JP6392568B2 - Printer and print head - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly, to a thermal head printer that performs printing and information communication (data reading / writing) with respect to an RFID paper continuous body.

  Conventionally, a printing apparatus that performs printing and information communication on an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) paper continuum (an RFID paper continuum includes a strip-shaped mount and a plurality of RFID labels temporarily attached to the strip-shaped mount). It has been known.

  Such a printing apparatus is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. The printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a print head that performs a print formation process on a cover film, and an RFID antenna that reads and writes data from and to a RFID circuit element disposed on a base tape. ing.

JP 2009-034932 A

  Generally, in a printing apparatus, it is necessary to adjust the position of a cover film and a print head in order to accurately perform a print forming process, and in order to accurately read and write data, a RFID circuit element and an RFID antenna are used. It is necessary to adjust the position. Further, it is required that the cover film that has undergone the printing process corresponds to the RFID circuit element that reads and writes data.

  However, in the printing apparatus of Patent Literature 1, since the distance between the print head and the antenna is large, position adjustment is required for each. Moreover, the printing apparatus becomes large as a whole. In some cases, the print forming process does not correspond to the writing and reading of data to the RFID circuit element.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a printer including a print head and an RFID antenna.

  In the printer according to the present invention, the RFID paper continuous body temporarily attached with the RFID label on the mount is transported through a predetermined transport path, and printing is performed on the surface of the RFID label, and information is communicated to the RFID label. A printer having a data reading / writing unit to perform, wherein the printing unit covers a platen roller, a head main body having a heating element, and a part of the head main body that is disposed upstream of the heating element. And the data reading / writing unit has an RFID antenna attached to the downstream side of the protective cover.

  Preferably, the protective cover has an inclined surface inclined with respect to the head main body on the downstream side, and the RFID antenna is attached to the inclined surface.

  Preferably, the inclined surface is arranged in parallel with the RFID paper continuous body passing through a transfer path at a position facing the inclined surface.

  Preferably, the protective cover is made of metal and includes a resin member that holds the RFID antenna.

  Preferably, an opening is formed in the protective cover, and the RFID antenna is disposed in the opening.

  Preferably, the protective cover is made of resin.

  According to the present invention, the printer can be miniaturized. Further, since the RFID antenna is attached to the protective cover, the protective cover can be used for another head main body even when the head main body is disconnected.

1 is a schematic side view of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of a RFID paper continuous body. It is the schematic which shows the attachment state of metal protective covers and RFID antennas. It is the schematic which shows the attachment state of the protective cover made from resin, and an RFID antenna.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment as an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that components having the same function are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings for describing the embodiment, and the repetitive description thereof may be omitted.

  A printer according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the printer 1. The printer 1 includes a transfer path 3 for the RFID paper continuum 2, a paper sensor 4, a data reading / writing unit 5, a printing unit 6, and a control unit 7.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view of the RFID paper continuous body 2 used in the present embodiment. The RFID paper continuous body 2 includes a belt-like mount 8 and a plurality of RFID labels 9 (RFID paper) temporarily attached to the mount 8 at predetermined intervals. The RFID label 9 includes a label main body 10 that can be temporarily attached to the mount 8 and an inlet 11 disposed on the back surface of the label main body 10. The inlet 11 has an antenna 11A and an IC chip 11B. The RFID label 9 is transferred together with the mount 8 on the transfer path 3. The RFID label 9 is capable of reading data from the IC chip 11B and writing data to the IC chip 11B in response to transmission of radio waves from the data reading / writing unit 5. As a radio wave for communication, the frequency is, for example, a short wave (HF) of 3 MHz to 30 MHz (preferably 13.56 MHz), or a pole of 300 MHz to 3 GHz (preferably 860 to 960 MHz, more specifically 950 to 956 MHz). Ultra high frequency (UHF) or the like can be used.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the transfer path 3 is provided with a transfer path bracket 13. The lower surface of the RFID paper continuous body 2 is guided by the transfer path bracket 13 so that the RFID paper continuous body 2 can be appropriately transferred to the paper sensor 4, the data reading / writing unit 5, and the printing unit 6.

  The paper sensor 4 is a light transmission type sensor that detects a gap between adjacent RFID labels 9, and detects the position of the RFID paper continuous body 2 to specify a print start position and a data writing position. The paper sensor 4 is attached to a sensor holding bracket 14 provided along the transfer path 3. The sensor holding bracket 14 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin.

  The printing unit 6 includes a print head 17 and a platen roller 18. The print head 17 and the platen roller 18 are disposed to face each other with the RFID paper continuous body 2 interposed therebetween. The printing unit 6 prints predetermined information on the surface of the RFID label 9 of the RFID paper continuous body 2 as required by a control signal from the control unit 7. The information to be printed is, for example, arbitrary information such as management information of the RFID label 9 and other necessary display information, or information corresponding to data in the IC chip 11B.

  The print head 17 includes a head main body 17A facing the platen roller 18, a large number of dot-like heating elements 17B extending in the width direction of the RFID label 9, and a heat sink 17C made of metal (for example, aluminum). ing. A large number of dot-like heating elements 17 </ b> B are arranged along the width direction of the RFID paper continuous body 2.

  A wiring pattern (not shown) that electrically connects the heat generating element 17B and the control unit 7 is formed in the head main body 17A. In order to protect the wiring pattern, a protective cover 17D covers a part of the head main body 17A and is arranged on the upstream side of the heating element 17B. In this configuration, the heating element is not covered with the protective cover 17D.

  The terms “upstream” and “downstream” are used in the transfer direction of the RFID sheet continuous body 2 and are located on the transfer direction side with respect to a certain reference. This is defined as “upstream”.

  The platen roller 18 is located at the tip (downstream side) of the transfer path bracket 13. Further, by providing a peeling part (peeling plate, not shown) for peeling the RFID label 9 from the mount 8 as necessary, only the mount 8 is turned and the RFID label 9 can be peeled from the mount 8. be able to.

  The data read / write unit 5 in the present embodiment is disposed at a position facing the platen roller 18 on the downstream side of the protective cover 17D, and the data read / write unit 5 receives data from the RFID label 9 of the RFID paper continuous body 2. Or data writing to the RFID label 9, that is, wireless non-contact information communication (data reading / writing). The data read / write unit 5 includes an RFID antenna 15 attached to the protective cover 17D on the downstream side of the protective cover 17D. Data can be read and written wirelessly in a non-contact and bi-directional manner by the control signal from the control unit 7 via the RFID antenna 15. The RFID antenna 15 is formed in a rectangular loop shape, for example. However, it is not limited to this.

  Since the RFID antenna 15 is attached to the downstream side of the protective cover 17D, the distance between the printing unit 6 (heating element 17B) and the data reading / writing unit 5 can be shortened, so that the printer 1 can be miniaturized. Since the distance between the heating element 17B and the data reading / writing unit 5 (RFID antenna 15) is short, the position adjustment of the RFID label 9, the heating element 17B, the RFID label 9, and the data reading / writing unit 5 can be performed simultaneously. That is, data can be read from and written to the RFID label 9 from the data reading / writing unit 5 (RFID antenna 15) at the position of the printing unit 6.

  Further, since the RFID antenna 15 is detachably attached to the protective cover 17D, even if the head main body 17A or the heating element 17B breaks down or the like, the protective cover 17D with the RFID antenna 15 is attached to another new head main body. By attaching to 17A, the RFID antenna 15 can be used in another head body 17A.

  In the present embodiment, the protective cover 17D preferably has an inclined surface 17E inclined with respect to the head main body 17A on the downstream side. The inclined surface 17E is inclined upstream as the distance from the surface of the head main body 17A increases. By attaching the RFID antenna 15 to the inclined surface 17E, the distance between the printing unit 6 and the data reading / writing unit 5 (RFID antenna 15) can be further shortened.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the inclined surface 17E is arranged in parallel with the RFID paper continuous body 2 passing through the transfer path 3 at a position facing the inclined surface 17E. By providing the data reading / writing unit 5 (RFID antenna 15) on the inclined surface 17E arranged in parallel with the RFID paper continuous body 2, the distance between the data reading / writing unit 5 (RFID antenna 15) and the RFID label 9 is shortened. can do. Thereby, the efficiency of reading and writing data can be increased. In addition, reading / writing of data to the adjacent RFID label 9, that is, erroneous reading and erroneous writing can be prevented.

  FIG. 3 is an assembly diagram of the protective cover 17D and the RFID antenna 15 when the protective cover 17D is made of metal. FIG. 3A is a view of the protective cover 17D as viewed from the head main body 17A (not shown). The protective cover 17D is made of metal, for example, iron. Instead of iron, aluminum, stainless steel, etc. can be used. The protective cover 17D is preferably made of a metal having heat-resistant properties from the viewpoint of thermal head substrate protection and protection from static electricity. An inclined surface 17E is formed on the downstream side of the protective cover 17D. An elongated hole opening 17F is formed in the inclined surface 17E. The RFID antenna 15 is attached to the opening 17F. FIG. 3B is a view of the RFID antenna 15 as viewed from the head main body 17A (not shown). A connection cable 16 is electrically connected to the RFID antenna 15. The RFID antenna 15 is held by the resin member 20. The resin member 20 is made of, for example, polycarbonate, ABS resin (acrylonitrile, butadiene (Butadiene), styrene (Styrene) copolymer synthetic resin), nylon, or the like, which has heat resistance and does not affect radio waves. . By holding the RFID antenna 15 by the resin member 20, the RFID antenna 15 can be easily handled.

  FIG. 3C is a diagram showing a state in which the RFID antenna 15 is attached to the protective cover 17D. The RFID antenna 15 held by the resin member 20 is attached to the protective cover 17D from the side opposite to the head body 17A (not shown). That is, in the present embodiment, the resin member 20 is disposed at a position facing the platen roller 18. However, it is not limited to this. The resin member 20 and the protective cover 17D can be fixed with a bolt or the like.

  As described above, when the IC antenna 11B is irradiated with radio waves from the RFID antenna 15 attached to the protective cover 17D, the radio waves are irradiated from the RFID antenna 15 only from the range of the opening 17F. This is because since the protective cover 17D is made of metal, the protective cover 17D has a shielding effect in a range excluding the opening 17F. That is, it is possible to limit the range irradiated with radio waves to an appropriate range. As a result, the efficiency of reading and writing data can be increased more effectively, and erroneous reading and erroneous writing to adjacent RFID labels 9 can be prevented.

  FIG. 4 is an assembly diagram of the protective cover 17D and the RFID antenna 15 when the protective cover 17D is made of resin. FIG. 4A is a view of the protective cover 17D as viewed from the head main body 17A (not shown). The protective cover 17D is made of resin, for example, ABS resin. Instead of ABS resin, polycarbonate, nylon or the like can be used. The protective cover 17D is preferably made of a resin having heat resistance properties from the viewpoint of protecting the thermal head substrate. An inclined surface 17E is formed on the downstream side of the protective cover 17D.

Three holding pieces 17G and three convex portions 17H are provided on the side of the head body 17A of the inclined surface 17E. In addition, unlike the metal protective cover 17D, the long opening 17F is not formed on the inclined surface 17E of the resin protective cover 17D.
In addition, a guide convex portion 17I for guiding a part of the connection cable 16 of the RFID antenna 15 toward the outside of the protective cover 17D is provided.

  FIG. 4B is a view of the RFID antenna 15 as viewed from the head main body 17A (not shown). A connection cable 16 is electrically connected to the RFID antenna 15.

  FIG. 4C is a diagram showing a state in which the RFID antenna 15 is attached to the protective cover 17D. The RFID antenna 15 is held by a holding piece 17G and attached to a protective cover 17D. The convex portion 17H suppresses the RFID antenna 15 from jumping out of the protective cover 17D.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 RFID paper continuous body 3 Transfer path 4 Paper sensor 5 Data reading / writing part 6 Printing part 7 Control part 8 Mount 9 RFID label 10 Label main body 11 Inlet 11A Antenna 11B IC chip 13 Transfer path bracket 14 Sensor holding bracket 15 RFID Antenna 16 Connection cable 17 Print head 17A Head body 17B Heating element 17C Heat sink 17D Protective cover 17E Inclined surface 17F Opening portion 17G Holding piece 17H Convex portion 17I Guide convex portion 18 Platen roller 20 Resin member

Claims (16)

The RFID sheet continuous body having a RFI D inlet transferring a predetermined transfer path, a printing unit for printing on a surface of the RFID sheet continuum, and the data read and write unit that performs information communication for the RFI D inlet, A printer having:
The printing unit includes a platen roller, a head body having a heating element, and a protective cover that covers a part of the head body and is arranged on the upstream side of the heating element in the transport direction of the RFID paper continuous body. And
The data read-write unit has an RFID antenna attached to the protective cover, printer. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the RFID antenna is attached to a downstream side of the protective cover in a transfer direction of the RFID paper continuous body. The protective cover, the an inclined surface which is inclined with respect to the head body downstream of the transport direction of the RFID sheet continuum, according to claim 2, wherein the RFID antenna is mounted on the inclined surface Printer. The printer according to claim 3 , wherein the inclined surface is disposed in parallel with the RFID paper continuous body passing through a transfer path at a position facing the inclined surface. The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the protective cover is made of metal and includes a resin member that holds the RFID antenna. The printer according to claim 5 , wherein an opening is formed in the protective cover, and the RFID antenna is disposed in the opening. The printer according to any one of 4 claim 1 wherein the protective cover is made of resin. The printer according to claim 3, wherein the inclined surface faces the platen roller. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the RFID antenna is detachably attached to the protective cover. A head body having a heating element;
A protective cover that covers a part of the head body and is attached to the same surface as the surface on which the heat generating element is provided in the head body;
A print head having an RFID antenna attached to the protective cover. The print head according to claim 10, wherein the RFID antenna is attached to one end side of the protective cover close to the heating element. The print head according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the protective cover has an inclined surface inclined with respect to the head body, and the RFID antenna is attached to the inclined surface. The protective cover is made of metal;
The print head according to any one of claims 10 to 12, further comprising a resin member attached to the protective cover and holding the RFID antenna. The print head according to claim 13, wherein an opening is formed in the protective cover, and the RFID antenna is disposed in the opening. The print head according to claim 10, wherein the protective cover is made of resin. The print head according to claim 10, wherein the RFID antenna is detachably attached to the protective cover.

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