JP3454506B2 - Article monitoring device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a self-sounding article monitoring device which is used by being fixedly attached to a product case or the product itself in order to prevent shoplifting of products in a CD shop, etc. The present invention relates to a non-self-sounding article monitoring apparatus that can be housed in a tag case having the same shape as the case, and more particularly to improvement of a tuning circuit used in the article monitoring apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of article monitoring device,
Passive (non-self-sounding) paper tags that do not have a power supply inside are known. This paper tag is attached to the product, and if you try to take out the product without permission, it will react when you pass the side of the transmitting device installed at the entrance of the store etc., and the alarm installed in the transmitting device will sound and steal it. We are taking precautions. Although this paper tag is inexpensive, the alarm sounds at the gate, so if multiple people pass through at the same time, it is difficult to hold down the site because it is not known which person is illegally taking out the product. There are drawbacks. In addition, there is also a drawback that the alarm transmission point cannot be determined for a criminal who attempts to forcefully pass through the gate, so that he or she may escape after a delay.

As a solution to this drawback, there is also known a self-sounding article monitoring apparatus which has an internal power source and receives a radio wave from a transmitter at the entrance so that the tag itself sounds an alarm.
The non-self-tapping paper tag is currently 58 kHz, 2.4.
There are three frequency bands of GHz and 8.2 MHz. The self-sounding type is 22 KHz, 37.5.
There are 3 kHz and 31.5 kHz. FIG. 4 shows an example of the 8.2 MHz paper tag 20. In the figure, 21 is a printed tuning coil. A dummy bar code is usually printed on the surface of the paper tag 20.

The paper tag is provided with a transmitter at the gate at the entrance of the store and detects the disturbance of the electromagnetic field caused by the presence of the tuning circuit of the paper tag and sounds an alarm. However, since the gate sounds, the criminal is identified. The self-sounding method, in which the tag itself sounds, is better for.

If the same frequency as that of the passive paper tag is used, the self-sounding tag can use the transmitting device for the paper tag as it is, and the passive (non-self-squeaking) tag which has already been popularized. It is convenient because it is possible to use both of them in the system of the (expression) paper tag. That is, the expensive self-tapping tag is sampled as 1
The effect of anti-theft can be obtained by simply mixing one of them with 0, so if the frequency is shared with the passive (non-self-sounding) paper tag, the transmitter installed at the entrance, etc. Since it can be shared, it is easier to spread. Therefore, it is preferable that the self-sounding tag is designed at 58 kHz or 8.2 MHz, which is the most widely used frequency of the paper tag.

However, under the present circumstances, as described above, since the self-sounding tag system and the non-self-striking tag system use different frequencies, separate transmitters and the like are required. It is desired to develop a self-tapping tag that can be used as a transmitter when used. From this viewpoint, the applicant has already developed and proposed a self-tapping tag that operates at 8.2 MHz.

In the case of, for example, a CD, this self-sounding article monitoring apparatus comprises a transparent product case (clear case) 1 made of synthetic resin, an alarm activation detection switch 6 and a buzzer 17, as shown in FIGS. By inserting the tag case 2 that also serves as a lock mechanism from the tag insertion opening 4, the product (cassette containing the compact disc) 8 is stored and locked in the clear case 1. The lock mechanism was previously proposed by the same applicant (Japanese Patent Application No. 11-104).
No. 649), the tag case can be attached to and detached from the clear case 1 at the first stage of the lock mechanism having two stages. Normally, it is used in a state where it is attached to a clear case, and the product is locked using only the second-stage locking mechanism.

The operation of the buzzer 17 is controlled by the radio receiving circuit 15 and the detection switch 6, and when the cassette 8 is not present in the clear case 1 without releasing the lock, or the self-sounding article monitoring device. It sounds when the vehicle passes through the gate. At a retail store, the cassette 8 containing the CD is housed in the clear case 1 of the self-sounding article monitoring device and displayed, and when the compact disc is sold to the customer, the clerk sets the buzzer 17 so that it does not ring (lock). After releasing), the cassette 8 is taken out from the clear case 1 and the compact disc is handed to the customer in exchange for the fee. The self-sounding article monitoring device (clear case + tag case) from which the cassette 8 is taken out is repeatedly used.

In the above-described self-sounding article monitoring device, when the customer arbitrarily removes the cassette 8 from the clear case 1 of the self-sounding article monitoring device, the alarm activation detection switch 6 indicates that the cassette 8 does not exist in the clear case 1. Is detected, the buzzer 17 issues a ringing command, and the buzzer 17 rings in response to the ringing command. As a result, the clerk can know that the cassette 8 has been illegally taken out from the clear case 1.

Further, as described above, when the customer tries to take the cassette 8 out of the store without holding it in the clear case 1 of the self-sounding article monitoring device, the receiving circuit 15 of the self-sounding article monitoring device causes the receiving circuit 15 to enter the entrance gate or the like. In response to a signal from a transmission circuit provided in the buzzer 17, a buzzer 17 is issued with a ringing instruction,
Receives the ringing command and rings. This allows the store clerk to know that the compact disc is being illegally taken out of the store.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, there is also a self-sounding article monitoring tag 22 which is used by being attached to a product by tape alone. This is a proposal by the same applicant (Japanese Patent Application No. 11-153113), and the receiving circuit of the above proposal is built in the case of the above proposal. In the figure, reference numeral 24 is a light emitting diode.

A detailed exploded view of FIG. 5 is shown in FIG. Figure 6
FIG. 6A is a view of FIG. 5 seen from the bottom, FIG. 6B is a view of the printed circuit board housed in the tag case taken out, and FIG. ) Shows the bottom plate removed. Reference numeral 38 is a display window of the light emitting diode corresponding to 24 in FIG. In FIG. 6, 2
5 is a plastic case, as shown in FIG.
The appearance is a boat-like shape. 26 is a printed circuit board housed in the case, 27 is a buzzer, 2
8 is a battery, 29 is a long hole provided on the printed circuit board, 30
Is a switch, 31 is a male locking member, 32 is a female locking member, 33 is a locking pin, 34 is a bottom plate, 35 is a snap switch, and 37 is an operating piece of the snap switch.
36 is an opening provided in the bottom plate. The self-tapping tag is a reverse boat type with a length of 9 cm and a width of 2 cm, and a snap switch operating piece 3 protruding from the opening 36 of the case.
7 is pressed against the product and fixed to the product with tape or the like. As described below, as long as the above operating piece is pressed,
The buzzer does not ring. However, if the tag is illegally removed from the product, the operation piece 37 is turned on and the buzzer sounds. Further, as will be described later, if the user illegally holds the product and silently tries to exit from the entrance without unlocking, the buzzer sounds by receiving the electric wave of the oscillator at the entrance.

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of the lock mechanism portion of the tag. Further, an enlarged perspective view of the male lock member 41 of FIG. 7 is shown in FIG. 6 shows a state where the lock is released, and FIG. 7 shows a locked state. As shown in FIG. 7, the female lock member 32 has a substantially U-shaped bottom portion,
The male locking member 41 is engaged with the engaging portion 49 and the male locking member is provided with an open leg portion 50 that opens in an inverted V shape, and these engage with the holes of the printed circuit board. It is integrally molded with a plastic material together with the pin 51 for fixing. The female lock member 32 is attached to the bottom of the boat-shaped case and fixed to the case.

As shown in the detailed perspective view of FIG. 8, the male lock member 41 has two constricted portions and is shaped like a body portion of a violin at first glance. The lock-side recess 43 of the constricted portion (recesses 42, 43) of the above shape has a right-angled portion 48 for engaging with the female locking member, and the outer recess 42 is fitted with the circular projection 53 of the release key 44. It has a semicircular shape. Reference numeral 33 is a lock pin integrally provided with the male lock member.

A circuit having the above-mentioned function for preventing self-sounding theft is built in the printed circuit board, and the buzzer 27 is sounded by turning on the switch 35 or receiving a radio wave of 8.2 MHz, for example. You can
In addition, the tip of the release key 44 is provided with holes 55 on both sides provided on the front side of the lock pin on the rear side of the boat case 1.
When the lock is released by pushing the release key all the way in as described below and pulling the release key as described later, the protrusions 46 and 47 provided on the upper surface of the male lock member cause the protrusion of the slide switch (power switch) to be released. 40 (Fig. 7)
Is turned off, the power supply to the ringing circuit of the buzzer is cut off and the tag does not ring even if it is removed.

The operation when the above-mentioned lock mechanism is used for the self-sounding article monitoring tag is as follows. Figure 6
In (b), 30 is a power switch of the self-sounding alarm circuit, which is turned on when the lock mechanism is locked,
The self-sounding alarm circuit is turned on. Self-sounding alarm circuit is O
When in the N state, the alarm activation switch 35, which short-circuits the input of the buzzer ringing circuit (oscillation circuit), is turned on, or activated by the radio wave input to the alarm generation radio wave reception circuit built into the circuit, The alarm sounds. As described above, the two protrusions 46 and 47 are provided on the upper surface of the male locking member of the lock mechanism (FIG. 8), and as shown in FIG. 7, the protrusions are the power switch (slide switch).
The operating piece 40 (FIG. 7) of 30 is brought into contact with the operating piece 40 (FIG. 7) when locked or unlocked. Thus, the power switch is turned on when locked, and the power switch is turned off when unlocked. When the product is sold normally, at the entrance counter of the store, the clerk unlocks the self-tapping tag with the unlock key and removes it from the product and hands only the product to the customer. There is nothing to do.

The self-squeezing type article monitoring device makes it easy to identify the criminal because the product itself to be taken out sounds, and is more effective than the above-mentioned passive paper tag for suppressing the scene. However, one paper tag costs 10 to 20 yen, whereas a self-tapping tag costs 200 to 300 yen and is difficult to use in many cases.

In this case, the case in which the self-sounding article monitoring device is not attached is the same in appearance as the self-striking article monitoring device so as to be indistinguishable from the case in which the self-sounding article monitoring device is attached. Only the tag case (dummy) of the monitoring device is attached. Such a dummy
To prevent the case from being stolen, conventionally, a paper tag is attached to the side surface of the case and the paper tag is rung at the entrance gate. The above paper tag has a built-in antenna coil and capacitor with a dummy bar code (appearing as a bar code paper) printed on the surface and a tuning circuit consisting of LC printed inside. 4), which is the opposite of the above, in order not to distinguish between the real product and the dummy, it is attached to all cases including the case where the self-sounding article monitoring device is installed.

The above paper tag is, for example, 8.2.
A frequency of MHz is used. 8.2 MHz is a frequency suitable for producing the LC with a size of 5 cm in length and width. In addition to this, a paper tag used at 58 kHz is also widespread, but if the above-mentioned LC circuit is made at 58 kHz, it becomes too large and not practical, and this 58 kHz paper tag uses a special capacitor. Generally, the low frequency of 58 kHz is superior in performance, but since the general-purpose LC circuit can be used, the cost is 8.2M.
There is a relationship that Hz is cheaper.

However, since the paper tag (FIG. 4) at 8.2 MHz has a size of 5 cm square, it has a drawback that the display of the main body of a music CD or the like is difficult to see when it is attached to the upper surface of the case. The case body is 50-60 yen and is used in large quantities. However, the tag that doubles as the above lock mechanism
One with a built-in self-tapping tag inside the case 20
Since it costs 0 to 300 yen, it is used only for sampling such as one in ten cases. The other tag cases are dummy in which the lock mechanism is similar to the self-sounding type tag only in appearance as described above, but the self-sounding type tag is not incorporated. A tag used alone as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is also used in the same manner.

Either the self-sounding tag or the non-self-striking tag has a tuning circuit for receiving radio waves from the transmitter. The tuning circuit tunes to the radio wave of 8.2 MHz of the transmitter placed near the entrance gate, sounds a built-in buzzer in the case of a self-sounding circuit, and either self-sounding type or non-self-sounding type Also in the case of the paper tag, the presence of the tuning circuit can be detected by the receiver provided in the gate and the gate can be activated as in the case of the paper tag.

As an example of the tuning circuit of the dummy tag,
What is proposed by the same applicant is shown in FIGS. 9 to 12 (Japanese Patent Application No. 11-277654). FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a tag case accommodating the non-self-sounding type tag (tuning circuit) proposed above. Coil 6 along the inside of the tag case
1 is wound multiple times. FIG. 10 shows only the coil 61 and the capacitor 62 taken out. The coil 62 is vertically wound as shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 shows a tag case according to another embodiment of the above proposal which is a dummy of the self-sounding tag case used alone. In the figure, 63 is a coil, 64
Is a capacitor, which together form the tuning circuit of a non-self-tapping tag. As the coil 63, a single vertical row is used as in the case of FIG.

Reference numeral 65 is a dummy board, and 67 is a sponge in the shape of a buzzer. The lock mechanism such as the lock pin 68, the light emitting diode, and the like are provided with the same parts so that they are not distinguished from each other in appearance. In the self-sounding tag (genuine), a 8.2 MHz receiving circuit board is housed in the tag case together with the same tuning circuit as shown in FIG.

However, it has been found that the above proposed coil structure has the following drawbacks. (1) The above proposed coil is an air-core coil, and its Q is low, so that its ability to absorb radio waves is small and the gate cannot be struck sufficiently. That is, the distance for ringing the gate is at most 70-80 cm, so the normal gate width is 1.5
Can't handle ~ 2m. (2) The proposed coil has a thin coil wound in multiple layers in a longitudinal winding, but the structure is not easy to manufacture.

[0026]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a self-sounding article monitoring device which is used by being fixedly attached to a product case or the product itself in order to prevent shoplifting of the product, and a tag case of the self-striking article monitoring device. An object of the present invention is to improve a tuning circuit used in a non-self-accompanied article monitoring device that can be housed in a tag case having the same appearance, and to provide a coil structure having sufficient sensitivity to ring a gate.

[0027]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a case for storing a product, a tag case attached to the case for locking the product in the case at the time of storage, and an antenna coil provided in the tag case. And a capacitor connected to the coil, the article monitoring device having a tuning circuit of 7.5 to 9 MHz.
With a thickness of 12 mmφ, the length that can be stored in the above tag case
It is characterized in that a coil having a thickness of 0.4 mm to 1.0 mmφ is wound a predetermined number of times on the ferrite core of (1).

Furthermore, 7.5 to 9 are provided in the tag case.
MHz self-tapping tag circuit, wherein the coil has the 7.5
Forming an antenna for a self-sounding tag circuit of ~ 9 MHz, or the article monitoring device has the same appearance as an article monitoring device having a self-sounding tag circuit of 7.5-9 MHz in a tag case. It is a dummy tag having a shape and having no self-tapping tag circuit of 7.5 to 9 MHz in the tag case, and having only the tuning circuit.

Alternatively, according to the present invention, a 7.5 to 9 MHz antenna coil and a capacitor connected to the coil are provided in a tag case which is attached to a product and has a self-sounding tag that sounds when removed. In the article monitoring device provided with a tuning circuit, the coil is 3-12.
A ferrite core having a thickness of mmφ and a length that can be stored in the tag case is used by winding a coil having a thickness of 0.4 mm to 1.0 mmφ a predetermined number of times. To do.

Furthermore, 7.5-9 in the tag case.
MHz self-tapping tag circuit, wherein the coil has the 7.5
Forming an antenna for a self-sounding tag circuit of ~ 9MHz, or attaching the antenna coil and the antenna coil in a tag case containing a self-sounding tag of 7.5-9MHz that sounds when removed. A self-tapping tag circuit of 7.5-9 MHz having the same external appearance as the article monitoring device provided with a tuning circuit of 7.5-9 MHz composed of a capacitor connected to a coil, and in the tag case. And a dummy tag having only the tuning circuit.

[0031]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A self-sounding article monitoring device or a dummy device of the self-striking article monitoring device in which a tuning circuit of the present invention is used has the same structure as the conventional one shown in FIGS. And is stored in the tag case of the device.

The coil of the present invention is an improvement of the coil of the conventional tuning circuit shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, in which a lead wire 72 is wound around a ferrite core 71 a required number of times as shown in FIG. Is. Reference numeral 73 denotes a capacitor, both ends 74 and 74 'of which are soldered to the conductor 72. The structure is already well known as a receiving antenna for medium wave radio and FM radio. By using a ferrite core, a coil having a large Q and excellent tuning characteristics can be realized. By adopting the above structure,
It can be stored in a limited tag case space with a length of 5 to 10 cm and a width of 2 to 3 cm, and has sufficient sensitivity to ring a gate that could not be realized with the conventional air-core coil of FIGS. 9 and 13. We were able to realize a passive tag. Once again, the tuning circuit eliminates the disadvantage that a conventional passive paper tag is stuck on the front of the case and some products are invisible, and the self-sounding tag can be stored in the lock case. It is different from the conventional paper tag in that it can be applied to a tag case with a self-sounding tag and a dummy tag of the same shape that cannot be distinguished from the external appearance.

When used as a dummy tag, the coil formed by winding a wire around the ferrite core shown in FIG. 13 can be easily housed in the tag case shown in FIG. 9 or 13 although not shown. 14 shows an example of using the antenna as a self-tapping tag. In the figure, 79 is a printed circuit board on which a 8.2 MHz receiving circuit is provided. The coil using the ferrite has a cutout portion 80 of the printed circuit board.
And the ends 77 and 78 are soldered. Although not shown, a condenser is separately attached between both ends 77 and 78. The printed circuit board is housed in a tag case as shown in FIG. 9, and is housed in the tag case 2 which also serves as a lock as shown in FIG.
The tuning circuit of the self-sounding tag also functions as a radio wave receiving antenna of the tag itself, and the gate side detects the presence of the tuning circuit by the radio wave absorbing action of the tuning circuit, so the same operating principle as a normal passive paper tag is used. You can ring the gate side by. The same applies to a self-tapping tag that is attached to a product alone, and a printed circuit board having a structure similar to that shown in FIG. 14 is used instead of the printed circuit board 26 shown in FIG. 6, although not shown.

The present invention is most characterized in that it is possible to realize a compact tuning circuit having a high Q by using the ferrite core as described above, and the tuning circuit can be housed in the compact tag case. That is, there has been no conventional passive tag using a ferrite core. This invention adopts a tuning circuit using the ferrite core, and thus a tag with high practicability capable of sufficiently ringing the gate side by the tuning circuit of a self-tapping tag or the tuning circuit of a dummy tag. It was possible.

[0035]

As described above, the present invention has the drawbacks of the prior art. (1) The conventionally proposed coil is an air-core coil, and since Q is low, the ability to absorb radio waves is small, and the gate is made to ring sufficiently. I can't. That is, the distance for ringing the gate is at most 70 to 80 cm, which is not sufficient for the normal gate width of 1.5 to 2 m. (2) In the conventionally proposed coil, a thin coil is vertically wound in multiple layers, but the structure is not easy to manufacture. The point such as
Can be stored in a tag case that has the same shape as the tag case of the self-sounding article monitoring device and the self-sounding article monitoring device that is used by being fixed to the product case or the product itself to prevent shoplifting etc. In the non-self-striking article monitoring device, there is a remarkable effect that it is possible to provide a coil structure having sufficient sensitivity to ring the gate.

That is, even in a tag case which is a dummy of a self-sounding article monitoring device, since a non-self-sounding tag (tuning circuit) is provided in the tag case, the conventional paper tag is not required, and The paper tag has a size of 5 cm square, and when it was attached to the top of the case, the drawback of making it difficult to see the display of the main body of a music CD, etc. was solved. In addition, the dummy tag case that has been used together with the self-sounding type tag has been effectively utilized by incorporating the non-self-sounding type tag.
Conventional paper tags need to be attached to all cases in order to distinguish whether they have self-sounding tags or not, but the tag case of the present invention has self-striking tags. Also, the one with a non-self-sounding tag is the same in appearance without the paper tag and the customer can not distinguish, so even a case with a self-sounding tag as in the past There is no waste of sticking non-self-tapping paper tags. The present invention dramatically increases the sensitivity of the above self-sounding or similar non-self-sounding dummy tags by using a ferrite core in a tuning circuit used for a special tag application that produces various effects as described above. However, there is a remarkable effect that the gate can be sounded sufficiently.

As a result, it was possible to enhance the commercial value of the tag and provide the tag that meets the needs of the market.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall view of an article monitoring device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of attachment of a self-tapping tag to a clear case in the article monitoring device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing an operation of storing a product in a clear case in the product monitoring device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a structure of a conventional paper tag.

FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of a self-sounding article monitoring device used alone, which is a target of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an internal exploded view of the self-sounding article monitoring device used alone.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a detailed view of a lock mechanism of the self-sounding article monitoring device used alone.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a male lock member of the lock mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a perspective view of an embodiment of the non-self-acquiring tag of the present invention.

10 is an enlarged view of a coil of the non-self-tapping tag of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the shape of a coil of the non-self-acquiring tag of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a conventional example of a non-self-accompanied article monitoring device used alone.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a tuning circuit of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which the tuning circuit of the present invention is used in a self-sounding circuit.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 clear case 2 tag case 4 Tag insertion slot 5 Sound outlet 6 detection switch 7 nails 8 products 13 Lock mechanism 16 power switch 17 Alarm buzzer 18 products 20 paper tags 21 coils 22 tag case 24 light emitting diode 25 tag case 26 Printed circuit board 27 buzzer 28 batteries 29 open holes 30 switches 31 Male locking member 32 Female locking member 33 Lock pin 35 switch 44 Release key 61 coils 62 capacitor 63 coils 64 capacitors 71 Ferrite core 72 coils 73 capacitor 75 Ferrite core 76 coils 79 substrate

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G08B 13/00-13/26 H01F 17/04

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A case for storing a product, a tag attached to the case for locking the product in the case during storage.
6. A case, and an antenna coil provided in the tag case and a capacitor connected to the coil.
In an article monitoring device having a 5-9 MHz tuning circuit, the tag case has a 7.5-9 MHz self-tapping tag circuit, and the coil is a receiving antenna of the self-tapping tag circuit.
The gate side of the self-tapping tag circuit is
A receiver that detects the presence of a tuning circuit and rings the gate side as well.
It also functions as a dynamic tag, and the coil is 3
An article monitoring apparatus characterized in that a ferrite core having a thickness of ~ 12 mmφ and a length that can be stored in the tag case is wound with a coil of 0.4 mm to 1.0 mmφ in thickness a predetermined number of times. 2. An antenna coil and a capacitor connected to the coil in a tag case having a self-tapping tag circuit that is attached to a product and that sounds when removed.
In an article monitoring apparatus provided with a 5-9 MHz tuning circuit, the coil forms a receiving antenna of the self- tapping tag circuit.
At the same time, the self-sounding tag circuit has the above-mentioned tuning on the gate side.
A passive tag that detects the presence of a circuit and sounds the gate side as well.
Also functions as a grayed 0.4 mm to, as the antenna of the self-sounding formula tag circuit, the length ferrite cores that can be accommodated in the tag case in the thickness of 3~12mmφ
An article monitoring device characterized by using a coil having a thickness of 1.0 mmφ wound a predetermined number of times.