JP2973582B2 - Electronic tagging device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic tag issuing apparatus having a response circuit for transmitting identification information by receiving an interrogation signal from an interrogator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in a home delivery service delivery system, attempts have been made to automate sorting of collected packages by computer management. An electronic tag has been proposed as a device for such automation (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-111821). A conventional electronic tag is different from a handwritten tag and has a configuration in which a response circuit is housed in a package. The response circuit stores data such as a delivery destination of the package in a memory, and transmits the data as a response signal by receiving an inquiry signal from the interrogator. Data based on the identification information already written on the handwritten slip attached to the package at the time of collection is written in the memory.
When the luggage with the electronic tag attached is conveyed on a conveyor of a sorting line, interrogators installed at various points on the line receive data from the electronic tag and contact destinations of the luggage are identified without contact. This enables automatic sorting.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional electronic tag labeling apparatus, since the labeling period (time to write data in the memory) and the labeling place are different from those of the handwritten form, a large number of articles differ. In the case of delivery to a delivery destination, there is a problem that the drafting operation becomes extremely complicated and that the character information and the information on the electronic tag may be confused.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to make the invoicing work easy and reliable .

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a fill-in form in which characters such as characters or codes indicating identification information such as a delivery destination of a package are written, and data based on the identification information are stored in a memory. An electronic tag invoicing device for issuing a continuous electronic tag formed by connecting a plurality of electronic tags formed integrally with a response circuit for transmitting the data by receiving an interrogation signal from a container. An input device for inputting the identification information, and an input device based on the identification information input to the input device.
The electronic tag that constitutes the continuous electronic tag
Writing device for writing to said memory in a non-contact manner by electromagnetic waves
And sending the interrogation signal and writing by the writing device
Read the data stored in the memory of the electronic tag
Data written and data read by the writer.
Determination means for determining whether the data match
If it is determined by the determination means that they match,
The symbol indicating the identification information input to the input device,
The description of the electronic tag that has been determined to match by the determination means
A printing device for printing on the slips, and the writing device
Writing to the memory constitutes the continuous electronic tag
Executed only for one of the plurality of electronic tags.
From the writing device to the serial electronic tag
Remove the one electronic tag to be written by electromagnetic waves.
Characterized in that it and a shield member for shielding Te.

[0006] With the above configuration , writing is performed by the shield member.
Electromagnetic wave from the embedded device to the continuous electronic tag
Remove one electronic tag from the writing device and
Shields electromagnetic waves to bills.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A description will now be given of a home delivery slip invoicing device as an embodiment of the electronic tag invoicing device of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall view of the drafting apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram thereof. As shown in the figure, the drafting device includes a computer 1, a display 3, an input device 5, an auxiliary storage device 7, a printer 9, and an interrogator 11. The paper 13 of the home delivery slip issued by the slip issuing apparatus is a continuous slip sheet in which individual slips are linked. The configuration of the home delivery slip will be described later. The auxiliary storage device 7 is a read / writer for a storage medium such as a floppy disk or an IC card for storing data such as place name data and telephone number. Printer 9
Is a printer that conveys a home delivery slip 13 along a predetermined route and prints predetermined items (addresses, etc.) in the entry fields of the home delivery slip 13 by a printing mechanism provided in the middle of the route. Is used.

As shown in FIG. 3, the interrogator 11 includes a carrier oscillation circuit 15 for generating a carrier wave, a modulator 17 for superimposing information on the carrier wave, a circulator 19 for separating a transmission wave and a reception wave, and a transmission / reception port for an electromagnetic wave. Antenna 21,
A demodulator 23 for extracting information from the received wave, an electromagnetic coupling coil 25 for transmitting data by electromagnetic coupling, a signal processing unit 27 for controlling the modulator 17, the demodulator 23 and the electromagnetic coupling coil 25 to process information, an external interface 29. The signal processing unit 27 includes the CPU 31 and the clock generator 3.
3. A computer including a memory and the like, which communicates with the outside (the computer 1 of the drafting device) via an external interface 29 in addition to information processing.

The outline of the operation of the interrogator 11 is as follows. The interrogator 11 is controlled by the computer 1 of the drafting device, and transmits a control signal and write data sent from the computer 1 via the external interface 29 to a response circuit 50 (described later) provided on the delivery slip 35. . The control signal sent from the computer 1 is sent from the CPU 31 to the modulator 17. The modulator 17 modulates the carrier generated by the carrier oscillation circuit 15 based on the transmitted control signal to generate a transmission wave. The transmission wave on which the control signal is superimposed is sent to the circulator 19, sent to the transmission / reception antenna 21, and radiated into the air. The write data sent from the computer 1 is sent by the CPU 31 to the electromagnetic coupling coil 25 and the response circuit 50 of the home delivery slip 35 described later.
, The CPU 31 transmits a transmission wave from the transmitting / receiving antenna 21 at the same time.

In this manner, the response circuit 5 of the home delivery slip 35
When a signal is transmitted to 0, a response signal is returned from the response circuit 50, and the transmission / reception antenna 21 receives the response signal. The received wave is sent to the demodulator 23 via the circulator 19. Demodulator 23 extracts information included in the received wave. The extracted information is processed by the signal processing unit 27 and the processing result is output to the external interface 29.

The home delivery slip 13 will now be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the delivery slip 13 is a continuous delivery slip formed by connecting delivery delivery slips 35 through perforations 37. The slip 35 is filled in as shown in FIG.
Client's copy 41 with delivery, delivery slip 4 to be collected at delivery
3. It has a configuration in which paper pieces such as a destination copy 45 are bound by a binding unit 47. A perforation 49 is formed in the vicinity of the binding unit 47 to separate each piece of paper. The binding unit 47 includes a response circuit 50
Built-in.

The response circuit 50 includes an IC chip 51 for performing internal information processing and a transmitting / receiving antenna 53 as shown in FIG.
And a battery 55 serving as a driving power supply, and an electromagnetic coupling coil 69.
Consists of The IC chip 51 includes a modulator 57 and a detector 5
9, level comparator 61, CPU 63, clock generator 6
5. The memory 67 is provided. The level comparator 61 has an operational amplifier, compares the voltage of the output signal of the detector 59 with a reference voltage, and if the voltage of the output signal is higher than the reference voltage, the battery 55
Is connected to the CPU 63 and the clock generator 65. The memory 67 is backed up by the battery 55, and stores received data in addition to the program executed by the CPU 63. The data to be stored includes a unique number for specifying each response circuit 50 in addition to data such as a destination. The electromagnetic coupling coil 69 is a coil for receiving data by electromagnetic coupling.

An outline of the operation of the response circuit 50 is as follows. For example, when an interrogation signal transmitted from an interrogator installed on an automatic sorting line is received by the antenna 53, the detector 59 demodulates the received signal received by the antenna 53 and extracts the interrogation signal. The interrogation signal is a level comparator 6
1 and the CPU 63. Level comparator 6
At 1, the voltage level of the output signal of the detector 59 is compared with the reference voltage. When the voltage of the output signal of the detector 59 is higher than the reference voltage, the battery 55 is connected to the CPU 63 and the clock generator 6.
5 is connected. Thus, the CPU 63 and the clock generator 65 are activated. After starting, the CPU 63 executes a program stored in the memory 67 based on the clock. Then, processing corresponding to the signal output from the detector 59 is performed.

If the received signal is a control signal of a request to write data, write data such as a destination output from the electromagnetic coupling coil 69 and data such as a unique number are stored in the memory 67. If the received signal is a control signal requesting data such as a destination, the CPU 63 reads the data stored in the memory 67 and outputs a signal corresponding to the data to the modulator 57. The modulator 57 modulates and reflects the electromagnetic wave from the interrogator and transmits it from the antenna 53 by changing the conduction / non-conduction of the diode according to the signal output from the CPU 63 and changing the impedance.

The paper 13 of the courier service slip 35 having the above configuration.
Is sent by the transport mechanism of the printer 9 inside the drafting device. The interrogator 11 described above is arranged on the transport path as shown in FIG. That is, the interrogator 11 is arranged so as to face the response circuit 50 of one slip 35 of the home delivery slip sheet 13. Also, as shown in FIG. 8, the home delivery slip paper 13 before and after one slip 35 facing the interrogator 11.
Are covered by the electromagnetic wave shield plates 71 and 73. Therefore, the interrogation signal almost certainly acts only on the target response circuit 50.

The operation of the above-described drafting device will be described.
The CPU of the computer 1 of the drafting device executes a drafting processing routine shown in FIG. 9 at the time of drafting. When executing the draft processing routine, the CPU first reads slip data input to the input device 5 (step S100). The slip data includes search data of a database already registered in the auxiliary storage device 7 in addition to data such as a destination. Subsequently, information necessary for the drafting process is read from the auxiliary storage device 7 and set as internal information (step S110). The information to be read is, for example, a data group in a predetermined area or a predetermined field corresponding to the input slip data. Then, from the internal information, a search is made for a write code associated with the input slip data (step S120). The write code is data necessary for computer management of the package, and includes a destination code, a code for specifying an area for automatic sorting, and the like.

Next, the write code is sent to the response circuit 5 of the slip 35.
Write processing subroutine for writing 0 (step S130)
Execute Write Processing Subroutine (Step S13)
0), the interrogator 11 and the response circuit 50 at the time of writing
Will be described later. When the writing is completed, the data of the response circuit 50 is read by the interrogator 11 (step S140),
The read data is displayed on the display 3 (step S150). The reason why the read data is displayed on the display 3 is that the written data can be confirmed. Then, the data writing process is performed until the write data and the read data match (steps S130 to S150).
Is repeated (step S160), and if the data match, the slip data is entered into the
9 (step S170). Step S
140 to S160 correspond to a determination unit.

The above-described write processing subroutine (step S1)
30) is shown in the flowchart of FIG. When the CPU starts this subroutine, first, the interrogator 11 reads the unique number of the response circuit 50 (step S180). Next, the read unique number and write code are set and transmitted from the interrogator 11 (step S190). The reason why the write code is transmitted together with the unique number is to specify the response circuit 50 of the slip 35 in which the write data is to be written. As a result, the response circuit 50 of the slip 35 other than the target is
There is no danger of writing the transmitted write data by mistake.

As described above, the CPU of the computer 1 of the drafting apparatus executes the drafting routine (FIG. 9),
1 and the printer 9 and the display 3 are controlled. As a result, the data is correctly written in the response circuit 50 of the predetermined voucher 35 of the home delivery voucher sheet 13 and the same voucher 3 is used.
In the entry column 39 of 5, the characters and symbols (such as bar codes) of the data corresponding to the data written in the response circuit 50 are printed. After the issuance, each slip 35 is cut off at the perforation 37 and attached to the corresponding luggage.

Next, the operation of the interrogator 11 controlled by the computer 1 of the drafting device and the operation of the response circuit 50 of the slip 35 operated by the interrogator 11 will be described with reference to FIGS.
2 and the block diagram of the interrogator 11 and the response circuit 50 in FIG.

When the reading or writing of data is instructed in the execution of the writing processing subroutine (FIG. 10) of the above-mentioned draft processing routine, the CPU 31 of the signal processing unit 27 of the interrogator 11 makes the inquiry processing routine (FIG. 11). ). Signal processing unit 27
When the CPU 31 starts this routine, it first receives a signal such as a control signal and write data transmitted from the computer 1 of the drafting device from the external interface 29 (step S200). Next, the control signal is sent to the modulator 17, and the write data is sent to the electromagnetic coupling coil 25 (step S210). Due to the later-described characteristics of the response circuit 50, when writing data is sent to the electromagnetic coupling coil 25, a transmission wave is sent from the transmitting / receiving antenna 21 at the same time as shown in FIG.

Next, data such as a write result and read data returned from the response circuit 50 is received from the demodulator 23 (step S220). Then, data such as a write result and read data is output to the external interface 29 (step S230). The output data is used in the processing of steps S150 and S160 in a draft processing routine (FIG. 9) executed by the computer 1 of the draft device.

Next, the operation of the response circuit 50 of the slip 35 that operates in response to a signal from the interrogator 11 will be described. In the response circuit 50, as described above, when the antenna 53 receives the interrogation signal transmitted from the interrogator 11, the battery 55 that has not been connected until now is connected to the CPU 63 and the clock generator 65, and the CPU 63 Starts.

Upon activation, the CPU 63 executes a response circuit control routine (FIG. 12) stored in the memory 67. When the CPU 63 starts the response circuit control routine,
First, a control signal is received from the detector 59 (step S
240). Thereafter, the control signal is decoded (step S25).
0), the processing according to the control signal is performed thereafter.

If the control signal is data reading, the interrogator 1
1 is received from the detector 59 (step S251), and only when the received unique number matches the built-in unique number (step S253),
The designated data is read from the memory 67 (step S2
60). Then, the designated data is sent to the modulator 57 (step S270). When data is transmitted to the modulator 57, the data is transmitted from the antenna 53. The data also includes a unique number. Write processing subroutine described above (FIG. 10)
Then, the unique number transmitted in this way is used.

If the control signal is a data write, the interrogator 1
The unique number sent from 1 is received from the detector 59 (step S271), and only when the received unique number matches the built-in unique number (step S273), the write data (write code) is sent from the electromagnetic coupling coil 69. (Step S280). Then, the write data is stored in the memory 6
7 is written to the update area (step S290). Subsequently, it is checked whether or not the writing has been successful, and the result of the check (good / not good, etc.) is sent to the modulator 57 (step S300). The write data is data for computer management of a package such as a destination. By executing the above-described write processing subroutine (FIG. 10), the response circuit 50 performs steps S280 and S280.
290 is executed, and the data such as the destination is stored in the memory 67.
Is written to.

The processes of steps S240 to S300 are executed when the drafting device generates a draft. On the other hand, if the control signal is the writing of the unique number, step S3
Perform 10 or less processing. The control signal indicating the writing of the unique number is not transmitted from the interrogator 11 of the drafting device, but is transmitted from an interrogator having the same configuration as the interrogator 11 when the response circuit 50 is manufactured. This control signal is a control signal for pre-processing a slip to be issued.

That is, if the control signal is a write of a unique number, it is determined whether or not a unique number has been set (step S310).
9 is received (step S320). Then, the unique number is written in the unique number area of the memory 67 (step S330). Thereafter, it is checked whether the writing has succeeded, and the result is sent to the modulator 57 (step S340). If it is determined in step S310 that the unique number has been set, a signal indicating "NO" is sent to the modulator 57 as a write result (step S350).

Through the processes in steps S310 to S350, an independent unique number is given to each response circuit 50. Therefore, at the time of invoicing, the response circuit 50 can be specified using the unique number. According to the courier delivery slip invoicing device described above, only by inputting necessary data from the input device 5, the data is correctly written in the response circuit 50 of the predetermined slip 35 of the courier delivery slip 13, Since the data corresponding to the data written in the response circuit 50 is printed in the entry field 39 of the same slip 35 and the slip 35 is issued, the operation of issuing the slip 35 becomes extremely easy.

In addition, one slip 3 facing the interrogator 11
5 are covered with electromagnetic wave shielding materials 71 and 73 so that the response circuit 50 other than the target does not receive the transmission wave of the interrogator 11, and a unique number is given to the response circuit 50 to distinguish the response circuit 50. However, since the response circuit 50 other than the target for writing data does not respond to the interrogator 11, there is an advantage that the correspondence between the contents written in the response circuit 50 and the contents printed in the entry box 39 can be ensured. In addition, electromagnetic
The wave shield members 71 and 73 correspond to shield members.

Although the embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment at all, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the electronic tag issued by the billing device of the present invention has a configuration in which a response circuit is provided in a fill-in form,
It can be handled in the same way as conventional fill-in slips. Therefore, it is easy to construct a delivery system that manages the package by computer from the collection to the end of the delivery. Also,
Not only a continuous slip but also a single slip may be generated. In the slip data reading process (step S100), the input of the input device 5 is read. As the configuration of the input device 5, for example, a barcode of a corresponding delivery area shown in a delivery area list is read, and key input data and A configuration may also be used as slip data. Further, in the continuous slip, since the response circuits 50 are close to each other, as a function of preventing erroneous writing that prevents data from being written to a response circuit other than the target, in the configuration of the embodiment, the communication area is narrow due to the writing method. Using an electromagnetic coupling, a slip other than the target is shielded by shielding materials 71 and 73 so that the signal does not reach, and the response circuit 5
Although a unique number is set to 0 and three configurations are combined, only one of the configurations may be used. For example, when a configuration based on electromagnetic coupling is not used, writing is also performed using an interrogation signal. In this case, the writing coils 25 and 69 become unnecessary. Also,
As another writing method, a response circuit 50
The writing terminal may be provided so that the terminal is brought into contact with the writing terminal, or the writing area of the interrogator 11 may be reduced by weakening the output of the writing signal. Note that each response circuit 5
In order to prevent erroneous writing even when the unique number is set to 0, a configuration in which the interval of the response circuit 50 is widened so that erroneous writing does not occur, or writing is performed by contacting the terminals can be considered. After the unique number is assigned in this way, the response circuit 50 is built in the slip 35.

According to the present invention described above , the shield portion
Of multiple electronic tags that make up a continuous electronic tag
Only one of them will be written
To make sure that the contents of printing correspond to the contents of writing.
There is an excellent effect that can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a home delivery slip invoicing apparatus as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a drafting device.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of an interrogator.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a paper sheet for a home delivery slip.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a home delivery slip.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a response circuit.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an arrangement relationship between an interrogator and a slip.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an electromagnetic shield of a slip.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a draft processing routine.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a writing process subroutine.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a question processing routine.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a response circuit control routine.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a state at the time of issuing a slip.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Computer, 5 ... Input device, 9 ... Printer, 11 ... Interrogator, 13 ... Courier delivery slip paper, 35 ... Slip, 39 ... Entry column, 50 ... Response circuit, 71, 73 ... Shielding material

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-122933 (JP, A) Jikken Sho 51-24071 (JP, Y2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B65G 47/49 G06F 15/21 330

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fill-in form in which characters such as characters and codes indicating identification information such as a delivery destination of a package are written, and data based on the identification information stored in a memory, and the data is received by receiving an inquiry signal from an interrogator. And a response circuit that transmits a plurality of electronic tags that are integrally formed.
An electronic tag invoicing device for issuing an electronic tag, comprising: an input device for inputting the identification information; and data based on the identification information input to the input device.
In the memory of the electronic tag that constitutes the continuous electronic tag
A writing device for writing in a non-contact manner by electromagnetic waves, and transmitting the interrogation signal and writing by the writing device.
Read the data stored in the memory of the electronic tag
Data written and read by writer
And a determining means for determining whether or not the values match , and when the determining means determines that they match,
The symbol indicating the identification information input to the input device,
The description of the electronic tag that has been determined to match by the determination means
A printing device for printing on a slip-in slip, and writing to the memory by the writing device.
One of a plurality of the electronic tags forming the electronic tag;
From the writing device so that it is executed only for
The electromagnetic wave to the continuous electronic tag, the write target
An electronic tag invoicing device , comprising: a shield member for removing and shielding one electronic tag .