JP2005213031A - Information reader and article management system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the movement of wrong articles and to dispense with repair work following the erroneous input of data by preventing erroneous input caused by mistaking documents. <P>SOLUTION: An article management slip processor 2 and a parts acceptance slip processor 3 are both reader-writers for RFID tags, and read information from the RFID tag of a document set by a worker and transmit the information to a management device 1. When the parts management slip processor 2 reads shipment parts information from the RFID tag of a parts management slip and transmit it to the management device 1, the management device 1 collates the shipment parts information with parts specification information obtained from the parts acceptance slip processor 3 and discriminates the propriety of the shipment parts information. The discriminated result is transmitted as an OK signal or NG signal to the parts management slip processor 2. The parts management slip processor 2 carries out notification processing different according to received signals. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for processing information related to delivery of an article. In particular, the present invention relates to a technique for storing such information in an RFID tag and managing the distribution of articles by reading and writing information on the RFID tag.

  In industrial production sites and logistics management sites, methods of moving articles such as parts and products together with forms are widely used. When this management is executed by the computer system, in addition to the character information for the operator, a bar code or a two-dimensional code obtained by encoding the character information is printed on the form.

  Further, in recent years, it has been proposed to use an RFID tag instead of the bar code or the two-dimensional code. An RFID tag includes an IC chip including a semiconductor memory, an antenna coil for communication, and the like. Since information in the RFID tag memory can be rewritten as appropriate, it can be used repeatedly as an electronic form.

  For example, Patent Document 1 below describes a system that uses, as a form, a sheet in which a heat sensitive sheet is pasted on the surface of an RFID tag formed on a large credit card.

JP 2002-87533 A

  In the invention described in Patent Document 1, a computer system including a reader / writer for an RFID tag and a management device thereof for both a product supplier (upstream business operator) and a product orderer (downstream business operator). Has been introduced (FIG. 1). Based on the ordering information transmitted from the orderer's computer system, the supplier creates a form storing information relating to the product to be shipped, and transports it together with the product (see paragraph [0035]). When the orderer inputs the information on the form attached to the arrived product into the computer system, the computer system checks the input information against the registered order information and confirms that the delivered product is correct. (See paragraph [0038]).

  Furthermore, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to rewrite both the information stored in the RFID tag and the print information on the surface of the form. Therefore, after the purpose of the form is completed, the information is rewritten. , Can be reused as a new form.

  Next, Patent Document 2 below is a known example of a reader / writer for an RFID tag. The reader / writer controller (ID controller) disclosed in Patent Document 2 performs communication with an RFID tag in accordance with a command from a host device, and executes data read processing or write processing in accordance with the command. To do. When the communication process is completed, a response indicating the processing result is transmitted to the host device (FIG. 3).

Japanese Patent No. 312770

  In the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, when an operator makes a mistake in an article to be moved, the form is also different, and incorrect information is input to the system. In the invention of Patent Document 1, since the input information and the ordering information are collated, it is considered that data processing is not hindered and errors can be detected. However, since the goods have already been moved, there is a risk that a major confusion will occur, such as the production schedule on the orderer side going wrong. In addition, when an error in the form is not notified or the notification is delayed, an incorrect article is used, which may cause a large loss.

  Also, in this type of system, before moving an article, there are many cases where the form of the article is exchanged for management and collection. In this case, the information of the management form is read and written into the take-out processing form or input to the take-out computer system. In such a process, if the first management form is mistaken, the work form and the data written in the computer system must be erased to restore the original information, and the system operation is suspended. For example, the processing efficiency may be reduced.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-mentioned problem. When performing an operation for inputting information stored in an RFID tag in a form, an erroneous article is prevented by preventing an erroneous input due to a mistake in the form. The purpose of this is to prevent the movement of data and to eliminate the need for repair work associated with erroneous data input.

  In the present invention, it is desirable that the RFID tag in which the information on the article is written is incorporated in the form attached to the article indicated by the information or is attached to the form. In the following, it is assumed that the RFID tag is integrated into a form by any one of the methods described above. The form is provided with visually recognizable information such as characters, and is preferably formed in a size that does not hinder the handling of the operator (size that is less likely to be lost).

  The “information about the article” written in the RFID tag includes the type, number, identification information (part model number, etc.), manufacturer (or management source) information, date of manufacture, order of the article to which the RFID tag is attached. The previous identification information can be included. When delivering an article, these pieces of information can function as details of the article to be delivered to the other party. Also, when requesting the collection of an article, it is possible to specify the article to be picked up with the same information as above (hereinafter, information for designating the article to be picked up is referred to as “designated information”). ).

  An information reading apparatus according to the present invention reads the information from an RFID tag in which information related to a predetermined article is written, and outputs the read information to a management apparatus that manages delivery of the article. This information reading device is preferably configured as a device including an antenna unit (including an antenna coil and a circuit for transmission / reception) for communication processing with the RFID tag and a computer control unit. In this case, the information reading apparatus may be one in which all components including the antenna unit and the control unit are accommodated in one casing, or may be independent of the head unit including the antenna coil from the main body. In addition to the information reading process, this information reading device is preferably configured as a device (reader / writer) capable of writing information to the RFID tag.

  The management device is included in an article management system described later together with the information reading device, and can be configured by a personal computer, a PLC, or the like. However, the management apparatus is not limited to a single apparatus, and can be configured as a computer system using a plurality of computers.

  An information reading apparatus according to the present invention includes an information reading unit that executes an information reading process for an RFID tag in response to receiving a command for instructing a reading process from the management apparatus, and reading information obtained by the information reading unit. Response means for transmitting to the management apparatus as a response to the command; adequacy information input means for inputting information indicating the adequacy of the read information from the management apparatus after transmitting the response; and the adequacy information input means And an alarm output means for outputting an alarm according to a predetermined mode when information indicating that the read information is inappropriate is input.

  In the above, the information reading means is for reading the information stored in the internal memory by the communication processing with the RFID tag, and includes the communication processing function of the control unit in addition to the antenna unit described above. it can. The response unit and the suitability information input unit can be configured by an interface circuit for communication with the management apparatus and a function of the control unit for controlling this communication. Moreover, it is desirable that the alarm output means performs notification by a method that can be recognized visually or auditorily, such as turning on an alarm lamp or outputting a warning sound.

  The information reading device and the management device described above can be installed in a department that manages delivery of various articles. Further, it is desirable that the management device outputs a command to the information reading device in response to input of the designation information related to the article to be delivered.

  The operator can input the information stored in the RFID tag in the form by taking out the form attached to the designated article and bringing it close to the antenna unit of the information reading apparatus. Hereinafter, the operation of bringing the form closer to the antenna unit is referred to as “input operation”. By this input operation, the information reading unit and the response unit of the information reading device are operated, information is read from the RFID tag, and transmitted to the management device.

  The management apparatus can determine the suitability of the read information by comparing the read information with the above-mentioned article designation information. If the read information is appropriate, the management apparatus can adopt this information and proceed with the following data processing.

  The information reading device inputs information indicating the determination result from the management device by the suitability information input unit. If this information indicates that the read information is not appropriate, the alarm output means is activated to output the alarm. By this warning, the operator who has performed the input operation can recognize that the form used for the input has been mistaken, in other words, the article to be delivered is not correct. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an erroneous article from moving or information related to the article from being erroneously input and used.

Further, the information reading apparatus according to a preferred aspect includes reading completion notifying means for notifying completion of reading processing in a predetermined manner when the suitability information input means inputs information indicating that the reading information is appropriate. Provided. In this way, since the operator can easily confirm that the input of information has been completed with the correct form, the input operation can be smoothly and accurately performed.
It is desirable that the reading completion notification means also perform notification that can be recognized visually or audibly, such as lighting of a lamp or output of a sound effect, similarly to the above-described alarm output means.

  Another preferred embodiment of the information reading apparatus includes signal input means for receiving an input of a trigger signal. The information reading unit executes an information reading process on the RFID tag after the command input from the management apparatus is received and the signal input unit receives the trigger signal. When information indicating that the information is not appropriate is input, the information input processing for the RFID tag is re-executed on the condition that the signal input unit has received the trigger signal again.

In the above, the trigger signal can be considered as a signal generated when an operator performs an input operation. For example, a signal from a sensor (such as a photoelectric switch) that detects that a form has entered a communicable region can be used as a trigger signal. In this case, an input port for inputting an output from the sensor can be used as a signal input means.
Note that the output from the sensor may be maintained in an on state while the form is in the communication area of the antenna unit. Therefore, it is desirable that the signal input means accepts the rise of the sensor output from OFF to ON as a trigger signal.

  In addition, a signal generated by another operation accompanying the input operation can be used as a trigger signal. For example, a switch for instructing start of input can be provided, and an input port for receiving a signal from this switch can be used as a signal input means. The switch can be incorporated in the information reading device. In particular, in the case where a head portion that accommodates an antenna coil is provided separately from the main body portion of the information reading device, if this head portion is a hand-held device and the switch is integrally provided in the housing, an input operation can be performed. Sometimes the switch can be operated, and the operability can be improved.

  The above-described aspect is made in anticipation that when the operator mixes the forms, the form is returned to the original place, another form is taken out, and the input operation is performed again. According to the above aspect, even if an alarm is output for the first input operation after receiving the command from the management device, the trigger signal is generated and read when the operator replaces the form and re-executes the input operation. Processing is re-executed. Thereafter, as in the first reading process, the reading information can be sent to the management device, and information indicating the suitability of the reading information can be received from the management device. Therefore, it is possible to repeatedly accept an input operation until a correct form is selected without retransmitting a command from the management apparatus.

  In the information reading apparatus according to another preferred aspect, when the suitability information input means inputs information indicating that the read information is appropriate, the information stored in the RFID tag is erased or a read completion flag is stored in the stored information. A process completion means for setting is provided.

  This processing completion means can be set by incorporating a necessary program in the control unit. According to the above aspect, the RFID tag after completion of input is handled as processed by deleting stored information or setting a reading completion flag. On the other hand, since information indicating that the read information is not appropriate is transmitted from the management device to the RFID tag that has been mistaken, the information stored in the RFID tag is maintained.

  In the article management system according to the present invention, the information reading device and the management device are provided so as to communicate with each other. The management device includes an input unit that inputs information related to collection of an article, a transmission request unit that transmits a command to instruct the information reading device to read information in response to the input unit inputting information, A determination unit configured to receive a response from the information reading device with respect to the command transmitted by the transmission request unit and determine whether the read information included in the response is suitable for the information input by the input unit; And a determination result transmitting means for transmitting information indicating the determination result to the information reading device.

  The information reading apparatus includes the above-described information reading means, response means, suitability information input means, and alarm output means. In this case, the information reading unit executes an information reading process in response to receiving a command from the transmission request unit of the management device, and the suitability information input unit transmits the transmission information from the determination result transmission unit of the management device. Will be entered. Furthermore, the above-described three aspects can be applied to this information reading apparatus.

  In the article management system, the information related to the collection of articles input by the input means of the management apparatus can include identification information indicating the type and number of articles to be collected, the collection destination, and the like. That is, this input information can be considered as the above-mentioned article designation information.

  Further, the input means may be a means for accepting input of information by an operator such as a keyboard. In addition, means (including a communication interface) that receives transmission of information related to the collection of articles from a higher-level device can be used as the input means.

  The transmission request unit, the determination unit, and the determination result transmission unit all include an interface circuit for communication with the information reading device. Furthermore, these means can include a computer in which a program for controlling communication via the interface circuit is incorporated. Further, the determination means also requires a processing program for collating the read information with the designated information.

  The above management device can be configured as a central computer (host computer) of the article management system, but is not limited thereto, and can also be configured as one terminal device in the system. In any case, when the determination unit determines that the read information is appropriate, the management device uses the read information to register predetermined data processing (for example, processing for registering that the article delivery processing has been executed). ) Is preferably performed.

  The article management system may further include a second information reading device in addition to the information reading device. The second information reading device is set to read information from the RFID tag in which information relating to the collection of the article is written and to transmit the read information to the management device. The input unit of the management apparatus is configured as a unit that receives transmission of read information from the second information reading apparatus.

  The second information reading device is also preferably a reader / writer for the RFID tag, similarly to the information reading device described above (hereinafter referred to as “first information reading device”). It can be considered that the second information reading apparatus is also provided with information reading means and response means similar to those of the first information reading apparatus. Thus, the second information reading device can read the stored information in the internal memory and transmit it to the management device by the communication process with the RFID tag. In the management apparatus, this transmission information is handled as information related to the collection of the article, and a command is transmitted to the first information reading apparatus.

  In the article management system configured as described above, the first information reading device reads information on the RFID tag of the management form held by the department that delivers the article, and the second information reading device reads the article. It can be considered that the information is read from the RFID tag of the collection form issued by the department on the collection side. In this case, the worker first inputs information related to the collection of the article to the management device by performing an input operation on the second information reading device. Next, the operator inputs information on an article recognized as a designated article to the management apparatus by performing an input operation on the first information reading apparatus. Here, when the worker mixes the forms, an alarm is output on the first information reading apparatus side by the above-described control, so that the worker can recognize the mistake.

  According to the present invention, when an operator performs an input operation using an incorrect form, the error can be immediately notified, so that an erroneous article movement or information restoration work due to an erroneous input is prevented. be able to. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the distribution of goods and data processing from being confused due to human error, and it is possible to efficiently and reliably advance the delivery of the articles.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of a parts management system to which the present invention is applied.
This parts management system is for managing supply processing of parts delivery from a parts management department in a factory to a production department. The parts management department issues a part management form (hereinafter referred to as “parts management form”) based on the production plan presented in advance and stores it together with the corresponding parts. The production department issues a take-out form (hereinafter referred to as “part acceptance form”) and sends it to the parts management department so that parts can be picked up in accordance with the production plan.

  The article management system in FIG. 1 is configured such that a component management slip processing device 2 and a component acceptance slip processing device 3 are connected to the management device 1 in a communicable manner. Although not specifically shown, these devices 1, 2, and 3 are provided in the vicinity of the parts storage shelf of the parts management department. The management apparatus 1 is a personal computer or PLC, and is connected to a host computer in the factory via a local LAN line. Further, the management apparatus 1 can be given a function of issuing a parts management slip in accordance with transmission information from the host computer.

  The component management slip and the component acceptance slip are printed with character information indicating a component number, a number, an identification code of a production department, a delivery date, etc. on a cardboard of a predetermined size. The information on the parts management slip can also include information indicating the storage location of the parts.

  FIG. 2 shows a parts management form as an example of a form. The component management slip 30 in this example is enclosed in a transparent and thin resin case 32 together with the RFID tag 31. In the RFID tag 31 (hereinafter simply referred to as “tag 31”), the same information as that written on the component management slip 30 is written. Note that the tag 31 of this embodiment is of a type that does not have a power source and is driven by electric power generated by a transmission wave from the reader / writer.

  The part acceptance slip is also set in the same manner as in FIG. In the following description, the term “component management slip”, “component acceptance slip”, or “form” refers to that integrated with the tag 31 by the resin case 32. Moreover, description of a code | symbol is abbreviate | omitted below about a form and a tag.

  Returning to FIG. 1, both the component management slip processing device 2 and the component acceptance slip processing device 3 are constituted by a tag reader / writer. That is, these devices 2 and 3 are the same device in hardware, and execute processing for reading information in the memory in the tag or writing information in the memory by communication with the tag. However, the processing that these devices 2 and 3 execute for the tag and the management device 1 differs depending on the program to be incorporated.

  FIG. 1 shows the flow of information between the devices. Hereinafter, the flow of information in the component management system will be briefly described with reference to the reference numerals (numbers in parentheses) attached to the respective processes as steps (1), (2),.

  In this component management system, first, a process in which the component acceptance slip processing device 3 reads information on the component acceptance slip and transmits it to the management device 1 is executed (step (1)). Since this read information indicates the contents of the parts to be picked up, hereinafter this information is referred to as “part designation information”.

  In response to the input of the component designation information, the management device 1 transmits a reading command to the component management form processing device 2 (step (2)). In response to this read command, the component management slip processing device 2 reads information from the tag of the component management slip and returns it to the management device 1 (step (3)). Since this read information can be considered to indicate the contents of the parts to be shipped, hereinafter, it will be referred to as “shipped parts information”.

  The management apparatus 1 collates the shipping part information received from the part management form processing apparatus 2 with the part designation information, and determines whether the shipping part information is appropriate. This determination result is transmitted to the component management slip processing apparatus 2 as an OK signal or an NG signal (step (4)). Furthermore, when the management device 1 determines that the shipping part information is appropriate, the management device 1 transmits the shipping part information to the part acceptance slip processing device 3 (step (5)). The component acceptance voucher processing device 3 executes a process of writing the shipped component information to the tag. Note that the information stored in the tag on the component management slip side is deleted after the transmission processing in the step (5).

  FIG. 3 shows the external appearance of the reader / writer constituting the component management slip processing device 2 and the component acceptance slip processing device 3. In the reader / writer 100 of this embodiment, an antenna unit 102, a control unit 103 (shown in FIG. 4), and the like are accommodated in a housing 101. The antenna unit 102 includes an antenna coil and a circuit for transmission and reception, and is disposed at a front position in the housing 101. A holder 110 for holding the above-described form is attached to the front surface of the housing 101. The holder 110 is of a type that is long in the width direction of the housing 101 and that is open at both ends, and holds the form shown in FIG. 2 in an upright state. The longitudinal direction of the holder 110 is set to be slightly longer than the length of the form, and a photoelectric switch 111 for detecting insertion of the form into the holder 110 is attached to one end edge.

  In the figure, reference numeral 112 denotes a signal processing unit of the photoelectric switch 111, and 1A denotes a housing of the management apparatus 1. All of these devices are connected to the reader / writer 100 via cables 113 and 114.

  Further, two lamps 107 and 108 are provided on the upper surface of the housing 101 of the reader / writer 100 of this embodiment. One of the lamps 107 is used to notify that the reading / writing process for the tag has been properly performed, and emits blue light (hereinafter, the lamp 107 is referred to as “OK lamp 107”). The other lamp 108 is for notifying that an error has occurred in the read / write processing for the tag and that the tag to be read is not appropriate, and emits red light (hereinafter, this lamp 108 is referred to as “NG lamp”). 108 ").

  FIG. 4 shows an electrical configuration of the reader / writer 100. In the reader / writer 100 of this embodiment, a communication interface 105, an external signal input unit 106, a sound effect output unit 109, and the like are connected to a control unit 103 by a computer in addition to the antenna unit 102, an OK lamp 107, and an NG lamp 108. It consists of

  The communication interface 105 is for communication with the management apparatus 1, and the external signal input unit 106 is for inputting a detection signal of the photoelectric switch 111 from the signal processing unit 112. The sound effect output unit 109 outputs a predetermined sound effect in accordance with the operation of the OK lamp 107 or the NG lamp 108.

  5 and 6 show the detailed flow of communication processing executed between the management device 1, the component management slip processing device 2, and the component management slip tag, with the photoelectric switch 111, the OK lamp 107, and the NG lamp 108. This is shown together with the operation. The details of the processing for the component management slip will be described below with reference to the reference numerals (A, B, C...) In these drawings. Note that the communication process for the tag of the component management form processing apparatus 2 is directly performed by the antenna unit 102, but the control unit 103 performs transmission / reception timing control, transmission data creation, and reception data recognition. 5 and 6 show the operation of the control unit 103. 5 and 6, the same reference numerals are assigned to processes common to both the drawings.

  First, FIG. 5 shows the flow of processing when a component management slip suitable for the component designation information is set in the component management slip processing device 2. As described above, the management device 1 transmits a read command (hereinafter simply referred to as “command”) to the component management slip processing device 2 in response to receiving the component designation information from the component acceptance slip processing device 3. (A). After receiving this command, the component management slip processing apparatus 2 transmits a similar command from the antenna unit 102 when the photoelectric switch 111 is turned on from off (B). When the photoelectric switch 111 is in the ON state, since the component management slip is set in the holder 110, the command is given to the tag of the component management slip (C). In response to this command, the tag reads information in the memory and transmits a response including the information to the component management slip processing apparatus 2 (D).

  When receiving the response from the tag, the component management form processing device 2 transfers the response to the management device 1 and lights the OK lamp 107 for a predetermined time (E, F). The lighting of the OK lamp 107 indicates that the information reading from the tag is completed, but the processing for the tag is not completed. Therefore, the lighting time of the OK lamp 107 is set to a very short time (several milliseconds) so that the operator does not accidentally pull out the component management slip.

  When the management device 1 receives the response from the component management form processing device 2, the management device 1 collates the shipping component information included in the response with the component designation information. In the example of FIG. 5, it is determined that the two correspond to each other, and an OK signal is transmitted to the component management slip processing apparatus 2 (G). When the component management form processing apparatus 2 receives this OK signal, it transmits a completion notification to the tag (H). This completion notification is in the same data format as the command. In the tag, the internal memory is cleared in response to the completion notification, and then a response indicating that the clear process is completed is transmitted to the component management slip processing apparatus 2 (I).

  The component management slip processing apparatus 2 determines that the processing for the tag is completed by receiving this response, and turns on the OK lamp 107 (J). In this case, the OK lamp 107 is kept on until the operator pulls out the component management slip from the holder 110 (until the photoelectric switch 111 is turned off).

  Next, FIG. 6 is a processing flow when a component management slip that does not conform to the component designation information is set in the component management slip processing device 2. Also in this case, similarly to FIG. 5, the processes A to F are executed. However, since the shipping part information included in the response from the part management slip processing apparatus 2 does not correspond to the part designation information, the management apparatus 1. Transmits an NG signal (K).

  When receiving the NG signal, the parts management slip processing apparatus 2 stops the processing after the completion notification and causes the NG lamp 108 to blink. The blinking operation of the NG lamp 108 is also maintained until the operator pulls out the component management slip from the holder 110.

  Thereafter, when the photoelectric sensor is turned on again from off because the operator has set another component management slip, the component management slip processing device 2 again sends a command having the same content as that transmitted in (B). Transmit (N). If the newly set parts management slip is appropriate, the processes C to J in FIG. 5 are executed thereafter. On the other hand, if the new component management slip is not appropriate, the NG signal is transmitted again after the processes C to F are executed, and the NG lamp 108 blinks.

  Although not shown here, even when the component acceptance slip processing device 3 reads the component designation information from the tag and transmits it to the management device 1, the management device 1, the component acceptance slip processing device 3, and its processing target The same processing as A to F is executed between the tags. In this case, the management device 1 outputs a reading command when accepting the operator's processing start operation. Further, when a command including shipment part information is transmitted from the management device 1, the process of writing the shipment part information to the tag of the part acceptance slip is performed in the same flow as A to F.

  7 shows a management control procedure in the management device 1, FIG. 8 shows a component acceptance slip control procedure in the component acceptance slip processing device 3, and FIG. 9 shows a component management slip processing procedure in the component management slip processing device 2. Each is shown. Hereinafter, details of the processing in each apparatus will be described while associating the steps in these drawings with the processing of the operator. 7, 8, and 9, ST is an abbreviation for STEP. Also, in order not to confuse the steps of each device, numbers 1 to 13 are assigned to the steps in FIG. 7, numbers in the 100s are assigned to the steps in FIG. 8, numbers in the 200s are assigned to the steps in FIG. , Respectively.

  First, when a worker executes a process start operation using an input unit (not shown) of the management apparatus 1, the management apparatus 1 proceeds from ST1 to ST2 and transmits a reading command to the component acceptance slip processing apparatus 3. To do. When receiving the reading command, the component acceptance voucher processing apparatus 3 proceeds from ST101 to ST102, and checks an external input signal (refers to a signal from the signal processing unit 112 of the photoelectric switch 111. The same applies to the following). Here, when the operator inserts a component acceptance slip into the holder 110, ST102 is “YES”.

  In response to this “YES” determination, the component acceptance slip processing device 3 reads the component designation information in the tag by the communication process with the tag (ST103). If this reading is successful, the process proceeds from ST104 to ST105, and a response including component designation information is transmitted to the management apparatus 1.

  In the management apparatus 1 of this embodiment, information on each component acceptance slip is registered in advance. Upon receiving the response, the management apparatus 1 proceeds from ST3 to ST4, extracts the storage location of the specified component by comparing the component specification information in the response with the registration information, and displays this on a monitor (not shown) To display. Furthermore, the management device 1 transmits a read command to the component management slip processing device 2 in ST5. When the component management slip processing apparatus 2 receives a read command from the management apparatus 1, it proceeds from ST201 to ST202 and checks an external input signal.

  On the other hand, the worker searches for the designated part based on the monitor display of the management apparatus 1 and takes out the part management slip attached to the part. When the parts management slip is set in the holder 110 of the parts management slip processing apparatus 2, the part management slip processing apparatus 2 makes “YES” in ST202, and proceeds to ST203. Read. If this reading is successful, the process proceeds from ST204 to ST205, and the OK lamp 107 is turned on for a short time. In subsequent ST 206, a response including shipment part information is transmitted to the management apparatus 1.

  When receiving this response, the management apparatus 1 proceeds from ST6 to ST7. In ST7, shipment part information is extracted from the response, and is compared with the part designation information. If it is determined that the two pieces of information are in a correspondence relationship, the process proceeds from ST8 to ST9, and an OK signal is transmitted to the component management slip processing apparatus 2.

  When receiving the OK signal, the component management slip processing apparatus 2 proceeds from ST207 to ST208, and communicates with the tag of the component management slip again to clear the stored information in the memory. Thereafter, in ST209, the OK lamp 107 is turned on and the sound effect output unit 109 is driven to output a sound effect indicating the end of processing (hereinafter referred to as “end sound”). The lighting of the OK lamp 107 is maintained until the operator pulls out the part management slip from the holder 110 as described above, but the output of the end sound may be short.

  In the management device 1, following the transmission of the OK signal, a shipping command for writing shipment component information is transmitted to the component acceptance slip processing device 3 (ST11). When receiving the write command, the component acceptance voucher processing apparatus 3 proceeds from ST106 to ST107, communicates again with the tag of the component acceptance voucher, and writes the shipped component information in its memory. In this writing, the original part designation information may be erased, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the part designation information may be saved as history data. Further, the management device 1 can also send the shipping part information to the above-described host computer or production department computer.

  When both the component acceptance form processing device 3 and the component management form processing device 2 are set correctly, the information on the component management form is passed to the component acceptance form according to the flow described above. The component management slip that has been read and cleared is collected at a predetermined location, but the tag is reused when a new component management slip is issued.

  In ST208 of the component management process of FIG. 9, the processed information flag may be set to this stored information without deleting the stored information of the tag. Further, when the tag information is deleted or the processed flag is set as described above, it is desirable that the management apparatus 1 also performs the same processing on the registration information corresponding to the tag.

  Next, in the parts acceptance form processing apparatus 3 or the parts management form processing apparatus 2, if the tag in the form set in the holder 110 is misaligned and communication is not performed normally, the determination in ST104 or ST204 is made. Becomes “NO”. In such a case, in ST110 or ST210, the NG lamp 108 is turned on and a warning sound having a sound quality different from the end sound (hereinafter referred to as “warning sound A”) is output.

  The lighting of the NG lamp 108 and the output of the warning sound A are maintained until the external input signal is turned off. As a result, the operator notices that the reading of the information has failed, takes out the form from the holder 110, corrects the positional deviation of the tag, and sets it again in the holder 110. When this operation is performed by the component acceptance voucher processing device 3, ST111 is “YES”, the process returns to ST102, and this ST102 is “YES”. Further, when the above-described work is performed by the component management slip processing apparatus 2, ST211 becomes "YES", the process returns to ST202, and this ST202 becomes "YES". Hereinafter, since the communication process is performed again for the tag whose position deviation is corrected, the tag information can be read correctly if the communication is successfully performed again.

  Next, when the management apparatus 1 determines that the shipping part information extracted from the response does not correspond to the part designation information after receiving the response from the part management slip processing apparatus 2, ST8 is “NO”. In step ST12, an NG signal is transmitted to the parts management slip processing apparatus 2. When the component management slip processing apparatus 2 receives the NG signal after transmitting the response in ST206, ST207 becomes “NO” and ST212 becomes “YES”, and the process proceeds to ST213. In ST213, the NG lamp 108 is blinked and a warning sound B having a tone different from the end sound and the warning sound A is output. The blinking of the NG lamp 108 and the output of the warning sound B are also maintained until the operator pulls out the parts management slip.

  When the operator notices that an incorrect parts management slip has been set by such an alarm output and is pulled out, ST214 becomes “YES”, the alarm output is terminated, and the process returns to ST202. When the operator sets a new part management slip, ST202 becomes “YES” and the process proceeds to ST203, and information reading processing for the tag of this new part management slip is executed. In addition, after transmitting the NG signal, the management apparatus 1 executes a process of discarding the read information transmitted from the component management form processing apparatus 2 (a process for erasing data) in ST13.

  According to the above-described series of procedures, when the worker sets the parts management slip by mistake, the warning is output by the blinking of the NG lamp 108 and the warning sound B, so the worker immediately notices the mistake and is correct. You can search for parts management slips and try again. Therefore, there is no possibility of shipping the product as it is without noticing the mistake of the components, and the return processing and reshipment processing of the components can be avoided.

  In addition, since the information read from the wrongly set component management slip is discarded by the management device 1 and is not used, erroneous information is not written in the component acceptance slip or the memory of the management device 1. . In addition, since the information on the component management slip set in error is not rewritten, it is only necessary to return the component management slip to the original storage location, and the response to the mistake can be extremely simplified.

  Furthermore, in the component acceptance slip processing device 3 and the component management slip processing device 2 of this embodiment, after the warning is output, the information reading processing from the tag is automatically re-executed by the operator resetting the form. . Therefore, operability is good and input can be performed reliably. Further, since the read command is transmitted from the management apparatus 1 to each processing apparatus only once, the control in the management apparatus 1 can be simplified.

  In this embodiment, the tag is integrated into the form using the resin case 32. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an IC card may be used as the form. Furthermore, the configurations of the component acceptance voucher processing device 3 and the component management voucher processing device 2 are not limited to those shown in FIG. 3, and a reader / writer of a type in which a read head that accommodates an antenna coil is separated from the main body may be used. In this case, the reading head may be handheld.

It is a block diagram which shows the outline | summary of the components management system to which this invention was applied. It is a front view which shows an example of the form to which the RFID tag was attached | subjected. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of a reader / writer. It is a block diagram of a reader / writer. It is a timing chart which shows the flow of a process when the correct components management slip is set. It is a timing chart which shows the flow of processing when an incorrect parts management slip is set. It is a flowchart which shows the management control procedure in a management apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in a component acceptance form processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in a components management slip processing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Management apparatus 2 Parts management form processing apparatus 3 Parts acceptance form processing apparatus 30 Parts management form 31 RFID tag 100 Reader / writer 102 Antenna part 103 Control part 105 Communication interface 106 External signal input part 107 OK lamp 103 NG lamp 109 Sound effect output part

Claims (6)

An information reading device that reads the information from an RFID tag in which information on a predetermined article is written, and outputs the read information to a management device that manages delivery of the article,
An information reading unit that executes an information reading process on the RFID tag in response to receiving a command instructing the reading process from the management device;
Response means for transmitting the read information obtained by the information reading means to the management apparatus as a response to the command;
After transmitting the response, suitability information input means for inputting information indicating suitability of the read information from the management device;
An information reading apparatus comprising: an alarm output means for outputting an alarm according to a predetermined mode when the suitability information input means inputs information indicating that the read information is not appropriate. The information reader according to claim 1,
An information reading apparatus comprising reading completion notifying means for notifying completion of reading processing in a predetermined manner when the suitability information input means inputs information indicating that the reading information is appropriate. The information reader according to claim 1 or 2,
Comprising signal input means for receiving an input of a trigger signal;
The information reading unit performs an information reading process on the RFID tag after receiving a trigger signal after receiving a command from the management device, and the suitability information input unit stores the read information on the RFID tag. An information reading apparatus that re-executes an information reading process on an RFID tag on condition that the signal input unit has received a trigger signal again when information indicating that it is not appropriate is input. The information reader according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Information comprising processing completion means for erasing stored information of the RFID tag or setting a read completion flag in the stored information when the suitability information input means inputs information indicating that the read information is appropriate Reader. A system in which a management device that manages delivery of an article and an information reading device that has a function of reading the information from an RFID tag in which information about a predetermined article is written are provided,
The management device
An input means for inputting information related to the collection of goods;
A transmission requesting means for transmitting a command for instructing the information reading apparatus to read information in response to the input means inputting information;
A determination unit that receives a response from the information reading device with respect to the command transmitted by the transmission request unit, and determines whether the read information included in the response is suitable for the information input by the input unit;
A determination result transmission means for transmitting information indicating the determination result by the determination means to the information reading device;
The information reader is
An information reading unit that executes an information reading process on the RFID tag in response to receiving a command from the transmission request unit of the management device;
Response means for transmitting the read information obtained by the information reading means to the management apparatus as a response to the command;
After transmitting the response, suitability information input means for inputting transmission information from the determination result transmission means of the management device;
An article management system comprising alarm output means for outputting an alarm according to a predetermined mode when the suitability information input means inputs information indicating that the read information is not appropriate. The article management system according to claim 5, further comprising a second information reading device in addition to the information reading device,
The second information reading device reads information from an RFID tag in which information related to the collection of articles is written, and transmits the read information to the management device.
The article management system, wherein the input means of the management device is a means for accepting transmission of read information from the second information reading device.

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