printer

Abstract

This invention provides a printer capable of easily generating and printing desired output images that support multiple languages. [Solution] The printer 10 includes a printing unit 11 that prints on a printing medium 3 having an RFID tag 2, a reader / writer 12 that communicates wirelessly with the RFID tag 2 to write / read data, an interface unit 13 that communicates with a higher-level device, a memory unit 15 that stores multiple template images 5 prepared for each language code, and a control unit 16 that controls the printing operation and the writing / reading operation of data to / from the RFID tag 2. The control unit 16 writes ID information 6 sent from the higher-level device to the RFID tag 2, selects one of the template images 5 associated with the language code 6a included in the ID information 6, and prints an output image including the selected template image on the printing medium 3.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly to an RFID-compatible printer.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a printer equipped with an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) recording function for printing and issuing tickets or the like. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a printer that prints on a label continuum provided with a plurality of labels having RFID inlays based on print data. This printer includes a data generation unit that generates RFID data and drawing data from the print data, an RFID control unit that writes the RFID data generated by the data generation unit into the RFID inlay, and a print control unit that prints the drawing data generated by the data generation unit on the label. The RFID control unit writes the RFID data into the RFID inlay in parallel with the print control unit receiving the drawing data generated by the data generation unit.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Generally, since a printer receives command instructions from a host device to form an output image, when trying to support multiple languages with a conventional mechanism, it is necessary to prepare font data for each language.

[0005] However, if you try to support a very large number of languages, such as 20 or more, the font data becomes enormous, requiring a very large amount of memory to store the font data, which leads to increased hardware costs. Additionally, it's necessary to generate an output image for each selected language, which adds to the problem of the time-consuming process involved in generating the output images.

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a printer that can easily generate and print desired output images that support multiple languages. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the printer according to the present invention comprises a printing unit that prints on a printing medium having an RFID tag, a reader / writer that performs wireless communication with the RFID tag to write / read data, an interface unit that communicates with a higher-level device, a memory unit that stores a plurality of template images prepared for each language code, and a control unit that controls the printing operation and the writing / reading operation of data to / from the RFID tag, wherein the control unit writes ID information sent from the higher-level device to the RFID tag, selects one of the plurality of template images associated with the language code included in the ID information, and prints an output image including the selected template image on the printing medium.

[0008] According to the present invention, multilingual output images can be generated without using font data for each language. Furthermore, output images can be generated using ID information written to an RFID tag. Therefore, desired multilingual output images can be easily generated and printed.

[0009] In the present invention, it is preferable that the control unit writes the ID information to the RFID tag, then reads the ID information from the RFID tag to verify whether the ID information has been written correctly, and if it determines that the ID information recorded on the RFID tag is normal, it selects one of the template images based on the language code included in the ID information. This ensures that both the writing of the ID information and the printing of language-specific output images are reliably performed.

[0010] The printer according to the present invention further comprises a display unit for displaying information, and preferably the display unit displays the result of writing the ID information to the RFID tag. This makes it possible to notify the user that the process of writing the ID information to the RFID tag has been performed correctly and that the subsequent printing operation will begin.

[0011] The output image is preferably an image formed by overlaying a character image of variable data onto the template image, and the variable data preferably includes data relating to a date or quantity. This makes it possible to easily generate and print multilingual output images that include variable data.

[0012] Preferably, the template image includes foreign language character information corresponding to the language code, and character information of the local language translation alongside the foreign language character information. This allows relevant parties to easily understand the printed content in the foreign language. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printer that can easily generate and print desired output images that support multiple languages. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of the printer. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the printer. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an example of the structure of ID information. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0016] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] As shown in Figure 1, this printer system 1 comprises a printer 10 and a computer 20 connected to the printer 10. The connection method between the printer 10 and the computer 20 is not particularly limited; they may be connected via a wired network such as a LAN, a wireless network such as Wi-Fi, or directly via a communication cable such as a USB cable.

[0018] The printer 10 has the function of printing on a printing medium 3 having an RFID tag 2 and the function of writing / reading data to / from the RFID tag 2, and can write / read data to / from the RFID tag 2 in parallel with printing on the printing medium 3. The printing method of the printer 10 is not particularly limited, but a thermal transfer method or a thermal-sensitive method is preferred.

[0019] The printing medium 3 is preferably a label continuum on which multiple labels having RFID tags 2 are provided. The label continuum has a strip-shaped backing paper as a continuous sheet of paper and multiple labels temporarily attached to the surface side of the backing paper. The RFID tag 2 has an IC chip and an antenna.

[0020] The computer 20 is a host device for controlling the printing function of the printer 10 and the data writing / reading function to the RFID tag 2. The type of the computer 20 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a desktop PC, a notebook PC, a tablet terminal, a smartphone, and the like. Also, it does not have to be a single computer, and for example, a combination of a database server and a terminal may be used. The computer 20 sends ID information to the printer 10, and the printer 10 writes the ID information from the computer 20 to the RFID tag 2. Also, the printer 10 prints characters, graphics, images, etc. based on the ID information.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the printer 10.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 10 includes a printing unit 11 that prints on a printing medium 3 having an RFID tag 2, a reader / writer 12 that performs wireless communication with the RFID tag 2 to write / read data, an interface unit 13 that communicates with a host device, i.e., the computer 20, a display unit 14 that displays information such as an operating state, a memory unit 15 that stores various data, and a control unit 16 that controls the printing operation and the data writing / reading operation to the RFID tag 2.

[0023] In the memory unit 15, in addition to font data 4 compliant with a standard character code standard, a plurality of template images 5 prepared for each language code are stored. The template image 5 is image data including characters, line drawings, graphics, photographs, etc. to be printed in a predetermined printing area on the printing medium. Among these, the character portions are different for each language. For example, in the case of a template image for Japanese, the character portion is in Japanese notation, and in the case of a template image for English, the character portion is in English notation. It is desirable that the number of target languages is 20 or more, and it is desirable that more languages that are not very familiar to Japanese people are supported.

[0024] Preferably, the font data 4 registered in the memory unit 15 consists only of font data for the local language (for example, Japanese in the case of use in Japan) and English (Romanized) font data, rather than large-capacity font data that supports multiple languages. For example, it consists of the minimum font data that can display ASCII and Shift JIS character codes. This reduces the amount of data that needs to be handled, saving memory capacity.

[0025] Next, the operation of printer system 1 will be explained with reference to Figure 3.

[0026] As shown in Figure 3, the computer 20 transfers the ID information 6 to be written to the RFID tag 2 to the printer 10 (step S1). For example, as shown in Figure 4, when issuing a hotel accommodation ticket, the contents of the ID information 6 to be written to the RFID tag 2 include information such as "reservation number," "issue date," "branch," "room number," "name," "number of nights," "breakfast (if any)," "language code," and "type." The data written to the RFID tag 2 is customized for each application, unlike standard identification codes such as GS1. By including the language code 6a in the ID information 6, it becomes possible to output various content data in multiple languages, such as admission tickets and reception tickets.

[0027] The control unit 16 of the printer 10, having received ID information 6 from the computer 20, first records the ID information 6 in the memory unit 15, and then writes it to the RFID tag 2 (step S2).

[0028] Next, the control unit 16 reads the ID information 6 recorded on the RFID tag 2 and compares it with the ID information 6 recorded in the memory unit 15 to verify whether the ID information 6 was written correctly (step S3). If it determines that the ID information 6 recorded on the RFID tag 2 is correct, it notifies the user that the writing result is correct by displaying it on the display unit 14 (step S4). After that, it refers to the language code 6a included in the ID information and selects one of the template images 5 associated with the language code 6a from among the multiple template images 5 recorded in the memory unit 15. The language code 6a can be any code that allows selection of one of the multiple template images 5 prepared for each language, and it is also possible to use a so-called country code as the language code 6a.

[0029] Next, the control unit 16 generates an output image by overlaying text images of variable data, such as the number of nights of stay, onto the selected template image 5, and prints the output image on the printing medium 3 (step S5). The variable data preferably includes data related to dates or quantities.

[0030] For example, if the language code 6a included in the ID information 6 recorded on the RFID tag 2 is Japanese (JPN), a template image containing the words "Sanei Hotel" and "X nights X days" is selected and printed at a predetermined position on the printing medium 3, and the variable data numbers "2" and "3" are also printed at predetermined positions.

[0031] Furthermore, if language code 6a is English (ENG), a template image containing the words "HOTEL SANEI" and "〇nights〇days" is selected and printed at a predetermined position on the printing medium 3, along with the variable data numbers "2" and "3" at predetermined positions.

[0032] If the text information to be printed on the printing medium 3 is in a foreign language unfamiliar to that country, it is preferable that the template image 5 includes not only the foreign language text information corresponding to language code 6a, but also the text information of the translation into the local language (for example, Japanese in the case of use in Japan). This allows stakeholders involved in the business to easily understand the printed content in the foreign language.

[0033] As described above, when the control unit 16 receives the ID information 6 to be written to the RFID tag 2, it sequentially performs a series of operations from writing the ID information 6 to the RFID tag 2 to printing it on the printing medium 3. In other words, the command to write to the RFID tag 2 also serves as the printing command.

[0034] As described above, the printer 10 according to this embodiment writes the ID information 6 sent from the host device to the RFID tag 2, selects one of the template images 5 associated with the language code 6a included in the ID information 6 from among a plurality of template images 5 stored in the memory unit 15, generates an output image including the template image 5, and prints it on the printing medium 3. Therefore, the output image can be printed in multiple languages ​​using the data recorded in the RFID tag 2. In other words, with this printer 10, it is possible to easily generate and print desired output images that support multiple languages ​​without having to prepare font data for each language.

[0035] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it goes without saying that these modifications are also included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 1. Printer System 2 RFID tags 3 Print media 4. Font data 5 Template Images 6 ID Information 10 Printers 11 Printing section 12 Reader / Writer 13 Interface section 14 Display section 15 Memory section 16 Control Unit 20. Computer (Host device)

Claims

1. A printing unit that prints on a printing medium having an RFID tag, A reader / writer that communicates wirelessly with the RFID tag to write / read data, An interface unit that communicates with a higher-level device, A memory section that stores multiple template images prepared for each language code, It includes a control unit that controls the printing operation and the writing / reading operation of data to / from the RFID tag, The control unit, The ID information sent from the aforementioned higher-level device is written to the RFID tag. From among the multiple template images, select one template image associated with the language code included in the ID information. A printer characterized by printing an output image, including the selected template image, onto the printing medium.

2. The control unit, After writing the ID information to the RFID tag, the ID information is read from the RFID tag to verify whether the ID information was written correctly. The printer according to claim 1, which, when it is determined that the ID information recorded in the RFID tag is normal, selects one of the template images based on the language code included in the ID information.

3. It further includes a display unit for displaying information, The printer according to claim 2, wherein the display unit displays the result of writing the ID information to the RFID tag.

4. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the output image is an image obtained by superimposing a variable data character image onto the template image.

5. The printer according to claim 4, wherein the variable data includes data relating to a date or quantity.

6. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the template image includes foreign language character information corresponding to the language code and character information of the local language translation written alongside the foreign language character information.

Images