JP2002358591A - Perishable food management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a perishable food management system which is suitable for the property and distribution form of perishable foods. SOLUTION: A tag 4 is provided with a temperature sensor, an impact sensor, a memory for preserving data detected by the sensors, an exchange part for transmitting the data and an identifying number adding part for adding an identifying number to the data. The tag 4 is packed in a package body 2 for packing the perishable foods. A receiver 11 for the tag for receiving data which is transmitted from each tag 4 is arranged near the package body, communication equipment is connected to the tag receiver 11 and an information collecting center 9 is disposed which collects data of each tag 4 from the communication equipment. The information collecting center 9 judges the preservation property of the package body 2 from the history of a preservation environment which is indicated by the collected data of each tag 4 and answers preservation property to terminal unit 12 via a communication line.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for managing preservation quality when storing and transporting perishable food products, and more particularly to a perishable food product management system suitable for the characteristics and distribution form of perishable food products. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Perishables are transported from a harvesting place in a production area to a consumer, such as a depot, a market, a warehouse, a truck, a transport vehicle such as a railway, a ship, an aircraft, and a store. Via. During storage and transportation during that time, it is necessary to control the storage quality so as to suppress deterioration of freshness and generation of scratches.

[0003] Conventionally, freshness was prevented by maintaining a low-temperature environment by using a cold storage warehouse, a cold storage truck, and the like. However, there is a problem that the temperature control does not reach the entire surface in terms of space. In addition, there is also a problem that the freshness cannot be assured with respect to a temporal temperature change unless temperature data measured continuously is accumulated.

According to the technology described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-330492, a history meter for detecting a temperature history and transmitting it wirelessly is housed in a package of frozen food, and is installed in a cab of a frozen truck or a supermarket as a carry-in destination. A receiver for receiving the wirelessly transmitted data and a data processing device are installed, the state of the food in each package is monitored from the data processing device, and the integrated value of the temperature change over time is set in the history meter. It has a function to send an alert when the value is reached. As a result, since the temperature of each package can be determined, it is possible to monitor spatial non-uniformity, and it is also possible to monitor time-based temperature changes by taking a temperature history, and furthermore, it is possible to monitor in real time. When the temperature change is remarkable, a warning can be issued, so that the freezing temperature can be adjusted so as not to thaw.

[0005]

However, in order to transmit data from a history meter to a supermarket even if the distance is relatively short from a frozen food processing plant to a supermarket which is a store, a considerable amount of time is required for the history meter. This will force power consumption. The history meter contained in each package consumes a large amount of the battery, resulting in high cost. And, if the transport distance extends to a long distance like outside the prefecture, it is practically impossible to reach the radio. on the other hand,
When receiving a signal at the refrigerated truck driver's cab, the radio can be easily reached, but since the data is transmitted only to the driver, the shipper (shipper, distributor, dealer, etc.) Real-time monitoring is not possible, and storage quality cannot be ascertained until the frozen truck arrives and receives a data log.

Also, fresh food products are different from frozen foods and processed foods in that freshness is greatly affected by environmental factors other than temperature. For example, the speed of freshness deterioration of leafy vegetables varies depending on not only temperature but also humidity. Raw meat (ice temperature or refrigerated)
Susceptible to shock and vibration. When the fiber is hit by the impact, the juice flows out and loses its commercial value.
It is known that when vibration is applied to tomatoes, the taste deteriorates according to the magnitude of the vibration and the application time. To illustrate, to this extent, many fresh foods are subject to freshness degradation due to humidity and impact. Therefore, controlling only the temperature does not mean that the storage quality is controlled.

[0007] Fresh foodstuffs are often produced far away from urban areas where they are consumed, and are also imported from foreign countries. For this reason, fresh food products are taken over by a plurality of transportation means such as trucks, railroads, ships, and aircraft between the time of packing and the time of unpacking, and the cargo is reloaded each time. In addition, fresh foods
Because market prices fluctuate daily, they may be stored in warehouses for shipping adjustments, where reloading is also performed. For this reason, there is a problem that responsibilities regarding storage quality become ambiguous.

In recent years, a service for delivering fresh food from a production area to a consumer has become popular, but even if an individual consumer wants to receive the temperature history in order to check the storage quality, This is virtually impossible due to the need for a receiver.

Although there is no direct relationship with the management of storage quality,
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, display of production information at retail stores to sell fresh food has become popular. Production information adds value to perishables, which can be profitable. Although,
The content of the production information is diverse, such as the place of production, producer name, variety, cultivation method, presence or absence of pesticides, and it is not easy to obtain all the production information. Also, there are a wide variety of fresh food items that arrive daily, and it is not easy to obtain production information for each item. If a wide variety of production information can be easily obtained for each item,
By displaying the production information together with the guarantee data of the preservation quality, it is expected that the added value of the fresh food will be further enhanced.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a fresh food management system suitable for the properties and distribution form of the fresh food.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a system for managing the quality of preservation of fresh food when storing and transporting the fresh food. A temperature sensor for detecting temperature, a shock sensor for detecting shock, a memory for storing data detected by the temperature and shock sensor, a transmitting / receiving unit for transmitting the data by weak radio waves, and adding a tag identification number to the data. A tag provided with an identification number adding unit is bundled, and a tag receiver for receiving data transmitted from each tag is installed in the vicinity where the package is stored, and a communication line is provided for the tag receiver. Alternatively, a communication device using wide area wireless is connected, and an information collection center for collecting data of each tag from the communication device is set up. The information collection center stores the data indicated by the collected data of each tag. Determines storage quality of perishable food packaging body from the history of the environment, it is to answer the storage quality for the terminal device inquires via the communication line to the information collection center.

The tag may include a humidity sensor for detecting humidity, and the data detected by the humidity sensor may be included in the data and transmitted from the tag.

[0013] The tag receiver and the mobile communication device may be mounted on a transport vehicle, and the data of each tag received by the tag receiver may be collected by an information collection center by mobile communication.

[0014] The tag receiver may be installed in a storage warehouse for fresh food in a packaged form, and data of each tag received by the tag receiver may be collected at an information collection center.

The tag receiver is installed so as to face the passage of the package at the place where the package is to be relocated. Data of each tag is received when each package passes, and the received data of each tag is received. May be collected at the information collection center.

[0016] The tag may include a memory for storing additional information relating to production of fresh food, and the additional information may be included in the data and transmitted from the tag.

[0017] A writer for writing additional information relating to the production of fresh food on the tag may be provided in a packing place where fresh food is packed.

The storage environment judging means for judging whether the storage environment is good or not with respect to the data detected by the sensor based on a preset threshold value and notifying the judgment result to the transporting vehicle which is transporting the tag is at least the storage environment judgment means. It may be provided in any of the tag, the transportation vehicle, and the information collection center.

[0019] A writer for writing a threshold value for judging a storage environment for data detected by the sensor into a tag included with the sensor may be provided on a packing place where fresh food is packed.

[0020] A database may be provided in which threshold values for judging the storage environment for the data detected by the sensor are stored for each item of fresh food.

[0021] The terminal device or the tag receiver is installed at an unpacking place where the fresh food is unpacked, and the storage quality of the fresh food that is received based on data obtained from the information collection center or the tag. May be installed.

[0022]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of a fresh food product management system according to the present invention. This management system aims at consistently managing HACCP (hazard factor analysis and essential control points) from the place of production to the point of consumption, and manages in real time temperature, humidity, and impact, which are the causes of deterioration of fresh food products.

The packing place 3 where the fresh food 1 is packed in the packing body 2 is, for example, an accumulation place 3a formed in a production area.
In addition, when packing is performed at the market 3b, the low-temperature warehouse 3c, the production site (not shown), etc., these become the packing ground 3. It is desirable that a tag 4 (see FIG. 2) described later be bundled with the package 2 when packing the fresh food product 1 in the packing place 3, but once the fresh food product 1 is packed, it is shipped. The tag 4 may be added and bundled, and in this case, the storage quality after the tag is added can be managed.

On the other hand, unpacking place 5 for unpacking fresh food 1
Is, for example, a store 5a such as a supermarket. In addition, in the case of home delivery, a food processor, and a direct delivery to a restaurant, a consumer, a food processor, and a restaurant (not shown) are the unpacking land 5, respectively.

The transport route is taken over by, for example, a transport vehicle (truck) 6, an aircraft 7a, and a truck 6.
Of course, the present invention can also be implemented by transporting the vehicle by truck 6 consistently or by using the ship 7b or the railway 7c. There may be a storage warehouse (not shown) for storing fresh food products in the form of a package in the middle of the transportation route. The low temperature warehouse 3c is also included in the case where fresh foods are stored in the form of a package.

The packing place 3 is provided with a writer 8 for writing information to the tag 4. This includes tag reader / writer 8a
It is preferable to use a handy terminal capable of reading and writing, which is called a terminal. The tag reader / writer 8a is used for writing information regarding production and a threshold value for determining a storage environment.

On the truck 6, a tag receiver 11 and a mobile communication device are mounted (see FIG. 4). The tag receiver communicates with each tag 4 in the warehouse (vehicle warehouse, storage warehouse) at appropriate time intervals to collect data.
The tag reader / writer 8a may be used as a tag receiver. The mobile communication device is a known wide-area wireless communication device, a satellite communication phone, a vehicle-mounted mobile phone, or the like. The mobile communication device is connected to the information collection center 9 by automatic transmission at appropriate time intervals, or responds to a call from the information collection center 9. The collected data can be transmitted to the information collection center 9. Furthermore, a positioning system using a GPS satellite 10 may be mounted on the truck 6 to transmit current position information to the information collection center 9.

The place of replacement of the package 2 is, for example, a harbor,
Airport, station. In the case where the package 2 is replaced at a transfer relay point, the relay point is a replacement place. In the transfer place, the tag receiver 11 is set facing the passage of the package 2.
Is installed. The tag receiver 11 receives data of each tag 4 when each package 2 passes.
A telephone terminal is connected to the tag receiver 11, and the data received from the tag 4 can be transmitted to the information collection center 9.

At the unpacking place 5, a terminal device 12 composed of a personal computer is installed. The terminal device 12 can access the information collection center 9 via a communication line such as the Internet 13 and displays a history of fresh food items received based on data obtained from the information collection center 9. Also serves as the display device 14. A tag reader / writer 8a may also be provided in the unpacking place 5 and used as the tag receiver 11.

The information collection center 9 supervises the perishable food management system according to the present invention, manages data collected from each communication device by a tag identification number, and can browse the data from the terminal device 12 through the Internet. Data can be stored in the

The details of each section will be described below.

FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of the tag. The tag 4 is also referred to as an IC tag, and is formed by incorporating an integrated circuit or a sensor element of a sensor into a base 21 formed in a plate shape so as not to obstruct a load. The tag 4 includes a temperature sensor 22, a humidity sensor 23, and an impact sensor 24. , A CPU 25, a clock 26, a memory 27, a transmission / reception unit 28, and a battery 29. The impact sensor 24 includes an acceleration sensor, and can detect vibration. The wireless communication by the weak radio wave performed by the transmission / reception unit 28 is a conventionally known technique.

The CPU 25 measures time by a pulse from the clock 26, and accumulates temperature, humidity, and shock values from each sensor as history information in the memory 27 at predetermined recording time intervals of about 1 to 60 minutes. The communication with the tag receiver 11 (including the writer 8) is performed using the transmission / reception unit 28, and the data in the memory 27 is transmitted to the tag receiver 11 in response to a request from the tag receiver 11.

The CPU 25 stores the thresholds of temperature, humidity, and shock (thresholds for judging the quality of the storage environment) received from the writer 8 in the memory 27, and the values from each sensor are stored in the memory 27. When the value falls outside the allowable range defined by the threshold value, an alarm is transmitted to the tag receiver 11.

The CPU 25 can store character information in the memory 27. The character information to be stored includes a tag ID for identifying the tag 4, a user ID for managing access right to the tag 4 and start / stop of data recording, and a product for managing a write right of product information. There is an information ID and the like. The character information includes production JAN code, production area (prefecture,
Region), producer name (organization, individual), item, variety, seed (gene manipulation), cultivation method (organic cultivation, house cultivation, etc.),
There are fertilizer information, pesticide application information, and harvest date.

FIG. 3 shows a hardware configuration of the tag reader / writer 8a. The tag reader / writer 8a has a housing 31 that can be operated by hand, and includes a transmitting / receiving unit 32, a CPU 33,
A memory 34, a display 35, a keyboard 36, a serial communication interface 37, and a battery 38 are provided. CP
U33 displays on the display 35 the contents and operation guidance input by the keyboard operation. The CPU 33 exchanges information with a later-described base host device by serial communication. For example, each ID and product information is obtained from the base host device and stored in the memory 34, and the history information stored in the memory 34 is transferred to the host device. CPU33
Writes the IDs and the product information into the tag 4 via the transmission / reception unit 32 and acquires history information from the tag 4. CPU
33 performs various settings and instructions to the tag 4 via the transmission / reception unit 32. For example, start and stop data recording,
A recording time interval is set, and an allowable range (threshold) for each sensor value is set. The CPU 33 compares the user ID and the merchandise information ID set in the memory 34 with the user ID and the merchandise information ID input by the keyboard operation, and determines the validity of the operation. For example, the validity of the data recording start / stop instruction is determined based on the comparison of the user ID, and the writing of the product information is determined based on the verification of the product information ID.

FIG. 4 shows a hardware configuration of the tag receiver 11 mounted on the vehicle. The in-vehicle tag receiver has a housing 41 that can be attached to the cockpit of the vehicle.
PU 43, memory 44, display 45, keyboard 46, serial communication interface 47, GPS unit 4
8. It has a driver 49 for an external storage medium. Transceiver 4
The antenna for 2 is installed in the storage. The power supply takes in the vehicle power supply. A wide area wireless communication device and other devices can be connected to the serial communication interface 47.

The CPU 43 acquires data (history information, allowable range, product information, etc.) from each tag 4 in the storage via the transmission / reception unit 42 and records it in the memory 44. When an alarm is transmitted from the tag 4 (or when the CPU recognizes that the history information is out of the allowable range), the CPU 43
Displays an alarm on the display 45 to notify the driver, and automatically transmits a call to the information collection center 9 from the wide area wireless communication device connected to the serial communication interface 47 to transmit the alarm. Further, the CPU 43 receives the information from the information collection center 9 via the serial communication interface 47.
The data acquired from each tag 4 is transferred to the information collection center in response to the request from.

The CPU 43 always uses the GPS unit 48 to measure the current position of the vehicle, records the current position of the vehicle in the memory 44 as the route history together with the positioning time, and periodically or in response to a request from the information collection center 9. Is transmitted to the information collection center 9. The vehicle information includes a transportation company, a vehicle number, a cooling type, a driver name, and the like.

The CPU 43 displays on the display 45 the contents and operation guidance input by keyboard operation, and supports various settings and operations by the driver.

Various data recorded in the memory 44 can be written in the external storage medium 49.

Tag receiver 11 installed at a transfer place
Is a stationary type in which the housing is mounted with an antenna, uses a commercial power supply as a power source, and is the same as a vehicle-mounted type except that positioning means is not required.

FIG. 5 shows a hardware configuration of the site host device 12. The base host device 12 includes a packing place (accumulation site, etc.) 3 shown in FIG. 1, an unpacking place (distributor, home delivery user, etc.) 5, an intermediate point not shown in FIG. The terminal device 12 is installed in an office or the like of each trader away from the terminal. This terminal device 12 has a CPU
A personal computer body 51 comprising a memory, a database 52,
Display 53, mouse (not shown), keyboard 5
4, a serial communication interface 55 with the tag reader / writer 8a, and a communication interface 56 with a LAN or the Internet. That is, the terminal device 12 can be realized by a general personal computer. The software executed by the CPU differs depending on the installation location (user ID, product information ID). For example, when the tag reader / writer 8a is operated by serial communication with the tag reader / writer 8a, the operable contents are limited by the user ID.

The base host device 12 of the packing land 3 obtains a product information input sheet from the information collection center 9 via the Internet 13, stores the product information input by the operator according to the product information input sheet in a database, and The information is transferred to the information collection center 9 together with the product information ID. The product information input sheet can be obtained only by the base host device 12 in the packing place, and the base host devices 12 in other places can only browse the entered product information. 9).

The base host device 12 at the packing place 3
By accessing the information collection center 9 and specifying the tag ID read from the tag 4 by manual input or via the tag reader / writer 8a, merchandise information, history information, vehicle information, and storage of the tag collected by the information collection center 9 Gain quality,
Display on the display.

When packing the fresh food 1, the base host device 12 at the packing site 3 reads the tag ID of the bundled tag 4 via the tag reader / writer 8 a and reads the tag ID.
Is transmitted to the information collection center 9 together with the product information ID (this enables the information collection center 9 to associate the tag ID with the product information).

The base host device 12 at the packing land 3 sends character information, product information, and the like to the tag via the tag reader / writer 8a.
It is possible to write an allowable range and the like, and to instruct start / stop of data recording.

The base host device 12 at the intermediate point accesses the information collection center 9 at any time, and inputs the information manually or the tag reader / tag.
By specifying the tag ID read from the tag via the writer 8a, the product information, history information, vehicle information, and storage quality collected by the information collection center 9 for the tag can be acquired and displayed on the display 53.

The base host device 12 at the unpacking site 5 can
Accessing the information collection center 9, specifying the tag ID read from the tag manually or via the tag reader / writer 8a, and merchandise information, history information, vehicle information, storage quality collected by the information collection center 9 regarding the tag. And can be displayed on the display 53.

The base host device 12 at the unpacking site 5 can instruct the tag 4 to stop data recording via the tag reader / writer 8a.

FIG. 6 shows a hardware configuration of the information collection center 9. The information collection center 9 includes various databases 61 and various communication interfaces 62 in addition to a personal computer including a display, a mouse, a keyboard, and a CPU. The database 61 has a tag ID and a user I
D, ID database 61 in which the product information ID is registered
a, a character information database 61b in which various types of character information written in the tag 4 are registered, a history information database 61c in which histories of temperature, humidity, and impact are recorded for each tag ID;
A freshness holding condition database 61d in which freshness holding conditions are recorded for each item, a vehicle information database 61e, an information providing format database 61f having an on-screen information providing format, and a quality display format having a on-screen quality display format There is a database 61g and the like. The Internet communication interface 62 a can communicate with the terminal device (base host device) 12. The communication interface 62b for the communication network (communication line) can communicate with a wide-area wireless communication device, a mobile communication device, or a communication device connected to the stationary tag receiver 11 mounted on a vehicle.

The functions of the software executed by the CPU are as follows:
It is as follows. In the figure, the CPU is described as a transportation quality judgment circuit.

The identification information is managed. For example, user I
The operation that can be performed from the terminal device is restricted according to D. Also,
It is preferable that the management system is a membership system, a user ID is issued only to the member, and access to the information collection center is authenticated with the user ID.

Product information, history information, and vehicle information are obtained via the Internet, a wide area wireless network, or a communication line, written into each database 61, and transmitted in response to a disclosure request from the outside. When transmitting such information, the display format is changed according to the user ID.

The history information and vehicle information of each tag are compared with each other in the freshness holding condition database 61d for the freshness holding condition of the item written in the tag, and threshold values for the storage environment determination (upper and lower limits of temperature and humidity, If there is a history out of the range determined by the upper limit of shock and vibration), an alert is notified to the truck 6 or the warehouse that is currently transporting (or storing) the tag. Then, a plurality of reference values for determining the storage quality are applied to the history to rank the storage quality (transport quality determination circuit).

The overall operation of the management system shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

First, the producer brings the fresh food 1 harvested from the production site to the accumulation place 3a, and packs the fresh food 1 in the package 2 made of cardboard, styrofoam, plastic, wood, or the like. At this time, the producer or the person in charge of the accumulation site 3a obtains the product information input sheet from the information collection center 9 by the base host device 12, and stores the item of the packed item in each item of the product information of the product information input sheet displayed on the display. Fill in product information. The contents of this entry are registered in the information collection center 9, and the tag reader /
It is also recorded on the tag 4 via the writer 8a. Then, the clerk operates the base host device 12 or the tag reader / writer 8a.
Is used to indicate the start of data recording. This allows
The tag 4 in each package 2 starts detection of temperature, humidity, and impact, and recording of these pieces of history information.

The package 2 is loaded on a truck 6 and transported. During this transportation, the on-vehicle tag receiver 1 shown in FIG.
Data including history information is collected by the tag receiver 11 by wireless communication between the tag 1 and each tag 4, and this data is further collected by the information collection center 9 by a mobile phone line or wide area wireless communication.

During the transportation, if the storage environment is out of the range of the threshold value for judging the storage environment relating to temperature, humidity and impact, the storage environment incorporated in the tag 4, the in-vehicle tag receiver 11 or the CPU of the information collection center 9 is determined. The determining means recognizes the deterioration of the storage environment and transmits an alarm to the tag receiver 11 mounted on the vehicle.
Since the driver is warned on the display 45 in the cockpit, the driver can review the temperature / humidity management in the warehouse or transport the vehicle while paying attention to the impact.

When the package 2 is to be reloaded on the aircraft 7a at the airport, a stationary tag receiver 11 provided on a transport path such as a conveyor collects the data of each tag 4 and sends it to the information collection center 9. Forward. In the aircraft 7a, the tag 4 stores history information. When the package 2 is replaced on the truck 6 at the arrival airport, a similar tag receiver 11 collects data of each tag 4 and transfers it to the information collection center 9.
Therefore, the history information while being transported by the aircraft 7a is also collected by the information collection center 9.

In the truck 6 heading to the unpacking place 5,
The data of each tag 4 is collected by the information collection center 9 via the tag receiver 11 mounted on the vehicle. On track 6,
The current position and the passing route recognized by the GPS unit 48 are transmitted to the information collection center 9. The information collection center 9 has a truck 6
Estimates the time it takes to arrive at the scheduled unpacking location 5 from the current location and notifies the unpacking location 5 of the estimated arrival time. Thereby, the efficiency of the receiving operation at the unpacking place 5 is improved.

The information collection center 9 ranks the storage quality of each package 2 based on the history information from the start of data recording obtained for each tag 4 to the present.

The truck 6 arrives at the unpacking place 5 and the package 2
Are stored in the tag 4 until the stop of data recording is instructed by a staff member at the unpacking site 5. The terminal device 12 displays the data of the tag 4 obtained from the information collection center 9 and the tag reader / writer 8a on the display 53. In addition, the terminal device 12 displays the product information and the rank of the storage quality. The displayed information can be used by a store clerk for pricing and the like. In a store, if the history information includes a significant temperature increase that may cause food poisoning, the sale of the product can be restricted.

Further, a terminal device 1 that can be used by customers in the store
2 may be installed so that the customer can select a product by looking at the product information and the rank of the storage quality.

In the case of home delivery, there is no need for the individual user to have the tag reader / writer 8a or the tag receiver 11, and the personal computer is connected to the Internet, and the product information and the storage quality rank are obtained with the right of the user ID. can do. That is, the present invention can be applied to the transportation of fresh food products by electronic commerce.

Next, the basis for controlling the temperature, humidity and impact of the fresh food 1 in the present invention will be described. First, with regard to temperature, fruits and vegetables continue to breathe after harvesting, consuming their own nutrients and growing while wicking moisture. For this reason, maturation progresses with the passage of time, and rot due to aging occurs, and the quality of taste, nutrition, and the like, which are invisible, are reduced. It is therefore desirable to keep breathing as low as possible. In a low-temperature state, respiration is suppressed, so that quality deterioration can be delayed. However, if frozen, the commercial value will be lost, so it is not something better as the temperature is lower like frozen foods.

[0068]

[Table 1]

Table 1 shows excerpts of recommended temperatures for low-temperature transport of fruits and vegetables recommended by the International Frozen Association in 1974. As can be seen from Table 1, the proper storage temperature differs depending on the item.
Also, the proper storage temperature varies depending on the number of days for transportation. Therefore, it is necessary to set the threshold value for judging the quality of the storage environment described above and the reference value for ranking the storage quality according to the item and the number of scheduled transportation days. In the present invention, since the temperature threshold value and the reference value for each item are stored in the database in a searchable manner in the product information, appropriate values can be obtained without the clerk or the driver recognizing the difference in the control temperature depending on the item. Temperature control can be performed. For example, when an apple is transported, information indicating that the item is an apple, information of a lower limit of 3 ° C. and an upper limit of 10 ° C. are written in each tag 4 included in each package 2.
If the detected value of the temperature sensor is out of this range, the tag receiver 11 can issue an alarm.

Regarding humidity, fruits and vegetables, particularly vegetables, have a water content of 90% or more, and transpiration becomes remarkable when the environmental humidity is low. Above all, leaf vegetables such as spinach have a high transpiration rate due to a large amount of respiration. Most vegetables are 5% of water
Is lost and the commercial value is lost. Vegetables with reduced moisture have noticeable shrinkage. For this reason, humidity management is important.

[0071]

[Table 2]

Table 2 shows suitable humidity and temperature for storing vegetables. The values in parentheses are the percentages of the contained water. As can be seen from Table 2, the proper storage humidity differs depending on the item. In the present invention, the threshold value and the reference value of the humidity for each item are stored in the database in a searchable manner in the product information. Humidity management can be performed. For example, when transporting onions, each package 2
Information that the item is an onion, information such as a lower limit of 65 ° C. and an upper limit of 70 ° C. of humidity are written in each tag 4 bundled with the tag. If the detection value of the humidity sensor is out of this range, a tag receiver is used. 11 can issue an alarm.

[0073]

[Table 3]

With respect to the impact (vibration), the vegetables collide with each other due to the impact during unloading or transportation, causing damage, resulting in a reduction in the commercial value of the appearance and the deterioration of the taste. Here, for tomatoes with liquid flexible contents, Table 3
This will be described below. As shown in Table 3, when vibrations with different intensities are applied to tomatoes with different ripeness for different periods of time, the sweetness, flavor, and meat quality (texture) change respectively. Vibration is small,
The shorter the time, the better the taste. In the present invention, since the history of impact during unloading and transportation is detected and recorded, a warning is given to the driver during transportation, and the degree of deterioration of the taste of the contents is estimated before unpacking and rank. It is also possible to attach.
For example, when transporting tomatoes during the color-producing period, each package 2
Information that the item is a tomato in the color-producing period is written in each tag 4 bundled with the tag, and the information collection center 9 registers the item in the freshness holding condition database 61d based on the item information obtained from each tag 4. The vibration history of each tag 4 is evaluated with reference to the reference value of the tomato in the coloring stage. The overall evaluation is as high as 4.5 when the vibration intensity is less than 1 G and the accumulated time of about 1 G is within 1 hour. If the total time during which the vibration intensity exceeds 3 G has reached 5 hours, the overall evaluation is as low as 2.2. In this way, the rank of the product is determined.

[0075]

The present invention exhibits the following excellent effects.

(1) Since not only the temperature but also the history of impact and humidity can be read out, it is possible to store and manage fresh foods.

(2) A tag is bundled with each package, a communication device using a communication line or a wide area radio is connected to the tag receiver, and an information collection center for collecting data of each tag from the communication device. Installed, real-time monitoring during transportation is possible, and the history can be grasped consistently regardless of reloading.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a perishable food management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram (a) and an external view (b) of a tag used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram (a) and an external view (b) of a tag reader / writer used in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram (a) and an external view (b) of a vehicle-mounted tag receiver 11 used in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a site host device (terminal device) used in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an information collection center used in the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fresh food 2 Packing body 3 Packing place 4 Tag 5 Unpacking place 6 Transport vehicle (truck) 8 Writer 8a Tag reader / writer 9 Information collection center 11 Tag receiver 12 Terminal device (base host device) 13 Internet

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G08C 19/00 A23L 3/00 101Z // A23L 3/00 101 G08C 17 / 00Z (72) Inventor Yamazawa Katsumi 2-2-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Ishikawashima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. Person Yuji Takemura 2-2-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Ishikawashima Harima Heavy Industries, Ltd. F-term (reference) 2F056 AE01 AE07 2F073 AA19 AA32 AA40 AB01 BB01 BC02 CC03 CC12 CC14 DD07 EF09 FF01 FG01 FG01 GG01 GG01 GG01 GG01 GG01 GG01 GG01 GG01 LT01 LW02 LW03 LW04 MC01 MC03 MC05 MC06 MC07 MC08 MC09

Claims (11)

[Claims] The present invention relates to a system for managing the preservation quality of fresh food products when storing and transporting the fresh food products, wherein a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature and an impact sensor for detecting an impact are provided on a package for packing the fresh food products. A tag including a memory for storing data detected by the temperature and shock sensor, a transmitting / receiving unit for transmitting the data by weak radio waves, and an identification number adding unit for adding an identification number for each tag to the data is included. Install a tag receiver to receive data transmitted from each tag in the vicinity where the package is stored and connect a communication line or a communication device using wide area wireless to this tag receiver,
An information collection center that collects data of each tag from this communication device is installed, and this information collection center determines the storage quality of the fresh food in the package from the storage environment history indicated by the collected data of each tag, A perishable food management system, wherein the storage quality is returned to a terminal device inquiring of the information collection center via a communication line. 2. The fresh food product according to claim 1, wherein the tag is provided with a humidity sensor for detecting humidity, and data detected by the humidity sensor is included in the data and transmitted from the tag. Management system. 3. The tag receiver and the mobile communication device are mounted on a transportation vehicle, and data of each tag received by the tag receiver is collected by an information collection center by mobile communication. The fresh food management system according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The tag receiver is installed in a perishable food storage warehouse in the form of a package, and data of each tag received by the tag receiver is collected by an information collection center. Item 4. A fresh food management system according to any one of Items 1 to 3. 5. The tag receiver is installed so as to face a passage of the package at a place where the package is relocated, and receives data of each tag when each package passes, and receives each of the received tags. The perishable food management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the data is collected by an information collection center. 6. The tag according to claim 1, further comprising: a memory for storing additional information relating to production of fresh food, wherein said additional information is included in said data and transmitted from said tag. Or perishable food product management system. 7. A fresh food product according to claim 1, wherein a writer for writing additional information relating to the production of the fresh food product is provided on the tag at a packing place where the fresh food product is packed. Management system. And determining whether the storage environment of the data detected by the sensor is good or not based on a preset threshold value.
8. The storage environment determining means for notifying a result of the determination to a transport vehicle transporting the tag is provided in at least one of the tag, the transport vehicle, and the information collection center. Or perishable food product management system. 9. A writer for writing a threshold value for judging a storage environment for data detected by the sensor to a tag included in a packing place for packing fresh food products. The fresh food management system according to any of the above. 10. A database in which threshold values for determining a storage environment for data detected by the sensor are stored for each item of fresh food.
The fresh food management system according to any of the above. 11. The terminal device or the tag receiver is installed at an unpacking place for unpacking fresh food products, and a fresh food product received based on data obtained from an information collection center or a tag is provided. The fresh food management system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a display device for displaying the storage quality.