JP5374191B2 - Non-contact ID tag - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a noncontact ID tag which is suitably attached to a lengthy target article. <P>SOLUTION: The noncontact ID tag 1 includes an annular casing 3 having an annular closed hollow part 4 and fixed to a lengthy target article while externally fitting thereon; an annular rotator 5 housed in the hollow part 4 so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction of the hollow part 4; an identification information recording part 6 for recording identification information in a readable manner, which is fixed to the rotator; and a weight 7 which is fixed to the rotator 5 to hold the position of the rotator 5 so that the lengthy target article is located below the rotator 5 while being transversely disposed to thereby hold the recording part 6 at a predetermined angle position within the hollow part 4. In this noncontact ID tag 1, since the position of the recording part 6 is constant while the target article is transversely disposed, reading of the identification information is easily performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a non-contact type ID tag attached to a long article.

  Non-contact ID tags are being introduced in a wide range of fields such as transportation / leisure, logistics, security, factory production, environment, and others. Non-contact type ID tags include an RFID tag that reads identification information by radio wave communication and an optical ID tag that optically reads identification information. The RFID tag usually includes an RFID inlet in which an IC chip for recording identification information and an antenna are integrated. When reading the identification information, the reader is brought close to the RFID inlet and placed between the RFID inlet and the reader. Perform radio wave communication. Many of the RFID tags can also write identification information. On the other hand, the optical ID tag records identification information as an optical code such as a bar code or a two-dimensional code. When reading the identification information, scanning is performed with the reader close to the optical code.

  The conventional non-contact type ID tag is attached to the target article by being affixed to or wound around the target article. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a base material sheet sandwiching an RFID inlet is attached to a target article. Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which a base material sheet provided with an RFID inlet is looped and wound around a target article.

JP 2006-227670 A JP 2008-299603 A

  By the way, long articles such as water pipes, gas pipes, and heat exchange pipes for air conditioning are generally stored, transported, and installed in a horizontal orientation. It is required to attach ID tags and perform various management. However, when a non-contact type ID tag is attached to such a long article, the position of the RFID inlet or the optical code is not constant. Therefore, it takes time to bring the reader close to the RFID inlet or the optical code, and the identification information is read. It took time. For example, in the case of a configuration in which a non-contact ID tag is affixed to a target article as in Patent Document 1, the non-contact ID tag rotates with the rotation of a long target article. In this case, the target article must be rotated to bring the RFID inlet or the optical code to an appropriate position, or the reader must be moved in accordance with the position of the RFID inlet or the optical code. Further, in the case of a configuration in which the target article is loosely wound like the non-contact type ID tag of Patent Document 2, the non-contact type ID tag is not fixed to the target article and moves in the longitudinal direction of the target article. Therefore, when reading the identification information, the ID tag must be moved or the reader must be moved in the longitudinal direction of the target article. In such a case, the non-contact type ID tag may fall off from the end of the target article.

  This invention is made | formed in view of this present condition, and aims at provision of the non-contact-type ID tag suitable for attaching to a long target article.

  The present invention has an annular closed hollow portion, and is fixed to the long target article in an externally fitted state, and can be rotated in the circumferential direction of the hollow portion in the hollow portion. A ring-shaped rotating body housed in the disk, identification information is recorded so as to be readable, and is fixed to the rotating body, and is fixed to the rotating body so that the fixed portion is the long object. A non-contact type ID tag comprising: a weight that holds a position of the rotating body so as to be below the rotating body and holds the identification information recording portion at a predetermined angular position in the hollow portion in a state in which the article is in a landscape orientation It is.

  Since such a non-contact type ID tag is fixed to the target article, it does not move in the longitudinal direction of the target article and is held at a certain position. Further, such a non-contact type ID tag rotates together with the target article. If the target article is sideways, the rotating body accommodated in the hollow portion is always held in the same posture in the hollow portion by the action of the weight, and the rotating body The identification information recording unit fixed to is always held at the same angular position. Thus, in the non-contact type ID tag of the present invention, the identification information recording unit is held at a fixed position in both the longitudinal direction and the rotation direction of the target article. When reading the identification information, the position of the identification information recording unit can be easily specified, and the reading operation can be performed quickly.

  In the present invention, it is proposed that the identification information recording unit is an RFID inlet in which an IC chip on which identification information is recorded and an antenna are integrated. In such a configuration, since the position of the RFID inlet is fixed in a state where the target article is in the horizontal direction, the positioning of the RFID inlet and the reading device is facilitated, and labor for reading the identification information can be saved.

  In the present invention, it is proposed that the identification information recording unit is an optical code, the annular housing is at least partially transparent, and the optical code can be read from outside the annular housing. In such a configuration, since the alignment of the optical code and the reading device is facilitated in a state where the target article is in the landscape orientation, the identification information can be quickly read from outside the annular housing.

  The non-contact ID tag of the present invention does not move in the longitudinal direction of the target article when attached to a long target article, and the angular position of the identification information recording unit is in a state where the target article is in a landscape orientation. Is held constant. For this reason, when reading the identification information, it is sufficient to bring the reading device close to the same position of the target article from the same direction. For this reason, when the alignment between the reading device and the identification information recording unit is performed manually, such labor is reduced, and when the alignment is performed automatically, the device can be simplified.

  The non-contact type ID tag according to the present invention can simplify the positioning of the reading device and the identification information recording unit during the reading operation of the identification information. Therefore, the pipe embedded in the basement, the pipe disposed under the ceiling or the floor This is particularly effective for long objects in which the alignment between the reading device and the identification information recording unit is troublesome.

1 is a perspective view of a non-contact type ID tag 1. It is a disassembled perspective view of the non-contact type ID tag. It is a vertical side view of the non-contact ID tag 1. It is sectional drawing which shows the non-contact-type ID tag 1 cut in a circle. It is explanatory drawing which shows the attachment method of the non-contact-type ID tag. It is explanatory drawing which shows the action | operation of the non-contact-type ID tag. It is sectional drawing of the non-contact-type ID tag 1a of the modification. It is sectional drawing of the non-contact-type ID tag 1b of the modification. It is a perspective view of non-contact type ID tag 1c of a modification. It is a disassembled perspective view of the non-contact type ID tag 1c of the modification.

  Embodiments of the present invention are described according to the following examples.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the non-contact type ID tag 1 of the present embodiment has a short cylindrical shape having a through hole 2 in the center, and is attached by being externally fitted to a long target article. As shown in FIG. 2, the non-contact ID tag 1 includes a short cylindrical annular casing 3 that forms an outer shell, and a rotating body that is accommodated in a hollow portion 4 formed inside the annular casing 3. And 5.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the annular housing 3 is fitted into a hollow short cylindrical housing body 3 a formed with an annular hollow portion 4 opened to one side, and an open portion of the hollow portion 4. It is comprised with the disk-shaped housing cover body 3b which wears and closes the hollow part 4. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the rotating body 5 has a short cylindrical shape having substantially the same diameter as the hollow portion 4 of the annular housing 3, and is accommodated in the hollow portion 4 from the open portion of the housing body 3 a. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rotating body 5 accommodated in the hollow portion 4 is held in a state where its inner peripheral surface 5 a is in contact with the inner peripheral surface 4 a of the hollow portion 4. The inner peripheral surface 5a of the rotating body 5 and the inner peripheral surface 4a of the hollow portion 4 are formed by a smooth surface, and the rotating body 5 slides the inner peripheral surface 5a with respect to the inner peripheral surface 4a of the hollow portion 4. Thus, it can be rotated in the hollow portion 4.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the RFID inlet 6 and the weight 7 are fixed to the outer peripheral surface 5 b of the rotating body 5 at a position separated by 180 °. The RFID inlet 6 has a thin plate shape in which an IC chip for storing identification information and an antenna connected to the IC chip are arranged on a resin film and integrated, and is dedicated from the thickness direction of the RFID inlet 6. When the reading device is brought closer, the IC chip and the reading device can communicate with each other by radio waves, and the identification information recorded on the IC chip can be read. Since this RFID inlet 6 can be suitably used as a general-purpose product, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The weight 7 is extremely heavier than the RFID inlet 6, and has a weight capable of rotating the rotating body 5 with a force exceeding the frictional force with the inner peripheral surface 4 a of the hollow portion 4. In such a configuration, when the through hole 2 of the non-contact ID tag 1 is turned sideways, the rotating body 5 is held in a posture in which the fixed portion of the weight 7 is directed downward by the action of the weight 7. As a result, the RFID inlet 6 fixed to the opposite side of the weight 7 is held at the upper portion of the hollow portion 4.

  In this embodiment, the material of the rotating body 5 and the weight 7 is not particularly limited, but a relatively hard material is preferable. However, since metal adversely affects the radio wave communication of the RFID inlet 6, it is preferable that the metal is made of resin or the like. When using metal, the RFID inlet 6 is arranged away from the metal, or the metal and the RFID inlet 6 It is preferable to reduce the influence on radio wave communication by providing a magnetic sheet having a high magnetic permeability between them. Since the annular housing 3 covers the RFID inlet 6, it is preferable to avoid the use of metal and use a relatively hard non-metal.

  The non-contact type ID tag 1 of this embodiment can be attached to a bowl-shaped article or a tubular article having a thickness that can be fitted in the through-hole 2, and in particular, heat exchange of water pipes, gas pipes, and air conditioners. Suitable for pipes such as pipes.

  When the non-contact type ID tag 1 of this embodiment is attached to the pipe P, as shown in FIG. 5, the non-contact type ID tag 1 is externally fitted from the end of the pipe P (see FIG. 5 (a)). In a state where the tag 1 is externally fitted at a required position, an adhesive tape T is applied to the pipe P so as to cover the annular casing 3, and the annular casing 3 is fixed to the pipe P (see FIG. 5B). The fixing means for fixing the annular housing 3 to the pipe P is not limited to the adhesive tape T, and an easily peelable adhesive can also be used. It is also possible to attach an anti-slip sheet to the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 2 and fix the annular housing 3 by friction between the anti-slip sheet and the pipe.

  In such a configuration, the RFID inlet 6 is held on the top of the non-contact type ID tag 1 by the action of the weight 7 with the pipe P being turned sideways. Even if the pipe P turned sideways is rotated and the RFID inlet 6 is temporarily moved from the top as shown in FIG. 6A, the action of the weight 7 as shown in FIG. The rotating body 5 rotates, and the RFID inlet 6 quickly returns to the original position. Therefore, in such a configuration, the identification information can be read only by bringing the reader close to the non-contact ID tag 1 without checking the position of the RFID inlet 6.

  In this way, if the non-contact type ID tag 1 of the present embodiment is attached to a long target article, the identification information can be read simply by bringing the reader close to the non-contact type ID tag 1. Compared with the non-contact type ID tag, when the identification information is read, the alignment between the reading device and the identification information recording unit becomes extremely simple. Accordingly, when the reading device and the identification information recording unit are manually aligned during the identification information reading operation, the operation can be omitted, and the alignment between the reading device and the identification information recording unit is performed. In the case of automatic operation, the apparatus can be simplified.

  Further, the non-contact type ID tag 1 of the present embodiment is fixed in a state of being externally fitted to the target article, so that it is difficult to drop off from the target article, and an RFID inlet 6 that is an identification information recording unit is attached to the annular housing 3. There are advantages such as being hard to break because it is housed.

  The non-contact ID tag 1 in the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, in order to clarify the configuration of the non-contact type ID tag, each component is shown thick in the drawing, but the dimensions of each component can be changed as appropriate. Further, the outer shape of the annular housing is not limited to the shape of the embodiment, and can be appropriately changed according to the target article to be attached. Further, the shapes of the hollow portion and the rotating body can be appropriately changed within a range in which the rotating body can smoothly rotate in the hollow portion.

  Further, in the configuration of the above-described embodiment, the friction between the rotating body 5 and the annular housing 3 is reduced by silicon processing the inner peripheral surface 4a of the hollow portion 4 that is in contact with the rotating body 5, so that the rotating body 5 It is also proposed to make it easier to rotate. It is also proposed to reduce the contact resistance between the rotating body 5 and the annular housing 3 by embossing the inner peripheral surface 4a of the hollow portion 4 or forming a circumferential rib. Furthermore, it is also proposed to arrange a lubricant such as grease between the inner peripheral surface 5a of the rotating body 5 and the inner peripheral surface 4a of the hollow portion. Further, like a non-contact type ID tag 1a of the modification shown in FIG. It is also proposed to install.

  FIG. 8 shows a non-contact type ID tag 1b according to a modification. In this modification, the size of the hollow portion 4 and the rotating body 5 is changed from the above embodiment, and the RFID inlet 6 and the weight 7 are fixed to the inner peripheral surface 5 a of the rotating body 5, so that the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 5 is fixed. 5b is made to slide with respect to the outer peripheral surface 4b of the hollow portion 4.

  Further, when the non-contact ID tag 1 of the present embodiment is attached to a metal pipe or the like, a magnetic sheet having a high magnetic permeability is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 2 in order to reduce the adverse effect of the metal pipe on radio wave communication. It is also suggested to stick.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the RFID inlet 6 and the weight 7 are fixed at a position 180 ° apart and the RFID inlet 6 is held at the upper part. However, the arrangement of the identification information recording unit and the weight according to the present invention is as follows. It can be changed according to the purpose. For example, when a non-contact type ID tag is attached to a pipe or the like located above the head and reading work from below is required, the identification information recording unit and the weight are fixed to the same side of the rotating body. Thus, the identification information recording unit may be held downward. In addition, when a reading operation from the lateral direction is required, the identification information recording unit and the weight may be fixed at a position 90 ° apart. In this case, if the orientation of the non-contact type ID tag is fixed when externally fitted to the target article, it can be determined whether the identification information recording unit is held on the left or right side of the target article.

  9 and 10 show a non-contact type ID tag 1c according to a modification in which the identification information recording unit is changed to a barcode from the above embodiment. In this modification, a barcode 9 is provided on the outer peripheral surface 5b of the rotating body 5 instead of the RFID inlet. The barcode 9 printed on a sheet may be attached to the rotating body 5 or may be directly printed on the rotating body 5. In this modification, the casing body 3a is made of a transparent resin so that the barcode 9 can be read from the outside of the annular casing 3. Thus, the present invention can be applied not only to the RFID tag but also to an optical ID tag using an optical code.

1, 1a, 1b, 1c Non-contact ID tag 2 Through-hole 3 Annular housing 3a Housing body 3b Housing lid 4 Hollow part 5 Rotating body 6 RFID inlet (identification information recording part)
7 Weight 8 Rolling element 9 Bar code (identification information recording part)
P pipe T adhesive tape

Claims (3)

An annular housing that has an annular closed hollow portion and is fixed in a state of being externally fitted to a long target article;
An annular rotating body that is accommodated in the hollow portion so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction of the hollow portion;
Identification information is recorded so as to be readable, and an identification information recording unit fixed to the rotating body,
The rotary body is fixed to the rotary body, and the rotary body is positioned so that the fixed portion is located below the rotary body in a state where the long target article is turned sideways. A non-contact type ID tag comprising a weight held at a predetermined angular position.   The contactless ID tag according to claim 1, wherein the identification information recording unit is an RFID inlet formed by integrating an IC chip on which identification information is recorded and an antenna.   The identification information recording unit is an optical code in which identification information is recorded, the annular casing is at least partially transparent, and the optical code can be read from outside the annular casing. The non-contact type ID tag according to 1.

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