JP5405152B2 - Printer and information recording method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for performing short-range wireless communication with an IC inlet provided in a recording medium having a recording surface capable of forming a visible image, and in particular, a printer that performs such short-range wireless communication, and The present invention relates to an information recording method for writing information to an IC inlet by such short-range wireless communication.

  In recent years, the technology of short-range wireless communication with an IC inlet included in an article has rapidly spread. Among these technologies, printing paper, which is a recording medium having a recording surface capable of forming a visible image, is used as an article. An IC inlet is mounted on the printing paper, and information recording on the IC inlet is performed along with printing on the recording surface. Printers that do this are also being developed. Patent Document 1 introduces a printing paper (printing paper with an RFID tag) on which an IC inlet is mounted, and discloses a printer that performs printing and information writing on such printing paper (paragraph 0004, etc.). reference).

JP 2002-337426 A

  In the printer described above, it is necessary to prevent erroneous reading or writing from being performed on another IC inlet adjacent to the IC inlet from which information is being read or written. For this reason, measures are taken so as not to increase the output of the wireless communication unit more than necessary. In particular, the degree of setting of the output at the time of writing in which the output becomes larger than that at the time of reading is extremely important for preventing erroneous writing. For this reason, the output of the wireless communication unit at the time of writing tends to be set smaller as long as it can be correctly written to the IC inlet to be written.

  On the other hand, some IC inlets have temperature characteristics. When such an IC inlet is used as an information write target, information can be written correctly under a certain temperature condition, but if the temperature condition is changed, the write power becomes insufficient, resulting in a write failure. There is. For such a phenomenon, conventionally, for example, there has been a method of coping with manual adjustment of the writing output of the wireless communication unit manually.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and information is reliably written in any temperature zone without requiring manual adjustment of the write output of the wireless communication unit to an IC inlet having temperature characteristics. The purpose is to be able to.

The printer of the present invention includes a recording medium holding portion for holding the recording medium to have a formable recording surface a visible image comprising an IC inlet, and a guide conveying section for conveying along the recording medium in the guide path, wherein A short-distance wireless communication is performed with an IC inlet included in a recording medium conveyed along a guide route, and a wireless communication unit that varies a writing output according to a level setting signal, and is conveyed along the guide route A printing unit that performs printing on the recording surface of the recording medium with a thermal print head; and a temperature sensor that is disposed in the vicinity of the recording medium holding unit and detects and outputs an environmental temperature at which the IC inlet is placed during writing. A storage unit for storing search data for deriving the level setting signal corresponding to the temperature condition from the identification information for identifying the type of the IC inlet, and writing the information The identification information of the IC inlet to be obtained is fetched, the search data stored in the storage unit is accessed, the level setting signal is derived from the fetched identification information and the output temperature of the temperature sensor, and the derived level setting signal And a control unit that causes the wireless communication unit to write information to the IC inlet in a state where the write output of the wireless communication unit is set.

The information recording method of the present invention has a recording surface having an IC inlet and capable of forming a visible image, a step of transporting a recording medium held by a recording medium holder along a guide path, and a guide path. A communication process for causing the wireless communication unit that changes the writing output according to the level setting signal to perform short-range wireless communication with the IC inlet included in the recording medium conveyed along the recording medium, and the information is conveyed along the guide route. that the printing step will rows printing at the thermal print head to the recording surface of the recording medium, wherein the recording medium holding portion temperature sensor disposed in the vicinity, detecting the environmental temperature IC inlet is placed at the time of writing comprising the steps of and outputs, wherein the communication step includes a sub step of capturing identification information for specifying the type of IC inlet to be written information, IC Inn It accesses the storage unit for storing the search data for deriving said level setting signal corresponding to the identification information that identifies the Tsu of Type, the captured identification information and the level setting signal from the output temperature of the temperature sensor A sub-step of deriving, and a sub-step of causing the wireless communication unit to write information to the IC inlet in a state where the write output of the wireless communication unit is set with the derived level setting signal.

  According to the present invention, the level setting signal derived from the identification information specifying the type of IC inlet to which information is to be written to the wireless communication unit and the output temperature of the temperature sensor is input to the wireless communication unit. Since the output is set, the write output of the wireless communication unit can be automatically corrected according to the temperature characteristic of the IC inlet. Therefore, the temperature characteristic can be adjusted without requiring manual adjustment of the write output of the wireless communication unit. Information can be reliably written to any IC inlet in any temperature range.

1 is a schematic diagram of an overall system including a customer system including a printer and a manufacturer system that establishes a maintenance site as an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the internal structure of a printer. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a printer. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of a radio | wireless communication part. It is a schematic diagram which illustrates the various aspects of the search data which EEPROM (memory | storage part) stores. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a label issuing process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the writing process of the information with respect to IC inlet.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an overall system including a customer system 11 including a printer 101 and a manufacturer system 21 that establishes a maintenance site 201.

  In the customer system 11, a plurality of computers 121 and a plurality of printers 101 are connected via a local network NW so as to be able to communicate with each other. For example, an external communication device 141 for making the customer system 11 accessible to the Internet network INT is connected to the local network NW. The computer 121 included in the customer system 11 can access the Internet network INT via the external communication device 141.

  The manufacturer system 21 publishes the maintenance site 201 to the customer system 11, and allows access from the computer 121 that the customer system 11 has. For example, the maintenance site 201 provides the customer system 11 with download of a driver (not shown) for driving the printer 101 to be installed in the computer 121, download of various setting data stored in the printer 101, and the like. doing.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the printer 101. The printer 101 includes a paper holding unit 104 that holds a label paper 103 as a recording medium inside the main body case 102. The label paper 103 is a long roll paper wound in a roll shape, and is formed by affixing a plurality of labels 106 to a mount 105 at regular intervals. The sheet holding unit 104 that holds the label sheet 103 has a shaft shape that can be inserted into a sheet hole 103 a provided in the center of the label sheet 103. Thereby, the label paper 103 wound in a roll shape is rotatably held by the paper holding unit 104. The label 106 provided in such a label sheet 103 has a recording surface 106a capable of forming a visible image on the surface side, and incorporates an IC inlet 106b. The recording surface 106a is a heat-sensitive layer formed on the surface of the label 106, and develops a color by printing by a thermal printing method to form a visible image on the colored portion. The IC inlet 106b is formed by combining an antenna with an IC chip that integrates a processor, a memory, and the like (both not shown), and is embedded in the label 106. As an IC chip provided in such an IC inlet 106b, a passive type chip to which an electromotive force is applied from the outside is used.

  The printer 101 forms a guide path 108 that guides the label paper 103 held by the paper holding unit 104 to the paper discharge port 107 inside the main body case 102. The printer 101 has a paper sensor 109, an antenna holder 111 that holds an antenna 179 (see FIG. 4) of the wireless communication unit 110, a printing unit 112, and a printing unit 112, from the upstream side to the downstream side along the guide path 108. The cutters 113 are arranged in order. The printer 101 further includes a temperature sensor 114 that outputs an output voltage value corresponding to the internal temperature of the main body case 102.

  The wireless communication unit 110 is a device that performs short-range wireless communication with the IC inlet 106b included in the label sheet 103 using the antenna 179 (see FIG. 4). The antenna holder 111 that holds the antenna 179 is disposed at a position facing the guide path 108 below the guide path 108. Therefore, the wireless communication unit 110 performs wireless communication with the IC inlet 106b positioned at a position facing the antenna 179. Such a wireless communication unit 110 is formed as a unit in which a wireless tag reader / writer 171 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) is built in a housing 110a. Details of the wireless tag reader / writer 171 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The printing unit 112 includes a platen 112a and a line-type thermal print head 112b. The platen 112a is disposed below the guide path 108, and the thermal print head 112b is in contact with the platen 112a through the guide path 108 so as to be able to contact and separate. The printing unit 112 having such a structure applies a conveying force to the label sheet 103 by rotating the platen 112a, and conveys the label sheet 103 toward the sheet discharge port 107. In this sense, the platen 112a and the platen motor PM (see FIG. 3) serving as the drive source function as a guide conveyance unit that conveys the label sheet 103 as a recording medium along the guide path 108.

  The temperature sensor 114 is disposed in the vicinity of the paper holding unit 104 and measures the environmental temperature where the label paper 103 is placed. A sensing member for measuring the ambient temperature on which the label sheet 103 is placed is generally provided in a conventional printer. The printer 101 of the present embodiment also uses the temperature sensor 114 as such a general sensing member for measuring the environmental temperature where the IC inlet 106b is placed. The meaning of measuring the environmental temperature where the IC inlet 106b is placed will be described in detail later.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the printer. The printer 101 has a control unit 151 as hardware resources for executing information processing. The control unit 151 is configured by connecting an SRAM 153, a flash ROM 154, and an EEPROM 155 to the CPU 152 via a bus line BL. The SRAM 153 stores variable data such as temporary storage data so that it can be rewritten, and is used as a work area. The flash ROM 154 stores the operation program so that it can be rewritten in units of blocks. The EEPROM 155 stores various setting values and data necessary for executing the operation program in a rewritable manner. The CPU 152 of the control unit 151 executes various processes in accordance with the operation program stored in the flash ROM 154, drives and controls each unit, and causes the printer 101 to execute a printing operation, an information writing operation to the IC inlet 106b by the wireless communication unit 110, and the like. .

  The CPU 152 has a head control circuit 161 for controlling the thermal print head 112b via the bus line BL, a platen motor PM which is a rotational drive source of the platen 112a constituting the guide conveyance unit, and a cutter which is a drive source of the cutter 113. A motor controller 162 for driving and controlling the motor CM, an operation display unit 163, an optical sensor input circuit 164 for capturing a signal from the paper sensor 109, a temperature sensor input circuit 165 for capturing a signal from the temperature sensor 114, and a wireless communication unit 110 and the communication interface 166. The communication interface 166 connects the printer 101 to an external device through the local network NW so as to be able to communicate.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the wireless communication unit 110. The wireless communication unit 110 includes the wireless tag reader / writer 171 as described above. The wireless tag reader / writer 171 operates with the main control unit 172 that sequentially executes various processes as a brain. The main control unit 172 is a digital circuit configured by an integrated circuit, and sequentially executes sequential processing processes while temporarily storing temporary data or the like in the resist region 172a. Such a main control unit 172 encodes transmission data to be transmitted to the IC inlet 106 b included in the label sheet 103 by the encoding unit 173 and outputs the encoded data to the modulation unit 174. Modulation section 174 superimposes the transmission data output from encoding section 173 on the carrier wave output from carrier oscillator 175, and outputs the result as a modulation signal. At this time, the carrier oscillator 175 generates a carrier wave having a predetermined frequency. The output modulation signal is amplified by the amplifier 176, subjected to necessary filtering by the transmission filter 177, and then output to the resonance circuit 178. Then, the resonance circuit 178 starts a resonance operation based on the input signal, and outputs a transmission signal from the antenna 179 as an electromagnetic wave.

  As a result, when the IC inlet 106b is positioned in the vicinity of the antenna 179, an electromotive force is applied to the IC inlet 106b by electromagnetic induction, and communication between the IC inlet 106b and the main control unit 172 becomes possible. That is, the reception filter 180 is connected to the output side of the resonance circuit 178, and the signal output from the IC inlet 106b to which the electromotive force is applied is input to the reception filter 180 and filtered, and then amplified by the amplifier 181. The demodulator 182 demodulates the signal. When the signal waveform demodulated by the demodulation unit 182 is binarized by the binarization processing unit 183, the signal waveform is decoded by the decoding unit 184 and input to the main control unit 172. In this way, data communication can be performed between the IC inlet 106b and the main control unit 172. The main control unit 172 is connected to the control unit 151 of the printer 101 via the data transmission / reception circuit 185, receives commands from the control unit 151, and transmits and outputs data read from the IC inlet 106b to the control unit 151. To do.

  In the wireless tag reader / writer 171 configured as described above, an amplifier 176 that amplifies transmission data is provided with an output level adjustment function. This function is a function for transmitting a level setting signal from the main control unit 172 to the amplifier 176 and setting the output level by the amplifier 176 in accordance with the level setting signal.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating various aspects of the search data 155a stored in the EEPROM 155 (storage unit). The printer 101 according to the present embodiment automatically adjusts the writing output of the wireless tag reader / writer 171 included in the wireless communication unit 110 in accordance with the temperature characteristics of the IC inlet 106b included in each different label sheet 103. The search data illustrated in FIG. 5 is used for such automatic adjustment processing.

  That is, the CPU 152 of the control unit 151 captures identification information for specifying the type of the IC inlet 106b to which information is to be written, and also captures the output temperature of the temperature sensor 114, and the wireless tag reader / writer based on these two pieces of information. A level setting signal for determining the output level of 171 is derived. At this time, the CPU 152 uses the search data 155a stored in the EEPROM 155. The search data 155a has a data structure that can derive a level setting signal corresponding to the temperature condition from the identification information that identifies the type of the IC inlet 106b. Such search data 155a depends on what information the CPU 152 of the control unit 151 takes in as identification information for identifying the type of the IC inlet 106b, and depending on the mechanism of the output level adjustment in the wireless tag reader / writer 171. It has a data structure suitable for those conditions. Therefore, the identification information for specifying the type of the IC inlet 106b captured by the CPU 152 and the output level adjustment method performed by the wireless tag reader / writer 171 will be described in detail.

  First, identification information for specifying the type of the IC inlet 106b and a method for capturing the identification information will be described.

  As an example, the CPU 152 takes in the ID code of the IC chip as identification information for specifying the type of the IC inlet 106b. An IC chip ID code capturing method is as follows. The IC chip included in the IC inlet 106b stores an ID code that identifies its own type. Therefore, the CPU 152 reads the ID code from the IC chip at the time of establishing communication with the IC chip prior to writing information to the IC chip. In this way, the CPU 152 can capture the ID code of the IC chip built in the IC inlet 106b from which information is to be written as identification information for specifying the type of the IC inlet 106b. This is an example of identification information for specifying the type of the IC inlet 106b and a method for capturing the identification information.

  As another example, the CPU 152 takes in the ID code of the label sheet 103 as identification information for specifying the type of the IC inlet 106b. Generally, since the label paper 103 and the IC inlet 106b should correspond one-to-one, if the label paper 103 is specified, the IC inlet 106b is also specified. The method for taking in the ID code of the label sheet 103 is as follows. A label issuance request to the printer 101 is transmitted from the computer 121 (see FIG. 1). At this time, generally, the type of the label sheet 103 set in the printer 101 is set on the computer 121. If the type of the label sheet 103 is set, the ID code of the label sheet 103 should also be set in the computer 121. Therefore, the ID code of the label sheet 103 is transmitted to the printer 101 in response to the label issue request transmitted from the computer 121 to the printer 101. Alternatively, the ID code of the label sheet 103 is transmitted from the computer 121 to the printer 101 in advance, and the ID code is stored in, for example, the EEPROM 155 in the printer 101. In this way, when writing information to the IC inlet 106b, the CPU 152 can capture the ID code of the label sheet 103 containing the IC inlet 106b as identification information for specifying the type of the IC inlet 106b. This is another example of the identification information for specifying the type of the IC inlet 106b and the capturing method thereof.

  Next, an output level adjustment method performed by the wireless tag reader / writer 171 will be described.

  As an example, when the wireless tag reader / writer 171 sets the basic output level, it maintains the set state, and the amplifier 176 amplifies the carrier wave carrying the transmission data output from the modulation unit 174 at the output level. Is assumed. In this case, a level setting signal is input to the wireless tag reader / writer 171 in the form of a correction value for the basic output level. Thereby, the main control unit 172 of the wireless tag reader / writer 171 adjusts the output level of the amplifier 176 with the level setting signal as the correction value. This is an example of an output level adjustment technique.

  As another example, it is assumed that the wireless tag reader / writer 171 sets the output level of the amplifier 176 every time information is written. In this case, a level setting signal is input to the wireless tag reader / writer 171 in the form of an output level setting value. Thereby, the main control unit 172 of the wireless tag reader / writer 171 sets the output level of the amplifier 176 with the level setting signal as the set value. This is another example of an output level adjustment method.

  As described above, two types of methods for capturing identification information for specifying the type of the IC inlet 106b and two types of output level adjustment methods performed by the wireless tag reader / writer 171 have been introduced. Therefore, the contents of the search data 155a stored in the EEPROM 155 are automatically determined according to the combination employed by the printer 101. As the search data 155a, here, eight examples from FIG. 5A to FIG. 5H will be described.

  The search data 155a shown in FIG. 5A uses the ID code of the IC chip as identification information for identifying the type of the IC inlet 106b, and the wireless tag reader / writer 171 has a correction value with respect to the basic output level. It corresponds to adjusting the output level. Therefore, the search data 155a defines output level correction values in a plurality of temperature zones for each IC chip ID code. As a temperature zone, as an example, there are three types of 20 ° C. or lower, 20 ° C. to 30 ° C., and 30 ° C. or higher. However, these temperature zones may be uniquely determined for each type of IC inlet 106b specified by the ID code of the IC chip. The output level correction value is a value of a level setting signal input to the wireless tag reader / writer 171 in order to correct inconvenience due to the temperature characteristics of the IC inlet 106b specified by the ID code of the IC chip. That is, when the IC inlet 106b has temperature characteristics and requires a large write output in a certain temperature range, a write failure may occur if the write output of the wireless tag reader / writer 171 is the same as the other temperature range. . Therefore, the output level correction value in this case is a value that increases the write output of the wireless tag reader / writer 171. As such a correction value, for example, a value obtained by experiment is used. As another example, a theoretical value can be used if the temperature characteristics of the IC inlet 106b are known in advance. However, even if theoretical values are used, verification by experiment is desirable.

  The search data 155a shown in FIG. 5B uses the ID code of the IC chip as identification information for specifying the type of the IC inlet 106b, and the output of the amplifier 176 is output every time the wireless tag reader / writer 171 performs an information write operation. It corresponds to the case of setting the level. Therefore, the search data 155a defines output level setting values in a plurality of temperature zones for each IC chip ID code. The temperature zone is the same as that of the search data 155a shown in FIG. The output level setting value is a value of a level setting signal input to the wireless tag reader / writer 171 in order to correct the inconvenience due to the temperature characteristic of the IC inlet 106b specified by the ID code of the IC chip. That is, when the IC inlet 106b has temperature characteristics and requires a large write output in a certain temperature range, a write failure may occur if the write output of the wireless tag reader / writer 171 is the same as the other temperature range. . Therefore, the output level setting value in this case is a value that increases the write output of the wireless tag reader / writer 171. As such a set value, for example, a value obtained by experiment is used. As another example, a theoretical value can be used if the temperature characteristics of the IC inlet 106b are known in advance. However, even if theoretical values are used, verification by experiment is desirable.

  The search data 155a shown in FIG. 5C uses the ID code of the label sheet 103 as identification information for specifying the type of the IC inlet 106b, and the wireless tag reader / writer 171 has a correction value for the basic output level. It corresponds to adjusting the output level. Therefore, the search data 155a defines output level correction values in a plurality of temperature zones for each ID code of the label sheet 103. The temperature zone and the correction value are the same as in the search data 155a shown in FIG.

  The search data 155a shown in FIG. 5 (d) uses the ID code of the label sheet 103 as identification information for specifying the type of the IC inlet 106b, and the output of the amplifier 176 every time the wireless tag reader / writer 171 performs an information writing operation. It corresponds to the case of setting the level. Therefore, the search data 155a defines output level setting values in a plurality of temperature zones for each ID code of the label sheet 103. The temperature zone is the same as that of the search data 155a shown in FIG. The set value is the same as that of the search data 155a shown in FIG.

  The search data 155a shown in FIG. 5 (e) uses the ID code of the IC chip as identification information for identifying the type of the IC inlet 106b, and the wireless tag reader / writer 171 has a correction value for the basic output level. It corresponds to adjusting the output level. Therefore, the search data 155a defines a function expression that uses the value of the output temperature of the temperature sensor 114 as a variable to be substituted for each ID code of the IC chip. This function equation uses the value of the level setting signal as a correction value input to the wireless tag reader / writer 171 in order to correct the inconvenience due to the temperature characteristic of the IC inlet 106b specified by the ID code of the IC chip. That is, when the IC inlet 106b has temperature characteristics and requires a large write output in a certain temperature range, a write failure may occur if the write output of the wireless tag reader / writer 171 is the same as the other temperature range. . Therefore, the output level correction value in this case is a value that increases the write output of the wireless tag reader / writer 171. As such a correction value, for example, a value obtained by experiment is used. As another example, a theoretical value can be used if the temperature characteristics of the IC inlet 106b are known in advance. However, even if theoretical values are used, verification by experiment is desirable. Then, by inputting the current temperature value measured by the temperature sensor 114 as a variable, a functional expression that can derive a correction value obtained through experiments or a correction value obtained theoretically as a solution is obtained. This function formula becomes the search data 155a defined for each ID code of the IC chip.

  The search data 155a shown in FIG. 5 (f) uses the ID code of the IC chip as identification information for specifying the type of the IC inlet 106b, and the output of the amplifier 176 every time the wireless tag reader / writer 171 performs an information write operation. It corresponds to the case of setting the level. Therefore, the search data 155a defines a function expression that uses the value of the output temperature of the temperature sensor 114 as a variable to be substituted for each ID code of the IC chip. This function equation uses the value of the level setting signal as a setting value input to the wireless tag reader / writer 171 in order to correct the inconvenience due to the temperature characteristic of the IC inlet 106b specified by the ID code of the IC chip. That is, when the IC inlet 106b has temperature characteristics and requires a large write output in a certain temperature range, a write failure may occur if the write output of the wireless tag reader / writer 171 is the same as the other temperature range. . Therefore, the output level setting value in this case is a value that increases the write output of the wireless tag reader / writer 171. As such a set value, for example, a value obtained by experiment is used. As another example, a theoretical value can be used if the temperature characteristics of the IC inlet 106b are known in advance. However, even if theoretical values are used, verification by experiment is desirable. Then, by inputting the value of the current temperature measured by the temperature sensor 114 as a variable, a function equation that can derive a set value obtained by experiment or a theoretically obtained set value as a solution is obtained. This function formula becomes the search data 155a defined for each ID code of the IC chip.

  The search data 155a shown in FIG. 5 (g) uses the ID code of the label sheet 103 as identification information for specifying the type of the IC inlet 106b, and the wireless tag reader / writer 171 has a correction value for the basic output level. It corresponds to adjusting the output level. Therefore, the search data 155a defines a function expression that uses the value of the output temperature of the temperature sensor 114 as a variable to be substituted for each ID code of the label sheet 103. The function formula in this case is the same as that of the search data 155a shown in FIG.

  The search data 155a shown in FIG. 5 (h) uses the ID code of the label sheet 103 as identification information for specifying the type of the IC inlet 106b, and the output of the amplifier 176 every time the wireless tag reader / writer 171 performs an information writing operation. It corresponds to the case of setting the level. Therefore, the search data 155a defines a function expression that uses the value of the output temperature of the temperature sensor 114 as a variable to be substituted for each ID code of the label sheet 103. The function formula in this case is the same as that of the search data 155a shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of label issuing processing. This label issuing process is executed by the CPU 152 provided in the control unit 151 of the printer 101 in accordance with the operation program stored in the flash ROM 154. That is, when the CPU 152 receives a label issuing request from the computer 121 (ACT 101), the CPU 152 conveys the label sheet 103 along the guide path 108 (ACT 102). The CPU 152 of the control unit 151 performs an conveyance of an antenna (not shown) of the IC inlet 106b in which the label 106 to be recorded of information is located at the position of the antenna 179 of the wireless tag reader / writer 171 built in the wireless communication unit 110. Adjust the position.

  In this state, the CPU 152 executes short-range wireless communication processing using the aligned IC inlet 106b and the wireless tag reader / writer 171 (ACT 103). In this processing, the CPU 152 executes information writing processing on the IC chip of the target IC inlet 106b (see ACT 103-1 to ACT 103-3 in FIG. 7).

  Thereafter, the CPU 152 conveys the label sheet 103 and executes a printing process on the recording surface 106a of the label 106 in which information is written on the IC chip of the IC inlet 106b (ACT 104). In the printing process, while the label sheet 103 is conveyed by the rotation of the platen 112a, the thermal print head 112b performs printing on the recording surface 106a of the target label 106. When the information-recorded label 106 is positioned on the downstream side of the cutter 113 on the guide path 108, the label sheet 103 is cut by the cutter 113 and the information-recorded label 106 is issued from the paper discharge outlet 107.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of information writing processing to the IC inlet 106b. This information writing process is executed by the CPU 152 provided in the control unit 151 of the printer 101 in accordance with the operation program stored in the flash ROM 154. That is, the CPU 152 first executes a process (step) for fetching identification information for specifying the type of the IC inlet 106b to which information is to be written (ACT 103-1). As described above, this processing is executed by taking in the ID code of the IC chip when communication with the target IC inlet 106b is established as described above, and as another example, the label sheet transmitted from the printer 101. This is executed by fetching the ID code 103.

  Subsequently, the CPU 152 accesses the EEPROM 155 storing the search data 155a, and executes a process (step) for deriving a level setting signal to be input to the wireless tag reader / writer 171 from the acquired identification information and the output temperature of the temperature sensor 114 (step). ACT103-2). The method for deriving the level setting signal to be executed in this process has been sufficiently described in the explanation items of FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (h).

  Then, the CPU 152 executes a process (step) for causing the wireless tag reader / writer 171 to write information to the IC inlet 106b in a state where the write output of the wireless tag reader / writer 171 is set with the derived level setting signal (ACT 103-3). . As a result, information can be reliably written to the IC inlet 106b without causing a write failure.

  As described above, according to the printer 101 of the present embodiment, the identification information for identifying the type of the IC inlet 106b to be written to the wireless tag reader / writer 171 and the output temperature of the temperature sensor 114 are used. The guided level setting signal is input to the wireless tag reader / writer 171 to set the writing output. Thereby, the write output of the wireless tag reader / writer 171 can be automatically corrected according to the temperature characteristic of the IC inlet 106b. Therefore, according to the printer 101 of the present embodiment, information can be reliably written to the IC inlet 106b having temperature characteristics in any temperature range without requiring manual adjustment of the write output of the wireless tag reader / writer 171. Can do.

  Here, it is expected that a recording medium equipped with an IC inlet as exemplified as the label sheet 103 incorporating the IC inlet 106b will be further spread in the future. Therefore, in the future, various types of IC inlets will be mounted on such a recording medium. In order to cope with such a situation, it is necessary to add data about a new IC inlet to the search data 155a exemplified in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (h). Therefore, as a scheme for that purpose, data about a new IC inlet to be added to the search data 155a can be downloaded to the computer 121 in the maintenance site 201 managed and operated by the manufacturer system 21 (see FIG. 1). As a result, data relating to a new IC inlet to be added to the search data 155 a is downloaded from the maintenance site 201 to the computer 121, and the computer 121 transmits the data to the printer 101. The control unit 151 of the printer 101 rewrites the search data 155a in the EEPROM 155 in a form in which new additional data is added in order to add data about the new IC inlet transmitted from the computer 121. Thereby, data about new IC inlets can be added sequentially.

  The search data 155a is not necessarily recorded in the EEPROM 155, and may be recorded in a predetermined block of the flash ROM 154 or another information storage medium. Any non-volatile memory, HDD, or USB that can rewrite or add data can be used as a medium for storing the search data 155a.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the label paper 103 is used as the recording medium. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other forms may be used. For example, the IC inlet 106b can be mounted on the recording surface 106a regardless of whether it is in the form of a cut sheet, a form having no heat-sensitive color developing layer, or a form such as a resin film instead of a paper medium. Any medium can be used as the recording medium as long as the medium has the recording medium.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 103 ... Label paper (recording medium), 106a ... Recording surface, 106b ... IC inlet, 108 ... Guide route, 110 ... Wireless communication part, 112 ... Printing part, 112a ... Platen (guide conveyance part), 114 ... Temperature sensor, 151 ... Control part, 155 ... EEPROM (storage part), 155a ... Search data, PM ... Platen motor (guide conveyance part)

Claims (6)

A recording medium holding portion for holding the recording medium to have a formable recording surface a visible image comprising an IC inlet,
A guide conveying section for conveying along the guide path of the recording medium,
A wireless communication unit that performs short-range wireless communication with an IC inlet included in a recording medium transported along the guide route, and changes a writing output in accordance with a level setting signal;
A printing unit that performs printing with a thermal print head on the recording surface of the recording medium conveyed along the guide path;
A temperature sensor disposed near the recording medium holding unit and detecting and outputting an environmental temperature at which the IC inlet is placed at the time of writing ;
A storage unit for storing search data for deriving the level setting signal corresponding to the temperature condition from identification information for specifying the type of the IC inlet;
The identification information of the IC inlet to which information is to be written is fetched, the search data stored in the storage unit is accessed, the level setting signal is derived from the fetched identification information and the output temperature of the temperature sensor, and the derived A control unit that causes the wireless communication unit to write information to the IC inlet in a state where the write output of the wireless communication unit is set with a level setting signal;
Printer with. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the control unit derives the level setting signal from identification information of the IC inlet included in the read data of the IC inlet output from the wireless communication unit. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the control unit derives the level setting signal from identification information received from a higher-level machine together with information to be written in an IC inlet.   4. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores search data for storing the level setting signal corresponding to a temperature condition in association with identification information for specifying a type of IC inlet. 5.   The storage unit stores search data in which a function formula for calculating the level setting signal is assigned in association with identification information for specifying the type of IC inlet and stored in association with the function information. Any one of the printers. A process of providing a recording surface capable of forming a visible image with an IC inlet and transporting the recording medium held by the recording medium holding unit along the guide path;
A communication step of causing a wireless communication unit that varies a writing output according to a level setting signal to perform short-range wireless communication with an IC inlet included in a recording medium conveyed along the guide route;
A printing step will rows printing at the thermal print head to the recording surface of the recording medium conveyed along the guide path,
Detecting and outputting an environmental temperature at which the IC inlet is placed at the time of writing from a temperature sensor disposed in the vicinity of the recording medium holding unit;
The communication step comprises:
A sub-process for capturing identification information for identifying the type of IC inlet to which information is to be written;
It accesses the storage unit for storing the search data for deriving said level setting signal corresponding to the identification information for specifying the type of IC inlet, the captured identification information and the level setting signal from the output temperature of the temperature sensor Derived sub-process,
A sub-step of causing the wireless communication unit to write information to an IC inlet in a state where the write output of the wireless communication unit is set with the derived level setting signal;
have,
Information recording method.

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