JP2005284965A - Wireless tag reader - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce missing in reading information on a wireless tag caused by the influence of an article on which the wireless tag is mounted, or the like, to reduce a burden and to shorten a time required for specifying the wireless tag if a reading miss occurs. <P>SOLUTION: The wireless tag reader uses a container 30 which comprises an article storage area and is configured by attaching a wireless tag for storing information for specifying an article stored in the article storage area to a position distinguished from the article storage area and uses a holder 20 including a first holding part 21 wherein a plurality of containers 30 are placed and a second holding part 22 wherein a wireless tag attaching member 40, other than the container, is placed. An antenna part 11 reads information, through radio communication, from a wireless tag attached to the container 30 placed in the first holding part 21 of the holder 20 and a wireless tag attached to the wireless tag attaching member 40 placed in the second holding part 22, so that information of the wireless tags read by the antenna part 11 is outputted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless tag reader that reads information from a plurality of wireless tags with different attachment targets.

  Conventionally, a wireless tag called an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag or the like is attached to an article, information for identifying the article is written in a memory of the wireless tag, and the wireless tag attached to the article by the wireless tag reader is used. A technique for automatically recognizing an article by reading information is already known.

  In addition, a database that stores the unique identifier (ID) of the wireless tag and information related to the article to which the wireless tag is attached is prepared, and the wireless tag reader reads the unique identifier of the wireless tag when reading the unique identifier of the wireless tag. A technique for automatically recognizing an article by acquiring information about the article associated with an identifier is also known.

In this type of RFID tag reader, an antenna is disposed on the bottom side or side surface of the article table, and a plurality of types of articles with the RFID tag attached are placed on the article table, and the article is placed on the antenna. There is one that increases the reading accuracy of the wireless tag provided on the article by relatively moving (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-292534 A

  However, in the conventional technique for moving an article relative to an antenna, there is a problem that the structure is complicated and the cost is high because an article table or an antenna moving means is required. In addition, the communication radio waves between the wireless tag and the antenna are easily affected by the influence of the article attached with the wireless tag and the surrounding radio wave environment. The technology did not take into account this kind of information read-out. In addition, when information is read out when reading multiple wireless tags at once, it is very troublesome to specify which wireless tag information has been read out, and it takes time. It was the actual situation.

  The present invention has been made based on such circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to reduce the information reading error of the wireless tag due to the influence of the article to which the wireless tag is attached, and to read out the information. An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless tag reader that reduces the burden of work required to specify a wireless tag whose information has been read out when it occurs and reduces the time.

  The wireless tag reader of the present invention includes an article storage area, and a container in which a wireless tag that stores information for specifying an article stored in the article storage area is attached to a position that is distinguished from the article storage area. Is used. Further, a cradle having a first receiving part on which a plurality of containers are placed and a second receiving part on which a wireless tag attaching member other than the container is placed is used. The antenna unit wirelessly transmits information from the wireless tag attached to the container placed on the first receiving part of the cradle and the wireless tag attached to the wireless tag attaching member placed on the second receiving part. The information is read by communication, and the information of the wireless tag read by the antenna unit is output.

  According to the present invention in which such measures are taken, it is possible to reduce the information reading error of the wireless tag due to the influence of the article to which the wireless tag is attached, and the information is read out when the information reading error occurs. In addition, it is possible to provide a wireless tag reader capable of reducing the work burden and time required for identifying a wireless tag.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wireless tag reader according to the present embodiment. This apparatus includes a wireless tag reader 10 having a horizontal antenna unit 11 and a cradle mounted on the antenna unit 11 of the wireless tag reader 10. 20 and a container 30 placed on the first receiving portion 21 of the cradle 20.

  As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2 and the perspective view of FIG. 3, the wireless tag reader 10 includes an interface unit 12 that controls data communication with a computer connected via a wired or wireless communication line, The received information is received by the control unit 13 that controls the output of the read information, the modulator 14 that modulates transmission data to the wireless tag, the transmission amplifier 15 that amplifies the modulation signal and radiates it from the communication antenna 16 as a radio wave, and the communication antenna 16. A receiving amplifier 17 that amplifies the radio signal, a demodulator 18 that demodulates data from the amplified radio signal and supplies the demodulated data to the control unit 13, and a display unit 19 that displays information read from the wireless tag or information associated with the information. Etc. The communication antenna 16 is embedded in the antenna unit 11 so as to have directivity upward from the upper surface of the wireless tag reader 10. The display unit 19 may be provided integrally with the wireless tag reader 10 or may be provided separately.

  The cradle 20 is configured by bonding a box-shaped first receiving portion 21 and a second receiving portion 22 having a sawtooth shape in a longitudinal section with the receiving surface facing upward. The receiving surface of the 1st receiving part 21 is a plane so that it can align in the state which stood the several container 30 which makes a rectangular parallelepiped. The receiving surface of the second receiving portion 22 is large enough to place the card-like member 40 in which the wireless tag 41 is embedded, and the front side of the card-like member 40 is easy to see from the front side of the cradle 20. It is inclined to. The cradle 20 is formed of a material that transmits radio waves, such as plastic.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the container 30 is an envelope having an article storage area 32 for storing articles put in from an upper article insertion port 31, and is formed of a material that transmits radio waves such as plastic. Yes. The bottom 33 of the article storage area 32 has a raised bottom structure that is slightly lifted from the bottom 34 of the container 30. A wireless tag 36 is attached in the vicinity of the center of a region 35 that is distinguished from the article storage area 32 between the bottom 33 of the article storage area 32 and the bottom 34 of the container 30. The wireless tag 36 is embedded in the region 35 so that the direction in which the gain is high faces the bottom 34 side of the container 30. An ID that is a unique identifier is stored in advance in the memory of the wireless tag 36. Further, if necessary, information for identifying an article stored in the article storage area 32 of the container 30 provided with the wireless tag 36 is written. Note that a label LB (see FIG. 4) on which information about stored articles is printed with characters, bar codes, two-dimensional codes, and the like is attached to the surface of the container 30.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the containers 30 are placed side by side on the first receiving portion 21 of the receiving stand 20 with the bottom portion 34 facing downward. Accordingly, the wireless tags 36 attached to the plurality of containers 30 placed on the first receiving part 21 are arranged in one direction. On the other hand, a card-like member 40 with a wireless tag 41 is placed on the second receiving portion 22 of the cradle 20.

  In this state, the cradle 20 is placed on the antenna unit 11 of the wireless tag reader 10 as shown in FIG. Then, the radio tag 36 of each container 30 and the radio tag 41 of the card-like member 40 react to the radio wave radiated from the communication antenna 16, and the radio wave of the tag information stored in the memory is transmitted. Radio waves transmitted from the wireless tags 36 and 41 are received by the communication antenna 16, demodulated into tag information by the demodulator 18, processed by the control unit 13, and associated with the tag information or the tag information. Information is displayed on the display unit 19 (tag information output means).

  As described above, the antenna unit 11 reads information from the wireless tag 36 by emitting a radio wave from a direction substantially perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the wireless tag 36 in the first receiving unit 21. At this time, an article stored in the article storage area 32 of the container 30 is not interposed between the wireless tag 36 attached to the container 30 and the antenna unit 11. Further, the container 30 is provided with a predetermined thickness so as to maintain an interval that ensures that the interval between the wireless tags 36 arranged in one direction on the first receiving portion 21 does not cause interference (interval). Holding means).

  Accordingly, there is a space between the article stored in the container 30 and the wireless tag 36 provided on the container 30 and the article is not interposed between the antenna unit 11 and the wireless tag 36. It is possible to greatly reduce the information overwriting due to the influence of the. In addition, since the interval between adjacent wireless tags is kept at an interval that ensures that no interference occurs, there is no possibility of reading out information due to radio wave interference.

  Further, when the information displayed on the display unit 19 is different from the information of the wireless tags 36 and 41 actually placed on the cradle 20, the wireless tag 36 on the container 30 side and the card-like member 40 side This means that the information of at least one of the wireless tags 41 has not been read. In this case, the wireless tag 41 on the card-like member 40 side is normally embedded in the card-like member 40 formed of a material such as plastic so that the higher gain direction faces the card surface side. Since the card-like member 40 is placed on the second receiving portion 22 with its card surface facing substantially upward, there is almost no possibility that the wireless tag reader 10 will miss the information of the wireless tag 41. On the other hand, in the wireless tag 36 on the container 30 side, when an article is a metal or the like, there is a possibility that information is overlooked due to the influence.

  Therefore, when the information reading of the wireless tag is missed, the wireless tag 36 on the container 30 side is examined first. For example, a measure such as shifting the position of the container 30 placed on the first receiving portion 21 is performed, and the display content is confirmed. By doing so, it is possible to identify the wireless tag whose information has been read out in a short time. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden and time of the work required for specifying the wireless tag from which information has been read out.

  If the reading result of the wireless tag is not improved, characters, barcodes, two-dimensional codes, etc. printed on the label LB affixed to the surface of the container 30 are read by an optical reader, a keyboard, etc. This may be dealt with by inputting a unique identifier of the wireless tag from the above. The optical reader and the keyboard may be provided in the wireless tag reader 10 or may be provided in a computer that is a higher-level machine.

  In the above embodiment, the wireless tag 36 is embedded in the region 35 on the bottom 34 side that is distinguished from the article storage area 32 of the container 30. However, as shown in FIG. 36 storage pockets 37 may be provided, and the wireless tag 36 may be detachably held in the storage pocket 37. By doing so, for example, when the container 30 is damaged, there is an advantage that the wireless tag 36 can be taken out and reused.

  In this embodiment, since the wireless tag 36 is attached to the front side of the container 30, when the two containers 30 are arranged facing each other on the first receiving portion 21 of the cradle 20, the interval between the wireless tags is narrow. Therefore, there is a high possibility of reading-out. Therefore, in this case, as shown in FIG. 6, it is desirable to provide a spacer 38 on the wireless tag 36 so as to maintain an interval between adjacent wireless tags so as to ensure that no interference occurs. The spacer 38 may be provided on the surface of the storage pocket 37 or the container 30 instead of the wireless tag 36. In addition, a partition plate having a thickness for ensuring that the interval between adjacent wireless tags does not cause interference in the first receiving portion 21 of the cradle 20 is provided, and the containers 30 are arranged one by one by this partition plate. By doing so, the spacer 38 may be unnecessary.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the radio tag 36 was attached to the bottom part side of the container 30 so that the direction with a high gain may be downward, it was distinguished from the article storage area 32 on one side of the container 30 as shown in FIG. It is also possible to attach the wireless tag 36 to the area with the direction of high gain facing sideways.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, the wireless tag reader 10 is provided with a vertical antenna portion 11A on the side surface separately from the horizontal antenna portion 11, and the vertical antenna portion for information on the wireless tag 36 on the container 30 side. Read with 11A. By doing so, since the articles stored in the article storage area 32 of each container 30 fall to the bottom surface side of the container 30 due to their own weight, the distance between the article and the wireless tag 36 can be sufficiently increased, and the reading accuracy can be increased. It can be further increased. It goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even if a storage pocket 37 for the wireless tag 36 is provided on the side surface of the container 30 and the wireless tag 36 is detachably held by the storage pocket 37.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, an article storage area 32 of the container 30 is provided below the article insertion port 31, and the article storage area 32 between the article insertion port 31 and the upper end surface of the article storage area 32 is A storage pocket 37 may be provided in the distinguished area 39 so that the wireless tag 36 is detachably stored with the higher gain facing upward. Alternatively, the wireless tag 36 may be attached to the inner surface of the container in the region 39 with the higher gain facing upward.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, the wireless tag reader 10 prepares a lid-type antenna unit 11 </ b> B separately from the horizontal antenna unit 11. Then, the lid type antenna unit 11B is disposed so that the plurality of containers 30 placed on the first receiving unit 21 of the cradle 20 are covered, and information on the wireless tag 36 on the container 30 side is transmitted to the lid type antenna unit. Read with 11B. Also in this case, since the articles stored in the article storage area 32 of each container 30 fall to the bottom surface side of the container 30 due to their own weight, the distance between the article and the wireless tag 36 can be further increased.

  In FIG. 10, the lid-type antenna portion 11 </ b> B is covered with only the container 30. However, the lid-type antenna portion 11 </ b> B has a structure in which the card-like member 40 placed on the second receiving portion 22 of the cradle 20 can be covered simultaneously. It is also possible to collectively read the wireless tag 36 on the container 30 side and the wireless tag 41 of the card-like member 40 with the antenna portion 11B.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the 1st receiving part 21 of the cradle 20 was made into the box type and it accommodated in the state which stood the several container 30, the 1st receiving part 21 is not necessarily a box type. There is no need. For example, a pair of plates are disposed opposite to each other on the front and back of the receiving surface on which the container 30 is placed, and at least one of the plates is slidable back and forth. The plurality of containers 30 placed on the receiving surface may be sandwiched between a pair of plates.

  Further, the wireless tag attaching member placed on the second receiving portion 22 is not limited to the card-like member 40, and the wireless tag 41 is directly attached to the member such as a rod-like member, a strip-like member, or a disc-like member. It may be of any structure.

  Next, as an application example of the wireless tag reader according to the embodiment of the present invention, a case where the present invention is applied to a process management system in a factory for processing parts will be described with reference to FIG. For convenience of explanation, a two-step management system of step A and step B will be described.

  In this process management system, each container 30 is used as a component container for storing different components. The card-like member 40 is used as an employee card for each worker. Each of the wireless tag 36 provided on each component container 30 and the wireless tag 41 provided on the employee card 40 stores only an ID that is a unique identifier.

  Wireless tag readers 10A and 10B are installed in the processes A and B of the factory, respectively. Each of the wireless tag readers 10A and 10B is connected to the management computer 51 via a communication line 52 such as a LAN. The communication line 52 is also connected with wireless communication devices 53 arranged at various locations in the factory. The wireless communication device 53 functions as an access point of a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone or pager carried by each worker.

  The management computer 51 includes a parts database 54, a worker database 55, and a process database 56. In the parts database 54, information on parts such as part name and size is stored in association with the ID of the wireless tag 36 provided in the parts container 30 in which the parts are accommodated. In the worker database 55, information on workers such as an identification code of each worker and access information of a mobile communication terminal carried by the worker is stored in the wireless tag 41 provided on the employee card 40 of the worker. Is stored in association with the ID. In the process database 56, for each process, a part necessary for the process is associated with an identification code of a worker who performs a machining operation using the part and a worker who carries the cradle 20 to each process. It is remembered. Note that the information stored in the component database 54 is stored in the wireless tag 36 having the corresponding ID, whereby the component database 54 can be omitted. Moreover, the worker database 55 can be omitted by storing the information stored in the worker database 55 in the wireless tags 41 having the corresponding IDs.

  A plurality of component containers 30 are arranged in the first receiving portion 21 of the receiving stand 20. In this state, the cradle 20 is carried from the previous process. Now, assuming that the cradle 20 has been carried to the process A, the worker carrying the cradle 20 places his / her employee card 40 on the second receiving part 22 of the cradle 20 and then moves the cradle 20 It is placed on the antenna unit 11 of the wireless tag reader 10A. Then, the ID of each wireless tag 36 provided in each component container 30 and the ID of the wireless tag 41 provided on the employee card 40 are collectively read by the wireless tag reader 10A. The read IDs of the wireless tags 36 and 41 are transmitted to the management computer 51 via the communication line 52. In the management computer 51, component information corresponding to the ID of the wireless tag 36 is read from the component database 54. Further, worker information corresponding to the ID of the wireless tag 41 is read from the worker database 55. Then, the database information is returned to the wireless tag reader 10A and displayed on the display unit 19. Therefore, the worker who brought the cradle 20 checks whether or not the information read-out of the wireless tag 36 or 41 has occurred by matching the display result of the display unit 19 with the actual situation of the cradle 20. It can be easily confirmed. When it is confirmed that no information has been overwritten, the worker collects his / her employee card 40 from the second receiving unit 22.

  On the other hand, in the management computer 51, the process database 56 is searched, and a worker who performs a machining operation using the parts contained in the part container 30 brought into the process A is specified. Next, the employee database 55 is searched, and access information of the mobile communication terminal carried by the worker is acquired. Then, the mobile communication terminal is accessed from any of the wireless communication devices 53 communicating with the mobile communication terminal, and the arrival of the component is notified.

  The worker who has received the notification goes to the installation location of the wireless tag reader 10A in process A, places his / her employee card 40 on the second receiving portion 22 of the receiving base 20, and then contains parts necessary for the processing work. The component container 30 is taken out from the first receiving portion 21. Then, the ID of the wireless tag 41 provided on the employee card 40 newly placed is read by the wireless tag reader 10A. Further, the ID of the wireless tag 36 provided in the component container 30 taken out from the first receiving portion 21 cannot be read. Thereby, the information related to the wireless tag displayed on the display unit 19 is changed. At this time, when it is confirmed that the display content does not change, the worker can recognize that the information reading out of the wireless tag 36 or 41 has occurred.

  If the information is not read over, the management computer 51 has read the ID of the wireless tag 41 and the ID of the wireless tag 36, and the worker and the worker have taken it out. A component container 30 is identified. Then, the process database 56 is referred to and it is checked whether or not the worker has taken out the wrong component container 30. As a result, if there is a mistake, a warning message is displayed on the display unit of the wireless tag reader 10A. At this time, a buzzer may be provided in the wireless tag reader 10A so that a warning sound is emitted. Alternatively, a warning may be issued from a mobile communication terminal carried by the worker. By this warning, the worker notices a mistake in taking out the component container 30.

  A warning is also issued when the parts container 30 is taken out without the employee card 40 being placed in the second receiving part 22. In addition, the number of parts required by one worker is not necessarily one type. Therefore, when the ID of the wireless tag 41 provided on the employee card 40 of the next worker is read, the ID of the wireless tag 36 provided in the component container 30 containing the parts required by the previous worker is obtained. If it has been read, the management computer 51 notifies the mobile communication terminal carried by the operator in front of the remaining parts.

  Now, the worker who has taken out the correct parts container 30 performs the processing work toward the work place while placing his employee card 40 on the second receiving portion 22. When the work is completed, the processed parts are stored in the parts container 30 and then again go to the installation place of the wireless tag reader 10A. Then, the parts container 30 is returned to the first receiving part 21 of the receiving base 20 and the employee card is collected from the second receiving part 22. Then, the ID of the wireless tag 36 provided in the component container 30 returned to the first receiving portion 21 is read by the wireless tag reader 10A. Further, the ID of the wireless tag 41 provided on the employee card 40 collected from the second receiving unit 22 cannot be read. Thereby, the information related to the wireless tag displayed on the display unit 19 is changed. Also at this time, if the display content does not change, the worker can recognize that the information reading of the wireless tag 36 or 41 has been missed.

  If the information is not read over, the management computer 51 recognizes that the ID of the wireless tag 36 has been read again and that the ID of the wireless tag 41 has not been read. The At this time, if all the parts containers 30 taken out by the worker are not returned, a warning is issued by a display, a buzzer sound, or a mobile communication terminal.

  When the management computer 51 recognizes the completion of all the machining operations performed in the process A, the process database 56 is searched to identify the worker who carries the cradle 20 to the next process B. And the conveyance instruction | indication of the cradle 20 is notified to the mobile communication terminal which this worker carries. The worker who has received the notification takes out the cradle 20 from the wireless tag reader 10A of process A and transports it to the process B, places his employee card 40 on the second receiving part 22, and then moves the cradle 20 to the wireless tag reader. Place on 10B. The subsequent steps are the same as in step A.

  Thus, when all the processing operations are performed and the product is completed, the product is taken out from the component container 30 and the component container 30 is collected. The collected parts container 30 can be reused. When reusing, the component information associated with the ID of the wireless tag 36 provided in the component container 30 in the component database 54 is updated. In this case, only the wireless tag 36 can be collected and the component container 30 can be discarded.

  In the above process management system, the results of reading by the RFID tag readers 10A and 10B in each process are constantly recorded in the database by the management computer 51, so that the parts container 30 is provided with which process each part is currently in. The wireless tag 36 can be traced from the reading history. In addition, the processing time of each employee can be individually investigated from the recognition duration of the wireless tag 41 provided on the employee card 40, and this information can be used as material for studying the improvement of the work process.

1 is a perspective view of a wireless tag reading device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the wireless tag reader according to the embodiment. The perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of the radio | wireless tag reader. The schematic diagram which shows the cradle in the embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the container in the embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows 2nd Embodiment of a container. The schematic diagram which shows 3rd Embodiment of a container. The perspective view of the radio | wireless tag reader in 3rd Embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows 4th Embodiment of a container. The perspective view of the radio | wireless tag reader in 4th Embodiment. 1 is an overall view of a processing management system to which a wireless tag reading device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... RFID tag reader, 11 ... Antenna part, 11A ... Vertical type antenna part, 11B ... Cover type antenna part, 13 ... Control part, 16 ... Communication antenna, 19 ... Display part, 20 ... Base, 21 ... First Receiving part, 22 ... second receiving part, 30 ... container (component container), 32 ... component storage area, 36,41 ... wireless tag, 38 ... spacer, 40 ... card-like member (employee card).

Claims (7)

A container comprising an article storage area, and a wireless tag for storing information for specifying an article stored in the article storage area attached at a position distinguished from the article storage area;
A cradle having a first receiving part on which a plurality of the containers are placed and a second receiving part on which a wireless tag mounting member other than the container is placed;
Wireless communication of information from a wireless tag attached to the container placed on the first receiving portion of the cradle and a wireless tag attached to the wireless tag attaching member placed on the second receiving portion The antenna part read by
Tag information output means for outputting information of the wireless tag read by the antenna unit;
A wireless tag reading apparatus comprising:   The wireless tag reader according to claim 1, wherein the cradle is arranged in one direction with wireless tags attached to the plurality of containers placed on the first receiving part.   3. The wireless tag reading device according to claim 2, wherein the antenna unit reads information on the wireless tag by radiating a wireless wave from a direction substantially perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the wireless tag in the first receiving unit. apparatus.   4. The radio according to claim 2, further comprising interval holding means for maintaining an interval between radio tags arranged in one direction in the first receiving portion so as to ensure that no interference occurs. Tag reader.   When the container is placed on the first receiving part of the cradle, the wireless tag is attached to a position where the article stored in the article storage area is not interposed between the antenna part and the wireless tag. The wireless tag reading device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless tag reading device is a device. The container has a wireless tag attached to an end portion on one side surface when placed on the first receiving portion of the cradle,
The antenna unit includes a horizontal antenna unit disposed in a bottom direction of the cradle and a vertical antenna unit disposed in a side surface direction of the cradle, and the horizontal antenna unit includes a second antenna unit. The information is read from the wireless tag of the wireless tag mounting member placed on the receiving portion of the container, and the information is read from the wireless tag of the container placed on the first receiving portion of the receiving base by the vertical antenna portion. The wireless tag reader according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   The wireless tag reader according to claim 1, wherein the container is configured such that the wireless tag is detachable.

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