JP2013092880A - Rfid reader/writer antenna device used for rfid system, and glove used with rfid reader/writer antenna device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an RFID reader/writer antenna device that is used for taking out goods such as medicines from a goods storage shelf such as a medicine shelf, enables a user to take-out goods in hands-free state, and has simple configuration and good workability.SOLUTION: An RFID reader/writer antenna device comprises an antenna device body 1a and an antenna terminal part 1b. The antenna device body is held in an antenna device body holder on back of the hand of a glove body so as not to fall off therefrom, and when the antenna device body is held in the antenna device body holder, the antenna terminal part protrudes out from the antenna device body holder so that a tip end part thereof extends to a region between a base to the first joint from the base of a specific finger. The antenna device body includes an RFID module 7 for reading/writing an RF tag attached to a goods shelf, a Bluetooth(R) module 8 for communicating with an information processing device, state confirmation means 9 for the antenna device, a power supply device 10, a trigger switch 11 and a CPU 12 for the antenna device.

Description

  The present invention relates to an RFID reader / writer antenna device of an RFID system used for taking out an item from a storage shelf, particularly a medicine from a medicine shelf, and a glove used therefor.

  An RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system generally stores information in an RF tag with a built-in chip and antenna, and can read information data and write additional information via radio waves. System technology.

Conventionally, such an RFID system is used for management of product inventory, regular use at stations, watermelons, admission to buildings and rooms, entrance keys, picking of products and parts, and the like.

In the conventional RFID system for picking products and parts, a reader / writer is used as a handheld terminal, so when taking out a product from a shelf with an RF tag, hold the reader / writer terminal in hand. The product information data is read by approaching or contacting the RF tag to check whether the product to be taken out is correct. In such a case, there is an inconvenience that other operations cannot be performed because both hands are blocked.

  In order to avoid such inconvenience, a hands-free information terminal device has been proposed (Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, an operator uses an information terminal device having an apparatus body integrally including a data reading unit that reads information from a read medium and a data processing unit that processes information read by the data reading unit. Any one of the fingers, back and wrist is selected, and the apparatus main body can be mounted via mounting means corresponding to the selected position.

However, in the information terminal device disclosed in Patent Document 1, not only the mechanism for attaching the device main body to the operator through any suitable attachment means is provided at any one of the finger, back and wrist, but the device Since the main body is attached to any one of the fingers, back and wrist, there is a drawback that the weight of the apparatus main body is applied to the operator's fingers, back or wrist and the workability of the operator is impaired. In addition, the apparatus main body sometimes interferes with the item picking work when items are picked up from the storage shelf.

JP2009-104376

  The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above-described problems of the prior art, and can be used in a hands-free state from a product storage shelf such as a medicine shelf that can be used in a hands-free state and has a simple configuration and good workability. The present invention relates to an RFID reader / writer antenna device for an RFID system used for taking out an item and a glove used for the RFID reader / writer antenna device.

(1) This invention is made in order to solve the said subject, and relates to the RFID reader | writer writer type | mold antenna apparatus for RFID systems used in order to take out goods, such as a medicine, from goods storage shelves, such as a medicine shelf,
The RFID reader / writer antenna device includes an antenna device body and an antenna terminal portion extending from the antenna device body.
The antenna device main body is configured to be prevented from falling off by the antenna device main body holder on the back of the glove main body,
When the antenna terminal body is housed in the antenna apparatus body holder, the antenna terminal section comes out of the antenna apparatus body holder and its tip is counted from the root of one of the specific fingers and the root. Configured to extend to the site between the first joint,
The antenna device main body includes an RFID module that reads and writes an RF tag attached to a product shelf, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) module that communicates with an information processing device, a state confirmation unit of the antenna device, a power supply Provided is an RFID reader / writer type antenna device comprising a device, a trigger switch, and an antenna device CPU.

In the RFID reader / writer antenna device of the present invention, the following preferred modes can be cited, and a mode in which these are combined is also a preferred mode of the present invention.
(2) The RFID reader / writer antenna device has an antenna tip fixing means for fixing the antenna tip of the antenna terminal to the portion of the specific finger.
(3) The RFID reader / writer type antenna device has at least one state selected from a buzzer, a vibration means and an operation ON / OFF display light for notifying that the antenna terminal unit is in contact with or close to the RF tag of the wrong product shelf. It has a confirmation means.
(4) The present invention relates to a glove that holds the RFID reader / writer antenna device of the RFID system according to any one of (1) to (3) above.
The glove has a glove body and a holder for the antenna device body that is provided on the back of the glove body and holds the antenna device body to prevent it from falling off.
(5) The glove body of the glove passes from the wrist through the base of the finger, extends from the base to the first joint, counting from the base, and the portion from the base to the fingertip is missing.

In the glove holding the RFID reader / writer antenna device of the RFID system of the present invention, the following preferred modes can be mentioned, and a mode in which these are combined is also a preferred mode of the present invention.
(6) The antenna device main body holder is formed of a pocket having an opening at a side portion or an upper portion and fixed to the back of the glove main body, and the antenna terminal portion protrudes from the opening of the pocket.
(7) When the antenna device holder comprises a pocket that has an opening at the side or top and is fixed to the glove and a lid that covers the opening of the pocket so that it can be opened and closed. The antenna terminal portion protrudes from the opening between the pocket and the lid portion.
(8) An RFID system comprising the RFID reader / writer antenna device of the RFID system according to any one of (1) to (3) and the glove according to any of (4) to (7). RFID reader / writer antenna device / gloves kit.

  According to the RFID reader / writer type antenna device of the RFID system of the present invention configured as described above and the glove holding the RFID reader / writer type antenna device, it is separate from the host computer or information processing terminal that communicates with the antenna device. Therefore, when reading the information of the RF tag attached to the product storage shelf such as the medicine storage shelf in the hands-free state, when the operator wears it on the hand, it is lightweight and has good operability. The hand can be easily and smoothly removed from the product storage shelf, and there is little fatigue even when used for a long time.

Furthermore, the glove extends from the wrist through the root of the finger to the site between the root and the first joint, counting from the base, and the portion from the site to the fingertip is missing. Can be performed with a bare hand feeling, and it is possible to ensure the delivery of products such as fine drugs.
Moreover, since the production technique which produces a normal glove can be applied when producing this glove, manufacture is easy and production cost can be held down low.
Further, the distal end portion of the antenna terminal portion passes through the root portion of the specific finger and extends to the portion between the root portion and the first joint, counting from the root portion, and the distal end portion of the antenna terminal portion is connected to the distal end portion of the antenna terminal portion. When fixing to the base of the finger by the fixing means for use, the antenna terminal portion can be stably held, so that communication of information data between the antenna and the RF tag can be performed stably and reliably.

1 is a schematic diagram of an entire RFID system using an RFID reader / writer antenna device according to the present invention. 1 is a plan view of an RFID reader / writer antenna device according to the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an RFID reader / writer antenna device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram of another whole RFID system using the RFID reader / writer type antenna device according to the present invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining an article storage shelf such as a medicine storage shelf to which the RFID reader / writer antenna device of the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is a schematic view when an operator holds an RFID reader / writer antenna device of the present invention in a glove and takes out an item such as a drug from an item storage shelf such as a drug storage shelf. 1 is a plan view of a glove according to a first embodiment of the present invention for holding an RFID reader / writer antenna device of the present invention. 1 is a rear view of a glove for an RFID reader / writer antenna device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory plan view in which gloves for the RFID reader / writer antenna device according to the first embodiment of the present invention are attached to a hand and the antenna device body is accommodated in a pocket. It is a top view of the glove concerning the 2nd embodiment of the present invention for holding the RFID reader-writer type antenna device of the present invention. It is a rear view of the glove for RFID reader / writer type antenna devices concerning the 2nd embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory plan view of a glove for an RFID reader / writer type antenna device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a glove is attached to a hand and the antenna device body is accommodated in a pocket.

  Hereinafter, an RFID reader / writer antenna device used in the RFID system of the present invention and a glove holding the RFID reader / writer antenna device will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

    FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an embodiment of an entire RFID system using an RFID reader / writer antenna device according to the present invention used for taking out an item from a storage shelf, in particular, a medicine from a medicine shelf. In FIG. 1, the RFID system includes an RFID reader / writer antenna device 1 that reads and writes an RF tag T attached to each shelf of an article storage shelf such as a medicine storage shelf, and an RFID host computer 2. Is done. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 3 denotes a communication relay means for relaying communication between the antenna device 1 and the host computer 2, and the communication relay means 3 may or may not be provided. Further, the host computer 2 and the communication relay means 3 may be connected by a USB cable. 4 indicates an order form such as a prescription, and the contents of the order are input to the host computer 2 in accordance with the order form 4 (for example, order number Nα, orderer name, product types A1 to Ax, quantity, number, etc.). . The order contents of the order number Nα are output from the host computer 2 through the output means 5 such as a printer as a delivery instruction 6.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the RFID reader / writer antenna device 1 includes an antenna device main body 1a and an antenna terminal portion 1b. The antenna device main body 1a of the antenna device 1 is accommodated in a glove described later. In FIG. 2, 30 is a band for fixing the tip of the antenna terminal portion 1b to the site between the first joint, counting from the root of the specific finger and the root. Here, the “specific finger” is preferably a thumb, an index finger, or a middle finger.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the antenna device body 1a of the RFID reader / writer antenna device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The antenna device body 1a includes an RFID module 7 that reads and writes the RF tag T attached to the product shelf, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) module 8 that communicates with the information processing device, and a state check unit of the antenna device. 9, a power supply device 10, a trigger switch 11, and an antenna device CPU 12. The antenna device body 1a of this embodiment further includes a charging unit 13 including a charger and a charging circuit. In the figure, reference numeral 14 denotes a charging DC jack. In this embodiment, the state confirmation unit 9 functions as a state confirmation unit for the buzzer and vibration unit for notifying that the antenna terminal unit has touched or approached the RF tag of the wrong product shelf, and the operation ON / OFF display light.

The function of the RFID reader / writer antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 will be described below.
The delivery is performed based on the delivery instruction 6 of the order number Nα created according to the order form 4 such as a prescription. First, when the trigger switch 11 is turned on, a connection is made to a Bluetooth (registered trademark) device (here, the host computer 2) of a designated address, and a command wait state is entered. While looking at the delivery instruction sheet 6, the operator puts on gloves storing the antenna device main body 1 a and prepares to take out products A 1 to Ax such as desired medicines from the storage shelves C 1 to Cx shown in FIG. After receiving the read command, the antenna terminal unit 1b reads the corresponding RF tag. The product shelf information of the RF tag T read by the antenna terminal unit 1b is transmitted to the host computer 2 via the RFID R / W module 7, the CPU 12, and the Bluetooth (registered trademark) module 8 via the Bluetooth (registered trademark) interface. . The host computer 2 compares the transmitted data with the contents of the purchase order, and determines whether the antenna terminal unit has accessed the correct product shelf. As a result, if it is determined that there is an erroneous access, the CPU 12 of the antenna device 1 causes the buzzer to sound an error buzzer and causes the vibration means to vibrate by the Bluetooth (registered trademark) interface communication. The error display color is displayed in light. On the other hand, when it is determined that the access is correct, the CPU 12 of the antenna device 1 causes the buzzer sound corresponding to the correct access through the Bluetooth (registered trademark) interface communication to support the correct access to the operation ON / OFF display light. The display color to be displayed is light-displayed.
When writing data transmitted from the host computer 2 to the RF tag T, the antenna terminal unit is changed from reading to writing antenna terminal, and then the writing data is transferred to the RF tag via the writing antenna terminal unit. Write.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic view of another whole RFID system using the RFID reader / writer type antenna device according to the present invention. In the figure, 15 is a handy information processing terminal that performs Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication with the RFID reader / writer antenna device 1 and performs information processing. The handy information processing terminal 15 is connected to the host computer via the communication relay means 3. It is connected. In this embodiment, the handy information processing terminal 15 performs Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication with the antenna device 1, but may be connected by USB. The handy information processing terminal 15 processes and stores the data read by the antenna device 1 and transmits the stored data to the host computer 2 as necessary. Others are the same as the RFID system of FIG.

  Reference numeral 16 in FIG. 5a denotes a storage shelf body that stores products A1 to Ax such as medicines, B1 to Bx denote storage shelves that store the products A1 to Ax, and the storage shelves B1 to Bx include drawer boxes C1 to C1. Cx is accommodated, and RF tags D1 to Dx are attached to the handles of the drawer boxes C1 to Cx, respectively. When taking out the product from the product shelf body 16, the operator wears the gloves according to the present invention, holds the antenna device body in the pocket on the back of the glove, and the antenna terminal portion, for example, the base of the index finger. The tip of the antenna end is fixed with a band at a portion between the base and the joint adjacent to the base, and the tip of the antenna end is selected by contacting or approaching the desired RF tag Dα of the pull-out box Cα handle. The host computer 2 is asked if the product Aα in the drawer box Cα is correct. See Figure 5b. When it is notified that the access to the drawer box Cα is correct, the drawer Cα is pulled out, and the product Aα placed in the tray inside is taken out. When it is notified that the access to the drawer box Cα is incorrect, the access is reviewed and the correct drawer box is accessed again.

  FIG. 6 shows a glove 21 according to the first embodiment of the present invention for housing the RFID reader / writer antenna apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 6a is a plan view of the glove 21, and FIG. FIG. The glove 21 of this embodiment extends from the wrist of the glove to the base of the finger, extends to a portion between the base and the first joint adjacent to the base, and the portion from there to the fingertip is missing. The main body 21a includes an antenna device main body storage pocket 21b provided on the back of the hand of the glove main body 21a and having an opening in the upper portion, and an antenna device main body storage pocket lid portion 21c. The lid portion 21c can be opened and closed to the pocket 21b by a hook 21d. It is supposed to be fixed to. Due to the above configuration, the glove 21 has the merit that it is possible to carry out a product while maintaining the sense of a bare hand, and to reliably produce a fine product such as a medicine.

FIG. 6c shows a glove 21 worn on the hand, the antenna device body is accommodated in the pocket, the antenna terminal portion 1b is extended from the pocket opening 22 to the outside of the pocket, and the end portion of the index finger is connected to the base portion of the index finger with a band. It is a typical top view which shows the state fixed to the site | part between. When the RFID system shown in FIG. 4 is used, the handy information processing terminal device 15 is held in the other hand or in the worker's clothes pocket, or placed in the vicinity of the operator and the hand Ensure free product removal work.

  FIG. 7 shows a glove 25 for an RFID reader / writer antenna device used in an RFID system according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7a is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 7b is a rear view thereof. FIG. 7c is a schematic plan view showing a state where the RFID reader / writer antenna device glove 25 is attached to the hand and the antenna device body is stored in the pocket. The glove according to this embodiment is substantially the same as the glove according to the first embodiment except for the antenna device body pocket and the wrist configuration. The glove 25 of this embodiment extends from the wrist to the base of the finger, extends to the site between the base of the finger and the first joint, and the portion from the site to the fingertip is missing. It consists of a main body 25a and an antenna device main body storage pocket 25b provided on the back of the hand of the glove main body 25a.

  The antenna device main body storage pocket 25b is closed and fixed to the glove main body 25a with the pocket main body and the right end thereof, and is detachably fixed to the glove main body 25a by two hooks 25c extending leftward and provided on the left side. . In this embodiment, the upper side, the lower side and the left side of the pocket 25b are not closed. For example, the right side and the lower side of the antenna device main body storage pocket main body 25b are closed and fixed to the glove main body 25a. In addition, an opening for accommodating the antenna device main body may be provided on the upper side.

In FIG. 7c, the antenna terminal portion 1b-2 extends to the base portion of the thumb, and the tip portion thereof is fixed to a portion between the base portion of the thumb and the first joint counted by the band 30. Due to the above configuration, there is a merit that the product can be obtained while maintaining the feeling of a bare finger. Also in the case of the glove 25 of this embodiment, when the RFID system shown in FIG. 4 is used, the handy information processing terminal device 15 is held in the other hand or in the pocket of the worker's clothes, It is placed in the vicinity of the person and secures a hands-free product removal operation.

The RFID reader / writer of the RFID system and the glove holding the antenna of the RFID reader / writer used to take out the item such as the drug from the item storage shelf such as the drug storage shelf of the present invention The present invention can be applied particularly preferably.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... RFID reader-writer type antenna apparatus, 1a ... Antenna apparatus main body, 1b, 1b-2 ... Antenna terminal part, 2 ... RFID host computer, 3 ... Communication relay means, 4 ..Order forms such as prescriptions, 5 ... Output means such as a printer, 6 ... Delivery instructions, 7 ... RFID module, 8 ... Bluetooth (registered trademark) module, 9 ... Status check Means, 10 ... power supply device, 11 ... trigger switch, 12 ... CPU for antenna device, 13 ... charging unit comprising charger and charging circuit, 14 ... DC jack for charging, 15. ..Handy information processing terminal, 16 ... Storage shelf body, 21 ... Gloves, 21a ... Body, 21b ... Antenna device body storage pocket, 21c ... Antenna device body storage pocket lid 21d ... hook, 22 ... pocket opening, 25 ... glove, 25a ... glove body, 25b ... antenna device body storage pocket, 25 ... hook, 30 ... band, A1-Ax ... merchandise, B1-Bx ... storage shelf, C1-Cx ... drawer box, D1-Dx, T ... RF tag

Claims (8)

An RFID reader / writer antenna device for an RFID system used to take out an item such as a drug from a product storage shelf such as a drug shelf,
The RFID reader / writer antenna device includes an antenna device body and an antenna terminal portion extending from the antenna device body.
The antenna device main body is configured to be prevented from falling off by the antenna device main body holder on the back of the glove main body,
When the antenna terminal body is housed in the antenna apparatus body holder, the antenna terminal section comes out of the antenna apparatus body holder and its tip is counted from the root of one of the specific fingers and the root. Configured to extend to the site between the first joint,
The antenna device main body includes an RFID module that reads and writes RF tags attached to a product shelf, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) module that communicates with an information processing device, a status check unit of the antenna device, a power supply RFID reader / writer type antenna device consisting of a device, trigger switch, and antenna device CPU.
The RFID reader / writer antenna device according to claim 1, further comprising an antenna tip portion fixing means for fixing the antenna tip portion of the antenna terminal portion to the portion of the specific finger.
The RFID reader / writer type antenna device has at least one type of state confirmation means selected from a buzzer and vibration means for notifying that the antenna terminal unit has touched or approached the RF tag of the wrong product shelf, and an operation ON / OFF display light. The RFID reader / writer type antenna device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:
A glove for holding the RFID reader / writer antenna device of the RFID system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The glove is a glove having a glove body and a holder for the antenna device body which is provided on the back of the hand of the glove body and holds the antenna device body to prevent it from falling off.
The glove body of the glove extends from the wrist through the root portion of the finger, extends from the root portion to the first joint counting from the root portion, and a portion from the portion to the fingertip is missing. Gloves.
5. The antenna device main body holder is composed of a pocket having an opening at a side portion or an upper portion and fixed to the back of the glove main body, and the antenna terminal portion protrudes from the opening of the pocket. Or the glove in any one of 5.
The antenna device holder comprises a pocket that has an opening on the side or top and is fixed to the glove, and a lid that covers the opening of the pocket so that it can be opened and closed. When the pocket is covered with the lid, The glove in any one of Claims 4 thru | or 6 which has a structure where an antenna terminal part protrudes outside from the opening between a lid part.
An RFID reader / writer type antenna device / comprising the RFID reader / writer type antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and the glove according to any one of claims 4 to 7. Glove kit.

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