Program stored in medium readable by computer for measuring optimum feed amount to RFID antenna, feed amount measuring method, and printer having RFID read/write function

• US 7,679,515 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Sugiyama, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunnings; Travis R
• Application Number:
  US11/314,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20060139662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572, 340/10, 340/505, 324/500, 438/156
• US Class Current: 340/572.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• 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 19/07716 the record carrier comprising means for customization, e.g. being arranged for personalization in batch
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions

Abstract

A program executed by a computer for measuring an optimum feed amount to an RFID antenna from a print standby position of a printer which reads and writes data from/on an RFID tag by feeding a label or tag containing an RFID tag, and then prints on the label surface by feeding the label or tag in the reverse direction, having step of performing a read/write test to the RFID tag whenever the label or tag is fed by a fixed amount from a print standby position, and a step of outputting the result of the read/write test visibly performed in the steps.

Claims

1. A program stored in a medium readable by a computer for measuring an optimum feed amount to an RFID antenna from a print standby position of a printer which reads and writes data from/on an RFID tag by feeding a label or tag containing an RFID tag, and then prints on the label surface by feeding the label or tag in the reverse direction, comprising:

feeding the label or the tag from the print standby position in a forward direction in increments of a fixed amount;

performing a read test and a write test each time the label or the tag is fed by the fixed amount;

returning the label or the tag to the print standby position when the feeding in the forward direction is completed;

feeding the label or the tag from the print standby position in a reverse direction in increments of the fixed amount;

performing the read test and the write test each time the label or the tag is fed by the fixed amount; and

displaying results of the tests when the feeding in the reverse direction is completed.

2. The program stored in a medium readable by a computer according to claim 1, wherein testing the RFID tag for reading is judgment whether specified data stored in the tag can be successfully read or not and testing the RFID tag for writing is a judgment which judges that data is successfully written when receiving a signal, which means that data is written to the RFID tag, from the RFID tag.

3. A program stored in a medium readable by a computer for measuring an optimum feed amount to an RFID antenna from a print standby position of a printer which reads and writes data from/on an RFID tag by feeding a label or tag containing an RFID tag, and then prints on the label surface by feeding the label or tag in the reverse direction, comprising:

feeding the label or the tag from the print standby position in a forward direction in increments of a fixed amount;

performing a read test each time the label or the tag is fed by the fixed amount;

returning the label or the tag to the print standby position when the feeding in the forward direction is completed;

feeding the label or the tag from the print standby position in a reverse direction in increments of the fixed amount;

performing the read test each time the label or the tag is fed by the fixed amount; and

displaying results of the tests when the feeding in the reverse direction is completed.

4. The program stored in a medium readable by a computer according to claim 3, wherein testing the RFID tag for reading is judgment whether specified data stored in the tag can be successfully read or not.

5. A program stored in a medium readable by a computer for measuring an optimum feed amount to an RFID antenna from a print standby position of a printer which reads and writes data from/on an RFID tag by feeding a label or tag containing an RFID tag, and then prints on the label surface by feeding the label or tag in the reverse direction, comprising:

feeding the label or the tag from the print standby position in a forward direction in increments of a fixed amount;

performing a write test each time the label or the tag is fed by the fixed amount;

returning the label or the tag to the print standby position when the feeding in the forward direction is completed;

feeding the label or the tag from the print standby position in a reverse direction in increments of the fixed amount;

performing the write test each time the label or the tag is fed by the fixed amount; and

displaying results of the tests when the feeding in the reverse direction is completed.

6. The program stored in a medium readable by a computer according to claim 5, wherein testing the RFID tag for writing is a judgment which judges that data is successfully written when receiving a signal, which means that data is written to the RFID tag, from the RFID tag.

7. A method of measuring an optimum feed amount to an RFID antenna from a print standby position of a printer which reads and writes data from/on an RFID tag by feeding a label or tag containing an RFID tag, and then prints on the label surface by feeding the label or tag in the reverse direction, comprising:

feeding the label or the tag from the print standby position in a forward direction in increments of a fixed amount;

performing a read test and a write test each time the label or the tag is fed by the fixed amount;

returning the label or the tag to the print standby position when the feeding in the forward direction is completed;

feeding the label or the tag from the print standby position in a reverse direction in increments of the fixed amount;

performing the read test and the write test each time the label or the tag is fed by the fixed amount; and

displaying results of the tests when the feeding in the reverse direction is completed.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein testing the RFID tag for reading is judgment whether specified data stored in the tag can be successfully read or not and testing the RFID tag for writing is a judgment which judges that data is successfully written when receiving a signal, which means that data is written to the RFID tag, from the RFID tag.

9. A method of measuring an optimum feed amount to an RFID antenna from a print standby position of a printer which reads and writes data from/on an RFID tag by feeding a label or tag containing an RFID tag, and then prints on the label surface by feeding the label or tag in the reverse direction, comprising:

feeding the label or the tag from the print standby position in a forward direction in increments of a fixed amount;

performing a read test each time the label or the tag is fed by the fixed amount;

returning the label or the tag to the print standby position when the feeding in the forward direction is completed;

feeding the label or the tag from the print standby position in a reverse direction in increments of the fixed amount;

performing the read test each time the label or the tag is fed by the fixed amount; and

displaying results of the tests when the feeding in the reverse direction is completed.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein testing the RFID tag for reading is judgment whether specified data stored in the tag can be successfully read or not.

11. A method of measuring an optimum feed amount to an RFID antenna from a print standby position of a printer which reads and writes data from/on an RFID tag by feeding a label or tag containing an RFID tag, and then prints on the label surface by feeding the label or tag in the reverse direction, comprising:

feeding the label or the tag from the print standby position in a forward direction in increments of a fixed amount;

performing a write test each time the label or the tag is fed by the fixed amount;

returning the label or the tag to the print standby position when the feeding in the forward direction is completed;

feeding the label or the tag from the print standby position in a reverse direction in increments of the fixed amount;

performing the write test each time the label or the tag is fed by the fixed amount; and

displaying results of the tests when the feeding in the reverse direction is completed.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein testing the RFID tag for writing is a judgment which judges that data is successfully written when receiving a signal, which means that data is written to the RFID tag, from the RFID tag.

13. A printer having an RFID read/write function to read/write an RFID tag of a label or tag containing an RFID tag, and print on the surface of the label or tag, comprising:

a feeding means configured to feed the label or the tag from a print standby position in a forward direction in increments of a fixed amount, and when the feeding in the forward direction is completed, return the label or the tag to the print standby position and feed the label or the tag from the print standby position in a reverse direction in increments of the fixed amount;

a test unit configured to perform a read test and a write test each time the label or the tag is fed by the fixed amount; and

a display device configured to display results of the tests when the feeding in the reverse direction is completed.

14. The printer according to claim 13, wherein the test unit tests the RFID tag for reading is judgment whether specified data stored in the tag can be successfully read or not and tests the RFID tag for writing is a judgment which judges that data is successfully written when receiving a signal, which means that data is written to the RFID tag, from the RFID tag.

15. A printer having an RFID read/write function to read/write an RFID tag of a label or tag containing an RFID tag, and print on the surface of the label or tag, comprising:

a feeding means configured to feed the label or the tag from a print standby position in a forward direction in increments of a fixed amount, and when the feeding in the forward direction is completed, return the label or the tag to the print standby position and feed the label or the tag from the print standby position in a reverse direction in increments of the fixed amount;

a test unit configured to perform a read test each time the label or the tag is fed by the fixed amount; and

a display device configured to display results of the tests when the feeding in the reverse direction is completed.

16. The printer according to claim 15, wherein the test unit tests the RFID tag for reading is judgment whether specified data stored in the tag can be successfully read or not.

17. A printer having an RFID read/write function to read/write an RFID tag of a label or tag containing an RFID tag, and print on the surface of the label or tag, comprising:

a feeding means configured to feed the label or the tag from a print standby position in a forward direction in increments of a fixed amount, and when the feeding in the forward direction is completed, return the label or the tag to the print standby position and feed the label or the tag from the print standby position in a reverse direction in increments of the fixed amount;

a test unit configured to perform a write test each time the label or the tag is fed by the fixed amount; and

a display device configured to display results of the tests when the feeding in the reverse direction is completed.

18. The printer according to claim 17, wherein the test unit tests the RFID tag for writing is a judgment which judges that data is successfully written when receiving a signal, which means that data is written to the RFID tag, from the RFID tag.