RFID label sheet, and label issuing method

Abstract

To provide a configuration that facilitates writing in an IC chip of a radio frequency identification (RFID) label compared to before in an RFID label sheet on which a plurality of RFID labels are disposed.SOLUTION: In a belt-like radio frequency identification (RFID) label sheet 1a on which a plurality of unissued RFID labels 5a-5e are disposed, unit areas R, in each of which two or more, predetermined number of unissued RFID labels 5a-5e are arranged in a predetermined pattern, are repeatedly disposed in a longitudinal direction, and identifiers capable of specifying disposal positions in the unit area R and different for every disposal position are stored in predetermined storage area of IC chips of the unissued RFID labels 5a-5e. A command to designate an IC chip storing a specific identifier as an execution target is transmitted to the unit area R, and thereby information can be selectively written in the IC chips of the unissued RFID labels 5a-5e disposed at specific positions in the unit area R.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an RFID label sheet on which a plurality of unissued RFID labels are arranged. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, RFID labels have been widely used in the fields of logistics, factory production, etc. Generally, when an RFID label is issued, the information required for managing the labeled item is printed on the label and written into the IC chip.

[0003] To issue RFID labels, for example, a strip of RFID label paper with a plurality of unissued RFID labels affixed thereto and an RFID printer equipped with both a printing function and an RFID writing function are used (see Patent Document 1). In the RFID printer described in Patent Document 1, an RFID writing means that writes information by wireless communication is disposed near the print head, and the printer is configured to write required information into the IC chip of the RFID label as the unissued RFID label on the RFID label paper passes the print head. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-46097 A Figure 2 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Since the IC chip of an unissued RFID label affixed to conventional RFID label paper is in an initial state before information is written, if unissued RFID labels other than the one to be written are included within the communication range of the antenna of the RFID writing means of the RFID printer, the IC chip of the RFID label to be written cannot be identified and information cannot be written. Therefore, when writing different information to each unissued RFID label using the RFID printer of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to prevent RFID labels other than the one to be written from being included in the communication range of the RFID writing means by using a very small antenna or electromagnetic wave shielding material to limit the communication range of the antenna of the RFID writing means or by widening the spacing of the RFID labels on the paper.

[0006] However, because the communication performance of RFID labels differs depending on the type, when limiting the communication range of the antenna of the RFID writing means, the communication range of the antenna of the RFID writing means must be adjusted according to the communication performance of the RFID label to be written. On the other hand, a method of widely arranging RFID labels results in a large amount of RFID label paper. In addition, because the communication performance of RFID labels has been improving in recent years, with existing general RFID printers, it is difficult to exclude RFID labels other than the target from the communication range of the antenna of the RFID writing means, regardless of the above-mentioned method.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned current situation, and aims to provide an RFID label paper on which multiple RFID labels are arranged, which makes it easier to write to the IC chips of the RFID labels than in conventional configurations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] After extensive research to solve the above problems, the inventors noticed that with existing standardized RFID labels, even when multiple RFID labels are present within the communication range of a reader / writer, it is possible to specify the target for command execution based on information stored in the IC chip, and that the memory area for storing such information is not used until the RFID label is issued. After much trial and error, the inventors completed the present invention.

[0009] In other words, the present invention is an RFID label paper characterized in that it is a strip-shaped continuous paper on which a plurality of unissued RFID labels are arranged, and unit areas in which a predetermined number of two or more of the unissued RFID labels are arranged in a predetermined pattern are repeatedly arranged in the longitudinal direction, and the unissued RFID labels have a different identifier stored in a predetermined memory area of ​​an IC chip that can identify the arrangement position in the unit area, and the unissued RFID labels are configured so that by sending a command to the unit area that designates the IC chip that stores a specific identifier as the target for execution, information can be selectively written to the IC chip of the unissued RFID label arranged in a specific position in the unit area.

[0010] In this configuration, since a plurality of unissued RFID labels arranged in a unit area have different identifiers stored according to their arrangement positions, if an identifier according to the arrangement position of the unissued RFID label to be written is specified as the execution target and a write command is sent, the required information can be written to the write target without confusing the unissued RFID labels around the write target, even if they are included in the communication range of the RFID writing means. Therefore, in the present invention, the RFID writing means is freed from the constraints of narrowing the range of the antenna output or widening the arrangement interval of the unissued RFID labels. Therefore, according to the present invention, RFID labels can be issued more easily than with RFID label paper of conventional configurations, and the arrangement interval of the RFID label paper can also be narrowed more easily than with conventional configurations. The identifier according to the present invention can be written relatively easily to an unissued RFID label during the manufacturing stage of the RFID label paper, for example, because a manufacturing factory that mass-produces RFID label paper can use a larger, more powerful RFID writing device than the RFID printer used when issuing labels. Furthermore, in conventional configurations, all labels other than the unissued RFID label to be written to must be placed outside the communication range of the RFID writing means, so each time an unissued RFID label is written to, the RFID label paper must be transported and the unissued RFID label to be written to must be moved into the communication range. However, in the present invention, multiple unissued RFID labels with different identifiers can be included in the communication range of the RFID writing means, and information can be written to each unissued RFID label, which has the advantage of simplifying the transport control of the RFID label paper compared to conventional configurations.

[0011] The present invention can be provided not only as a continuous paper in which the above-mentioned unit areas are repeatedly arranged in the longitudinal direction, but also as cut paper obtained by cutting the above-mentioned continuous paper into unit areas. That is, as another aspect of the present invention, a cut paper cut to a predetermined size on which a plurality of unissued RFID labels are arranged is proposed, the unissued RFID labels are arranged on the cut paper in a predetermined pattern, a different identifier is stored for each arrangement position on the cut paper in a predetermined storage area of ​​an IC chip, and information can be selectively written to the IC chip of the unissued RFID label arranged in a specific position on the cut paper by sending a command to the cut paper specifying the IC chip that stores a specific identifier as an execution target.

[0012] Even with this configuration, just as in the case of continuous paper, if a write command is sent by specifying as the execution target an identifier corresponding to the location of the unissued RFID label to be written, the required information can be written to the write target without confusing the unissued RFID labels surrounding the write target, even if they are within the communication range of the RFID writing means. Therefore, even with the present invention, RFID labels can be issued more easily than with RFID label paper of conventional configurations, and the placement interval of RFID label paper can be made narrower than with conventional configurations. Furthermore, in the present invention, if the entire cut RFID label paper is included in the communication range of the RFID writing means when the labels are issued, the required information can be written to the IC chips of all unissued RFID labels attached to the paper without moving the paper.

[0013] In the present invention, a configuration is proposed in which the predetermined memory area is included in a memory area for writing information when the label is printed. In existing RFID labels, the memory area for writing information when the label is printed is not used until the label is printed and information can be written freely. Therefore, this configuration has the advantage that it can be realized at low cost by using the memory area of ​​the IC chip of the existing RFID label as it is.

[0014] The proposed label issuing method for issuing RFID labels using the above-mentioned RFID label paper includes a writing step of writing required information into the IC chip of the unissued RFID label, and a printing step of printing the required information on the unissued RFID label, wherein in the writing step, the required information is written into the IC chip that stores a specific identifier by a command that specifies the IC chip as the target of execution, and the identifier stored in the IC chip is overwritten with the required information.

[0015] According to this issuing method, it is possible to write required information to an unissued RFID label based on the identifier written in the unissued RFID label without confusing it with other unissued RFID labels. Also, since the identifier becomes unnecessary after the label is issued, if the identifier is overwritten with information written when the label is issued, the memory area of ​​the IC chip can be used effectively. Effect of the Invention

[0016] As described above, according to the present invention, when a plurality of RFID labels are arranged on an RFID label paper, writing to an IC chip of the RFID label becomes easier than in the conventional configuration. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an RFID label paper 1 according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the RFID label paper 1 of the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of the front surface of the RFID label paper 1 in the first embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a view of the front surface of an issued delivery instruction label 15. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing (A) information stored in an IC chip 11 of an unissued RFID label 5, and (B) information stored in an IC chip 11 of an issued delivery instruction label 15. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the surface of the RFID label paper 1 of the first embodiment. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic diagram of an RFID printer 20. FIG. [Figure 7] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a process of writing required information into an unissued RFID label 5. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an RFID label paper 1a according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the surface of an RFID label paper 1a according to a second embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a process of writing required information into an unissued RFID label 5. FIG. [Figure 11](A) is a surface view of unit piece R before label issuance, (B) is a surface view of delivery instruction label 34 issued using unit piece R, and (C) is a surface view of delivery instruction label 35 peeled off from delivery instruction label 34. [Figure 12] 13 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the process of writing required information into an unissued RFID label 5. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an RFID label paper 1b according to a third embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a plan view of an RFID label paper 1c according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 15] 13 is a table showing a modified example of the arrangement ID according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the following examples. In the following examples, a predetermined storage area according to the present invention corresponds to the UII area of ​​the IC chip 11, and an identifier according to the present invention corresponds to a placement ID. EXAMPLES

[0019] As shown in Fig. 1, the RFID label paper 1 of this embodiment is a continuous band-shaped paper of a roll paper type wound around a core 2. The RFID label paper 1 comprises a band-shaped release paper 4 and a plurality of unissued RFID labels 5 removably attached to the surface of the release paper 4. The unissued RFID labels 5 are all the same shape and are attached in a row at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction of the RFID label paper 1. The unissued RFID labels 5 are passive tags in the UHF band and comprise a seal base material (label base material) 9 removably attached to the release paper 4, and an RFID inlet 10 attached on the seal base material 9 in a manner that makes it difficult to peel off. As shown in Fig. 2, the RFID inlet 10 is formed by integrating an IC chip 11 and an antenna 12 on a film 13. The RFID inlet 10 complies with the ISO standard (ISO / IEC18000-63) used for existing RFID labels, and RFID inlets 10 with the same functions and model number, which have common communication performance and communication protocols, are provided in all unissued RFID labels 5. The unissued RFID label 5 is in a state before being issued, and as described later, when the label is issued, required information is printed on the surface of the seal base material 9 of the unissued RFID label 5, and required information is written in its IC chip 11.

[0020] To explain the RFID inlet 10 in more detail, the memory area of ​​the IC chip 11 of the RFID inlet 10 is divided into a TID area, a UII area, a USER area, and a RESERVED area in accordance with the ISO standard. The TID area is an area where the vendor writes product information and the like when manufacturing the IC chip 11, and is an area that cannot be written by the user. The UII area, USER area, and RESERVED area are areas that can be written by the user. The UII area is an area for storing identification information for the labels to be issued. The USER area is an area where the user can store any information. The RESERVED area is an area for storing an access password for reading and writing information in the memory area, and a kill password for disabling the IC chip 11.

[0021] The RFID inlet 10 is configured to read and write information stored in the IC chip 11 by wirelessly transmitting commands conforming to the ISO standard from the RFID reading means and the RFID writing means. Here, the RFID reading means and the RFID writing means are configured to selectively read and write information from the IC chip 11 that stores specific information in a predetermined storage area even when multiple RFID labels are present within the communication range. Specifically, when reading and writing information from the IC chip 11, commands are transmitted in the order of a Select command (specifying a session method), an Inventory command (obtaining label information), and an Access command (reading and writing memory). In these commands, a memory address (for example, the first 4 bits of the UII area) and a bit string (for example, "0011") are specified as the command execution target, so that information from the IC chip 11 that stores the bit string in the memory address can be selectively read and written. In other words, the RFID inlet 10 is configured to execute a received command if the information specified as the target of execution in the received command is stored in a designated storage area, and not to execute the command if the information is not stored in the designated storage area. The Select command, Inventory command, and Access command are commands that comply with the ISO standard, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0022] The use of the RFID label issued using the RFID label paper 1 of this embodiment is not particularly limited, but a suitable use is a delivery instruction label for a product shipped from a factory. FIG. 3(A) is a partial enlarged view of the RFID label paper 1, and FIG. 3(B) shows three delivery instruction labels (issued RFID labels) 15 issued using that portion of the RFID label paper 1. As shown in FIG. 3, in this example, when the label is issued, a QR code 16 (registered trademark), the customer number of the shipping destination, the scheduled shipping date, and the name of the part to be shipped are printed on the surface of the seal base material 9. The QR code 16 records identification information (delivery ID) assigned to each delivery instruction label 15 by the shipping management server. The issued delivery instruction label 15 is cut off at the release paper 4 as shown in FIG. 3(B), and is then attached to the packaging box of the shipped product for use.

[0023] In addition, when the unissued RFID label 5 is issued, required information is written in the IC chip 11 together with printing on the seal base material 9. For example, in the case of the delivery instruction label 15 of FIG. 3(B), as shown in FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B), identification information (delivery ID) of the delivery instruction label 15 is written in the UII area. In addition, various attribute information used for the delivery management of the target shipped product is written in the USER area. And, an access password and a kill password are written in the RESERVED area. Here, as shown in FIG. 4(A), the USER area and the RESERVED area of ​​the unissued RFID label 5 are in an initial state in which no significant information is stored, but the UII area of ​​the unissued RFID label 5 stores a placement ID that can identify the placement position of the unissued RFID label 5. Such a placement ID is overwritten and erased by writing the delivery ID in the UII area. The placement ID will be described in detail later.

[0024] The configuration relating to the main part of this embodiment will be described below. 5, the RFID label paper 1 of this embodiment is partitioned into unit areas P each including three unissued RFID labels 5, and the unit areas P are arranged repeatedly in the longitudinal direction of the RFID label paper 1. In each unit area P, three unissued RFID labels 5 are arranged at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction of the RFID label paper 1. The three unissued RFID labels 5 have the same shape and are equipped with RFID inlets 10 with the same functions, and an arrangement ID capable of identifying the arrangement position of the unissued RFID label 5 in the unit area P is stored in the UII area of ​​the IC chip 11. The arrangement ID is stored according to the arrangement position of the unissued RFID label 5 in the unit area P, and a common arrangement ID is stored for the unissued RFID labels 5 arranged in the same position in each unit area P.

[0025] Specifically, in each unit area P, if the label arranged first from the leading end side (lower side in FIG. 5) of the RFID label paper 1 is the first unissued RFID label 5a, the label arranged second is the second unissued RFID label 5b, and the label arranged third is the third unissued RFID label 5c, then "0001" is stored as the arrangement ID in the UII area of ​​the first unissued RFID label 5a, "0002" is stored in the UII area of ​​the second unissued RFID label 5b, and "0003" is stored in the UII area of ​​the third unissued RFID label 5c. That is, in the RFID label paper 1 of this embodiment, the three types of unissued RFID labels 5a to 5c each storing a different arrangement ID are repeatedly arranged in the longitudinal direction from the leading end side of the RFID label paper 1 in the order of the first unissued RFID label 5a → the second unissued RFID label 5b → the third unissued RFID label 5c → the first unissued RFID label 5a → . . .

[0026] As shown in FIG. 5, timing marks 7 for detecting the position of each unissued RFID label 5 are printed at intervals on both the left and right sides of the back surface of the release paper 4. The timing marks 7 are printed on both the left and right sides of the arrangement position of the first unissued RFID label 5a, printed only on the left side of the arrangement position of the second unissued RFID label 5b, and printed only on the right side of the arrangement position of the third unissued RFID label 5c. According to this configuration, by optically detecting the left and right timing marks 7, not only the arrangement position of the unissued RFID label 5 but also the range of the unit area P can be identified, so that it is possible to identify the position in the unit area P where the unissued RFID label 5 arranged beside each timing mark 7 is affixed. In other words, according to the timing marks 7, required information can be reliably printed on the unissued RFID label 5 arranged at a specific position in the unit area P when the label is issued, and the RFID label paper 1 can be accurately transported so that a specific portion of the unit area P falls within the communication range of the RFID writing means.

[0027] In this way, the RFID label paper 1 of this embodiment stores an arrangement ID that can identify the arrangement position in the unit area P. Here, the three unissued RFID labels 5a to 5c arranged in each unit area P have different arrangement IDs, so that unissued RFID labels 5 that store the same arrangement ID appear only every third label. For this reason, in this embodiment, when a write command is sent from the RFID writing means at the time of label printing, if the arrangement ID stored in the unissued RFID label 5 to be written is specified as the execution target of the command, required information can be written to the unissued RFID label 5 to be written without confusing the unissued RFID label 5 within the communication range of the RFID writing means, even if not only the unissued RFID label 5 to be written but also the unissued RFID label 5 adjacent to the unissued RFID label 5 to be written and the unissued RFID label 5 adjacent to the unissued RFID label 5 to be written are included in the communication range of the RFID writing means.

[0028] A label issuing method for issuing an RFID label using the RFID label paper 1 of this embodiment will be described. Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of an RFID printer 20 that can use the RFID label paper 1 of this embodiment. The RFID printer 20 includes, inside a housing 21, an RFID writing module 22 that writes required information into the IC chip 11 of an unissued RFID label 5 by wireless communication, an optical sensor 23 for detecting timing marks 7, a print head 24 that prints on the seal base material 9 of the unissued RFID label 5, a cutter 25 for cutting off the issued RFID label 15, and a conveying device 26 that conveys the RFID label paper 1. The RFID writing module 22 constitutes the RFID writing means.

[0029] When the RFID printer 20 receives information to be printed or written when issuing a label together with a command to issue a label, the RFID printer 20 first operates the conveying device 26 to move the unissued RFID label 5 at the top of the RFID label paper 1 stored in the housing 21 into the communication range of the RFID writing module 22. Then, the RFID writing module 22 executes a writing process to write required information into the IC chip 11 of the RFID inlet 10 of the unissued RFID label 5. After that, the RFID printer 20 operates the conveying device 26 to move the unissued RFID label 5 with the required information written therein to the print head 24, and executes a printing process to print the required information on the seal base material 9 of the unissued RFID label 5 with the print head 24. Then, the unissued RFID label 5 after printing is sent out from the sending outlet of the housing 21 by the conveying device 26, and is cut off by the cutter 25, completing the issuance of the RFID label.

[0030] In the above-mentioned writing process, the RFID printer 20 designates the location ID stored in the unissued RFID label 5 to be written (at the top of the paper) as the execution target and transmits a writing command. As described above, the unissued RFID labels 5 adjacent to the writing target and adjacent thereto have different location IDs from the unissued RFID label 5 to be written, and do not execute the writing command even if they receive the command. Therefore, according to this label issuing method, as shown in FIG. 7, even if the communication range Q of the RFID writing module 22 includes not only the writing target but also the adjacent and adjacent unissued RFID labels 5b and 5c, it is possible to reliably write required information only to the unissued RFID label 5a to be written. Note that the location ID of the unissued RFID label 5a to be written can be identified by detecting the timing mark 7 attached to the side of the unissued RFID label 5a by the optical sensor 23, as described above.

[0031] In the above-mentioned writing process, the location ID stored in the UII area of ​​the unissued RFID label 5 to be written is overwritten with the identification information used in the issued RFID label 15 (see FIG. 4). The UII area of ​​the existing RFID inlet 10 is a storage area prepared for writing the identification information used in the issued RFID label 15, and the location ID is no longer necessary after the label is issued. Therefore, as in this label issuing method, if the existing UII area is used as an area for storing the location ID until the label is issued, and is used as an area for storing the identification information of the issued RFID label 15 after the label is issued, the RFID label paper 1 of this embodiment can be realized at low cost by directly using the storage area of ​​the IC chip of the existing RFID label.

[0032] In this way, the RFID label paper 1 of this embodiment can write the required information to the unissued RFID label 5a to be written, even if the communication range Q of the RFID writing module 22 includes not only the target but also the adjacent unissued RFID labels 5b, 5c thereto and adjacent thereto, and therefore has the advantage over conventional configurations that RFID labels can be issued without narrowing the antenna output range of the RFID writing module 22 or increasing the spacing between the unissued RFID labels 5a to 5c.

[0033] The above label issuing method is merely an example, and can be modified in various ways depending on the application of the issued RFID label. For example, the RFID printer 20 executes the printing process after the writing process, but the writing process may be executed after the printing process. Also, the issued RFID label 15 may not be cut off, but may be peeled off from the release paper 4 manually or automatically and affixed to the target item. Also, instead of the RFID printer 20 having both the RFID writing function and the printing function, an RFID writing device and a printer may be used separately to execute the above-mentioned writing process and printing process.

[0034] The RFID label paper 1 of this embodiment can be suitably manufactured, for example, by the following process. (1) Printing of timing mark 7 At a predetermined position on the rear surface of the release paper 4, a timing mark 7 for optically identifying the position of the unit area P and the unissued RFID label 5 is printed. (2) Cutting out the seal base material 9 The seal base material 9 attached to the release paper 4 is cut out into the shape of an unissued RFID label 5, and the excess portion is removed. (3) Attachment of RFID inlet 10 The RFID inlet 10 is attached to the seal base material 9 of each unissued RFID label 5 . (4) Write the placement ID A placement ID according to the placement position is written to the IC chip 11 of each unissued RFID label 5. That is, the placement ID "0001" is written to the unissued RFID label 5 at the tip side of each unit area P, the placement ID "0002" is written to the unissued RFID label 5 at the center of each unit area P, and the placement ID "0003" is written to the unissued RFID label 5 at the base end side of each unit area P. Note that, when the RFID label paper 1 is at the stage of mass production in a factory, it is possible to use an RFID writing means that is larger and has higher performance than the above-mentioned RFID printer 20 to easily write the placement ID to the IC chip 11 of each unissued RFID label 5 without confusing it with other RFID inlets 10.

[0035] As described above, at the mass production stage of the RFID label paper 1, the location ID can be easily written into the IC chip 11 of each unissued RFID label 5 using a large, high-performance RFID writing means. Therefore, the above-described manufacturing method makes it possible to manufacture the RFID label paper 1 of this embodiment at a relatively low cost. EXAMPLES

[0036] This embodiment is a modified example of the configuration of the above-described embodiment 1. Configurations common to embodiment 1 are denoted by common reference numerals in the text and drawings, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. While the RFID label paper 1 in the first embodiment described above is a roll-type continuous strip of paper, the RFID label paper 1a in the present embodiment is a fanfold type continuous strip of paper that is folded accordion-like into rectangular unit pieces R separated by perforations 32, as shown in FIG. 8.

[0037] 9, in the RFID label paper 1a of the present embodiment 1, five unissued RFID labels 5 are arranged in the same pattern on each unit piece R. Specifically, three unissued RFID labels 5 are arranged on the left side of each unit piece R, and two unissued RFID labels 5 are arranged on the right side. For the five unissued RFID labels 5 arranged on each unit piece R, a placement ID capable of identifying the placement position on each unit piece R is stored in the UII area. That is, in this embodiment, the unit piece R corresponds to the unit area according to the present invention.

[0038] Specifically, in Figure 9, the three unissued RFID labels 5 placed on the left side of each unit piece R are, from top to bottom, the first unissued RFID label 5a, the second unissued RFID label 5b, and the third unissued RFID label 5c, and the two unissued RFID labels 5 placed on the right side of each unit piece R are, from top to bottom, the fourth unissued RFID label 5d and the fifth unissued RFID label 5e. As the placement ID, "0001" is stored in the first unissued RFID label 5a, "0002" is stored in the second unissued RFID label 5b, "0003" is stored in the third unissued RFID label 5c, "0004" is stored in the fourth unissued RFID label 5d, and "0005" is stored in the fifth unissued RFID label 5e. The arrangement ID is stored according to the arrangement position of the unissued RFID label 5 in the unit piece R, and different arrangement IDs are stored for the unissued RFID labels 5 arranged in the same unit piece R, and a common arrangement ID is stored for the unissued RFID labels 5 arranged in the same position of each unit piece R. Therefore, even in this embodiment, when issuing a label, the arrangement ID of the unissued RFID label 5 to be written is specified and a write command is transmitted, so that required information can be written to the unissued RFID label 5a arranged in a predetermined position of the unit piece R. Furthermore, when writing required information to the write target, as shown in FIG. 10, even if unissued RFID labels 5 arranged adjacent to the write target are included in the communication range Q of the RFID write module 22, the arrangement IDs of these unissued RFID labels 5 are different, so that the required information can be reliably written to the write target without being confused with labels other than the write target.

[0039] In the RFID label paper 1a of this embodiment, an RFID label is basically issued for each unit piece R. That is, in this embodiment, five RFID labels are issued. Specifically, the unit pieces R can be suitably used for issuing a delivery instruction slip having an RFID label to be affixed to multiple deliveries to the same destination, a medical examination receipt having an RFID label to be affixed to multiple samples taken from the same person, and the like. FIG. 11(B) shows an example of a delivery instruction slip 34 issued using the unit pieces R. The delivery instruction slip 34 includes five delivery instruction labels 35 to be affixed to shipped products to the same destination. As shown in FIG. 11(A) to FIG. 11(B), each delivery instruction label 35 is an issued label obtained by printing delivery-related information on an unissued RFID label 5 and writing required information in an IC chip 11. Only the QR code 16 recording the delivery ID and the part name are printed on each delivery instruction label 35, and information such as the customer number and scheduled shipping date is printed in the margin of the unit piece R. Each delivery instruction label 35 is peeled off from the release paper 4 and affixed to the packaging boxes of the individual shipped products, as shown in Figure 11(C).

[0040] 10 shows a mode in which required information is written to an unissued RFID label 5 without separating the leading unit piece R, but when issuing RFID labels for each unit piece R, as in the case of the RFID label paper 1a of this embodiment, it is proposed that, when issuing labels, the leading unit piece R is separated from the succeeding unit pieces R, and then the required information is written to each unissued RFID label 5 of that unit piece R. With such a label issuing method, as shown in FIG. 12, even if the communication range Q of the RFID writing module 22 is expanded to include the entire unit piece R, confusion with other unissued RFID labels 5 does not occur, and it is therefore possible to write required information consecutively to all unissued RFID labels 5 of the unit pieces R without moving the unit pieces R. EXAMPLES

[0041] This embodiment is a modified example of the configuration of the above-described embodiment 2. Configurations common to embodiment 2 are denoted by common reference numerals in the text and drawings, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. As shown in FIG. 13, the RFID label paper 1b of this embodiment is a cut paper obtained by cutting the RFID label paper 1a of the second embodiment into unit pieces R and stacking them. That is, the RFID label paper 1b of this embodiment is made up of the above-mentioned unit pieces R including five unissued RFID labels 5a to 5e. The IC chip 11 of each of the unissued RFID labels 5a to 5e stores a location ID that can identify the respective placement positions in the UII area. That is, the five unissued RFID labels 5a to 5e placed on one piece of RFID label paper (cut paper) 1b store different location IDs, and the unissued RFID labels 5 placed at the same position on each RFID label paper 1b store a common location ID. Even with the RFID label paper 1b of this embodiment, if a write command is sent by specifying the location ID of the unissued RFID label 5 to be written at the time of label printing, required information can be written to the write target placed at the position corresponding to the location ID without confusing it with other unissued RFID labels 5. In particular, since the RFID label paper 1b in this embodiment is a cut paper cut into unit pieces R, by expanding the communication range Q of the RFID writing module 22 to include the entire unit piece R, as shown in FIG. 12, it is possible to write the required information consecutively to all unissued RFID labels 5 of the unit piece R without moving the unit piece R. EXAMPLES

[0042] The RFID label paper 1, 1a, and 1b in the above-mentioned embodiment are used for issuing sticker-type RFID labels, but the RFID label paper of the present invention may be used for issuing card-type RFID labels without an adhesive layer on the back side. The RFID label paper 1c of this embodiment shown in FIG. 14 is obtained by changing the RFID label paper 1b of the above-mentioned embodiment 3 to a card type. Specifically, the RFID label paper 1c of this embodiment is composed of a card base material 38 made of paper without an adhesive layer on the back side, instead of the release paper 4 and the sticker base material 9. The card base material 38 has perforations 39 formed in the outer edge shape of the five unissued RFID labels 5, and is configured so that the five issued RFID labels can be separated by cutting the card base material 38 along the perforations 39 after the labels are issued. When the issued RFID labels are delivery instruction labels, the separated individual issued RFID labels can be stored and used in a transparent pocket attached to the container or package of the shipped product. In this way, the RFID label paper of the present invention can also be applied to issuing card-type RFID labels. Since the other configurations of this embodiment are common to the third embodiment, common reference numerals are used in the text and drawings and detailed description is omitted.

[0043] Although the examples of the present invention have been described above, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the above examples and can be appropriately changed within the scope of the present invention. For example, the shape and size of the RFID label that can be issued by the RFID label paper of the present invention are not limited to the shape and size of the above examples, and the use of the issued RFID label is not particularly limited. In addition, in the RFID label of the above examples, the RFID inlet 10 is attached to the surface of the seal base material 9 or the card base material 38, but the RFID inlet 10 may be attached to the back side (back side of the printed surface) of the seal base material 9 or the card base material 38, or may be embedded by being sandwiched between the seal base material 9 or the card base material 38. In addition, the number and arrangement pattern of the unissued RFID labels arranged in the unit area can be appropriately changed from the number and arrangement pattern of the above examples.

[0044] Furthermore, as in the above embodiment, if RFID inlets 10 with the same function and the same model number are provided on all unissued RFID labels 5, RFID label paper 1 can be manufactured at low cost, but the RFID inlets 10 provided on the unissued RFID labels 5 do not have to have exactly the same function and model number.

[0045] Furthermore, the memory area of ​​the IC chip 11 of the RFID inlet 10 in the above embodiment is divided into a TID area, a UII area, a USER area, and a RESERVED area, but it is sufficient for the IC chip of the present invention to have at least a memory area capable of storing a placement ID, and the memory area can be applied to areas other than those composed of the above four areas.

[0046] In the above embodiment, the placement ID is written in the entire UII area, but the area in which the placement ID is written may be a part of the UII area, not the entire UII area. As in the above embodiment, if only three or five unissued RFID labels 5 need to be identified, three bits of the placement ID are sufficient, so it is proposed to use, for example, the upper three bits of the UII area as a storage area for the placement ID. In this case, the write command specifies the recording information of the upper three bits of the UII area as the execution target, rather than the recording information of the entire UII area, so that information can be reliably written to the unissued RFID label 5 to be written.

[0047] In addition, in the above embodiment, the placement ID consisting of a consecutive number corresponds to the identifier of the present invention, but the identifier of the present invention does not have to be a consecutive number as long as it is unique information that can identify the placement position of each unissued RFID label.

[0048] In the above embodiment, the placement ID is stored in the UII area of ​​the IC chip 11, but the placement ID may be stored in another storage area of ​​the IC chip 11. For example, if the RFID inlet complies with the ISO standard (ISO / IEC18000-63), even if the placement ID is stored in the TID area or the USER area, the placement ID can be specified as the execution target of the command. The TID area is a non-rewritable storage area in which product information of the IC chip is written by a vendor or the like. For this reason, when the TID area is used as the storage area of ​​the placement ID, it is proposed to use IC chips with different vendors and / or model numbers for each unissued RFID label in the unit area, and to use IC chips with a common vendor and / or model number for unissued RFID labels 5 arranged at the same position in each unit area P. With this configuration, part or all of the chip information such as the vendor and model number written in the TID area can be used as the placement ID according to the present invention.

[0049] Furthermore, the unissued RFID label 5 according to the present invention may have information written therein other than the chip information and the placement ID. For example, the serial number of the unit area in which the label is placed may be written in the IC chip of the unissued RFID label 5.

[0050] In the above embodiment, the unit areas P, R consecutive in the longitudinal direction are optically identifiable by the timing marks 7 printed on the RFID label paper 1 and the perforations 32 formed on the RFID label paper 1a, but the unit areas according to the present invention are not limited to timing marks or perforations, and may be optically identifiable by some kind of indicator provided for each unit area. For example, the unit areas may be configured to be identifiable based on the characteristics of the outer edge shape of the RFID label paper or the characteristics of the attachment pattern of unissued RFID labels.

[0051] Furthermore, the RFID label papers 1, 1a, 1b, 1c in the above embodiments are configured so that the RFID labels can be separated one by one after the labels are issued by affixing the release paper 4 with the seal base material 9 cut off or by forming perforations 39 in the card base material 38. However, the RFID label paper of the present invention may be configured so that the unissued RFID labels 5 can be separated one by one manually or automatically after the labels are issued without cutting off the seal base material 9 or providing perforations 39 in the card base material 38.

[0052] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the same arrangement ID (identifier) ​​is stored in the unissued RFID labels 5 arranged at the same position in each unit area P, R. In such a configuration, the arrangement ID of the unissued RFID label 5 to be written can be known without reading the unissued RFID label 5, so that required information can be easily written to the unissued RFID label 5. However, the present invention is not limited to a configuration in which the same arrangement ID is stored in the unissued RFID labels 5 arranged at the same position in each unit area P, R.

[0053] Fig. 15 shows a modified example of the placement ID stored in the unissued RFID label 5 in the above-mentioned Example 2. As shown in Fig. 15, in the above-mentioned Example 2, a common placement ID is stored in the unissued RFID label 5 at the same position of each unit piece R. In contrast, in the modified examples 1 and 2, different placement IDs are stored in the unissued RFID label 5 at the same position of each unit piece R, but each placement ID has a certain regularity, and it is possible to identify the placement position of the unissued RFID label 5 from the placement ID based on the regularity.

[0054] Specifically, in the first modification, the location IDs are stored so that the remainder when the location ID is divided by 5 is "1" for the first unissued RFID label 5a, "2" for the second unissued RFID label 5a, "3" for the third unissued RFID label 5a, "4" for the fourth unissued RFID label 5a, and "0" for the fifth unissued RFID label 5a. In the first modification, as shown in FIG. 10, when writing required information to the writing target, even if other unissued RFID labels 5 are included in the communication range Q of the RFID writing module 22, if the location ID of the unissued RFID label 5 included in the communication range Q is read before writing, the location ID of the unissued RFID label 5 to be written can be specified based on the remainder when the location ID is divided by 5 from among the multiple location IDs read. Therefore, even if the location ID is stored as in the first modification, the required information can be reliably written to the writing target without being confused with a label that is not the writing target.

[0055] In the second modification of Fig. 15, the arrangement IDs stored in the unissued RFID labels 5 of each unit piece R are stored in a predetermined order of magnitude, such that the first unissued RFID label 5a is the smallest, the second unissued RFID label 5b is the second smallest, the third unissued RFID label 5c is the third smallest, the fourth unissued RFID label 5d is the fourth smallest, and the fifth unissued RFID label 5e is the largest. In the second modification, as shown in Fig. 12, if the entire cut-off unit piece R is placed within the communication range Q of the RFID writing module 22 and all the arrangement IDs of the unissued RFID labels 5 of the unit piece R are read before writing, the arrangement ID of the unissued RFID label 5 to be written can be specified based on the order of magnitude of the read arrangement IDs. Therefore, in the second modification, the required information can be reliably written to the writing target without being confused with the label not to be written.

[0056] In this way, even if different placement IDs are stored on unissued RFID labels 5 in the same position in each unit area P, R, if the placement IDs relating to the same placement position have a certain regularity, it is possible to identify at which position on the unit piece R the unissued RFID label 5 is placed based on the placement ID stored in the unissued RFID label 5. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1,1a,1b,1c RFID label paper 2 Winding core 4 Release paper 5,5a,5b,5c,5d,5e Unissued RFID Labels 7 Timing Mark 9. Seal Base Material 10 RFID Inlet 11 IC chip 12 Antenna 13 Film 15,35 Delivery instruction label (issued RFID label) 16 QR Code 20 RFID Printer 21 Case 22 RFID writing module 23 Optical Sensor 24 Print Head 25 Cutter 26 Transport Equipment 32,39 Perforation 34 Delivery instruction sheet 38 Card Base Material P unit area Q Communication range R unit piece (unit area)

Claims

1. A continuous strip of paper having a plurality of unissued RFID labels arranged thereon, a unit area in which a predetermined number of the unissued RFID labels (two or more) are arranged in a predetermined pattern is repeatedly arranged in the longitudinal direction; The unissued RFID label has a different identifier for each placement position in the unit area, the identifier being capable of identifying the placement position in the unit area, stored in a predetermined storage area of ​​an IC chip, This RFID label paper is configured to selectively write information to the IC chip of the unissued RFID label arranged at a specific position in the unit area by sending a command to the unit area that designates the IC chip that stores a specific identifier as the target of execution.

2. A cut sheet of paper cut to a predetermined size on which a plurality of unissued RFID labels are arranged, The unissued RFID label includes: are arranged on the cut paper in a predetermined pattern, a predetermined storage area of ​​the IC chip stores a different identifier for each placement position on the cut paper, the identifier being capable of identifying the placement position on the cut paper; This RFID label paper is configured so that information can be selectively written to the IC chip of the unissued RFID label arranged at a specific position on the cut paper by sending a command to the cut paper that designates the IC chip that stores a specific identifier as the target of execution.

3. 3. The RFID label paper according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined memory area is included in a memory area for writing information when the label is printed.

4. A label issuing method for issuing an RFID label using the RFID label paper according to claim 3, comprising the steps of: a writing step of writing required information into the IC chip of the unissued RFID label; a printing step of printing required information on the unissued RFID label; Including, In the writing step, the required information is written to the IC chip storing the specific identifier by a command specifying the IC chip as an execution target, and A label issuing method comprising: overwriting the identifier stored in the IC chip with the required information.

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