JP4177747B2 - Tagged article storage container - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an article storage container with a tag for storing a tag-like article, for example, a postal item, a slip, an envelope, a certificate, a document, a card, or the like, to which a wireless tag to be read by a wireless tag reader is contactlessly attached. .

  In recent years, a data carrier having a unique ID (RFID) and a memory area where information can be rewritten, and capable of reading IDs and writing and reading arbitrary information without contact using radio, so-called radio Tags are attracting attention.

  For example, in the past, a wireless tag was affixed to each envelope used for recorded mail such as registered mail and parcel mail, and the tracking management code set for the envelope with the tag attached to this wireless tag was written. In addition, the RFID tag readers are installed at each site from the underwriting to delivery of the mail, and the tracking management code is read from the RFID tag attached to the envelope at each site and notified to the information center. By doing so, a system has been proposed that enables unified record management and rapid tracking of postal items handled by records (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The wireless tag reader includes a communication antenna with the wireless tag, and reads stored data from all the wireless tags within the communication area (sensitivity range) of the antenna. However, if the position of the wireless tag is shifted or tilted with respect to the communication antenna and a plurality of wireless tags overlap each other, radio waves transmitted from each other interfere with each other and the reading rate decreases. Sometimes.

Therefore, conventionally, a plurality of pieces of mail attached with wireless tags are stably stored one by one in a room surrounded by a partition member, so that the wireless tags attached to the pieces of mail do not overlap each other. A storage container has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-175621 JP 2002-337827 A

  However, this type of conventional storage container can only store articles of a predetermined size, and when articles of different thicknesses are mixed, it is necessary to prepare a storage container according to each. was there. For example, when a thin article is stored in a container for storing a thick article, the article is displaced or inclined in the thickness direction, and the angle and distance with the communication antenna are changed, resulting in a decrease in reading rate. There is a fear. For this reason, the container has to be changed according to the thickness of the article to which the wireless tag to be read is attached, which is inconvenient to handle and wastes time and effort.

  The present invention has been made based on such circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to collectively collect the data of the wireless tags provided in the respective articles even if the articles having different thicknesses are mixed and stored. An object of the present invention is to provide a tagged article storage container that can be read and can improve the efficiency of the RFID tag reading operation.

  The present invention is a tag-containing article storage container for storing a tag-like article to which a wireless tag to be read is attached, wherein the container main body is an article storage area surrounded by a rectangular bottom plate and its four side plates A box shape having A plurality of movable partition plates are provided so as to be substantially parallel to any one side plate of the container body and to be slidable in the vertical direction with respect to the one side plate within the article storage area.

  According to the present invention in which such means are taken, even when articles having different thicknesses are mixed and stored, the data of the wireless tags provided on the respective articles can be read collectively, and the wireless tag reading operation can be performed. A tagged article storage container capable of increasing efficiency can be provided.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to an article storage container with a tag that stores a plurality of recorded mail items such as registered mail and parcel mail as a tag-like article to which a wireless tag to be read is attached. Is the case.

First, a description will be given of a wireless tag reader that collectively reads the wireless tags attached to the recorded mail items stored in the tagged article storage container according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 are schematic views showing a wireless tag reader according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an article storage container with a tag (hereinafter abbreviated as storage container 1), and 2 denotes a roller conveyor as a transport path for transporting the storage container 1 in one direction by sliding its bottom surface. is there. In the storage container 1, a plurality of recorded postal items 3 (hereinafter abbreviated as postal items 3) are stored in the longitudinal direction of the storage container 1. Each postal item 3 is provided with a wireless tag 4 at a predetermined location. In the memory part of each wireless tag 4, an ID for identifying the postal matter 3 to which the tag is attached is stored.

  The roller conveyor 2 includes an antenna portion 21 provided with an antenna 5A of a wireless tag reader 5 that reads the memory data stored in the wireless tag 4 by wireless, and a carry-in portion 22 and a carry-out portion 23 that are respectively extended before and after the antenna portion 21. It consists of.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of wheels 32a and 32b made of metal, plastic resin, hard rubber and the like are attached to the antenna portion 21 via torque limiters 33a and 33b, respectively, at both ends of the shaft 31. The first rollers 34 are provided at regular intervals. As shown in FIG. 1, an E-shaped antenna mounting plate 24 is fitted on the inner surfaces of the wheels 32 a and 32 b facing each of the first rollers 34. An antenna 5 </ b> A of the wireless tag reader 5 is embedded in the antenna mounting plate 24 so that an upper space substantially in the entire plate width direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the storage container 1 is used as a communication area with the wireless tag 4.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each of the carry-in portion 12 and the carry-out portion 13 has a cylindrical body made of metal, plastic resin, hard rubber, or the like over substantially the entire length of the shaft 35 having the same length as the shaft 31 of the first roller 34. A plurality of second rollers 37 to which 36 is integrally attached are rotatably provided at regular intervals.

  In addition, a pair of guide plates 25a and 25b, which are bent so that both end portions expand outward, face each other on the outer surface side of the wheels 32a and 32b facing each of the first rollers 34 in the antenna unit 21. Is attached.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3, when the length in the longitudinal direction of the storage container 1 is D and the length in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is W, the length W is a pair of guide plates 25a, It is shorter than the minimum inner surface distance A of 25 b and longer than the distance B between the inner surfaces of the wheels 32 a and 32 b facing the first roller 34. The length D is longer than the minimum distance A between the inner surfaces of the pair of guide plates 25a and 25b.

  Therefore, when the storage container 1 is placed on the carry-in part 22 so that the longitudinal direction thereof substantially coincides with the transport direction of the roller conveyor 2, the storage container 1 is carried into the antenna part 21 by sliding on the roller conveyor 2. Further, it can be carried out to the carry-out unit 23. On the other hand, when the storage container 1 is placed on the carry-in portion 22 so that the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction thereof substantially coincides with the transport direction of the roller conveyor 2, the storage container 1 can be slid on the roller conveyor 2. Will hit the pair of guide plates 25a, 25b and cannot be carried into the antenna portion 21.

  Here, the wireless tag reader according to the present embodiment includes a transport path (roller conveyor 2) for transporting the storage container 1 storing a plurality of postal items 3 in one direction by sliding the bottom surface thereof, and the transport path. The antenna 5A that communicates with each wireless tag attached to the postal matter 3 stored in the storage container 1 that passes through the upper portion of the wireless tag 4 and the wireless tag 4 that demodulates the radio wave received by the antenna 5A. And tag reading means (wireless tag reader 5) for reading the stored data, respectively, and attached to each postal matter 3 stored in the storage container 1 in a state of being aligned in the transport direction of the transport path. The stored data of the wireless tag 4 is collectively read when the wireless tag 4 passes over the antenna 5A.

Next, the storage container 1 of this Embodiment is demonstrated using FIG. 4, FIG.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the storage container 1, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the storage container 1. The storage container 1 is surrounded by a rectangular bottom plate 41 and four side plates 42, 43, 44, and 45 thereof, and has an article storage area 46 (46 a to 46 i) with the opposite side of the bottom surface as a storage port for mail items 3. It has a box-shaped container main body 40 as a main component.

  In the article storage area 46 of the container body 40, a fixed partition plate 47 is provided at a predetermined interval from the side plate 42 so as to be substantially parallel to one side plate 42 provided in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the container body 40. The article storage area 46 is divided into a side plate 42 side and a side plate 44 side opposite to the side plate 42. In addition, a fixed partition wall 48 extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the side plate 42 side from substantially the center of the fixed partition plate 47, and the article storage area 46 on the side plate 42 side divided by the fixed partition plate 47 is further fixed. The partition wall 48 is divided into a side plate 43 side (article storage area 46 a) and a side plate 45 side (article storage area 46 b) opposite to the side plate 43. The fixed partition plate 47 is fixed to the bottom plate 41 and the side plates 43 and 45 of the container body 40. The fixed partition wall 48 is fixed to the bottom plate 41 and the side plate 42 of the container body 40.

  The article storage area 46 between the fixed partition plate 47 and the side plate 44 is substantially parallel to the fixed partition plate 47 and the inside of the article storage area 46 is in the longitudinal direction of the container body 40, that is, with respect to the side plate 42. A plurality (three in the figure) of movable partition plates 49, 50, 51 are provided so as to be slidable in the orthogonal direction. In addition, movable partition walls 52, 53, 54 extend in a direction substantially orthogonal from the substantially center of each movable partition plate 49, 50, 51 toward the side plate 42 side. The movable partition plates 49, 50, 51 and the movable partition walls 52, 53, 54 are not fixed to the container body 40.

  Of the movable partition plates 49, 50, 51, the movable partition plate 52 of the movable partition plate 49 closest to the fixed partition plate 47 is thinner than the fixed partition wall 48, and has a lower height from the bottom plate 41. In addition, the movable partition plate 53 of the movable partition plate 50 that is next to the fixed partition plate 47 next to the movable partition plate 49 is thinner than the movable partition wall 52 and has a lower height from the bottom plate 41. Similarly, the movable partition wall 54 of the movable partition plate 51 farthest from the fixed partition plate 47 is thinner than the movable partition wall 53 and has a lower height from the bottom plate 41. A guide groove 55 for the movable partition wall 52 is formed in the fixed partition wall 48, and the movable partition wall 52 is inserted into the guide groove 55. A guide groove 56 for the movable partition wall 53 is formed in the movable partition wall 52, and the movable partition wall 53 is inserted into the guide groove 56. A guide groove 57 for the movable partition wall 54 is formed in the movable partition wall 53, and the movable partition wall 54 is inserted into the guide groove 57.

  A flange 58 is formed at the end of the movable partition wall 52 on the side plate 42 side, and the tip of the flange 58 contacts the side surface of the guide groove 55 to give a predetermined load to the sliding movement of the movable partition wall 52. The flange 58 is locked with a locking portion 59 formed at the tip of the guide groove 55 so that the movable partition wall 52 cannot be removed from the guide groove 55. A flange 60 is formed at the end of the movable partition wall 53 on the side plate 42, and the tip of the flange 60 contacts the side surface of the guide groove 56 to give a predetermined load to the sliding movement of the movable partition wall 53. Further, the flange 60 is locked with a locking portion 61 formed at the tip of the guide groove 56, so that the movable partition wall 53 is prevented from coming out of the guide groove 56. A flange 62 is formed at the end of the movable partition wall 54 on the side plate 42 side, and the tip of the flange 62 contacts the side surface of the guide groove 56 to give a predetermined load to the sliding movement of the movable partition wall 54. The flange 62 is engaged with an engaging portion 63 formed at the distal end of the guide groove 57 so that the movable partition wall 54 cannot be removed from the guide groove 57.

  Thus, each of the movable partition plates 49, 50, 51 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the container body 40, that is, to the fixed partition plate 47 in the article storage area 46 on the side plate 42 side divided by the fixed partition plate 47. You can move to slide. The amount of movement is regulated within the length of the corresponding movable partition walls 52, 53, and 54, respectively.

  5A shows a fully developed state in which the movable partition plates 49, 50, 51 are pulled out to the maximum. (B) shows a halfway movement state in which the movable partition plate 51 is pulled out to the maximum and the movable partition plates 49 and 50 are pulled out halfway. (C) shows the entire storage state in which the movable partition plates 49, 50, 51 are pushed.

  In the fully deployed state, the first article storage area 46a and the second fixed article storage area surrounded by the three-direction side plates 42, 43, 45, the fixed partition plate 47, and the fixed partition wall 48 of the container body 40. 46b, the third article storage area 46c and the fourth article storage area 46d surrounded by the opposing side plates 43, 45 of the container body 40, the fixed partition plate 47, the movable partition plate 49, and the movable partition wall 52; Fifth to eighth article storage areas 46e, 46f, 46g, 46h surrounded by the opposing side plates 43, 45, the movable partition plates 49, 50, 51 and the movable partition walls 52, 53, 54 of the main body 40. Can store a mail piece 3a in which a predetermined number of envelopes each having a small width are bundled, and is surrounded by three side plates 43, 44, 45 of the container body 40 and a movable partition plate 49. The article storage area 46i, it is possible to house a large mailpieces 3c breadth.

  In the midway movement state, the first and second article storage areas 46a and 46b and the seventh and eighth article storage areas 46g and 46h can each store a postal matter 3a having a predetermined thickness. The third to sixth article storage areas 46c to 46f can store the mail pieces 3b having a smaller number of envelopes than the mail pieces 3a and having a smaller thickness, and the ninth article storage area 46i has a smaller thickness. Can store postal items having a large width and a large thickness.

  In the full storage state, the first and second article storage areas 46a and 46b can store the postal matter 3a, and the ninth article storage area 46i has a large lateral width and thickness. Thick mail can be stored.

  As described above, according to the storage container 1 of the present embodiment, postal items 3a and 3b having different thicknesses and postal items 3c having different widths can be mixed and stably stored without being shifted or inclined. Therefore, when the storage container 1 is placed on the roller conveyor 2, transported by hand, and passed over the antenna 5A, the mail pieces 3a, 3b, and 3c of various sizes stored in the storage container 1 are respectively provided. Since all of the attached wireless tags 4 are regulated and held at a fixed position (angle, distance) with respect to the antenna 5A, tag storage data can be read with high accuracy by the wireless tag reader 5.

  In the above-described embodiment, each movable partition plate 49, 50, 51 divides the article storage area between other opposing plates in a direction substantially orthogonal to the surface facing the side plate 42 of the container body 40. The movable partition walls 52, 53, and 54 are provided. For example, the movable partition plates 49, 50, and 51 are slidably supported on the side plates 43 and 45 of the container body 40, so that the movable partition walls 52, 53, and 54 are supported. Omitted, it is also possible to provide a storage container that stores a mixture of tagged articles such as postal items having the same width and different thickness.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the information on the wireless tag 4 in the storage container 1 is collectively read by passing over the antenna 5A has been shown. By turning upside down, the information of the wireless tag 4 in the storage container 1 may be collectively read by passing under the antenna 5A.

It goes without saying that the storage container 1 can be configured by appropriately changing the number of movable partition plates 49, 50, 51 according to the user's request.
Further, the present invention is not limited to the postal matter storage container 1, but is similarly applied to a tagged article storage container that stores tag-like tagged articles such as slips, envelopes, certificates, documents, and cards. it can.

The schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of one embodiment of this invention. The perspective view which shows the principal part of the roller conveyor in the embodiment. The schematic diagram used for size description with respect to the roller conveyor of the storage container in the embodiment. The external appearance perspective view of the goods storage container with a tag in the embodiment. The cross-sectional view of the article storage container with the tag.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Storage container, 2 ... Roller conveyor, 3 ... Mail, 4 ... Wireless tag, 5 ... Wireless tag reader, 40 ... Container main body, 41 ... Bottom plate, 42, 43, 44, 45 ... Side plate, 46a-46i ... Article storage Area, 47 ... fixed partition plate, 48 ... fixed partition, 49, 50, 51 ... movable partition plate, 52, 53, 54 ... movable partition.

Claims (3)

In an article storage container with a tag for storing a tag-like article to which a wireless tag to be read is attached,
A box-shaped container body having an article storage area surrounded by a rectangular bottom plate and its four side plates;
A plurality of movable partition plates provided substantially parallel to any one side plate of the container body and slidable in a direction toward or away from the one side plate in the article storage area. When,
Equipped with,
Each movable partition plate is provided with a partition for dividing the article storage area substantially perpendicularly toward the one side plate from a substantially central portion of the surface facing the one side plate. A tagged article storage container , wherein a partition wall of a movable partition plate that is next to the one side plate is slidably inserted into a partition wall of a movable partition plate closer to the side . In an article storage container with a tag for storing a tag-like article to which a wireless tag to be read is attached,
A box-shaped container body having an article storage area surrounded by a rectangular bottom plate and its four side plates;
A fixed partition plate fixed in the article storage area at a predetermined interval from the side plate substantially parallel to any one side plate of the container body;
A direction in which the inside of the article storage area between the fixed partition plate and the other side plate facing the one side plate of the container main body is close to the fixed partition plate substantially parallel to the fixed partition plate Or a plurality of movable partition plates slidably provided in a direction away from each other;
Equipped with,
The fixed partition plate is provided with a partition for dividing the article storage area substantially perpendicularly toward the one side plate from a substantially central portion of the surface facing the one side plate,
Each movable partition plate is provided with a partition for dividing the article storage area substantially perpendicularly toward the fixed partition plate from a substantially central portion of the surface facing the fixed partition plate, and the fixed partition plate The partition wall of the movable partition plate close to the fixed partition plate is slidably inserted next to the movable partition plate into the partition wall of the closer movable partition plate,
The article storage container with a tag , wherein the partition wall of the movable partition plate closest to the fixed partition plate is slidably inserted into the partition wall of the fixed partition plate . 2. A flange is formed at the tip of each partition provided in each movable partition plate, and the tip of the flange is in contact with the inner surface of the partition into which the partition is inserted. Or the article storage container with a tag of 2 .

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