JP2007226310A - Tag label making device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a tag label producing apparatus capable of producing a RFID label with a print reliably by ensuring normal apparatus operation.
A drive roller 51 for transporting a tag label tape 109 with print on which a RFID circuit element To including an IC circuit unit 151 for storing information and a loop antenna 152 for transmitting and receiving information is disposed, and during the transport A loop antenna LC capable of transmitting and receiving information in a non-contact manner between the print head 23 for printing on a predetermined print area of the tag label tape 109 with print and the RFID circuit element To during conveyance, and the loop Before the antenna LC transmits / receives information, the control circuit 110 predicts whether the information transmission / reception is possible based on the operation state of the corresponding print head 23. In response, information is transmitted to and received from the RFID circuit element To.
[Selection] Figure 25

Description

  The present invention relates to a tag label producing apparatus for producing a RFID label having a RFID circuit element that performs wireless communication of information with the outside.

  An RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system that reads / writes information in a non-contact manner between a small wireless tag and a reader (reading device) / writer (writing device) is known. For example, a wireless tag circuit element provided in a label-like wireless tag includes an IC circuit unit that stores predetermined wireless tag information and an antenna that is connected to the IC circuit unit and transmits and receives information. Even if the battery is dirty or placed in an invisible position, the reader / writer can access (read / write information) the RFID tag information in the IC circuit unit, and manage the product. Practical use is expected in various fields such as inspection processes.

  Such a radio tag is usually formed by providing a radio frequency circuit element on a label-like material, and this tag label is often affixed to a target article or the like for classification and organization of various documents and articles, for example. . At this time, if the information related to the RFID tag information is printed on the label separately from the RFID tag information stored inside, the user can visually recognize the related information on the label. It is. For this reason, conventionally, a tag label producing apparatus for producing a RFID label from such a viewpoint has already been proposed.

  In general, in a tag label producing apparatus, a label having a RFID circuit element (RF-ID element) attached to a tape-like mount is formed into a roll, and the surface of the label is fed out from the roll and conveyed. While printing is performed by the printing means, information is transmitted from the antenna on the apparatus side to the RFID circuit element in the conveyance state, and predetermined information is written, thereby continuously generating printed RFID tag labels. It has become.

  In the tag label producing apparatus, printing means using, for example, a thermal head consumes a relatively large amount of power. On the other hand, the RFID circuit element generally has a memory such as a RAM or a ROM, a control circuit for writing / reading data to / from the memory, and a power generation means (internal power generation circuit) for supplying power to the control circuit. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). In this RFID circuit element, when transmitting and receiving information, the power generation means generates power based on the received signal received from the tag label producing device side, supplies this power, starts the control circuit, and the control circuit To write / read data to / from the memory. As described above, since power is also supplied to the RFID tag circuit element when information is transmitted and received, the apparatus side consumes predetermined power also when information is transmitted and received.

JP 2000-242754 A

  In general, the tag label producing apparatus is carried and used in various places according to various uses. Therefore, the tag label producing apparatus is often provided with power storage means such as a battery or a battery and used with limited power supply. When the tag label is created, printing by the printing unit and transmission / reception of information to / from the RFID tag circuit element may be performed simultaneously due to the device configuration. In such a case, the power required for both printing and information transmission / reception is insufficient, and printing by the printing means or writing / reading of information to / from the RFID circuit element is not performed normally, so that the RFID label cannot be created normally. There was drowning.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a tag label producing apparatus that can reliably produce a printed RFID tag label by ensuring normal apparatus operation.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first invention is a tag medium in which an RFID circuit element including an IC circuit unit for storing information and an antenna for transmitting and receiving information is arranged, or a print medium to be bonded to the tag medium. Transport means for transporting the print medium, printing means for printing on a predetermined print area of the tag medium or the medium to be printed being transported by the transport means, and the RFID circuit element being transported by the transport means, Between the communication means capable of transmitting and receiving information without contact and whether or not the information transmission / reception is possible based on the operating state of the corresponding printing means before the communication means performs the information transmission / reception. Prediction means for predicting, wherein the communication means transmits and receives information to and from the RFID circuit element according to a prediction result of the prediction means.

  A tag medium or a printing medium provided with the RFID circuit element is conveyed by the conveying means, printing is performed on the printing area of the tag medium or the printing medium being conveyed by the printing means, and the RFID circuit element is transmitted by the communication means. Information is read or written through information transmission / reception to produce a tag label with print. At this time, since the printing unit consumes relatively large electric power, it is normal when information transmission / reception is performed by the communication unit (especially when the power is not limited to external power but from a power storage unit such as a battery). In order to ensure a proper communication operation, it is necessary to consider whether or not the operation state of the printing means is a high power consumption state.

  In the first invention of this application, before the RFID circuit element reaches the information transmission / reception position with the communication means by the transport means, the prediction means determines whether information transmission / reception is possible in view of the operating state of the printing means. The prediction is made, and the communication means transmits and receives information according to the prediction result. Thus, for example, when the power consumption of the printing unit is predicted to be large, information transmission / reception is not performed or restricted, and when the power consumption of the printing unit is predicted to be small, the communication data amount is long or large. It is possible to adjust so that the peak of the power consumption of both the printing unit and the communication unit is not significantly increased, such as performing information transmission / reception.

  As a result, even when the power supply is limited from a power storage means such as a battery, for example, normal device operation can be ensured, and a printed RFID tag label can be reliably produced.

  In a second aspect based on the first aspect, the prediction means calculates a power consumption required for printing the predetermined print area by the printing means, and a calculation result of the printing power calculation means. And a communication condition setting means for setting the information transmission / reception condition.

  As a result, when the power consumption of the printing unit calculated by the printing power calculation unit is large, information transmission / reception is not performed or restricted by the communication condition setting unit, and the power consumption of the printing unit calculated by the printing power calculation unit is small. In this case, the communication condition setting means can be adjusted such that the communication time is increased or the communication data amount is increased so that the peak of the power consumption of both the printing means and the communication means is not significantly increased.

  According to a third aspect, in the second aspect, the predicting unit includes a communicable time detection unit that detects a transmission / reception possible timing and a transmission / reception possible time by the communication unit based on the power consumption calculated by the printing power calculation unit. The communication condition setting means sets the information transmission / reception condition in correspondence with the transmission / reception possible timing and the transmission / reception possible time detected by the communication possible time detection means.

  For example, when the power consumption of the printing unit calculated by the printing power calculation unit is relatively small, the transmission / reception possible timing and the transmission / reception possible time satisfying a predetermined condition are detected by the communication possible time detection unit as a communication possible time region. Set the actual information transmission / reception conditions, such as transmission / reception timing and transmission / reception time, from the area with the communication condition setting means, and adjust so that the peak of power consumption for both the printing means and communication means does not increase significantly. Can do.

  In a fourth aspect based on the third aspect, the communicable time detecting means is configured to allow the transmission / reception possible timing and the transmission / reception possible according to the power consumption calculated by the printing power calculation means and a predetermined threshold value. It is characterized by detecting time.

  Thereby, the transmission / reception possible timing and the transmission / reception possible time when the power consumption of the printing unit is smaller than the threshold value can be reliably detected by the communication possible time detection unit as the communication possible time region.

  According to a fifth invention, in the third or fourth invention, the communication condition setting means sets at least a transmission / reception timing and a transmission / reception time as the information transmission / reception condition.

  Both the printing means and the communication means, such as setting the transmission / reception timing and the transmission / reception time as the actual information transmission / reception conditions by the communication condition setting means so that the power consumption of the printing means is performed in a relatively small time region. Thus, it is possible to adjust so that the peak of power consumption combined with does not increase remarkably.

  In a sixth aspect based on the fifth aspect, the communication condition setting means further includes, as the information transmission / reception conditions, a transport speed of the transport means, whether or not the transport speed is decelerated or stopped, and the deceleration or stop time, At least one of the number of transmission / reception retries, the presence / absence of division of transmission / reception data, and the amount of transmission / reception data after the division is set.

  As a result, for example, when the time area where the power consumption of the printing unit is low is short and the communication time is likely to be insufficient, the conveyance is stopped, the conveyance speed is reduced, the transmission / reception data is divided, or the number of retries is reduced. For example, it is possible to finely adjust the peak of power consumption for both the printing unit and the communication unit so as not to increase remarkably.

  In a seventh aspect based on the sixth aspect, the communication condition setting means sets whether to decelerate or stop the conveying means during information transmission / reception according to the transmission / reception time set as the information transmission / reception condition. When it is set to decelerate or stop the conveying means, the deceleration time or stop time is set.

  Thus, for example, when the time area where the power consumption of the printing unit is low is short and the communication time is likely to be short, the conveyance is stopped / decelerated, and when the amount of transmitted / received data is large, the time to stop / decelerate is lengthened. As a result, it is possible to make finer adjustments so that the peak of the power consumption of both the printing unit and the communication unit is not significantly increased.

  According to an eighth aspect, in the sixth aspect, the communication condition setting unit is configured to perform the transmission / reception retry count during information transmission / reception according to the transmission / reception possible timing and the transmission / reception possible time detected by the communication possible time detection unit. Is set.

  Thus, for example, when the time area where the power consumption of the printing unit is low is short and the communication time is likely to be insufficient, the printing unit avoids trying to communicate outside the transmission / reception possible time by setting the transmission / reception retry count to a low value, etc. It is possible to further finely adjust the communication power consumption of both the communication means and the communication means so as not to increase remarkably.

  According to a ninth invention, in any one of the second to eighth inventions, the printing power calculation unit is configured to output the power consumption for at least a communicable range in the printing area before the printing unit starts printing. The communication condition setting means sets the information transmission / reception conditions of the communication means according to the power consumption distribution calculated by the printing power calculation means.

  Thus, before starting printing, the printing power calculation means calculates the printing power consumption distribution for all the printing areas, and based on the calculation result, the communication condition setting means, for example, the time during which the power consumption of the printing means is smaller than a predetermined value. It is possible to set all transmission / reception times in advance so that all areas are listed and transmission / reception is performed in the time area.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the second to eighth aspects, the printing power calculation unit is a small region obtained by dividing the printing region into a predetermined number before or after the printing unit starts printing. The power consumption distribution is calculated every time, and the communication condition setting means sets the information transmission / reception conditions of the communication means according to the power consumption distribution calculated by the printing power calculation means. And

  As a result, for each small print area, the print power calculation means calculates the print power consumption distribution, and the communication condition setting means lists, for example, time segments in which the power consumption of the print means is relatively small. It is possible to set the transmission / reception time so as to perform transmission / reception.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the second to eighth aspects, the printing power calculation unit is configured to output the printing power for each predetermined printing unit area of the printing area at and after the start of printing by the printing unit. The power consumption distribution is calculated, and the communication condition setting means sets the information transmission / reception condition of the communication means according to the power consumption distribution calculated by the printing power calculation means. .

  Thus, for each print unit area, the print power consumption distribution is calculated by the print power calculation means, and each time the communication condition setting means performs transmission / reception when the power consumption of the print means is smaller than a predetermined value. When the power consumption is larger than a predetermined value, it is possible to set so that transmission / reception is not performed.

  In a twelfth aspect, in any one of the second to eleventh aspects, the communication condition setting unit determines whether information transmission / reception conditions capable of normally creating a tag label can be set. It is characterized by comprising determination means for performing.

  As a result, for example, when the battery (power supply capacity) is low, printing is continued, or when high quality mode is set and printing cannot be stopped halfway, the communication condition cannot be set by the determination means. By performing the determination, for example, it is possible to stop the creation of the tag label and prompt the user to replace the battery or change the conditions.

  A thirteenth aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to twelfth aspects of the invention, the printing unit is a thermal head including a heating element that generates heat when energized.

  Since the power consumption is particularly large when the printing means is a thermal head, the prediction means predicts whether or not information transmission / reception is possible in such a case, and the communication means performs information transmission / reception according to the prediction result. By doing so, it is possible to effectively adjust the consumption of communication power that combines both the printing means and the communication means, and to reliably produce a printed RFID tag label.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably produce a printed RFID tag label by ensuring normal device operation.

  Hereinafter, a tag label producing apparatus which is an embodiment of a label producing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a RFID label generation system.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a wireless tag generation system provided with a tag label producing apparatus of this embodiment.

  In the RFID tag generating system TS shown in FIG. 1, the tag label producing apparatus 1 is connected to a route server RS, a plurality of information servers IS, a terminal 118a, and a general-purpose computer 118b via a wired or wireless communication line NW. . Note that the terminal 118a and the general-purpose computer 118b are collectively referred to as “PC 118” as appropriate hereinafter.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of the tag label producing apparatus 1.

  In FIG. 2, a tag label producing apparatus 1 is connected to the PC 118 and produces a desired RFID label with a print based on an operation from the PC 118, and can be opened and closed on the apparatus main body 2 and the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2. It has an open / close lid 3 (cover member) provided.

  The apparatus main body 2 is positioned on the front side (left front side in FIG. 2), and includes a side wall 10 having a label discharge port 11 for discharging a RFID label T (details will be described later) created in the apparatus main body 2 to the outside. The side wall 10 includes a side cover 12 provided below the label discharge port 11 and having a lower end rotatably supported.

  The side lid 12 is provided with a pressing portion 13, and the side lid 12 is opened forward by pushing the pressing portion 13 from above. A power button 14 for turning on / off the power of the tag label producing apparatus 1 is provided below the opening / closing button 4 in the side wall 10. A cutter driving button 16 for driving a cutting mechanism 15 (see FIG. 3 described later) disposed in the apparatus main body 2 by a user's manual operation is provided below the power button 14. Is pressed, the tag label tape 109 with print (details will be described later) is cut to a desired length to produce the RFID label T.

  The opening / closing lid 3 is pivotally supported at the end of the apparatus main body 2 on the right back side in FIG. 2 and is always urged in the opening direction via an urging member such as a spring. Then, when the open / close button 4 disposed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2 so as to be adjacent to the open / close lid 3 is pressed, the lock between the open / close lid 3 and the apparatus main body 2 is released and opened by the action of the biasing member. Is done. A see-through window 5 covered with a transparent cover is provided at the center side of the opening / closing lid 3.

  Although not particularly illustrated, a well-known battery 130 (which may be another power storage means such as a battery) serving as a power source for the tag label producing apparatus 1 is detachably stored in a predetermined place (for example, the back side) of the apparatus body 2. A storage section is provided.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of the internal unit 20 inside the tag label producing apparatus 1 (however, a loop antenna LC described later is omitted). In FIG. 3, the internal unit 20 generally includes a cartridge holder 6 (cartridge holder portion) that accommodates the cartridge 7, a printing mechanism 21 that includes a printing head (thermal head) 23 as a printing unit, and a cutting mechanism. 15, a half cut unit 35 (see FIG. 8 to be described later), and a label discharge mechanism 22 for discharging the generated RFID label T (see FIG. 19 to be described later) from the label discharge port 11 (see FIG. 2). Yes.

  4 is a plan view showing the structure of the internal unit 20 shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view schematically showing the detailed structure of the cartridge 7. As shown in FIG.

  4 and 5, the cartridge holder 6 accommodates the cartridge 7 so that the direction of the width direction of the tag label tape 109 with print discharged from the label discharge port 11 is the vertical direction. Further, the cartridge holder 6 has recesses 6L and 6R for the operator to grip and detach the cartridge 7 with fingers, on the side of the cartridge 7 in the direction of attachment / detachment (here, the left and right sides in FIG. 5). Yes.

  The cartridge 7 includes a casing 7A, a first roll 102 around which a strip-shaped base tape 101 (tag medium) is wound, which is disposed in the casing 7A, and a transparent having substantially the same width as the base tape 101. A second roll 104 around which a cover film 103 (print medium) is wound, a ribbon supply side roll 111 for feeding out an ink ribbon 105 (thermal transfer ribbon, but not required if the print tape is a thermal tape), and after printing A ribbon take-up roller 106 that winds up the ribbon 105, a tape feed roller 27 that is rotatably supported in the vicinity of the tape discharge portion 30 of the cartridge 7, and a guide roller 112 that functions as a transport position regulating means.

  The tape feed roller 27 presses and bonds the base tape 101 and the cover film 103 to form the printed tag label tape 109 and feeds the tape in the direction indicated by the arrow A (= also functions as a pressure roller). ).

  The first roll 102 is wound with the base tape 101 in which a plurality of RFID tag circuit elements To are sequentially formed at predetermined equal intervals in the longitudinal direction around a reel member 102a. In this example, the base tape 101 has a four-layer structure (see a partially enlarged view in FIG. 5), from the side wound inside (right side in FIG. 5) to the opposite side (left side in FIG. 5), An adhesive layer 101a made of an appropriate adhesive material, a colored base film 101b made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), an adhesive layer 101c made of an appropriate adhesive material, and a release paper 101d are laminated in this order.

  On the back side (left side in FIG. 5) of the base film 101b, a loop antenna 152 (antenna) configured in a loop coil shape and transmitting / receiving information is integrally provided in this example, and information is connected so as to be connected thereto. Is formed, and the RFID circuit element To is constituted by these.

  The adhesive layer 101a for later bonding the cover film 103 is formed on the front side (right side in FIG. 5) of the base film 101b, and the RFID circuit element is formed on the back side (left side in FIG. 5) of the base film 101b. The release paper 101d is bonded to the base film 101b by the adhesive layer 101c provided so as to enclose To.

  The release paper 101d is configured such that when the RFID label T finally completed in a label shape is attached to a predetermined product or the like, the release paper 101d can be adhered to the product or the like by the adhesive layer 101c by peeling it off. Further, on the surface of the release paper 101d, a predetermined identifier for transport control (in this example, a black identifier, or a base tape 101 by laser processing or the like) is provided at a predetermined position corresponding to each RFID circuit element To. A hole penetrating through the hole may be drilled, or a Thomson-type hole or the like) may be provided.

  The second roll 104 has the cover film 103 wound around a reel member 104a. The cover film 103 fed out from the second roll 104 is a ribbon driven by the ribbon supply side roll 111 and the ribbon take-up roller 106 arranged on the back side thereof (that is, the side to be bonded to the base tape 101). 105 is pressed against the print head 23 to be brought into contact with the back surface of the cover film 103.

  The ribbon take-up roller 106 and the tape feed roller 27 are driven by a ribbon take-up roller via a gear mechanism (not shown) driven by a conveying motor 119 (see FIG. 16 to be described later), for example, a pulse motor provided outside the cartridge 7. By being transmitted to the shaft 107 and the tape feed roller drive shaft 108, they are driven to rotate in conjunction with each other.

  On the other hand, at this time, the print head 23 having a large number of heat generating elements is attached to the head attaching portion 24 erected on the cartridge holder 6 and arranged upstream of the tape feed roller 27 in the transport direction of the cover film 103. ing.

  Further, a roller holder 25 is pivotally supported by a support shaft 29 in front of the cartridge 7 in the cartridge holder 6 (lower side in FIG. 4), and a printing position (contact position, FIG. Reference) and a release position (separation position). In the roller holder 25, a platen roller 26 and a tape pressure roller 28 are rotatably arranged. When the roller holder 25 is switched to the printing position, the platen roller 26 and the tape pressure roller 28 are The print head 23 and the tape feed roller 27 are pressed against each other.

  In the above configuration, the base tape 101 fed out from the first roll 102 is supplied to the tape feed roller 27. On the other hand, the cover film 103 fed out from the second roll 104 is arranged on the back side thereof (that is, the side to be bonded to the base tape 101), and is driven by the ribbon supply side roll 111 and the ribbon take-up roller 106. The ribbon 105 is pressed against the print head 23 and brought into contact with the back surface of the cover film 103.

  When the cartridge 7 is mounted on the cartridge holder 6 and the roll holder 25 is moved from the release position to the print position, the cover film 103 and the ink ribbon 105 are held between the print head 23 and the platen roller 26. At the same time, the base tape 101 and the cover film 103 are sandwiched between the tape feeding roller 27 and the pressure roller 28. Then, the ribbon take-up roller 106 and the tape feed roller 27 are rotationally driven in synchronization with the directions indicated by the arrows B and C by the driving force of the conveying motor 119, respectively. At this time, the tape feed roller drive shaft 108, the pressure roller 28 and the platen roller 26 are connected by a gear mechanism (not shown), and the tape feed roller 27, The pressure roller 28 and the platen roller 26 rotate, and the base tape 101 is fed out from the first roll 102 and supplied to the tape feed roller 27 as described above. On the other hand, the cover film 103 is fed out from the second roll 104, and a plurality of heating elements of the print head 23 are energized by the print drive circuit 120 (see FIG. 16 described later). As a result, a label print R (see FIG. 19 described later) corresponding to the stored information of the RFID circuit element To on the base tape 101 to be bonded is printed on the back surface of the cover film 103. The base tape 101 and the cover film 103 after printing are bonded and integrated by the tape feeding roller 27 and the pressure roller 28 to form a tag label tape 109 with print. It is carried out of the cartridge 7. The ink ribbon 105 that has finished printing on the cover film 103 is taken up by the ribbon take-up roller 106 by driving the ribbon take-up roller drive shaft 107.

  Note that, on the upper surface of the housing 7A of the cartridge 7, for example, a tape specifying display portion 8 for displaying the tape width of the base tape 101 incorporated in the cartridge 7 and the color of the tape is provided. . When the cartridge 7 is attached to the cartridge holder 6 and the opening / closing lid 3 is closed, the above-described see-through window 5 and the tape specifying display unit 8 face each other, and the tape specifying display unit 8 is opened via the transparent cover of the see-through window 5. Visible from the outside of the apparatus body 2. As a result, the type of the cartridge 7 attached to the cartridge holder 6 can be easily visually recognized from the outside of the apparatus main body 2 through the transparent window 5.

  On the other hand, as described above, the internal unit 20 is provided with the cutting mechanism 15 and the label discharge mechanism 22, and is further provided with a base tape 101 (a tag label tape with print after bonding, the same applies hereinafter). A loop antenna LC (communication means) is provided to read or write information via wireless communication with respect to the provided RFID tag circuit element To. Then, after reading or writing information to the RFID circuit element To by the loop antenna LC with respect to the tag label tape 109 with print generated by being bonded as described above, the cutter driving button 16 ( 2), the tag label tape 109 with print is cut by the cutting mechanism 15, and the RFID label T is generated. The RFID label T is then discharged from the label discharge port 11 formed in the side wall 10 (see FIG. 2) by the label discharge mechanism 22 after that.

  The cutting mechanism 15 includes a fixed blade 40, a movable blade 41 that performs a cutting operation together with the fixed blade 40, a cutter helical gear 42 that is coupled to the movable blade 41, and a gear train that is coupled to the cutter helical gear 42. The cutter motor 43 is provided.

  The label discharge mechanism 22 is disposed in the vicinity of the label discharge port 11 provided in the side wall 10 of the apparatus main body 2 and is printed with the tag label tape 109 (in other words, the RFID label T, The same applies hereinafter) functioning as discharge means for forcibly discharging from the label discharge port 11. That is, the label discharge mechanism 22 includes a driving roller 51 (conveying means), a pressing roller 52 facing the driving roller 51 with a printed tag label tape 109 interposed therebetween, and the pressing roller 52 as a printed tag label tape. 109, a pressure actuating mechanism 53 that is actuated so as to press against or release the pressure, and a tag label tape 109 that has been printed by the drive roller 51 in conjunction with the pressure releasing operation of the press actuating mechanism 53. And a discharge drive mechanism section 54 for rotating the apparatus so as to discharge it.

  At this time, first guide walls 55 and 56 and second guide walls 63 and 64 for guiding the tag label tape 109 with print to the label discharge port 11 are provided inside the label discharge port 11 ( (See FIG. 4). The first guide walls 55 and 56 and the second guide walls 63 and 64 are integrally formed, and at a discharge position of the tag label tape 109 with print cut by the fixed blade 40 and the movable blade 41, a predetermined distance from each other. It is arranged to be separated.

  The pressing operation mechanism unit 53 is attached to the roller support holder 57, the roller support holder 57, a roller support unit 58 that holds the pressing roller 52 at the tip, and a holder support unit that rotatably supports the roller support holder 57. 59, a cam 60 that drives the pressing operation mechanism 53 in conjunction with the cutting mechanism 15, and an urging spring 61.

  The roller support portion 58 is rotatably supported so as to sandwich the pressing roller 52 from above and below. Then, the roller support holder 57 rotates counterclockwise (in the direction of arrow 71 in FIG. 3) about the holder support shaft 59 through the cam 60 by the rotation of the cutter helical gear 42, whereby the pressing roller 52 is printed. It is pressed against the tag label tape 109. When the cutter helical gear 42 is rotated again, the holder support shaft 59 is rotated in the reverse direction by the biasing spring 61, and the pressing roller 52 is separated from the tag label tape 109 with print.

  The discharge drive mechanism portion 54 includes a tape discharge motor 65 and a gear train 66, and after the tag label tape 109 with print is pressed against the drive roller 51 by the pressing roller 52, the tape discharge motor 65 is driven to drive the drive roller 51. Is rotated in the discharge direction of the tag label tape 109 with print, so that the tag label tape 109 with print is forcibly discharged in the discharge direction.

  FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing the conceptual configuration of the RFID circuit element To provided in the base tape 101 fed out from the first roll 102, as viewed from the direction of arrow D in FIG. In FIG. 6, the RFID circuit element To is composed of the loop antenna 152 that is configured in a loop coil shape and transmits / receives information, and an IC circuit unit 151 that is connected thereto and stores information. Further, the aforementioned identification mark PM is provided on the surface of the release paper 101d at a predetermined position corresponding to each RFID circuit element To.

  FIG. 7A is a partial extraction perspective view showing a detailed structure of a main part of the label discharge mechanism 22, and FIG. 7B is a view showing a conceptual configuration of the mark sensor 127. In FIG. 7A, the middle portions of the first guide walls 55 and 56 in the vertical direction are notched, and the drive roller 51 is provided on one of the first guide walls 55 from the notched portion to the tag label tape 109 with print. It is provided so as to face the discharge position. The drive roller 51 has a roller cutout 51A formed by a concentric groove on the upper surface thereof. On the other hand, on the other first guide wall 56, the pressing roller 52 is supported by the roller support portion 58 of the pressing operation mechanism portion 53 so as to face the discharging position of the tag label tape 109 with print from the notch portion.

  The loop antenna LC (conceptually indicated by an imaginary line in FIG. 7A) is disposed in the vicinity of the pressing roller 52 so that the pressing roller 52 is positioned at the center in the radial direction, and magnetic induction is performed. Access to the RFID circuit element To provided in the tag label tape 109 with print (including information reading or information writing) is performed (including electromagnetic contact, magnetic coupling, and other non-contact methods performed via an electromagnetic field). It has become.

  Further, on the upstream side of the driving roller 51 in the transport direction (in other words, between a half cutter 34 and a loop antenna LC, which will be described later), the release paper 101d of the base tape 101 corresponds to the position of each RFID circuit element. A mark sensor 127 capable of detecting an appropriate identification mark PM (see FIG. 6 and the like) provided is provided. As shown in FIG. 7B, the mark sensor 127 is a known reflection type photoelectric sensor including a projector 127a made of a light emitting diode and a light receiver 127b made of a phototransistor, for example. The control output from the light receiver 127b is inverted depending on whether or not the identification mark PM exists between the light projector 127a and the light receiver 127b. The mark sensor 127 is not limited to the reflective type, and a transmissive photoelectric sensor may be used.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the internal unit 20 in a state where the label discharge mechanism 22 is removed from the structure shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 8, the cutter helical gear 42 is provided with a boss 50 formed in a projecting shape, and this boss 50 is configured to be inserted into a long hole 49 of the movable blade 41 (described later). 11 and FIG. 9). Further, on the downstream side of the fixed blade 40 and the movable blade 41 along the tape discharge direction, so as to be positioned between the fixed blade 40 and the movable blade 41 and the first guide walls 55 and 56 (see FIG. 4), A half cut unit 35 is attached.

  The half-cut unit 35 includes a cradle 38 that is arranged in accordance with the fixed blade 40, a half cutter 34 that is opposed to the cradle 38 and is disposed on the movable blade 41 side, and between the fixed blade 40 and the cradle 38. The first guide portion 36 is disposed in combination with the fixed blade 40, and the second guide portion 37 is disposed in combination with the movable blade 41 so as to face the first guide portion 36 (see FIG. 11 described later). See also). The first guide portion 36 and the second guide portion 37 are integrally formed, and are attached to the side plate 44 (see FIG. 4) together with the fixed blade 40 by a guide fixing portion 36A provided at a position corresponding to the fixed hole 40A of the fixed blade 40. It has been.

  At this time, a half cutter motor 129 (not shown; see FIG. 15 described later) is provided to rotate the half cutter 34 around a predetermined rotation fulcrum (not shown). The driving mechanism of the half cutter 34 using the half cutter motor 129 is not shown in detail, but can be configured as follows, for example. That is, for example, the half cutter motor 129 is constituted by an electric motor capable of rotating forward and reverse, and is connected to a crank member (same) provided with a pin (same) via a gear train (not shown), and the above-mentioned pin of the rank member A long groove for engaging is formed in the half cutter 34. When the crank member is rotated by the driving force of the half cutter motor 129, the pin of the crank member moves along the long groove, thereby causing the half cutter 34 to move in a predetermined direction (clockwise or counterclockwise). Can be rotated.

  The cradle 38 is bent so that an end facing the tag label tape 109 with print discharged from the tape discharge unit 30 is parallel to the tape, and forms a receiving surface 38B. Here, as described above, the tag label tape 109 with print is bonded to the cover film 103 and the base tape 101 having a four-layer structure including the adhesive layer 101a, the base film 101b, the adhesive layer 101c, and the release paper 101d. Thus, a five-layer structure is formed (see also FIG. 19 described later). Then, by pressing the half cutter 34 against the receiving surface 38B using the driving force of the half cutter motor 129 as described above, the tag label tape 109 with print between the half cutter 34 and the receiving surface 38B is The cover film 103, the adhesive layer 101a, the base film 101b, and the adhesive layer 101c are cut, but only the release paper 101d is left uncut and a half-cut line HC (see FIG. 18 and the like described later) substantially along the tape width direction. It is formed. In addition, after the half cutter 34 contacts the receiving surface 38B, for example, in the above-described configuration, the half cutter motor 129 is configured not to be overloaded by a not-shown slip clutch interposed in the gear train. Is preferred. The receiving surface 38 </ b> B has a role of guiding the tag label tape 109 with print to the label discharge port 11 together with the first guide portions 55 and 56.

  9 and 10 are perspective views showing the appearance of the cutting mechanism 15 in which the half cutter 34 is removed from the internal unit 20.

  9 and 10, in the cutting mechanism 15, when the cutter helical gear 42 is rotated by the cutter motor 43 (see FIG. 3), the movable blade 41 is swung around the shaft hole 48 by the boss 50 and the long hole 49. The tag label tape 109 with print is cut.

  That is, first, when the boss 50 of the cutter helical gear 42 is positioned on the inner side (left side in FIG. 9), the movable blade 41 is positioned away from the fixed blade 40 (hereinafter, this state is referred to as an initial state). ). In this initial state, when the cutter motor 43 is driven and the cutter helical gear 42 rotates counterclockwise (in the direction of the arrow 70), the boss 50 moves outward and the movable blade 41 counters around the shaft hole 48. The tag label tape 109 with print is cut with the fixed blade 40 fixed to the internal unit 20 by rotating clockwise (in the direction of arrow 73) (this state is hereinafter referred to as a cut state, see FIG. 10).

  After the printed tag label tape 109 is cut in this way to generate the RFID label, it is necessary to return the movable blade 41 to the initial state in order to cut the printed tag label tape 109 to be conveyed next time. Therefore, by driving the cutter motor 43 again and rotating the cutter helical gear 42 counterclockwise (in the direction of arrow 70), the boss 50 moves inward again, and the movable blade 41 rotates in the clockwise direction (in the direction of arrow 74). To move the movable blade 41 away from the fixed blade 40 (see FIG. 9). Then, the tag label tape 109 with print, which is printed and conveyed from the cartridge 7 next time, can be cut.

  At this time, the cutter helical gear cam 42A is provided on the cylindrical outer wall of the cutter helical gear 42, and when the cutter helical gear 42 is rotated by the cutter motor 43, the cutter helical gear 42 is moved to the cutter helical gear 42 by the action of the cutter helical gear cam 42A. The adjacent microswitch 126 is switched from the off state to the on state. Thereby, the cut state of the tag label tape 109 with print is detected.

  FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the detailed structure of the movable blade 41 and the fixed blade 40 together with the half-cut unit 35, and FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged sectional view thereof. 11 and 12, the fixed blade 40 is fixed to a side plate 44 (see FIG. 4) provided upright on the left side of the cartridge holder 6 in the printing mechanism 15 with a screw or the like through a fixing hole 40A.

  The movable blade 41 is substantially V-shaped and includes a blade portion 45 provided at a cutting portion, a handle portion 46 positioned opposite to the blade portion 45, and a bent portion 47. The bent portion 47 is provided with the shaft hole 48, and is supported by the side plate 44 at the shaft hole 48 so that the movable blade 41 can rotate with the bent portion 47 as a fulcrum. Further, the elongated hole 49 is formed in the handle 46 on the opposite side of the blade 45 provided at the cutting portion of the movable blade 41. The blade portion 45 is formed by a two-stage blade, and the blade surface is constituted by two inclined surfaces having different inclination angles of the first inclined surface 45A and the second inclined surface 45B that gradually reduce the thickness of the blade portion 45. ing.

  On the other hand, of the first guide portion 36 of the half-cut unit 35 described above, the end portion 36B facing the printed tag label tape 109 is a receiving surface 38B formed at the end portion of the receiving base 38. And the tag label tape 109 with print is bent in the discharging direction. Therefore, the end portion 36B of the first guide portion 36 has a smooth curved surface with respect to the printed tag label tape 109 discharging direction at the contact surface 36C with respect to the printed tag label tape 109 discharged from the cartridge 7.

  By projecting the end portion 36B of the first guide portion 36 and making the contact surface 36C curved, the front end portion of the tag label tape 109 with print curled to a certain curvature or more first hits the contact surface 36C of the first guide portion 36. . At this time, the leading end of the tag label tape 109 with print hits the downstream side (downward in FIG. 12) of the printed tag label tape 109 from the boundary point 75 on the contact surface 36C of the first guide portion. In this case, the leading end of the tag label tape 109 with print moves downstream along the curved surface, so that the label does not enter between the fixed blade 40 and the first guide portion 36 or the cradle 38. It leads to the discharge port 11 direction.

  The first guide portion 36 has a guide width L1 (see FIG. 11) corresponding to the transport path of the printed tag label tape 109 larger than the maximum width (36 mm in this embodiment) of the attached tag label tape 109 to be attached. The inner surface 36D is formed continuously with the contact surface 36C. The internal surface 36D is formed to face first and second inclined surfaces 45A and 45B (details will be described later) of the movable blade 41, and at the time of cutting, the first and second inclined surfaces 45A and 45B of the movable blade 41 are formed. A part is abutted (see FIG. 12). Since the movable blade 41 is formed by a two-stage blade, when the tag label tape 109 with print is cut by the movable blade 41, the contact surface 36C and the inner surface 36D corresponding to the end of the first guide portion 36 A gap 39 is formed between the movable blade 41 and the second inclined surface 45B (see FIG. 12).

  13 is a front view showing the appearance of the movable blade 41, and FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

  13 and 14, in the present embodiment, the first inclined surface 45A has an angle of 50 degrees with the back surface of the blade portion 45 opposite to the first inclined surface 45A.

  FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram showing a control system of the tag label producing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. In FIG. 15, a control circuit 110 is disposed on a control board (not shown) of the tag label producing apparatus 1.

  The control circuit 110 includes a CPU 111 having an internal timer 111A for controlling each device, an input / output interface 113 connected to the CPU 111 via a data bus 112, a CGROM 114, ROMs 115 and 116, and a RAM 117. It has been.

  The CGROM 114 is a display CG (character generator) for display on the LCD 132, which is a display unit for displaying, for example, battery replacement. The dot pattern data for each of a large number of characters corresponds to code data. Stored.

  In a ROM (dot pattern data memory) 115, for each of a large number of characters for printing characters such as alphabet letters and symbols, printing dot pattern data is provided for each typeface (Gothic typeface, Mincho typeface, etc.). Each typeface is classified and stored in correspondence with the code data for the print character size. In addition, graphic pattern data for printing a graphic image including gradation expression is also stored.

  Note that the dot pattern data for display and printing stored in the CGROM 114 and ROM 115 can be read from the PC 118 side via the communication line NW, and displayed or printed on the PC 118 side receiving the data. You may make it perform.

  The ROM 116 reads the print buffer data in correspondence with the character code data such as characters and numbers input from the PC 118 and drives the print head 23, the transport motor 119, and the tape discharge motor 65. A control program, a pulse number determination program for determining the number of pulses corresponding to the amount of energy to form each print dot, and when printing is finished, the tag label tape 109 with print is transported by driving the transport motor 119 to the cutting position. A cutting drive control program for driving the cutter motor 43 to cut the tag label tape 109 with print, and the cut tag label tape 109 with print (= the RFID label T) from the label discharge port 11 by driving the tape discharge motor 65. Forcible tape ejection program and other tags Bell generating apparatus 1 controls various programs required for are stored. The CPU 111 performs various calculations based on various programs stored in the ROM 116.

  The RAM 117 is provided with a text memory 117A, a print buffer 117B, a parameter storage area 117E, and the like. The text memory 117A stores document data input from the PC 118. In the print buffer 117B, a dot pattern for printing such as a plurality of characters and symbols, the number of applied pulses that is the amount of energy for forming each dot, and the like are stored as dot pattern data. The print head 23 is stored in the print buffer 117B. Dot printing is performed according to the existing dot pattern data. Various calculation data are stored in the parameter storage area 117E.

  The input / output interface 113 includes a PC 118, the print drive circuit 120 for driving the print head 23, a transport motor drive circuit 121 for driving the transport motor 119, and a cutter motor 43. The cutter motor driving circuit 122, the half cutter motor driving circuit 128 for driving the half cutter motor 129, the tape discharging motor driving circuit 123 for driving the tape discharging motor 65, and the wireless tag via the loop antenna LC. The transmitter circuit 306 generates a carrier wave for accessing (reading / writing) the circuit element To and modulates the carrier wave based on a control signal input from the control circuit 110, and the RFID circuit element To The response signal received via the loop antenna LC from The display circuit 133 that controls the display of the LCD 132, the mark sensor 127 that detects the identification mark PM, the tape cut sensor 124, and the cut release detection sensor 125. Are connected to each other.

  In addition, a power supply circuit 131 is connected to the battery 130. Based on the state of the power button 14, the power supply circuit 131 receives power supplied from the battery 130 and adjusts the power to a predetermined voltage when the power is in the “on” state (control circuit 110, etc.). To supply.

  In such a control system having the control circuit 110 as the core, when character data or the like is input via the PC 118, the text (document data) is sequentially stored in the text memory 117A, and the print head 23 is driven by the drive circuit. 120, each of the heat generating elements is selectively driven to generate heat corresponding to the print dots for one line, and the dot pattern data stored in the print buffer 117B is printed, and in synchronization with this, for carrying The motor 119 performs tape transport control via the drive circuit 121. In addition, the transmission circuit 306 performs carrier wave modulation control based on the control signal from the control circuit 110, and the reception circuit 307 processes the demodulated signal based on the control signal from the control circuit 110.

  The tape cut sensor 124 and the cut release detection sensor 125 include a cutter helical gear cam 42A and a micro switch 126 provided on the cylindrical outer wall of the cutter helical gear 42 (see FIGS. 9 and 10). . Specifically, when the cutter helical gear 42 is rotated by the cutter motor 43, the micro switch 126 is switched from the OFF state to the ON state by the action of the cutter helical gear cam 42A, and the tag label tape 109 with print is cut by the movable blade 45. Detect that is complete. Thus, the tape cut sensor 124 is configured. When the cutter helical gear 42 further rotates, the micro switch 126 is switched from the on state to the off state by the action of the cutter helical gear cam 42A, and it is detected that the movable blade 45 has returned to the release position. Thus, the cut release detection sensor 125 is configured.

  FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram schematically showing a circuit configuration of a connection portion between the transmission circuit 306 and the reception circuit 307 and the loop antenna LC. In FIG. 16, the transmission circuit 306 is connected to the device-side loop antenna LC, and the reception circuit 307 is connected to the capacitor 310 connected in series with the device-side loop antenna LC.

  FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration of the RFID circuit element To. In FIG. 17, the RFID circuit element To includes the loop antenna 152 that transmits and receives signals in a contactless manner with the loop antenna LC on the tag label producing apparatus 1 side, and the IC circuit connected to the loop antenna 152. Part 151.

  The IC circuit unit 151 includes a rectifying unit 153 that rectifies the carrier wave received by the loop antenna 152, a power source unit 154 that accumulates energy of the carrier wave rectified by the rectifying unit 153 and uses it as a driving power source, and the loop antenna. 152, a clock extraction unit 156 that extracts a clock signal from the carrier wave received by 152 and supplies the clock signal to the control unit 155, a memory unit 157 that can store a predetermined information signal, and a modulation / demodulation unit 158 connected to the loop antenna 152 And a control unit 155 for controlling the operation of the RFID circuit element To through the rectifying unit 153, the clock extracting unit 156, the modem unit 158, and the like.

  The modulation / demodulation unit 158 demodulates the communication signal received from the loop antenna 152 from the loop antenna LC of the tag label producing apparatus 1 and receives the carrier wave received from the loop antenna 152 based on the response signal from the control unit 155. Modulate and reflect.

  The control unit 155 interprets the received signal demodulated by the modulation / demodulation unit 158, generates a return signal based on the information signal stored in the memory unit 157, and performs basic control such as returning by the modulation / demodulation unit 158. Execute proper control.

  FIGS. 18A and 18B are formed when the tag label producing apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration completes writing (or reading) of the RFID tag circuit element To and cutting of the tag label tape 109 with print. It is a figure showing an example of the external appearance of the RFID tag T made, FIG. 18 (a) is a top view, FIG.18 (b) is a bottom view. FIG. 19A is a cross-sectional view of the IXXA-IXXA ′ cross section in FIG. 18 rotated 90 ° counterclockwise, and FIG. 19B is the cross section of the IXXB-IXXB ′ cross section in FIG. It is the figure which rotated the figure 90 degrees counterclockwise.

  18 (a), 18 (b), 19 (a), and 19 (b), the RFID label T has a cover film 103 added to the four-layer structure shown in FIG. 5 as described above. The cover film 103, the adhesive layer 101a, the base film 101b, the adhesive layer 101c, from the cover film 103 side (upper side in FIG. 19) to the opposite side (lower side in FIG. 19) The release paper 101d constitutes 5 layers. As described above, the RFID circuit element To including the loop antenna 152 provided on the back side of the base film 101b is provided in the base film 101b and the adhesive layer 101c, and the RFID circuit element To is provided on the back surface of the cover film 103. A label print R (in this example, “RFID” indicating the type of the RFID label T) corresponding to the stored information is printed.

  Also, the cover film 103, the adhesive layer 101a, the base film 101b, and the adhesive layer 101c are provided with the half-cut line HC (half-cut portion. However, in this example, substantially along the tape width direction by the half cutter 34 as described above. Two front half-cut lines HC1 and rear half-cut line HC2 (details will be described later) are formed. In the cover film 103, an area sandwiched between the half-cut lines HC1 and HC2 is a print area S on which the label print R is printed. Are the front margin region S1 (margin portion) and the rear margin region S2. The identification mark PM is provided in the front margin area S1 of each RFID label T.

  As already described, instead of providing a black marking as shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B as the identifier PM, as shown in FIG. 19C, the laser is used as the identifier PM. A hole that substantially penetrates the base tape 101 may be provided by processing or the like (in this case, the cover film 103 is not perforated). In this case, when the mark sensor 127 is constituted by a known reflection type photoelectric sensor composed of a projector and a light receiver, when the identifier PM composed of the hole comes at a position between the light projector and the light receiver, the light from the light projector is transmitted. The light passing through the hole of the identifier PM and the transparent cover film 103 is not reflected and is not received by the light receiver, thereby inverting the control output from the light receiver.

  FIG. 20 is displayed on the PC 118 (terminal 118a or general-purpose computer 118b) when accessing (reading or writing) the RFID tag information of the IC circuit unit 151 of the RFID circuit element To by the tag label producing apparatus 1 as described above. It is a figure showing an example of a screen.

  20, in this example, the type of tag label (access frequency and tape size), label print R printed corresponding to the RFID circuit element To, and identification information (tag ID) specific to the RFID circuit element To The access (read or write) ID, the address of the article information stored in the information server IS, the storage address of the corresponding information in the route server RS, and the like can be displayed on the PC 118. Then, the tag tag label producing apparatus 1 is operated by the operation of the PC 118, the label print R is printed on the cover film 103, and the information such as the write ID and article information is written on the IC circuit unit 151 (or Information such as read ID and article information stored in advance in the IC circuit unit 151 is read).

  At the time of reading or writing as described above, the tag ID of the RFID tag circuit element To of the generated RFID label T and information read from the IC circuit portion 151 of the RFID label T (or to the IC circuit portion 151) The correspondence relationship with the (written information) is stored in the above-described route server RS and can be referred to as necessary.

  In the tag label producing apparatus 1 having the basic configuration as described above, after the information is read or written to the RFID circuit element To by the loop antenna LC with respect to the tag label tape 109 with print that has been bonded and generated, the cutting mechanism 15, the tag label tape 109 with print is cut, and the RFID label T is generated. Here, a feature of the present embodiment is that the above information is read or written when the power consumption of the print head 23 is predicted to be smaller than a predetermined value, so that the power consumption combined with both printing and communication is achieved. The adjustment is made so that the peak of the peak does not increase significantly. Although details will be described later, in this embodiment, the correlation between the number of print dots being transmitted to the print head 23 in the dot pattern data stored in the print buffer 117B and the power consumption of the print head 23 is used. The power consumption of the print head 23 is detected by counting the number of print dots.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a control procedure executed by the control circuit 110 to perform such control.

  In FIG. 21, when a predetermined RFID label producing operation is performed by the tag label producing apparatus 1 via the PC 118, this flow is started. First, in step S1, an operation signal from the PC 118 is input (via the communication line NW and the input / output interface 113), and based on this operation signal, print data, communication data with the RFID circuit element To, front / rear half cut Preparation processing for setting the position and full cut position is executed.

  Next, in step S100, a communicable time detection process is performed to detect a communicable time (transmittable / transmittable time and transmittable time) at which the power consumption of the print head 23 is smaller than a predetermined value and information can be transmitted and received (details) (See FIG. 22 described later).

  In the next step S3, communication conditions (transmission / reception timing, command type, etc.) are set corresponding to the communication available time detected in the communication available time detection process.

  In the next step S4, it is determined whether or not the communication condition has been set in step S3. For example, when the battery is depleted and the power supply is low, or when printing is continued and the communicable time cannot be detected in step S100 (or the communication time for transmission / reception with the RFID circuit element To as a unit) In a case where only a communicable time in a shorter time can be detected), it is difficult to set the communication condition, so the determination is not satisfied and the process proceeds to step S90. Then, annunciation of the tag label production stop is notified and, for example, an error process (for example, an appropriate display is performed by the PC 118) for prompting battery replacement or production condition change is performed, and this flow is terminated. On the other hand, if the communication condition can be set, the determination is satisfied, and the routine goes to the next Step S5.

  In step S <b> 5, a control signal is output to the conveyance motor drive circuit 121 via the input / output interface 113, and the tape feeding roller 27 and the ribbon take-up roller 106 are rotated by the driving force of the conveyance motor 121. Further, a control signal is output to the tape discharge motor 65 via the tape discharge motor drive circuit 123 to drive the drive roller 51 to rotate. Accordingly, the base tape 101 is fed out from the first roll 102 and supplied to the tape feed roller 27, and the cover film 103 is fed out from the second roll 104. The base tape 101 and the cover film 103 are The tape label roller 109 and the sub-roller 109 are bonded and integrated to form a tag label tape 109 with print, which is further conveyed from the outside of the cartridge 7 to the outside of the tag label producing apparatus 1.

  Thereafter, whether or not the identifier PM of the base tape 101 is detected based on the detection signal of the mark detection sensor 127 input through the input / output interface 113 in step S10 (in other words, the cover film 103 is printed by the print head 23). Whether the start position has been reached). The determination is not satisfied until the identifier PM is detected, and this procedure is repeated. If the identifier PM is detected, the determination is satisfied and the process proceeds to the next step S15.

  In step S15, a control signal is output to the print drive circuit 120 via the input / output interface 113, the print head 23 is energized, and the above-described print region S (= the base tape 101 at a predetermined pitch, etc.) of the cover film 103. Printing of the label print R such as characters, symbols, and barcodes corresponding to the print data generated in step S1 is started on the back surface of the RFID circuit element To arranged at intervals.

  In the next step S17, counting of transmission dot strings (see FIG. 23 described later) being transmitted to the print head 23 in the dot pattern data stored in the print buffer 117B is started. For the dot row count, for example, the correspondence between the number of pulses output from the transfer motor drive circuit 121 that drives the transfer motor 119, which is a pulse motor, and the dot row is stored in advance, and the number of pulses is counted. Is done.

  Thereafter, in step S20, whether or not the tag label tape 109 with print has been transported to the previous half-cut position set in the previous step S1 (in other words, the half-cut line set by the half-cut mechanism 35 in step S1). It is determined whether the tag label tape 109 with print has reached a position directly facing HC1. The determination at this time may be performed, for example, by detecting a transport distance after detecting the identifier PM of the base tape 101 in the above-described step S10 (transport that drives a transport motor 119 that is a pulse motor). The number of pulses output from the motor drive circuit 121 is counted). The determination is not satisfied until the previous half-cut position is reached, and this procedure is repeated. When the previous half-cut position is reached, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the next Step S25.

  In step S25, control signals are output to the transport motor drive circuit 121 and the tape discharge motor drive circuit 123 via the input / output interface 113, the drive of the transport motor 119 and the tape discharge motor 65 is stopped, and the tape feed roller 27 is stopped. Then, the rotation of the ribbon take-up roller 106 and the driving roller 51 is stopped. As a result, in the process in which the tag label tape 109 with print fed out from the cartridge 7 moves in the discharge direction, the half cutter 34 of the half cut mechanism 35 faces the front half cut line HC1 set in step S1, The feeding of the base tape 101 from the first roll 102, the feeding of the cover film 103 from the second roll 104, and the conveyance of the tag label tape 109 with print are stopped. At this time, a control signal is also output to the print drive circuit 120 via the input / output interface 113, the energization of the print head 23 is stopped, and printing of the label print R is stopped (print interruption).

  Thereafter, in step S30, a control signal is output to the half cutter motor drive circuit 128 via the input / output interface 113 to drive the half cutter motor 129, and the half cutter 34 is rotated to cover the tag tag tape 109 with print. A pre-half-cut process for cutting the film 103, the adhesive layer 101a, the base film 101b, and the adhesive layer 101c to form the front half-cut line HC1 is performed.

  Then, the process proceeds to step S35, and similarly to step S5, the tape feeding roller 27, the ribbon take-up roller 106, and the driving roller 51 are rotationally driven to resume the transport of the tag label tape 109 with print, and the same as step S15. Then, the print head 23 is energized to resume the printing of the label print R.

  Thereafter, in step S40, the tag label tape 109 that has been conveyed has a predetermined value (for example, the RFID circuit element To to which the cover film 103 on which the corresponding printing has been applied is bonded) only reaches the loop antenna LC. It is determined whether or not it has been transported by (transport distance). Similar to step S20, the conveyance distance at this time may be determined by counting the number of pulses output from the conveyance motor drive circuit 121 that drives the conveyance motor 119, which is a pulse motor.

  In the next step S200, label creation processing is performed. That is, when the RFID tag circuit element To is transported to the communication start position (position where the RFID tag circuit element To approaches the loop antenna LC), information transmission / reception is performed based on the communication conditions set in step S3, and then printing is completed. Further, the conveyance is stopped and the conveyance is stopped at the rear half-cut position, and the rear half-cut line HC2 is formed (see FIG. 26 described later).

  When step S200 is completed as described above, the process proceeds to step S45. In step S45, whether or not the tag label tape 109 with print has been transported to the above-described full cut position (in other words, the tag label tape with print until the position where the movable blade 41 of the cutting mechanism 15 faces the cutting line CL set in step S1). 109) is determined. The determination at this time may be performed in the same manner as described above, for example, by detecting the transport distance after detecting the identifier PM of the base tape 101 in step S10 (a transport motor 119 which is a pulse motor). The number of pulses output from the conveyance motor drive circuit 121 that drives the motor is counted, etc.). The determination is not satisfied until the full-cut position is reached, and this procedure is repeated.

  In step S50, similarly to step S25, the rotation of the tape feeding roller 27, the ribbon take-up roller 106, and the driving roller 51 is stopped, and the conveyance of the tag label tape 109 with print is stopped. Thus, the base tape 101 is fed out from the first roll 102 and the cover film 103 is fed out from the second roll 104 with the movable blade 41 of the cutting mechanism 15 facing the cutting line CL set in step S1. , And the transport of the tag label tape 109 with print is stopped.

  Thereafter, in step S55, a control signal is output to the cutter motor drive circuit 122 to drive the cutter motor 43, and the movable blade 41 of the cutting mechanism 15 is rotated to cover the cover film 103 and the adhesive layer of the tag label tape 109 with print. A full cut process is performed to cut (divide) all of 101a, base film 101b, adhesive layer 101c, and release paper 101d to form a cutting line CL. By the cutting by the cutting mechanism 15, the tag label tape 109 with print is cut off, the RFID tag information T of the RFID circuit element To is read, and a label-like RFID tag T on which predetermined printing is performed correspondingly is generated. The

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S60, where a control signal is output to the tape discharge motor drive circuit 123 via the input / output interface 31, the drive of the tape discharge motor 65 is restarted, and the drive roller 51 is rotated. As a result, the conveyance by the driving roller 51 is resumed, and the RFID label T generated in the label shape in step S55 is conveyed toward the label discharge port 11 and discharged from the label discharge port 11 to the outside of the label label producing apparatus 1. This flow is finished.

  FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S100 described above.

  First, in step S110, a variable n for counting dot rows (see FIG. 23 described later) in the dot pattern data stored in the print buffer 117B is initialized to 1.

  In the next step S120, the print data input in step S1 is developed on the print buffer 117B and stored as dot pattern data (see FIG. 23 described later).

  In the next step S130, the number of printed dots in the nth dot row is counted (see FIG. 24 described later). The number of print dots is the number of dots that are actually printed in each dot row of the dot pattern data on the print buffer 117B when the heating element of the print head 23 is energized.

  In the next step S140, it is determined whether or not the number of dots printed in the dot row n counted in step S130 is equal to or less than a threshold value. It is predicted that this threshold value can be sufficiently supplied by the power source (the above-described battery) of the tag label producing apparatus 1 when the information is transmitted / received and the printing and communication at that time are combined. The number of print dots is set (see FIG. 24 described later). If the number of printed dots is less than or equal to the threshold value, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the next Step S150.

  In step S150, the dot row for which the number of printed dots is determined to be less than or equal to the threshold value in step S140 is determined as a communicable area, and the dot row number n is temporarily stored in an appropriate memory (for example, RAM 117). Let Then, the process proceeds to next Step S160. If the number of printed dots is larger than the threshold value in step S140, the determination is not satisfied and the process directly moves to next step S160.

  In step S160, 1 is added to the variable n for counting the dot rows of the dot pattern data stored in the print buffer 117B, and the process proceeds to the next step S170.

  In step S170, the processing in steps S130 to S150 (determining whether the number of print dots is equal to or less than a threshold value) is performed on all dot patterns of the dot pattern data stored in the print buffer 117B. If so, it is determined whether or not (temporary storage) has ended. If the above process has not been completed for all the dot rows, the determination is not satisfied, and the routine goes to the previous Step S130. On the other hand, if the above processing has been completed for all the dot rows, the determination is satisfied and this routine is terminated.

  Through the above procedure, all the dot row numbers in which the number of print dots in the data of the print buffer 117B is equal to or smaller than the threshold value are extracted, and a communicable communicable region is detected.

  FIG. 23 shows the dots stored in the print buffer 117B when the print data (in this example, “RFID” characters indicating the type of the RFID label T) is developed in the print buffer 117B in the procedure of step S120. It is a figure which expresses an example of pattern data notionally. Here, a state in which print data is developed on a buffer of 13 dots (rows) × 35 dots (columns) is illustrated.

  In FIG. 24, in steps S130 and S140, the number of print dots is counted for all dot rows (1 to 35) of the print buffer 117B in which the print data is expanded, and the number of print dots counted for each dot row is calculated. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of a procedure for extracting a dot row that is not more than a threshold value and detecting a communicable region by comparing with a threshold value (here, 1.5, indicated by a one-dot chain line). is there. As shown in the figure, for example, the character “R” is expanded into 4 to 8 dot rows, and the number of print dots in the fourth row, for example, in the character “R” is 9, 9, The number of dots is 3. And here, a threshold value is set to 1.5, and dot rows having a print dot number of 1.5 or less, that is, 9 to 11, 16 to 20, and 24 to 26 are extracted, and these ranges are defined as communicable areas. Detect as. Here, areas of dot rows 9 to 11, 16 to 20, and 24 to 26 are detected as a communicable area 1, a communicable area 2, and a communicable area 3, respectively.

  FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of a procedure for setting communication conditions corresponding to the detected communicable area in step S3. As shown in this figure, a “Ping” signal for confirming whether or not the RFID circuit element To exists within the communication range in the communicable area 1 is sent to the memory unit 157 in the communicable area 2 and desired data is sent to the memory unit 157. The “Program” signal to be written is set to transmit a “Verify” signal for confirming the contents of the memory unit 157 in the communicable area 3. Here, the time required to execute the “Ping” command and the “Verify” command is equivalent to three dot rows, and the time required to transmit the “Program” signal is equivalent to five dot rows (the time required for command execution is The number of dot rows transmitted from the print buffer 117B to the print head 23 within that time is converted).

  FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S200 described above. In the flow shown in FIG. 26, first, in step S210, it is determined whether or not the tag label tape 109 with print has been transported to the communication start position with the loop antenna LC described above. For example, the determination at this time may be performed by detecting a transport distance after detecting the identifier PM of the base tape 101 in step S10 in the same manner as in step S20 of FIG. 21 described above. The determination is not satisfied until the communication start position is reached, and this procedure is repeated. When the communication start position is reached, the determination is satisfied and the process proceeds to the next step S400.

  In step S400, information is transmitted / received by radio communication between the antenna LC and the RFID circuit element To based on the communication conditions set corresponding to the communicable region, and the IC circuit unit of the RFID circuit element To Information transmission / reception processing for writing the information created in step S1 of FIG. 21 (or reading information stored in advance in the IC circuit unit) to 151 is performed (see FIG. 27 described later for details).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S230, and it is determined whether or not the information transmission / reception is successful in step S400. Specifically, in step S400, a “Verify” signal is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To, and based on the response signal received from the RFID circuit element To in response, predetermined written information is sent to the IC circuit unit 151. Determine if it is stored.

  If the communication fails, the determination is not satisfied and the routine goes to Step S290, where error processing for notifying the operator of the communication failure on the label (for example, another printing R ′ corresponding to the communication error (for example, “NG” And the like are printed, and this routine is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the communication is successful, the determination is satisfied, the communication with respect to the RFID circuit element To is considered successful, and the process proceeds to step S250.

  In step S250, it is determined whether the printed tag label tape 109 has been transported to the above-described print end position (calculated in step S1 in FIG. 21). The determination at this time may be, for example, as described above, for example, by detecting the transport distance after detecting the identifier PM of the base tape 101 in step S10 by a predetermined known method. The determination is not satisfied until the print end position is reached, and this procedure is repeated. If the determination is reached, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the next Step S260.

  In step S260, as in step S25 of FIG. 21, the energization of the print head 23 is stopped and printing of the label print R is stopped. Thereby, the printing of the label print R on the print region S is completed.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S270, and after the sheet is transported to a predetermined rear half-cut position, a rear half-cut process is performed in which the rear half-cut line HC2 is formed by the half cutter 34 of the half-cut unit 35. This routine is completed as described above.

  FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S400 described above. In this example, information writing will be described as an example of the information writing and information reading described above.

  First, in step S410 of the flow shown in FIG. 27, whether or not the transmission dot string transmitted from the print buffer 117B to the print head 23 has reached the above-described communicable area 1, specifically, the count is started in the previous step S17. It is determined whether the dot row that has been reached has reached 9. This procedure is repeated until the determination is satisfied, and when the determination is satisfied, the process proceeds to the next step S420.

  In step S420, a control signal is output to the transmission circuit 306 via the input / output interface 113, and a predetermined modulation is performed as a “Ping” signal for confirming whether or not the RFID circuit element To existing within the communication range exists. The transmitted carrier wave is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To as the information writing target via the loop antenna LC, and a reply is prompted. Then, the response signal transmitted from the RFID circuit element To corresponding to the “Ping” signal is received via the loop antenna LC and taken in via the receiving circuit 307 and the input / output interface 113.

  In the next step S430, whether or not the transmission dot string transmitted from the print buffer 117B to the print head 23 has reached the above-described communicable area 2, specifically, the dot string that has started counting in the previous step S17 is 16th. Determine whether or not This procedure is repeated until the determination is satisfied, and when the determination is satisfied, the process proceeds to the next step S440.

  In step S440, a control signal is output to the transmission circuit 306, and a “Program” signal is written in the memory unit 157 of the RFID circuit element To that is the target of writing (the RFID circuit element To that has transmitted the response signal). As described above, the carrier wave subjected to the predetermined modulation is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To as the information writing target via the loop antenna LC to write the information.

  In the next step S450, whether or not the transmission dot string transmitted from the print buffer 117B to the print head 23 has reached the above-described communicable area 3, specifically, the dot string that has started counting in the previous step S17 is 24. Determine whether or not This procedure is repeated until the determination is satisfied, and when the determination is satisfied, the process proceeds to the next step S460.

  In step S460, a control signal is output to the transmission circuit 306 via the input / output interface 113, and a predetermined modulated carrier wave is written via the loop antenna LC as a “Verify” signal for confirming the contents of the memory unit 157. It transmits to the target RFID circuit element To and prompts a reply. Then, the response signal transmitted from the RFID circuit element To to be written corresponding to the “Verify” signal is received via the loop antenna LC, and taken in via the receiving circuit 307 and the input / output interface 113. This routine is completed.

  In the above, the control circuit 110 (specifically, step S100 and step S3 in FIG. 21) predicts whether or not information transmission / reception is possible based on the operating state of the printing means described in the claims. Configure. Further, the control circuit 110 (specifically, step S130 in FIG. 22) also constitutes a printing power calculation means for calculating the power consumption required for printing according to claim 2, and further includes the control circuit 110 (specifically, FIG. 21). The middle step S3) also constitutes communication condition setting means for setting information transmission / reception conditions according to the calculation result of the printing power calculation means.

  Further, the control circuit 110 (specifically, step S140 in FIG. 22) also constitutes a communicable time detecting means for detecting a communicable timing and a communicable time by the communicator according to claim 3. Furthermore, the control circuit 110 (specifically, step S4 in FIG. 21) also constitutes determination means for determining whether or not the information transmission / reception condition according to claim 12 can be set.

  In the label producing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the cartridge 7 is mounted on the cartridge holder 6 with the open / close lid 3 open, and label production is performed after the open / close lid 3 is closed. Is called. That is, a predetermined label printing R is performed on the printing area S of the cover film 103 by the print head 23, and a laminated structure including three layers of the cover film 103, the adhesive layer 101c, and the release paper 101d covering the cover film 103 is provided. The printed label tape 109 is transported, and information is transmitted to and received from the loop antenna LC in a non-contact manner with respect to the RFID circuit element To provided on the printed label tape 109 being transported to read or write information. Is executed, the printed label tape 109 is cut into a predetermined length by the cutting mechanism 15, and the RFID label T is produced.

  At this time, since the print head 23 which is a thermal head consumes relatively large electric power, when information is transmitted / received from the loop antenna LC, it is not limited from the external electric power but from the power storage means such as a battery as in the present embodiment. In the case of power feeding, it is necessary to consider whether the operation state of the print head 23 is a high power consumption state in order to ensure a normal communication operation.

  In the present embodiment, the RFID circuit element To provided on the label tape 109 with print by the driving roller 51 reaches the information transmission / reception position with the loop antenna LC in consideration of the operation state of the print head 23. Whether or not transmission / reception is possible is predicted and determined, and information transmission / reception is performed via the loop antenna LC according to the prediction result. Thus, when the power consumption of the print head 23 is predicted to be large, information transmission / reception is not performed, and when the power consumption of the print head 23 is predicted to be small, information transmission / reception can be performed. It can adjust so that the power consumption combining both may not increase remarkably.

  As a result, even when the power supply is limited from power storage means such as a battery, normal device operation can be ensured, and the RFID label T with print can be reliably produced.

  In the present embodiment, particularly, the number of dots printed in each dot row of the dot pattern data stored in the print buffer 117B is compared with a threshold value. It is predicted that the power consumption combined with both printing and communication can be sufficiently covered by the power source (the above-mentioned battery) of the tag label producing apparatus 1, and control is performed so as to transmit and receive information. In this manner, when the power source capacity of the tag label producing apparatus 1 is changed by detecting the communicable area by comparison with the threshold value (for example, when the power storage means such as a battery is switched to external power), etc. By appropriately changing the threshold setting, it is possible to detect the communicable area according to the apparatus usage status at that time. As a result, normal device operation can be reliably ensured.

  In the present embodiment, for example, when the battery is exhausted and the power supply of the tag label producing apparatus 1 is low, or when printing is continued and the communicable area cannot be detected (or is necessary for producing the tag label). In the case where only a communicable area shorter than the communication time with the RFID circuit element To can be detected), it is difficult to set the communication condition. Therefore, the creation of the tag label is stopped and an appropriate display is displayed on the PC 118. In addition, the user is prompted to change the conditions for battery replacement or tag label creation. As a result, it is possible to prevent the tag label from being generated and fail in a situation where power consumption combined with both printing and communication cannot be supplied by the apparatus power supply, and to reliably produce the RFID label T with printing. it can.

  In this embodiment, in particular, a thermal head provided with a heating element that generates heat when energized is used as the print head 23. As described above, when a thermal head is used as the print head, the power consumption during printing is particularly large. Therefore, the normal operation of the present embodiment can be ensured and the RFID label T with print can be reliably produced. The effect can be emphasized.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and technical idea of the present invention. Hereinafter, such modifications will be described in order.

(1) When transport is stopped during transmission / reception of information In the above embodiment, information is transmitted / received to / from the RFID circuit element To while transporting the tag label tape 109 with print. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If necessary, the conveyance may be stopped and information may be transmitted and received.

  FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a control procedure executed by the control circuit in this modification, and corresponds to FIG. 21 described above.

  28 differs from FIG. 21 described above in that step S3 is replaced with the communication condition setting process (see FIG. 29 described later for details) in step S300. That is, after performing the communication possible time detection process in step S100, in the next step S300, the communication condition (transmission / reception timing, command type, presence / absence of conveyance stop) according to the communication possible time detected in the communication possible time detection process. Etc.) is set. Thereafter, in the next step S4, it is determined whether or not the communication conditions have been set in step S300. Other procedures are the same as those in FIG.

  FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S300 described above. This communication condition setting process corresponds to the case where the contents stored in the print buffer 117B are in the state shown in FIG.

  First, in step S310, it is determined whether the number of dot rows in the communicable area 1 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. Here, the predetermined threshold value is obtained by transmitting a “Ping” signal to the RFID circuit element To while transmitting data corresponding to the number of dot rows from the print buffer 117B to the print head 23. It is set so that the corresponding response signal can be received from the RFID circuit element To. If the number of dot rows in the communicable region 1 is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the next Step S320.

  In step S320, the tag label tape 109 with print in the communicable area 1 is conveyed (specifically, print data for the dot row included in the communicable area 1 is output from the print buffer 117B to the print head 23 and printed. The communication condition is set so as to continue the conveyance of the tag label tape 109 with print in the meantime.

  On the other hand, if the number of dot rows in the communicable area 1 is smaller than the predetermined threshold value in step S310, the determination is not satisfied and the process proceeds to step S330, and the tag label tape 109 with print in the communicable area 1 is conveyed. Set the communication conditions to stop.

  In the next step S340, it is determined whether or not the number of dot rows in the communicable area 2 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. Here, the predetermined threshold value is such that a “Program” signal is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To while print information for that number of dot rows is output from the print buffer 117B to the print head 23. Is set to be able to. If the number of dot rows in the communicable area 2 is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the next Step S350.

  In step S350, the communication condition is set so as to continue transporting the tag label tape 109 with print in the communicable area 2.

  On the other hand, when the number of dot rows in the communicable area 2 is smaller than the predetermined threshold value in step S340, the determination is not satisfied and the process proceeds to step S360, and the tag label tape 109 with print in the communicable area 2 is conveyed. Set the communication conditions to stop.

  In the next step S370, it is determined whether or not the number of dot rows in the communicable region 3 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. Note that the predetermined threshold here is that a “Verify” signal is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To while the print information for that number of dot rows is output from the print buffer 117B to the print head 23. The response signal corresponding thereto is set so as to be received from the RFID circuit element To. If the number of dot rows in the communicable area 3 is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the next Step S380.

  In step S380, communication conditions are set so as to continue transporting the tag label tape 109 with print in the communicable area 3.

  On the other hand, if the number of dot rows in the communicable area 3 is smaller than the predetermined threshold value in step S370, the determination is not satisfied and the process proceeds to step S390, and the tag label tape 109 with print in the communicable area 3 is conveyed. Set the communication conditions to stop.

  FIG. 30 shows a communicable area detected in the print buffer 117B in which the print data is expanded in the communicable time detection process in step S100 and the communication condition setting process in step S300. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the procedure which sets the presence or absence of the stop of conveyance of the tape 109 for printed tag labels in communication by comparing a number and a threshold value.

  First, in FIG. 30A, as described above, the number of print dots is counted for all dot rows (1 to 35) of the print buffer 117B in which the print data is expanded, and the number of print dots counted for each dot row is calculated. The communicable areas 1, 2 and 3 are detected by comparing with a threshold value (here, 1.5; indicated by a one-dot chain line in the figure). In FIG. 30B, for each of these communicable areas 1, 2 and 3, the number of dot rows in each area is set to a threshold value (in this case, execution of each signal “Ping”, “Program”, “Verify” command). The time required for each is 4 dot rows, that is, the threshold value is compared with 4), so that the tape conveyance is continued in the area where the number of dot rows is equal to or greater than the threshold value. The communication condition is set so that the tape conveyance is stopped in the smaller area. As shown in this figure, since the number of dot rows in the above-described communicable areas 1 and 3 is 3 and smaller than the threshold value, in these communicable areas 1 and 3, the tape conveyance is stopped and the communicable area 2 Since the number of dot rows is 5 and is equal to or greater than the threshold value, in this communicable area 2, the communication condition is set so as to continue the tape conveyance. As a result, in the communication area 1, the tape transport is stopped and a “Ping” signal is transmitted, in the communicable area 2 the “Program” signal is transmitted while continuing the tape transport, and in the communicable area 3 the tape transport is performed. Communication conditions are set to stop and transmit a “Verify” signal.

  According to the present modification described above, information is transmitted and received in a communicable area where the power consumption of the print head 23 is expected to be small. Since the transport of the tape 109 is stopped and information is transmitted and received, the RFID label T can be reliably produced while finely adjusting the peak of power consumption for both printing and communication so as not to increase. Further, by stopping the transport of the tag label tape 109 with print in the communicable area, the tape transport can be stopped in an area (time) where printing is not performed (or the print amount is small). The influence of the stop on printing can be minimized.

  In the above, the continuation / stop of the tape conveyance is controlled according to the size of the communicable area. However, for example, the tape conveyance speed is controlled to be changed according to the size of the communicable area. Also good. In this case, when there is little communicable area and the communication time is likely to be short, the transport of the tag label tape 109 with print can be decelerated and information can be transmitted and received, so the power consumption combined with both printing and communication can be reduced. Finer adjustment can be made so that the peak does not increase. Further, since the time for stopping the tape conveyance can be suppressed, the tag label production time can be shortened as compared with the modified example.

  Further, when a plurality of communicable areas are detected, the conveyance may always be stopped (or decelerated) in the last communicable area (for example, communicable area 3 in the case of FIG. 30). As a result, even when information transmission / reception is not completed in the previous communicable area, information transmission / reception can be completed in the last communicable area, so that the RFID label T with print can be reliably generated. it can.

(2) When retrying transmission / reception of information (retry) In the above embodiment, writing of information to the RFID circuit element To (transmission of “Program” signal) is performed only once. Without being limited thereto, a retry may be performed when information writing fails.

  In the present modification, the number of retries when information writing fails is set according to the communicable area detected in the communicable time detection process in the communication condition setting procedure in step S3. If the detected communicable area is small and the retry cannot be performed once, the tape conveyance may be stopped and the retry may be performed as described in the modification (1).

  FIG. 31 is a diagram for explaining an example of a communication condition setting procedure in the present modification. FIG. 31A is a diagram for describing a procedure for detecting a communicable area in the communication possible time detection process of step S100 described above, and is similar to FIG. As shown in FIG. 31B, here, the “Ping” signal is transmitted in the communicable region 1, and the “Program” signal and the “Verify” signal are transmitted in the communicable region 2. Here, it is assumed that the time required to execute the “Ping” command is equivalent to three dot rows, and the time required to execute the “Program” command and the “Verify” command is equivalent to five dot rows. When the information writing in the communicable area 2 fails, the information writing (retry) is attempted again in the communicable area 3. At this time, since there are three dot rows in the communicable area 3 and it is difficult to retry while carrying the tape, the tape conveyance is stopped in the communicable area 3 and the set retry count is limited to the upper limit. Until the writing is successful, the “Program” signal and the “Verify” signal are transmitted. Note that, when information writing is successful in the communicable area 2, no signal is transmitted in the communicable area 3. Although not shown in particular, when the communicable area 3 has a relatively large area, the number of retries is set according to the size, and the retry is performed while continuing the tape conveyance.

  According to this modification described above, the number of retries is set according to the communicable area, so it is possible to avoid retrying outside the transmission / reception possible time, and the power consumption peak that combines both printing and communication increases. The RFID label T can be reliably produced while finely adjusting so as not to occur.

(3) When performing divided transmission / reception In the above-described embodiment, information is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To at a time. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and information may be divided and transmitted. .

  In the present modification, the number of divisions for dividing the “Program” signal into a plurality of command elements and transmitting them in accordance with the communicable area detected in the communicable time detection process in the communication condition setting procedure of step S3 above. Set.

  FIG. 32 shows the type of command (command element) transmitted from the loop antenna LC to the RFID circuit element To and the time required to execute each command (here, the print buffer 117B prints within that time in this modification). Is converted into the number of dot rows output to the head 23). As shown in this figure, in this modification, the information to be transmitted is divided into four blocks, and the “Program” signal is divided into four command elements and transmitted accordingly. Also, the time required to execute the “Ping” command and the “Verify” command is 2 dot rows, and the time required to execute the “Program” command is 4 dot rows (to transmit each command element) The time required is one dot row).

  FIG. 33 is a diagram for explaining an example of a communication condition setting procedure in the present modification. FIG. 33A is a diagram for explaining a procedure for detecting a communicable region in the communication possible time detection process of step S100 described above, and is the same as FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 33B, the command element 1 of the “Ping” signal and the “Program” signal is transmitted in the communicable area 1, and the command elements 2 to 4 of the “Program” signal are transmitted in the communicable area 2. Sends “Verify” signal. In the communicable area 3 thereafter, information transmission / reception is not performed.

  According to the above-described modification, the “Program” signal is divided into a plurality of command elements and transmitted according to the communicable area, so that the peak of power consumption for both printing and communication is not increased. Can be adjusted.

(4) When determining whether communication is possible for each dot row In the above embodiment, before starting printing, the communicable area is detected for the entire range of print data developed in the print buffer 117B. Without limitation, when data is transmitted from the print buffer 117B to the print head 23, it may be determined whether or not communication is possible for each dot row, and information may be transmitted and received according to the determination result.

  Further, instead of determining whether or not communication is possible for each dot row as described above, the dot pattern data on the print buffer 117B is divided into a predetermined number, and each divided small area (for example, one character at a time) is divided. The communicable area may be detected.

(5) When changing the threshold value according to the command In the above embodiment, when the threshold value is uniformly set to a constant value and the number of dots printed in each dot row is equal to or less than the threshold value, the dot is changed. Although the column is determined to be a communicable region, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, since the power consumption required by the IC circuit unit 151 of the RFID circuit element To varies depending on the type of signal (command) to be transmitted, the threshold value may be varied depending on the type of command.

  FIG. 34 is a diagram for explaining an example of a communication condition setting procedure in the present modification. As shown in FIG. 34, the threshold is 1.5 until the first communicable area (communicatable area 1) is detected, and then the second communicable area (communicatable area 2) is detected. 0.5 until the third communication possible area (communicable area 3) is detected. As a result, the communicable areas 1, 2 and 3 are detected as shown in FIG. 34A, and the “Ping” signal is transmitted in the communicable area 1 and the communicable area 2 as shown in FIG. The communication condition is set so that the “Program” signal and the “Verify” signal are transmitted in the communicable area 3.

According to the above-described modification, the power consumption is generally larger when writing information (when transmitting the “Program” signal) than when reading information (when transmitting the “Ping” and “Verify” signals). Thus, the threshold value can be appropriately set according to the type of command, and as a result, it can be further finely adjusted so that the peak of power consumption for both printing and communication does not increase.
(6) When the threshold value is changed according to the power supply voltage In the above embodiment, the communicable area is set according to the (predicted) power consumption distribution of the print head 23 at the time of printing. The power supply voltage of the tag label producing apparatus 1 (that is, the voltage of the battery 130; however, other storage means such as a battery may be used) is added to the conditions, and the power consumption voltage and the power supply voltage of the print head 23 are predicted. Then, it may be controlled to set a communicable area.

  FIG. 35 is a diagram for explaining an example of a procedure for setting communication conditions in the present modification. FIG. 35A shows a case where a large capacity battery (for example, a new battery) is used, and FIG. When a capacity battery (for example, a used battery) is used, FIG. 35 (c) shows a case where a small capacity battery (for example, a deteriorated battery) is used. In FIG. 35 (a), since the power supply capacity is large, the threshold value is set high (here, 2.5), and a communicable area is set in a relatively large area as shown in the figure. Is done. On the other hand, in FIG. 35B, since the power source capacity is medium capacity, the threshold value is set to medium (here, 1.5), and the communicable area is shown in the medium area as shown in the figure. Is set. On the other hand, in FIG. 35 (c), since the power source capacity is small, the threshold value is set low (here, 0.5), and the communicable area is relatively small as shown in the figure. Is set.

  According to this modified example described above, the threshold value is set according to the power supply voltage of the tag label producing apparatus 1, and therefore appropriate according to the (predicted) power consumption distribution and power supply capacity of the print head 23. The communicable area can be set in As a result, it is possible to make finer adjustments so that the peak of power consumption for both printing and communication does not increase.

(7) Others In the above, the power consumption of the print head 23 is predicted by counting the number of print dots, and the communicable area is set according to the power consumption distribution. For example, the print head 23 If the power consumption exceeds the predicted power consumption, or writing fails due to the power supply voltage lowering than predicted during printing, the threshold is reset to a lower value, or normal control (the above embodiment) The control may be changed according to the situation, such as changing the threshold value according to the command or the power supply voltage as in the above modified examples (5) and (6). Further, if the control cannot be dealt with even if the control is changed in this way, the printing may be stopped and then the writing may be controlled.

  In the above description, the power consumption of the print head 23 is predicted by counting the number of print dots output from the print buffer 117B in which the print data is expanded to the print head 23. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The power consumption of the print head 23 may be directly detected using power detection means such as a wattmeter, and the communicable area may be detected according to the detection result.

  Further, in the above, a loop antenna is used as the antenna LC on the device side and the antenna 152 on the RFID tag circuit element To side, and magnetic induction (including non-contact methods performed via electromagnetic induction, magnetic coupling, and other electromagnetic fields) is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a dipole antenna, a patch antenna, or the like may be used as the transmitting / receiving means as the two antennas, and information transmission / reception may be performed by radio wave communication.

  In the above description, the half-cut unit 35 serving as the half-cutting unit is provided separately from the cutting mechanism 15 serving as the cutting unit. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, for example, half cutting may be performed by controlling the rotation angle of the fixed blade 41 of the cutting mechanism 15 to be smaller than that at the time of full cutting, and both the cutting means and the half cutting means may be used. . In this case, the same effect is obtained.

  In the above description, the RFID tag information T is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To and written to the IC circuit unit 151 to create the RFID tag T. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, as already mentioned, while reading the RFID tag information from the read-only RFID circuit element To in which predetermined RFID tag information is stored and retained in a non-rewritable manner, printing corresponding to the RFID tag information T is performed. The present invention can also be applied to the case of creating the image, and also in this case, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  Moreover, in the above, it was the system which prints on the cover film 103 different from the base-material tape 101 provided with the RFID circuit element To, and bonds these together, but it is not restricted to this, It is provided in a tag tape. In addition, the present invention may be applied to a method for performing printing on a print area of a print-receiving tape layer (a type in which bonding is not performed). In this case, the configurations of the cradle 38 and the half cutter 34 in the half cut unit 35 are different from those of the present embodiment. That is, the cradle is disposed on the half cutter 34 side of FIG. 9 and the half cutter is disposed on the cradle 38 side.

  In the above description, the case where the tag label T is generated by cutting the printed tag label tape 109 after printing and access (reading or writing) to the RFID circuit element To by the cutting mechanism 15 has been described. It is not limited to this. That is, when the label mount (so-called die-cut label) separated in advance to a predetermined size corresponding to the label is continuously arranged on the tape fed out from the roll, the cutting mechanism 15 does not need to cut the label mount. After the tape has been discharged from the label discharge port 11, only the label mount (the one with the already accessed RFID circuit element To and the corresponding printing performed) may be peeled off from the tape to produce the tag label T. The present invention is also applicable to such a case.

  Further, the above description is given taking as an example the case where the base tape 101 is wound around the reel member 102a to form the first roll 102, the roll is arranged in the cartridge 7 and the base tape 101 is fed out. However, it is not limited to this. For example, a long flat paper-like or strip-like tape or sheet in which at least one RFID circuit element To is arranged (the one formed by cutting a tape wound around a roll and cutting it to an appropriate length) Are stacked in a predetermined storage unit (for example, stacked in a tray shape) to form a cartridge, and the cartridge is attached to the cartridge holder on the tag label producing apparatus side, and is transported and transported from the storage unit. The tag label may be created by printing and writing.

  Further, a structure in which the above roll is directly detachably attached to the tag label producing apparatus side, or a long flat paper-like or strip-like tape or sheet is transferred one by one from the outside of the tag label producing apparatus by a predetermined feeder mechanism. The first roll 102 is not limited to the tag label producing apparatus main body side such as the cartridge 7 and can be attached to the apparatus main body side. It is also possible to provide it. In this case, the same effect is obtained.

  It is assumed that the “Scroll ID” signal, “Erase” signal, “Verify” signal, “Program” signal, etc. used above conform to the specifications established by EPC global. EPC global is a non-profit corporation established jointly by the International EAN Association, which is an international organization of distribution codes, and the United Code Code Council (UCC), which is an American distribution code organization. Note that signals conforming to other standards may be used as long as they perform the same function.

  In addition to those already described above, the methods according to the above-described embodiments and modifications may be used in appropriate combination.

  In addition, although not illustrated one by one, the present invention is implemented with various modifications within a range not departing from the gist thereof.

1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating a wireless tag generation system including an embodiment of a tag label producing apparatus of the present invention. It is a perspective view showing the whole tag label production apparatus structure. It is a perspective view showing the structure of the internal unit inside a tag label production apparatus. It is a top view showing the structure of an internal unit. FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view schematically showing a detailed structure of a cartridge. It is the conceptual diagram seen from the arrow D direction in FIG. 5 showing the notional structure of the RFID circuit element with which the base tape extended | stretched from the 1st roll is equipped. It is a partial extraction perspective view showing the principal part detailed structure of a label discharge mechanism. It is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the internal unit in the state which removed the label discharge | emission mechanism from the structure shown in FIG. It is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the cutting mechanism which removed the half cutter from the internal unit. It is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the cutting mechanism which removed the half cutter from the internal unit. It is a perspective view showing the detailed structure of a movable blade and a fixed blade with a half cut unit. It is a partial expanded sectional view showing the detailed structure of a movable blade and a fixed blade with a half cut unit. It is a front view which shows the external appearance of a movable blade. It is a cross-sectional view by the AA cross section in FIG. It is a functional block diagram showing the control system of the tag label production apparatus which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is a circuit diagram which represents simply the circuit structure of the connection part of a transmission circuit, a receiving circuit, and a loop antenna. It is a functional block diagram showing the functional structure of a wireless tag circuit element. FIG. 4 is a top view and a bottom view showing an example of the appearance of a RFID label formed by completing information writing (or reading) of a RFID circuit element and cutting of a printed tag label tape by a tag label producing device. FIG. 19 is a diagram obtained by rotating a cross-sectional view of the IXXA-IXXA ′ section and the IXXB-IXXB ′ section in FIG. 18 by 90 ° counterclockwise. It is a figure showing an example of the screen displayed on PC (terminal or general purpose computer) at the time of access (reading or writing) to the RFID tag information of the IC circuit part of the RFID circuit element by the tag label producing device. It is a flowchart showing the control procedure performed by the control circuit. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S100. FIG. 5 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an example of memory contents of a print buffer when print data is expanded in the print buffer in the procedure of step S120. In steps S130 and S140, the number of print dots is counted for all the dot rows of the print buffer 117B in which the print data is expanded, and the threshold value is compared with the threshold value for each dot row. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the procedure which regards the dot row below a value as a communicable area. It is a figure showing an example of the procedure which sets a communication condition corresponding to the area | region considered to be a communicable area | region in step S3. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S200. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S400. It is a flowchart showing the control procedure performed by a control circuit in the modification in the case of stopping conveyance during transmission / reception of information. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S300. In the communicable time detection process in step S100 and the communication condition setting process in step S300, a communicable area is detected in the print buffer in which the print data is developed, and the number of dot rows and the threshold value of the communicable area are determined. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the procedure which sets the presence or absence of the stop of conveyance of the tape for tag labels during communication by comparing. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the setting procedure of the communication condition in the modification in the case of performing a retry. 10 is a table summarizing the types of commands (command elements) transmitted from the loop antenna to the RFID circuit elements and the time required to execute each command in a modified example when performing divided transmission / reception. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the setting procedure of the communication condition in the modification in the case of performing division | segmentation transmission / reception. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the setting procedure of the communication condition in the modification in the case of changing a threshold value according to a command. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the setting procedure of the communication condition in the modification in the case of changing a threshold value according to a power supply voltage.

Explanation of symbols

23 Print head (printing means)
51 Driving roller (conveying means)
101 Base tape (tag medium)
103 Cover film (medium to be printed)
110 control circuit (prediction means, printing power calculation means, communication condition setting means, communicable time detection means, determination means)
151 IC circuit section 152 Loop antenna (antenna)
LC loop antenna (communication means)
To RFID tag circuit element

Claims (13)

Conveying means for conveying a tag medium having an RFID circuit element provided with an IC circuit unit for storing information and an antenna for transmitting and receiving information, or a print medium to be bonded to the tag medium;
Printing means for performing printing on a predetermined printing area of the tag medium or the printing medium being conveyed by the conveying means;
While being conveyed by the conveying means, communication means capable of transmitting and receiving information without contact with the RFID circuit element; and
Predicting means for predicting whether or not the information transmission / reception is possible based on the operating state of the corresponding printing means before the communication means performs the information transmission / reception;
The tag label producing apparatus, wherein the communication unit performs information transmission / reception with the RFID circuit element in accordance with a prediction result of the prediction unit. In the tag label producing apparatus according to claim 1,
The prediction means includes
Printing power calculation means for calculating power consumption required for printing on the predetermined printing area by the printing means;
A tag label producing apparatus comprising: communication condition setting means for setting the information transmission / reception condition in accordance with a calculation result of the printing power calculation means. In the tag label producing apparatus according to claim 2,
The prediction means includes
Based on the power consumption calculated by the printing power calculation unit, the communication unit includes a communication time detection unit that detects a transmission / reception possible time and a transmission / reception time by the communication unit,
The communication condition setting means sets the information transmission / reception conditions in correspondence with the transmission / reception possible timing and the transmission / reception possible time detected by the communication possible time detection means. In the tag label producing apparatus according to claim 3,
The communication possible time detection means is
A tag label producing apparatus, wherein the transmission / reception possible timing and the transmission / reception possible time are detected according to the power consumption calculated by the printing power calculation means and a predetermined threshold value. In the tag label producing apparatus according to claim 3 or 4,
The communication condition setting means includes
At least a transmission / reception timing and a transmission / reception time are set as the information transmission / reception conditions. In the tag label producing apparatus according to claim 5,
The communication condition setting means includes
As the conditions for the information transmission / reception, the conveyance speed of the conveyance means, the presence or absence of deceleration or stop of the conveyance speed and the deceleration or stop time, the number of transmission and reception retries, the presence or absence of division of transmission and reception data and the amount of transmission and reception data after the division, A tag label producing apparatus characterized by setting at least one of the following. In the tag label producing apparatus according to claim 6,
The communication condition setting means includes
According to the transmission / reception time set as the information transmission / reception condition, set whether to decelerate or stop the conveying means at the time of information transmission / reception,
A tag label producing apparatus characterized by setting a deceleration time or a stop time when it is set to decelerate or stop the conveying means. In the tag label producing apparatus according to claim 6,
The communication condition setting means includes
The tag label producing apparatus, wherein the number of transmission / reception retries at the time of information transmission / reception is set according to the transmission / reception possible timing and the transmission / reception possible time detected by the communication possible time detection means. In the tag label production apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 8,
The printing power calculation means calculates the power consumption distribution for at least a communicable range in the printing area before starting printing by the printing means,
The communication condition setting unit sets the information transmission / reception condition of the communication unit according to the power consumption distribution calculated by the printing power calculation unit. In the tag label production apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 8,
The printing power calculation means calculates the power consumption distribution for each small area obtained by dividing the printing area into a predetermined number before or after the start of printing by the printing means,
The communication condition setting unit sets the information transmission / reception condition of the communication unit according to the power consumption distribution calculated by the printing power calculation unit. In the tag label production apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 8,
The printing power calculation means calculates the power consumption distribution for each predetermined printing unit area of the printing area at the start and after the start of printing by the printing means,
The communication condition setting unit sets the information transmission / reception condition of the communication unit according to the power consumption distribution calculated by the printing power calculation unit. The tag label producing device according to any one of claims 2 to 11,
A tag label producing apparatus, comprising: a judging unit for judging whether or not an information transmission / reception condition capable of normally creating a tag label can be set by the communication condition setting unit. The tag label producing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
The tag label producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing means is a thermal head including a heating element that generates heat when energized.

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