JP4815230B2 - RFID continuum and printing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

In particular, the present invention relates to an RFID continuum suitable for use in a special form in which corners are affixed to corners of articles such as cardboard and a method for printing the same.

In recent years, RFID (Radio Frequency-Identification) inlets, which are equipped with communication antennas connected to memory chips that store various information, are attached to labels (recording media) attached to various articles. A technique for performing wireless non-contact automatic identification using the RFID inlet has been widespread (conventional technique of Patent Document 1).
However, when information is written to or read from the non-contact type IC label (label attached with the RFID inlet), the antenna of the information writing / reading device must be opposed to the non-contact type IC label. In other words, when the non-contact type IC label is affixed to an article or the like, the affixing surface is limited to a surface on which the antenna of the information writing / reading device can face. There was a problem.
Therefore, the relative angle with the antenna of the information writing / reading device, or when being attached to an article, the communicable distance between the information writing / reading device can be made constant regardless of the sticking surface. An RFID medium that can be used has been developed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
According to the RFID media of Patent Document 1, the base substrate is divided into a plurality of regions via foldable folding lines, and an antenna for writing and reading information to and from the IC module is formed in each region. It is supposed to be.
However, according to the RFID media of Patent Document 1, an antenna extended from one IC module is formed in a plurality of regions, and an article such as a corrugated cardboard box used for logistics is in contact with the ridge line of the article. Because it is folded and pasted and displayed at the fold line, the antenna may be disconnected if it is bent a lot, especially when it is stuck at the corner (attaching to the corner), which will interfere with normal information reception. There was a problem that could be.
For this reason, it has been desired to develop an RFID medium (RFID continuous body) that does not break even if it is attached to a corner of an article.
JP 2003-216919 A

The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-described problems, and relates to an RFID continuous body suitable for corner-pasting at a corner of an article and a method for printing the same.

The RFID continuous body according to the present invention has a rectangular shape and includes a first label piece with a built-in RFID provided with an IC chip and an antenna, and the first label piece connected to each other in a perpendicular direction via a broken line, In addition, the label main body is formed by the second and third label pieces with built-in RFID each including an IC chip and an antenna, and the label main body is temporarily attached to the mount at substantially equal intervals. To do.
In addition, the print issuing method according to the second invention includes a first label piece having a rectangular shape with a built-in RFID including an IC chip and an antenna, and the first label piece via a broken line. A supply shaft for mounting an RFID continuous body formed by temporarily attaching label bodies formed by second and third label pieces each having a built-in RFID connected to each other at right angles to a mount at substantially equal intervals, and positioning A writing device provided with at least two antennas for reading and writing on the RFID of the label piece in the direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the RFID continuous body, and a thermal for performing desired printing on the label piece of the RFID continuous body using the print issuance apparatus and a printing unit having a head, writing of the RFID information of the delivery while the label strip in the conveying direction RFID continuum from the supply shaft Both are printing issuance methods for printing on each label piece, writing information to each RFID incorporated in the label piece via the antenna of a writing device facing the positioned label piece, and a thermal head. In this case, desired information is printed on each label piece.
In addition, the writing device can be provided with a shield member that blocks electromagnetic waves between adjacent antennas, and only the label piece that confronts the communication area of the antenna.
Further, the print issuing method according to the third invention includes a first label piece having a rectangular shape with an RFID including an IC chip and an antenna, and the first label piece via a broken line. A supply shaft for mounting an RFID continuous body formed by temporarily attaching a label body formed by second and third label pieces built in an RFID connected in a right angle direction to a mount at substantially equal intervals, and a positioned label body A printing unit comprising an antenna for reading / writing the RFID of the label piece to the RFID so as to face the central portion of the label main body, and a thermal head for performing desired printing on the label piece of the RFID continuous body If, prints and issues with the device, and performs the writing of RFID information of the label pieces while feeding the conveyance direction RFID continuum from the supply shaft having a, in each label piece This is a printing issue method for applying characters, and the writing device writes the same information simultaneously to the RFID of each label piece via an antenna, and prints the desired information on each label piece via a thermal head. It is characterized by.
Also, when reading or writing label pieces to RFID with a writing device, if any one of the first to third label pieces cannot be read or written, it cannot be used for the label body via the thermal head. It can be printed.

The RFID continuous body according to the present invention includes a first label piece having a rectangular shape, and second and third label pieces connected to the first label piece in a perpendicular direction via a broken line. Since the label main body is formed and each label piece is provided with the RFID, there is an effect that a label main body suitable for corner sticking to the corner of the article can be obtained.
Further, the printing issuing method according to the second invention is a writing apparatus in which at least two antennas for reading and writing the RFID of the positioned label pieces are provided in a direction crossing the conveyance direction of the RFID continuous body. Information is written to the RFID incorporated in the label piece via the antenna of the writing device facing the positioned label piece, and each of the RFIDs of the first to third label pieces has an opposing antenna. Since the transmission / reception is performed only by the electromagnetic wave from, there is an effect that the writing of information on the corresponding label piece is ensured.
Furthermore, the print issuing method according to the third invention includes a writing device provided with an antenna for reading / writing the RFID of the label piece of the positioned label main body against the central portion of the label main body, The same information can be written simultaneously to the RFID of each label piece via the antenna in the writing device, so the same information can be written to the triple label pieces in a short time, so the same information can be written reliably. There is an effect that can be done.

    An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of a plane showing an RFID continuum of the present invention.
The RFID continuous body 1 has a label main body 5 formed of first to third label pieces 2, 3, and 4. The label main body 5 is arranged at approximately equal intervals on the mount 9 through an adhesive (not shown). Temporarily worn.
The second label piece 3 is connected to the first label piece 2 at the upper end in FIG. 1, and the third label piece 4 is connected at the left end in FIG. A broken line 10 is provided between the label piece 2 and the second and third label pieces 3 and 4.
Each label piece 2, 3, 4 of the label body 5 includes an RFID 8 having an IC chip 6 and an antenna 7. Information is printed on the surface by a “print issuing device” described later, and the antenna 7 Information is written (stored) in the IC chip 6 by transmission / reception via the.
Reference numeral 11 denotes an identification mark indicating the pitch of the label body 5, and the identification mark 11 is provided on the back surface of the mount 9.

Next, an example of the print issuing device for realizing the print issuing method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of the print issuing device 21 as viewed from the side. The print issuing device 21 mainly includes a supply shaft 22, a printing unit 23, a peeling plate 24 as a peeling means, and a mount winding. A take-up shaft 25, an ink ribbon unit 26, a position detection sensor 27, a writing device 28, and a control unit 29 for controlling these units are provided.

The supply shaft 22 rotatably supports the RFID continuous body 1 (see FIG. 1) in which the label main body 5 including the RFID 8 is wound together with the mount 9.
The printing unit 23 includes a thermal head 30 and a platen 31, and performs desired printing on each of the label pieces 2, 3, and 4 of the RFID continuous body 1 that is transferred therebetween. The platen 31 is connected to a stepping motor 51 via a belt 50, and the rotation of the stepping motor 51 is transmitted to the platen 31 via the belt 50 and is sandwiched between the platen 31 and the thermal head 30. The RFID continuous body 1 is transported in the transport direction F.
The release plate 24 peels the label body 5 from the mount 9 of the RFID continuum 1 by performing a rearward direction (reverse conveyance direction) in which only the mount 9 is turned in the release plate 24.
The mount winding shaft 25 winds the mount 9 after peeling the label main body 5 through the guide pins 37 and 38.
The ink ribbon unit 26 includes a ribbon supply unit 32 and a ribbon take-up unit 33, and an ink ribbon 34 attached to the ribbon supply unit 32 is interposed between the thermal head 30 and the platen 31 via a guide pin 35. The paper is pinched and wound around the ribbon winding portion 33 via the guide pin 36.
The position detection sensor 27 includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, and is provided on the back side of the mount 9 in the transport path 39 between the supply shaft 22 and the printing unit 23, and is provided on the back side of the mount 9 of the RFID continuous body 1. The identification mark 11 is detected.
Reference numeral 45 denotes a guide pin.

Next, the writing device 28 will be mainly described with reference to FIGS.
3 is a schematic perspective explanatory view of the writing device 28, and FIG. 4 is a plan explanatory view seen from the direction of arrow IV in FIG.
The writing device 28 is provided immediately before the printing unit 23 in the conveyance path 39 and is used for writing information to the RFID 8 of the first to third label pieces 2, 3, 4 of the RFID continuous body 1. The device is made of a non-electromagnetic material such as aluminum. In this writing device 28, a total of four antenna installation portions 40 having a shallow hole shape of about 20 to 30 mm, 2 × 2 in length, are formed, and an antenna 41 (41a to 41a˜) is formed at the bottom of the antenna installation portion 40. 40d). The antenna 41 is small and has a narrow communication range.
The antenna installation unit 40 is disposed so as to substantially correspond to the first to third label pieces 2, 3, and 4 of the RFID continuous body 1. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when the RFID continuous body 1 is transported and positioned in the transport path 39 in the transport direction F, the antenna 41 a is the first label piece 2 and the antenna 41 b is the first one. The second label piece 3 and the antenna 41c are opposed to the third label piece 4, and the antenna 41 (41a to 41d) is a shallow hole bottom of the antenna installation portion 40 made of aluminum. Therefore, the side wall of the hole can serve as a “shield member” that blocks the communication electromagnetic wave from interfering with the communication electromagnetic wave of the other antenna 41, and the antenna 41 has a narrow communication range. Therefore, the RFID 8 of the first to third label pieces 2, 3, 4 is transmitted / received only by the electromagnetic waves from the antennas 41 a to 41 c facing each other. That. The designation of disabling the antenna 41d where no “label piece” exists is set in advance automatically or manually depending on the type of the label main body 5 to be used.

Returning to FIG. 2, the control unit 29 includes a CPU (not shown) and a ROM including various programs, and is connected to the above-described units to control each unit including the writing device 28. It has become.

In the print issuing device 21, the RFID continuous body 1 mounted on the supply shaft 22 is pulled out to the conveyance path 39, and is sandwiched between the thermal head 30 and the platen 31 of the printing unit 23 via the guide pins 45, and is attached to the release plate 24. Then, only the mount 9 is turned, and the turned mount 9 is wound around the mount take-up shaft 25 and set. It is assumed that the ink ribbon 34 is attached to the ink ribbon portion 26 in advance.

Next, mainly based on FIG. 5, the operation state (print issuing method) of the print issuing device 21 will be described.
In step S01, the RFID continuous body 1 is conveyed. That is, the stepping motor 51 is rotated, the platen 31 is rotated via the belt 50, and the RFID continuous body 1 fed from the supply shaft 22 and sandwiched between the thermal head 30 is transported to the transport path 39 side.
In step S02, it is determined whether or not the identification mark 11 has been detected. That is, it is detected whether or not the identification mark 11 on the back surface of the mount 9 of the RFID continuous body 1 being conveyed is detected by the position detection sensor 27 provided in the conveyance path 39. If not detected, the process returns to step S01. When the RFID continuum 1 is continuously conveyed and the identification mark 11 is detected, the process goes to step S03.
In step S03, the label body 5 is positioned on the writing device 28 (see FIG. 4). That is, each of the label pieces 2, 3 is composed of the antenna 41 a of the writing device 28 facing the first label piece 2, the antenna 41 b facing the second label piece 3, and the antenna 41 c facing the third label piece 4. The unique identification information (not shown) is read from the four IC chips 6, and desired information is written on the read label pieces 2, 3, and 4, and the antenna 41 (41a to 41d) is made of aluminum. Since the antenna is provided at the bottom of the shallow hole of the antenna installation section 40 and has a narrow communication range, the RFID 8 of the first to third label pieces 2, 3, and 4 has an antenna facing each other. Transmission / reception is performed only by electromagnetic waves from 41a to 41c. It should be noted that the antenna 41d that does not have a “label piece” to be opposed is controlled via the control unit 29 so as not to transmit / receive electromagnetic waves for transmission / reception. The unique identification information (not shown) of the label pieces 2, 3, 4 is a serial number, and is managed as one label body 5 by three consecutive numbers.
In step S04, it is determined whether or not reading / writing on each label piece 2, 3, 4 has been completed. When reading / writing of all of the first to third label pieces 2, 3, 4 is completed, an “information writing flag” (not shown) (not shown) is turned ON in step S05. This “flag” is stored in a RAM (random access memory) (not shown) provided in the control unit 29.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S04 that even one of the first to third label pieces 2, 3, and 4 cannot be read / written, in step S06, an “information write flag” ( OFF (not shown).
In step S07, the label body 5 is positioned on the printing unit 23, and in step S08, it is determined whether or not an “information writing flag” (not shown) is ON. If the same desired information is written in all of the RFIDs 8, 3, 4, the same content as the written desired information is transferred to each label via the thermal head 30 and the ink ribbon 34 in step S 09. Print on the surface of the pieces 2, 3, 4.
On the other hand, in step S08, if the “information write flag” (not shown) is OFF, that is, if any one of the first to third label pieces 2, 3, 4 has not been read / written, In step S <b> 10, “unusable mark” (not shown) is printed on the label body 5 via the thermal head 30 and the ink ribbon 34.
In step S11, the label body 5 is peeled off. That is, the RFID continuum 1 is transported to the peeling plate 24 and issued with a part of the rear end of the label body 5 placed on the peeling plate 24.

The label body 5 peeled and issued on the peeling plate 24 is peeled off by hand and then bent along the fold line 10 and attached to the corner of the article. Since the first to third label pieces 2, 3, and 4 are each provided with the RFID 8 independently, there is no fear that the antenna 7 is disconnected even if the first to third label pieces 2, 3, and 4 are bent along the fold line 10.
FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state in which the label main body 5 is affixed to a cardboard 60 as an article. The label main body 5 that is affixed to the corners includes first to third label pieces 2, 3, 4 is displayed on both the upper surface and the side surface. For example, when information is read by a portable reader (not shown), the cardboard 60 is rotated only by bringing the reader closer to the corner (corner). In addition, it is easy to work because it does not need to be moved or rolled, and when a stationary reader is used, reading is possible from three directions, so that the directionality of reading is expanded.

Next, another embodiment will be described mainly based on FIG.
In the following description, the same parts as those in the previous embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
FIG. 4 is a plan explanatory view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing a state in which the label main body 5 of the RFID continuous body 1 is positioned on the writing device 70 disposed in the conveyance path 39.
The writing device 70 is provided with an antenna 71 at a central portion of the plane, and this antenna 71 has a wide communication range in which electromagnetic waves are spread over the entire label body 5.
When the label main body 5 is positioned on the writing device 70, the antenna 71 reads the unique identification information (not shown) from the IC chip 6 of each label piece 2, 3 and 4, and with respect to the read label pieces 2, 3, 4 The desired information is written, and the same information can be written collectively by the antenna 71 having a wide communication range, so that the number of parts can be reduced.
Further, as in the previous embodiment, it is not necessary to specify that the antenna 41d in a place where the “label piece” does not exist, so that the operation becomes easier.
The unique identification information (not shown) of the label pieces 2, 3, and 4 is the same unique number + branch number. If even one of the label pieces cannot be read / written, a “unusable mark” is displayed on the label body 5. "Is printed in the same manner as in the previous embodiment.
About another structure, an effect | action, and an effect, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted since it is the same as that of previous embodiment.

It should be noted that the configuration and operation of the above-described embodiment are examples, and it goes without saying that they can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, the writing device 28 has been described with an example in which a total of four antenna installation portions 40 of 2 × 2 are formed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the width direction (conveying direction) of the RFID continuous body 1 is, of course, not limited thereto. 2 in the direction crossing F), and the first label antenna 2 is first read / written by operating only the “antenna” on one side and then transported to the first and third label pieces 2. 4 may be positioned and read / written to it.

Further, the writing device 28 has been described with an example in which the antenna 41 is provided on the bottom of the shallow hole of the antenna installation portion 40 for convenience of explanation. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the antenna 41 is provided on the surface of the writing device 28. (41a to 41d) may be provided, and a screen-like “shield member” for partitioning each of the antennas 41a to 41d may be provided.

It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the plane which shows the RFID continuous body of this invention. It is the schematic explanatory drawing which looked at the printing issuing device from the side same as the above. It is a schematic perspective view of the writing device. FIG. 4 is an explanatory plan view seen from the direction of arrow IV in FIG. 3. It is a flowchart which shows the operating state of a printing issuing apparatus similarly. It is a schematic perspective explanatory drawing which shows the state by which the label main body was affixed on the article | item. It is a plane explanatory view of the side equivalent to Drawing 4 showing other embodiments.

Explanation of symbols

F Conveying direction 1 RFID continuum 2 First label piece 3 Second label piece 4 Third label piece 5 Label body 6 IC chip 7 Antenna 8 RFID
9 mount 10 broken line 11 identification mark 21 print issuing device 22 supply shaft 23 printing unit 24 release plate 25 mount winding unit 26 ink ribbon unit 27 position detection sensor 28 writing unit 29 control unit 30 thermal head 31 platen 32 ribbon supply unit 33 ribbon Winding part 34 Ink ribbon 35, 36, 37, 38, 45 Guide pin 39 Conveying path 40 Antenna installation part 41, 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d Antenna 50 Belt 51 Stepping motor 60 Article (corrugated cardboard)
70 Writing device (another embodiment)
71 Antenna

Claims (5)

A first label piece with a built-in RFID having an IC chip and an antenna having a rectangular shape, and connected to each of the first label pieces in a perpendicular direction via a broken line, and the IC chip and the antenna respectively Form the label body with the second and third label pieces with built-in RFID provided,
An RFID continuous body in which the label main body is temporarily attached to a mount at substantially equal intervals. A first label piece having an IC chip and an RFID including an antenna and having a rectangular shape, and a first label piece connected to each of the first label pieces in a perpendicular direction via a broken line and each having a built-in RFID. A supply shaft for mounting an RFID continuous body formed by temporarily attaching label bodies formed of the second and third label pieces to the mount at substantially equal intervals;
A writing device provided with at least two antennas for reading and writing the RFID of the positioned label piece in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the RFID continuous body;
Using the print issuance apparatus and a printing unit having a thermal head for performing a desired printing on the label pieces of the RFID continuum,
A method for issuing a print, in which information is written on the RFID of the label piece while feeding the RFID continuous body from the supply shaft in the conveying direction, and printing is performed on each label piece,
Write information to each RFID incorporated in the label piece via the antenna of the writing device facing the positioned label piece, and
A print issuing method, wherein desired information is printed on each label piece via the thermal head.   3. The print issuing method according to claim 2, wherein the writing device includes a shield member that blocks electromagnetic waves between adjacent antennas, and uses only the label piece that confronts a communication area of the antenna. 4. A first label piece having a rectangular shape with an RFID including an IC chip and an antenna built therein, and second and third built-in RFIDs connected to the first label piece in a perpendicular direction via a broken line. A supply shaft on which an RFID continuous body formed by temporarily attaching a label main body formed of a label piece to a mount at substantially equal intervals;
A writing device provided with an antenna for reading and writing to the RFID of the label piece of the positioned label body to face the central portion of the label body;
Using the print issuance apparatus and a printing unit having a thermal head for performing a desired printing on the label pieces of the RFID continuum,
A method for issuing a print, in which information is written on the RFID of the label piece while feeding the RFID continuous body from the supply shaft in the conveying direction, and printing is performed on each label piece,
Write the same information all together through the antenna to the RFID of each label piece in the writing device, and
A print issuing method, wherein desired information is printed on each label piece via the thermal head.   At the time of reading / writing of the label piece to the RFID by the writing device, if at least one of the first to third label pieces cannot be read / written, the thermal head cannot be used for the label body. The print issuing method according to claim 4, wherein an effect is printed.

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