JP2002154547A - Container and container control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a container and a container control system, which is suitable for easily controlling the propriety of the repeated use (reuse) of the container within a range where there is no possibility of bringing about trouble such as the leakage of chemicals. SOLUTION: The container is provided on its outer surface with a label part on which data on the manufacture of the container (e.g. a date of manufacture) and identification data proper to the container (e.g. an ID code for the container) are recorded in such a manner as to be readable from the outside of the container. Particularly, the label part is realized as a QR code which is recorded by laser baking.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container repeatedly used for supplying a chemical solution to, for example, a water treatment facility, and a container management system for managing a use state of the container.

[0002]

2. Related Art In various water treatment facilities such as a cooling water system and a boiler water system, water treatment chemicals such as a slime remover and a scale inhibitor are introduced. Conventionally, this type of water treatment chemical is generally enclosed in a container such as a plastic bag or a cardboard case, delivered from the factory to the site of the water treatment facility, and transferred to a predetermined storage tank. In addition, containers (plastic bags and cardboard cases) provided for the delivery of water treatment chemicals
Will be disposed of as disused.

On the other hand, it has been proposed to supply the above-mentioned water treatment chemicals using a reusable container (returnable container) in order to reduce the amount of waste of the container and save resources. Such a container is called, for example, ECO SHUTTLE (registered trademark of Kurita Kogyo Co., Ltd.) and is attracting attention as an environmentally friendly chemical supply system.

[0004]

However, even though the container for supplying the water treatment chemical can be used repeatedly, it cannot be denied that the durability of the container is limited. In particular, some water treatment chemicals are harmful to the human body,
It is important to ensure that undesired leakage of water treatment chemicals from the container is prevented. Even if the strength and durability against external impacts and the like are increased by devising the constituent materials and the structure of the container, the durability of the container itself may be deteriorated depending on the type of chemical stored in the container. There is also.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a container used for filling chemicals within a range that does not cause a problem such as leakage of the chemicals. Another object of the present invention is to provide a container suitable for easily managing the reusability (reuse) of the container. Another object of the present invention is to provide a container management system capable of simply and effectively managing whether or not a container used for filling chemicals can be repeatedly used (reused).

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the container according to the present invention is used repeatedly for filling (filling) chemicals and transferring (supplying) it to a water treatment facility or the like. Information on the manufacture of the container (eg, date of manufacture)
And a label unit in which identification information (for example, a container ID code) unique to the container is externally readable using various methods such as an optical method and a magnetic method.

Preferably, the label portion includes a QR code (quick response) indicating information (manufacturing date) relating to the manufacture of the container and identification information (container ID code) unique to the container. A two-dimensional code) is recorded on the outer surface of the container at the time of manufacturing the container, for example, by baking with a laser. QR recorded on the container by such laser baking
According to the code, there is no problem such as discoloration or peeling of the printing ink, and even if about 30% of the whole is damaged, the recorded contents can be read, so that it is suitable for the management of containers used repeatedly. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container management system including a label unit in which information relating to the manufacture of the container and identification information unique to the container are recorded in an externally readable manner. A first database for managing the use of containers repeatedly used for filling of containers, and registering the identification information of the containers and information on the production thereof in a management database for managing the containers and their use information in association with each other. Management means (initial registration), and reads information recorded on the label portion of the container when the container is used, and updates the use information of the container specified by the corresponding identification information on the management database, for example, updates the number of times of use Second management means (shipment management) for reading information recorded on a label portion of the container at the time of collection of the container, and reading the corresponding information on the management database. It is characterized in that the container according to usage information of the containers to be identified was and a third management unit that determines whether or not reusable (collection management) by the identification information.

[0009] Preferably, the third management means, for example, according to the number of times the container is repeatedly used or the period of use determined from the management database, for example, a preset number of times of use or guarantee of use. It is configured to determine whether the container is reusable by comparing with the time period. If it is determined that the container cannot be used, the container is discarded.

In the container management system according to the present invention, the second management means may further store information on contents filled in the container in the management database. The third management means determines whether or not the container is reusable according to the usage information of the container obtained from the management database and the information of the medicines filled in the container. Features.

Specifically, as set forth in claim 6, in the third management means, the degree of deterioration of the container is estimated based on information on chemicals filled in the container and usage information on the container. Then, it is configured to determine whether or not the container is reusable in consideration of the degree of the deterioration.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A container according to an embodiment of the present invention and a container management system for managing the usage of the container will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a container according to this embodiment. This container 1
For example, width 340mm, height 350mm, depth 250m
m, and a handle 2 is integrally formed on the upper part thereof. An inlet / outlet port 3 is provided at the shoulder of the container 1, and a sealing cap 4 is screwed into the inlet / outlet port 3.

On the side surface of the container 1, for example, a label sheet 5 on which the product name of the water treatment chemical or the like filled in the container 1 and a handling precautionary statement are attached. . In the lower part of the side surface of the container 1, the date of manufacture of the container 1, a container code (container ID code) unique to the container 1, and a standard code indicating its capacity and the like are recorded so as to be externally readable. Label section 6 is provided. The label section 6 represents information such as the above-mentioned manufacturing date and container code as a QR code (quick response two-dimensional code) as shown in FIG. 2, for example.

Incidentally, this QR code has three reference patterns (cutout symbols) A1, A2, A3 for clearly defining its vertical and horizontal directions. Then, within a rectangular frame of (37 × 37) elements defined by the sizes and positions of these reference patterns A1, A2, A3, a square module B of a certain minimum size is set to a monochrome binary image corresponding to the information. This is a matrix arrangement as a pattern, and the recorded information is represented as an aggregate pattern. Such a QR code can record up to 4296 characters as information including, for example, English characters, numbers, and symbols, can print in small spaces, and can be read from all directions (360 °). It has the feature of being.

The label portion 6 made of such a QR code is formed into a two-dimensional pattern together with a container code unique to the container determined at the time of manufacturing the container 1 and information indicating the date of manufacture, and is printed by laser. By recording directly on the outer surface of the container 1. According to the label portion (QR code) 6 provided on the container 1 in this way, there is no problem such as discoloration or peeling of the printing ink, and even if about 30% of the whole is damaged, the recorded contents can be read. This is advantageous in that the use condition of the container 1 used repeatedly can be managed.

As described above, the container 1 provided with the label portion 6 on which the container code and the date of manufacture are recorded.
Is used for delivery (supply) of water treatment chemicals such as scale inhibitors used in water treatment equipment to the site of water treatment equipment. used. Thus, the container management system plays a role of managing the use state of the container 1 used repeatedly in this way, and particularly, judges the strength (durability) of the container 1 and re-uses the container 1 at the risk of liquid leakage. It has a role to prohibit use and dispose of the container 1.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the container management system includes a container management unit 10 such as a microcomputer (personal computer).
And a management database 20 for managing the use status of the container 1. The container management unit 10 includes a code reader 11 that reads information recorded on the label unit 6 of the container 1, and transmits the information read by the code reader 11 to a container ID decoding unit (QR code decoding unit) 12. Thus, the above-described container ID code of the container 1 and information on the date of manufacture thereof are acquired. In addition, the container management unit 10 refers to the management database 20 and manages the number of times of repeated use of the container 1 in accordance with the information on the container 1 obtained via the container ID decoding unit 12, It is provided with a use condition determining unit 14 that determines whether or not the container 1 can be reused based on the number of times and the like.

The management database 20 stores the container 1
According to the container ID code unique to the container 1 attached to
It plays a role in managing the use state (use) and the number of times of use of the container 1. Incidentally, it is of course possible to register in the management database 20 information on the date of manufacture of each container 1 and a standard code indicating the capacity of the container 1 in association with the container ID code. At this time, the management database 2
If the usage history of the container (the list of the names of the filled chemicals and the filling period) is stored in 0, the history information can be effectively used for, for example, investigating the cause at the time of occurrence of nonconformity of the container. .

The container management system configured as described above basically manages the usage status of the container 1 according to the procedure shown in FIG. That is, for example, the container management unit 10
A function of forming a label portion 6 by determining a container ID code unique to the container 1 and producing the QR code described above and recording the QR code on the container 1 in accordance with the manufacture of the container or the start of use thereof. Prepare (step S1). At this time, the container management unit 10 stores the container ID in the management database 20.
The code is registered, and the date of manufacture of the container 1 is registered (step S2). By this registration work,
All of the manufactured containers 1 are placed under the control of the container management unit 10 [first management means].

The container 1 which has been registered as described above
When the water treatment chemical is actually used, that is, when the water treatment chemical is filled in the container 1 (step S3), the preparation for shipping the water treatment chemical is completed. At this time, the information written on the label portion 6 of the container 1 filled with the water treatment chemical is read using the code reader 11 (Step S).
4) The content of the information is decoded by the QR code decoding unit 12 described above.

At this time, information indicating the type of the water treatment chemical filled in the container 1, for example, information on the name of the chemical, its product code, its chemical composition, etc. is registered in the management database 20, so that the It goes without saying that the use mode (use) may be managed. After such shipping management processing, the container 1 filled with the water treatment chemical
Are shipped to the point of use of the water treatment facility (step S6).

On the other hand, when the water treatment chemical filled and supplied to the container 1 as described above is transferred to a predetermined storage tank at the water treatment facility, the container 1 becomes empty. Such empty containers 1 are collectively collected, for example, every time a predetermined number of containers 1 accumulate (step S11). Then, in the container management unit 10, the information recorded on the label unit 6 of the container 1 collected from the water treatment facility location is
Reading is performed using the code reader 12 as described above (step S12). And the container ID read from container 1
The management database 20 is searched according to the code, the number-of-uses data managed by the corresponding container ID code is obtained from the management database 20, and the number-of-uses data is incremented (+1) (step S).
13).

The use count data is initialized as zero use count [0] when the container ID code is registered. Therefore, each time the container 1 is collected, the container 1
By incrementing (+1) the usage count data for (1), this data indicates the repetition usage count (collection count) of the container 1 [second management means].

Thereafter, by comparing the incremented use frequency data with the preset limit data of the number of repetitions of use of the container 1, it is determined whether or not the container 1 can be reused. (Step S14). If the usage count data is less than the repeated usage count limit data, it is determined that the container 1 can be reused, and the container 1 is subjected to a cleaning process (step S
15) The container 1 is put on standby for refilling (reuse) with the water treatment chemical.

On the other hand, if the use number data has reached the repetition use number limit data, it is determined that the durability (strength) of the container 1 has deteriorated, and the reuse thereof is prohibited (step 1). S14). Then, the container 1 for which reuse is prohibited is discarded (step S16). That is, in this collection management, it is determined whether or not the collected container 1 has reached the limit of the number of times of repeated use [third management means], and only the container 1 that can safely withstand repeated use is reused. It is to be offered to.

According to the container management system constructed as described above, the use status is managed in accordance with the information (container ID code) unique to the container 1 recorded on the label unit 6 provided on the container 1, In particular, since it is determined whether or not the container 1 is to be reused while managing the number of times of repetition using the management database 20, it is considered that the number of times of repetition is large and the strength (durability) is inferior. Since the use of the container 1 is prohibited, it is possible to prevent an undesired situation such as leakage of the water treatment chemical. Conversely, the container 1 can be reused repeatedly while its strength (durability) is guaranteed, in other words, until its strength (durability) reaches the guaranteed limit, and its use efficiency is sufficiently improved. It is possible to increase.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Here, the number of uses of the container 1 is used as an index for determining whether or not the container 1 can be used repeatedly.
The production period may be used as an index for judging whether or not it can be used repeatedly based on the date of manufacture. Of course, it is also possible to make a comprehensive determination of the determination results based on these uses and determine whether or not the repeated use is possible.

The criterion for determining whether or not the container 1 can be repeatedly used may be changed according to the type of the water treatment chemical to be filled in the container 1. In this way, for example, by shortening the use period (guaranteed period of strength) of the container 1 used for filling the medicine that easily damages the container 1, it is possible to sufficiently secure the safety in medicine delivery. There are advantages such as being possible. Further, in the embodiment, the case where the container 1 is used for delivery of the water treatment chemical has been described as an example, but the present invention can be similarly applied to the case where other chemicals, petroleum products and the like are filled and delivered. As means for recording information in the container, a data code instead of the QR code, a matrix two-dimensional barcode represented by Vericode, CodeOne, and the like, a PDF417, a code 16K, a code 49, and the like are used. Of course, it is also possible to use a stack type two-dimensional barcode. Others
The present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, since information unique to the container is recorded in the container so that the information can be read from the outside, repeated use of each container can be performed using this recorded information. Effective management is possible within a range where the strength (durability) is guaranteed. Also, at the time of filling the container with chemicals and at the time of collecting the empty container, the management database is searched based on the record information recorded in the container, and it is determined whether the container can be reused. There is an advantage that only the container whose strength (durability) has deteriorated can be discarded, and the container can be effectively and repeatedly reused up to its use limit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a QR code recorded on a container.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a container management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic procedure for managing containers in the container management system shown in FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 6 Label part (QR code) 10 Container management part 12 Container ID decoding part (QR code decoding part) 13 Use frequency management part 14 Usage condition judgment part 20 Management database

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Shiro Yamanaka 3-7-7 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Inside Kurita Industries Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Genta Kurita 3- 2585 Kurita Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinya Miyake 5-4 Sayama, Yamaguchi-shi, Yamaguchi Prefecture Kurita Chemicals Co., Ltd. F-term (reference)

Claims (6)

[Claims] Claims: 1. A container repeatedly used for filling with chemicals, comprising: a label unit which records information relating to the manufacture of the container and identification information unique to the container so as to be readable from the outside. container. 2. The label unit according to claim 1, wherein the label unit records on the outer surface of the container at the time of manufacturing the container, a QR code indicating information relating to the manufacture of the container and identification information unique to the container. Container. 3. A container management system for managing use of a container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a management database for managing use information of the container and use information of the container relates to identification information of the container and manufacture thereof. First management means for registering information in association with information, reading information recorded in the container when the container is used, and updating usage information of the container specified by the corresponding identification information on the management database A second management unit, which reads information recorded in the container at the time of collection of the container and determines whether the container is reusable according to use information of the container specified by the corresponding identification information on the management database; A container management system, comprising: third management means for determining whether or not the container management method has been performed. 4. The container management system according to claim 3, wherein the third management means determines whether or not the container is reusable according to the number of times the container is repeatedly used or the period of use. . 5. A container management system for managing use of a container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein identification information of the container and information on its manufacture are associated with a management database for managing the container. First management means for registering, reading information recorded in the container at the time of using the container, updating usage information of the container specified by the corresponding identification information on the management database, and filling the container. Second management means for storing the information of the contents stored in the management database, and reading information recorded in the container at the time of collection of the container, and reading the information of the container specified by the corresponding identification information on the management database. A third management unit that determines whether or not the container is reusable according to the use information and the information on the medicines filled in the container. Container management system. 6. The container according to claim 3, wherein the third management unit estimates the degree of deterioration of the container according to information on the medicines filled in the container and usage information of the container, and the container can be reused. The container management system according to claim 3, which determines whether or not the container management is performed.