JP3920800B2 - Wireless data carrier recognition device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wireless data carrier recognition apparatus that reads and recognizes information of a wireless data carrier having a unique wireless ID in a contactless manner.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, wireless data carriers that have a unique wireless ID and have a memory area in which information can be rewritten, and can read and write wireless IDs and read and write arbitrary information wirelessly are drawing attention. ing.
[0003]
For example, a radio data carrier having a unique wireless ID (RFID) is affixed to a postal item such as a registered mail or a parcel post, and the setting is made for the postal item to which the carrier is attached. The tracking management code is written and stored, and a wireless data carrier recognition device is installed at each site from underwriting to delivery of the mail, and the wireless data affixed to the recorded mail at each site. There is a system that enables centralized record management and rapid tracking of record-treated mail by reading and recognizing the tracking management code from the carrier and notifying the information center. (For example, see Patent Document 1)
In this system, a plurality of record handling mails stored in a receiving container by a wireless data carrier recognition device while each record handling mail classified by delivery destination is stored in a receiving container and transported on a conveyor. It is preferable to collectively read and recognize the information of the wireless data carriers attached to the objects. Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 6, a tunnel-shaped antenna mounting portion 3 is provided on a conveyor 2 that transports a storage container 1 that stores a plurality of post-recorded mail items, and inner surfaces of both sides of the antenna mounting portion 3 are provided. Antennas 4a and 4b of the wireless data carrier recognition device are provided facing each other. By doing so, as shown in FIG. 7, since the communication area of the antennas 4a and 4b is secured over the entire width of the conveyor 2, each recorded postal matter 5 in the storage container 1 transported on the conveyor 2 is respectively provided. The information of the affixed wireless data carrier 6 can be read and recognized.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-175621
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional wireless data carrier recognition device in which a pair of antennas 4A and 4b are arranged to face both sides of the conveyor in order to secure a communication area over the entire width of the conveyor 2, each antenna 4A and 4b There is a problem in that efficient recognition cannot be performed due to interference with radio waves reflected by colliding with an opposing antenna in the own communication area and radio waves radiated from the other antenna.
[0006]
The present invention has been made based on such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wireless data carrier recognition device capable of efficiently recognizing information of a plurality of wireless data carriers conveyed on a conveyance path such as a conveyor. It is something to be offered.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the present invention, a plurality of antennas are provided on both sides of the conveyance path so that the area on the conveyance path is a communication area with the wireless data carrier. However, each communication area of a plurality of antennas is shifted in the transport direction of the transport path. In addition, a memory is provided for storing information on wireless data carriers received by each antenna through wireless communication with wireless data carriers in the communication area of each of the plurality of antennas. Therefore, every time the information of the wireless data carrier received by each antenna is input, the antenna that has received the information is an antenna arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction among a plurality of antennas or an antenna arranged on the downstream side. Judge whether or not. When it is determined that the antenna is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction, the information of the input wireless data carrier is stored in the memory. On the other hand, when it is determined that the antenna is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction, it is searched whether the same information as the information of the input wireless data carrier is stored in the memory. And only when the same information is not memorize | stored, the information of the input radio | wireless data carrier is memorize | stored in memory .
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a storage container 12 containing a plurality of recorded postal items 11 to which a wireless tag 10 which is one type of wireless data carrier is attached is connected to a conveyor which is a transport path. 13 is a case where the present invention is applied to a wireless tag recognition device that reads and recognizes information of the wireless tag 10 in the housing container 12 in the middle of conveyance in the direction of arrow X in FIG.
[0009]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the wireless tag recognition device 20 in the present embodiment. The wireless tag recognizing device 20 is an example of a wireless data carrier recognizing device, and is read by the first and second wireless tag readers 21 and 22 having transmission / reception antennas 21A and 22A, and these wireless tag readers 21 and 22, respectively. It comprises a tag information memory 23 that temporarily stores information of the wireless tag 10, an interface unit 24 with a host device, and a controller 25 that controls each unit.
[0010]
As shown in FIG. 1, the antenna 21 </ b> A of the first wireless tag reader 21 is provided on one side along the conveying direction of the conveyor 13 so that the conveyor 13 is a communication area 31 with the wireless tag 10. The antenna 22 </ b> A of the second wireless tag reader 22 is provided on the other side surface along the conveying direction of the conveyor 13 so that the area on the conveyor 13 is a communication area 32 with the wireless tag 10. The communication area 32 of the antenna 22 </ b> A is shifted from the communication area 31 of the antenna 21 </ b> A to the extent that it does not overlap with the conveyance direction X of the conveyor 13 on the downstream side.
[0011]
When the start of recognition of the wireless tag 10 is instructed from the host device via the interface unit 24, the controller 25 controls each unit according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, the controller 25 outputs a read command signal to the first and second wireless tag readers 21 and 22 (ST1). This signal is transmitted as a radio wave from the antennas 21A and 22A after being subjected to modulation suitable for wireless communication in the first and second wireless tag readers 21 and 22, respectively. When the radio tag 10 receives this radio wave, the radio tag 10 transmits tag information such as RFID stored in the nonvolatile memory as a radio wave. Radio waves transmitted from the wireless tag 10 are received by the corresponding antennas 21A and 22A, demodulated into tag information, and then transmitted to the controller 25. Thereby, the first wireless tag reader 21 can read all the information of the wireless tag 10 in the communication area 31. The second wireless tag reader 22 can read all information of the wireless tag 10 in the communication area 32.
[0012]
Therefore, after outputting the read command signal, the controller 25 waits for input of tag information from any of the wireless tag readers 21 and 22 (ST2). Each time tag information is input, the following processing is executed. That is, when tag information is input from the first wireless tag reader 21 (YES in ST3), the controller 25 stores the tag information in the tag information memory 23 that is a storage unit (ST4).
[0013]
On the other hand, when tag information is input from the second wireless tag reader 22 (NO in ST3), the controller 25 searches the tag information memory 23 with the tag information (ST5: search means). As a result, when the same tag information is not stored in the tag information memory 23 (YES in ST6), the controller 25 stores the tag information in the tag information memory 23 (ST7: information adding means). On the other hand, when the same tag information is stored in the tag information memory 23 (NO in ST6), the controller 25 discards the information.
[0014]
Thereafter, when the controller 25 is instructed to complete the recognition of the wireless tag 10 via the interface unit 24 (YES in ST8), the controller 25 ends this control.
[0015]
In the present embodiment configured as described above, the wireless tag 10 is affixed to the recorded mail 11 and is conveyed in the X direction on the conveyor 13 while being accommodated in the accommodating container 12. Here, for example, when the sensor detects that the tip of the container 12 has entered the communication area 31, the wireless tag recognition device 20 is instructed to start recognition of the wireless tag 10 from the host device. Note that the start of recognition may be commanded at another timing.
[0016]
When the start of recognition is commanded, radio waves of a read command signal are transmitted from the antennas 21A and 22A. As a result, at least the width of the conveyor 13 among the wireless tags 10 attached to the recorded postal items 11 stored in the storage container 12 while the storage container 12 passes through the communication area 31 of the antenna 21A. All the information of the wireless tag 10 that is closer to the antenna 21 </ b> A than the center of the direction is read by the first wireless tag reader 21, sent to the controller 25, and stored in the tag information memory 23.
[0017]
Thereafter, the container 12 passes through the communication area 32 of the antenna 22A. During this time, the radio wave of the read command signal is transmitted from the antenna 22A, so that the second wireless tag reader 21 reads all the information of the wireless tag 10 that is at least closer to the antenna 22A side than the center of the conveyor 13 in the width direction. To the controller 25. However, in this case, the tag information memory 23 is searched to determine whether or not the same tag information is stored in the tag information memory 23. Only tag information in which the same tag information is not stored is stored in the tag information memory 23. When the same tag information is stored in the tag information memory 23, the tag information is already read by the first wireless tag reader 21 and discarded. Therefore, the information of one wireless tag 10 is not duplicated and stored in the tag information memory 23. That is, the information of the same wireless tag 10 is not redundantly recognized by the wireless tag recognition device 20.
[0018]
Here, for example, when the sensor detects that the rear end of the storage container 12 is out of the communication area 32, the host device is instructed to end the wireless tag recognition device 20 by the host device. By doing so, the radio waves of the read command signals radiated from the antennas 21A and 22A are stopped when the rear end of the container 12 is removed from the communication area 32.
[0019]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the antenna 21A of the first wireless tag reader 21 is provided on one side surface along the conveying direction of the conveyor 13, and the antenna 22A of the second wireless tag reader 22 is provided on the other side surface. The antenna 13 is provided so as to be a communication area with the wireless tag 10. The information received by the antennas 21A of the first wireless tag reader 21 and the information received by the antennas 22A of the second wireless tag reader 22 are recognized without duplication of information held by the plurality of wireless tags 10. Yes. Therefore, it is possible to recognize the information of the plurality of wireless tags 10 conveyed on the conveyor 13 without omission. In addition, in this case, the communication area 31 of the antenna 21A of the first wireless tag reader 21 and the communication area 32 of the antenna 22A of the second wireless tag reader 22 are shifted so as not to overlap with the conveying direction of the conveyor 13, In the communication areas 31 and 32 of the antennas 21A and 22A, there is no interference with radio waves that collide with the other antenna and reflected or radio waves radiated from the other antenna. Therefore, the information of all the wireless tags 10 can be recognized efficiently.
[0020]
Further, in the conventional configuration in which a pair of antennas are arranged so as to face each other on both sides of the conveyor, it is necessary to determine whether or not the information is already read by the partner tag reader every time the tag information is read by each wireless tag reader. However, in this embodiment, the antenna 22A of the second wireless tag reader 22 is provided downstream of the antenna 21A of the first wireless tag reader 21 with respect to the conveying direction of the conveyor 13, so that the first The information of the wireless tag 10 read by the wireless tag reader 21 is stored in the wireless tag information memory 23 as it is, and only the information of the wireless tag 10 read by the second wireless tag reader 22 is searched to determine the presence or absence of duplication. There is also an advantage that the recognition process can be simplified.
[0021]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Moreover, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.
[0022]
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the recognition device for the wireless tag 10 attached to the recorded mail 11 is shown. However, the present invention provides a plurality of wireless data carriers (tags, cards, etc.) transported along the transport path. The present invention can be applied to all wireless data carrier devices that collectively read and recognize the above information.
[0023]
Further, for example, in the above-described embodiment, the antenna 21A of the first wireless tag reader 21 and the antenna 22A of the second wireless tag reader 22 are arranged on both sides of the linear portion of the conveyance path formed by the conveyor 13, as shown in FIG. Thus, in the conveyance path 41 having the bent portion 41C bent substantially in an L shape, the antenna 21A is arranged upstream of the bent portion 41C in the conveyance directions X1 and X2, and the antenna 22A is arranged downstream. May be. By doing so, the same operational effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained. In addition, since the communication area 31 of the antenna 21A and the communication area 32 of the antenna 22A are largely separated from each other, there is no possibility of interference, and the antennas 21A and 22A are compared with the case where the antenna 21A and the antenna 22A are provided at an equal distance away from each other. The distance between the two becomes narrower and can be made compact.
[0024]
Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5, in the conveyance path 51 having the bent portion 51C bent in a substantially U shape, the antenna 21A is arranged on the upstream side with respect to the conveyance directions X1 and X3 from the bent portion 51C. The antenna 22A may be arranged on the downstream side. By doing so, the same operational effects as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained, and the distance between the antennas 21A and 22A is reduced compared to the case where the antenna 21A and the antenna 22A are provided at an equal distance apart from each other, There is an advantage that it can be made compact.
[0025]
In the above embodiment, only two antennas, the first antenna 21A and the second antenna 22A, are shown. However, an antenna in which three or more antennas are shifted in the conveyance direction of the conveyance path is also included in the present invention. It is included.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wireless data carrier recognition device capable of efficiently recognizing information of a plurality of wireless data carriers transported on a transport path such as a conveyor.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a positional relationship between a conveyance path and antennas according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the wireless tag recognition device in the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing main control procedures executed by the controller of the wireless tag recognition device.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a positional relationship between a conveyance path and each antenna according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a positional relationship between a conveyance path and each antenna in still another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional example.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a positional relationship between a conveyance path and each antenna in a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Radio tag, 11 ... Recorded mail, 12 ... Storage container, 13 ... Conveyor (conveyance path), 21 ... 1st radio tag reader, 21A ... Antenna of 1st radio tag reader, 22 ... 2nd radio tag reader 22A, antenna of the first wireless tag reader, 23, tag information memory, 24, interface unit, 25, controller, 31, 32, communication area, 41, 51, transport path, 41C, 51C, bending unit.

Claims (1)

A plurality of antennas arranged on both sides of the conveyance path so as to be a communication area on the conveyance path, and shifted in the conveyance direction of the conveyance path ;
A memory for storing information of the wireless data carrier received by each antenna by wireless communication with a wireless data carrier in a communication area of each of the plurality of antennas ;
Input means for inputting information of the wireless data carrier received by each antenna;
Whether the antenna that has received the information every time the wireless data carrier information is input via the input means is an antenna disposed on the upstream side or the downstream side in the transport direction among the plurality of antennas. A judging means for judging
A first storage unit that stores information on the wireless data carrier input via the input unit in the memory when the determination unit determines that the antenna is disposed on the upstream side in the conveyance direction;
When it is determined by the determination means that the antenna is arranged downstream in the transport direction, a search is made as to whether the same information as the information of the wireless data carrier input via the input means is stored in the memory Search means to
Second storage means for storing, in the memory, the information on the wireless data carrier input through the input means only when the same information is not stored by the search means;
Wireless data carrier recognition apparatus characterized by comprising a.

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