Wireless communication device

Abstract

To provide a wireless communication device which allows a sensor for detecting a label arranged at a position where an antenna for wireless communication with a wireless tag is provided in a transport path of a mount.SOLUTION: An antenna 45 for wireless communication with a wireless tag 15 provided on a label 11 attached to a mount 12 of a printing tape 10 is formed on an antenna substrate 40. The antenna 45 includes a ring-shaped antenna part 46 and a power supply wiring part 47 for supplying power to the antenna part 46. A through hole 49 piercing the antenna substrate 40 in a thickness direction is formed in the ring of the antenna part 46. The antenna substrate 40 and a transmissive optical sensor are arranged in a transport path of the printing tape 10. The optical sensor is disposed between one end part 45A and the other end part 45B of the antenna 45 in a transport direction. Therefore, a printer can appropriately determine a communication position for the wireless tag 15.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wireless communication device capable of wirelessly communicating with a wireless tag. [Background technology]

[0002] The wireless tag writing device disclosed in Patent Document 1 places an antenna on the transport path along which the label mount is transported, for writing information to the RFID tag formed on the label paper. A mark sensor that detects a black mark indicating the leading position of the label paper (the position of the edge on the downstream side in the transport direction) is placed upstream in the transport direction from the position where the antenna is placed. The wireless tag writing device transports the label mount by the label length and label spacing of the label paper, and calibrates the write position for writing information to the wireless tag and the strength of the wireless output. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-211893 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, a label mount may be used in which the distance from the start of the label paper following the label paper to which the wireless tag is to be written to the wireless tag formation position of the label paper to which the wireless tag is to be written is shorter than the distance between the antenna and the mark sensor. In this case, even if the label mount is transported by the label length and label interval, the wireless tag of the label paper to which the wireless tag is to be written does not reach the position of the antenna. For this reason, the wireless tag writing device needs to continue transporting the label mount to the position of the wireless tag to write information, and then transport the label mount in the opposite direction to the start of the label paper.

[0005] On the other hand, when the wireless tag writing device is configured with a sensor that detects label paper downstream of the antenna in the transport direction, a label mount may be used in which the wireless tag of the label paper to be written to is formed in a position close to the edge on the downstream side in the transport direction. In this case, the antenna may come close to the wireless tag of the next label paper while the sensor detects the label paper to be written to. If this situation occurs during calibration, the wireless tag writing device may erroneously determine the position to write information to the wireless tag as a position corresponding to the wireless tag of the label paper next to the label paper to be written to.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication device in which a sensor for detecting a label can be disposed at a position on the transport path of a mount where an antenna for wirelessly communicating with a wireless tag is provided. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless communication device that transports a long backing sheet on which a plurality of labels each having a wireless tag attached thereto are attached at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction, and that is capable of wireless communication with the wireless tags, the device comprising: a transport unit that transports the backing sheet along a transport path with the longitudinal direction of the backing sheet as the transport direction; a sensor that is disposed opposite the transport path in a cross direction that crosses the transport direction and the width direction of the backing sheet transported by the transport unit, and that detects the ends of the labels; a communication unit that is disposed opposite the transport path in the cross direction, and that has an antenna for wireless communication with the wireless tags; and a communication unit that, while transporting the backing sheet in the transport direction by the transport unit, detects in the transport direction a target label among the plurality of labels that is the target of communication by the communication unit. and a control unit that detects an upstream end of a label affixed to a downstream side and adjacent to the target label by the sensor, and then performs wireless communication with the target label by the communication unit when the backing is conveyed a predetermined amount in the conveying direction by the conveying unit, the predetermined amount being determined based on a communication state between the communication unit and the wireless tag detected at each position when the backing is conveyed sequentially to a plurality of positions in the conveying direction by the conveying unit after the sensor detects an upstream end of any one of the plurality of labels in the conveying direction by the sensor, and the sensor is disposed between one end and the other end of the antenna in the conveying direction when viewed in the intersecting direction. Since the sensor is disposed between one end and the other end of the antenna in the conveying direction, the wireless communication device can appropriately determine the communication position for the wireless tag of the target label.

[0008] In this aspect, the sensor may be a transmission sensor having a light-projecting unit that emits detection light toward the transport path and a light-receiving unit that receives the detection light that has passed through the transport path, the light-projecting unit and the light-receiving unit being disposed on either side of the transport path in the intersecting direction, and detecting the edge of the label based on the intensity of transmitted light that has passed through the liner transported along the transport path. By detecting the edge of the label using a transmission sensor, for example, it is possible to eliminate the effort of forming a detection mark on the liner for detecting the edge of the label, thereby reducing the cost of the label.

[0009] In this aspect, the sensor has a light-projecting unit that emits detection light toward the transport path and a light-receiving unit that receives the detection light reflected by the liner transported along the transport path, and the light-projecting unit and the light-receiving unit are arranged on one side of the transport path in the intersecting direction, and is a reflection sensor that detects the edge of the label according to the intensity of the reflected light of the detection light reflected by the liner, and the liner may be formed with a plurality of detection marks that correspond to the positions of the edges of the plurality of labels and are used to detect the edges of the labels. Since the detection marks usually have a large contrast difference with the liner, by identifying the position of the edge of the label using the detection marks, it is possible to reduce erroneous detection of the position of the label. In addition, since it is sufficient to arrange the sensor on one side of the transport path, it is possible to reduce the cost of producing the wireless communication device.

[0010] In this aspect, when the communication unit is viewed in the intersecting direction, the position where the sensor is disposed in the communication unit may be a position where the radio wave intensity at the antenna is strongest when the antenna outputs a signal, or a position close to the position. The distance from the position where the sensor detects the edge of the label to the communication position with the wireless tag is approximately equal to the transport distance of the backing paper. Therefore, the wireless communication device does not erroneously write information to the wireless tag of a label that is not the writing target.

[0011] In this aspect, the antenna is a loop antenna formed as a wiring pattern on a plane extending in the conveying direction and the width direction of the communication unit, and a power supply wiring that supplies power to the loop antenna, and when the communication unit is viewed in the intersecting direction, the position where the sensor is arranged in the communication unit may be a center position in the loop of the loop antenna in the wiring pattern or in the vicinity thereof. Since the loop antenna and its power supply wiring are formed as a wiring pattern, the antenna is easily formed. Furthermore, since the sensor only needs to be arranged in the loop, the position where the sensor is arranged is easily set in the design of the communication unit.

[0012] In this aspect, the antenna is a dipole antenna formed as a wiring pattern on a plane extending in the conveying direction and the width direction of the communication unit, and a power supply wiring that supplies power to the dipole antenna, and when the communication unit is viewed in the intersecting direction, the position where the sensor is arranged in the communication unit may be a position on the plane between one end and the other end of the wiring pattern in the conveying direction that does not interfere with the wiring pattern, or a position close to the plane. Since the dipole antenna and its power supply wiring are formed as a wiring pattern, the antenna is easily formed. In addition, since the sensor only needs to be arranged within the range in which the wiring pattern is formed in the conveying direction, the position where the sensor is arranged is easily set in the design of the communication unit.

[0013] In this aspect, the antenna is a monopole antenna formed as a wiring pattern on a plane extending in the conveying direction and the width direction of the communication unit, and a power supply wiring that supplies power to the monopole antenna, and when the communication unit is viewed in the intersecting direction, the position where the sensor is arranged in the communication unit may be a position on the plane between one end and the other end of the wiring pattern in the conveying direction that does not interfere with the wiring pattern, or a position in the vicinity of the position. Since the monopole antenna and its power supply wiring are formed as a wiring pattern, the formation of the antenna is easy. In addition, since the sensor only needs to be arranged within the range in which the wiring pattern is formed in the conveying direction, the arrangement position of the sensor is easy to set in the design of the communication unit.

[0014] In this aspect, the communication unit may have a through hole penetrating in the intersecting direction at a position where the sensor is disposed when the communication unit is viewed in the intersecting direction, and the detection light emitted from the light projector may pass through the through hole and be received by the light receiver. Since the detection light can pass through the through hole, the sensor can be disposed on the opposite side of the communication unit from the transport path. Therefore, the antenna can be disposed close to the transport path, and the wireless communication device can reliably write information to the wireless tag.

[0015] In this aspect, the communication unit may have a first plane extending in the conveying direction and the width direction of the communication unit and facing the conveying path, and a second plane extending in the conveying direction and the width direction of the communication unit and formed on the opposite side to the first plane, the sensor is disposed between the first plane and the conveying path, and the antenna is formed on the second plane. Since the sensor only needs to be disposed within a range in the conveying direction of the antenna formed on the second plane on the first plane side of the communication unit, it is easy to set the arrangement position of the sensor in designing the communication unit. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printing device 1. [Diagram 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the printing device 1 with the cover 5 closed. [Diagram 3] 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the printing device 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a plan view of the print tape 10 and the antenna substrate 40. FIG. [Diagram 5] 13 is a flowchart of a calibration process. [Figure 6] 2 is a plan view of the print tape 10 and the antenna substrate 140. FIG. [Figure 7] 2 is a plan view of the print tape 10 and the antenna substrate 240. FIG. [Figure 8] 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the printing device 1 showing the vicinity of the arrangement positions of the antenna board 340 and the optical sensor 130. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a print tape 10 having a detection mark 16 on the back surface. [Figure 10] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the printing device 1, enlarging the vicinity of the arrangement positions of the antenna board 440 and the optical sensor 230. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings are used to explain technical features that may be adopted by the present invention. The illustrated device configurations, flowcharts of various processes, etc. are merely illustrative examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0018] The schematic configuration of the printing device 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. In the following description, the upper right, lower left, lower right, upper left, upper, and lower in Figure 1 will respectively refer to the rear, front, right, left, upper, and lower of the printing device 1.

[0019] The printing device 1 is capable of printing letters, numbers, symbols, figures, etc. on a printing tape 10. The printing device 1 includes a housing 2 and a cover 5. The cover 5 is provided on the top of the housing 2, and can be opened and closed relative to the housing 2. An operation unit 7 is provided on the front surface 2A of the housing 2. The operation unit 7 includes a power button and the like, and various information can be input to the printing device 1.

[0020] A tape roll 14 is removably housed in the rear part of the interior of the housing 2. The tape roll 14 is constructed by winding the print tape 10 around a core 13 with the print surface 10A facing inward, and is rotatable about the core 13. When the cover 5 is in a closed state, an outlet 21 is formed between the front end 5A of the cover 5 and the front surface 2A of the housing 2. A thermal head 28 is provided behind the outlet 21. A platen roller 26 is provided above the thermal head 28.

[0021] The platen roller 26 faces the thermal head 28 and can move up and down depending on whether the cover 5 is opened or closed. When the cover 5 is closed, the platen roller 26 sandwiches the print tape 10 between itself and the thermal head 28. The print surface 10A of the print tape 10 faces the thermal head 28. When the cover 5 is open, the platen roller 26 moves upward away from the thermal head 28. When the cover 5 is closed, the platen roller 26 is rotated by the drive of a conveyance motor 29 (see FIG. 3 ) to convey the print tape 10 from the tape roll 14 toward the discharge port 21 along the conveyance path 22. The conveyance path 22 passes between a light projecting portion 31 and a light receiving portion 32 of an optical sensor 30, which will be described later, and between the platen roller 26 and the thermal head 28, and extends toward the discharge port 21 provided on the top surface of the printer 1. The thermal head 28 prints on the print tape 10 conveyed by the platen roller 26. The feed amount of the print tape 10 is determined based on a signal output from an encoder 29A (see FIG. 3) provided on the feed motor 29.

[0022] An optical sensor 30 and an antenna board 40 are provided behind the platen roller 26. The optical sensor 30 is a sensor for detecting the ends 11A and 11B of the label 11, which will be described later, and has a light projecting unit 31 and a light receiving unit 32. The light projecting unit 31 is disposed behind the platen roller 26, and the light receiving unit 32 is disposed diagonally above and behind the platen roller 26. The light projecting unit 31 and the light receiving unit 32 face each other across the transport path 22 of the print tape 10. At the position where the light projecting unit 31 and the light receiving unit 32 face each other, the print tape 10 is transported along a transport direction in which the upper rear side is the upstream side and the lower front side is the downstream side. Note that the transport path 22 of the print tape 10 is bent at various points within the printing device 1, but in the following description, the transport direction of the print tape 10 refers to the direction in which the print tape 10 is transported at the position where the light projecting unit 31 and the light receiving unit 32 face each other (see FIG. 2). The direction intersecting the transport direction on the printing surface 10A of the print tape 10 is referred to as the width direction of the print tape 10. The direction intersecting the transport direction and the width direction is referred to as the intersecting direction. The light-projecting unit 31 and the light-receiving unit 32 face each other in the intersecting direction. The light-projecting unit 31 is located below the transport path 22 in the intersecting direction, and the light-receiving unit 32 is located above the transport path 22.

[0023] The antenna board 40 is disposed between the light projecting unit 31 and the light receiving unit 32. An antenna 45 is provided on the antenna board 40. The antenna 45 transmits radio waves for writing data to the wireless tag 15 and receives radio waves transmitted from the wireless tag 15.

[0024] The printing device 1 can handle various kinds of printing tapes 10. The types of printing tapes 10 include tape widths, tape colors, tape materials, and the like. For example, the types of printing tapes 10 include multi-layer tapes having an adhesive between a long printed label and a release paper, and single-layer tapes having no adhesive. The printing tape 10 of this embodiment is a die-cut tape in which a plurality of labels 11 are attached to a long backing 12 at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction. The plurality of labels 11 are attached to the surface of the backing 12 (the surface on the printing surface 10A side of the printing tape 10). Each of the plurality of labels 11 is provided with a wireless tag 15. The wireless tag 15 is a known RFID tag having an IC chip and an antenna. The wireless tag 15 is attached to the back surface (the surface attached to the backing 12) of each of the plurality of labels 11 at a position close to the end 11A on the upstream side in the transport direction of the printing tape 10 by an adhesive. The wireless tag 15 is a passive RFID tag, but may be an active RFID tag.

[0025] The electrical configuration of the printing device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. The printing device 1 includes a control board 70. The control board 70 includes a CPU 71, a ROM 72, a RAM 73, a flash memory 74, and an input / output interface 75, which are interconnected. The CPU 71 controls the printing device 1. The ROM 72 stores various parameters and the like required when the CPU 71 executes various programs. The RAM 73 temporarily stores various information, such as the results of calculations performed by the CPU 71. The flash memory 74 stores various programs and the like executed by the CPU 71. The various programs include a program for a calibration process, which will be described later. The input / output interface 75 is connected to the operation unit 7, the thermal head 28, the transport motor 29, the encoder 29A, the optical sensor 30, and the reader / writer 41.

[0026] The operation unit 7 accepts various information input by the user. The thermal head 28 is provided with a plurality of heating elements (not shown) arranged in a line in the width direction of the print tape 10 transported along the transport path 22, at a position facing the platen roller 26. The thermal head 28 uses the heating elements to print on the print tape 10 sandwiched between the platen roller 26 and the heating elements.

[0027] The encoder 29A outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of rotation of the feed motor 29 to the CPU 71. The CPU 71 can specify the amount of rotation of the feed motor 29 based on the signal output from the encoder 29A. Furthermore, the CPU 71 can specify the amount of feed of the print tape 10 fed by the platen roller 26 based on the specified amount of rotation and the diameter of the platen roller 26. Note that in this embodiment, the CPU 71 performs sampling of the signal output by the optical sensor 30 and sampling of the signal output by the encoder 29A in synchronization with each other.

[0028] The optical sensor 30 is a transmission type. The light projecting unit 31 emits detection light in the intersecting direction toward the transport path 22. The light receiving unit 32 receives the transmitted light of the detection light transmitted through the transported print tape 10. The CPU 71 can identify the ends 11A and 11B of the label 11 based on the intensity of the transmitted light acquired from the optical sensor 30. That is, the CPU 71 can identify the position where the intensity of the transmitted light changes significantly as the position of the ends 11A and 11B of the label 11 based on the intensity of the transmitted light transmitted through the mount 12 and the intensity of the transmitted light transmitted through the mount 12 and the label 11. Note that the detection light does not transmit through the print tape 10 at the position where the wireless tag 15 is provided, so the CPU 71 can remove the position of the wireless tag 15 from the detection target position of the ends 11A and 11B of the label 11.

[0029] The reader / writer 41 is a known RFID (Radio frequency identification) reader / writer. The reader / writer 41 is connected to the antenna board 40. The reader / writer 41 connects to the wireless tag 15 provided on the label 11 by wireless communication via an antenna 45, and reads and writes data.

[0030] With reference to FIG. 4, the form of the antenna 45 provided on the antenna substrate 40 will be described. The antenna substrate 40 is disposed below the transport path 22 (see FIG. 2). The antenna 45 is formed as a wiring pattern on the first surface 40A (see FIG. 2) facing the transport path 22. The antenna 45 includes an antenna portion 46 and a power supply wiring portion 47. The antenna portion 46 is formed in a ring shape on the first surface 40A surrounding the central portion of the first surface 40A. Both ends of the antenna portion 46 are connected to the pair of power supply wiring portions 47, respectively. A pair of connector portions 48 for connecting to the reader / writer 41 is provided on the first surface 40A. The pair of power supply wiring portions 47 are connected to the pair of connector portions 48, respectively, and electrically connect the connector portions 48 and the antenna portion 46. The antenna 45, which transmits and receives radio waves for wireless communication by the ring-shaped antenna portion 46, is a so-called loop antenna. A through hole 49 penetrating the first surface 40A in the thickness direction of the substrate is formed. The through hole 49 is formed within the ring of the annular antenna portion 46 and does not interfere with the antenna portion 46 .

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, the antenna substrate 40 is disposed between the light projecting portion 31 and the light receiving portion 32 of the optical sensor 30, with the thickness direction of the substrate facing the intersecting direction in which the light projecting portion 31 and the light receiving portion 32 of the optical sensor 30 face each other. The through hole 49 is disposed at the position of the light projecting portion 31 and the light receiving portion 32 in a plan view in the intersecting direction. The light receiving portion 32 can receive the detection light emitted from the light projecting portion 31 and passing through the through hole 49. That is, the position where the through hole 49 is formed in the antenna substrate 40 is the position where the optical sensor 30 is disposed in a plan view in the intersecting direction. The position where the through hole 49 is formed may be a position within the formation range of the annular antenna 45 that does not interfere with the antenna 45. The formation range of the antenna 45 in the conveying direction is a range between one end 45A of the antenna portion 46 on the upstream side in the conveying direction and the other end 45B on the downstream side in the conveying direction. The formation range of antenna 45 in the width direction is the range between one end 45C on one side of antenna part 46 in the width direction and the other end 45D on the other side of the width direction. The formation position of through hole 49, i.e., the arrangement position of optical sensor 30, is preferably the position where the radio wave intensity is strongest when a signal is output from the loop antenna, and is preferably the center position of the ring in antenna part 46 which is annular, or a position nearby.

[0032] The calibration process will be described with reference to Fig. 5. The calibration process is performed when the user replaces the tape roll 14 of the print tape 10. When the print tape 10 is pulled out from the tape roll 14 housed inside the housing 2 and placed on the transport path 22 and the cover 5 is closed, the CPU 71 reads out and executes the program for the calibration process stored in the flash memory 74.

[0033] The CPU 71 moves the print tape 10 one unit toward the downstream side in the transport direction (S11). One unit is, for example, a predetermined transport amount that is set in advance as the transport amount of the print tape 10 transported by the platen roller 26.

[0034] The CPU 71 identifies the upstream end 11A of the label 11 in the transport direction based on the intensity change of the output signal from the optical sensor 30. If the optical sensor 30 does not detect the upstream end 11A in the transport direction (S12: NO), the process returns to S11 and moves the print tape 10 one unit downstream in the transport direction. If the optical sensor 30 detects the upstream end 11A in the transport direction (S12: YES), the CPU 71 determines that label 11 to be the first label 11, and stores the position of the upstream end 11A in the transport direction of the first label 11 as a reference position in the flash memory 74 based on the transport amount of the print tape 10 up to that point (S13).

[0035] The CPU 71 moves the print tape 10 one unit downstream in the transport direction (S15). Based on the intensity change of the output signal of the optical sensor 30, the CPU 71 identifies the downstream end 11B in the transport direction of the second label 11, which is attached at a position adjacent to the upstream side of the first label 11 in the transport direction. If the optical sensor 30 does not detect the downstream end 11B in the transport direction (S16: NO), the process returns to S15 and the print tape 10 moves one unit downstream in the transport direction. If the optical sensor 30 detects the downstream end 11B in the transport direction of the second label 11 (S16: YES), the CPU 71 stores the position of the downstream end 11B in the transport direction of the second label 11 in the flash memory 74 based on the transport amount from the reference position of the print tape 10 (S17).

[0036] The CPU 71 moves the print tape 10 one unit downstream in the transport direction (S19). The CPU 71 identifies the upstream end 11A of the second label 11 in the transport direction based on the intensity change of the output signal of the optical sensor 30. If the upstream end 11A in the transport direction is not detected by the optical sensor 30 (S20: NO), the process returns to S19 and the print tape 10 moves one unit downstream in the transport direction. If the upstream end 11A of the second label 11 in the transport direction is detected by the optical sensor 30 (S16: YES), the CPU 71 stores the position of the upstream end 11A of the second label 11 in the transport direction in the flash memory 74 based on the transport amount of the print tape 10 from the reference position (S21).

[0037] The CPU 71 calculates a pitch indicating the length between the labels 11 in the conveying direction based on the position (reference position) of the end 11A on the upstream side of the conveying direction of the first label 11 and the position of the end 11B on the downstream side of the conveying direction of the second label 11. Also, based on the position of the end 11B on the downstream side of the conveying direction of the second label 11 and the position of the end 11A on the upstream side of the conveying direction of the second label 11, the CPU 71 calculates the label length indicating the length of the labels 11 in the conveying direction (S23). If the ends 11A and 11B cannot be identified due to noise, erroneous detection, etc., and the label length and pitch cannot be calculated (S24: NO), the CPU 71 returns the process to S11 and calibrates the label length and pitch again. If the label length and pitch can be calculated normally (S24: YES), the CPU 71 stores the label length and pitch in the flash memory 74 (S25).

[0038] Next, the CPU 71 sets the third label 11 as the target label 11 that is to perform wireless communication with the wireless tag 15 in the calibration process, and sets the position of the end 11A on the upstream side in the transport direction of the second label 11 as the reference position (S31). The CPU 71 moves the print tape 10 one unit downstream in the transport direction (S32). The CPU 71 transmits an output signal when writing to the wireless tag 15, and detects the radio wave intensity of a response signal received from the wireless tag 15 (S33). The CPU 71 associates the radio wave intensity of the response signal with a position based on the amount of transport of the print tape 10 up to that point, and stores this in the flash memory 74 (S35).

[0039] The CPU 71 identifies the upstream end 11A of the second label 11 in the transport direction based on the change in intensity of the output signal from the optical sensor 30. If the optical sensor 30 does not detect the upstream end 11A in the transport direction (S36: NO), the process returns to S31, and the print tape 10 is moved one unit downstream in the transport direction. By repeating the processes of S32 to S36, a map is created in which the radio wave intensity of the response signal is detected at multiple positions away from the reference position of the target label 11 in the transport direction. When the CPU 71 detects the upstream end 11A of the target label 11 in the transport direction by the optical sensor 30 (S36: YES), the CPU 71 identifies the optimal position for wireless communication with the wireless tag 15 based on the map of the radio wave intensity of the response signal (S37).

[0040] Next, the CPU 71 calculates the optimum radio wave strength of the output signal when writing to the wireless tag 15 based on the map of radio wave strength of the response signal so that the wireless tags 15 of other labels 11 other than the target label 11 do not react (S39). If the optimum radio wave strength of the output signal cannot be calculated from the map of radio wave strength of the response signal due to noise, erroneous detection, etc. (S40: NO), the process returns to S11 and the calibration process is restarted from the beginning. If the optimum radio wave strength of the output signal can be calculated (S40: YES), the CPU 71 stores the position of the wireless tag 15 and the optimum radio wave strength of the output signal in the flash memory 74 (S41). The CPU 71 sets the position of the end 11A on the upstream side in the transport direction of the first label 11 as the reference position, and transports the print tape 10 in the reverse direction to move the position of the optical sensor 30 to the reference position (S42). The CPU 71 sets the second label 11 as the target label 11 to be printed and data written, and ends the calibration process.

[0041] Thereafter, the processes of printing on the target label 11 and writing data to the wireless tag 15 are performed by executing other programs that issue labels. The CPU 71 starts the rotation of the conveyance motor 29. The platen roller 26 rotates as the conveyance motor 29 rotates. The platen roller 26 conveys the print tape 10 from the tape roll 14 toward the discharge port 21. The print tape 10 is conveyed downstream along the conveyance path 22. When the print position of the target label 11 is at the position of the heating element of the thermal head 28, the CPU 71 executes a print operation based on the print data. When the CPU 71 conveys the print tape 10 to a position for optimal wireless communication with the wireless tag 15 of the target label 11 based on the conveyance amount from the reference position, the reader / writer 41 transmits radio waves for wireless communication from the antenna 45 and writes data to the wireless tag 15. When printing and writing of data onto the target label 11 is completed, the CPU 71 transports the print tape 10, discharges the target label 11 from the discharge port 21 to the outside of the housing 2, and finishes issuing the label 11.

[0042] As described above, when the antenna board 40 is viewed in a plan view in the intersecting direction, the optical sensor 30 is disposed between the upstream end 11A and the downstream end 11B of the antenna 45 in the transport direction. Therefore, the printing device 1 can appropriately determine the communication position for the wireless tag 15 of the target label 11.

[0043] The optical sensor 30 is a transmission type sensor having a light projecting portion 31 and a light receiving portion 32. By detecting the end of the label 11 using this optical sensor 30, it is possible to eliminate the need to form, for example, a detection mark 16 for detecting the ends 11A and 11B of the label 11 on the backing paper 12 of the printing tape 10, and thus reduce the cost of the label 11.

[0044] When the antenna board 40 is viewed in a plane in the intersecting direction, the position where the optical sensor 30 is disposed is the position where the radio wave intensity at the antenna 45 is strongest when the antenna 45 outputs a signal, or in the vicinity thereof. With this configuration, the distance from the position where the optical sensor 30 detects the upstream end 11A of the non-target label 11 located downstream of the target label 11 to the communication position with the wireless tag 15 is approximately equal to the transport distance of the mount 12. Therefore, the printing device 1 does not erroneously write information to the wireless tag 15 of the non-target label 11.

[0045] The antenna 45 is a loop antenna. Since the antenna section 46 and the power supply wiring section 47 are formed as a wiring pattern on the antenna substrate 40, it is easy to form the antenna 45. In addition, since the optical sensor 30 only needs to be disposed within the ring of the antenna section 46, it is easy to set the position of the optical sensor 30 in the design of the antenna substrate 40.

[0046] By forming the through hole 49 in the antenna substrate 40, the detection light of the optical sensor 30 can pass through the through hole 49. With this configuration, the optical sensor 30 can be disposed on the opposite side of the antenna substrate 40 to the transport path 22. Therefore, the antenna 45 can be disposed close to the transport path 22, so that the printing device 1 can reliably write information to the wireless tag 15.

[0047] In the above embodiment, the printing device 1 corresponds to the "wireless communication device" of the present invention. The platen roller 26 and the transport motor 29 correspond to the "transport section" of the present invention. The optical sensor 30 corresponds to the "sensor" of the present invention. The antenna board 40 corresponds to the "communication section" of the present invention. The CPU 71 corresponds to the "control section" of the present invention. The first surface 40A and the second surface 40B correspond to the "first plane" and the "second plane" of the present invention, respectively.

[0048] The present invention can be modified from the above embodiment. Although a loop antenna is formed on the antenna substrate 40, antennas of other shapes may be formed. For example, the antenna 145 shown in FIG. 6 is a so-called monopole antenna. The antenna 145 is formed as a wiring pattern on the first surface 40A (see FIG. 2) of the antenna substrate 140 facing the transport path 22, and includes an antenna section 146 and a power supply wiring section 147. The antenna section 146 extends in the width direction on the first surface 40A. One end of the antenna section 146 is connected to one end of the power supply wiring section 147. The power supply wiring section 147 extends in the transport direction from one end of the antenna section 146, bends, and extends in a direction away from the antenna section 146 in the width direction. The other end of the power supply wiring section 147 is connected to a connector section 148 for connecting to the reader / writer 41. The through hole 149 penetrating the substrate in the thickness direction is formed on the first surface 40A between one end 145A of the antenna 145 on the upstream side in the conveying direction and the other end 145B on the downstream side in the conveying direction. The through hole 149 does not interfere with the antenna 145. The position where the through hole 149 is formed, i.e., the position where the optical sensor 30 is arranged, is preferably a position where the radio wave intensity is strongest when a signal is output from the monopole antenna, and is preferably a position between one end 145A and the other end 145B in the conveying direction of the antenna 145 or a position in the vicinity thereof within the range where the antenna part 146 and the power supply wiring part 147 are formed. In the width direction, the optical sensor 30 may be arranged within the range of the width direction length of the label 11 and at a position where it does not interfere with the antenna part 146 and the power supply wiring part 147. In this way, the antenna 145 is a monopole antenna, and since the antenna part 146 and the power supply wiring part 147 can be formed as a wiring pattern in the antenna substrate 140, it is easy to form it. Furthermore, since the optical sensor 30 only needs to be disposed within the range in which the wiring pattern is formed in the transport direction, the position at which the optical sensor 30 is disposed can be easily determined in designing the antenna substrate 140.

[0049] For example, the antenna 245 shown in FIG. 7 is a so-called dipole antenna. The antenna 245 is formed as a wiring pattern on the first surface 40A (see FIG. 2) of the antenna substrate 240 facing the transport path 22, and includes an antenna section 246 and a power supply wiring section 247. The antenna sections 246 are provided in a pair at positions spaced apart in the width direction, and each extends in the width direction on the first surface 40A. One end of one antenna section 246 and one end of the other antenna section 246 are each connected to one end of a pair of power supply wiring sections 247. The power supply wiring sections 247 extend from one end of the antenna section 246 in the transport direction, bend, and extend in the width direction in a direction away from the antenna section 246 to which they are connected (in a direction approaching each other). The other end of each of the power supply wiring sections 247 is connected to one connector section 248 for connection to the reader / writer 41. The connector section 248 is located at the center of the pair of power supply wiring sections 247 in the width direction. The through hole 249 penetrating the substrate in the thickness direction is formed on the first surface 40A between one end 245A of the antenna 245 on the upstream side in the conveying direction and the other end 245B on the downstream side in the conveying direction. The through hole 249 does not interfere with the antenna 245. The position where the through hole 249 is formed, i.e., the position where the optical sensor 30 is arranged, is preferably a position where the radio wave intensity is strongest when a signal is output from the dipole antenna, and is preferably a position between one end 245A and the other end 245B in the conveying direction of the antenna 245 or a position in the vicinity thereof within the range where the antenna part 246 and the power supply wiring part 247 are formed. In the width direction, the optical sensor 30 may be arranged within the range of the width direction length of the label 11 and at a position where it does not interfere with the antenna part 246 and the power supply wiring part 247. In this way, the antenna 245 is a dipole antenna, and since the antenna part 246 and the power supply wiring part 247 can be formed as a wiring pattern in the antenna substrate 240, the formation is easy. Furthermore, since the optical sensor 30 only needs to be disposed within the area in which the wiring pattern is formed in the transport direction, the position at which the optical sensor 30 is disposed can be easily determined in designing the antenna substrate 240.

[0050] The optical sensor 30 is a transmission type sensor, but as shown in FIG. 7, a reflection type optical sensor 130 may be used. The optical sensor 130 detects the positions of the ends 11A and 11B of the label 11 by receiving, at the light receiving unit 132, the detection light emitted from the light projecting unit 131 and reflected by the print tape 10 transported along the transport path 22. If there is a color difference between the label 11 and the backing paper 12 that greatly differs in contrast, the optical sensor 130 may be provided on the printed surface 10A side of the print tape 10 to detect the positions of the ends 11A and 11B of the label 11. If there is no color difference between the label 11 and the backing paper 12, as shown in FIG. 8, a detection mark 16 that can be detected by the reflection type optical sensor 130 may be formed on the back surface of the print tape 10. The positions of the upstream end and the downstream end of the detection mark 16 in the transport direction may be aligned with the positions of the downstream end 11B and the upstream end 11A of the label 11 in the transport direction, respectively. This allows the CPU 71 to identify the positions of the ends 11A, 11B of the label 11 at a position where a large change occurs in the intensity of the reflected light detected by the reflective optical sensor 130. As shown in FIG. 7, similarly to the present embodiment, the position of the optical sensor 130 in the transport direction may be located in the position of the formation range of the antenna 345 formed on the first surface 40A of the antenna substrate 340 in the transport direction, or in a position close to the position. When the reflective optical sensor 130 is used, it is not necessary to form a through hole in the antenna substrate 340. The detection mark 16 usually has a large contrast difference with the backing paper 12. Therefore, the optical sensor 130 can reduce erroneous detection of the position of the label 11 by identifying the positions of the ends 11A, 11B of the label 11 using the detection mark 16. In addition, since it is sufficient to arrange the optical sensor 130 on one side of the transport path 22, the cost of producing the printing device 1 can be reduced.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 8, the optical sensor 230 may be provided on the first surface 40A of the antenna substrate 440 facing the transport path 22, and the antenna 445 may be provided on the second surface 40B opposite to the first surface 40A. In this case, the optical sensor 230 may be a reflective optical sensor 230 having a light projecting section 231 and a light receiving section 232. The optical sensor 230 detects the detection mark 16 (see FIG. 8) provided on the back surface opposite to the printed surface 10A of the print tape 10, so that the CPU 71 can identify the positions of the ends 11A and 11B of the label 11. As in the present embodiment, the position of the optical sensor 230 in the transport direction may be the position of the formation range of the antenna 445 formed on the second surface 40B of the antenna substrate 440 in the transport direction, or a position in the vicinity of the position. In this way, since the optical sensor 230 only needs to be arranged on the first surface 40A side of the antenna substrate 440 within the formation range in the transport direction of the antenna 445 formed on the second surface 40B, it is easy to set the arrangement position of the optical sensor 230 when designing the antenna substrate 440.

[0052] The printer 1 is capable of printing on the label 11 and wireless communication with the wireless tag 15, but may be a device that does not print on the label 11 and is simply capable of wireless communication with the wireless tag 15. Alternatively, a device that is capable of wireless communication with the wireless tag 15 may be attached to the printer 1, for example as an option.

[0053] Instead of the optical sensor 30, for example, an ultrasonic sensor may be used. In this case, the ultrasonic sensor may be located within the range in which the antenna 45 is formed in the conveying direction. Also, a switch or the like that physically detects the position of the label 11 affixed to the backing paper 12 by detecting a step may be used. The switch may be located within the range in which the antenna 45 is formed in the conveying direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1 Printing device 10 Printing Tape 10A printing surface 11 Label 11A,11B End 12 Mount 15 Radio tag 16 Detection mark 26 Platen roller 29 Transport motor 30,130,230 Optical Sensor 31,131,231 Light projector 32,132,232 Light receiving part 40,140,240,340,440 Antenna board 40A front page 40B second side 45,145,245,345,445 Antenna 45A,145A,245A One end 45B,145B,245B Other end 46,146,246 Antenna section 47,147,247 Power supply wiring section 49 Through hole 71 CPU

Claims

1. A wireless communication device that conveys a long mount on which a plurality of labels each having a wireless tag are attached at a distance from one another in a longitudinal direction, and is capable of wireless communication with the wireless tags, a conveying section that conveys the mount along a conveying path with the longitudinal direction of the mount as a conveying direction; a sensor that is disposed opposite the conveying path in a direction intersecting the width direction of the backing sheet conveyed by the conveying unit and the conveying direction, and detects an edge of the label; a communication unit disposed opposite the transport path in the intersecting direction and including an antenna for wirelessly communicating with the wireless tag; a control unit that detects, by the sensor, an upstream end of a label that is attached to a position downstream in the transport direction of a target label that is a communication target of the communication unit among the plurality of labels and adjacent to the target label, while transporting the liner in the transport direction by the transport unit, and then performs wireless communication with the target label by the communication unit when the liner is transported a predetermined amount in the transport direction by the transport unit; Equipped with the predetermined amount is determined based on a communication state between the communication unit and the wireless tag that is detected at each of a plurality of positions when the backing sheet is sequentially transported by the transport unit to the plurality of positions in the transport direction after the sensor detects an end portion on the upstream side in the transport direction of any one of the plurality of labels, The sensor is disposed between one end and the other end of the antenna in the conveying direction when viewed in the intersecting direction. A wireless communication device comprising:

2. The sensor includes: a light projecting unit that emits detection light toward the transport path; a light receiving section that receives the detection light that has passed through the transport path; having the light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit are disposed on either side of the transport path in the intersecting direction, and the transmissive sensor detects the edge of the label based on the intensity of transmitted light that has passed through the backing paper transported along the transport path; 2. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 .

3. The sensor includes: a light projecting unit that emits detection light toward the transport path; a light receiving section that receives the detection light reflected by the mount transported along the transport path; having a reflection sensor in which the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit are disposed on one side of the conveying path in the intersecting direction, and the reflection sensor detects an edge of the label in accordance with an intensity of the detection light reflected by the backing paper; A plurality of detection marks are formed on the mount, the detection marks corresponding to the positions of the ends of the plurality of labels and used for detecting the ends of the labels.

2. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 .

4. When the communication unit is viewed in the intersecting direction, the position at which the sensor is disposed in the communication unit is a position at which the radio wave intensity of the antenna is strongest when the antenna outputs a signal, or in the vicinity of the position.

4. The wireless communication device according to claim 2 or 3.

5. the antenna includes a loop antenna formed as a wiring pattern on a plane extending in the transport direction and the width direction of the communication unit, and a power supply wiring that supplies power to the loop antenna; When the communication unit is viewed in the intersecting direction, the position at which the sensor is disposed in the communication unit is at or near the center of the loop of the loop antenna in the wiring pattern.

5. The wireless communication device according to claim 4.

6. the antenna includes a dipole antenna formed as a wiring pattern on a plane extending in the transport direction and the width direction of the communication unit, and a power supply wiring that supplies power to the dipole antenna; When the communication unit is viewed in the intersecting direction, the position at which the sensor is disposed in the communication unit is a position on the plane between one end and the other end of the wiring pattern in the transport direction that does not interfere with the wiring pattern, or a position in the vicinity of the position.

5. The wireless communication device according to claim 4.

7. the antenna is a monopole antenna formed as a wiring pattern on a plane extending in the transport direction and the width direction of the communication unit, and a power supply wiring that supplies power to the monopole antenna, When the communication unit is viewed in the intersecting direction, the position at which the sensor is disposed in the communication unit is a position on the plane between one end and the other end of the wiring pattern in the transport direction that does not interfere with the wiring pattern, or a position in the vicinity of the position.

5. The wireless communication device according to claim 4.

8. the communication unit has a through hole penetrating in the intersecting direction at a position where the sensor is disposed when the communication unit is viewed in the intersecting direction, The detection light emitted from the light-projecting unit passes through the through hole and is received by the light-receiving unit.

5. The wireless communication device according to claim 4.

9. The communication unit is a first plane extending in the conveying direction and the width direction of the communication unit and facing the conveying path; a second plane extending in the conveying direction and the width direction of the communication unit and formed on an opposite side to the first plane; having the sensor is disposed between the first plane and the transport path, The antenna is formed on the second plane.

5. The wireless communication device according to claim 4.

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