Printing system

Abstract

A printing system capable of writing RFID data consistent with print information printed on a print-information recoding medium into a RFID chip carried on the print-information recording medium. The printing system includes a printer engine for printing print information, including at least either one of contactlessly readable information and image information visible to human being, onto at least the print-information recording medium, and an RFID reader/writer for writing RFID data consistent with the print information into the RFID chip carried on the print-information recording medium.

1 . A printing system, comprising: 
 a printer engine for printing print information on at least a print-information recording medium, said print information including at least either one of contactlessly readable information and image information visible to human being; and    an RFID reader/writer for writing RFID data consistent with the print information into an RFID chip carried on the print-information recording medium.    
   
   
       2 . The printing system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 optical readout means for contactlessly reading the code information,    wherein said printer engine prints at least the code information on at least the print-information recording medium, and    said RFID reader/writer writes the RFID data into the RFID chip based on the code information read by said optical readout means.    
   
   
       3 . The printing system according to  claim 1 , wherein said RFID reader/writer reads the RFID data written into the RFID chip, and 
 said printer engine prints the print information on at least the print-information recording medium based on the RFID data read by said RFID reader/writer.    
   
   
       4 . The printing system according to  claim 1 , wherein said printer engine prints the code information and the image information consistent with the code information on at least the print-information recording medium.  
   
   
       5 . The printing system according to  claim 1 , wherein said printer engine prints a bar code on at least the print-information recording medium, said bar code providing information that constitutes at least part of the code information.  
   
   
       6 . The printing system according to  claim 1 , wherein said RFID reader/writer is plurality in number, and 
 the plurality of RFID readers/writers write the RFID data into the RFID chip.    
   
   
       7 . The printing system according to  claim 1 , wherein said RFID reader/writer is plurality in number, 
 said RFID chip is plurality in number,    each of the RFID readers/writers writes the RFID data into a corresponding one of the plurality of RFID chips, and    said plurality of RFID readers/writers perform writings nearly simultaneously.    
   
   
       8 . The printing system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a printer controller for supplying print data,    wherein said printer engine prints the print information on at least the print-information recording medium based on the print data received from said printer controller, and    said RFID reader/writer writes the RFID data consistent with the print data into the RFID chip.    
   
   
       9 . The printing system according to  claim 8 , wherein the printing of the print information on at least the print-information recording medium based on the print data and the writing of the RFID data consistent with the print data into said RFID chip are controlled based on a common time basis.  
   
   
       10 . The printing system according to  claim 9 , wherein said printer engine performs page-based printing, and the common time basis is based on a cycle of the page-based printing of said printer engine.  
   
   
       11 . The printing system according to  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a form layout application program capable of editing both the print data and the RFID data.    
   
   
       12 . The printing system according to  claim 11 , wherein at least part of the RFID data is transmitted in the form of PDL data from the form layout application program to said printer controller.  
   
   
       13 . The printing system according to  claim 11 , wherein said printer controller or the form layout application program is capable of recording or displaying information that indicates whether or not said RFID reader/writer can write the RFID data into the RFID chip, and 
 the form layout application program is capable of specifying error processing in said printer controller.    
   
   
       14 . The printing system according to  claim 11 , wherein said printer controller or said form layout application program is capable of displaying an edit screen for the print data, and 
 the RFID data can be displayed on the edit screen.    
   
   
       15 . The printing system according to  claim 11 , wherein the form layout application program can specify position information on a location of the RFID data in one page of the print-information recording medium.  
   
   
       16 . The printing system according to  claim 11 , wherein said printer system is capable of referring to a database, and 
 an address of the database serving as at least either one of the print data and the RFID data can be edited in the form layout application program.    
   
   
       17 . The printing system according to  claim 8 , wherein said RFID reader/writer is plurality in number, these RFID readers/writers being provided so as to be juxtaposed in a width direction of the print-information recording medium, 
 said RFID chip is plurality in number, these RFID chips being carried on the print-information recording medium so as to be juxtaposed in a width direction of the print-information recording medium,    each of the RFID readers/writers writes the RFID data into a corresponding one of the RFID chips, and    the RFID readers/writers perform writings nearly simultaneously.    
   
   
       18 . The printing system according to  claim 8 , wherein said RFID chip is plurality in number, these RFID chips being carried on one page of the print-information recording medium as viewed in a direction of transfer of the recording medium, and 
 said RFID reader/writer sequentially writes the RFID data into each of the RFID chips.    
   
   
       19 . The printing system according to  claim 8 , wherein a printing speed of said printer engine can be changed in accordance with an amount of information of the RFID data.  
   
   
       20 . The printing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the print-information recording medium has a print face adapted to be printed with the print information, and the print face has a level difference, and 
 the print information is printed on a substantially flat portion of the print face, avoiding the level difference.    
   
   
       21 . The printing system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 fixing means disposed out of contact with the print-information recoding medium carrying the RFID chip;    transfer means for substantially linearly transferring the print-information recording medium carrying the RFID chip; and    cooling means for cooling at least either one of the print-information recording medium carrying the RFID chip and said transfer means.    
   
   
       22 . The printing system according to  claim 21 , wherein said printer engine is electrographic type.  
   
   
       23 . The printing system according to  claim 21 , wherein said fixing means is flash fixing type.