DE19510458A1 - Microchip and coil transponder device for mounting on container - Google Patents

Abstract

A transponder device (18) is provided consisting of a microchip and pickup coil which is read by means of a radio frequency stimulus probe. The microchip transmits data to the readout probe and is embedded in a boring in a beer keg, gas cylinder or similar container. The microchip and coil are embedded in a protective case of plastic, which has tongues or other protrusions to ensure the fixing of the transponder in the housing.

Description

The invention relates to the attachment of a transponder a container, such as a barrel made of wood or plastic, as well the attachment of such a transponder to a thin one Wall, such as the bottom ring of a metal container, e.g. B. beer sane. The invention relates on the one hand to a Ver drive to attach the transponder, but also on the other hand a corresponding device.

The term "transponder" means an object here records, which consists of a microchip with an attached Coil exists, both cast into a robust art fabric housing that is insensitive to the arrangement Acid, alkali and mechanical damage. Such transponders are used, for example, in time "Brauwelt" No. 42 (1994), page 2141, described, according to which magazine a transponder as "KegTag" the upper floor either in the polyurethane of the soft drink keg bed, or permanently attached to the stainless steel keg  is. The chip of the transponder contains data storage a code and the circuits for data transmission. By a reader will transmit radio frequency energy to the coil carry and from there transmit this energy to the chip that in turn will take effect to read data from the Allow chip through the reader.

For attaching such transponders to the over guarding objects, such as beverage barrels or other Containers should be aimed at one type of attachment, on the one hand the sensitive electronics of the chip and the associated ones Coil covers as possible against external influences and protects, but also the attachment of one of the like transponders designed as simple as possible, and also the removal of this transponder by unauthorized hands largely difficult or impossible without the Manipulation becomes visible. Such a secure attachment is not yet guaranteed according to known methods For example, consist in that the plastic cast transponder simply with one side, for example stuck on the containers or the barrel.

Such a transponder is not protected enough the attachment is also too time consuming.

The object of the invention is a method for attachment a transponder on a container, such as a wooden barrel or Plastic, or alternatively on a thin wall, such as Bottom ring of a metal container, to create the easier can be executed, the transponder on its loading to a large extent protects and tampering with the Transponder difficult or at least visible.

The invention is solved according to a procedure through that a blind hole is drilled in the barrel material and in this a pen-like, enclosing the transponder  Container, in particular plastic insert is inserted, and alternatively in that a breakthrough in the thin Wall an insert, preferably made of plastic is introduced, the inside of the transponder contains.

There is one for each of the two different procedures particularly suitable device. So according to the first Alternatively, a device for attaching a trans ponders on a container, such as a barrel made of wood or plastic created, which is characterized in that the pin like containers a nubbed or sawtooth in longitudinal section has like peripheral surface. With a sawtooth-like circumference the tooth tips should face the outward end of the pen. This measure can the pin easily into a corresponding hole in the loading can be inserted, but the removal is without Destruction of the arrangement practically no longer possible, so that on the one hand the transponder housed in the housing is largely protected against external influences, on the other hand a subsequent manipulation, for example by off change the transponder, not or at least not without Destruction of the original transponder is possible.

According to the other embodiment, the device for Attaching a transponder to a thin wall, such as Bottom ring of a metal container, characterized in that the device from a two-part container, preferably made of plastic with bottom part and cover part, which interconnected, preferably screwed can, with one part (e.g. the bottom part) the other Part (e.g. the cover part) grips laterally, from the edge or extent of the encompassing part tongues that extend place in a locking position on the perforation of the wall opening.

Further refinements of the respective invention are in the  Sub-claims reproduced.

So the inside of the container can be elastic Material to be provided, so the inserted transponder protect against shocks. This elastic material can by lamellae extending from the container in the walls are formed, which project radially from the wall and Hold the transponder springy. These slats can be used with the Plastic container parts are injection molded in one piece and thus allow a particularly simple and cheap manufacture position.

The invention is explained below with reference to exemplary embodiments play explained in more detail, which are shown in the drawings are.

It shows:

Fig. 1, in which an annular guard ring is mounted transponder according to the invention in a perspective view the upper end provided with a guard ring metal drum, such as beer keg;

Fig. 2 shows the upper end of a wooden barrel, in the protective ring a pin-shaped transponder is arranged at two different locations;

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of a device for fastening an annular transponder, as is used according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a plan view of the bottom part of the arrangement shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4B is a sectional view through the bottom part of FIG. 4A;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the cover part of the order shown in FIG. 3;

Fig. 6 is an axial sectional view through a pin-like transponder attachment, as it is set according to Figure 2; and

Fig. 7 is a section through the arrangement of FIG. 6 taken along section line VII-VII of Fig. 6.

In Fig. 1 the upper end of a container 10 can be seen, here a metal container for example beer, which has a protective ring 12 at the end shown, made for example from 2 mm thick sheet metal, which to increase the stability at its edge 14 as well is flanged or rolled at window-like openings 16 so as to increase the stability. In the area of this ring 12 , an opening is provided in the thin wall, in which a plastic insert 18 is inserted, which in turn encloses a transponder 20 not shown in FIG. 1 but recognizable in FIG. 3. The plastic container 18 is shown in FIG. 3 from a bottom part 22 and a cover part 24, which (with respect to the base part 22) and outer threads 28 (the lid 24 with respect to part) can be screwed together by means of internal thread 26.

The arrangement is such that one part, here it is the base part 22 , the other part, here it is the cover part 24 , engages laterally, with tongues 30 from the edge of the encompassing part, ie here from the edge of the base part 22 go out, which create the embrasure 32 of the breakthrough 34 in the wall material 12 . As can Figs. 3 recognize goes from the bottom edge of the engaged portion 24, a flange 36 from whose outer diameter is greater than the inner diameter of the opening 34 in the thin wall 12.

In accordance with the right half in the illustration of FIG. 3, the arrangement is such that the thin wall 12 is inserted with its edge regions between the flange 36 and the end face 40 of the tongue 38, while according to the left Dar position of FIG. 3 the tongue 30 there only forms a recess into which the edge of the opening slides when the plastic insert is inserted into the opening 34 with the bottom of the base part 22 , whereupon the two springs 30 , 38 then bend inwards when pushed in further, so that the insertion can be continued until finally the flange 36 abuts the sheet metal edge of the thin wall 12 and thus prevents further insertion. In itself, the springs 38 , 30 already hold the part 22 in the opening by frictional force, but it is more convenient to lock them in such a way that the springs 38 , 30 at this moment either come completely free from the reveal surface 34 and come into contact with their end face 40 on the wall surface of the opening 34 , right half of FIG. 3, or according to the left half of FIG. 3, the tongue or tongue 30 with an edge 42 lies against the wall surface of the sheet or the thin wall 12 . In this way, the plastic insert 18 can no longer be pulled out of the position shown. A release is only possible if the springs 30 , 38 are pressed inwards with a suitable tool, so that they come free from the edge surface of the opening 34 and thus allow the plastic insert 18 to be pushed back.

The plastic part 22 with its springs 30 can be seen in a top view in FIG. 4A and in an axial sectional view in FIG. 4B. The dimensions given (in millimeters) are only to be understood as an example for a sheet thickness of 2 mm.

They are closely related to the corresponding dimensions of a cover part 24 , as a practical embodiment is shown in FIG. 5 in a sectional view.

The two plastic parts 22 , 24 should consist of an anti-static plastic so as to prevent electrical interference on the electronic components within the transponder. Such plastics are e.g. B. BP and PUR. After inserting a disc-shaped transponder in the disc-shaped space 44 formed by the base part 22 and possibly introducing elastic material for shock-absorbing storage of this transponder in the component, the cover part 24 is screwed onto the base part 22 using the two threads 26 , 28 , so that the arrangement according to FIG. 3 results. The flange 36 lies with its contact surface 46 on the annular end edge 48 of the bottom part 22 , an undercut to the depth of the thread 50 allows a defined clean contact of the annular surface 48 on the flange 36 , and vice versa an undercut 52 in Bottom part 22 ensures that here, too, thread formation does not result from undefined material residues resulting in an undesired resting of the edge 54 of the lid part 24 on such material residues formed by the bottom part 22 . Because of these measures, it is even possible to choose the dimensions so precisely that both the annular surface 48 and the annular surface 54 abut against the respective opposite surface and thus enable a particular tightness. The tightness can also be increased by adding a thin liquid sealant to the thread, which then hardens. Such a sealant is available, for example, under the trade name "Kuril". After this sealant has hardened, the interior surrounding the transponder is completely closed off from the exterior.

The structure thus finished can then, as already briefly described, be inserted into a suitably dimensioned opening in a thin wall, whereupon the arrangement can be snapped in with a suitable dimension of the recessed edge 42 (preferably according to the thickness of the thin wall) .

The space 58 formed between the inner bottom part side wall 56 and the tongues 30 could then, if desired, be filled with a hardening mass, so that the springs can then no longer be pushed back and thus the plastic insert 18 immovably firmly in its breakthrough in the thin wall must remain if it is not destroyed zer.

Even if, due to the special shape of the container 10, the rear side 60 of the thin wall 12 is not accessible, so that access to the springs 38 is also barred, there is protection against unauthorized removal of the transponder housing 18 .

This embodiment is particularly suitable for so-called beer kegs (beer kegs), for gas bottles, for standard containers for bulk goods, for use in the pharmaceutical industry, but also for jam containers and the like. The presence of upper or lower frames on the container is favorable, but attachment is also possible on stacking feet, adjustable skids, etc. The arrangement is such that the presence of metal in the vicinity of the transponder does not impair its working, because of the radio frequency used for the operation of the transponder device. This results in particular from the fact that the disk-shaped transponder arranged in the plastic is held with its entire surface within the opening of the thin metallic wall 12 and thus the metallic wall 12 does not disruptively cover the transponder, so that the radio waves of the frequency used here ( in the range of 100 kHz) can reach the ring coil unhindered.

In the arrangement of Fig. 2 is a barrel construction is present in which no metal but as the material of wood or plastic, is permeable to the used herein radio waves, so that here a different type of transponder or any other type of Accommodation is provided. These are pin-shaped transponders 120 which are placed, for example, in a protective tire 112 made of plastic or made of wood in a container 110 , as is shown in more detail in FIGS. 6 and 7.

According to each embodiment, a pin-shaped transponder is accommodated in a plastic insert 118 , which is itself pin-shaped and forms a longitudinal pocket bore 158 in its interior, at the open end of which an extension 62 of the inner diameter is formed, into which a sealing plug 64 is pressed, such that the upper one End of the plug 64 is flush with the end of the plastic insert 118 . A corrugation 66 can be provided on the inner surface of this extension 62 , which may harmonize with corresponding corrugations 68 of the circumference of the sealing plug 64 in such a way that the corrugations snap into one another when the plug reaches the end position shown in FIG. 6. The corrugations can be sawtooth-shaped, so that they can only be shifted in one direction, so z. B. only in the direction of inserting the plug 64 into the extended space 62 , but not a removal of the plug from this space is possible again. In order to mount the transponder 120 in the housing 118 in a shock-absorbing manner, elastic material can be introduced, for example at the upper and lower ends of the transponder, so that its two ends are softly supported, or, as shown, from the inner walls of the blind hole projecting lamellae 70 are provided, which are so elastic that after pushing the pin-shaped transponder 120 hold them essentially without great pressure and so he allowed a largely vibration-damping bracket.

In order to accommodate the plastic insert 118 in a container 112 , a blind bore 72 is first placed in it, the depth T of which is somewhat greater than the longitudinal extension of the pin-shaped plastic insert 118 , and the inner diameter D of which approximately corresponds to the outer diameter of the insert 118 , may be slightly smaller to achieve an interference fit. Then insert 118 is then inserted into this bore. If, as shown in FIG. 6, the circumference of the insert 118 is provided with a corrugation that is sawtooth-shaped in cross section, see reference number 74 , and if the sawtooth tips point in the direction of the rear end of the insert 118 , this insert 118 hooks after insertion into the opening in the material of the container and can therefore no longer be pulled out of this blind hole. In this case, too, there is a desired protection against manipulation.

If one fails to apply such corrugations 74 in the area of the one end 76 and the diameter in this area is somewhat larger than the inside diameter of the bore, a desired moisture seal results, which can be increased by a sealant, which may be used during insertion the plastic insert 118 is added to the blind bore 72 .

The construction according to Fig. 6 and 7 is particularly well suited for wood ge container and rubber containers and for containers made of plastic such. B. PU. The plastic of the insert 118 is expediently adapted to the material of the container, for example in such a way that the same coefficients of thermal expansion result.

The container material must be for the radio waves used here be permeable to the extent that the function of the transponder is not affected.

With corresponding sensitive transponders, however, that is sufficient  fenestration of the container given by the plastic insert to allow the radio waves to reach the transponder and make it work.

Usual dimensions for the arrangement of FIG. 6, a length D of 50 mm and a diameter dimension D of 10 mm, so that a ratio of length to diameter of 5 results. The transponder itself then has, for example, a diameter of 3.9 mm and a length of 32 mm.

Claims (17)

1. A method for attaching a transponder to a container, such as a barrel made of wood or plastic, characterized in that a blind hole is drilled in the barrel material and a pin-like insert enclosing the transponder, in particular a plastic insert, is inserted into this. 2. Procedure for attaching a transponder to a thin wall, like the bottom ring of a metal container o. Like., characterized in that in a thin Wall breakthrough a preferably made of art existing insert is introduced, which in contains the transponder inside. 3. Device for attaching a transponder to a thin wall, like the bottom ring of a metal container or the like, consisting of a two-part container, preferably made of plastic, with base and lid  part that are interconnected, especially ver can be screwed, one part (e.g. the Bottom part) the other part (e.g. the cover part) encompasses laterally and from the edge or circumference of the engaging part tongues that go to the hole Apply the reveal of the wall opening in a locking manner. 4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that from the bottom edge or circumference of the encompassed part flange-like projection, whose diameter is larger than the diameter of the opening. 5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the encompassed part ( 24 ) forms a cavity ( 44 ) in which a disc-shaped transponder can be accepted. 6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the encompassing part ( 22 ) with its side edge end face with connected parts on the inner surface of the flange part ( 36 ) rests tightly. 7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the peripheral surface of the encompassed part forms a recess ( 50 ) in the region of the support of the lid edge. 8. Apparatus according to claim 4 to 7, characterized in that the tongues ( 30 , 38 ) at a distance parallel to the encompassing edge of the encompassing part and form an end face ( 40 ) or recess shoulder ( 42 ), which is in the assembled device supported on the edge of the thin wall ( Fig. 3). 9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the outer surface of the encompassing part in the area of  Cavity forms a depression for the transponder (Pressure protection). 10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the transponder in a flexible mass within the Insert is arranged. 11. Device for attaching a pin-shaped trans ponder in a container, such as a barrel made of wood or plastic, the container being pin-like and having a nubbed or sawtooth-like circumferential surface in longitudinal section ( 74 ). 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that with a sawtooth-like peripheral surface Saw teeth to the outward end of the pin are directed. 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the insert ( 110 ) forms a blind hole ( 158 ) in its interior, which forms an extension of the inner diameter at its open end into which a sealing plug ( 64 ) is pressed. 14. The apparatus of claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the inner surface of the extension ( 62 ) has a corrugation, in the corrugations ( 68 ) of the circumference of the sealing plug ( 64 ) snap into place. 15. The apparatus of claim 12, 13, or 14, characterized characterized in that the pin-like transponder inside half of the blind hole stored in elastic material is. 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the elastic material of lamellar, from the  Blind hole outgoing, with the use of one piece Material is formed. 17. Device according to one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that the ratio of length (T) to diameter (D) of the pin-like insert ( 110 ) is between 5: 1 and 20: 1, and that the ratio of the inner diameter of the Bore or outside diameter between 1: 3 or 1: 1.5.