JP4531452B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing on a long substrate.

  Conventionally, as a technique for printing along a longitudinal direction on a long base material coated with an adhesive such as a tape, for example, one of tapes wound in a roll shape by a thermal transfer method in Patent Document 1 is used. A printing apparatus has been proposed for printing on the surface. The printing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 can pressure-bond a transparent film having high transparency to the printing surface in order to protect the printing surface. Further, in such a conventional printing apparatus, when printing is completed, the base material is cut immediately after the last printed character in the transport direction of the base material to be separated into single pieces.

  However, Patent Document 1 discloses a long tape such as a tape on which a semiconductor device having an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) function (hereinafter also abbreviated as “RFID device”) is mounted at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction. A printing method and a printing apparatus for printing on a shaped substrate are not disclosed.

Even when printing is performed on a long substrate on which the RFID device is mounted, when printing is completed, the substrate is cut into a single piece behind the printed region in the conveyance direction of the substrate. However, in order not to damage the RFID device by cutting the base material, the base material must be sent to a portion where the RFID device is not mounted, and then the base material must be cut at this portion. Therefore, when the base material is cut, it is necessary to identify the printed region and the region where the RFID device exists on the base material.
JP-A-5-69565

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and applies a printing process to a long base material on which an RFID device is mounted without impairing the communication function of the RFID device. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of cutting a substrate at an appropriate location.

The present invention is a printing apparatus for printing on a long base material, the transporting means for transporting the base material loaded in the printing apparatus, the printing means for printing on the base material, and the base material The first identification means for identifying the information A relating to the position where the character, pattern or image is printed, and the region, and the position for attaching the semiconductor device having the RFID function on the base material is determined based on the information A A first judging means; a pasting means for pasting a semiconductor device having an RFID function on the substrate based on a signal from the first judging means; and a semiconductor device having an RFID function stuck to the base material. lifting Chi, said semiconductor device previously written information to, the information on the type of semiconductor device, a second identification means for identifying the onboard consisting information about in which positional information B of the semiconductor device, Second determination means for determining a location for cutting the base material based on the information B, and a cutting means for cutting the base material into single pieces based on a signal from the second determination means; A printing apparatus including at least the above is provided.
In the printing apparatus having the above-described configuration, it is preferable that the information regarding the type of the semiconductor device is information regarding the size and arrangement of the IC chip and the antenna configuring the semiconductor device.

  In the printing apparatus having such a configuration, when printing of the base material by the printing unit is completed, the RFID device on the base material is pasted by the first determination unit based on the information A identified by the first identification unit. The position to be determined is determined, the RFID device is affixed to the substrate based on the signal from the first determination means by the affixing means, and based on the information B identified by the second identification means by the second determination means Then, an appropriate location for cutting the base material is determined, and based on a signal from the judgment means, the base material is sent out to a portion other than the printed region and a portion where the RFID device does not exist by the conveying means. Thereafter, since the base material is cut, the base material can be cut at an appropriate location without impairing the communication function of the RFID device. That is, after printing on an arbitrary region of the base material, the position where the RFID device is pasted on the base material is determined based on the information A related to the printing, and the appropriate location for cutting the base material is determined based on the information B. Thus, the base material can be cut to an arbitrary length according to the region where characters, patterns, images, and the like printed on the base material are present and the number and arrangement of RFID devices included in the region.

  In the printing apparatus configured as described above, the printing unit may print on a surface of the substrate on which a semiconductor device having an RFID function is mounted.

  When the printing process is performed on the surface on which the RFID device is mounted on the base material, the position where the RFID device is mounted can be clarified, or the mounting of the RFID device can be made inconspicuous.

  In the printing apparatus configured as described above, it is preferable that the printing unit prints on a surface opposite to a surface on which the semiconductor device having an RFID function is mounted on the base material.

  When performing printing on the surface opposite to the surface on which the RFID device is mounted on the base material, it is possible to clarify the position where the RFID device is mounted, Images can also be printed.

  According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, a printing process is performed on a long base material on which an RFID device is mounted without impairing the communication function of the RFID device, and the base material is appropriately used. Cutting can be performed at various points. In addition, printing can be performed on an arbitrary region of the base material, and a long base material on which the RFID device is mounted can be cut to an arbitrary length.

  Hereinafter, a printing apparatus embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a printing apparatus, 11 denotes a conveying means, 12 denotes a printing means, 13 denotes a first identification means, 14 denotes a first determination means, 15 denotes a pasting means, 16 denotes a second identification means, 17 Is a second judgment means, 18 is a cutting means, 19 is a control means, and 20 is a substrate.

  The printing apparatus 10 of this embodiment relates to printing of the substrate 20, a conveying unit 11 that conveys the substrate 20 loaded in the printing device 10 in the longitudinal direction, a printing unit 12 that prints on the substrate 20, and the like. From the first identification means 13 for identifying the information A, the first judgment means 14 for determining the position where the semiconductor device having the RFID function on the base material 20 is pasted based on the information A, and the first judgment means 14 Affixing means 15 for affixing the RFID device to the base material 20 based on the signal of the second, a second identification means 16 for identifying the information B possessed by the RFID device affixed to the base material 20, and the base material based on the information B A second judging means 17 for determining a portion to cut 20, a cutting means 18 for cutting the base material 20 into a single piece based on a signal from the second judging means 17, and controlling these operations. Outline from control means 19 It has been made.

  In the printing apparatus 10, the base material 20 is loaded into the apparatus so that the base material 20 can be conveyed while being sent out at a desired speed in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the printing unit 12, the first identification unit 13, the first determination unit 14, the pasting unit 15, the first unit, in order from the side closer to the substrate 20 wound in a roll shape along the conveyance direction of the substrate 20. A second identifying means 16, a second judging means 17, and a cutting means 18 are arranged. In addition, the printing unit 12, the first identification unit 13, the first determination unit 14, the pasting unit 15, the second identification unit 16, the second determination unit 17, and the cutting unit 18 are arranged on one side of the substrate 20. It is arranged on the 20a side. Further, the transport unit 11, the printing unit 12, the first identification unit 13, the first determination unit 14, the pasting unit 15, the second identification unit 16, the second determination unit 17, the cutting unit 18, and the control unit 19. Is electrically connected via various cables and the like so that signals can be communicated with each other.

  The transport means 11 is not particularly limited as long as it can transport (send out) the elongated base material 20 at a desired speed along the longitudinal direction thereof, and any material can be applied. Examples of the transport means 11 include a pair of rollers 11a and 11a that transport the base material 20 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 by rotating the base material 20 between both surfaces.

  The printing unit 12 is not particularly limited as long as it can print a character, pattern, or image of any size on the base material 20, and any one can be applied. Examples of the printing means 12 include a thermal transfer printer, an inkjet printer, a microdrive printer, a sublimation thermal transfer printer, and a thermoautochrome printer.

 The first identification unit 13 is not particularly limited as long as it includes a device having a function of identifying information A related to printing performed on the base material 20 by the printing unit 12, and any one can be applied. Examples of an apparatus having a function of identifying information A related to printing performed on the base material 20 include an imaging apparatus having a function of identifying characters, patterns, or images printed on the base material 20.

 The first determination unit 14 is not particularly limited as long as the first determination unit 14 has a function of determining the position where the RFID device is pasted on the base material 20 based on the information A identified by the first identification unit 13. Anything applies. Examples of the first determination unit 14 include a personal computer in which a criterion for determination based on the information A is programmed in advance.

 The sticking means 15 is not particularly limited as long as it has a function of sticking the RFID device to the base material 20 based on the signal from the first determination means 14, and any sticking means can be applied. Examples of the attaching unit 15 include an apparatus that injects the RFID device toward the one surface 20a of the base material 20 in a state where the RFID device can be attached.

 The second identification means 16 is not particularly limited as long as it has a device having a function of identifying the information B possessed by the RFID device mounted on the base material 20, and any device can be applied. As a device having a function of identifying information B possessed by the RFID device, for example, a device having a function of reading information written in advance on an IC chip constituting the RFID device, and a function of identifying a position where the RFID device is mounted And the like.

 The second determination means 17 is not particularly limited as long as it has a function of determining a location for cutting the base material 20 based on the information B identified by the second identification means 16. Applied. Examples of the second determination means 17 include a personal computer in which a determination criterion based on the information B is programmed in advance.

 The cutting means 18 is not particularly limited as long as it can cut the base material 20 being transported into a single piece based on a signal from the second determination means 17, and any cutting means 18 is applicable. The Examples of the cutting means 18 include a tooth cutter and a fusing cutter.

 The control means 19 includes a transport means 11, a printing means 12, a first identification means 13, a first judgment means 14, a pasting means 15, a second identification means 16, a second judgment means 17, and a cutting means 18. There is no particular limitation as long as it has a function of controlling the operation, and anything can be applied. As the control means 19, for example, the conveying means 11, the printing means 12, the first identification means 13, the first judgment means 14, the pasting means 15, the second identification means 16, the second judgment means 17 and the cutting means. For example, a personal computer that inputs commands related to 18 operations may be used.

 The substrate 20 is not particularly limited as long as it can print characters, patterns, or images by the printing means 12, and any substrate can be applied. Examples of the substrate 20 include a laminate such as a tape made of paper, a resin material, a resin material or paper, and an adhesive. Further, a layer made of an adhesive (hereinafter abbreviated as “adhesive layer”) or an adhesive on the surface of the substrate 20 on which the RFID device 21 is mounted or on the surface opposite to the surface on which the RFID device 21 is mounted. May be provided (hereinafter abbreviated as “adhesive layer”). When an adhesive layer or an adhesive layer is provided on the substrate 20, release paper is provided on the surface of the adhesive layer or the adhesive layer in order to protect them.

 The RFID device is not particularly limited as long as it has a non-contact automatic recognition function using electromagnetic waves, and any device can be applied. As an RFID device, for example, an IC chip mounted on a coil-shaped, pole-shaped or loop-shaped antenna, or an IC chip provided separately from these antennas is connected to these antennas. Those having a communication function such as an integrated one, an antenna in which these antennas are formed, and the like are included. Specifically, a minute RFID chip capable of communication in the entire frequency band from 13.56 MHz to 2.45 GHz is exemplified.

In this embodiment, the printing means 12, the first identifying means 13, the first judging means 14, the pasting means 15, the second identifying means 16, the second judging means 17 and the cutting means 18 are made of a base material. Although the example arranged on the one surface 20a side of 20 is shown, the present invention is not limited to this. In the printing apparatus of the present invention, the printing unit 12, the first identification unit 13, the first determination unit 14, the pasting unit 15, the second identification unit 16, and the second determination unit 17 are provided as necessary. Further, the cutting means 18 is disposed on the one surface 20a side or the other surface 20b side of the substrate 20.
In the printing apparatus of the present invention, a device having a function of arbitrarily writing and erasing information on an IC chip constituting the RFID device mounted on the substrate may be provided. In addition, the printing apparatus of the present invention is provided with an input unit such as a personal computer for inputting information related to printing (characters, patterns, images, etc.) applied to the substrate. It may be connectable to various input means via various cables.

 Next, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, a printing process for printing characters, patterns, or images on the long base 20 using the printing apparatus 10 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a printing process on the long base 20 by the printing apparatus 10.
First, the long base material 20 wound in a roll shape is loaded into a predetermined position of the printing apparatus 10 (step S1).

Subsequently, the conveyance unit 11 starts conveying the base material 20 (step S2).
Then, a desired character, pattern, or image is printed on the one surface 20a of the base material 20 by the printing means 12 (step S3).

  Subsequently, the first identification means 13 identifies information A relating to the position, region (size), etc., where characters, patterns or images are printed on the substrate 20 (step S4).

  Subsequently, based on the information A identified by the first identification unit 13, the first determination unit 14 determines the position where the RFID device is pasted on the base material 20 (step S <b> 5).

  Subsequently, based on the signal from the first determination means 14, the sticking means 15 sticks the RFID devices 21 to the one surface 20a of the substrate 20 at equal intervals as shown in FIG. 3 (step S6). .

Subsequently, information B (information B1, information B2, and information B3) held by the RFID device 21 mounted on the base material 20 is identified by the second identification means 16 (step S7).
In this step S4, information B1 written in advance on the IC chip constituting the RFID device 21 is read, information B2 relating to the type of the RFID device 21 (size and arrangement of the IC chip constituting the RFID device 21 and the antenna), RFID Information B3 regarding the position where the device 21 is mounted is identified.

  Subsequently, based on the information B identified by the second identification unit 16, the second determination unit 17 determines an appropriate location for cutting the base material 20 without impairing the communication function of the RFID device 21. (Step S8).

Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, in the base material 20, when one end 23 a of a region 23 where characters, patterns, or images are printed ends at a portion overlapping the RFID device 21, that is, the region Consider a case where the RFID device 21 is included in 23. Note that the region 23 includes the RFID device 21 means that at least a part of the RFID device 21 exists in the region 23.
In this state, at the same time as the pasting of the RFID device 21, when the substrate 20 is cut immediately after the region 23 in the conveyance direction of the substrate 20 (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3), an IC chip constituting the RFID device 21. And the antenna is damaged, and the communication function of the RFID device 21 is impaired. Therefore, the second determination unit 17 determines an appropriate location for cutting the base material 20 based on the information B identified by the second identification unit 16, and the transport unit 11 determines the second determination unit 17. The base material 20 is sent out to a portion other than the printed region 23 and a portion where the IC chip and the antenna constituting the RFID device 21 are not present.

  Subsequently, the cutting means 18 cuts the base material 20 at an appropriate location on the basis of the signal from the second determination means 17 to make a single piece (step S9).

  These steps S1 to S9 are all controlled by the control means 19.

The printing process performed on the base material 20 by the printing apparatus 10 is a surface on which the RFID device 21 is mounted (for example, one surface 20a) or a surface opposite to the surface on which the RFID device 21 is mounted (for example, the other surface 20b). ) May be applied to either side.
When printing processing is performed on the surface on which the RFID device 21 is mounted on the base material 20, it is necessary to clarify the position where the RFID device 21 is mounted or to make the RFID device 21 mounted inconspicuous. it can. In addition, when printing processing is performed on the surface of the base material 20 opposite to the surface on which the RFID device 21 is mounted, the position on which the RFID device 21 is mounted is clarified or is restricted by the presence of the RFID device 21. It is possible to print a desired character, pattern or image.

  Note that the printing apparatus 10 is integrally provided with input means for inputting information related to printing (characters, patterns, images, etc.) applied to the substrate 20, or the input means and various cables. If the connection is made via the input means, it is also possible to determine the area (length to be printed, width) to be printed on the base material 20 based on the information related to printing input in advance by the input means. Therefore, in such a case, since the area for printing on the base material 20 is determined at the same time when the information about printing is input by the input means, the information A regarding the printing of the base material 20 is identified by the first identification means 13. There is no need to do it. In such a case, the first determination means 14 also does not function. And the information B (information written in advance on the IC chip constituting the RFID device 21, the IC chip constituting the RFID device 21 and the antenna, which is recognized by the second identification means 16 and held in the RFID device 21 of the base material 20. Appropriate information for cutting the base material 20 by the second judging means 17 without impairing the communication function of the RFID device 21 based on the information on the size and arrangement of the RFID device 21 and the information on the position where the RFID device 21 is mounted). Determine the location.

  The substrate that has been subjected to the printing process by the printing apparatus of the present invention and cut into a single piece is equipped with an RFID device in which predetermined information is written, and characters, patterns, or images are provided on one surface. It is printed. Therefore, for example, if the base material is an adhesive tape having an adhesive layer on the other surface, a printing process is performed on the surface of the base material opposite to the surface on which the adhesive layer is provided, so that a single piece is obtained. After that, if the singulated substrate is affixed to an object such as a document, the object can be visually recognized and can be recognized in a non-contact manner using electromagnetic waves.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. It is a flowchart explaining the printing process to the elongate base material by the printing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining the printing process to the elongate base material by the printing apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Printing apparatus, 11 ... Conveyance means, 12 ... Printing means, 13 ... First identification means, 14 ... First judgment means, 15 ... Pasting means, 16. .... Second identification means, 17 ... second judgment means, 18 ... cutting means, 19 ... control means, 20 ... base material, 21 ... IC chip, 23 ... region.

Claims (4)

A printing apparatus for printing on a long substrate,
Identifying information A relating to the position, region, and area where characters, patterns, or images are printed on the substrate, conveying means for conveying the substrate loaded in the printing apparatus, printing means for printing on the substrate On the basis of the signal from the first determination means, the first determination means for determining the position where the semiconductor device having the RFID function on the base material is pasted based on the information A, and the first determination means and affixing means for affixing a semiconductor device having the RFID function to the base material, the semiconductor device is Chi lifting with affixed to a RFID function to the base material, the pre-written information in the semiconductor device, about the type of the semiconductor device information, to determine a second identification means for identifying information B composed of information relating to the installed position of the semiconductor device, where to cut the substrate on the basis of the information B Second determination means, the printing apparatus according to the second feature and cutting means, in that it comprises at least the single piece by being cut the substrate on the basis of a signal from the decision means. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information related to the type of the semiconductor device is information related to the size and arrangement of an IC chip and an antenna constituting the semiconductor device.  The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit performs printing on a surface on which the semiconductor device having an RFID function is mounted on the base material.  The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit performs printing on a surface opposite to a surface on which the semiconductor device having an RFID function is mounted on the base material.

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