JP4911342B2 - Tag label making device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tag label making apparatus for performing detailed cooperative control between printing operation and communication operation, and improving convenience of an operator. <P>SOLUTION: The tag label making apparatus comprises a print head 23 for performing printing for a print region of a cover film, a loop antenna LC for transmitting information to and receiving information from a radio tag circuit element, and a tape feed roller 27 for providing a relative movement between the print head 23 or the loop antenna LC and a printed tag label tape, wherein a control circuit 110 determines a time-lag relationship between when the radio tag circuit element reaches a communication position in which it transmits information to and receives information from the loop antenna LC and when printing for the print region is completed by the print head 23, and corresponding to the determined result, operation modes of the tape feed roller 27, the loop antenna LC and the print head 23 are cooperatively switched and controlled. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a tag label producing apparatus for producing a RFID label having a RFID circuit element that performs wireless communication of information with the outside.

  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 radio tag is usually formed by providing a radio frequency circuit element on a label-like material, and this tag label is often affixed to a target article or the like for classification and organization of various documents and articles, for example. . At this time, if the information related to the RFID tag information is printed on the label separately from the RFID tag information stored inside, the user can visually recognize the related information on the label. It is. For this reason, conventionally, a tag label producing apparatus for producing a RFID label from such a viewpoint has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In this prior art tag label producing apparatus, a label having a RFID circuit element (RF-ID element) attached to a tape-like mount (label paper) is made into a roll (recording medium), and the above-mentioned roll After printing on the surface of the label by the printing means (recording head) while feeding out the mount, information is transmitted from the device-side antenna (communication antenna) to the RFID circuit element in the above-mentioned transport state, and the predetermined information Writing is performed so that printed RFID tag labels are continuously generated.

JP 2004-82432 A

  In the above prior art, communication to the RFID circuit element at the time of transport can be performed more quickly than when communication is stopped, and antennas are provided at two locations upstream in the transport direction, and communication is performed with the antenna on the upstream side. When communication fails, the communication success rate can be improved by trying communication again with the downstream antenna.

  However, since predetermined printing is always performed before communication, the RFID label is always printed in the same manner regardless of whether the communication result is acceptable. For example, if the communication result can be reflected in the print mode or if it is better to reflect the result, the communication by the antenna and the print by the printing means are linked, for example, by reflecting it to the operator. Convenience should have been improved, but no particular consideration was given to such points.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a tag label producing apparatus that can perform detailed cooperation control between a printing operation and a communication operation, and can improve the convenience for the operator.

In order to achieve the above object, a first invention is a first invention in which a tape-like base tape having a wireless tag circuit element provided with an IC circuit section for storing information and an antenna for transmitting and receiving information is wound. A cartridge holder including a roll and a second roll wound with a tape-like print medium to be bonded to the tag medium; and a cartridge holder capable of attaching and detaching the cartridge; and the first of the cartridge mounted on the cartridge holder The substrate tape fed from one roll and the print medium to be fed fed from the second roll are bonded together by pressure bonding to produce a tag label tape; The base tape, the printing medium fed from the second roll, and the tag bonded by the bonding means Conveying means for conveying the bell tape, wherein is transported by the transport means against a predetermined print area of the printing medium before being bonded by said bonding means, and printing means for performing Printout, said conveying means Cutting means provided on the downstream side of the laminating means along the conveying direction by the cutting means for cutting the stuck tag label tape, and the laminating means and the cutting means along the conveying direction by the conveying means The wireless tag information including at least the tag ID as identification information is written to or stored in the IC circuit unit in advance with the RFID circuit element provided on the tag label tape provided on the downstream side. It has been read in have information, and communication means for performing a non-contact, in the bonded the said label tape by the bonding means And before the cutting by the cutting means, and when the RFID circuit element of the tag label tape reaches the predetermined position for writing or reading with the communication means, Control of at least the transport means and the communication means is performed so that transport of the tape, the print medium, and the tag label tape is temporarily stopped and the writing or reading is performed in the stopped state. A tag label producing apparatus comprising: a link control unit configured to perform the printing completion timing of the printing unit with respect to the printing region corresponding to the RFID circuit element by the conveyance of the conveyance unit; Whether the RFID tag circuit element arrives at the predetermined position earlier is determined by the transport by the transport means and the printing hand. Before and after the start of printing by the stage , and the linkage control means, when the front and rear determination means determines that the print completion timing is earlier than the arrival timing, the determination Then, the conveyance means and the communication means are controlled so as to temporarily stop conveyance by the conveyance means and resume conveyance by the conveyance means after performing the writing or reading by the communication means. In addition, when the arrival / departure determination unit determines that the arrival timing is earlier than the print completion timing, the conveyance by the conveyance unit and the printing by the printing unit are temporarily performed after the determination. After stopping and performing the writing or reading by the communication means, transport by the transport means and printing by the printing means To resume, said transport means, said communication means, and characterized in that you cooperation with switching control of the operation mode of the printing means.

In the first invention of the present application, when the tag medium is conveyed by the conveying means and the RFID tag circuit element of the tag medium reaches a predetermined position where writing or reading is performed with the communication means , the predetermined printing on the tag medium by the printing means at this time The front-rear determination unit determines which of the time points when the printing on the area is completed is earlier.

When it is determined that the completion of printing for the print area is first, it is possible to reliably perform writing or reading in the stopped state by stopping the conveyance and performing the writing or reading by the communication means and then restarting the conveyance. Further, it is possible to quickly create a tag label without performing useless control for re-driving the printing unit.

When it is determined that the arrival at a predetermined position for writing or reading is first, the conveyance and printing are stopped, the writing or reading is performed by the communication means , and then the conveyance and printing are resumed to interrupt the printing. Thus, writing or reading can be reliably performed in the conveyance stopped state, and the printing remaining after the resumption can be finished to reliably produce the tag label.
As described above, it is necessary to reflect and reflect the writing or reading result when it is possible to reflect the writing or reading result on the printing by switching control according to the state when the writing or reading position is reached. It is possible to easily and quickly control the detailed linkage control, such as not reflecting when there is no or when it cannot be reflected. As a result, the convenience for the operator can be improved.

The second aspect based on the first invention, a communication determining means for determining whether the write or the read is successful for the RFID circuit element by said communication means, said coordination control means, said front and rear When the determination unit determines that the arrival timing is earlier than the print completion timing, and when the communication determination unit determines that the writing or reading is successful, printing by the printing unit is resumed. It controls to do.

When writing or reading is successful, it is not necessary to reflect the writing or reading result in particular (it is sufficient to notify the operator only when it fails), so printing can be resumed as it is, and a normal RFID tag label can be created reliably. it can.

According to a third invention, in the first invention , the communication determining means for determining whether the writing or reading to the RFID circuit element by the communication means is successful, and the writing or reading by the communication determining means. When it is determined that the information has failed, writing or reading the same information as the information that has failed to be written or read with respect to another RFID circuit element disposed on the subsequent side in the transport direction from the RFID circuit element that has failed is performed. And the writing means by cooperatively controlling the conveying means, the printing means, and the communication means so as to perform printing corresponding to the predetermined area corresponding to the another RFID circuit element. Or a re-creation control unit that creates a RFID label different from the RFID label having the RFID circuit element that has failed to be read. Characterized in that it has a.

By making a write / read success / failure judgment, the writing / reading result can be reflected in the print, and if it should be reflected, it will be reflected, and if it is not necessary or impossible, it will not be reflected. It becomes possible to control the control easily and quickly. As a result, the convenience for the operator can be improved.

When writing to or reading from one RFID circuit element through the communication means fails, substantially the same information is written to or read from the RFID tag circuit element arranged on the subsequent side of the tag medium. Thus, the RFID label using the information can be recreated.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the invention , there is provided discharge means for discharging the produced RFID label outside the tag label producing apparatus, and the re-creation control means includes the RFID circuit element that has failed in the writing or reading. The discharge means, the transport means, the printing means, and the communication means are controlled in a coordinated manner so that the separate RFID label is created after the RFID label is discharged.

When a label is created in a form where writing or reading to the RFID circuit element has failed for one RFID tag label, the RFID label is ejected and automatically written or read to another RFID circuit element. Create another RFID label. As a result, even when writing or reading fails, the operator can automatically re-create the RFID label without newly performing an additional operation, and the burden on the operator can be reduced.

According to a fifth invention, in the third or fourth invention , the transport means, the printing means, and the communication means so as to collectively create a plurality of the RFID tag labels each having the RFID circuit element. And continuous creation control means for cooperatively controlling the discharge means.

  As a result, when it is known that a plurality of RFID labels are to be created in advance, the operator only needs to give an instruction to the continuous creation control means to continuously create the plurality of RFID labels. Since there is no need to repeatedly create the plurality of RFID labels individually one by one, the burden on the operator can be reduced and the convenience can be improved.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the third to fifth aspects, when the communication control unit determines that the writing or reading has failed, the cooperation control unit sets the printing unit to the failure. Control is performed to perform printing corresponding to the above.

On failure of the write or read, by performing printing corresponding to the failure, the write or read result (= failure) visually revealed, it can be recognized by the operator.

According to a seventh invention, in the sixth invention , the printing means performs printing in a mode different from a normal time as printing corresponding to the failure.

By performing printing in a mode different from normal when writing or reading fails, the operator can be more surely recognized.

According to an eighth invention, in the sixth or seventh invention , the transport means is a base material layer to which the RFID circuit element is attached as the tag medium, and a base material layer for attaching the base material layer to an object to be attached. A tag tape having an adhesive material layer and a release material layer covering the adhesive material layer is conveyed, and in the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the label area of a predetermined length corresponding to the RFID circuit element in the tag tape. A semi-cutting means for selectively cutting either the release material layer or a layer other than the release material layer in the width direction is provided.

  When only the release material layer is cut by the half-cutting means, the release material layer can be easily peeled from the adhesive material layer from the cutting line when the RFID tag label created by the operator is attached to the application target. Alternatively, when only the part other than the release material layer is cut by the semi-cutting means, the length (corresponding to the printing length) of the RFID label that is actually peeled off and attached at the position of the cutting line can be defined. As a result, regardless of the length of the RFID label to be attached, the use length of the label area of the tag tape used for creating one RFID label can be always constant.

In a ninth aspect based on the eighth aspect , when the communication determination unit determines that the writing or reading has failed, the width direction cutting of one end of the label region in the longitudinal direction is performed. It is characterized by having a cutting | disconnection control means which controls operation | movement of the said half cutting | disconnection means so that it may not perform.

Since the one that failed to write or read cannot be used as the RFID label, it is possible to eliminate the unnecessary cutting operation by omitting the width direction cutting of the half-cutting means usually performed at both ends instead of being performed at one end. Can be simplified. In addition, since there is no cutting line at one end of both ends, there is an effect that it is possible to visually reveal to the operator that the RFID label has failed to be written or read .

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first and second aspects, the front / rear determination unit determines that the arrival timing is earlier than the print completion timing, and the conveyance unit performs conveyance at the arrival timing . when and where printing by the printing means is temporarily stopped, the non-print blank part conveyance direction position is positioned in the inter-printing characters in the print area or print diagram elephant when said printing means stops printing It is characterized by having a blank judgment means for judging whether or not it corresponds to the arrival timing .

If the printing unit stops printing in the middle of printing a character part or a graphic part (a non-blank part), there is a possibility that fading or minute printing blanks may occur at the stop position when printing is resumed thereafter. In the tenth invention of the present application, when the blank determination means determines whether the printing stop position of the printing means corresponds to a non-printing blank part, it does not correspond (in the middle of printing a character part or a graphic part) In such a case, by performing predetermined control corresponding to the above, it is possible to avoid the adverse effects such as blurring and blanking.

In an eleventh aspect based on the tenth aspect , when the blank determining unit determines that the stop position of the printing unit does not correspond to the non-printing blank portion, the printing unit performs the non-printing blank portion. It has a conveyance control means for controlling the conveyance means so that the tag medium or the medium to be printed is conveyed in the reverse direction or the forward direction to stop.

If the stop position of the printing means is in the middle of printing a character part or a graphic part, it is transported to a non-printing blank part and then stopped and written or read , so that fading or blanking due to printing stop, etc. Can be prevented.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform fine linkage control between the printing operation and the communication operation, and to improve the convenience for the operator.

  Hereinafter, a tag label producing apparatus according to 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 including a tag label producing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  In the RFID tag generating system TS shown in FIG. 1, the tag label producing apparatus 1 is connected to a route server RS, a plurality of information servers IS, a terminal 118a, and a general-purpose computer 118b via a wired or wireless communication line NW. . Note that the terminal 118a and the general-purpose computer 118b are collectively referred to as “PC 118” as appropriate hereinafter. The information server IS is provided with a database (not shown) in which, for example, employee information, article information, customer information, and the like are registered.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of the tag label producing apparatus 1.

  In FIG. 2, a tag label producing apparatus 1 is connected to the PC 118 and produces a desired RFID label with a print based on an operation from the PC 118, and can be opened and closed on the apparatus main body 2 and the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2. And an open / close lid 3 provided.

  The apparatus main body 2 is positioned on the front side (left front side in FIG. 2), and includes a side wall 10 having a label discharge port 11 for discharging a RFID label T (details will be described later) created in the apparatus main body 2 to the outside. The side wall 10 includes a side cover 12 provided below the label discharge port 11 and having a lower end rotatably supported.

  The side lid 12 is provided with a pressing portion 13, and the side lid 12 is opened forward by pushing the pressing portion 13 from above. A power button 14 for turning on / off the power of the tag label producing apparatus 1 is provided below the opening / closing button 4 in the side wall 10. A cutter driving button 16 for driving a cutting mechanism 15 (see FIG. 3 described later) disposed in the apparatus main body 2 by a user's manual operation is provided below the power button 14. Is pressed, the tag label tape 109 with print (details will be described later) is cut to a desired length to produce the RFID label T.

  The opening / closing lid 3 is pivotally supported at the end of the apparatus main body 2 on the right back side in FIG. 2 and is always urged in the opening direction via an urging member such as a spring. Then, when the open / close button 4 disposed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2 so as to be adjacent to the open / close lid 3 is pressed, the lock between the open / close lid 3 and the apparatus main body 2 is released and opened by the action of the biasing member. Is done. A see-through window 5 covered with a transparent cover is provided at the center side of the opening / closing lid 3.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of the internal unit 20 inside the tag label producing apparatus 1 (however, a loop antenna LC described later is omitted). In FIG. 3, the internal unit 20 schematically includes a cartridge holder 6 that accommodates a cartridge (wireless tag circuit element cartridge) 7, a printing mechanism 21 that includes a print head (thermal head) 23 as printing means, A cutting mechanism 15, a half-cut unit 35 (see FIG. 8 described later), and a label discharge mechanism 22 that discharges the generated RFID label T (see FIG. 19 described later) from the label discharge port 11 (see FIG. 2). I have.

  4 is a plan view showing the structure of the internal unit 20 shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view schematically showing the detailed structure of the cartridge 7. As shown in FIG.

  4 and 5, the cartridge holder 6 accommodates the cartridge 7 so that the direction of the width direction of the tag label tape 109 with print discharged from the label discharge port 11 is the vertical direction. The cartridge 7 includes a housing 7 </ b> A, a first roll 102 that is disposed in the housing 7 </ b> A and has a belt-like base tape 101 wound thereon, and the transparent cover film that has substantially the same width as the base tape 101. A ribbon supply-side roll 111 for feeding a second roll 104 around which 103 (print medium) is wound, an ink ribbon 105 (thermal transfer ribbon, but not required if the print tape is a thermal tape), and a ribbon 105 after printing. Ribbon take-up roller 106, tape feed roller 27 (conveying means, relative moving means) rotatably supported in the vicinity of the tape discharge portion 30 of the cartridge 7, and guide roller 112 functioning as a conveying position regulating means. And have.

  The tape feed roller 27 presses and bonds the base tape 101 and the cover film 103 to form the printed tag label tape 109 and feeds the tape in the direction indicated by the arrow A (= also functions as a pressure roller). ).

  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. 5), from the side wound inside (right side in FIG. 5) to the opposite side (left side in FIG. 5), Adhesive layer 101a made of an appropriate adhesive material, colored base film 101b (base material layer) made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), adhesive layer 101c (adhesive material layer) made of an appropriate adhesive material, release paper 101d (release) The layers are laminated in the order of the material layers.

  On the back side (left side in FIG. 5) of the base film 101b, a loop antenna 152 (tag side loop antenna) configured in a loop coil shape and transmitting / receiving information is integrally provided in this example, and is connected thereto. Thus, the IC circuit unit 151 for storing information is formed, and these constitute the 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. 5) of the base film 101b, and the RFID circuit element is formed on the back side (left side in FIG. 5) 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 To.

  The release paper 101d is configured such that when the RFID label T finally completed in a label shape is attached to a predetermined product or the like, the release paper 101d can be adhered to the product or the like by the adhesive layer 101c by peeling it off. Further, on the surface of the release paper 101d, a transport control is performed at a predetermined position corresponding to each RFID circuit element To (in this example, a position further forward than the front end of the antenna 152 on the front side in the transport direction). A predetermined identifier (in this example, a black identifier. Alternatively, a hole substantially penetrating through the base tape 101 may be formed by laser processing or the like. Refer to FIG. 19C described later) PM is provided.

  The second roll 104 has the cover film 103 wound around a reel member 104a. The cover film 103 fed out from the second roll 104 is a ribbon driven by the ribbon supply side roll 111 and the ribbon take-up roller 106 arranged on the back side thereof (that is, the side to be bonded to the base tape 101). 105 is pressed against the print head 23 to be brought into contact with the back surface of the cover film 103.

  The ribbon take-up roller 106 and the tape feed roller 27 are driven by a ribbon take-up roller via a gear mechanism (not shown) driven by a conveying motor 119 (see FIG. 15 to be described later), for example, a pulse motor provided outside the cartridge 7. By being transmitted to the shaft 107 and the tape feed roller drive shaft 108, they are driven to rotate in conjunction with each other.

  On the other hand, at this time, the print head 23 having a large number of heat generating elements is attached to the head attaching portion 24 erected on the cartridge holder 6 and arranged upstream of the tape feed roller 27 in the transport direction of the cover film 103. ing.

  Further, a roller holder 25 is pivotally supported by a support shaft 29 in front of the cartridge 7 in the cartridge holder 6 (lower side in FIG. 4), and a printing position (contact position, FIG. Reference) and a release position (separation position). In the roller holder 25, a platen roller 26 and a tape pressure roller 28 are rotatably arranged. When the roller holder 25 is switched to the printing position, the platen roller 26 and the tape pressure roller 28 are The print head 23 and the tape feed roller 27 are pressed against each other.

  In the above configuration, the base tape 101 fed out from the first roll 102 is supplied to the tape feed roller 27. On the other hand, the cover film 103 fed out from the second roll 104 is arranged on the back side thereof (that is, the side to be bonded to the base tape 101), and is driven by the ribbon supply side roll 111 and the ribbon take-up roller 106. The ribbon 105 is pressed against the print head 23 and brought into contact with the back surface of the cover film 103.

  When the cartridge 7 is mounted on the cartridge holder 6 and the roll holder 25 is moved from the release position to the print position, the cover film 103 and the ink ribbon 105 are held between the print head 23 and the platen roller 26. At the same time, the base tape 101 and the cover film 103 are sandwiched between the tape feeding roller 27 and the pressure roller 28. Then, the ribbon take-up roller 106 and the tape feed roller 27 are rotationally driven in synchronization with the directions indicated by the arrows B and C by the driving force of the conveying motor 119, respectively. At this time, the tape feed roller drive shaft 108, the pressure roller 28 and the platen roller 26 are connected by a gear mechanism (not shown), and the tape feed roller 27, The pressure roller 28 and the platen roller 26 rotate, and the base tape 101 is fed out from the first roll 102 and supplied to the tape feed roller 27 as described above. On the other hand, the cover film 103 is fed out from the second roll 104, and a plurality of heating elements of the print head 23 are energized by the print drive circuit 120 (see FIG. 15 described later). As a result, a label print R (see FIG. 18 described later) corresponding to the stored information of the RFID circuit element To on the base tape 101 to be bonded is printed on the back surface of the cover film 103. The base tape 101 and the cover film 103 after printing are bonded and integrated by the tape feeding roller 27 and the pressure roller 28 to form a tag label tape 109 with print. It is carried out of the cartridge 7. 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 107.

  Note that, on the upper surface of the housing 7A of the cartridge 7, for example, a tape specifying display portion 8 for displaying the tape width of the base tape 101 incorporated in the cartridge 7 and the color of the tape is provided. . When the cartridge 7 is attached to the cartridge holder 6 and the opening / closing lid 3 is closed, the above-described see-through window 5 and the tape specifying display unit 8 face each other, and the tape specifying display unit 8 is opened via the transparent cover of the see-through window 5. Visible from the outside of the apparatus body 2. As a result, the type of the cartridge 7 attached to the cartridge holder 6 can be easily visually recognized from the outside of the apparatus main body 2 through the transparent window 5.

  On the other hand, as described above, the internal unit 20 is provided with the cutting mechanism 15 and the label discharge mechanism 22, and is further provided with a base tape 101 (a tag label tape with print after bonding, the same applies hereinafter). A loop antenna LC (transmission / reception means) is provided to read or write information via wireless communication with respect to the provided RFID tag circuit element To. Then, after reading or writing information to the RFID circuit element To by the loop antenna LC with respect to the tag label tape 109 with print generated by being bonded as described above, the cutter driving button 16 ( 2), the tag label tape 109 with print is cut by the cutting mechanism 15, and the RFID label T is generated. The RFID label T is then discharged from the label discharge port 11 formed in the side wall 10 (see FIG. 2) by the label discharge mechanism 22 after that.

  The cutting mechanism 15 includes a fixed blade 40, a movable blade 41 that performs a cutting operation together with the fixed blade 40, a cutter helical gear 42 that is coupled to the movable blade 41, and a gear train that is coupled to the cutter helical gear 42. The cutter motor 43 is provided.

  The label discharge mechanism 22 is disposed in the vicinity of the label discharge port 11 provided in the side wall 10 of the apparatus main body 2 and is printed with the tag label tape 109 (in other words, the RFID label T, The same applies hereinafter) functioning as discharge means for forcibly discharging from the label discharge port 11. That is, the label discharge mechanism 22 includes a driving roller 51, a pressing roller 52 facing the driving roller 51 with the printed tag label tape 109 interposed therebetween, and the pressing roller 52 with respect to the printed tag label tape 109. The tag label tape 109 with print is discharged by the driving roller 51 in conjunction with the pressing operation mechanism 53 operated to press or release the pressing, and in conjunction with the pressing release operation of the pressing operation mechanism 53. And a discharge drive mechanism 54 for rotating it.

  At this time, first guide walls 55 and 56 and second guide walls 63 and 64 for guiding the tag label tape 109 with print to the label discharge port 11 are provided inside the label discharge port 11 ( (See FIG. 4). The first guide walls 55 and 56 and the second guide walls 63 and 64 are integrally formed, and at a discharge position of the tag label tape 109 with print cut by the fixed blade 40 and the movable blade 41, a predetermined distance from each other. It is arranged to be separated.

  The pressing operation mechanism unit 53 is attached to the roller support holder 57, the roller support holder 57, a roller support unit 58 that holds the pressing roller 52 at the tip, and a holder support unit that rotatably supports the roller support holder 57. 59, a cam 60 that drives the pressing operation mechanism 53 in conjunction with the cutting mechanism 15, and an urging spring 61.

  The roller support portion 58 is rotatably supported so as to sandwich the pressing roller 52 from above and below. Then, the roller support holder 57 rotates counterclockwise (in the direction of arrow 71 in FIG. 3) about the holder support shaft 59 through the cam 60 by the rotation of the cutter helical gear 42, whereby the pressing roller 52 is printed. It is pressed against the tag label tape 109. When the cutter helical gear 42 is rotated again, the holder support shaft 59 is rotated in the reverse direction by the biasing spring 61, and the pressing roller 52 is separated from the tag label tape 109 with print.

  The discharge drive mechanism portion 54 includes a tape discharge motor 65 and a gear train 66, and after the tag label tape 109 with print is pressed against the drive roller 51 by the pressing roller 52, the tape discharge motor 65 is driven to drive the drive roller 51. Is rotated in the discharge direction of the tag label tape 109 with print, so that the tag label tape 109 with print is forcibly discharged in the discharge direction.

  Note that the upstream side of the driving roller 51 in the conveyance direction (in other words, between a half cutter 34 and a loop antenna LC described later) corresponds to the position of each RFID circuit element on the release paper 101d of the base tape 101. A mark sensor 127 capable of detecting an appropriate identifier PM (see FIG. 6 and the like described later) provided is provided. The mark sensor 127 is, for example, a known reflection type photoelectric sensor including a projector and a light receiver. The control output from the light receiver is inverted depending on whether or not the identifier PM exists between the projector and the light receiver. The first guide wall 56 facing the mark sensor 127 has a structure such that the surface has a color that does not reflect the light of the projector, or the light receiver receives an inclination so that the reflected light is not received.

  FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing the conceptual configuration of the RFID circuit element To provided in the base tape 101 fed out from the first roll 102, as viewed from the direction of arrow D in FIG. In FIG. 6, the RFID circuit element To is composed of the loop antenna 152 that is configured in a loop coil shape and transmits / receives information, and an IC circuit unit 151 that is connected thereto and stores information.

  FIG. 7 is a partial extraction perspective view showing the detailed structure of the main part of the label discharge mechanism 22. In FIG. 7, the middle portions of the first guide walls 55 and 56 in the vertical direction are notched, and the drive roller 51 is disposed on one of the first guide walls 55 from the notch to the discharge position of the tag label tape 109 with print. It is provided so as to face. The drive roller 51 has a roller cutout 51A formed by a concentric groove on the upper surface thereof. On the other hand, on the other first guide wall 56, the pressing roller 52 is supported by the roller support portion 58 of the pressing operation mechanism portion 53 so as to face the discharging position of the tag label tape 109 with print from the notch portion.

  The loop antenna LC (conceptually indicated by an imaginary line in FIG. 7) is disposed in the vicinity of the pressing roller 52 so that the pressing roller 52 is positioned at the center in the radial direction. , Including magnetic contact and other non-contact methods performed via a magnetic field), the RFID tag circuit element To provided in the printed tag label tape 109 is accessed (reading information or writing information). .

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the internal unit 20 in a state where the label discharge mechanism 22 is removed from the structure shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 8, the cutter helical gear 42 is provided with a boss 50 formed in a projecting shape, and this boss 50 is configured to be inserted into a long hole 49 of the movable blade 41 (described later). 11 and FIG. 9). Further, on the downstream side of the fixed blade 40 and the movable blade 41 along the tape discharge direction, so as to be positioned between the fixed blade 40 and the movable blade 41 and the first guide walls 55 and 56 (see FIG. 4), A half cut unit 35 (half cutting means) is attached.

  The half-cut unit 35 includes a cradle 38 that is arranged in accordance with the fixed blade 40, a half cutter 34 that is opposed to the cradle 38 and is disposed on the movable blade 41 side, and between the fixed blade 40 and the cradle 38. The first guide portion 36 is disposed in combination with the fixed blade 40, and the second guide portion 37 is disposed in combination with the movable blade 41 so as to face the first guide portion 36 (see FIG. 11 described later). See also). The first guide portion 36 and the second guide portion 37 are integrally formed, and are attached to the side plate 44 (see FIG. 4) together with the fixed blade 40 by a guide fixing portion 36A provided at a position corresponding to the fixed hole 40A of the fixed blade 40. It has been.

  At this time, a half cutter motor 129 (not shown; see FIG. 15 described later) is provided to rotate the half cutter 34 around a predetermined rotation fulcrum (not shown). The driving mechanism of the half cutter 34 using the half cutter motor 129 is not shown in detail, but can be configured as follows, for example. That is, for example, the half cutter motor 129 is constituted by an electric motor capable of rotating forward and reverse, and is connected to a crank member (same) provided with a pin (same) via a gear train (not shown), and the above-mentioned pin of the rank member A long groove for engaging is formed in the half cutter 34. When the crank member is rotated by the driving force of the half cutter motor 129, the pin of the crank member moves along the long groove, thereby causing the half cutter 34 to move in a predetermined direction (clockwise or counterclockwise). Can be rotated.

  The cradle 38 is bent so that an end facing the tag label tape 109 with print discharged from the tape discharge unit 30 is parallel to the tape, and forms a receiving surface 38B. Here, as described above, the tag label tape 109 with print is bonded to the cover film 103 and the base tape 101 having a four-layer structure including the adhesive layer 101a, the base film 101b, the adhesive layer 101c, and the release paper 101d. Thus, a five-layer structure is formed (see also FIG. 19 described later). Then, by pressing the half cutter 34 against the receiving surface 38B using the driving force of the half cutter motor 129 as described above, the tag label tape 109 with print between the half cutter 34 and the receiving surface 38B is The cover film 103, the adhesive layer 101a, the base film 101b, and the adhesive layer 101c are cut, but only the release paper 101d is left uncut and a half-cut line HC (see FIG. 18 and the like described later) substantially along the tape width direction. It is formed. In addition, after the half cutter 34 contacts the receiving surface 38B, for example, in the above-described configuration, the half cutter motor 129 is configured not to be overloaded by a not-shown slip clutch interposed in the gear train. Is preferred. The receiving surface 38 </ b> B has a role of guiding the tag label tape 109 with print to the label discharge port 11 together with the first guide portions 55 and 56.

  9 and 10 are perspective views showing the appearance of the cutting mechanism 15 in which the half cutter 34 is removed from the internal unit 20.

  9 and 10, in the cutting mechanism 15, when the cutter helical gear 42 is rotated by the cutter motor 43 (see FIG. 3), the movable blade 41 is swung around the shaft hole 48 by the boss 50 and the long hole 49. The tag label tape 109 with print is cut.

  That is, first, when the boss 50 of the cutter helical gear 42 is positioned on the inner side (left side in FIG. 9), the movable blade 41 is positioned away from the fixed blade 40 (hereinafter, this state is referred to as an initial state). ). In this initial state, when the cutter motor 43 is driven and the cutter helical gear 42 rotates counterclockwise (in the direction of the arrow 70), the boss 50 moves outward and the movable blade 41 counters around the shaft hole 48. The tag label tape 109 with print is cut with the fixed blade 40 fixed to the internal unit 20 by rotating clockwise (in the direction of arrow 73) (this state is hereinafter referred to as a cut state, see FIG. 10).

  After the printed tag label tape 109 is cut in this way to generate the RFID label, it is necessary to return the movable blade 41 to the initial state in order to cut the printed tag label tape 109 to be conveyed next time. Therefore, by driving the cutter motor 43 again and rotating the cutter helical gear 42 counterclockwise (in the direction of arrow 70), the boss 50 moves inward again, and the movable blade 41 rotates in the clockwise direction (in the direction of arrow 74). To move the movable blade 41 away from the fixed blade 40 (see FIG. 9). Then, the tag label tape 109 with print, which is printed and conveyed from the cartridge 7 next time, can be cut.

  At this time, a cutter helical gear cam 42A is provided on the cylindrical outer wall of the cutter helical gear 42, and when the cutter helical gear 42 is rotated by the cutter motor 43, the cutter helical gear cam 42A acts on the cutter helical gear 42. The adjacent microswitch 126 is switched from the off state to the on state. Thereby, the cut state of the tag label tape 109 with print is detected.

  FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the detailed structure of the movable blade 41 and the fixed blade 40 together with the half-cut unit 35, and FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged sectional view thereof. 11 and 12, the fixed blade 40 is fixed to a side plate 44 (see FIG. 4) provided upright on the left side of the cartridge holder 6 in the printing mechanism 15 with a screw or the like through a fixing hole 40A.

  The movable blade 41 is substantially V-shaped and includes a blade portion 45 provided at a cutting portion, a handle portion 46 positioned opposite to the blade portion 45, and a bent portion 47. The bent portion 47 is provided with the shaft hole 48, and is supported by the side plate 44 at the shaft hole 48 so that the movable blade 41 can rotate with the bent portion 47 as a fulcrum. Further, the elongated hole 49 is formed in the handle 46 on the opposite side of the blade 45 provided at the cutting portion of the movable blade 41. The blade portion 45 is formed by a two-stage blade, and the blade surface is constituted by two inclined surfaces having different inclination angles of the first inclined surface 45A and the second inclined surface 45B that gradually reduce the thickness of the blade portion 45. ing.

  On the other hand, of the first guide portion 36 of the half-cut unit 35 described above, the end portion 36B facing the printed tag label tape 109 is a receiving surface 38B formed at the end portion of the receiving base 38. And the tag label tape 109 with print is bent in the discharging direction. Therefore, the end portion 36B of the first guide portion 36 has a smooth curved surface with respect to the printed tag label tape 109 discharging direction at the contact surface 36C with respect to the printed tag label tape 109 discharged from the cartridge 7.

  By projecting the end portion 36B of the first guide portion 36 and making the contact surface 36C curved, the front end portion of the tag label tape 109 with print curled to a certain curvature or more first hits the contact surface 36C of the first guide portion 36. . At this time, the leading end of the tag label tape 109 with print hits the downstream side (downward in FIG. 12) of the printed tag label tape 109 from the boundary point 75 on the contact surface 36C of the first guide portion. In this case, the leading end of the tag label tape 109 with print moves downstream along the curved surface, so that the label does not enter between the fixed blade 40 and the first guide portion 36 or the cradle 38. It leads to the discharge port 11 direction.

  The first guide portion 36 has a guide width L1 (see FIG. 11) corresponding to the transport path of the printed tag label tape 109 larger than the maximum width (36 mm in this embodiment) of the attached tag label tape 109 to be attached. The inner surface 36D is formed continuously with the contact surface 36C. The internal surface 36D is formed to face first and second inclined surfaces 45A and 45B (details will be described later) of the movable blade 41, and at the time of cutting, the first and second inclined surfaces 45A and 45B of the movable blade 41 are formed. A part is abutted (see FIG. 12). Since the movable blade 41 is formed by a two-stage blade, when the tag label tape 109 with print is cut by the movable blade 41, the contact surface 36C and the inner surface 36D corresponding to the end of the first guide portion 36 A gap 39 is formed between the movable blade 41 and the second inclined surface 45B (see FIG. 12).

  13 is a front view showing the appearance of the movable blade 41, and FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

  13 and 14, in the present embodiment, the first inclined surface 45A has an angle of 50 degrees with the back surface of the blade portion 45 opposite to the first inclined surface 45A.

  FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram showing a control system of the tag label producing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. In FIG. 15, a control circuit 110 is disposed on a control board (not shown) of the tag label producing apparatus 1.

  The control circuit 110 includes a CPU 111 having an internal timer 111A for controlling each device, an input / output interface 113 connected to the CPU 111 via a data bus 112, a CGROM 114, ROMs 115 and 116, and a RAM 117. It has been.

  The CGROM 114 stores dot pattern data for display corresponding to the code data for each of a large number of characters.

  In a ROM (dot pattern data memory) 115, for each of a large number of characters for printing characters such as alphabet letters and symbols, printing dot pattern data is provided for each typeface (Gothic typeface, Mincho typeface, etc.). Each typeface is classified and stored in correspondence with the code data for the print character size. In addition, graphic pattern data for printing a graphic image including gradation expression is also stored.

  The ROM 116 reads the print buffer data in correspondence with the character code data such as characters and numbers input from the PC 118 and drives the print head 23, the transport motor 119, and the tape discharge motor 65. A control program, a pulse number determination program for determining the number of pulses corresponding to the amount of energy to form each print dot, and when printing is finished, the tag label tape 109 with print is transported by driving the transport motor 119 to the cutting position. A cutting drive control program for driving the cutter motor 43 to cut the tag label tape 109 with print, and the cut tag label tape 109 with print (= the RFID label T) from the label discharge port 11 by driving the tape discharge motor 65. Forcible tape ejection program and other tags Bell generating apparatus 1 controls various programs required for are stored. The CPU 111 performs various calculations based on various programs stored in the ROM 116.

  The RAM 117 is provided with a text memory 117A, a print buffer 117B, a parameter storage area 117E, and the like. The text memory 117A stores document data input from the PC 118. In the print buffer 117B, a dot pattern for printing such as a plurality of characters and symbols, the number of applied pulses that is the amount of energy for forming each dot, and the like are stored as dot pattern data. The print head 23 is stored in the print buffer 117B. Dot printing is performed according to the existing dot pattern data. Various calculation data are stored in the parameter storage area 117E.

  The input / output interface 113 includes a PC 118, the print drive circuit 120 for driving the print head 23, a transport motor drive circuit 121 for driving the transport motor 119, and a cutter motor 43. The cutter motor driving circuit 122, the half cutter motor driving circuit 128 for driving the half cutter motor 129, the tape discharging motor driving circuit 123 for driving the tape discharging motor 65, and the wireless tag via the loop antenna LC. The transmitter circuit 306 generates a carrier wave for accessing (reading / writing) the circuit element To and modulates the carrier wave based on a control signal input from the control circuit 110, and the RFID circuit element To The response signal received via the loop antenna LC from The reception circuit 307 that performs the operation and outputs the control circuit 110, the tape cut sensor 124, and the cut release detection sensor 125 are connected to each other.

  In such a control system having the control circuit 110 as the core, when character data or the like is input via the PC 118, the text (document data) is sequentially stored in the text memory 117A, and the print head 23 is driven by the drive circuit. 120, each of the heat generating elements is selectively driven to generate heat corresponding to the print dots for one line, and the dot pattern data stored in the print buffer 117B is printed, and in synchronization with this, for carrying The motor 119 performs tape transport control via the drive circuit 121. In addition, the transmission circuit 306 performs carrier wave modulation control based on the control signal from the control circuit 110, and the reception circuit 307 processes the demodulated signal based on the control signal from the control circuit 110.

  The tape cut sensor 124 and the cut release detection sensor 125 include a cutter helical gear cam 42A and a micro switch 126 provided on the cylindrical outer wall of the cutter helical gear 42 (see FIGS. 9 and 10). . Specifically, when the cutter helical gear 42 is rotated by the cutter motor 43, the micro switch 126 is switched from the OFF state to the ON state by the action of the cutter helical gear cam 42A, and the tag label tape 109 with print is cut by the movable blade 45. Detect that is complete. Thus, the tape cut sensor 124 is configured. When the cutter helical gear 42 further rotates, the micro switch 126 is switched from the on state to the off state by the action of the cutter helical gear cam 42A, and it is detected that the movable blade 45 has returned to the release position. Thus, the cut release detection sensor 125 is configured.

  FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram schematically showing a circuit configuration of a connection portion between the transmission circuit 306 and the reception circuit 307 and the loop antenna LC. In FIG. 16, the transmission circuit 306 is connected to the device-side loop antenna LC, and the reception circuit 307 is connected to the capacitor 310 connected in series with the device-side loop antenna LC.

  FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration of the RFID circuit element To. In FIG. 17, the RFID circuit element To includes the loop antenna 152 that transmits and receives signals in a contactless manner with the loop antenna LC on the tag label producing apparatus 1 side, and the IC circuit connected to the loop antenna 152. Part 151.

  The IC circuit unit 151 includes a rectifying unit 153 that rectifies the carrier wave received by the loop antenna 152, a power source unit 154 that accumulates energy of the carrier wave rectified by the rectifying unit 153 and uses it as a driving power source, and the loop antenna. 152, a clock extraction unit 156 that extracts a clock signal from the carrier wave received by 152 and supplies the clock signal to the control unit 155, a memory unit 157 that can store a predetermined information signal, and a modulation / demodulation unit 158 connected to the loop antenna 152 And a control unit 155 for controlling the operation of the RFID circuit element To through the rectifying unit 153, the clock extracting unit 156, the modem unit 158, and the like.

  The modulation / demodulation unit 158 demodulates the communication signal received from the loop antenna 152 from the loop antenna LC of the tag label producing apparatus 1 and receives the carrier wave received from the loop antenna 152 based on the response signal from the control unit 155. Modulate and reflect.

  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.

  FIGS. 18A and 18B are formed when the tag label producing apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration completes writing (or reading) of the RFID tag circuit element To and cutting of the tag label tape 109 with print. It is a figure showing an example of the external appearance of the RFID tag T made, FIG. 18 (a) is a top view, FIG.18 (b) is a bottom view. FIG. 19A is a cross-sectional view of the IXXA-IXXA ′ cross section in FIG. 18 rotated 90 ° counterclockwise, and FIG. 19B is the cross section of the IXXB-IXXB ′ cross section in FIG. It is the figure which rotated the figure 90 degrees counterclockwise.

  18 (a), 18 (b), 19 (a), and 19 (b), the RFID label T has a cover film 103 added to the four-layer structure shown in FIG. 5 as described above. The cover film 103, the adhesive layer 101a, the base film 101b, the adhesive layer 101c, from the cover film 103 side (upper side in FIG. 19) to the opposite side (lower side in FIG. 19) The release paper 101d constitutes 5 layers. As described above, the RFID circuit element To including the loop antenna 152 provided on the back side of the base film 101b is provided in the base film 101b and the adhesive layer 101c, and the RFID circuit element To is provided on the back surface of the cover film 103. A label print R (in this example, “RF-ID” indicating the type of the RFID label T) corresponding to the stored information is printed.

  Also, the cover film 103, the adhesive layer 101a, the base film 101b, and the adhesive layer 101c are provided with the half-cut line HC (half-cut portion. However, in this example, substantially along the tape width direction by the half cutter 34 as described above. Two front half-cut lines HC1 and rear half-cut line HC2 (details will be described later) are formed. In the cover film 103, an area sandwiched between the half-cut lines HC1 and HC2 is a print area S on which the label print R is printed, and both sides in the longitudinal direction of the tape sandwiching the half-cut lines HC1 and HC2 from the print area S. Are a front margin area S1 and a rear margin area S2. In addition, as already described, the tag label producing apparatus 1 uses a set of base tape 101 and cover film 103, and sequentially creates a plurality of RFID label T using a tag label tape 109 with prints bonded together. However, in this embodiment, when this is sequentially generated, the remaining number information of the RFID circuit element To in the base tape 101 (in this example, the wireless tag circuit T) is displayed in the front margin area S1 of the cover film 103 of each RFID label T. The order information of the RFID circuit element To related to the tag label T, that is, the usage number information indicating that the RFID tag circuit element To is the second of the 30 RFID circuit elements To provided on the base tape 101) R1 is printed.

  Note that the dimension (the distance from the half-cut line HC1 to the half-cut line HC2) X of the print region S in the tape longitudinal direction is variably set according to the content and mode (for example, the number of characters, font, etc.) of the label print R. . Further, the length of the front margin area in the tape longitudinal direction (distance from the tape front end to the half-cut line HC1) X1 and the dimension of the rear margin area in the tape longitudinal direction (distance from the half-cut line HC2 to the tape rear end) X2 Is preset to a predetermined value (in this example, fixed) (however, as will be described later, the rear half-cut line HC2 may not be provided). Further, the identifier PM described above remains on the release paper 101d, and the distance from the leading end of the identifier PM in the tape transport direction to the leading end of the RFID circuit element To offset in the tape transport direction is a predetermined value L. It has become. As already described, instead of providing a black marking as shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B as the identifier PM, as shown in FIG. 19C, the laser processing is performed as the identifier PM. For example, a hole substantially penetrating the base tape 101 may be provided. In this case, when the mark sensor 127 is constituted by a known reflection type photoelectric sensor composed of a projector and a light receiver, when the identifier PM composed of the hole comes at a position between the light projector and the light receiver, the light from the light projector is transmitted. The light passing through the hole of the identifier PM and the transparent cover film 103 is not reflected and is not received by the light receiver, thereby inverting the control output from the light receiver.

  FIG. 20 is displayed on the PC 118 (terminal 118a or general-purpose computer 118b) 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 1 as described above. It is a figure showing an example of a screen.

  20, in this example, the type of tag label (access frequency and tape size), label print R printed corresponding to the RFID circuit element To, and identification information (tag ID) specific to the RFID circuit element To The access (read or write) ID, the address of the article information stored in the information server IS, the storage address of the corresponding information in the route server RS, and the like can be displayed on the PC 118. Then, the tag tag label producing apparatus 1 is operated by the operation of the PC 118, the label print R is printed on the cover film 103, and the information such as the write ID and article information is written on the IC circuit unit 151 (or Information such as read ID and article information stored in advance in the IC circuit unit 151 is read).

  At the time of reading or writing as described above, the tag ID of the RFID tag circuit element To of the generated RFID label T and information read from the IC circuit portion 151 of the RFID label T (or to the IC circuit portion 151) The correspondence relationship with the (written information) is stored in the above-described route server RS and can be referred to as necessary.

  In the tag label producing apparatus 1 having the basic configuration as described above, the greatest feature of the present embodiment is that the RFID circuit element To reaches the communication position with the loop antenna LC when the tag label tape 109 with print is conveyed. The subsequent control of the print head 23 and the loop antenna LC is switched depending on whether the printing of the print head 23 is completed. Hereinafter, the control behavior according to the transport position will be described with reference to FIGS.

(A) When the printing length is relatively long FIGS. 21A to 21K are respectively the identifier PM of the tag label tape 109 with print, the RFID tag circuit element To, and the printing area S of the label printing R that are continuously fed out. And a positional relationship among the loop antenna LC, the mark sensor 127, the half-cut unit 34, the cutting mechanism 15, and the print head 23. As illustrated, in the present embodiment, in the base tape 101, the distance L from the leading end position of the identifier PM in the tape transport direction to the front end of the RFID circuit element To in the tape transport direction is the mark sensor 127 and the print head 23. Is set in advance so as to be equal to the tape conveyance direction distance Lo between and.

  First, FIG. 21A shows a state immediately after the feeding of the tag label tape 109 with print from the cartridge 7 is started. In the state shown in the figure, the identifier PM is not detected by the mark sensor 127.

  When the transport of the tag label tape 109 with print (in other words, the transport of the base tape 101 and the cover film 103; the same applies hereinafter) proceeds from this state, the position of the print head 23 is near the front end of the RFID circuit element To in the tape transport direction. (FIG. 21B). Here, since L = Lo as described above, when the leading end of the identifier PM reaches the position of the mark sensor 127 by the movement of the tag label tape 109 with print, the RFID circuit element of the cover film 103 The position corresponding to To (the position to be pasted with the RFID tag circuit element To position of the base tape 101) reaches the position of the print head 23. Correspondingly, when the identifier PM is detected by the mark sensor 127, printing of the label print R on the cover film 103 is started (FIG. 21C). In this example, as shown in FIGS. 21 (i) to 21 (k) to be described later, a case where a relatively long character (alphabet character “ABCDEFGHIJKLMN”) is printed is taken as an example.

  When conveyance of the tag label tape 109 with print further proceeds from the state of FIG. 21C, the position of the front half-cut line HC1 set in advance (as described above, the position at the distance X1 from the front end of the tape. See FIG. 18). ) Reaches the position of the half-cut unit 34 (FIG. 21D). In this state, since the identifier PM has already been detected by the mark sensor 127 as described above, the detection of arrival at this position is started from the state shown in FIG. 21B (identifier PM detection start state). This is performed by detecting that the completed tag label tape 109 has advanced a predetermined distance. In response to this detection, the transport of the tag label tape 109 with print is stopped, and the front half-cut line HC1 is formed by the half-cut unit 34 (FIG. 21 (d)).

  Thereafter, the transport of the tag label tape 109 with print is resumed. When the transport of the tag label tape 109 with print further proceeds from the state shown in FIG. 21D (FIG. 21E), the RFID circuit element To loops. The position of the antenna LC is reached (FIG. 21 (f)). At this time, since a relatively long character (“ABCDEFGHIJKLMN”) is printed as the label print R in this example as described above, all the prints in the print region S have not yet been completed at this point. For this reason, the conveyance and printing of the tag label tape 109 with print are temporarily stopped (interrupted), and after carrying out wireless communication with the RFID circuit element To from the loop antenna LC in the conveyance stopped state, the conveyance and printing are resumed. (FIG. 21 (g)), and finally, printing of all (“ABCDEFGHIJKLMN”) is completed (FIG. 21 (h)).

  When conveyance of the tag label tape 109 with print further proceeds from the state of FIG. 21 (h), the position of the rear half-cut line HC2 set in advance (the position at the distance X2 from the rear end of the tape as described above. Reference) reaches the position of the half-cut unit 34. The detection of reaching this position is performed by detecting that the tag label tape 109 with print has advanced a predetermined distance from the state shown in FIG. 21B, similarly to the detection of the position of the front half-cut line HC2. In response to this detection, the transport of the tag label tape 109 with print is stopped, and the rear half-cut line HC2 is formed by the half-cut unit 34 (FIG. 21 (i)).

  In this embodiment, as described above, the remaining number information of the RFID circuit element To is printed in the front margin area S1 of the cover film 103 in each RFID label T. Then, due to the front-rear positional relationship of the loop antenna LC, the print head 23, etc. as described above, the remaining number information related to a certain RFID label T is previously stored in the cover film 103 at the time of preparation of the preceding RFID label T. Printing is performed in the front margin area S1. That is, when the printed tag label tape 109 is further conveyed from the state shown in FIG. 21 (i), the front margin area S1 of the cover film 103 corresponding to the next RFID label T reaches the position of the print head 23. . Detection of this position is performed by detecting that the tag label tape 109 with print has advanced a predetermined distance from the state shown in FIG. In response to this detection, printing of the already printed number R1 as the remaining number information is started on the cover film 103 (FIG. 21 (j)).

  When transport of the tag label tape 109 with print further proceeds from the state of FIG. 21 (j), the tape longitudinal dimension of the print area S of each RFID label T set variably according to the length of the label print R The position of the cutting line CL (cutting part) corresponding to X reaches the position of the cutting mechanism 15 (in this stage, the printing of the number of printed sheets R1 has been completed). The detection of this position is also performed by detecting that the tag label tape 109 with print has advanced a predetermined distance from the state shown in FIG. Corresponding to this detection, the transport of the tag label tape 109 with print is stopped, and the cutting mechanism 15 cuts along the cutting line CL (FIG. 21 (k)). Let it be a tag label T.

  FIGS. 22A and 22B are diagrams showing examples of the RFID label T completed as described above, and are substantially equivalent to FIG. 18A described above. FIG. 22 (a) shows an example of the RFID label T-1 that is first created (ie, the first sheet) using the new base tape 101 and the cover film 103, and FIG. 22 (b) shows the other ( = In other words, an example of the RFID label T-2 after the second sheet) is shown. The RFID labels T-1 and T-2 are provided with a RFID circuit element To at the center in the longitudinal direction of the tape and a label print R on the corresponding print area S. The front and rear half cut lines HC1, A front margin region S1 and a rear margin region S2 having an identifier PM are provided across HC2. As described above, FIG. 22A is the first RFID label T-1, and therefore no remaining number information is printed in the front margin area S1, but FIG. In this case, the number of printed sheets R1 is printed in the front margin area S1.

  As described above, the length of the print area S changes depending on the mode of the label print R. However, if the length of the print area S becomes larger than a certain amount due to a large number of characters in the label print R, the rear half cut The line HC2 is omitted (that is, the rear margin area S2 is not set), and becomes a print area S where label printing R is performed up to the rear end of the tag label tape 109 with print.

  FIG. 23A and FIG. 23B are diagrams showing examples of the RFID label T having no such trailing margin area S2, and corresponding to FIG. 22A and FIG. 22B, respectively. It is. FIG. 23A shows an example of the RFID label T-1 that is first created (ie, the first sheet) using the new base tape 101 and the cover film 103, and FIG. = In other words, an example of the RFID label T-2 after the second sheet) is shown. In these FIG. 23A and FIG. 23B, the RFID label T-1 and T-2 are provided with a RFID circuit element To at the center in the longitudinal direction of the tape and a corresponding printing area. Label printing R is made on S, and only the front margin area S1 with the identifier PM is provided across the front half-cut line HC1. Since FIG. 23A is the first RFID label T-1, the remaining number information is not printed in the front margin area S1, and the second and subsequent RFID labels T-2 in FIG. The already printed number R1 is printed in the margin area S1.

(B) When the printing length is relatively short FIGS. 24A to 24K are respectively the identifier PM of the tag label tape 109 with print, which is continuously drawn out, as in FIGS. 21A to 21K. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between a RFID tag circuit element To and a print area S of a label print R, a loop antenna LC, a mark sensor 127, a half cut unit 34, a cutting mechanism 15 and a print head 23. In this example, as shown in FIGS. 24F to 24K which will be described later, a case where a relatively short character (alphabetic character “ABCDEFGHIJ”) is printed is taken as an example.

  24A to 24E are the same as FIGS. 21A to 21E described above. That is, after the feeding of the tag label tape 109 with print from the cartridge 7 is started (FIG. 24 (a)), when the conveyance further proceeds, the tip of the identifier PM reaches the position of the mark sensor 127 (FIG. 24 (FIG. 24). b)) Printing of the label print R on the cover film 103 is started (FIG. 24C). When the transport advances further and the position of the previous half-cut line HC1 reaches the position of the half-cut unit 34, the front half-cut line HC1 is formed by the half-cut unit 34 (FIG. 24 (d)). The conveyance is resumed, and the conveyance of the tag label tape 109 with print further proceeds (FIG. 24E).

  Then, in this example, since the number of characters of the label print R is relatively small, the label print R is printed before the RFID circuit element To reaches the position of the loop antenna LC (see FIG. 24G described later). “ABCDEFGHIJ”) is completed first (FIG. 24F).

  Thereafter, the conveyance proceeds and the RFID circuit element To reaches the position of the loop antenna LC (FIG. 24 (g)). All printing has been completed. Therefore, the conveyance of the tag label tape 109 with print is stopped (interrupted), and after the wireless communication with the RFID circuit element To from the loop antenna LC in the conveyance stopped state, the conveyance is resumed (FIG. 24 (h) ))

  Subsequent FIGS. 24 (i) to (k) are the same as FIGS. 21 (i) to (k). That is, the printed tag label tape 109 is further conveyed from the state of FIG. 24 (h). When the position of the half cut line HC2 reaches the position of the half cut unit 34, the transport of the tag label tape 109 with print is stopped, and the rear half cut line HC2 is formed by the half cut unit 34 (FIG. 24 (i)). When the conveyance proceeds further and the front margin area S1 of the cover film 103 corresponding to the next RFID label T reaches the position of the print head 23, printing of the number of printed sheets R1 is started (FIG. 24 (j)), and further conveyance is performed. When the cutting line CL reaches the position of the cutting mechanism 15, the conveyance is stopped and the cutting mechanism 15 cuts the cutting line CL (FIG. 24 (k)), and the leading end of the tag label tape 109 with print is moved. The RFID label T is separated.

  FIGS. 25A and 25B are diagrams showing examples of the RFID label T completed as described above. FIGS. 22A and 22B described above in FIG. FIG. Similarly to the above, since the first RFID label T-1 in FIG. 25A, the remaining number information is not printed in the front margin area S1, and the second RFID label in FIG. 25B. Since it is T-2, the number of printed sheets R1 is printed in the front margin area S1.

(C) When printing corresponding to a communication error In both (A) and (B), communication between the loop antenna LC and the RFID circuit element To is successful, and the IC circuit unit 151 of the RFID circuit element To The above description has been made on the assumption that the information writing (or information reading from the IC circuit unit 151) has succeeded, but such information transmission / reception may end unsuccessfully (= communication error) for some reason. In such a case, in order to clarify the fact to the operator, corresponding printing may be performed.

(C-1) When the printing length is relatively long FIGS. 26 (a) to (f) and (g ′) to (i ′) and (j) (k) are the printing lengths described in (A) above. FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a process when the communication error occurs in a case where is relatively long, corresponding to FIG. 21 described above.

  FIGS. 26A to 26F are exactly the same as FIGS. 21A to 21F. As described above with reference to FIG. 21 (f), at this time, the RFID circuit element To corresponds to the position of the loop antenna LC (FIG. 26 (f)) (the print area S is still at this point). The printing and printing of the tag label tape 109 with print is temporarily stopped (interrupted), and wireless communication with the RFID circuit element To is performed from the loop antenna LC in the stopped state. . In this example, printing is stopped in a state where printing is almost completed up to “ABCDEFGHIJK” of “ABCDEFGHIJKLMN” to be finally printed.

  If the transmission / reception of information by wireless communication is successful, the transport and printing are resumed as described above in (A), and the remaining “LMN” is printed to finally print all “ABCDEFGHIJKLMN”. When the information is not successfully transmitted / received (see FIG. 21 (g) and FIG. 21 (h) described above), in order to clearly indicate that, it is different from the usual “L”. Another mode print R ′ (in this example, a small “NG” character indicating failure. In contrast, it may be a large character, or the number of steps, thickness, etc. may be changed. Printing is performed immediately after “K” (FIG. 26 (g ′) and FIG. 26 (h ′)).

  Then, since information writing or information reading to the RFID circuit element To is not used as an RFID label, the conveyance stop and half-cut line HC2 as described in FIG. 21 (i) are formed. Is not performed, and the conveyance is continued as it is (FIG. 26 (i ′)). Then, as in FIG. 21 (j) described above, when the front margin area S1 of the cover film 103 corresponding to the next RFID label T reaches the position of the print head 23, printing of the above-described number of printed sheets R1 on the cover film 103 is started. (FIG. 26 (j)), when the position of the cutting line CL corresponding to the tape longitudinal dimension X of the printing area S of the RFID label T set to a predetermined value reaches the position of the cutting mechanism 15, the cutting mechanism 15 performs cutting. The line CL is cut (FIG. 26 (k)), and the RFID label T ′ is assumed not to be used.

  FIG. 27A is a diagram showing the RFID label T′-1 completed (in this example, the first sheet) as described above (in a communication failure state), and corresponds to FIG. 22A described above. It is a figure to do. As a result of the omission of the rear half-cut line HC2, as described above, the RFID label T'-1 is provided with the RFID circuit element To at the center in the longitudinal direction of the tape and label printing in the corresponding print area S. R and the above-described different printing R ′ are performed, and a front margin area S1 having an identifier PM is provided across the front half-cut line HC1. FIG. 27B shows a case where communication with the RFID circuit element To is succeeded after creation of the RFID label T′-1 (substantially similar to FIG. 22B). As described above, even if communication fails, the remaining number information is printed as usual for the next created label (see FIGS. 26 (j) and (k) described above). In this example, the second wireless is printed. In the tag label T-2, the number of printed sheets R1 is printed in the front margin area S1.

(C-2) When printing length is relatively short FIGS. 28 (a) to (g) and (h ') to (i') and (j) (k) are respectively the same as FIGS. It is explanatory drawing showing the process when the said communication error arises when printing length is comparatively short like f) and (g ')-(i') and (j) (k). In this example, as will be described later, a case where relatively short characters (alphabetic characters “ABCDEFGHIJ”) are printed is taken as an example.

  28A to 28G are exactly the same as FIGS. 24A to 24G. As described above with reference to FIG. 24G, at this time, the RFID circuit element To reaches the position of the loop antenna LC (FIG. 28G) (at this point in the print area S). When the printing is completed, the transport of the tag label tape 109 with print is temporarily stopped (interrupted), and wireless communication with the RFID circuit element To is performed from the loop antenna LC in the transport stopped state. In this example, the conveyance is interrupted in a state where printing of “ABCDEFGHIJ” to be finally printed is completed.

  Here, if the transmission / reception of information by wireless communication is successful, the conveyance is simply resumed as described above in (2) (printing is not performed; see FIG. 24 (h) above), but the information transmission / reception is successful. If not, another print R ′ (a small “NG” character indicating failure in this example) is additionally printed in order to clearly indicate that fact. In this case, since the position of the print head 23 is away from the end “J” of the label print R at this time point, the different form print R ′ starts printing slightly away from the end “J”. (FIG. 28 (h ')).

  Then, since information writing or information reading to the RFID circuit element To is not used as a RFID label, the conveyance stop and the formation of the half cut line HC2 as described in FIG. Is not performed, and the conveyance is continued as it is (FIG. 28 (i ′)). Then, as in FIG. 24 (j) described above, when the front margin area S1 of the cover film 103 corresponding to the next RFID label T reaches the position of the print head 23, printing of the above-described number of printed sheets R1 on the cover film 103 is started. When the position of the cutting line CL corresponding to the tape longitudinal dimension X of the print area S of the RFID label T set to a predetermined value reaches the position of the cutting mechanism 15 (FIG. 28 (j)), the cutting mechanism 15 performs cutting. The line CL is cut (FIG. 28 (k)), and the RFID label T ′ is assumed not to be used.

  FIG. 29A is a diagram showing the RFID label T′-1 completed (in this example, the first sheet) as described above (in a communication failure state), and corresponds to FIG. 25A described above. It is a figure to do. As a result of the omission of the rear half-cut line HC2, as described above, the RFID label T'-1 is provided with the RFID circuit element To at the center in the longitudinal direction of the tape and label printing in the corresponding print area S. R (however, printing of all characters has been completed) and the above-described alternative printing R ′ are performed, and a front margin area S1 having an identifier PM is provided across the front half-cut line HC1. FIG. 29B shows a case where communication with the RFID circuit element To is succeeded after creation of the RFID label T′-1 (substantially similar to FIG. 25B). As described above, even if communication fails, the remaining number information is printed as usual for the next created label (see FIGS. 28 (j) and 28 (k) described above). In the tag label T-2, the number of printed sheets R1 is printed in the front margin area S1.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, depending on whether printing of the print head 23 is completed when the RFID circuit element To reaches the communication position with the loop antenna LC, Control is performed to switch the operation of the loop antenna LC or the like in cooperation.

  FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing a control procedure executed by the control circuit 110 to perform such control.

  In FIG. 30, when a predetermined RFID label producing operation is performed by the tag label producing apparatus 1 via the PC 118, this flow is started. First, in step S100, an operation signal from the PC 118 is input (via the communication line NW and the input / output interface 113), and preparations for setting print data and communication data with the RFID circuit element To are performed based on the operation signal. Processing (refer to FIG. 31 described later for details) is executed.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S5, where a control signal is output to the conveying motor drive circuit 121 via the input / output interface 113, and the tape feeding roller 27 and the ribbon take-up roller 106 are driven to rotate by the driving force of the conveying motor 121. Further, a control signal is output to the tape discharge motor 65 via the tape discharge motor drive circuit 123 to drive the drive roller 51 to rotate. Accordingly, the base tape 101 is fed out from the first roll 102 and supplied to the tape feed roller 27, and the cover film 103 is fed out from the second roll 104. The base tape 101 and the cover film 103 are The tape label roller 109 and the sub-roller 109 are bonded and integrated to form a tag label tape 109 with print, which is further conveyed from the outside of the cartridge 7 to the outside of the tag label producing apparatus 1.

  Thereafter, in step S10, based on the detection signal of the mark detection sensor 127 input through the input / output interface 113, whether or not the identifier PM of the tag label tape 109 with print is detected (in other words, the tag label tape 109 with print is detected). Whether the print start position has been reached). The determination is not satisfied until the identifier PM is detected, and this procedure is repeated. If the identifier PM is detected, the determination is satisfied and the process proceeds to the next step S15.

  In step S15, a control signal is output to the print drive circuit 120 via the input / output interface 113, the print head 23 is energized, and the above-described print region S (= the base tape 101 at a predetermined pitch, etc.) of the cover film 103. Printing of the label print R such as characters, symbols, barcodes, etc. corresponding to the print data generated in step S100 is started on the back surface of the RFID circuit element To arranged at intervals (an area to be bonded almost to the back) (see FIG. (Refer FIG.21 (b) and FIG.21 (c)).

  Thereafter, in step S20, whether or not the tag label tape 109 with print has been transported to the previous half-cut position (in other words, the position where the half cutter 34 of the half-cut mechanism 35 faces the front half-cut line HC1 set in step S100). Whether the tag label tape 109 with print has reached) is determined. The determination at this time may be performed, for example, by detecting a transport distance after detecting the identifier PM of the base tape 101 in the above-described step S10 (transport that drives a transport motor 119 that is a pulse motor). The number of pulses output from the motor drive circuit 121 is counted). The determination is not satisfied until the previous half-cut position is reached, and this procedure is repeated. When the previous half-cut position is reached, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the next Step S25.

  In step S25, control signals are output to the transport motor drive circuit 121 and the tape discharge motor drive circuit 123 via the input / output interface 113, the drive of the transport motor 119 and the tape discharge motor 65 is stopped, and the tape feed roller 27 is stopped. Then, the rotation of the ribbon take-up roller 106 and the driving roller 51 is stopped. Thus, in the process in which the tag label tape 109 with print fed out from the cartridge 7 moves in the discharge direction, the half cutter 34 of the half cut mechanism 35 faces the front half cut line HC1 set in step S100. The feeding of the base tape 101 from the first roll 102, the feeding of the cover film 103 from the second roll 104, and the conveyance of the tag label tape 109 with print are stopped. At this time, a control signal is also output to the print drive circuit 120 via the input / output interface 113, the energization of the print head 23 is stopped, and printing of the label print R is stopped (print interruption).

  Thereafter, in step S30, a control signal is output to the half cutter motor drive circuit 128 via the input / output interface 113 to drive the half cutter motor 129, and the half cutter 34 is rotated to cover the tag tag tape 109 with print. A pre-half-cut process for cutting the film 103, the adhesive layer 101a, the base film 101b, and the adhesive layer 101c to form the front half-cut line HC1 is performed (see FIG. 21D).

  Then, the process proceeds to step S35, and similarly to step S5, the tape feeding roller 27, the ribbon take-up roller 106, and the driving roller 51 are rotationally driven to resume the transport of the tag label tape 109 with print, and the same as step S15. Then, the print head 23 is energized to resume the printing of the label print R.

  Thereafter, in step S40, the print end position (see step S130 described later) variably set in accordance with the print contents (number of print characters, fonts, etc.) in step S100, and the operation signal input by the operator in step S100. Printing of all label prints R on the print area S of the tag label tape 109 with print according to the tag rear end position (see step S145 described later) set according to the type information of the cartridge 7 included in Before the communication is completed, is the communication position of the RFID circuit element To (the position where the RFID circuit element To directly faces the loop antenna LC) (the state shown in FIG. 21F) or the RFID circuit element To Before the communication position (the position where the RFID circuit element To faces the loop antenna LC) is It is determined whether the printing of the label print R is completed (the state shown in FIG. 24G).

  For example, if the positional relationship is such that the length of the label print R to be printed is relatively long and the state shown in FIG. 21 (f) is satisfied, the determination in step S40 is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S200, where the long print label is printed. Perform the creation process. That is, when the RFID tag circuit element To is conveyed to the communication position (the position where the RFID tag circuit element To faces the loop antenna LC), the conveyance and printing are stopped, information is transmitted and received, and then the conveyance and printing are resumed to perform printing. After completion of the conveyance, the conveyance is stopped at the rear half-cut position, and the rear half-cut line HC2 is formed. Then, the number of printed sheets R1 for the next RFID label T is printed (margin printing) ( (See FIG. 32 described later).

  On the other hand, for example, if the positional relationship is such that the length of the label print R to be printed is relatively short and the state shown in FIG. 24G is obtained, the determination in step S40 is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S300. Print label creation processing is performed. That is, the conveyance and printing are continued as they are to complete the printing first, and then the conveyance is further performed until the communication position of the RFID circuit element To is reached (position where the RFID circuit element To faces the loop antenna LC). Stop and transmit / receive information, further transport and stop transport at the rear half-cut position to form the rear half-cut line HC2, and then print the printed number R1 (the blank space) for the next RFID label T Printing) (see FIG. 33 described later).

  When step S200 or step S300 is completed as described above, the process proceeds to step S45 (note that at this time, the transport of the tag label tape 109 with print has been resumed in step S200 or step S300). In step S45, whether or not the tag label tape 109 with print has been transported to the full cut position described above (in other words, the tag label tape with print until the position where the movable blade 41 of the cutting mechanism 15 faces the cutting line CL set in step S100). 109) is determined. The determination at this time may be performed in the same manner as described above, for example, by detecting the transport distance after detecting the identifier PM of the base tape 101 in step S10 (a transport motor 119 which is a pulse motor). The number of pulses output from the conveyance motor drive circuit 121 that drives the motor is counted, etc.). The determination is not satisfied until the full cut position is reached, and this procedure is repeated. When the full cut position is reached, the determination is satisfied, and the process proceeds to the next step S50.

  In step S50, similarly to step S25, the rotation of the tape feeding roller 27, the ribbon take-up roller 106, and the driving roller 51 is stopped, and the conveyance of the tag label tape 109 with print is stopped. Thus, the base tape 101 is fed from the first roll 102 and the cover film 103 is fed from the second roll 104 with the movable blade 41 of the cutting mechanism 15 facing the cutting line CL set in step S100. , And the transport of the tag label tape 109 with print is stopped.

  Thereafter, in step S55, a control signal is output to the cutter motor drive circuit 122 to drive the cutter motor 43, and the movable blade 41 of the cutting mechanism 15 is rotated to cover the cover film 103 and the adhesive layer of the tag label tape 109 with print. 101a, base film 101b, adhesive layer 101c, and release paper 101d are all cut (divided) to form a cut line CL (see FIG. 21 (k)). By the cutting by the cutting mechanism 15, the tag label tape 109 with print is cut off, the RFID tag information T of the RFID circuit element To is read, and a label-like RFID tag T on which predetermined printing is performed correspondingly is generated. The

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S60, where a control signal is output to the tape discharge motor drive circuit 123 via the input / output interface 31, the drive of the tape discharge motor 65 is restarted, and the drive roller 51 is rotated. As a result, the conveyance by the driving roller 51 is resumed, and the RFID label T generated in the label shape in step S55 is conveyed toward the label discharge port 11 and discharged from the label discharge port 11 to the outside of the label label producing apparatus 1. This flow is finished.

  The cutting process in step S55 and the label discharge process in step S60 may be performed in conjunction with each other as follows, for example.

  For example, first, during the cutting operation by the cutting mechanism 15, the cutter motor 43 is driven via the input / output interface 113 and the cutter motor drive circuit 122, the cutter helical gear 42 is rotated counterclockwise (in the direction of arrow 70 in FIG. 3), and the boss 50 and the cam 60 rotate the roller support holder 57 counterclockwise (in the direction of arrow 71 in FIG. 3) around the holder support portion 59. The printed tag label tape 109 is pressed against the driving roller 51 by the pressing roller 52 immediately before the fixed tag 40 and the movable blade 41 start to cut the printed tag label tape 109, and the printed tag label tape is used until the tape is cut. The tape 109 is held.

  Thereafter, the control circuit 110 determines whether or not cutting of the tag label tape 109 with print has been completed based on the detection signal of the tape cut detection sensor 124. When the detection signal of the micro switch 126 is switched from the OFF state to the ON state and it is determined that the cutting is completed, the rotation of the cutter motor 43 is temporarily stopped via the input / output interface 113 and the cutter motor driving circuit 122. On the other hand, when the cutting is not completed, the driving of the cutter motor 43 is continued until the micro switch 126 is switched from the off state to the on state.

  When the cutting is completed and the cutter motor 43 is stopped, the tape discharge motor 65 is rotated through the input / output interface 113 and the tape discharge motor drive circuit 123, and the drive roller 51 is rotated through the gear train 66 to hold the tape (wireless The tag label T) is discharged. Then, the control circuit 110 determines whether or not the RFID label T is discharged depending on whether or not a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 sec to 1.0 sec) has elapsed since the tape discharge is started. If the tape discharge motor 65 has been discharged, the rotation of the tape discharge motor 65 is stopped via the input / output interface 113 and the tape discharge motor drive circuit 123. If the discharge has not been completed, the rotation continues until the tape discharge motor 65 is discharged.

  After the rotation of the tape discharge motor 65 is stopped, the cutter motor 43 is rotated again via the input / output interface 113 and the cutter motor drive circuit 122. As a result, the cutter helical gear 42 also rotates again to rotate the movable blade 41 back to the release position (see FIG. 12), and the roller support holder 57 is in the direction in which the pressing roller 52 is separated by the biasing spring 61 (arrow in FIG. 3). 71 is rotated in the reverse direction) and held by the stopper 72 at a predetermined interval. Thereafter, based on the detection signal from the cut release detection sensor 125, the control circuit 110 detects whether the cut release operation is completed. When the micro switch 126 is not switched from the on state to the off state and the cut release operation is not completed, the rotation of the cutter motor 43 is continued until the micro switch 126 is completed. When the micro switch 126 is switched from the on state to the off state and the cut release operation is completed, the rotation of the cutter motor 43 is stopped, and the full cut process and the label discharge process are completed.

  FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S100 described above. In the flow shown in FIG. 31, first, in step S105, an operation signal input from the PC 118 is input (identified) via the input / output interface 113. This operation signal includes, for example, characters, designs, patterns, etc. of the label print R and the number of printed sheets R1 specified by the operator, fonts (characters, sizes, thicknesses, etc.), or character code data such as characters and numbers. When the information is written to the RFID circuit element To, the writing information (at least RFID tag information including a tag ID as identification information) is also included. Also included is information relating to the type of cartridge 7 attached to the cartridge holder 6 (in other words, tag attribute information such as the arrangement interval of the RFID circuit elements in the base tape 101 and the tape width of the base tape 101). It is.

  For this cartridge information, a detected part (for example, an identifier such as a concavo-convex shape) provided separately in the cartridge 7 is appropriately detected by means of detecting means (such as a mechanical switch that performs mechanical detection, a sensor that performs optical detection, The type of the cartridge 7 may be automatically detected and searched based on this detection signal.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S110, and print data corresponding to the print information is created based on the operation signal input in step S105.

  In step S115, communication data corresponding to the writing information is created based on the operation signal input in step S105. As described above, this procedure is executed when information is written to the RFID circuit element To to produce the RFID label T. However, information stored in the RFID circuit element To is read in advance. When creating the tag label T, this procedure may be omitted.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S120, and the position of the above-described front half-cut line HC1 is set. In this setting, the position on the tape of the front half-cut line HC1 corresponding to the cartridge information is set based on the operation signal input in step S105. That is, as described above, the arrangement interval of the RFID circuit elements in the base tape 101 (in other words, the distance between the cutting line CL and the cutting line CL, the length of one RFID label T) is unique depending on the type of the cartridge 7. Depending on the length of the RFID label T, the position of the front half-cut line HC1 (unlike the rear half-cut line HC) does not depend on the contents of the label print R and is at a fixed position from the front end of the tag label tape 109 with print. It is determined in advance (for example, stored in an appropriate location of the control circuit 110 in the form of a table). In this procedure, based on such a premise, the position of the front half-cut line HC1 is set (fixed) to a predetermined position for each cartridge 7.

  In step S125, the communication position on the tape by the RFID circuit element To described above is set. In this setting as well as step S120, based on the operation signal input in step S105, the type (size) and arrangement position of the RFID circuit element To are determined from the front end of the tag label tape 109 with print depending on the type of the cartridge 7. Based on the premise that the RFID tag circuit element To is preliminarily determined at a certain position, the arrangement position of the RFID tag circuit element To on the tag label tape 109 with print is set to a predetermined position (fixed) for each cartridge 7.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S130, and the position on the tape at which the printing of the label print R is completed is calculated based on the print data created in step S110. That is, depending on the contents of the label print R, when the print length is long, the print end position is (relatively) closer to the rear end of the label, and when the print length is short, the print end position is It is closer (relatively) to the label front end side.

  In step S135, the position of the rear half-cut line HC2 described above is set. This setting sets the position on the tape of the rear half-cut line HC2 corresponding to the cartridge information based on the operation signal input in step S105 and the print end position calculated in step S130. That is, based on the operation signal input in step S105, the distance from the print end position to the rear half-cut line HC2 is calculated in step S130 based on the premise that the distance from the print end position to the rear half-cut line HC2 is predetermined in accordance with the type of the cartridge 7. The position of the rear half-cut line HC2 on the tape is calculated in such a manner that the predetermined distance is added to the print end position (intervening).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S140, and the position (full cut position) of the cutting line CL of the tag label tape 109 with print is set. In this setting as well as step S120, the label size of the printed tag label tape 109 is premised on the assumption that the label size is fixed in advance depending on the type of the cartridge 7 based on the operation signal input in step S105. The cutting position is set (fixed) to a predetermined position for each cartridge 7.

  In step S145, the rear end position on the tape of the RFID circuit element To described above is set. Similarly to the above, this setting is also based on the premise that the type (size) and arrangement position of the RFID circuit element To are determined in advance depending on the type of the cartridge 7 based on the operation signal input in step S105. The rear end position of the RFID tag circuit element To on the tag label tape 109 with print is set to a predetermined position for each cartridge 7 (fixed).

  Then, the process proceeds to step S150, where the position of the half-cut line HC2 set in step S135 and the position of the cutting line CL set in step S140 are on the label rear end side with respect to the rear end position of the RFID circuit element To in step S145. It is determined whether or not. If the position of the rear half cut line HC2 and the position of the cutting line CL are set on the label rear end side, the determination is satisfied, and the routine goes to Step S160.

  If the position of the rear half cut line HC2 or the position of the cutting line CL is set on the label front end side with respect to the rear end position of the RFID circuit element To, the determination is not satisfied, and the routine goes to Step S155. In step S155, there is a possibility that a part of the RFID circuit element To will be cut if it remains as it is. To avoid this, both the position of the rear half-cut line HC2 and the position of the cutting line CL are wireless. The position is corrected (reset) so as to be on the label rear end side with respect to the rear end position of the tag circuit element To, and the process proceeds to step S160.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S160, and blank print data (remaining number information data) corresponding to the print information is created based on the operation signal input in step S105. The remaining number is counted when the operator mounts the cartridge 7 on the cartridge holder 6 as described above, for example, the remaining RFID tag T can be created by all the RFID circuit elements To in the cartridge 7. What is necessary is just to input the number of sheets (or the total number of sheets) (after that, it may be integrated sequentially with a counter provided separately in the tag label producing apparatus 1). Alternatively, in the same manner as the cartridge information described above, it is counted each time it is created in a server or the like associated with the detected part separately provided in the cartridge 7 and the server 7 searches with the mounting of the cartridge 7 to automatically check the remaining number (use Number) may be obtained. Furthermore, it may be obtained by performing information transmission / reception with each RFID circuit element To.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S165, and the print position of the margin print data (remaining number information) created in step S160 is set. Similarly to the above, this setting is also based on the precondition that the label size is predetermined in accordance with the type of the cartridge 7 based on the operation signal input in step S105, for example, cutting the tag label tape 109 with print. Using the position of the line CL (full cut position) as a reference, the position of the previous margin area S1 for executing margin printing is set to a predetermined position for each cartridge 7 (fixed).

  Thereafter, in step S170, when communication is performed from a loop antenna LC, which will be described later, to the RFID circuit element To, the number of times of retrying communication (retry) when there is no response from the RFID circuit element To (number of access attempts). The variables M and N to be counted and the flag F indicating whether or not the communication is successful are initialized to 0, and this routine is terminated.

  FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S200 described above. In the flow shown in FIG. 32, first, in step S210, whether or not the tag label tape 109 with print has been transported to the communication position with the loop antenna LC described above (in other words, the loop antenna LC set in step S125 above is the RFID circuit. It is determined whether the tag label tape 109 with print has reached a position substantially opposite to the element To position. The determination at this time may also be detected by a predetermined known method, for example, after detecting the identifier PM of the base tape 101 in step S10, as in step S20 of FIG. 30 described above. The determination is not satisfied until the communication position is reached, and this procedure is repeated. When the communication position is reached, the determination is satisfied and the process proceeds to the next step S220.

  In step S220, as in step S25, the rotation of the tape feeding roller 27, the ribbon take-up roller 106, and the driving roller 51 is stopped, and printing is performed with the loop antenna LC substantially facing the RFID circuit element To. The conveyance of the tag label tape 109 is stopped. Further, the energization of the print head 23 is stopped, and the printing of the label print R is stopped (interrupted) (see FIG. 21F).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S400, where information is transmitted / received by radio communication between the antenna LC and the RFID circuit element To, and the information created in the above step S115 in FIG. 31 with respect to the IC circuit unit 151 of the RFID circuit element To. (Or reading information stored in advance in the IC circuit unit) is performed (see FIG. 34 described later for details).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S230, and it is determined whether or not the information transmission / reception is successful in step S400. Specifically, since the flag F = 1 should be set when communication fails in step S400 (see step S437 in FIG. 34 described later), it is determined whether F = 0.

  If F = 1, the determination is not satisfied, the communication with respect to the RFID circuit element To is considered to have failed, the process proceeds to step S700, and error processing for notifying the operator of the communication failure on the label (for details) The process proceeds to step S600.

  On the other hand, if F = 0, the determination is satisfied, communication with the RFID circuit element To is considered successful, and the process proceeds to step S240.

  In step S240, similarly to step S35 of FIG. 30, the tape feeding roller 27, the ribbon take-up roller 106, and the driving roller 51 are rotationally driven to resume the transport of the tag label tape 109 with print, and to the print head 23. The energization is resumed and the printing of the label print R is resumed.

  At this time, if the energization stop time of the print head 23 after step S220 is increased to some extent due to a large number of communication trials (retry times) in step S400, the temperature of the print head 23 decreases. There is a possibility. Therefore, in order to cope with this, the energization (energy amount per unit time) to the print head 23 may be made larger than usual when the printing is resumed in step S240.

  After step S240, the process proceeds to step S250, where it is determined whether or not the tag label tape 109 with print has been transported to the aforementioned print end position (calculated in step S130 in FIG. 31). The determination at this time may be, for example, as described above, for example, by detecting the transport distance after detecting the identifier PM of the base tape 101 in step S10 by a predetermined known method. The determination is not satisfied until the print end position is reached, and this procedure is repeated. If the determination is reached, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the next Step S260.

  In step S260, as in step S25 of FIG. 30, the energization of the print head 23 is stopped and printing of the label print R is stopped. Thereby, the printing of the label print R on the print area S is completed (see FIG. 21H).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S500, and after the sheet is conveyed to a predetermined rear half-cut position, a rear half-cut process for forming a rear half-cut line HC2 by the half cutter 34 of the half-cut unit 35 is performed (refer to FIG. 35 described later for details). .

  When step S500 or step S700 is completed, the process proceeds to step S600. In this step S600, the margin printing process for performing the printing of the number R1 of the printed sheets described above is performed on the preceding margin area S1 (on the next RFID label T) located on the tape rear end side with respect to the cutting line CL (details). Then, this routine is terminated.

  FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S300 described above. In the flow shown in FIG. 33, first, in step S310, as in step S250 in FIG. 32, it is determined whether or not the tag label tape 109 with print has been transported to the print end position (calculated in step S130 in FIG. 31). . The determination at this time may be performed by the same method as in step S250. The determination is not satisfied until the print end position is reached, and this procedure is repeated.

  In step S320, as in step S260 of FIG. 32, the energization of the print head 23 is stopped and printing of the label print R is stopped. Thereby, the printing of the label print R on the print area S is completed (see FIG. 24F).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S330, and it is determined whether or not the tag label tape 109 with print has been transported to the communication position with the loop antenna LC described above in the same manner as in step S210 of FIG. The determination at this time may be performed by the same method as in step S210. The determination is not satisfied until the communication position is reached, and this procedure is repeated. When the communication position is reached, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the next Step S340.

  In step S340, similarly to step S220, the rotation of the tape feeding roller 27, the ribbon take-up roller 106, and the driving roller 51 is stopped, and printing is performed with the loop antenna LC substantially facing the RFID circuit element To. The conveyance of the tag label tape 109 is stopped (see FIG. 24G).

  The subsequent step S400 is the same as that in FIG. 32, and information transmission / reception processing is performed in which information is transmitted and received by radio communication between the antenna LC and the RFID circuit element To (see FIG. 34 described later for details).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S350, and similarly to step S230 in FIG. 32, it is determined whether or not the information transmission / reception in step S400 is successful depending on whether F = 0.

  If F = 1, the determination is not satisfied, and as in FIG. 32, the process proceeds to step S700, error processing (details will be described later) is performed, and the process proceeds to step S600. If F = 0, the determination is satisfied, communication with the RFID circuit element To is considered successful, and the process proceeds to step S360.

  In step S360, similarly to step S240 in FIG. 32, the tape feeding roller 27, the ribbon take-up roller 106, and the driving roller 51 are rotationally driven to resume the transport of the tag label tape 109 with print (see FIG. 24H). .

  Subsequent steps S500 and S600 are the same as those in FIG.

  FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S400 described above with reference to FIGS. In this example, information writing will be described as an example of the information writing and information reading described above.

  In step S405 of the flow shown in FIG. 34, a control signal is output to the transmission circuit 306 (see FIG. 15 and the like) via the input / output interface 113, and the information stored in the memory unit 157 of the RFID circuit element To is stored. As an “Erase” signal to be initialized, a carrier wave subjected to predetermined modulation is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To to be written through the loop antenna LC. Thereby, the memory unit 157 of the RFID circuit element To is initialized.

  Next, in step S410, a control signal is output to the transmission circuit 306 via the input / output interface 113, and a carrier wave subjected to predetermined modulation is sent via the loop antenna LC as a “Verify” signal for confirming the contents of the memory unit 157. To the RFID circuit element To, to which information is to be written, to prompt a reply.

  Thereafter, in step S415, a reply signal transmitted from the RFID circuit element To be written in response to the “Verify” signal is received via the loop antenna LC, and the receiving circuit 307 (see FIG. 15 etc.) and the input are received. Capture via the output interface 113.

  Next, in step S420, based on the received reply signal, information in the memory unit 157 of the RFID circuit element To is checked to determine whether the memory unit 157 has been normally initialized.

  If the determination is not satisfied, the process moves to step S425, 1 is added to M, and it is further determined in step S430 whether M = 5. If M ≦ 4, the determination is not satisfied and the routine returns to step S405 and the same procedure is repeated. If M = 5, the process moves to step S435, an error display signal is output to the PC 118 via the input / output interface 31 and the communication line NW, and the corresponding write failure (error) display is performed. Further, in step S437, the above-mentioned flag is displayed. F = 1 and this routine is finished. In this way, even if initialization is not successful, retry is performed up to five times.

  When the determination in step S420 is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S440, where a control signal is output to the transmission circuit 306, and a desired modulated data carrier is written as a “Program” signal to write the desired data in the memory unit 157 as a loop antenna. Information is written by transmitting to the RFID circuit element To as the information writing target via the LC.

  Thereafter, in step S445, a control signal is output to the transmission circuit 306, and a carrier wave subjected to predetermined modulation as a “Verify” signal is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To as an information write target via the loop antenna LC to prompt a reply. . Thereafter, in step S450, the reply signal transmitted from the RFID circuit element To to be written corresponding to the “Verify” signal is received via the loop antenna LC, and taken in via the receiving circuit 307 and the input / output interface 113.

Next, in step S455, based on the received reply signal, information stored in the memory unit 157 of the RFID circuit element To is confirmed, and a known error detection code (CRC code; Cyclic
Using the Redundancy Check or the like, it is determined whether or not the above-described predetermined information transmitted is normally stored in the memory unit 157.

  If the determination is not satisfied, the process moves to step S460, 1 is added to N, and it is further determined in step S465 whether N = 5. If N ≦ 4, the determination is not satisfied and the routine returns to step S440 and the same procedure is repeated. If N = 5, the process proceeds to the above-described step S435, and similarly, a write failure (error) display corresponding to the PC 118 is performed. In step S437, the above-described flag F = 1 is set, and this routine is terminated. In this way, even if information writing is not successful, retry is performed up to five times.

  When the determination in step S455 is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S470, a control signal is output to the transmission circuit 306, and a carrier wave subjected to predetermined modulation as a “Lock” command is set as an information writing target wireless tag via the loop antenna LC. Transmission to the circuit element To is prohibited, and writing of new information to the RFID circuit element To is prohibited. Thereby, the writing of the RFID tag information to the RFID circuit element To to be written is completed.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S480, and the combination of the information written in the RFID circuit element To in step S440 and the print information of the label print R already printed in the print area S by the print head 23 corresponding to this. The data is output via the input / output interface 31 and the communication line NW and stored in the information server IS or the route server RS. This stored data is stored and held in the database of each server IS, RS, for example, so that it can be referred to from the PC 118 as necessary. This routine is completed as described above.

  FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S500 described above with reference to FIGS.

  First, in step S510 of the flow shown in FIG. 35, the position of the half-cut line HC2 set in step S135 described above and the position of the cutting line CL set in step S140 described above are equal to or greater than a predetermined distance. Determine if it exists. If the position of the rear half-cut line HC2 and the position of the cutting line CL are too close, this determination is not satisfied, and it is considered that it is not appropriate to provide the rear half-cut line HC2 separately from the cutting line CL. Exit. On the other hand, if the position of the rear half-cut line HC2 and the position of the cutting line CL are sufficiently far, this determination is satisfied, and the routine goes to Step S520. In step S510, for example, the positions of the cutting line CL and the rear half-cut line HC2 are too close to each other and the label is peeled off at the time of full cutting by the cutting mechanism 15, or the tape that has been peeled off is cut by the cutting mechanism 15. This is a procedure for preventing the operation of the apparatus from sticking to the movable blade 41 and the like.

  In step S520, as in step S20, whether or not the printed tag label tape 109 has been transported to the above-described half-cut position (in other words, the half-cutter 34 of the half-cut mechanism 35 calculates the half-cut line HC2 after the calculation in step S135). It is determined whether the tag label tape 109 with print has reached the position where it faces directly. The determination at this time may be performed by detecting the transport distance after detecting the identifier PM of the base tape 101 in step S10 as described above (driving the transport motor 119 which is a pulse motor). The number of pulses output from the conveying motor drive circuit 121 to be output is counted). The determination is not satisfied until the rear half-cut position is reached, and this procedure is repeated. When the rear half-cut position is reached, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the next Step S530.

  In step S530, as in step S50 described above, a control signal is output to the transport motor drive circuit 121 and the tape discharge motor drive circuit 123 via the input / output interface 113 to drive the transport motor 119 and the tape discharge motor 65. Then, the rotation of the tape feeding roller 27, the ribbon take-up roller 106, and the driving roller 51 is stopped. Accordingly, the base tape 101 is fed out from the first roll 102 and the cover film from the second roll 104 in a state where the half cutter 34 of the half cut mechanism 35 is directly opposed to the half cut line HC2 calculated in step S135. The feeding of 103 and the feeding of the tag label tape 109 with print are stopped.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S540, and similarly to step S30, a control signal is output to the half cutter motor drive circuit 128 to rotate the half cutter 34, and the cover film 103, the adhesive layer 101a of the tag label tape 109 with print, After the base film 101b and the adhesive layer 101c are cut, a post-half-cut process is performed to form a post-half-cut line HC2 (see FIGS. 21 (i) and 24 (i)).

  Then, the process proceeds to step S550, and similarly to step S35, the tape feeding roller 27, the ribbon take-up roller 106, and the driving roller 51 are rotationally driven to resume the transport of the tag label tape 109 with print, and this routine is finished. .

  FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S600 described above with reference to FIG. 32 or FIG. In the flow shown in FIG. 36, first, in step S620, it is determined whether or not the printed tag label tape 109 has been transported to the margin printing start position (calculated in step S165 of FIG. 31). The determination at this time may be, for example, as described above, for example, by detecting the transport distance after detecting the identifier PM of the base tape 101 in step S10 by a predetermined known method. The determination is not satisfied until the margin printing start position is reached, and this procedure is repeated. When the margin printing start position is reached, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the next Step S640.

  In step S640, the printing of the number of printed sheets R1 is started by energizing the print head 23 as described above (see FIG. 21 (j) and FIG. 24 (j)).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S660, and it is determined whether or not the printed tag label tape 109 has been transported to the margin printing end position (substantially set in steps S160 and S165 in FIG. 31). The determination at this time may be, for example, as described above, for example, by detecting the transport distance after detecting the identifier PM of the base tape 101 in step S10 by a predetermined known method. The determination is not satisfied until the margin printing end position is reached, and this procedure is repeated. When the margin printing end position is reached, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the next Step S680.

  In step S680, similarly to step S260 described above, the energization of the print head 23 is stopped and printing of the remaining number information R is stopped. Thereby, the printing of the remaining number information R for the front margin area S1 is completed, and this routine is finished.

  FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing step S700A which is an example of a detailed procedure of step S700 shown in FIGS. 32 and 33. In this flow, at the time of a communication error in which communication between the loop antenna LC and the RFID circuit element To has failed, an error process (1) for performing the above-described different printing R ′ is executed correspondingly. .

  First, in step S701 of the flow shown in FIG. 37, print data corresponding to the different mode print R ′ (character “NG” in the examples of FIGS. 26 and 28 described above) printed at the time of the communication error is created. It should be noted that the contents of this different mode print R ′ may be fixedly stored in advance in an appropriate location of the control circuit 110, or may be designated or selected by the operator using the operation signal input in step S105. May be. In step S701, print data creation is executed based on these.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S702, and the position on the tape where the different-type printing R ′ corresponding to the communication error is printed is set. For example, for the print start position, the communication position with the loop antenna LC set in step S125 (the tag label tape 109 with print such that the RFID circuit element To and the loop antenna LC are substantially facing each other is set. The printing is started from a state where the sheet is conveyed by a predetermined distance from the (conveyance position) (if this distance is 0, immediately after that state), the printing is started (= from the tape position where the print head 23 substantially faces at the conveyance position which is the communication position). Set to start printing. The print completion position is set according to the print length and the like according to the contents of the different mode print R ′ set in step S701.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S703, and similarly to step S240 in FIG. 32 and step S360 in FIG. 33, the tape feeding roller 27, the ribbon take-up roller 106, and the driving roller 51 are rotationally driven to resume the transport of the tag label tape 109 with print. To do.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S704, where it is determined whether or not the error printing start position set in step S702 has been reached. Similarly to step S210 in FIG. 32 and the like at this time, the conveyance distance after detecting the identifier PM of the base tape 101 in the above-described step S10 may be detected by a predetermined known method. The determination is not satisfied until the error print start position is reached, and this procedure is repeated. When the error print start position is reached, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the next Step S704. In the above example, when error printing is set to start immediately after the communication position, the determination in step S704 is satisfied immediately after resuming the conveyance in step S703.

  In step S705, as in step S240 of FIG. 32, the print head 23 is energized and printing of the different-type print R ′ is started (see FIGS. 26 (f) and 28 (g)).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S706, where it is determined whether or not the error printing completion position set in step S702 has been reached. The determination at this time may also be detected by the same method as in step S250 in FIG. The determination is not satisfied until the error print completion position is reached, and this procedure is repeated. When the error print completion position is reached, the determination is satisfied and the process proceeds to the next step S707.

  In step S707, similarly to step S260 of FIG. 32, the energization to the print head 23 is stopped, and the printing of the different mode print R ′ is stopped. This completes the printing of the different print R ′ on the label rear end side of the print region S (see FIGS. 26 (g ′) and 28 (h ′)).

  FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing step S700B, which is another example of the detailed procedure of step S700 shown in FIGS. In this flow, in the event of a communication error in which the communication between the loop antenna LC and the RFID circuit element To has failed, the above-described different printing R ′ is performed correspondingly, and the half-cut unit 35 Error processing (2) for cutting the RFID circuit element To by the half cutter 34 is executed.

  Steps S711 and S712 in the flow shown in FIG. 38 are the same as steps S701 and S702 in FIG. 37, and the print data of the different print R ′ to be printed when the communication error occurs is generated. Set the position on the tape to print '.

  Thereafter, in step S713, the cutting position of the above-described RFID tag circuit element To by the half cutter 34 is set. This is because, for example, the position from the front end to the rear end of the RFID circuit element To on the tape is known by the steps S125 and S145 in FIG. 31 described above, so that any position (for example, the RFID circuit element To) A position is set for whether the half cutter 34 is to be cut at a predetermined distance from the front end. This position setting may be fixedly stored in advance in an appropriate location of the control circuit 110 (for example, the central portion of the RFID tag circuit element To in the longitudinal direction of the tape or the 1/4 length position). The operator may specify or select the operation signal input in step S105 described above.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S714, and similarly to step S703 in FIG. 37, the tape feeding roller 27, the ribbon take-up roller 106, and the driving roller 51 are rotationally driven to resume the transport of the tag label tape 109 with print.

  Thereafter, Steps S715, S716, S717, and S718 are executed in substantially the same manner as Steps S520, S530, S540, and S550 described above with reference to FIG. That is, in step S715, it is determined whether the printed tag label tape 109 has been transported to the tag cutting half-cut position set in step S713. If the determination is satisfied, transport of the printed tag label tape 109 is stopped in step S716. (In this state, the half cutter 34 is directly opposed to any part of the RFID circuit element To), and in step S717, a control signal is output to the half cutter motor drive circuit 128 to rotate the half cutter 34. Then, any portion of the RFID circuit element To is cut, and the transport of the tag label tape 109 with print is restarted in step S718.

  Since step S719, step S720, step S721, and step S722 are the same as step S704, step S705, step S706, and step S707 described above with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing step S700C which is still another example of the detailed procedure of step S700 shown in FIGS. 32 and 33. In this flow, in the event of a communication error in which the communication between the loop antenna LC and the RFID circuit element To has failed, the above-described different form printing R ′ is performed correspondingly, and the cutting mechanism 15 is further movable. Error processing (3) for cutting the RFID circuit element To by the blade 41 is executed.

  Each procedure shown in the flow of FIG. 39 is obtained by replacing the procedure relating to the half cutter 34 in each procedure shown in FIG. That is, in step S733 corresponding to step S713, the cutting position of the RFID circuit element To by the movable blade 41 is set, and in step S735 corresponding to step S715, the arrival determination of the set full cut position is performed. In step S737 (corresponding to step S717), the movable blade 41 is driven by the cutter motor 43 to cut the RFID circuit element To. Other procedures are the same as those in FIG.

  FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing step S700D which is still another example of the detailed procedure of step S700 shown in FIGS. 32 and 33. In this flow, in the event of a communication error in which the communication between the loop antenna LC and the RFID circuit element To has failed, the RFID label T that is longer than usual is created exceptionally without performing the separate printing R ′ as described above. As a result, the error processing (4) to be recognized by the operator is executed.

  In step S751 of the flow shown in FIG. 40, the full cut position (cut line by the movable blade 41 of the cutting mechanism 15) once set in step S140 in FIG. CL position on the tape) is reset. Specifically, for example, the position of the cutting line CL is largely shifted to the tape rear end side with respect to the setting in step S140.

  Thereafter, in step S752, as in step S703 and the like, the tape feeding roller 27, the ribbon take-up roller 106, and the driving roller 51 are rotationally driven to resume the transport of the tag label tape 109 with print, and this routine ends.

  In the above, the base tape 101 and the tag label tape 109 with print constitute the tag tape described in each claim and also constitute the tag medium on which the RFID circuit elements are arranged.

  30 corresponds to the RFID tag circuit element when the RFID tag circuit element of the tag medium arrives at a predetermined position for transmitting / receiving information to / from the transceiver means by relative movement generated by the relative movement means. This corresponds to a before-and-after determination unit that determines the temporal relationship when the printing of the printing unit with respect to the printing area is completed. Steps S200 and S300 correspond to a cooperation control unit that controls switching of the operation modes of the relative movement unit, the transmission / reception unit, and the printing unit in accordance with the determination result of the front / rear determination unit.

  Further, step S230 in FIG. 32 and step S350 in FIG. 33 constitute communication determination means for determining whether or not information transmission / reception with the RFID tag circuit element of the transmission / reception means has succeeded, and FIG. 37, FIG. 39, FIG. When each of Step S700A, Step S700C, and Step S700D indicated by the communication determination means determines that information transmission / reception has failed, the width direction cutting at one end of the label region longitudinal direction ends is not performed. Further, it corresponds to a cutting control means for controlling the operation of the half cutting means.

  In the label producing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above, a predetermined label printing R is performed on the printing area S of the cover film 103 by the print head 23, and the cover film 103, the adhesive layer 101c, The printed label tape 109 having a laminated structure including three layers with the release paper 101d covering it is conveyed, and the printed label tape 109 is cut into a predetermined length by the cutting mechanism 15 to produce the RFID label T. The

  At this time, in step S40, either the time when the RFID circuit element To of the tag label tape 109 with print reaches the communication position with the antenna LC or the completion of printing in the print area S by the print head 23 is temporally determined. It is determined whether it is ahead. Then, when it is determined that printing for the print area S is first, according to the determination result, the conveyance is stopped when the communication position is reached in the short print label creation processing procedure of step S300 (step S340). Information transmission / reception is performed (step S400), and then the conveyance is resumed (step S360). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S40 that the communication position has been reached first, the conveyance and printing are stopped when the communication position is reached in the long print label creation processing procedure in step S200 (step S220), and information is transmitted and received by the antenna LC. (S400) Thereafter, the conveyance and printing in the printing area S are resumed (step S240).

  In this way, by performing switching control of subsequent operations according to the state at the time of arrival at the communication position, the information transmission / reception results determined in step S230 of FIG. 32 or step S350 of FIG. 33 can be reflected in printing. If it should be reflected, it is reflected (see step S700 in FIGS. 32 and 33), and is not reflected when it is not necessary or impossible to reflect (after step S240 in FIG. 32, after step S360 in step S33). ) And the like can be controlled easily and quickly. That is, when the information transmission / reception is successful, the information transmission / reception result does not need to be reflected in particular (it is sufficient to notify the operator only at the time of failure). Can be created. When information transmission / reception fails, predetermined error processing is performed in step S700 (printing corresponding to the failure is performed in step S700A, RFID circuit elements are disconnected in steps S700B and S700C, and the length of the RFID label T in step S700D. The information transmission / reception result (= failure) can be visually clarified and recognized by the operator.

  As described above, the convenience for the operator can be improved. When it is determined in step S40 that printing for the print area S is first, wasteful control for re-driving the print head 23 is performed after the communication position is reached in the short print label creation processing procedure in step S300. In addition, there is an effect that the RFID label T can be quickly created.

  In the present embodiment, in particular, the half-cut unit 35 leaves the release paper 101d and cuts the other layers to form the front and rear half-cut lines HC1 and HC2. When the other layers (label main bodies 103, 101a to c) are peeled off from the release paper 101d to be attached to the object to be attached, they can be easily peeled off with a fingertip. Further, since the lengths (corresponding to the printing lengths) of the label bodies 103, 101a to c to be actually peeled off and attached at the positions of the front and rear half-cut lines HC1 and HC2, the label bodies 103, 101a to 101a to be attached can be defined. Regardless of the length of c, the length of one RFID label T (in other words, the used length of the tag label tape 109, the base tape 101, and the cover film 103 used for one label production) It can always be constant.

  In addition, since information that has failed to be transmitted / received cannot be used as a label, in this embodiment, as explained in step S700A, for example, the half-cut lines HC1, HC2 by the half-cut unit 35 usually performed at both ends of the tape are used. By forming only the half-cut line HC1 and omitting the half-cut line HC2 without cutting, the useless cutting operation of the half cutter 34 can be eliminated and the control can be simplified. Further, the absence of the half-cut line HC2 also has an effect of visually revealing to the operator that the label has failed to be transmitted / received.

  In the above description, the case where the half-cut unit 35 serving as the half-cutting unit cuts the tag label tape 109 with print other than the release paper 101d is described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. You may make it cut | disconnect. Also in this case, the original effect of the present invention, that is, improvement of convenience for the operator by switching and controlling the subsequent operation according to the state when the communication position is reached, can be obtained.

  Next, a tag label producing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, even when information transmission / reception with respect to one RFID circuit element fails, substantially the same information transmission / reception is automatically performed with another succeeding RFID circuit element. In the figure, members and functions (control processing procedures) that are the same as or equivalent to those in the first embodiment described above are assigned the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  FIG. 41 is a functional block diagram showing a control system of the tag label producing apparatus of this embodiment. In FIG. 41, the control circuit 110 of the tag label producing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a storage device 200 composed of, for example, a non-volatile large-capacity hard disk. The storage device 200 incorporates a database 201 in which employee information, article information, customer information, and the like are registered. In this case, it is not necessary to provide a database in the information server IS as in the first embodiment described above.

  FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing a control procedure executed by the control circuit 110 in the present embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 30 described above.

  In FIG. 42, step S90 is newly added first before step S100 of FIG. 30, and steps S61 to S66 are newly provided after step S60. In addition, the detailed procedures of Step S100, Step S200, and Step S300 are partially changed to Step S101, Step S201, and Step S301.

  That is, first, in step S90, the appearance image of the RFID label T is registered in the database 201 of the storage device 200.

  Specifically, when the operator first selects which data in the database 201 is to be operated by operating an appropriate operating means of the PC 118, a database reference command signal corresponding to this is sent to the control circuit 110, and is sent to the database 201. Data records (groups) of already registered data are extracted from the storage device 200 and displayed as a list on the appropriate display means of the PC 118 as reference data, for example. The operator looks at the reference data and selects data necessary for issuing the RFID label T (selection input via the operation means). Then, an image of the appearance (printing mode) of the issued RFID label T is created and displayed on the display unit of the PC 118. The appearance image of the RFID label T is stored and held in the database 201 in association with the information data of the RFID label T or the tag ID.

  Thereafter, in step S101, an operation signal from the PC 118 is input (via the communication line NW and the input / output interface 113), and print data and communication data with the RFID circuit element To are set based on the operation signal. Preparation processing (refer to FIG. 43 described later for details) is executed.

  Then, step S5-step S40 are implemented in order. For example, if the positional relationship is such that the length of the label print R to be printed is relatively long and the state shown in FIG. 21 (f) is obtained, the determination in step S40 is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S201. Long print label creation processing (refer to FIG. 44 described later for details) is performed. On the other hand, for example, if the positional relationship is such that the length of the label print R to be printed is relatively short and the state shown in FIG. 24G is obtained, the determination in step S40 is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S301. Print label creation processing (see FIG. 45 described later for details) is performed.

  When step S201 or step S301 is completed, step S45 to step S60 described above are performed in order, and then the process proceeds to step S61. In step S61, it is determined whether a flag (details will be described later) indicating that communication with the RFID circuit element To failed and error processing has been performed is not Fe = 1, that is, Fe = 0 (success). Here, in step S201 or step S301, if information transmission / reception is successful, there is no error processing and Fe = 0, and if information transmission / reception fails, Fe = 1 after error processing. (See step S236 in FIG. 44 described later or step S356 in FIG. 45).

  In the case of successful communication, since Fe = 0 as described above, the determination is satisfied, and the routine goes to Step S62. In step S62, a success communication signal indicating that the communication with the RFID circuit element To is successful is sent to the PC 118 via the input / output interface 113 and the communication line NW, and this flow is terminated.

  On the other hand, in the case of communication failure, the determination is not satisfied because Fe = 1 as described above, and the process proceeds to step S63 where n is 1 indicating the number of trials (number of times) of different RFID circuit elements that attempt to communicate the same information. In addition, it is further determined in step S64 whether n = 3.

  At this time, if n ≦ 2, the determination is not satisfied, and the routine goes to Step S65. In step S65, re-preparation processing (refer to FIG. 46 described later for details) is performed in which print data and communication data with the RFID circuit element To are set again.

  On the other hand, if n = 3, the determination is satisfied, and the routine goes to Step S66. In step S66, communication with the three RFID circuit elements To has failed continuously. Therefore, an error notification signal is sent to the PC 118 via the input / output interface 113 and the communication line NW. End the routine. In this way, even if information transmission / reception is unsuccessful, up to three (three times) transmission / reception of substantially the same information is attempted toward different RFID circuit elements To.

  Here, the number of tries (number of times) of the RFID circuit elements that try to transmit and receive substantially the same information is set to n = 3, and an error is notified when communication with the RFID circuit element To fails three times in succession. Although it was assumed, it is not limited to three times.

  FIG. 43 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S101, and corresponds to FIG. 31 described above. In FIG. 43, instead of step S170 in FIG. 31, step S171 according to this is provided.

  In step S171, similarly to step S170 in FIG. 31, variables M and N for counting the number of access attempts when there is no response from the RFID circuit element To and a flag F indicating whether or not the communication is successful are set to 0. Set to initialization. In step S171, in addition to this, a variable n = 1 for counting the number of trials (trys) of different RFID circuit elements To that try to transmit and receive substantially the same information is initialized to n = 1. A flag Fe indicating whether processing has been performed is initialized to 0, and this routine is terminated.

  FIG. 44 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S201, and corresponds to FIG. 32 described above. In FIG. 44, step S235 is newly provided before the error processing of step S700 in FIG. 32, and step S236 is newly provided after the error processing of step S700. Here, step S700A shown in FIG. 37 is representatively adopted as the error processing in step S700.

  In step S235, as in step S405 of FIG. 34, a carrier wave subjected to predetermined modulation is applied to the loop antenna LC as an “Erase” signal for initializing information stored in the memory unit 157 of the RFID circuit element To. To the RFID circuit element To to be written. Thereby, the memory unit 157 of the RFID circuit element To is initialized.

  Then, after performing the above-described error processing in step S700A, the process proceeds to step S236. In step S236, it is determined in step S230 that communication with the RFID circuit element To has failed, and the corresponding flag Fe = 1 is set by performing error processing in step S700A. Then, the process proceeds to step S600.

  FIG. 45 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S301, and corresponds to FIG. 33 described above. In FIG. 45, step S355 is newly provided before the error processing of step S700 in FIG. 33, and step S356 is newly provided after the error processing of step S700. Here, step S700A shown in FIG. 37 is representatively adopted as the error processing in step S700.

  In step S355, as in step S405 of FIG. 34, a carrier wave subjected to predetermined modulation is applied to the loop antenna LC as an “Erase” signal for initializing information stored in the memory unit 157 of the RFID circuit element To. To the RFID circuit element To to be written. Thereby, the memory unit 157 of the RFID circuit element To is initialized.

  Then, after performing the error processing in step S700A, the process proceeds to step S356. In step S356, it is determined that communication with the RFID circuit element To has failed in step S350, and the corresponding flag Fe = 1 is set by performing error processing in step S700A. Then, the process proceeds to step S600.

  FIG. 46 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of the “re-preparation process” in step S65. Step S65 is in accordance with the procedure of “preparation process” of FIG. 43 described above, and is different from the process of FIG. 43 only in that step S105 is omitted.

  In steps S61 and S65 in FIG. 42, when the communication determination unit determines that the information transmission / reception has failed, the step S61 and step S65 in FIG. Transmitting and receiving substantially the same information as the information that failed to be transmitted to and received from the RFID tag circuit element, and performing the printing corresponding to the predetermined area corresponding to the other RFID tag circuit element, The printing unit and the transmission / reception unit correspond to each other and correspond to a re-creation control unit that creates a RFID label different from the RFID label having the RFID circuit element that has failed in the transmission / reception.

  In the second embodiment configured as described above, even if the RFID label T is created in a form in which information transmission / reception with one RFID circuit element To fails, the RFID tag circuit T is discharged after the RFID label T is discharged. Substantially the same information as the information that failed to be transmitted / received is transmitted / received to / from another RFID circuit element To arranged on the subsequent side in the transport direction from the element To, and another RFID label T is created. Thereby, even when information transmission / reception fails, the operator can automatically re-create the RFID label T without newly performing an additional operation, and the burden on the operator can be reduced.

  Next, a tag label producing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The present embodiment is an embodiment in the case where batch continuous creation of a plurality of RFID label is also supported. In the figure, members and functions (control processing procedures) that are the same as or equivalent to those in the two embodiments described above are assigned the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  FIG. 47 is a flowchart showing a control procedure executed by the control circuit 110 in the present embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 42 described above. 47, step S91 and step S92 are newly added before step S90 in FIG. 42, and step S67 and step S68 are newly provided after step S62 or step S66.

  That is, first, in step S91, the number of RFID label T to be created (label creation instruction number) x input by the operator via an appropriate operation means of the PC 118 is input via the input / output interface 113. Subsequently, in step S92, initialization is set to a variable X = 1 that counts the number of times (number of sheets) of RFID label T to be created according to the label creation instruction number x.

  Then, after step S90 to step S62 or step S66 are performed in order, it is determined in step S67 whether X = x. If X = x is not satisfied, it is determined that the determination is not satisfied, and creation of the RFID label T of the number corresponding to the number x of label creation instructions has not been completed. Then, the process proceeds to step S68, and 1 is added to X. Run again. If X = x, the determination is satisfied, and this routine is terminated because the creation of the RFID label T of the number corresponding to the label creation instruction number x is completed.

  With the above processing, if there are a plurality of label production instruction number x, a plurality of RFID label T are produced continuously. If information transmission / reception fails in a certain RFID label T (without counting the number of failed RFID label T in step S68), communication is retried using the subsequent RFID circuit element To in the same manner as described above. Then, the RFID label T is newly created, and if successful within three trials, the number of the RFID label T corresponding to the success is counted in step S68, and the process returns to step S101 to repeat. As a result, x RFID labels T that are finally successfully communicated are created as much as possible as instructed in step S91.

  In the above, steps S91, S92, S67, and S68 in FIG. 47 are performed so that the plurality of RFID tag labels each having the RFID circuit element are collectively created. It corresponds to a continuous creation control means for cooperatively controlling the means, the transmission / reception means, and the discharge means.

  In this embodiment, when it is known that a plurality of RFID label T is to be created in advance, the operator inputs a label creation instruction number x by the PC 118 to continuously create a plurality of labels. It is only necessary to give an instruction to that effect, and it is not necessary to create the plurality of RFID labels T individually by repeating the same operation. In addition, even when information transmission / reception fails in some of the RFID tag T during the creation of a plurality of RFID label T, the information transmission / reception automatically fails without any additional operation by the PC 118 by the operator. It is possible to recreate the RFID label T corresponding to the number of minutes. Thereby, the burden on the operator can be reduced and the convenience can be improved.

  The present invention is not limited to the first to third embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and technical idea of the present invention. Hereinafter, such modifications will be described in order.

(1) When the print head is stopped at the white line In the first to third embodiments, in the long print label producing process shown in FIG. However, when the conveyance is stopped, the print head 23 is not stopped at the non-printing blank portion (white line) located between the print characters in the print region S or within the print diagram. In such a case, drive control may be performed to stop at that portion.

  FIG. 48 is a flowchart showing a long print label creation processing procedure executed by the control circuit 110 in this modified example, and corresponds to FIG. 32 and FIG. 44 described above. The same steps as those in FIG. 32 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 48, in the present modification, first, step S205 is newly added before step S210 described above, and step S221, step S222, step S223, step between step S210 and step S220 described above are performed. S224 and step S225 are newly provided.

  That is, first, in step S205, a flag Fw = 0 regarding the minute distance conveyance for setting the print head 23 position on the white line is initialized. Then, after confirming that the print head 23 has reached the communication position in step S210 similar to FIG. 32, the process proceeds to newly provided step S221.

  In step S221, it is determined whether the print head 23 is at the position of the white line. This is because, for example, based on the print data created in step S110 of FIG. 31 described above, the position in the transport direction on the tape where the print head 23 is stopped is the actual print of print characters and print figures in the print data. What is necessary is just to calculate and determine whether it is a part (non-blank part) or a non-printing blank part (white line).

  If the print head 23 is positioned on the white line, the determination is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S220 similar to FIG. 32, and the rotation of the tape feed roller 27, ribbon take-up roller 106, and drive roller 51 is stopped, and the RFID tag While the loop antenna LC is substantially facing the circuit element To, conveyance of the tag label tape 109 with print is stopped, and energization of the print head 23 is stopped to stop (interrupt) printing of the label print R.

  On the other hand, if the print head 23 is not located on the white line (if it is located on the substantial print portion), the determination in step S221 is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S222 to determine whether or not the flag Fw = 1. judge. Since the flag Fw = 0 at the first step S205, the determination is not satisfied, and the process goes to step S223. After setting the flag Fw = 1, the process goes to step S224.

  In step S224, after the position of the print head 23 reaches the position of the white line, the conveyance and printing are continued for a further minute time to stop the conveyance of the tag label tape 109 with print (specifically, for example, a timer or the like is set). It is sufficient to maintain the conveyance / printing state as it is for a predetermined minute time (the minute time may be fixed or variable). Thereafter, the process returns to step S221 described above.

  In the returned step S221, the same determination as described above is performed. However, if the print head 23 has reached the white line due to the continuous conveyance of the minute distance in the step S224, the determination is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S220. If the print head 23 has not reached the white line even after the continuation of the conveyance, the determination in step S221 is not satisfied again, and the process proceeds to step S222. At this time, since Fw = 1 in the above-described step S223, the determination in step S222 is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S225 to set Fw = 2, and then the process proceeds to step S220.

  Thereafter, the procedure from step S220 is basically the same as that in FIG. 32 described above, but in this modified example, step S231 and step S232 branched from this are added between step S230 and step S240. ing.

  That is, in step S230, it is determined whether or not the information transmission / reception is successful in step S400, and then the process proceeds to step S231 to determine whether or not the above-described flag Fw = 2. As described above, if the position of the print head 23 finally becomes a white line, Fw = 0 or 1 without passing through step S225, so the determination in step S231 is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S240. Thereafter, the same procedure as in FIG. 32 is executed.

  On the other hand, if the position of the print head 23 does not reach the white line even after the continuation of the minute distance in step S224 is executed (= when the print head 23 is located at the substantial print portion), as described above. Since Fw = 2 at step S225, the determination at step S231 is not satisfied, and the routine goes to step S232.

  In step S232, in correspondence with step S224, the printed tag label tape is transported (returned transport) by a minute distance in the opposite direction to the previous transport direction. Specifically, a control signal is output to the conveyance motor drive circuit 121 via the input / output interface 113, and the tape feed roller 27 and the ribbon take-up roller 106 are forward-corresponding to the conveyance direction by the driving force of the conveyance motor 121. And a control signal is output to the tape discharge motor 65 via the tape discharge motor drive circuit 123 to drive the drive roller 51 to rotate in the reverse direction similar to the above to print the tag label tape with print. 109 is transported back in a direction opposite to the forward direction, which is the transport direction, by a predetermined minute distance (for example, a distance corresponding to several dots in the printing operation of the print head 23). At this time, the print contents are also returned by the distance of the returned print data. As a result, when resuming printing thereafter, printing can be resumed in a manner slightly overlapping with that already printed in the print area S. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S240, and the same procedure as in FIG. 32 is executed thereafter.

  In step S221 to step S225, when the print head 23 is not in the white line position, the conveyance / printing is continued in the forward direction to reach the white line position. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The printing head 23 may be in the white line position by carrying it back in the reverse direction by a predetermined minute distance (return carrying) (for example, during this time, printing is interrupted). In such a case, in step S232, printing and conveyance are restarted from a position that has been returned by a minute distance from the position before the return conveyance. The printing may be resumed in a manner slightly overlapping with that printed in the region S).

  In the above, step S221 in FIG. 48 is determined as the first arrival at the predetermined position where information is transmitted / received to / from the wireless tag circuit element transmission / reception means by the front / rear determination means described in each claim. When printing by the conveyance and printing means is stopped, it is determined whether the conveyance direction position when the printing means stops printing corresponds to the non-printing blank portion located between the print characters in the print area or in the print diagram. This corresponds to blank determination means.

  If the blank determination means determines in step S224 that the stop position of the printing means does not correspond to the non-printing blank portion, the tag medium or the printing target is set so that the printing means reaches the non-printing blank portion. It corresponds to a transport control unit that controls the transport unit so that the medium is transported in the reverse direction or the forward direction and stopped.

  This modification has the following effects. That is, if the print head 23 stops printing in the middle of printing the above-described substantial print portion (= a portion that is not blank, such as a character portion or a graphic portion), then when printing is resumed, faint or minute print blanks at the stop position. Etc. may occur. In this modification, it is determined in step S221 whether or not the print stop position of the print head 23 corresponds to the white line. If the character portion or the graphic portion is being printed instead of the white line, in step S224. Then, the conveyance is stopped after the conveyance to the white line, and the transmission / reception of information is performed in step S400, thereby preventing the occurrence of fading, blanking or the like due to the printing stop.

(2) When determining whether printing is completed or not when actually reaching the communication position In the above, before the printing by the printing head 23 is actually started in step 130 of FIG. 31 or FIG. The print end position on the tape is calculated, and when the tag label tape 109 with print is in the communication position after the start of conveyance, it is compared whether the state has reached the calculated print end position. However, it is not limited to this. That is, instead of calculating the print end position in advance as described above, printing is actually started by the print head 23 based on the created print data, and an unprinted print is still obtained when the communication position is reached. It may be determined whether printing is continued with data remaining (or whether printing of all print data is completed).

  FIG. 49 is a flowchart showing a control procedure executed by the control circuit 110 in this modified example, and corresponds to FIGS. 30, 42, and 47 described above. In FIG. 49, step S41 and step S42 are newly provided in place of step S40 between step S35 and step S200 or step S300 in FIG. In addition, the detailed procedures of Step S100, Step S200, and Step S300 are partially changed to Step S100 ′, Step S200 ′, and Step S300 ′.

  First, the difference between step S100 ′ and step S100 will be described. FIG. 50 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S100 ′ and corresponds to FIG. 31 and FIG. 43 described above. In FIG. 50, Step S130 and Step S135 in FIG. 31 are omitted, and Step S150 ′ and Step S155 ′ according to these are provided instead of Step S150 and Step S155 in FIG.

  That is, based on the above-described purpose, the calculation of the print end position in step S135 and step S140 and the calculation of the position of the rear half-cut line HC2 based on this are not performed, and when the setting of the communication position in step S125 is completed, FIG. The procedure proceeds to the procedure for setting the cutting line CL on the label rear end side in the same step S140, and then the rear end position of the RFID circuit element To in step S145 similar to FIG. 31 is set.

  Thereafter, in response to the omission of the calculation of the position of the rear half-cut line HC2, in the newly provided steps S150 'and S155', the position of the RFID circuit element To is only related to the set cutting line CL. It is determined whether or not it is on the label rear end side with respect to the rear end position. If the determination is not satisfied, in step S155 ′, the position of the cutting line CL is on the label rear end side with respect to the RFID tag circuit element To. The position is corrected so as to be (reset), and the process proceeds to step S160. The procedure of FIG. 50 other than the above is the same as that of FIG.

  Returning to FIG. 49, after step S100 ′, steps S5 to S35 are the same as those in FIG. After the front half-cut line HC1 is formed, the conveyance / printing is resumed in step S35, and the process proceeds to newly provided step S41.

  In step S41, it is determined whether printing of the print head 23 has been completed or has not yet been completed, that is, whether unprinted print data remains and printing has been continued, or printing of all print data has been completed. To do. While printing is not completed, the determination is not satisfied, and the routine goes to the next step S42.

  In step S42, in the same manner as in step S210 in FIG. 32 and step S330 in FIG. 33, whether the tag label tape 109 with print has been transported to the communication position with the loop antenna LC described above (the loop antenna LC is connected to the wireless tag). It is determined whether or not the tag label tape 109 with print has reached a position substantially opposite to the position of the circuit element To. The determination at this time may be, for example, as described above, for example, by detecting the transport distance after detecting the identifier PM of the base tape 101 in step S10 by a predetermined known method. While the communication position is not reached, the determination is not satisfied and the process returns to step S41 and the same procedure is repeated.

  As long as printing is not completed and the communication position is not reached, step S41 → step S42 → step S41 →... Is repeated, and if printing is completed earlier in this repetition loop, the determination in step S41 is satisfied. Then, the process proceeds to step S300 '. If the communication position is reached first, the determination in step S42 is satisfied and the process proceeds to step S200'.

  Here, the difference between step S200 ′ and step S200 will be described. FIG. 51 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S200 ′ and corresponds to FIG. 32 and FIG. 44 described above. 51, step S210 and step S260 in FIG. 32 are omitted, and step S250 ′ and step S500 ′ according to these are provided instead of step S250 and step S500 in FIG.

  That is, in response to the determination as to whether or not the communication position has been reached in step S42 of FIG. 49, there is no step S210 of FIG. 32 in FIG. The conveyance of the tape 109 for printing and the printing of the print head 23 are stopped. Thereafter, Step S400, Step S230, and Step S240 are the same as those in FIG. After the stopped conveyance and printing are resumed in step S240, the process proceeds to newly provided step S250 ′.

  In step S250 ′, whether printing by the print head 23 has been completed or has not yet been completed, that is, whether unprinted print data remains and printing has been continued, or whether printing of all print data has been completed. judge. This determination is not satisfied while the printing is not completed, and this procedure is repeated. When the printing is completed, the determination is satisfied and the routine proceeds to the next step S500 ′ (details will be described later), and then the same step S600 is executed. Exit.

  Next, the difference between step S300 ′ and step S300 will be described. FIG. 52 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S300 ′ and corresponds to FIG. 33 and FIG. 45 described above. In FIG. 52, step S310 and step S320 in FIG. 33 are omitted, and step S500 ′ according to this is provided instead of step S500 in FIG.

  That is, in response to the fact that it has already been determined in step S41 of FIG. 49 whether the printing operation of the actual print head 23 has been completed, FIG. 52 does not include steps S310 and S320 of FIG. In step S330, it is determined whether the tag label tape 109 with print has reached the communication position. Thereafter, Step S340, Step S350, and Step S360 are the same as those in FIG. In step S360, after the conveyance stopped in step S340 is resumed, the process proceeds to the next step S500 ′ (details will be described later), and then step S600 similar to the above is executed, and this routine is terminated.

  Next, step S500 ′ will be described. FIG. 53 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S500 ′ and corresponds to FIG. 35 described above. Procedures equivalent to those in FIG. 35 and other flows are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In FIG. 53, the position of the rear half-cut line HC2 is set in step S135 similar to FIG. 31 of the above embodiment. This setting is based on the operation signal input in step S105 in FIG. 50 and the tape transport position (or the communication position in step S330 in FIG. 52) when the determination in step S250 ′ in FIG. 51 is satisfied. The position of the rear half-cut line HC2 on the tape corresponding to the cartridge information is set. That is, based on the operation signal input in step S105, based on the premise that the distance from the print end position (or the communication position) to the rear half-cut line HC2 is fixed in advance depending on the type of the cartridge 7. The rear half-cut on the tape is performed by adding (determining) the determined distance to the tape transport position (or the communication position of step S330 in FIG. 52) when the determination in step S250 ′ is satisfied. The position of the line HC2 is calculated.

  Thereafter, step S510 and step S520 in FIG. 35 are reversed in order, and step S520 is first executed. That is, as described above, it is determined whether or not the tag label tape 109 with print has been transported to the half-cut position HC2 described above. Similar to the above, the determination at this time may be performed by detecting a transport distance after detecting the identifier PM of the base tape 101 in step S10 of FIG. The determination is not satisfied until the rear half-cut position HC2 is reached, and this procedure is repeated. If the determination is reached, the determination is satisfied, and the routine goes to the next Step S510.

  In step S510, as described above, whether the position of the half-cut line HC2 set in step S135 and the position of the cutting line CL set in step S140 of FIG. 50 are equal to or greater than a predetermined distance. Determine. If the position of the rear half-cut line HC2 and the position of the cutting line CL are too close, this determination is not satisfied, and it is considered that it is not appropriate to provide the rear half-cut line HC2 separately from the cutting line CL. Exit. On the other hand, if the position of the rear half-cut line HC2 and the position of the cutting line CL are sufficiently far, this determination is satisfied, and the routine goes to the next Step S150 ″.

  In step S150 ″, substantially the same determination content as in step S150 ′ described above is performed using step S130 for the half-cut line HC2. That is, in step S150 ″, the half-cut line HC2 is calculated after the calculation in step S135. In step S155 ″, the position of the half-cut line HC2 is determined to be the RFID circuit. In step S155 ″, the position of the half-cut line HC2 is determined. The position is corrected (reset) so as to be closer to the label rear end side than the rear end position of the element To, and the process proceeds to step S530.

  Step S530 and subsequent steps are the same as those in FIG.

  In the above, step S42 and step S41, which has been returned after the determination of step S42 is not satisfied, as a whole, the RFID tag circuit element of the tag medium transmits / receives information to / from the transmission / reception means by the relative movement generated by the relative movement means. This corresponds to the before-and-after determination means for determining the temporal relationship between the time when the predetermined position is reached and the time when the printing means prints on the print area corresponding to the RFID circuit element.

  Steps S200 ′ and S300 ′ correspond to a cooperative control unit that controls switching of the operation modes of the relative movement unit, the transmission / reception unit, and the printing unit in accordance with the determination result of the front / rear determination unit.

  Also in this modification, the effect similar to the said 1st-3rd embodiment is acquired. That is, in step S42 and step S41 shown in FIG. 49, the RFID circuit element To of the tag label tape 109 with print reaches the communication position with the antenna LC, and the printing of the print area S by the print head 23 is completed. It is determined whether any of these is ahead in time. If it is determined that printing for the print area S is completed first according to the determination result, the conveyance is stopped when the communication position is reached in the short print label creation processing procedure of step S300 '(step S340). Information transmission / reception is performed via the LC (step S400), and then transport is resumed (step S360). On the other hand, when it is determined in step S42 that the communication position has been reached first, the conveyance and printing are stopped when the communication position is reached in the long print label creation processing procedure in step S200 '(step S220), and information transmission / reception is performed by the antenna LC. (S400) After that, the conveyance and the printing in the printing area S are resumed (step S240).

  In this way, by performing switching control of subsequent operations according to the state at the time of arrival at the communication position, the information transmission / reception results determined in step S230 of FIG. 51 and step S350 of FIG. 52 can be reflected in printing. If it should be reflected, it is reflected (see step S700 in FIGS. 51 and 52), and is not reflected when it is not necessary or cannot be reflected (after step S240 in FIG. 51, after step S360 in step S133). ) And the like can be controlled easily and quickly. As a result, the convenience for the operator can be improved.

(3) When tape bonding is not performed In other words, as described in the first to third embodiments, printing is performed on the cover film 103 different from the base tape 101 provided with the RFID circuit element To. In this case, these are not attached together, but applied to a cartridge for a tag label producing apparatus that directly prints on a cover film provided on a tag tape.

  FIG. 54 is a plan view showing the detailed structure of the cartridge 7 ′ of this modification, and corresponds to FIG. 4 described above. Portions equivalent to those in FIG.

  In FIG. 54, a cartridge 7 'includes a first roll 102' around which a thermal tape 101 '(tag tape, tag medium) is wound, and a tape feed that feeds the thermal tape 101' toward the outside of the cartridge 7 '. And a roller 27 '.

  The first roll 102 ′ is wound around a reel member 102 a ′ with a strip-like transparent thermal tape 101 ′ in which a plurality of the RFID tag circuit elements To are sequentially formed in the longitudinal direction. The reel member 102a 'is rotatably fitted and accommodated in a boss 95 standing on the bottom surface of the cartridge 7'.

  In this example, the heat-sensitive tape 101 'wound around the first roll 102' has a three-layer structure (see a partially enlarged view in FIG. 54), and is on the surface from the side wound inside to the opposite side. Cover film 101a '(base material layer) made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or the like having a thermosensitive recording layer, adhesive layer 101b' (adhesive material layer) made of an appropriate adhesive material, release paper 101c '(release material layer) They are stacked in order.

  On the back side of the cover film 101a ', the loop antenna 152 (tag side loop antenna) configured in a loop coil shape and transmitting / receiving information is integrally provided in this example, and the IC is connected to this loop antenna 152a. The circuit unit 151 is formed, and the RFID tag circuit element To is configured by these. On the back side of the cover film 101a ', the release paper 101c' is bonded to the cover film 101a 'by the adhesive layer 101b'. Further, like the release paper 101d, the surface of the release paper 101c ′ has a predetermined position corresponding to each RFID circuit element To (in this example, further forward of the front end of the antenna 152 in the transport direction). Position) is provided with a predetermined identifier for transport control (in this example, a black identifier. Alternatively, a laser processing or the like may be used to drill a hole substantially penetrating through the thermal tape 101 'as described above) PM. ing.

  When the cartridge 7 'is mounted on the cartridge holder 6 and the roller holder 25 is moved from the separation position to the contact position, the thermal tape 101' is held between the print head 23 and the platen roller 26, and the tape feed It is sandwiched between the roller 27 'and the sub-roller 28'. Then, the tape feed roller 27 ′, the sub roller 28 ′, and the platen roller 26 rotate in synchronization, and the thermal tape 101 ′ is fed out from the first roll 102 ′.

  The drawn thermal tape 101 ′ is guided by a substantially cylindrical reel 92 that is rotatably inserted in a reel boss 91 erected on the bottom surface of the cartridge, and the print head 23 on the downstream side in the transport direction from the opening 94. Supplied to. In the print head 23, a plurality of heating elements are energized by the above-described print drive circuit 120 (see FIG. 15), whereby the label print R is printed on the surface of the cover film 101a 'of the thermal tape 101', and the printed tag label is printed. After being formed as the tape 109 ′, it is carried out of the cartridge 7 ′ from the discharge port 96.

  After unloading from the cartridge 7 ', the IC circuit unit 151 is accessed (information read / write) via the loop antenna LC described above. Thereafter, conveyance by the driving roller 51, cutting by the cutting mechanism 15 and the like may be performed in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  The half cut unit 35 is different from the one corresponding to the so-called laminate type described in FIG. That is, in the configuration described in FIG. 10 and the like, the cradle 36 is on the print head 23 side, and the half cutter 34 is on the platen roller 26 side. This is a configuration for performing half-cutting from the surface opposite to the release paper of the created tape. However, when a thermal tape is used as in this modification (the same applies when an ink ribbon is used in a type that does not perform lamination described later with reference to FIG. 55), the release paper is opposite to the laminate type. . Therefore, in order to half-cut the portions other than the release paper, the arrangement of the cradle 36 and the half cutter 34 is reversed. That is, the half cutter 34 is on the print head 23 side, and the cradle 36 is on the platen roller 26 side.

  In this example, in order to enable automatic detection of the above-described cartridge type information and the like relating to the cartridge 7 'on the apparatus side, a cartridge RFID tag circuit in which information relating to the cartridge 7' is stored in advance on the outer peripheral side wall surface 93 of the cartridge 7. An element Tc is provided. An antenna AT that transmits and receives signals to and from the RFID tag circuit element Tc by non-contact wireless communication is provided on the side wall 6A of the cartridge holder 6 that faces the RFID circuit element Tc. .

  Also in this modification, although detailed illustration is omitted, in the thermal tape 101 ′, the distance L from the leading end position of the identifier PM in the tape transport direction to the leading end of the RFID tag circuit element To in the tape transport direction is the same as in the above embodiment. The tape sensor is set in advance so as to be equal to the tape conveyance direction distance Lo between the mark sensor 127 and the print head 23. As a result, the RFID circuit element To is connected to the loop antenna LC in the printing by the print head 23 and the transport of the tag label tape 109 'with the print head 23 by the same method as described with reference to FIGS. By switching the subsequent control of the print head 23 and the loop antenna LC according to whether or not the print of the print head 23 is completed when the communication position is reached, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained. it can.

  In the configuration of the modification, printing is performed only by heat generation of the print head 23 without using an ink ribbon or the like by using a thermal tape as a tag tape. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As in the third embodiment, printing may be performed using a normal ink ribbon.

  FIG. 55 is a plan view showing the detailed structure of the cartridge 7 ″ of such a modification, and corresponds to FIG. 54 and FIG. 4 described above. The same parts as FIG. The same reference numerals are given, and description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

  In FIG. 54, a cartridge 7 ″ of this modification has a first roll 102 ″ around which a base tape 101 ″ (tag tape, tag medium) is wound.

  The first roll 102 ″ is wound around a reel member 102a ″ with a strip-shaped transparent base tape 101 ″ in which a plurality of the RFID circuit elements To are sequentially formed in the longitudinal direction.

  In this example, the base tape 101 ″ wound around the first roll 102 ″ has a three-layer structure (refer to a partially enlarged view in FIG. 55). From the side wound on the inside toward the opposite side, PET A colored base film 101a ″ (base material layer) made of (polyethylene terephthalate), an adhesive layer 101b ″ (adhesive material layer) made of an appropriate adhesive material, and a release paper 101c ″ (release material layer) are laminated in this order. It is configured.

  On the back side of the base film 101a ″, the loop antenna 152 (tag side loop antenna) configured in a loop coil shape and transmitting / receiving information is integrally provided in this example, and the IC is connected so as to be connected thereto. A circuit portion 151 is formed, and these constitute the RFID circuit element To. On the back side of the base film 101a ″, the release paper 101c ″ is bonded to the base film 101a ″ by the adhesive layer 101b ″. In addition, on the surface of the release paper 101c ″, as described above, a predetermined position corresponding to each RFID circuit element To (in this example, a position further forward than the front end of the antenna 152 on the front side in the transport direction). In addition, a predetermined identifier for transport control (in this example, a black identifier. Alternatively, by laser processing or the like, the base tape is similar to the above. Even it is) PM the like piercing the substantially penetrating pores provided 01 ".

  When the cartridge 7 ″ is mounted on the cartridge holder 6 and the roller holder 25 is moved from the separation position to the contact position, the base tape 101 ″ and the ink ribbon 105 are sandwiched between the print head 23 and the platen roller 26. At the same time, it is held between the tape feed roller 27 'and the sub-roller 28'. Then, the tape feed roller 27 ′, the sub roller 28 ′, and the platen roller 26 rotate in synchronization, and the base tape 101 ″ is fed out from the first roll 102 ″.

  On the other hand, at this time, a plurality of heating elements of the print head 23 are energized by the print drive circuit 120 (see FIG. 15), and the information stored in the RFID circuit element To is accommodated on the surface of the base film 101a ″ of the base tape 101 ″. The printed label R is printed and formed as a tag label tape 109 "with print, and then is carried out of the cartridge 7".

  After carrying out of the cartridge 7 ″, the IC circuit section 151 is accessed (reading / writing information) via the loop antenna LC described above. Thereafter, the conveyance by the driving roller 51 and the cutting by the cutting mechanism 15 are performed as described above. The description is omitted because it is sufficient to carry out in the same manner as the embodiment, and the half-cut unit 35 is the same as that of the modified example of FIG.

  Also in this modified example, as in the modified example of FIG. 54 described above, in the base tape 101 ″, the distance L from the leading end position of the identifier PM in the tape transport direction to the leading end of the RFID circuit element To in the tape transport direction is the mark sensor 127. Is set in advance so as to be equal to the tape conveyance direction distance Lo between the print head 23 and the print head 23. As a result, the print head is obtained by the same method as described with reference to FIGS. 23, and when the RFID tag circuit element To reaches the communication position with the loop antenna LC, depending on whether printing of the print head 23 is completed or not, By switching the control of the print head 23 and the loop antenna LC, the same effect as the first to third embodiments can be obtained.

(4) Others In the above, a pressure roller as a conveying means is provided as a relative moving means, thereby driving the tag label tape 109 with print as a tag medium and the cover film 103 as a medium to be printed to be fixedly installed. Although a relative movement is given between the print head 23 and the loop antenna LC, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, on the contrary, the print head 23 (with the loop antenna LC) is driven by a predetermined moving mechanism so as to give a relative movement between the tag medium such as a sheet and the print medium. Good. In this case, the same effect as described above can be obtained by performing the same control in the same relative positional relationship as described above.

  In the above, a loop antenna is used as the antenna LC on the device side and the antenna 152 on the RFID tag circuit element To side, and magnetic induction (including non-contact methods performed via electromagnetic induction, magnetic coupling, and other electromagnetic fields) is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, information transmission / reception may be performed by radio communication using a dipole antenna or a patch antenna as the two antennas.

  In the above description, the half-cut unit 35 serving as the half-cutting unit is provided separately from the cutting mechanism 15 serving as the cutting unit. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, for example, half cutting may be performed by controlling the rotation angle of the fixed blade 41 of the cutting mechanism 15 to be smaller than that at the time of full cutting, and both the cutting means and the half cutting means may be used. . In this case, the same effect is obtained.

  In the above description, the RFID tag information T is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To and written to the IC circuit unit 151 to create the RFID tag T. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, as already mentioned, while reading the RFID tag information from the read-only RFID circuit element To in which predetermined RFID tag information is stored and retained in a non-rewritable manner, printing corresponding to the RFID tag information T is performed. The present invention can also be applied to the case of creating the image, and also in this case, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  Further, the apparatus main body side is not limited to a configuration in which the first roll 102 is detachably attached to the tag label producing apparatus 1 side without using the cartridge 7 or a detachable attachment to the tag label producing apparatus 1 such as the cartridge 7. It is also conceivable to provide the first roll 102 as a so-called stationary type or an integral type that cannot be attached and detached. In this case, the same effect is obtained.

  It is assumed that the “Erase” signal, “Verify” signal, “Program” signal, etc. used above conform to the specifications established by EPC global. EPC global is a non-profit corporation established jointly by the International EAN Association, which is an international organization of distribution codes, and the United Code Code Council (UCC), which is an American distribution code organization. Note that signals conforming to other standards may be used as long as they perform the same function.

  Furthermore, although the case where the RFID label provided with the RFID circuit element To is described as an example of the print label has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this. In other words, the RFID tag circuit element To is not provided as long as the original effect of the present invention is ensured, in which the label main body portion is made variable according to the printing length and the label is easily handled by the user. You may apply this invention to the label production apparatus which produces a printing label, and the printing label produced by this. In this case, the loop antenna LC, the transmission circuit 306, and the reception circuit 307 can be omitted in the label producing apparatus 1, and the RFID circuit element To is not required on the label side.

  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 illustrating a wireless tag generation system including a tag label producing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view showing the whole structure of the tag label production apparatus shown in FIG. It is a perspective view showing the structure of the internal unit inside a tag label production apparatus. It is a top view showing the structure of the internal unit shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view schematically showing a detailed structure of a cartridge. It is the conceptual diagram seen from the arrow D direction in FIG. 5 showing the conceptual structure of a RFID circuit element. It is a partial extraction perspective view showing the principal part detailed structure of a label discharge mechanism. It is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the internal unit in the state which removed the label discharge | emission mechanism from the structure shown in FIG. It is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the cutting mechanism which removed the half cutter from the internal unit. It is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the cutting mechanism which removed the half cutter from the internal unit. It is a perspective view showing the detailed structure of a movable blade and a fixed blade with a half cut unit. It is a partial expanded sectional view of the detailed structure of a movable blade and a fixed blade. It is a front view which shows the external appearance of a movable blade. It is a cross-sectional view by the AA cross section in FIG. It is a functional block diagram showing the control system of a tag label production apparatus. It is a circuit diagram which represents simply the circuit structure of the connection part of a transmission circuit, a receiving circuit, and a loop antenna. It is a functional block diagram showing the functional structure of a wireless tag circuit element. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an appearance of a wireless tag label T. FIG. FIG. 19 is a diagram obtained by rotating a cross-sectional view of the IXXA-IXXA ′ section and the IXXB-IXXB ′ section in FIG. 18 by 90 ° counterclockwise. It is a figure showing an example of the screen displayed on PC at the time of access (reading or writing) to wireless tag information. It is explanatory drawing showing the positional relationship of a tag label tape with print, a loop antenna, a mark sensor, a half cut unit, a cutting mechanism, and a print head. It is a figure showing the example of a radio | wireless tag label. It is a figure showing the example of the RFID label T without a back margin area | region. It is explanatory drawing showing the positional relationship of a tag label tape with print, a loop antenna, a mark sensor, a half cut unit, a cutting mechanism, and a print head. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless tag label T. FIG. It is explanatory drawing showing the process when a communication error arises when printing length is comparatively long. It is a figure showing the RFID label completed in the communication failure state. It is explanatory drawing showing the process when a communication error arises when printing length is comparatively short. It is a figure showing the RFID label completed in the communication failure state. It is a flowchart showing the control procedure performed by the control circuit. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S100. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S200. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S300. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S400. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S500. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S600. It is a flowchart showing step S700A which is an example of the detailed procedure of step S700. It is a flowchart showing step S700B which is an example of the detailed procedure of step S700. It is a flowchart showing step S700C which is an example of the detailed procedure of step S700. It is a flowchart showing step S700D which is an example of the detailed procedure of step S700. It is a functional block diagram which shows the control system of the tag label production apparatus by 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart showing the control procedure performed by the control circuit. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S101. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S201. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S301. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S65. It is a functional block diagram which shows the control system of the tag label production apparatus by 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart showing the long print label production process procedure which the control circuit 110 in the modification which stops a print head at a white line performs. 10 is a flowchart showing a control procedure executed by the control circuit 110 in a modified example for determining whether printing is completed or not when the communication position is actually reached. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S100 '. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S200 '. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S300 '. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S500 '. It is a top view showing the detailed structure of the cartridge of the modification which does not perform tape bonding. It is a top view showing the detailed structure of the cartridge of the other modification which does not perform tape bonding.

Explanation of symbols

1 Tag label making device 15 Cutting mechanism (cutting means)
23 Print head (printing means)
27 Tape feed roller (conveying means, relative moving means)
35 Half-cut unit (half-cutting means)
101 Base material tape (tag tape, tag medium)
101b Base film (base material layer)
101c Adhesive layer (adhesive layer)
101d Release paper (release material layer)
101 'Thermal tape (tag tape, tag medium)
101a 'cover film (base material layer)
101b 'Adhesive layer (adhesive layer)
101c 'Release paper (release material layer)
101 "base tape (tag tape, tag medium)
101a ″ base film (base material layer)
101b ″ adhesive layer (adhesive layer)
101c ″ release paper (release material layer)
103 Cover film (medium to be printed)
109 Printed tag label tape (tag tape, tag medium)
109 'Preprinted tag label tape (tag tape, tag medium)
109 "pre-printed tag label tape (tag tape, tag medium)
110 control circuit (front-rear determination means, cooperation control means, communication determination means,
Cutting control means; blank determination means, conveyance control means)
151 IC circuit part 152 Antenna CL cutting line (cutting part)
HC1, HC2 half cut line (half cut part)
LC loop antenna (transmission / reception means)
PM identifier S printing area T RFID label To RFID circuit element

Claims (11)

A first roll in which a tape-like base tape on which an RFID circuit element having an IC circuit section for storing information and an antenna for transmitting and receiving information is arranged is wound, and a tape shape to be bonded to the tag medium A cartridge holder having a second roll around which the print-receiving medium is wound;
The base tape fed from the first roll of the cartridge mounted on the cartridge holder and the print medium to be fed fed from the second roll are pressed and bonded together to produce a tag label tape. Bonding means;
Transporting means for transporting the tape for tag label bonded by the bonding means, the substrate tape fed from the first roll, the printing medium fed from the second roll, and the bonding means;
Wherein is transported by the transport means against a predetermined print area of the printing medium before being bonded by said bonding means, and printing means for performing Printout,
Cutting means provided on the downstream side of the laminating means along the conveying direction by the conveying means, and cutting the bonded tag label tape;
Tag ID as at least identification information with the RFID circuit element provided on the tag label tape provided downstream of the laminating unit and the cutting unit along the conveying direction by the conveying unit Communication means for performing non-contact writing of RFID tag information including or reading information stored in advance in the IC circuit unit ;
Before the tag label tape bonded by the bonding means is cut by the cutting means, and the RFID circuit element of the tag label tape has the communication means and the writing or reading When reaching a predetermined position, temporarily stop the transport of the base tape, the printing medium, and the tag label tape, so that the writing or reading is performed in the stopped state, Cooperation control means for controlling at least the transport means and the communication means in cooperation;
A tag label producing device having
The printing completion timing of the printing means with respect to the printing area corresponding to the RFID circuit element due to the conveyance of the conveying means is first, or the arrival timing of the RFID circuit element on the tag label tape to the predetermined position is first. Before and after determination means for determining whether or not the conveyance by the conveyance means and the printing by the printing means are started
Have
The cooperation control means includes
If the front-rear determination unit determines that the print completion timing is earlier than the arrival timing, after the determination, the conveyance by the conveyance unit is temporarily stopped and the writing by the communication unit or the writing The conveyance unit and the communication unit are cooperatively controlled so that conveyance by the conveyance unit is resumed after reading is performed,
And,
When the front / rear determination unit determines that the arrival timing is earlier than the print completion timing, after the determination, the conveyance by the conveyance unit and the printing by the printing unit are temporarily stopped and the communication is performed. After carrying out the writing or reading by means, the conveyance by the conveyance means and the printing by the printing means are resumed,
Said conveying means, said communication means, and the tag label producing apparatus according to claim and Turkey to switching control in cooperation with the operation mode of the printing means. In the tag label producing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
Communication determining means for determining whether the writing or reading with respect to the RFID circuit element by the communication means is successful;
The cooperation control means includes
When the arrival / determination determination unit determines that the arrival timing is earlier than the print completion timing, and when the communication determination unit determines that the writing or reading is successful, printing by the printing unit is performed. A tag label producing apparatus, characterized in that control is performed so as to resume the operation. In the tag label producing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
Communication determining means for determining whether the writing or reading to the RFID circuit element by the communication means is successful ;
When the communication determination unit determines that the writing or reading has failed, the writing or reading has failed for another RFID circuit element disposed on the subsequent side in the transport direction from the RFID circuit element that has failed. The conveying means, the printing means, and the communication so as to write or read the same information as the information that has been performed and to perform printing corresponding to the predetermined area corresponding to the another RFID circuit element A tag label comprising re-creation control means for creating a RFID label different from the RFID label provided with the RFID circuit element that has failed in writing or reading by cooperatively controlling the means. Creation device. In the tag label producing apparatus according to claim 3 ,
It has a discharge means to discharge the RFID label that is created out of the tag label producing apparatus,
The re-creation control means includes
The discharging unit, the conveying unit, the printing unit, and the communication unit are configured so as to create the another RFID label after discharging the RFID label including the RFID circuit element that has failed to write or read. A tag label producing device characterized by cooperative control. In the tag label producing apparatus according to claim 3 or 4 ,
As each creates the wireless tag collectively a plurality of said RFID labels having a circuit element, said transport means, said printing means, said communication means, and the continuous creation control means to cooperate controlling the discharge means tag label producing equipment, characterized in that it comprises a. In the tag label production apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5 ,
The link control unit controls the printing unit to perform printing corresponding to the failure when the communication determination unit determines that the writing or reading has failed. . In the tag label producing apparatus according to claim 6 ,
The tag label producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit performs printing in a mode different from a normal time as printing corresponding to the failure. In the tag label producing apparatus according to claim 6 or 7 ,
The transport means includes, as the tag medium, a base material layer to which the RFID circuit element is attached, an adhesive material layer for attaching the base material layer to an object to be applied, and a release material layer that covers the adhesive material layer. A tag tape having
In the tag tape, in the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the label region having a predetermined length corresponding to the RFID circuit element, the width of either the release material layer or a layer other than the release material layer is selectively widened. A tag label producing apparatus comprising a semi-cutting means for cutting in a direction. In the tag label production apparatus according to claim 8 ,
When it is determined by the communication determining means that the writing or reading has failed, the half-cutting means of the half-cutting means is arranged so as not to cut the width direction of one end of the label region longitudinal direction both ends. A tag label producing apparatus comprising cutting control means for controlling operation. In the tag label producing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 ,
In the longitudinal determining means, the arrival timing is determined earlier than the print completion timing, when the printing by the transport and the printing means by said conveying means in the arrival timing is temporarily stopped, said printing means Blank determination means for determining whether the transport direction position when printing stops corresponds to a non-printing blank portion located between printed characters or in a printing diagram in the printing area when the arrival timing is reached. A tag label producing apparatus comprising: In the tag label production apparatus according to claim 10 ,
When the blank determining means determines that the stop position of the printing means does not correspond to the non-printing blank portion, the tag medium or the print target is set so that the printing means reaches the non-printing blank portion. A tag label producing apparatus comprising conveyance control means for controlling the conveyance means so as to convey and stop the medium in the reverse direction or the forward direction.

Images