TW201342264A - Radio frequency consumables management system and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a consumables management system designed by using radio frequency technique and its method. It primarily makes use of high-frequency radio frequency identification (HF RFID, 13.56MHz) technique in cooperation with an authorization and registration unit and a label printer with rewritable RFID, such as a thermal label printer, to perform real-time monitoring on the printed amount of the consumables (such as paper roll and carbon tape roll) arranged therein RFID tags. With such an effective mechanism, the supplies vender can surely control the consumables of the machine type used by the customers and prevent the unworthy venders from selling counterfeit consumables to the customers for use, which may result in meaningless dispute in fulfillment warranty with the customer service of original manufacturer when the machine is damaged due to carelessness.

Description

Wireless radio frequency consumable management system and method thereof

The invention relates to a consumable management system and a method thereof designed by using radio frequency technology, in particular to adopting high frequency wireless identification technology, with a label design unit and a dedicated authorized registration unit and a label printer with readable and writable RFID tags (such as Heat transfer or thermal label printer), which can effectively control the consumables of the models used by customers.

According to the existing common transaction machines, such as photocopiers, printers, fax machines, etc., the original consumables are of stable quality, the amount of printed sheets can be printed with many effects, the materials are environmentally safe and can be optimally matched with the machine. It is also extremely reasonable to sell the product at a slightly higher price than the manufacturing cost. On the contrary, the non-perfect ratio of non-factory (cottage version) consumables is high, especially for consumers to criticize, the printing quality is very unstable, often causing output interruption, and even damage to the machine due to small loss and loss of the original factory Warranty.

Only the average price difference between the original consumables and the non-factory consumables is about double, and the average price of the original consumables may be equivalent to the price of a printer. In addition, there are potential market opportunities for the use of consumables. The required technical threshold is low and the production is easy. Therefore, many manufacturers are still involved in manufacturing, and the non-factory consumables are used to drive out good money to divide the market.

Conventionally, for the application of consumables management, most of the most common label printers are currently implemented using a special Cartridge, which is generally limited by the shape of the cassette or the memory chip containing the contact memory. The mechanism is to ensure the speciality of the factory consumables, but the structure must be re-planned for the toner cartridges, inkjet cartridges, ribbons, or paper rolls of different types of business machines. The variety is complicated and the common manufacturing cost is lacking. High, but also easily cracked by other vendors, its main drawback.

In view of the shortcomings of the above-mentioned conventional structures, the present inventors actively engaged in research, and after continuous experimentation and efforts, finally developed and provided a consumable management system and method thereof designed by using radio frequency technology, mainly including:

a computer having an RFID tag design unit for editing the relevant information of the control consumable into the written content of the RFID tag;

b. an RFID (Wireless Identification) tag burning machine is connected to the computer, which has an RFID tag burning component and a printing head, and writes related materials of the consumables into the memory of the RFID tag;

c. An RFID (wireless identification) label printer with RFID reading and writing components and a print head, which must be used in conjunction with the consumables with the aforementioned RFID tags to perform normal output operations, and;

d. An authorized management center computer is an authorized registration unit for generating the aforementioned exclusive registration file;

In this way, high-frequency wireless identification (HF RFID, 13.56MHz) technology can be used, together with registered wireless identification label printers (such as thermal transfer or thermal label printers), for printing in the paper roll The carbon tube in the paper tube and the ribbon coil is provided with wireless identification RFID tag reading and writing, thereby real-time monitoring of the printing usage, and through the effective structural design, the consumable supply factory can implement the model for controlling the customer. Consumables, to avoid unscrupulous manufacturers selling non-factory consumables to customers, inadvertently causing machine damage and the original customer service on the performance of the warranty on the definition of non-existent disputes.

In order to facilitate further understanding of the technical contents, features, and effects of the present invention, a preferred embodiment will be described with reference to the following drawings: Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the present invention is A wireless radio frequency consumable management system mainly includes:

a computer 101, which is provided with an RFID tag design unit 102, and is associated with a dedicated authorization registration unit 104 to edit the related information of the consumables 2 such as the label roll 20 or the ribbon roll 24 into RFID wireless identification. Content 25;

b. An RFID tag burning machine 1 for burning RFID (Wireless Identification) tags, mainly comprising an RFID tag burning module 10 and a printing head 14, and connected to the computer 101, the RFID tag burning module The 10 series includes a main control circuit 11 for burning a RFID tag, a programming control circuit 12 for burning an RFID tag, and an RFID antenna 13 (see FIG. 4). The main control circuit 11 of the burner is connected to a burning system. The recording control circuit 12, after the programming control circuit 12, is connected with an RFID antenna 13 for penetrating into the traveling path inside the RFID tag burning machine 1, and configuring a roll of RFID tags in the RFID tag burning machine 1. The paper roll 26 has an RFID tag 261 disposed on the RFID label roll 26, and the print head 14 is disposed at the front end of the RFID tag burner 1. A roller 15 is disposed under the print head 14 to accommodate the RFID. After the tag 261 passes, the programming control circuit 12 can write the RFID wireless identification target content 25 into the memory of the RFID tag 261, and print relevant text content or barcode on the surface of the RFID tag 261;

c. A label printer 3, as shown in Fig. 5, can be a label printer with wireless identification tag reading and writing, which is provided with a printer main control circuit 31 for connecting and reading RFID The tag read/write control circuit 32 is connected to the read/write control circuit 32 with an RFID read/write element 33, and the RFID read/write element 33 is placed under one or the side of a label roll 20, and the label roll 20 The label paper 23 is wound from a label paper tube 21, and the RFID tag 261 for burning the wireless identification target content 25 is attached to the label paper tube 21, and the RFID reading and writing element 33 can be an inductive antenna 331. For example, a loop antenna, a printed circuit board antenna, or a flexible flexible board antenna, etc., and the sensing antenna 331 is disposed on a circular arc plate 332, and a row of printing heads 38 and a roller 37 are disposed above and below the front end of the printer. The label paper 23 of the label roll 20 is passed, and please refer to FIG. 6 again, wherein the label printer 3 can also be connected to another RFID read/write control circuit 34 on the main control circuit 31 of the printer. Thereafter, another RFID read/write element 35 is attached to one side of the wound ribbon roll 24, and the RFID read/write element 35 is attached. An inductive antenna 351 such as a loop antenna, a printed circuit board antenna or a flexible flexible board antenna, and the inductive antenna 351 is disposed on a flexible flexible board 352, which is wound around the ribbon 27 of the RFID reading and writing element 35. On the ribbon tube 22, the carbon ribbon tube 22 is also attached with an RFID tag 261 for controlling the ribbon roll 24; the print head 38 and the roller 37 at the front end of the printer 3 can accommodate the label paper 23 and carbon. The belt 27 passes; and a carbon ribbon recovery portion 36 is disposed near the rear end of the print head 38 output, and;

d. The authorization management center 105 of the agent of the original company A is responsible for the software key 106 and the identification code 107 given in advance, and executes an authorization registration unit 104 by using the computer 101 to generate the aforementioned exclusive registration file 103. The registration file 103 and the authorization registration unit 104 are typically stored separately in the plug-and-play memory device 108, such as a USB mass storage or a memory card.

With the above-mentioned wireless radio frequency consumable management system, the high frequency wireless identification (HF RFID, 13.56 Mz) technology can be used to read and write the RFID read/write component 33 and the RFID read/write component 35 to the label paper tube 21 and the ribbon tube 22, respectively. The RFID (Wireless Identification) tag 261 is provided for monitoring the consumables 2 such as the label roll 20 or the ribbon roll 24.

A wireless radio frequency consumables management method, the main steps of which include:

The production registration file 103 is executed in the computer by the software key 106 and the identification code 107 in an authorization registration unit 104 for generating a registration file 103 in the plug-and-play memory device 108 (such as a USB flash drive). Within, and its authorization registration unit 104 is a software program;

b. Editing the RFID tag content, first enabling the registration file 103 to enable an RFID tag design unit 102, and then using the RFID tag design unit 102 to edit the related information of the consumable into the RFID wireless identification target content 25, wherein the RFID tag design Unit 102 is also a software program;

c. burning the RFID tag, the RFID wireless identification content 25 is written into the memory of the RFID tag 261 via the tag burning control circuit 12 of the RFID tag burning machine 1, and the RFID tag design unit 102 performs encryption (Encrypted) processing. The wireless identification RFID tag 261 is further written, and the related characters or barcodes are printed on the RFID tag 261 by the printing head 14 for the data detection comparison of the consumables 2. If the programming fails, the RFID tag 261 is printed. The word FAIL is distinguished from the good one;

d. Adhering the RFID tag, the RFID tag 261 written into the RFID wireless identification content 25 is adhered to the empty paper tube 21 or the ribbon tube 22, and then the label paper 23 or the carbon ribbon 27 is wound into a roll;

e. Discriminating the RFID tag, placing the RFID tag paper roll 20 and the ribbon roll 24 to which the RFID tag 261 is attached on a tag printer 3 with wireless identification, and reading the RFID tag 261 by the RFID read/write elements 33, 35 RFID (wireless identification) tag content 25, whereby the consumables 2 such as the label roll 20 or the ribbon roll 24 are controlled, and the RFID read/write elements 33, 35 are a loop antenna, a printed circuit board antenna or a flexible flexible board antenna.

When the original company A provides the RFID tag burning machine 1 for wireless identification and the label printer 3 with wireless identification to the agents B1, B2, B3, etc., it is necessary to give different agents a different set of software in advance. The key 106 and the identification code 107 are then used by the authorized registration unit 104 in the computer 101 of the authorized management center 105 of the agent to input the software key 106 and the identification code 107 to generate a unique and exclusive registration file 103 for different agents. B1, B2, B3, etc., in conjunction with this exclusive registration file 103, after that, the original company A can successively release the same type of RFID tag burner 1 and the wireless identification tag printer 3 to different agents. B1, B2, B3, etc. form an independent supply subsystem, so that it is convenient to plan to form a large and complete agent B1, B2, B3 supply management system; the original company A only needs to be authorized by the agent management center 105 The authorization registration unit 104 and the registered software key 106 and the identification code 107 inventory can effectively manage all agents. Each agent (Agent) B1, B2, B3, etc. must prepare a personal computer 101 with a USB interface in advance, install the RFID tag design unit 102 internally, and use the registration file 103 and identification provided by the authorization management center 105. The code 107 is regarded as a security code. When the RFID tag design unit 102 is turned on, it is required to input a security password and select to input the registration file 103, and is pre-registered and enabled by the RFID tag design unit 102 in the computer 101 to be turned on. The RFID tag burning machine 1 and the label printer 3 function of the readable and writable RFID tag, and the RFID tag design unit 102 can be associated with the RFID tag burning machine 1 to write the RFID wireless identification content 25 into the RFID (Wireless Identification) tag 261. Then, the RFID (Wireless Identification) tag 261 is adhered to the Label Core 21 or the Ribbon Core 22, and then the predetermined label paper 23 or the carbon ribbon 24 is wound to form the consumables of the control tube 2 . Therefore, the agent B1 (or B2, or B3) provides the label printer 3 and the label roll 20 and the ribbon roll 24 having the wireless identification RFID tag 261 attached to the label paper tube 21 and the ribbon tube 22 at the user end. C, when the user places the label roll 20 and the ribbon roll 24 on a label printer 3, and the label printer 3 has an RFID read/write element 33 and an RFID read/write unit 35, and the RFID read/write element The RFID read/write component 35 is used to read and write the data of the RFID wireless tag 231 of the tag tube 21 and the ribbon tube 22, and if the tag paper tube 21 and the ribbon tube 22 do not have the RFID wireless identification tag 261 or RFID wireless identification. If the tag 261 is not provided by the original agent B1 (or B2, or B3), the RFID read/write element 33 and the RFID read/write element 35 cannot read and write the RFID wireless identification tag 261, which is not by the original agent B1 (or B2, Or B3) The supply of the label roll 20 and the ribbon roll 24 can not be used. When only the consumable 2 from the same code of the agent B1 (or B2, or B3) can be used in its label printer 3 Printed smoothly, because the label roll 20 and the ribbon roll 24 are safely controlled by the authenticity.

When the inner roll wirelessly identifies the label roll 20 of the RFID tag 261 and the consumables 2 such as the ribbon roll 24, in the process of printing the label printer 3, the wireless identification RFID reading and writing element pair of the label printer 3 The wireless identification RFID tag 261 memory wound in the label paper tube 21 or the ribbon tube 22 in the consumable 2 performs an instantaneous process of reading the effective length value, decrypting, checking, deducting the printed length encryption and then writing back. For example, when the memory of the wireless identification RFID tag 261 is read three times in succession, the label printer 3 immediately stops printing and issues an alarm sound and a light number indication, or when the effective length value check finds an error, the label The printer 3 will immediately stop printing and issue an alarm sound and a light signal indication, or when the effective length is deducted to zero, the label printer 3 will immediately stop printing and send an alarm sound and a light number indication...etc. Thereby, the system of the present invention utilizes a high frequency wireless identification tag (HF RFID Tag), so that the consumables 2 such as the label paper roll 20 and the ribbon roll 24 can be more conveniently and easily realized on the use or control, as long as the above RFID tag is used. The RFID tag 261 of the burning machine 1 is attached to the empty paper tube 21 and the ribbon tube 22 of the printer consumable 2, and is then authorized by the agent B1 (or B2, or B3) supply management system of the present invention. The registration mechanism and the special transaction machine 3 (such as a heat transfer or thermal label printer) can be provided with a label roll 20 and a ribbon roll 24 for wirelessly identifying the RFID tag 261 for the paper tube 21 and the ribbon tube 22. The consumables 2 are printed, and the usage is monitored in real time, so that the consumables 2 supply factory can implement the consumables 2 that control the models used by the customers, so as to avoid the unscrupulous manufacturers selling non-factory consumables 2 to the customers, inadvertently causing damage to the machine and the original Factory A customer service has a senseless dispute on the performance of the warranty.

And more importantly, when the present invention is implemented, a separate system can be added to the new agents B1, B2, B3, etc. very quickly and easily by different exclusive registration files 103 to ensure different agents. Businesses B1, B2, B3, etc. can be distinguished by their different dedicated consumables 2, which greatly reduces the need to provide incompatible cards using conventional structures, and must also change the mechanism of the printer's mechanism. Cost and time.

In addition, the present invention has the following advantages over the conventionally known cassettes:

1. The cassette which is not required to be used in the practice of the present invention can be relatively reduced in material cost and processing cost as long as a wireless identification label is wound in each roll of consumables 2.

2. The invention adopts non-contact wireless identification to greatly improve the degree of security protection copied or destroyed.

3. Using the built-in memory of the wireless identification tag, the printable length of the consumable 2 can be pre-programmed in the memory of the wireless identification tag, and the printed length is continuously calculated during the printing process and the remaining memory is saved in time. Available length. In this way, the amount of consumables can be monitored in real time, and the risk of stolen replacement of the consumables can be avoided.

4. Using the built-in memory of the wireless identification tag, the data such as the printing quality parameter (such as printing blackness and printing speed) of the best consumables can be pre-burned in the memory of the wireless identification tag, so that It can guarantee the printing quality of various consumables and avoid the waste of printing defects.

The detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, and the equivalent implementations or modifications of the present invention should be included in the present invention. In the scope of patents, for example, only the heat transfer or thermal label printer is used as an example (but not limited thereto). In fact, the invention is in general printers or photocopiers, fax machines. ...can be used on a variety of different machines.

In summary, this case is not only innovative in terms of space type, but also can enhance the above-mentioned multiple functions compared with the customary items. It should fully meet the statutory invention patent requirements of novelty and progressiveness, and apply for it according to law. This invention patent application, in order to encourage creation, to the sense of virtue.

101. . . computer

102. . . RFID tag design unit

103. . . Registration file

104. . . Authorized registration unit

105. . . Authorized management center

106. . . Software key

107. . . Identification code

108. . . USB flash drive

1. . . RFID tag burning machine

11. . . RFID programming main control circuit

12. . . RFID programming control circuit

13. . . RFID antenna

14. . . Print head

15. . . Wheel

2. . . Consumables

20. . . Label roll

twenty one. . . Label paper tube

twenty two. . . Ribbon tube

twenty three. . . label

twenty four. . . Ribbon roll

25. . . RFID tag content

26. . . RFID label paper

261. . . RFID tag

27. . . Ribbon

3. . . Label printer

31. . . Printer control circuit

32. . . RFID control circuit

33. . . Read and write component

331. . . Inductive antenna

332. . . Circular plate

34. . . RFID control circuit

35. . . Read and write component

351. . . Inductive antenna

352. . . Reelable soft board

36. . . Ribbon recovery department

37. . . Wheel

38. . . Print head

A. . . Original factory

B1, B2, B3. . . Agent

C. . . user terminal

Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram of a radio frequency consumable management system of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a flow chart of the radio frequency consumable management system of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a system diagram of the radio frequency consumable management agent of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing the structure configuration of the RFID tag burner of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a schematic view showing the structure configuration of the single-consumer label printer of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a schematic view showing the structure configuration of the double consumable label printer of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a schematic view showing the application of the RFID tag of the present invention to the center roll of the consumable.

101. . . computer

102. . . RFID tag design unit

103. . . Registration file

104. . . Registration file generation software

105. . . Authorized management center

106. . . Software key

107. . . Identification code

108. . . USB flash drive

1. . . RFID tag burning machine

261. . . RFID tag

3. . . Label printer

2. . . Consumables

Claims (15)

A wireless radio frequency consumable management system mainly comprises: a. a computer having a label design unit for editing related information of the control consumable into an RFID tag content; b. an RFID tag burning machine connected to the computer , having an RFID tag burning module and a printing head, and writing related materials of the consumables into the memory of the RFID tag; c. a label printing machine having an RFID reading and writing component and a printing head therein; The normal output operation must be performed in conjunction with the consumables provided with the aforementioned RFID tags, and; d. An authorized management center computer is an authorized registration unit for generating the aforementioned exclusive registration file. The radio frequency consumable management system of claim 1, wherein the registration file is independently stored in the plug-and-play memory device. For example, the radio frequency consumable management system described in claim 2, wherein the authorization management center is responsible for pre-assigned the software key and the identification code, and generates its exclusive registration file. The radio frequency consumable management system of claim 1 or 3, wherein the RFID tag burning module has a printer main control circuit, and the printer main control circuit is connected to an RFID control circuit. The RFID control circuit is followed by an RFID antenna as described above to be carried into the travel path inside the burner. The radio frequency consumable management system of claim 4, wherein the RFID tag is spaced apart from the RFID tag paper. The wireless radio frequency consumable management system according to claim 5, wherein the label printer is internally provided with a printer main control circuit for connecting an RFID control circuit, and the RFID control circuit is followed by the RFID read/write component. . The radio frequency consumable management system of claim 6, wherein the RFID read/write component is an RFID antenna formed by an annular sensing antenna disposed on a circular arc plate. The radio frequency consumable management system of claim 7, wherein the printer main control circuit is connected with another RFID control circuit, and the RFID control circuit is followed by another RFID read/write component, the RFID read The writing element is an RFID antenna. A radio frequency consumables management method, the main steps include: a. creating a registration file, executing an authorization registration unit in the computer to generate a registration file; b. editing the RFID tag content, first enabling the registration file to enable an RFID tag The design unit further uses the consumable-related materials used for editing by the RFID tag design unit to constitute the RFID tag content; c. burns the RFID tag, burns the tag content to the RFID tag, and simultaneously performs encryption processing; d. sticks the RFID Label, then attach the RFID tag to the empty paper tube or ribbon tube, and then wrap the label paper or ribbon; e. Identify the RFID tag, read the RFID tag content with the RFID read-write component, and control the consumables. The radio frequency consumables management method of claim 9, wherein the registration file is independently stored in a plug-and-play memory device, such as a USB flash drive. The radio frequency consumables management method of claim 10, wherein the registration file is generated by the software key and the identification code on the computer via the authorization registration unit. The method for managing a radio frequency consumables according to claim 10, wherein the label content is text content or a barcode. The radio frequency consumables management method of claim 10, wherein the authorization registration unit or the label design unit is a software program. The radio frequency consumables management method according to claim 10, wherein the RFID tag is burned by an RFID tag burner. The radio frequency consumables management method of claim 11, wherein the RFID read/write component is a loop antenna, a printed circuit board antenna or a flexible flexible panel antenna.