Media processing device, printing device, and control method of a media processing device

• US 10,303,904 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2018
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Koike, Toshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Foxx, Chico A
• Application Number:
  US15/991,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20180322317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/12 otherwise than by punching
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/021 Adaptations for printing on specific media
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/024 for printing on segmented surfaces, e.g. sticker sheets, label rolls
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/16 Means for paper feeding or form feeding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1856 characterized by its workflow
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32138 in an electronic device attached to the sheet, e.g. in an RFID tag

Abstract

When writing information to the IC tag of a medium, the control unit 54 of a printer 1 determines if a specific area in the storage space of the IC tag is in an initialized state, and writes to the IC tag if the IC tag is in the specific state.

Claims

1. A media processing device comprising:

a data read/write unit configured to read information stored in an IC tag and to write information to the IC tag based on a broadcast signal from the data read/write unit, the IC tag being disposed on a media; and

a controller configured to control the data read/write unit to detects the IC tag based on the IC tag responding to the broadcast signal;

wherein, when the controller determines that a plurality of IC tags that includes the detected IC tag are detected, the controller prevents the data read/write unit from writing information to the plural IC tags.

2. The media processing device described in claim 1,

wherein, when the controller determines that the number of detected IC tags is 1, the controller acquires memory data from the IC tag and determines whether writing information to the IC tag is permitted based on the acquired memory data.

3. The media processing device described in claim 1,

wherein, in detecting the IC tag that can communicate, the controller controls the read/write unit to send a detection signal and determines the number of detected IC tags based on receipt of a response signal to the detection signal.

4. The media processing device described in claim 1, further comprising:

a conveyance roller configured to convey the media in a conveyance path, the media having a plurality of IC tags disposed thereon,

wherein the read/write unit outputs a carrier wave, the carrier wave having directivity toward a specific area of the conveyance path.

5. A printer comprising:

a data read/write unit configured to read information stored in an IC tag and to write information to the IC tag based on a broadcast signal from the data read/write unit, the IC tag being disposed on a media;

a controller configured to controls the data read/write unit to detects the IC tag based on the IC tag responding to the broadcast signal; and

a print head configured to print the media, the media including the IC tag to which information has been written,

wherein, when the controller determines that a plurality of IC tags that includes the detected IC tag are detected, the controller prevents the data read/write unit from writing information to the plural IC tags.

6. The printer described in claim 5,

wherein, when the controller determines that the number of detected IC tags is 1, the controller acquires memory data from the IC tag and determines whether writing information to the IC tag is permitted based on the acquired memory data.

7. The printer described in claim 5,

wherein, in detecting the IC tag that can communicate, the controller controls the read/write unit to send a detection signal and determines the number of detected IC tags based on receipt of a response signal to the detection signal.

8. The printer described in claim 5, further comprising:

a conveyance roller configured to convey the media in a conveyance path, the media having a plurality of IC tags disposed thereon,

wherein the read/write unit outputs carrier wave, the carrier wave having directivity toward a specific area of the conveyance path.

9. The printer described in claim 8, wherein:

the specific area is upstream from a printing position in the conveyance path, the printing position being on which the media is printed by the print head.

10. A control method of a media processing device including a data read/write unit configured to read information stored in an IC tag and to write information to the IC tag based on a broadcast signal from the data read/write unit, the IC tag being disposed on a media, the method comprising:

detecting the IC tag based on the IC tag responding to the broadcast signal; and

,

when a plurality of IC tags that includes the detected IC tag are detected, preventing the data read/write unit from writing information to the plural IC tags.

11. The control method described in claim 10, further comprising:

acquiring memory data from the IC tag when the number of detected IC tags is 1, and

determining whether writing information to the IC tag is capable or not based on the acquired memory data.

12. The control method described in claim 10,

wherein detecting the IC tag that can communicate includes

sending a detection signal by the read/write unit, and

determining the number of detected IC tags based on receipt of a response signal to the detection signal.

13. The control method described in claim 10, further comprising

conveying the media in a conveyance path, the media being on which a plurality of IC tags disposed;

and

controlling the read/write unit to output carrier wave, the carrier wave having directivity toward a specific area of the conveyance path.