Recording device

Abstract

In recording devices capable of reading and writing to RFID tags, malfunctions may occur where unnecessary writing or reading is performed on adjacent RFID tags that are not intended for writing, in addition to the RFID tag that is the intended target for writing, within the communication range with the RFID tag. [Solution] By arranging multiple RFID antennas that emit communication radio waves within a communication range suitable for the size of the RFID tag, it becomes possible to communicate with the RFID tag to be written to and reduce communication failures caused by communicating with adjacent RFID tags that are not the target of writing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that continuously reads and writes information to and records images on a recording medium to which an RFID tag is attached.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an apparatus having a function of recording on a wireless tag and a printing function is known. For example, in a wireless communication technology called RFID (Radio Rrequency Identification), information can be read and written by short-range wireless communication using an electromagnetic field, radio waves, etc. between an RFID tag equipped with an electronic circuit and holding information and a reader / writer that controls the RFID tag. When the RFID tag is mounted on a recording medium such as a card or a label and used, it is necessary to record an image on the recording medium and read and write information to and from the RFID tag. In order to perform these operations collectively, a recording apparatus capable of performing both recording on a recording medium and reading and writing information to and from an RFID tag has been proposed.

[0003] In Patent Document 1, a recording medium provided with a plurality of RFID tags arranged continuously at a predetermined interval is provided with a follower member that contacts an RFID tag on the upstream side of the RFID tag to be written and follows in accordance with the movement of the recording medium while remaining in contact, and discloses a recording apparatus that reduces the influence of communication radio waves on adjacent RFID tags that are not the writing target.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In recent years, RFID tags of various sizes have come into use. For example, when RFID tags with a short length in the direction of transport of recording material are used, in conventional configurations, multiple adjacent RFID tags that are not intended for writing may exist within the communication range of the RFID tag. In such situations, there has been a problem in that unnecessary writing and reading may occur to adjacent RFID tags that are not intended for writing.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a recording device that can reduce the influence of communication radio waves on adjacent RFID tags that are not the target of writing when communicating with an RFID tag that is the target of writing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a recording device for printing on a recording medium on which an RFID tag is provided, comprising: a first RFID communication antenna for wireless communication with the RFID tag; a second RFID communication antenna for wireless communication with the RFID tag, the second RFID communication antenna facing the first RFID communication antenna and having a radio wave output range smaller than the radio wave output range of the first RFID communication antenna; a transport means for transporting a recording medium on which an RFID tag is provided between the first RFID communication antenna and the second RFID communication antenna; and a control means for controlling the second RFID communication antenna to communicate with the RFID tag using the second RFID communication antenna when the RFID tag transported by the transport means is smaller than a predetermined size. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, by using an RFID tag antenna suitable for the size of the recording medium, it becomes possible to accurately communicate with and read / write to the RFID tag, which is the intended target for writing. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the external appearance of the recording device in this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram of the recording device in this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram of the RFID tag antenna of the recording device in this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a flowchart of the recording control in this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the main body showing the main parts of the recording device in this embodiment. In this embodiment, as an example of a recording device, a printer that records image information on a roll-shaped recording medium using an inkjet method will be used for the description.

[0011] The printer 100 consists of a printer body 101 and a feed unit 105 that supplies a recording medium to the printer body 101. The recording data to be recorded on the recording medium P is transmitted from the host computer (hereinafter also referred to as the host PC) 700 to the printer body 101 via a print cable 701. The printer body 101 is equipped with an operation panel 103 for making various settings and notifying the operator of the status of the printer 100.

[0012] The printer body 101 is equipped with a four-color recording head 10 that has multiple ejection ports arranged across the entire width of the recording medium P, and can record images in full color on the recording medium P. Below the recording head 10, from top to bottom, are a cap unit 11 that protects the ejection ports of the recording head 10, a transport unit 20 that transports the recording medium P, four ink tanks 30 that supply ink to the recording head 10, and a recovery tank 40 that stores the ink recovered by the cap unit 11.

[0013] The recording medium P, set in the feeding unit 105, is fed to the printer body 101 (in the direction of the arrow) by driving the feeding roller with the driving force of a feeding motor (not shown). The recording medium P fed to the printer body 101 is detected by the inlet sensor 22 and transported to the position of the recording head 10 by a transport belt 21 that is rotationally driven by the driving force of a transport motor (not shown).

[0014] The conveyor belt 21 is provided with suction holes, and the recording medium P is attracted onto the conveyor belt 21 by being drawn in by a suction fan (not shown) located below the conveyor belt 21. In addition, the conveying position of the recording medium P is controlled by an encoder (not shown) that rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the conveyor belt 21.

[0015] The recording medium P, on which recording has been performed by the recording head 10, is detected by the exit sensor 23, and transport stops when the trailing edge of the recording page reaches the cutting position of the cutter unit 50. After the trailing edge of the recording page is cut by the cutter, it is ejected. Cutting by the cutter can be selected or not selected by the printer 100 settings.

[0016] Furthermore, the RFID tag antenna 6, positioned upstream of the recording head 10, writes the RFID tag write data transmitted from the host computer 700 to the RFID tag of the recording medium P selected according to the size of the RFID tag, via the RFID communication circuit.

[0017] Next, the configuration of the recording device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the block diagram in Figure 2. The host computer 700 is used to create print data and RFID write data using the installed drawing application and RFID data management application, and to transmit that data to the recording device 100. The host interface receives the print data and RFID write data from the host computer 700 and temporarily stores them in the print buffer 15 and RFID buffer memory 8.

[0018] The MPU (Micro-Processing Unit) 12 starts up by executing the startup program stored in the ROM 13, and at startup, it decompresses the compressed control program stored in the ROM 13 and expands it into the system memory 14 for execution. Also, the MPU 12 controls the entire recording device 100. In this embodiment, the print data and the RFID writing data are those transmitted from the host computer 700, but they may be directly transferred to the recording device 100 from an SD card, a USB memory, or the like. The RFID communication circuit 5 connected to the MPU 12 can wirelessly and non-contact write and read the data stored in the RFID buffer memory 8 to / from the RFID tag 7 through the RFID antenna 6 (6a / 6b).

[0019] The operation panel 103 includes a display device for the main body operation and status display of the recording device 100. The paper feed motor 18 drives a paper feed roller (not shown) around which the recording medium P is wound. The conveyance motor 19 drives a conveyance belt 33 for conveying the recording medium P to the printing position where the recording head unit 10 is located. The recording control unit 16 controls the motor driver unit 17 for controlling the paper feed motor 18 and the conveyance motor 19 and controls the ink ejection of the recording head unit 10. The recording head unit 10 is composed of four-color heads: a black head 110, a cyan head 111, a magenta head 112, and a yellow head 113.

[0020] Next, the configuration of the RFID tag antenna 6 according to the embodiment of the present invention and the usage method of the RFID tag antenna will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the RFID tag antenna.

[0021] The RFID tag antenna 6a and the RFID tag antenna 6b are arranged at positions facing each other across the conveyance path. The RFID tag antenna 6a and the RFID tag antenna 6b are selected and used according to the size of the recording medium to be used. In the present embodiment, an antenna with a wide radio wave output range is used for the RFID tag antenna 6a, and an antenna with a narrow radio wave output range is used for the RFID tag antenna 6b.

[0022] Then, in consideration of the size of the RFID tag 7 as the recording medium P in the conveyance direction, the RFID tag antenna 6a and the RFID tag antenna 6b are selectively used to write and read data to / from the RFID tag 7. More specifically, when the size of the RFID tag as the recording medium P is small, communication with the RFID tag is performed using the RFID tag antenna 6b, and when the size of the RFID tag is large, communication with the RFID tag is performed using the RFID tag antenna 6a.

[0023] In this way, by using two types of output ranges, it is possible to suppress communication failures caused by simultaneously reading tags adjacent to the tag to be read even when the RFID tag 7 is small.

[0024] Also, in the present embodiment, by arranging the RFID tag antenna 6a and the RFID tag antenna 6b to face each other, the device can be miniaturized in the conveyance direction of the recording medium P. Along with this configuration, when the RFID tag antenna 6a is used, reflection and resonance from the unused RFID tag antenna 6b occur due to the radio waves emitted from the RFID tag antenna 6a, and there is a high possibility of communication failure between the RFID tag antenna 6a and the RFID tag 7. Therefore, a radio wave absorber 70 is installed between the unused RFID tag antenna 6b and the conveyance path. Conversely, when the RFID tag antenna 6b is used, by installing a radio wave absorber 70 between the unused RFID tag antenna 6a and the conveyance path, the occurrence of communication failure between the RFID tag antenna and the RIFD tag is prevented.

[0025] In this way, by placing the radio wave absorber 70 between the RFID tag antenna 6a and the RFID tag antenna 6b, it is possible to prevent radio waves from interfering with each other and causing communication failures with the RFID tag as a recording medium P. In this embodiment, there is a configuration with one radio wave absorber 70, but it is also possible to have a configuration in which multiple radio wave absorbers corresponding to each RFID tag antenna 6a, 6b are provided via a transport path. In this case, it is sufficient to have a configuration that allows the unused radio wave absorber to be moved away by notifying the user to remove the radio wave absorber that is not being used, or by providing a mechanism to move the radio wave absorber.

[0026] Figure 4 illustrates the flow of selecting an antenna for RFID tags. First, in S101, the size of the RFID tag input via the operation unit 103 or the host computer 700 is obtained. In S102, based on the input size of the RFID tag, it is determined whether to use the RFID tag antenna 6a if it is large, or the RFID tag antenna 6b if it is small. If the RFID tag antenna 6a is selected, in S104, the user is prompted to install the radio wave absorber 70 on the RFID tag antenna 6b.

[0027] In S105, the system checks for the installation of the radio wave absorber 70. Once installation is confirmed, it authorizes reading and writing to the RFID tag. If installation cannot be confirmed, it continues to prompt the system to install the radio wave absorber 70. Also, if the RFID tag antenna 6b is selected, in S108, the system prompts the system to install the radio wave absorber 70 on the RFID tag antenna 6a. Once installation is confirmed, it authorizes reading and writing to the RFID tag. If installation cannot be confirmed, it continues to prompt the system to install the radio wave absorber 70.

[0028] In this embodiment, the radio wave absorber 70 is assumed to be manually installed by the user. However, a mechanism for moving the radio wave absorber 70 may be provided inside the device, and the appropriate radio wave absorber 70 may be automatically moved according to the size of the RFID tag 7 acquired in S101. In this embodiment, two RFID tag antennas 6 are provided, but more than two may be provided if a configuration with multiple antennas is available. In that case as well, the same effect can be obtained by installing the radio wave absorber 70 in a position where the antennas face each other.

[0029] As explained above, with the recording device of the embodiment, by selecting and using an appropriate RFID tag antenna according to the size of the RFID tag, it becomes possible to accurately communicate with and read / write data to the RFID tag, which is the intended target for writing. Furthermore, while this embodiment places the RFID tag antenna upstream of the printing unit, it goes without saying that a similar configuration can be created downstream of the printing unit. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0030] 100 Printers (recording devices) 101 Printer body 103 Control Panel 105 Feeding device 5 RFID communication circuit 6(a / b) Antenna for RFID tags 7 RFID tags 10. Recording head (recording means) 50 Cutter Unit P Recording medium (RFID tag) 700 host computers

Claims

1. A recording device that prints on a recording medium equipped with an RFID tag, A first RFID communication antenna for wireless communication with the RFID tag, A second RFID communication antenna for wireless communication with the RFID tag, the second RFID communication antenna facing the first RFID communication antenna and having a radio wave output range smaller than the radio wave output range of the first RFID communication antenna, A transport means for transporting a recording medium on which an RFID tag is provided between the first RFID communication antenna and the second RFID communication antenna, When the RFID tag being transported by the transport means is smaller than a predetermined size, a control means controls the second RFID communication antenna to communicate with the RFID tag using the second RFID communication antenna, A recording device equipped with the following features.

2. A radio wave absorber provided between the first RFID communication antenna and the second RFID communication antenna, further comprising a radio wave absorber that can be mounted at a position facing the first RFID communication antenna via a transport path on which the recording medium is transported by the transport means, and at a position facing the second RFID communication antenna via the transport path, The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means provides a notification prompting the placement of the radio wave absorber if the RFID tag being transported by the transport means is smaller than a predetermined size and the radio wave absorber is not positioned opposite the second RFID communication antenna.

3. A radio wave absorber provided between the first RFID communication antenna and the second RFID communication antenna, further comprising a radio wave absorber that can be mounted at a position facing the first RFID communication antenna via a transport path on which the recording medium is transported by the transport means, and at a position facing the second RFID communication antenna via the transport path, The system further comprises a moving mechanism for moving the radio wave absorber to a position facing the first RFID communication antenna or to a position facing the second RFID communication antenna, The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that the moving mechanism moves the radio wave absorber to a position facing the second RFID communication antenna when the RFID tag being transported by the transport means is smaller than a predetermined size.

4. A first radio wave absorber is provided between the first RFID communication antenna and the second RFID communication antenna, at a position facing the first RFID communication antenna via a transport path through which the recording medium is transported by the transport means, and absorbs radio waves output from the first RFID communication antenna. The present invention further comprises a second radio wave absorber, which is provided between the first RFID communication antenna and the second RFID communication antenna, at a position facing the second RFID communication antenna via the transport path, and which absorbs radio waves output from the second RFID communication antenna. The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means provides a notification prompting the second radio wave absorber to be positioned if the RFID tag being transported by the transport means is smaller than a predetermined size and the second radio wave absorber is not positioned opposite the second RFID communication antenna.

5. A first radio wave absorber is provided between the first RFID communication antenna and the second RFID communication antenna, at a position facing the first RFID communication antenna via a transport path through which the recording medium is transported by the transport means, and absorbs radio waves output from the first RFID communication antenna. A second radio wave absorber is provided between the first RFID communication antenna and the second RFID communication antenna, at a position facing the second RFID communication antenna via the transport path, and absorbs radio waves output from the second RFID communication antenna. The present invention further comprises a moving mechanism that moves the first radio wave absorber to a position facing the first RFID communication antenna, and moves the second radio wave absorber to a position facing the second RFID communication antenna, The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that the moving mechanism moves the RFID tag being transported by the transport means to a position facing the second radio wave absorber and the second RFID communication antenna when the RFID tag is smaller than a predetermined size.

Images