FR3082031A1 - CONTAINER CONTROL MAT, SYSTEM, PACKAGING INSTALLATION AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a mast (18) intended to control at least one container (20) comprising products (22), at least one of the containers (20) and products (22) being provided with an electronic chip ( 28) comprising a memory memorizing at least one information specific to said container (20) or to said product (22), the mast (18) comprising at least one reader (30) suitable for reading the at least one information memorized in the memory of each electronic chip (28).

Description

The present invention relates to a mast and also relates to a system, to a packaging installation and to an associated control method.

The field concerned is that of container logistics.

Such containers are in particular containers comprising bottles of wine.

When a consumer acquires a bottle of wine, the bottle of wine has come a long way from harvest to delivery to the consumer.

In such a case, the journey followed by the bottle of wine involves a plurality of actors including a producer, a distributor and a reseller, the consumer buying from the reseller.

For each of these actors, multiple operations are carried out.

For the wine producer, wine making is done through seven main stages.

In a first step, the harvesting of the grapes or harvest is implemented. It is advisable to harvest the grapes at the appropriate moment, the determination of this moment requiring a great know-how. Depending on the case, the harvest is carried out by hand or with harvesters. During the harvest, bunches of grapes are sorted, in particular to eliminate unsuitable fruits.

In a second step, grinding and pressing take place. The crushing and pressing stage are usually carried out automatically to obtain a juice.

The third stage is the fermentation usually carried out in a fermentation enclosure. The juice undergoes a chemical transformation, alcoholic fermentation, during which the glucose becomes ethanol.

The next step is clarification to eliminate all waste and residue from the wine. The clarification is implemented by a filter or by collage.

The sixth step is to bottle the wine. The wine is bottled after the aging phase. During this bottling step, the bottles are sterilized. It is then used a rinser to wash the empty bottles, then a printer to fill the bottles with wine and finally a capper to put a stopper on the neck of the bottles. The bottling stage also includes overcapping and labeling.

The seventh step is the crating of wine.

The cases of wine are then stored and sent to the distributor. These operations are usual logistics operations. The same types of operations take place at the distributor and the reseller.

However, it is desirable that the rate of all the aforementioned stages and operations be accelerated due to the increasing demand for wine, and this without reduction in quality.

Such a wish comes up against the fact that all of the steps and operations described above are perfectly mastered and automated, so that increasing the rate requires optimizing each step and operation and, in particular, the step storage and shipping containers.

There is therefore a need for a logistical device allowing, with easy implementation, an increase in the capacity to deliver the products contained in the containers.

To this end, a mast is proposed intended to control at least one container comprising products, at least one of the containers and products being provided with an electronic chip comprising a memory memorizing at least one information specific to said container or to said audit. product, the mast comprising at least one reader capable of reading the at least one item of information stored in the memory of each electronic chip.

According to particular embodiments, the mast comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or according to any technically possible combination:

- the mast checks at least one of the following properties: a property according to which the mast has a height greater than 1 meter, the height of the mast being in particular between 1 meter and 3 meters; a property according to which the mast extends along a main axis, the mast having a cylindrical shape along the main axis of the mast; a property according to which the mast comprises a member for moving the mast in at least one direction; a property according to which the mast comprises a member for moving the mast and a guide member, in particular a rail, the displacement member cooperating with the guide member to guide the movement of the mast; a property according to which the mast comprises a member for moving the mast in a plane called the displacement plane, and a property according to which the mast comprises a plate extending mainly in a plane preferentially parallel to the displacement plane and a plurality of fixed rollers to the tray.

- The mast checks at least one of the following properties: a property according to which an interior volume is defined for the mast, each reader being arranged in the interior volume of the mast; a property according to which at least one reader comprises an antenna comprising rectilinear parts; a property according to which at least one reader comprises an antenna of circular shape; a property according to which the mast extends along a main axis, each reader being arranged along the main axis of the mast; a property according to which the readers are evenly distributed on a portion of the mast; a property according to which each reader is capable of creating a magnetic field oriented in one direction, the magnetic fields of each reader being oriented in the same direction, and a property according to which each reader is capable of creating a magnetic field oriented in one direction, at least two magnetic fields of two separate readers being oriented in opposite directions.

each reader is capable of reading at least one item of information stored on the memory of each electronic chip according to two distinct frequency ranges, in particular according to a first frequency range between 30 megaHertz and 300 megaHertz and a second frequency range included between 300 megaHertz and 3000 megaHertz and according to a first frequency range between 13.553 megaHertz and 13.567 megaHertz and according to a second frequency range between 300 megaHertz and 3000 megaHertz.

- the products are bottles containing a liquid substance, in particular an alcoholic drink, in particular a wine or a spirit.

the mast checks at least one of the following properties: a property according to which the mast comprises a man-machine interface capable of controlling the at least one reader and of displaying the at least one item of information read by each reader, and a property according to which the mast further comprises an electrical power supply device for the mast on board the mast.

- the mast has an additional antenna suitable for transmitting data to the outside of the mast and also for receiving data from outside the mast.

A system is also proposed for controlling containers comprising products, at least one of the containers and products being provided with an electronic chip comprising a memory memorizing at least one piece of information, comprising at least one mast as defined above. , and a central controller adapted to communicate with the at least one mast, the at least one mast also being able to communicate with the central controller.

It is also proposed a product packaging installation, comprising at least one machine configured to package products in containers, at least one of the containers and products being provided with an electronic chip comprising a memory memorizing at least one information specific to said container or to said product, and at least one mast as defined above.

There is also proposed a method for controlling containers comprising products, the control method being implemented using a mast comprising at least one reader, at least one of the containers and products being provided with an electronic chip comprising a memory memorizing at least one information specific to said container or to said product, the method comprising at least the following step reading by the at least one reader of the at least one information memorized on the memory of each electronic chip .

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only and with reference to the drawings which are:

- Figure 1, a schematic representation of a packaging installation;

- Figure 2, a perspective view of an example of a mast;

- Figure 3, a schematic side view of the mast;

- Figure 4, a schematic side view of another example of the mast of Figure 2;

- Figure 5, a perspective view of yet another example of a mast;

- Figure 6, a perspective view of a film wrapper and the mast of Figure 2, and

- Figure 7, a perspective view of a loading dock of a container in a truck, the dock comprising the mast of Figure 2.

A packaging installation 10 is shown in FIG. 1.

The packaging installation 10 comprises at least one machine 12 and a management system 14.

The management system 14 comprises a central controller 16 and at least one mast 18.

Each machine 12 is configured to package products 22 in at least one container 20.

In the example of FIG. 1, the packaging installation 10 comprises three machines 12 each packaging a container 20 and three masts 18.

The machine 12 is, for example, a packer or a film wrapper.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, each container 20 is a device intended to accommodate at least two products 22.

A case or a package are examples of containers 20.

A case has two parts: a cover and a box, the cover being fixed to the box with screws. The box is then sealed.

The body is, for example, made of wood and has a parallelepiped shape.

The box is suitable for accommodating a plurality of products 22, for example three or six.

A package has a rectangular shape and can accommodate a plurality of products 22, including six.

The package is, for example, made of cardboard. In such a case, the package is also referred to as "cardboard".

Each product 22 is a bottle 24 containing a liquid substance.

According to the example proposed, the liquid substance is wine.

Alternatively, the liquid substance is alcohol.

According to another variant, the liquid substance is spirits.

In these three cases, the bottle 24 is a bottle of alcoholic beverage.

Each bottle 24 includes a cap suitable for closing the bottle 24 and an overcap capsule surmounting the cap.

Each bottle 24 further comprises a label affixed, for example, to the outside of the bottle.

The label has one visible side and one non-visible side.

The legal information and identifying the bottle 24 (as a brand) is on the visible side of the label 26.

At least one of the container 20 and the products 22 is provided with an electronic chip 28 for wireless communication.

The electronic chip 28 is for example glued by an adhesive on the non-visible face of the product label 22 or glued on an outside face of the container 20.

However, other locations for the electronic chip 28 are also possible, such as in the overcap, or on an internal face of the container 20.

The electronic chip 28 includes a memory storing at least one item of information specific to said container 20 or to said product 22.

A reference number for container 20 or product 22 is an example of information specific to container 20 or product 22.

The content of the container 20, a package number, an order number of the product 22, information relating to the production site of the product 22, an identifier of the bottle 24, the identifier of the producer of the bottle 24, data of date and time of bottling of bottle 24, date and time of output from production of bottle 24 are other examples of data specific to container 20 or of product 22.

According to the example described, the electronic chip 28 is an RFID chip (from the English "radio frequency identification" meaning in French "radio frequency identification").

Due to international standards, each RFID chip has a unique identifier. Thus, two RFID chips cannot have the same identifier.

To give an order of magnitude, the RFID chip is a rectangle 35 millimeters (mm) long by 20 mm wide. However, the RFID chip is not limited to this geometry and can have variable dimensions and shapes (square, rectangular, round, ...).

The management system 14 intended to control the containers 20 comprising the products 22.

By the term "management" is meant logistics in the broad sense. Such a term thus designates any follow-up and displacement operation. Inventory or transport actions are specific examples of management.

The central controller 16 is adapted to communicate with each mast 18. Each mast 18 is suitable for communicating with the central controller 16.

As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the mast 18 is an elongated structure, extending along a main axis A-A '.

The main axis A-A ’is vertical.

Each mast 18 has a cylindrical shape along the main axis A-A ’.

By "cylinder" is meant having all the lines having the same direction, called the outer wall, and intersecting a given curve, called the generatrix.

Here the direction of the outer wall is given by the main axis A-A ’and the generator is for example of oblong or rectangular shape.

Each mast 18 has a height, along the main axis A-A ’, greater than 1 meter (m), the height being in particular between 1 m and 3 m.

Each mast 18 comprises at least one reader 30, a displacement member 32, a man-machine interface 34, a supply device 36, a communication device with the exterior 38 and an indicator device 40.

In particular, in the example of FIG. 3, the mast 18 comprises three readers 30 and in the other example of mast 18 in FIG. 4, the mast 18 comprises four readers 30.

Each reader 30 is capable of reading at least one item of information stored in the memory of each electronic chip 28. An interior volume is defined for the mast 18.

By "interior volume" is meant the interior volume defined by the exterior wall of the mast 18.

Each reader 30 is arranged in the interior volume of the mast 18.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, each reader 30 is arranged along the main axis A-A '.

Readers 30 are thus aligned along the main axis A-A ’.

In particular, the readers 30 are evenly distributed over a portion of the mast 18.

Each reader 30 is capable of creating a magnetic field oriented in one direction.

As visible in FIG. 3, in a first embodiment, the magnetic fields of each reader 30 are oriented in the same direction.

Thus, the magnetic field created by the readers 30 of the mast 18 is able to cover a reading area of the electronic chips 28 as wide as possible in a given direction.

As a variant, at least two magnetic fields of two separate readers 30 are oriented in opposite directions, as can be seen in FIG. 4.

Thus, the mast 18 is suitable for controlling containers 20 and products 22 arranged in opposite directions relative to the mast 18.

According to a particular embodiment, each reader 30 is capable of reading the at least one item of information stored in the memory of each electronic chip 28 according to at least a defined frequency range.

Each reader 30 is capable of reading at least one item of information stored in the memory of each electronic chip 28 according to a communication protocol called UHF mode. The acronym "UHF" refers to French terminology for ultra high frequency.

In such a communication protocol, the reader 30 is capable of transmitting or receiving a signal having a frequency between 300 megaHertz (MHz) and 3000 MHz.

As a variant, each reader 30 is able to read at least one item of information stored in the memory of each electronic chip 28 according to a communication protocol called VHF mode. The acronym "VHF" refers to French terminology of very high frequency.

In such a communication protocol, the reader 30 is capable of transmitting or receiving a signal having a frequency between 30 MHz and 300 MHz.

As a variant, each reader 30 is able to read at least one item of information stored in the memory of each electronic chip 28 according to a communication protocol called HF mode. The acronym "HF" refers to French high frequency terminology.

In such a communication protocol, the reader 30 is capable of transmitting or receiving a signal having a frequency between 3 MHz and 30 MHz.

As a variant, each electronic chip 28 is an NFC chip (in English “Near Field Communication” which means “near field communication”), allowing reading in near field by each reader 30, with a maximum distance of approximately 4 centimeters between the electronic chip 28 and the reader 30.

The communication protocol is then an NFC type near-field communication protocol defined according to standards recognized by the NFC Forum, including ISO / IEC 14443-1 to ISO / IEC 14443-4.

It should be noted that the NFC standard is a wireless communication standard (called near field communication or NFC communication) making it possible to communicate the electronic chips 28 with a very large number of devices, in particular wireless mobile telephones.

In such a communication protocol, the reader 30 is capable of transmitting or receiving a signal having a frequency between 13.540 MHz and 13.567 MHz.

In one particular case, each reader 30 is able to read at least one item of information stored in the memory of each electronic chip 28 according to two distinct frequency ranges. The electronic chips 28 are then qualified as dual-frequency chips.

In particular, the first frequency range is between 30 MHz and 300 MHz, corresponding to the VHF protocol, and the second frequency range is between 300 MHz and 3000 MHz, corresponding to the UHF protocol.

As a variant, the first frequency range is between 13.553 MHz and 13.567 MHz, corresponding to the NFC protocol, and the second frequency range is between 300 MHz and 3000 MHz, corresponding to the UHF protocol.

Each reader 30 comprises an antenna 42.

Regarding the shape of the antenna 42, multiple variants are possible depending on the nature of the electronic chips 28.

For example, each antenna 42 is of circular shape, as visible in FIG. 3.

As a variant, each antenna 42 comprises an antenna comprising rectilinear parts, as visible in FIG. 4.

The displacement member 32 is adapted to allow the mast 18 to move in at least one direction.

According to a particular embodiment, the mast 18 further comprises a guide member, not shown in the figures. The displacement member 32 is able to cooperate with the guide member to guide the movement of the mast 18. The guide member is, for example, a rail.

As a variant, the displacement member 32 is suitable for allowing the movement of the mast 18 in a plane called the displacement plane, referenced P in the figures. In particular, as visible in FIG. 2, the mast 18 comprises a plate 44 and a plurality of rollers 46 fixed to the plate 44 and in contact with the ground.

In this case, the displacement member 32 includes or is the plurality of rollers 46.

The plate 44 mainly extends along a plane preferably parallel to the displacement plane P.

The plate 44 is of parallelepiped shape.

In the example of FIG. 2, the mast 18 comprises four rollers 46 arranged at the four corners of the plate 44.

The man-machine interface 34 is suitable for controlling the at least one reader 30 and for displaying the at least one item of information read by each reader 30.

The man-machine interface 34 includes, for example, a screen 48 fixed to the mast 18 as visible in FIG. 2.

The screen 48 is located at a height of the mast 18 between 1 m and 2 m so as to be easily accessible to an operator.

According to a particular embodiment, the screen 48 is tactile so that the operator is able to interact with the mast 18, for example by validating the information displayed. The 48 touch screen is compatible with gloves.

In another example, screen 48 has a keyboard or buttons.

The feeding device 36 is on board the mast 18.

The supply device 36 is suitable for supplying electric current to the mast 18 and in particular the at least one reader 30 and the man-machine interface 34.

The power supply device 36 is capable of producing a voltage of 220 V by being supplied from the mains.

In the example of FIG. 2, the supply device 36 is placed in an electrical cabinet 50 of parallelepiped shape.

The electrical cabinet 50 is placed on the plate 32.

The power supply device 36 includes a battery 52.

The battery 52 is suitable for being electrically charged by the sector.

The battery 52 is also suitable, once charged, for independently supplying electric current to the mast 18.

The communication device with the exterior 38 is arranged in the interior volume of the mast 18.

The communication device with the outside 38 is suitable for transmitting data to the outside of the mast 18 and for receiving, in addition, data from the outside of the mast 18 in order to provide an interface with a local network by example.

The indicating device 40 is capable of emitting a signal when the at least one reader 30 of the mast 18 is being read from at least one electronic chip 28.

In a particular embodiment, the indicator device 40 is a light device.

For example, the indicating device 40 has a first color when at least one reader 30 is being read and a second color when all the readers 30 are passive.

Alternatively, the indicator device 40 is a sound device.

The operation of the mast 18 is now explained with reference to a first example of implementation of a control method by means of the mast 18.

As shown in Figure 6, a plurality of containers 20 comprising products 22 and whose content is to be checked. The plurality of containers 20 is placed on a pallet 54.

In a particular embodiment, the pallet 54 is provided with an electronic chip 28.

The electronic chip 28 includes a memory storing at least one item of information specific to the pallet 54.

The contents of pallet 54, an order number relating to the products 22 included in pallet 54 and information relating to the production site of products 22 included in pallet 54 are examples of information specific to pallet 54.

According to another example, the products 22 are placed directly on the pallet 54. The pallet 54 is then a container 20 as defined above. All the characteristics specific to the container 20 described above are then also specific to the pallet 54.

A film-wrapper 56 wraps the containers 20 by surrounding them with a plastic film 58.

At the same time as the containers 20 are packed, an operator pushes the mast 18 using the displacement member 32 and places the mast 18 near the pallet 54.

By "proximity" is meant a distance less than the maximum reading radius of the readers 30 of the mast 18.

The operator uses the man-machine interface 34 to request the readers 30 to read the electronic chips 28 present in the containers 20 and the products 22 placed on the pallet 54.

The control method then includes a step of reading at least one specific item of information stored in the memory of each electronic chip 28 by the readers 30.

Each information is displayed on the man-machine interface 34.

The operator then checks that the information corresponds to the expected content of the containers 20, for example by comparing the information with a purchase order.

As a variant, the mast 18 sends the information to the central controller 16.

The central controller 16 then checks the information with regard to a database storing similar information for the containers 20 and products 22 to be checked.

The central controller 16 then sends to the mast 18 the result of the validity of the information.

The result is displayed on the man-machine interface 34.

In the event that the information is validated by the operator or by the central controller 16, the pallet 54 is considered to be valid and sent for delivery to a reseller or a consumer.

Otherwise, the pallet 54 is set aside so that the content is corrected by an operator.

A second example of implementation of a control method using a mast 18 will now be described.

As shown in FIG. 7, a pallet 54 comprising containers 20 and products 22 is ready to be introduced into a truck 60 for transport to a reseller or to a consumer.

The pallet 54 is for example moved by means of a pallet truck 62 pushed by an operator.

The pallet 54 is surrounded by a film 58 as described above.

For the sake of discretion when transporting vintage wines, the film 58 is black and non-transparent in order to hide the contents of the pallet 54.

An operator pushes the mast 18 using the displacement member 32 and places the mast 18 near the pallet 54.

Similarly to the first example of implementation of the control method described above, the content of the pallet 54 is verified following a step of reading the at least one specific item of information stored in the memory of each electronic chip 28 by the mast 30 readers 18.

In the event that the information is validated by the operator or by the central controller 16, the pallet 44 is considered to be valid and loaded into the truck 60 for delivery to a reseller or a consumer.

Otherwise, the pallet 54 is set aside so that the content is corrected by an operator.

The mast 18 therefore makes it possible to quickly check the content of a pallet 54 without having to open each container 20 or having to tear the film 58 surrounding the pallet 54.

The mast 18 also allows a gain in productivity, the content verification operation being carried out for example at the same time as the palletizing 54 or when the pallets are loaded into the truck 60.

The displacement member 32 allows an operator to push the mast 18 to transport it from one place to another. One or more masts 18 are thus easily moved from one machine 12 to another in order to carry out content checks.

The battery 52 allows the mast 18 to be electrically autonomous and easily movable without having to be connected to the mains.

In addition, the verification allowed by means of the mast is as precise as desired since the number of information can be as high as desired.

A second example of mast 18 is shown in FIG. 5.

The second mast 18 is similar to the mast 18 described above and will not be described again entirely. Only the characteristics of the second mast 18 different from the mast 18 described previously will be described later.

In particular, the second mast 18 differs from the mast 18 described above in that the generator of the second mast 18 is a rectangle.

For example, the generator has a width of between 30 centimeters (cm) and 70 cm.

The generator also has a length of between 100 cm and 150 cm.

The second mast 18 includes a single reader 30.

As shown in Figure 5, the second mast 18 is fixed relative to the ground.

The invention relates to the combination of all technically possible embodiments.

Claims (10)

1. - Mast (18) intended to control at least one container (20) comprising products (22), at least one of the containers (20) and products (22) being provided with an electronic chip (28) comprising a memory memorizing at least one item of information specific to said container (20) or to said product (22), the mast (18) comprising: - at least one reader (30) capable of reading the at least one item of information stored in the memory of each electronic chip (28). 2. - Mast (18) according to claim 1, wherein the mast (18) comprises a displacement member (32) of the mast (18) in at least one direction, in particular in a plane called the displacement plane (P). 3. - Mast (18) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mast (18) extends along a main axis (A-A '), each reader (30) being arranged along the main axis (A-A ') of the mast (18). 4. - Mast (18) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the readers (30) are equally distributed over a portion of the mast (18). 5. - Mast (18) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which each reader (30) is capable of reading at least one item of information stored on the memory of each electronic chip (28) according to two ranges of distinct frequencies, in particular according to a first frequency range between 30 megaHertz and 300 megaHertz and a second frequency range between 300 megaHertz and 3000 megaHertz and according to a first frequency range between 13.553 megaHertz and 13.567 megaHertz and according to a second range frequency between 300 megaHertz and 3000 megaHertz. 6. - Mast (18) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the mast (18) checks at least one of the following properties: a property according to which the mast (18) comprises a man-machine interface (42) suitable for controlling the at least one reader (30) and for displaying the at least one item of information read by each reader (30), and - A property according to which the mast (18) further comprises a power supply device (36) for the mast (18) on board the mast (18). 7. - Mast (18) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the mast (18) comprises an additional antenna (52) suitable for transmitting data towards the outside of the mast (18) and for receiving, in addition, data from outside the mast (18). 8. - System (14) intended to control containers (20) comprising products (22), at least one of the containers (20) and products (22) being provided with an electronic chip (28) comprising a memory memorizing at least one piece of information, comprising: - at least one mast (18) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, and - a central controller (16) adapted to communicate with the at least one mast (18), the at least one mast (18) also being able to communicate with the central controller (16). 9. - Installation of packaging (10) of products including: - at least one machine (12) configured to package products (22) in containers (20), at least one of the containers (20) and products (22) being provided with an electronic chip (28) comprising a memory storing at least one item of information specific to said container (20) or to said product (22), and - at least one mast (18) according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 10. - Container control method (20) comprising products (22), the control method being implemented using a mast (18) comprising at least one reader (30), at least the one of the containers (20) and of the products (22) being provided with an electronic chip (28) comprising a memory memorizing at least one information specific to said container (20) or to said product (22), the method comprising at least the next step : - Reading by at least one reader (30) of at least one information stored in the memory of each electronic chip (28).