JP7472515B2 - Packaging bag and detection method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging bag, and more specifically, to a packaging bag whose opening can be remotely detected. It also refers to a detection method for detecting the opening of the packaging bag.

When documents or the like are placed in a packaging bag such as an envelope and sent to an acquaintance or the like who is in a distant location, there is a need to be able to confirm whether the recipient has actually opened the packaging bag.

In relation to this point, Patent Literature 1 discloses a packaging bag configured to be capable of detecting whether or not the bag has been opened. This packaging bag has a configuration in which an RFID tag having an RFIC element and an antenna pattern is attached to a bag-shaped main body.
If the main body of the packaging bag is cut when the bag is opened, the antenna pattern is cut and the RFID tag is no longer able to perform non-contact communication, making it possible to detect that the bag has been opened.

Republished WO2018/101379

The packaging bag described in Patent Document 1 has room for improvement in the accuracy of opening detection, since the antenna pattern may not be destroyed depending on the location and method of opening.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a packaging bag that is less susceptible to the influence of the location or method of opening and that is capable of detecting when it has been opened.

The present invention is a packaging bag having a front surface and a plurality of sides connected to the front surface.
The packaging bag includes a sensor disposed on any one of the surfaces of the packaging bag, a power source disposed on the same surface as the sensor and electrically connected to the sensor, and a detection pattern electrically connected to the sensor independently of the power source to form a closed loop. The sensor has an opening detection unit configured to be capable of generating an opening detection signal, and a communication unit configured to be capable of wirelessly communicating the opening detection signal.
The detection pattern is formed over the entire length of the front surface in a first direction and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Furthermore, the detection pattern has a band-shaped portion, and the surface on which the band-shaped portion is formed and the adjacent surface are joined at least over the entire area in which the band-shaped portion is formed.

The present invention provides a packaging bag that is less susceptible to the location or method of opening and that can detect when it has been opened.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the envelope according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 shows the envelope in an unfolded state. FIG. 1 is a rear view of the envelope showing the placement of the detection pattern. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an unfolded state of an envelope according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Fig. 1 is a front view of an envelope 1, which is a package according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the envelope 1. The envelope 1 has a front surface 10, a rear surface 20, an upper folded surface 30, and a lower folded surface 40. The rear surface 20, the upper folded surface 30, and the lower folded surface 40 are connected to the front surface 10.
There are no particular limitations on the material of the envelope 1 so long as it is an insulating material, and various types of paper are suitable.

3 shows the unfolded state of the envelope 1. In FIG. 3, the inner side of the envelope 1 is shown.
The front surface 10 is rectangular, with the upper side connected to the upper folded surface 30 and the lower side connected to the lower folded surface 40. The left and right sides of the front surface 10 are connected to a first rear surface 21 and a second rear surface 22, respectively. The first rear surface 21 and the second rear surface 22 are bonded together to form the rear surface 20.

A detection pattern 50, a sensor 60, and a power source 70 are arranged on the inner surface of the envelope 1. The sensor 60 is electrically connected to the detection pattern 50 and the power source 70. The detection pattern 50 and the power source 70 are each independently connected to the sensor 60, so that even if a break occurs in one of them, the connection of the other is not affected.

The sensor 60 and the power supply 70 are arranged on one of the five faces shown in FIG. 3, i.e., on the same face. In this embodiment, the sensor 60 and the power supply 70 are arranged on the upper folded face 30, and are electrically connected to each other by the power supply wiring 71.

The detection pattern 50 is formed, for example, by printing conductive ink on the inner surface of the envelope 1. Both ends of the detection pattern 50 are connected to the sensor 60, and the detection pattern 50 forms a closed loop.

The detection pattern 50 extends from a first end 50a connected to the sensor 60 over the upper folded surface 30, passes through an upper corner of the front surface 10, and reaches the first rear surface 21. It then extends parallel (or substantially parallel; the same applies below) to the right side 11 of the front surface 10, passes through a lower corner of the front surface 10, and reaches the lower folded surface 40.

The detection pattern 50 further extends parallel to the bottom edge 12 of the front surface 10, passes through a lower corner of the front surface 10, and reaches the second rear surface 22. It then extends parallel to the left edge 13 of the front surface 10, passes through an upper corner of the front surface 10, and reaches the upper folded surface 30, where it is connected to the sensor 60 at the first end 50b.

The power source 70 only needs to have the output necessary to drive the sensor 60 described below, and is preferably thin (for example, 5 mm or less in thickness) in consideration of the usability of the envelope 1. From this perspective, a known paper battery or the like is suitable as the power source 70.
From the same viewpoint as above, it is preferable that the sensor 60 is thin.

FIG. 4 shows a circuit diagram of the envelope 1.
The sensor 60 has an opening detection unit 61 and a communication unit 62. Power from a power source 70 is supplied independently to the opening detection unit 61 and the communication unit 62. The opening detection unit 61 passes a current through the detection pattern 50 and monitors the current. When the opening detection unit 61 detects that the current has stopped flowing through the detection pattern 50, it generates an opening detection signal indicating that the envelope 1 has been opened. The communication unit 62 has a known communication module and is configured to be capable of wireless communication with the nearest wireless base station.
Examples of communication methods include Sigfox (registered trademark), LoRa (registered trademark), and ZETA (registered trademark) of the LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) standard. LPWA is characterized by suppressing the communication speed, thereby reducing power consumption compared to existing communication networks, such as LTE (Long Term Evolution). Therefore, when the communication unit 62 uses LPWA, there is an advantage that the power source 70 can be easily maintained from the time the sender sends the envelope 1 until the recipient receives it. In addition, it is characterized by a long communication distance, for example, several tens of kilometers to about 100 kilometers, compared to short-distance wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). In order to increase the communication distance, a method of communicating with a wireless base station via multiple repeaters may be adopted.

The procedure for forming the envelope 1 will now be described.
First, the first rear surface 21 and the second rear surface 22 are folded and the overlapping portions are bonded together, thereby forming the rear surface 20, and the front surface 10 and the rear surface 20 are connected to each other to form a flat tube shape.
Next, the lower folded surface 40 is folded and placed on the rear surface 20, and then pasted to the rear surface 20 to complete the bag-shaped envelope 1. After placing an object in the completed envelope 1, the upper folded surface 30 is folded and placed on the rear surface 20, and then pasted to the rear surface 20, so that the object can be hermetically contained within the envelope 1.

The operation of the envelope 1 configured as above when it is used will be described.
In the envelope 1 , the opening detection unit 61 uses power supplied from the power source 70 to pass a weak current through the detection pattern 50 and starts monitoring the state of the detection pattern 50 .
The user places a desired item in the envelope 1, seals it by joining the top folded surface 30 to the back surface 20, and then sends it to a desired destination by a desired means such as mail or a home delivery service.

Figure 5 shows the arrangement of the detection pattern 50 on a sealed envelope 1 with dashed lines. The detection pattern 50 contacts the four sides of the envelope 1 (right side 11, bottom side 12, left side 13, and top side 14) at two points each. As a result, the detection pattern 50 contacts the periphery of the front surface 30 on both sides of the front surface 10 in the vertical direction (first direction) and the horizontal direction (second direction) perpendicular to the vertical direction, and exists over the entire length of the front surface 30 in the vertical and horizontal directions.

When the recipient receives the envelope 1 at the delivery address, he or she cuts off the top of the envelope 1 using scissors, a cutter, or the like to open the envelope 1 and remove the item.
At this time, the detection pattern 50 is cut off, and current stops flowing through the detection pattern 50. When the current stops flowing, the opening detection unit 61 generates an opening detection signal indicating that the envelope 1 has been opened. The communication unit 62 transmits the opening detection signal generated by the opening detection unit 61 to a designated destination, such as a designated server or terminal, via the nearest base station. For example, if the designated destination is a mobile terminal owned by the user, the user can recognize that the envelope 1 has been opened by receiving the signal generated by the opening detection unit on the mobile terminal as an email or the like. If the designated destination is a server that manages the opening status, the user can recognize that the envelope 1 has been opened by accessing the server with the mobile terminal or personal computer (PC) owned by the user.
With the above-described configuration, even if the envelope 1 is sent to a remote location, the sender can easily detect that the envelope has been opened.

When the recipient opens the envelope 1, the top portion is not necessarily cut off, and the left, right, or bottom edges may be cut off.
However, because detection pattern 50 formed on envelope 1 is formed so that there is at least one at every position in the top-bottom and left-right directions of front surface 10, so long as envelope 1 is cut or torn in a substantially straight line from one peripheral edge to another, the cut or tear line will always intersect detection pattern 50, cutting detection pattern 50. As a result, regardless of the part to be opened or the manner of opening, opening detection unit 61 can reliably detect that envelope 1 has been opened.

As shown in FIG. 3, the detection pattern 50 is formed so as to straddle at least one of the four sides of the envelope 1. Therefore, even if the envelope 1 is opened along one of the four sides using a paper knife or the like, the detection pattern 50 is cut, and the opening detection unit 61 can reliably detect that the envelope 1 has been opened.

Generally, when an envelope is opened, the cutting often begins at one of the four corners of the envelope or in the vicinity thereof. Because the detection pattern 50 passes close to the corners of the envelope 1, the detection pattern 50 is likely to be cut off early in the opening operation, and this prevents the recipient from cutting the envelope only a little, or not cutting it off completely, resulting in the detection pattern not being cut off.

As described above, the envelope 1 of this embodiment can detect whether it has been opened regardless of the location or method of opening, unless it is opened in an extremely special way, and can detect whether it has been opened even if it is sent to a remote location.

The second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6. In the following description, components that are common to those already described will be given the same reference numerals and duplicate descriptions will be omitted.

6 is a diagram showing an envelope 101 according to the present embodiment in an unfolded state. In the envelope 101, the sensor 60 and the power source 70 are arranged on the front surface 10. A part of the detection pattern 150 is formed in a band shape of a constant width including the boundary line between the front surface 10 and the other adjacent surfaces, and has a wider line width than other parts. The detection pattern 150 of this embodiment has two bands: a first band portion 151 including the boundary line between the front surface 10 and the first rear surface 21 and extending across the front surface 10 and the first rear surface 21, and a second band portion 152 including the boundary line between the front surface 10 and the second rear surface 22 and extending across the front surface 10 and the second rear surface 22.
The first belt-shaped portion 151 and the second belt-shaped portion 152 can be formed of conductive ink, as in the first embodiment. Alternatively, a conductive metal foil such as copper foil may be attached, or a double-sided tape of a conductive metal foil may be used.

When manufacturing the envelope 101, an adhesive or the like is applied to the entire first band portion 151 and the second band portion 152, and when the first rear surface 21 and the second rear surface 22 are folded to form the rear surface 20, the front surface 10 and the rear surface 20 are joined over at least the entire area of the first band portion 151 and the second band portion 152.
Other operations during use are similar to those of the envelope 1 of the first embodiment.

As with the first embodiment, the envelope 101 of this embodiment can detect whether it has been opened regardless of the location or method of opening, and can detect whether it has been opened even if it is sent to a remote location.
When attempting to open the envelope 101 by cutting off the left or right side, there is a possibility that the closed loop of the detection pattern 150 will be maintained even if parts of the first band 151 and the second band 152 are cut off. However, in the envelope 101, the front surface 10 and the rear surface 20 are joined over the entire range of the first band 151 and the second band 152, so the envelope 101 cannot be opened unless the cut or tear line reaches the inside of the first band 151 and the second band 152 in the left-right direction of the envelope 101. Therefore, even when the left or right side of the envelope 101 is cut off to open it, a situation will not occur in which the detection pattern is not cut and the opening will not be detected.

The band in this embodiment may be provided on only the front surface or the adjacent surface, or may not include the boundary between the front surface and the adjacent surface. Even in such a case, the same effect can be achieved as long as the entire band is joined to the other surface when the envelope is completed.

Although each embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and configuration changes and combinations within the scope of the gist of the present invention are also included. Some examples of changes are given below, but these are not all inclusive, and other changes are also possible. Two or more of these changes may be combined as appropriate.

The sensor and power source may be provided on a surface other than the front surface or the upper folded surface, as long as they are provided on the same surface.
When a band-shaped portion is provided, the number of the band-shaped portion may be one or three.

- The entire detection pattern does not necessarily have to be provided on the inner surface of the packaging bag. For example, a part of the detection pattern formed on the first rear surface is extended to the outer surface of the packaging bag by penetrating the material forming the packaging bag in the thickness direction, and then joined to the lower folded surface with a conductive adhesive or the like. In this way, the part extended to the outer surface can be electrically connected to the pattern formed on the inner surface of the lower folded surface, forming a detection pattern having a closed loop when the packaging bag is completed. In other words, it is sufficient for the detection pattern to have a closed loop when the packaging bag is completed, and a closed loop does not have to be formed when the packaging bag is in an incomplete state, such as when it is unfolded.

There are no limitations on the specific form of the detection pattern as long as there is at least one detection pattern at any position in the vertical and horizontal directions of the front surface. For example, the detection pattern extending to a surface connected to the front surface may be formed in a zigzag or wavy shape that goes back and forth between the front surface and the surface multiple times.
The detection patterns may be arranged so that a part of the detection patterns overlaps with the packaging bag when the packaging bag is manufactured or sealed. In this case, if a short circuit due to contact becomes a problem, the detection patterns may be insulated as necessary.

The surfaces forming the packaging bag do not necessarily have to be flat.
The communication unit does not have to be able to communicate with a base station. In this case, it will not be possible to detect when the package is sent to a remote location, but if an RFID tag is used as the communication unit, it will be possible to detect the opening of the packaging bag in a relatively close range by wirelessly communicating with a placed reader/writer or the like. However, if there is no reader/writer or other equipment nearby when the recipient opens the package, the fact that the package has been opened will not be received. Therefore, when using an RFID tag, it is more preferable to adopt the LPWA standard, which allows the opening status to be obtained without the use of a reader/writer.

- It is preferable that the detection pattern 50 is formed close to the four sides of the envelope 1. This reduces the probability that the detection pattern 50 will be opened without being cut. For this reason, the detection pattern 50 may be formed so as to overlap with the fold. More specifically, it is preferable that the ratio of the shortest distance from the fold on a side perpendicular to a certain side of the envelope 1 to the detection pattern 50 to the length of the certain side is 0% or more and 15% or less. For example, it is preferable that the distance between the right side 11 or left side 13 of the envelope 1 and the detection pattern 50 is within the range of 0% or more and 15% or less of the width of the envelope 1 (the distance between the right side 11 and the left side 13).

- In FIG. 3, the sensor 60 and power source 70 are positioned in the order of power source 70, sensor 60, in the direction away from the fold, but this positional relationship may be reversed. The closer the sensor 60 is to the fold (top edge 14 shown in FIG. 3), the closer the detection pattern 50 is to the fold. As a result, the detection pattern 50 is more likely to be cut when the envelope is opened, and the margin of the top fold surface 30 increases, making it easier to seal the envelope 1.

The sensor 60 and the power source 70 may be stacked to reduce the area. In this case, it is preferable that the sensor 60 and the power source 70 are stacked in this order on a packaging bag such as an envelope 1. If the power source 70 and the sensor 60 are stacked in this order, the detection pattern 50 near the first end 50a and the second end 50b will rise by the thickness of the power source 70, which may cause the detection pattern 50 to peel off or may not be detected when opening the bag with, for example, a paper knife.
It is not necessary for the entire sensor 60 to be stacked on the power source 70. By positioning at least a portion of the sensor 60 on the power source 70, the effect of reducing the area can be obtained.

- It is preferable that the closed loop of the detection pattern 50 does not have any parts that bend at an acute angle when unfolded. If there are any parts with acute angles in the closed loop, there is a risk of disconnection, which may result in false detection of opening. By making all bends in the closed loop at obtuse angles or curved shapes with no corners, it is possible to prevent unintentional disconnection before opening.

- Although an envelope that is rectangular when viewed from the front has been described as an example of a packaging bag, the packaging bag of the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention may be applied to packaging bags that are polygonal in shape when viewed from the front other than a rectangle, and also to packaging bags that are polygonal in basic shape but have some or all of their sides curved, or that are circular in front. Even in these cases, it is sufficient that the detection pattern on the front surface of the packaging bag that has at least one surface that serves as the front surface is formed over the entire length of the front surface in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. When the front surface of the packaging bag has multiple sides (or curves), a detection pattern that contacts each of the multiple sides at at least one point is an example that satisfies the above condition.

1, 101 Envelope (packaging bag)
10 Front surface 50, 150 Detection pattern 60 Sensor 61 Opening detection section 62 Communication section 70 Power source 151 First band 152 Second band

Claims (8)

A packaging bag having a front surface and a plurality of sides connected to the front surface,
a sensor including an opening detection unit configured to generate an opening detection signal and a communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate the opening detection signal, the sensor being disposed on any surface of the packaging bag;
a power source disposed on the same surface as the sensor and electrically connected to the sensor;
a detection pattern electrically connected to the sensor independent of the power source to form a closed loop;
Equipped with
The detection pattern is
a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first direction extending along the entire length of the front surface;
The plate has a band-shaped portion, and the surface on which the band-shaped portion is formed and the adjacent surface are joined together at least over the entire area in which the band-shaped portion is formed.
Packaging bag. The front surface is rectangular;
The detection pattern is formed so as to be in contact with the four sides of the front surface at at least one point.
The packaging bag according to claim 1. The communication unit is configured to be capable of wirelessly communicating with a base station using the LPWA standard.
The packaging bag according to claim 1 or 2. The detection pattern is formed on all of the plurality of surfaces.
The packaging bag according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The detection pattern is formed of a conductive ink.
The packaging bag according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The closed loop has a deployed shape that does not have any sharp bends.
The packaging bag according to any one of claims 1 to 5. At least a portion of the sensor is disposed on the power source.
The packaging bag according to any one of claims 1 to 6 . A method for detecting whether the packaging bag according to claim 3 has been opened, comprising the steps of:
A current is applied to the detection pattern from the power source;
When the detection pattern is cut, the opening detection unit generates the opening detection signal,
The communication unit wirelessly transmits the opening detection signal to a server according to the LPWA standard .
Detection method.

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