JP2005157918A - Radio tag device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify storage operation while improving a reading rate. <P>SOLUTION: A radio tag device 40 has a bonding face to a radio tag mounting object 3. Radio tags 4 are arranged between the bonding face and the vertical tip portion 42 from the bonding face at a portion where both of a vertical distance from the bonding face and a vertical distance from the tip portion 42 are one half or more of a distance that guarantees to have non-interference between the tags. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless tag device attached to a wireless tag attachment object.

  In recent years, a data carrier having a unique ID (RFID) and a memory area where information can be rewritten, and capable of reading IDs and writing and reading arbitrary information without contact using radio, so-called radio Tags are attracting attention.

  For example, in the past, a wireless tag was affixed to each envelope used for recorded mail such as registered mail and parcel mail, and the tracking management code set for the envelope with the tag attached to this wireless tag was written. In addition, the RFID tag readers are installed at each site from the underwriting to delivery of the mail, and the tracking management code is read from the RFID tag attached to the envelope at each site and notified to the information center. By doing so, a system has been proposed that enables unified record management and rapid tracking of postal items handled by records (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The wireless tag reader has a communication antenna with a wireless tag, and reads stored data from all wireless tags within the communication area (sensitivity range) of the antenna. However, if the wireless tags overlap or are close to each other, radio waves transmitted from each other may interfere with each other and the stored data may not be read correctly.

Therefore, conventionally, a plurality of pieces of mail attached with wireless tags are divided and accommodated one by one in a room surrounded by a partition member so that the wireless tags attached to the respective pieces of mail do not overlap each other. A storage container was proposed. (For example, see Patent Document 2)
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-175621 JP 2002-337827 A

  However, conventionally, in order to accurately read the stored data of the wireless tag attached to each target object from a plurality of target objects attached to the wireless tag such as postal items placed in a storage container, Since a storage container in which a room for storing each object is formed must be used, the objects must be stored separately in each room of the storage container. It was hanging.

  The present invention has been made based on such circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to attach a plurality of wireless tags to a storage container in which a room for storing each wireless tag attachment object is not formed. Even if the objects are stored side by side, the wireless tags attached to the wireless tag mounting objects do not cause radio wave interference, and a high reading rate can be obtained, thereby simplifying the storing work. A tag device is to be provided.

  The wireless tag device of the present invention is attached to a wireless tag attachment object on which the wireless tag is read in a state of being stored side by side in a storage container. This wireless tag device has an adhesive surface to a wireless tag attachment object. In addition, between the bonding surface and the vertical tip portion from the bonding surface, the vertical distance from the bonding surface and the vertical distance from the tip portion should not cause interference between the wireless tags. A wireless tag is provided in a portion having a half or more of the interval for ensuring the above.

  According to the present invention in which such means are taken, even if a plurality of wireless tag attachment objects are stored side by side in a storage container in which a room for storing each wireless tag attachment object is not formed, A high reading rate can be obtained without causing radio wave interference between the wireless tags attached to the tag attachment object, and the storing operation can be simplified.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a wireless tag device attached to a plurality of postal mail items such as registered mail and parcel mail.

First, a description will be given of a wireless tag reading device that collectively reads wireless tags of recorded postal items to which the wireless tag device of this embodiment is attached.
FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 are schematic views showing a wireless tag reader according to this embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a rectangular parallelepiped storage container, and 2 denotes a roller conveyor as a transport path for transporting the storage container 1 in one direction by sliding the bottom surface thereof. In the storage container 1, a plurality of recorded postal items 3 (hereinafter abbreviated as postal items 3) are stacked and stored in the longitudinal direction of the storage container 1. Each postal item 3 is attached with a wireless tag 4 at a predetermined location by a wireless tag device 40 described later. In the memory part of each wireless tag 4, an ID for identifying the postal matter 3 to which the tag is attached is stored.

  The roller conveyor 2 includes an antenna unit 21 provided with an antenna 51 of a wireless tag reader 5 that reads memory data stored in the wireless tag 4 by wireless, and a carry-in unit 22 and a carry-out unit 23 that are respectively extended before and after the antenna unit 21. It consists of.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of wheels 32a and 32b made of metal, plastic resin, hard rubber and the like are attached to the antenna portion 21 via torque limiters 33a and 33b, respectively, at both ends of the shaft 31. The first rollers 34 are provided at regular intervals. As shown in FIG. 1, an E-shaped antenna mounting plate 24 is fitted on the inner surfaces of the wheels 32 a and 32 b facing each of the first rollers 34. An antenna 51 of the wireless tag reader 5 is embedded in the antenna mounting plate 24 so that an upper space substantially in the entire plate width direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the storage container 1 serves as a communication area with the wireless tag 4.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each of the carry-in portion 12 and the carry-out portion 13 has a cylindrical body made of metal, plastic resin, hard rubber, or the like over substantially the entire length of the shaft 35 having the same length as the shaft 31 of the first roller 34. A plurality of second rollers 37 to which 36 is integrally attached are rotatably provided at regular intervals.

  In addition, a pair of guide plates 25a and 25b, which are bent so that both end portions expand outward, face each other on the outer surface side of the wheels 32a and 32b facing each of the first rollers 34 in the antenna unit 21. Is attached.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3, when the length in the longitudinal direction of the storage container 1 is D and the length in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is W, the length W is a pair of guide plates 25a, It is shorter than the minimum inner surface distance A of 25 b and longer than the distance B between the inner surfaces of the wheels 32 a and 32 b facing the first roller 34. The length D is longer than the minimum distance A between the inner surfaces of the pair of guide plates 25a and 25b.

  Therefore, when the storage container 1 is placed on the carry-in part 22 so that the longitudinal direction thereof substantially coincides with the transport direction of the roller conveyor 2, the storage container 1 is carried into the antenna part 21 by sliding on the roller conveyor 2. Further, it can be carried out to the carry-out unit 23. On the other hand, when the storage container 1 is placed on the carry-in portion 22 so that the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction thereof substantially coincides with the transport direction of the roller conveyor 2, the storage container 1 can be slid on the roller conveyor 2. Will hit the pair of guide plates 25a, 25b and cannot be carried into the antenna portion 21.

  Therefore, the wireless tag reader according to the present embodiment stores the wireless tags 4 attached to the respective mail items 3 stored in the storage container 1 in a state of being aligned in the transport direction of the roller conveyor 2. Data is read collectively when the wireless tag 4 passes over the antenna 51.

Next, the wireless tag device 40 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
4A and 4B are diagrams showing the wireless tag device 40, where FIG. 4A is a front view, FIG. 4B is a longitudinal sectional view, and FIG. In the wireless tag device 40, both end portions of a hard plate-like member other than metal are bent at an obtuse angle, and the bent both end surfaces are bonded surfaces to an object to be attached to a wireless tag (postal matter 3 in the present embodiment). 41. Between the bonding surface 41 and the vertical tip portion 42 from the bonding surface 41, the vertical distance t1 from the bonding surface 41 and the vertical distance t2 from the tip portion 42 are both. The wireless tag 4 is provided in a portion 43 having a distance X 1/2 or more that ensures that the wireless tags do not interfere with each other. Incidentally, the guarantee interval X is determined by the specifications of the wireless tag 4 and is usually about 10 to 20 mm.

  FIGS. 5A and 5B show a front view and a longitudinal sectional view of the wireless tag device 40 having such a configuration attached to the postal matter 3 which is an object to which the wireless tag is attached. As shown in the figure, the RFID tag device 40 is attached with its adhesion surface 41 adhered to the front or back surface of the mail piece 3. In the state where the postal item 3 to which the wireless tag device 40 is attached is erected, that is, in the state where it is stored in the storage container 1, both the upper surface 44 and the lower surface 45 of the wireless tag device 40 are inclined downward. It has become.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), the RFID tag device 40 'is positioned substantially at the same position on the surface side of the postal matter 3 that is stood and stored in the storage container 1 on which the RFID tag device 40 is attached. When another provided mail piece 3 ′ is stored in the same direction, the lower edge of the mail piece 3 ′ hits the upper surface 44 of the wireless tag device 40, but the upper surface 44 is a downward inclined surface. As shown in FIG. 2B, the postal matter 3 ′ is stored in the storage container 1 while being aligned with the postal matter 3 in the stacking direction without the lower edge of the postal item 3 ′ riding on the upper surface 44 of the RFID tag device 40.

  Therefore, the wireless tag 4 provided in the wireless tag device 40 of the postal matter 3 and the wireless tag 4 ′ provided in the wireless tag device 40 ′ of the postal matter 3 ′ are uneven in the storage container 1. Without being aligned, they are stored in the stacking direction. At this time, the distance d1 between the wireless tag 4 and the wireless tag 4 'is a distance t2 from the wireless tag 4 to the tip portion 42 of the wireless tag device 40 and from the wireless tag 4' to the adhesive surface 41 of the wireless tag device 40 '. Since the distance t1 and the thickness of the postal item 3 'are added, the distances t1 and t2 are both 1/2 or more of the interval X that ensures that the wireless tags do not interfere with each other. The interval d1 is not less than the interval X that ensures that the wireless tags do not interfere with each other.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, when another mail piece 3 ′ is stored in the reverse direction on the surface of the mail piece 3 on which the RFID tag device 40 is attached, it is provided on the mail piece 3 ′. The lower surface 45 ′ of the wireless tag device 40 ′ hits the upper surface 44 of the wireless tag device 40 ′. Since both the lower surface 45 ′ and the upper surface 44 are inclined downward, as shown in FIG. In addition, the postal item 3 ′ is stored in the storage container 1 while being aligned with the postal item 3 in the stacking direction without the RFID tag device 40 ′ riding on the upper surface 44 of the RFID tag device 40.

  Therefore, also in this case, the wireless tag 4 and the wireless tag 4 ′ are stored in the storage container 1 so as to be aligned in the stacking direction without becoming uneven. At this time, the distance d2 between the wireless tag 4 and the wireless tag 4 'is the distance t2 from the wireless tag 4 to the distal end portion 42 of the wireless tag device 40 and from the wireless tag 4' to the distal end portion 42 of the wireless tag device 40 '. Since the distance t2 is not less than ½ of the interval X that ensures that the wireless tags do not interfere with each other, the interval d2 should not cause interference between the wireless tags. It becomes more than interval X which guarantees.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8A, when another mail piece 3 ′ is stored in the same direction on the opposite side of the surface of the mail piece 3 to which the RFID tag device 40 is attached, and FIG. ), When another mail piece 3 ′ is stored in the reverse direction, the mail piece 3 ′ is stored in the storage container 1 aligned with the mail piece 3 in the stacking direction without any trouble. Also in this case, the intervals d3 and d4 between the wireless tag 4 and the wireless tag 4 'are equal to or longer than the interval X that ensures that the wireless tags do not interfere with each other.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if a plurality of mail items 3, 3 'are stored side by side in the storage container 1, the distance d1 between the wireless tags 4, 4' attached to each mail item 3, 3 '. Since .about.d4 is equal to or longer than the interval X that ensures that the wireless tags do not interfere with each other, the wireless tags do not cause radio wave interference and a high reading rate can be obtained. Therefore, since the storage container 1 with a simple structure and easy handling can be used in which a room for storing each mail item 3, 3 'is not formed one by one, the storing operation can be simplified.

  Further, in the RFID tag device 40 of the present embodiment, the upper surface when attached to the postal matter 3 is a downwardly inclined surface, so that when storing another postal matter 3 ′ in the storage container 1. The postal matter 3 ′ does not ride on the wireless tag device 40 attached to the postal matter 3, and the mutual wireless tag devices 40, 40 ′ do not run on each other. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the reading rate from being lowered due to the irregularity of the wireless tags 4 and 4 ′, and to further efficiently store the mail items 3 and 3 ′.

  The wireless tag device 40 of the present invention is not limited to the one in the above embodiment. FIGS. 9A and 9B are a front view and a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment. In the wireless tag device 40A, one side surface of a member on a triangular prism is used as an adhesive surface 41. A concave groove 46 having a depth t <b> 1 is formed in the wireless tag 4, and the wireless tag 4 is provided on the bottom surface 43 of the groove 46. The vertical distance t1 from the bonding surface 41 to the bottom surface 43 and the vertical distance t2 from the tip portion 42 to the bottom surface 43 are both ½ or more of the interval that ensures that the wireless tags do not interfere with each other. It has become.

  FIGS. 10A and 10B are a front view and a longitudinal sectional view of still another embodiment. The wireless tag device 40B includes a lower surface 45 of the wireless tag device 40 according to the embodiment. The end portion is bent at a right angle.

  In the above embodiment, the RFID tag attachment object to which the RFID tag device 40 is attached has been described as the postal matter 3. However, the wireless tag attachment object is not limited to the postal matter 3, but a slip, an envelope, Certificates, documents, cards, products, etc. are appropriately selected according to the needs of the user.

The schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of one embodiment of this invention. The perspective view which shows the principal part of the roller conveyor in the embodiment. The schematic diagram used for size description with respect to the roller conveyor of the storage container in the embodiment. The front view, longitudinal cross-sectional view, and back view of the radio | wireless tag apparatus in the embodiment. The front view and vertical cross section which show the state which attached the radio | wireless tag apparatus of the embodiment to the mail. The schematic diagram which shows an example of the accommodation operation | movement of the mail which attached the wireless tag apparatus of the embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the other example of the accommodation operation | movement of the mail which attached the wireless tag apparatus of the embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the further another example of the accommodation operation | movement of the mail which attached the wireless tag apparatus of the embodiment. The front view and longitudinal cross-sectional view which show other embodiment of the RFID tag apparatus of this invention. The front view and longitudinal cross-sectional view which show other embodiment of the radio | wireless tag apparatus of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Storage container, 2 ... Roller conveyor, 3 ... Mail, 4 ... Wireless tag, 5 ... Wireless tag reader, 40 ... Wireless tag apparatus.

Claims (2)

A wireless tag device that is attached to a wireless tag attachment object in which the wireless tag is read in a state of being stored side by side in a storage container,
While having an adhesion surface to the RFID tag attachment object, a vertical distance from the adhesion surface and a vertical direction from the tip portion between the adhesion surface and the tip portion in the vertical direction from the adhesion surface. The wireless tag device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless tag is provided at a portion having a distance of at least half of an interval for ensuring that the wireless tags do not interfere with each other.   The surface which becomes an upper surface when the wireless tag attachment object is stored in the storage container in a state where the adhesion surface is bonded to the wireless tag attachment object, is a downward inclined surface. The wireless tag device according to 1.

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