JP4654608B2 - Label producing apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a label creating apparatus that prints a desired image on a raw label embedded with an RFID and writes authentication information on the RFID to create an authentication label, and a control method therefor.

With the spread of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) in recent years, an authentication label built in an RFID is attached to a distributed product or the like, and management for each product is performed based on predetermined authentication information stored in the RFID. In the label creation method, for example, a raw label is introduced into the printer unit, an image relating to product information is printed on this, then introduced into a reader / writer, and authentication information for each product is written into the RFID, thereby creating an authentication label. (For example, see Patent Document 1). This raw label is prepared, for example, in a rolled state, and the remaining amount of the raw label is mechanically detected (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2002-207984 (2nd page) JP-A-9-254474

  In such a label remaining amount detection of the conventional label producing apparatus, mechanical near-end detection works when the roll-shaped label falls below a certain remaining amount. Therefore, the remaining amount is not known in the near end or is only known in two stages, i.e., near end, and the label remaining amount cannot be accurately grasped.

  In addition, there are not a few RFID labels that are built-in IC chips that are vulnerable to impacts such as static electricity, and that are already damaged during manufacture or transportation and become unusable. When such defective raw labels that cannot be read electrically are mixed, it is more difficult to detect the remaining amount of usable raw labels.

  The present invention has been made by paying attention to the fact that RFID is pre-embedded in the raw label, so that the label can be created so that the remaining amount of the usable raw label can be accurately grasped by effectively using the RFID. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a control method thereof.

The label producing apparatus of the present invention feeds a single carrier tape on which a plurality of raw labels embedded with RFIDs are peelably laminated, prints an image on each raw label, and authenticates the RFID of each raw label In a label making device that writes information and continuously creates authentication labels,
A mounting portion on which the carrier tape wound in a roll shape is detachably mounted;
To the RFID of the label producing apparatus, comprising a transmitting and receiving antenna as reading sake reading and writing means information, operating in the radio wave output of the RFID only read-write intensity on the feed path facing the transmitting and receiving antenna A control apparatus having a print processing mode to be performed and a raw label remaining amount detection mode of radio wave output having a readable / writable intensity with respect to all the RFIDs in the label producing apparatus including the RFID on the carrier tape mounted on the mounting unit When,
Printing means for printing an image on each raw label;
Feed means for sending the carrier tape to the feed path so as to face at least the transmission / reception antenna and the printing means;
In the raw label remaining amount detection mode, the number of RFIDs that can be read and the number of RFIDs in which authentication information has already been written in the label producing device are measured, and the number of RFIDs that can be read is measured. A remaining amount calculating means for subtracting the number of RFIDs in which authentication information has already been written, and using the remaining amount of raw label usable ,
It is provided with.

In addition, the control method of the label producing apparatus of the present invention feeds a single carrier tape in which a plurality of raw labels embedded with RFIDs are peelably laminated, prints an image on each raw label, and In the control method of the label producing apparatus that writes the authentication information to the RFID of the label and continuously creates the authentication label,
To the RFID of the label producing apparatus, the transmitting and receiving antennas as reading sake reading and writing means information, to operate in the radio wave output of the RFID only read-write intensity on the feed path facing the transmitting and receiving antenna A control process having a print processing mode, and a raw label remaining amount detection mode of radio wave output having a readable / writable intensity with all the RFIDs in the label producing apparatus including the RFID on the carrier tape mounted on the mounting unit; ,
A printing step of printing an image on each raw label;
A feeding step of sending the carrier tape to the feeding path so as to face at least the transmission / reception antenna and the means for executing the printing step;
In the raw label remaining amount detection mode, the number of RFIDs that can be read and the number of RFIDs in which authentication information has already been written in the label producing device are measured, and the number of RFIDs that can be read is measured. A remaining amount calculation step in which a value obtained by subtracting the number of RFIDs in which authentication information has already been written is used as a remaining raw label amount usable ,
It is provided with.

  According to this configuration, the remaining number of raw labels excluding defective raw labels that cannot be electrically read can be accurately grasped, and can be appropriately used for exchanging carrier tapes. Note that “RFID” in the present invention is a generic term for what is expressed by various names such as an RFID tag, a non-contact IC, and a non-contact IC tag.

  In this case, it is preferable that the remaining amount calculating means sets the value obtained by subtracting the number of printed labels remaining in the label producing apparatus from the number of readable RFIDs as the usable raw label remaining amount. According to this configuration, since the remaining number is the number of labels in the apparatus excluding the already printed label, the remaining number of raw labels that can be used from now on can be accurately grasped.

  In these cases, it is preferable to further include notifying means for notifying the remaining amount calculation result. In addition, it is preferable that the notifying unit notifies the fact when the remaining amount calculation result of the remaining amount calculating unit is a predetermined number or less than a predetermined number. According to this configuration, the number of remaining raw labels on the carrier tape can be grasped, and when the number of unprocessed raw labels is reduced, the user can be alerted, for example, for replacing the carrier tape. Can be served appropriately.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the alerting | reporting means is comprised by the display screen of the indicator provided in the label production apparatus. According to this configuration, an accurate value can be transmitted to the user on the display screen of the label producing apparatus regarding the remaining amount of the usable raw label.

  In these cases, it is preferable that a computer capable of inputting image print information is linked to the label producing apparatus, and the remaining amount of the raw label is displayed on the display screen of the computer. According to this configuration, an accurate value of the remaining amount of usable raw labels can be transmitted to the user on the computer display screen.

  The label producing apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. This label creation device targets RFID built-in labels that are affixed to products that are distributed, and creates an authentication label from a raw label by printing / writing processing by a label creation device linked to a host computer. Is. Specifically, a plurality of raw labels are provided in the form of continuous paper, attribute information relating to printing conditions is read from the RFID of each raw label, and printing is performed on the raw label based on the read attribute information. By writing authentication information, authentication labels are created continuously.

  As shown in FIG. 1, continuous paper 1 (continuous paper 1 with RFID) is composed of a plurality of raw labels 2 in which RFID 6 is embedded, and a single carrier tape 3 in which a plurality of raw labels 2 are laminated in a peelable manner. It is wound around a cylindrical core in a roll shape with the raw label 2 side facing out. The raw label 2 is generally made of a material having a relatively low rigidity, and the plurality of raw labels 2 are held by a carrier tape 3 made of a material having a relatively high rigidity. Is secured.

  The plurality of raw labels 2 are attached at an equal pitch from the leading end of the carrier tape 3 on the feeding side. Each raw label 2 is composed of a label body having a printed layer on the front surface and an adhesive layer laminated on the back side of the label body, and RFID 6 capable of reading and writing data in a non-contact manner is embedded in the label body. It is. The label main body is made of a so-called two-color thermal paper of erasable type or additive color type, and is configured so that two-color images can be printed by thermal type (thermal color development type) printing.

  For example, the print layer of a color-added label main body is composed of a red thermosensitive coloring layer and a black thermosensitive coloring layer stacked in order from the surface layer, and the red color from the red thermosensitive coloring layer is compared with a relatively low amount of heat energy. Black color develops from the black thermosensitive coloring layer due to the high amount of heat energy. On the other hand, the decoloring type printing layer is composed of a black thermosensitive coloring layer, a decolorizing layer for erasing the color of the black thermosensitive coloring layer, and a red thermosensitive coloring layer in that order from the surface layer. Each color is developed by the control. In addition, you may comprise as a printing layer which can print a color image by the three thermosensitive coloring layer corresponding to three colors, cyan, magenta, and yellow.

  The RFID 6 includes a label-side antenna 8 that transmits and receives data by radio waves (electromagnetic waves), and an IC chip 9 that is electrically connected to the label-side antenna 8. The IC chip 9 has a storage unit such as an EEPROM in addition to the CPU. The RFID 6 stores the data received via the label side antenna 8 in the IC chip 9 and the data stored in the IC chip 9. Reading is possible via the label-side antenna 8.

  The raw label 2 is the authentication label 2 (the sign is the same as that of the raw label) that is finally used by writing authentication information as data in the RFID 6 and printing an image on the label body. For example, an authentication label 2 attached to a product sold in a store has an image related to the product printed on the surface of the label body, and the RFID 6 stores authentication information related to the product. It is affixed to the product via the product and performs the authentication function of the product. When the object to be attached with the authentication label 2 is a card or a business card, a person's face or name becomes a print image, and an ID or the like for authenticating the person is stored in the RFID 6 as authentication information.

  On the continuous paper 1, each RFID 6 is provided with a unique ID for identifying the RFID and attribute information regarding printing conditions unique to the raw label 2 written therein.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of the label producing apparatus 10 and the label producing system. As shown in the figure, the label producing apparatus 10 includes a mounting unit 11 in which a roll-shaped continuous paper 1 is detachably mounted, a transmission / reception antenna 12 that functions as a reading unit and a writing unit for the RFID 6 of the raw label 2, A print head 13 that prints an image on the raw label 2 based on the read attribute information, a feed unit 14 that feeds the continuous paper 1 along the feed path 17 so as to face the transmission / reception antenna 12 and the print head 13, and is lit. An indicator 15 and a control device 16 that controls these (12, 13, 14, 15) are provided. The continuous paper 1 set in the mounting unit 11 is held so as to be freely fed out through the core.

  The circuit board, the mounting portion 11, the transmission / reception antenna 12, the print head 13, and the feeding means 14 constituting the control device 16 are accommodated in a single device case (not shown), and an indicator 15 is attached to the outer surface of the device case. . The label producing apparatus 10 is connected to a host computer 30 that outputs print data such as image data.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the host computer 30 displays a keyboard 33, an input result by the keyboard 33, and the like on a computer main body 32 in which a device driver 31 (so-called printer driver) for the label creating apparatus 10 is incorporated in the OS. The display 34 is connected and configured. Print information of an image to be printed in the label producing apparatus 10 and authentication information stored in the RFID 6 are input to the host computer 30 by an input unit such as a keyboard 33.

  The device driver 31 generates print data suitable for the print function of the label producing apparatus 10 such as converting image data into printable data. The print data and the authentication data of the authentication information are output to the label producing apparatus 10 via the PC-side input / output interface 35 and the connection cable. The PC-side input / output interface 35 is based on IEEE1284 and is configured to allow bidirectional data communication.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the feeding unit 14 of the label producing apparatus 10 includes a platen roller 21 disposed on the downstream side of the feeding path 17 and a feeding motor 22 that drives and rotates the platen roller 21. With the rotation of the platen roller 21, the continuous paper 1 is fed out from a roll shape, and a plurality of raw labels 2 are sent in order, facing the transmission / reception antenna 12 and the print head 13 via the carrier tape 3. The processed (printed / written) portion of the fed continuous paper 1 is fed out of the apparatus from a discharge port (not shown) formed at the downstream end of the feed path 17.

  The transmitting / receiving antenna 12 faces the feed path 17 (raw label 2) in a non-contact manner and interacts with the label-side antenna 8 of the RFID 6. That is, the transmission / reception antenna 12 is configured to transmit radio waves of a specific frequency to the RFID 6 of the raw label 2 and to receive radio waves of a specific frequency from the RFID 6 of the raw label 2. The attribute information is read from the RFID 6 and the authentication information is written to the RFID 6 by the operation of the transmission / reception antenna 12. Although the authentication information may be written after deleting the attribute information, the attribute information may be stored as it is.

  The transmission / reception antenna 12 can change the area where it can transmit / receive to / from the RFID 6 by changing the output of radio waves from the antenna. Therefore, when the above-described transmission / reception antenna 12 reads / writes only the RFID 6 of the raw label 2 on the feed path 17, the reading / writing antenna 12 reads / writes to / from all the RFIDs 6 in the label producing apparatus 10 in the print processing mode in which the output of radio waves is reduced. In such a case, it is possible to perform in the raw label remaining amount detection mode in which the output of the radio wave is increased. Therefore, by providing a raw label remaining amount detection mode in which the output of the transmission / reception antenna 12 is increased and measuring the number of RFIDs 6 that can be read in the label producing apparatus 10 in this mode, defective RFIDs that cannot be read by the transmission / reception antenna 12. It is possible to accurately grasp the remaining amount of the raw label that can be used except for (details will be described later). The raw label remaining amount detection mode is executed when an event occurs such as when the power of the label producing apparatus 10 is turned on, when a print command is received, after the printing process is completed, after continuous paper is set, or at predetermined time intervals. Therefore, you can always grasp the remaining amount of raw labels accurately.

  Here, a method of reading the plurality of RFIDs 6 of the transmission / reception antenna 12 performed in the raw label remaining amount detection mode will be described based on the standard “ISO15693”. When there are a plurality of RFIDs 6 in the readable area of the transmission / reception antenna 12, when the RFIDs 6 try to respond simultaneously to reading from the transmission / reception antennas, collision (collision) occurs, and the attribute information and authentication information of any RFID 6 cannot be read. Therefore, a contrivance is made to change the timing of reading from the transmission / reception antenna 12 for each RFID. A specific bit of the ID of the RFID 6 is designated, and the response timing is changed by the value. If a plurality of RFIDs 6 still respond at the same timing, the same process is repeated using another bit of ID. By such a method, all of the plurality of RFIDs 6 can be read.

  The print head 13 (printing means) is composed of a thermal head having a large number of heating elements 25. A large number of heat generating elements 25 are arranged in an array in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the continuous paper 1 and correspond to the maximum size raw label 2. The print head 13 is disposed opposite to the platen roller 21 and sandwiches the continuous paper 1 between the heating element 25 and the platen roller 21.

  Then, in synchronism with the feeding of the continuous paper 1 by the platen roller 21, the heat generating element 25 of the print head 13 is driven to generate heat, whereby the heat-sensitive coloring layer of each color of the raw label 2 is colored, and the raw label 2 Printing is performed. Printing by the print head 13 is performed on the raw label 2 for which the writing of authentication information has been completed.

  The indicator 15 is composed of, for example, an LED attached to the apparatus case so as to be visible to the user, and lights up based on a remaining amount detection result to be described later. That is, the indicator 15 functions as a notification unit that notifies the user of the replacement time of the continuous paper 1 in advance.

  The control device 16 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a device-side input / output interface 40 connected to each other via a bus. The device-side input / output interface 40 is connected to the PC-side input / output interface 35 of the host computer 30 via a connection cable, and, like the PC-side input / output interface 35, bidirectional data communication is possible. The ROM stores a control program processed by the CPU and control data.

  The RAM (storage means) temporarily stores, in addition to various register groups, mainly a print data area temporarily storing print data received from the host computer 30 and attribute data of attribute information received by the transmission / reception antenna 12. Various areas and buffer areas necessary for processing by the label producing apparatus 10 such as an attribute data storage area, an authentication data storage area for temporarily storing authentication data of authentication information received from the host computer 30, and a control process Used as a work area.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the control device 16 has a print control unit 41 that controls the drive of the print head 13 and the feed motor 22 and a read that controls reading by the transmission / reception antenna 12 as its specific function realizing unit. The reader / writer unit 42 includes a control unit 43 and a write control unit 44 that controls writing, a display control unit 45 that controls display of the indicator 15, and a central processing control unit 46 that performs overall control thereof. .

  The writing control unit 44 transmits the authentication information sent from the host computer 30 via the central processing control unit 46 to the RFID 6 from the transmission / reception antenna 12 by radio waves. The RFID 6 receives this by the label side antenna 8 and stores it in the IC chip 9. On the other hand, the read control unit 43 transmits radio waves from the transmission / reception antenna 12, receives attribute information transmitted from the RFID 6 that has received this signal by the transmission / reception antenna 12, and sends the attribute information to the central processing control unit 46.

  The central processing control unit 46 also has a remaining amount calculation function for measuring the number of RFIDs whose IDs can be read by the transmission / reception antenna 12 and calculating the remaining amount of the raw label based on the measured value.

  For example, in the above-described raw label remaining amount detection mode, the number of the RFIDs 6 that can be read in the label producing apparatus 10 is measured by the transmission / reception antenna 12 is 30. ) If there is one label, the remaining raw label amount is calculated as 29 (30-1 = 29). With such a remaining amount calculation function, the remaining amount of the raw label that can be used in the future is accurately calculated. The radio wave output of the transmitting / receiving antenna 12 is set so that the label RFID 6 discharged from the apparatus 10 cannot be read. The number of labels on which authentication information has been written in the apparatus 10 is the number of RFIDs 6 on which authentication information has already been written out of the RFIDs 6 read by the transmission / reception antenna 12.

  The calculated raw label remaining amount is displayed as the remaining amount of the raw label 2 on the display screen of the display 34. For this reason, the user can always easily grasp the remaining amount of the raw label 2 via the host computer 30.

  If the calculated remaining amount result is an end label and / or a near-end with a predetermined number (for example, 20) of remaining amount, the indicator 15 is turned on and a warning is displayed, while the display screen of the display 34 indicates that fact. Is displayed. As a result, when the remaining number of unprocessed raw labels 2 on the continuous paper 1 is reduced or completely lost, the user can be notified, which is suitable for replacement with a new continuous paper 1 or the like. Can be used.

  In the present embodiment, the raw label 2 is composed of thermal paper. However, the raw label 2 may be composed of a paper type that does not have a thermal coloring layer, and a thermal transfer system or an inkjet system may be adopted as a printing system. In the case of the thermal transfer method, an ink ribbon (not shown) is set in the label producing apparatus 10 so as to be freely drawn out, and the ink ribbon and raw label 2 (continuous paper 1) are sandwiched between the print head 13 and the platen roller 21, By making these run side by side, it is possible to print on the raw label 2.

  Further, in the case of the ink jet system, the print head 13 is composed of an ink jet head that ejects ink droplets, and the ink jet head is subjected to main scanning and sub scanning relative to the continuous paper 1, thereby forming the raw label 2. Can be printed.

  Further, in this embodiment, the reading / writing and the remaining amount detection are performed by the single transmission / reception antenna 12, but two transmission / reception antennas are arranged on the upstream side of the head 13 and inside (for example, the lower part) of the apparatus 10, and the head The transmission / reception antenna on the lower side of the apparatus 10 may be configured as a transmission / reception antenna that can read all RFIDs in the apparatus, for exclusive use of the transmission / reception antenna on the upstream side of the 13 that is opposite to the antenna. When configured with two antennas, since the read / write area of each transmission / reception antenna is determined, it is possible to fix the radio wave output to an optimum value.

  In the present embodiment, the indicator 15 is constituted by an LED, but may be constituted by a small display. By displaying the remaining amount of the raw label on this small display, the user can always easily grasp the remaining amount of the raw label 2 without going through the host computer 30.

It is a figure which shows the label which concerns on embodiment, (a) shows the front view of the continuous paper with RFID integrated with a label, (b) is a structural diagram which shows the structure of RFID. It is a figure which shows the basic composition of the label production system which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function of the label production system which concerns on embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Continuous paper 2 Raw label (certification label)
3 Carrier tape 6 RFID
9 IC chip 10 Label production device 12 Transmission / reception antenna (reading means, second writing means)
13 Print head (printing means)
14 Feeding means 15 Indicator 16 Control device 25 Heating element 30 Host computer 34 Display

Claims (4)

A single carrier tape in which a plurality of raw labels embedded with RFIDs are peeled and stacked is sent, an image is printed on each raw label, and authentication information is written on the RFID of each raw label. In the label making device that creates continuously,
A mounting portion on which the carrier tape wound in a roll shape is detachably mounted;
To the RFID of the label producing apparatus, comprising a transmitting and receiving antenna as reading sake reading and writing means information, operating in the radio wave output of the RFID only read-write intensity on the feed path facing the transmitting and receiving antenna A control apparatus having a print processing mode to be performed and a raw label remaining amount detection mode of radio wave output having a readable / writable intensity with respect to all the RFIDs in the label producing apparatus including the RFID on the carrier tape mounted on the mounting unit When,
Printing means for printing an image on each raw label;
Feed means for sending the carrier tape to the feed path so as to face at least the transmission / reception antenna and the printing means;
In the raw label remaining amount detection mode, the number of RFIDs that can be read and the number of RFIDs in which authentication information has already been written in the label producing device are measured, and the number of RFIDs that can be read is measured. Remaining amount calculation means for subtracting the number of RFIDs in which authentication information has already been written, and a remaining amount of usable raw label ,
A label producing apparatus comprising:   Execution timing of the raw label remaining amount detection mode is performed when an event occurs such as when the label producing apparatus is turned on, when a print command is received, after printing processing is completed, after continuous paper is set, or at predetermined time intervals.
The label producing apparatus according to claim 1.  The remaining amount calculating means reads the RFID in a raw label remaining amount detection mode by a method based on the standard “ISO15693”.
The label producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: A single carrier tape in which a plurality of raw labels embedded with RFIDs are peeled and stacked is sent, an image is printed on each raw label, and authentication information is written on the RFID of each raw label. In the control method of the label producing apparatus to produce continuously,
To the RFID of the label producing apparatus, the transmitting and receiving antennas as reading sake reading and writing means information, to operate in the radio wave output of the RFID only read-write intensity on the feed path facing the transmitting and receiving antenna A control process having a print processing mode, and a raw label remaining amount detection mode of radio wave output having a readable / writable intensity with all the RFIDs in the label producing apparatus including the RFID on the carrier tape mounted on the mounting unit; ,
A printing step of printing an image on each raw label;
A feeding step of sending the carrier tape to the feeding path so as to face at least the transmission / reception antenna and the means for executing the printing step;
In the raw label remaining amount detection mode, the number of RFIDs that can be read and the number of RFIDs in which authentication information has already been written in the label producing device are measured, and the number of RFIDs that can be read is measured. A remaining amount calculation step in which a value obtained by subtracting the number of RFIDs in which authentication information has already been written is used as a remaining raw label amount usable ,
A method for controlling a label producing apparatus, comprising:

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