JP2006111436A - Detecting unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a detecting unit capable of accurately grasping the carry-in/carry-out state of cargo including containers by detecting the passage of cargo at a cargo gate of a ship or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The detecting unit 2 is provided with an input means 25 for inputting and setting a carry-in/carry-out section, a carry-in/carry-out place, or the like of cargo 1, and a radio tag communication means 21 for communicating with radio tags 11 fitted to the cargo when the cargo 1 passes through the cargo gate of a transporting means of the ship or the like. The detecting unit 2 is further provided with a control means 22 for determining the passage of the cargo 1 through the cargo gate when the radio tag communicating means 21 communicates, and a radiocommunication means 23 for transmitting carry-in/carry-out information including the carry-in/carry-out section, the carry-in/carry-out place, or the like of the cargo, to a center device 3. The center device 3 extracts the corresponding cargo information from a storage means 32 and collates it with the transmitted carry-in/carry-out information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a detection unit that detects cargo in a cargo management system, and more particularly to a detection unit in a cargo management system that manages containers.

  Conventionally, for ships and vehicles that carry cargo containing containers, workers etc. confirm the loading / unloading of cargo using the cargo management table etc. created by the management center that manages the cargo in a single operation. I was trying to make it. In the above case, workers etc. have prepared a cargo management table at the management center in advance, but for requests for sudden shipment of cargo from customers, a plan should be prepared from the cargo management table, taking into account the place of loading / unloading. It was revised to improve the efficiency of freight transportation.

  In the above method, since the worker confirms the cargo including the container, when a sudden cargo transportation request from the customer occurs, the work becomes complicated and confusion occurs on the site. Frequently, the cargo to be transported sometimes did not come in, and in some cases, the cargo was sometimes missing.

  For the purpose of solving such problems, a wireless tag is attached to the container, and an antenna for communicating with the wireless tag is provided at a check point at a main portion of the container movement range. A container management method is disclosed in which a rough location of the container can be grasped without performing complicated confirmation and input work between the two (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-261159 A

  However, in the container management apparatus and management method of Patent Document 1, the management center can only grasp the rough position of a container in a certain movement range such as a container yard, and can carry it into a ship carrying cargo, Conversely, there was a problem that it was difficult to grasp the status of cargo carried out from the ship.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and accurately grasps the state of loading / unloading of cargo including containers by detecting the passage of cargo at a cargo gate such as a ship. The purpose is to obtain a detection unit capable of

  The detection unit according to the present invention is attached to a cargo when the cargo passes through a cargo gate of a transportation means such as a ship and an input means for inputting and setting a cargo loading / unloading classification and a loading / unloading location. The wireless tag communication means for receiving a response signal including the ID of the wireless tag from the wireless tag while transmitting a calling signal to the wireless tag. In addition, when the RFID tag communication means receives a response signal, the control means for judging the passage of the cargo through the cargo gate, and the loading / unloading including the RFID tag ID, cargo loading / unloading classification, loading / unloading location, etc. Wireless communication means for transmitting information to the center device is provided. In the center device, the cargo information associated with the ID of the wireless tag is extracted from the storage means and collated with the carried-in / out information transmitted.

  According to the present invention, when loading / unloading to / from a ship carrying cargo including a container, the loading / unloading status of the cargo can be accurately grasped, so that there is an effect of preventing leakage of loading / unloading. At the same time, the effect of preventing the loss of cargo due to carry-in / out leakage is also obtained.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a cargo management system according to the first embodiment. The cargo management system of FIG. 1 is a wireless tag 11 installed on cargo 1 including containers (hereinafter referred to as cargo), a cargo detection unit 2 installed on a ship or the like that transports cargo, and a management that manages cargo information. A center device 3 is installed at the center. The said ship etc. are provided with the cargo gate which takes in and puts in a cargo. The detection unit 2 includes a wireless tag communication unit 21, a control unit 22, a wireless communication unit 23, a display unit 24, and an input unit 25. The center device 3 includes a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, a wireless communication unit 33, and a display unit 34. The storage means 32 stores in advance information relating to the cargo to be transported (hereinafter referred to as cargo information), for example, the type of cargo, the transportation destination, the shipper, and the like. The detection unit 2 may be installed near a cargo gate such as a ship or a vehicle, or the wireless tag communication means 21 is connected to the control means 22 by wire or wirelessly so that only the wireless tag communication means 21 is located near the cargo gate. You may install in.

  FIG. 2 is a time chart of the cargo management system according to the first embodiment. In the time chart of FIG. 2, each horizontal axis represents a time axis. From top to bottom, the passage A of cargo at the cargo gate, the calling signal B of the wireless tag 11 from the wireless tag communication means 21, and the wireless tag 11 shows the relationship among the response signal C from 11, the passage determination D of the cargo in the detection unit 2, the input means output E from the input means 25, and the information transmission F to the center device 3. FIG. 2 shows a state where the cargo has passed the cargo gate twice.

  Next, the operation will be described. First, when the cargo detection unit 2 passes through the cargo 1 at the cargo gate, the wireless tag 11 and the wireless tag communication means 21 can communicate with each other, and the call transmitted from the wireless tag communication means 21 at regular intervals. By receiving the signal B, the wireless tag 11 transmits a response signal C to the wireless tag communication means 21. Here, when the cargo 1 passes through the cargo gate and leaves a certain distance, the communication range between the wireless tag 11 and the wireless tag communication means 21 is out of the communicable range. C cannot be received.

  When receiving the response signal C from the wireless tag 11, the control unit 22 of the detection unit 2 performs the passage determination D of the cargo having the corresponding ID from the ID of the wireless tag included in the response signal C. The ID of the wireless tag 11 is associated with the cargo information of the cargo 1 to which the wireless tag 11 is attached in advance. That is, the ID of the wireless tag 11 is the identification ID of the cargo 1. Further, before the cargo loading / unloading operation is started, the input means 25 is used to input and set the cargo loading / unloading classification and the loading / unloading location. The input content is displayed on the display means 24 and can be confirmed on the spot by the operator. In the cargo passage determination D, the control means 22 receives the output of the input / setting of the corresponding cargo loading / unloading classification, loading / unloading location, etc. for the cargo determined to have passed through the gate (input means output E). The wireless tag ID, carry-in / carry-out classification, carry-in / carry-out information such as carry-in / carry-out location are transmitted to the center device 3 by the wireless communication means 23.

  The loading / unloading information received by the communication unit 33 is input to the control unit 31. The control unit 31 extracts the cargo information associated with the ID of the wireless tag 11 from the storage unit 32 and collates it with the carry-in / out information. If there is no problem, the control unit 31 sequentially updates the cargo information and stores it in the storage unit 32. The collation result is also displayed on the display means 34, so that the operator of the center apparatus 3 can grasp the progress of the work. Further, the cargo information can be extracted from the storage means 32 at a desired time, and it is possible to grasp the time of loading / unloading the cargo into / from the ship.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to accurately grasp the cargo loading / unloading status when loading / unloading the cargo to / from a ship or the like, which has an effect of preventing the loading / unloading leakage. Furthermore, the effect of preventing loss of cargo due to carry-in / carry-out leakage can be obtained.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the cargo management system according to the second embodiment. The cargo management system of FIG. 3 includes the first wireless tag communication means 21a and the second wireless tag communication means 21b in the detection unit 2 with respect to the cargo management system of the first embodiment. Can be identified. More specifically, the first RFID tag communication means 21a is outside the cargo gate (opposite to the ship with respect to the cargo gate), and the second RFID tag communication means 21b is inside the cargo gate (with respect to the cargo gate). Install on the ship side). The first and second wireless tag communication means 21a, 21b and the control means 22 may be connected by wire or wirelessly to give a margin to the installation range. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment (FIG. 1), description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 4 is a time chart of the cargo management system according to the second embodiment. In the time chart of FIG. 4, each horizontal axis represents a time axis. From top to bottom, the cargo passage A at the cargo gate, the call signal B1 from the first RFID tag communication means 21a to the RFID tag 11, the first Call signal B2 from the second wireless tag 21b to the wireless tag 11, response signal C from the wireless tag 11 to the first and second wireless tag communication means 21a, 21b, and cargo passage determination (loading) K in the detection unit 2. , The relationship between the cargo passage determination (carrying out) L, the input means output E from the input means 25, and the information transmission F to the center device 3 is shown.

  Next, the operation will be described. The first and second wireless tag communication means 21a and 21b periodically transmit call signals B1 and B2 of the wireless tag 11, respectively. When the wireless tag 11 receives the call signals B1 and B2, the response signal C is transmitted in response to the call signals B1 and B2. Further, the cargo 1 moves from the outside to the inside of the cargo gate when it is carried in, and moves from the inside to the outside of the cargo gate when it is carried out. Carrying in / out is determined based on the moving direction of the cargo. The determination process may be previously set in the control unit 22 by the input unit 25 or may be incorporated in the control unit 22 itself.

  First, the time when the cargo 1 is carried in will be described. In the passage A of cargo at the time of loading at the cargo gate, when the cargo passes through the gate, communication between the wireless tag 11 and the first wireless tag communication means 21a first installed outside the cargo gate becomes possible. The wireless tag communication means 21a receives the response signal C from the wireless tag 11 to the call signal B1 transmitted by itself. Subsequently, communication between the wireless tag 11 and the second wireless tag communication means 21b installed inside the cargo gate becomes possible after a short while, and the second wireless tag communication means 21b has transmitted by itself. A response signal C from the wireless tag 11 to the call signal B1 is received. The control means 22 determines whether to carry in / out, and the first RFID tag communication means 21a receives the response signal C from the RFID tag 11 before the second RFID tag communication means 21b. Is determined from the outside to the inside of the cargo gate, and a cargo passage determination (incoming) K is output.

  Next, the time when the cargo 1 is carried out will be described. Contrary to the time of carry-in, communication between the second wireless tag communication means 21b first installed inside the cargo gate and the wireless tag 11 is started, and when the cargo moves thereafter, the first wireless tag installed outside the cargo gate. Communication between the tag communication means 21a and the wireless tag 11 is started. As a result, since the movement direction of the cargo is from the inside to the outside of the cargo gate, the control means 22 determines whether to carry in / out, and a cargo passage determination (unloading) L is output.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, since the first and second RFID tag communication units 21a and 21b are provided, it is possible to identify the loading / unloading from the cargo passing direction. It is not necessary to set the input / output classification that was performed in 1. As a result, the reliability of the carry-in / carry-out information is increased and the work efficiency is improved.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
The third embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a cargo management system according to the third embodiment. The cargo management system of FIG. 5 has a configuration in which the wireless tag 11 is replaced with the barcode 12 and the wireless tag communication means 21 is replaced with the barcode reading means 26 with respect to the cargo management system of the first embodiment (FIG. 1). . The bar code 12 includes information on the cargo identification ID. As the barcode reading means 26, a type that reads with a laser or a CCD camera can be used. Further, it is necessary to attach the bar code 12 to the outside of the cargo and to install the bar code reading means 26 near the cargo gate so that the reading can be surely performed when the cargo passes. The bar code reading means 26 may be connected to the control means 22 by wire or wireless to give a margin in the installation range. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 6 is a time chart of the cargo management system according to the third embodiment. In the time chart of FIG. 5, each horizontal axis represents a time axis. From the top to the bottom, the cargo passage A at the cargo gate and the barcode reading operation performed by the barcode reading means 26 (with a laser or a CCD camera). B3, the barcode reading signal C1 obtained by reading the barcode 12 as a result, the cargo passage determination D in the detection unit 2, the input means output E from the input means 25, and the information to the center device 3 The relationship of transmission F is shown respectively. The barcode reading signal C1 includes a cargo identification ID. FIG. 6 shows a state where the cargo has passed the cargo gate twice.

  Next, the operation will be described. First, when a cargo passage A occurs at the cargo gate, the barcode 12 approaches the readable range of the barcode reading means 26, so that the barcode reading means 26 performs a barcode reading operation B3 on the barcode 12. Do. As a result, a barcode reading signal C1 is obtained. Here, when the cargo 1 passes through the cargo gate and leaves a certain distance, the barcode 12 and the barcode reading means 26 are out of the readable range (outside the scan range of the laser or CCD camera). The reading means 26 cannot obtain the barcode reading signal C1. Since other operations are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, since an inexpensive bar code is used instead of the wireless tag, an effect of cost reduction can be obtained.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of the cargo management system according to the fourth embodiment. The cargo management system of FIG. 7 has a configuration in which a storage means 27 is newly added to the detection unit 2 of the first embodiment (FIG. 1). Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  Next, the operation will be described. In the first embodiment, when a cargo gate passage event (hereinafter referred to as an event) of the cargo 1 occurs, the control means 22 transmits the loading / unloading information to the center apparatus 3 via the wireless tag communication means 21 and 33 as needed. . In the fourth embodiment, the loading / unloading information obtained when an event occurs is stored in the storage unit 27 as needed (see information holding F in FIG. 2). Thereafter, when there is a transmission request from the center device 3, the control unit 22 reads the carry-in / carry-out information from the storage unit 27 and transmits the carry-in / carry-out information to the center device 3 via the wireless communication units 23 and 33. . Since other operations are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, since a large amount of data is not concentrated on the center apparatus 3 at the same time, there is an effect that processing delay in the center apparatus 3 can be prevented and a load can be reduced.

Embodiment 5. FIG.
The fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Since the fifth embodiment has the same configuration as that of the fourth embodiment, only the parts different in operation will be described with reference to FIG. In the fourth embodiment, the loading / unloading information stored in the storage means 27 is transmitted to the center device 3 only when there is a transmission request from the center device 3. On the other hand, in the fifth embodiment, when all the predetermined cargoes are loaded / unloaded into the ship or the like, the loading / unloading information is transmitted from the storage unit 27 to the center device 3.

  As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, since a large amount of data is not concentrated on the center apparatus 3 at the same time, there is an effect that processing delay in the center apparatus 3 can be prevented and a load can be reduced.

Embodiment 6 FIG.
The sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a cargo management system according to the sixth embodiment. The freight management system of FIG. 8 has a time stamp generating means 29 arranged in the freight management system of the first embodiment. Specifically, when an event such as cargo loading / unloading occurs, the time stamp generating means 29 adds a time stamp including the date and time when the event occurred to the loading / unloading information. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment (FIG. 1), description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 9 is a time chart of the freight management system according to the sixth embodiment. In the time chart of FIG. 9, each horizontal axis represents a time axis. From top to bottom, the cargo passage A at the cargo gate, the calling signal B of the wireless tag 11 from the wireless tag communication means 21, and the wireless radio Response signal C from tag 11 to RFID tag communication means 21, cargo passage determination D at detection unit 2, time stamp generation means output M by time stamp generation means 29, input means output E from input means 25, center device 3 shows the relationship of information transmission F to 3 respectively.

  Next, the operation will be described. When the passage determination D is performed when the cargo passes through the cargo gate, the control means 22 acquires the date and time output by the time stamp generating means 29 (time stamp generating means output M). Then, it is included in the carry-in / out information and transmitted to the center device 3. Since other operations are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

  As described above, according to the sixth embodiment, since a time stamp is added to the carry-in / carry-out information transmitted to the center apparatus 3, detailed decisions are made based on information such as the date and time when the carry-in / carry-out event occurs. The effect is that cargo can be managed.

Embodiment 7 FIG.
The seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a cargo management system according to the seventh embodiment. The cargo management system shown in FIG. 10 has a display means 24a arranged with respect to the cargo management system of the first embodiment. More specifically, the cargo information transmitted from the center device 3 is displayed on the display means 24a so that the situation can be grasped even at the work site. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment (FIG. 1), description thereof is omitted. This configuration can also be applied to the other second to sixth embodiments.

  Next, the operation will be described. When the wireless tag communication unit 21 receives the response signal C from the wireless tag 11, the cargo information associated with the ID of the wireless tag included in the response signal C is extracted from the storage unit 32 and is transmitted from the wireless communication unit 33. Sent. The cargo information is received by the wireless communication means 23, and the control means 22 displays it on the display means 24a as needed. Here, as in the first embodiment, the contents input and set by the input means 25 are also displayed on the display means 24a. Thereby, in the first embodiment, the cargo information that was displayed only on the center device 3 can be grasped even at the work site. Further, the cargo information may be displayed on the display means 24 of the first embodiment.

  As described above, according to the seventh embodiment, when there is some abnormality in the loading / unloading of cargo, the number of times of notification of the abnormality from the operator of the center device 3 to the operator such as a ship is reduced. As a result, it is possible to obtain an effect of further reducing cargo loading / unloading leakage.

Embodiment 8 FIG.
The eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a cargo management system according to the eighth embodiment. The cargo management system shown in FIG. 11 is obtained by arranging an alarm device 28 with respect to the cargo management system of the seventh embodiment. Examples of alarms issued from the alarm device 28 include sound and light. Since other configurations are the same as those of the seventh embodiment (FIG. 10), description thereof is omitted.

  Next, the operation will be described. The control means 22 displays the cargo information transmitted from the center device 3 and the contents set by the input means 25 on the display means 24a (see the seventh embodiment). The control means 22 issues an alarm from the alarm device 28 if there is any mistake between the cargo information and the input and set contents. For example, when the carry-in / carry-out category, the carry-in / carry-out location, etc. are different from the cargo information of the center device 3, an alarm is immediately issued from the alarm device 28. The worker immediately stops the work at the site and confirms the input contents and the correctness of the actual cargo. Since other operations are the same as those of the seventh embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, according to the eighth embodiment, since an abnormality related to cargo is immediately notified to an operator by an alarm, there is an effect that leakage of cargo loading / unloading is further reduced.

Embodiment 9 FIG.
Embodiment 9 will be described below. FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a cargo management system according to the ninth embodiment. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment (FIG. 1), description thereof is omitted.

  Next, the operation will be described. When the cargo 1 passes through a cargo gate such as a ship, the control means 22 makes a cargo passage determination D and stores the number of times the cargo gate has passed in the storage means 27. If the number of passes is an odd number, it indicates that the cargo is being carried in, and if it is an even number, it indicates that the cargo is being carried out. The control means 22 determines the current carry-in / carry-out category from the number of passes, and transmits it to the center device 3 as carry-in / carry-out information. For example, if the number of passes is 1, it indicates carry-in, and if it is 2, it indicates carry-out. Further, even if cargo is mistakenly carried in / out several times or carried in / out for cargo arrangement, the number of times of carry-in is always an odd number and the number of times of carry-out is an even number.

  As described above, according to the ninth embodiment, the input setting by the input means 25 for the cargo loading / unloading classification becomes unnecessary. As a result, the reliability of the carry-in / carry-out information is increased and the work efficiency is improved.

  In the first to ninth embodiments, both the detection unit 2 and the center device 3 can be provided with a storage medium reading / writing means. The loading / unloading information obtained by the detection unit 2 such as a ship is stored in the storage medium at any time by the reading / writing means of the detection unit 2, and the storage medium is delivered to the center device 3 after the loading / unloading of all cargos is completed. You can also. The reliability of the entire cargo management system is improved by backing up the loading / unloading information on the storage medium.

It is a block diagram which shows the cargo management system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a time chart of the freight management system concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the cargo management system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a time chart of the cargo management system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the cargo management system which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a time chart of the freight management system concerning Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the cargo management system which concerns on Embodiment 4,5,9 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the cargo management system which concerns on Embodiment 6 of this invention. It is a time chart of the freight management system concerning Embodiment 6 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the cargo management system which concerns on Embodiment 7 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the cargo management system which concerns on Embodiment 8 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cargo, 2 detection unit, 3 center apparatus, 11 wireless tag, 12 barcode, 21 wireless tag communication means, 21a 1st wireless tag communication means, 21b 2nd wireless tag communication means, 22 control means, 23 wireless communication Means, 24 display means, 24a display means, 25 input means, 26 bar code reading means, 27 storage means, 28 alarm device, 29 time stamp generation means, 31 control means, 32 storage means, 33 wireless communication means, 34 display means , A Cargo passage, B call signal, B1 call signal, B2 call signal, B3 bar code reading operation, C response signal, C1 bar code read signal, D cargo pass judgment, E input means output, F information transmission / information Hold, K Cargo passage judgment (carrying in), L Cargo passage judgment (carrying out), M Time stamp generation means output.

Claims (9)

An input means for inputting and setting the cargo loading / unloading classification and the loading / unloading location;
Wireless tag communication means for transmitting a calling signal to a wireless tag attached to a cargo passing through a cargo gate of a transportation means and receiving a response signal including an ID of the wireless tag from the wireless tag;
Control means for determining passage of the cargo through the cargo gate when the wireless tag communication means receives the response signal;
The loading / unloading information including the ID of the RFID tag corresponding to the cargo determined to have passed through the cargo gate by the control means, the cargo loading / unloading classification, and the loading / unloading location is collated with the cargo information of the center device. And a wireless communication means for transmitting to the center device. The RFID tag communication means is composed of a first RFID tag communication means installed outside the cargo gate and a second RFID tag communication means installed inside the cargo gate,
When the cargo passes through the cargo gate, the control means determines whether to carry in / out the cargo based on reception timings of response signals from the first RFID tag communication means and the second RFID tag communication means. The detection unit according to claim 1. Instead of the wireless tag communication means,
2. The detection unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a barcode reading means for reading a barcode attached to the cargo passing through the cargo gate and outputting a barcode reading signal including a cargo identification ID to the control means. . Storage means for storing the carry-in / out information,
The detection unit according to claim 1, wherein when the wireless communication unit receives a transmission request from the center device, the loading / unloading information stored in the storage unit is transmitted to the center device. Storage means for storing the carry-in / out information,
The detection unit according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit transmits the loading / unloading information stored in the storage unit to the center device at the end of all cargo loading / unloading operations.   2. The detection unit according to claim 1, further comprising a time stamp generating means for outputting a date and time to the control means.   2. The detection unit according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying said carry-in / out information and cargo information received from a center device by said control means.   8. The detection unit according to claim 7, further comprising an alarm device that issues an alarm when there is a difference between the loading / unloading information and the cargo information by the control means. A storage means for storing the number of times the cargo passes through the cargo gate;
2. The detection unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines that the cargo is carried in when the number of passages stored in the storage unit is an odd number, and that the cargo is carried out when the number of passages is an even number.

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