JP7619121B2 - Wireless tag information writer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a wireless tag information writing device.

Conventionally, there is known a radio frequency tag information writing device in which a high frequency circuit writes radio frequency tag information to multiple radio frequency tag circuit elements on a printed tag tape being conveyed, via an antenna, in a non-contact manner. The radio frequency tag information writing device described in Patent Document 1 slows down the conveying speed of the printed tag tape when the radio frequency tag circuit elements reach a preset writing start position near the antenna.

JP 2005-267532 A

The above-mentioned RFID tag information writing device reduces the transport speed of the printed tag tape to a preset value. Therefore, depending on the type of printed tag tape, such as when the spacing between the RFID tag circuit elements is different, the transport speed may be reduced more than necessary, which may result in a longer time to write the RFID tag information.

The object of the present invention is to provide a wireless tag information writing device that can write data to an RFID tag while shortening the media transport time.

The wireless tag information writing device according to one aspect of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a medium transport unit that transports a medium on which a plurality of RFID tags are arranged in the longitudinal direction; a data writing unit that writes data to the RFID tags of the medium transported by the medium transport unit via wireless communication; a time calculation unit that calculates a communication time between the data writing unit and the RFID tag based on the amount of data written by the data writing unit; a strength calculation unit that calculates the communication strength of the wireless communication based on the distance between the antennas of the RFID tags adjacent in the longitudinal direction; a transport speed calculation unit that calculates the transport speed of the medium when the data writing unit writes the data based on the communication time calculated by the time calculation unit and the communication strength calculated by the strength calculation unit; and a transport control unit that controls the medium transport unit to transport the medium at the transport speed calculated by the transport speed calculation unit when the data writing unit writes the data via wireless communication at the communication strength calculated by the strength calculation unit.

The wireless tag information writing device of this embodiment calculates the medium transport speed when writing data to an RFID tag based on the communication time and communication strength of the wireless communication. Therefore, the wireless tag information writing device can shorten the time it takes to create a medium with data written to an RFID tag.

The wireless tag information writing device of this aspect may include a second conveying control unit that controls the medium conveying unit to convey the medium at a predetermined speed faster than the conveying speed when the data writing unit has not written the data. When data has not been written to the RFID tag, the wireless tag information writing device conveys the medium at a predetermined speed faster than the conveying speed. Thus, the wireless tag information writing device can shorten the time it takes to convey the medium when data has not been written to the RFID tag.

The wireless tag information writing device of this aspect may include a write determination unit that determines whether or not the writing of the data by the data writing unit is complete based on the communication time, and the second conveyance control unit may control the medium conveyance unit when the write determination unit determines that the writing of the data by the data writing unit is complete. In this case, when the writing of data to the RFID tag is completed, the wireless tag information writing device causes the second conveyance control unit to convey the medium at a predetermined speed. Therefore, the wireless tag information writing device can shorten the time it takes to convey the medium.

The wireless tag information writing device of this aspect includes a printing unit that prints on a printing portion of the medium conveyed by the medium conveying unit that does not have the RFID tag, and the second conveying control unit may control the medium conveying unit to convey the medium at a predetermined first speed when the data writing unit has not written the data and the printing unit is printing, and control the medium conveying unit to convey the medium at a predetermined second speed faster than the first speed when the data writing unit has not written the data and the printing unit is not printing. In this case, when the wireless tag information writing device has not written data to the RFID tag and the printing unit is printing, the wireless tag information writing device prints while conveying the medium at the first speed. When the wireless tag information writing device has not written data to the RFID tag and the printing unit is not printing, the wireless tag information writing device conveys the medium at a second speed faster than the first speed. Thus, the wireless tag information writing device can shorten the time it takes to convey the medium when data is not written to the RFID tag.

The wireless tag information writing device of this aspect may include a completion determination unit that determines whether the data writing unit has completed writing the data to all of the RFID tags, and a third transport control unit that controls the medium transport unit to transport the medium in a direction opposite to the direction of transport controlled by the transport control unit when the completion determination unit determines that the data writing unit has completed writing the data to all of the RFID tags. In this case, when writing of data to all of the RFID tags is completed, the wireless tag information writing device transports the medium in a direction opposite to the direction of transport controlled by the transport control unit. Therefore, the wireless tag information writing device can transport the medium smoothly the next time data is written by the data writing unit and printing is performed by the printing unit.

In the wireless tag information writing device of this aspect, the strength calculation unit may calculate the communication strength at which the data can be written without exceeding the interval. In this case, the wireless tag information writing device calculates the communication strength at which data can be written without exceeding the interval between the antennas of adjacent RFID tags, and writes the data to the RFID tag at the calculated communication strength. Thus, the wireless tag information writing device can write data to the RFID tag at a speed according to the interval between the antennas of the RFID tags.

The wireless tag information writing device of this aspect includes a strength memory unit that stores the maximum communication strength at which the data writing unit can perform the wireless communication, and the strength calculation unit may calculate the communication strength that does not exceed the maximum communication strength stored in the strength memory unit. In this case, the wireless tag information writing device calculates a communication strength that does not exceed the maximum communication strength at which the data writing unit can perform the wireless communication, and writes data to the RFID tag at the calculated communication strength. Therefore, the wireless tag information writing device can shorten the time required to create a medium in which data is written to an RFID tag.

The wireless tag information writing device of this aspect includes a medium storage unit that stores information about the medium transported by the medium transport unit, and the strength calculation unit may calculate the communication strength based on the information about the medium stored in the medium storage unit. The wireless tag information writing device calculates the communication strength based on the information about the medium stored in the medium storage unit, and writes data to the RFID tag at the calculated communication strength. Thus, the wireless tag information writing device can transport the medium at an appropriate transport speed according to the medium.

In the wireless tag information writing device of this aspect, the transport speed calculation unit may calculate the transport speed by dividing the communication range based on the communication strength calculated by the strength calculation unit by the communication time calculated by the time calculation unit. In this case, the wireless tag information writing device calculates the medium transport speed by dividing the communication time by the communication range based on the communication strength. Therefore, the wireless tag information writing device can shorten the time required to create a medium in which data is written to an RFID tag.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printing device 1. 2 is a plan view of the mounting portion 8 in which the tape cassette 30 is mounted. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the printing device 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view of tapes 50A and 50B. 13 is a flowchart showing a main process. 13 is a flowchart showing a main process.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings referred to are used to explain technical features that may be adopted by the present invention, and the configuration of the device described is not intended to be limiting but is merely an explanatory example. In the following description, the upper right, lower left, lower right, upper left, upper side, and lower side of FIG. 1 are respectively the right side, left side, front side, rear side, upper side, and lower side of the printing device 1. The upper side, lower side, left side, and right side of FIG. 4 are respectively the upper side, lower side, leading side, and trailing side of the tape 50.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printing device 1 has a main body cover 2 which is a rectangular parallelepiped housing. A keyboard 3 for inputting characters is provided on the front top surface of the main body cover 2. The keyboard 3 includes a power switch, application keys, cursor keys, etc. A display 5 for displaying various information is provided behind the keyboard 3. As an example, the display 5 is a dot matrix LCD. A cassette cover 6 which can be opened and closed relative to the main body cover 2 is provided behind the display 5. An outlet 9 for discharging the printed tape 50 to the outside of the main body cover 2 is provided on the rear left surface of the main body cover 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, an attachment section 8 is provided below the cassette cover 6 (see FIG. 1) inside the main body cover 2. The attachment section 8 is a recess that corresponds to the shape of the tape cassette 30, and is a portion to which the tape cassette 30 can be attached and detached. Below, the tape cassette 30 attached to the attachment section 8 is referred to as the attached tape cassette 30. The printing device 1 uses the attached tape cassette 30 to print characters input via the keyboard 3.

The tape cassette 30 includes a box-shaped cassette case 33 that contains the tape 50 and the ink ribbon 60. The tape spool 40 on which the unprinted tape 50 is wound is rotatably supported at the left rear part inside the cassette case 33. The ribbon spool 42 on which the unused ink ribbon 60 is wound is rotatably supported at the right front part inside the cassette case 33. The ribbon take-up spool 44 is rotatably supported between the tape spool 40 and the ribbon spool 42. The ribbon take-up spool 44 pulls out the unused ink ribbon 60 from the ribbon spool 42 and winds up the ink ribbon 60 used for printing. The tape drive roller 46 is rotatably supported at the left front corner part inside the cassette case 33 and pulls out the unprinted tape 50 from the tape spool 40 and transports it. The downstream side and upstream side of the transport direction of the tape 50 correspond to the leading end side and the trailing end side of the longitudinal direction of the tape 50.

An indicator portion (not shown) is provided on the side wall of the cassette case 33. The indicator portion is made up of a hole and a surface portion. The indicator portion indicates tape information of the tape 50 contained in the tape cassette 30 by the positions and number of the hole and surface portions. In this embodiment, the tape information includes information on the tag interval L, position length La, and label length Lb, which will be described later.

The mounting section 8 is provided with a ribbon take-up shaft (not shown), a tape drive shaft (not shown), a thermal head 10, a platen mechanism 12, a wireless read/write device 18, etc. The ribbon take-up shaft is inserted into the ribbon take-up spool 44 and rotates by driving the tape feed motor 23 (see FIG. 3). The tape drive shaft is inserted into the tape drive roller 46 and rotates by driving the tape feed motor 23 via a transmission mechanism (not shown). The thermal head 10 is disposed on the right side of the tape drive shaft and prints on the transported tape 50 using an unused ink ribbon 60. The platen mechanism 12 transports the tape 50 and the ink ribbon 60 by pressing them against each other between the thermal head 10. A cutting mechanism 17 is provided between the discharge port 9 and the mounting section 8. The cutting mechanism 17 cuts the tape 50 at a predetermined position by driving the cutting motor 24 (see FIG. 3).

The wireless reader/writer 18 is provided upstream of the cutting mechanism 17 in the transport direction of the tape 50. The wireless reader/writer 18 faces the tape 50 ejected from the tape cassette 30 and is capable of reading and writing data to the wireless communication tag 80 (see FIG. 4) of the tape 50 via short-range wireless communication. In this embodiment, the wireless reader/writer 18 performs wireless communication using the well-known RFID (Radio frequency identification) method.

The electrical configuration of the printing device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. The printing device 1 includes a control circuit 70. The control circuit 70 includes a CPU 71, a ROM 72, a CGROM 73, a RAM 74, a flash memory 75, and an input/output interface 77, which are connected via a data bus 69. The CPU 71 controls the printing device 1. The ROM 72 stores various parameters required when the CPU 71 executes various programs, the second speed V2, the third speed V3, and the maximum communication strength that the wireless reading/writing device 18 can output, which will be described later. The CGROM 73 stores image data of characters to be printed on the tape 50. The RAM 74 includes multiple storage areas, such as a text memory and a print buffer. The flash memory 75 stores various programs executed by the CPU 71.

The input/output interface 77 is connected to the keyboard 3, liquid crystal display drive circuit (LCDC) 25, drive circuits 26-29, wireless read/write device 18, detection unit 19, optical sensor 20, and external interface 21. The wireless read/write device 18 includes an antenna, a reader IC, and a writer IC (not shown). The LCDC 25 has a video RAM (not shown) for outputting display data to the display 5.

The drive circuit 26 is an electronic circuit for driving the thermal head 10. The drive circuit 27 is an electronic circuit for driving the tape feed motor 23. The drive circuit 28 is an electronic circuit for driving the cut motor 24. The drive circuit 29 is an electronic circuit for driving the wireless read/write device 18. The detection unit 19 detects the indicator portion of the tape cassette 30 being loaded. The optical sensor 20 detects the position of the transported tape 50 relative to the wireless read/write device 18 and the thermal head 10. The external interface 21 is a controller for communicating with an external terminal 90. The external terminal 90 is, for example, a general-purpose personal computer.

With reference to FIG. 4, an overview of the tape 50 will be described. The tape 50 of this embodiment is a long strip-shaped sheet in which multiple labels 51 are continuously arranged along the longitudinal direction at a predetermined interval. The gap between adjacent labels 51 on the tape 50 is called a margin 53. In the printing device 1 in which the tape cassette 30 is installed, the tape 50 is transported along its longitudinal direction. Multiple wireless communication tags 80 capable of reading and writing data by wireless communication are provided in the label 51. The multiple wireless communication tags 80 are provided in the label 51 aligned along the longitudinal direction of the tape 50. The thermal head 10 uses the ink ribbon 60 to print characters on the printing portion 52 of the label 51 where no wireless communication tag 80 is provided. The cutting mechanism 17 cuts the tape 50 on a label 51 basis.

The wireless communication tag 80 of this embodiment is a known RFID tag having an IC chip 81, an antenna 82, and a seal base material 83. The seal base material 83 is a rectangular sheet on whose surface the IC chip 81 and antenna 82 are disposed. The IC chip 81 includes a high-frequency circuit, a memory, and a power supply circuit. The antenna 82 is a coil-shaped antenna wound around the IC chip 81 on the seal base material 83. The wireless communication tag 80 of this embodiment is a passive RFID tag, but may also be an active RFID tag.

In this embodiment, multiple wireless communication tags 80 are arranged at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction (i.e., the transport direction) of the tape 50, with one wireless communication tag 80 arranged on each label 51. The wireless reading and writing device 18 writes data to the wireless communication tags 80 via wireless communication. The range in which the wireless reading and writing device 18 can communicate with the wireless communication tags 80 is called the communication range A, and the length of the communication range A in the transport direction is called the communication length Lx. The communication length Lx (communication range A) increases as the communication strength of the wireless communication increases. The ROM 72 stores the relationship between communication strength and communication length Lx.

The indicator portion of the tape cassette 30 indicates tape information including the spacing of the wireless communication tags 80 in the transport direction of the stored tape 50 (hereinafter referred to as tag spacing L), the length from the tip of the label 51 (downstream end in the transport direction) to the wireless communication tag 80 (hereinafter referred to as position length La), and the length of the label 51 (hereinafter referred to as label length Lb). The tape cassette 30 can store various tapes 50 with different tag spacing L, position lengths La, and label lengths Lb. In this embodiment, the tape cassette 30 stores either tape 50A or tape 50B shown in FIG. 5.

The control of the transport of the tape 50 in the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The tape 50 is transported by driving the tape feed motor 23 (see FIG. 3). The speed at which the tape 50 is transported differs depending on whether the wireless reader/writer 18 is writing data to the wireless communication tag 80 or not.

More specifically, when the wireless communication tag 80 transported together with the tape 50 reaches the communication range A and the wireless reading and writing device 18 is writing data to the wireless communication tag 80, the tape 50 is transported at a first speed V1. The first speed V1 is the speed obtained by dividing the communication length Lx by the communication time T. The communication time T is the time it takes for the wireless reading and writing device 18 to write data to the wireless communication tag 80. The printing device 1 calculates the communication time T based on the amount of data written by the wireless reading and writing device 18.

The printing device 1 calculates the communication length Lx based on the relationship between the communication strength and the communication length Lx stored in the ROM 72. The communication length Lx varies depending on the magnitude of the communication strength. The ROM 72 stores the maximum communication strength of the wireless reading and writing device 18 and the communication length when the wireless reading and writing device 18 communicates at the maximum communication strength (hereinafter referred to as the maximum communication length Lxmax). The printing device 1 compares the maximum communication length Lxmax with the tag interval L. If the maximum communication length Lxmax is equal to or less than the tag interval L, the printing device 1 sets the communication strength when writing data to the maximum communication strength and sets the communication length Lx to the maximum communication length Lxmax. If the maximum communication length Lxmax is greater than the tag interval L, the printing device 1 sets the communication length Lx to the tag interval L, and calculates the communication strength corresponding to the tag interval L based on the relationship between the communication strength and the communication length Lx stored in the ROM 72.

When the wireless communication tag 80 being transported is not within the communication range A and the wireless reading and writing device 18 has not written data to the wireless communication tag 80, the tape 50 is transported at a predetermined speed faster than the first speed V1. More specifically, when the wireless reading and writing device 18 has not written data to the wireless communication tag 80 and the thermal head 10 prints characters on the printed portion 52, the tape 50 is transported at a predetermined second speed V2 (V2>V1). When the wireless reading and writing device 18 has not written data to the wireless communication tag 80 and the thermal head 10 has not printed characters on the printed portion 52, the tape 50 is transported at a predetermined third speed V3 (V3>V2). In this embodiment, the thermal head 10 does not print on the margin 53 as the printed portion 52. Also, when the wireless reading and writing device 18 has completed writing data to the wireless communication tag 80, the tape 50 is transported at the second speed V2 or the third speed V3.

In the tape 50A shown in FIG. 5, the maximum communicable length Lxmax is equal to or less than the tag interval L. The printer 1 calculates the first speed V1 by setting the communicable length Lx as the maximum communicable length Lxmax. When the wireless communication tag 80 is in the communication range A, the wireless reading and writing device 18 writes data to the wireless communication tag 80 and the thermal head 10 prints characters on the printed portion 52 while conveying the tape 50 at the first speed V1. When the wireless reading and writing device 18 completes writing data to the wireless communication tag 80, the printer 1 conveys the tape 50 at the second speed V2 when the thermal head 10 is printing, and at the third speed V3 when the thermal head 10 is not printing . After that, when the wireless communication tag 80 reaches the communication range A, the printer 1 conveys the tape 50 at the first speed V1.

For tape 50B, the maximum communication length Lxmax is greater than the tag interval L. In this case, when the wireless reader/writer 18 communicates at the maximum communication strength, there is a risk that wireless communication will occur with a wireless communication tag 80 other than the wireless communication tag 80 to which data is to be written. Therefore, the printer 1 calculates the first speed V1 using the communication length Lx as the tag interval L. For tape 50B, the communication range A of the wireless communication tag 80 to which data is to be written and the communication range A of the wireless communication tag 80 to which the next data is to be written come into contact. Therefore, the printer 1 transports the tape 50 only at the first speed V1.

The main process will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. The main process is a process in which the wireless reading and writing device 18 writes data to the wireless communication tag 80 being transported. When the power of the printing device 1 is turned on, the CPU 71 reads a program from the flash memory 75 and executes the main process.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the main process starts, the CPU 71 determines whether data to be written to the wireless communication tag 80 has been received from the external terminal 90 (S1). The user operates the external terminal 90 to send data to the printing device 1. If it is determined that data has not been received from the external terminal 90 (S1: NO), the CPU 71 returns the process to S1 and repeats the determination of S1 until data is received from the external terminal 90.

When it is determined that data has been received from the external terminal 90 (S1: YES), the CPU 71 stores the received data in the RAM 74 (S2). The CPU 71 acquires tape information (such as tag interval L) indicated by the indicator portion of the tape cassette 30 from the detection portion 19, and stores the information in the RAM 74 (S3). The CPU 71 acquires various parameters from the ROM 72 (S4). In S4, the CPU 71 acquires the maximum communicable length Lxmax, the second speed V2, and the third speed V3 as parameters. The CPU 71 calculates the communication time T based on the amount of data stored in the RAM 74 in S2 (S5).

The CPU 71 determines whether the maximum communicable length Lxmax obtained in S4 is greater than the tag interval L included in the tape information obtained in S3 (S6). If it is determined that the maximum communicable length Lxmax is greater than the tag interval L (S6: YES), the CPU 71 sets the communicable length Lx when the wireless reader/writer 18 writes data to the value of the tag interval L (S7) and proceeds to S9. If it is determined that the maximum communicable length Lxmax is less than or equal to the tag interval L (S6: NO), the CPU 71 sets the communicable length Lx to the value of the maximum communicable length Lxmax (S8) and proceeds to S9.

The CPU 71 calculates the communication strength when the wireless reader/writer 18 writes data based on the communication length Lx set in S7 or S8 and the relationship between the communication strength and the communication length Lx stored in the ROM 72 (S9). The CPU 71 calculates the first speed V1 by dividing the communication length Lx by the communication time T (S10).

The CPU 71 starts transporting the tape 50 at the third speed V3 (S11). The CPU 71 executes a monitoring process (S12). In S12, the CPU 71 monitors the position of the wireless communication tag 80 relative to the wireless reader/writer 18 and the position of the printed portion 52 relative to the thermal head 10 based on the detection result of the optical sensor 20.

As shown in FIG. 7, the CPU 71 determines whether the wireless communication tag 80 being transported has reached the communication range A (S21). The determination in S21 is made based on the position of the wireless communication tag 80 relative to the wireless reader/writer 18 monitored in S12, and the communication length Lx. If it is determined that the wireless communication tag 80 has not reached the communication range A (S21: NO), the CPU 71 transitions the process to S31.

When it is determined that the wireless communication tag 80 has reached the communication range A (S21: YES), the CPU 71 controls the drive circuit 27 to set the speed at which the tape 50 is transported to a first speed V1 (S22). The CPU 71 controls the drive circuit 29 to cause the wireless reader/writer 18 to write data to the wireless communication tag 80 at the communication strength calculated in S9 (S23).

The CPU 71 determines whether or not to print on the printed portion 52 being transported (S24). The determination in S24 is made based on the position of the printed portion 52 relative to the thermal head 10 monitored in S12. If it is determined that printing will not be performed on the printed portion 52 (S24: NO), the CPU 71 proceeds to S26. If it is determined that printing will be performed on the printed portion 52 (S24: YES), the CPU 71 controls the drive circuit 26, causing the thermal head 10 to print characters on the printed portion 52 using the ink ribbon 60 (S25). The CPU 71 proceeds to S26.

The CPU 71 determines whether the data writing by the wireless reading and writing device 18 performed in S23 has been completed (S26). The determination in S26 is made based on the communication time T calculated in S5. If it is determined that the data writing has not been completed (S26: NO), the CPU 71 returns the process to S26 and repeats the determination in S26 until the data writing is completed. If it is determined that the data writing has been completed (S26: YES), the CPU 71 transitions the process to S31.

If the wireless communication tag 80 has not reached the communication range A (S21: NO), or if it is determined that data writing by the wireless reading and writing device 18 has been completed (S26: YES), the CPU 71 determines whether or not to print on the printed portion 52 being transported (S31). S31 is determined in the same manner as S24. If it is determined that printing will not be performed on the printed portion 52 (S31: NO), the CPU 71 transitions to S41.

When it is determined that printing is to be performed on the printing portion 52 (S31: YES), the CPU 71 controls the drive circuit 27 to set the speed at which the tape 50 is transported to a second speed V2 (S32). The CPU 71 controls the drive circuit 26 to cause the thermal head 10 to print characters on the printing portion 52 using the ink ribbon 60 (S33). S33 is the same process as S25. The CPU 71 transitions to S41.

The CPU 71 controls the drive circuit 27 to set the speed at which the tape 50 is transported to a third speed V3 (S41). The CPU 71 determines whether writing of all data received in S1 to the wireless communication tag 80 is complete (S42). If it determines that writing of all data to the wireless communication tag 80 is not complete (S42: NO), the CPU 71 returns the process to S21. If it determines that writing of all data to the wireless communication tag 80 is complete (S42: YES), the CPU 71 controls the drive circuit 27 to drive the tape feed motor 23 in the reverse direction and transport the tape 50 in the opposite direction to the transport direction (S43). In S43, the CPU 71 controls the drive circuit 27 so that the unused label 51 on the leading edge side is located upstream of the thermal head 10 in the transport direction.

As described above, the printing device 1 of this embodiment includes a tape feed motor 23, a wireless reading and writing device 18, and a CPU 71. The tape feed motor 23 transports the tape 50 on which a plurality of wireless communication tags 80 are arranged along the longitudinal direction. The wireless reading and writing device 18 writes data to the wireless communication tag 80 transported together with the tape 50. The CPU 71 calculates the communication time T based on the amount of data to be written by the wireless reading and writing device 18 (S5). The CPU 71 calculates the communication strength when the wireless reading and writing device 18 writes data based on the tag interval L (S6) (S9). The CPU 71 calculates the first speed V1 based on the communication time T and the communication strength (S10). The CPU 71 sets the speed at which the tape 50 is transported as the calculated first speed V1 when the transported wireless communication tag 80 reaches the communication range A and writes data to the wireless communication tag 80 at the calculated communication strength (S22). This allows the printer 1 to shorten the time it takes to create the label 51 with the data written on it.

When the transported wireless communication tag 80 has not reached the communication range A and the wireless reading and writing device 18 has not written data to the wireless communication tag 80, the CPU 71 sets the speed at which the tape 50 is transported to a predetermined second speed V2 (S32) or third speed V3 (S41) faster than the first speed V1. This allows the printing device 1 to shorten the time it takes to transport the tape 50 when data has not been written to the wireless communication tag 80.

The CPU 71 determines whether or not data writing by the wireless reading and writing device 18 has been completed based on the communication time T (S26). If it determines that data writing has been completed, the CPU 71 sets the speed at which the tape 50 is transported to the second speed V2 (S32) or the third speed V3 (S41). This allows the printing device 1 to shorten the time it takes to transport the tape 50 when data has not been written to the wireless communication tag 80.

The printing device 1 includes a thermal head 10. The thermal head 10 uses an ink ribbon 60 to print characters on the printing portion 52 of the label 51. When the wireless reading and writing device 18 has not written data to the wireless communication tag 80 and the thermal head 10 prints on the printing portion 52, the CPU 71 sets the speed at which the tape 50 is conveyed to a second speed V2 (S32). When the wireless reading and writing device 18 has not written data to the wireless communication tag 80 and the thermal head 10 does not print on the printing portion 52, the CPU 71 sets the speed at which the tape 50 is conveyed to a third speed V3 (S41). This allows the printing device 1 to shorten the time it takes to convey the tape 50 when data has not been written to the wireless communication tag 80.

The CPU 71 determines whether writing of all data to the wireless communication tag 80 is complete (S42). If it determines that writing of all data to the wireless communication tag 80 is complete, the CPU 71 drives the tape feed motor 23 in the reverse direction to feed the tape 50 in the opposite direction to the feed direction (S43). At this time, the CPU 71 feeds the tape 50 so that the unused label 51 on the leading edge is positioned upstream of the thermal head 10 in the feed direction. Because the unused label 51 is positioned upstream of the thermal head 10 and the wireless reader/writer 18 in the feed direction, the printer 1 can feed the tape 50 smoothly the next time it writes data to the wireless communication tag 80 without having to adjust the position of the leading edge of the tape 50.

When the CPU 71 determines that the maximum communication length Lxmax is greater than the tag interval L, the CPU 71 sets the communication length Lx when the wireless reader/writer 18 writes data to the value of the tag interval L (S7), and calculates the communication strength when the wireless reader/writer 18 writes data (S9). The printer 1 calculates the first speed V1 based on the calculated communication strength, so that the label 51 with the data written on it can be produced at a speed according to the tag interval L.

The ROM 72 stores the maximum communication strength that the wireless reading and writing device 18 can output, and the relationship between the communication strength and the communication length Lx. The CPU 71 sets the maximum of the communication length Lx as the maximum communication length Lxmax, and calculates the communication strength when the wireless reading and writing device 18 writes data based on the relationship between the communication strength and the communication length Lx (S9). The printing device 1 calculates the first speed V1 based on the calculated communication strength, so that the time required to create the label 51 with the data written on it can be shortened.

The RAM 74 stores the tape information indicated by the indicator portion of the tape cassette 30 that the CPU 71 obtains from the detection unit 19. The CPU 71 calculates the communication strength when the wireless reading and writing device 18 writes data based on the tag interval L, which is the tape information (S9). The printing device 1 calculates the first speed V1 based on the calculated communication strength, so that the label 51 with the data written on it can be produced at a speed according to the tape 50.

The CPU 71 calculates the first speed V1 by dividing the communication length Lx by the communication time T (S10). This enables the printing device 1 to shorten the time it takes to create the label 51 with the data written on it.

In the above embodiment, the printing device 1 corresponds to the "wireless tag information writing device" of the present invention. The wireless communication tag 80 corresponds to the "RFID tag" of the present invention. The tape 50 corresponds to the "medium" of the present invention. The tape feed motor 23 corresponds to the "medium conveying unit" of the present invention. The wireless reading and writing device 18 corresponds to the "data writing unit" of the present invention. The CPU 71 that executes S5 corresponds to the "time calculation unit" of the present invention. The CPU 71 that executes S9 corresponds to the "strength calculation unit" of the present invention. The first speed V1 corresponds to the "conveying speed" of the present invention. The CPU 71 that executes S10 corresponds to the "conveying speed calculation unit" of the present invention. The CPU 71 that executes S22 corresponds to the "conveying control unit" of the present invention. The second speed V2 corresponds to the "predetermined speed" and "first speed" of the present invention. The third speed V3 corresponds to the "predetermined speed" and "second speed" of the present invention. The CPU 71 that executes S32 and S41 corresponds to the "second conveying control unit" of the present invention. The CPU 71 that executes S26 corresponds to the "writing determination unit" of the present invention. The thermal head 10 corresponds to the "printing unit" of the present invention. The CPU 71 that executes S42 corresponds to the "completion determination unit" of the present invention. The CPU 71 that executes S43 corresponds to the "third conveyance control unit" of the present invention. The ROM 72 corresponds to the "strength storage unit" of the present invention. The RAM 74 corresponds to the "medium storage unit" of the present invention.

The present invention can be modified in various ways from the above embodiment. The various modified examples described below can be combined with each other as long as no contradictions arise. For example, the present invention can be applied to a wireless tag information writing device that does not have a thermal head 10. In this case, the CPU 71 may omit S43. In the above embodiment, the tape cassette 30 is a receptor type, but it can also be applied to various types of tape cassettes such as laminated types.

In the above embodiment, the wireless reading and writing device 18 is provided downstream of the thermal head 10 in the transport direction of the tape 50, but it may be provided upstream of the thermal head 10 in the transport direction of the tape 50. The printing device 1 does not need to be equipped with a cutting mechanism 17.

The CPU 71 may obtain data to be written to the wireless communication tag 80 from a source other than the external terminal 90. For example, the flash memory 75 may store the data to be written in advance, and the CPU 71 may obtain the data to be written from the flash memory 75. The data to be written to the wireless communication tag 80 may be obtained from a source other than the external terminal 90. The CPU 71 may obtain image data of characters to be printed on the tape 50 from the external terminal 90 instead of the CGROM 73. The flash memory 75 may store tape information of the tape 50 in advance. In this case, the printing device 1 may not be equipped with a detection unit 19, and the CPU 71 may omit S3.

In the above embodiment, the thermal head 10 prints on the printing area 52 in the label 51, but this is not limited thereto, and printing may also be performed on the margin 53, for example. The third speed V3 may be the same as the second speed V2.

In S12, the CPU 71 may monitor the position of the wireless communication tag 80 relative to the wireless reading and writing device 18 and the position of the printed area 52 relative to the thermal head 10 based on the time, speed, etc., at which the tape 50 is transported.

The tape cassette 30 may contain only the ink ribbon 60. The tape 50 may be directly contained in the printing device 1, for example, as a tape roll around which the tape 50 is wound. On the other hand, the tape cassette 30 may contain only the heat-sensitive tape 50. The printing device 1 may perform printing on the tape 50 by directly heating the tape 50 with the thermal head 10.

Instead of the CPU 71, a microcomputer, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), etc. may be used as a processor. The main processing may be distributed processing by multiple processors. The non-transient storage medium may be a storage medium capable of retaining information regardless of the period for which the information is stored. The non-transient storage medium may not include a temporary storage medium (e.g., a transmitted signal). For example, the program may be downloaded from a server connected to the network (i.e., transmitted as a transmission signal) and stored in the flash memory 75. In this case, the program may be stored in a non-transient storage medium such as a hard disk drive provided in the server.

1 Printing device 10 Thermal head 18 Wireless reading and writing device 23 Tape feed motor 50 Tape 71 CPU
72 ROM
74 RAM
80 Wireless communication tag

Claims (9)

a medium transport unit that transports a medium on which a plurality of RFID tags are arranged in a longitudinal direction;
a data writing unit that writes data to the RFID tag of the medium transported by the medium transport unit through wireless communication;
a time calculation unit that calculates a communication time between the data writing unit and the RFID tag based on the amount of data written by the data writing unit;
an intensity calculation unit that calculates a communication intensity of the wireless communication based on an interval between antennas of the RFID tags adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction;
a transport speed calculation unit that calculates a transport speed of the medium when the data writer writes the data, based on the communication time calculated by the time calculation unit and the communication strength calculated by the strength calculation unit;
and a transport control unit that controls the medium transport unit so as to transport the medium at the transport speed calculated by the transport speed calculation unit when the data writing unit writes the data via wireless communication at the communication strength calculated by the strength calculation unit. The RFID tag information writing device according to claim 1, further comprising a second conveyance control unit that controls the medium conveyance unit to convey the medium at a predetermined speed faster than the conveyance speed when the data writing unit is not writing the data. a write determination unit that determines whether or not the writing of the data by the data writing unit has been completed based on the communication time;
3. The RFID tag information writing device according to claim 2, wherein when the write determining unit determines that the data writing by the data writing unit has been completed, the second conveying control unit controls the medium conveying unit. a printing unit that prints on a printing portion of the medium transported by the medium transport unit that does not have the RFID tag;
The second conveyance control unit is
When the data writing unit is not writing the data and the printing unit is printing, the medium transport unit is controlled to transport the medium at a predetermined first speed;
The radio tag information writing device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that when the data writing unit is not writing data and the printing unit is not printing, the medium transport unit is controlled to transport the medium at a predetermined second speed that is faster than the first speed. a completion determination unit that determines whether the data writing unit has completed writing the data to all of the RFID tags;
A radio tag information writing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it is provided with a third conveying control unit that controls the medium conveying unit to convey the medium in a direction opposite to the direction in which the medium is conveyed under the control of the conveying control unit when the completion determination unit determines that the data writing unit has completed writing the data to all of the RFID tags. The wireless tag information writing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the strength calculation unit calculates the communication strength at which the data can be written without exceeding the interval. a strength storage unit that stores a maximum communication strength at which the data writing unit can perform the wireless communication;
7. The RFID tag information writing device according to claim 1, wherein the strength calculation section calculates the communication strength that does not exceed the maximum communication strength stored in the strength storage section. a medium storage unit that stores information about the medium transported by the medium transport unit;
8. The RFID tag information writing device according to claim 1, wherein the strength calculation section calculates the communication strength based on information about the medium stored in the medium storage section. The wireless tag information writing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the transport speed calculation unit calculates the transport speed by dividing the communication range based on the communication strength calculated by the strength calculation unit by the communication time calculated by the time calculation unit.

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