JP2015141704A - Label issuance device and control program therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify print control of void data even in the case where one or more labels are present between a writing section and a printing section.SOLUTION: When setting tag data stored in a data storage section to a tag buffer, in a label issuance device, label data for a label that is transported after the label data just by a count stored in a count storage section are read out of the data storage section and set to a label buffer. In the case where tag data are not rightly written by the writing section, the label issuance device changes the label data which are stored in the data storage section while being paired with the tag data, into void data.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a label issuing device that issues a label with an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag and a control program therefor.

  For example, in a distribution warehouse, a bar code label is attached to each article stored in the warehouse, and each article is individually managed by a bar code printed on the label. Recently, a mechanism has been proposed in which a barcode label is a label with an RFID tag and information other than the barcode is stored in an IC chip of the RFID tag. For this reason, label issuing devices that issue barcode labels with RFID tags have been developed.

  In general, this type of label issuing apparatus is provided with an RFID tag writing unit on the upstream side in the label conveyance direction and a printing unit such as a barcode on the downstream side. The control unit of the label issuing device controls the printing unit after writing information to the RFID tag provided on the label being transported (hereinafter referred to as a transport label) by controlling the writing unit. Then, a barcode or the like is printed on the surface of the transport label. At that time, the control unit determines whether information is correctly written in the RFID tag. If the writing is not correctly performed, the control unit controls the printing unit to print void data indicating that the label is invalid on the surface of the transport label. Therefore, the user can easily recognize that the label issued by printing the void data is an invalid label in which information is not correctly written on the RFID tag.

  However, when the writing unit and the printing unit are close to each other, in the label issuing device, printing of a barcode or the like is started by the printing unit before determining whether information is correctly written on the RFID tag. For this reason, in the case of an invalid label, it is necessary to return the transport label in the direction opposite to the transport direction and print the void data again, which is inefficient. There is also a concern that the label paper is likely to be jammed when the transport label is returned in the direction opposite to the transport direction.

  Therefore, it is desired that a sufficient space is provided between the writing unit and the printing unit. However, when the interval between the writing unit and the printing unit is increased, one or more labels may exist between the writing unit and the printing unit depending on the width of the label in the conveyance direction. In this case, it becomes complicated to control at which timing the void data is printed on the transport label determined to be invalid in the printing unit.

JP 2010-102735 A

  The problem to be solved by one embodiment is when the void data is printed on the transport label determined to be invalid in the printing unit even when one or more labels exist between the writing unit and the printing unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide a label issuing device that can simplify the control of the label.

  In one embodiment, a label issuing device includes a data storage unit, a label buffer, a tag buffer, a printing unit, a writing unit, a transport mechanism, a number storage unit, a control unit, and an invalidation processing unit. Including. The data storage unit stores a plurality of labels by making a pair of label data printed on the label and tag data written on a tag provided on the label. The label buffer stores the label data to be printed. The tag buffer stores the tag data to be written. The printing unit prints the label data stored in the label buffer on the label. The writing unit writes the tag data stored in the tag buffer to the tag using wireless communication. The transport mechanism sequentially transports the plurality of labels from the writing unit to the printing unit at regular intervals. The number storage unit stores the number of labels existing in a section from the tag data writing position by the writing unit to the label data printing position by the printing unit. When the control unit sets the tag data stored in the data storage unit in the tag buffer, the label data for the label transported by the number stored in the number storage unit before the tag data Is read from the data storage unit and set in the label buffer. The invalidation processing unit is a void indicating that the label is invalid for the label data stored in the data storage unit in a pair with the tag data when the tag data is not correctly written by the writing unit. Change to data.

The schematic diagram which shows the outline of the label issuing apparatus in this embodiment. The block diagram which shows the principal part structure of a label issuing apparatus. The schematic diagram which shows the main memory areas formed in RAM of a control unit. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the label issue control which CPU of a control unit performs according to a control program. The schematic diagram which shows an example of the label conveyed in a conveyance path according to label issuing control.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a label issuing device will be described with reference to the drawings.
This embodiment exemplifies a label issuing device that sequentially issues barcode labels with RFID tags to the articles that are sequentially carried into the distribution warehouse.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a label issuing device 1 in the present embodiment. The label issuing device 1 includes a barcode label printing unit 10 and an RFID tag writing unit 20. The label issuing apparatus 1 includes an external label holder 30.

  The label holder 30 holds the label paper 40 wound in a roll shape. The label paper 40 is composed of a strip-shaped mount 41 and a large number of labels 42 that are detachably attached to the surface of the mount 41. Each label 42 is affixed in a line in the longitudinal direction of the mount 41 with a certain interval. Each label 42 has a surface opposite to the surface to be bonded to the mount 41 as a printing surface 43.

  Each label 42 is provided with a known RFID tag 44 including an IC chip and an antenna. The RFID tag 44 may be referred to as an RFID inlet. The RFID tag 44 may be attached to the surface of the label 42 opposite to the printing surface 43 or may be embedded in the label 42.

  The printing unit 10 forms a carry-in port 12 on one side surface 11a of the main body case 11, and forms a carry-out port 13 on the other side surface 11b. The printing unit 10 forms a conveyance path 14 from the carry-in entrance 12 toward the carry-out exit 13, and the label paper 40 is moved along the carry path 14 by the power of the carry motor 18 (see FIG. 2). Convey in the middle arrow Y direction. Here, the conveyance path 14 and the conveyance motor 18 constitute a conveyance mechanism.

  The printing unit 10 includes a printing head 15, a platen roller 16, and a label sensor 17 in the main body case 11. The print head 15 is provided on one side across the conveyance path 14, and a platen roller 16 is provided at a position facing the print head 15 on the other side. That is, the position where the print head 15 and the platen roller 16 abut with each other with the conveyance path 14 between them is the print position on the label 42 (reference numeral B in FIG. 1). At this printing position B, the print head 15 prints a barcode or the like on the printing surface 43 of the label 42. As such a print head 15, a thermal head, an inkjet head, or the like is used.

  The label 42 on which the printing surface 43 is printed is discharged from the carry-out port 13 to the outside of the main body case 11. At this time, the label 42 may be discharged from the carry-out port 13 in a state of being attached to the mount 41, or the label 42 may be peeled off from the mount 41 and discharged from the carry-out port 13. The mount 41 from which the label 42 has been peeled is wound up in the main body case 11. In other words, the tip of the carry-out port 13 is the label 42 issue position (symbol C in FIG. 1).

  The label sensor 17 detects the leading edge of the label 42 affixed to the mount 41 of the label paper 40 that is transported through the transport path 14 in the vicinity of the downstream side in the transport direction (Y direction) from the printing position B. . The leading edge is the edge on the leading end side with respect to the conveyance direction Y of the label 42. The printing unit 10 starts printing label data with the label sensor 17 detecting the label 42 as a trigger. The detection method of the label sensor 17 is not particularly limited. The label sensor 17 may be a light transmission type sensor or a light reflection type sensor. Further, instead of detecting the leading edge of the label 42, the trailing edge may be detected. Alternatively, a mark previously attached to the printing surface 43 of the label 42 may be detected. In the case of detecting the trailing edge, this detection signal triggers printing control for the label conveyed next to the label in which the edge is detected.

  The writing unit 20 includes an RFID reader / writer 22 (see FIG. 2) and an antenna 23 of the reader / writer 22. The antenna 23 is disposed in the main body case 21. The RFID reader / writer 22 may be disposed inside the main body case 21 or may be disposed outside the main body case 21. The main body case 21 is attached to the lower side of the carry-in port 12 formed on the side surface 11 a of the main body case 11 in the printing unit 10. Then, it is fed out from the label holder 30. The antenna 23 is positioned at a position facing the label sheet 40 immediately before being carried into the main body case 11 from the carry-in entrance 12.

  The antenna 23 transmits radio waves under the control of the RFID reader / writer 22. This radio wave has a strong directivity upward. For this reason, when the label 42 affixed to the label paper 40 passes above the antenna 23, the RDID tag 44 attached to the label 42 receives radio waves. The RFID tag 44 that has received the radio wave is excited by the radio wave and transmits a response wave. This response wave is received by the antenna 23, and the received signal is supplied to the RFID reader / writer 22. Thus, the RFID reader / writer 22 communicates with the RFID tag 44 and writes the tag data to the RFID tag 44 in a contactless manner. That is, the position above the antenna 23 is the tag data writing position (reference numeral A in FIG. 1) to the RFID tag 44. The RFID reader / writer 22 communicates with the RFID tag 44 to read tag data from the RFID tag 44. That is, the writing position A is also a tag data reading position.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the label issuing device 1. The label issuing apparatus 1 includes a control unit 50 in addition to the printing unit 10 and the writing unit 20 described above. The control unit 50 is configured by a personal computer, for example. The control unit 50 connects the printing unit 10 and the writing unit 20 by transmission paths 61 and 62, respectively. The transmission paths 61 and 62 may be wired or wireless.

  The control unit 50 includes a CPU 51, ROM 52, RAM 53, auxiliary storage device 54, host interface 55, first communication interface 56, and second communication interface 57. Then, the CPU 51 is connected to the ROM 52, RAM 53, auxiliary storage device 54, host interface 55, first communication interface 56, and second communication interface 57 by a bus line 58 such as an address bus or a data bus. 50.

  The CPU 51 corresponds to the central part of the computer. The CPU 51 controls each unit to implement various functions as the label issuing device 1 according to the operating system and application programs.

  The ROM 52 corresponds to the main storage portion of the computer. The ROM 52 stores the above operating system and application programs. The ROM 52 may store data necessary for the CPU 51 to execute processing for controlling each unit.

  The RAM 53 corresponds to the main storage portion of the computer. The RAM 53 stores data necessary for the CPU 51 to execute processing. The RAM 53 is also used as a work area where information is appropriately rewritten by the CPU 51.

  The auxiliary storage device 54 corresponds to the auxiliary storage portion of the computer. The auxiliary storage device 54 is, for example, an EEPROM (Electric Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disc Drive), or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The auxiliary storage device 54 stores data used when the CPU 51 performs various processes, and data generated by the process in the CPU 51. The auxiliary storage device 54 may store the above application program.

  The host interface 55 performs data communication with a host device (not shown) via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The host device is a computer capable of generating label data to be printed on the printing surface 43 of each label 42 and tag data to be written to the RFID tag 44 attached to the label 42. Label data and tag data generated by the host device are taken into the control unit 50 via the host interface 55.

  The first communication interface 56 performs data communication with the printing unit 10 via the transmission path 61. The second communication interface 57 performs data communication with the writing unit 20 via the transmission path 62.

  The printing unit 10 includes a communication interface 19 and a printer controller 100 in addition to the print head 15, the conveyance motor 18, and the label sensor 17 described above. The communication interface 19 performs data communication with the control unit 50 via the transmission path 61. The printer controller 100 controls printing of label data on the printing surface 43 of the label 42 by controlling the print head 15, the conveyance motor 18, the label sensor 17, and the like.

  The writing unit 20 includes a communication interface 24 in addition to the RFID reader / writer 22 and the antenna 23 described above. The communication interface 24 performs data communication with the control unit 50 via the transmission path 62.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing main memory areas formed in the RAM 53 of the control unit 50. As shown in the figure, at least a label data memory 71, a tag data memory 72, a label buffer 73, a tag buffer 74, an adjustment number memory 75, and a counter memory 76 are formed in the RAM 53.

  The label data memory 71 stores a plurality of label data in the order of a series of numbers. The tag data memory 72 stores a plurality of tag data in the order of a series of numbers. The label buffer 73 stores label data to be printed on the printing surface 43 of the label 42 by the printing unit 10. The tag buffer 74 stores tag data to be written to the RFID tag attached to the label 42 by the writing unit 20. The adjustment number memory 75 stores an adjustment number m described later. The counter memory 76 stores a counter p that is incremented by “1”.

  The adjustment number m is the number of labels 42 existing in the section from the tag data writing position A by the writing unit 20 to the label data printing position B by the printing unit 10. For example, in the case of the label issuing device 1 shown in FIG. 1, there are two labels in the section from the writing position A to the printing position B. Therefore, in this case, the adjustment number m is “2”. The adjustment number m is uniquely determined by the distance L1 from the writing position A to the printing position B, the distance between the labels 42 that are aligned and pasted on the mount 41, and the width in the same direction as the transport direction Y of the labels 42. . The interval and width of the label 42 differ depending on the type of the label paper 40.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the type of label paper 40 used in the label issuing device 1 can be selected in the host device. When the type of label paper 40 is selected, the host apparatus automatically adjusts the adjustment number m from the information (interval and width of the label 42) and the distance L1 preset for the type of label paper 40. Calculated. The data of the adjustment number calculated by the host device is transmitted to the control unit 50 via the network before the label issue control described later is started, and is set in the adjustment number memory m.

  In the host device, the label data and the tag data of the label 42 attached to the article are generated in the order in which the articles are carried into the distribution warehouse. Then, a pair of label data and tag data with an order of loading is transmitted to the control unit 50 via the network before the start of label issue control described later. The label data is set in the label data memory 71 in numerical order, and the tag data is set in the tag data memory 72 in numerical order.

  Here, the label data memory 71 and the tag data memory 72 are a label storage unit that stores a plurality of labels by pairing the label data printed on the label 42 and the tag data written on the RFID tag 44 provided on the label 42. Configure. The adjustment number memory 75 constitutes a number storage unit that stores the number of labels 42 existing in the section from the tag data writing position A by the writing unit 20 to the label data printing position B by the printing unit 10.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of label issue control executed by the CPU 51 of the control unit 50 according to the control program. The control program is stored in the ROM 52 or the auxiliary storage device 54. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a label conveyed on the conveyance path in accordance with the label issuance control. In FIG. 5, the labels 42 are distinguished from each other by adding symbols TL1, TL2, TL3,...

  Hereinafter, the operation of the label issuing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. For convenience of explanation, a case where the control number m is “2” and ten labels TL1 to TL10 are issued is illustrated.

  Before the start of label issuing control, the leading label TL1 of the label paper 40 fed out from the label holder 30 is positioned before the writing position A by the writing unit 20 (see (a) of FIG. 5). In this state, a pair of label data and tag data for the ten labels TL1 to TL10 is downloaded from the host device to the control unit 50, and then a label issue control start command is given to the control unit 50 from the host device. Then, the control program is started. By starting this control program, the CPU 51 starts the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the CPU 51 resets the counter p of the counter memory 76 to “0” (Act 1). The CPU 51 initializes the label buffer 73 and the tag buffer 74 (Act2). Note that the processing procedure of Act1 and Act2 is not limited, and the order may be reversed.

  When the processing of Act1 and Act2 ends, the CPU 51 transmits a command to start conveyance to the printing unit 10 (Act3). The printer controller 100 of the printing unit 10 that has received this command rotates the carry motor 18 to carry the label paper 40 in the carrying direction Y.

  On the other hand, the CPU 51 that transmitted the command counts up the counter p by “1” (Act 4). Then, the CPU 51 checks whether or not the counter p has exceeded the label issuance number n (Act 5). The label issuance number n is the number of paired data of label data and tag data, and is “10” in this example.

  At this time, the counter p is “1”. Therefore, the counter p does not exceed the label issuing number n. When the counter p does not exceed the label issuing number n (NO in Act 5), the CPU 51 determines whether or not the value r (r = pm) obtained by subtracting the adjustment number m from the counter p is “1” or more. (Act6).

  At this time, r is “−1” and does not reach “1”. If the value r has not reached “1” (NO in Act 6), the CPU 51 reads out the tag data TDp having the same number as the counter p from the tag data memory 72 and overwrites the tag buffer 74 (Act 7). That is, the CPU 51 overwrites the tag data TD1 in the tag buffer 74.

  Thereafter, the CPU 51 transmits a write command together with the tag data TD1 in the tag buffer 74 to the write unit 20 (Act10). The RFID reader / writer 22 of the writing unit 20 that has received this write command modulates the radio wave radiated from the antenna 23 with the tag data TD1 received together with the command, and as shown in FIG. The tag data TD1 is written to the RFID tag 44 of the label TL1 arriving at A in a non-contact manner. Further, the RFID reader / writer 22 communicates with the RFID tag 44 of the label TL1 through the antenna 23 to determine whether the tag data TD1 has been normally written. Then, the RFID reader / writer 22 transmits the determination result to the control unit 50.

  The CPU 51 that has transmitted the write command checks again whether or not the value r (r = p−m) obtained by subtracting the adjustment number m from the counter p is “1” or more (Act 11). Since the value r has not reached “1” at this time, the CPU 51 proceeds to the processing of Act14. In Act 14, the CPU 51 confirms whether the tag data has been correctly written in the RFID tag 44. If the data has been written correctly (YES in Act 14), the CPU 51 returns to the Act 4 process.

  On the other hand, when the tag data is not correctly written to the RFID tag 44 (NO in Act 14), the CPU 51 matches the number with the counter p among the label data stored in the label data memory 71. The label data TDp to be changed, that is, the label data TD1 in this case, is changed to void data VOID indicating that the label is invalid (Act 15: invalidation processing means). Thereafter, the CPU 51 returns to the process of Act4.

  When returning to the Act4 process, the CPU 51 further increments the counter p by “1”. Therefore, the counter p is “2”. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5C, the label TL1 passes the writing position A, and the next label TL2 is positioned before the writing position A.

  Even at this time, the counter p does not exceed the label issuing number n (NO in Act 5). Further, the value r does not reach “1” (NO in Act 6). Therefore, after the tag data TD2 whose number matches the counter p is overwritten in the tag buffer 74 (Act7), the tag data TD2 is instructed to be written (Act8). If the tag data TD2 is not correctly written to the RFID tag 44 of the label TL2 (NO in Act 14), the label data LD2 of the label data memory 71 is rewritten to the void data VOID (Act 15: invalid processing means).

  When the counter p further counts up to “3” (Act 4), the value r reaches “1”. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5D, the label TL2 passes the writing position A, and the next label TL3 is positioned before the writing position A. Further, the label TL1 is positioned before the printing position B.

  When the value r reaches “1” (YES in Act 6), the CPU 51 reads the tag data TDp whose number matches the counter p from the tag data memory 72 and overwrites the tag buffer 74 (Act 8). That is, the CPU 51 overwrites the tag data TD3 in the tag buffer 74. Further, the CPU 51 reads the label data LD (p-m) whose number matches the value obtained by subtracting the adjustment number m from the counter p, and overwrites the label buffer 73 (Act 9). That is, the CPU 51 overwrites the label buffer 73 with the label data TD1 or the void data VOID.

  Thereafter, the CPU 51 transmits a write command together with the tag data TD3 in the tag buffer 74 to the write unit 20 (Act10). Upon receiving this write command, the RFID reader / writer 22 of the write unit 20 modulates the radio wave radiated from the antenna 23 with the tag data TD3 received together with the command, and as shown in FIG. The tag data TD3 is written in a non-contact manner to the RFID tag 44 of the label TL3 that has arrived at A. Further, the RFID reader / writer 22 communicates with the RFID tag 44 of the label TL3 through the antenna 23 to determine whether the tag data TD3 has been normally written. Then, the RFID reader / writer 22 transmits the determination result to the control unit 50.

  The CPU 51 that has transmitted the write command checks again whether or not the value r (r = p−m) obtained by subtracting the adjustment number m from the counter p is “1” or more (Act 11). Since the value r has reached “1” this time, the CPU 51 proceeds to the process of Act12. In Act 12, the CPU 51 waits for the label to be detected by the label sensor 17 (Act 12).

  As shown in FIG. 5E, when the leading edge of the label TL1 is detected by the label sensor 17 (YES in Act 12), the CPU 51 causes the print unit 10 to store the data in the label buffer 73, that is, the label data. A print command is transmitted together with LD1 or void data VOID (Act 13). Upon receiving this print command, the printer controller 100 of the printing unit 20 controls the print head 15 to print out the label data LD1 or void data VOID on the printing surface 43 of the label TL1.

  After transmitting the print command, the CPU 51 proceeds to the process of Act14. Therefore, if the tag data TD3 is correctly written to the RFID tag 44 of the label TL3, the process immediately returns to the process of Act4. If the tag data TD3 is not correctly written, the label data LD3 is changed to the void data VOID. Return to the process of Act4.

  When the counter p is further counted up to “4” in Act 4, the label TL1 printed with the label data LD1 or the void data VOID reaches the issue position C as shown in FIG. Further, the label TL2 is positioned before the printing position B. Further, the label TL4 next to the label TL3 that has passed the writing position A is positioned before the writing position A.

  At this time, the counter p does not exceed the label issuance number n (NO in Act 5). Further, the value r has reached “1” (YES in Act 6). Therefore, tag data TD4 is overwritten in the tag buffer 74 (Act8). The label buffer 73 is overwritten with the label data LD2 or the void data VOID (Act9). Then, the tag data TD4 is written to the RFID tag 44 of the label TL4 by the process of Act10, and the label data LD2 or the void data VOID is printed on the printing surface 43 of the label TL2 by the process of Act13.

  Thereafter, each time the counter p is incremented by “1”, the processes of Act8, Act9, Act10, Act12, Act13, Act14, and Act15 are executed. When the counter p reaches “10”, the label TL7 printed with the label data LD7 or the void data VOID reaches the issue position C as shown in FIG. Further, the label TL8 is positioned before the printing position B. Further, the label TL10 next to the label TL9 that has passed the writing position A is positioned before the writing position A.

  At this time, the counter p does not exceed the label issuance number n (NO in Act 5). Further, the value r has reached “1” (YES in Act 6). Therefore, the tag buffer 74 is overwritten with the tag data TD10 (Act8). The label buffer 73 is overwritten with the label data LD8 or the void data VOID (Act9). Then, the tag data TD10 is written to the RFID tag 44 of the label TL10 by the process of Act10, and the label data LD8 or the void data VOID is printed on the printing surface 43 of the label TL2 by the process of Act13.

  If the label data LD10 is rewritten to the void data VOID (Act 15) because the tag data TD10 is correctly written to the RFID tag 44 (YES in Act 14) or not written correctly (NO in Act 14) (Act 15). p becomes “11”. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5 (h), printing on the label TL8 is completed, and the next label TL9 is positioned before the printing position B. In addition, the eleventh label TL11 from the top is positioned before the writing position A. This label TL11 is not the current issue target.

  When the counter p reaches “11” and exceeds the number n of issued labels (YES in Act 5), the CPU 51 proceeds to the process of Act 16. In Act 16, the CPU 51 reads from the label data memory 71 label data LD (p-m) whose number matches the value obtained by subtracting the adjustment number m from the counter p, and overwrites the label buffer 73. That is, the CPU 51 overwrites the label buffer 73 with the label data LD9 or the void data VOID.

  Thereafter, the CPU 51 waits for the label to be detected by the label sensor 17 (Act 17). When the leading edge of the label TL9 is detected by the label sensor 17 (YES in Act 17), the CPU 51 issues a print command to the print unit 10 together with the data in the label buffer 73, that is, the label data LD9 or the void data VOID. Transmit (Act 18). Therefore, the label data LD9 or the void data VOID is printed on the printing surface 43 of the label TL9. At this time, the label TL11 passes the writing position A. However, since the writing unit 20 does not operate, tag data is not written to the label TL11.

  After transmitting the print command, the CPU 51 checks whether or not the value r obtained by subtracting the adjustment number m from the counter p has reached the label issuing number n (Act 19). At this time, the value r is “9”, and the number of issued labels n has not reached 10. When the value r has not reached the label issuing number n (NO in Act 19), the CPU 51 returns to the processing of Act4. That is, the counter p is “12”. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5I, printing on the label TL9 is completed, and the next label TL10 is positioned before the printing position B. In addition, the twelfth label TL12 from the top is positioned before the writing position A. This label TL12 is also not the current issue target.

  When the counter p reaches “12”, the CPU 51 reads from the label data memory 71 label data LD (p−m) whose number matches the value obtained by subtracting the adjustment number m from the counter p, and overwrites the label buffer 73. That is, the CPU 51 overwrites the label buffer 73 with the label data LD10 or the void data VOID (Act 16).

  Thereafter, the CPU 51 waits for the label to be detected by the label sensor 17 (Act 17). When the leading edge of the label TL10 is detected by the label sensor 17 (YES in Act 17), the CPU 51 issues a print command to the print unit 10 together with the data in the label buffer 73, that is, the label data LD10 or the void data VOID. Transmit (Act 18). Accordingly, the label data LD9 or the void data VOID is printed on the printing surface 43 of the label TL10. At this time, the label TL12 passes the writing position A. However, since the writing unit 20 does not operate, tag data is not written to the label TL12.

  After transmitting the print command, the CPU 51 checks whether or not the value r obtained by subtracting the adjustment number m from the counter p has reached the label issuing number n (Act 19). At this time, the value r is “10”, and the number of issued labels n reaches 10. When the value r reaches the number n of issued labels (YES in Act 19), the CPU 51 sends a command to the printing unit 10 to instruct the feeding of the label paper 40 by the distance L2 from the printing position B to the issuing position C. (Act20).

  As shown in (j) of FIG. 5, the label TL10 has not reached the issue position C when printing on the label TL10 is completed. Therefore, the CPU 51 transmits the above-described feed command to the printing unit 10. Upon receiving this command, the printer controller 100 of the printing unit 10 further rotates the transport motor 18 to feed the label paper 40 by the distance L2. As shown in FIG. 5K, the label TD10 passes the issue position C by feeding the label paper 40 by the distance L2. That is, the label TD10 is discharged (issued) from the carry-out port 13.

  After transmitting the feed command for the distance L2, the CPU 51 transmits a command for instructing to back-feed the label paper 40 by the distance L1 + L2 to the printing unit 10 (Act 21). The distance L1 + L2 is a distance obtained by adding the distance L2 from the printing position B to the issuing position C to the distance L1 from the writing position A to the printing position. The printer controller 100 of the printing unit 10 that has received this command reverses the transport motor 18 to back-feed the label paper 40 by the distance L1 + L2. As shown in (l) of FIG. 5, the label sheet 40 is back-fed by a distance L1 + L2, whereby the label TL11 next to the last issued label TL10 returns to the position before the writing position A.

  After transmitting the back feed command of the distance L1 + L2, the CPU 51 transmits a conveyance stop command to the printing unit 10 (Act 22). Upon receiving this command, the printer controller 100 of the printing unit 10 stops the carry motor 18. Therefore, the label TL11 is positioned before the writing position A.

  In this way, the control unit 50 sequentially reads the tag data TDp set in the tag data memory 72 and transmits it to the writing unit 20 until the value r obtained by subtracting the adjustment number m from the counter p reaches “1”. To do. If the tag data TDp is not normally written, the label data LDp in the label data memory 71 is rewritten with the void data VOID.

  When the value r reaches “1”, the control unit 50 sequentially reads the tag data TDp set in the tag data memory 72 and transmits it to the writing unit 20 until the counter p exceeds the label issuing number n. The label data LD (pm) set in the label data memory 71 is read in order and transmitted to the printing unit 10. The label data LD (p-m) is data to be printed on the label TL (p-m) conveyed by the adjustment number m before the label TLp to which the tag data TDp is written.

  When the counter p exceeds the label issuing number n, the control unit 50 sequentially reads the label data LD (p-m) set in the label data memory 71 and transmits it to the printing unit 10. When the value r obtained by subtracting the adjustment number m from the counter p reaches the label issuance number n, the control unit 50 executes the feed of the distance L1 and the back feed of the distance L1 + L2.

  The control unit 50 executes the above-described control procedure regardless of the value of the adjustment number m. Then, by executing this control procedure, the label issuing device 1 issues a label 42 for each article carried into the distribution warehouse. Normally, label data such as a barcode of the corresponding article is printed on the printing surface of the label 42. In addition, tag data such as information on the article is written in the RFID tag 44 of the label 42. However, void data is printed for the label 42 in which the tag data has failed to be written.

  As described above, even when m labels exist between the writing unit 20 and the printing unit 10, the control unit 50 follows the control program to set the labels set in the label data memory 71 and the tag data memory 72, respectively. Since it is only necessary to read out the data and the tag data in order and transmit them to the writing unit 20 and the printing unit 10, the control can be simplified.

  In the above-described embodiment, the label issuing device that sequentially issues barcode labels with RFID tags to the articles that are sequentially carried into the distribution warehouse is exemplified. However, the label issuing device to which the present invention is applicable is described. Is not limited to this.

  Further, the label holder is not an essential component of the label issuing device 1. Any mechanism that can sequentially feed the labels 42 with RFID tags to the printing unit 10 and the writing unit 20 may be used.

  Further, although the label sensor 17 is provided in the vicinity of the downstream side in the paper transport direction (Y direction) from the printing position B, the position of the label sensor 17 is not limited to this position. You may provide in the upstream vicinity of the paper conveyance direction (Y direction) rather than the printing position B. FIG.

  Further, when the control unit 50 sets the label data LDp stored in the label data memory 71 in the label buffer 73, the tag data LD (() for the label 42 conveyed after an adjustment number m from the label data LDp. It may be mentioned that p + m) is read from the tag data memory 72 and set in the tag buffer 74.

  The transfer of the control unit 50 is generally performed in a state where a program such as a control program is stored in the ROM 52. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a control program or the like individually assigned to the computer device may be written to a writable storage device provided in the computer device such as the auxiliary storage device 54 according to an operation of the user or the like. The transfer of the control program or the like can be performed by recording on a removable recording medium or by communication via a network. The recording medium may be in any form as long as it can store a program such as a CD-ROM or a memory card and can be read by the apparatus. Further, the function obtained by installing or downloading the program may be realized in cooperation with an OS (operating system) in the apparatus.

  In addition, although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Label issuing apparatus, 10 ... Printing unit, 15 ... Print head, 17 ... Label sensor, 18 ... Conveyance motor, 20 ... Writing unit, 22 ... RFID reader / writer, 23 ... Antenna, 40 ... Label paper, 42 ... Label 44 RFID tag 50 Control unit 51 CPU

Claims (6)

A data storage unit for storing a plurality of labels in pairs of label data printed on a label and tag data written on a tag provided on the label;
A label buffer for storing the label data to be printed;
A tag buffer for storing the tag data to be written;
A printing unit that prints the label data stored in the label buffer on the label;
A writing unit for writing the tag data stored in the tag buffer to the tag using wireless communication;
A transport mechanism that sequentially transports the plurality of labels from the writing unit to the printing unit at regular intervals;
A number storage unit for storing the number of labels present in a section from a writing position of the tag data by the writing unit to a printing position of the label data by the printing unit;
When the tag data stored in the data storage unit is set in the tag buffer, the label data for the label transported by the number stored in the number storage unit before the tag data is stored in the data A control unit that reads from the unit and sets the label buffer;
When the tag data is not correctly written by the writing unit, the label data stored in the data storage unit in a pair with the tag data is changed to void data indicating that the label is invalid. Processing means;
A label issuing device comprising: A counter that counts the number of times the tag data is read from the data storage unit;
Further comprising
The control unit performs processing for setting the tag data in the tag buffer until the counter value exceeds the number stored in the number storage unit, and processing for setting the label data in the label buffer. 2. The label issuing device according to claim 1, wherein the label issuing device is not performed.   The control unit performs a process of setting the label data in the label buffer and does not perform a process of setting the tag data in the tag buffer after the counter value reaches a predetermined number of labels to be issued. The label issuing device according to claim 2.   When the value obtained by subtracting the number of sheets stored in the number storage unit from the value of the counter reaches the number of issued labels, the control unit displays the label conveyed by the conveyance mechanism in the tag data. 4. The label issuing device according to claim 3, wherein the label issuing device returns the distance from the writing position to the printing position of the label data by the printing unit.   The transport mechanism sequentially feeds out the labels attached in a row on a strip-shaped mount, and transports the labels to a printing position of the label data by the printing section through a writing position of the tag data by the writing section. The label issuing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A label buffer for storing label data to be printed, a tag buffer for storing tag data to be written, a printing unit for printing the label data stored in the label buffer on a label, and the tag data stored in the tag buffer In a computer of a label issuing device comprising a writing unit that writes a tag to a tag using wireless communication, and a transport mechanism that sequentially transports the plurality of labels from the writing unit to the printing unit at regular intervals.
When setting the tag data in the tag buffer, the tag data is conveyed by the number of labels existing in the section from the tag data writing position by the writing unit to the label data printing position by the printing unit. A controller that sets the label data for the label in the label buffer;
Invalidity processing means for changing the label data stored in a pair with the tag data to the void data indicating that the label is invalid when the tag data is not correctly written by the writing unit;
Control program to be realized.

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