JP4494038B2 - Product display shelf equipped with a product information reading device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a merchandise display shelf including a reading device for reading information of an RFID tag in which article information is recorded.

  In recent years, in order to manage the storage state of articles stored in furniture, an RFID tag in which article information is recorded is attached to each article, information on the RFID tag is read by a reading device, and each article is based on the read information. Various devices have been developed that manage the storage state of the storage.

  As an example of this, the article information recorded on the RFID tag of the article stored in the fixture can be read by a reading device arranged on the shelf plate of the fixture, and the article can be managed based on the read article information. There is such a fixture (see Patent Document 1).

JP 7-182357 A (paragraphs 0011-0022, FIG. 1-3)

  However, in the case where the article information is read out on the side of the fixture as in Document 1, for example, when a part of the fixture is made of an electromagnetic shielding material (EMS material) such as metal, the magnetic antenna of the reading device is used. Since the magnetic field is generated from the electromagnetic shielding material in the opposite direction to the direction of the generated electromagnetic field, the electromagnetic wave from the reading device is affected by the electromagnetic shielding material. The generation of the electromagnetic wave including the article information recorded on the RFID tag becomes difficult.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and an electromagnetic wave including article information of an RFID tag attached to an article is received by a reading device without being affected by the electromagnetic shielding material. The purpose is to provide a product display shelf.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a product display shelf provided with the article information reading device according to claim 1 of the present invention is provided with a plurality of engaging holes arranged vertically in each of the left and right leg columns. Then, the engagement holes are respectively engaged with the engagement pieces provided at the rear ends of the pair of left and right brackets facing in the front-rear direction, and on both sides of the shelf plate made of electromagnetic shielding material facing in the left-right direction on the bracket. In the supported merchandise display shelf, a reading device that reads information on the RFID tag of the article to which the RFID tag on which the article information placed on the shelf plate is attached is engaged with the respective engagement holes on both the left and right sides. It attaches to the support plate which has an engagement piece to perform, and this support plate can adjust height with respect to the said upper and lower engagement holes, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
According to this feature, the reading device and the electromagnetic shielding material are supported by supporting the reading device on the support plate, and adjusting the support plate provided with the reading device in the vertical direction according to the mounting position of the shelf plate. Can always be separated stably at a predetermined position, the electromagnetic wave from the reading device can be received by the RFID tag without being affected by the electromagnetic shielding material, and the electromagnetic wave from the RFID tag can be affected by the electromagnetic shielding material. The reading device can receive the signal without being performed.

A merchandise display shelf comprising the article information reading device according to claim 2 of the present invention is a merchandise display shelf comprising the article information reading device according to claim 1, wherein the shelf board is separated vertically. A plurality of support plates, to which the reading device is attached, are attached between the shelf plates so as to be appropriately movable in the vertical direction using the engagement holes.
According to this feature, each shelf is made of an electromagnetic shielding material, so that the electromagnetic waves between the reading devices installed above and below are blocked by the shelf and the mutual electromagnetic waves are prevented from interfering with each other. Since the support plate to which each reading device is attached can be adjusted so as to be spaced apart from each shelf plate, which is an electromagnetic shielding material positioned above and below, the electromagnetic wave shielding material can receive the electromagnetic waves between the reading device and the RFID tag. The RFID tag information of the article can be read for each shelf board without being affected by the above.

A merchandise display shelf comprising the article information reading device according to claim 3 of the present invention is a merchandise display shelf comprising the article information reading device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a non-electromagnetic wave is provided between the pedestals. A back plate made of a shielding material is provided, and a plurality of the engagement holes are formed in the vertical direction on the back surface of the pedestal, and the support plate is attached to the back side of the back plate so as to be vertically movable using the engagement holes. It is characterized by that.
According to this feature, by providing the reading device on the back side of the back plate, the reading device is improved in appearance without being exposed on the front surface of the display shelf, and is protected by the back plate, thereby being affected by an external impact. It is possible to prevent problems such as repairs due to failure or deterioration, and it can be used for a long time.

A merchandise display shelf comprising the article information reading device according to claim 4 of the present invention is a merchandise display shelf comprising the article information reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least the reading device. A mounting member at the center of the support plate to which the mounting plate is mounted is made of a non-electromagnetic shielding material, and the reading device is provided on the mounting member so as to be separated from the inner side surfaces of the two leg posts made of electromagnetic shielding material by a predetermined distance or more. It is characterized by that.
According to this feature, since the reading device is arranged at a predetermined distance or more from the pedestal that is an electromagnetic shielding material, reception of electromagnetic waves between the reading device and the RFID tag affects the pedestal that is an electromagnetic shielding material. Can be prevented.

A merchandise display shelf comprising the article information reading device according to claim 5 of the present invention is a merchandise display shelf comprising the article information reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least the reading device. A mounting member at the center of the support plate to which the support plate is attached is made of a non-electromagnetic shielding material, and the attachment member is formed from an inner surface of a hooking member made of an electromagnetic shielding material formed at both ends of the support plate. It is characterized by being provided so as to be separated by a predetermined interval or more.
According to this feature, since the reading device is arranged at a predetermined distance or more from the hooking member that is an electromagnetic shielding material, reception of electromagnetic waves between the reading device and the RFID tag affects the hooking member that is an electromagnetic shielding material. Can be prevented.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a product display shelf provided with an article information reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the product display shelf showing line AA in FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing a mounting process of the reading device, FIG. 4 is a partially broken longitudinal sectional view showing a line BB in FIG. 1, and FIG. It is a plane sectional view showing a C line. This product display shelf (hereinafter referred to as “product display shelf 1”) is installed in a product sales area such as a supermarket or a convenience store. (Hereinafter, the article 19) can be taken out.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the commodity display shelf 1 is provided with a shelf plate made of an electromagnetic shielding material (a metal steel material in this embodiment) on the floor surface. A mounting table 5 is provided, and a pair of leg posts 2 made of an electromagnetic shielding material extending in the vertical direction from the floor surface are provided behind the mounting table 5 at a predetermined interval on the left and right.

  A horizontal member 8 is sandwiched between the upper ends of both leg posts 2, and the left and right leg posts 2, the mounting table 5, and the horizontal member 8 constitute a frame. A back plate 6 made of a non-electromagnetic shielding material (hard plastic material in this embodiment) is fitted and attached between the pillars 2 of the frame.

  A plurality of engaging holes 2a are formed in the vertical direction on the front side of the pedestal 2 and a wiring hole 2b for wiring a LAN cable 21 described later to the outside is formed below the pedestal 2. A plurality of shelves 3 made of electromagnetic shielding materials are provided in a vertical direction at a predetermined height position of the back plate 6. The shelf board 3 is placed and locked on the upper end of a bracket 4 attached in advance to the engagement hole 2 a of the pedestal 2. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, the front side of the product display shelf 1 is assumed to be the front, and the back side of the product display shelf 1 is assumed to be the rear. In addition, the above-described inside of the frame constituted by the left and right pedestals 2, the mounting table 5, and the horizontal member 8 will be described as the back side, and the outside of the frame will be described as the front side.

  A plurality of articles 19 to which RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification, wireless identification) tags, which will be described later, are attached, are placed on the top surface of the shelf board 3. A plurality of RFID antennas 9 serving as reading devices, which will be described later, are provided on the back side of the back plate 6 so as to correspond to the respective shelf plates 3. Inside the mounting table 5, a relay device 16 having functions such as a concentrator and a tuner, and a power adapter 17 for supplying power to the RFID antenna 9 and the relay device 16 are provided.

  Each RFID antenna 9 is connected to a communication cable 18 including a signal cable (not shown) for transmitting and receiving various signals and a power supply cable (not shown) for supplying power, and the signal cable is a relay device. The power feeding cable is connected to the power adapter 17 and disposed in the commodity display shelf 1.

  The relay device 16 is connected via a LAN cable 21 to a management computer 20 that is connected to the LAN network and manages and operates the article management system. In the relay device 16, various types of data can be transmitted and received between the management computer 20 and the RFID antenna 9 by a tuner having a data conversion function.

  That is, by transmitting the item information data of the RFID tag of the item 19 to the management computer 20, the management computer 3 can centrally manage the item information of the item 19 placed on each of the plurality of shelves 3. It is like that.

  The RFID antenna 9 of the present embodiment and the RFID tag on which article information is recorded use a coil type antenna (not shown), and is generated by being induced between the RFID antenna 9 and the RFID tag coil. Communication is performed by electromagnetic induction using the magnetic flux.

  And, the reading frequency of the RFID antenna 9 of this embodiment uses the frequency of the electromagnetic induction short wave band (13.56 MHz), but the present invention is not limited to these electromagnetic induction methods and frequencies, For example, there are electromagnetic induction type long wave band (up to 135 kHz) and microwave type radio wave band (2.45 GHz) using microwave wave, etc., which are placed on product display shelves and shelf boards. In accordance with the shape, characteristics, and communication distance of the product to be used, an RFID antenna and an RFID tag having an optimum method and frequency suitable for a more ideal environment may be appropriately used.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of engagement holes 2 a are formed on the back surface of the pedestal 2 in the vertical direction on the back side of the pedestal 2 in the same manner as the engagement holes 2 a on the front side. A plurality of support plates 15 (five in this embodiment) are attached to positions corresponding to the respective shelf plates 3 in the vertical direction of both the pillars 2.

  The plurality of RFID antennas 9 described above are provided on the back surfaces of the plurality of support plates 15 and are arranged in multiple stages, and these support plates 15 are configured to be detachable from both leg posts 2. Therefore, the structure of the support plate 15 and the process of attaching the support plate 15 to both leg posts 2 will be specifically described below.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the support plate 15 includes a mounting member 15a having a central portion made of a non-electromagnetic shielding material, and a hooking member 15b having both end portions made of an electromagnetic shielding material. The attachment member 15a and the hooking member 15b are connected and fixed by a pin (not shown), and a plurality of downward hook-like engagement pieces 15c extending forward are provided at the side end of the hooking member 15b in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, three places) are formed.

  An RFID antenna 9 is provided on the back surface of the mounting member 15a, and the mounting position of the RFID antenna 9 is always stably fixed at a predetermined position while being separated from the hooking member 15b at a predetermined interval (L0) position. Yes.

  Regarding the distance (L0) between the RFID antenna 9 and the hooking member 15b, which is an electromagnetic shielding material, the RFID tag receives the electromagnetic wave from the RFID antenna without being influenced by the hooking member 15b, and the electromagnetic wave from the RFID tag is hooked. It has been experimentally verified that at least the distance between the RFID antenna and the hooking member 15b is preferably 40 mm or more so that the RFID antenna can receive the signal without being affected by 15b. Similarly, the attachment position of the RFID tag 11 provided on the article is preferably 40 mm or more away from the hooking member 15b.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the distance (L0) between the RFID antenna 9 applied to the merchandise display shelf 1 and the hooking member 15b is 50 mm, and the RFID antenna 9 serving as a reading device and the RFID The information of the RFID tag 11 of the article can be surely read out for each shelf 3 without being affected by the hooking member 15b which is an electromagnetic shielding material.

  In order to attach the support plate 15 thus configured to the pedestal 2, the engagement piece 15 c of the hooking member 15 b is inserted into the engagement hole 2 a of the pedestal 2 while moving the support plate 15 from the rear to the front. Further, by pressing down as indicated by the arrow, the engagement piece 15c can be engaged with the engagement hole 2a and the position can be fixed firmly. When the support plate 15 is removed, the removal can be performed in a process reverse to the above-described attachment process. The process of attaching the support plate 15 to the other pedestal 2 is also omitted because the structure of the support plate 15 is substantially the same and symmetrical.

  Next, the structure of the merchandise display shelf 1 will be specifically described. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of downward hooked engagement pieces 4 a are formed at the rear end of the bracket 4, and are engaged and fixed to the engagement holes 2 a and attached to the pedestal 2. A plurality of locking grooves 4 b are formed at the upper end of the bracket 4, and locking pieces 3 a are formed downward on the bottom surface of the shelf board 3 so as to be opposed thereto, and the shelf board 3 is placed on the bracket 4. The locking piece 3a is locked in the locking groove 4b and the position is fixed. Similarly, brackets 4 are provided in multiple stages, and shelf plates 3 are placed on these brackets 4 and fixed in position.

  A plurality of support plates 15 provided with RFID antennas 9 are vertically attached to the back surface of the pedestal 2 (5 in this embodiment), and each communication cable 18 connected to each RFID antenna 9 is Bundled together and wired downward, connected to the relay device 16 and the power adapter 17 through the cable hole 5a formed on the rear side of the shelf of the mounting table 5, and further wired from the relay device 16 to the LAN cable 21, It is arranged outside via a wiring hole 2 b formed in the pedestal 2. Although not described in the present embodiment, the wiring of the communication cable 18 may be concealed from the outside by attaching a back cover having substantially the same shape as the back plate 6 from the rear of the pedestal 2.

  The mounting positions of the support plates 15 installed between the shelf plates 3 are such that the RFID antenna 9 is located at a predetermined distance (L1) or more from the upper surface of the shelf plate 3 and downward from the lower surface of the shelf plate 3. The product information of the RFID tag 11 of the product 19 placed on the shelf board 3 can be read out.

  With respect to the distance (L1) between the RFID antenna and the shelf board 3 that is an electromagnetic shielding material, the RFID tag receives the electromagnetic wave from the RFID antenna without being affected by the shelf board 3, and the electromagnetic wave from the RFID tag is received by the shelf board 3 It has been experimentally verified that at least the distance between the RFID antenna and the shelf 3 is preferably 40 mm or more so that the RFID antenna can receive the signal without being influenced by the above. Similarly, the attachment position of the RFID tag provided on the article is preferably separated from the shelf board 3 by 40 mm or more. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the distance (L1) between the RFID antenna 9 applied to the commodity display shelf 1 and the shelf board 3 is 50 mm.

  In this way, by attaching the plurality of RFID antennas 9 to the both pedestals 2 of the product display shelf 1 so as to be spaced apart from each other, reception of the mutual electromagnetic waves of the RFID antenna 9 and the RFID tag 11 serving as a reading device to the shelf plate 3 is performed. Without being affected, the information of the RFID tag 11 of the article 19 can be read for each shelf plate 3 provided above and below. Further, since each shelf 3 is made of an electromagnetic shielding material, the information of the RFID tag 11 of the article is reliably obtained for each shelf 3 without the electromagnetic waves of the RFID antennas 9 positioned above and below interfering with each other. Can be read out.

  Furthermore, by providing the RFID antenna 9 at a position on the back surface side of the back plate 6, the back plate 6 serves as a protective film for the RFID antenna 9 without exposing the RFID antenna 9 to the outside, For example, it is possible to prevent problems such as failure due to external impact such as placement or removal of the article 19 or repair due to deterioration, and it is possible to use the article 19 for a long time.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of articles 19 are placed on the shelf board 3, and RFID tags 11 are attached to the front side and the back side of the articles 19, respectively. The RFID tag 11 is provided in parallel with the RFID antenna 9.

  With respect to the distance (L2) between the RFID antenna and the two limbs 2 that are electromagnetic shielding materials, the RFID tag receives the electromagnetic waves from the RFID antenna without being affected by the two limbs 2, and the electromagnetic waves from the RFID tag are received by the two limbs 2 It has been experimentally verified that at least the distance between the RFID antenna and the two pedestals 2 is preferably 40 mm or more so that the RFID antenna can receive the signal without being affected by the above. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the distance (L2) between the RFID antenna 9 and both pedestals 2 is 50 mm.

  Thus, even when both the pedestals 2 are made of an electromagnetic shielding material, the RFID antenna 9 is disposed at a predetermined distance (L2) or more from the pedestal 2 so that the RFID antenna 9 is a reading device. And the reception of the mutual electromagnetic waves of the RFID tag 11 are prevented from being affected by the two pillars 2.

  Note that the hook members 15b provided at both ends of the support plate 15 are preferably made of an electromagnetic shielding material to increase the holding strength of the support plate 15, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the entire support plate 15 may be made of a hard plastic member that is a non-electromagnetic shielding material. In this case, the mounting position of the RFID antenna 9 is the RFID antenna when the support plate 15 is attached to both the leg posts 2. It is preferable that the distance between both ends of 9 and the inner side surfaces of both pedestals 2 be a predetermined distance or more (L2). In this way, the electromagnetic waves of the RFID antenna 9 are prevented from being affected by both pedestals 2. Is done.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the RFID antenna 9 corresponding to the reading device is in a state of being separated from the shelf plate 3 and the pedestal 2 and the hooking member 15b corresponding to the electromagnetic shielding material by a predetermined distance or more. The electromagnetic wave from the RFID tag 11 is received by the RFID tag 11 without being affected by the shelf 3 and the pedestal 2 and the hooking member 15b, and the electromagnetic wave from the RFID tag 11 is affected by the shelf 3, the pedestal 2 and the hooking member 15b. Without being received by the RFID antenna 9.

  Moreover, since the support plate 15 provided with the RFID antenna 9 can be adjusted in the vertical direction according to the mounting position of each shelf plate 3 or when the shelf plate 3 is moved, the shelf plate is always provided. 3 can perform transmission and reception of electromagnetic waves with the RFID tag 11 of the article placed on 3 in a stable state.

  In this embodiment, the engagement plate 15c is engaged with the engagement hole 2a formed on the rear surface of the pedestal 2 and the support plate 15 is attached to the rear surface side of the commodity display shelf 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. The support plate 15 may be attached to the front side of the product display shelf 1 by engaging the engagement piece 15c with the engagement hole 2a formed on the front surface of the pedestal 2. .

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and modifications and additions within the scope of the present invention are included in the present invention. In the above embodiment, it is preferable to provide the RFID antenna 9 at the back surface position of the back plate 6 so that the RFID antenna 9 is protected by the back plate 6 without being exposed outside the front surface. For example, an antenna protective film may be provided on the surface of the RFID antenna 9 so that the RFID antenna 9 may be exposed to the front side without providing the back plate 6. The installation state of the RFID antenna 9 may be determined according to the usage pattern of the shelf 1.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although the RFID tag 11 is stuck and attached to the article | item 19, this invention is not limited to this, For example, the RFID tag 11 is embedded and attached in the article | item 19, or the article | item 19 is attached. The RFID tag may be inserted into the inside as it is, and an RFID tag may be appropriately attached by an attachment method utilizing the product characteristics of the article.

  In the above embodiment, the management computer 20 is provided outside (see FIG. 1), so that a plurality of other merchandise display shelves (not shown) can be managed centrally. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the management computer 20 may be built in the mounting table 5 in which the relay device 16 is accommodated, or the articles may be managed for each merchandise display shelf. good.

It is a front perspective view of a goods display shelf provided with the reading apparatus of the article information in the example of the present invention. It is a back perspective view of the goods display shelf which shows the AA line of FIG. It is a principal part expansion perspective view which shows the attachment process of the reader. It is a partially broken longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the BB line of FIG. It is a plane sectional view showing a CC line of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 product display shelf 2 pedestal (electromagnetic shielding material)
2a engagement hole 2b wiring hole 3 shelf board (electromagnetic shielding material)
3a Locking piece 4 Bracket 4a Engaging piece 4b Locking groove 5 Mounting base 5a Cable hole 6 Back plate 8 Horizontal member 9 RFID antenna (reading device)
11 RFID tag 15 Support plate 15a Mounting member 15b Hooking member 15c Engagement piece 16 Relay device (including concentrator and data conversion tuner)
17 Power adapter 18 Communication cable (including power supply cable and signal cable)
19 Article 20 Management computer 21 LAN cable

Claims (5)

  A large number of engaging holes are arranged in the vertical direction on each of the pillars that are separated from each other to the left and right, and the engaging pieces provided at the rear ends of the pair of left and right front and rear brackets are respectively engaged with the engaging holes The product display shelf supporting both sides of the shelf made of electromagnetic shielding material facing in the left-right direction on the bracket of the product to which the RFID tag on which the product information placed on the shelf is recorded is attached A reading device that reads information from an RFID tag is attached to a support plate having engagement pieces that engage with the engagement holes on both the left and right sides, and the height of the support plate can be adjusted with respect to the upper and lower engagement holes. A merchandise display shelf provided with an article information reading device.   The shelf board according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the shelf boards are provided apart from each other vertically, and a support board to which the reading device is attached is attached between each shelf board so as to be appropriately movable in the vertical direction using the engagement holes. Product display shelf comprising a device information reading device.   A back plate made of a non-electromagnetic shielding material is provided between the pedestals, and a plurality of the engagement holes are formed in the vertical direction on the back surface of the pedestal, and supported on the back side of the back plate using the engagement holes. A product display shelf comprising the article information reading device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plate is attached so as to be movable up and down.   At least a central mounting member of the support plate to which the reading device is attached is made of a non-electromagnetic shielding material, and the reading device is separated from the inner side surfaces of the two leg posts made of electromagnetic shielding material by a predetermined distance or more on the attachment member. A merchandise display shelf comprising the article information reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   At least a mounting member at the center of the support plate to which the reading device is attached is made of a non-electromagnetic shielding material, and the hooking member is made of an electromagnetic shielding material in which the reading device is formed at both ends of the support plate. A merchandise display shelf comprising the article information reading device according to claim 1, wherein the article information reading device is provided so as to be separated from an inner surface of the article by a predetermined distance or more.

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