Printing apparatus and printing control method

• US 20070014615A1
• Filed: 06/22/2006
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Canon Finetech Incorporated (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Finetech Incorporated (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Onodera, Kazuo, Inaba, Moriyoshi, Kasayama, Hiroshi
• Application Number:
  US11/472,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20070014615A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/76
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4075 Tape printers; Label printers
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/44 Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/50 Mechanisms producing characters by printing and also producing a record by other means , e.g. printer combined with RFID writer
• 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

Abstract

An object of this invention is to improve an error process when a write error occurs in an RFID tag. According to this invention, a printing control method for a printing apparatus includes a write step of writing predetermined information by communicating with an RFID tag added to each label on a label paper sheet, a printing step of printing a predetermined image to be printed on the surface of the label, and a reception step of receiving one of a first setting for, when an RFID tag write error occurs, stopping writing information in the write step and stopping printing the image to be printed in the printing step, and a second setting for writing the information and printing the image to be printed on a printing medium conveyed after the printing medium to which the RFID tag is added, wherein when the RFID tag write error occurs, the write step and the printing step are executed based on a setting received in the reception step.

Claims

1. A printing apparatus comprising:

a write unit configured to write predetermined information by communicating with an RFID tag added to each of printing media to be continuously conveyed;

a printing unit configured to print a predetermined image to be printed on a surface of the printing medium; and

a reception unit configured to receive one of a first setting for, when an error occurs during communication with the RFID tag, inhibiting said write unit from writing information on the printing medium to which the RFID tag is added, and inhibiting said printing unit from printing the image to be printed, and a second setting for, when an error occurs during communication with the RFID tag, writing the information and printing the image to be printed on a printing medium conveyed after the printing medium to which the RFID tag is added,

wherein when an error occurs during communication with the RFID tag, said write unit and said printing unit operate based on a setting received by said reception unit.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a measurement unit configured to measure a frequency of occurrence of continuous errors when errors occur during communication with the RFID tag,

wherein when the frequency measured by said measurement unit exceeds a predetermined value even if a setting unit performs the second setting, said write unit and said printing unit stop writing the information and printing the image to be printed.

3. A printing apparatus comprising:

a convey unit configured to convey a band-shaped medium on which printing media to which RFID tags are added are continuously arranged;

a write unit configured to write predetermined information by communicating with the RFID tag;

a printing unit configured to print a predetermined image to be printed on a surface of the printing medium; and

a cutting unit configured to cut the band-shaped medium at a predetermined position in order to identify the printing medium to which the RFID tag is added, when an error occurs during communication with the RFID tag.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said cutting unit cuts the band-shaped medium at a position on a downstream side in a conveyance direction of the printing medium to which the RFID tag is added.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said cutting unit cuts the band-shaped medium at a position on an upstream side in a conveyance direction of the printing medium to which the RFID tag is added.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said cutting unit cuts the band-shaped medium at a position on a downstream side in a conveyance direction, and a position on an upstream side in the conveyance direction of the printing medium to which the RFID tag is added.

7. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said cutting unit cuts the band-shaped medium together with the printing medium at a position of the printing medium to which the RFID tag is added.

8. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said cutting unit completely cuts the band-shaped medium in a widthwise direction.

9. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said cutting unit partially cuts the band-shaped medium in a widthwise direction.

10. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a reception unit configured to receive a setting of a cut method performed by said cutting unit.

11. A printing control method for a printing apparatus comprising:

a write step of writing predetermined information by communicating with an RFID tag added to each of printing media to be continuously conveyed;

a printing step of printing a predetermined image to be printed on a surface of the printing medium; and

a reception step of receiving one of a first setting for, when an error occurs during communication with the RFID tag, stopping, in the write step, writing information on the printing medium to which the RFID tag is added, and stopping, in the printing step, printing the image to be printed, and a second setting for, when an error occurs during communication with the RFID tag, writing the information and printing the image to be printed on a printing medium conveyed after the printing medium to which the RFID tag is added,

wherein when an error occurs during communication with the RFID tag, the write step and the printing step are executed based on a setting received in the reception step.

13. A storage medium storing a control program for causing a computer to execute the printing control method of claim 11.

14. A control program for causing a computer to execute the printing control method of claim 11.

16. A control program for causing a computer to execute the printing control method of claim 13.

12. A printing control method for a printing apparatus comprising:

a convey step of conveying a band-shaped medium on which printing media to which RFID tags are added are continuously arranged;

a write step of writing predetermined information by communicating with the RFID tag;

a printing step of printing a predetermined image to be printed on a surface of the printing medium; and

a cutting step of cutting the band-shaped medium at a predetermined position in order to identify the printing medium to which the RFID tag is added, when an error occurs during communication with the RFID tag.

15. A storage medium storing a control program for causing a computer to execute the printing control method of claim 12.