JP6534159B2 - Goods management device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an article management apparatus, and more particularly to an article management apparatus which can be retrofitted to a cabinet.

  In recent years, an individual identification technology called RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) has attracted attention and is applied to management of various articles such as valuables and medicines.

  RFID is a technology for transmitting and receiving information by near field communication using radio waves, electromagnetic fields, and the like in a noncontact manner with an RF tag in which identification information is embedded. An RF tag has recently come to be realized with a small one-chip integrated circuit (IC), and is also called an IC tag (sesame grain chip).

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology relating to a storage that manages storage of articles such as food using such an IC tag. In this storage case (specifically, a refrigerator), when the door open / close detection unit detects that the open / close door is closed, power is supplied from the reader / writer unit to the feeding antenna unit, and the acquired information is managed as inventory information Has a configuration that

  In addition, in Patent Document 2, a storage command of a stored article, which takes a configuration in which a read command is issued to tag data reading means according to a signal from the door open / close detection means, and an antenna outputs radio waves when the refrigerator door is closed. Technology is disclosed.

Patent No. 5,292, 991 JP 2007-137553 A

  Under the present circumstances, there is a further need to make it possible to provide inexpensively a storage and storage device for articles using the RFID technology as described above, without causing performance degradation.

  Applicants have focused on addressing the above-mentioned additional needs by utilizing the existing cabinet as a storage and storage device for articles and in conjunction with RFID technology.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technology that makes it possible to implement an article management apparatus that can be post-placed in a cabinet that manages existing states of stored articles by utilizing an existing cabinet.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned subject, an article management device of one mode of the present invention is divided into a plurality of storage space for storing a management target article with RF tag, respectively, and a plurality of storage spaces to be formed. It is an article management device which can be retrofitted to a cabinet including a board and a door common to the plurality of storage spaces. The article management apparatus includes a door open / close detection switch for detecting the open / close state of the common door; and a plurality of antennas for receiving tag information transmitted from the article to be managed with the RF tag for each of the plurality of storage spaces. An antenna switching unit for selectively switching the plurality of antennas; tag information received by the antenna only when the door open / close detection switch detects the closed state of the common door; A tag reader capable of reading through the switch and transmitting the tag information to an external management device for managing the presence state of the article to be managed; an external device connection unit for connecting to the external management device; and the antenna A switching unit and a power supply connection unit for feeding power to the tag reader; and a bottom base on which the cabinet is mounted; the antenna switching unit; Da, the external device connecting portion and the power connections are concentrated disposed on the bottom base.

  In this aspect, the cabinet including the shelf and the common door is made of metal and is sealed against high frequency.

  In this aspect, the radio wave for reading the tag information is a UHF band specific radio wave.

  In this aspect, the connector constituting the external device connection portion is disposed in the recess formed on the back surface of the bottom surface base corresponding to the back surface of the cabinet.

  In this aspect, the common door is a door open.

  In this aspect, the item management device is connected to the external management device via the relay device and can be added.

  According to the disclosed technology, by utilizing the existing cabinet and linking it with the RFID technology, it is possible to provide the article management apparatus inexpensively without causing the performance degradation.

  Other objects, features and advantages will be apparent on reading the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the claims.

The figure for demonstrating the articles | goods management system of one Embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the cabinet in the goods management system of one embodiment, and a goods management apparatus. The figure for demonstrating the cabinet in the goods management system of one embodiment, and a goods management apparatus. The figure for demonstrating the articles | goods management apparatus in the articles | goods management system of one Embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the bottom base of the articles | goods management apparatus in the articles | goods management system of one Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings. Preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings. However, it can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[Item Management System]
Referring to FIG. 1 showing a system configuration according to one embodiment, an article management system 1 includes cabinets 2, 2A, 2B, an article management apparatus 3 which can be post-arranged to these cabinets 2, 2A, 2B, and a relay apparatus. 4 and the external management device 5.

  In this article management system 1, n (3 here) cabinets 2, 2 A, 2 B are shown connected to the external management device 5 via the relay device 4, but the cabinets 2 A, 2 B It is a cabinet that is added as needed. The cabinets 2, 2A, 2B can be realized with existing cabinets that are commercially available. When the limitation is not particularly required, the cabinet 2 is simply described.

  The relay device 4 in the article management system 1 can be realized by a hub or layer 2 switch, and configures a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network) for connecting to the external management device 5. The external management device 5 centrally manages the presence state of the articles (management target articles) stored in the cabinets 2, 2A, 2B, and can be realized by a personal computer or the like. The external management device 5 can identify each cabinet based on a Media Access Control (MAC) address when there are three cabinets 2, 2A and 2B.

[cabinet]
Next, an example of the cabinet 2 applied to the article management system 1 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 together.

  The cabinet 2 includes a plurality of storage spaces 21 for storing an article (management target article) with an RF tag (IC tag), a plurality of shelf boards 22 that divide the storage space 21 so as to form a plurality of storage spaces 21. And a common door 23 in the storage space 21 of FIG. Here, three storage spaces 21 are formed by the two shelf boards 22.

  The common door 23 can be locked by a double door opening, and as illustrated in FIG. 2, one side of the door 23 is provided with a resin handle 24. The handle 24 may be provided on both sides of the common door 23 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The cabinet 2 is entirely made of metal except the handle 24 made of resin, and the shelf 22 and the common door 23.

  Since the cabinet 2 configured in this way is a commercial product, it is used to make the cabinet 2 on which the predetermined additional processing is applied to the bottom base 30 that constitutes the article management device 3 that can be placed back on the cabinet 2. It will be placed and joined (fastened). As will be described in detail later, on the bottom surface base 30, components such as an antenna switching device, a tag reader, an external device connection portion, and a power supply connection portion which constitute the article management device 3 are concentrated.

  The additional processing applied to the existing cabinet 2 includes the following matters and the like.

  (Additional processing 1) The metal cabinet 2 has a slight gap even when the common door 23 is closed, and includes the resin handle 24. Therefore, the occurrence of radio wave leakage to the outside is avoided. Absent. This radio wave leakage will misread the tag information of the article with the RF tag which exists outside the cabinet 2. In order to suppress / prevent such radio wave leakage, a shield (a gasket for shield) is provided in the gap, and a conductive paint (for example, Dotite) is applied to the handle 24 made of resin. The cabinet 2 is sealed against high frequency.

  (Additional processing 2) A screw for coupling with the bottom base 30 is provided on the bottom of the cabinet 2.

  (Additional processing 3) The door open / close detection switch is disposed at an appropriate position inside the cabinet 2. In addition, the back side from the cabinet 2 of wiring for connecting the door open / close detection switch and the tag reader is provided.

  (Additional processing 4) The antenna is disposed at an appropriate position (for example, the side surface or the back surface inside the cabinet 2) of the three storage spaces 21 (the storage space 21 may be three or more in some cases) of the cabinet 2. . In addition, the back of the wiring for connecting the antenna and the antenna switching device from the cabinet 2 is given.

  In the plurality of storage spaces 21 in the cabinet 2 described above, articles with an RF tag, for example, files, key boxes, portable terminals, fixtures and the like are stored.

  Here, the RF tag embedded (added) in the article is a passive tag for metal handling, operates permanently using radio waves from a tag reader described later as an energy source, and it is not necessary to incorporate a battery. The antenna of the RF tag reflects a part of the radio wave from the tag reader, and the identification information corresponding to the tag information is put on the reflected wave and returned to the tag reader. The tag reader supplies relatively strong radio waves and receives and decodes weak reflected waves from the RF tag.

[Item Management Device]
Subsequently, an example of the article management device 3 applied to the article management system 1 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5. FIG.

  The article management device 3 has a door open / close detection switch 31 for detecting the open / close state of the common door 23 and a plurality of storage spaces 21 for tag information (identification information for identifying an article to be managed) transmitted from an article with an RF tag. A plurality of antennas 32 are provided for each reception. Here, the number of antennas 32 is three. When the size of the cabinet 2 is large and / or the number of the shelf boards 22 is large, the antenna 32 and the antenna switching device 33 shown by dotted lines are added (see FIG. 4).

  The article management device 3 detects the closed state of the common door 23 with the antenna switching device 33 for selectively outputting the tag information TG received by the plurality of antennas 32, and the door open / close detection switch 31. Only when the tag information TG received by the antenna 32 is read through the antenna switching device 33, the tag reader 34 transmits the tag information TG to the external management device 5 (see FIG. 1) for managing the existence state of the article. And further comprising

  Further, the item management device 3 is obtained from an external connection unit (CN 1 and CN 2 in FIGS. 4 and 5) 35 for connecting to the external management device 5 via the relay device 4 and an outlet of a commercial AC power supply. Power supply connection section including an AC adapter (strictly, AC-DC adapter) for converting and outputting AC power to DC power (NF1, SW1, Z1-1, Z1-2, Z1-2, Z13, Z14 in FIG. 4, FIG. 5) And a bottom base 30 as a base on which the cabinet 2 is mounted.

  In the article management apparatus 3 including the components described above, the components are connected by wiring as clearly shown in FIG. 4. Further, as clearly shown in FIG. 5, the antenna switching device 33, the tag reader 34, the external device connection unit 35, and the power supply connection unit 36 are centrally disposed on the bottom surface base 30. The door open / close detection switch 31 and the plurality of antennas 32 are disposed in the cabinet 2.

  More specifically, the door open / close detection switch 31 in the article management device 3 can be realized by, for example, a micro switch, and when the close state of the common door 23 is detected, an electric door close state detection signal (eg, logic high level) Output "1" signal DT. The door open / close detection switch 31 is disposed at an appropriate position inside the cabinet 2 so that the open / close state of the common door 23 can be detected. Further, wiring for inputting the door closed state detection signal DT from the door open / close detection switch 31 to the tag reader 34 is provided. This wiring is from the back of the cabinet 2.

The three antennas 32 are respectively disposed at appropriate positions (for example, the side or the back of the interior of the cabinet 2) of the three storage spaces 21 of the cabinet 2. In addition, wiring for connecting the three antennas 32 and the antenna switch 33 is provided. This wiring is from the back of the cabinet 2.

  The antenna switching device 33 in the article management device 3 is a 1 × 4 switch that can connect up to four antennas 32, and is connected to the tag reader 34 and the power supply connection unit 36 by the internal wiring of the bottom base 30. In the case of a large cabinet 2 having five or more storage spaces 21, the antenna switching device 33 is added.

  The tag reader 34 is connected to the door open / close detection switch 31 and is connected to the antenna switch 33, the external device connection unit 35, and the power supply connection unit 36 by the internal wiring of the bottom surface base 30.

  The tag reader 34 switches the tag information TG received by the predetermined antenna 32 selected and instructed to the antenna switcher 33 only when the tag closed state detection signal DT from the door open / close detection switch 31 is detected. Read through 33. While the tag reader 34 continuously reads the tag information TG via the antenna switch 33 during the period when the door closed state detection signal DT is detected, the tag reader 34 reads only during a predetermined period within the detection period. You may do so. Such reading control can be realized, for example, by software of a control unit in the tag reader 34.

  The external device connection unit 35 outputs from the connector (panel attached LAN connector) CN1 for transmitting the tag information TG output from the tag reader 34 to the external management device 5 via the relay device 4, and from the door open / close detection switch 31. And a connector (panel attached IO connector) CN2 for transmitting a door closed state detection signal DT to the external management device 5 via the relay device 4 or inputting a control signal from the external management device 5 to the tag reader 34. . The external device connection unit 35 adopts Ethernet 10/100 Base-T (Ethernet: registered trademark) as an interface.

  The door close state detection signal DT transmitted from the connector CN2 can be used in the external management device 5 for health check for checking the normality of the subordinate cabinet 2 and the article management device 3. The control signal input to the connector CN2 is not transmitted from the external management device 5 during normal operation, but is transmitted when the tag reader 34 is controlled from above regardless of the open / close state of the common door 23. .

  The connectors CN1 and CN2 of the external device connection unit 35 are disposed in the recess formed in the back surface of the bottom base 30 corresponding to the back surface of the cabinet 2 as clearly shown in FIGS. 5 (A) and 5 (B).

  The power supply connection unit 36 converts AC power obtained from a commercial AC power supply outlet into DC power and outputs AC adapters Z13 and Z14, outlets Z1-1 and Z1-2 for the AC adapters Z13 and Z14, and an indicator light Power supply switch SW1 and an NF (noise filter) attached inlet (outlet) NF1.

  The NF-added inlet NF1 of the power supply connection portion 36 is disposed in a recess formed in the back surface of the bottom base 30 corresponding to the back surface of the cabinet 2 as clearly shown in FIGS. 5 (A) and 5 (B). The power switch with indicator light SW1 is disposed on the front of the bottom base 30 corresponding to the front of the cabinet 2 as clearly shown in FIGS. 5 (B) and 5 (C). Further, the outlets Z1-1 and Z1-2 and the AC adapter Z13 (Z14 is not shown) are disposed on the attachment plate on the inner surface of the bottom surface base 30, as clearly shown in FIGS. 5 (B) and 5 (C).

  The bottom base 30 in the article management device 3 has the external device connection portion 35 and the power supply connection portion 36 described above as clearly shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C as a rear view, a top view and a front view. At the same time, the antenna switching unit 33 and the tag reader 34 are concentrated at a predetermined position.

  The bottom base 30 is a base on which the cabinet 2 is mounted, and as shown in FIGS. 5 (A), (B) and (C), the bottom base 30 is coupled to the coupling screw portion provided in the existing cabinet 2 It is fastened by a reinforcing plate nut and a cabinet coupling screw.

The specification example of the radio wave characteristic of the article management device 3 described above is as follows.
Standard compliant: ISO-18000-6C / EPCglobal Class 1 Generation 2
Radio standard: ARIB STD-T107, Specified low power radio station 920 MHz band Mobile equipment for mobile identification Frequency band: UHF band (920.4 MHz to 923.4 MHz)
Output: up to 250mW (24dBm)
Multiple simultaneous reading: Anti-collision (multiple batch reading collision prevention) method

  Here, the reason why the radio wave (radio wave system) of the UHF band (920.4 MHz to 923.4 MHz) is selected to read the tag information is as follows. That is, in the use of the HF charging wave, the magnetic field is blocked by the metal for reading by the electromagnetic induction coupling method, and the use in the metal cabinet 2 is difficult. Further, in the use of the 2.45 GHz radio wave, since the straightness of the radio wave is high, there is a restriction that the article can not be placed behind the article (the article to be managed) and the use is difficult.

[Effect of one embodiment]
The article management apparatus 3 in the article management system 1 according to the above-described embodiment includes the antenna switching device 33, the tag reader 34, the external device connection unit 35, and the power supply connection unit 36 centrally arranged on the bottom surface base 30. An existing cabinet including a plurality of storage spaces 21 for storing the articles to be managed, a shelf board 22 dividing the storage spaces 21 to form the storage spaces 21, and a door 23 common to the storage spaces 21. It can be retrofitted to 2. As a result, the article management apparatus 3 can be provided at low cost without causing performance degradation. Further, the storage capacity of the storage space 21 of the cabinet 2 is not restricted.

  In the article management device 3, the connectors CN1 and CN2 constituting the external device connection portion 35 and the NF-added inlet NF1 constituting the power supply connection portion 36 are formed on the back surface of the bottom surface base 30 corresponding to the back surface of the cabinet 2. Since it arrange | positions in the recessed part, reduction of the failure rate by external force can be aimed at.

  In the article management device 3, the cabinet 2 including the shelf plate 22 and the common door 23 is made of metal and is sealed with respect to high frequency, so performance is degraded as a radio wave for reading tag information. The UHF charging wave of 920.4 MHz to 923.4 MHz can be used without causing

Reference Signs List 1 item management system 2 cabinet 2A cabinet 2B cabinet 21 storage space 22 shelf plate 23 common door 24 handle 3 item management device 30 bottom base 31 door opening / closing detection switch 32 antenna 33 antenna switching device 34 tag reader 35 external device connection unit 36 power connection Department

Claims (6)

An existing cabinet including a plurality of storage spaces for storing the articles to be managed with RF tags, a shelf board dividing the storage spaces to form the plurality of storage spaces, and a door common to the plurality of storage spaces An article management device to be arranged;
A door open / close detection switch for detecting the open / close state of the common door;
A plurality of antennas for receiving, for each of the plurality of storage spaces, tag information transmitted from the management target article with the RF tag;
An antenna switch for selectively switching the plurality of antennas;
The tag information received by the antenna is read through the antenna switching device only when the door open / close detection switch detects the closed state of the common door, and the existence state of the article to be managed is managed. A tag reader capable of transmitting the tag information to an external management device;
An external device connection unit for connecting to the external management device;
A power connection for feeding the antenna switching device and the tag reader;
A bottom base on which the existing cabinet is mounted;
The antenna switching device, the tag reader, the external device connection unit, and the power supply connection unit are centrally disposed on the bottom surface base.
An article management device retrofitted to an existing cabinet. The existing cabinet including the shelf and the common door is made of metal and is sealed against high frequency.
An article management apparatus to be retrofitted to the existing cabinet according to claim 1. The radio wave for reading the tag information is a UHF band specific radio wave,
An article management apparatus to be retrofitted to the existing cabinet according to claim 1. A connector constituting the external device connection portion is disposed in a recess formed on the back surface of the bottom surface base corresponding to the back surface of the existing cabinet.
An article management apparatus to be retrofitted to the existing cabinet according to claim 1. The common door is an open door,
An article management apparatus to be retrofitted to the existing cabinet according to claim 1. It is connected to the external management device via a relay device and can be expanded.
An article management apparatus to be retrofitted to the existing cabinet according to claim 1.