JP4641996B2 - RFID tag manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) method for manufacturing a tag using a radio frequency electromagnetic wave.

  The RFID tag according to the present invention is suitable when mounted on, for example, a filter element product. In that case, after the air filter element for an automobile engine is completed, the RFID tag is attached to the casing of the filter element, and the RFID tag It is possible to manage product traces by reading information from tags with high accuracy.

  In general, an RFID tag incorporates an ID code or equivalent identification information (hereinafter simply referred to as identification information) and other information in an integrated circuit, and performs transmission or transmission and reception to an external communication device ( Hereinafter, the identification information and the like are transmitted. As one of the uses of the RFID tag, a product trace system is known. This trace system is obtained from an RFID tag when an RFID tag and an external communication device communicate with each other when, for example, a manufacturing process or a distribution process is necessary. The manufacturing history and the distribution history of the product on which the RFID tag is mounted are tracked and managed from the information such as the ID code / date data / communication location.

  Especially in the field of automobile parts, the trace system is used for quality control in the manufacturing process, authenticity determination in the distribution process, prevention of incorrect parts during maintenance, feedback when defects occur in the market, management of part recycling history, etc. It is desired to manage the history of used products individually.

  As an invention using an RFID tag for managing the quality and distribution of products (including parts), for example, JP 2005-242659 A (Patent Document 1), JP 2006-3497 A (Patent Document 2). JP, 2005-172153, A (patent document 3), JP, 2005-56362, A (patent document 4), JP, 6-106902, A (patent document 5), JP, 2005-222299, a (patent) Some are disclosed in the literature 6). The contents of the invention disclosed in each publication will be described below.

  Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-242659 (Patent Document 1) discloses an invention in which an RFID tag is attached to a tire wheel which is a kind of automobile part. In a tire wheel made of a metal material, it is important to attach an RFID tag while avoiding the influence of the metal part. In the invention disclosed herein, a recess is provided in the metal part, and the RFID tag is attached to the recess. This problem is addressed by adopting an embedding configuration, placing a high-permeability magnetic body on the base, and fixing the RFID tag with an adhesive.

  Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-3497 (Patent Document 2) discloses an invention for preventing the sensitivity of an RFID tag from being lowered when attached to a metal part. In the present invention, a label technology for mounting an RFID tag portion away from (projecting from) a product is described.

  Furthermore, in the above Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-172153 (Patent Document 3), when attaching an RFID tag to a bearing product mainly composed of a metal material, in order to avoid influence on communication performance by the metal material, An invention for embedding in a non-metallic material portion is described.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-56362 (Patent Document 4) describes an invention of an RFID tag in which a urethane film having a thickness of 0.3 mm or more is formed for the purpose of protecting the RFID tag from external forces.

  JP-A-6-106902 (Patent Document 5) discloses an invention in which a urethane resin is wound in a circumferential shape before coating on a wheel-shaped metal portion in order to improve adhesion between a metal and urethane foam. Are listed.

  Furthermore, in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-222299 (Patent Document 6), a space comparable to the thinness of the RFID tag is provided in the material, and the RFID tag is arranged in the space so that the presence of the RFID tag in appearance. The invention is described so as not to perceive.

JP 2005-242659 A JP 2006-3497 A JP 2005-172153 A JP 2005-56362 A JP-A-6-106902 JP 2005-222299 A

  An air filter element for a large automobile (hereinafter referred to as an air filter element) is a filter body cylinder having a substantially cylindrical shape concentric with the cylindrical reinforcement body inside a cylindrical reinforcement body in which a large number of cylindrical ventilation holes are opened. And the end of the cylindrical reinforcing member is closed with foamed urethane resin. One end of the cylindrical reinforcing body is completely sealed (sealed end), the other is sealed between the cylindrical reinforcing body and the filter body, and the inside of the filter body cylinder is open (open end) (described later). (See FIGS. 3 and 4).

  Thereby, the air suck | inhaled from the ventilation port of a cylindrical reinforcement body is filtered by the filter body, and is exhausted from the inner side of a filter body cylinder. Furthermore, the air filter element is housed in a casing of an air filter, and a pipe through which the intake air is taken from outside the vehicle and a pipe through which the exhaust gas is led to the engine unit are attached.

  If the RFID tag is attached to the inside of the filter body, in the unlikely event that a part falls off, the part may be taken into the engine and cause serious damage. Limited to outside. Furthermore, since the filter body vibrates violently due to pulsation caused by engine intake, it is not suitable for attaching an RFID tag.

  When attaching an RFID tag to the cylindrical reinforcing body, it is necessary to devise a technique for avoiding an adverse effect on wireless communication from the metal material constituting the cylindrical reinforcing body.

  In addition, the difference between the intake pressure and the atmospheric pressure is always applied to the seal at the closed end as an external force, and the reverse pressure due to the pulsation of the engine is also applied. There has been a demand for an invention that does not reduce the strength.

  In the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-242659 (Patent Document 1) described above, in order to avoid adverse effects from the metal material, the high permeability magnetic material is disposed on the base of the RFID tag, but the metal material is a thin plate. In the air filter element constituted by the above, there is no room for installation space, and there has been a demand for a device that avoids the influence of the metal portion without a special base part.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-3497 (Patent Document 2) describes an invention using a label for attaching an RFID tag portion apart (protruding), but the outside of the air filter element is a casing. Therefore, there are severe restrictions on the installation space, and there is a problem that it cannot be applied to air filter element products.

  Furthermore, in the above Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-172153 (Patent Document 3), when an RFID tag is attached to a product mainly composed of a metal material, in order to avoid influence on communication performance by the metal material, non- An invention for attaching to a metal material part is shown. However, although the present invention can be applied to a bearing product in which a large external force is not applied to the non-metallic material portion, there is a problem that it cannot be applied to an air filter element to which an external force is constantly applied.

  Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-56362 (Patent Document 4) describes an invention in which an RFID tag is wrapped with a urethane resin for the purpose of improving flexibility, elasticity, and heat resistance. However, in this invention, since the improvement of durability such as elasticity is carried out only by the coated urethane resin, it is necessary to increase the thickness of the urethane resin layer, and the time-consuming process such as bonding the urethane resin with an adhesive is required. There was a problem that was necessary. For this reason, the invention which only needs simple processes, such as coating, was calculated | required.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-106902 (Patent Document 5) describes an invention in which a urethane resin is wound in a circumferential shape before coating on a wheel-shaped metal portion in order to improve adhesion between a metal and urethane foam. ing. However, the present invention that increases the adhesion by winding it in a circumferential shape is limited to application to ring-shaped products, and has a problem that it cannot be applied to RFID tags or the like. For this reason, an invention that can be applied to fine products such as RFID tags has been desired.

  Furthermore, in JP-A-2005-222299 (Patent Document 6), a space comparable to the thinness of the RFID tag tag is provided in the material, and the RFID tag is arranged in the space, so that the presence of the RFID tag is visually observed. A device that cannot be detected is described. However, in the present invention, the strength can be maintained with respect to the external force of compression, but the strength with respect to the external force of pulling is reduced by the amount of space for the RFID tag, and both external force of pulling and compressing is generated. There was a problem that it could not be applied to the air filter element.

In view of the above problems, the present invention solves problems such as a problem of mounting space and a decrease in strength of the end plate part, which is particularly suitable for mounting on the end plate part of the air filter element, and can be easily mounted. An object is to provide an RFID tag manufacturing method.

The present invention employs the following configuration in order to achieve the above object.
The invention according to claim 1 is an RFID tag manufacturing method for manufacturing an RFID tag using an RFID inlet in which an RFID chip and an antenna are integrated , wherein the RFID chip and the antenna electrically connected to the RFID chip are provided. The process of cleaning and degreasing the integrated RFID inlet , the step of applying non-foamed resin to both front and back surfaces of the RFID inlet, and the RFID inlet having the non-foamed resin applied to both front and back surfaces of the end plate part mold And a step of injecting a resin of the same system as the non-foamed resin into the end plate part mold, and a step of foaming the injected resin.

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an RFID tag manufacturing method for manufacturing an RFID tag that does not require a special mounting space, does not decrease the strength of the end plate, and can be easily mounted.

Applying the present invention , for example, at the time of molding an end plate portion of a foamed urethane resin of an air filter element for an internal combustion engine, by embedding and molding an RFID tag coated with a non-foamed urethane resin, the end of the foamed urethane resin is used. Without causing a decrease in the strength of the plate part, avoiding adverse effects from the metal material part, not subject to severe spatial constraints between the air filter element and the casing, and without causing unstable mounting due to the release agent, it is stable. Highly sensitive communication is realized.

First, an air filter element for large automobiles (hereinafter referred to as an air filter element), which is one of target products (RFID tag mounting products) to which the present invention is applied, will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the filter element 0301.
As shown in the figure, a filter element 0301 according to the present invention includes a cylindrical reinforcement body 0304 having a large number of air intake holes on the side surface of a cylindrical metal cylinder, and both ends (one end is not shown) of the cylindrical reinforcement body 0304. 2) and an end plate portion 0302 that holds an internal filter body and forms an air flow path.

  The end plate portion 0302 is made of a flexible and lightweight resin such as a foaming urethane resin.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a cross section of the filter element 0301.
As shown in the figure, the cylindrical reinforcement body 0304 of the filter element 0301 has a large number of intake holes from which intake air 0403 flows. A filter body 0402 is disposed inside the cylindrical reinforcing body 0304, and its upper end is sealed with a (disc-shaped) end plate portion 0302, and its lower end is sealed with an annular end plate portion 0401. The intake air 0403 is filtered by the filter body 0402, sucked into the filter body 0402, and exhausted 0404 as clean air from the inside of the filter body 0402.

Next, the definition of the RFID tag will be described.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an RFID inlet 0801 serving as a nucleus of the RFID tag.
As shown in the figure, a combination of an RFID chip 0802, an antenna 0803 connected to the RFID chip 0802, and a base material 0804 on which the RFID chip and the antenna are integrally mounted is combined with an RFID inlet (or simply This is called an RFID (inlet) 0801, and the RFID inlet 0801 with a utility such as a protective transparent film or an adhesive for attachment is called an RFID tag, and a product to which the RFID tag is attached is called an RFID tag mounting product.

  In FIG. 4, if a component such as an RFID tag is dropped inside the filter body 0402, the component may be taken into the engine and cause serious damage. It is limited to the outside of the filter body 0402. Furthermore, since the filter body 0402 vibrates violently due to pulsation caused by engine intake, it is not preferable for attaching an RFID tag.

  When attaching an RFID tag to the cylindrical reinforcing member, it is necessary to devise measures to avoid the adverse effect on radio communication from metal materials, but the filter element 0301 is further housed in a casing (not shown). In addition, there is no dimensional allowance outside the cylindrical reinforcing body portion (between the metal cylindrical portion and the casing). For this reason, it can be seen that the attachment position of the RFID tag is limited to the end plate portion 0302 or 0401 of the filter element.

  In this case, it is sufficient that the RFID tag can be embedded in the end plate portion of the filter element. Furthermore, if the RFID tag can be embedded at the time of forming the end plate portion with the urethane foam resin, the manufacturing process of the filter element with the RFID tag can be shortened.

  However, in the prototype carried out by the inventors of the present application, if the RFID tag is embedded when forming the end plate portion of the filter element, the strength of the end plate portion is reduced, which is caused by intake / exhaust of the filter element and pulsation from the engine. It has been clarified that the problem that the end plate portion breaks due to the pressure and vibration occurs.

  This is because a discontinuous region having a low strength is generated on the surface portion of the embedded RFID tag, and stress concentration occurs in the discontinuous region to reduce the strength of the end plate portion. It was inferred from the breaking situation of the work.

The present invention has been made to cope with the above situation. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a view showing an RFID tag 0101 according to the present invention.
As shown in the figure, an RFID tag 0101 according to the present invention includes a central RFID inlet 0102 and two non-foaming urethane resin sheets 0103 (lower side) and 0104 (lower side) sandwiching the RFID inlet 0102 from above and below. Upper side).

  The RFID inlet 0102 and the non-foamable urethane resin sheets 0103 and 0104 are bonded together with a rubber adhesive having excellent flexibility and strength even after curing. In FIG. 1, the non-foaming urethane resin sheets 0103 and 0104 are attached to the RFID inlet 0101. However, even if the non-foaming urethane resin is directly applied to the RFID tag 0101 and dried and cured. Good.

  FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of an end plate portion 0302 formed by embedding an RFID tag 0101 according to the present invention.

  Next, the principle and mechanism by which the strength of the end plate portion 0302 does not decrease when the RFID tag 0101 according to the present invention is embedded in the seal portion 0302 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view schematically showing the situation of the boundary surface when the RFID inlet 0102 not coated with the non-foamed urethane resin is embedded in the foamed urethane resin 0501 forming the end plate portion 0302. is there.

  As shown in the drawing, an adhesive structure 0504 between the RFID inlet 0102 and the urethane foam resin 0501 is formed at a location where a bubble partition 0503 portion where the bubbles 0502 in the foamed urethane resin 0501 are in contact with each other contacts the RFID inlet 0102. Since the foamed urethane resin 0501 occupies most of the volume, the volume of the bubble partition wall 0503 is small. As a result, the contact area between the RFID inlet 0102 and the bubble partition wall 0503 in the adhesive structure 0504 is also small.

Generally, the strength of the adhesive structure is represented by the following formula.
(Adhesive strength) = (Adhesive strength per unit area) × (Adhesive area)

In the case of FIG.
(Adhesive strength between foamed urethane resin and RFID inlet)
= (Adhesive force between foamed urethane resin and RFID inlet) x (Adhesive area between foamed urethane resin and inlet)
It becomes.

  Therefore, in the case of FIG. 5, it can be seen that a small adhesion area between the foamed urethane resin 0501 and the RFID inlet 0102 (= contact area between the RFID inlet 0102 and the bubble partition wall 0503) causes a decrease in adhesion strength.

  FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view schematically showing the situation of the boundary surface when an RFID tag 0101 formed by applying non-foamed urethane resin 0601 to RFID inlet 0102 is embedded in foamed urethane resin 0501. .

  An adhesion structure 0604 between the RFID tag 0101 and the urethane foam resin 0501 is formed at a location where a bubble partition 0503 portion where the bubbles 0502 in the urethane foam resin 0501 are in contact with each other is in contact with the non-foamed urethane resin 0601 applied to the RFID tag 0101. Yes.

  The non-foamed urethane resin and the foamed urethane resin, which are the same urethane resin, are well-familiar with each other, so that the bubble partition wall spreads on the non-foamed urethane resin, and as a result, the adhesive structure formed by the RFID tag 0101 and the foamed urethane resin 0501 Then, compared with the case of the said FIG.

(Adhesion area between urethane foam resin and RFID tag shown in FIG. 6)> (Adhesion area between urethane resin and RFID inlet shown in FIG. 5)
Therefore, the adhesive strength between the foamed urethane resin and the RFID tag in the case of FIG. 6 is larger than the adhesive strength between the foamed urethane resin and the RFID inlet in the case of FIG. 5, and the strength obtained by embedding the RFID tag in the end plate portion. Can be greatly reduced.

  In the case of FIG. 6, an adhesive structure 0605 between the RFID inlet 0102 and the non-foamed urethane resin 0601 is formed inside the RFID tag 0101. However, in the case of a non-foamed urethane resin to an RFID inlet, the bonding area is very large, and a decrease in bonding strength is not a problem.

  By the above principle / mechanism, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a discontinuous region having a low strength in the surface portion of the RFID tag 0101 embedded in the foamed urethane resin 0501 (the non-foamed urethane resin 0601 is applied to the RFID inlet 0102). In addition, a decrease in strength of the end plate portion can be greatly reduced.

  The structure of the RFID tag according to the present invention is not limited to the application to the air filter element for an internal combustion engine used in the above description, but a foamable resin such as foam rubber of a door packing of a refrigerator or a sponge of a mattress is used. The present invention can be applied to all cases where an RFID tag is incorporated and molded in a product to be used.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a case where the present invention is applied to a recycled tire. As shown in the figure, when a tire 1501 for an automobile or the like is regenerated, the regenerated product can be traced by attaching a removable RFID tag 1502 to a part of the tire 1501. This idea can also be applied to any other product that may be recycled and reused.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the RFID tag manufacturing method according to the present invention (procedure for manufacturing the end plate portion in which the RFID tag is embedded).
As shown in the figure, the end plate portion in which the RFID tag according to the present invention is embedded has an RFID inlet cleaning / degreasing process (step ST0702) for improving adhesion to a non-foamed urethane resin, and the front and back sides of the RFID inlet. Application of non-foamed urethane resin on both sides (step ST0703), drying of non-foamed urethane resin (step ST0704), and introduction of RFID tags (RFID inlets with non-foamed resin applied on both front and back sides ) to the end plate part mold ( Step ST0705) and urethane resin injection into the end plate part mold (step ST0706) and end plate part urethane resin foaming process (step 0707) are completed (step ST0708). Since the process of step ST0704 is generally a solidification process of a non-foaming material, when using a thermoplastic material, step ST0704 is a cooling process.

  In the above-described embodiment, the air filter element for automobiles, particularly large automobiles, has been described as an example. However, the RFID tag mounting product according to the present invention is not limited to automobile parts, and is peeled off when foamed resin is molded. The present invention can also be applied to a product in which an agent is used, for example, a trace system for parts of home appliances such as an air conditioner and a vacuum cleaner.

It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the RFID tag which concerns on this invention. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the product (end plate part) which mounts the RFID tag by embodiment shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of a filter element. It is a schematic sectional drawing of a filter element. It is an expanded sectional view explaining the adhesion structure of the conventional RFID tag (RFID inlet itself) and an end plate part. It is an expanded sectional view explaining the adhesion structure of the RFID tag and end plate part in the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process which manufactures the end plate part which embedded the RFID tag which concerns on this invention. It is a front view which shows schematic structure of a RFID inlet. It is a figure which shows the condition which applied the RFID tag which concerns on this invention to the reproduction | regeneration tire.

Explanation of symbols

0101: RFID tag 0102: RFID inlet 0103, 0104: Non-foaming urethane resin sheet 0301: Filter element 0302: End plate portion 0304: Cylindrical reinforcement 0401: End plate portion 0402: Filter body 0403: Intake 0404: Exhaust 0501: Urethane foam resin 0502: Bubbles in urethane foam 0503: Bubble partition wall 0504: Adhesive structure between RFID inlet and urethane foam resin 0601: Non-foam urethane resin 0604: Adhesion structure between RFID tag and urethane foam resin 0605: RFID inlet to non-foam Adhesive structure between urethane resins 0801: RFID inlet 0802: RFID chip 0803: Antenna 0804: Base material 1501: Recycled tire 1502: RFID tag

Claims (1)

An RFID tag manufacturing method for manufacturing an RFID tag using an RFID inlet in which an RFID chip and an antenna are integrated ,
A process of cleaning and degreasing an RFID inlet in which an RFID chip and an antenna electrically connected to the RFID chip are integrated , a process of applying a non-foamed resin to both front and back surfaces of the RFID inlet, A step of introducing an RFID inlet coated with a non-foamed resin into an end plate part mold, a step of injecting a resin of the same system as the non-foamed resin into the end plate part mold, and foaming the injected resin An RFID tag manufacturing method comprising the step of:

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