JP6506379B2 - Encoding apparatus and encoding method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an RFID tag encoding system.

  Conventionally, an RFID tag having an IC chip and an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) antenna and capable of wireless data communication performs various management by performing various data reading and writing processes with the antenna in the reader / writer. It is used for the system etc.

  Generally, the RFID tag is transported on a transport path as a continuous strip of a plurality of sheets or as a sheet-like member having a plurality of sheets, and the transport is temporarily stopped at the site of the antenna. There is a transfer stop reading / writing method that performs reading / writing processing of data in.

  However, the method of stopping the transfer and performing the reading and writing has a disadvantage that the transfer and stop of the RFID tag must be performed intermittently, and the reduction of the processing efficiency can not be denied.

JP, 2009-37452, A

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an RFID tag encoding system in which the efficiency of RFID tag reading and writing processing is greatly improved.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an RFID tag encoding system capable of easily finding out a tag determined to be defective among a plurality of stacked tags.

The present invention is grasped by the following composition.
(1) The RFID tag encoding system according to the present invention is an encoding system for reading and writing an RFID tag to be transported, wherein the RFID tag can be read when the transport speed of the RFID tag set in advance is maintained. A processing unit for calculating processing time and writable processing time, a reading unit for reading the RFID tag, a writing unit for writing on the RFID tag conveyed from the reading unit, and the RFID by the reading unit Control means for prioritizing transport of the RFID tag and passing the writing process by the writing means when reading of the tag is not performed within the readable processing time, and reading of the RFID tag by the reading means The RFID when not performed within the readable processing time Printing means for displaying a reading error on the RFID tag and displaying the writing error on the RFID tag when the writing of the RFID tag by the writing means is not performed within the writable processing time; The RFID tag is characterized in that the reading and writing process is performed without stopping the transportation within the range of a predetermined standard.
(2) In the RFID tag encoding system of the present invention, in the configuration of (1), the writing unit is a first writing unit that performs writing one-on-one with each of the RFID tags, and a downstream of the first writing unit A second writing unit provided on the side for writing to the RFID tag for which writing by the first writing unit was not performed within the writable processing time, and the printing unit includes the second printing unit A writing error is displayed on the RFID tag when the writing of the RFID tag by the writing means is not performed within the writable processing time.
(3) In the RFID tag encoding system of the present invention, in the configuration of (1) or (2), at least one of the read error and the write error in the configuration of the control means is continuously exceeding a predetermined standard. When it occurs, the transport of the RFID tag is stopped.
(4) In the RFID tag encoding system according to the present invention, in any one of the configurations (1) to (3), an inspection means for confirming the coincidence of the write data of the RFID tag conveyed from the printing means And marking means for forming a plurality of embossments on the RFID tag conveyed from the inspection means when at least one of the reading error, the writing error, and the inspection error from the inspection means is present. The printing unit is characterized in that different printing displays are made at predetermined positions where the plurality of emboss are to be formed, according to the types of the read error, the write error, and the inspection error that have occurred.

According to the RFID tag encoding system of the present invention, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the RFID tag read / write processing.
Also, according to the RFID tag encoding system of the present invention, a tag determined to be defective can be easily found out of a plurality of stacked tags.

It is a figure showing the whole tag formation device where the encoding system of the RFID tag of the present invention is applied. (A), (b) shows an encoding apparatus and a printing apparatus, (a) is a top view, (b) is a side view. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement flow in the control part of the encoding system of the RFID tag of this invention. (A), (b), (c) is a figure which showed the aspect which prints on a tag, when a reading error or a writing error arises in a tag. (A), (b), (c) is a figure which further shows the aspect which marks this tag, when a confirmation error arises in a tag. It is the perspective view which showed the pattern by which embossing is formed in the tag. It is the perspective view which showed that the tag was accommodated in the box of a cut stack apparatus. It is a figure which shows the other embodiment of an encoding apparatus, (a) is a top view, (b) is a side view.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, modes (hereinafter, embodiments) for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail. In addition, the same number is attached | subjected to the same element through the whole description of embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the entire tag forming apparatus to which the RFID tag encoding system of the present invention is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the RFID tag encoding system 10 includes a continuous paper feeding device 1, an encoding device 2, a printing device (printing means) 3, an inspection device (inspection means) 4, sequentially from left to right in the figure. A marking device (marking means) 5 and a continuous paper discharge device 6 are sequentially arranged in parallel.

  In the continuous paper supply device 1, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), the continuous paper P is folded in a 'Z' shape and one end thereof is inserted into the encoding device 2 so that the continuous paper P is illustrated. It is conveyed to the encoding device 2, the printing device 3, the inspection device 4, and the marking device 5 by a non-transfer unit (indicated by reference numeral 17 in FIG. 2). The encoding device 2 reads and writes information on each RFID tag (denoted by a symbol T in FIG. 2; hereinafter simply referred to as a tag T) formed on the conveyed continuous paper P. There is. In the printing apparatus 3, the tag T of the continuous paper P being conveyed is subjected to printing on the surface with, for example, toner. Thus, on the surface of each tag T of the continuous paper P, for example, a bar code, a numeral, and other information are printed. Then, in the printing device 3, printing that indicates a reading error or a writing error that occurs in the encoding device 2 is performed along with the above-described information. The read error and the write error may be combined to simply print the error. The inspection device 4 is configured to inspect whether the information (write data) written to each RFID medium matches the transmitted data. The marking device 5 is configured to mark the tag T (defective tag) determined to be defective according to the result of the encoding device 2 and the inspection device 4 by cutting. In the continuous paper discharge device 6, the continuous paper P from the marking device 5 is folded in a 'Z' shape as shown in FIG. 1 (c). Here, the continuous paper P folded in a 'Z' shape is usually inserted into the cut stack section (apparatus) 7 disposed at a position separated from the encoding system 10 as shown in FIG. 1 (d). Thus, the continuous paper P is cut for each tag T, and the plurality of cut tags T are stacked in contact with each other on the front and back sides in the box 7A.

  2A and 2B show the encoding device 2 and the printing device 3. FIG. 2A is a top view and FIG. 2B is a side view. 2 (a) and 2 (b) also show the continuous paper P to be conveyed.

  As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a plurality of (10 × 3 sheets in the drawing) tags T are temporarily attached to the sheet main body 11 of the continuous paper P, and each continuous sheet P is adjacent to each side in the longitudinal direction A plurality of transfer holes 12 are formed along the longitudinal direction. Although not shown, a mark for position detection is printed on the back surface of the sheet body 11.

  Further, as shown in an enlarged manner in a part of FIG. 2A, the tag T is, for example, a band of UHF in the IC chip 14 provided at the central position on the tag film 13 and the IC chip 14. And an antenna 15 formed in a dipole shape to be used in the 920 MHz band), and wireless data communication (data reading and writing processing) can be performed with the encoding device 2.

  The encoding device 2 has a housing 2A, and a transport unit 17 for transporting the continuous paper P on the housing 2A. The transport unit 17 has a tag encoder 18 and a tag sensor 19, and the continuous paper P The tip of the nozzle is transported from the upstream side to the downstream side toward the transport path 20. Further, the encoding device 2 is provided with a plurality of transfer belts (not shown), and is transported from the upstream side to the downstream side while stretching the continuous paper P in a state of being air-sucked from below the transfer belt provided with a plurality of holes. Be done.

  That is, the tag encoder 18 has a gear (not shown) engaged with the transfer hole 12 of the continuous paper P, and counts the number of rotations of its drive motor (not shown). Transport distance can be measured. In addition, when the tag sensor 19 detects the position detection mark (not shown) on the back surface of the continuous paper P, the relative position of the continuous paper P (tag T) to the encoding device 2 and the printing device 3 can be detected. It has become.

  Further, the encoding device 2 has a data reading / writing unit 22. The data reading / writing unit 22 is provided with a reading unit (reading means) 23 provided on the upstream side and a writing unit (writing means) provided on the downstream side. And 24.

  The reading unit 23 has a first antenna 23A and a first reader / writer 23B as shown in FIG. 2B, and the writing unit 24 has a second antenna 24A and a second reader / writer 24B. The reader / writer 23 B and the second reader / writer 24 B are controlled by the control unit (control means) 25.

  The first antenna 23A and the second antenna 24A are provided in accordance with the number (10 in the figure) of the tags T arranged in parallel in the width direction of the continuous paper P, and ten of the first antenna 23A and the second antenna 24A are transported. Each tag T can read and write information by wireless data communication.

  Here, the control unit 25 controls the first reader / writer 23B and the second reader / writer 24B, and maintains the conveyance speed set in advance when conveying the continuous paper P (tag T) (stopping) The processing unit (processing unit) 25A that calculates the readable processing time and the writable processing time of the tag T in the case where it is not performed) is provided.

  In addition, the control unit 25 can detect “time-out” in the reading process of the tag T. The “timeout” refers to the case where there is no reply from the tag T within a predetermined time set in the combination of the first antenna 23A and the antenna 15 of the tag T. In addition, the control unit 25 can detect the “reading process error” of the tag T. The “reading process error” is a case where the reply contents from the antenna 15 of the tag T to the inquiry from the first antenna 23A to the tag T are unrecognizable, or they are clearly wrong as an identification number Say In addition, the control unit 25 can detect “time-out” in the writing process of the tag T. The “timeout” refers to the case where the writing to the tag T is not completed within a predetermined time set in the combination of the second antenna 24A and the antenna 15 of the tag T. Furthermore, the control unit 25 can detect a “write processing error” of the tag T. “Writing processing error” is a case where the reply contents from the antenna 15 of the tag T to the inquiry from the second antenna 24A to the tag T are unrecognizable, or they are clearly wrong answers as an identification number Say

  In the RFID tag encoding system 10 configured as described above, the operation flow of the control unit 25 is shown in FIG.

  In the operation flow shown in FIG. 3, the conveyance of the continuous paper P is stopped when at least one of the reading error and the writing error is within a predetermined reference range (for example, when the error is continued within a predetermined number of times) It is supposed to be operated without

  First, in step S 1, RFID write data and print data are expanded into data suitable for printing and writing by the control unit 25 based on data sent from a PC or the like. Next, in step S2, the transfer unit 17 in the encoding system 10 is driven. Thereby, the counting is started at the same time as the driving of the transfer unit is started. Next, in step S3, the tag sensor 19 detects the leading end of the tag T of the continuous paper P. The leading end of the tag T of the continuous paper P is detected by detecting a position detection mark on the back of the continuous paper P. Next, in step S4, the timing reset of the radio wave output in the reading unit 23 is performed. As a result, in accordance with the transfer position of the continuous paper P, preparation is made to output the read radio wave. Next, in step S5, it is determined whether the continuous sheet P has come to the reading timing position. If the RFID tag continuous body P has not come to the reading timing position (No), it is further determined in step S6 whether the continuous sheet P has come to the writing timing position. If the continuous sheet P has not come to the write timing position (No), the transport count is increased in step S7, so that the process returns to step S3 and the tag sensor 19 detects the leading edge of the tag T of the continuous sheet P become.

  If the continuous paper P has come to the reading timing position in step S5, the reading unit 23 starts outputting the radio wave in step S8. Next, in step S9, reading of RFID information of each tag T in the first row of the continuous paper P is started. At this time, a timer is activated to measure a predetermined time. Next, in step S10, it is determined whether the reading of the RFID information has been completed. This determination is made based on whether or not there is a response from the tag T. If there is no response from the tag T, reading of the RFID information is continued until time-out in step S11. If time-out is determined in step S11, the output of radio waves is stopped in step 12, a flag indicating an error is turned on in step S13, and a signal to that effect is sent to printing device 3 and marking device 5 Send out. Then, in step S14, the writing process in the writing unit 24 is passed to carry out as the next process (priority is given to conveyance of the RFID tag), and the process returns to step S3 to detect the beginning of the tag T of the continuous paper P. If there is a response of read completion in step S10, the output of radio waves is stopped in step S15, and an OK process is issued in step S16. That is, read data is stored, and print data in the printer 3 is generated. Then, in step S17, in order to shift to the writing process, the process returns to step S3, and the leading end of the tag T of the next continuous sheet P is detected.

  When the continuous paper P (tag T) is at the write timing position in step S6, the output of the write radio wave is started in step S20. Next, in step S19, writing of the RFID information of the continuous paper P (tag T) is started. At this time, a timer is activated to measure a predetermined time. Next, in step S20, it is determined whether the writing of the RFID information has been completed. This determination is made based on whether or not there is a response from the tag T. If time-out is determined in step S21, output of radio waves is stopped in step S22, a flag indicating an error is turned on in step S23, and a signal to that effect is sent to printing device 3 and marking device 5 Send out. Then, the process returns to step S3, and the leading end of the tag T on the next continuous sheet P is detected. If there is a reply of write completion in step S20, the output of radio waves is stopped in step 24, and an OK process is issued in step 25. That is, the processing completion flag is turned ON. Then, the process returns to step S3, and the leading end of the tag T on the next continuous sheet P is detected.

  As described above, in the operation flow shown in FIG. 3, at least one of the reading error and the writing error is within the predetermined reference range (for example, when the error is not continued within the predetermined number of times) The transport is to be operated without being stopped. However, when at least one of the reading error and the writing error exceeds the predetermined standard (for example, the error occurs continuously more than the predetermined number), the conveyance of the continuous paper P (tag T) is stopped You may

  In the printing apparatus 3, when a reading error occurs in step S13 of the operation flow of the control unit 25, as shown in FIG. 4A, printing (for example, black solid) is displayed on a predetermined place of the corresponding tag T It is supposed to do S. In this case, the printed area is, for example, the formation area of the middle emboss of the three embossings to be formed in a later step. Similarly, when a writing error occurs in step S25 of the operation flow of the control unit 25, as shown in FIG. 4B, printing (black solid) display S is performed on predetermined two places of the corresponding tag T. It is supposed to be. In this case, the printed area is, for example, an embossed area on both sides of three embossings to be formed later. If no error occurs in step S13 and step S25 of the operation flow, no print (black solid) display is performed on the corresponding tag T, as shown in FIG. 4C. ing.

  The inspection device 4 is configured to confirm the information written by the encoding device 2 on each tag T of the continuous paper P conveyed from the printing device 3.

  In the marking device 5, the read error that occurs in step S13 of the operation flow of the control unit 25, the write error that occurs in step S23, and the inspection error detected by the inspection device 4 (write data sent from a PC or the like) And at least one of the actually written data does not match), at least three embossings are formed on the tag T transferred from the inspection device 4 and corresponding one. FIG. 5 (a) shows the case where the emboss E is formed on the tag T having the read error, and FIG. 5 (b) shows the case where the emboss E is formed on the tag T having the write error, FIG. 5C shows a case where the emboss E is formed on the tag T in which the confirmation writing error has occurred. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5A, in the tag T in which the reading error occurred, one in the middle of three emboss E is superimposed on the printed (black solid) display S to be formed. It is supposed to be. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5B, in the tag T in which the writing error occurred, two of the three emboss E on both sides of the emboss E are formed so as to be superimposed on the printed (black solid) display. It has become. And as shown in FIG.5 (c), three emboss E is formed in the area | region in which the printing (solid black) display is not carried out to the tag T which had the confirmation write-in error.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the emboss E is formed to have a cut portion T0 in which a cut formed in the tag T is erected substantially vertically.

  FIG. 7 is a view showing a state in which the continuous paper P is cut for each tag T by the cut stack unit (apparatus) 7 (see FIG. 1A) and then stacked. As shown in FIG. 8, the cut stack portion (apparatus) 7 has a box A in which a groove is formed along one direction, and a plurality of tags T contact the front and back in this box A. It is stored. In this case, since the tag T judged to be defective has the cut portion T0 bent on one side, a gap G is formed between the adjacent tag T and the adjacent tag T by the cut portion T0. At a glance, the tag T that has been sent can be identified. In addition, it is possible to easily determine whether or not a reading error has been made and whether a writing error has been made on the printed portion (for example, solid black) displayed on the cut portion T0. become.

Second Embodiment
In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the data reading / writing unit 22 of the encoding device 2 is configured by the reading unit (reading means) 23 on the upstream side and the writing unit (writing means) 24 on the downstream side. It is a thing.

However, as shown in FIG. 8, the data reading / writing unit 22 is further provided downstream with a reading unit (reading means) 23 provided on the upstream side, a first writing unit (first writing means) 241 provided on the downstream side. You may make it be comprised by the 2nd write-in part (2nd write-in means) 242 provided.
Here, as described in the first embodiment, a plurality of reading units (reading means) 23 are provided in the width direction of the continuous sheet in accordance with the number of tags T, and the first reader / writer 23B is an RFID of each tag T It communicates with the media one-on-one. Similar to the writing unit (writing means) 24 of the first embodiment, a plurality of first writing units (first writing means) 241 are provided in the width direction of the continuous paper in accordance with the number of tags T, and each reader / writer 241B is provided. Communication is performed in a one-to-one correspondence with the RFID media of the tag T. In the figure, reference numeral 241A denotes an antenna. The second writing unit (second writing unit) 242 functions as a writing unit for recovery application that writes to the tag T which can not be written by the first writing unit (first writing unit) 241, and Communication is performed with respect to the tag T in a pair. Further, the second writing unit (second writing unit) 242 is provided with one reader / writer (not shown) incorporated therein so as to straddle the row of tags T, and performs communication by a radio wave system.

  The control unit 25 detects a timeout in each of the first writing unit (first writing unit) 241 and the second writing unit (second writing unit) 242 based on the writable processing time calculated by the calculation unit (calculation unit) 25A. It can be done. Then, the second writing unit (second writing unit) 242 performs the writing process again on the RFID media for which the timeout has occurred when the first writing unit (first writing unit) 241 detects a timeout, and the second writing is performed. When a time out is detected by the unit (second writing unit) 242, the output of the radio wave is stopped, and a flag indicating an error is turned on (see step S23 in FIG. 3). That is, the printing device (printing means) 3 displays a writing error on the tag T when the writing of the tag T by the second writing unit (second writing means) 242 is not performed within the writable processing time. It is supposed to be.

(Embodiment 3)
In the first embodiment described above, one print (for example, solid black) display is performed when there is a read error, and two print (for example, solid black) display is performed when there is a write error. is there. However, these may be reversed so that two print (for example, solid black) displays may be displayed when there is a read error, and one print (for example, solid black) display may be performed when there is a write error. It goes without saying. The point is that different print indications may be displayed at predetermined positions where a plurality of emboss are to be formed according to the type of read error, write error, and inspection error.

(Embodiment 4)
In Embodiment 1 mentioned above, although cut | notch part T0 which made the cut | stand_stand stand up substantially perpendicularly | vertically is formed as embossing E, it is needless to say that it is not limited to this. For example, it may be simply provided with irregularities.

  Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiment, it goes without saying that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be added to the above embodiment. It is also apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such alterations or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

1 continuous paper feeding device 2 encoding device 2A housing 3 printing device (printing means)
4 Inspection device (inspection means)
5 Marking device (marking means)
6 Continuous paper discharge device 7 Cut stack unit (device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 RFID tag encoding system 11 Sheet main body 12 Hole for transfer 13 Tag film 14 IC chip 15 Antenna 17 Transfer part 18 Tag encoder 19 Tag sensor 20 Transfer path 22 Data reading / writing part 23 Reading part (reading means)
24 Writing section (writing means)
241 1st writing part (1st writing means)
242 Second writing unit (second writing unit)
25 Control unit (control means)
25A operation unit (operation means)
T tag (RFID tag)
P Continuous paper S Print (for example, solid black) Display G Gap

Claims (9)

Transport means for transporting continuous paper provided with a plurality of RFID tags in the longitudinal direction;
Reading means for reading the RFID tag while conveying the continuous paper by the conveyance means;
A writing unit provided downstream of the reading unit in the conveyance direction and performing writing on the RFID tag while conveying the continuous paper by the conveyance unit;
A determination unit that determines whether the reading of the RFID tag by the reading unit is completed within a predetermined reading time;
When the determination unit determines that the reading of the RFID tag by the reading unit is not completed within the predetermined reading time, the continuous sheet is not subjected to the writing process on the RFID tag by the writing unit. Control means for giving priority to the transportation of
An error display means for displaying on the continuous paper that the RFID tag determined to have not completed reading of the RFID tag by the reading means within the predetermined reading time is an error;   The error display means is a printing means for printing information indicating that the RFID tag determined as the reading of the RFID tag by the reading means is not completed within the predetermined reading time is an error on the continuous sheet The encoding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The error display means is a marking for forming a cut portion on the continuous sheet indicating that the RFID tag determined to have not completed reading of the RFID tag by the reading means within the predetermined reading time is an error. The encoding device according to claim 1, which is a means.   The determination means further determines whether the writing of the RFID tag by the writing means is completed within a predetermined writing time, and reading of the RFID tag by the reading means is completed within the predetermined reading time. And, when the determination means determines that the writing of the RFID tag by the writing means is not completed within a predetermined write time, the control means gives priority to the conveyance of the continuous paper and causes the writing means to perform the writing. The encoding device according to claim 1, wherein the writing process to the RFID tag is stopped. The encoding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the conveyance of the continuous sheet is stopped when the error continuously occurs beyond a predetermined standard. Conveying continuous paper provided with a plurality of RFID tags in the longitudinal direction,
Reading the RFID tag while conveying the continuous paper;
When the reading of the RFID tag is not completed within a predetermined reading time, the conveyance of the continuous paper is prioritized to be conveyed without stopping, and the RFID tag causes an error without performing the writing process to the RFID tag. An encoding method for displaying on the continuous sheet that it is. The encoding method according to claim 6, wherein the error is displayed by printing information indicating that the RFID tag is an error on the continuous sheet. 7. The encoding method according to claim 6, wherein the error is displayed by forming a cut on the continuous sheet, which indicates that the RFID tag determined not to be completed within the predetermined reading time is an error. 9. The encoding method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the conveyance of the continuous sheet is stopped when the errors occur continuously beyond a predetermined standard.

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