JP4993570B2 - Article transport management system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport destination information recording tag and an article transport management system, and more specifically, by attaching a transport destination information recording tag that records transport destination information for transporting the article to transport means for transporting the article collectively. The present invention relates to a transport destination information recording tag for associating each product with a transport destination and an article transport management system.

  In recent years, new information recording media called IC cards are widely available on the market. The IC card is a generic name for a readable / writable recording medium having a card-like or sheet-like shape such as a credit card, a bank card, or a point card, and having an IC incorporated in or on the card. In particular, the non-contact type IC card is often used as a commuter pass or a prepaid card used when entering or leaving a station of a transportation facility such as a railway. Further, as a kind of non-contact type IC card, there is an RF (Radio Frequency) tag that is structurally the same as the non-contact type IC card and records management information relating to an identification number and history information. As a type of tag, a non-contact type RF tag (hereinafter simply referred to as an RF tag) used for classifying and managing mail items or packages is known.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when a plurality of articles 43 mounted on the cart 42 are transported to the same transport destination, an RF tag 200 in which the management information of the articles is recorded is attached to each article. Then, in order to record the information of the transport destination on the RF tag 200, the information is recorded on the RF tag 200 by manually operating the PC 50 when passing in the direction of the arrow A in the cart unit and passing through the gate 40. The destination information is recorded on each RF tag 200 based on the article information. Alternatively, there may be a case where the transport destination is not recorded in the RF tag 200 simply by pasting a paper describing the transport destination in a cart unit.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation when the transport destination is recorded on the RF tag 200. The management information of each article is recorded and prepared in advance in the article tag 200, and the article tag 200 is attached to each article (S11). Then, the articles at the same transport destination are mounted on one cart 42 and transported in the direction of arrow A. When the cart 42 reaches the gate 40 (S12), the operator looks at the display unit of the PC 50, confirms which conveyance destination the article is, inputs the conveyance destination from the operation unit, and uses the reader / writer 100. The destination information is written in all article tags 200 (S13).

As a conventional technique, Patent Document 1 discloses an RFID tag attached to an article and storing management information related to the article, a reader / writer that reads / writes management information from / to the RFID tag, and a control unit that controls the reader / writer, The control means associates and stores an identification code from the management information read by the reader / writer, and stores the associated identification code in the storage area of the RFID tag, thereby attaching the RFID tag. An article management system for associating different articles is disclosed.
JP 2005-272136 A

However, in the conventional method shown in FIG. 9, the transport destination of the article group 43 transported by the cart 42 must be manually entered and recorded on the article tag 200, and the operation is complicated. There is a problem that there is a possibility that the transport destination may be recorded by mistake due to human error. Further, when pasting a paper describing a transport destination, there is a problem that the transport destination of the article becomes unclear after the paper is lost or the article is dropped from the cart 42.
In the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the PC associates documents, all the identification codes of each document are temporarily stored, the identification codes of the holder are associated with those identification codes, and There is a problem that the identification code must be recorded on the tag, and the operation of the PC becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem. In order to associate the transport destination information with an article transported to the same transport destination, the transport apparatus includes one transport destination information recording tag for each article group. Transport that automatically reads the transport destination information recorded on the information recording tag and records it collectively on the product tag of the product group, thereby clarifying the transport destination of each product and realizing automated product management An object is to provide a destination information recording tag and an article transport management system.

In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides a non-contact information recording medium in which transport destination information of an article to be attached is recorded, a tag main body that supports the non-contact information recording medium, and the tag main body. A transport destination information recording tag including a transport destination display unit that is provided in a proper place and displays the transport destination information so that the transport destination information can be visually recognized; an article attached with a non-contact information recording medium on which information on the article is recorded; A transport unit that transports a destination information recording tag; a reader / writer device that reads and writes the transport destination information and information related to the article; and a control unit that controls the reader / writer device, the control unit including the transport unit The transport destination information is read from the transport destination information recording tag transported by the information, and the transport destination information is recorded on a non-contact information recording medium on which information on the article is recorded. To.
As a precondition of the present invention, the transport destinations of articles transported by the same transport means are all the same. Accordingly, the transport destination information recorded on the transport destination information recording tag transported by the transport means is read by the reader / writer device, and the transport destination information is unconditionally recorded on the non-contact information recording medium on which information about the article is recorded. Is. As a result, the same transport destination information is recorded on the non-contact information recording medium attached to each article, and the articles are associated with each other. Thereby, articles | goods are automatically linked | related by the conveyance destination information of the conveyance destination information recording tag conveyed by the conveyance means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the case where the transport destination information cannot be read by the reader / writer device, the control means notifies that fact and transports recorded on a non-contact information recording medium on which information on the article is recorded. The prior information is erased.
Attaching the transport destination information recording tag to the transport means is artificially performed. Therefore, you may forget to install. In addition, there is a case where the transport destination information recording tag fails and the transport destination information recorded therein cannot be read correctly by the reader / writer device. In addition, there is a possibility that the transport destination information recorded last time is recorded on the non-contact information recording medium on which information about the article is recorded. In such a case, if the transport destination information cannot be read correctly by the reader / writer device, there is a possibility that the transport destination information recorded last time remains and the transport destination information is transported to the wrong transport destination. Accordingly, in the present invention, in order to avoid this, when the transport destination information cannot be read correctly by the reader / writer device, the transport destination information recorded on the non-contact information recording medium is erased. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the article from being conveyed to the wrong conveyance destination.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the transport destination information is recorded on a non-contact information recording medium on which information on the article is recorded, the control means overwrites the transport destination information previously recorded.
There is a possibility that the transport destination information recorded last time is recorded on the non-contact information recording medium on which the information on the article is recorded. Accordingly, when recording new transport destination information, it is necessary to prevent the previous information from remaining. Therefore, in the present invention, the new transport destination information is overwritten on the previous information. As a result, it is possible to always rewrite the new transport destination information.

According to the present invention, the transport destination information recording tag, the transport unit transporting the transport destination information recording tag with the non-contact information recording medium on which the information regarding the transport article is recorded, the transport destination information and the information regarding the transport article are stored A reader / writer device for reading and writing; and a control unit for controlling the reader / writer device. The control unit reads the transport destination information from the transport destination information recording tag transported by the transport unit, and the transport destination information is stored as information on the article. Since recording is performed on the recorded non-contact information recording medium, it is possible to clarify the transport destination of each article and to automate article management.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. However, the components, types, combinations, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like described in this embodiment are merely illustrative examples and not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only unless otherwise specified. .
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a general reader / writer. The reader / writer 100 is controlled by a PC 50 that exchanges data with the reader / writer 100 and controls the entire system. The reader / writer 100 includes a transmission / reception device 1 that controls a data communication protocol with an external PC 50, a control device 2 that controls the operation of the entire reader / writer 100, firmware that records a procedure for operating the control device 2, and read data A memory device 3 for storing data, a modulator 4 for modulating data from the control device 2 on a carrier wave, an input device 5 for inputting an operation command, and a display device 6 for displaying information controlled by the control device 2 A power amplifier 7 that amplifies the power supply signal that is an AC signal from the control device 2 and a write command from the modulator 4, and a detector demodulator 8 that converts the carrier wave received from the antenna 9 into binary data. And a power carrier wave and an antenna 9 for exchanging data with an RF tag (not shown).

  Next, before describing the operation of the reader / writer 100 according to this configuration, the configuration of the RF tag (non-contact information recording medium) will be described first. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the RF tag. The RF tag 200 receives an antenna 20 that transmits / receives data by a power carrier wave from the reader / writer 100, a transmission / reception circuit 21 that generates a write command read command, and a power carrier wave from the antenna 20, and rectifies it. A power generation circuit 22 that converts the power into DC power, a memory device 23 that manages control firmware and data, a modulator 24 that modulates a transmission command from the control circuit 26 with a carrier wave, and a transmission / reception circuit 21 It comprises a detector 25 that converts carrier wave data into binary data, and a control circuit 26 that controls the overall operation of the RF tag 200.

  Next, each operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 together. When a power supply (not shown) is turned on, the reader / writer 100 starts an operation according to a program stored in the memory device 3 after the initial operation of the control device 2. First, initialization is performed. Next, the control device 2 alternately transmits a power supply signal supplied to the RF tag 200 and a polling signal from the power amplifier 7. The signal is radiated to the outside as an electromagnetic wave from the antenna 9. Next, when the RF tag 200 comes close to the reader / writer 100, the antenna 20 receives the power supply signal, and the power generation circuit 22 rectifies the carrier wave to convert it into DC power. Supply to the circuit. When power is supplied and the control circuit 26 is driven, control is started in accordance with a program stored in the memory device 23.

  Next, the control circuit 26 first demodulates the command from the transmission / reception circuit 21 by the detector 25, converts it to a binary signal, and analyzes the command. As a result, when it is recognized that it is called, the response is modulated by the modulator 24 and transmitted from the antenna 20 via the transmission / reception circuit 21. The reader / writer 100 receives this response with the antenna 9, converts it into a binary code with the detector demodulator 8, analyzes it with the control circuit 2, and recognizes that the RF tag 200 is an RF tag conforming to the standard. Accordingly, polling is performed between the reader / writer 100 and the RF tag 200 thereafter.

  FIG. 3 is an external configuration diagram of the transport destination information recording tag according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The transport destination information recording tag 60 includes an RF tag (non-contact information recording medium) 200 (see FIG. 2) that records transport destination information of an article, a tag body 31 that supports the RF tag 200, and a surface of the tag body 31. A transport destination display board (transport destination display section) 32 and a transparent cover 33 are provided. In the present embodiment, the transport destination display plate 32 displays the transport destination recorded on the RF tag 200 so that it can be visually confirmed (in this example, “Tokyo” is displayed). Further, when the transport destination is changed, in order to change the contents of the transport destination display plate 32, for example, the transport destination display plate 32 is configured to be detachable so that it can be inserted into a case-like groove, A take-out groove 35 is provided to facilitate the take-out. The tag body 31 is made of a resin member other than metal so as not to interfere with radio waves between the RF tag 200 and a reader / writer (not shown). In the present embodiment, the RF tag 200 is embedded in the tag main body 31. However, the RF tag 200 may be detachable. Although the present embodiment has been described as the transport destination information recording tag in which the transport destination information is recorded on the RF tag 200, the specific information is not limited to the transport destination information, and the article and the specific information are associated with each other. I do not care. For example, as the specific information, the price of the article, the place of production, or information indicating that these articles are rejected products deviating from the inspection standard can be considered.

  That is, in general, a manufacturer or the like usually transports the product in a returnable box in order to protect the article and to unify the package shape. These returnable boxes are mounted on a cart or the like for each transport destination and are collected at a collection place. In this embodiment, when a transport destination is determined for each cart, a transport destination information recording tag 60 for instructing the transport destination of the cart is placed on an article mounted on the cart. The tag body 31 includes a transport destination display plate 32 so that the transport destination information can be read as an electric signal, and the transport destination information recording tag 60 has a transport destination display function. Thereby, while being able to confirm a conveyance destination visually, conveyance destination information can be managed as an electrical signal. Further, the transport destination information recording tag 60 can be used any number of times by changing the transport destination information recorded in the RF tag 200. At that time, it is necessary that the transport destination information and the content of the transport destination display board 32 match. Therefore, in this embodiment, the transport destination display board itself is configured to be detachable in order to change the contents of the transport destination display board 32 when the transport destination information is changed. This makes it easy to always match the destination information and the contents of the destination display board 32.

  FIG. 4 is an external configuration diagram of a transport destination information recording tag according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same components are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. FIG. 4 differs from FIG. 3 in that magnetic sheets (magnetic members: attachments) 36 are provided on both sides of the back surface of the tag main body 31. That is, carts and the like are often made of a strong metal. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the magnetic sheet 36 is provided to attract the transport destination information recording tag 61 to the metal part. Thereby, when the cart is made of metal, the transport destination information recording tag 61 can be attached to an arbitrary place.

  FIG. 5 is an external configuration diagram of a transport destination information recording tag according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The same components are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. FIG. 5 differs from FIG. 3 in that a mounting bracket 37 is provided on the upper back of the tag main body 31. That is, if the cart is not made of metal, it must be attached to the cart by a method other than magnetic members. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the mounting bracket 37 is provided on the upper back surface of the tag main body 31. Accordingly, the transport destination information recording tag 62 can be attached regardless of the material of the cart.

  In the above description, the transport destination information recorded inside the RF tag 200 can be rewritten by the reader / writer. However, for example, when the transport destination is fixed, it is safe to prevent the transport destination information recorded on the RF tag 200 from being fixedly rewritten. Therefore, by configuring the RF tag 200 with a read-only medium, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the destination information is erroneously rewritten.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of an article transport management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The article transport management system 70 includes, for example, a transport destination information recording tag 60 illustrated in FIG. 3, a plurality of articles 43 attached with an RF tag 200 on which information related to the articles is recorded, a plurality of articles 43 and a transport destination information record. A cart (conveying means) 42 that conveys the tag 60, a gate antenna 40 that exchanges radio waves with the conveyance destination information recording tag 60 and the RF tag 200 when the cart 42 passes, the conveyance destination information, and information about each article 43 Is configured to include a reader / writer 100 that reads / writes and a PC (control means) 50 that controls the reader / writer 100. In this embodiment, the transport destination information recording tag 60 placed on the article of FIG. 3 is used as the transport destination information recording tag, but the transport destination information recording tags 61 and 62 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are also used. I do not care. In addition, the gate antenna 40 is provided with an alarm 41 that notifies an alarm.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. For example, a plurality of transport destination information recording tags 60 (transport destinations P, Q, R, S, T, U) having different transport destination information are prepared in advance, and all articles 43 loaded on the cart 42 are transported first. When the destination is P, the transport destination information recording tag 60 in which the transport destination information P is recorded is placed on the article 43. At this time, information (for example, an article name, a manufacturing date, etc.) regarding each article is recorded on the RF tag 200 attached to each article. In this state, an operator (not shown) transports the cart 42 to the gate antenna 40. The reader / writer 100 may operate by detecting the proximity of the cart 42 or may always emit radio waves. In any case, when the cart 42 approaches the gate antenna 40, the reader / writer 100 reads the transport destination information P from the transport destination information recording tag 60 and transmits it to the PC 50. The PC 50 continuously records the destination information P on all the RF tags 200 while communicating with each RF tag 200 with respect to the reader / writer 100.

  As described above, as a precondition of the present invention, the transport destinations of the articles 43 transported by the same cart 42 are all the same. Accordingly, the transport destination information P recorded in the transport destination information recording tag 60 transported by the cart 42 is read by the reader / writer 100, and the transport destination information P is unconditionally recorded in the RF tag 200 in which information about the article 43 is recorded. To record. As a result, the same transport destination information P is recorded on the RF tag 200 attached to each article 43, and the articles 43 are associated with each other. Thus, the articles 43 are automatically associated with each other by the transport destination information P of the transport destination information recording tag 60 transported by the cart 42.

Further, attaching the transport destination information recording tag 60 to the cart 42 is manually performed. Therefore, you may forget to install. Further, the transport destination information P recorded inside because the transport destination information recording tag 60 has failed may not be read correctly by the reader / writer 100. In addition, the transport destination information recorded last time may be recorded in the RF tag 200 in which information related to the article 43 is recorded. In such a case, if the transport destination information P cannot be read correctly by the reader / writer 100, there is a possibility that the transport destination information recorded last time remains and the transport destination information P is transported to the wrong transport destination. Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to avoid this, when the transport destination information P cannot be read correctly by the reader / writer 100, the transport destination information recorded on the RF tag 200 is erased. As a result, the article 43 can be prevented from being conveyed to the wrong conveyance destination.
In addition, there is a possibility that the transport destination information recorded last time is recorded in the RF tag 200 in which information related to the article is recorded. Accordingly, when new transport destination information P is recorded, the new transport destination information P is overwritten on the previous information so that the previous information does not remain. As a result, it is possible to always rewrite the new transport destination information P.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining how the destination information in the RF tag is updated by the article transport management system of the present invention. The left side of the figure represents the state before passing through the gate antenna 40, and the right side of the figure represents the state after passing through the gate antenna 40. Further, the article information 65 represents n = 1 for the first time transported by the same cart 42, and represents each article as A-1 to d-1. In this example, description will be made up to the sixth time (n = 6). Further, in the transport destination information 66, transport destination information is displayed in alphabets.
First, the operation in the first transport state will be described. The article information 65 before passing through the gate antenna 40 is A-1, B-1, C-1, D-1, a-1, b-1, c-1, d-1, and transport destination information 66. The transport destination information (F, E, P, X, Y, Y, Y, C) recorded last time is recorded in the. Thereafter, when the cart 42 approaches the gate antenna 40, the reader / writer 100 reads the transport destination information P recorded in the transport destination information recording tag 60 and overwrites the information on the transport destination information 68. As a result, the article information 67 is the same, and the transport destination information (F, E, P, X, Y, Y, Y, C) 68 recorded last time is newly written in P.

  Next, the operation in the second conveyance state will be described. Since the transport destination of the transport destination information recording tag 60 is Q at the second time, the transport destination information recording tag 60 is changed. Naturally, the transport destination Q is displayed on the transport destination display board. The article information 65 before passing through the gate antenna 40 is A-2, B-2, C-2,... D-2, and the transport destination information 66 (the transport destination information recorded last time ( G, H, P... X) are recorded. Thereafter, when the cart 42 approaches the gate antenna 40, the reader / writer 100 reads the transport destination information Q recorded in the transport destination information recording tag 60 and overwrites the information on the transport destination information 68. As a result, the article information 67 is the same, and the transport destination information (G, H, P... X) recorded last time is newly rewritten to Q. In the following, description will be made on the assumption that the operation is completed up to the fifth time and an abnormal operation occurs at the sixth time. The operation so far is a case where the transport destination information recorded in the transport destination information recording tag 60 is correctly read. For example, if the transport destination information recording tag 60 is forgotten to be placed on the article 43 at the sixth time. Then, the article information 65 before passing through the gate antenna 40 is A-6,... D-6, and the transport destination information 66 includes the transport destination information (J,... K) recorded last time. It is recorded. After that, when the cart 42 comes close to the gate antenna 40, the information on the transport destination information recording tag 60 cannot be read. Therefore, the alarm 41 is notified by the alarm device 41, and all the transport destination information 66 is deleted. As a result, the article information 67 is the same, and the transport destination information (J,... K) recorded last time is erased and can be prevented from being transported to the wrong transport destination.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the article transport management system according to the embodiment of the present invention. This will be described with reference to FIG. A plurality of transport destination information recording tags 60 (transport destinations are P, Q, R, S, T, U) having different transport destination information are prepared in advance, and the transport destination information is recorded in each transport destination information recording tag 60. (S1). Next, when all the transport destinations of the articles 43 loaded on the cart 42 are P, the transport destination information recording tag 60 in which the transport destination information P is recorded is placed on the articles 43 (S2). At this time, information (for example, an article name, a manufacturing date, etc.) regarding each article is recorded on the RF tag 200 attached to each article. In this state, an operator (not shown) carries the cart 42 to the gate antenna 40 (S3). The reader / writer 100 may operate by detecting the proximity of the cart 42 or may always emit radio waves. In any case, when the cart 42 comes close to the gate antenna 40, the reader / writer 100 reads the transport destination information P from the transport destination information recording tag 60 and transmits it to the PC 50 to check whether the PC 50 has been read correctly (S4). When it is confirmed that the reading is correct (YES in S4), the PC 50 continues to communicate with each RF tag 200 to the reader / writer 100 and records the transport destination information P in all the RF tags 200 (S5). On the other hand, when the transport destination information P cannot be read from the transport destination information recording tag 60 in step S4 (NO in S4), an alarm is notified by the alarm device 41 (S6), and the transport destination information recorded in the RF tag 200 is recorded. Are all deleted (S7).

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a general reader / writer. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of RF tag. It is an external appearance block diagram of the conveyance destination information recording tag which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an external appearance block diagram of the conveyance destination information recording tag which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is an external appearance block diagram of the conveyance destination information recording tag which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic structure figure of an article conveyance management system concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining a mode that the conveyance destination information in RF tag is updated by the article | item conveyance management system of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the article | item conveyance management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the conventional article conveyance management system. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the conventional article conveyance management system.

Explanation of symbols

  31 Tag body, 32 Transport destination display board, 33 Transparent cover, 35 Takeout groove, 40 Gate antenna, 42 Cart, 43 Article, 50 PC, 60 Transport destination information recording tag, 70 Article transport management system, 100 Reader / writer, 200 RF tag

Claims (3)

A non-contact information recording medium that records transport destination information of an article to be attached, a tag main body that supports the non-contact information recording medium, and a transport that is provided at an appropriate position of the tag main body and that displays the transport destination information in a visible manner. A destination information recording tag provided with a destination display unit, an article attached with a non-contact information recording medium on which information on the article is recorded, a transport means for transporting the transport destination information recording tag, the transport destination information, A reader / writer device that reads and writes information on the article, and a control unit that controls the reader / writer device,
The control unit reads transport destination information from the transport destination information recording tag transported by the transport unit, and records the transport destination information on a non-contact information recording medium on which information on the article is recorded. Goods conveyance management system. When the transport destination information cannot be read by the reader / writer device, the control means notifies the fact and erases the transport destination information recorded on the non-contact information recording medium on which the information on the article is recorded. The article transport management system according to claim 1 . Wherein, when recording the transport destination information to the non-contact information recording medium in which information about the article is recorded, in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that overwriting the transport destination information previously recorded The article conveyance management system as described.

Images