FI12111U1 - Stock management system - Google Patents

Abstract

A storage system (10) for bearings (100), comprising, RFID tags (12) arranged to be individually attached to each object (14) being stored, each RFID tag (12) having a unique identification (16) , a gate (20) equipped with RFID reader (18) arranged adjacent to the input (102) of the layer (100) for reading said RFID tags (12) as objects (14) move into and out of the layer (100) ), which port (20) is created adjacent to a closed space (30), which space (30) comprises a first door (32) and a second door (34) to allow passage and to close the space (30). while reading the RFID tags (12), and which space (30) is insulated to prevent reading of the RFID tags (12) located outside the space (30) with the RFID reader (18) contained within the space , a server (22) for maintaining a register (24) of the identifications (16) of the RFID tags (12) of the objects (14) contained in the layer (100) , data transfer devices (26) for transmitting the identifications (16) of the read RFID tags (12) from said RFID reader (18) to the register (24) of said server (22), and programmatic means (28) for administering the register (24) over said identifiers (16) on the server (22), characterized in that said RFID reader (18) comprises a UHF antenna for remote reading of the RFID tags (12). In addition, the protection requirements 2-5.

Description

STORAGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a warehouse management system comprising: RFID tags adapted to be individually affixed to each item to be stored, each RFID tag having a unique identifier, a port fitted with an RFID reader to read the RFID tags when moving items to and from the warehouse; the port is formed in a closed space comprising a first door and a second door to allow passage and sealing during the reading of the RFID tags, which space is isolated to prevent the reading of out-of-space RFID tags by the RFID reader inside the space; tags for maintaining the tag register, communication means for transferring the tags of the read RFID tags from the RFID reader to the server, and software tools for managing the tag register on the server.

Keeping up-to-date the stock situation of companies requires traditionally a considerable amount of work. JP2003128213A is known in the art, which discloses a warehouse management system utilizing RFID tags for object management. Each item being exported has an RFID tag attached to it, which has a unique identifier that can be read by an RFID reader. In this case, the RFID reader is adapted to the port, and the items being exported to and from the warehouse are transported through the port. While passing objects through the gate, the RFID reader reads the RFID tags of the objects and records their identifiers, for example, to the server. This allows you to maintain an electronic register of the items in the warehouse without manual entry. The problem with such a system, however, is that the RFID reader positioned at the port reads all nearby RFID tags both inside and outside the warehouse. In this way, storage RFID tags placed near the port or objects transported past the port outside the warehouse may be read unintentionally by interfering with the warehouse database, or register, maintained by the identifiers of the stored items.

The object of the invention is to provide a more reliable management system than prior art warehouse management systems. Characteristic features of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying claim 1.

The object of the invention may be achieved by a warehouse management system comprising RFID tags adapted to be individually affixed to each item to be stored, each RFID tag having a unique identifier, an RFID reader port fitted to the warehouse entrance to read to maintain a register of RFID tags for objects contained within. In addition, the management system includes communication means for transferring read RFID tag identifiers from an RFID reader to a server in a register, and software means for managing the tag register on the server. In a management system according to the invention, the port is formed in the context of a closed space, which includes a first door and a second door for enabling passage and closing of the space during the reading of the RFID tags. The space is isolated to prevent reading of the out-of-space RFID tags by the in-room RFID reader. The RFID reader includes a UHF antenna for remote reading of RFID tags.

In the management system of the invention, the number of RFID tags is limited by the isolation provided by the gate-forming closed space, the space forming isolation or at least suppression, preventing the out-of-space RFID tags from being read by the RFID reader inside the space. At the same time, the RFID reader can use a reading frequency such that all RFID tags inside the enclosed space, for example in the carriage, can be read without being moved separately to the RFID reader. The placement of the RFID reader at the gate ensures that all items entering and leaving the warehouse always pass through the RFID reader, allowing complete inventory registration. The RFID tags used in the management system and the RFID reader are adapted to operate in the UHF frequency band. The UHF frequency range allows remote objects to be read remotely, allowing more objects to be read at once. On the other hand, the use of the UHF frequency band is also more strongly related to the importance of closed space isolation, since the RFID reader operating in the UHF band can read RFID tags over a greater distance. The UHF antenna can be used in the control system according to the invention because the space is isolated.

The management system may further include personal identifiers for users and two personal readers to read the personal identifier in a single door for user access control. The use of personal identifiers to open doors also allows access control and access to the storage area only by authorized users.

Preferably, the personal identifier is adapted to be associated with the object identifiers in the register by means of software. In this case, for example, the user who has taken the item out of storage can be identified and user-monitored. This is especially useful for tool stores, for example, where tools are borrowed and returned after use.

Preferably, the first door and the second door are provided with electric locks and the space includes control means for operating the electric locks on the basis of the personal reader. Electric locks ensure that the user is identified whenever he enters and exits the warehouse. This prevents users from forgetting to sign in.

Preferably, the space includes an insulating layer to prevent reading of the out-of-space RFID tags by said RFID reader. The insulating layer provides a sufficient amount of signal attenuation to the space, even if it is made of a material that naturally only attenuates signals weakly.

Preferably, the dielectric layer has a sunscreen with a damping of 30 to 50 dB. It is surprising that the sunscreen provides sufficient insulation or damping to isolate the enclosed space from RFID tags.

Preferably, the sunscreen film must be at least somewhat electrically conductive. The space covered by the sunscreen then forms the Faraday cage.

Preferably, the film has a conductivity in the range of 0.01 to 10 ohms / m2. With a target of 35-60 dB attenuation, the nickel-coated sunscreen achieves a conductivity (so-called bulk) of 0.5 ohms / m2, while the aluminum-coated sunscreen achieves 0.1 ohms / m2 and only 0.01 ohms / m2 with silver.

The sunscreen film preferably contains metal polymers. In this case, the solar membrane is conductive and provides sufficient damping.

In one alternative, the electrically conductive fibers of the sunscreen film are polyacrylonitrile (PAN), which are produced on the substrate by electrospinning. The bare PAN polymer does not conduct electricity, so it must be coated with a metal coating, which may be copper, silver, nickel or gold.

Preferably, the space is substantially transparent. This increases the comfort of the space and allows other users to see inside the space, so that other users do not accidentally interrupt the posting process while one user is already in the space. Transparent mode also allows the user to observe from outside the space.

The space can be mainly glass. Glass also provides better rigidity and sound absorption than, for example, plexiglass.

Alternatively, the space may also be predominantly plastic. A lighter overall structure can be achieved, which is easier to transport.

The management system may further include a management terminal fitted in the space to add a description of the objects entering the storage to the unique identifier of the read RFID tag of each object. This allows objects to be identified from the inventory register, even though each object is associated with a similar RFID tag that is otherwise only distinguished by the RFID tag, which is difficult for the user to identify.

The control means for controlling the electric locks on the doors may be said control terminal. In this case, the same management terminal can perform many tasks in the management system while simplifying the structure of the management system.

According to one embodiment, the space is provided with wheels for transferring space. In this case, the port can also be moved to a different location if the warehouse entrance or warehouse location changes.

Preferably, the RFID tags used in the management system are passive. In this case, they do not need their own power supply, but receive sufficient power from the RFID reader transmission.

According to one embodiment, the management system may also include a conveyor adapted to pass through a closed space. In this way, objects already pre-equipped with the RFID tag can be automatically moved to a closed space from which the user acknowledges the transfer of the items to or from the warehouse. This way, the user does not have to carry objects with them through the doors into a confined space to read RFID tags.

The most preferred embodiment of the management system of the invention is to use at least a predominantly glass enclosed space that is insulated with a sunscreen film in which the RFID tags and the RFID reader use the UHF frequency and the users are identified by the personal identifiers of the users.

The management system of the invention can be used by a method of managing a warehouse by affixing RFID tags individually to each object to be stored, each RFID tag having a unique identifier, reading the object RFID tags using a RFID reader port when transferring objects to and from the port. fitted at the entrance of the warehouse. In the method, the gate is formed in a closed space comprising a first door and a second door for passage, the method further comprising closing the doors with readable objects inside the space prior to reading the RFID tags and reading the RFID tags with the RFID reader closed using the RFID reader inside the space. The method further comprises transferring the tags of the read RFID tags from the RFID reader to the server using communication means, maintaining a register of RFID tags of the objects contained in the repository on the server and managing said register on the server by means of software.

When using the management system according to the invention, the number of RFID tags of objects is limited by the closed space only to those objects that are moving into or out of storage. The space isolates or at least suppresses the RFID reader signal and the RFID tag signal, preventing the out-of-state RFID tags from being read accidentally when traveling through a port.

Preferably, when using the management system of the invention, users are provided with personal identifiers to identify the users, a space is provided with a personal reader for reading the personal identifiers, and the personal identification of the user is read by the personal reader upon entering the space. Further, preferably, the first door is opened after reading the personal identifier, closing the first door during the reading of the object RFID tags while the second door is closed and re-reading the user's personal identifier by means of a personal reader after reading the RFID tags of the objects. Further preferably, the second door is opened after reading the personal identification number and the second door is closed. This way, each item brought into and out of the warehouse can be identified so that it is known who carried the item through the gate.

Preferably, when using the management system of the invention, the direction of movement of the objects is identified according to the numerical order of the person-reading devices. This will inform the register whether the item has been brought into or out of storage.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1a to 1j show the control system of the invention and the steps of using it in a top plan view,

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a server connection portion of a management system according to the invention,

Figure 3 illustrates the steps of using the management system of the invention in blocks.

Referring now to Figures 1a to 1j, the structure of the management system 10 of the invention and the steps of operating the management system 10 according to the invention will now be described. The management system according to the invention is advantageously used in connection with various warehouses to keep stock records of the items in stock automated.

1a-lj, the storage management system 10 includes a plurality of RFID tags 12 (shown in FIGS. 1 to 1h) adapted to be individually affixed to each storage item 14, an RFID reader 18, and a port 20 through which the storage 100 is transported. Each RFID tag 12 has a unique identifier 16, as shown in Figure 2, which can be read by the RFID reader 18 at a range of the RFID reader 18. Gate 20, in turn, is an enclosed space 30 fitted to the entrance 102 of warehouse 100, through which passage to and from warehouse 100 is effected. The space 30 can be closed as a closed space by means of the first door 32 and the second door 34 belonging thereto. In addition to the doors, the space 30 also includes walls 33 and a ceiling not shown in the figures. The space may also include a separate floor if the space requires wheels to move it. More preferably, the floor of the enclosed space is the floor of the building. Doors 32 and 34 allow objects 14, and preferably also user 38, to pass through space 30 to storage 100. For tags 16 of RFID tags 12 read by RFID reader 18, management system 10 further includes a server 22 including a register 16 containing tags 16 as shown in FIG. for adding and removing identifiers 16 to register 24. In order to transfer information from RFID reader 18 objects in closed space 30 to the server 22, the system also includes communication means 26 for transferring the identifiers 16 of the read RFID tags 12 from RFID reader 18 to server 22. Isolated space 30 used as port 20 is isolated. To prevent the RFID tags 12 from being read by the RFID reader 18 within the space 30.

The closed space used in the management system may be, for example, a closed space 2 to 3 m wide and 2 to 4 m long, which may be made mainly of transparent material, preferably glass. Instead of glass, it is also possible, for example, to use plastic alloys or similar transparent materials. The space frame may be, for example, metal, composite, wood or the like. The space 30 preferably comprises an insulating layer 46 according to Fig. 1a, which may be applied, for example, to the surface of the space walls. In the context of this application, isolation means that the space suppresses the signals between the RFID tags and the RFID reader so that the RFID reader is unable to read out-of-space RFID tags when the doors of the space are closed. Thus, the dielectric layer does not necessarily insulate the signal completely, but attenuates it sufficiently to achieve the desired effect. Surprisingly, the insulating layer 46 can be a sunscreen film. The level of attenuation of the sunscreen film may be in the range of 30 to 50 dB, preferably 35 to 40 dB in the frequency range of 30 Mhz to 4.5 Ghz, whereby transmission power from RFID tags is insufficient to allow the signal to pass through the RFID reader inside the enclosed space. In other words, the attenuation is sufficient to prevent the RFID reader 18 inside the space 30 from reading the RFID tags 12 outside the space 30. The frequency used in the RFID tags is the HF frequency (13.56 MHz) or more preferably the UHF frequency (860-960 MHz). . The sunscreen used may be, for example, a 3M "Sun Control Film Amber 35 Low E" sunscreen.

The doors in the space may also be at least mainly glass. If glass is used as the main material of the space, it is also possible to use, for example, a silver wire which has been coated with glass to achieve sufficient insulation capacity. However, this is a much more expensive and difficult to implement embodiment than a sunscreen film. Preferably, the space is sized according to the size of the articles to be stored so that the user can carry practical quantities of articles at a time for storage use and can move smoothly inside the space with the doors closed. Preferably, the space is placed at the entrance of the warehouse to replace the warehouse door, forcing all traffic to the warehouse to pass through the space port, whereby all objects are identified in the register.

Figs. 1a-lj show a preferred embodiment of the management system 10 according to the invention, wherein the management system also includes personal reading devices 40 adapted to the doors 32 and 34 of the space 30 for identifying users 38 by means of these personal identifiers 36. Figures 1a-lj show a situation where new objects 14 to which RFID tags have not yet been added are brought into storage 100. Preferably, in this embodiment, the doors 30 and 34 of the space 30 utilize electrical locks 42 to ensure that the doors 32 and 34 are closed before the RFID reader 18 reads and the second door 34 is opened only when the objects 14 are identified by the RFID reader 18. 1a by means of control means 44, which are preferably control terminal 50, which will be described in more detail later.

The use of a control system according to the invention will now be described with reference to Figs. As shown in Figure 1a, user 38 approaches gate 20 with cart 54. The trolley 54 is loaded with articles 14 that user 38 wants to bring to storage 100. Upon entering space 30, user 38 reads his personal identifier 36 by means of the personal reader 40 as shown in Figure Ib, corresponding to step 200 of Figure 3. The personal reader may also be a separate RFID reader. tagged RFID tag. Alternatively, for example, NFC technology or equivalent wireless remote reading or traditional touch-sensitive identification can also be used. The purpose of user authentication is to provide access control to the warehouse to limit the use of the warehouse to authorized users and to know who is in the warehouse. From the personal reader 40, the information of the user's personal identification 36 may go, for example, to the control terminal 50 in the space 30, which then controls the electric lock 42 of the first door 32 to open as shown in FIG. 30 and close the first door 32 according to step 204 of Figure 3. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1a to 1j, completely new objects 14 are introduced into the storage 100, to which RFID tags 12 must be added, as shown in Fig. Id. The RFID tags 12 can be printed by a printer 60, which is preferably connected to the management terminal 50. The management terminal 50 or the server 22 may associate each RFID tag 12 with items in the order list, for example, according to the order list. It is then up to the user 38 to affix each RFID tag 12 to the correct object 14 as shown in step 206 of Figure 3. The management system may also include a barcode reader for the user to determine the description of the object. When each object 14 is tagged with an RFID tag 12, the user can trigger an RFID reader 18 from the management terminal 50 as shown in Figure le, which RFID reader 18 remotely reads all RFID tags 12 in state 30, recognizing their identifiers 16 corresponding to step 208 of Figure 3. RFID reader 18 then transmits the identifiers 16 using the communication means 26 in step 210 of Figure 3, for example using a wireless network, to the server 22. At the server 22, the software means 28 records the information to the repository register 24 corresponding to step 212 of Figure 3. into or out of storage, for example, based on user identification of which door 32 or 34 has been identified first.

After reading the RFID tags 12, the user 38 presents his personal identifier 36 to the management terminal 50, corresponding to step 214 of Figure 3, which in conjunction with the identifiers 16 of the newly registered objects 14 also associates with the register 24 the user's personal identifier. At the same time, the control terminal 50 instructs the electric door 42 of the second door 34, after which the user 38 may open the second door 34 as shown in Figure 1f. The user 38 exits the space 30 with the articles 14, closes the second door 34 as shown in Fig. Lg, and registers the second door 34 in the personal reading device 40 having exited the space corresponding to step 216 of Figure 3. The space 30 is again accessible to other users on each side.

If objects that have already been tagged with RFID tags are transported through the gate, the user inside the space, after closing the doors, can directly use the RFID reader to read the object's RFID tags and exit the space after reading.

The control terminal 50 used in the management system may be a terminal having a graphical user interface, such as a laptop computer, tablet or a purpose-designed terminal. Preferably, the terminal includes memory, a processor, a display, and input means for input of data. The management device is connected to communication means for transmitting data to the server. The management terminal allows the user to enter a plain language name for each RFID tag according to the order list or, for example, to associate it with a product on the order list. The control terminal can also control the electric locks on the basis of a personal reader. The personal identification device used to personally identify the user may be, for example, an RFID or NFC reader, a barcode, or other similarly commonly used personal identification device.

According to one embodiment, the management system may also include a conveyor adapted to pass through a closed space. In this case, in the closed space, the first door and the second door have the function of closing the opening from which the conveyor enters the closed space while the articles are in the space. Advantageously, the enclosed space also includes doors allowing the user to pass through the enclosed space. The conveyor conveys the objects inside the enclosed space and stops. The user enters the enclosure, closes the doors, and reads the RFID tags of the objects on the conveyor using the RFID reader. The objects can then be moved from the enclosed space to the warehouse or out of the warehouse according to the direction of travel.

The server used in the management system according to the invention may be a stand-alone server computer for the management system, but it may also be, for example, an enterprise ordering system server. For example, the server computer may be a Linux-based FTP server. Software tools may be, for example, software installed on a server or software used by a server over the Internet from a network. The software means are adapted to receive information from the RFID reader or from the control terminal about object identifiers, the direction of movement of objects in the warehouse, and the user who is transferring the objects. Preferably, the software means stores an object identifier, a description of the object, and the user who has brought the object into storage in a register stored in the server memory. Additional information can also be status, time, or location information if the company has multiple stores. The final information may be, for example, "98723453, drill, Teemu Työmies, 11/5/2017, in stock". When the item in question is moved out of storage, the software can either remove the item from the registry if the item is not returned to the warehouse, or alternatively record who exported the item, when, and the current "field" status.

According to one embodiment, the software means may also be adapted to interface with, for example, a web application over the Internet which allows the inventory register to be viewed and possibly managed manually.

The communication means used in the management system may be, for example, a 3G / 4G wireless modem, a WLAN wireless LAN connection, a wired network TCP / IP, or other similarly known arrangement for transmitting RFID reader data from a closed space to a server. The RFID tags used, in turn, are preferably passive RFID tags operating in the HF or UHF frequency band, read by a suitable RFID reader, which can use separate antennas. The RFID tag printer used may be a commonly known RFID printing and writing device.

To retrieve items from a warehouse may include the following steps. Upon arrival at the gate, the user displays his or her personal identification number on the personal reader, which is used to unlock the first door electric lock. The user then enters the space and closes the first door, whereupon the second door is unlocked. The user enters through the second door into the warehouse and closes the other door. The user collects the items from the warehouse, enters with the items at the gate, and again displays his personal identification number to a personal reader at the other door. The electric door lock of one door is unlocked, the user opens the second door and enters the space. The user closes the other door behind, whereby the RFID tags of the objects are read using the RFID reader. The user checks the products read using the management terminal and acknowledges them. The electric door lock on the first door is unlocked, the user opens the first door and moves with the objects read out of the room. Finally, the user closes the first door.

The management system of the invention may include, in addition to an RFID reader, a barcode reader, for example, which reads barcodes from incoming items to identify the items from the order list. This eliminates the need for the user to visually identify objects. The barcode reader may, in turn, communicate with the management terminal, which combines the barcode information with the object's RFID tag identifier.

The management system according to the invention can also be integrated as part of a company ordering system, whereby the management system software tools can automatically place orders based on the inventory register. Various listings can also be printed from the register, which can be used, for example, for invoice specifications, sales reports and the like.

Claims (5)

PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS 1. The hanteringssystem (10) for the lager (100), the stroke innefattar, the RFID-taggar (12) anordnade att individualellt föremål (14) som lager, the RFID-tagg (12) har en uni identifier (16) , en med RFID-läsare (18) utrustad port (20) anordnad i anslutning till lagrets (100) ingång (102) för läsning av such RFID-taggar (12) föremål (14) förflyttas in i och ut ur lagret (100) ), the port (20) and the port (20), the port (30), the port (30) innefattar en första dörr (32) och en andra dörr (34) för att möjliggöra genomgång och för stängning av utrymmet (30) under the RFID tag (12), the RFID tag (12), and the isolation of the RFID tag (12), the RFID tag (30), the RFID tag (18) som finns inne utrymmet , en server (22) för upprätthållande av ett register (24) av identifiererna (16) hos de föremåls (14) RFID taggar (12) som finns i lagret (100) , - dataöverföringsanordningar (26) för överföring av de avlästa RFID-taggarnas (12) identifierer (16) från such RFID-tag (18) till registret (24) på nämnda server (22), och program mediga (28) för administrering av the register (24) is an identifier (16) of the server (22), an access point to the RFID-tag (18), and the UHF antenna for the RFID tag (12). An inventory (100) management system (10) comprising RFID tags (12) adapted to be individually affixed to each item (14) to be stored, each RFID tag (12) having a unique identifier (16), an RFID reader (18) ) provided with a port (20) adapted to access the storage (100) entrance (102) to read said RFID tags (12) when moving objects (14) into and out of the storage (100) formed by the enclosed space (30) , which space (30) includes a first door (32) and a second door (34) for enabling passage and closing of the space (30) for a number of RFID tags (12), which space (30) is isolated from RFIDs outside the space (30). to prevent the tags (12) from being read by the RFID reader (18) within the space (30), the server (22) for maintaining the register (24) of the RFID tags (12) of the objects (14) contained in the storage (100), 26) tags (16) of read RFID tags (12) for transferring from said RFID reader (18) to said server (22) a register (24), and software means (28) for managing said register of identifiers (16) on said server (22), characterized in that said RFID reader (18) includes a UHF antenna for remote reading of the RFID tags (12). 2. Ett hanteringssystem enligt skyddskrav 1, kennettecknat av att utrymmet (30) innefattar et isolationsskikt (46) för att hindra avläsning av RFID-taggar (12) utanför utrymmet (30) med of this isolation code (18) 46) är en solskyddsfolie, stem dämpning är 30 - 50 dB. Control system according to protection claim 1, characterized in that the space (30) comprises an insulating layer (46) to prevent reading of the RFID tags (12) outside the space (30) by said RFID reader (18), said insulating layer (46) being a sunscreen film. with attenuation of 30 to 50 dB. 3. The hanteringssystem enligt skyddskrav 1 eller 2, kännetecknat av attmrdda utrymme (30), and interested in genomskinligt. Management system according to the protection claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said space (30) is essentially transparent. 4. The hanteringssystem enligt något av skyddskraven 1 -3, kännetecknat av att hanteringssystemet (10) vidare innefattar en control terminal (50) anordnad inuti utrymmet (30) för tillförande av en föremål (14) som kommer in i lag ) i anslutning till varje föremåls (14) un RFID taggs (12) individuella identifiering (16) in the register (24). Management system according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the management system (10) further comprises a management terminal (50) arranged in the space (30) to increase the description of the objects (14) entering the storage (100), associated with the unique identifier (16) of the tag (12) in the register (24). Control system according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said space (30) is provided with wheels for moving the space (30). SKYDDSKRAV 5. The hanteringssystem enligt något av skyddskraven 1-4, kännetecknat av attomme utrymmet (30) and utrust med hjul for förflyttning av utrymmet (30).