JP5307598B2 - RFID printer, reading and writing method of RFID printer, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an RFID printer that reads / writes information from / to an RFID tag, an RFID printer read / write method, and a program.

  In UHF band RFID IC tag paper, wasteful printing and writing are regarded as problems in order to reduce costs even a little. In addition, it is desired to reduce the lapel pitch from the desire to increase the number of continuous prints.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the RFID tag built-in label 20 having the RFID tag 21, and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) printer 10. The RFID printer 10 includes a paper detection sensor 11, a reader / writer 12, a thermal head 13, and a platen 14, and is incorporated in an RFID tag built-in label 20 that is conveyed in the direction of the arrow in the figure. In addition to reading and writing, the label is printed.

  The paper detection sensor 11 detects the paper edge of the RFID tag built-in label 20.

  The reader / writer 12 reads and writes information by sending radio waves to the RFID tag built in the RFID tag built-in label 20.

  The thermal head 13 is configured to have a length approximately the same as the width of the RFID tag built-in label 20 in the conveyance orthogonal direction, and simultaneously prints one line in the conveyance orthogonal direction of the RFID tag built-in label 20. A plurality of heating elements are provided in the longitudinal direction of the thermal head 13, and recording is performed on the RFID tag built-in label 20 by supplying power to each of the heating elements.

  The platen 14 has a cylindrical shape that is long in the conveyance orthogonal direction and is made of rubber or the like, and conveys the sheet by pressing the sheet.

  Next, the operation of the RFID printer 10 will be described in detail. When the RFID tag built-in label 20 is set in the RFID printer 10, the paper detection sensor 11 detects the leading edge of the label and stops it at a print standby position (a position where the leading edge of the label 20 intersects the thermal head 13).

  After stopping the print standby position, the RFID tag read / write test is executed while changing the radio wave intensity and the read / write position by a certain value.

  Determine the distance that gives the best reading / writing test results.

  Table 1 is a table showing the read / write test results. The horizontal axis indicates the measurement position (distance from the front end of the paper), the vertical axis indicates the radio wave intensity, and the inside of the cell indicates the number of successful tests out of 5 tests.

  An optimum position for reading the RFID tag is detected from the table as shown in Table 1, and set as the RFID tag reading position.

  In this example, 48 mm to 54 mm, which has a large number of successes over the entire radio field intensity, is set (for example, intermediate 51 mm).

  In actual operation, the paper is conveyed by a distance determined from the front end position of the paper, and reading / writing is performed on the RFID tag with the maximum radio wave intensity.

  As a related technology in such an RFID printer, for example, in Patent Document 1, a RFID tag reading and writing test is performed every time an RFID label is conveyed by a predetermined feed amount from a print standby position, and the result is displayed and fed. A technique for visually recognizing and determining the optimum value of the quantity is disclosed.

  Also, in Patent Document 2, the communication result between the RFID tag and the reader / writer is stored while switching the output value of the electromagnetic wave output by the reader / writer, and the reader / writer is detected with the good output value and communication position detected based on the stored communication result. Discloses a technique for reliably reading and writing information by communicating with an RFID tag.

  According to the technique of Patent Document 2, even when there are a plurality of communication ranges between the RFID tag and the reader / writer, information can be read from and written to the RFID tag at the best output value and communication position of the electromagnetic wave. .

  Further, in Patent Document 3, when the information read / written by the reader / writer is determined to be an error by the determination means, the position or RFID label is conveyed in the forward direction or the reverse direction within a range that can be read / written by the antenna. Thus, by re-reading / reading information to / from the RFID tag, a technology that can eliminate the influence of read / write errors based on various factors other than the RFID tag failure, such as read / write environment and RFID label specifications, has been disclosed. Yes.

JP 2006-181800 A JP 2007-213298 A JP 2006-338179 A

  However, even if one RFID tag read / write position is determined, the read / write position is shifted due to variations in the interval between RFID tags in the label and the paper feed accuracy of the printer, and access to the RFID tag fails. May end up.

  Further, as in Patent Document 3, even if the position is shifted and re-access is performed, if the RFID label pitch is narrow or the power transfer strength is high, the access is prevented by detecting a plurality of tags. I will fail.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an RFID printer, an RFID printer read / write method, and a program that improve the read / write success rate for the RFID tag.

In order to solve the above problems, an RFID printer according to the present invention includes a transport unit that transports a label including an RFID tag,
Storage means for storing the stop position or radio wave intensity of the label at the time of reading and writing;
Read / write means for reading / writing information from / to the RFID tag using the settings stored in the storage means;
Factor determination means for determining whether reading and writing succeeded and the failure factor at the time of failure,
Re-reading / writing means for changing the setting at the time of reading / writing based on the failure factor and performing re-reading , and
The re-read / write means performs re-read / write by reducing radio wave intensity when the failure factor is detection of a plurality of RFID tags, and when the failure factor is undetected of the RFID tag, An RFID printer that changes and re-reads,
If the re-reading / writing is unsuccessful at all radio wave intensities and / or all stop positions, the factor determining means determines that the reading / writing error is caused by another cause .

The RFID printer read / write method of the present invention includes a transport step for transporting a label including an RFID tag,
A read / write step for reading / writing information from / to the RFID tag using a setting stored in a storage unit for storing the stop position or radio wave intensity of the label at the time of reading / writing;
A factor determination step for determining whether reading and writing succeeded and a failure factor at the time of failure;
A read / write step for changing the setting at the time of reading and writing based on the failure factor to perform read / write again , and
In the re-read / write step, when the failure factor is detection of a plurality of RFID tags, re-reading is performed by reducing radio wave intensity, and when the failure factor is undetected of the RFID tag, the stop position is set. An RFID printer read / write method that performs read / write after changing
In the factor determining step, if the re-reading / writing has failed at all radio field strengths and / or all stop positions, it is determined as a reading / writing error due to another cause .

Further, the program according to the present invention includes a transport process for transporting a label including an RFID tag,
A read / write process for reading / writing information from / to the RFID tag using a setting stored in a storage unit that stores the stop position or radio wave intensity of the label at the time of reading / writing,
Factor determination processing for determining whether reading / writing succeeds and the failure factor at the time of failure,
Re-read / write processing for changing the setting at the time of reading / writing based on the failure factor and performing read / write again ,
In the re-reading / reading process, when the failure factor is detection of a plurality of RFID tags, re-reading is performed by reducing radio wave intensity, and when the failure factor is undetected of the RFID tag, the stop position is set. A program for causing a computer to execute a process of changing and re-reading and writing,
In the factor determination process, if the re-reading / writing has failed at all radio wave intensities and / or all stop positions, the computer is caused to execute a process for determining a reading / writing error due to another cause .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the read / write success rate to the RFID tag by performing the read / write again based on the failure factor of the read / write to the RFID tag.

1 is a configuration block diagram of an RFID printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart (No. 1) of the RFID printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart (No. 2) of the RFID printer according to the embodiment of the invention. It is a schematic diagram of the RFID tag built-in label. It is a schematic diagram of an RFID printer.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an RFID printer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The RFID printer 100 includes a paper detection unit 101, an RFID read / write unit 102, a factor determination unit 103, a transport unit 104, and a storage unit 105.

  The paper detection unit 101 detects the leading edge of the label of the label with a built-in RFID tag, for example, by shielding the sensor from light.

  The factor determination unit 103 determines whether reading / writing has succeeded from the access result to the RFID tag by the RFID reading / writing unit 102. If the reading / writing has failed, the factor determination unit 103 further fails due to detection of multiple tags or failure due to no RFID tag detection. It is judged whether it is.

  The RFID read / write unit 102 reads and writes information by sending radio waves with the radio wave intensity stored in the storage unit 105 to the RFID tags provided in the RFID tag built-in label.

  Also, if the result of access to the RFID tag performed by the RFID read / write unit 102 is determined to be a failure due to detection of a plurality of tags by the factor determination unit 103, the radio wave intensity is changed by a predetermined value, and the RFID read / write unit is again set. At 102, reading and writing to the RFID tag is performed.

  The transport unit 104 transports the RFID tag built-in label set in the RFID printer 100. First, when the RFID tag built-in label is transported and the paper end is detected by the paper detection unit 101, the label is transported from a preset transport amount to a print standby position.

  Subsequently, referring to the read / write position of the RFID tag stored in the storage unit 105, the RFID tag built-in label is transported to the position.

  Further, when the result of access to the RFID tag performed by the RFID read / write unit 102 at the position is determined to be a failure due to the RFID tag not being detected by the factor determination unit 103 and the radio wave intensity is strong, A predetermined amount of conveyance is carried, and the RFID read / write unit 102 reads / writes the RFID tag again. Further, even when it is determined that a failure has occurred due to the detection of a plurality of tags and the radio wave intensity is weak, a predetermined amount is conveyed and read / write is performed again.

  The storage unit 105 stores the radio wave intensity and the read / write position of the RFID tag, and when the read / write of the RFID tag is performed again, it is updated with the value that was successful at that time.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing for determining the initial read / write position of the RFID tag of the RFID printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The leading edge of the RFID tag built-in label being conveyed is detected, and the conveyance is stopped (step S11).

  A predetermined amount (for example, 1 mm) is conveyed (step S12), and access to the RFID tag is attempted (step S13). Note that the access means that the reader / writer reads or writes information stored in the RFID tag.

  Whether or not the access result in step S13 is successful is stored together with the transport distance from the leading edge position and the radio wave intensity (step S14).

  At the same stop position, it is determined whether or not access to the RFID tag is attempted with all the radio field strengths (step S15). If there is a radio wave intensity that has not been accessed at the same stop position, the radio wave intensity is changed to the radio wave intensity (step S16), and the process is repeated again from step S13, and the access result of the total radio wave intensity is stored.

  When an access attempt is made at the same stop position with all the radio field strengths, it is determined whether or not the current stop position is the trailing edge of the sheet (step S17). The processing from S12 is repeated.

  When access attempts are repeated up to the trailing edge of the paper, all access results are referred to, and a position where access is determined to be successful is determined as an initial read / write position (step S18). The access result at this time is represented by a table as shown in Table 1 above.

  The initial reading position determination process is not limited to the above flow, and for example, the paper center position may be set in advance as the initial read / write position. The initial read radio wave intensity is set to the maximum radio wave intensity if it can be determined that there is no particular problem from the access result created by the above processing.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing re-access processing of the RFID printer in the embodiment of the present invention.

  The leading end of the RFID tag built-in label that is being conveyed is detected, and the reading / writing position stored in the storage unit is referred to the reading / writing position to be stopped (step S21).

  The RFID tag is accessed (step S22), and it is determined whether the access has failed (step S23). If the access is successful at this time, the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the access has failed, it is determined whether or not a plurality of tags are detected simultaneously (step S24).

  If it is determined that a plurality of tags are detected simultaneously, it is determined whether or not the radio field intensity is minimized (step S25). If the radio field intensity is minimum, a predetermined amount of RFID tag built-in label is conveyed. (Step S28). If the radio field intensity is not minimum, the radio field intensity is decreased (step S26).

  After reducing the radio wave intensity, it is determined whether the RFID tag has already been accessed based on the current radio wave intensity and reading / writing position setting (step S27). If already accessed, a predetermined amount of RFID tag built-in label is conveyed. (Step S28).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the tag has failed due to undetected tag, it is determined whether or not the radio field intensity is maximized (step S29). It is conveyed (step S32). If the radio field intensity is not the maximum, the radio field intensity is increased (step S30).

  After the radio field intensity is increased, it is determined whether the RFID tag has already been accessed by setting the current radio field intensity and the reading / writing position (step S31). If the radio tag has already been accessed, a predetermined amount of RFID tag built-in label is conveyed (step S31). S32).

  Note that if the paper reaches the leading edge or the rear edge in the predetermined amount conveyance (step S28, step S32) and does not reach the conveyance amount, the sheet is returned to the position stopped in step S21, and the predetermined amount is reversed. Carry one by one. Further, as a transport method, the transport may be returned to the position stopped in step S21 before transport, and transport in the forward direction and the reverse direction may be alternately performed.

  Thereafter, the RFID tag is accessed again (step S33), and it is determined whether or not the access is successful (step S34). If successful, the read / write position and / or radio wave intensity stored in the storage unit is updated (step S35).

  If the re-access is unsuccessful, it is determined whether or not all the elements that can be tried (that is, all the radio wave strengths and all the paper areas) have been accessed (step S36). It is determined as an access error due to a tag or reader / writer failure (step S37). If it is determined that there is an element that has not been tried, the processing from step S24 is repeated.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, the success rate of reading and writing can be improved by performing processing in the printer without changing the RFID tag paper according to various standards of the RFID tag paper.

  Although the embodiments have been described above, various modifications and changes can be made to these embodiments and specific examples without departing from the broad scope and scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 RFID printer 11 Paper detection sensor 12 Reader / writer 13 Thermal head 14 Platen 20 RFID tag built-in label 21 RFID tag 101 Paper detection part 102 RFID read / write part 103 Factor judgment part 104 Conveyance part 105 Storage part

Claims (5)

A transport means for transporting a label having an RFID tag;
Storage means for storing the stop position or radio wave intensity of the label at the time of reading and writing;
Read / write means for reading / writing information from / to the RFID tag using the settings stored in the storage means;
Factor determination means for determining whether reading and writing succeeded and the failure factor at the time of failure,
Re-reading / writing means for changing the setting at the time of reading / writing based on the failure factor and performing re-reading, and
The re-read / write means performs re-read / write by reducing radio wave intensity when the failure factor is detection of a plurality of RFID tags, and when the failure factor is undetected of the RFID tag, An RFID printer that changes and re-reads,
If the factor determination means has failed in all the radio field strengths of the radio field intensity that can be re-read and read and all stop positions that are transported in the paper area of the label including the RFID tag , the RFID tag or An RFID printer, characterized in that it is determined as a read / write error due to a failure of a reader / writer . 2. The RFID printer according to claim 1, wherein after the re-reading / reading is successful, the stop position and / or the radio wave intensity stored in the storage unit is updated to a setting at the time of success. A transport step for transporting a label having an RFID tag;
A read / write step for reading / writing information from / to the RFID tag using a setting stored in a storage unit for storing the stop position or radio wave intensity of the label at the time of reading / writing;
A factor determination step for determining whether reading and writing succeeded and a failure factor at the time of failure;
A re-read / write step for performing read / write by changing a setting at the time of reading / writing based on the failure factor, and the re-read / write step determines the radio wave intensity when the failure factor is detection of a plurality of RFID tags. A read / write method of an RFID printer that performs read / write again and performs read / write by changing the stop position when the failure factor is undetected RFID tag,
If the factor determination step is unsuccessful at the total radio wave intensity of the radio wave intensity at which the re-reading can be tried and all the stop positions transported in the paper area of the label including the RFID tag, An RFID printer read / write method, wherein the read / write error is determined as a reader / writer failure . 4. The RFID printer read / write method according to claim 3, wherein after the re-read / write succeeds, the stop position and / or the radio wave intensity stored in the storage means are updated to the settings at the time of success. A transport process for transporting a label including an RFID tag;
A read / write process for reading / writing information from / to the RFID tag using a setting stored in a storage unit that stores the stop position or radio wave intensity of the label at the time of reading / writing,
Factor determination processing for determining whether reading / writing succeeds and the failure factor at the time of failure,
Re-read / write processing for changing the setting at the time of reading / writing based on the failure factor and performing read / write again,
In the re-reading / reading process, when the failure factor is detection of a plurality of RFID tags, re-reading is performed by reducing radio wave intensity, and when the failure factor is undetected of the RFID tag, the stop position is set. A program for causing a computer to execute a process of changing and re-reading and writing,
In the above-described factor determination process, if the total radio wave intensity at which the re-reading and writing can be tried and all the stop positions transported in the paper area of the label including the RFID tag have failed, the RFID tag or A program that causes a computer to execute processing for determining a read / write error due to a reader / writer failure .

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