JPH1196319A - Issue processing method for wireless information storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the mass production of wireless information storage media with high yield by continuously recording image information corresponding to one part of prescribed information only on the image recording parts of the plural wireless information storage media. SOLUTION: A stored information discriminating part 71 collates information read from the wireless information storage part of a wireless tag as the wireless information storage medium with information used for write, discriminates whether the write of radio information is correct or not and discriminates whether the wireless information storage part is suitable or not in comparison with the preset number of times of collation. Corresponding to the discriminated result, an instruction signal for performing the operation of a flipper 23 for changing the conveyer route of the wireless tag is outputted to a conveyance control part 80, and uncollatable wireless tags are separately collected. Afterwards, the image information is continuously recorded on the respective image recording parts of wireless tags, on which the prescribed information is normally written, while using an image printer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for issuing a wireless information storage medium attached to an article in order to perform a predetermined process on the article, and more particularly to a method for reading information by wireless without contact. The present invention relates to an issuance processing method for a wireless information storage medium capable of writing data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A wireless information storage medium, which uses an information storage unit such as an IC memory which can communicate with the outside wirelessly and controls reading and writing of information to and from the information storage unit in a non-contact manner, is attracting attention as a next generation information carrier. Have been.

[0003] The wireless information storage medium is used as a wireless tag by itself or as a system for preventing shoplifting of articles or a ski lift ticket by being attached to an article. In addition, a wireless information storage medium is embedded in a card and is being used as a commuter pass card or the like in a wireless processing automatic ticket gate system.

In a system using a wireless information storage medium,
Since predetermined processing can be performed in a non-contact manner without inserting an information storage medium (a card, a tag, or the like) into a processing device, convenience that is not available in a conventional system can be obtained.

[0005] For example, in the case of a wireless tag used in a shoplifting prevention system, it is not necessary to directly display information on an article to which the wireless tag is attached to a customer. Not.

However, in recent years, various systems using wireless tags have been proposed, and it is becoming necessary to provide a visible image recording unit. For example, when using a wireless tag for a price tag of an article and performing accounting processing of an article purchased by a customer, the price information stored in the wireless tags attached to a plurality of articles is wirelessly read and processed. If it can be done, efficient processing can be performed. In this case, the goods purchaser must be able to confirm the price of the goods by himself.

In a system using a wireless tag in the physical distribution field, a unique information written according to the article is read out from a wireless tag attached to the article at a point and attached to the article at a point. Manage the flow of work in a unified manner. Further, it has been considered to use it for manufacturing control by attaching it to a product in the middle of manufacture.

In these systems, in order to cope with an unexpected situation due to damage to a price tag attached to an article, a communication injury, etc., it is indispensable to display article information that can be visually recognized by a field worker or a manager on a wireless tag. Becomes

Therefore, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-368894.
The publication incorporates non-contact recording means,
A non-contact recording medium has been proposed in which a visible information recording area made of a rewritable thermoreversible material is provided on the surface of the recording medium.

The information storage medium disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-104189 has a built-in semiconductor circuit for storing and transmitting ID information through transmission and reception with the outside, and an antenna. An erasable print medium is provided, and information related to the ID information is printed on the print medium.

In this information recording medium, an antenna and a semiconductor circuit portion are provided by printing or pasting on a card-like base material made of a pet material mixed with a resin. Rewrite paper is fixed on the base material with an adhesive so as to overlap the antenna and the semiconductor circuit portion. Also,
It is disclosed that information is printed on an area of the rewritable paper other than the semiconductor circuit section.

Also, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-104189 discloses an issuance processing device for creating an information recording medium. This issuance processing device includes a writing / printing device that writes and prints ID information on an ID tag as an information recording medium. The writing / printing device includes a transmission / reception unit, an ID tag stacker unit, a printing unit, a feed mechanism for supplying the ID tag to the printing unit, a discharge mechanism for discharging the ID tag after printing to the outside of the device, a printer control unit, and controls these. A main control unit and the like are provided.

The printing section has a printing means for printing information on rewritable paper of the ID tag and an erasing section for erasing the print, and performs printing on the rewritable paper. The transmission / reception unit includes an antenna for transmitting / receiving to / from the ID tag, and a transmission / reception circuit for performing modulation / demodulation and signal transmission / reception.

The main control unit inputs writing data from a host computer via a host I / F unit, controls a printer control unit, a printing unit, and a transmission / reception unit to write and print ID information. Control. Therefore, the main control unit includes an MPU that performs such control, and a memory that stores write data input via the host I / F unit.

According to the issuing processing apparatus, the ID
A determination unit is provided for determining whether or not the information has been written to the ID tag. If the information has been written, the printed information is deleted, and then the ID information is written. The number of times of writing the ID tag is made a part of the ID information, and the printing of the number of times of writing or the printing position is changed according to the number of times of writing.

[0016]

When issuing a wireless information storage medium, a large amount of wireless information storage medium may be issued. In this case, it is necessary to store and image-record the same information in a large amount of wireless information storage media. For example, when image recording is performed using a thermal head or the like, it takes much time compared to the wireless information storage operation, and the time required for issuing a single wireless information storage medium is large depending on the time required for image recording. It is difficult to shorten the processing time.

Further, when storing wireless information and recording image information simultaneously in one wireless information storage medium,
At the time of recording image information, the semiconductor circuit portion may be damaged by heat or mechanical stress, which lowers the yield.
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide an issuance processing method capable of mass-producing a wireless information storage medium with high yield.

[0018]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to an issuance processing method for wirelessly transmitting and receiving information to and from a storage means for electronically storing information. In a wireless information storage medium issuance processing method including a control unit, a wireless information storage unit having an antenna, and an image recording unit that records a visible image, the wireless information storage medium is continuously connected to only a plurality of wireless information storage media. And an image recording step of continuously recording image information corresponding to at least a part of the predetermined information only in image recording units of a plurality of wireless information storage media. It is characterized by.

According to the above configuration, by performing the information writing step and the image recording step separately and consecutively, each processing step can be executed under optimum conditions, and the processing efficiency can be improved. Become.

According to the issuance processing method of the present invention, following the information writing step, the information written in the wireless information storage unit in the information writing step is read, and the read information and the information writing A collation step of collating the write information used in the step, a rewriting step of re-performing the information writing step based on the collation result of the collation step, and sorting the wireless information storage medium based on the collation result of the collation step And a collecting step of collecting.

According to the above issuance processing method, a defective wireless information storage medium can be eliminated by the collating step and the collecting step, and the yield can be improved. Further, the issuance processing method according to the present invention further comprises a wireless information storage unit having a wireless transmission / reception control means for recording and reading information in a non-contact manner with a storage means for electronically storing information, and a wireless information storage unit having an antenna. An image recording unit for recording an image, and in a wireless information storage medium issuance processing method including: an information writing step of continuously writing predetermined information to the plurality of independently formed wireless information storage units; An image recording step of continuously recording image information corresponding to at least a part of the predetermined information in the plurality of image recording units formed independently, and the wireless information in which the predetermined information is written by the information writing step A joining step of joining a recording section and the image recording section on which image information has been recorded in the image recording step to form a plurality of wireless information storage media. It is characterized in that was.

According to the issuance processing method having the above configuration, the information writing step and the image recording step can be executed completely in parallel, and the efficiency can be further improved. Further, at the time of the information writing step, it is possible to prevent the influence of external noise and the influence of heat and mechanical stress caused by image recording.

[0023]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention for issuing and processing a plurality of wireless information storage media in which the same information is written and recorded in a wireless information storage section and an image recording section. The processing method will be described in detail.

First, as a wireless information storage medium to be issued, for example, a configuration of a wireless tag will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless tag 20 includes an image recording unit 30 and a wireless information storage unit 40 that are stacked on each other. The image recording unit 30 is a rewritable recording unit that can repeatedly erase and print a recorded image by heat. A rewritable recording layer 32 and a top coat layer 33 are provided on one surface of a base material 31 having a rectangular cut sheet shape. They are formed by being sequentially laminated.

Such an image recording unit 30 is created by the following steps. A leuco dye and a phenol compound having a long-chain alkyl group are dispersed in a resin, applied to one surface of a polycarbonate film having a thickness of about 25 μm, and dried to form a rewritable recording layer 32 having a thickness of about 5 μm. Then, an ultraviolet curable resin is applied on the formed rewritable recording layer 32 and cured to form a top coat layer 33 having a thickness of about 5 μm. Thus, a rewritable image recording section 30 having a thickness of about 35 μm was obtained.

The wireless information storage unit 40 includes a base material 41 in the form of a rectangular cut sheet, and a transmission / reception antenna 42 formed of a loop-shaped coil disposed around the main surface of the base material.
And an LSI chip (wireless information storage circuit element) 43 disposed at an end of the main surface of the base material 41. The LSI chip 43 functions as a wireless transmission / reception control unit that records and reads information without contact with a storage unit (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 2, the LSI chip 43 rectifies and stabilizes the modulated data signal received by the transmitting / receiving antenna 42 and supplies the modulated data signal to each circuit of the LSI chip. A demodulation circuit 51 for demodulating and transmitting the data signal to the control logic unit 53, a modulation circuit 52 for modulating the data signal transmitted from the control logic circuit 53 into a form capable of wireless transmission, a volatile memory 54, and a nonvolatile memory for the demodulated data signal. 54, or read information stored in the non-volatile memory 54,
Control logic circuit 5 for controlling transmission to modulation circuit 52
3, demodulation circuit 51, modulation circuit 52, control logic circuit 5
A circuit such as a clock generation circuit 55 for supplying a synchronizing signal to the control circuit 3 is provided.

The wireless information storage section 40 is created by the following configuration. A copper foil is adhered to a polycarbonate film of about 100 μm, and a plurality of patterns each including a set of a loop antenna 42, a wiring pattern, and a connection pad with a wiring pattern of the LSI chip 43 are formed by the PEP method. The antenna pattern is formed on the periphery of the cut sheet-shaped base material 41 as shown in FIG. Also, LS
The connection pad pattern of the I chip 43 is formed so as to be disposed at the end of the completed wireless tag 20 as shown in FIG. Then, the LSI chip 43 was mounted on the connection pad by die bonding.

The wireless tag 20 is provided on the base material 3 of the image recording unit 30.
The wireless information storage unit 40 is formed by bonding the surface opposite to the rewritable recording layer formation surface and the wireless information storage unit formation surface of the base material 41 of the wireless information storage unit 40 with an adhesive layer 34.

The rewritable recording layer 32 has an effective recording area 35 facing the inside of the antenna 42, and the effective recording area 35 and the LSI chip 4 of the wireless information storage unit 40.
3 are arranged apart from each other in the plane direction of the wireless tag 20 without overlapping.

Next, the wireless tag 2 constructed as described above
A wireless information writing device that issues 0, an image printing device, and an issuance processing method will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the wireless information writing device 10 that writes predetermined information in the wireless information storage unit 40 of the wireless tag 20 includes a housing 11, and the wireless tag 20 is inserted into one end of the housing. At the other end, an outlet 14 for discharging the wireless tag 20 on which predetermined information is normally written, and at the bottom,
A collection port 15 for collecting a wireless tag in which an abnormality is detected is formed.

Outside the housing 11, there is a wireless tag 2 before processing.
A stacker 22 stocking zeros is provided facing the insertion slot 12, and a take-out roller 25 for taking out the wireless tags 20 one by one from the stacker 22 and inserting it into the insertion slot 12 is provided at the bottom of the stacker. A receiving box 24 for collecting the wireless tag 20 discharged from the outlet 14 and a wireless tag 20 discharged from the collection port 15 are provided outside the housing 11.
A collection box 29 for collecting the.

In the housing 11, a reader / writer 21 for reading and writing information to and from the wireless information storage unit 40 of the wireless tag 20 in a non-contact manner, and a wireless tag 20 inserted from the insertion slot 12 are provided in a predetermined manner. Two sets of transport rollers 24 that transport to the reader / writer 21 at a speed are provided. Furthermore,
In the housing 11, a flipper 23 for selectively distributing the wireless tag 20 passing through the reader / writer 21 to the discharge port 14 and the collection port 15, a discharge roller 27 for discharging the reader / writer 21 from the discharge port 14, and an insertion port 12. , A sensor 28 for detecting the insertion of the wireless tag 20 into the wireless information writing device 10 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 4, the reader / writer 21
I / F 60, control unit 61 composed of CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., demodulation circuit 62, reception amplifier 63, modulation circuit 6
4, a transmission amplifier 65, and a transmission / reception antenna 66. The transport unit 16 including the take-out roller 25, the transport roller 26, and the discharge roller 27 further includes a transport control unit 80. The transport control unit 80 includes the take-out roller 2
5. The drive transmission system (not shown) of the transport roller 26 and the discharge roller 27 is controlled to control the removal, transport, and change of the transport path by the flipper 23 of the wireless tag 20. The transport rollers 26 are provided in two sets, and are arranged so as to sandwich only both side edges of the wireless tag 20 from above and below.

The reader / writer 21 includes a storage information determination section 71, a write information memory 72, and a collation section 70 having a collation counter 73. The storage information determination unit 71 collates the information read from the wireless information storage unit 40 of the wireless tag 20 with the information used for writing, determines whether the wireless information writing is correct or not, and determines a predetermined number of matching times. A comparison is made to determine whether the wireless information storage unit is appropriate. Then, the storage information determination unit 71 changes the transport route of the wireless tag 20 according to the determination result.
Is output to the transport control unit 80. The write information memory 72 stores the wireless information storage unit 40.
And the collation counter 72 counts the number of collation.

The reader / writer 21, the transport unit 16,
The collating unit 70 and the sensor 28 are connected by a bus 82 to a central control unit (CPU) 81 that controls the entire operation.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the image printing apparatus 19 includes a housing 19, and an insertion port 9 is provided at one end of the housing.
6 and a discharge port 97 is formed at the other end. A stacker 110 for stocking the wireless tag 20 is provided outside the housing 19 so as to face the insertion slot 12, and one wireless tag 20 from the stacker 110 is provided at the bottom of the stacker.
Take-out roller 10 for taking out one sheet at a time and inserting it into insertion slot 12
1 is provided. A receiving box 1 for collecting the wireless tag 20 discharged from the discharge port 97 is provided outside the housing 11.
11 are provided.

An image printing section 90 for recording image information on the image recording section 30 of the wireless tag 20 using a thermal head as a recording head, a platen roller 103 facing the thermal head, a stacker A transport roller 102 for transporting the wireless tag 20 taken out from the feeder 110 toward the discharge port 97 at a predetermined speed;
1 is provided with a sensor 112 that detects the entry of the wireless tag into the wireless tag 1.

As shown in FIG. 6, the image printing unit 90
/ F 93, a thermal head 91, and a recording control unit 92 for controlling the recording operation of the thermal head. Further, the take-out roller 101, the conveyance roller 102, and the platen roller 103 constitute a conveyance section 98 together with the conveyance control section 100. The conveyance control section 100 includes a drive transmission system (not shown) for the take-out roller 101, the conveyance roller 102, and the platen roller 103. To control the wireless tag removal and transport. Then, the image printing section 90, the transport section 98, the sensor 11
2 is connected via a bus 114 to a central control unit (CPU) 113 for controlling the operation of the entire image recording apparatus.

Next, an issuance processing operation for issuing a wireless tag 20 using the information writing device 10 and the image printing device 18 will be described. According to this embodiment, after the information writing device 10 writes predetermined information in the wireless information storage unit of the wireless tag, the image information is recorded in the image recording unit of the wireless tag using the image printing device 18.

First, an information writing operation using the information writing device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 7, and FIG. When processing start is input by an input unit (not shown), a start signal of the take-out roller 25 is output from the CPU 81 to the transport control unit 80, and the take-out roller is driven. As a result, the wireless tag 20 at the lowermost end of the unprocessed wireless tags 20 stacked on the stacker 20 is taken out by the take-out roller 25,
It is conveyed toward the reader / writer 21.

When the sensor 28 detects the wireless tag 20,
Based on the detection signal output from the sensor 28, the CPU 8
1 outputs a transport signal to the transport control unit 80,
Reference numeral 0 activates a transport drive system (not shown) to rotate the transport roller 26 and the discharge roller 27. As a result, the removed wireless tag 20 is conveyed to the reader / writer 21 at a predetermined speed. When the wireless tag 20 is transported to a predetermined position facing the reader / writer 21, the reader / writer 21
Writes predetermined information in the wireless information storage unit 40 of the wireless tag 20.

In the information writing operation of the reader / writer 21, first, predetermined data from the CPU 81 via the I / F 60, such as data indicating the destination "Hokkaido" and the recipient "000 company", information on the article to which the tag is attached, etc. Is sent to the control unit 61. Then, the data output from the control unit 61 is subjected to modulation necessary for wireless transmission by the modulation circuit 64, and then transmitted as a modulated data signal from the transmission / reception antenna 66 via the transmission amplifier 65. It is received by the antenna 42.

The received modulated data signal is subjected to rectification and stabilization in the power supply generation section 50, and is supplied as power to each circuit of the LSI chip 43 in the radio information storage section 40, and is also supplied to the demodulation circuit 51. After being demodulated, the data is written to the nonvolatile memory 54 via the control logic circuit 53.
Thus, the writing of the information to the wireless information storage unit 40 is completed.

Subsequently, the reader / writer 21 performs a collation operation for confirming that the information has been correctly written. As shown in FIG. 9, after writing the information, the CPU 71 continuously outputs a read command to the reader / writer 21. In response to this, the reader / writer 21 writes the predetermined information written in the nonvolatile memory 54 of the LSI chip 43 of the wireless tag 20 and stored therein, here, information indicating the destination “Hokkaido” and the recipient “000 company”. , Information on the article to which the tag is attached, and the like.

The read information is transmitted to the control port magic circuit 4.
A predetermined modulation is performed by the modulation circuit 45 via the communication tag 7 and transmitted from the transmission / reception antenna 42 of the wireless tag 20. The information transmitted from the wireless tag 20 is received by the transmission / reception antenna 66 of the reader / writer 21, and is received by the reception amplifier 63.
After being amplified by and demodulated by the demodulation circuit 62, it is input to the control unit 61.

Subsequently, the input data is I / F 60,
The information is sent to the stored information determination unit 71 of the collation unit 70 via the CPU 81. The storage information determination unit 71 reads the information used for the previous writing, which is stored in the writing memory 72 in advance, and compares the information with the information read from the wireless tag 20. Then, when both match, the CPU 81 discharges the wireless tag 20 by the transport unit 16 and collects it in the receiving box 24.

On the other hand, if they do not match, the CPU 8
After the counter 1 counts up by one, the same information is written into the wireless information storage unit 40 of the wireless tag 20 again by the same operation as described above, read again, and the matching is performed. , Discharge and receiving box 24
To be collected.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, in the above-mentioned collation processing, the storage information judgment unit 71
The number of times of collation counted in step 3 is compared with the limit number of times of collation stored in the CPU 81 in advance. If the count of the collation counter 73 is less than the limit number of times of collation, the rewriting operation is started. However, when the count is equal to or greater than the limit number of times of collation, the stored information determination unit 71 determines that the wireless tag 20 cannot be collated, and outputs a flipper activation signal to the transport control unit 80. Based on this signal, the transport control unit 80 activates the flipper 23 and changes the transport route of the wireless tag 20 to the collection bin 2.
Change to go to 5. As a result, the wireless tag 20 determined not to be collated is collected in the collection box 25 for collecting the defective wireless tag.

On the other hand, in the above-described collation processing, there is a case where the recorded information cannot be read from the wireless tag 20. In this case, the storage information determination unit 71 determines “unverifiable”, activates the flipper 23 via the transport control unit 80, and changes the transport route that connects the transport route of the wireless tag 20 to the collection box 25. Therefore, the wireless tag 20 determined to be unmatchable is also collected in the collection box 25.

By repeatedly performing the above-described wireless writing processing and collation processing, a large number of wireless tags 20 in which the same information (data) has been correctly written in the wireless information storage unit 40 can be obtained.

Subsequently, as described above, a number of wireless tags 20 in which the same information has been correctly written in the wireless information storage unit 40.
Then, image information is recorded using the image printing device 18. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 and FIG. 11, when the start of processing is input by an input unit (not shown), the CPU 113 of the image printing apparatus 18 transmits
At 00, a start signal of the take-out roller 101 is output, and the take-out roller 101 is driven. In the stacker 110,
A large number of wireless tags 20 in which the same information is correctly written in the wireless information storage unit 40 are stacked, and the wireless tag located at the lowermost position is taken out by the take-out roller 101 and conveyed to the image printing unit 91. You.

The wireless tag 20 is inserted into the housing 1 through the insertion slot 96.
9 and transferred to the thermal head 9 by the sensor 112.
1 is detected, the thermal head 91 contacts the effective recording area 35 of the image recording unit 30 of the wireless tag 20 from the retreat position where it does not contact the incoming wireless tag 20 based on the detection signal. The effective recording area 35 is pressed in cooperation with the platen roller 103.

Subsequently, the CPU 113 sends a predetermined image information signal to the recording control unit 92 via the I / F 93, in this case, information indicating the destination "Hokkaido", the recipient "000 company", and information relating to the article to which the tag is attached. It sends partially converted barcode information, recording position information, and the like. Thermal head 9
When the recording head 1 reaches the recording start position in the effective recording area 35, the recording control unit 92 sets the thermal head 91 in accordance with the determined conditions.
2 in the effective recording area of the wireless tag 20, the destination "Hokkaido" shown in FIG.
21. A bar code: 122 obtained by converting a part of the information on the article to which the tag is attached is recorded.

Here, the coloring (recording) / erasing (erasing) characteristics of the rewritable recording layer 32 provided in the image recording section 30 of the wireless tag 20 will be described. FIG. 12 shows the image recording unit 30 of the wireless tag 20 moving at a transport speed of 40 mm / sec.
3 shows a change characteristic of the image density when the energy applied to the thermal head is changed when recording a solid pattern using a thermal head having a resolution of 8 dots / mm. In the figure, the vertical axis represents the image density of the image printed on the image recording unit 20, and the horizontal axis represents the energy applied to the image recording unit by the thermal head. Furthermore, the solid line in the figure is
The density change when heat for recording a solid pattern is given to the image recording unit 30 in the initial state where an image has not been recorded yet, and a broken line gives heat for erasing the solid pattern recorded on the image recording unit. FIG.

As described above, the image recording section 30 can repeatedly record and delete images by changing the energy applied to the thermal head 91. Here, the recording energy is 0.6 mJ / dot and the erasing energy is 0.3 mJ.
By setting / dots, image recording and erasing in the image recording unit 30 can be repeatedly performed.

When the image recording is completed, the thermal head 9
1 moves to the original retreat position and releases the pressure contact with the wireless tag 20. The transport control unit 100 rotates the transport roller 102 and the platen roller 103 to transport the wireless tag 20 in the direction of the outlet 97, and the image-tagged wireless tag is accumulated in the receiving box 11.

As a result, a plurality of wireless tags 20 in which predetermined information is written in the wireless information storage 40 and image information corresponding to at least a part of the predetermined information is recorded in the image recording unit 30 are issued. You.

As described above, according to the issuance processing method according to the present embodiment, an information writing step of writing predetermined information into the wireless information storage units 40 of the plurality of wireless tags 20;
By separately performing the image information recording step of recording the image information related to the information in the image recording units 30 of the plurality of wireless tags, the transport conditions of the writing device 10 and the image printing device 18 that perform these process processes are respectively set. Can be set to the optimal conditions according to the processing of (1). Therefore, it is possible to perform the issuance processing more efficiently than the issuance processing method in which the wireless information writing processing and the image recording processing are continuously performed for each wireless tag.

Normally, a reader / writer uses a wireless tag 2
In reading information from 0, it is necessary to handle a weak read signal, and it is necessary to take measures against external noise. In a device in which a reader / writer and an image printing unit are arranged close to each other, accurate transmission / reception control is performed. It is necessary to repeatedly read / write information.

On the other hand, in the issuance processing method according to the present embodiment, since the independent information writing device and the image printing device can be used, it is possible to achieve high reliability and shorten the processing time in the wireless information writing process. Thus, a large amount of efficient wireless information storage media can be issued.

Further, according to the issuing processing method, following the information writing step of writing information in the wireless information storage unit of the wireless tag, the stored information is collated and rewritten or sorted and collected according to the collation result. By doing so, a wireless tag having a defect that cannot be verified can be removed in the middle of the issuing process, and an issuing process yield close to 100% can be obtained in the final stage of the issuing process. This effect becomes more effective by writing and collating the wireless information in the wireless information storage unit prior to the step of printing the image on the image recording unit of the wireless tag.

In the above embodiment, the wireless information writing step is performed prior to the image information recording step. However, the same effect can be obtained even if the image information recording step is performed prior to the image information recording step. can get.

Next, a method for issuing a wireless information storage medium according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In another embodiment, the information writing process and the image information recording process are separately performed on the independent wireless information storage unit and the image recording unit, and then the wireless information storage unit and the image recording unit are joined. A number of wireless information recording media having the same information are issued.

That is, FIG. 13 and FIG.
As shown in (b), first, a large number of wireless information storage units 40 and image recording units 30 for constituting a wireless tag are separately prepared.

As shown in FIG. 14A, the wireless information storage unit 30 includes a transmitting / receiving antenna 14 composed of a loop-shaped coil or the like disposed around the main plane of the first rectangular base 141.
2 and an LSI chip 143 as a wireless transmission / reception control means which is provided at an end of the first base material 141 and which can write and read information in a non-contact manner. Further, a second substrate 144 having substantially the same dimensions is attached to the first substrate 141 via an adhesive layer 145, and covers the transmission / reception antenna 142 and the LSI chip 143. LSI chip 1
The configuration of 44 is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The wireless information storage unit 40 was created as follows. A copper foil is stuck on a polycarbonate film of about 100 μm, and a loop antenna, a wiring pattern and
A plurality of patterns each including a set of connection pads with the wiring pattern of the SI chip are formed by the PEP method. The loop-shaped antenna pattern was formed around the first base material 141. Further, the connection pad pattern of the LSI chip 143 is formed so that it can be arranged at the end of the completed base material when the first base material is cut so as to separate the wireless information storage unit 40. Then, this connection pad pattern has an LSI
The chip 143 was mounted by die bonding.

Subsequently, the antenna 142 of the first base material 141
Then, the surface on which the LSI chip 143 was provided was covered with a second base material 144, a filler was filled between the two base materials, and the base materials were bonded together via an adhesive layer 145. Further, the first chip is separated so that the LSI chip 143 and the antenna 142 are separated as one set.
And the second base materials 141 and 144 are 60 mm long and 30 wide.
The wireless information storage unit 40 was obtained by cutting into a label shape of mm.

As shown in FIG. 14B, the image recording unit 3
Reference numeral 0 denotes a sheet-like base material 131 such as paper or plastic on which a heat-sensitive recording layer 132 is provided. Here, a heat-sensitive recording material was applied to the thermal base paper to form a heat-sensitive recording layer 132, which was dried and then cut to the same size as the wireless information storage unit 40 to obtain the image recording unit 30.

Subsequently, predetermined information is written to the plurality of wireless information storage units 40 in a non-contact manner using the information writing device, and after the writing is completed, the collation processing and the exclusion processing are performed. The same information writing device as that of the above-described embodiment is used, and information writing, collation, and exclusion are performed in the same manner as the respective processing operations shown in FIGS. Then, by such a wireless information writing process, a large number of wireless information storage units 40 in which the same information is correctly written are obtained.

Further, in parallel with or separately from the information writing process to the wireless information storage unit 40, the same image corresponding to at least a part of the predetermined information is stored in a plurality of image recording units 30 using an image printing apparatus. Record information continuously. The same image printing apparatus as that of the above-described embodiment is used, and an image is recorded in the same manner as the respective processing operations shown in FIGS. At this time, image information is recorded on the heat-sensitive recording layer 132 of the image recording unit 30 by the thermal head. Then, by such image recording processing, a large number of image recording units 30 on which the same image information is recorded are obtained.

Thereafter, the wireless information storage section 40 in which the same information is written and the image recording section 30 in which the same information is image-recorded are combined with the first base material 1 of the wireless information storage section 40.
By bonding the base 41 of the image recording unit 30 to the base 41, the wireless information storage unit 4 as shown in FIG.
0, and a wireless information storage medium in which necessary information is recorded in the image recording unit 30, for example, a wireless tag 20 is issued.

In the issuance processing method according to the other embodiment configured as described above, the same operation and effect as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained. Further, according to the other embodiment, it is possible to remove a defective product generated in a processing stage of only the wireless information storage unit 40 which is a semi-finished product,
Higher yield and higher efficiency can be achieved.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention. For example, the wireless information storage medium to be issued and processed is not limited to the wireless tag described above, but can be applied to other wireless information storage media such as a wireless price tag.

FIG. 15 shows an example of a wireless price tag as a wireless information storage medium. The wireless price tag 150 includes a wireless information storage unit 40 and an image recording unit 30 each having a rectangular shape, and is connected to end portions of the wireless information storage unit 40 and the image recording unit 30 to form an elongated rectangular shape as a whole. Is formed.

The image recording section 30 has a rectangular sheet-like base material 1.
51 and a rewritable recording device 152 formed on a base material
It is composed of The wireless information storage unit 40 has a base 154 having a rectangular plate shape.
6 is fixed. The wireless information storage element 156 includes an LSI chip 157 as an information storage circuit element and a loop-shaped transmission / reception antenna 158. In addition, a through hole 160 for attaching the wireless price tag 150 to an article is formed in the base material 154.

[0077]

As described in detail above, according to the method for issuing a wireless information storage medium according to the present invention, the information writing process for the wireless information recording and the image recording process for the image recording unit are performed separately. This makes it possible to set the transport conditions of the apparatus that performs these processes to conditions suitable for each process, and is more efficient than the conventional issuance processing method that performs wireless information writing processing and image recording processing continuously. Issue processing can be performed. In addition, the wireless information writing process and the image recording process can be performed by dividing the lot into a predetermined number of lots, and by performing both processes in parallel, an efficient mass issue process can be performed.

According to the issuing processing method of the present invention,
While performing the wireless information writing process to the independent wireless information storage unit, perform the image recording process to the independent image recording unit,
Since a wireless information storage medium is formed by forming an image of the wireless information storage unit and the image recording, the wireless information writing process and the image recording process can be performed completely independently. Therefore, complete parallel processing becomes possible, and the issue time of the wireless information storage medium can be reduced.

In addition, an independent wireless information writing device and an image printing device can be used. In the wireless information writing process, the influence of external noise is reduced to improve the reliability and shorten the processing time. This enables efficient mass issuance processing.

Further, according to the issuing processing method of the present invention,
By adding a step of separating and collecting the unverifiable wireless information storage medium or the wireless information storage unit, a defective wireless information storage medium can be removed in the middle of the issuing process, and 100% in the final stage of the issuing process. A close yield can be obtained. In particular, in the method of performing a writing process on an independent wireless information storage unit, defective products can be removed only at the stage of the semi-finished wireless information storage unit, so that a higher yield can be obtained and efficiency can be improved. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view and a cross-sectional view of a wireless tag that is issued by an issuance processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of the wireless tag.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an information writing device used for the issuing process.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the information writing device.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an image printing apparatus used for the issuing unit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image printing apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the steps of the entire issuance processing method.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an information writing operation of the information writing device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a collation operation of the information writing device.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an exclusion operation of the information writing device.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an image recording operation of the image printing apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing a relationship between the image density of the wireless tag in the image recording unit and the energy applied to the thermal head.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the steps of the entire issuance processing method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a wireless tag issued by the issuance processing method according to the other embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a wireless price tag.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Information writing device 18 ... Image printing device 20 ... Wireless tag 21 ... Reader / writer 22 ... Stacker 23 ... Flipper 26 ... Transport roller 29 ... Collection box 30 ... Image recording part 32 ... Rewritable recording layer 35 ... Effective recording area 40 ... Wireless Information storage units 42, 142: transmitting / receiving antennas 43, 143: LSI chip 91: thermal head 103: platen roller

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A wireless transmission / reception control unit for recording and reading information in a non-contact manner with a storage unit for electronically storing information, a wireless information storage unit having an antenna, and an image recording unit for recording a visible image. An information writing step of continuously writing predetermined information only to the wireless information storage units of the plurality of wireless information storage media, and an image recording of the plurality of wireless information storage media. An image recording step of continuously recording image information corresponding to at least a part of the predetermined information only in the section, a processing method for issuing a wireless information storage medium. 2. A collation for reading information written in a wireless information storage unit in the information writing step following the information writing step, and collating the read information with the writing information used in the information writing step. A rewriting step of performing the information writing step again based on the collation result of the collation step; and a collection step of separating and collecting the wireless information storage medium based on the collation result of the collation step. The method for issuing a wireless information storage medium according to claim 1. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the image recording step is performed prior to the information writing step. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information writing step is performed prior to the image recording step. 5. A wireless transmission / reception control means for recording and reading information in a non-contact manner with a storage means for electronically storing information, a wireless information storage unit having an antenna, and an image recording apparatus for recording a visible image. An information writing step of continuously writing predetermined information into the plurality of independently formed wireless information storage units, respectively. An image recording step of continuously recording image information corresponding to at least a part of the predetermined information in the plurality of image recording sections; a radio information recording section in which predetermined information is written in the information writing step; and the image recording A joining step of joining each of the image recording sections on which image information is recorded by the step to form a plurality of wireless information storage media. A line information storage medium issuance processing method. 6. A collating step following the information writing step, reading information written in the wireless information storage unit, and collating the read information with information used in the information writing step. A rewriting step of re-performing the information writing step based on the collation result of the above, and a collecting step of separating and collecting the wireless information storage medium part based on the collation result of the collating step. Item 6. An issuance processing method for a wireless information storage medium according to Item 5. 7. The rewriting step and the collating step are repeatedly executed until the collation results match, the number of collations is counted, and when the counted number of collations matches a predetermined number, the collecting step is executed. 7. The method for issuing a wireless information storage medium according to claim 2, wherein: