spacer 9 for adjusting the width of the roll paper is detachably attached to the base side of the roll paper support shaft 6 so that roll papers having different widths can be mounted with the side edge on the near side as a reference. ing.

In this embodiment, the roll paper 7 is obtained by winding up a label paper 10 (medium) for a baggage tag used at an airport. The roll paper 7 is obtained by arranging a label paper 10 having a predetermined length on a continuous long mount with a constant width. Each label sheet 10 has an RFID tag 10A (IC tag) on which predetermined information is written attached or embedded (mounted). The base plate 4 can be used as a tray for fanfold paper, which is one of continuous paper. In this case, the paper feeding device 2 can be used as a device that feeds both roll paper 7 and fanfold paper.
The printer main body 3 includes a printer main body case 11 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the front-rear direction. A cover 16 is provided on the upper surface of the printer body case 11 so as to be freely opened and closed. A paper insertion opening 26 is formed between the rear end surface 11 a (see FIG. 2) of the printer main body case 11 and the front end portion of the cover 16. Further, a paper discharge port 28 is formed on the front end surface 11 b of the printer main body case 11 at a middle position in the vertical direction.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the printer body 3 with the cover 16 opened.
As shown in FIG. 2, when the cover 16 is rotated and opened, the upper surface opening 13 is exposed. Further, a side opening 15 continuous from the upper opening 13 is formed on the right side 14 of the printer main body case 11.

  The cover 16 seals the upper surface opening 13 and the side surface opening 15 in the closed position shown in FIG. The cover 16 includes a cover top plate portion 17 that seals the upper surface opening portion 13 and a cover side plate portion 18 that blocks the side surface opening portion 15. As a center, it can be opened from the closed position shown in FIG. 1 to the fully opened position shown in FIG. When the cover 16 is opened, the transport path 19 of the label paper 10 formed inside the printer main body case 11 and the paper reservoir 20 formed on the upper side of the transport path 19 are opened. Access is possible from the top opening 13 and the side opening 15.

  One side end of the conveyance path 19 in the width direction, that is, the right side end of the printer body 3 is defined by a first paper guide 21 formed inside the cover side plate portion 18 as shown in FIG. Yes. The other side edge in the width direction is defined by one of the second sheet guide 22 and the third sheet guide 23 detachably attached to the bottom plate 24 that defines the bottom surface of the transport path 19. When the second paper guide 22 is attached, the label paper 10 having a width defined by the first paper guide 21 and the second paper guide 22 can be guided, and when the second paper guide 22 is removed, The wide label sheet 10 defined by the one sheet guide 21 and the third sheet guide 23 can be guided.

A lower guide roller 27a is attached to the inside of the paper insertion opening 26 on the printer body case 11 side, and the lower guide roller 27a is installed on the cover 16 side when the cover 16 is in the closed position of FIG. An upper guide roller 27b facing 27a is attached.
The printer main body 3 is connected to a host computer 55 (FIG. 4), which will be described later, via the USB cable 29, and transmits and receives print commands and print data to and from the host computer 55.

FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram showing an internal mechanism of the printer body 3.
The internal mechanism of the printer main body 3 has a configuration in which components of the printer main body 3 are mounted on a sheet metal main body frame 30 covered with the printer main body case 11. Left and right support arms 31 projecting upward are formed on the main body frame 30, and a hinge shaft 32 is spanned between the support arms 31 in parallel with the width direction of the printer main body case 11 to cover the cover 16. Is rotatable around the axis of the hinge shaft 32.

In the printer main body 3, a tension roller 36 is stretched in the width direction at a position below the paper insertion opening 26 in a front portion of the paper reservoir 20. Further, between the paper insertion opening 26 and the paper discharge opening 28, a conveyance path 39 for the label paper 10 passing through the tension roller 36 and the platen roller 42 positioned in front of the tension roller 36 is formed.
The conveyance path 39 includes an upstream inclined conveyance path 39A near the paper insertion opening 26, a downstream inclined conveyance path 39B, and a horizontal conveyance path 39C near the paper discharge opening 28 on the downstream side. The inclined conveyance path 39 </ b> A extends from the sheet insertion opening 26 while being inclined downward and reaches the tension roller 36. Further, the inclined conveyance path 39 </ b> B extends from the tension roller 36 while being inclined upward on the downstream side, and reaches the platen roller 42. The inclined conveyance path 39B is formed by the sheet guides 37 and 38 disposed so as to face each other in the vertical direction. The horizontal conveyance path 39 </ b> C is a path that extends horizontally from the platen roller 42 to the downstream side, that is, the front side and is connected to the paper discharge port 28.
A thermal head 41 that prints on the label paper 10 is disposed downward on the inclined conveyance path 39B, and a platen roller 42 is disposed facing the thermal head 41 from below. The platen roller 42 is disposed so as to be pressed against the heat generating surface of the thermal head 41, and the label paper 10 is conveyed by the rotation of the platen roller 42. Further, an auto cutter unit 43 is disposed in the vicinity of the paper discharge port 28 on the horizontal conveyance path 39C, and a print medium (for example, label paper 10) printed by the thermal head 41 is cut by the auto cutter unit 43. Is done.

  When printing on the label paper 10, first, the cover 16 is opened, and the label paper 10 set in the paper feeding device 2 is pulled out by the user's work and inserted from the paper insertion opening 26. The label sheet 10 is guided to the tension roller 36 through the inclined conveyance path 39A while being guided by the first sheet guide 21 and the second sheet guide 22 or the third sheet guide 23. Further, the label paper 10 is conveyed between the thermal head 41 and the platen roller 42 along the inclined conveyance path 39B from the tension roller 36, and is set in a state of being pulled out from the paper discharge port 28 through the horizontal conveyance path 39C. The Here, when the cover 16 is closed, the leading edge of the label paper 10 is sandwiched between the platen roller 42 and the thermal head 41 and can be conveyed.

  In the printer main body case 11, a tag reading device 46 (information reading section) for writing data to and reading data from the RFID tag 10A is arranged. The tag reading device 46 includes an antenna 44 that transmits / receives a radio signal to / from the RFID tag 10 </ b> A and an RF transmission / reception circuit 45. As shown in FIG. 3 (A), the antenna 44 is provided toward the inclined conveyance path 39A (conveyance path), and the inclined conveyance path 39A reads and writes data by the tag reading device 46. Is in position. That is, while the RFID tag 10A attached to the label sheet 10 is located in the range of the inclined conveyance path 39A, the tag reading / writing device 46 writes data and reads data.

The RFID tag 10A is a passive IC tag that includes an antenna that receives a radio signal transmitted from an external device such as the tag reading device 46, and drives the IC by electric power induced in the antenna. The tag reading device 46 and the RFID tag 10A according to the present embodiment transmit and receive wireless signals according to a general protocol as a wireless tag.
That is, when writing data to or reading data from the RFID tag 10A, the tag reading device 46 first transmits a carrier wave having a predetermined frequency and transmits a detection signal superimposed on this carrier wave. When an electromotive force is induced in the antenna of the RFID tag 10A by the carrier wave transmitted by the tag reading device 46, the IC of the RFID tag 10A is turned on by this power, and the detection signal is received. Send a response signal. When the tag reading device 46 receives the response signal transmitted from the RFID tag 10A, the tag reading device 46 sets the RFID tag 10A as a target of data writing and data reading while continuing to output the carrier wave, A signal notifying that the reading of the data is to be started is transmitted. After that, while the tag reading device 46 continues to output the carrier wave, a radio signal is transmitted and received between the tag reading device 46 and the RFID tag 10A, and the data recorded in the RFID tag 10A is read, and the RFID tag Data is written to the rewritable storage area of the IC of 10A.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the printer 1.
The printer 1 includes a communication interface (I / F) 51 connected to the host computer 55 and a control unit 54 that controls each unit of the printer 1 in addition to the above-described units. The communication interface 51 includes, for example, a connector conforming to the USB standard, an interface circuit, and the like, and transmits and receives commands and various data to and from the host computer 55.
The control unit 54 transmits and receives commands and various data to and from the host computer 55 via the communication interface 51, and controls each part of the thermal head 41, tag reading device 46, transport unit 52, and auto cutter unit 43. . The transport unit 52 is a component configured by a platen roller 42, a transport motor (not shown) that drives the platen roller 42, and a gear that connects the drive shaft of the transport motor and the platen roller 42.

The control unit 54 controls the transport unit 52 to transport the label paper 10 in accordance with a print command and print data input from the host computer 55, controls energization to the thermal head 41, and prints characters on the label paper 10. Print images, barcodes, etc. For example, when the label sheet 10 is used as a baggage tag, the label sheet 10 includes a carrier airline, a departure airport, a destination airport, a transit airport, a counter that issued the baggage tag, a corresponding boarding pass number, a boarding flight. The name and code such as are printed.
Further, the control unit 54 controls the transport unit 52 to stop the RFID tag 10A attached to the label paper 10 to be printed on the inclined transport path 39A.
In addition, the control unit 54 controls the tag reading device 46 to execute data reading and data writing with respect to the RFID tag 10A. More specifically, the tag reading device 46 is controlled to read data stored in the IC of the RFID tag 10A, and subsequently write data corresponding to the content to be printed on the label paper 10 to the IC of the RFID tag 10A. . For example, when the label sheet 10 is used as a baggage tag as in the present embodiment, the handling airline, departure airport, destination airport, transit airport, counter that issued this baggage tag, corresponding boarding pass number, boarding flight Are written in the RFID tag 10A.
In addition, the control unit 54 transmits and receives commands and data to and from the host computer 55 through the communication interface 51.
The storage unit 57 includes a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM and stores various data in a rewritable manner.

Here, as described above, when the tag reading device 46 starts transmitting a carrier wave, all the RFID tags 10A located in a range in which the carrier wave can be received are turned on, and a response signal is transmitted.
Based on this, in the present embodiment, it is possible to communicate with the inclined conveyance path 39A by appropriately designing the position of the antenna 44 with respect to the inclined conveyance path 39A using the directivity of the carrier wave output by the tag reading device 46. A tag other than the RFID tag 10A located in the communicable area A1 formed in the inclined conveyance path 39A is formed on the RFID tag 10A formed in the roll paper 7 by forming the area A1 (FIG. 3B). Is not received. In particular, as shown in FIG. 3B, a non-communication area A2 is formed on the upstream side of the paper insertion slot 26 in the transport path 39, and the RFID tag 10A located in the non-communication area A2 is connected to the RFID tag 10A. Is configured such that the carrier wave transmitted from the antenna 44 is not received reliably.
FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating the state of the label sheet 10 in the printer 1 immediately after the end of cutting of one label sheet 10 is completed in a mode suitable for explanation. That is, FIG. 3B schematically illustrates a state before the processing related to the issue of the baggage tag is started for the label paper 10 to be processed next (= the label paper 10 corresponding to the baggage tag to be issued next). Is shown. In a standby state after a certain baggage tag is issued and before the next baggage tag issuance is started (a standby state after writing information to the first IC tag and before writing information to the next IC tag) Basically, the state shown in FIG. 3B is maintained.
As shown in FIG. 3B, before the start of processing, the leading end position of the label paper 10 is located at a position corresponding to the cutting position of the auto cutter unit 43. Further, the RFID tag 10A of the label paper 10 is Then, the state is located in the communicable area A1 formed in the inclined conveyance path 39A. This is because the separation distance of the RFID tag 10A from the tip position on the label paper 10 relating to the baggage tag is determined by the standard, and based on the separation distance, the RFID tag 10A is positioned on the inclined conveyance path 39A before the start of processing. In addition, the length of the inclined conveyance path 39B and other accompanying members and mechanisms are designed.
Due to such a configuration, when various processes related to the issuance of the baggage tag are started with respect to a certain label paper 10, when the RFID tag 10A capable of communication is detected by the above-described means, the printer 1 Unless the label paper 10 that has been processed is placed in an irregular state, the RFID tag 10A (= in the communicable area A1 formed in the inclined transport path 39A) of the label paper 10 to be processed. Only the label paper 10) that is positioned is detected.

Under the above configuration, the printer 1 issues a baggage tag as follows.
A basic operation of the printer 1 when issuing a single baggage tag will be briefly described. First, the control unit 54 controls the transport unit 52 and the thermal head 41 for the label paper 10 in the state shown in FIG. 3B to appropriately transport the label paper 10 and drive the thermal head 41. The predetermined information is printed at an appropriate position on the surface of the label paper 10 to be processed. Further, as the label paper 10 is conveyed, the control unit 54 communicates with the RFID tag 10A at an appropriate timing, reads out necessary information, and writes necessary information. Control related to reading and writing information will be described in detail later. In this way, after printing necessary information on the surface of the label paper 10 and writing necessary information on the RFID tag 10A, the control unit 54 controls the transport unit 52 to further transport the roll paper 7. Then, the end of the label paper 10 to be processed is conveyed to a position corresponding to the cutting position by the auto cutter unit 43. Next, the control unit 54 controls the auto cutter unit 43 to cut the end of the label paper 10 to be processed.
As described above, the label paper 10 is separated from the roll paper 7, and the issue of one baggage tag is completed.

By the way, in the printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the communicable area formed in the inclined conveyance path 39A for the RFID tag 10A mounted on the roll paper 7 using the directivity of the carrier wave output from the tag reading device 46. Due to the structure in which the carrier wave does not reach the tags other than the A1 RFID tag 10A, for example, when the processed (written information) label sheet 10 is placed very close to the printer 1 or the like In addition, there is a case where the RFID tag 10A of the label paper 10 can receive a carrier wave. In such a case, when information is overwritten on the RFID tag 10A of the label paper 10 placed in the vicinity of the printer 1, there is a possibility that erroneous information is written in the RFID tag 10A. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent such writing from being performed.
Based on the above, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment performs the following operations.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the printer 1 in the standby state. As described above, the standby state is a state before the issue of the next baggage tag is started after a certain one baggage tag is issued. The label paper 10 to be processed next is shown in FIG. It is in the state of.
In the following description, the function of the control unit 54 is realized by cooperation of hardware and software, such as a CPU reading and executing a program.
Upon completion of the issuance of a certain baggage tag, when a transition is made to the standby state (step SA1), the control unit 54 of the printer 1 controls the tag reading device 46 to transmit a detection signal, and the response signal Detection processing for detecting the communicable RFID tag 10A is performed according to the reception status (step SA2). In the standby state, the control unit 54 executes the detection process in step SA2 at a predetermined sampling period (for example, every second).
Then, each time the detection process is performed, the control unit 54 determines whether or not the RFID tag 10A detected as a communicable tag is “one” (step SA3). When the number of RFID tags 10A detected by the detection process is “one”, the printer 1 is in the following state. That is, the label paper 10 to be processed next is in a normal position shown in FIG. 3B, and there is no communicable RFID tag 10A in the vicinity of the printer 1. Based on this, when the number of detected RFID tags 10A is “one” (step SA3: YES), the control unit 54 shifts the processing procedure to step SA2, and continues detection processing at a predetermined sampling period. Run.

On the other hand, when the RFID tag 10A detected as a communicable tag is not “one”, in other words, when “0” or “plural” RFID tags 10A are detected (step SA3: NO). The control unit 54 proceeds to step SA4.
Assuming that the RFID tag 10A detected as a communicable tag is not “one”, it is assumed that the printer 1 is in the following state.
That is, the state in which the detected RFID tag 10A is “0” is that the label paper 10 to be processed is not in a normal position for some reason, or the label paper 10 to be processed is It is assumed that the RFID tag 10A is broken. In addition, the state where the detected RFID tags 10A are “plural” is, for example, that the label paper 10 to be processed is located at a normal position, while the RFID tag 10A such as an issued baggage tag is for some reason. In this state, it is placed in the vicinity of the printer 1. In this case, if information is written to any of the detected RFID tags 10A, there is a possibility that information is written to the RFID tags 10A of the label paper 10 that is not the processing target. For this reason, it is necessary to prevent new writing of information.
In step SA4, the control unit 54 warns in a predetermined manner that the RFID tag 10A detected by the detection process is not “one” (step SA4). As the warning, for example, predetermined data is output to the host computer 55, and information indicating that there is not one communicable RFID tag 10A is displayed on the display panel of the host computer 55, or the printer 1 itself is displayed. Is provided with an LED or a display panel, the LED is turned on / off in a predetermined manner, or information indicating that is displayed on the display panel. This also applies to other cases of warnings to be made below.
As described above, in this embodiment, a warning is issued at the timing when the state is changed from one RFID tag 10A capable of communication to another state. For this reason, when the user places an issued baggage tag or the like in the vicinity of the printer 1, a warning is immediately given, and the user can recognize and grasp that fact. As a result, not only the RFID tag 10A can be immediately noticed when the RFID tag 10A is placed in the vicinity of the printer 1, but also that the issued baggage tag or the like is not placed in the vicinity of the printer 1. The parties concerned can recognize it intuitively and empirically, and prevent such actions.
Along with the warning, the control unit 54 prohibits writing of information to the RFID tag 10A (step SA5). As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the writing of information to the RFID tag 10A in a state where there are a plurality of communicable RFID tags 10A and incorrect information being written to the RFID tag 10A. .

Next, the control unit 54 monitors whether or not there has been an instruction input by the user to the effect that the state where there is no single RFID tag 10A that can be communicated has been resolved (step SA6). In this embodiment, when the user eliminates the state where the number of communicable RFID tags 10A is not one by removing the RFID tag 10A located in the vicinity of the printer 1 or the like, via the host computer 55, Alternatively, the printer 1 can directly input an instruction to that effect.
When the above instruction is input (step SA6: YES), the control unit 54 executes a detection process (step SA7) and determines whether or not the detected RFID tag 10A is one (step SA8). .
When there is one (step SA8: YES), since there is a normal state where there is one RFID tag 10A that can communicate, the control unit 54 prohibits writing information to the RFID tag 10A performed in step SA5. Is released (step SA9), and the processing procedure proceeds to step SA2.
On the other hand, if the number of detected RFID tags 10A is not one, the control unit 54 warns that it is not in a normal state because it is not yet in a normal state (step SA10).

As described above, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment has only the RFID tag 10A of the label sheet 10 corresponding to the next baggage tag in a standby state after the issue of the next baggage tag after the issue of one baggage tag. The tag reading device 46 (information reading unit) is communicable. The control unit 54 monitors the number of communicable RFID tags 10A in a standby state, and warns in a predetermined manner when there is not one communicable RFID tag 10A.
According to this configuration, in the standby state, there is a possibility that information is erroneously written to the RFID tag 10A, for example, a baggage tag including the RFID tag 10A in which information has already been written is placed in the vicinity of the printer 1. When a certain state occurs, a warning is issued, so that information can be prevented from being written to the RFID tag 10A that is not a write target.

Further, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment forms a communicable area A1 communicable with the tag reading device 46 on the roll paper (medium) conveyance path 39, and the RFID tag 10A communicates on the conveyance path 39. When it is located in the possible area A1, it is configured to be able to communicate with the tag reading device 46. Furthermore, the printer 1 has a configuration in which only the RFID tag 10A of the label sheet 10 to be processed is positioned in the communicable area A1 in the standby state.
According to this configuration, in the standby state, only the RFID tag 10A to which information is to be written can be accurately communicated with the tag reading device 46.

In the present embodiment, the control unit 54 prohibits writing of information to the RFID tag 10A when there is not one RFID tag 10A capable of communication in the standby state.
According to this configuration, information may be written to the RFID tag 10A in a state where there are a plurality of communicable RFID tags 10A, and erroneous information may be written to the RFID tag 10A. Can be prevented.

In the present embodiment, the control unit 54 prohibits the writing of information to the RFID tag 10A, then there is one communicable RFID tag 10A, and a predetermined instruction is input. Then, cancel the prohibition of writing.
According to this configuration, in response to the warning, since the prohibition of writing is released only after the user intentionally constructs a state in which there is one communicable RFID tag 10A, the RFID tag 10A is erroneously It is possible to more reliably prevent the written information from being written.

The above-described embodiment is merely an aspect of the present invention, and can be arbitrarily modified and applied within the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, a configuration in which the conveyance path including the inclined conveyance path 39A, the inclined conveyance path 39B, and the horizontal conveyance path 39C through which the label paper 10 is conveyed is provided in the printer main body case 11 is taken as an example. As described above, the inclination of the conveyance path of the label paper 10, the arrangement of the thermal head 41, the arrangement of the auto cutter unit 43, and the like are arbitrary. Further, the antenna 44 provided in the tag reading device 46 only needs to be disposed so as to face the path through which the label paper 10 is conveyed. For example, the antenna 44 may be installed in the vicinity of the paper insertion port 26 and the paper discharge port 28. In consideration of the leakage of the wireless signal to the outside of the printer main body case 11, it is preferable to arrange the wireless signal at the center in the printer main body case 11 as shown in FIG.
Further, the configuration is not limited to the configuration in which the label paper 10 as a medium on which the RFID tag 10A is mounted is set as the roll paper 7 in the paper feeding device 2 in the vicinity of the printer main body 3. For example, the RFID tag 10A is attached to cut paper. As a configuration, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the cut sheets are stacked and arranged in the vicinity of the printer main body 3, or the roll paper 7 may be set at a location away from the printer main body 3. Further, the tag reading device 46 may be arranged separately from the printer main body case 11.
Further, the printer 1 is not limited to the configuration including the thermal head 41 that performs printing on the label paper 10 as the thermal paper, and may be an ink jet printer, or the present invention may be applied to a laser printer, a dot impact printer, or the like. It is also possible to apply. Furthermore, the printer 1 may be provided with a buzzer for notifying an error, a light emitting unit, a display screen, and the like, and it is needless to say that other detailed configurations can be arbitrarily changed.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer (medium processing apparatus), 7 ... Roll paper (medium), 10A ... RFID tag (IC tag), 39 ... Conveyance path, 46 ... Tag reading device (information reading part), 52 ... Conveyance part, 54 ... Control 55, a host computer, A1, a communicable area, A2, a non-communication area.

Claims (8)

A medium processing apparatus configured to be capable of mounting a plurality of media provided with a plurality of IC tags spaced apart from each other,
A transport unit for transporting the medium along a transport path;
An information reading unit for writing information to the IC tag of the medium by wireless communication and reading information from the IC tag;
A controller capable of controlling the transport unit and the information reading unit and continuously writing information on the IC tag of the medium;
The controller is
After writing information to one IC tag, in a standby state before writing information to the next IC tag,
A medium processing apparatus that monitors the number of communicable IC tags and warns in a predetermined manner when the number of communicable IC tags is not one. The controller is
2. The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the standby state, control is performed so that only the next IC tag is located in a communicable area on the transport path that can communicate with the information reading unit. The controller is
The number of IC tags that can communicate in the standby state is monitored, and when there is not one IC tag that can communicate, writing of information to the IC tag is prohibited. 3. The medium processing apparatus according to 2. The controller is
After prohibiting writing of information to the IC tag, when the number of communicable IC tags is one and a predetermined instruction is input, the prohibition of writing is canceled. The medium processing apparatus according to claim 3. The IC tag is configured so that a plurality of media provided with an interval can be mounted,
A transport unit for transporting the medium along a transport path;
An information reading unit for writing information to the IC tag of the medium by wireless communication and reading information from the IC tag,
When the number of communicable IC tags is monitored in a standby state after information is written to one IC tag and before information is written to the next IC tag, and the number of communicable IC tags is not one A control method for a medium processing device, wherein warning is given in a predetermined manner.   6. The method of controlling a medium processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, in the standby state, only the next IC tag is positioned in a communicable area on the transport path that can communicate with the information reading unit. The IC tag is configured so that a plurality of media provided with an interval can be mounted,
A transport unit for transporting the medium along a transport path;
A program that is executed by a control unit that controls a medium processing apparatus that includes an information reading unit that writes information to the IC tag of the medium by wireless communication and also reads information from the IC tag,
In a standby state after writing information to the first IC tag and before writing information to the next IC tag,
In the control unit,
In the standby state, the number of communicable IC tags is monitored, and if there is not one communicable IC tag, a warning is given in a predetermined manner. In the control unit,
8. The program according to claim 7, wherein, in the standby state, only the next IC tag is positioned in a communicable area on the transport path that can communicate with the information reading unit.

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