FR3037175A1 - IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DEVICES FOR IDENTIFICATION AND TRACEABILITY OF PALLETS AND WOODEN BOXES - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to traceability devices by RHU UHh of Marcais on wooden pallets and pallet boxes, in its means of intrinsic and definitive fixing to pallet dice, and optimization of reader / RFID UHF connections obtained by vibratory agitation caused during the transport of goods, and also reinforcing their ease of installation and inviolability, in all uses in general and in particular with regard to the requirements of the international standard NIMP15.

Description

Improvements to identification and traceability devices for wooden pallets and crates. The present invention relates to the identification and traceability of wooden handling pallets; all goods in the world transit on pallets and mainly on wooden pallets and wooden pallet boxes; wood being an important raw material available and renewable on the planet, and well suited in the manufacture of pallets and their uses. The demand for quality pallets is becoming more and more important and demanding in a demand for safe and modern traceability notably by the use of UHF RFIDs which allow their remote reading, this concerning the pallet manufacturers and all the users actors of the dies logistics. Let us mention the most important old and recent patents, concerning the identification of wood and their traceability, by the use of RFID in the traceability of wood: * Patent Leuvrey 91 01877 of 18.02.91 / 2 673 026, evokes already the use of a "non-contact decodable radio label" * Leuvrey patent 007882 of 19. 06.2007 / 002810 436, refers to an "information element contains a chip or transponder" * Latschbacher patent application US202 / 0170213 A1 Nov 21.2002 late introduces the idea of integrating a label, with RFID, with a flat plate 20 identification of wood, these laying devices already exploited and previously defined in the patent Leuvrey No. 87 01700 of 11 02 1987/2 610 749 * the patent Leuvrey No. FR 07 08671 of 12 12 07 already incorporates traceability solutions with RFID-LF (low frequency) contained in a "glasstag" (small carbon capsule), in an insert that attaches mainly to trees. 25 * patent Leuvrey No. FR 0007882 of 19.06.00 "Improvement to wood chips and inserts identification" in an old approach of identification of wood, involves a "chip" recoverable and reusable in the inserts and platelets of wood identification. * The January 31, 2002 report of the European "Lineset" project led by the Tràtek Institute (Anders Lycken) of Sweden, (Didier Pischedda, Wood Technical Center, France) 30 shows Leuvrey platelets with RFID tags. * The Leuvrey patent No. 11 02438 of 03 08 2011 involves an EM (electromagnetic) display promoting the reading of a UHF RFID fixed to the undried raw wood. the European patent no. 10150199.7 of 07.01.2010 / EP 2 207 130 A1 (extension of the patent leuvrey FR 0900112 of 09 01 2009) provides a solution to the use of a RFID-UHF 35 embedded in an identification plate wood ridges (slaughtering fees and therefore in high water content), this RFID-UHF being integrated into a device in its remoting of the wood, this to prevent water (wood) emitting waves EM located in the same frequencies as those of the RFID UHF (from 850Mhz to Mhz at 960 Mhz) thus causes interference or impossible to read; this patent deals with this remote setting necessary for the good reading of the UHF RFIDs fixed on the section of the raw wood ridges particularly loaded with water and thus with EM (the water whose electromagnetic waves are situated in the same frequencies as those UHF RFID defined by international agreements) that can interfere with and prevent the connection of UHF RFID information to a remote reader; Optionally, the UHF RFID here is fixed in a pallet die in a non-moving and non-moving position. The Leuvrey patent No. 07 1509 of 28 02 09 describes an attachment of a non-UHF RFID housed in a partial hole in the wood and in mechanized laying means. * Leuvrey patent No. 00763 of 24 02 10 describes a particular way to achieve in a single pass in the wood an open hole on one side only and composed of 2 different diameters 5, the hole in the largest diameter being in position at the inner bottom of the wood, and the means of realization of this special hole by a special wand equipped with a special knife and can turn on command in 2 opposite directions. Leuvrey patent application No. 12 02689 of 02 Oct. 2012 refers to plates affixed to the outside face of the section of the log, including outside the wood "a support with complementary quality called trembling caused by the shaking of the logon. wood placed on a mechanical feed line moving "sawmill, UHF RFID carrier carrier being on the one hand a tongue attached to the wafer and sensitive and shaken according to the shaking, or on the other hand being a partially spherical cage incorporating a UHF RFID mobile and sensitive to the shaking of the log; these UHF RFIDs are by definition fixed on wooden ridges and therefore in positions only external to the wood, and do not provide solutions in the case of a UHF RFID integrated into the wood material. The present invention comprises a UHF RFID (radio frequency identification ultra-high frequency) passive type, ie without battery, and receiving the energy of a remote reader to allow the UHF RFID to transmit in return the information contained in its chip to this reader, in a communication by electromagnetic waves (EM) in the UHF frequency range defined by international agreements such as for example on the Europe zone in the range of 850Mhz to 960Mhz, these variable ranges according to zones of the planet defined by international agreements.

The present invention relates to a device integrated in the volume of the wooden pallet, this device comprising a UHF RFID subject here to an optimized remote reading in the movements of the pallet during all its movements. The present invention relates mainly to the identification and traceability of wooden pallets, by integrating a UHF RFID in the pallet precisely in one or more dice of the pallet, and in the combination of several elements working together, allowing and validating its industrial and commercial application in the field of logistics, an immense area concerning the management, storage and transport of goods and therefore hundreds of millions of pallets; management necessary and usable by all actors in the logistics chain.

The use of UHF RFID must indeed be completely safe and operational, and for this UHF RFID should not be exposed to shocks; it must also meet the criteria of the international standard NIMP15 (international standard defining the criteria for the treatment of wood in order to avoid untimely deforestation between States, due to attacks of destructive wood insects) requiring a visually readable support of the device. identification and non-extractable except destruction and ni-substitutable for and in a global and modern traceability by UHF RFID, usable by definition by all stakeholders in the supply chain. (The present invention provides solutions promoting and optimizing the physical security and the speed of reading and identification of UHF RFIDs on moving pallets in the operational operation of UHF RFID, this in a new device integrated in the 45 dice. wooden pallet.

The following drawings, in different scales, for the understanding of the invention: - FIG1 shows a partial view of a wooden pallet with a die comprising a housing for receiving the UHF RFID tubular device - FIG2 shows the tube before its introduction in the arrow direction in its housing 5 - FIG3 is seen in section AA of the tube, on its inner device with the RFID UHF - FIG4 is a sectional view of a variant of FIG3 - FIG5 showing the tubular device placed and held between planks of the pallet - FIG6 showing the tubular device sealed in a loop between the pallet planks - FIG7 showing in section another type of attachment of the UHF RFID tube held by clipping 10 in a housing of the pallet die pierced from one side to the other . FIG. 8 in an alternative embodiment of FIG. 7 This new device for identifying and tracing wooden pallets comprises a UHF RFID (8) integrated in the pallet (1) and readable by an external reader (10), during movement and movement of pallets; these movements and displacements (displacement in warehousing and catchment areas, loading, unloading, transport, ...) create and cause vibrations to the pallet and its goods, vibrations thus transmitted to the RFID UHF identification and traceability of each pallet; these vibrations ultimately cause multiple axes of connection with a reader (10) at the external fixed station and receiving the unique sequential number of each UHF RFID and which will be used and exploited in all management operations in controls, receptions, shipments, inventories and others; This global system promotes and optimizes the identification and rapid and safe traceability of the pallet and its goods in the supply chain. For this purpose, the RFID UHF (composed of an antenna connected to its chip (chip), placed on a support, together called inlay) communicates to a reader, in the UHF frequencies used in the area according to international agreements. the UHF RFID is read remotely by a reader (10) in an independent position outside the pallet and which captures the information contained in the chip that transmits the information. UHF RFID, in its secure use must be protected from shocks and all physical malfeasance, and thus is here according to the invention housed in detached and free position integrated in a tube (3) then sealed, this tube (3) UHF RFID integrated in the pallet and preferably in the hole (2) made in the pallet die (1); said UHF RFID tube (3), with smooth inner walls allowing and thus promoting sliding and random stirring of the UHF RFID during movements of the pallet. For this purpose of optimizing a remote fast reading in a multiplication of the UHF RFID transmission / connection axes (8) to a remote external reader (10), it is useful and relevant to facilitate and amplify the function and ability of RFID UHF in its mobile random agitation in all directions caused by any slight or strong shaking in any movement of the pallet during the transport of goods on all vehicles including trucks, or even by truck stationary but running engine generating also 40 weaker vibrations but nevertheless real and useful. The savings in reading time, production and exploitation thus considerably optimize, in record time, all the IT management of all goods in all movements and movements in the supply chain; these new means optimizing the reading of the UHF RFID integrated in the pallet by a security and increased reading speeds at the controls and identification stations pallets (and therefore their contents) scrolling under the gantries / reader RFID-UHF. According to FIG 1/2/3, the invention provides a vibratory dynamic to the RFID-UHF obtained by the functional and simultaneous association of the following 4 elements, in order to obtain an optimized reading of the pallets in transport mode and scrolling face for readers or under gantries / readers, on vehicles in rolling operation: (a) in the tube (3) being integrated a shell (7) of ovoid or spherical shape and partially open or closed, in a freely floating position and movably movable under the effect of any weak or strong multi-directional movements thus caused and amplified by all motions and shaking of the various and random pallet in all directions, said tube 55 being then closed and sealed by any suitable means of plug type (4), 3037175 4 b) and in said shell (7), being housed one (or more) UHF RFID (8) locked in free position or fixed position integrally with the shell (7), said UHF RFID (8) fixed (as by e xample by gluing the inlay) on a support (5) thus being integrally subjected to all vibratory movements of the shell, 5 c) said tube (3) UHF RFID being integrated in the direction (S1) and definitively and completely in a housing (2) adapted, in a die (1) pallet, said tube (3) in the non-extractable and non-substitutable position and away from potentially destructive external shocks, d) The necessary vibration or shaking initially mechanically provoked by the vehicles in running function and carrying pallets, are ultimately passed on and amplified to the RFID UHF (8) in a multitude of vibrations and random shaking or strong and multi-directional transported in all types of its movements such as on mechanized lines and mainly all types of vehicles such as trucks, forklift, in rolling function, or bringing a broad beam of multiple axes of transmissions and connections pa r electromagnetic waves (EM) in communication 15 between an external reader (10) and the UHF RFIDs embedded in the pallets; this device is also in action by stationary vehicles with the engine running, to a lesser extent; this vibratory device is also operational on any suitable vibrating platform or under the effect of mechanized lines moving in a picking zone, storage or loading.

In a simplified variant, according to FIG. 4, the UHF RFID (8) integrated alone in the tube (3) not equipped with the shell (7) is nevertheless free and capable in all its movements in all directions caused only by shaking and vibration during pallet transport, this UHF RFID associated solidarily for its maintenance in its flat form by any means to a support (5) preferably rigid and light introduced into the tube which is then sealed before installation in the wood. The UHF RFID is held in its adapted support and holding it at a distance (6) adapted, in its random mobility, said required distance sufficient for its maintenance as a function of its permanent reading out of the EM waves (emitted in its vicinity by non wood). dry, or metal of vehicles or transported by vehicles), said distance (6) maintained by means of the spikes (9) bearing against the inner walls of the tube (3). In another simplified variant, the UHF RFID (8) is integrated into the tube (3) before it is closed tightly, placed in equilibrium on a thin and light spring, sensitive and able to move naturally in all the directions caused by the movements and shaking of the pallet during transport.

In another variant, according to FIG. 5, the tube (version 3b) equipped with UHF RFID according to the aforementioned functional criteria and aptitudes, is integrated in the pallet, not in a pallet die hole (1) requiring a pre-drilling, but posed nailed in a gap on the board (15) and protected between the other boards (16 and 17) upper and constituting the structure of the pallet and thus completely protected from any shocks including blows 40 caused by the forks of a forklift in operation; for this purpose of maintaining the tube (3b) RFID-UHF in this position out of shock and its extraction (except partial destruction of the pallet), this tube (3b) comprises in its structure 2 tongues (3s) laid in length each lateral side of the tube, said tabs being nailed or glued to the woods of the pallet on the lower cross board (15). This easy installation device 45 particularly avoids fixing by means of a pre-drilling previously in the pallet die. In another variant according to FG6, the tube device (version 3c) of suitable shape and containing the UHF RFID in its vibratory fitness conditions in all directions and always in a protected and sealed structure, is integrated in a collar (18) intrinsically closed (except destruction) and fixed to the board (15) by permanently surrounding it, in the intermediate position between the top boards (16) and (17), the board (17) mounted after the collar in place; In this device, the UHF RFID is thus well protected against any possible shocks caused during loading and unloading operations and transport of the goods, as well as against any fraudulent collection attempts. The UHF RFID carrying collar is made of anti-shock and rigid thermo-plastic in a form that is aligned with its installation around the gauge of the board calibrated to this function. The automated laying is possible in suitable positions on a production line. The manual installation of the UHF RFID collar (3c-18) is here also very easy, once the pallet structure has been completed, in a variant of this collar-type device (18) then equipped with a manual click closure (20). and locked once permanently unless voluntary destruction of the collar. The controller thus has great facility to install the collar (18) equipped with the RFID UHF at the appropriate moment such as the one post the phytosanitary treatments in accordance with the standard NIMP15 (in Times + Temperature). This device type collar (18) RFID UHF also meets perfectly the phytosanitary standard NIMP15 (agreement between countries against deforestation untimely face 15 attacks sanitary destructive insects, said agreement defining the treatments (TT) (time and temperature) of in the dryer and that the signature attesting to the treatment (Tl-) can only be carried out by the controller after the treatment (TT) of the woods at the kiln, legally and intellectually speaking, it is not possible to prove operation or state before its actual actual and accomplished achievement; 20 A controller thus sets the pallet the signature by the non-extractable physical evidence nor substitutable of the treatment actually regularly performed in accordance with the standard NIMP15, physical and visual evidence indicating the information following, such as the NIMP15 logo, the country, the type of treatment, the reference number of the manufacturer of the FIG 7 shows here another solution to pose the tube (3d version) RFID UHF.

25 Lay a tight force tube and stalled in the end and definitely in a hole-type housing diameter previously drilled in a pallet die, this to prevent an unwanted and fraudulent removal, is possible but nevertheless remains tedious and also expensive in the time too long in his manual pose to the palette. The present variant of the invention overcomes this difficulty and disadvantages by means 30 new and easy to pose in a proof device compliant and posed definitively according to the standard NIMP15; these means are as follows: A housing (31) is previously established in the die and passing through the die, and in order to obtain an inner shoulder E2; this housing (31) is thus made of 2 zones in 2 diameters 35 * one to the diameter D1, side C1 * the other to the diameter D2 and stronger than the diameter D1 and opening on the side C2 of the die, thus creating a shoulder (E2) The UHF RFID tube (3d) comprises on the one hand clips (35) at its reentrant end in the die (32) in the direction (S1), and on the other hand at its opposite end a plate (36) and 40 diameter greater than (D1) intended firstly to receive signs (37) of information and secondly mainly to its support wedged against the die (32) once the tube fixed in the sense (S1) in functional and final position in its housing (31); This final fixed position being effective in its final stalling position and permanent non-return by the deployment of the clips (35) in function on the shoulder (E2). The UHF RFID tube 45 once fully inserted into its housing is indeed in a locked and definitive situation in its supports wedged on Cl and E2 in opposite directions (S1) and (S2). The diameter (Dl) is slightly greater than the external nominal diameter (34) of the RFID UHF tube, allowing the manual insertion of the UHF RFID tube without force in the die, and without altering its definitive non-extractable setting.

50 The tube is sealed by the capsule (4). Optionally a buffer (38) shields the area (D2), preventing access to clips (35) UHF RFID tube. The clipping tabs (35) have an angular shape intended to prevent any catch during any fraudulent attempts to extract the tube, and oriented placed against the shoulder (E2) in an angle reinforcing their blocking functions. This solution of the tube (3d) RFID-UHF engaged without force in the housing (31) of the die, housing open on 2 opposite sides of the die, and clipped definitively on the shoulder located inside the die, secures this device in its modern traceability function; It is easy for the controller to manually place the UHF RFID tube effortlessly to its pallet after it has been kiln-treated in accordance with the requirement of the NIMP15 standard. According to FIG. 8, a particularly simplified version of a UHF RFID tube (3e) composed of two parts coupled by clips, in a variant of the preceding one, provides another solution integrating a housing (44) with a single diameter (D3). ) in the die and through it from one side to the other. This tube (3e) UHF RFID comprises at each of its ends and supported on each face (C1 and C2) a plate (36) integrated with the tube, each of these plates (36) being optionally sheltered in a slightly hollow zone (40). ) at the surface of each face Cl 15 and C2; these two zones (40) have the sole function of protecting these plates (36) thus positioned by this slight withdrawal (40) inside the opposite edges (C1 and C2); said integral component plates of the UHF RFID tube (3e) serve to each bear on opposite faces (C1) and (C2) and opposite directions (S1) and (S2) of the die (32), in the device of FIG. this tube (3rd) RFID UHF integrated in its final situation in its definitive non extractable blocking.

This UHF RFID tube is composed of 2 elements (T2 and T1) each joined in opposite directions (S2) and (S1) in a final coupling by definitive clipping inside the die and thus safe from manipulation. fraudulent. The definitive coupled assembly of these two elements (T2 and T1) thus concretely realizes said UHF RFID tube (3e) in one piece locked and wedged definitively in the die, without the possibility of removing it, unless destroyed.

Said blocking is preferably obtained by clipping all types including the buttonhole type (48); for this purpose, the tube (T1) comprises at least two opposite clips (47) which deploy in blocking in the buttonhole (48) placed opposite vis-à-vis on two opposite sides; here the tube (3e) RFID UHF is thus very easy to mount without force in its housing (44) in manual mode or automated line, said housing (44) central having precisely for this purpose a diameter substantially stronger and without harming to the global mechanics of the blocking of the die in its definitive position without possible return except destruction. The UHF RFID tubes described here also have the advantage of being able to comprise several UHF RFIDs associated in recognition of the same pallet, a useful security arrangement in a very rare case and nevertheless not excluded from a failure of a UHF RFID.

To date, most wooden pallets are marked with a high dose of paint, or also with nailed or hot-ironed labels, or with UHF RFID nailed or externally bonded to the wood and exposed to impact; these marking habits, sometimes more or less automated, have a cost even realized in masked time, and anyway can integrate a UHF RFID device only in conditions unfortunately exposed to shocks and their destruction. The solution with clips brings sustainable operation in time, in a secure traceability with RFID UHF and in its ease of installation in manual mode or also particularly in an automated production line of pallet manufacturing. The major advantage of the invention is to provide a solution for traceability and identification 45 pallets, safe and easy, with UHF RFID completely protected, for the benefit of all users and stakeholders in all categories and all architectures and computer interoperability. All these devices are compatible in a partially or globally automated industrial production line, and usable in all configurations of operations and 45 large-scale computerized management of the logistics chain in the transport and storage of all goods and any objects packaged on pallets.

The present invention applies to all other objects subject to devices of the same nature or the like in its operation of traceability and reading with a UHF RFID, such as pallets, pallet boxes, in any other materials compatible with the functions. of the invention, such as pallets or only in other materials such as thermo-plastic or agglomerated wood and adapted.

Claims (1)

REVENDICATIONS1. Device for identification and traceability of wooden pallets (1) with UHF RFID (8) integrated in a tubular closed and sealed device, and non-extractable except destruction, and protected from potentially destructive external shocks, characterized in that that * in an option, the pallet die (32) comprises an axial passage (31) passing right through it intended to receive and to shelter the version tube (3d) fixed permanently fixed by means of its clips (35) deployed in definitive locking action on the shoulder (E2) in the direction (S2), said shoulder (E2) obtained by a housing with two different diameters (D1 and D2 larger than D1), said wedging of the tube (3d) obtained non-reversible by association with its outer plate (36) bearing on the side (C1) of the die (32) and in the direction (S1) opposite the direction (S2); wedging reinforced by a plug (38) inserted side ((C2) in the direction (S2); * in the other option, the tube version (3e) is composed of 2 elements, on the one hand the element (T1) comprising the UHF RFID (8) introduced by the side (C1) in the direction (S1) into the axial passage (44) passing right through it, on the other hand the other element (T2) introduced by the side ( C2) in the opposite direction (S2), these two elements united and housed in the single-diameter axial passage (44) (D3) and held by any clip (47) and preferably of the buttonhole type (48); (3e) obtained non-reversibly by association with its two outer plates (36) maintaining it in facing relation on each opposite side (one on C1 and the other on C2) of the die and in opposite directions (one in S1 and the other in S2), in each of these 2 options, the axial passages (31 and 44) have a diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of the tube to allow its mounting without force and without harming the locking mechanism of the UHF RFID tube definitive and non-reversible unless destruction. R2 Device for identification and traceability of wooden pallets (1) with UHF RFID (8) integrated in a closed tubular device and sealed and non-extractable and protected from potentially destructive external shocks, according to claim No. 1 , characterized in that in another method of attachment to the pallet, the version tube (3b) is fixed integrally and permanently on and to the board (15) by nailing its lower flanges (3s) laterally, in a spacer space between the two neighboring boards (16) and (17). R3 Device for identification and traceability of wooden pallets (1) with UHF RFID (8) integrated in a tubular device closed and waterproof and non-extractable and protected from potentially destructive external shocks, according to claim 2 characterized in that the version tube (3c) is integrated in an intrinsically closed collar (18) fixed integrally around the lower board (15), in its interspace between the two neighboring boards (16) and (17); said collar (18) optionally in an open version to mount it around the board (15) on a pallet previously finished and composed of all its boards, is finally installed permanently locked by a closure (20) non-reversible. R4 Device for identification and traceability of wooden pallets (1) with UHF RFID (8) integrated in a tubular device which is closed and impervious and non-extractable and immune to potentially destructive external shocks, according to claims 1, 2 , and 3 characterized in that the UHF RFID (8) is placed in the tube (3), in a free and mobile position and subject to random stirring and instability optionally enhanced by its placement in an egg-shaped shell (7) or spherical and of randomly unstable nature, instability caused by any movement and shaking of the pallet (1) during all types of pallet transport situation on rolling vehicle or non-rolling vehicle and rotating engine, all these elements being associated in their functions for promoting and optimizing the multiplication of connection axes in the transmission of the UHF RFID identification to a reader (10) in a fixed position at a distance, said tube (3) optionally containing several UHF RFIDs in order to reinforce and optimize the security of identification and traceability of the same pallet.