JP2002308437A - Inspection system using rfid tag - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inspection system using conformability RFID tags capable of discriminating a product from non-conformity products or products which have not yet been inspected by a simple and low cost system by sticking a conformability RFID tag to the product which has passed inspection so that only conformity products are packed or shipped before they are packed and shipped. SOLUTION: In this inspection system using RFID tags as a conformity inspection seal, a pair of dielectric parent-antenna patterns are attached to a product or the package of the product beforehand. When the product is regarded as a conformity product as a result of inspection, at least an IC chip and a pair of sub-antenna patterns of an IC chip label, which has a pair of sub-antenna patterns connected to the IC chip and became a tack label with pressure sensitive adhesive on the faces of the antenna patterns, are stuck to places opposing to a pair of the parent antenna patterns, which are provided to the product or the package of the product beforehand so as to function as FRID tags.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inspection system using an RFID tag for a conformity inspection seal, and more particularly, to sticking to a product that has passed inspection and packing or shipping only conforming products at the time of packing or shipping. For this reason, the present invention relates to an inspection system using an RFID tag in which a non-conforming product and an untested product can be identified by an inexpensive and simple system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, inspection of general mass-produced products such as daily necessities and office supplies has been performed manually or by various machines at the stage of a manufacturing process or a finished product. As a result of the inspection, products that do not conform to the inspection are discarded or repaired, and a conformance inspection seal is attached to the conforming product. JP-A-6
Japanese Patent Publication No. 320352 discloses a method in which a conformance inspection seal provided with a fluorescent mark that is optically detected is attached to the discrimination device to mechanically identify a conforming product. However, if a plurality of products are loaded on a shipping package such as a pallet or a cardboard box, it will not be able to identify even if a non-conforming product or untested product is mixed, and it will be shipped. is there.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has been made to solve the above problem. The present invention has been completed with the idea that the product can be attached to a package of the product so as to be opposed to a pair of parent antenna patterns provided in advance so as to function as an RFID tag.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in an inspection system using an RFID tag for a conformity inspection seal, a product main body or a package of the product is provided.
A pair of conductive parent antenna patterns is provided in advance,
If the above product is inspected and matched, it has at least an IC chip and a pair of child antenna patterns connected to the IC chip, and an adhesive is provided on the surface of the child antenna pattern to form a tack-labeled IC chip label. It is characterized in that it functions as an RFID tag by attaching a pair of child antenna patterns so as to face a pair of parent antenna patterns provided in advance on the product main body or a package of the product.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, an RFID tag is composed of an antenna pattern and an IC chip provided on a base material such as paper or plastic, and a resonance circuit is formed by the antenna pattern and a capacitor incorporated in the IC chip. When receiving a ringing radio wave of a certain frequency from the reader / writer, the resonance circuit transmits the information stored in the memory to the reader / writer that is the transmission source and returns it.

[0006] The "RFID tag" includes a "non-contact IC".
Tags, "contactless data carriers", "wireless IC tags", "contactless ICs", "contactless IC labels", "transponders", and the like may be expressed by various names. Is representatively expressed as an “RFID tag”, and includes the name expressed as described above.

The frequency used by the RFID tag for communication is
UHF-SHF band (850-950 MHz, 2.4-
5GHz), HF band (10-15MHz), LF-MF
There is a band (100-500 KHz). An electromagnetic induction type RFID tag using a UHF-SHF band or HF band frequency has a long communication distance but is expensive.

In the present invention, although the reading distance is relatively short, the entire system including the RFID tag, the reader / writer and the control device is inexpensive and has a wide range of applications.
An RFID tag using an electrostatic coupling method using a frequency in the F band (100 to 500 KHz) is used. Data collision (collision) occurs when a plurality of RFID tags respond simultaneously in response to a calling radio wave from a reader / writer. However, a method of avoiding collision and sequentially communicating with a specific RFID tag can be applied.

FIG. 1 shows an RFID according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a schematic plan view of a tag. FIG. 1A is a plan view in which the IC chip label 10L is attached so as to be connected to both of the antenna patterns 111 and 112, and FIG.
It is a see-through state for explaining the configuration of FIG. A portion surrounded by a dotted line in FIG. 1A functions as the RFID tag 11. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the AA section, BB section, and CC section in FIG. FIG. 2A is an IC chip label 10L in the AA section of FIG. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.
FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 1 and shows the parent antenna patterns 111 and 112 in FIG.
2A and the child antenna pattern 12 of FIG.
This is a state in which both of Nos. 1 and 122 are adhered via the adhesive 130 so as to face each other.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the parent antenna patterns 111 and 112 are provided on the product body or the package of the product by printing conductive ink in advance. For the printing, offset, gravure, flexo, silk screen printing, or the like may be appropriately selected according to the material and shape of the product body or the package of the product using conductive ink. In addition, when printing with the conductive ink is performed not only with the printing of the ink but also with printing using another ink, the printing can be efficiently performed only by increasing one color. An ink in which carbon, graphite, aluminum powder, silver powder, or a mixture thereof is dispersed in a vehicle can be used as the conductive ink.

The positions at which the parent antenna patterns 111 and 112 are provided are not particularly limited, and may be provided directly at an appropriate position on the product or on a nameplate such as a serial number if any. In addition, even if it is provided in a product package, the present invention is not particularly limited, and a nameplate such as a product name may be provided directly at an appropriate position of packaging or packing, if any. The material and shape of the product body or the package of the product are not particularly limited, and various materials can be used.

The IC chip label 10L is represented by a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.
The IC chip 10 provided with an integrated circuit and / or a memory, or both on a silicon substrate is electrically connected to a pair of the two sub-antenna patterns 121 and 122. The sub antenna patterns 121 and 122 are printed with conductive printing ink or the like. As the conductive ink, the same ink and printing method as those of the parent antenna pattern can be applied.

The IC chip 10 has an integrated circuit and / or a memory provided on a silicon substrate.
In the case of the C memory, 100 characters can be recorded at 800 Bits, and sufficient information can be recorded as a normal conformity inspection seal even when compared with a mark or a bar code made of fluorescent ink. Also, with a few kilobits, recording of two-dimensional barcodes or more is possible. Unlike a two-dimensional barcode, there is an advantage that information can be additionally recorded and rewritten sequentially as needed.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an IC chip label showing a tack label state according to an embodiment of the present invention. The IC
The chip label 10L includes the child antenna patterns 121, 1
After temporarily attaching releasably to the release paper 220 via the adhesive 130 on the 22th surface, only the 10L layer of the IC chip label is punched out, and the portion other than the label is removed to form a tack label. As the RFID tag used in the present invention,
For example, the product name "Bistatax" manufactured by Motorola
Is preferred.

The child antenna patterns 121 and 122;
Each of the parent antenna patterns 111 and 112 is shown in FIG.
As shown in the perspective view of (B), a pair of two-surface patterns are opposed to each other, and most of them are overlapped and adhered. Further, when viewed in cross section, it is configured as shown in FIG.
10 parent antenna patterns 111 and 112 on the surface
And the child antenna pattern 12 of the IC chip label 10L
Both 1 and 122 are facing each other.

The IC chip 10 has a child antenna pattern 12
1 and 122 are electrostatically coupled to the parent antenna patterns 111 and 112, and communication with the reader / writer is enabled via the parent antenna patterns 111 and 112. By attaching the IC chip label 10L in this manner, the RFI
The function as the D tag 11 can be exhibited.

In other words, only the inexpensive and easily formed parent antenna patterns 111 and 112 are provided in advance on the base body 210 of the product body or the package of the product, and the product body or the product suitable for inspection is provided. The expensive IC chip label 10L is adhered only to the package (1).
With this attachment, a conformity inspection seal that exhibits the function of the RFID tag 11 is completed for the first time, and as soon as it responds to a radio wave from the reader / writer 360 of the inspection confirmation gate at the time of packing or shipping, the inspection is completed. It is the point of the present invention to distinguish conforming products from nonconforming products and untested products.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram for inspecting a product and attaching an IC chip label. FIG. 4A shows an untested product in process or a completed product, and only the parent antenna patterns 111 and 112 are printed on the side surface of the product with conductive ink. In FIG. 4B, the product is inspected, and as a result of the inspection, in FIG. 4C, the product conforms to the inspection, so the IC chip label 10L is attached. FIG.
In (D), the IC chip label 10L was not attached because the test did not conform to the inspection, and the IC chip label was discarded or repaired.

The method of attaching the IC chip label 10L is as follows: from the tack label state as shown in FIG.
As shown in (B), one of the IC chip labels is peeled off and the IC chip label 10L is placed on the parent antenna patterns 111 and 112 printed on the product or the package of the product with conductive ink.
It is sufficient to press-bond so that both the child antenna patterns 121 and 122 overlap.

For crimping, mechanical work by a known labeler can be applied even by hand. In the machine, the IC chip label 10 is pulled by pulling the release paper in a 360-degree direction so as to be folded.
Labeler that peels off L and presses on the product, or I
A jet labeler or the like for causing the C chip label 10L to flow on the product can be used. For the first time in this way,
It functions as an RFID tag, and can respond to a calling radio wave of a reader / writer.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of a check that has been inspected before starting shipping and packing. It comprises a conveyor 370 for continuously flowing products and an inspection confirmation gate 350. The product is placed on the conveyor 370 and moves continuously, and passes near the inspection confirmation gate 350. The inspection confirmation gate 350 has a built-in sensor for optical detection and a reader / writer 360 for checking that a product has entered. From the reader / writer 360, the calling radio wave may be continuously emitted, or may be emitted only when the optical sensor detects the incoming product.

A product which resonates and responds to the paging radio wave is passed to the conveyor of the conforming product 310 as a conforming product. On the other hand, a product that does not respond to the paging radio wave is identified as a nonconforming product 320 or an untested product 300, rejected, and fed on a different conveyor from the conforming product. The above description is a flow operation using a conveyor, but may be a manual operation using a handy reader / writer.

When a plurality of products are packed in one package, for example, when 10 products are contained in one cardboard box, each product is inspected and a conformity inspection seal is attached. 10 RF signals to the reader / writer 360 of the inspection confirmation gate 350
In the method of sequentially exchanging ID tags, when it is determined that there are ten ID tags, it is identified as a conforming product 310, and when it is determined that there are ten or less, the non-compliant product 310 or the uninspected product 300 is identified as being mixed and distinguished.

Further, since the RFID tag 11 can rewrite the data, the inspection is performed for each manufacturing process, and the data of the result of the inspection is added, so that the inspection of all the processes can be managed. In addition, by additionally writing the data of the result of the shipping inspection, it is possible to do so more reliably. Further, if necessary, a test inspection table and a product handling warning can be added. By describing information related to delivery, product information, and information such as quantity, it is also possible to manage products after delivery.

[0025]

[Example] Credit card size employee ID card 50
00 pieces, put 500 employee ID cards in a small box,
Ten small boxes were placed in a large box. 180g / mm ^{2 for} small box
Since the paperboard was made into a box shape, a pair of parent antenna patterns 111 and 112 were printed as shown in FIG. 3A by flexographic printing with conductive ink into which carbon was previously kneaded.

After the employee ID card was manufactured by a known manufacturing method, an inspection was performed. 500 conforming products conforming to the inspection
The sheets were placed in a small box, and the IC chip label was stuck on both sides of the parent antenna pattern. 10 small boxes packed in the same manner were packed in a large box, and then entered into a warehouse.

On the day of the shipment, when the product passed through the inspection confirmation gate, 9 boxes of conforming products were rejected due to a shortage of one. Upon examination, one small box of an uninspected product to which no IC chip label was attached was found, and the uninspected product was mixed in for some reason. In the present embodiment, one RFID tag is formed for a box containing a plurality of products. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one RFID tag may be formed for one product.

[0028]

According to the present invention, the parent antenna patterns 111 and 112 are provided in advance on the product, and the IC chip label 10L is attached only to the conforming product 310 which has been inspected, thereby making the RFID tag 11 Is a reader / writer for inspection 3
Communication with 60 is possible. The RFID tag 11 can identify the conforming product 310, the nonconforming product 320, and the untested product 300 by responding to the reader / writer 360.
Even if the inspection work is in progress, there is no mistake between inspected conforming products and uninspected products.

By using an RFID tag using an electrostatic coupling method using a frequency in the LF-MF band (100 to 500 KHz), the communication distance with the reader / writer is relatively short, but the RFID tag, the reader / writer, and the control device are used. The system as a whole is inexpensive and can be used in a wide range of applications for various mass-produced products such as daily necessities, office supplies, building materials, foods and the like. Further, since it can be easily recognized by the simple reader / writer 360, there is no need to perform double inspection. further,
Even if a plurality of products are packed in the same package, it is not necessary to open the package to confirm each one by accurately determining a plurality of conforming products.

If the result of the process inspection in the manufacturing process is added to the data for each process, the process can be controlled. In addition, if you record and ship data such as test results table at shipping inspection,
At the destination of the product, it can be used for acceptance and acceptance inspection.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an RFID tag according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of an AA section, a BB section, and a CC section in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a tack label state of an IC chip label showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of inspecting a product and attaching an IC chip label.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of a check that has been inspected before starting shipping and packing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 IC chip 11 RFID tag 10L IC chip label 20 IC chip label base 111, 112 Parent antenna pattern 121, 122 Small antenna pattern 130 Adhesive 220 Release paper 300 Uninspected product 310 Conformity product 320 Nonconformity product 350 Inspection confirmation gate 360 Reader / writer 370 conveyor

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An inspection system using an RFID tag for a conformance inspection seal, in which a pair of conductive parent antenna patterns are provided in advance on a product body or a package of the product, and the above product is inspected and adapted. A product having at least an IC chip and a pair of child antenna patterns connected to the IC chip, and a pair of child antenna patterns of an IC chip label tack-labeled by providing an adhesive on the surface of the child antenna pattern; An inspection system using an RFID tag, which functions as an RFID tag by being attached to a main body or a package of the product so as to face a pair of parent antenna patterns provided in advance. 2. The communication of the RFID tag is performed by an electrostatic coupling method, and an LF having a frequency of 100 to 500 KHz.
2. The RF according to claim 1, wherein the MF band is used.
An inspection system using an ID tag. 3. In a state where a plurality of products to which the conformity inspection seal with the RFID tag according to claim 1 is attached are packed in the same package, non-conforming products or uninspection products and inspection conformity products are identified in a non-contact manner. An inspection system using an RFID tag as a feature.