JP2017182842A - Rfid-purpose writing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an RFID-purpose writing device that even when an arrangement of an RFID inlay is changed, makes it unnecessary to manually implement an arrangement change or a design change, and can prevent irradiation of unnecessary radio waves or reading processing.SOLUTION: An RFID-purpose writing device 10 comprises: a conveyance channel that conveys a medium 1 having a plurality of RFID inlays 2 arranged line by line in a width direction in a direction orthogonal direction to the width direction; a plurality of reading antennas 16a that is plurally arranged line by line in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the conveyance channel, and reads peculiar identification information stored in the RFID inlay 2; writing antennas 17a that are plurally arranged line by line in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the conveyance channel on a downstream side in the conveyance direction further than the reading antenna 16a, and write information in the RFID inlay 2; and a control unit 18 that controls so as to write information only in the RFID inlay 2 present in a row where the identification information can be acquired by the reading antenna 16a from the writing antenna 17a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an RFID writing apparatus for writing information to a medium in which RFID inlays are arranged in a plurality of rows in the width direction.

  RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) is used in various fields. Among typical usage forms of RFID, there are those using a card-like or sheet-like medium. An RFID inlay (or an RFID inlet) having an IC chip and an antenna is built in or attached to these cards and sheets. The RFID inlay needs to write various types of information in an encoding process before actually being used by a user.

This information writing operation can be performed one by one, but it is not efficient for writing a large amount.
Therefore, a medium is prepared in which a plurality of RFID inlays are arranged in a plurality of rows in the width direction so that information can be simultaneously written to the plurality of RFID inlays. There is a case where writing processing is simultaneously performed on the RFID inlay. In this case, the number of writing antennas corresponding to the number of RFID inlays arranged side by side, or the RFID writing device provided with the reader / writer is used.

  An example of a printer provided with a plurality of reader / writers is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

JP 2010-231544 A

  However, in the conventional RFID writing apparatus in which the number of writing antennas corresponding to the number of RFID inlays arranged side by side or the reader / writer is arranged, if the arrangement of the RFID inlays changes, the antenna or the reader / writer It was necessary to change the arrangement. Further, when the antenna or reader / writer is used without being changed, there is a problem in that radio waves are emitted regardless of the presence or absence of the corresponding RFID inlay. Irradiation of unnecessary radio waves not only wastes power but also causes problems such as being counted as a writing process error and interfering with an adjacent antenna or reader / writer.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an RFID writing device that can prevent unnecessary radio wave irradiation and reading processing without manually changing the arrangement or setting even if the arrangement of the RFID inlay changes.

  The present invention solves the above problems by the following means.

  In the invention of claim 1, a plurality of RFID inlays are arranged side by side in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the conveyance path, and a conveyance path that conveys a medium in which a plurality of RFID inlays are arranged in the width direction. A plurality of reading antennas for reading unique identification information stored in the RFID inlay, and a plurality of reading antennas arranged side by side in a direction crossing the transport direction of the transport path on the downstream side of the transport direction from the read antenna, A RFID antenna comprising: a write antenna for writing information to the RFID inlay; and a control unit for controlling the information to be written from the write antenna only to the RFID inlay in the column where the identification information can be obtained by the read antenna. It is a writing device.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the RFID writing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the control unit performs control so as to perform encoding processing writing on the RFID inlay. Device.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the RFID writing apparatus according to the first aspect, the reading antenna reads a TID from the RFID inlay, and the writing antenna writes an EPC to the RFID inlay. This is an RFID writing device.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the RFID writing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the control unit is a writing antenna and / or writing corresponding to a column to which information is not written. The RFID writing device is characterized in that the unit is set in a standby state or a hibernation state.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the RFID writing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the control unit uses the reading antenna only immediately after the medium is loaded. An RFID writing apparatus characterized in that the position of an RFID inlay is confirmed, and writing of information thereafter is controlled according to the result of the position confirmation.

  The invention of claim 6 is the RFID writing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit changes the frequency of the position confirmation of the RFID inlay according to the setting. An RFID writing device characterized by the above.

According to the present invention, even if the arrangement of the RFID inlay changes, the RFID writing apparatus does not need to manually change the arrangement or change the setting, and can prevent unnecessary radio wave irradiation and reading processing.
Further, the RFID writing device can easily cope with media having different RFID inlay arrangements.

It is the schematic which shows an example of the medium 1 which writes in with the writing device 10 for RFID by this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of the RFID writing device 10 according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among a medium 1, a TID antenna 16, and an EPC antenna 17. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the RFID writing apparatus 10 of 1st Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among a medium 1A, a TID antenna 16, and an EPC antenna 17. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among a medium 1B, a TID antenna 16, and an EPC antenna 17. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the RFID writing apparatus 10 of 2nd Embodiment. 3 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among a medium 1C, a TID antenna 16, and an EPC antenna 17. FIG.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a medium 1 on which writing is performed by an RFID writing device 10 according to the present invention.
In addition, each figure shown below including FIG. 1 is the figure shown typically, and the magnitude | size and shape of each part are exaggerated suitably for easy understanding.
In the following description, specific numerical values, shapes, materials, and the like are shown and described, but these can be changed as appropriate.

  In the medium 1, a plurality of RFID inlays 2 are arranged in the width direction, and a plurality of groups of RFID inlays 2 arranged in the width direction are arranged in the transport direction. Here, the width direction refers to a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction by the RFID writing apparatus 10 indicated by an arrow in FIG. In the example of FIG. 1, twelve RFID inlays 2 are arranged in the width direction on the medium 1, and a group of three RFID inlays 2 composed of the twelve RFID inlays 2 are arranged in the transport direction. Yes. Each RFID inlay 2 includes an IC chip 2a and an inlay antenna 2b. As shown in FIG. 1, the medium 1 is formed in a sheet-like shape, and a large number of through holes 1 a used for conveyance are arranged side by side in the conveyance direction at both ends in the width direction.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of the RFID writing device 10 according to the present invention.
The RFID writing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment includes a loading unit 11, a supply unit 12, a conveyance belt 13, conveyance pulleys 14 and 15, a TID antenna 16, an EPC antenna 17, a control unit 18, and a collection unit. 19 and the medium sensor 20 are connected to the host 500.

  A large number of media 1 can be loaded in the loading unit 11, and the media 1 are stacked and held.

  The supply unit 12 supplies the medium 1 loaded in the loading unit 11 onto the conveyance belt 13 one by one.

  The conveyor belt 13 is an endless belt in which a large number of protrusions 13 a that fit into the through holes 1 a of the medium 1 are arranged on the outer peripheral surface. The upper surface of the conveyance belt 13 forms a conveyance path for conveying the medium 1.

  The conveyor belts 14 and 15 have a conveyor belt 13 wound around them, and drive the conveyor belt 13 by obtaining a driving force from a conveyor motor (not shown).

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among the medium 1, the TID antenna 16, and the EPC antenna 17.
The TID antenna 16 is configured as an assembly of a plurality of reading antennas 16a. Specifically, the TID antenna 16 of the present embodiment has twelve readings arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction so as to correspond to twelve RFID inlays arranged in the width direction of the medium 1. The antenna 16a is configured. Each reading antenna 16a of the TID antenna 16 reads TID (Tag ID), which is unique identification information stored in the RFID inlay 2 conveyed to the corresponding position.

  The EPC antenna 17 is configured as an aggregate of a plurality of write antennas 17a on the downstream side in the transport direction from the TID antenna 16. Specifically, the EPC antenna 17 of the present embodiment has 12 writings arranged side by side in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction so as to correspond to the RFID inlays 2 arranged in the width direction of the medium 1. An antenna 17a is used. Each writing antenna 17a of the EPC antenna 17 performs an encoding process for writing an EPC (Electronic Product Code) to the RFID inlay 2 conveyed to the corresponding position.

  The control unit 18 performs overall control of the operation of the RFID writing device 10. A TID antenna 16, an EPC antenna 17, a medium sensor 20, a transport motor (not shown), and a host 500 are connected to the control unit 18. The control unit 18 performs control so that information is written from the writing antenna 17a of the EPC antenna 17 only to the RFID inlay 2 in the column where the TID can be acquired by the reading antenna 16a of the TID antenna 16.

  The collection unit 19 collects the medium 1 after the encoding process and holds the medium 1 in a stacked state.

  The medium sensor 20 is an optical sensor that detects a position in the transport direction of the medium 1 transported along the transport path. The medium sensor 20 detects, for example, a mark provided on the medium 1 to detect the conveyance position of the medium 1 and transmits the detected position to the control unit 18. Thereby, the control unit 18 can accurately control the transport position of the medium 1.

  The host 500 is a host computer provided outside for instructing the control unit 18 on the contents of the encoding process. The user can use the host 500 to give operation instructions and various setting inputs to the RFID writing device 10.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the RFID writing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment.
In step (hereinafter referred to as S) 110, the control unit 18 confirms whether or not a new medium 1 has been loaded in the loading unit 11. This confirmation may be performed, for example, based on an input operation by the user, or may be performed based on information from the sensor provided in the loading unit 11. If a new medium 1 is loaded, the process proceeds to S120. On the other hand, if no new medium 1 is loaded, the process proceeds to S150.

  In S <b> 120, the control unit 18 conveys the medium 1 from the RFID inlay 2 provided on the most downstream side (the leading end side in the conveyance direction) of the medium 1 to a position where information can be read by the TID antenna 16.

  In S <b> 130, it is confirmed whether or not TID can be received from the RFID inlay 2 by each reading antenna 16 a of the TID antenna 16.

  In S140, the control unit 18 determines a column to which EPC writing is performed according to the confirmation result in S130. In addition, the EPC antennas in the column where writing is not performed are set in a dormant state, and thereafter, radio waves are not output from the dormant antennas.

  Here, the reception confirmation performed in S130 and S140 and the determination of the column on which EPC writing is performed will be described with a more specific example.

  In FIG. 3 described above, the position and the number of the RFID inlays 2 arranged in the width direction are the same as the position and the number of the reading antennas 16a and the writing antennas 17a. When the medium 1 shown in FIG. 3 is used, the TID can be read by all the reading antennas 16a. Therefore, in this case, the control unit 18 is set to perform EPC writing by all the writing antennas 17a.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among the medium 1A, the TID antenna 16, and the EPC antenna 17.
The medium 1A shown in FIG. 5 is an example in which the arrangement of the RFID inlay 2 is different from the medium 1 and the location of the RFID inlay 2 is limited. In FIG. 5, it is assumed that the RFID inlay 2 exists at a position where hatching is given in the medium 1A, and the RFID inlay 2 does not exist at a position where hatching is not given.

In the case of the example of FIG. 5, the confirmation result in S130 is divided into the reading antenna 16a of the TID antenna 16 into an antenna that can read TID and an antenna that cannot read TID. In FIG. 5, the hatched portion in the reading antenna 16a indicates the antenna position where the TID can be read, and the non-hatched portion in the reading antenna 16a indicates the antenna position where the TID cannot be read. Show.
The control unit 18 divides the setting of the writing antenna 17a of the EPC antenna 17 into an antenna that performs EPC writing and an antenna that does not perform EPC writing according to the confirmation result in S130. In FIG. 5, the hatched portion in the writing antenna 17a indicates the antenna position where EPC writing is performed, and the portion not hatched in the writing antenna 17a indicates the antenna position where EPC writing is not performed. Show.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among the medium 1B, the TID antenna 16, and the EPC antenna 17.
The medium 1B shown in FIG. 6 is an example different from the case where the width of the RFID inlay 2 is the medium 1. In FIG. 6, it is assumed that the RFID inlay 2 is present at a hatched position in the medium 1B.

In the case of the example of FIG. 6, the confirmation result in S130 is divided into the reading antenna 16a of the TID antenna 16 into an antenna that can read TID and an antenna that cannot read TID. In FIG. 6, the hatched portion in the reading antenna 16a indicates the antenna position where the TID can be read, and the non-hatched portion in the reading antenna 16a indicates the antenna position where the TID cannot be read. Show.
The control unit 18 divides the setting of the writing antenna 17a of the EPC antenna 17 into an antenna that performs EPC writing and an antenna that does not perform EPC writing according to the confirmation result in S130. In FIG. 6, the hatched portion in the writing antenna 17a indicates the antenna position where EPC writing is performed, and the portion not hatched in the writing antenna 17a indicates the antenna position where EPC writing is not performed. Show.

  Here, in the example of FIGS. 5 and 6, the same TID may be received by a plurality of reading antennas 16a. In such a case, it is desirable to set so that writing is performed for a column having a high received radio wave intensity.

  Returning to FIG. 4, in S <b> 150, the control unit 18 performs EPC writing on the RFID inlay 2 using only the writing antenna 17 a that is set to perform writing.

  In S <b> 160, the control unit 18 determines whether or not a predetermined number of writes designated by the host 500 have been completed. When the predetermined number of writings are completed, the operation is terminated. On the other hand, if the predetermined number of writings are not completed, the process returns to S110.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the RFID writing device 10 confirms reading of the TID from the RFID inlay 2 in advance by the TID antenna 16. Then, according to the confirmation result, the setting of the writing antenna 17a of the EPC antenna 17 is divided into an antenna that performs EPC writing and an antenna that does not perform EPC writing. Therefore, even if the arrangement of the RFID inlay changes, it is not necessary to manually change the arrangement or change the settings, and unnecessary radio wave irradiation and reading processing can be prevented. Further, the RFID writing device 10 can easily cope with media having different RFID inlay arrangements.

(Second Embodiment)
The second embodiment has the same form as the first embodiment except that the operation of the control unit 18 is partially different. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the portions that perform the same functions as those in the first embodiment described above, and repeated descriptions are omitted as appropriate.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the RFID writing apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment.

  In S <b> 200, the control unit 18 receives a setting of the frequency for confirming the position of the RFID inlay 2. For example, the frequency may be set every time, or it may be confirmed once every two times (one group write in the width direction is counted as one time), and further at intervals. Also good. The frequency is set by an input operation by the user via the host 500.

  In S210, the control unit 18 determines whether or not the confirmation frequency set in S200 has been reached. If the set frequency has been reached, the process proceeds to S220. If the set frequency has not been reached, the process proceeds to S250.

S220 to S250 are the same as S120 to S150 in the first embodiment.
In S260, the control unit 18 determines whether or not a predetermined number of writes designated by the host 500 have been completed. When the predetermined number of writings are completed, the operation is terminated. On the other hand, if the predetermined number of writings are not completed, the process returns to S210.

Here, a specific example of the arrangement of the RFID inlay 2 that can be handled by the second embodiment will be described.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among the medium 1 </ b> C, the TID antenna 16, and the EPC antenna 17.
The medium 1C shown in FIG. 8 is an example in which the arrangement pattern of the RFID inlay 2 differs depending on the position in the transport direction. In FIG. 8, it is assumed that the RFID inlay 2 is present at a hatched position in the medium 1C.
In the case of the arrangement pattern of the RFID inlay 2 as shown in FIG. 8, the case of the first embodiment cannot be handled. However, in the second embodiment, the frequency with which the position of the RFID inlay 2 is confirmed can be arbitrarily changed. Therefore, when the medium 1C is used, it can be handled by setting the position of the RFID inlay 2 to be confirmed every time.

  In the case of the example in FIG. 8, the reading antenna 16a of the TID antenna 16 is divided into an antenna that can read TID and an antenna that cannot read TID, and the confirmation result in S130 is different, and the result is different every time. In FIG. 8, the hatched portion in the reading antenna 16a indicates the antenna position where the TID can be read in the first and second checks. Further, a portion with a dot pattern in the reading antenna 16a indicates an antenna position where the TID can be read in the first check but the TID cannot be read in the second check. A portion of the reading antenna 16a not hatched or dot-patterned indicates an antenna position where TID cannot be read.

  The control unit 18 divides the setting of the writing antenna 17a of the EPC antenna 17 into an antenna that performs EPC writing and an antenna that does not perform EPC writing according to the confirmation result in S230. In FIG. 8, a hatched portion in the writing antenna 17a indicates an antenna position where EPC writing is performed each time. Further, a portion provided with a dot pattern in the writing antenna 17a indicates an antenna position where the first EPC writing is performed but the second EPC writing is not performed. A portion of the writing antenna 17a without hatching or dot pattern indicates an antenna position where EPC writing is not performed.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, in addition to the operations and effects of the first embodiment, it is possible to deal with more types of arrangement patterns of the RFID inlay 2. In addition, it is possible to set a confirmation frequency suitable for the usage status of the user.

(Deformation)
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications and changes are possible, and these are also within the scope of the present invention.

  In each embodiment, it has been described that the setting of the writing antenna 17a is enabled and disabled (pause) automatically by the control unit 18. For example, the arrangement pattern of the RFID inlay may be input by an operation input by the user and arbitrarily set.

  In each embodiment, the medium has been described by taking an example in which the medium is formed into a single sheet. Not limited to this, for example, it may be a fanfold-type medium that is folded with a perforation or the like and continuously connected in the transport direction, or may be a medium wound in a roll shape. Good.

  In each embodiment, the RFID writing device 10 has been described with an example of a single-function device that writes (encodes) information on the medium 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a multi-functional device having other functions such as a printing function and a cutting function.

  In each embodiment, the RFID writing device 10 has been described as a form in which only antennas are arranged in the width direction. For example, the small reader / writer devices themselves may be arranged side by side in a direction crossing the transport direction.

  In each embodiment, an example in which the position of the RFID inlay is confirmed by reading the TID and the EPC is written has been described. Not limited to this, the information used for confirming the position of the RFID inlay may be other identification information, and may be any information regarding the information to be written.

  Each embodiment and modification may be used in appropriate combination, but detailed description is omitted. Further, the present invention is not limited by the embodiments described above.

1, 1A, 1B, 1C Medium 1a Through hole 2 ID inlay 2a IC chip 2b Inlay antenna 10 RFID writing device 11 Loading unit 12 Supply unit 13 Conveying belt 13a Protrusions 14, 15 Conveying pulley 16 TID antenna 16a Reading antenna 17 EPC antenna 17a Write antenna 18 Control unit 19 Collection unit 20 Medium sensor 500 Host

According to an aspect of the present invention, for the conveying direction of the conveying path for conveying the medium in which the RFID inlay is arranged a plurality of rows in a width direction in a direction perpendicular to the width direction, are arranged side by side a plurality in the direction intersecting A plurality of reading antennas for reading unique identification information stored in the RFID inlay, and a plurality of reading antennas arranged side by side in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the transport path on the downstream side of the transport direction from the read antenna, A writing antenna that writes information to the RFID inlay, and a control unit that selects a column of the writing antenna based on a radio wave intensity received by the reading antenna and controls to write information from the writing antenna of the selected column ; , An RFID writing device.

According to an aspect of the present invention , the control unit selects a column of the writing antenna corresponding to a column having a high radio field intensity received by the reading antenna.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the control unit, the write antenna and / or write unit corresponding to the column that does not write information, a standby state, or shall be the rest state.

According to an aspect of the present invention , the control unit confirms the position of the RFID inlay using the reading antenna only immediately after the medium is loaded, and information subsequent thereto according to the result of the position confirmation. that controls the writing of.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the control unit is to change according to the setting of the frequency of localization of the RFID inlay.

Claims (6)

A conveyance path for conveying a medium in which RFID inlays are arranged in a plurality of rows in the width direction in a direction perpendicular to the width direction;
A plurality of reading antennas arranged in a plurality in a direction crossing the transport direction of the transport path and reading unique identification information stored in the RFID inlay;
A plurality of write antennas arranged in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the transport path on the downstream side of the transport direction from the read antenna, and writing information to the RFID inlay;
A control unit that controls to write information from the writing antenna only to the RFID inlays in the column from which the identification information can be obtained by the reading antenna;
An RFID writing device comprising: The RFID writing device according to claim 1,
The control unit performs control to perform encoding processing writing on the RFID inlay;
An RFID writing device. The RFID writing device according to claim 1,
The reading antenna reads TID from the RFID inlay,
The write antenna writes EPC to the RFID inlay;
An RFID writing device. In the RFID writing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The control unit sets a writing antenna and / or a writing unit corresponding to a column on which information is not written to a standby state or a hibernation state,
An RFID writing device. In the RFID writing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The control unit confirms the position of the RFID inlay using the reading antenna only immediately after the medium is loaded,
Controlling the subsequent writing of information according to the result of the location confirmation;
An RFID writing device. In the RFID writing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The control unit changes the frequency of position confirmation of the RFID inlay according to a setting,
An RFID writing device.

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