Abstract:
An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag that can improve versatility of the apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag, and further simplify equipment configuration and reduce costs of users by enabling information transmission/reception with a RFID circuit element in and outside the apparatus is provided. The apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag is provided with a housing constituting an outer profile of an apparatus main body and communicable regions both inside and outside the housing and has a loop antenna LC that can transmit/receive information with a RFID circuit element for a label production and a RFID circuit element for an information reading provided with an IC circuit part storing information and a loop antenna that transmits/receives information and a driving roller provided in the housing and configured to feed a tag label tape with print.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This is a CIP application PCT/JP2007/53829, filed Feb. 28, 2007, which was not published under PCT article 21(2) in English and claims the benefits of Japanese Patent application No. 2006-094823 filed Mar. 30, 2006. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag configured to transmit/receive information via radio communication with a RFID circuit element provided with an IC circuit part storing information and a tag antenna. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system configured to read/write information contactlessly between a small-sized RFID tag and a reader (reading apparatus)/writer (writing apparatus) is known. For example, a RFID circuit element provided at a label-like RFID tag includes an IC circuit part storing predetermined RFID tag information and an antenna connected to the IC circuit part for information transmission/reception, and even if the RFID tag is stained or arranged at a hidden position, an access (information reading/writing) to the RFID tag information of the IC circuit part is possible from the reader/writer side, and practical use in various fields including merchandize control, inspection process and the like is expected. 
         [0006]    As an apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag (recording apparatus) configured to write information in such RFID circuit element, the one described in JP, A, 2004-82432 is known. In this prior art, when a band-like tag tape (mount) on which a rectangular label pieces (labels) are bonded with a predetermined interval is fed out of a roll of a tape with RFID tags (roll paper) and fed on a feeding path, predetermined RFID tag information generated on the side of the apparatus is transmitted to the antenna of the RFID circuit element built in each label piece and sequentially written in the IC circuit part (IC chip) connected to the antenna, and print information corresponding to the written RFID tag information is printed by a printing device (recording head) on the surface of a RFID label so as to complete a RFID label. 
         [0007]    In general, a RFID label produced by performing writing of RFID tag information by an apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag (writing apparatus) of the prior art and related print is provided on a target to be managed (products and the like) by affixation and the like. Then, by reading the RFID tag information out of the RFID label provided at the product and the like by a reader (reading apparatus), information relating to the product is obtained and management and the like of the product is conducted. In order to actually conduct product management and the like by producing the RFID label and using the same as above, a system provided with both functions as reader and writer is needed. However, a writer of prior art does not have a function as reader or even if it has such function, the reader function is constituted only for communication with a tag for writing and the reader function can not be applied to management of the product and the like. Thus, a reader should be prepared separately. 
         [0008]    On the other hand, in the apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag of the prior art, if a usual print label not provided with a RFID circuit element is to be produced, for example, an apparatus antenna configured to perform radio communication with a RFID circuit element and a command-information generating portion configured to generate command information are not required. In such a case, if the apparatus antenna and the command-information generating portion can be used for another purpose, convenience can be improved. There is also an advantage that even while the RFID label is not produced, the apparatus antenna and the command-information generating portion are not left idle but can be used effectively, for example. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention has an object to provide an apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag that can improve convenience, and further simplify equipment configuration and reduce costs of users by enabling information transmission/reception with a RFID circuit element in and outside the apparatus. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a system block diagram illustrating a RFID tag manufacturing system provided with an apparatus for producing RFID labels of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the entire structure of the apparatus for producing RFID labels. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating an appearance and structure of an internal unit inside the apparatus for producing RFID labels. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are a plan view illustrating a structure of the internal unit inside the apparatus for producing RFID labels and a conceptual diagram illustrating a route of a magnetic path generated by a loop antenna. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged plan view schematically illustrating a detailed structure of a cartridge. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of configuration of a cartridge sensor. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a conceptual diagram illustrating conceptual configuration of a RFID circuit element provided at a base tape fed out of a first roll viewed from an arrow D direction in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a functional block diagram illustrating a control system of the apparatus for producing RFID labels, which is an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a functional block diagram illustrating functional configuration of the RFID circuit element. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  are a top view and a bottom view illustrating an example of an appearance of a RFID label formed by completing information writing (or reading) of the RFID circuit element and cutting of a tag label tape with print by the apparatus for producing RFID labels. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 11A to 11C  are a diagram obtained by rotating a cross sectional view by XIA-XIA′ section in  FIG. 10A  counterclockwise by 90°, a diagram obtained by rotating a cross sectional view by XIB-XIB′ section in  FIG. 10A  counterclockwise by 90°, and a bottom view of the RFID label when a hole substantially penetrating the base tape is drilled as an identification mark by laser machining and the like. 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a view illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a PC (terminal or a general-purpose computer) at an access by the apparatus for producing RFID labels to RFID tag information of an IC circuit part of the RFID circuit element. 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure executed by a control circuit. 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of Step S 300 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 15  is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of Step S 100 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 16  is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of Step S 200 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 17  is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of Step S 400 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 18  is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of Step S 600 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 19  is a plan view illustrating a structure of an internal unit in a variation using two antennas. 
           [0029]      FIG. 20  is a functional block diagram illustrating a control system of the apparatus for producing RFID labels in the variation using two antennas. 
           [0030]      FIG. 21  is a functional block diagram illustrating the control system of the apparatus for producing RFID labels in the variation using two antennas. 
           [0031]      FIG. 22  is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure executed by the control circuit in the variation using two antennas. 
           [0032]      FIG. 23  is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of Step S 300 ′. 
           [0033]      FIG. 24  is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of Step S 200 ′. 
           [0034]      FIG. 25  is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure executed by the control circuit in a variation when an operation mode is switched according to an attached state of a cartridge in a cartridge holder. 
           [0035]      FIGS. 26A and 26B  are perspective views schematically illustrating an entire structure of the apparatus for producing RFID labels in a variation having two scan modes. 
           [0036]      FIG. 27  is a sectional view of first and second loop antenna installation portions of a side wall in the variation having two scan modes. 
           [0037]      FIG. 28  is a functional block diagram illustrating a control system of the apparatus for producing RFID labels in the variation having two scan modes. 
           [0038]      FIG. 29  is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure executed by a control circuit in the variation having two scan modes. 
           [0039]      FIG. 30  is a plan view illustrating a structure of the internal unit in a variation in which directivity is switched by an array antenna. 
           [0040]      FIG. 31  is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure executed by the control circuit in a variation in which label printing is made according to scan contents. 
           [0041]      FIG. 32  is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of Step S 300 A. 
           [0042]      FIG. 33  is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of Step S 100 A. 
           [0043]      FIG. 34  is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of Step S 600 A. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0044]    An apparatus for producing RFID labels according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below referring to the attached drawings. The present embodiment is an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a RFID tag manufacturing system. 
         [0045]      FIG. 1  is a system block diagram illustrating a RFID tag manufacturing system provided with the apparatus for producing RFID labels of the present embodiment. 
         [0046]    In the RFID tag manufacturing system TS shown in  FIG. 1 , an apparatus  1  for producing RFID labels (apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag) is connected to a terminal  118   a , and a general-purpose computer  118   b  connected to a route server RS and a plurality of information servers IS through a wired or radio communication line NW. The terminal  118   a  and the general-purpose computer  118   b  are collectively referred to simply as “PC  118 ” below as appropriate. 
         [0047]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the entire structure of the apparatus  1  for producing RFID labels. 
         [0048]    In  FIG. 2 , the apparatus  1  for producing RFID labels is connected to the PC  118  and produces a RFID label with desired print based on an operation from the PC  118  and has an apparatus main body  2  having a substantially hexagonal (substantially cubic) housing  200  on the outline and an opening/closing lid  3  provided on an upper face of the apparatus main body  2 , capable of being opened/closed. 
         [0049]    The housing  200  of the apparatus main body  2  comprises a front wall  10  located at the device front side (left front side in  FIG. 2 ) and provided with a label carry-out exit  11  (carry-out exit) configured to discharge a RFID label T (which will be described later) produced inside the apparatus main body  2  to the outside and a front lid  12  provided below the label carry-out exit  11  in the front wall  10  and having its lower end rotatably supported. 
         [0050]    Below an opening/closing button  4  in the front wall  10 , a power button  14  configured to power on/off the apparatus  1  for producing RFID labels is provided. Below the power button  14 , a cutter driving button  16  configured to drive a cutting mechanism  15  (See  FIG. 3 , which will be described later) disposed in the apparatus main body  2  through manual operation by a user is provided, and by pushing this button  16 , a tag label tape  109  with print (which will be described later) is cut to a desired length so as to produce the RFID label T. 
         [0051]    The housing  200  is provided with a side wall  200 A on the side face of the apparatus (front right side in  FIG. 2 ), and at upper and lower parts on the front side of the side wall  200 A, display portions  61 A,  61 B which display positions over which a RFID circuit element To-R (RFID label and the like) for an information reading is placed when the apparatus  1  for producing RFID labels is used in a scan mode (the detail will be described later) are provided (for details, see  FIG. 4B , which will be described later). 
         [0052]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a structure of an internal unit  20  inside the apparatus  1  for producing RFID labels (however, a loop antenna LC, which will be described later, is omitted). In  FIG. 3 , the internal unit  20  comprises a cartridge holder  6  (container holder) configured to accommodate a cartridge  7  (container for including at least a RFID tag), a printing mechanism  21  provided with a print head (thermal head)  23 , the cutting mechanism  15  (cutter), a half-cut unit  35 , and a label discharging mechanism  22  (See  FIG. 4 , which will be described later) configured to discharge the produced RFID label T (See  FIG. 10 , which will be described later) from the label carry-out exit  11  (See  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0053]      FIG. 4A  is a plan view illustrating a structure of the internal unit  20  shown in  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4B  is a conceptual diagram of route of a magnetic path M generated by the loop antenna LC viewed from an arrow E direction in  FIG. 4A .  FIG. 5  is an enlarged plan view schematically illustrating a detailed structure of the cartridge  7 . 
         [0054]    In  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B, and  5 , the cartridge  7  is accommodated in the cartridge holder  6  so that a widthwise direction of the tag label tape  109  with print (label medium) discharged from the label carry-out exit  11  is a vertical direction. The cartridge  7  has a housing  7 A provided with a tape specific display portion  8 , a first roll  102  which is arranged in the housing  7 A and around which a band-like base tape  101  (feeding medium, tag medium) is wound (actually wound in the spiral state but simplified and shown with a concentric circle. The same applies to the following), a second roll  104  around which a transparent cover film  103  with the substantially same width as that of the base tape  101  is wound, a ribbon-supply-side roll  111  that feeds out an ink ribbon  105  (heat transfer ribbon, however, it is not needed if the print-receiving tape is a thermal tape), a ribbon take-up roller  106  that takes up the ribbon  105  after print, a feeding roller  27  rotatably supported in the vicinity of a tape discharge portion  30  of the cartridge  7 , and a guide roller  112  that functions as feeding position regulating means. 
         [0055]    The feeding roller  27  presses and bonds the base tape  101  and the cover film  103  so as to have the tag label tape  109  with print while feeding the tape in a direction shown by an arrow A (=also functioning as a pressure roller). 
         [0056]    The first roll  102  has the base tape  101  on which a plurality of RFID circuit elements To-W for a label production is sequentially formed with a predetermined equal interval in the longitudinal direction wound around a reel member  102   a . The base tape  101  has a four-layered structure (See the partially enlarged view in  FIG. 5 ) in this example and is constructed in lamination in the order of an adhesive layer  101   a  made of an appropriate adhesive, a colored base film  101   b  made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and the like, an adhesive layer  101   c  made of an appropriate adhesive, and a separation sheet (separation material)  101   d  from the side wound inside (right side in  FIG. 5 ) toward the opposite side (left side in  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0057]    On the back side of the base film  101   b  (left side in  FIG. 5 ), a loop antenna  152  (tag antenna) constructed in the loop-coil shape for transmission/reception of information is provided integrally in this embodiment, an IC circuit part  151  storing information is formed so as to be connected thereto, and the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production is constituted by them. 
         [0058]    On the front side of the base film  101   b  (right side in  FIG. 5 ), the adhesive layer  101   a  for affixing the cover film  103  later is formed, while on the back side of the base film  101   b  (left side in  FIG. 5 ), the separation sheet  101   d  is affixed to the base film  101   b  by the adhesive layer  101   c  provided so as to include the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production. 
         [0059]    When the RFID label T finally completed in the label state is to be affixed to a predetermined article or the like, the separation sheet  101   d  enables adhesion to the article or the like by the adhesive layer  101   c  through separation of the separation sheet. Also, on the surface of the separation sheet  101   d , at a predetermined position (in this example, a position on the further front from the tip end of the antenna  152  in the front in the feeding direction) corresponding to each RFID circuit element To-W for a label production, a predetermined identification mark for feeding control (an identification mark painted in black in this example. Alternatively, it may be a drilled hole penetrating the base tape  101  by laser machining or the like. Alternatively, it may be a Thomson type machined hole or the like.) PM is provided. 
         [0060]    The second roll  104  has the cover film  103  wound around a reel member  104   a . In the cover film  103  fed out of the second roll  104 , the ribbon  105  driven by the ribbon-supply-side roll  111  and the ribbon take-up roller  106  arranged on its back face side (that is, the side to be affixed to the base tape  101 ) is brought into contact with the back face of the cover film  103  by being pressed by the print head  23 . 
         [0061]    When the cartridge  7  is attached to the cartridge holder  6  and a roll holder  25  is moved from a release position to a printing position, the cover film  103  and the ink ribbon  105  are held between the print head  23  and a platen roller  26 , and the base tape  101  and the cover film  103  are held between the feeding roller  27  and a tape feeding roller  28 . Then, the ribbon take-up roller  106  and the feeding roller  27  are rotated and driven by a driving force of a feeding motor  119  in a direction shown by an arrow B and an arrow C, respectively, in synchronization with each other. At this time, a feeding roller driving shaft  108 , the tape feeding roller  28  and the platen roller  26  are connected through a gear mechanism (not shown), and with the driving of the feeding roller driving shaft  108 , the feeding roller  27 , the tape feeding roller  28 , and the platen roller  26  are rotated, and the base tape  101  is fed out of the first roll  102  and supplied to the feeding roller  27  as mentioned above. On the other hand, the cover film  103  is fed out of the second roll  104 , and the plurality of heater elements of the print head  23  is electrified by a print-head driving circuit  120  (See  FIG. 8 , which will be described later). As a result, print R (See  FIG. 10 , which will be described later) corresponding to the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production on the base tape  101  to be the bonding target is printed on the back face of the cover film  103 . Then, the base tape  101  and the cover film  103  on which the printing has been finished are bonded together by the feeding roller  27  and the tape feeding roller  28  to be integrated and formed as the tag label tape  109  with print and fed out of the cartridge  7  through the tape discharge portion  30 . The ink ribbon  105  finished with printing on the cover film  103  is taken up by the ribbon take-up roller  106  by driving of a ribbon take-up roller driving shaft  107 . 
         [0062]    Also, at an appropriate position of the housing  7 A in the cartridge  7 , a portion  190  to be detected (object to be detected) provided with a concavo-convex shape is provided. The concavo-convex shape of the portion  190  to be detected is detected by a cartridge sensor  81  (container-presence/absence detecting device, container-information detecting device) provided at a corresponding position of the cartridge holder  6 , and its detection signal is input to a control circuit  110  (See  FIG. 8 , which will be described later). At this time, correlation information between the shape of the portion  190  to be detected and cartridge information of the cartridge  7  at which the portion  190  to be detected is provided (whether the cartridge  7  is for a tag label production or for a usual label production not having a tag, tag ID information of all the RFID circuit elements To-W for a label production present in the cartridge in the case for a tag label production, and the like) is stored in the information server IS, for example, so that the control circuit  110  accesses the information server IS via the communication line NW and obtains the cartridge information of the cartridge  7  based on the input detection signal. The cartridge sensor  81  also serves as an attachment detection sensor that detects an attached state of the cartridge  7  so that the control circuit  110  detects that the cartridge  7  has been attached to the cartridge holder  6  upon input of the detection signal from the cartridge sensor  81 . 
         [0063]    On the other hand, as mentioned above, the internal unit  20  is provided with the cutting mechanism  15  and the label discharge mechanism  22  and further provided with a single loop antenna LC (apparatus antenna device) having communicable regions both inside and outside of the housing  200 . The loop antenna LC is capable of writing or reading of information via radio communication both to the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production provided at the base tape  101  (tag label tape with print after bonding, the same applies to the following) and to the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading located outside the apparatus main body  2  (housing  200 ). Moreover, the internal unit  20  is provided with a plurality of magnetic members  82 ,  83 ,  84  that guide a magnetic path M generated by the loop antenna LC to a predetermined route. 
         [0064]    As shown in  FIG. 4B , the magnetic member  82  is the one substantially in the U-shape constituted by ferrite and the like, for example, and is provided on the side opposite to the loop antenna LC with a feeding path of the tag label tape  109  with print between them. Also, the magnetic members  83 ,  84  are similarly magnetic members constituted by ferrite and the like and are provided at positions corresponding to the display portions  61 A,  61 B inside the housing side wall  200 A, respectively. By these magnetic members  82 ,  83 ,  84 , the magnetic path M generated by the loop antenna LC is formed, as shown in  FIG. 4B , so as to reach the magnetic member  82  from the loop antenna LC through the feeding path of the tag label tape  109  with print, to reach the magnetic member  84  from this magnetic member  82  through the lower side of the tape feeding path, to reach the magnetic member  83  from this magnetic member  84  through outside the apparatus housing  200  and to return to the loop antenna LC after that. As a result, information can be transmitted/received with respect to the RFID circuit element TO-W for a label production provided at the tag label tape  109  with print and the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading located outside the apparatus main body  2  (housing  200 ) through the loop antenna LC. 
         [0065]    In the case of communication with the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading located outside the apparatus main body  2  (housing  200 ), an operator places, as shown in  FIG. 4B , the RFID circuit element To-R (RFID label T and the like) to be read out so that the RFID circuit element To-R becomes substantially in parallel with the display portion  61 A (X state in the figure), the RFID circuit element To-R becomes substantially in parallel with the display portion  61 B (Y state in the figure), or the RFID circuit element To-R is substantially at a right angle with the magnetic path M in the magnetic path M passing through outside of the apparatus housing  200  in the middle, for example, so that information can be transmitted/received between the loop antenna LC and the RFID circuit element To-R, and the RFID tag information of the placed RFID circuit element To-R can be read out. 
         [0066]    The magnetic member is provided so as to guide the magnetic path M of the loop antenna LC in the above configuration, but not limited to that, configuration without providing a magnetic member is possible. Also, instead of the loop antenna, a dipole antenna may be used. Though not particularly provided here, a shield member that shields an electromagnetic wave may be provided between a region for radio communication between the loop antenna LC and the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production provided at the tag label tape  109  with print (that is, the vicinity to a contact position between the pressure roller  52  and the tag label tape  109  with print) and the cartridge holder  6  so that the magnetic path M generated by the loop antenna LC does not affect the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production in the cartridge  7 . Moreover, a shield member may be also provided on the front side in a region for radio communication between the loop antenna LC and the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production so that the magnetic path M generated by the loop antenna LC does not leak to the front side of the apparatus main body  2  (left side in  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0067]    After information reading or writing has been performed in the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production by the loop antenna LC with respect to the tag label tape  109  with print generated by bonding as above, the tag label tape  109  with print is cut by the cutting mechanism  15  automatically or by operating the cutter driving button  16  (See  FIG. 2 ) so as to produce the RFID label T. The RFID label T is further discharged from the label carry-out exit  11  formed at the side wall  10  (See  FIG. 2 ) by the label discharge mechanism  22  after that. 
         [0068]    Also, the label discharge mechanism  22  has a mark sensor  127  (See  FIG. 4A ) that detects an identification mark PM provided at the separation sheet  101   d  of the tag label tape  109  with print. 
         [0069]      FIG. 6  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of configuration of the cartridge sensor  81 . 
         [0070]    In  FIG. 6 , the cartridge sensor  81  is, in this example, a mechanical switch that detects the concave-convex shape by urging and bringing a contact  81 B in contact by a spring member  81 A with identifiers  190 A to C of the portion  190  to be detected provided with the concave-convex shape and is configured so that a detection signal is output from the contact  81 B arranged in correspondence with each of projecting and recess portions to the control circuit  110 . 
         [0071]    As mentioned above, the identifiers  190 A to C represent the cartridge information of the cartridge  7  (information whether the cartridge  7  is for a tag label production or for an usual label production not having a tag, tag ID information of all the RFID circuit elements To-W for a label production present in the cartridge in the case for a tag label production, and the like) by presence or absence of the projections and recesses, and the cartridge sensor  81  detects the concave-convex shape of the identifiers  190 A to C and outputs it to the control circuit  110 . As a result, the control circuit  110  accesses the information server IS through the communication line NW so that the cartridge information associated with the input detection signal can be obtained. 
         [0072]    The cartridge sensor  81  as the above detecting device is not limited to the mechanical switch but may be a sensor of another method such as a sensor using reflection of light, for example. In this case, the sensor is provided with a light emitting diode that emits light by a signal from the control circuit  110  and a photo transistor that receives reflected light of the emitted light at each of the identifiers  190 A to C and outputs a corresponding detection signal to the control circuit  110 , for example. Alternatively, for example, a RFID circuit element To in which RFID circuit element information is written (so-called cartridge tag) is provided at the housing  7 A of the cartridge  7 , and it may be so configured that the RFID tag circuit element information relating to the cartridge  7  is obtained by reading the information of the cartridge tag by an antenna for cartridge tag reading provided at a corresponding position of the cartridge holder  6 . 
         [0073]      FIG. 7  is a conceptual diagram viewed from an arrow D direction in  FIG. 5 , illustrating conceptual configuration of the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production provided at the base tape  101  fed out of the first roll  102 . In  FIG. 7 , the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production comprises the loop antenna  152  configured in a loop coil shape for information transmission/reception and the IC circuit part  151  connected thereto and storing information. On the surface of the separation sheet  101   d , at a predetermined position corresponding to each of the RFID circuit elements To-W, the above-mentioned identification mark PM is provided, respectively. 
         [0074]    Returning to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the loop antenna LC is arranged close to the pressure roller  52  so that the pressure roller  52  is located at the center in its radial direction (inside in the radial direction. In more detail, on the coil center axis) for making an access to the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production (information reading or information writing) provided at the tag label tape  109  with print and to the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading located outside the apparatus main body  2  (housing  200 ) (information reading, here) by magnetic induction (including electromagnetic induction, magnetic coupling, and other non-contact methods performed through an electromagnetic field). Here, the loop antenna LC is arranged so that the pressure roller  52  is located at the center in its radial direction, but not limited to that, the antenna may be arranged so that the pressure roller  52  is located outside in the radial direction. 
         [0075]    On the upstream side in the feeding direction than the driving roller  51 , the mark sensor  127  that can detect an appropriate identification mark PM (See  FIG. 5  and the like) provided in correspondence with a position of each of the RFID circuit elements To-W is provided at the separation sheet  101   d  of the base tape  101 . This mark sensor  127  is a known reflection type photoelectric sensor, for example. As the mark sensor  127 , a transmission type photoelectric sensor may be used, not limited to the reflection type. 
         [0076]    The half-cut unit  35  comprises a receiver  38  arranged in accordance with a fixed blade  40 , a half-cutter  34  arranged on the side of a movable blade  41  opposite the receiver  38 , a first guide portion  36  arranged in accordance with the fixed blade  40  between the fixed blade  40  and the receiver  38 , and a second guide portion  37  arranged in accordance with the movable blade  41  opposite the first guide portion  36 . 
         [0077]      FIG. 8  is a functional block diagram illustrating a control system of an apparatus  1  for producing RFID labels of this embodiment. In  FIG. 8 , the control circuit  110  is arranged on a control board (not shown) of the apparatus  1  for producing RFID labels. 
         [0078]    In the control circuit  110 , a CPU  111  provided with a timer  111 A inside for controlling each device, an input/output interface  113  connected to the CPU  111  through a data bus  112 , a CGROM  114 , a ROM  115 ,  116 , and a RAM  117 . 
         [0079]    In the ROM  116 , a print driving control program that reads out data of print buffer in correspondence with character code data of characters, numerals and the like input from the PC  118  so as to drive the print head  23 , the feeding motor  119 , and a tape discharge motor  65 , a pulse number determining program that determines the pulse number corresponding to a formation energy amount of each print dot, a cutting driving control program that feeds the tag label tape  109  with print to a cutting position by driving the feeding motor  119  when print has been finished so as to cut the tag label tape  109  with print by driving a cutter motor  43 , a tape discharge program that forcedly discharges the tag label tape  109  with print having been cut (=RFID label T) from the label carry-out exit  11  by driving the tape discharge motor  65 , and other various programs required for control of the apparatus  1  for producing RFID labels are stored. The CPU  111  carries out various calculations based on such various programs stored in the ROM  116 . 
         [0080]    To the input/output interface  113 , the PC  118 , the print-head driving circuit  120  for driving the print head  23 , a feeding motor driving circuit  121  for driving the feeding motor  119 , a cutter motor driving circuit  122  for driving the cutter motor  43 , a half-cutter motor driving circuit  128  for driving a half-cutter motor  129 , a tape discharge motor driving circuit  123  for driving the tape discharge motor  65 , the transmission circuit  306  that generates a carrier wave for making an access to (performing reading/writing) the RFID circuit elements To-W, To-R through the loop antenna LC and modulates the carrier wave based on a control signal input from the control circuit  110 , the receiving circuit  307  that demodulates a response signal received from the RFID circuit elements To-W, To-R through the loop antenna LC and outputs it to the control circuit  110 , the mark sensor  127  that detects the identification mark PM, and the cartridge sensor  81  that detects the concave-convex shape of the portion  190  to be detected provided at the cartridge housing  7 A are connected, respectively. 
         [0081]    Also, the transmission circuit  306  and the receiving circuit  307  are connected to the loop antenna LC through an antenna duplexer  240 . With this configuration, transmission and reception of a signal with the RFID circuit elements To-W, To-R using the single loop antenna LC is possible. 
         [0082]    In the control system with such control circuit  110  as its core, when character data and the like is input through the PC  118 , its text (document data) is sequentially stored in a text memory  117 A, the print head  23  is driven through the driving circuit  120 , each of heater elements is selectively heated and driven in correspondence with print dots for one line so as to print dot pattern data stored in a print buffer  117 B, and the feeding motor  119  performs feeding control of a tape through the driving circuit  121  in synchronization therewith. Also, the transmission circuit  306  performs modulation control of the carrier wave based on the control signal from the control circuit  110 , while the receiving circuit  307  executes processing of a signal demodulated based on the control signal from the control circuit  110 . 
         [0083]      FIG. 9  is a functional block diagram illustrating functional configuration of the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production and the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading. Since the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production and the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading have the equivalent configuration, they are described together. In  FIG. 9 , the RFID circuit elements To-W, To-R have the loop antenna  152  for signal transmission/reception contactlessly by the loop antenna LC on the side of the apparatus  1  for producing RFID labels and magnetic induction and the IC circuit part  151  connected to the loop antenna  152 . 
         [0084]    The IC circuit part  151  has a rectification part  153  configured to rectify a carrier wave received by the loop antenna  152 , a power source part  154  configured to accumulate energy of the carrier wave rectified by the rectification part  153  so as to make it a driving power source, a clock extraction part  156  configured to extract a clock signal from the carrier wave received by the loop antenna  152  and to supply it to a control part  155 , a memory part  157  that can store predetermined information signals, a modem part  158  connected to the loop antenna  152 , and the control part  155  configured to control operation of the RFID circuit elements To-W, To-R through the rectification part  153 , the clock extraction part  156 , the modem part  158  and the like. 
         [0085]    The modem part  158  demodulates a communication signal from the loop antenna LC of the apparatus  1  for producing RFID labels received by the loop antenna  152  and modulates and reflects the carrier wave received from the loop antenna  152  based on a reply signal from the control part  155 . 
         [0086]    The control part  155  executes basic control such as interpretation of a received signal demodulated by the modem part  158 , generation of a reply signal based on the information signal stored in the memory part  157 , reply of it by the modem part  158  and the like. 
         [0087]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  are views illustrating an example of an appearance of the RFID label T (label) formed by completing the information writing (or reading) of the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production and cutting of the tag label tape  109  with print by the apparatus  1  for producing RFID labels with configuration as above, in which  FIG. 10A  is a top view and  FIG. 10B  is a bottom view.  FIG. 11A  is a view obtained by rotating the cross sectional view by XIA-XIA′ section in  FIG. 10A  counterclockwise by 90°, and  FIG. 11B  is a view obtained by rotating the cross sectional view by XIB-XIB′ section in  FIG. 10A  counterclockwise by 90°. 
         [0088]    In  FIGS. 10A ,  10 B,  11 A, and  11 B, the RFID label T is in the five-layered structure in which the cover film  103  is added to the four-layered structure shown in  FIG. 5  as mentioned above, and the five layers are constituted by the cover film  103 , the adhesive layer  101   a , the base film  101   b , the adhesive layer  101   c , and the separation sheet  101   d  from the side of the cover film  103  (upper side in  FIG. 11 ) to the opposite side (lower side in  FIG. 11 ). Further, the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production including the loop antenna  152  provided on the back side of the base film  101   b  as mentioned above is provided in the base film  101   b  and the adhesive layer  101   c , and a label print R (characters of “RF-ID” representing the type of the RFID label T in this embodiment) corresponding to stored information and the like of the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production is printed on the back face of the cover film  103 . 
         [0089]    Also, in the cover film  103 , the adhesive layer  101   a , the base film  101   b , and the adhesive layer  101   c , a half-cut line HC (half-cut portion. Two lines of a front half-cut line HC 1  and a rear half-cut line HC 2  in this embodiment) are formed by the half-cutter  34  substantially along the tape width direction as mentioned above. In the cover film  103 , a region held between the half-cut lines HC 1 , HC 2  becomes a print area S on which the label print R is printed, and both sides in the tape longitudinal direction from the print area S 1  with the half-cut lines HC 1 , HC 2  held between them are front margin area S 1  and a rear margin area S 2 , respectively. In other words, the front and rear margin areas S 1 , S 2  and the print area S of the cover film  103  are divided by the half-cut lines HC 1 , HC 2 . 
         [0090]    As already mentioned, instead of provision of marking painted in black as the identification mark PM as shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , a hole substantially penetrating the base tape  101  can be drilled as the identification mark PM as shown in  FIG. 11C  by Thomson-type or Vic-type punching or laser machining or the like. In this case, if the mark sensor  127  is configured by a known reflection type photoelectric sensor made of a light projector and a light receiver, when the identification mark PM made of the above hole comes to a position between the light projector and the light receiver, the light from the light projector transmits the hole of the identification mark PM and the transparent cover film  103  and stops reflection, and the light is no longer received by the light receiver, by which the control output from the light receiver is reversed. 
         [0091]      FIG. 12  is a view illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the PC  118  (terminal  118   a  or general-purpose computer  118   b ) at an access (reading or writing) to the RFID tag information of the IC circuit part  151  of the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production by the apparatus  1  for producing RFID labels as mentioned above. 
         [0092]    In  FIG. 12 , in this example, a type of the tag label (access frequency and tape dimension), print character R printed in correspondence with the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production, an access (reading or writing) ID as identification information (tag ID) specific to the RFID circuit element To-W, an address of article information stored in the information server IS, storage destination address of information corresponding to them in the route server RS and the like can be displayed on the PC  118 . Then, when the apparatus  1  for producing RFID labels is operated by operation of the PC  118 , the print character R is printed on the cover film  103  and information including the writing ID and the article information is written on the IC circuit part  151  (or the information such as reading ID and article information stored in the IC circuit part  151  in advance is read out). 
         [0093]    At the above reading or writing, correspondence between the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production of the produced RFID label T and the information read out of the IC circuit part  151  of the RFID label T (or the information written in the IC circuit part  151 ) is stored in the above-mentioned route server RS so that it can be referred to later as necessary. 
         [0094]    In the apparatus  1  for producing RFID labels having the basic configuration as above, control is made so that a scan mode in which information is usually transmitted/received with respect to the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading located outside the apparatus main body  2  (housing  200 ) through the loop antenna LC by the control circuit  110  is brought about and if a label production instruction is given by an operator, control is made so that the mode is changed to a tag-label production mode in which the information is transmitted/received with respect to the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production provided at the tag label tape  109  with print. In this tag-label production mode, the information reading or writing has been carried out for the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production by the loop antenna LC to the tag label tape  109  with print produced by bonding, the tag label tape  109  with print is cut by the cutting mechanism  15 , and the RFID label T is produced. 
         [0095]      FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure executed by the control circuit  110  in order to carry out the above control. This flow is started when the apparatus  1  for producing RFID labels is powered on. 
         [0096]    First, at step  10 , it is determined if the cartridge  7  has been attached to the cartridge holder  6  or not. This determination is made by determining if a detection signal has been input from the cartridge sensor  81  or not. This Step  10  is repeated till the cartridge  7  is attached to the cartridge holder  6 , and when attached, the determination is satisfied, and the routine goes to the subsequent Step S 20 . 
         [0097]    At Step  20 , an access is made to the information server IS through the communication line NW, and cartridge information of the cartridge  7  (whether the cartridge  7  is for a tag label production or for an usual label production not having a tag and in the case of the tag label production, tag ID information of all the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production present in the cartridge and the like) is obtained based on a detection signal input from the cartridge sensor  81 . 
         [0098]    At the subsequent Step S 30 , it is determined if an instruction for a label production has been input from the operator, that is, if an operation signal for a label production has been input from the PC  118  and the like through the communication line NW and the input/output interface  113  or not, for example. If there is no instruction input (that is, in the usual case), the determination is not satisfied, and the routine goes to the subsequent Step S 300 . 
         [0099]    At Step S 300 , the mode is changed to the scan mode, in which radio communication is performed to the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading located outside the apparatus main body  2  (housing  200 ) through the loop antenna LC so as to execute scan processing of reading out the information in the RFID circuit element To-R (for details, see  FIG. 14 , which will be described later). 
         [0100]    At the subsequent Step S 40 , it is determined if the cartridge  7  has been removed from the cartridge holder  6  or not. This determination is made by determining if a detection signal has been input from the cartridge sensor  81  or not. If the cartridge has not been removed, the determination is not satisfied and the routine returns to the preceding Step S 30 . If the cartridge has been removed, the determination is satisfied, and the routine returns to the first Step S 10 . 
         [0101]    On the other hand, if the instruction for a label production has been input from the operator at Step S 30 , the determination is satisfied, and the routine goes to the subsequent Step S 50 . At Step S 50 , based on the cartridge information obtained at Step S 20 , it is determined if the cartridge  7  is for a tag label production or for a usual label production not having a tag. If the cartridge  7  is a cartridge for a tag label production, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the subsequent Step S 100 . 
         [0102]    At Step S 100 , the mode is changed to the tag-label production mode, in which tag label production processing to produce the RFID label T is carried out (For details, see  FIG. 15 , which will be described later). After that, the routine goes to Step S 40 . 
         [0103]    On the other hand, at Step S 50 , if the cartridge  7  is a cartridge for an usual label production, the determination is not satisfied and the routine goes to Step S 600 , where the mode is changed to the usual label production mode, in which usual label production processing to produce a usual label not having a tag is carried out (For details, see  FIG. 18 , which will be described later). After that, the routine goes to Step S 40 . 
         [0104]      FIG. 14  is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of the above-mentioned Step S 300 . 
         [0105]    In  FIG. 14 , first, at Step S 310 , it is determined if there has been an instruction input to stop scanning from the operator or not, that is, if an operation signal to stop scanning has been input from the PC  118  and the like through the communicating line NW and the input/output interface  113  or not, for example. If there has been an instruction input, this flow is finished. If not, the determination is not satisfied and the routine goes to the subsequent Step S 320 . 
         [0106]    Subsequently, at Step  320 , a control signal is output to the transmission circuit  306  and a carrier wave on which predetermined modulation has been performed is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To-R, which is a target for reading, as an inquiry signal for obtaining information stored in the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading (“Scroll All ID”, “Ping” command signals and the like, for example) through the loop antenna LC and reply is prompted. 
         [0107]    After that, at Step S 330 , it is determined if a reply signal from the RFID circuit element To-R as the reading target has been transmitted in correspondence to the inquiry signal and the reply signal has been received through the loop antenna LC or not. If the reply signal has not been received, the routine returns to Step S 310 , and Step S 310  to Step S 330  are repeated till the reply signal is received. That is, if there is no RFID circuit element To-R (RFID label T) as the reading target in a communication range of the loop antenna LC outside the apparatus main body  2  (a range of a path of the magnetic path M outside the housing side wall  200 A shown in the above-mentioned  FIG. 4 ), the transmission state of the inquiry signal is continued. Then, when the reply signal is received, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the subsequent Step S 340 . 
         [0108]    At Step S 340 , it is determined if the RFID circuit element To-R as the reading target having transmitted the reply signal is the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production provided at the tag label tape  109  with print fed out of the cartridge  7  attached to the cartridge holder  6 . This determination is made by comparing the tag ID obtained from the RFID circuit element To-R as the reading target based on the above received reply signal and the tag ID information of all the RFID circuit elements To-W present in the cartridge  7  in the cartridge information obtained at the above-mentioned Step S 20 . If it is the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production of the cartridge  7 , this flow is finished. If it is not the RFID circuit element To-W of the cartridge  7 , that is, if it is the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading outside the apparatus main body  2 , the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the subsequent Step S 350 . 
         [0109]    At Step S 350 , the RFID tag information obtained from the RFID circuit element To-R as the reading target based on the received reply signal is processed as appropriate. The processing may include, for example, output of the information through the input/output interface  113  and the communication line NW and storage in the information server IS and the route server RS as necessary so as to be referable from the PC  118 , display by display device of the PC  118  and the like. Then, this flow is finished. 
         [0110]    Though not described here, if information reading is not successful, retry may be made for the predetermined number of times. When the inquiry signal is output from the loop antenna LC, its transmission output may be larger than the case of the tag label production processing at Step S 100 . 
         [0111]      FIG. 15  is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of the above-mentioned Step S 100 . 
         [0112]    First at Step S 105 , preparation processing such as setting of print data, communication data with the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production, front/rear half-cut positions, full-cut positions and the like is carried out based on the operation signal from the PC  118 . 
         [0113]    Subsequently, at Step S 110 , at communication from the loop antenna LC to the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production, variables M, N for counting the number of times (access retry times) of communication retries when there is no response from the RFID circuit element To-W and a flag F indicating if the communication was successful or not are initialized to zero. 
         [0114]    After that, the routine goes to Step S 115 , in which a control signal is output to the feeding motor driving circuit  121  through the input/output interface  113  so as to rotate and drive the feeding roller  27  and the ribbon take-up roller  106  by a driving force of the feeding motor  121 . Moreover, a control signal is output to the tape discharge motor  65  through the tape discharge motor driving circuit  123  so as to rotate and drive the driving roller  51 . As a result, the base tape  101  is fed out of the first roll  102  and supplied to the feeding roller  27  and at the same time the cover film  103  is fed out of the second roll  104 , and the base tape  101  and the cover film  103  are bonded and integrated by the feeding roller  27  and a sub roller  109  to be formed as the tag label tape  109  with print, which is further fed from the direction outside the cartridge  7  to the direction outside the apparatus  1  for producing RFID labels. 
         [0115]    After that, at Step S 120 , based on a detection signal of the mark detection sensor  127  input through the input/output interface  113 , it is determined if the identifier PM of the base tape  101  has been detected or not (in other words, if the cover film  103  has reached a printing start position by the print head  23  or not). This procedure is repeated till the identifier PM is detected and the determination is satisfied, while upon detection, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the subsequent Step S 125 . 
         [0116]    At Step S 125 , a control signal is output to the print-head driving circuit  120  through the input/output interface  113 , the print head  23  is electrified, and print of the label print R including characters, symbols, barcodes and the like corresponding to the print data generated at Step S 105  is started on the above-mentioned print area S (=area to be bonded substantially on the back face of the RFID circuit element To-W arranged on the base tape  101  with an equal interval and a predetermined pitch) in the cover film  103 . 
         [0117]    After that, at Step S 130 , it is determined if the tag label tape  109  with print has been fed to a front half-cut position set at the preceding Step S 105  or not (in other words, if the tag label tape  109  with print has reached a position where the half-cutter  34  of the half-cut mechanism  35  is opposed to the front half-cut line HC 1  set at Step S 1  or not). The determination at this time may be made by detecting a feeding distance after the identifier PM of the base tape  101  is detected at Step S 120  by a predetermined known method (such as counting the number of pulses output by the feeding motor driving circuit  121  driving the feeding motor  119 , which is a pulse motor). This procedure is repeated till the front half-cut position is reached and the determination is satisfied, and if reached, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the subsequent Step S 135 . 
         [0118]    At Step S 135 , a control signal is output to the feeding motor driving circuit  121  and the tape discharge motor driving circuit  123  through the input/output interface  113  so as to stop driving of the feeding motor  119  and the tape discharge motor  65 , and rotation of the feeding roller  27 , the ribbon take-up roller  106  and the driving roller  51  is stopped. As a result, during the course in which the tag label tape  109  with print fed out of the cartridge  7  is moved in the discharge direction, in the state where the half-cutter  34  of the half-cut mechanism  35  is opposed to the front half-cut line HC 1  set at Step S 105 , feeding-out of the base tape  101  from the first roll  102 , feeding-out of the cover film  103  from the second roll  104 , and feeding of the tag label tape  109  with print are stopped. Also, at this time, a control signal is output to the print-head driving circuit  120  through the input/output interface  113 , electricity to the print head  23  is stopped, and printing of the label print R is stopped (printing interrupted). 
         [0119]    After that, at Step S 140 , the front half-cut processing is carried out in which a control signal is output to the half-cutter motor driving circuit  128  through the input/output interface  113  so as to drive the half-cutter motor  129  and rotate the half-cutter  34 , and the cover film  103 , the adhesive layer  101   a , the base film  101   b  and the adhesive layer  101   c  of the tag label tape  109  with print are cut so as to form the front half-cut line HC 1 . 
         [0120]    Then, the routine goes on to Step S 145 , where the feeding roller  27 , the ribbon take-up roller  106 , and the driving roller  51  are rotated/driven similarly to Step S 115  so as to resume feeding of the tag label tape  109  with print, and the print head  23  is electrified as in Step S 125  so as to resume printing of the label print R. 
         [0121]    After that, at Step S 150 , it is determined if the tag label tape  109  with print while being fed has been fed by a predetermined value (such as a feeding distance by which the RFID circuit element To-W in which the cover film  103  with corresponding print applied is bonded has reached the loop antenna LC) or not. The feeding distance determination at this time may be also made by counting the number of pulses output by the feeding motor driving circuit  121  driving the feeding motor  119 , which is a pulse motor, similarly to the Step S 130 . 
         [0122]    At the subsequent Step S 200 , tag access processing is carried out. That is, if having been fed to a communication position of the RFID circuit element To-W (position where the RFID circuit element To-W is opposed to the loop antenna LC), the feeding and print are stopped for information transmission/reception, and then, the feeding and print are resumed so as to complete print, and further feeding is carried out and stopped at a rear half-cut position so as to form a rear half-cut line HC 2  (See  FIG. 16 , which will be described later). 
         [0123]    When Step S 200  is finished as mentioned above, the routine goes to Step S 155  (at this time, feeding of the tag label tape  109  with print has been already resumed at Step S 200 ). At Step S 155 , it is determined if the tag label tape  109  with print has been fed to the above-mentioned full-cut position or not (in other words, if the tag label tape  109  with print has reached a position where the movable blade  41  of the cutting mechanism  15  is opposed to a cutting line CL set at Step S 1 ). The determination at this time may be also made by detecting the feeding distance after the identifier PM of the base tape  101  is detected at Step S 120  similarly to the above (by counting the number of pulses output by the feeding motor driving circuit  121  driving the feeding motor  119 , which is a pulse motor), for example. This procedure is repeated till the full-cut position is reached and the determination is satisfied, and if reached, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the subsequent Step S 1160 . 
         [0124]    At Step S 160 , similarly to the above Step S 135 , rotation of the feeding roller  27 , the ribbon take-up roller  106  and the driving roller  51  is stopped. As a result, in the state where the movable blade  41  of the cutting mechanism  15  is opposed to the cutting line CL set at Step S 105 , feeding-out of the base tape  101  from the first roll  102 , feeding-out of the cover film  103  from the second roll  104 , and feeding of the tag label tape  109  with print are stopped. 
         [0125]    After that, at Step S 165 , a control signal is output to the cutter motor driving circuit  122  so as to carry out full-cut processing to form the cutting line CL by driving the cutter motor  43 , rotating the movable blade  41  of the cutting mechanism  15 , and cutting (separating) all the cover film  103 , the adhesive layer  101   a , the base film  101   b , the adhesive layer  101   c , and the separation sheet  101   d  of the tag label tape  109  with print. By the separation by the cutting mechanism  15 , the RFID label T in the label state cut away from the tag label tape  109  with print is produced, in which the RFID tag information of the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production is written (or the predetermined RFID tag information is read out of the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production) and corresponding desired print is applied. 
         [0126]    After that, the routine goes to Step S 170 , where a control signal is output to the tape discharge motor driving circuit  123  through the input/output interface  113  so as to resume the driving of the tape discharge motor  65 , and the driving roller  51  is rotated. As a result, the feeding by the driving roller  51  is resumed, the RFID label T produced in the label state at Step S 165  is fed toward the label carry-out exit  11  and discharged out of the label carry-out exit  11  to outside the apparatus  1  for producing RFID labels, and this flow is finished. 
         [0127]      FIG. 16  is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of the above-mentioned Step S 200 . First, at Step S 210 , it is determined if the tag label tape  109  with print has been fed to the above-mentioned communication position with the loop antenna LC. The determination at this time may be also made by detecting the feeding distance after the identifier PM of the base tape  101  is detected at Step S 120  by a predetermined known method, for example, similarly to the above-mentioned Step S 130  in  FIG. 15 . This procedure is repeated till the communication position is reached and the determination is satisfied, and if reached, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the subsequent Step S 220 . 
         [0128]    At Step S 220 , similarly to Step S 135 , rotation of the feeding roller  27 , the ribbon take-up roller  106  and the driving roller  51  is stopped, and feeding of the tag label tape  109  with print is stopped in the state where the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production is substantially opposed to the loop antenna LC. Also, electricity to the print head  23  is stopped, and printing of the label print R is stopped (interrupted). 
         [0129]    At the subsequent Step S 225 , a control signal is output to the transmission circuit  306 , and as an inquiry signal to obtain identification information (tag ID) stored in the RFID circuit element To-W (“Scroll All ID”, “Ping” command signals and the like, for example), a carrier wave on which predetermined modulation has been performed is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To-W as a communication target through the loop antenna LC, a reply signal transmitted from the RFID circuit element To-W in correspondence with that is received through the loop antenna LC, and the tag ID of the RFID circuit element To-W as the communication target is obtained. 
         [0130]    At the subsequent Step S 227 , it is determined if the RFID circuit element To-W as the communication target is the RFID circuit element To-W provided at the tag label tape  109  with print fed out of the cartridge  7  attached to the cartridge holder  6  or not. This determination is made by comparing the tag ID obtained from the RFID circuit element To-W and the tag ID information of all the RFID circuit elements To-W for a label production present in the cartridge  7  in the cartridge information obtained at the above-mentioned Step S 20 . If it is not the RFID circuit element To-W of the cartridge  7 , the determination is not satisfied and the routine returns to Step S 225 . On the other hand, if it is the RFID circuit element To-W of the cartridge  7 , the routine goes to the subsequent Step S 400 . 
         [0131]    At Step S 400 , information transmission/reception processing is carried out in which information is transmitted/received via radio communication between the antenna LC and the RFID circuit element To-W so as to write information prepared at Step S 1105  in  FIG. 15  (or reading information stored in the IC circuit part in advance) with respect to the IC circuit part  151  of the RFID circuit element To-W (For details, see  FIG. 17 , which will be described later). 
         [0132]    After that, the routine goes to Step S 230 , where it is determined if information transmission/reception has been successful at Step S 400  or not. Specifically, at Step S 400 , it is determined if F=0 or not, since it should be such that the flag F=1 in the case of communication failure at Step S 400  (See Step S 437  in  FIG. 17 , which will be described later). 
         [0133]    In the case of F=1, the determination is not satisfied, the communication to the RFID circuit element To-W is considered to be failed, the routine goes on to Step S 700 , and error processing for notifying the communication failure on the label (such as printing of another mode print R′ (characters of “NG”, for example) corresponding to the communication error, for example) to the operator is carried out, and this routine is finished. 
         [0134]    On the other hand, in the case of F=0, the determination is satisfied, the communication to the RFID circuit element To-W is considered to be successful, and the routine goes on to Step S 240 . 
         [0135]    At Step S 240 , similarly to Step S 145  in  FIG. 15 , the feeding roller  27 , the ribbon take-up roller  106 , and the driving roller  51  are rotated/driven and feeding of the tag label tape  109  with print is resumed, and printing of the label print R is resumed by electrifying the print head  23 . 
         [0136]    At this time, if the electricity stopped period of the print head  23  becomes longer than a predetermined time after Step S 220  because the number of communication retry times (retry times) at Step S 400  is large or the like, there is a possibility that the temperature of the print head  23  is lowered. Thus, in order to cope with this, at resumption of the printing at Step S 240 , electricity to the print head  23  (energy amount per unit time) may be made larger than usual. 
         [0137]    After that, the routine goes on to Step S 250 , where it is determined if the tag label tape  109  with print has been fed to the above-mentioned printing end position (calculated at Step S 105  in  FIG. 15 ) or not. The determination at this time can be also made by detecting a feeding distance after the identifier PM of the base tape  101  is detected at Step S 120  by a predetermined known method, for example, as in the above. This procedure is repeated till the printing end position is reached and the determination is satisfied, and when reached, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes on to the subsequent Step S 260 . 
         [0138]    At Step S 260 , similarly to Step S 135  in  FIG. 15 , electricity to the print head  23  is stopped, and the printing of the label print R is stopped. As a result, the printing of the label print R on the print area S is completed. 
         [0139]    After that, the routine goes to Step S 500 , where after the tape is fed to a predetermined rear half-cut position, rear half-cut processing is carried out so as to form the rear half-cut line HC 2  by the half-cutter  34  of the half-cut unit  35 . Then, this routine is finished. 
         [0140]      FIG. 17  is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of the above-mentioned Step S 400 . In this embodiment, information writing in the above-mentioned information writing and information reading will be described as an example. 
         [0141]    First, at Step S 405  in the flow shown in  FIG. 17 , a control signal is output to the above-mentioned transmission circuit  306  through the input/output interface  113  and as an “Erase” command signal to initialize information stored in the memory part  157  in the RFID circuit element To-W, a carrier wave on which predetermined modulation has been performed is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To-W as the writing target through the loop antenna LC. As a result, the memory part  157  of the RFID circuit element To-W is initialized. 
         [0142]    Subsequently, at Step S 410 , a control signal is output to the transmission circuit  306  through the input/output interface  113  and as a “Verify” command signal to verify contents of the memory part  157 , a carrier wave on which predetermined modulation has been performed is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To-W as the information writing target through the loop antenna LC and a reply is prompted. 
         [0143]    After that, at Step S 415 , a reply signal transmitted from the RFID circuit element To-W as the writing target in correspondence with the “Verify” command signal is received through the loop antenna LC and taken in through the receiving circuit  307  and the input/output interface  113 . 
         [0144]    Subsequently, at Step S 420 , on the basis of the received reply signal, information in the memory part  157  of the RFID circuit element To-W is verified so as to determine if the memory part  157  is normally initialized or not. 
         [0145]    If the determination is not satisfied, the routine goes on to Step S 425 , where one is added to M, and it is determined if M=5 or not at Step S 430 . In the case of M≦4, the determination is not satisfied but the routine returns to Step S 405  and the same procedure is repeated. In the case of M=5, the routine goes on to Step S 435 , where an error display signal is output to the PC  118  through the input/output interface  113  so that corresponding writing failure (error) display is made and moreover, the above mentioned flag F=1 is set at step S 437  and this routine is finished. In this way, even if initialization is not successful, retry is made up to five times. 
         [0146]    If the determination at Step S 420  is satisfied, the routine goes on to step S 440 , where a control signal is output to the transmission circuit  306 , and the carrier wave on which predetermined modulation has been performed is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To-W as information writing target through the loop antenna LC as a “Program” command signal for writing desired data in the memory part  157  and the information is written. 
         [0147]    After that, at Step S 445 , a control signal is output to the transmission circuit  306 , the carrier wave on which predetermined modulation has been performed as the “Verify” command signal is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To-W as information writing target through the loop antenna LC, and a reply is prompted. After that, at Step S 450 , the reply signal transmitted from the RFID circuit element To-W as writing target in correspondence with the “Verify” command signal is received through the loop antenna  305  and taken in by the receiving circuit  307 . 
         [0148]    Subsequently, at Step S 455 , on the basis of the received reply signal, the information stored in the memory part  157  of the RFID circuit element To-W is verified and it is determined if the above-mentioned transmitted predetermined information is normally stored in the memory part  157  or not using a known error detection code (CRC code: Cyclic Redundancy Check or the like). 
         [0149]    If the determination is not satisfied, the routine goes to Step S 460 , where one is added to N, and it is further determined at Step S 465  if it is N=5 or not. In the case of N≦4, the determination is not satisfied and the routine returns to Step S 440 , where the same procedure is repeated. In the case of N=5, the routine goes on to Step S 435 , where a corresponding writing failure (error) display is similarly made to the PC  118 , the above-mentioned flag F=1 is set at step S 437 , and this routine is finished. In this way, even if information writing is not successful, retry is made up to five times. 
         [0150]    If the determination at Step S 455  is satisfied, the routine goes on to step S 470 , where a control signal is output to the transmission circuit  306 , and the carrier wave on which predetermined modulation has been performed as a “Lock” command is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To-W as information writing target through the loop antenna LC so as to prohibit new information writing in the RFID circuit element To-W. As a result, writing of the RFID tag information in the RFID circuit element To-W as writing target is finished. 
         [0151]    After that, the routine goes on to Step S 480 , and combination of the information written in the RFID circuit element To-W at Step S 440  and the print information of the label print R already printed on the print area S by the print head  23  in correspondence with that is output through the input/output interface  113  and the communication line NW and stored in the information server IS and the route server RS. This stored data is stored/held in the database of each of the servers IS, RS so that it can be referred to by the PC  118  as necessary, for example. Then, this routine is finished. 
         [0152]    In this flow, when the “Erase”, “Verify”, “Program” command signals and the like are output from the loop antenna LC, a transmission output may be made smaller than that in the case of the scan processing at Step S 300 . 
         [0153]    Here, the case where the RFID tag information is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To-W and written in the IC circuit part  151  so as to produce the RFID label T has been described, but not limited to that. That is, while the RFID tag information is read out of the RFID circuit element To for read only in which predetermined RFID tag information is stored and held in advance unrewritably, the RFID label T may be produced by making a corresponding print. 
         [0154]      FIG. 18  is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of the above-mentioned Step S 600 . 
         [0155]    First at Step S 605 , preparation processing is carried out for setting print data, front/rear half-cut positions, full-cut position and the like is executed based on the operation signal from the PC  118 . 
         [0156]    Since the subsequent Step S 605  to Step S 645  are similar to Step S 15  to Step S 145  in the above-mentioned  FIG. 15 , the description will be omitted. 
         [0157]    At Step S 647 , similarly to step S 250  in the above-mentioned  FIG. 16 , it is determined if the tag label tape  109  with print has been fed to the printing end position (calculated at Step S 605 ) or not. This procedure is repeated till the printing end position is reached and the determination is satisfied, and when reached, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes on to the subsequent Step S 650 . 
         [0158]    At Step S 650 , similarly to Step S 260  in the above-mentioned  FIG. 16 , electricity to the print head  23  is stopped, and the printing of the label print R is stopped. As a result, the printing of the label print R on the print area S is completed. 
         [0159]    At the subsequent Step S 653 , after the tape has been fed to a predetermined rear half-cut position, the rear half-cut processing is carried out in which the rear half-cut line HC 2  is formed by the half-cutter  34  of the half-cut unit  35 . 
         [0160]    After that, since Step S 655  to Step S 670  are the same as Step S 155  to Step S 170  in the above-mentioned  FIG. 15 , the description will be omitted. Then, this flow is finished. 
         [0161]    As mentioned above, the procedure of Step S 330  executed by the control circuit  110  constitutes an information acquisition portion configured to obtain RFID tag information provided at the IC circuit part of the RFID circuit element described in claim  10 . Also, the procedures of Step S 340  and Step S 227  executed by the control circuit  110  constitute prohibition processing portion described in claim  10 . Also, the procedure of Step S 125  executed by the control circuit  110  constitutes first print-control portion configured to operate the printing device described in claim  12 . 
         [0162]    In the embodiment described above, the loop antenna LC is provided with communicable regions both inside and outside of the housing  200  of the apparatus main body  2 . With this configuration, information transmission/reception can be carried out with the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading located outside the housing and if the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production is provided at the tag label tape  109  with print fed by the driving roller  51 , the information transmission/reception can be carried out also with the RFID circuit element To-W fed inside the housing. Since the information transmission/reception with the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading outside the housing and processing inside the housing can be both carried out with a single apparatus, versatility of the apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag can be improved. Also, as compared with the case of execution by separate apparatuses, equipment configuration can be simplified, and rapid processing can be realized while assuredness/reliability of operation are improved. 
         [0163]    Particularly in this embodiment, by providing a single loop antenna LC having communicable regions both inside and outside the housing  200 , information writing or reading via radio communication is enabled both with the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production provided at the tag label tape  109  with print and the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading located outside the apparatus main body  2  (housing  200 ). With this configuration, as compared with execution with separate apparatuses (outside communication device, inside communication device), respectively, equipment configuration can be simplified, and rapid processing can be realized while assuredness/reliability of operation are improved. 
         [0164]    Particularly in this embodiment, control is executed by the control circuit  110  through switching between the scan mode in which the information is transmitted/received with the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading located outside the apparatus main body  2  (housing  200 ) through the loop antenna LC and the tag-label production mode in which the information is transmitted/received with the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production provided at the tag label tape  109  with print. As mentioned above, since the control circuit  110  is provided with a communication function to the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading outside the housing and the communication function with the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production inside the housing as modes in advance, the communication function can be switched easily and smoothly only by switching control between the scan mode and the tag-label production mode. 
         [0165]    Particularly in this embodiment, control is executed by the control circuit  110  in correspondence with the scan mode in a usual time and in the tag-label production mode (or usual label production mode) when a label production instruction is given by an operator. By realizing the communication function with the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading outside the housing as the scan mode in a usual state and by realizing the communication function with the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production in the housing as the tag-label production mode as necessary in tag label production as mentioned above, switching between the both modes can be realized with a required minimum operation, by which convenience for the operator can be improved. Also, since the loop antenna LC that carries out radio communication with the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production, which becomes unnecessary when a tag label is not produced and a command information generation function (including the transmission/reception circuits  306 ,  307 ) that generates command information among the functions of the control circuit  110  can be used for scanning, there is an advantage that the devices are not left idle but can be effectively used. 
         [0166]    Also, particularly in this embodiment, the cartridge information (tag ID information of all the RFID circuit elements To-W for a label production present in the cartridge and the like) of the cartridge  7  is obtained in advance, and if the tag ID of the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production provided at the tag label tape  109  with print is obtained through the loop antenna LC during control in the scan mode, the scan procedure is stopped, while if the tag ID of the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading located outside the housing is obtained through the loop antenna LC during control in the tag-label production mode, the tag label production processing is prohibited. As a result, wrong communication/interference with the RFID circuit element To-W in the housing in the scan mode with the RFID circuit element To-R outside the housing as the communication target can be prevented, and the wrong communication/interference with the RFID circuit element To-R outside the housing in the tag-label production mode with the RFID circuit element To-W inside the housing as the communication target can be also prevented. 
         [0167]    Particularly in this embodiment, by detecting the portion  190  to be detected provided at the cartridge housing  7 A by the cartridge sensor  81 , the cartridge information of the cartridge  7  is obtained. Then, according to the detection result, the wrong communication/interference with the RFID circuit element To, which is not a communication target by nature as described above, is prevented. By obtaining the information to be criteria on whether it is a communication target or not from the cartridge side, more smooth and certain prohibition processing can be carried out. 
         [0168]    Note that, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment but various variations are possible in a range not departing from its gist and technical scope. The variations will be described below in order. 
         [0169]    (1) When Two Antennas are Used: 
         [0170]    (i) When Antennas are not Switched: 
         [0171]    In the above embodiment, the communicable regions are provided both inside and outside the housing  200  of the apparatus main body  2  by the single loop antenna LC, but not limited to that, the communicable regions may be provided both inside and outside the housing  200  using two antennas. This variation is an example in which the antenna is not switched at mode switching between the scan mode and the tag-label production mode. 
         [0172]      FIG. 19  is a plan view illustrating a structure of the internal unit  20  in this variation and corresponds to the above-mentioned  FIG. 4A . The same reference numerals are given to the portions similar to those in  FIG. 4A  and description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0173]    In  FIG. 19 , the internal unit  20  is provided with a first loop antenna LC 1  (first antenna) provided with a communicable region inside the housing  200  and capable of information transmission/reception with the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production provided at the tag label tape  109  with print and a second loop antenna LC 2  (second antenna) provided with a communicable region outside the housing  200  and capable of information transmission/reception with the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading located outside the housing. Between the first loop antenna LC 1  and the second loop antenna LC 2 , a shield member  85  (shield member) made of metal, for example, configured to shield a magnetic flux generated from the antennas LC 1 , LC 2  are provided. 
         [0174]      FIG. 20  is a functional block diagram illustrating a control system of the apparatus  1  for producing RFID labels of this variation and corresponds to the above-mentioned  FIG. 8 . The same reference numerals are given to the portions similar to those in  FIG. 8  and description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0175]    As shown in  FIG. 20 , the first and second loop antennas LC 1 , LC 2  are both connected to the above-mentioned antenna duplexer  240  in parallel, and a transmission signal generated at the transmission circuit  306  is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production provided at the tag label tape  109  with print and the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading located outside the housing  200  through the antenna duplexer  240  and the first/second loop antennas LC 1 , LC 2 . Also, a response signal from the RFID circuit element To-W provided at the tag label tape  109  with print and the RFID circuit element To-R located outside the housing  200  is received at the receiving circuit  307  through the first/second loop antennas LC 1 , LC 2  and the antenna duplexer  240 . 
         [0176]    In this variation, since the control procedure executed by the control circuit  110  is the same as that of the above embodiment ( FIGS. 13 to 18 ), description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0177]    In the variation described above, the same advantage as that of the above embodiment is obtained and moreover, as compared with the radio communication with the RFID circuit elements To-W, To-R in and outside the housing with the single loop antenna LC as in the above embodiment, since radio communication is carried out individually by the first and second loop antennas LC 1 , LC 2  for information transmission/reception with the respective RFID circuit elements To-W, To-R, assuredness/reliability of the communication can be improved. 
         [0178]    Particularly in this variation, since the first and second loop antennas LC 1 , LC 2  are arranged with the shield member  85  held between them, interference between the communicable regions of the two loop antennas LC 1 , LC 2  can be prevented. 
         [0179]    (ii) When Antennas are Switched: 
         [0180]    In the above embodiment, the communicable regions are provided both inside and outside the housing  200  of the apparatus main body  2  by the single loop antenna LC, but not limited to that, the communicable regions can be provided both inside and outside the housing  200  using two antennas. This variation is an example in which the antennas are switched at mode switching between the scan mode and the tag-label production mode. 
         [0181]    In this variation, similarly to the above variation (i), the internal unit  20  is provided with the first loop antenna LC 1  (first antenna) provided with the communicable region inside the housing  200  and capable of information transmission/reception with the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production provided at the tag label tape  109  with print and the second loop antenna LC 2  (second antenna) provided with the communicable region outside the housing  200  and capable of information transmission/reception with the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading located outside the housing. In addition, between the first loop antenna LC 1  and the second loop antenna LC 2 , the shield member  85  is provided (See  FIG. 19 ). 
         [0182]      FIG. 21  is a functional block diagram illustrating a control system of the apparatus  1  for producing RFID labels of this variation and corresponds to the above-mentioned  FIG. 8 . The same reference numerals are given to the portions similar to those in  FIG. 8  and description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0183]    In  FIG. 21 , the apparatus  1  for producing RFID labels of this variation has a switching circuit  86  (switching connection portion) that switches the antenna duplexer  240  to be connected to the first loop antenna LC 1  or to the second loop antenna LC 2 , based on a control signal from a control circuit  110 ′ (command-information generating portion). That is, if there is an instruction input of label production from an operator and the attached cartridge  7  is for a tag label production, the control circuit  110 ′ changes the mode to the tag-label production mode and switches the switching circuit  86  so as to connect the antenna duplexer  240  and the first loop antenna LC 1 , while in a usual case where there is no instruction input of label production from the operator, the mode is changed to the scan mode and the switching circuit  86  is switched to connect the antenna duplexer  240  and the second loop antenna LC 2 . 
         [0184]      FIG. 22  is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure executed by the control circuit  110 ′ and corresponds to the above-mentioned  FIG. 13 . The same reference numerals are given to the procedure similar to those in  FIG. 13  and description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0185]    In  FIG. 22 , Step S 10  to Step S 30  are the same as in the above-mentioned  FIG. 13 , and first, it is determined if the cartridge  7  is attached to the cartridge holder  6  or not, and if attached, the cartridge information of the cartridge  7  (here, information on whether the cartridge  7  is for a tag label production or for an usual label production not having a tag. The tag ID information of all the RFID circuit elements To-W for a label production present in the cartridge is not required.) based on a detection signal input from the cartridge sensor  81  is obtained. Then, it is determined if there has been the instruction input of label production by the operator or not, and if there is no instruction input (that is, in the usual case), the determination is not satisfied and the routine goes to the subsequent Step S 35 . 
         [0186]    At Step S 35 , a control signal is output to the switching circuit  86  so as to switch the switching circuit  86  and connect the antenna duplexer  240  and the second loop antenna LC 2 . 
         [0187]    After that, the scan processing is carried out at Step S 300 ′, and at Step S 40 , it is determined if the cartridge  7  has been removed from the cartridge holder  6  or not. 
         [0188]    On the other hand, if there is the instruction input of label production by the operator at Step S 30 , the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the subsequent Step S 50 , and based on the cartridge information obtained at Step S 20 , it is determined if the cartridge  7  is for a tag label production or for an usual label production not having a tag. If the cartridge  7  is a cartridge for a tag label production, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the subsequent Step S 55 . 
         [0189]    At Step S 55 , a control signal is output to the switching circuit  86  so as to switch the switching circuit  86  and connect the antenna duplexer  240  and the first loop antenna LC 1 . After that, the tag label production processing at Step S 100  is carried out. Note that, the procedures other than those described above are the same as in the above-mentioned  FIG. 13 . 
         [0190]      FIG. 23  is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of the above-mentioned Step S 300 ′ and corresponds to the above-mentioned  FIG. 14 . In  FIG. 23 , a point different from the above-mentioned  FIG. 14  is that the procedure of Step S 340  is not needed any more. That is, in this variation, by switching the switching circuit  86  according to the mode as mentioned above, the transmission circuit  306  and the receiving circuit  307  are connected to the loop antennas LC 1 , LC 2  according to each mode, and radio communication is not performed with the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production provided at the tag label tape  109  with print in the apparatus main body  2  in the scan mode or the radio communication is not performed with the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading outside the apparatus main body  2  in the tag-label production mode. Therefore, since there is no need to check if the read-out tag ID is the RFID circuit element To-W of the cartridge  7  or not, the procedure of Step S 340  is not needed. The other procedures are the same as in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0191]      FIG. 24  is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of the tag access processing (Step S 200 ′) executed by the control circuit  110 ′ of this variation and corresponds to the above-mentioned  FIG. 16 . In  FIG. 24 , a point different from  FIG. 16  is that Step  225  and Step  227 , which are procedures to read out the tag ID and to check if the tag ID is the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production of the cartridge  7  or not, are not needed any more due to the same reason as the above. The other procedures are the same as in  FIG. 16 . 
         [0192]    In the variation described above, by switching the antenna to be connected to the transmission circuit  306  and the receiving circuit  307  to the first loop antenna LC 1  or the second loop antenna LC 2  by the switching circuit  86 , both the inside and outside the housing can be made communicable ranges, by which the information transmission/reception to the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading outside the housing and the information transmission/reception to the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production fed in the housing can be carried out surely. Also, since the procedure to read out the tag ID so as to check if it is the RFID circuit element To-W of the cartridge  7  or not is not needed any more, the control procedure can be simplified. Moreover, since there is no need to read out the ID information of all the RFID circuit elements To-W provided at the cartridge, the cartridge information provided on the side of the cartridge can be reduced. 
         [0193]    In the above variations (i) and (ii), the loop antenna configured in the loop coil shape is used for both the two antennas, but not limited to that, a patch antenna may be used for the two antennas. Alternatively, one may be a loop antenna and the other may be a patch antenna. 
         [0194]    Also, in the above variation, the case where the operation mode is switched according to the instruction input of the operator has been described, but not limited to that, the operation mode may be selected according to the attached state of the cartridge  7  in the cartridge holder  6 . 
         [0195]      FIG. 25  is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure executed by the control circuit in this case. As shown in  FIG. 25 , it is determined if the cartridge  7  is attached to the cartridge holder  6  at Step S 10 , and if not attached, the switching circuit  86  is switched at Step S 35  so that the antenna duplexer  240  and the second loop antenna LC 2  are connected, and the scan processing is carried out at Step S 300 ′. On the other hand, if the cartridge  7  is attached to the cartridge holder  6 , the determination at Step S 10  is satisfied, and at the subsequent Step S 20 , the cartridge information (here, information if the cartridge  7  is for a tag label production or for an usual label production not having a tag) is obtained, and according to thus obtained cartridge information, the tag label production processing or usual label production processing is carried out. 
         [0196]    According to this variation, since even if the cartridge  7  is not attached to the cartridge holder  6 , information of the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading outside can be read out in the scan mode, even while a tag label is not produced, the second loop antenna LC 2 , the control circuit  110 ′, and the transmission/receiving circuits  306 ,  307  and the like are not left idle but can be used effectively. 
         [0197]    (2) When Two Scan Modes are Provided: 
         [0198]    In the above embodiment, only one scan mode is provided in the control configuration, but not limited to that, two scan modes may be provided. Note that, this variation is an example of a case where the communicable regions are provided both inside and outside the housing  200  using two antennas similarly to the above variation (1). 
         [0199]      FIGS. 26A and 26B  are perspective views schematically illustrating an entire structure of an apparatus  1 ′ for producing RFID labels of this variation. In  FIGS. 26A and 26B , the same reference numerals are given to the same portions as those in the above-mentioned  FIG. 2  and description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0200]    In  FIGS. 26A and 26B , a housing  200 ′ of an apparatus main body  2 ′ in the apparatus  1 ′ for producing RFID labels is located on the side of the apparatus (front right side in  FIG. 26 ) and is provided with a side wall  200 ′A (opening/closing portion) that can be opened to the side with a lower end rotatably supported. In the side wall  200 ′A, first and second loop antennas LC 1 ′, LC 2 ′ are provided with the shield member  87  (shield member) held between them (See  FIG. 27 , which will be described later). At a position corresponding to the second loop antenna LC 2 ′ of an outer peripheral surface  200 ′Aa of the side wall  200 ′A, a display portion  88  showing a position to place the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading (RFID label and the like) when the apparatus  1 ′ for producing RFID labels is used in a first scan mode (scan mode while the side wall  200 ′A is closed. The state shown in  FIG. 26A ) is provided, and at a position corresponding to the first loop antenna LC 1 ′ of an inner peripheral surface  200 ′Ab of the side wall  200 ′A, a display portion  89  showing a position to place the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading (RFID label and the like) when the apparatus  1 ′ for producing RFID labels is used in a second scan mode (scan mode while the side wall  200 ′A is opened. The state shown in  FIG. 26B ) is provided. 
         [0201]    Also, the apparatus main body  2 ′ is provided with an opening/closing detection sensor  90  (limit switch, for example) that detects an open/closed state of the side wall  200 ′A (See  FIG. 26B ). This opening/closing detection sensor  90  (opening/closing detecting device) detects an open/closed state of the side wall  200 ′A and outputs the detected signal to a control circuit  110 ″. 
         [0202]      FIG. 27  is a sectional view of a portion where the first and second loop antennas LC 1 ′, LC 2 ′ are installed in the side wall  200 A. As shown in  FIG. 27 , in the side wall  200 ′A, the second loop antenna LC 2 ′ on the outer periphery side and the first loop antenna LC 1 ′ on the inner periphery side are provided with the shield member  87  held between them. The first loop antenna LC 1 ′ is, if the side wall  200 ′A is closed and in the tag-label production mode, provided with the communicable region on the inside of the housing  200 ′ and is capable of information transmission/reception to the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production provided at the tag label tape  109  with print. If the side wall  200 ′A is opened and the mode is in the second scan mode, the communicable region is provided on the outside (upper side of the side wall  200 ′A) of the housing  200 ′ and information can be transmitted/received to the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading located outside the housing. On the other hand, the second loop antenna LC 2 ′ is, if the side wall  200 ′A is closed and in the first scan mode, provided with the communicable region outside the housing  200 ′ and capable of information transmission/reception to the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading located outside the housing. 
         [0203]      FIG. 28  is a functional block diagram illustrating a control system of the apparatus  1 ′ for producing RFID labels of this variation and corresponds to the above-mentioned  FIG. 21  and the like. In  FIG. 28 , to the input/output interface  113 , the opening/closing detection sensor  90  that detects the open/closed state of the side wall  200 ′A is connected. Since the other configurations are the same as those in  FIG. 21 , description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0204]      FIG. 29  is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure executed by the control circuit  110 ″ and corresponds to the above-mentioned  FIG. 22  and the like. The same reference numerals are given to the same procedures as in  FIG. 22  and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. 
         [0205]    In  FIG. 29 , Step S 10  to Step S 30  are the same as in the above-mentioned  FIG. 22 . At Step S 30 , it is determined if there has been an instruction input for a label production from an operator, and if there is no instruction input (that is, in a usual case), the determination is not satisfied and the routine goes to the subsequent Step S 31 . 
         [0206]    At Step S 31 , based on a detection signal input from the opening/closing detection sensor  90 , it is determined if the side wall  200 ′A is open or not. If the side wall  200 ′A is open, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to the subsequent Step S 35 , the mode is changed to the second scan mode, and a control signal is output to the switching circuit  86  so as to switch the switching circuit  86  and connect the antenna duplexer  240  and the first loop antenna LC 1 ′. After that, the scan processing is carried out at Step S 300 ′. 
         [0207]    On the other hand, at Step S 31 , if the side wall  200 ′A is closed, the determination is not satisfied and the routine goes to Step S 37 , the mode is changed to the first scan mode, and a control signal is output to the switching circuit  86  so as to switch the switching circuit  86  and connect the antenna duplexer  240  and the second loop antenna LC 2 ′. After that, the scan processing is carried out at Step S 300 ′. The procedures other than those described above are the same as in the above-mentioned  FIG. 22 . 
         [0208]    In the variation described above, two scan modes are provided, and while the side wall  200 ′A is opened, the tag label and the like provided with the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading to be read-out can be scanned at the upper part of the opened side wall  200 ′A. Thus, operatability/convenience for the operator in the scan mode can be improved. Also, the mode can be switched between the first scan mode and the second scan mode according to the opening/closing of the side wall  200 ′A, by which the mode switching operation by the operator can be made simple and clear. 
         [0209]    Note that, in the above variation, the communicable regions are provided both inside and outside the housing  200  using two antennas, but not limited to that, the communicable regions may be provided both inside and outside the housing  200  with a single antenna similarly to the above-mentioned first embodiment. In this case, it may be so configured that when the side wall  200 ′A is closed, the mode is switched to the tag-label production mode (or usual label production mode), while if the side wall  200 ′A is opened, the mode is switched to the scan mode. 
         [0210]    Also, in the above variation, it may be so configured that a lock mechanism that locks the side wall  200 ′A in the closed state is provided, and at communication between the first loop antenna LC 1 ′ and the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production provided at the tag label tape  109  with print in the tag-label production mode, the side wall  200 ′A is locked by the lock mechanism so as not to be opened. 
         [0211]    Also, though a transmission output is not controlled in the above variation, it may be so configured that the transmission output at scanning when the side wall  200 ′A is opened (second scan mode) is controlled to be smaller than the transmission output at scanning when the side wall  200 ′A is closed (first scan mode), for example. With this configuration, in scanning while the side wall  200 ′A is opened, reading-out of information in the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production in the apparatus main body  2 ′ can be prevented. 
         [0212]    Also, in the variations (1) and (2), the loop antenna configured in the loop coil shape is used for the two antennas, but not limited to that, a patch antenna may be used for the two antennas. Alternatively, one may be a loop antenna, while the other may be a patch antenna. 
         [0213]    (3) When Directivity Switching is Carried Out by Array Antenna: 
         [0214]    In the above embodiment, the loop antenna is used, but not limited to that, by carrying out directivity control using a phased array antenna, the communicable regions may be provided both inside and outside the housing  200 . 
         [0215]      FIG. 30  is a plan view illustrating a structure of the internal unit  20  in this variation and corresponds to the above-mentioned  FIG. 19  and the like. The same reference numerals are given to the same portions as those in the above-mentioned  FIG. 19  and description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0216]    In  FIG. 30 , the internal unit  20  is provided with a phased array antenna  91  having a plurality of antenna elements (not shown) for both transmission and reception for signal transmission/reception via radio communication with the RFID circuit elements To-W, To-R. Directivity of the phased array antenna  91  has its main lobe direction changed by directivity control executed by the control circuit (directivity control portion) to a direction of an arrow  93  from a direction of an arrow  92  in the figure. That is, in the tag-label production mode, control is made so that the main lobe direction is the arrow  92  direction, and information can be written or read via radio communication with respect to the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production provided at the tag label tape  109  with print. On the other hand, in the scan mode, the control is made so that the main lobe direction is the arrow  93  direction, and information can be written or read via radio communication with respect to the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading located outside the apparatus main body  2  (housing  200 ). 
         [0217]    In the variation described above, too, the same effect as that in the above embodiment can be obtained. 
         [0218]    (4) When Label Printing is Carried Out According to Scanned Contents: 
         [0219]    In the above embodiment, based on the printing information input by the operator from the PC  118  or the RFID tag information read out of the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production, the label is printed in the tag label production processing or the usual label production processing, but not limited to that, the label may be printed based on the RFID tag information read out of the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading outside the apparatus in the scan processing. 
         [0220]      FIG. 31  is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure executed by a control circuit  110 ′″ of this variation and corresponds to the above-mentioned  FIG. 13  and the like. The same reference numerals are given to the same procedures as in  FIG. 13  and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. 
         [0221]    A point of this flow different from  FIG. 13  is that the scan processing at Step S 300 A is carried out when a label production instruction is input from the operator and the determination at Step S 30  is satisfied. In this variation, after the scan processing, the tag label production processing at Step S 100 A or the usual label production processing at Step S 600 A is carried out. 
         [0222]      FIG. 32  is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of the above-mentioned Step S 300 A and corresponds to the above-mentioned  FIG. 14 . The same reference numerals are given to the same procedures as in  FIG. 14  and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. 
         [0223]    In  FIG. 32 , Step S 310  to Step S 340  are similar to the above-mentioned  FIG. 14 . That is, it is determined if an instruction to stop scanning is input from an operator or not and if not, an inquiry signal is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To-R, which is a reading target outside the apparatus, and when a reply signal is received from the RFID circuit element To-R, it is determined if the RFID circuit element To-R as the reading target having transmitted the reply signal is the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production of the cartridge  7  or not. If it is not the RFID circuit element To-W of the cartridge  7 , the determination at Step S 40  is satisfied and the routine goes to the subsequent Step S 350 A. 
         [0224]    At Step S 350 A, the RFID tag information obtained from the RFID circuit element To-R as the reading target based on the above received reply signal is processed as appropriate. In this variation, processing to subtract a predetermined amount (amount of a purchased goods, for example) from balance information of electronic money stored in the RFID circuit element To-R (or balance information obtained from the information server IS and the like based on the tag ID stored in the RFID circuit element To-R), processing to obtain an article name (the name of the purchased goods and the like, for example) at which the RFID circuit element To-R is provided from the information server IS and the like based on the tag ID stored in the RFID circuit element To-R and the like are carried out, for example. Then, the information after the processing is stored in an appropriate memory (RAM  117 , for example). Note that, the above processed information may be output through the input/output interface  113  and the communication line NW and stored in the information server IS or the route server RS so that the information can be referred to as necessary from the PC  118  or may be displayed by the display device of the PC  118 . Then this flow is finished. 
         [0225]      FIG. 33  is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of the above-mentioned Step S 100 A and corresponds to the above-mentioned  FIG. 15 . The same reference numerals are given to the same procedures as in  FIG. 14  and description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0226]    In  FIG. 33 , first, at Step S 105 A, the processing information applied with appropriate processing at Step S 350 A and stored in the memory is read out and based on the processing information, preparation processing including setting of the print data, communication data with the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production, front/rear half-cut positions, full-cut position and the like is executed. The subsequent Step S 110  to Step S 170  are the same as in  FIG. 15 , and the RFID label T on which the label printing corresponding to the processing information has been applied and information has been written in the RFID circuit element To-W is produced. 
         [0227]      FIG. 34  is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of the above-mentioned Step S 600 A and corresponds to the above-mentioned  FIG. 18 . The same reference numerals are given to the procedures similar to those in  FIG. 18  and description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0228]    In  FIG. 34 , first, at Step S 605 A, the processing information applied with appropriate processing at Step S 350 A and stored in the memory is read out, and based on the processing information, preparation processing including setting of the print data, front/rear half cut positions, full-cut position and the like is executed. The subsequent Step S 610  to Step S 670  are the same as in  FIG. 18 , and the label on which the label printing corresponding to the processing information is made is produced. 
         [0229]    In the above, the procedure at Step S 125  executed by the control circuit  110 ′″ constitutes second print-control portion controlling the printing device described in claim  13 . Also, the procedure at Step S 350 A executed by the control circuit  110 ′″ constitutes information processing portion that carries out predetermined information processing described in claim  15 . 
         [0230]    In the variation described above, the RFID label T or the usual label in which the information transmission/reception contents are reflected can be produced by making a print corresponding to the information transmission/reception contents with the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading outside the housing on the cover film  103 . Also, the RFID label T in which the information transmission/reception contents are stored can be produced by writing the RFID tag information corresponding to the information transmission/reception contents with the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading outside the housing in the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production. 
         [0231]    In the above variation, in the RFID label production processing and the usual label production processing, the RFID label T or the usual label is produced by full-cut processing by the cutting mechanism  15 , but not limited to that, a tape produced without the cutting processing may be taken up in an uncut roll state or tape state. 
         [0232]    (5) Others: 
         [0233]    In the above, the information is read out of the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading located outside the apparatus main body  2  (housing  200 ) on the side face of the apparatus main body  2  by providing the loop antenna LC on the side face of the apparatus main body  2 , but not limited to that. That is, it may be so configured that the loop antenna LC is provided on the front face side or the upper face side of the apparatus main body  2  and information is read out of the RFID circuit element To-R for an information reading located outside the apparatus main body  2  (housing  200 ) on the front face side or the upper face side of the apparatus main body  2 . 
         [0234]    In the above, the apparatus for producing RFID labels having the opening/closing lid  3  on the upper side of the apparatus main body  2  and attached to the upper side with the cartridge  7  in the laterally arranged state (so-called laterally-arranged cartridge type) has been described as an example, but not limited to that, the present invention may be applied to the apparatus for producing RFID labels having the opening/closing lid on the side of the apparatus main body and attached to the side with the cartridge  7  in the vertically arranged state (so-called vertically-arranged cartridge type). 
         [0235]    Also, in the above, the case where the RFID tag information is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production and written in the IC circuit part  151  so as to produce the RFID label T has been described, but not limited to that. That is, as having been already described, the present invention may be applied to a case where while RFID tag information is read out of the RFID circuit element To for reading only in which the predetermined RFID tag information is stored and held unrewritably in advance, the corresponding print is applied so as to produce the RFID label T, and the same effect as the above can be also obtained in this case. 
         [0236]    Also, in the above, such method was used that the print is applied to the cover film  103  separate from the base tape  101  provided with the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production and they are bonded together, but not limited to that, the present invention may be applied to a method that the print is made in a print region of a print-receiving tape layer provided at the tag tape, for example (not-bonding type). In this case, configuration of the receiver  38  and the half-cutter  34  in the half-cut unit  35  is different from that in this embodiment. That is, the receiver is arranged on the side of the half-cutter  34  and the half-cutter is arranged on the side of the receiver  38  in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0237]    Also, in the above, the case where the tag label T is produced by cutting the tag label tape  109  with print for which printing and an access (for reading or writing) to the RFID circuit element To-W for a label production has been finished by the cutting mechanism  15  has been described, but not limited to that. That is, if label mounts (so-called die-cut labels) separated in advance to a predetermined size corresponding to the label are sequentially arranged on the tape fed out of the roll, the tag label T may be produced by peeling off only the label mount (on which the accessed RFID circuit element To is provided and the print has been applied) from the tape after the tape is discharged from the label carry-out exit  11  without cutting it by the cutting mechanism  15 , and the present invention can be also applied to such a case. 
         [0238]    Moreover, in the above, such case where the first roll  102  is constituted by winding the base tape  101  around the reel member  102   a , the roll is arranged in the cartridge  7  and the base tape  101  is fed out thereof has been described, but not limited to that. For example, a lengthy flat sheet or strip state tape or sheet on which at least one RFID circuit element To is arranged (including those formed by cutting it to an appropriate length after the tape wound around a roll is fed out) is stacked in a predetermined storage portion (flatly stacked in a tray-state container, for example) to be made into a cartridge, and the cartridge may be attached to a cartridge holder on the side of the apparatus for producing RFID labels so that transfer and transport are made from the storage portion for the print and writing and the RFID label is produced. 
         [0239]    Moreover, it may be so configured that the roll is directly attached to the side of the apparatus for producing RFID labels detachably or the lengthy flat sheet or strip state tape or sheet is transferred from outside the apparatus for producing RFID labels one by one and supplied to the apparatus for producing RFID labels by a predetermined feeder mechanism, or furthermore, not even limited to those detachably attached on the side of the apparatus main body of the apparatus for producing RFID labels such as the cartridge  7 , the first roll  102  may be provided as a so-called installed type or integral type non-detachably attached to the side of the apparatus main body. In this case, too, the same effect can be obtained. 
         [0240]    The “Scroll ID” command signal, the “Erase” command signal, the “Verify” command signal, the “Program” command signal and the like used in the above shall comply with the specification formulated by EPC global. The EPC global is a non-profit corporation jointly established by International EAN Association, which is an international organization of distribution codes, and UCC (Uniformed Code Council), which is an U.S. distribution code organization. Signals complying with other standards will do as long as they serve the same functions. 
         [0241]    Other than those mentioned above, methods of the embodiments and each variation may be combined as appropriate for use. 
         [0242]    Though not specifically exemplified, the present invention should be put into practice with various changes made in a range not departing from its gist.