JP4737716B2 - RFID tag IC circuit holder, tag tape roll, RFID tag cartridge - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless tag capable of wireless communication of information with the outside, and more particularly to a wireless tag IC circuit holder provided in the wireless tag, a tag tape roll using the wireless tag IC circuit, and a wireless tag cartridge.

  An RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system that reads / writes information in a non-contact manner between a small wireless tag and a reader (reading device) / writer (writing device) is known. For example, a wireless tag circuit element provided in a label-like wireless tag includes an IC circuit unit that stores predetermined wireless tag information and an antenna that is connected to the IC circuit unit and transmits and receives information. Even if the battery is dirty or placed in an invisible position, the reader / writer can access (read / write information) the RFID tag information in the IC circuit unit, and manage the product. Practical use is expected in various fields such as inspection processes.

Such a wireless tag is usually often formed by providing a wireless tag circuit element on a label-like or sheet-like material (base material). As a configuration of this wireless tag, for example, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known. In this prior art, two electrodes (contact pads) are provided on both sides of one IC circuit portion (IC chip), and these two electrodes are connected to two antenna elements (antenna portions) via a conductive adhesive. Each is connected. At this time, a module in which the IC circuit part and the two electrodes are mounted on a base material (substrate) is used as one module, and a large number of modules arranged in a grid pattern (matrix web) are manufactured in advance. Thus, after each module is separated one by one, the two electrodes of each separated module are connected to the two antenna elements through the conductive adhesive to complete the RFID circuit element.
JP 2000-311233 A (FIGS. 1 and 2)

  However, the following problems exist in the above-described conventional technology. That is, when a module having an IC circuit part and electrodes connected thereto is attached to an antenna to complete a RFID tag circuit element, the two electrodes are correctly joined to the two antenna elements (via a conductive adhesive). In order to do so, accurate positioning must be performed. In the above-described prior art, no particular consideration is given to the efficiency of attaching the antenna to the antenna. For this reason, it is difficult to improve the productivity in the manufacturing process of the RFID circuit element.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a RFID tag IC circuit holder and a tag tape that can facilitate attachment work when an IC circuit portion is joined to an antenna side to complete a RFID circuit element and can improve productivity in a manufacturing process. It is to provide a roll and an RFID tag cartridge.

In order to achieve the above object, a first invention includes a tag base material, an antenna provided on the tag base material for transmitting and receiving information, an IC circuit portion for storing tag information , and the IC circuit portion. And a plurality of connection terminals for connecting the plurality of antenna elements of the antenna, and a holding member for holding the IC circuit unit, and the holding member and the antenna are joined to each other. A wireless tag IC circuit holder, wherein a positioning member for positioning the holding member to the antenna is connected to the tag base material in order to join the plurality of connection terminals to the plurality of antenna elements. The positioning member has a shape capable of positioning the holding member in four directions .

In the first invention of the present application, when a radio tag circuit element composed of an antenna and an IC circuit unit is configured, an antenna for radio communication is provided on the tag base material, while the IC circuit unit stores tag information. Is held by the holding member, and in this state, the holding member is attached to the tag base material so that the electrode (connection terminal) of the holding member and the antenna are joined and connected to complete the RFID circuit element. At this time, by providing a positioning member on the tag base material and positioning the holding member on the tag base material, the holding member can be attached to the tag base material very easily. As a result, productivity in the manufacturing process can be improved.
In addition, since the holding member includes a plurality of connection terminals, the holding member is attached to the tag base material so that the connection terminal of the holding member and the antenna are joined and connected, and the positioning member positions the holding member at that time. By doing so, the holding member can be attached to the tag base material very easily.
In addition, the positioning member has a shape capable of positioning the holding member in four directions, so that when the holding member is attached to the tag base material while being positioned by the positioning member, the direction determining control accuracy of the holding member installation direction is improved. Since it can be greatly relaxed (it is acceptable regardless of any of the four directions), it can be attached to the tag base material more easily.
In order to achieve the above object, the second invention provides a tag base, an antenna provided on the tag base for transmitting / receiving information, an IC circuit for storing tag information, and the IC circuit And a plurality of connection terminals for connecting the plurality of antenna elements of the antenna, and a holding member for holding the IC circuit unit, and the holding member and the antenna are joined to each other. A wireless tag IC circuit holder, wherein a positioning member for positioning the holding member to the antenna is connected to the tag base material in order to join the plurality of connection terminals to the plurality of antenna elements. The holding member has a substantially square shape, and the plurality of connection terminals are paired with each other with a non-existing region interposed on a diagonal line in the substantially positive direction in the substantially square holding member. The plurality of antenna elements are provided in such a manner that each of the plurality of antenna elements has a substantially triangular end electrode portion at the end portion on the IC circuit portion side facing each other. It is characterized by.
By making the holding member into a substantially square shape, the positioning member reliably positions in any of the four postures obtained by rotating the substantially square shape of the holding member by 90 °. Attachment to the tag base can be performed very easily.
In addition, a plurality of connection terminals are provided in a substantially square holding member so as to face each other with a non-existing region on a diagonal line in a substantially positive direction, and the plurality of antenna elements are IC circuits facing each other. Two end electrodes are provided so as to be provided with substantially triangular end electrode portions, respectively. Thereby, even if it arrange | positions a holding member so that 4 sides of substantially square shape may face in any of four directions, one side of two connection terminals is in one side of the edge part electrode parts of two antenna elements. Thus, it is possible to realize a structure in which only the two connection terminals are reliably conducted and the other side of the two connection terminals is reliably conducted only to the other side of the end electrodes of the two antenna elements. Therefore, when attaching the holding member to the tag base material while positioning with the positioning member, it is not necessary to control the orientation of the holding member in any of the above four directions. It can be performed.

A third invention is characterized in that, in the first or second invention, the positioning member is provided so as to be positioned on an outer peripheral side of the holding member in an attached state of the holding member.

  The positioning member can guide the outer peripheral side of the holding member, attach the holding member to the tag base material, and easily attach the holding member to the tag base material.

According to a fourth invention, in any one of the first to third inventions, the positioning member has a shape capable of holding at least a corner portion of the holding member.

  Positioning can be performed by holding at least the corners of the holding member, and the holding member can be easily attached to the tag base material.

  According to a fifth invention, in the fourth invention, the positioning member has a shape surrounding substantially the entire outer peripheral edge portion of the holding member.

  Positioning is performed so as to surround substantially the entire outer peripheral edge portion of the holding member, and the attachment of the holding member to the tag base material can be reliably and easily performed. Further, even if holding members having different sizes or shapes are mixed at the time of manufacture, positioning cannot be performed.

A sixth invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to fifth inventions, a tag tape used for producing a tag label is provided.

  This makes it possible to create a tag label using a tag tape provided with a wireless tag IC circuit holder in which the holding member is easily attached to the tag base material.

To achieve the above object, the seventh invention provides a tag base, an antenna provided on the tag base for transmitting and receiving information, an IC circuit unit for storing tag information , and the IC circuit unit. A plurality of connection terminals for connecting a plurality of antenna elements of the antenna; a holding member for holding the IC circuit unit; and the holding member and the antenna being joined to each other A tag tape roll formed by winding a tag tape in which a plurality of RFID tag IC circuit holders are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the tape, wherein the RFID tag circuit holder provided on the tag tape includes the plurality of connection terminals. for joining said plurality of antenna elements, a positioning member for positioning for bonding the holding member to the antenna, which is provided on the tag substrate, the positioning member, the holding Material and characterized in that it comprises a positionable shape in four directions.

In the tag tape roll according to the seventh invention of the present application, a plurality of RFID tag IC circuit holders arranged on the wound tag tape each has a positioning member for positioning for holding the holding member to the antenna. Provided. Thereby, at the time of manufacture which joins a holding member to an antenna continuously, attachment to a tag base material of a holding member can be performed very easily, and productivity in a manufacturing process can be improved.
In addition, since the holding member includes a plurality of connection terminals, the holding member is attached to the tag base material so that the connection terminal of the holding member and the antenna are joined and connected, and the positioning member positions the holding member at that time. By doing so, the holding member can be attached to the tag base material very easily.
In addition, the positioning member has a shape capable of positioning the holding member in four directions, so that when the holding member is attached to the tag base material while being positioned by the positioning member, the direction determining control accuracy of the holding member installation direction is improved. Since it can be greatly relaxed (it is acceptable regardless of any of the four directions), it can be attached to the tag base material more easily.

To achieve the above object, an eighth invention provides a tag base material, an antenna provided on the tag base material for transmitting and receiving information, an IC circuit portion for storing tag information , and the IC circuit portion. A plurality of connection terminals for connecting a plurality of antenna elements of the antenna; a holding member for holding the IC circuit unit; and the holding member and the antenna being joined to each other For a tag label producing apparatus that houses a tag tape roll wound with a tag tape in which a plurality of RFID tag IC circuit holders are arranged in the tape longitudinal direction, and creates a tag label using the tag tape fed out from the tag tape roll a removably configured RFID cartridge, wherein provided in the tag tape RFID IC circuit holding member has a plurality of connecting terminals of the plurality antennas To join the elements, a positioning member for positioning for bonding the holding member to the antenna, which is provided on the tag substrate, the positioning member, the holding member, positionable in four directions It is characterized by having a shape .

In the RFID tag cartridge of the eighth invention of the present application, a plurality of RFID tag IC circuit holders arranged on a tag tape wound as a tag tape roll each perform positioning for joining the holding member to the antenna. Is provided on the tag base material. Thereby, at the time of manufacture, attachment of a holding member to a tag base material can be performed very easily, and productivity in a manufacturing process can be improved.
In addition, since the holding member includes a plurality of connection terminals, the holding member is attached to the tag base material so that the connection terminal of the holding member and the antenna are joined and connected, and the positioning member positions the holding member at that time. By doing so, the holding member can be attached to the tag base material very easily.
In addition, the positioning member has a shape capable of positioning the holding member in four directions, so that when the holding member is attached to the tag base material while being positioned by the positioning member, the direction determining control accuracy of the holding member installation direction is improved. Since it can be greatly relaxed (it is acceptable regardless of any of the four directions), it can be attached to the tag base material more easily.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the attachment operation | work when joining an IC circuit part to the antenna side and completing a RFID circuit element can be made easy, and the productivity in a manufacturing process can be improved.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a RFID label generation system.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a wireless tag generation system to which a tag label producing apparatus including a wireless tag IC circuit holder and a wireless tag cartridge according to this embodiment is applied.

  In this RFID tag generating system 1 shown in FIG. 1, a tag label producing device (RFID tag information communication device) 2 includes a route server 4, a terminal 5, a general-purpose computer 6, and a plurality of information via a wired or wireless communication line 3. It is connected to the server 7.

  FIG. 2 is a conceptual configuration diagram showing a detailed structure of the tag label producing apparatus 2.

  In FIG. 2, the apparatus body 8 of the tag label producing apparatus 2 is provided with a cartridge holder portion (not shown) as a recess, and the cartridge 100 is detachably attached to the holder portion.

  The apparatus main body 8 includes the above-described cartridge holder portion into which the cartridge 100 is fitted and a casing 9 that forms an outer shell, a print head (thermal head) 10 that performs predetermined printing (printing) on the cover film 103, and a cover film. For label labels that have been printed while laminating the ribbon take-up roller drive shaft 11 that drives the ink ribbon 105 that has finished printing on the cover 103, the cover film (printed tape) 103, and the belt-like base tape (tag tape) 101. Wireless communication between the tape feed roller drive shaft 12 for feeding out from the cartridge 100 as the tape 110 and the RFID circuit element To (provided later) provided in the tag label tape 110 with print using high frequency such as UHF band. And the tag label tape 1 with the printed tag label. 10 is cut to a predetermined length at a predetermined timing to generate a label-like RFID tag T (details will be described later), and the RFID circuit element To is opposed to the antenna 14 at the time of signal transmission / reception by the wireless communication. A pair of transport guides 13 for setting and holding in a predetermined access area and guiding each RFID label T after being cut, and sending the guided RFID label T to the carry-out port (discharge port) 16 for transmission It has a roller 17 and a sensor 18 that detects the presence or absence of the RFID label T at the carry-out port 16.

  The sensor 18 is a reflective photoelectric sensor including, for example, a projector and a light receiver. When the RFID label T does not exist between the projector and the light receiver, the light output from the projector is input to the light receiver. On the other hand, when the RFID label T is present between the projector and the light receiver, the light output from the projector is shielded and the control output from the light receiver is inverted.

  On the other hand, the apparatus main body 8 also processes the signal read from the RFID circuit element To and the RF circuit 21 for accessing (reading or writing) the RFID circuit element To via the antenna 14. A signal processing circuit 22 for driving, a cartridge motor 23 for driving the ribbon take-up roller drive shaft 11 and the tape feed roller drive shaft 12 described above, a cartridge drive circuit 24 for controlling the drive of the cartridge motor 23, and A print drive circuit 25 that controls energization of the print head 10, a solenoid 26 that drives the cutter 15 to perform a cutting operation, a solenoid drive circuit 27 that controls the solenoid 26, and the delivery roller 17 are driven. Delivery roller motor 28 and delivery roller drive circuit for controlling the delivery roller motor 28 9 and control for controlling the overall operation of the tag label producing apparatus 2 through the high frequency circuit 21, the signal processing circuit 22, the cartridge drive circuit 24, the print drive circuit 25, the solenoid drive circuit 27, the feed roller drive circuit 29, and the like. Circuit 30.

  The control circuit 30 is a so-called microcomputer, and although not shown in detail, is composed of a central processing unit such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and is stored in advance in the ROM while using a temporary storage function of the RAM. Signal processing is performed according to the program. The control circuit 30 is connected to, for example, the communication line 3 via the input / output interface 31, and the route server 4, the other terminal 5, the general-purpose computer 6, the information server 7 and the like connected to the communication line 3 are connected to the control circuit 30. Information can be exchanged between the two.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the detailed structure of the cartridge 100 according to the present embodiment provided in the tag label producing apparatus 2.

  In FIG. 3, a cartridge (wireless tag cartridge) 100 includes a first roll (tag tape roll) 102 around which the base tape 101 is wound, and the transparent cover having substantially the same width as the base tape 101. A second roll 104 around which the film 103 is wound, a ribbon supply side roll 111 for feeding out the ink ribbon 105 (thermal transfer ribbon, but not necessary when the cover film 103 is a thermal tape), and an ink ribbon 105 after printing are wound. The ribbon take-up roller 106, and the pressure-sensitive roller 107 that presses and bonds the base tape 101 and the cover film 103 to feed the tape in the direction indicated by the arrow A while forming the printed tag label tape 110. ing.

  The first roll 102 is wound with the base tape 101 in which a plurality of RFID tag circuit elements To are sequentially formed at predetermined equal intervals in the longitudinal direction around a reel member 102a.

  In this example, the base tape 101 has a four-layer structure (see a partially enlarged view in FIG. 3), from the side wound inside (right side in FIG. 3) to the opposite side (left side in FIG. 3), An adhesive layer 101a made of an appropriate adhesive material, a colored base film 101b (tag base material) made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), an adhesive layer 101c made of an appropriate adhesive material, and a release paper 101d are laminated in this order. ing.

  On the back side (left side in FIG. 3) of the base film 101b, two antenna elements 152A and 152B constituting an antenna 152 (antenna portion) for transmitting and receiving information are integrally provided, and are connected to this. A protective film 160 (IC protective film) as a holding member is provided. The protective film 160 includes the IC circuit unit 151 and connection terminals 159A and 159B that connect the IC circuit unit 151 and the antenna elements 152A and 152B (for example, are connected to electrodes of the IC circuit unit 151 by silver paste). Are arranged so as to substantially cover them. At this time, the protective film 160 is bonded to the antenna elements 152A and 152B by bonding the connection terminals 159A and 159B to the end portions of the antennas 152A and 152B via the adhesive layer J. The RFID tag IC circuit holder H is configured by the protective film 160 including the IC circuit portion 151 and the connection terminals 159A and 159B, the antenna elements 152A and 152B, the adhesive layer J, and the like. The IC circuit portion 151 and the antenna elements 152A and 152B constitute a RFID circuit element To.

  The adhesive layer 101a for later bonding the cover film 103 is formed on the front side (right side in FIG. 3) of the base film 101b, and the RFID tag IC circuit is formed on the back side (left side in FIG. 3) of the base film 101b. The release paper 101d is bonded to the base film 101b by the adhesive layer 101c provided so as to enclose the holding body H. The release paper 101d is one that can be adhered to the product or the like by the adhesive layer 101c when the RFID label T finally completed in a label shape is attached to a predetermined product or the like by peeling it off. It is.

  The second roll 104 has the cover film 103 wound around a reel member 104a. The cover film 103 has an ink ribbon 105 driven by a ribbon supply side roll 111 and a ribbon take-up roller 106 disposed on the back side thereof (that is, the side to be bonded to the base tape 101). By being pressed, it is brought into contact with the back surface of the cover film 103.

  The ribbon take-up roller 106 and the pressure roller 107 are driven by the driving force of the cartridge motor 23 (see FIG. 2 described above), for example, a pulse motor provided outside the cartridge 100. By being transmitted to the feed roller drive shaft 12, it is rotationally driven.

  In the cartridge 100 configured as described above, the base tape 101 fed out from the first roll 102 is supplied to the pressure roller 107. On the other hand, as described above, the ink ribbon 105 is brought into contact with the back surface of the cover film 103 fed out from the second roll 104.

  When the cartridge 100 is mounted on the cartridge holder portion of the apparatus main body 8 and a roll holder (not shown) is moved from the separation position to the contact position, the cover film 103 and the ink ribbon 105 are moved to the print head 10 and the platen roller. The base tape 101 and the cover film 103 are sandwiched between the pressure roller 107 and the sub-roller 109. The ribbon take-up roller 106 and the pressure roller 107 are rotationally driven in synchronization with the directions indicated by the arrows B and D by the driving force of the cartridge motor 23, respectively. At this time, the tape feed roller drive shaft 12 is connected to the sub roller 109 and the platen roller 108 by a gear (not shown), and as the tape feed roller drive shaft 12 is driven, the pressure roller 107, the sub roller 109, Then, the platen roller 108 rotates and the four-layer base tape 101 is fed from the first roll 102 and supplied to the pressure roller 107 as described above. On the other hand, the cover film 103 is fed out from the second roll 104 and the plurality of heating elements of the print head 10 are energized by the print drive circuit 25. As a result, printing R (see FIG. 12 described later) such as predetermined characters, symbols, and barcodes is printed on the back surface (= the surface on the adhesive layer 101a side) of the cover film 103 (however, since it is printed from the back surface, it is viewed from the printing side. (Prints mirror-symmetric characters, etc.). The base tape 101 having the four-layer structure and the cover film 103 after the printing are bonded and integrated by the pressure roller 107 and the sub-roller 109 to form a tag label tape 110 with print. It is carried out to. The ink ribbon 105 that has finished printing on the cover film 103 is taken up by the ribbon take-up roller 106 by driving the ribbon take-up roller drive shaft 11.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing detailed functions of the high-frequency circuit 21. In FIG. 4, the high-frequency circuit 21 receives a transmission unit 32 that transmits a signal to the RFID circuit element To through the antenna 14 and a reflected wave from the RFID circuit element To that is received by the antenna 14. The unit 33 and the transmission / reception separator 34 are configured.

The transmitting unit 32 generates a carrier wave for accessing (reading or writing) the RFID tag information of the IC circuit unit 151 of the RFID circuit element To, a crystal resonator 35, and a PLL (Phase
The generated carrier wave is modulated on the basis of a signal supplied from the signal processing circuit 22 (Locked Loop) 36 and VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator) 37 (in this example, a “TX_ASK” signal from the signal processing circuit 22 Transmission multiplier circuit 38 (amplitude modulation based on the above) (in the case of amplitude modulation, an amplification factor variable amplifier or the like may be used), and a transmission amplifier 39 that amplifies the modulated wave modulated by the transmission multiplier circuit 38. ing. The generated carrier wave preferably uses a frequency in the UHF band or the microwave band, and the output of the transmission amplifier 39 is transmitted to the antenna 14 via the transmission / reception separator 34 to be a RFID circuit element. It is supplied to the IC circuit section 151 of To.

  The reception unit 33 multiplies the reflected wave from the RFID circuit element To received by the antenna 14 by the generated carrier wave and demodulates the received first multiplication circuit 40, and the reception first multiplication circuit 40 A first bandpass filter 41 for extracting only a signal of a necessary band from the output, a reception first amplifier 43 for amplifying the output of the first bandpass filter 41, and an output of the reception first amplifier 43 are further amplified. The first limiter 42 that converts the signal into a digital signal, the reflected wave from the RFID circuit element To received by the antenna 14, and the carrier wave that has been generated and delayed by 90 ° in the phase shifter 49. A reception second multiplication circuit 44 for multiplying, a second band pass filter 45 for extracting only a signal of a necessary band from the output of the reception second multiplication circuit 44, and the second band A reception second amplifier 47 for amplifying the output of the pass filter 45 and a second limiter 46 for further amplifying the output of the reception second amplifier 47 and converting it into a digital signal are provided. The signal “RXS-I” output from the first limiter 42 and the signal “RXS-Q” output from the second limiter 46 are input to the signal processing circuit 22 and processed.

  The outputs of the reception first amplifier 43 and the reception second amplifier 47 are also input to an RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) circuit 48, and a signal “RSSI” indicating the strength of these signals is input to the signal processing circuit 22. It has become so. In this way, in the tag label producing apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment, the reflected wave from the RFID circuit element To is demodulated by IQ orthogonal demodulation.

  FIG. 5 is a conceptual side view showing a more detailed structure of the first roll 102 described above. As described above, the base tape 101 wound around the first roll 102 has a plurality of the RFID tag IC circuit holders H provided with the RFID circuit elements To in the longitudinal direction thereof, for example, sequentially formed at equal intervals. ing.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the detailed structure of the RFID tag IC circuit holder H provided on the base tape 101 wound around the first roll 101 and its peripheral portion, and VI in the partially enlarged view of FIG. It is arrow sectional drawing by a -VI 'cross section. 7 is a partially enlarged top view showing an extracted portion A in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a side sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII ′ in FIG.

  In FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the antenna elements 152A and 152B are provided on the base film 101b so as to face each other along the longitudinal direction thereof, and the antenna elements 152A and 152B are opposed to each other. Are formed with rectangular connecting end portions (end portion electrode portions) 152a and 152b protruding like a hammer. A rectangular positioning frame 170 as a positioning member for accommodating the protective film 160 is further provided on the base film 101b. The positioning frame 170 is provided so that the connection ends 152a and 152b of the antenna elements 152A and 152B are positioned inside. The positioning frame 170 has a dimension in which the inner surface is substantially in contact with the four sides around the protective film 160, holds the protective film 160 accommodated therein, and positions the base film 101b.

  The protective film 160 covers the IC circuit portion 151 and its connection terminals 159A and 159B from above, and is formed in a thin and wide rectangular body that holds them. The IC circuit portion 151 is formed at the center of the protective film 160. 8 is embedded in such a manner that the lower surface in FIG. 8 is exposed from the protective film 160, and the tip of the opposing portion that extends in a triangular shape from the square base of the connection terminals 159A and 159B located at the lower part of the protective film 160 is IC It is connected to the electrode part on the lower surface of the circuit part 151 (see FIG. 7). On the other hand, an adhesive layer J is bonded between the connection terminals 159A and 159B and the connection ends 152a and 152b of the antenna elements 152A and 152B. The protective film 160 accommodated in the positioning frame 170 and held in a positioning state with respect to the base film 101b is connected to the connection terminals 159A and 159B by the adhesive layer J via the antenna elements 152A and 152B. It is attached to the base film 101b.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a manufacturing procedure for configuring the RFID tag IC circuit holder H illustrated in FIG. 8. In FIG. 9, antenna elements 152A and 152B are installed at predetermined positions on the base film 101b. On the other hand, the IC circuit unit 151 and the connection terminals 159A and 159B are attached in advance to be connected to predetermined positions, and a predetermined adhesive (for example, a thermoplastic resin) is not solidified below the connection terminals 159A and 159B. The adhesive layer Jo is formed, and the protective film 160 in that state is placed in the positioning frame 170 as indicated by the white arrow in the figure, and pressed against the connection ends 152a and 152b of the antenna elements 152A and 152B from above in the figure. Adhere closely. By this pressing, most of the adhesive layer Jo positioned between the connection terminals 159A and 159B of the protective film 160 and the connection ends 152a and 152b of the antenna elements 152A and 152B is relatively thin and spreads in a planar shape. The layer J is formed, and the connection terminals 159A and 159B and the connection end portions 152a and 152b are bonded. In this manner, the positioning frame 170 performs a positioning function for joining the protective film 170 to the antenna elements 152A and 152B.

  FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration of the RFID circuit element To. In FIG. 11, the RFID circuit element To includes an antenna 14 on the tag label producing apparatus 2 side and the antenna 152 that transmits and receives signals in a non-contact manner using a high frequency such as a UHF band and a microwave band. The IC circuit portion 151 is connected.

  The IC circuit unit 151 includes a rectification unit 153 that rectifies the carrier wave received by the antenna 152, and a power supply unit 154 that accumulates energy of the carrier wave rectified by the rectification unit 153 and serves as a driving power source for the IC circuit unit 151. A clock extraction unit 156 that extracts a clock signal from the carrier wave received by the antenna 152 and supplies the clock signal to the control unit 155; a memory unit 157 that functions as an information storage unit that can store a predetermined information signal; and the antenna 152 And a control unit 155 for controlling the operation of the RFID circuit element To through the rectification unit 153, the clock extraction unit 156, the modulation / demodulation unit 158, and the like.

  The modem 158 demodulates the communication signal received from the antenna 14 of the tag label producing apparatus 2 received by the antenna 152 and modulates the carrier wave received by the antenna 152 based on the response signal from the control unit 155. Retransmitted as a reflected wave from the antenna 152.

  The control unit 155 interprets the received signal demodulated by the modulation / demodulation unit 158, generates a return signal based on the information signal stored in the memory unit 157, and performs basic control such as returning by the modulation / demodulation unit 158. Execute proper control.

  The clock extraction unit 156 extracts a clock component from the received signal and extracts the clock to the control unit 155, and supplies a clock corresponding to the speed of the clock component of the received signal to the control unit 155.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of the RFID label T formed after the information reading (or writing) of the RFID circuit element To and the cutting of the printed tag label tape 110 are completed as described above. 11 (a) is a top view and FIG. 11 (b) is a bottom view. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the XII-XII ′ cross section in FIG. 11 (corresponding to the xii-xii ′ cross section in FIG. 6), and FIG. 12 is the XIII-XIII ′ cross section in FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line xiii-xiii ′.

  11 (a), 11 (b), 12 and 13, the RFID label T has a five-layer structure in which the cover film 103 is added to the four-layer structure shown in FIG. From the upper side (upper side in FIGS. 12 and 13) toward the opposite side (lower side in FIGS. 12 and 13), five layers are formed with the cover film 103, the adhesive layer 101a, the base film 101b, the adhesive layer 101c, and the release paper 101d. It is composed. As described above, the antenna elements 152A and 152B provided on the back side of the base film 101b and the protective film 160 bonded to the antenna elements 152A and 152B via the adhesive layer J (via positioning by the positioning frame 170) are included in the adhesive layer 101c. And a print R (in this example, “RF-ID” indicating the type of the RFID label T) is printed on the back surface of the cover film 103.

  FIG. 14 shows a screen displayed on the terminal 5 or the general-purpose computer 6 when accessing (reading or writing) the RFID tag information of the IC circuit unit 151 of the RFID circuit element To by the tag label producing apparatus 2 as described above. It is a figure showing an example.

  In FIG. 14, in this example, the tag label type, the print character R printed corresponding to the RFID circuit element To, the access (read or write) ID which is an ID unique to the RFID circuit element To, and the information server 7 and the storage address of the corresponding information in the route server 4 can be displayed on the terminal 5 or the general-purpose computer 6. When the tag is created, the tag label producing device 2 is operated by the operation of the terminal 5 or the general-purpose computer 6 so that the print character R is printed on the cover film 103, and the reading stored in advance in the IC circuit unit 151 is performed. The wireless tag information such as ID and article information is read (or the information such as the write ID and article information is written in the IC circuit unit 151).

  In the above description, an example in which the conveyance guide 13 is held in the access area and accessed (read or written) with respect to the moving printed tag label tape 110 in connection with the printing operation is shown. However, the access may be performed with the printed tag label tape 110 stopped at a predetermined position and held by the transport guide 13.

  Further, at the time of reading or writing as described above, the ID of the generated RFID label T and the information read from the IC circuit unit 151 of the RFID label T (or information written to the IC circuit unit 151) The correspondence relationship is stored in the route server 4 and can be referred to as necessary.

  In the present embodiment configured as described above, the RFID circuit element To is taken out from the cartridge 100 as a printed tag label tape 110 and set and held at a predetermined position (access area) facing the antenna 14 by the transport guide 13. On the other hand, sequential access (reading of the RFID tag information of the IC circuit unit 151 or writing to the IC circuit unit 151) is performed, and the RFID tag label T is generated by being cut for each RFID tag IC circuit holder H by the cutter 15. The The generated RFID label T is used after being peeled off by the user from the release paper 101d and exposing the adhesive layer 101c, and then being attached to various articles or the like through the adhesive layer 101c.

  Here, in the RFID tag IC circuit holder H of the present embodiment, a positioning frame 170 for positioning the protective film 160 holding the IC circuit portion 151 is provided on the base film 101b provided with the connection terminals 159A and 159B. Yes. Then, the protective film 160 is accommodated and held in the positioning frame 170 to guide and position the outer peripheral side of the protective film 160 with respect to the base film 101b, and the connection terminals 159A and 159B of the protective film 160 and the antenna The connection ends 152a and 152b of the elements 152A and 152B are bonded with an adhesive layer J interposed therebetween. As a result, the protective film 160 is positioned and joined to the base film 101b by simple surface adhesion between the planar shapes of the connection terminals 159A and 159B of the protective film 160 and the connection ends 152a and 152b of the antenna elements 152A and 152B. The protective film 160 can be attached to the base film 101b very easily. Thereby, productivity in a manufacturing process can be improved.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, etc., particularly in this embodiment, the protective film 160 has a rectangular shape (rectangular in this example), and the protective film 160, the connection terminals 159A and 159B, and the IC circuit portion. The monolithic structure 151 is vertically symmetrical with respect to the horizontal line at the vertical intermediate position in FIG. 6 (in other words, symmetrical with respect to the vertical line at the horizontal intermediate position in FIG. 7). Shape). Since the positioning frame 170 has a rectangular frame shape corresponding to the line-symmetric shape, an integrated structure such as the protective film 160 in FIG. 6 is installed upside down (in other words, the protective film 160 in FIG. 7). Or the like may be installed in opposite directions (= a shape that can be positioned in two directions in the vertical and horizontal directions). As a result, when the integrated structure such as the protective film 160 is attached to the base film 101b while being positioned by the positioning frame 170, the accuracy of the direction determination control for the installation direction of the integrated structure is relaxed (whichever of the two directions). Therefore, there is an effect that it can be attached more easily.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and technical idea of the present invention. Hereinafter, such modifications will be described.

(1) Variation of Positioning Frame FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged top view showing a detailed structure of the RFID tag IC circuit holder and its peripheral part in a modified example having positioning frames of different shapes, and FIG. FIG. The same parts as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  In FIG. 15, instead of the rectangular positioning frame 170 in the above embodiment, a small positioning frame 172 having a L-shaped cross section on the base film 101 b can be used to hold the corners at the four corners of the protective film 160. Provided.

  According to this modification, the four corners of the protective film 160 are held by the four positioning frames 172, so that the protective film 160 can be positioned with respect to the base film 101b. Can be attached to the base film 101b while being easily positioned. In other words, it is possible to attach to the base film 101b by holding at least the corners of the protective film 160, even if the outer peripheral edge of the protective film 160 is not surrounded by the entire region as in the above embodiment. The effect which makes it easy can be acquired.

(2) When a protective film or the like can be positioned in four directions (Part 1)
FIG. 16 is a partially enlarged top view showing the detailed structure of the RFID tag IC circuit holder and its peripheral part in this modification, and is a view substantially corresponding to FIG. 6 of the above embodiment. FIG. 17 is a bottom view showing the connection terminal of the protective film in this modification, and FIG. 18 is a top view showing the connection end of the antenna on the base film in this modification. The same parts as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  In FIG. 16, FIG. 17, and FIG. 18, in this modification, the protective film 160 has a substantially square shape, and the two connection terminals 159A, 159B of the protective film 160 are on one diagonal line k of the substantially square shape. They are provided so as to face each other with the non-existing region X interposed therebetween, and have a substantially triangular shape that is line-symmetric with respect to the diagonal line k. The connection terminals 159A and 159B are connected to the lower surface of the IC circuit unit 151 provided at the center of the protective film 160. The connection ends 152a and 152b (end electrode portions) of the two antenna elements 152A and 152B on the base film 101b are provided in a substantially triangular shape facing each other in a substantially square positioning frame 170 on the base film 101b. It has been. In other words, the configuration (bottom view) shown in FIG. 17 is turned upside down and placed on the configuration (top view) shown in FIG. 18 corresponds to the configuration of FIG.

  Also by this modification, the same effect as the above-mentioned embodiment is acquired. In particular, in this modification, the substantially square shape of the protective film 160 is rotated by 90 °, and the protective film 160 is arranged so that the four sides of the substantially square shape are oriented in any of the four directions. Also, one side of the two connection terminals 159A and 159B is reliably conducted only to one side of the end portions 152a and 152b of the two antenna elements 152A and 152B, and the other side of the two connection terminals 159A and 159B. It is possible to realize a structure in which conduction is ensured only on the other side of the end portions 152a and 152b of the two antenna elements 152A and 152B. Therefore, when the integrated structure composed of the protective film 160, the connection terminals 159A and 159B, and the IC circuit portion 151 is attached to the base film 101b while being positioned by the positioning frame 170, the orientation of the integrated structure is set in the above four directions. There is no need to set a direction for one of them. As a result, it is possible to more easily attach to the base film 101b, and when performing attachment by automatic control, the effect of greatly relieving the accuracy of the direction determination control can be obtained.

(3) When a protective film or the like can be positioned in four directions (Part 2)
FIG. 19 is a partially enlarged top view showing a detailed structure of the RFID tag IC circuit holder and its peripheral part in this modification, and is a view substantially corresponding to FIG. 6 of the above embodiment. Moreover, FIG. 20 is a bottom view showing the connection terminal of the protective film in this modification, and FIG. 21 is a top view showing the connection end part of the antenna on the base film in this modification. The same parts as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  In FIG. 19, FIG. 20, and FIG. 21, also in this modified example, the protective film 160 has a substantially square shape as in the modified example (2). At this time, the two connection terminals 159A and 159B provided in the protective film 160 are parallel to the two opposite sides of the substantially square and spaced from each other, and are offset in the opposite directions with respect to the remaining two opposite sides. Are arranged in an elongated rectangular shape (or oval shape), and are respectively connected to the lower surface of the IC circuit portion 151 provided in the central portion of the protective film 160. The connection ends 152a and 152b of the two antenna elements 152A and 152B on the base film 101b are placed in the substantially square positioning frame 170 on the base film 101b within the above-mentioned square shape and the upper left and right sides in FIG. It is provided to face the lower side. In other words, the configuration shown in FIG. 20 (bottom view) is turned upside down and placed on the configuration shown in FIG. 21 (top view), which corresponds to the configuration in FIG.

  Also by this modification, the same effect as the above-mentioned embodiment is acquired. In addition, in this modified example, as in the modified example of (2) above, the substantially square shape of the protective film 160 is rotated by 90 ° to protect the four sides of the substantially square shape in any of the four directions. Even in a posture in which the film 160 is arranged, one side of the two connection terminals 159A and 159B is reliably conducted only to one side of the end portions 152a and 152b of the two antenna elements 152A and 152B. It is possible to realize a structure in which the other side of the two connection terminals 159A and 159B is reliably conducted only to the other side of the end portions 152a and 152b of the two antenna elements 152A and 152B. Therefore, when the integrated structure composed of the protective film 160, the connection terminals 159A and 159B, and the IC circuit portion 151 is positioned by the positioning frame 170 and attached to the base film 101b, as in the modified example of (2) above, these integrated structures Since there is no need to determine the orientation of the body in any of the above four directions, it can be attached to the base film 101b more easily, and the accuracy of the orientation control can be improved when attaching by automatic control. An effect that can be greatly relaxed is obtained.

(4) Others In the above, a plurality of (two in the above example) antenna elements 152A and 152B and a plurality of (two in the above example) connection terminals 159A and 159B of the antenna 152 are respectively (one-to-one). In the above description, the case of connection is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, when the number of connection terminals is larger than the number of antenna elements, a plurality of connection terminals may be connected to a part of one antenna element. In these cases, the same effect as in the above embodiment is obtained.

  In addition, although the example in which the RFID tag information is written / read / printed on the base tape 101 moving inside the cartridge 100 or the like is shown, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the base tape 101 etc. is stopped at a predetermined position. The above printing, reading and writing may be performed (the reading and writing may be held by a predetermined conveyance guide).

  Further, in the above description, the cartridge 100 in which the base tape 101 in which a plurality of RFID tag circuit elements To are sequentially formed in the longitudinal direction is wound around the first roll 102 is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A tray member (so-called stack type) that stores a plurality of flat paper-like label materials on which the tag circuit element To is formed may be used as the RFID circuit element storage unit.

  The tag label producing apparatus main body side such as the cartridge 100 is not limited to a detachable so-called installation type or integral type that is detachable on the apparatus main body side, and the first roll 102 is provided therein. May be. In this case, the same effect is obtained.

  In the above description, the case where the tag label T is created by cutting the printed tag label tape 110 that has been printed and accessed (read or written) to the RFID circuit element To by the cutter 15 has been described. Not limited to. That is, in the case where a label mount (so-called die cut label) previously separated into a predetermined size corresponding to the label is continuously arranged on the tape fed out from the roll, even if it is not cut by the cutter 15, After the tape has been discharged from the discharge port 16, only the label mount (the one with the already accessed RFID circuit element To and the corresponding printing performed) may be peeled off from the tape to produce the tag label T. The invention can also be applied to such a case.

  Moreover, in the above, it was the system which prints on the cover film 103 different from the base-material tape 101 provided with the RFID circuit element To, and bonds these together, but it is not restricted to this, It is provided in a tag tape. The present invention may be applied to a method of printing on a cover film (a type in which bonding is not performed). Further, the present invention is not limited to reading or writing RFID tag information from the IC circuit unit 151 of the RFID circuit element To and printing for identifying the RFID circuit element To by the print head 10. This printing does not necessarily have to be performed, and the present invention can be applied to those that only read or write the RFID tag information.

  In addition to those already described above, the methods according to the above-described embodiments and modifications may be used in appropriate combination.

  In addition, although not illustrated one by one, the present invention is implemented with various modifications within a range not departing from the gist thereof.

1 is a system configuration diagram showing a wireless tag generation system to which a tag label producing device including a RFID tag IC circuit holder and a tag label producing device cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a notional block diagram showing the detailed structure of the tag label production apparatus shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the detailed structure of the cartridge by one Embodiment of this invention with which the tag label production apparatus shown in FIG. 1 was equipped. It is a functional block diagram showing the detailed function of the high frequency circuit shown in FIG. It is a conceptual side view showing the more detailed structure of the 1st roll shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI ′ in the partially enlarged view of FIG. 3 showing the detailed structure of the wireless tag IC circuit holder and its peripheral part. FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged top view showing an A portion extracted from FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a side sectional view taken along a section VIII-VIII ′ in FIG. 7. It is explanatory drawing showing an example of the manufacture procedure for comprising the RFID tag IC circuit holding body shown in FIG. It is a functional block diagram showing the functional structure of a wireless tag circuit element. It is the upper surface figure and bottom view showing an example of the appearance of a RFID tag label. FIG. 12 is a transverse sectional view taken along the XII-XII ′ section in FIG. 11. FIG. 12 is a transverse sectional view taken along the XIII-XIII ′ section in FIG. 11. It is a figure showing an example of the screen displayed on a terminal or a general purpose computer at the time of access to the RFID tag information of the IC circuit part of a RFID circuit element. It is the elements on larger scale showing the detailed structure of the RFID tag IC circuit holder in the modification provided with the positioning frame of a different shape, and its peripheral part. It is the elements on larger scale showing the detailed structure of the RFID tag IC circuit holder in the modification which made it possible to position a protective film etc. in four directions, and its peripheral part. It is a bottom view showing the connection terminal of the protective film shown in FIG. It is a top view showing the connection end part of the antenna on the base film shown in FIG. It is the elements on larger scale showing the detailed structure of the RFID tag IC circuit holder in the other modification which enabled positioning of a protective film etc. in four directions, and its peripheral part. It is a bottom view showing the connection terminal of the protective film shown in FIG. It is a top view showing the connection end part of the antenna on the base film shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

2 Tag label production device 100 Cartridge (wireless tag cartridge)
101 Base tape (tag tape)
101b Base film (tag base material)
102 1st roll (tag tape roll)
151 IC circuit part 152A Antenna element 152a Connection end part 152B Antenna element 152b Connection end part 159A Connection terminal 159B Connection terminal 160 Protective film (holding member)
170 Positioning frame (positioning member)
172 Positioning frame (positioning member)
H RFID tag circuit holder J Adhesive layer T RFID label (tag label)

Claims (8)

A tag substrate;
An antenna provided on the tag base material for transmitting and receiving information;
An IC circuit unit for storing tag information , and a holding member for holding the IC circuit unit, the IC circuit unit including a plurality of connection terminals for connecting the IC circuit unit and a plurality of antenna elements of the antenna. And
A wireless tag IC circuit holding body configured by joining the holding member and the antenna,
In order to join the plurality of connection terminals to the plurality of antenna elements, a positioning member that performs positioning for joining the holding member to the antenna is provided on the tag base material ,
The wireless tag IC circuit holder , wherein the positioning member has a shape capable of positioning the holding member in four directions . A tag substrate;
An antenna provided on the tag base material for transmitting and receiving information;
An IC circuit unit for storing tag information, and a holding member for holding the IC circuit unit, the IC circuit unit including a plurality of connection terminals for connecting the IC circuit unit and a plurality of antenna elements of the antenna. And
A wireless tag IC circuit holding body configured by joining the holding member and the antenna,
In order to join the plurality of connection terminals to the plurality of antenna elements, a positioning member that performs positioning for joining the holding member to the antenna is provided on the tag base material,
The holding member has a substantially square shape,
The plurality of connection terminals are provided in the substantially square holding member so as to face each other while interposing a non-existing region on the diagonal line in the substantially positive direction,
The wireless tag, wherein the plurality of antenna elements are provided so as to respectively have substantially triangular end electrode portions at end portions on the IC circuit portion side facing each other. IC circuit holder. The wireless tag IC circuit holder according to claim 1 or 2,
The RFID tag IC circuit holder according to claim 1, wherein the positioning member is provided so as to be positioned on an outer peripheral side of the holding member in a mounted state of the holding member. The RFID tag IC circuit holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The RFID tag IC circuit holder, wherein the positioning member has a shape capable of holding at least a corner portion of the holding member. The wireless tag IC circuit holder according to claim 4,
The wireless tag IC circuit holder, wherein the positioning member has a shape surrounding substantially the entire outer peripheral edge of the holding member. The RFID tag IC circuit holder according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
A wireless tag IC circuit holder provided on a tag tape used for producing a tag label. A tag base material, an antenna provided on the tag base material for transmitting / receiving information, an IC circuit portion for storing tag information , and a connection between the IC circuit portion and a plurality of antenna elements of the antenna A plurality of wireless tag IC circuit holders in the longitudinal direction of the tape, each of which has a plurality of connection terminals and has a holding member for holding the IC circuit portion, and is formed by joining the holding member and the antenna. It is a tag tape roll in which the arranged tag tape is wound,
The RFID tag IC circuit holder provided on the tag tape includes a positioning member for positioning the holding member to the antenna in order to join the plurality of connection terminals to the plurality of antenna elements. , Provided on the tag base material ,
The tag tape roll , wherein the positioning member has a shape capable of positioning the holding member in four directions . A tag base material, an antenna provided on the tag base material for transmitting / receiving information, an IC circuit portion for storing tag information , and a connection between the IC circuit portion and a plurality of antenna elements of the antenna A plurality of wireless tag IC circuit holders in the longitudinal direction of the tape, each of which has a plurality of connection terminals and has a holding member for holding the IC circuit portion, and is formed by joining the holding member and the antenna. Stores the tag tape roll around the placed tag tape,
A wireless tag cartridge configured to be attachable to and detachable from a tag label creating apparatus that creates a tag label using the tag tape fed out from the tag tape roll,
The RFID tag IC circuit holder provided on the tag tape includes a positioning member for positioning the holding member to the antenna in order to join the plurality of connection terminals to the plurality of antenna elements. , Provided on the tag base material ,
The RFID tag cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the positioning member has a shape capable of positioning the holding member in four directions .

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