RFID labels and label rolls

Abstract

We propose an RFID label that can prevent peeling or lifting when attached to cylindrical objects such as small-diameter syringes. [Solution] The RFID tag 3 is equipped with an electromagnetic induction antenna 13 that is arranged in a roughly rectangular shape, and a label substrate 2 is provided on the back side of the RFID tag 3. The longitudinal length t of the antenna 13 and the transverse length w of the label substrate 2 are formed to be shorter than the circumference of the cylindrical body, and the antenna is attached so that its longitudinal direction is aligned with the circumference of the cylindrical body. In this configuration, since the antenna 13 is miniaturized, it can be attached to the cylindrical body without making more than one turn, so the inside of the cylindrical body can be seen. In addition, since the antenna 13 communicates using an electromagnetic induction method, stable communication is possible even when there is liquid inside the cylindrical body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an RFID label attached to the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical body for containing a chemical solution, a specimen, etc., and a roll paper for the label.

Background Art

[0002] In the medical field, test tubes (spitz) for containing chemical solutions, specimens, etc. and syringes for containing the chemical solutions are used, and labels for identifying the chemical solutions and specimens contained in these test tubes and syringes are attached (for example, Patent Document 1). Generally, such labels are printed with information regarding the chemical solutions and specimens contained in the test tubes and syringes, printed with barcodes indicating the information, or provided with RFID tags storing the information. And since test tubes and syringes used in the medical field are required to allow visual recognition of the inside, the label is attached along the longitudinal direction of the test tube so as not to go around the test tube. Here, since the test tubes, syringes, etc. are cylindrical bodies with a small diameter, a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body is generally applied to the label (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] Regarding the label, configurations provided with RFID tags capable of non-contact confirmation of the information have been increasing in recent years. And as the RFID tag used for this label, a configuration provided with a radio wave type antenna that communicates in the UHF band is common. As such a label 101, for example, as shown in FIG. 8(A), it includes a sheet-like base material 2 and an RFID tag 103 disposed on the surface (or back surface) of the base material 2, and the RFID tag 103 has a configuration including an IC chip 12 and a radio wave type dipole antenna 105. Since the antenna 105 extends to both sides of the IC chip 12 in such a configuration, the RFID tag 103 has an overall substantially rectangular shape. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8(B), the label 101 is attached to the outer surface of the syringe 51 such that the longitudinal direction of the RFID tag 103 is along the longitudinal direction of the syringe (syringe) 51.

Prior Art Documents

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-73109 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] Incidentally, in the RFID tags attached to the aforementioned labels, the antenna is generally formed by arranging aluminum or copper in the base material. With this configuration, when the label is attached to a small-diameter test tube or the like, there was a risk that the label would peel off or lift due to the rigidity of the antenna. Furthermore, when attaching the label to the test tube or other device, it must conform to the curved surface of the test tube, which may cause the label to become distorted, wrinkled, or develop air bubbles. Moreover, this label cannot be reapplied if wrinkles or air bubbles develop. This is because attempting to reapply it could cause the antenna to break.

[0006] This invention can solve the aforementioned problems and proposes an RFID label and label roll paper that can suppress peeling, lifting, etc., when attached to a small diameter cylindrical body (such as a test tube). [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The first aspect of the present invention is an RFID label comprising a sheet-like label substrate attached to the outer surface of a cylindrical body whose interior is visible, and an RFID tag integrally disposed on either the front or back of the label substrate, wherein the RFID tag comprises an IC chip on which data is stored and an antenna capable of communication by electromagnetic induction, which is arranged in a substantially rectangular shape, the longitudinal length of the antenna is shorter than the circumference of the cylindrical body, the label substrate is formed such that the length in the direction along the longitudinal direction of the antenna is shorter than the circumference of the cylindrical body, and the label substrate is attached to the cylindrical body such that the longitudinal direction of the antenna is aligned with the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body.

[0008] In this configuration, since the RFID tag antenna uses a so-called loop-type electromagnetic induction method, it can be made smaller (shorter in length) compared to the dipole-type radio wave antenna described above. As a result, even when attaching to a small-diameter cylindrical body (test tube or syringe), the RFID tag can have an antenna whose length in the longitudinal direction is shorter than the circumferential length of the cylindrical body. The configuration of the present invention, which includes such an RFID tag, can be attached to the cylindrical body with the longitudinal direction of the antenna aligned with the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body, and since it does not wrap around the cylindrical body more than once while attached, the liquid medicine or sample placed inside the cylindrical body can be clearly seen and the contents can be easily confirmed. Furthermore, as described above, since the rigid antenna has its longitudinal direction aligned with the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body, it is easier to hold the RFID tag attached compared to the conventional configuration in which the longitudinal direction of the antenna is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body. For this reason, it is possible to suppress peeling off or lifting from the cylindrical body compared to the conventional configuration.

[0009] Furthermore, in the configuration of the present invention, by using an electromagnetic induction antenna, communication performance can be improved in the area known as the near-field in the UHF band compared to the radio wave antenna. Here, the near-field in the UHF band is generally a relatively close area up to about 50 mm, but it can be effectively used when detecting test tubes and syringes containing drug solutions or specimens in the aforementioned medical setting. In addition, compared to the radio wave antenna, the electromagnetic induction antenna is less affected by the liquid (drug solution, specimen, etc.) contained in the test tube or syringe, and can maintain good communication even when there is liquid inside.

[0010] The second aspect of the present invention is a roll of label paper that is wound in a roll shape and has a plurality of RFID labels as described in claim 1 removably provided in the longitudinal direction, wherein the RFID tags of the RFID labels are arranged such that the longitudinal direction of the antennas constituting the RFID tags is aligned with the circumferential direction of the wound form.

[0011] In this configuration, the RFID label of the first invention is provided in a removable manner, and the removed RFID label provides the aforementioned effects. In this configuration, since the RFID label is provided so that the longitudinal direction of the antenna is aligned with the circumferential direction, each antenna is curved in the longitudinal direction. As a result, each RFID label is held in a curved form along the longitudinal direction of each antenna, and the removed RFID label can be retained in this curved form. Therefore, by attaching the RFID label so that the longitudinal direction of the antenna is aligned with the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body, it can be attached relatively easily along the curved surface of the cylindrical body, and it is easy to attach even to a small diameter cylindrical body. This further suppresses the peeling or lifting of the RFID label from the cylindrical body, and also suppresses distortion, wrinkles, and air bubbles when attaching it to the cylindrical body.

[0012] In the RFID label of the first invention described above, a configuration is proposed in which the antenna of the RFID tag is formed by wrapping around it approximately once.

[0013] In this configuration, since the antenna is routed almost a full circle, the antenna can be miniaturized. This allows for stable formation of a configuration shorter than the circumferential length of a small-diameter cylindrical body, while maintaining excellent communication performance in the near-field of the UHF band as described above.

[0014] In the RFID label of the first invention described above, a configuration is proposed in which the antenna is held in a curved shape along its longitudinal direction.

[0015] In this configuration, the curved antenna is attached so that its longitudinal direction aligns with the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body. This allows for relatively easy attachment along the curved surface of the cylindrical body, making it easy to attach even to small diameter cylindrical bodies. This further reduces the likelihood of the antenna peeling off or lifting from the cylindrical body, and also reduces the likelihood of distortion, wrinkles, or air bubbles occurring during attachment to the cylindrical body.

[0016] Here, because this configuration is curved in the longitudinal direction of the antenna, the amount of bending deformation is greater compared to curving the antenna in the short direction. For this reason, this configuration is easy to stably hold in a curved shape in the longitudinal direction of the antenna, and contributes very greatly to the effects of this configuration described above.

[0017] In the configuration of the present invention described above, the antenna of the RFID tag is preferably configured such that its length in the short direction is 10% to 50% of its length in the long direction. With such a configuration, it becomes easier to hold a curved shape. Furthermore, in the configuration of the present invention, it is preferable that the label substrate has a length in the direction along the longitudinal direction of the antenna that is twice or less (and at least once) the longitudinal length of the antenna. With this configuration, the length in the direction along the longitudinal direction of the antenna of the label substrate portions on both sides located to the left and right of the antenna becomes shorter than that of the antenna, making it easier to hold along the longitudinal direction of the antenna. In addition, it is preferable that the antenna wire (conductive wire) constituting the antenna has a width of the linear portion along the longitudinal direction of the antenna (width along the short side direction of the linear portion) of 0.5 mm or more. According to this configuration, the antenna can be more stably held in a curved form (a form curved in the longitudinal direction) by plastically deforming the antenna.

Advantages of the Invention

[0018] According to the RFID label of the present invention, since it can be attached without going around the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body once or more, the inside of the cylindrical body can be easily visually recognized, and the content volume of a chemical solution or the like contained in the cylindrical body can be confirmed. Further, since the longitudinal direction of the antenna is attached to the cylindrical body so as to be along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body, it is easy to hold in a state of being attached to the cylindrical body, and peeling or floating can be suppressed. Further, since the RFID tag has an antenna of an electromagnetic induction type, it has excellent communication performance compared to a radio wave method in the vicinity of the UHF band, and in a state of being attached to the cylindrical body, it is hardly affected by the liquid inside the cylindrical body for communication, and good communication can be performed.

[0019] According to the roll paper for labels of the present invention, the RFID label of the present invention described above can be removed and used.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] [Figure 1] It is a (A) surface view and a (B) cross-sectional view of the RFID label 1 of the example. [Figure 2] It is an exploded view of the RFID label 1. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view showing the roll paper 31 for labels of the example. [Figure 4] It is a (A) perspective view of the front side and a (B) perspective view of the back side showing the RFID label 1 in a state where the release paper is peeled off. [Figure 5] It is a perspective view showing a state where the RFID label 1 is attached to the syringe 51. [Figure 6] It is a chart showing the evaluation result of holding in a curved form. [Figure 7]It is a perspective view showing a roll paper 61 for a special label. [Figure 8] (A) It is a front view of a conventional label 101 and (B) it is a perspective view showing a state where the label 101 is attached to a syringe 51.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0021] Examples according to the present invention will be described using the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an RFID label 1 of this embodiment. The RFID label 1 of this embodiment has a configuration (see FIG. 4) maintained in a curved form as will be described later, but in FIGS. 1 and 2, the RFID label 1 is represented in a planar shape. In this embodiment, the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction in the RFID label 1 are defined as shown in FIG. 1(A), and the following description will be made. And in a state of being attached to a cylindrical syringe (injection cylinder) 51, the surface in contact with the outer surface of the syringe 51 will be described as the back surface, and the outer surface will be described as the front surface.

[0022] The syringe 51 is an injection cylinder constituting a syringe, an injection needle is attached to the tip, and a plunger (injection rod) is fitted so as to be able to move forward and backward from the opening at the base end, and it is used as a syringe. As shown in FIG. 5, the syringe 51 has a scale 52 indicating the internal volume marked on the outer surface, and the amount of the chemical solution contained inside can be easily confirmed visually. And the syringe 51 used in the medical field is of a small diameter (outer diameter is 10 to 50 mm). Such a syringe 51 is defined by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, etc. as a requirement that the scale 52 can be clearly seen for the prevention of medical accidents. For this reason, it is necessary that a label or the like attached to the outer surface of the syringe 51 be attached so as not to hide the scale 52.

[0023] [[ID=As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the RFID label 1 of this embodiment comprises a rectangular label substrate 2, an RFID tag 3, and a release paper 4 superimposed on the back side of the label substrate 2. The label substrate 2 is a general thermal paper used as a printing medium for a thermal printer (not shown), and has a heat-sensitive color-developing layer (not shown) on its surface 2a that is printed by heating and color-developing with a thermal printer. An adhesive layer 7 is provided on the entire back surface of the label substrate 2.

[0024] The release paper 4 is peelably attached to the back surface of the label substrate 2, onto the adhesive layer 7. The release paper 4 has the same dimensions and shape as the label substrate 2 and is provided to cover the entire adhesive layer 7 of the label substrate 2. Since conventionally known materials can be used for the label substrate 2 (thermal paper) and the release paper 4, details are omitted.

[0025] The RFID tag 3 consists of a thin sheet material 11 and an IC chip 12 and an antenna 13 disposed on the surface of the sheet material 11. The sheet material 11 is made of a roughly rectangular PET film. The antenna 13 is an antenna in which an aluminum conductive wire is wrapped around in a roughly rectangular shape, and the conductive wire is disposed on the surface of the sheet material 11 by etching. The ends of the conductive wire of the antenna 13 are spaced apart and facing each other, and the IC chip 12 is bonded to both ends with an anisotropic conductive adhesive. The IC chip 12 is capable of storing data electromagnetically and is electrically connected to the antenna 13 as described above. In this RFID tag 3, the antenna 13 communicates using an electromagnetic induction method, and data can be transmitted and received using this electromagnetic induction method.

[0026] The RFID tag 3 is attached to the back surface of the label substrate 2 by the adhesive layer 7, with the surface on which the antenna 13 is formed facing the adhesive layer 7 of the label substrate 2. Here, the RFID tag 3 is positioned so that the longitudinal direction of the antenna 13 is parallel to the transverse side (horizontal side) of the label substrate 2. On the back surface of the label substrate 2 to which the RFID tag 3 is attached, the release paper 4 is peelably attached so as to cover the RFID tag 3.

[0027] In this embodiment, the RFID label 1 has a label substrate 2 with a lateral length w shorter than the outer circumference length of the syringe 51, and the longitudinal length t of the antenna 13 is shorter than the lateral length w of the label substrate 2. Furthermore, the vertical length of the label substrate 2 is shorter than the vertical length (longitudinal length) of the syringe 51, and the short-side length s of the antenna 13 is shorter than the vertical length of the label substrate 2. Here, the lateral length w of the label substrate 2 is formed to be shorter than 3 / 4 of the outer circumference length of the syringe 51. This prevents the markings 52 of the syringe 51 from being obscured by the RFID label 1 when the RFID label 1 is attached to the syringe 51 (see Figure 5), as described later. The lateral length w of the label substrate 2 is preferably shorter than 2 / 3 of the outer circumference length of the syringe 51, and even more preferably 1 / 2 or less of the outer circumference length.

[0028] Furthermore, the RFID tag 3 is attached to the upper edge of the label substrate 2. This allows the RFID tag 3 to be positioned near the upper end of the syringe 51 when the RFID label 1 is attached to the syringe 51 (see Figure 5), as described later. This arrangement makes it easier to suppress the antenna 13 from being affected by the drug solution (liquid) inside the syringe 51.

[0029] In the RFID tag 3 of this embodiment, the longitudinal length (lateral length) t of the antenna 13 is at least twice the transverse length (vertical length) s of the antenna 13. It is preferable that the longitudinal length t is at least three times the transverse length s. Furthermore, it is preferable that the longitudinal length (lateral length) t of the antenna 13 is at least 50% of the transverse length w of the label substrate 2 (length parallel to the longitudinal direction of the antenna 13), and more preferably at least 66%. It is also preferable that the longitudinal length t of the antenna 13 is at least 92% of the transverse length w of the label substrate 2. In addition, it is preferable that the wire width of the conductive wire of the antenna 13 is at least 0.5 mm, and more preferably at least 0.75 mm.

[0030] As mentioned above, the RFID tag 3 is an electromagnetic induction antenna 13. Electromagnetic induction antennas are generally suitable for communication in the longwave and shortwave bands, while radio wave antennas are suitable for communication in the UHF band. However, electromagnetic induction antennas are more effective than radio wave antennas in an area called the near-field of the frequency band. Therefore, the antenna 13 of this embodiment is designed to have excellent communication performance in the near-field of the UHF band by having the configuration described above. Although this antenna 13 is limited to an area of ​​approximately 50 mm or less, which is the near-field of the UHF band, it can perform good communication in the UHF band. Here, as mentioned above, the RFID label 1 of this embodiment is used by being attached to a syringe 51, and considering its use in a medical setting, it can be used in an area of ​​approximately 50 mm or less (the near-field of the UHF band). Furthermore, electromagnetic induction antennas have the advantage of being less affected by liquids compared to radio wave antennas. Therefore, the RFID label 1 of this embodiment, by having the antenna 13, can suppress the influence of the liquid in the syringe 51 on communication, and has superior communication performance in the near-field of the UHF band compared to radio wave systems.

[0031] Furthermore, by designing the antenna 13 to be suitable for communication in the near-field of the UHF band, its external dimensions (length and width) can be shortened and miniaturized compared to antennas of general radio wave systems that communicate in the UHF band. As a result, the longitudinal length t of the antenna 13 in this embodiment can be made sufficiently shorter than the outer circumference length of the syringe 51, and consequently, the lateral length w of the label substrate 2 can be made shorter than the outer circumference length of the syringe 51. Therefore, as described above, the RFID label 1 in this embodiment can be formed with a lateral length w shorter than 3 / 4 of the outer circumference length of the syringe 51.

[0032] As shown in Figure 3, the RFID label 1 of this embodiment is obtained by cutting a roll of label paper 31, which is wound into a roll, at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. The label roll paper 31 comprises a long paper substrate 32 on which a heat-sensitive color-developing layer is provided on the surface, which is printed by heating and color-developing with a thermal printer, and a long release paper (not shown) that is peelably attached to an adhesive layer provided on the entire back surface of the paper substrate 32. Multiple perforations 35 are formed on the paper substrate 32 and the release paper at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. Here, the interval between adjacent perforations 35, 35 is set to the transverse length w of the label substrate 2. The portion between these adjacent perforations 35, 35 is the cut portion 34 according to the present invention, and the paper substrate 32 and the release paper can be cut integrally at the perforations 35, and the cut portion 34 can be separated by this cutting.

[0033] At each cut portion 34 of the label roll paper 31, the RFID tags 3 are arranged between the paper substrate 32 and the release paper. Here, each RFID tag 3 is adhered to the back surface (adhesive layer) of the paper substrate 32 with the surface on which the antenna 13 is provided in contact with (facing) the back surface of the paper substrate 32. In this embodiment, the RFID tag 3 is positioned at a portion closer to the long side of one side of the cut portion 34, such that the longitudinal direction of the antenna 13 is parallel to the long side of the paper substrate 32. The release paper is peelably attached to the back surface of the paper substrate 32 so as to cover the RFID tag 3 adhered to the paper substrate 32 in this manner.

[0034] By cutting the label roll paper 31 along the perforation line 35, the separation portion 34 can be separated, and the separated separation portion 34 constitutes the RFID label 1 of this embodiment.

[0035] In this embodiment, the label roll paper 31 is wound as described above, so each cut portion 34 is held in a curved state in the longitudinal direction of the paper substrate 32 (the longitudinal direction of the antenna 13). As a result, the RFID label 1 separated from the label roll paper 31 is maintained in a curved shape in the transverse direction (the longitudinal direction of the antenna 13), as shown in Figure 4. This is thought to be due to the asymmetric structure of the RFID label 1 in the thickness direction, as well as the residual bending strain that occurs in the aluminum antenna 13. In particular, in this embodiment, since the label roll paper 31 is curved in the longitudinal direction of the antenna 13, the antenna 13 has residual strain that curves in the longitudinal direction, and this residual strain in the longitudinal direction stably holds the RFID label 1 in a transversely curved shape. Furthermore, as described above, the RFID label 1 has a longitudinal length t of the antenna 13 that is 50% or more (preferably 66% or more) of the transverse length w of the label substrate 2. As a result, the lateral length of the label substrate 2 on both sides that are outward from the antenna 13 becomes shorter, making it easier to maintain the curved shape due to the residual bending strain.

[0036] In this embodiment, the RFID label 1 is detached from the label roll paper 31 and attached to the outer surface of the syringe 51. That is, after detaching the RFID label 1 from the label roll paper 31, the release paper 4 is peeled off the RFID label 1 and the RFID label 1 is attached to the syringe 51 as shown in Figure 5, with the lateral direction of the RFID label 1 (the longitudinal direction of the antenna 13) aligned with the circumferential direction of the syringe 51. Here, the RFID label 1 is attached in such a way that it does not cover the scale 52 of the syringe 51. This ensures that the scale 52 is exposed along the longitudinal direction of the syringe 51 when the RFID label 1 is attached. Furthermore, the RFID tag 3 is positioned near the upper end of the syringe 51 and the RFID label 1 is attached to the syringe 51.

[0037] In this embodiment, the RFID label 1 is attached to the outer surface of the syringe 51 such that its curved lateral direction aligns with the circumferential direction of the syringe 51. This makes it easier to attach the RFID label 1 and prevents wrinkles and air bubbles from forming during attachment. Furthermore, because the RFID label 1 is curved in the longitudinal direction of the RFID tag 3 (antenna 13), it is possible to prevent it from peeling off or lifting after it has been attached to the syringe 51.

[0038] Next, we will explain the results of evaluating the curved shape of RFID label 1 from the above-described embodiment after holding it in a rolled state. Furthermore, for comparison with the embodiment, the same evaluation was performed on Comparative Examples 1 to 3.

[0039] The RFID label 1 of the embodiment (see Figure 1) consists of a square-shaped label base material 2 and release paper 4, and a rectangular RFID tag 3. The label base material 2 and release paper 4 have dimensions of 30 mm in length and width, and the RFID tag 3 has an antenna 13 with a longitudinal (horizontal) length t of 20 mm and a transverse (vertical) length s of 6.5 mm. The thickness of the label base material (thermal paper) 2 is approximately 80 μm, and the thickness of the release paper 4 is approximately 60 μm. The RFID tag 3 has a sheet material (PETER film) 11 with a thickness of approximately 50 μm and an antenna 13 with a thickness of approximately 10 μm.

[0040] The RFID label 1 of Comparative Example 1 has the same shape and dimensions as the embodiment described above, but the direction in which it is wound into a roll differs from that of the embodiment, as will be described later.

[0041] As shown in Figure 8, the RFID label 101 of Comparative Example 2 has an RFID tag 103 equipped with a radio wave dipole antenna 105. The configuration of Comparative Example 2 is the same as in the example, comprising a label substrate 2, release paper (not shown), a sheet material 11 for the RFID tag 103, and an IC chip 12, and similar to the example, the RFID tag 103 is disposed between the label substrate 2 and the release paper 4. Here, the label substrate 2 and the release paper 4 are rectangular in shape, and the RFID tag 103 is disposed such that the longitudinal direction of the antenna 105 is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the label substrate 2. In Comparative Example 2, the outer dimensions of the antenna 105 in the longitudinal direction are approximately 30 mm, and the outer dimensions of the antenna 105 in the short direction are approximately 6 mm. The label substrate 2 and the release paper 4 are rectangular in shape, with a length in the longitudinal direction of approximately 45 mm and a length in the short direction of approximately 14 mm. Furthermore, the thicknesses of the label base material 2, release paper 4, and sheet material 11 are the same as in the above embodiment. That is, the label base material 2, release paper 4, and sheet material 11 of Comparative Example 2 are the same except for their external dimensions. Also, the antenna 105 is made of conductive wire made of aluminum, similar to the above embodiment, with a width of approximately 1 mm and formed with the same thickness as in the above embodiment.

[0042] The RFID label 101 of Comparative Example 3 has the same shape and dimensions as that of Comparative Example 2, but the direction in which it is wound into a roll differs from that of Comparative Example 2, as will be described later.

[0043] The method for evaluating these embodiments and comparative examples 1 to 3 involves wrapping the material around a cylinder with an outer diameter of 8.5 mm, holding it for three days, then removing it from the cylinder and evaluating the curved shape. Here, the evaluation of the curved shape is based on measuring the distance between the two ends of the curved shape in the lateral direction. If this distance is small, the curved shape is considered to be well-maintained, and if the distance is large, the curved shape is considered difficult to maintain.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the RFID label 1 is wrapped around the cylinder such that the longitudinal direction of the antenna 13 is aligned with the circumferential direction of the cylinder. After being held in this wrapped state for three days, it is removed from the cylinder, and the curvature is evaluated immediately after removal and one day after removal.

[0045] In Comparative Example 1, the RFID label 1 of the embodiment was wrapped around the cylinder such that the longitudinal direction of the antenna 13 was aligned with the longitudinal direction of the cylinder (a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction). Then, as in the embodiment, the curvature was evaluated immediately after removal following a three-day period and again after one day.

[0046] In Comparative Example 2, the RFID label 101 is wrapped around the cylinder such that the longitudinal direction of the antenna 105 is aligned with the circumferential direction of the cylinder. In Comparative Example 3, the RFID label 101 is wrapped around the cylinder such that the longitudinal direction of the antenna 105 is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the cylinder. For Comparative Examples 2 and 3, as in the above embodiment, the curvature was evaluated immediately after removal following three days of holding and after one day had elapsed.

[0047] The results of evaluating the above embodiment and Comparative Examples 1-3 are shown in Figure 6. As shown in the evaluation results, the configuration of the embodiment maintains a curved shape with a large curvature immediately after being removed from the cylinder, and the curved shape is sufficiently maintained even after a day has passed. Thus, the embodiment can maintain a curved shape for a relatively long period of time. The configuration of Comparative Example 1 is maintained in a curved shape with a smaller curvature than that of the above embodiment immediately after removal, and after one day, the curvature becomes even smaller. On the other hand, the configuration of Comparative Example 3 maintains a curved shape with a large curvature immediately after removal, and the curved shape is also sufficiently maintained even after one day has passed. The configuration of Comparative Example 4 was maintained in a curved shape with a smaller curvature than that of the above embodiment immediately after removal, and after one day, it had a similar curved shape.

[0048] According to these evaluation results, both the Example and Comparative Example 3 have the excellent effect of maintaining a curved shape. Therefore, both the Example and Comparative Example 3 are easy to attach to a cylindrical body (syringe 51), can suppress the formation of wrinkles and air bubbles, and can also suppress peeling and lifting after attachment. However, in the configuration of Comparative Example 3, the longitudinal length of the antenna 105 is longer than that of the embodiment, so when attached to the syringe 51, part of the scale 52 of the syringe 51 is obscured. Furthermore, since the RFID tag 103 of Comparative Example 3 uses a radio wave antenna 105, when there is liquid inside the syringe 51, the liquid affects communication, making communication unstable. Thus, the configuration of Comparative Example 3 has problems for applications where it is attached to a syringe 51 (medical applications), while the configuration of the embodiment, which can solve these problems, is clearly superior to Comparative Example 3.

[0049] As described above, with the RFID label 1 of the embodiment, the antenna 13 can be miniaturized (the longitudinal length t can be shortened), so the lateral length w of the RFID label 1 (label substrate 2) can be made shorter than the circumferential length of the syringe 51. This allows the label to be attached to the syringe 51 without obscuring the markings 52 of the syringe 51, and the liquid medicine contained in the syringe 51 can be visually inspected with the RFID label 1 attached, making it easy to confirm the amount of liquid medicine inside. Furthermore, since the configuration of this embodiment is held in a curved shape in the longitudinal direction of the antenna 13, it is easy to attach to the syringe 51, and the occurrence of wrinkles and air bubbles during attachment can be suppressed. In addition, peeling and lifting after attachment to the syringe 51 can also be suppressed. The effect of suppressing wrinkles and peeling can be improved compared to when the RFID label 1 of the same configuration is attached with the longitudinal direction of the antenna 13 aligned with the longitudinal direction of the syringe 51. Furthermore, since the configuration of this embodiment is such that the antenna 13 is curved in the longitudinal direction, it also has the effect of preventing the longitudinal direction of the antenna 13 from being attached along the longitudinal direction of the syringe 51.

[0050] Furthermore, the configuration of this embodiment, in which the antenna 13 is an electromagnetic induction type with a conductive wire wrapped around it approximately once, is suitable for communication in the near-field of the UHF band, and therefore has superior communication performance in the near-field of the UHF band (an area within approximately 50 mm) compared to radio wave type antennas. Moreover, since communication using the electromagnetic induction type antenna 13 is less affected by the liquid (medicinal solution, etc.) in the syringe 51 compared to the radio wave type, effective and stable communication can be performed even when the syringe 51 contains a medicinal solution.

[0051] Thus, the RFID label 1 of this embodiment exhibits the following advantages: it can be attached to the syringe 51 without obscuring the scale 52; it can be attached to the outer surface of the syringe 51 without causing wrinkles or other damage, and it can suppress peeling after attachment; and it has excellent UHF band communication capabilities within a communication range (an area of ​​approximately 50 mm) suitable for use in medical settings, while also suppressing interference from the liquid inside the syringe 51.

[0052] In this embodiment, the syringe 51 corresponds to the cylindrical body according to the present invention. The outer circumference length of the syringe 51 corresponds to the circumference of the cylindrical body according to the present invention. The longitudinal direction of the paper substrate 32 corresponds to the circumferential direction of the wound form according to the present invention.

[0053] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in the embodiment, the antenna is configured with an aluminum conductive wire, but it is not limited to this, and a configuration with a copper conductive wire may also be used.

[0054] In the embodiment, the RFID label is attached to a syringe, but it is not limited to this, and may also be attached to a test tube or similar container for holding a sample. Furthermore, it can be used not only in medical settings but also attached to cylindrical bodies used for other purposes. In this case, the cylindrical body is preferably one that holds a liquid inside.

[0055] In the embodiment, a roll of label paper in which the perforation portions constituting the RFID label are connected via perforations was illustrated, but the embodiment is not limited to this, and other examples such as the roll of label paper 61 and RFID label 71 shown in Figure 7 may also be used. In this alternative example, the label roll paper 61 comprises a long release paper 62 wound into a roll and RFID labels 71 that are peelably attached to the release paper 62, with multiple RFID labels 71 arranged at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the release paper 62. Here, the RFID labels 71 in this alternative example comprise a label base material 2 and an RFID tag 3 similar to those in the above embodiment, and are peelably attached to the release paper 62 by an adhesive layer 7 provided on the back surface of the label base material 2. Each RFID label 71 is attached in a line along the longitudinal direction of the release paper 62 such that the longitudinal direction of the antenna 13 of the RFID tag 3 is parallel to the long side of the release paper 62. Each RFID label 71 is removed from the label roll paper 61 (see Figure 4) and attached to the outer surface of the syringe 51 in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment (see Figure 5). Even with this alternative configuration, the same effects and advantages as in the above-described embodiment can be achieved. The configuration of the alternative example is the same as the embodiment described above, except that the RFID label 71 is composed of a label substrate 2 and an RFID tag 3, and the RFID label 71 is peelably attached to a release paper 62 wound in a roll shape for the label roll paper 61, so the details have been omitted. In addition, in the configuration of the alternative example, the longitudinal direction of the release paper 62 corresponds to the circumferential direction of the wound form according to the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0056] 1.71 RFID labels 2 Label substrate 3 RFID tags 12 IC chips 13 Antennas 31,61 Label roll paper 32 Paper base material (base material) 34 Amputation site 51 Syringe (cylindrical)

Claims

1. A sheet-like label substrate that is attached to the outer surface of a cylindrical body whose interior is visible, An RFID tag integrally disposed on either the front or back of the label substrate and In an RFID label equipped with, The RFID tag mentioned above is An IC chip on which data is stored, An antenna capable of communication using electromagnetic induction, arranged in a roughly rectangular shape. The antenna is formed such that its longitudinal length is shorter than the circumference of the cylindrical body. The label substrate is The length of the antenna in the longitudinal direction is shorter than the circumference of the cylindrical body. An RFID label characterized in that the longitudinal direction of the antenna is aligned with the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body and is attached to the cylindrical body.

2. A roll is wound up, and a plurality of RFID labels according to claim 1 are detachably provided in the longitudinal direction, The RFID tag of the RFID label is characterized in that the RFID tag is arranged such that the longitudinal direction of the antenna constituting the RFID tag is aligned with the circumferential direction of the wound form.

3. The RFID label according to claim 1, characterized in that the antenna of the RFID tag is formed by wrapping around it approximately once.

4. The RFID label according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that it is held in a form curved in the longitudinal direction of the antenna.

Images