Image formation apparatus

Abstract

To more easily set appropriate parameters in a wireless communication device that communicates with a wireless tag attached to a sheet to be subjected to image formation.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus includes a conveyance unit, a tag communication unit, and a control unit. The conveyance unit conveys a sheet. The tag communication unit performs first communication with a wireless tag brought close to a reading position different from the conveyance unit, and second communication with the wireless tag provided on the sheet being conveyed by the conveyance unit. The control unit acquires setting information used for the second communication that is previously associated with information read in the first communication, and causes the tag communication unit to perform the second communication in accordance with the acquired setting information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD An embodiment of the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] There are image forming apparatuses that form images on sheets equipped with wireless tags using wireless communication technology such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). A technology has been proposed in which such image forming apparatuses are equipped with a wireless tag communication device and read and write data from the wireless tags of sheets to be processed. In such a technology, parameters of the wireless tag communication device used for communication with the wireless tags must be appropriately set to prevent erroneous data reading and writing from the wireless tags of sheets not to be processed. For example, it is desirable to appropriately set parameters for the wireless tags to be used, such as the transmission power and polarization direction of radio waves emitted when detecting a wireless tag, and threshold values ​​such as received signal strength indicator (RSSI) used to identify wireless tags to be processed. However, in the past, setting such parameters required a cumbersome process of loading the actual sheets to be used into the image forming apparatus, repeatedly transporting the sheets, and repeatedly reading and writing data from the wireless tags, changing the transmission power and polarization direction of the radio waves to identify optimal parameter values. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-20502 [Patent Document 2] JP 2014-32490 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide an image forming apparatus that makes it possible to more easily set appropriate parameters in a wireless communication device that communicates with a wireless tag attached to a sheet on which an image is to be formed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes a conveying unit, a tag communication unit, and a control unit. The conveying unit conveys sheets. The tag communication unit performs first communication with a wireless tag brought close to a reading position different from the conveying unit, and second communication with the wireless tag attached to the sheet being conveyed by the conveying unit. The control unit acquires setting information to be used in the second communication, which is associated in advance with information read in the first communication, and causes the tag communication unit to perform the second communication in accordance with the acquired setting information. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] 1 is an external view showing an example of the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of an image forming apparatus 100. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a menu screen displayed on a display 110. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which an instruction screen is displayed on a display 110. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a setting information list L stored in a server 400. [Figure 7] 10 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which wireless tag setting information is displayed on a display 110. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a selection screen displayed on a display 110. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing a specific example of the flow of a wireless tag setting process. [Figure 10]10 is a flowchart showing a specific example of the flow of image forming processing. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart showing a specific example of the flow of a calibration process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0008] 1 is an external view showing an example of the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment. The image forming apparatus 100 is, for example, a multifunction peripheral. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a display 110, a control panel 120, a forming device 130, a sheet storage device 140, and an image reading device 200. The forming device 130 of the image forming apparatus 100 may be an electrophotographic device that fixes a toner image, an inkjet device, or another type of device.

[0009] The image forming apparatus 100 may be communicably connected to other information processing apparatuses via a network 90. ​​For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 may communicate with a user terminal 300 or a server 400 via the network 90. ​​The network 90 may be a network using wireless communication or a network using wired communication. The network 90 may be configured by combining a plurality of networks.

[0010] The user terminal 300 is an information processing device such as a personal computer, smartphone, or tablet. The user terminal 300 is operated by a user and operates in response to the operation. The user terminal 300 transmits, for example, an image formation job to the image forming apparatus 100 in response to the user's operation. The image formation job is data in a predetermined format that instructs the image forming apparatus 100 to form an image and write data to a wireless tag. The image formation data file included in the image formation job may be configured as, for example, a so-called print data file.

[0011] The server 400 is an information processing device such as a general-purpose computer. The server 400 stores wireless tag setting information in advance. The wireless tag setting information is data used when setting parameters in the image forming apparatus 100 so that data can be read and written to an appropriate wireless tag (a wireless tag to be processed). The wireless tag setting information includes parameters used to read and write data to an appropriate wireless tag. Details of the wireless tag setting information will be described later.

[0012] The server 400 transmits wireless tag setting information to a device that has accessed a predetermined address via the network 90. ​​For example, when the server 400 receives request information from the image forming device 100 requesting wireless tag setting information together with type information indicating the type of wireless tag, the server 400 reads out the wireless tag setting information corresponding to the type information and transmits it to the image forming device 100. Note that the type information is information for distinguishing between wireless tags having different communication characteristics and performance depending on the type. For example, the type information may be the product model number or serial number of the wireless tag.

[0013] The external storage device 500 is a storage device such as a magnetic storage device or a semiconductor storage device. The external storage device 500 is configured to be detachable from another information processing device. The external storage device 500 is configured to be detachable from, for example, the image forming apparatus 100. The external storage device 500 may be configured using, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory.

[0014] Note that instead of the server 400, the external storage device 500 or the user terminal 300 may be configured to store in advance the wireless tag setting information to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 100.

[0015] Next, the image forming apparatus 100 will be described.

[0016] The image forming apparatus 100 forms an image on a sheet using toner or ink. The sheet is, for example, paper or label paper. The sheet may be a sheet with a wireless tag attached. The sheet may be any material on whose surface the image forming apparatus 100 can form an image. Note that a sheet with a wireless tag attached may be one in which the wireless tag is affixed to the surface of the sheet, or one in which the wireless tag is embedded inside the sheet. The wireless tag in this embodiment is a wireless tag that uses RFID technology and is also called an RF tag. Hereinafter, a sheet with a wireless tag attached will be referred to as a "wireless tag sheet."

[0017] The display 110 is an image display device such as a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, etc. The display 110 displays various information related to the image forming apparatus 100.

[0018] Control panel 120 has a plurality of buttons. Control panel 120 accepts operations from the user. Control panel 120 outputs a signal corresponding to the operation performed by the user to processor 153 of image forming apparatus 100. Note that display 110 and control panel 120 may be configured as an integrated touch panel.

[0019] The forming device 130 forms an image on a sheet based on an image formation data file included in an image formation job received via a communication path (e.g., the network 90) or an image formation data file generated by the image reading device 200. The forming device 130 forms an image by, for example, the following process. The forming device 130 forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum based on the image formation data file. The forming device 130 forms a visible image by attaching a developer to the electrostatic latent image. A specific example of the developer is toner. The forming device 130 transfers the visible image onto a sheet. The forming device 130 fixes the visible image onto the sheet by applying heat and pressure to the sheet. The sheet on which the image is formed may be a sheet stored in the sheet storage device 140 or a manually fed sheet. The sheet on which the image is formed is discharged to the paper discharge area 210. The method of forming an image on a sheet is not limited to the method using toner described above. For example, the image may be formed on the sheet using an inkjet method.

[0020] The sheet storage device 140 stores sheets to be used for image formation in the forming device 130. The sheet storage device 140 is provided with a paper feed cassette 141. The sheet storage device 140 of one image forming device 100 may be provided with one paper feed cassette 141 or with multiple paper feed cassettes 141. In this embodiment, the sheet storage device 140 is provided with four paper feed cassettes 141-1 to 141-4. In the following description, when it is not necessary to distinguish between these four paper feed cassettes, they will simply be referred to as "paper feed cassette 141."

[0021] The image reading device 200 reads the image formation data file to be read as the brightness and darkness of light. The image reading device 200 records the read information as image information. The recorded image information is formed into an image on a sheet by the forming device 130. The recorded image information may be transmitted to another information processing device (for example, the user terminal 300) via the network 90.

[0022] 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a display 110, a control panel 120, a forming device 130, a paper feeder 205, an auxiliary storage device 151, a memory 152, a processor 153, a wireless tag communication device 154, an external communication interface 155, and an image reading device 200. These devices are connected to each other via a system bus 160 so as to enable data communication. Note that the display 110, the control panel 120, the forming device 130, and the image reading device 200 have been described above, and therefore further description thereof will be omitted.

[0023] The paper feed device 205 is a mechanism that feeds sheets placed on a paper feed cassette 141 and a manual feed tray 220 (described later) to the forming device 130. The paper feed cassette 141 and the manual feed tray 220 are examples of a paper feed unit of the present invention.

[0024] The auxiliary storage device 151, memory 152, processor 153, RFID tag communication device 154, and external communication interface 155 will be described below.

[0025] The auxiliary storage device 151 is, for example, a hard disk or a solid state drive (SSD) and stores various data. The auxiliary storage device 151 and the memory 152 are examples of a storage unit of the present invention. The auxiliary storage device 151 may store, for example, software programs for controlling the operation of each device provided in the image forming apparatus 100.

[0026] The memory 152 temporarily stores data used by each device included in the image forming apparatus 100. The memory 152 is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory). The memory 152 may store digital data generated by the image reading apparatus 200. The memory 152 may temporarily store an image formation data file being printed by the forming apparatus 130 and write information to be written to a wireless tag.

[0027] Processor 153 controls the operation of each device included in image forming apparatus 100. Processor 153 is an example of a control unit of the present invention. Processor 153 may load a software program stored in auxiliary storage device 151 onto memory 152 and execute the software program to perform processing. Specific processing by processor 153 will be described below using an example.

[0028] The processor 153 receives an image formation job from an external information processing device (for example, the user terminal 300 or the server 400). Alternatively, the processor 153 acquires an image formation job from the external storage device 500 in response to an operation on the control panel 120. The processor 153 controls image formation on a sheet based on an image formation data file included in the image formation job.

[0029] The processor 153 requests and acquires wireless tag setting information suitable for the wireless tag to be used from an external information processing device (for example, the server 400). The processor 153 associates the acquired wireless tag setting information with the paper feed cassette 141 and the manual feed tray 220 (described later) that are the paper feed sources of the wireless tag sheet. When feeding the wireless tag sheet, the processor 153 sets parameters of the wireless tag communication device 154 according to the paper feed source.

[0030] The wireless tag communication device 154 reads and writes data by communicating wirelessly with the wireless tag. The wireless tag communication device 154 is an example of a tag communication unit of the present invention. The wireless tag communication device 154 reads and writes data in accordance with parameters based on the wireless tag setting information. Examples of such parameters include the transmission output and polarization direction of the wireless signal transmitted from the wireless tag communication device 154 to the wireless tag, a threshold value (e.g., RSSI) for identifying the wireless tag to be processed, and information indicating the paper feed cassette 141 that is the supply source of the sheets to which the wireless tag is attached (i.e., information indicating one of the paper feed cassettes 141-1 to 141-4).

[0031] For example, the wireless tag communication device 154 is equipped with a directional antenna, and the antenna direction is basically directed toward the reading position on the conveying path 250 along which the wireless tag sheet is conveyed (i.e., toward the inside of the image forming apparatus 100). Therefore, even if the wireless tag communication device 154 is somewhat far away from the wireless tag of the wireless tag sheet being conveyed on the conveying path 250, it can communicate without increasing the transmission output.

[0032] On the other hand, in order for the wireless tag communication device 154 to communicate with a wireless tag located in a direction different from the antenna direction (for example, a wireless tag located outside the image forming apparatus 100), the wireless tag needs to be brought close to the wireless tag communication device 154. In other words, even if the wireless tag is located outside the image forming apparatus 100, by bringing the wireless tag close to the installation position of the wireless tag communication device 154 so that the wireless tag is held close, the wireless tag communication device 154 can communicate with the wireless tag without increasing the transmission output. In the following description, of the side surfaces of the wireless tag communication device 154, the surface facing the outside of the image forming apparatus 100 is referred to as the "rear surface (of the wireless tag communication device 154)."

[0033] The external communication interface 155 performs data communication with an external device (a device different from the image forming apparatus 100). The external communication interface 155 may be configured as a communication device that performs data communication with an external device via the network 90, for example, or as a physical interface to which another device such as an external storage device 500 can be attached / detached. The external communication interface 155 may perform data communication with another information processing device (e.g., a user terminal 300 or a server 400) via the network 90. ​​The external communication interface 155 may be configured according to, for example, a USB protocol. The external communication interface 155 transmits data under the control of, for example, the processor 153. When the external communication interface 155 receives data, it outputs the received data to the processor 153.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 100. A manual feed tray 220 is newly shown in FIG. 3. The RFID sheet S is fed into a conveying path 250 from the paper feed cassette 141 or the manual feed tray 220. The conveying path 250 includes a plurality of conveying rollers. The conveying path 250 is an example of a conveying unit of the present invention. The conveying rollers rotate under the control of a processor 153 to convey the RFID sheet S. The RFID sheet S is conveyed along the conveying path 250, an image is formed on the RFID sheet S in the forming device 130, and the RFID sheet S is discharged to a paper discharge area 210 by paper discharge rollers. The RFID tag communication device 154 communicates with the RFID tag T attached to the RFID sheet S being conveyed along the conveying path 250. The RFID tag communication device 154 also communicates with the RFID tag T of the RFID sheet S when it is brought close to the RFID sheet S from outside the image forming apparatus 100, for example, by a user's hand.

[0035] The flow of the wireless tag setting process and the process of reading and writing data from and to the wireless tag in this embodiment will be described below with specific examples.

[0036] First, if the RFID tag T attached to the RFID tag sheet S to be used has not yet been subjected to RFID tag setting (parameter setting) in the image forming apparatus 100, or if it is unclear whether the RFID tag has been set, the user operates the control panel 120. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a menu screen is displayed on the display 110. The user operates the control panel 120 to select "RFID setting" displayed on the menu screen. Specifically, the selection is made by, for example, the user tapping on an image area 111 displaying "RFID setting" in the menu screen displayed on the display 110. As a result, an instruction screen is displayed on the display 110. Note that RFID setting is an example of RFID tag setting (parameter setting), and the selection of RFID setting corresponds to the acceptance of a RFID tag setting instruction.

[0037] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which an instruction screen is displayed on the display 110. As shown in Fig. 5, an image area 112 in the instruction screen displays instructions to the user to bring the RFID tag T attached to the RFID tag sheet S to be used closer to the RFID tag communication device 154. The user follows the instructions displayed on the instruction screen to bring the RFID tag T attached to the RFID tag sheet S to be used closer to the reading position on the back side of the RFID tag communication device 154. This establishes communication (first communication) between the RFID tag communication device 154 and the RFID tag T.

[0038] The RFID tag communication device 154 reads out the identification information stored in the RFID tag T. As described above, the identification information is information for distinguishing between RFID tags T with different communication characteristics and performance, such as a product model number or a serial number. The processor 153 of the image forming apparatus 100 transmits the identification information read out by the RFID tag communication device 154 and request information requesting RFID tag setting information including parameter values ​​to be set in the RFID tag communication device 154, etc., to the server 400 via the external communication interface 155.

[0039] The server 400 stores in advance a setting information list L, which is a list of predetermined wireless tag setting information for each piece of identification information. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the setting information list L stored in the server 400. As shown in FIG. 6, the setting information list L is tabular data in which wireless tag setting information (i.e., sets of parameter values ​​such as transmission output, polarization direction, and RSSI threshold) is associated with identification information. However, the data format of the wireless tag setting information stored in the server 400 is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a group of files of wireless tag setting information (i.e., a group of files in which a set of parameter values ​​is described) prepared for each piece of identification information. The server 400 receives the identification information and request information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 100. The server 400 refers to the setting information list L and returns the wireless tag setting information corresponding to the received identification information to the image forming apparatus 100.

[0040] The external communication interface 155 of the image forming apparatus 100 receives the wireless tag setting information transmitted from the server 400. The processor 153 displays the wireless tag setting information received by the external communication interface 155 on the display 110. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the wireless tag setting information displayed on the display 110. The user can check each parameter value of the wireless tag setting information to be set by viewing the image area 113 on this display screen. Note that the display screen may be configured so that the user can change each parameter value as necessary.

[0041] When the user checks the wireless tag setting information and taps, for example, the image area 114 on the display screen that displays "OK," the processor 153 causes the display 110 to display a selection screen that allows the user to select one of the four paper feed cassettes 141 or the manual feed tray 220. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the selection screen displayed on the display 110. The user operates the control panel 120 to select, on this selection screen, the paper feed cassette 141 or the manual feed tray 220 on which to place the wireless tag sheet S to be used. The control panel 120 is an example of a selection unit of the present invention.

[0042] For example, the user selects "CST1" when placing the wireless tag sheet S, which includes the same or similar type of wireless tag as the wireless tag T brought close to the reading position on the back side of the wireless tag communication device 154, in the paper feed cassette 141-1, selects "CST2" when placing it in the paper feed cassette 141-2, selects "CST3" when placing it in the paper feed cassette 141-3, selects "CST4" when placing it in the paper feed cassette 141-4, or selects "SFB" when placing it in the manual feed tray 220. Specifically, the user makes a selection by tapping on any of the areas displayed as "CST1" to "CST4" or "SFB" in the image area 115 of the selection screen.

[0043] When the user performs an operation to select the paper feed cassette 141 or the manual feed tray 220 and, for example, taps the image area 116 displayed as "Confirm" on the selection screen, the processor 153 associates the selected paper feed cassette 141 or the manual feed tray 220 with the wireless tag setting information and stores the association in the auxiliary storage device 151 or the memory 152. When feeding the wireless tag sheet S from the paper feed cassette 141 or the manual feed tray 220, the processor 153 sets parameters based on the wireless tag setting information associated with the paper feed cassette 141 or the manual feed tray 220 to be fed in the wireless tag communication device 154. Then, the wireless tag communication device 154 communicates (second communication) with the wireless tag T in accordance with the setting conditions of the set parameter values.

[0044] For example, when "CST1" is selected by the user, the processor 153 controls the wireless tag communication device 154 to transmit a signal from the antenna to the wireless tag T attached to the wireless tag sheet S fed from the paper feed cassette 141-1 with a transmission output of XXW and a polarization direction of △△. Then, when the RRSI threshold is equal to or greater than □□, the processor 153 controls the wireless tag communication device 154 to write to the wireless tag.

[0045] 8, the wireless tag setting information may be automatically associated with the paper feed cassette 141 that was last (most recently) opened and closed after the wireless tag T was read from the rear side of the wireless tag communication device 154. In this case, for example, if an instruction to form an image is given without any of the paper feed cassettes 141 being opened or closed, the wireless tag setting information may be automatically associated with the manual feed tray 220.

[0046] The processor 153 may perform control so as to disable the use of the paper feed cassette 141 or the manual feed tray 220 to which the wireless tag setting information is not associated.

[0047] The flow of processing during wireless tag setting, processing during image formation, and calibration processing will be described below.

[0048] Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing a specific example of the flow of the wireless tag setting process. The process shown in the flowchart in Fig. 9 is started when a wireless tag setting instruction is input to processor 153, for example, when a user selects "RFID setting" on the menu screen displayed on display 110 shown in Fig. 4.

[0049] The processor 153 receives a wireless tag setting instruction output from the control panel 120 (ACT001). Next, the processor 153 causes the wireless tag communication device 154 to execute a wireless tag detection process (ACT002). The wireless tag communication device 154 repeats the wireless tag detection process until it detects a wireless tag brought close to its rear side by the user (ACT003-No). If a wireless tag is detected (ACT003-Yes), the wireless tag communication device 154 executes a process to read out the identification information stored in the detected wireless tag T (ACT004). If the process to read out the identification information fails (ACT005-No), the wireless tag setting process of the flowchart in FIG. 9 ends. In this case, the processor 153 may cause the display 110 to display information indicating that identification of the type of wireless tag has failed.

[0050] If the identification information read process is successful (ACT005-No), the processor 153 transmits the read identification information and request information requesting transmission of wireless tag setting information corresponding to the identification information to the server 400 via the external communication interface 155 (ACT006). Next, the processor 153 continues to wait until the external communication interface 155 receives wireless tag setting information transmitted from the server 400 (ACT007-No). If the external communication interface 155 receives the wireless tag setting information (ACT007-Yes), the processor 153 displays the wireless tag setting information received by the external communication interface 155 on the display 110 (ACT008). For example, the processor 153 displays the display screen shown in FIG. 7 on the display 110.

[0051] Next, the processor 153 causes the display 110 to display a selection screen for allowing the user to select the paper feed cassette 141 (i.e., the paper feed cassette 141 on which the wireless tag sheet S with the above-mentioned wireless tag T is placed) or the manual feed tray 220 as the paper feed source (ACT009). For example, the processor 153 causes the display 110 to display the selection screen shown in FIG. 8. The processor 153 continues in a standby state until the control panel 120 accepts a selection input operation by the user (ACT0010-No).

[0052] When the control panel 120 receives a selection input by the user (ACT0010-Yes), the processor 153 associates the selected paper feed cassette 141 or manual feed tray 220 with the wireless tag setting information and stores the associated information in the auxiliary storage device 151 or memory 152 (ACT111). As a result, when the wireless tag sheet S is fed from the selected paper feed cassette 141 or manual feed tray 220, the processor 153 sets parameters of the wireless tag communication device 154 in accordance with the associated wireless tag setting information. This completes the wireless tag setting process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9.

[0053] 10 is a flowchart showing a specific example of the flow of image forming processing. The processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.

[0054] The processor 153 accepts input of an image formation job (ACT101). Specifically, for example, an external device such as the user terminal 300 transmits the image formation job to the image forming apparatus 100 via the network 90. ​​The processor 153 accepts input of the image formation job received by the external communication interface 155. Next, the processor 153 reads out an image formation data file and write information, which is information related to the write process to the RFID tag T, from the acquired image formation job. The write information includes information indicating the paper feed cassette 141 or the manual feed tray 220, which is the paper feed source.

[0055] Next, the processor 153 reads out the wireless tag setting information associated with the paper feed source indicated by the read writing information from the auxiliary storage device 151 or the memory 152. The processor 153 sets parameters of the wireless tag communication device 154 in accordance with the read wireless tag setting information (ACT102). Next, the processor 153 controls the paper feed device 205 and the conveying path 250 to feed the wireless tag sheet S from the paper feed source indicated by the read writing information (ACT103).

[0056] Next, the processor 153 controls the forming device 130 to form an image based on the image formation data file read out above on one side (front side) of the conveyed RFID tag sheet S (ACT104). Next, the processor 153 controls the RFID tag communication device 154 to write the write data indicated by the write information to the RFID tag T of the conveyed RFID tag sheet S (ACT105). Specifically, when the RFID tag sheet S is conveyed, the RFID tag communication device 154 emits electromagnetic waves for writing the write data from its antenna. The RFID tag T attached to the RFID tag sheet S receives the electromagnetic waves and writes the write data in its memory area.

[0057] Next, the processor 153 controls the RFID tag communication device 154 to check whether the data has been successfully written to the RFID tag T (ACT106). Specifically, the RFID tag communication device 154 emits an electromagnetic wave from its antenna to read out the data written in the memory area of ​​the RFID tag T. The RFID tag T attached to the RFID tag sheet S receives this electromagnetic wave and emits an electromagnetic wave containing the data stored in the memory area to the RFID tag communication device 154. The antenna of the RFID tag communication device 154 receives this electromagnetic wave. The RFID tag communication device 154 outputs the data contained in the electromagnetic wave to the processor 153. The processor 153 compares the data acquired from the RFID tag communication device 154 with the write data. If the comparison result satisfies a predetermined condition, the processor 153 determines that the data has been successfully written to the RFID tag T. If the comparison result does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the processor 153 determines that the data has been unsuccessfully written to the RFID tag T.

[0058] If it is determined that writing data to the RFID tag T was successful (ACT106-Yes), the processor 153 controls the forming device 130 to form an image based on the image formation data file read out above on the other side (rear side) of the transported RFID tag sheet S (ACT107). If it is determined that writing data to the RFID tag T failed (ACT106-No), the processor 153 controls the forming device 130 to form a void image on the other side (rear side) of the transported RFID tag sheet S (ACT108). A void image is an image that indicates that an error has occurred.

[0059] The processor 153 controls the conveying path 250 to discharge the RFID tag sheet S to the paper discharge area 210 (ACT109). The user can recognize that the data writing to the RFID tag T has failed by checking the image formed on the back side of the discharged RFID tag sheet S. This completes the image forming process shown in the flowchart of FIG.

[0060] Note that a configuration may be adopted in which a conventional calibration process is executed when the server 400 does not store RFID tag setting information corresponding to the identification information obtained by reading the RFID tag T from the rear side of the RFID tag communication device 154. The conventional calibration process here refers to, for example, a process in which the RFID tag sheet S to be actually used is loaded on the image forming apparatus 100, and attempts are made to transport the RFID tag sheet S and read and write data from the RFID tag T repeatedly, thereby deriving optimal parameter values ​​while changing the signal transmission output and polarization direction. An example of the flow of the conventional calibration process will be described below.

[0061] 11 is a flowchart showing a specific example of the flow of the calibration process. The processor 153 starts feeding the RFID tag sheet S by controlling the paper feed device 205 corresponding to the paper feed cassette 141 in which the RFID tag sheet S is stored (ACT201). The processor 153 controls the rotation of the transport roller to transport the RFID tag sheet S to the vicinity of the antenna of the RFID tag communication device 154 and stop it (ACT202). The processor 153 controls the RFID tag communication device 154 to set the maximum output of the parameters included in the calibration command to the output of the RFID tag communication device 154 (ACT203). The processor 153 causes the RFID tag communication device 154 to execute a detection process for the RFID tag T (ACT204). If the RFID tag communication device 154 has successfully detected the RFID tag T (ACT205-YES), the processor 153 reduces the output of the RFID tag communication device 154 and returns to the process of ACT204 to execute it repeatedly.

[0062] If the detection of the RF tag T fails in the RF tag communication device 154 (ACT205-NO), the processor 153 determines whether the transmission output of the RF tag communication device 154 is less than a predetermined maximum output (ACT207). If the transmission output of the RF tag communication device 154 is equal to or greater than the maximum output (ACT207-NO), the processor 153 outputs a message that the calibration process has failed, and ends the calibration process (ACT210).

[0063] If the transmission output of the wireless tag communication device 154 is less than the maximum output (ACT207-YES), the processor 153 sets the transmission output for wireless tag detection to the value obtained by adding a predetermined margin to the output setting value at that time (ACT208).Then, the processor 153 outputs a message that the calibration process has been successfully executed, and ends the calibration process (ACT209).

[0064] In addition, if the wireless tag setting (parameter setting) is performed based on the wireless tag setting information sent from the server 400, but the wireless tag communication device 154 fails to write data to the wireless tag T and a void image is formed a predetermined number of times in succession (for example, if data writing fails on three consecutive sheets), the processor 153 may be configured to execute the conventional calibration process shown in Figure 11.

[0065] In the image forming apparatus 100 configured as described above, it becomes possible to more easily set appropriate parameters in the RFID tag communication device 154 that communicates with the RFID tag T attached to the RFID tag sheet S that is the target of image formation. Specifically, this is as follows.

[0066] In the image forming apparatus 100, when setting appropriate parameters in the wireless tag communication device 154, the appropriate parameters are not set individually by a conventional calibration process, but are instead set by the image forming apparatus 100 acquiring wireless tag setting information recorded in an external device. Such wireless tag setting information may be downloaded (received) from the server 400, or may be read by connecting an external storage device 500 (for example, a USB memory) to the image forming apparatus 100, or may be input to the image forming apparatus 100 in other ways. In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can easily acquire wireless tag setting information including appropriate parameters.

[0067] Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus 100, in order to acquire wireless tag setting information suitable for the type of the wireless tag T to be used, the wireless tag T is brought close to the wireless tag communication device 154 from outside the image forming apparatus 100, and type information indicating the type of the wireless tag T is read out. The image forming apparatus 100 acquires wireless tag setting information corresponding to the read type information from the server 400 or the like. In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can easily acquire wireless tag setting information suitable for the type of the wireless tag T to be used.

[0068] Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 100 stores the acquired wireless tag setting information in association with the paper feed source (paper feed cassettes 141-1 to 141-4 or manual feed tray 220) on which the wireless tag sheet S having the wireless tag T corresponding to the information is placed. When feeding paper, the image forming apparatus 100 sets the parameters of the wireless tag setting information corresponding to the paper feed source to be used in the wireless tag communication device 154. In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can reliably set the parameters suitable for the wireless tag T attached to the wireless tag sheet S to be fed in the wireless tag communication device 154.

[0069] According to the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus includes a conveying unit, a tag communication unit, and a control unit. For example, the image forming apparatus is the image forming apparatus 100 in the embodiment, the conveying unit is the conveying path 250 in the embodiment, the tag communication unit is the RFID tag communication device 154 in the embodiment, and the control unit is the processor 153 in the embodiment. The conveying unit conveys a sheet. For example, the sheet is the RFID tag sheet S in the embodiment. The tag communication unit performs first communication with a RFID tag brought close to a reading position different from the conveying unit, and second communication with a RFID tag provided on a sheet being conveyed by the conveying unit. For example, the reading position different from the conveying unit is a position on the rear side of the RFID tag communication device 154 in the embodiment, and the RFID tag is the RFID tag T in the embodiment. The control unit acquires setting information used in the second communication that is associated in advance with the information read in the first communication, and causes the tag communication unit to perform the second communication in accordance with the acquired setting information. For example, the information read in the first communication is type information of the RFID tag T in the embodiment, and the setting information is RFID tag setting information in the embodiment.

[0070] In the image forming apparatus, the setting information may include information on at least one of the transmission output and polarization direction of the antenna used by the tag communication unit to communicate with the wireless tag.

[0071] In the image forming apparatus described above, the control unit may acquire the setting information associated with the wireless tag that performed the first communication from an external device connected to the network. For example, the network is the network 90 in the embodiment, and the external device is the server 400 or the external storage device 500 in the embodiment.

[0072] In the image forming apparatus described above, the information read in the first communication may include type information indicating the type of the wireless tag.

[0073] The image forming apparatus may further include at least one paper feed unit. For example, the paper feed unit is paper feed cassettes 141-1 to 141-4 and manual feed tray 220 in the embodiment. The control unit may store information indicating the paper feed unit that will be the sheet feed source in association with setting information in the storage unit, and when feeding a sheet, may cause the tag communication unit to perform second communication in accordance with the setting information associated with the paper feed unit that will feed the sheet. For example, the storage unit is auxiliary storage device 151 or memory 152 in the embodiment.

[0074] At least some of the functions of image forming apparatus 100 in the above-described embodiment may be implemented by a computer. In this case, a program for implementing the functions may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program may be loaded into a computer system and executed. Note that the term "computer system" as used herein includes hardware such as an operating system and peripheral devices. Furthermore, the term "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, optical magnetic disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, as well as storage devices such as hard disks built into computer systems. Furthermore, the term "computer-readable recording medium" may also include devices that dynamically store programs for a short period of time, such as communication lines used when transmitting programs via networks such as the Internet or telephone lines, or devices that store programs for a fixed period of time, such as volatile memory within a computer system serving as a server or client. The program may be designed to implement some of the functions described above, or may be capable of implementing the functions described above in combination with a program already stored in the computer system.

[0075] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention described in the claims and their equivalents.

[0076] The following discloses additional notes relating to the above-described embodiments.

[0077] (Appendix 1) a conveying unit that conveys sheets; a tag communication unit that performs a first communication with a wireless tag that is brought close to a reading position different from the conveying unit, and a second communication with the wireless tag that is provided on the sheet being conveyed by the conveying unit; a control unit that acquires setting information to be used in the second communication that is associated in advance with the information read in the first communication, and causes the tag communication unit to perform the second communication in accordance with the acquired setting information; An image forming apparatus comprising: (Appendix 2) The setting information includes at least one of information on the transmission output and polarization direction of an antenna used by the tag communication unit to communicate with the wireless tag. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. (Appendix 3) The control unit acquires the setting information associated with the wireless tag that has performed the first communication from an external device connected to a network. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. (Appendix 4) The information read in the first communication includes type information indicating the type of the wireless tag. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. (Appendix 5) At least one paper source Furthermore, The control unit stores information indicating the paper feed unit that is the paper feed source of the sheet in association with the setting information in a storage unit, and when feeding the sheet, causes the tag communication unit to perform the second communication in accordance with the setting information associated with the paper feed unit that is to feed the sheet. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. (Appendix 6) a selection section for allowing a user to select the paper feed section from which the sheet is to be fed; Furthermore, The control unit associates the paper feed unit selected by the selection unit with the setting information. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5. (Appendix 7) The control unit associates the most recently opened / closed paper feed unit with the setting information. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5. (Appendix 8) The control unit disables the paper feed unit that is not associated with the setting information. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5. (Appendix 9) When the setting information cannot be acquired, the control unit executes a predetermined calibration process. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. (Appendix 10) The control unit causes the tag communication unit to execute a predetermined calibration process when the second communication, which the control unit causes the tag communication unit to perform in accordance with the setting information, fails a predetermined number of times in succession. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. (Appendix 11) The reading position in the first communication is a position outside the image forming apparatus and on the rear side of the tag communication unit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. (Appendix 12) An image forming system having an image forming apparatus and a wireless tag communication device, the image forming apparatus, a conveying unit that conveys sheets; a control unit that acquires setting information to be used in a second communication that is associated in advance with the information read in the first communication, and causes the tag communication unit to perform the second communication in accordance with the acquired setting information; Equipped with The wireless tag communication device a tag communication unit that performs the first communication with a wireless tag that is brought close to a reading position different from the conveying unit, and the second communication with the wireless tag that is provided on the sheet being conveyed by the conveying unit; Equipped with Imaging system. (Appendix 13) A communication setting method for an image forming apparatus by a computer, comprising: a step in which a tag communication unit performs first communication with a wireless tag that is brought close to a reading position different from a conveying unit that conveys a sheet; a step in which the tag communication unit performs second communication with the wireless tag provided on the sheet being transported by the transport unit; a step in which a control unit acquires setting information to be used in the second communication, which is associated in advance with the information read in the first communication, and causes the tag communication unit to perform the second communication in accordance with the acquired setting information; A communication control method comprising: (Appendix 14) The computer of the image forming device a step in which a tag communication unit performs first communication with a wireless tag that is brought close to a reading position different from a conveying unit that conveys a sheet; a step in which the tag communication unit performs second communication with the wireless tag provided on the sheet being transported by the transport unit; a step in which a control unit acquires setting information to be used in the second communication, which is associated in advance with the information read in the first communication, and causes the tag communication unit to perform the second communication in accordance with the acquired setting information; A program to execute. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 90...network, 100...image forming apparatus, 110...display, 111 to 116...image area, 120...control panel, 130...forming apparatus, 140...sheet storage device, 141 (141-1 to 141-4)...paper feed cassette, 151...auxiliary storage device, 152...memory, 153...processor, 154...wireless tag communication device, 155...external communication interface, 160...system bus, 200...image reading device, 205...paper feed device, 210...paper discharge area, 220...manual feed tray, 250...conveyor path, 300...user terminal, 400...server, 500...external storage device, S...wireless tag sheet, L...setting information list, T...wireless tag

Claims

1. a conveying unit that conveys sheets; a tag communication unit that performs a first communication with a wireless tag that is brought close to a reading position different from the conveying unit, and a second communication with the wireless tag that is provided on the sheet being conveyed by the conveying unit; a control unit that acquires setting information to be used in the second communication that is associated in advance with the information read in the first communication, and causes the tag communication unit to perform the second communication in accordance with the acquired setting information; An image forming apparatus comprising:

2. The setting information includes at least one of information on the transmission output and polarization direction of an antenna used by the tag communication unit to communicate with the wireless tag. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

3. The control unit acquires the setting information associated with the wireless tag that has performed the first communication from an external device connected to a network. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

4. The information read in the first communication includes type information indicating the type of the wireless tag. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

5. At least one paper feeder Furthermore, The control unit stores information indicating the paper feed unit that is the paper feed source of the sheet in association with the setting information in a storage unit, and when feeding the sheet, causes the tag communication unit to perform the second communication in accordance with the setting information associated with the paper feed unit that is to feed the sheet. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

Images