PRINTER WITH A DEVICE FOR THE DRIVING OF TRANSPONDER CHIPS

• US 20010029857A1
• Filed: 10/07/1999
• Published: 10/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sato
• Original Assignee: Metro International GmbH
• Inventors: SCHNEIDER, PETER, HEREDIA, MIGUEL, ROBSON, DAVID
• Granted Patent: US 6,327,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 101/288
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0025 the arrangement consisting of a wireless interrogation device in combination with a device for optically marking the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/08 using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means

Abstract

The invention is directed to a printer having a device for printing a data carrier. It is proposed providing the data carrier with at least one transponder chip (26) and equipping the printer with a device for driving the transponder chip (26). This makes it possible to print the data carrier simultaneously or sequentially and to write data into, or read data out of, the transponder chip.

Claims

1. A printer with a device for printing a data carrier containing at least one transponder chip (26), characterized by a device for driving the transponder chip (26).

2. The printer according to

claim 1

, characterized in that the data carrier is a label strip and that transponder chips (26) are integrated in the labels.

3. The printer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device for printing the data carrier includes a thermal print head (4) or an ink-jet print head.

4. The printer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printer has a control circuit for driving the device for printing the data carrier, and that the control circuit is also configured to control the device for driving the transponder chip (26).

5. The printer according to

claim 4

, characterized in that the control circuit comprises a microprocessor (1).

6. The printer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device for driving the transponder chip (26) is configured to write data into the transponder chip and/or to read data out of the transponder chip.

7. The printer according to

claim 6

, characterized in that the data to be output onto the transponder chip is transmitted to the printer from a data source as an additional field of data defining a printed data carrier.

8. The printer according to

claim 6

, characterized in that the transponder data is transmitted separately from a data source to the printer.

9. The printer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device for driving the transponder chip (26) is configured to test the function of the transponder chip, in particular by writing in and reading out data and comparing the read data with the written data.

10. The printer according to

claim 9

, characterized in that the device for printing the data carrier is driven in such manner that a data carrier assigned to a transponder chip (26) that has not passed a function test is identified as useless.

11. The printer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device for driving the transponder chip (26) is arranged downstream from the device for printing the data carrier in relation to a feed direction of the data carrier.

12. The printer according to any one of the

claims 1

to

11

, characterized in that the device for driving the transponder chip (26) is arranged so as to interact with transponder chip of a data carrier being printed by the device for printing the data carrier.

13. The printer according to any one of the

claims 4

to

12

, characterized in that the control circuit is connected to an interface (10), and that the device for driving the transponder chip (26) is connected to said interface (10).

14. The printer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device for driving the transponder chip (26) is comprised of an antenna (20) and a control unit (19) to control the antenna (20).

15. The printer according to

claim 14

, characterized in that the control unit (15) is connected to the interface (10), being in particular connected to the interface (10) by way of a card (18).

16. The printer according to

claim 15

, characterized in that the card (18) provides a serial or parallel interface to which the control unit (19) is connected.

17. The printer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printer is configured to read data read by the transponder chip, in particular to read a serial number, and to transmit the data to a computer.

18. The printer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protocol used by the printer for driving the transponder chip (26) is selectable from different protocols.

19. The printer according to any one of the

claims 12

to

18

, characterized in that the control circuit of the printer establishes the printing speed in dependence upon the time required for programming the transponder chip (26), and upon the length of feed of the data carrier over which driving of a printed transponder chip (26) by the antenna (20) is possible.

20. The printer according to

claim 19

, characterized in that the printing speed is selected as high as possible, but only high enough to enable the trailing edge of the label to remain beneath the print head (4) after the data is written and read.

21. The printer according to any one of the

claims 14

to

20

, characterized in that the antenna (20) extends across the maximum possible width of a data carrier.

22. The printer according to any one of the

claims 14

to

21

, characterized in that the antenna (20) is equipped with a metal shield on its side facing away from the data carrier.