JP2009161295A - Physical distribution management system and information record erasing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a physical distribution management system and an information record erasing device in which a plurality of rewritable display media having different characteristics are used according to the service environment when the rewritable display media are used as tags added to articles. <P>SOLUTION: The physical distribution management system comprises a communication means which is connected to a management server to receive information on the physical distribution from the management server, a medium selection means for selecting a reversible display recording medium of one characteristic out of a plurality of reversible display recording media of different characteristics from each other based on the in-process environment between an original process and another process next thereto, and/or the in-process environment of the process next to the original process, an erasing means for erasing visibly recorded information on the reversible display recording medium selected by the medium selection means, a recording means for recording the physical distribution information in the reversible display recording medium from which the information visibly recorded by the erasing means is erased, and an information record easing device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a physical distribution management system and an information record erasing apparatus.

  Traditionally, in order to facilitate the management of inventory and ordering of parts and products, and the operations performed in each process for those parts and products in the course of manufacturing and logistics, 2. Description of the Related Art There is a physical distribution management system that attaches a tag that records information such as a process so as to be visible to an article distributed between the processes.

  In the past, such a tag was printed on paper. In recent years, a rewritable medium capable of repeating a recording and erasing operation of visible information a predetermined number of times or more has been used as a tag.

  For example, in Japanese Patent No. 3886713 (see Patent Document 1), a tag is a data carrier having a rewrite area in which a recordable and erasable operation of visible information can be repeated a predetermined number of times, and logistics information is added to the tag. A physical distribution management system added in a two-dimensional coded state is disclosed.

  Further, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-87533 (see Patent Document 2), by forming a rewritable area on a surface of an RFID tag that can record and erase visible information a predetermined number of times or more, logistics can be performed. There is disclosed a physical distribution management system in which a tag in which information is recorded in a state where information is two-dimensionally encoded in a rewrite area and a state where information is stored in an RFID tag element is attached to an article.

  By the way, in addition to facilitating the management of physical distribution information by recording information in a machine-readable manner on the tag attached to the article, the information is recorded in a human-readable form. The management of articles in the process can be facilitated.

Therefore, there is a technology of a physical distribution management system that uses a tag sheet with a rewritable display medium. The “rewritable display medium” is a display medium that can repeat the recording and erasing operations of visible information a predetermined number of times or more. There are a plurality of types of rewritable display media having different color development and decoloring characteristics of the thermoreversible recording layer. Furthermore, the light resistance, visibility, and the like of the coloring layer are different for each type.
Japanese Patent No. 3886713 JP 2002-87533 A JP 2001-180121 A

  However, in the technologies such as the physical distribution system disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above, consideration is not given to properly using a plurality of rewritable display media having different properties according to the environment in the process and the environment between the processes.

  For example, a thermoreversible recording layer containing a leuco dye and a color developer is excellent in visibility because black color is formed on a white background, while the leuco dye and the developer are aggregated while being bonded by heating and rapid cooling. The color development state is fixed, and the developer is crystallized by heating / slow cooling. Since the leuco dye is easily photodegraded with respect to light, particularly sunlight, the background becomes brownish brown depending on the use environment, which makes it difficult to visually recognize. On the other hand, a thermoreversible recording layer in which organic low molecular weight material particles are dispersed in a resin matrix realizes color development when the recording layer becomes clouded. Therefore, even when the base color is dark, the leuco dye is used. While the visibility is inferior to that of the thermoreversible recording layer, when it is heated to 130 ° C. or higher and cooled, light is scattered due to the generation of voids between the low molecular weight substance of the recording layer and the matrix resin. When heated in a temperature range of 120 ° C, voids disappear and light is transmitted, making use of physical changes that appear transparent, so the light resistance to displayed information is superior to thermoreversible recording layers with leuco dyes ing.

  The present invention has been invented to solve these problems in view of the above points, and when a rewritable display medium is used as a tag attached to an article, a plurality of rewritable display media having different properties are used. The purpose is to provide a logistics management system that can be used according to the usage environment.

  In order to achieve the above object, the physical distribution management system of the present invention employs the following configuration.

  In the physical distribution management system of the present invention, there is provided a reversible display recording medium on which information related to an article distributed between manufacturing or physical distribution processes and / or physical distribution information including information related to the process is visually recorded. A distribution management system distributed as an attachment, the management server managing the distribution information and identification information of the reversible display recording medium in association with each other, and the reversible display recording medium connected to the management server A first information recording / erasing device that visually records the physical distribution information and erases the physical distribution information visually recorded on the reversible display recording medium. The information record erasing device includes a communication unit that receives the physical distribution information from the management server, an inter-process environment between the process and the next process, and / or a process next to the process. Based on the environment Among a plurality of reversible display recording media having different properties, a medium selecting means for selecting a reversible display recording medium having one property, and a reversible display recording medium selected by the medium selecting means. The erasing unit for erasing the recorded information, and the recording unit for recording the physical distribution information on the reversible display recording medium from which the information recorded visually by the erasing unit has been erased.

  Thereby, when using a rewritable display medium as a tag attached to an article, it is possible to provide a physical distribution management system that uses a plurality of rewritable display media having different properties according to the use environment.

  In addition, in order to solve the said subject, this invention is good also as an information record deletion apparatus provided in the said physical distribution system.

  According to the physical distribution management system and the information record erasing apparatus of the present invention, when using the rewritable display medium as a tag attached to an article, the physical distribution management system and information for properly using a plurality of rewritable display media having different properties according to the use environment It becomes possible to provide a recording / erasing apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Although this embodiment will mainly describe an example in which a reversible display recording medium is used within or between processes in the manufacturing industry, the present invention may be implemented in the logistics industry or other industries. The manufacturing industry is, for example, a manufacturing industry, and the logistics industry is, for example, a delivery industry, a warehouse industry, or the like.
Embodiment of the present invention
1 to 5 are diagrams for explaining a reversible display recording medium used in the physical distribution management system of the present embodiment. In the following embodiments, “reversible display recording medium” is also referred to as “rewritable display medium”.

(Description of cross section of rewritable display medium)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a cross section of a rewritable display medium. The rewritable display medium of FIG. 1 has a structure of at least four layers of a protective layer 1, a heat sensitive layer 2, a substrate layer 3, and a back layer 4. The heat-sensitive layer 2 is colored and decolored by heating and cooling under predetermined conditions, and an image such as characters is displayed on the rewritable display medium. The example in FIG. 2 is an example of a thermoreversible recording layer containing a leuco dye and a developer, that is, a chemical rewritable (hereinafter referred to as “CR”) film.

(Explanation of CR film coloring and decoloring process)
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the process of coloring and decoloring in the heat sensitive layer of the CR film. The heat-sensitive layer of the CR film has a leuco dye and a developer. FIG. 2A is a model diagram showing the structure of the erasable leuco dye and the crystalline developer. In FIG. 2A, the heat sensitive layer is solid. By heating the thermosensitive layer in the state of FIG. 2A, the state transitions to the state of FIG.

  In FIG. 2B, a color developing state is obtained by combining the developer with the leuco dye. Here, the heat sensitive layer is a liquid. By rapidly cooling the state shown in FIG. 2B, the state changes to the state shown in FIG. FIG. 2C shows a colored solid. In the state of FIG. 2C, an image such as a character is formed on a rewritable display medium.

  The state of FIG. 2C is changed to the state of FIG. 2D by heating again. In the state of FIG. 2D, the heat-sensitive layer is decolored when the leuco dye and the developer are separated. By gradually cooling the decolored heat-sensitive layer, the state shown in FIG. 2A, which is a decolored crystal, is restored.

(Example of rewritable display medium)
In the present embodiment, as a rewritable display medium, for example, the following rewritable display medium may be used in addition to the CR film.
A polymer type PR (Physical Rewable) (hereinafter referred to as “PR”) film using a physical change of transparency and white turbidity provided with a layer in which organic low molecular weight material particles are dispersed in a resin matrix. For example, see JP-A-2001-180121.
・ Similar to CR film, it is a type that uses a chemical change, for example, a combination of gallic acid and phloroglicinol as a developer, a one using phenolphthalein or thymolphthalein, a color former, A recording layer containing a homogeneous solution of a developer and a carboxylic acid ester, an ascorbic acid derivative as a developer, bis (hydroxyphenyl) acetic acid or gallic acid and a higher aliphatic as a developer Those using a salt with an amine, those using an electron donating compound having a long-chain aliphatic group as a developer, and the like.
-In a recording material comprising a cholesteric liquid crystal compound or a mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal compounds, by rapidly cooling from the cholesteric liquid crystal state, the reflected color can be stored for a long period of time at room temperature, and further, display recording can be repeated by returning to the liquid crystal state. Possible, comprising a thermotropic liquid crystal compound that forms a cholesteric liquid crystal phase, heating the thermotropic liquid crystal compound to a temperature exhibiting an isotropic phase or a cholesteric liquid crystal phase, and then cooling the cholesteric liquid crystal phase at a predetermined cooling rate. A material that includes a heat-sensitive phase that forms a cholesteric glass phase in which a helical molecular arrangement of a liquid crystal phase is solidified and exhibits a selective reflection color caused by the helical molecular arrangement.
-Those that perform display with electrophoretic elements.

(Example of a device that erases records on a rewritable display medium)
3 and 4 are diagrams for explaining an example of an apparatus for performing recording / erasing on a rewritable display medium included in the information recording / erasing apparatus of the present embodiment.

  The apparatus shown in FIG. 3 erases information displayed by a ceramic heater and records new information by a thermal head.

  On the other hand, the apparatus of FIG. 4 records and erases information by scanning a laser beam. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating that characters are recorded by laser light. In FIG. 4A, characters are recorded without the device touching the rewritable display medium. FIG. 4B is a diagram for explaining that the rewritable display medium is heated by the laser beam.

(Example of rewritable display medium with RFID)
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a rewritable display medium to which an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag is added. In the rewritable display medium shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, an RFID tag is attached between the substrate layer and the back layer with an adhesive. The rewritable display medium in FIG. 5A is an example in the case where the range to which the RFID tag is bonded is different from the printing range, and the rewritable display medium in FIG. 5B is a range in which the RFID tag is bonded. This is an example when the print range overlaps.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, a magnetic memory, an optical memory, a hologram, a semiconductor memory, or the like may be used in addition to the RFID tag as means for holding digital information. The magnetic memory is, for example, a magnetic tape, a magnetic stripe, a magnetic layer, or the like. The hologram is preferably a rewritable hologram, such as a film in which interference light is written on a polymer azobenzene liquid crystal film. The semiconductor memory is, for example, a contact IC memory or a non-contact IC memory. Further, the means for holding the digital information in the present embodiment may be a column for recording a code such as a bar code provided in the heat sensitive layer.

(Outline of logistics management system of this embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the physical distribution management system of this embodiment. In FIG. 6, Company B and Company C deliver parts to Company A, and Company A ships products incorporating the parts. In Company A, part (A), part (I), and part (U) are incorporated into the product in steps 1 to 3, respectively. On the other hand, Company B and Company C manufacture parts (A) and parts (I), respectively, based on orders from Company A and ship them to Company A.

  A rewritable display medium is used for item slips attached to parts used in each process in the company A and work slips used for instruction and confirmation of work in the process. In addition, a rewritable display medium is also used for an article slip attached to a part shipped from B company and C company. Information displayed on these rewritable display media is managed by the management server 100. The management server 100 may be provided outside the company A in addition to the company A.

  Hereinafter, a delivery workflow from Company B to Company A based on an order from Company A will be described. The workflow delivered from Company C to Company A is the same.

  First, based on ordering information from Company A to Company B, a part (A) is manufactured at Company B, and article information of the part (A) is printed on medium b, which is a rewritable display medium, by printer 200b. Further, the identification information of the medium b is recorded in the digital information holding unit included in the medium b. Information printed and recorded by the printer 200b is transmitted to the management server 100.

  Further, when the medium b is attached to the part (A) and then shipped from the company B, the identification information of the medium b is acquired by the digital information reading means at the gate Gb passing through the part (A). A) shipping information is transmitted to the company A, and the information is stored in the management server 100.

  Next, when the part (a) and the medium b pass through the gate Ga1 of the company A, the identification information of the medium b is acquired by the digital information reading means, so that the information on acceptance of the part (a) is obtained. Acquired by the management server.

  In the above embodiment, the identification information of the medium b is stored in the digital information holding unit of the medium b. Since the management server associates the identification information of the medium b with the article information, the status of the article to which the medium b is attached can be easily known. This embodiment is an example, and for example, the configuration may be such that the article information of the part (A) is stored in the digital information holding unit of the medium b.

  Next, a workflow for manufacturing a product in Company A will be described. The printer 200a prints a list of operations and the like in each manufacturing process on the medium a that is a rewritable display medium, and further, identification information of the medium a is recorded in a digital information holding unit of the medium a. Information printed by the printer 200 a is acquired from the management server 100.

  This medium a is attached to the work-in-process product of the product that passes from step 1 to step 3, and in each step, work is performed based on the contents displayed on the medium a. When all the processes are completed, the finished product is shipped.

  In FIG. 6, between A company and B company, and between A company and C company, the surface such as a box attached with a rewritable display medium is often exposed to sunlight. On the other hand, the company A has, for example, an indoor environment, and the surface such as a box is rarely exposed to sunlight. Therefore, medium A, which is a rewritable display medium with excellent visibility, is used in company A, and medium b, which is a rewritable display medium with excellent light resistance, is used between company A and company B. Good.

  Although CR film is inferior to PR film in light resistance, black color is formed on a white background, so that it is excellent in visibility. On the other hand, since PR film repeats color development and decoloring due to transparency and cloudiness, it is inferior in visibility to CR film but has excellent light resistance. Therefore, the medium a which is a rewritable display medium used in the company A is, for example, a CR film, and the medium b which is a rewritable display medium used between the company A and the company B is, for example, a PR film. is there.

(Details of flow delivered from Company B to Company A)
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing details of processing when parts are delivered from company B as a supplier to company A as a delivery destination. In FIG. 7, company B ships parts based on the inventory quantity and the like managed in inventory management database (hereinafter referred to as “DB”) 110 of management server 100 owned by company A, and company A Accept.

  In step S101 in FIG. 7, the company B requests the company A from the distribution information to be printed on the medium attached to the parts to be shipped. This request may be based on, for example, a person in charge of shipping of company B operating a client device connected to the management server of company A.

  Progressing to step S102 following step S101, the distribution information relating to the parts shipped from company B among the information stored in the inventory management DB from the management server of company A is sent to the client device of company B. Sent.

  Progressing to step S103 following step S102, the printer 200b of company B prints the article information of the parts (a) to be shipped to the heat-sensitive layers of the plurality of media b. Further, identification information for each medium and / or article information of the part (A) is written in the means for holding the digital information of the medium b. Progressing to step S104 following step S103, the medium b on which the article information is printed in step S103 is attached to the part (A) and shipped. In the example of FIG. 7, the medium b is attached to the part (A) and shipped. However, at the time of shipment, the medium b is read to obtain information related to the shipment, and the management server 100 receives the information. It should be sent.

  Subsequent to step S104, the process proceeds to step S105, and the part (A) to which the medium b is attached is delivered to the company A. In Company A, the acceptance process is first performed. In step S105, the information stored in the means for holding the digital information of the medium b is read when passing through the gate. For example, when an RFID tag is used as means for holding digital information, the gate is a reader of the RFID tag. The read information is transmitted to the management server 100.

  Proceeding to step S106 following step S105, if the identification information of the medium is stored in the RFID tag, the management server 100 has accepted the part (A) from the article information corresponding to the identification information. As a result, the information on the part (a) is updated. In addition, when the article information of the part (A) is stored in the RFID tag, the management server 100 updates the information of the part (A) based on the article information.

  The part (a) to which the medium b is attached is stored until the stock is dispensed when the receiving process is completed.

(Details of flow from delivery to stock removal)
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the details of the process up to “stocking out” in which the parts delivered to the company A are stored and further incorporated into the product. In FIG. 8, work is performed based on the contents managed by the inventory management DB 110 and the work progress management DB 120 included in the management server 100.

  In step S201 in FIG. 8, the article information of the accepted parts is transmitted from the management server 100 to the printer 200a-1. This article information is managed in the inventory management DB 110.

  Proceeding to step S202 following step S201, the printer 200a-1 prints the article information of the parts (a) received in the heat-sensitive layers of the plurality of media a. Further, the printer 200a-1 records the identification information of the medium a and / or the article information of the component (a) in the means for holding the digital information of the medium a.

  Following step S202, the process proceeds to step S203, and when the part (A) attached with the medium a passes through the gate, the information held by the means for holding the digital information of the medium a is read, and the management server The article information of the part (A) is registered in the inventory management DB 110 included in 100.

  More specifically, when the identification information of the medium a is held by the means for holding digital information, the management server 100 reads the identification information and transmits it to the management server 100 so that the management server 100 The logistics information of the part (a) corresponding to the identification information is updated. Further, for example, when the article information of the part (a) attached with the medium a is held by the means for holding the digital information, the article information is read and transmitted to the management server 100, whereby the management is performed. The server 100 updates the article information of the part (A) managed by the inventory management DB 110.

  Progressing to step S204 following step S203, the part (A) and the medium a that have passed through the gate are stored in a predetermined place until the stock is dispensed. At the storage location, the information recorded in the means for holding the digital information of the medium a is read and transmitted to the management server 100 together with the storage location information, so that the management server 100 registers the location of the part (A). I do.

  In step S205 following step S204, the part (A) stored in the storage location passes through the gate again when the stock is paid out. By passing through this gate, the information held by the means for holding the digital information of the medium a is read and transmitted to the management server 100 as in step S203. The management server 100 updates the contents of the inventory management DB 110 with information indicating that the part (A) has been paid out.

  Progressing to step S206 following step S205, the work instruction information is transmitted from the management server 100 to the printer 200a-2. Progressing to step S207 following step S206, the printer 200a-2 displays the work instruction information on the heat-sensitive layer of the medium a, and the medium a is attached to the component (A). Here, the identification information and / or work instruction information of the medium a is further recorded in the means for holding the digital information of the medium a.

(Details of flow from stock removal to product assembly)
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a flow from stock dispensing to product assembly performed following the flow of FIG. In FIG. 9, the part (A) to which the medium a on which the article information is displayed in step S207 of FIG. 8 is attached is incorporated into the work in progress of the product.

  In step S301 in FIG. 9, work instruction information is transmitted from the work progress management DB 120 of the management server 100 to the printer 200a-3. In step S302 following step S301, the printer 200a-3 displays a work instruction on the heat-sensitive layer of the medium a, and the medium a is attached to the work in progress of the product. In step S302, the identification information of the medium a and / or the contents of the work instruction sheet may be written in the means for holding the digital information of the medium a.

  Subsequent to step S302, the process proceeds to step S303, and the part (A) to which the medium a on which the work instruction information is displayed in step S207 of FIG. 8 is attached is incorporated into the work-in-process product. As a result, the work-in-process item is attached with the medium a attached in step S207 and the medium a attached in step S302.

  Progressing to step S304 following step S303, when the work-in-process item passes through the gate, identification information or the like between the medium a attached to the work-in-progress item and the medium a attached to the component (A) is read. . As a result, information indicating that the part (A) has been incorporated into the work-in-process is acquired.

  Progressing to step S305 following step S304, the information read in step S304 is transmitted to the management server 100, and the work performance information managed by the work progress management DB 120 is updated.

(Description of the printer in the physical distribution management system of the present embodiment)
7 to 9, information is displayed on the heat-sensitive layer of the medium a or the medium b by the printer. In FIG. 7, for example, information is visually displayed under suitable recording / erasing conditions for the heat-sensitive layer of the medium b. On the other hand, in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, information is visually displayed under suitable recording / erasing conditions for the heat-sensitive layer of the medium a.

  For example, the printer in the physical distribution management system of the present embodiment visually displays information on both the heat-sensitive layers of the medium a and the medium b according to suitable recording and erasing conditions. It is good to be able to erase the information. For example, when the recording / erasing condition of the medium is stored in the means for holding the digital information of the medium, the recording / erasing condition is read from the means for holding the digital information, and erasure and recording are performed on the thermal layer. Do.

  In addition, for example, when the recording / erasing conditions for the heat-sensitive layer of the medium are identified by the shape of the medium, the color of the base material of the medium, etc., the identification information is acquired and the corresponding recording / erasing conditions are acquired. May be. Furthermore, the recording / erasing conditions of a plurality of media having different properties are stored in advance, and when the operator inputs a selection, one of the recording / erasing conditions is selected and the recording / erasing of the medium is performed. May be.

(Functional configuration of distribution management system in this embodiment)
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the physical distribution management system according to the present embodiment. In the physical distribution management system of FIG. 10, a printer 200 and a management server 100 are connected. The printer 200 displays and erases visible information on the heat-sensitive layer of the rewritable display medium 300.

  The printer 200 includes, for example, a communication unit 210, a medium selection unit 220, a rewritable recording / erasing unit 230, a digital information access unit 240, an environment information input unit 250, a recording / erasing condition acquisition unit 260, and a storage unit 290.

  The communication unit 210 communicates with the management server 100 connected via a network, for example. Article information, work instruction information, medium identification information, and the like are acquired by the communication unit 210, and work result information, article location information, medium identification information, and the like are further transmitted.

  For example, the medium selection unit 220 selects a rewritable display medium having one property from a plurality of rewritable display media having different properties based on information on an environment in which the medium is used. For example, when the process in which the medium is used is an environment in which the medium is often exposed to sunlight, the medium selection unit 220 selects a PR film and the process in which the medium is used is exposed to sunlight. If the environment is rare, select a CR film. The environment in which the medium is used preferably includes an environment between processes in addition to the process environment.

  Further, the medium selection unit 220 may select a medium based on the specifications of the printer used in the subsequent and subsequent steps when display recording is performed on the medium in the subsequent and subsequent steps. More specifically, when the printer used in the subsequent steps is compatible only with CR film, the CR film is selected, and the printer used in the subsequent steps is compatible only with PR film. If so, a PR film may be selected.

  The rewritable recording / erasing unit 230 includes, for example, an erasing unit 231 and a recording unit 233. The erasing unit 231 erases information visually recorded on the rewritable display medium 300 based on erasing conditions that differ depending on the properties of the medium. The recording unit 233 visually records information on the rewritable display medium 300 based on recording conditions that differ depending on the properties of the medium. Note that the erasing unit 231 and the recording unit 233 may be configured as one heating device, for example.

  The digital information access unit 240 includes, for example, an identification information acquisition unit 241 and an identification information update unit 243. The identification information acquisition unit 241 reads and acquires the identification information of the rewritable display medium 300 from the identification information holding unit included in the rewritable display medium 300. The identification information update unit 243 updates the identification information recorded in the identification information holding unit included in the rewritable display medium 300.

  The identification information for updating may be issued by the management server 100 and received by the communication unit 210, for example, or may be transmitted by the communication unit 210 to the management server 100 after being issued by the printer 200.

  The digital information access means 240 may be, for example, an RFID tag reader / writer or a two-dimensional barcode reader / writer.

  The environment information input unit 250 is a unit for inputting information on an environment in which the rewritable display medium on which information is displayed by the printer 200 is used. For example, the environment information input unit 250 may input information as to whether or not the environment in which the medium is used is heavily exposed to sunlight.

  The record erasure condition acquisition unit 260 acquires a record erasure condition corresponding to each rewritable display medium having different properties. The record erasure condition acquisition unit 260 includes, for example, a condition input unit 261 or a condition identification information acquisition unit 263.

  The condition input unit 261 receives, for example, a recording / erasing condition corresponding to each rewritable display medium having different properties. For example, when the rewritable display medium has an identification form corresponding to each property, the condition identification information acquisition unit 263 identifies the form and acquires the corresponding recording erasure condition. The identification form is, for example, the shape of the medium and the color level of the medium base material. The condition identification information acquisition unit 263 acquires the information on the recording / erasing condition of the medium or the identification information when the unit stores digital information of the rewritable display medium, for example. Also good.

  For example, the storage unit 290 may hold information on recording / erasing conditions for each rewritable display medium having different properties. As a result, when the information for identifying the recording erasure condition is acquired by the condition identification information acquiring unit 263, the rewritable recording erasing unit can perform processing with reference to the recording erasure condition corresponding to the identification information.

  The management server 100 manages information related to articles and / or information related to processes. The management server 100 has an inventory management DB 110 and a work progress management DB 120. The inventory management DB 110 manages, for example, inventory quantities of parts, work-in-progress products, products, and the like. The inventory management DB 110 may further manage their storage locations. By referring to information managed by the inventory management DB 110, for example, when the supplier manufactures a part, the quantity and the like can be managed in real time.

  The work progress management DB 120 manages the work contents for each process described in the work instruction and the progress status of those works among the information related to the processes. The printer 200 can issue a work instruction according to the work contents for each process managed by the work progress management DB 120. In addition, by registering work performance information for each predetermined process, it becomes easy to manage the progress of the work.

  The rewritable display medium 300 includes, for example, a reversible display recording unit 310, an identification information holding unit 320, and a condition identification information holding unit 330. The reversible display recording unit 310 is, for example, a heat-sensitive layer, and information is displayed and erased by repeating coloring and decoloring by heating and cooling. The identification information holding unit 320 is, for example, means for holding digital information, and may be a column that displays a barcode or the like provided in the reversible display recording unit 310 in addition to an RFID tag or the like.

  The condition identification information holding unit 330 holds information for identifying a recording / erasing condition of the rewritable display medium 300. The condition identification information holding unit 330 may hold the recording erasure condition identification information by, for example, the shape of a notch of the medium, the color of the base material of the medium, or the like. The condition identification information holding unit 330 may be further configured as means for recording digital information.

(Process in which rewritable display medium is selected based on in-process environment and inter-process environment)
FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are flowcharts showing processing for selecting a rewritable display medium based on the in-process environment and / or the inter-process environment. FIG. 11 is an example of processing for displaying information when a rewritable display medium is selected, and FIG. 12 is an example of details of processing for selecting a rewritable display medium. The processing of FIGS. 11 and 12 is performed by the medium selection unit 220, for example.

  In step S401 in FIG. 11, physical distribution information is acquired from the management server 100 by the communication unit 210. Progressing to step S402 following step S401, the medium selecting unit 220 selects one of a plurality of rewritable display media having different properties based on the in-process environment or the inter-process environment of the process in which the rewritable display medium is used. Select a rewritable display medium of the nature.

  Progressing to step S403 following step S402, the record erasure condition acquisition unit 260 acquires the record erasure condition of the medium. Progressing to step S404 following step S403, the rewritable recording / erasing unit 230 erases the display of information displayed on the rewritable display medium based on the recording / erasing condition acquired in step S403.

  Progressing to step S405 following step S404, the rewritable recording / erasing means 230 displays the physical distribution information acquired in step S401 on the rewritable display medium based on the recording / erasing condition acquired in step S403.

  Proceeding to step S406 following step S405, the identification information acquisition means 241 acquires the identification information of the medium from the means for holding the digital information of the rewritable display medium. Progressing to step S407 following step S406, the communication unit 210 transmits the identification information acquired in step S406 to the management server 100.

  In the example of FIG. 11, the identification information held in advance by the rewritable display medium is acquired and transmitted to the management server, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the identification information issued by the management server 100 is received together with the distribution information in step S401, and the identification information is stored in the digital information of the rewritable display medium by the identification information update unit 243 in step S406 or the like. May be retained by being updated.

(Details of processing in which a rewritable display medium is selected based on the in-process environment and the inter-process environment)
FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the details of the process for selecting the rewritable display medium based on the in-process environment and the inter-process environment, and is an example of the process for selecting one of the PR film and the CR film. is there. The process of FIG. 12 is executed by the medium selection unit 220.

  In step S501 of FIG. 12, it is determined whether or not a device such as a printer is compatible only with the PR film in a process in which the next and subsequent rewritable display media are used. If only PR film is supported, the process proceeds to step S505, and if corresponding to PR film and CR film, the process proceeds to step S502.

  Progressing to step S502 following step S501, it is determined whether or not the rewritable display medium is often exposed to sunlight during the next step. When it is often exposed to sunlight, the process proceeds to step S505, and when it is not frequently exposed to sunlight, the process proceeds to step S503.

  Progressing to step S503 following step S502, in the next step, it is determined whether or not the rewritable display medium is often exposed to sunlight. If it is often exposed to sunlight, the process proceeds to step S505, and if not frequently exposed to sunlight, the process proceeds to step S504.

  In step S504, a CR film is selected. On the other hand, in step S505, a PR film is selected.

(Example of deletion conditions)
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of preferable erasing conditions for the CR film and the PR film. FIG. 13A is an example of a CR film, and FIG. 13B is an example of a PR film. From FIG. 13A, the erasing conditions suitable for the CR film are preferably an erasing speed of 10 inches or less and an erasing temperature of 130 to 180 degrees Celsius, an erasing speed of 8 inches or less and an erasing temperature of 140 degrees Celsius. The erasing speed is 5 inches per second or less and the erasing temperature is more preferably 150 to 160 degrees Celsius.

  Further, from FIG. 13B, the erasing conditions suitable for the PR film are preferably an erasing speed of 2 inches or less per second, an erasing temperature of 80 to 120 degrees Celsius, an erasing speed of 1.5 inches or less and an erasing temperature. Is more preferably 90 to 110 degrees Celsius, an erase speed of 1.5 inches or less per second and an erase temperature of 90 to 100 degrees Celsius are even more preferable.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of erasing with a ceramic heater. The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the example of FIG. 13, and may be any apparatus that applies equivalent energy to the rewritable display medium.

  Although the best mode for carrying out the invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described in the best mode. Modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The figure explaining the cross section of a rewritable display medium. The figure explaining the process of coloring and decoloring in the heat sensitive layer of CR film. The figure which shows the example of the printer of the rewritable display medium which erases with a ceramic heater and records with a thermal head. The figure which shows the example of the printer of the rewritable display medium which records and erases with a laser beam. 6A and 6B illustrate an example of a rewritable display medium to which an RFID tag is added. The figure explaining the outline of the physical distribution management system of this embodiment. The figure which shows the detail of a process when parts are delivered to a delivery destination from a supplier. The figure which shows the detail of the flow from delivery to stock removal. The figure which shows the detail of the flow from stock delivery to product assembly. The figure of the example of a function structure of the physical distribution management system in this embodiment. The flowchart which shows the example of the process by which a rewritable display medium is selected based on an environment. The flowchart which shows the detail of the process by which a rewritable display medium is selected based on an inter-environment. The figure which shows the example of erasure | elimination conditions.

Explanation of symbols

100 management server 110 inventory management DB
120 Work progress management DB
200 Printer 210 Communication Unit 220 Medium Selection Unit 230 Rewritable Record Erasing Unit 231 Erasing Unit 233 Recording Unit 240 Digital Information Access Unit 241 Identification Information Acquisition Unit 243 Identification Information Update Unit 250 Environmental Information Input Unit 260 Record Erasure Condition Acquisition Unit 261 Condition Input Unit 263 Condition identification information acquisition unit 290 Storage unit 300 Rewritable display medium 310 Reversible display recording unit 320 Identification information holding unit 330 Condition identification information holding unit

Claims (13)

Logistics management in which a reversible display recording medium in which information relating to an article distributed between manufacturing or logistics processes and / or logistics information including information relating to the process is visibly recorded is attached to the article and distributed A system,
A management server that manages the physical distribution information and the identification information of the reversible display recording medium in association with each other;
First information connected to the management server, for visually recording the physical distribution information on the reversible display recording medium, and erasing the physical distribution information visually recorded on the reversible display recording medium A record erasing device;
Have
The first information recording / erasing device is:
Communication means for receiving the logistics information from the management server;
One of a plurality of reversible display recording media having different properties based on the interprocess environment between the process and the next process and / or the in-process environment of the next process. Medium selecting means for selecting a reversible display recording medium of the nature of
Erasing means for erasing the information visually recorded on the reversible display recording medium selected by the medium selecting means;
Recording means for recording the physical distribution information on a reversible display recording medium from which information visually recorded by the erasing means is erased;
Having logistics management system. The plurality of reversible display recording media having different properties from each other have an identification information holding unit that holds identification information for identifying the reversible display recording medium,
The first information recording / erasing device further includes:
Having identification information acquisition means for acquiring identification information of the reversible display recording medium from the identification information holding unit;
The physical distribution management system according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit further transmits the identification information to the management server. The first information recording / erasing device further includes:
Identification information updating means for updating identification information of the reversible display recording medium held in the identification information holding unit;
The physical distribution management system according to claim 2, wherein the communication unit further receives the identification information from the management server. The identification information holding unit
4. The physical distribution according to claim 2, which is a field provided on the reversible display recording medium for recording the code of the identification information, or a digital information recording medium integrated with the reversible display recording medium. Management system. The plurality of reversible display recording media having different properties from each other,
A first reversible display recording medium having a recording layer containing a leuco dye and a developer, and a second reversible display recording medium having a recording layer in which organic low molecular weight material particles are dispersed in a resin matrix; The physical distribution management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   When the first reversible display recording medium is selected, compared to the case where the second reversible display recording medium is selected, in the inter-process environment and / or the in-process environment, The physical distribution management system according to claim 5, wherein the reversible display recording medium is less exposed to sunlight. In the next step of the step, when a second information recording / erasing apparatus different from the step is used,
7. The medium selecting means selects a reversible display recording medium corresponding to the specifications of the second information recording / erasing apparatus from the plurality of reversible display recording media and provides the recording means with the reversible display recording medium. The physical distribution management system according to any one of the above. The first information recording / erasing device further includes:
The physical distribution management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising environmental information input means for inputting information related to the inter-process environment and / or the in-process environment. The first information recording / erasing device further includes:
It has condition input means for inputting energy conditions when recording and erasing information recorded visually,
The recording means records the physical distribution information on the reversible display recording medium according to the energy condition,
The physical distribution management system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the erasing unit erases information visually recorded on the reversible display recording medium according to the energy condition. The plurality of reversible display recording media having different properties have a condition identification information holding unit that holds information for identifying energy conditions of the reversible display recording medium,
The first information recording / erasing device further includes:
Condition identification information acquisition means for acquiring information for identifying the energy condition from the condition identification information holding unit,
The recording means records the physical distribution information on the reversible display recording medium based on information for identifying the energy condition,
The physical distribution management system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the erasing unit erases information visually recorded on the reversible display recording medium based on information for identifying the energy condition. Logistics management in which a reversible display recording medium in which information relating to an article distributed between manufacturing or logistics processes and / or logistics information including information relating to the process is visibly recorded is attached to the article and distributed In the system, connected to a management server that associates and manages the physical distribution information and the identification information of the reversible display recording medium, visually records the physical distribution information on the reversible display recording medium, and the reversible An information record erasing apparatus for erasing the physical distribution information visibly recorded on the sex display recording medium,
Communication means for receiving the logistics information from the management server;
One of a plurality of reversible display recording media having different properties based on the interprocess environment between the process and the next process and / or the in-process environment of the next process. Medium selecting means for selecting a reversible display recording medium of the nature of
Erasing means for erasing the information visually recorded on the reversible display recording medium selected by the medium selecting means;
Recording means for recording the physical distribution information on a reversible display recording medium from which information visually recorded by the erasing means is erased;
An information recording and erasing apparatus. The plurality of reversible display recording media having different properties from each other,
A first reversible display recording medium having a recording layer containing a leuco dye and a developer, and a second reversible display recording medium having a recording layer in which organic low molecular weight material particles are dispersed in a resin matrix; The information recording / erasing apparatus according to claim 11. The erasing conditions of the first reversible display recording medium are an erasing speed of 10 inches per second or less, an erasing temperature of 130 degrees Celsius to 180 degrees Celsius,
13. The information recording and erasing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the erasing conditions of the second reversible display recording medium are an erasing speed of 2 inches per second or less and an erasing temperature of 80 to 120 degrees Celsius.

Images