Printer, control method of printer and program

Abstract

To provide a printer that issues a printing medium having an RFID inlay, which performs a write-in inspection on which operation of the printer actually issuing a label is reflected.SOLUTION: A printer according to one embodiment in the present invention comprises: a conveying roller that conveys a continuous paper in which a plurality of printing media having RFID inlays are continuously arranged; an RFID communication unit that reads and writes data on the RFID inlay of each printing medium; and a control part that conveys the continuous paper until the printing media included in the continuous paper reach a reference position where the RFID communication unit reads and writes the data, in accordance with an inspection instruction by a user, and controls the RFID communication unit so that the unit performs a write-in inspection for determining whether the data can be written on the printing media at the reference position or not.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printer. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, printers that print on labels incorporating RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) inlays (also called RFID tags) that have an IC chip and an antenna are known. When printing on a label, such printers use an RFID unit, such as a reader / writer, installed in the printer to read and write data from and to the RFID inlay incorporated in the label.

[0003] When using such a printer, communication adjustment is performed to set the optimal inlay or antenna position for communication between the antenna of the RFID unit and the inlay. Once communication adjustment is complete, some printers are configured to perform a test (write test) to confirm whether writing to the inlay is actually possible. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an RFID label printer that, when the operation mode is set to test mode, causes a reader / writer device to read information from an RFID tag based on operation specification information, and outputs result information according to the information read by the reader / writer device (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2006-018455 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the write test described in Patent Document 1, the label paper inside the RFID label printer is removed, and the RFID label on which user data has already been printed and written to the RFID tag is placed on the antenna inside the RFID label printer, or the RFID label is brought close to the antenna and operated.The user then performs an operation to set the printer to test mode, and then performs an operation to read data, which then reads the data from the RFID tag and displays the read data.

[0006] However, the write test described in Patent Document 1 requires special user work and operations to run the test, as described above, and it is difficult to say that it reflects the printer's operation when actually printing labels.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to perform a writing inspection that reflects the printer operation when actually issuing labels in a printer that issues print media having an RFID inlay. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is a printer including: a conveying roller for conveying a continuous paper on which a plurality of sheets of print media having RFID inlays are arranged in succession; an RFID communication unit that reads and writes data from and to the RFID inlay of each print medium; a control unit that controls the RFID communication unit to transport the continuous paper until the print medium included in the continuous paper reaches a reference position where data is read and written by the RFID communication unit in response to an inspection instruction from a user, and to perform a write inspection to determine whether data can be written to the print medium at the reference position; It is a printer equipped with. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, in a printer that issues print media having an RFID inlay, it is possible to perform a write check that reflects the printer's operation when actually issuing a label. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a printer according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a printer with an interior view. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control unit of the printer according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed on a printer according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of transport control of a printer according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed on a printer according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing a process (in the case of a single test) for a writing test on a label in a printer according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed on a printer according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing a process (in the case of a continuous test) for writing to a label in a printer according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The embodiments described below are not limited to the drawings described by the brief description of the drawings.

[0012] A first aspect of the present invention is a printer including: a conveying roller for conveying a continuous paper on which a plurality of sheets of print media having RFID inlays are arranged in succession; an RFID communication unit that reads and writes data from and to the RFID inlay of each print medium; a control unit that controls the RFID communication unit to transport the continuous paper until the print medium included in the continuous paper reaches a reference position where data is read and written by the RFID communication unit in response to an inspection instruction from a user, and to perform a write inspection to determine whether data can be written to the print medium at the reference position; It is a printer equipped with.

[0013] According to a first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to perform a write check that reflects the printer operation when actually printing a label.

[0014] A second aspect of the present invention is a printer according to the first aspect, wherein the write inspection includes writing data to a printing medium, reading data from the printing medium, and verifying whether the data written to the printing medium matches the data read from the printing medium.

[0015] According to a second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to perform a write check including a data verification process.

[0016] A third aspect of the present invention further comprises a display unit, the control unit causes the display unit to display the inspection result of the first print medium that is the target of the writing inspection on the continuous paper; A printer according to the first or second aspect, which transports the continuous paper in response to an operation on a specified operation target, and controls the RFID communication unit to perform the writing inspection on a second printing medium on the continuous paper, which is the next printing medium after the first printing medium.

[0017] According to a third aspect of a certain aspect of the present invention, the system is configured so that the inspection results of the first printing medium can be visually confirmed while performing operations for the writing inspection of the next second printing medium, thereby providing excellent operability for the user to sequentially inspect each sheet of printing medium.

[0018] In a fourth aspect of the present invention, a reference transport amount from a print start position of the print medium to the reference position that is the object of the writing inspection is set in advance, In the printer according to any one of the first to third aspects, the control unit transports the continuous paper by the reference transport amount in response to the inspection instruction.

[0019] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to perform a write check that more accurately reflects the printer operation when actually printing labels.

[0020] A fifth aspect of the present invention is a printer described in any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the control unit obtains data to be written in the writing inspection based on user input.

[0021] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the user can have the printer perform a write check on data that the user has set.

[0022] A sixth aspect of the present invention is a printer described in any of the first, second, fourth, or fifth aspects, wherein the control unit obtains information on the number of sheets of printing media to be subject to the writing inspection based on user input, and controls the RFID communication unit to perform the writing inspection continuously on each of the sheets of printing media while transporting the continuous paper.

[0023] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a user can have the printer perform writing inspections continuously on a number of print media that the user has set.

[0024] A seventh aspect of the present invention further comprises a display unit, In the printer described in the sixth aspect, the control unit causes the display unit to display the number of printing media for which the results of the writing inspection were successful and the number of printing media for which writing failed, out of the number of printing media.

[0025] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the user can recognize the specific contents of the inspection results for the multiple sheets of print media.

[0026] An eighth aspect of the present invention is a printer described in any of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the control unit controls the RFID communication unit to perform the writing inspection using either a first frequency band or a second frequency band different from the first frequency band, depending on a selection operation by a user.

[0027] According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, when the inlay is configured to be capable of communicating in multiple frequency bands, writing inspection can be performed in a frequency band selected by the user from the multiple frequency bands.

[0028] In a ninth aspect of the present invention, the RFID inlay includes a storage unit having a first storage area and a second storage area larger in size than the first storage area, The printer according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the control unit controls the RFID communication unit to perform the write inspection by writing data to the first memory area and / or the second memory area in accordance with a selection operation by a user.

[0029] According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to perform a write check on a storage area selected by a user from among a plurality of storage areas of an inlay.

[0030] A tenth aspect of the present invention is a method for implementing a printer driver in a computer, the method comprising: a step of conveying the continuous paper by a conveyance roller of the printer in response to an inspection instruction from a user, the continuous paper having a plurality of sheets of print media with RFID inlays arranged in succession, until the print media included in the continuous paper reaches a reference position where data is read and written by an RFID communication unit mounted on the printer; a step of controlling the RFID communication unit to perform a write check to determine whether data can be written to the print medium located at the reference position; This is a program that executes the above.

[0031] According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to perform a writing check that reflects the printer operation when actually printing a label.

[0032] An eleventh aspect of the present invention is a method for printing a continuous sheet of paper containing a plurality of sheets of print media having RFID inlays arranged in succession, the method comprising the steps of: conveying the continuous sheet of paper by a conveyance roller of the printer in response to an inspection instruction from a user until the print media contained in the continuous sheet of paper reaches a reference position where data is read and written by an RFID communication unit mounted on the printer; controlling the RFID communication unit to perform a write check to determine whether data can be written to the print medium at the reference position; The present invention relates to an information processing method for a printer, including:

[0033] According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to perform a writing check that reflects the printer operation when actually printing a label.

[0034] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the exterior of a printer 1 according to one embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, a front cover 2 on the front of the printer 1 is provided with an issuing port 25 for issuing (discharging) printed labels. An open cover 6 is attached to one side of the printer 1 by two hinges 7 so that it can be opened and closed in the vertical direction. An input button 3 and a display panel 4 are arranged on the front of the printer 1.

[0035] Next, the internal configuration of the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the interior of the printer 1. Referring to FIG. 2, the printer 1 includes a control unit 10, an RFID unit 16, a label position detection sensor 17, a motor 19, a platen roller 20, a print head 21, a paper supply unit 36, a ribbon supply unit 37, a ribbon take-up unit 38, and a damper 43.

[0036] As shown in Figure 2, roll paper R is continuous paper CP wound into a roll. The continuous paper CP includes a strip-shaped backing sheet PM and multiple labels PL (an example of a print medium) removably attached to the backing sheet PM at intervals. The surface (front side) of the backing sheet PM that comes into contact with the adhesive surface of the labels PL is coated with a release agent such as silicone, making it easy to peel the labels PL. An RFID inlay IL (hereinafter simply referred to as "inlay IL") is incorporated into the labels PL. Position detection marks IM indicating the position of the labels may be formed at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction on the surface (back side) of the backing sheet PM where the labels PL are not attached. The labels PL may be made of thermal paper or plain paper. In the case of thermal paper, a thermosensitive coloring layer is formed on the surface of the label, which changes color to a specific color (black, red, etc.) when it reaches a predetermined temperature range. Although not shown, the roll paper R may be a roll of linerless labels with an adhesive surface coated with adhesive on the back of the printing surface.

[0037] 2, the paper supply unit 36 ​​has a shaft on which the paper core of the roll paper R is set so that the roll paper R can rotate freely. In the printer 1, the continuous paper CP is drawn from the roll paper R in the paper supply unit 36 ​​as the platen roller 20 rotates, and after printing on each label PL of the continuous paper CP, the labels PL are sequentially discharged from the issuing port 25. A damper 43 is provided on the transport path of this continuous paper CP. The damper 43 has a predetermined pivot shaft and is installed in a state where it can pivot freely around the predetermined pivot shaft so that tension can be applied to the continuous paper CP.

[0038] The platen roller 20 is connected to a motor 19 such as a stepping motor, and is installed so that it can rotate in forward and reverse directions in response to the operation of the motor 19. During printing, the platen roller 20 rotates together with the print head 21 while clamping the continuous paper CP therebetween. When the continuous paper CP is plain paper, the platen roller 20 rotates together with the print head 21 during printing, sandwiching the continuous paper CP and an ink ribbon RB coated with printing ink. In this case, the ink ribbon RB is transported from a ribbon supply unit 37 and taken up by a ribbon take-up unit 38. The ribbon take-up unit 38 is connected to a motor 19 and is driven to rotate by the motor 19.

[0039] The print head 21 includes multiple heating resistors (heating elements) that generate heat when energized, and prints on the labels PL of the continuous paper CP. These multiple heating resistors are arranged in a line along the width direction of the continuous paper CP (a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the continuous paper CP).

[0040] A label position detection sensor 17 is installed on the transport path of the continuous paper CP to detect the edge of each label PL in the transport direction of the continuous paper CP. The detection result (output signal) of the label position detection sensor 17 is used to control the transport of the continuous paper CP. In one embodiment, the label position detection sensor 17 is a light transmission sensor having a light emitting element arranged above or below the transport path of the continuous paper CP, and a light receiving element arranged above or below the transport path on the other side. The label position detection sensor 17 is arranged upstream of the print head 21 and is capable of detecting the labels PL. When the light receiving element receives light emitted from the light emitting element, the label position detection sensor 17 detects the edge of each label PL in the transport direction of the continuous paper CP based on the difference in received light intensity between light that has passed through the label PL and the liner PM and light that has passed only through the liner PM. In one embodiment, the label position detection sensor 17 is a light reflective sensor having a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and detects the presence or absence of a position detection mark IM (FIG. 2) on the back side of the continuous paper CP. In this case, when light emitted from the light emitting element is reflected by the back side of the continuous paper CP and the reflected light is received by the light receiving element, the label position detection sensor 17 detects the end of each label PL in the transport direction of the continuous paper CP based on the difference in received light intensity between the light reflected by the position detection mark IM on the back side of the continuous paper CP and the light reflected by parts other than the position detection mark IM on the back side of the continuous paper CP.

[0041] An RFID unit 16 is installed in the transport path of the continuous paper CP. The RFID unit 16 (an example of an RFID communication unit) is connected to an RFID antenna (not shown) and communicates with the inlay IL of each label PL to read data (e.g., TID) from each label PL of the conveyed continuous paper CP or to write data (e.g., EPC data) to each label PL. The RFID antenna may be built into the RFID unit 16.

[0042] Next, the configuration of the control unit 10 (an example of a control unit) of the printer 1 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 10 of the printer 1 includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, an input interface (I / F) 104, a display control unit 105, a motor controller 106, a head controller 107, a sensor interface (I / F) 108, an RFID interface (I / F) 109, and a communication bus 120.

[0043] The CPU 101 loads firmware stored in the ROM 102 into the RAM 103 and executes it to realize various functions of the printer 1. The firmware controls the transport of the continuous paper CP based on the output signal of the label position detection sensor 17. The firmware also records the data that the RFID unit 16 reads from the inlay IL, and transmits the data that the RFID unit 16 should write to the inlay IL of each label to the RFID unit 16 via the RFID interface 109. The input interface 104 is an interface that receives operation inputs from the input buttons 3 and transmits them to the CPU 101. The display control unit 105 displays an image on the display panel 4 (an example of a display unit) based on display data received from the CPU 101. The motor controller 106 includes a drive circuit that drives the motor 19 based on a control signal sent from the firmware. The control signal includes, for example, information regarding the transport amount of the continuous paper CP. The head controller 107 includes an image buffer and controls the flow of current selectively to multiple heating elements included in the print head 21 in accordance with the print data, based on control signals (e.g., data signals for each line) sent from the firmware. The sensor interface 108 receives the output signal of the label position detection sensor 17 , converts it into a digital value, and transmits it to the CPU 101 . The RFID interface 109 is an interface between the control unit 10 and the RFID unit 16, and transmits instruction signals for reading and writing from the firmware to the RFID unit 16. The RFID interface 109 receives read data from the RFID unit 16 and transmits data to be written to the inlay IL to the RFID unit 16.

[0044] The shape and size of the inlay antennas built into the labels in the printer 1 vary. The receiving sensitivity of the inlay is also affected by the position of the RFID antenna in the printer 1 and the transmitted radio wave output. Therefore, before printing a large number of labels, the printer 1 must be set with optimal parameters for the RFID antenna to communicate with the inlays on the labels to be printed by the printer 1. Determining these optimal parameters is called communication adjustment. Below, we explain the case where the optimal parameter is an offset value (deviation amount) (an example of a reference feed amount) in the feed direction of the print start position of the label to be printed relative to the heating element position of the print head 21. This offset value determines the position of the label in the feed direction when reading and writing data from and to the RFID antenna. The procedure for determining the offset amount is described in detail in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-213298 by the same applicant, and will not be described here.

[0045] Once the offset value has been determined through the above communication adjustment, the user operates the printer 1's settings screen to set that offset value. Once the offset value has been set, a write test (an example of a write inspection) can be performed by actually feeding a label to determine whether data can be written to that label. The write test is performed to confirm whether data can be written correctly to the label using the offset value determined through communication adjustment, or to confirm whether data can be written correctly to a label incorporating a non-genuine inlay that the user has obtained. In addition, the USER area of ​​the inlay can be locked to prevent new data from being written, but a write test can be performed to check whether it is locked (i.e., whether data can be written).

[0046] The write test is performed in accordance with a GUI (Graphical User Interface) on the display panel 4 (FIG. 1) of the printer 1. The screens displayed on the display panel 4 during the write test will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. 4, screen G1 is a screen that is displayed when an item related to RFID is selected on the menu screen (not shown) of printer 1. Screen G1 displays a number of selectable items related to RFID, and when write test item 201 is selected from among these items, screen G2 is displayed.

[0047] Screen G2 includes, for the write test, an item 202 indicating the destination memory area, an item 203 indicating the data to be written in the write test (write data), and a button 204 for instructing execution of the write test. Screen G3 shows a state in which "EPC" (= EPC area (an example of a first storage area)) is selected as the destination memory area by selecting item 202 indicating the destination memory area. The USER area (an example of a second storage area) can also be selected as the destination memory area. The USER area is larger in size than the EPC area, so it can be used as a target for writing character strings desired by the user. The control unit 10 of the printer 1 controls the RFID unit 16 to perform a write test using the memory area set here as the destination for writing data. On screen G2, the character string "0123abcABCD" is set as the data to be written in the write test, but the user can set any data by selecting item 203. The control unit 10 of the printer 1 acquires the data set here and performs the write test. In this way, the printer 1 is configured so that a write test can be performed on data set by the user himself / herself, targeting a storage area selected by the user.

[0048] When button 204 is operated on screen G3, a write test is executed. On screen G3, it is also possible to return to screen G2 by operating back button b1. In the write test, the control unit 10 controls the RFID unit 16 to transport the continuous paper in response to an operation of the button 204 (a test instruction from the user) until the label to be printed reaches a reference position where the RFID unit 16 reads and writes data, and to perform a write test on the label at the reference position. In one embodiment, the reference position is a position shifted in the transport direction by a preset offset value from the position of the heating element of the print head 21. If the offset value is positive, the reference position is located downstream in the transport direction from the position of the heating element. If the offset value is negative, the reference position is located upstream in the transport direction from the position of the heating element. The label is transported until the print start position of the label to be printed coincides with the reference position, and then the write test is performed.

[0049] 5 shows the positional relationship between the heating element position of the print head, the detection position of the label position detection sensor 17, and the RFID antenna in a state ST1 before the continuous paper CP (including the first label PL#1, the second label PL#2, ...) is conveyed, and a state ST2 after the continuous paper CP is conveyed. The example shown in FIG. 5 shows the case where the RFID antenna is positioned downstream of the heating element position in the conveyance direction (when the offset value is positive). In this example, the printer 1 waits with the print start position of the first label PL#1 positioned at the heating element position (state ST11). Here, it is assumed that the print start position of the label is at the leading edge of the label, but this is not the only possibility. When a request to start a write test is received (when button 204 on screen G3, which will be described later, is operated), the printer 1 transports the continuous paper CP in the transport direction F by the offset value (state ST12). This optimizes communication between the inlay and RFID antenna incorporated in the first label PL#1 that is the target of the write test, and the write test is performed on the first label PL#1 at this position.

[0050] The RFID antenna may be located upstream or downstream of the heating element. If the RFID antenna is located upstream of the heating element and the offset value is negative, the label position detection sensor detects the edge of the label to be tested, and then the continuous paper is fed until the print start position of that label reaches the reference position, and a write test is performed on that label. Alternatively, the printer may wait with the print start position of the first label positioned at the heating element, and then, if possible, feed the first label backward by the negative offset value, and then perform the write test on that label.

[0051] Screens G4 and G5 in Figure 6 are screens that display the results of the write test (an example of an inspection result), with screen G4 showing an example of the display when the write test is successful, and screen G5 showing an example of the display when the write test is unsuccessful. In one embodiment, the write test includes writing data to a label, reading the data from the label, and verifying whether the data written to the label matches the data read from the label, thereby enabling write verification including data verification processing.

[0052] Screen G5 is an example of a failure caused by a tag not being found for the label to be printed (i.e., no tag detected), but other failures (errors) include a verification error (the data written to the label does not match the data read from the label), a read-only error (data cannot be written but can be read), a multi-tag error (multiple tags detected), and a system error. Screen G5 displays the cause of any error identified by the control unit 10.

[0053] In one embodiment, a feed button b2 is provided on both screens G4 and G5. The feed button b2 is an instruction button for performing a write test on the next label. That is, in response to an operation of the feed button b2, the control unit 10 controls the RFID unit 16 to transport the continuous paper and perform a write test on the label (an example of the second print medium) following the label (an example of the first print medium) that is the subject of the write test result on screen G4 or screen G5. By providing this feed button b2, the user can visually check the test result of the write test on a given label while performing an operation for the write test on the next label, providing excellent operability for the user to sequentially perform write tests on labels one by one. Note that the function equivalent to the feed button b2 can be assigned not only to buttons displayed for touch panel input on the display panel 4, but also to any of the input buttons 3 (FIG. 1), which are hardware buttons.

[0054] As explained above, screens G1 to G5 allow for a writing test to be performed on each label. This writing test on each label will be referred to as a "single test" below. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing executed in a single test by the control unit 10. The processing of the control unit 10 will be described below with reference to this flowchart.

[0055] The control unit 10 first determines whether or not there is a request to start a single test (step S2). If the button 204 on the screen G3 or the feed button b2 on the screens G4 and G5 is operated, it determines that there is a request to start a single test. The control unit 10 controls the motor 19 to rotate the platen roller 20, thereby starting the transport of the continuous paper (step S4). When the label on the continuous paper that is the subject of the writing test reaches the reference position (step S6: YES), the control unit 10 stops the transport of the continuous paper (step S8). In the example of Figure 5, "the label reaches the reference position" means that the printing start position on the label coincides with the reference position.

[0056] Next, the control unit 10 reads the TID from the inlay of the label that is the target of the write test (step S10), and writes the character string set as the write data (the character string set in item 203 on screen G3 in Fig. 4) (step S12). At this time, the memory area to be written is the memory area (EPC area or USER area) set in item 202 on screen G3 in Fig. 4. Next, the control unit 10 reads the data from the data area written in step S12, and verifies whether it matches the character string to be written (the set character string) (step S14). If the result of the write test is successful (step S16: successful), the control unit 10 records a result code (success) in RAM (step S18) and displays the result (for example, screen G4 in FIG. 6) (step S24).If the result of the write test is unsuccessful (step S16: failed), the control unit 10 records a result code (failure) according to the cause of the error in RAM (step S20) and displays the result (for example, screen G5 in FIG. 6) (step S24).

[0057] In one embodiment, a write test is performed continuously on multiple labels. A continuous write test on multiple labels is hereinafter referred to as a "continuous test." In the continuous test, the control unit 10 obtains information on the number of labels to be subjected to the write test (i.e., the number set by the user) based on a user input, and controls the RFID unit 16 to perform a write test continuously on each of the number of labels set by the user while transporting the continuous paper. This allows the user to have the printer 1 perform a write test continuously on the number of labels set by the user.

[0058] 8 shows a screen displayed on the display panel 4 during the continuous test. A screen G11 in FIG. 8 corresponds to the screen G2 (FIG. 4) during the single test. Screen G11 includes an item 301 for setting the memory area to write to, an item 302 for setting the data to be written in the write test, an item 303 indicating the initial value of the first data to be written, an item 304 for setting the starting serial number if serial numbers are to be included in the data to be written, and an item 305 for setting the number of labels to be printed (number of labels to be issued) to be subjected to the write test. In item 303, "AAAA" is set as the initial value of the first data to be written, but the user can change this as desired by operating item 303. In item 304, "1" is set as the initial value of the serial number start number, but the user can change this as desired by operating item 304. In item 305, the initial value of the number of copies to be issued is set to, for example, "10," but the user can change this as desired by operating item 305. In this example, the data written to the label will be the first data + sequential number, so a continuous test will be performed on 10 labels with "AAAA0001" to "AAAA0010" as the write data. By manipulating item 302, data in a different format can also be used as the write data.

[0059] In one embodiment, the user can select between a single test and a continuous test on screen G11. By operating button b3 ("Start") on screen G11, a single test can be performed on, for example, 10 labels one by one. On the other hand, by operating button b4 ("Continuous"), a continuous test can be performed on, for example, 10 labels.

[0060] Operating button b3 ("Start") on screen G11 executes a write test on the first label, and screen G12 is displayed. Screen G12 displays the results of the write test on the first label. In this example, it shows that the data string "AAAA0001" was successfully written to the EPC area. Operating button b5 ("Next") on screen G12 executes a single test on the next label (the second label in this case). By operating button b4 ("Continuous") on screen G12, a continuous test is performed on the remaining nine labels (from the second to the tenth), and screen G13, for example, is displayed. As shown on screen G13, the control unit 10 of the printer 1 displays on the display panel 4 the number of labels for which the writing test results were successful and the number of labels for which the writing test failed, out of the number of labels set by the user. This allows the user to recognize the specific content of the test results for the number of labels set by the user. Screen G13 may also have a button b6 ("Send") for sending the test results to a specified destination.

[0061] Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing executed in the continuous test by the control unit 10. In Fig. 9, the same steps as those in the flowchart of the single test in Fig. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted. The control unit 10 determines whether there is a request to start a continuous test (step S2a). If button b4 ("Continuous") on screens G11 and G12 (FIG. 8) is operated, it determines that there is a request to start a continuous test. Subsequent steps S4 to S22 are the same as for a single test, but when all of the set number of labels to be printed (the number of labels to be printed set in item 305 on screen G11) have been printed (step S22: YES), the control unit 11 displays the results (for example, screen G13 in FIG. 8) (step S24a). It should be noted that whenever the button b3 ("Start") on the screen G11 or the button b5 ("Next") on the screen G12 is operated, the single test process shown in FIG. 7 is executed.

[0062] As described above, in response to a test instruction from the user, the printer 1 transports the continuous paper until the label to be processed reaches the reference position where data is read and written by the RFID unit 16, and controls the RFID unit 16 to perform a write test to determine whether data can be written to the label at the reference position. This makes it possible to perform a write test that reflects the printer operation when actually printing labels. In one embodiment, a single test is provided, which is a writing test for one label, and a continuous test is provided, which is a continuous writing test for a number of labels set by the initial setting or the user, and the user can select either test. In a continuous test, a write test is performed continuously while feeding multiple labels. In other words, the write test is performed in a manner that replicates the printer's operation when actually printing labels continuously (the test is performed under conditions close to actual operation), so the test results are highly reliable.

[0063] In one embodiment, the control unit 10 of the printer 1 controls the RFID unit 16 to perform a write test in either the UHF band (an example of a first frequency band) or the HF band (an example of a second frequency band) in response to a user selection operation during the write test. This allows the write test to be performed in the frequency band (either the UHF band or the HF band) selected by the user when the inlay is configured to be capable of communication in both the UHF band and the HF band (dual tag configuration). Regardless of whether the UHF band or the HF band is selected, the screen transitions shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 8 are the same. If the UHF band is selected, the user can select either the EPC area or the USER area as the memory area to write to in the write test. If the HF band is selected, the memory area to write to in the write test will be the USER area. If the inlay included in the label is an NFC tag, it may be possible to set it so that a specified URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) ​​is written.

[0064] In one embodiment, the printer 1 is equipped with a drive mechanism that displaces the RFID antenna in the feed direction and / or the width direction of the continuous paper, and the amount of displacement of the RFID antenna is determined in the communication adjustment. In this case, there is no need to reset the offset value for each label type, and the initial offset value that is preset in the printer 1 is used.

[0065] One embodiment is a method for controlling a printer 1 that includes steps (i) and (ii). (i) In response to an inspection instruction from a user, a step of conveying the continuous paper on the platen roller 20 of the printer 1 until a label included in the continuous paper on which a plurality of labels having RFID inlays are arranged successively reaches a reference position where data is read and written by the RFID unit 16 mounted on the printer 1. (ii) controlling the RFID unit 16 to perform a write test to determine whether or not data can be written to the label located at the reference position;

[0066] One embodiment is a program that, when installed in the printer 1, causes a computer to execute the above steps (i) and (ii).

[0067] Although the printer, printer control method, and program of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Furthermore, various improvements and modifications can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 1. Printer 2...Front cover 3...Enter button 4...Display panel 6...Open cover 7...hinge 10...Control unit 101...CPU, 102...ROM, 103...RAM, 104...input interface, 105...display control unit, 106...motor controller, 107...head controller, 108...sensor interface, 109...RFID interface, 120...communication bus 16...RFID unit 17...Label position detection sensor 19...Motor 20...Platen roller 21...Print head 25...Issuing port 36...Paper supply unit 37...Ribbon supply unit 38...Ribbon winding section 43...Damper CP...Continuous paper, PM...Backing paper, PL...Label, IL...RFID inlay, IM...Position detection mark, RB...Ink ribbon, R...Roll paper

Claims

1. A transport roller for transporting continuous paper in which multiple print media having RFID inlays are arranged in a continuous manner, An RFID communication unit that reads and writes data to and from the RFID inlay of each printing medium, A control unit controls the RFID communication unit to transport the continuous paper until the printing medium contained in the continuous paper reaches a reference position where the RFID communication unit reads and writes data, in response to an inspection instruction from the user, and to perform a write inspection to determine whether or not data can be written to the printing medium at the reference position. A printer equipped with [a specific feature / ability].

2. The write test includes writing data to a printing medium, reading data from the printing medium, and verifying whether the data written to the printing medium matches the data read from the printing medium. The printer according to claim 1.

3. It also includes a display unit, The control unit causes the display unit to display the inspection result of the first printing medium that was the subject of the writing inspection on the continuous paper. In response to an operation on a predetermined target, the RFID communication unit is controlled to transport the continuous paper and to perform the write inspection on the second printing medium, which is the next printing medium after the first printing medium, on the continuous paper. The printer according to claim 1.

4. A standard transport distance from the printing start position to the reference position of the printing medium subject to the write inspection is set in advance. The control unit, in response to the inspection instruction, transports the continuous paper by the standard transport amount. The printer according to claim 1.

5. The control unit acquires the data to be written in the write check based on the user's input. The printer according to claim 1.

6. The control unit acquires information on the number of print media to be subjected to the write inspection based on user input, and controls the RFID communication unit to continuously perform the write inspection on each of the specified number of print media while transporting the continuous paper. The printer according to claim 1.

7. It also includes a display unit, The control unit causes the display unit to display the number of printing media from the aforementioned number of printing media for which the write test was successful and the number of printing media for which the write test was unsuccessful. The printer according to claim 6.

8. The control unit controls the RFID communication unit to perform the write test using either a first frequency band or a second frequency band different from the first frequency band, in response to a selection operation by the user. A printer according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The RFID inlay comprises a storage unit having a first storage area and a second storage area that is larger in size than the first storage area. The control unit controls the RFID communication unit to perform the write inspection using the first storage area and / or the second storage area as the data writing destination, in accordance with the user's selection operation. A printer according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. When installed on the printer, on the computer, A procedure to transport the continuous paper on the transport rollers of the printer until the print media contained in the continuous paper, which has multiple print media having RFID inlays arranged in a continuous manner, reach a reference position where data can be read or written by the RFID communication unit mounted on the printer, in response to an inspection instruction from the user, A procedure for controlling the RFID communication unit to perform a write check to determine whether or not data can be written to the printing medium at the aforementioned reference position, A program that executes the command.

11. In response to an inspection instruction from the user, the printer's transport rollers transport the continuous paper, which contains multiple printable media with RFID inlays arranged in a continuous manner, until the printable media included in the continuous paper reach a reference position where data can be read or written by an RFID communication unit mounted on the printer. The steps include controlling the RFID communication unit to perform a write check to determine whether or not it is possible to write data to the printing medium located at the aforementioned reference position, A method for controlling a printer, including the method itself.

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