JP7490420B2 - Consumables management method and consumables management device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method and device for managing consumables such as disposable diapers in nurseries, nursing care facilities, and rehabilitation facilities.

Conventionally, in facilities, facility managers would order the necessary amount of consumables such as disposable diapers from manufacturers based on the facility's usage, and the specified amount would be stored within the facility. In addition, when consumables were consumed at the facility, a collection company affiliated with the facility would collect the consumables and dispose of them.

In addition, some daycare centers and other facilities ask parents who come to collect their children to collect waste such as disposable diapers. Because collecting waste is highly unsanitary, there are calls for the facilities to collect it, but there is also a strong demand for the facilities to collect waste from the perspective of managing the health of the children.

Patent Document 1 relates to a management system that can centrally manage the inventory status of consumables such as disposable diapers in nursing and rehabilitation facilities and manage billing to consumers. The system discloses that when disposable diapers are replaced or collected within the facility, the barcode attached to the diaper is read by a consumables storage cart to manage usage status, and that the supplier obtains this information online and arranges for the consumables to be provided.

However, in the above management system, information needs to be entered each time a disposable diaper is changed, which places a heavy burden on workers in the consumer facilities where the disposable diapers are used. Furthermore, if unfamiliar workers enter the information, there is a risk of problems with inventory management, such as input errors that cause discrepancies between the actual stock quantity and the actual stock quantity.

JP 2002-150057 A

The objective of the present invention is to provide and collect appropriate amounts of consumables such as disposable diapers while minimizing the burden on consumer facilities.

In order to solve the above problems, the method for managing consumables according to the present invention described in claim 1 comprises:
A method for managing consumables used in a specified facility, comprising:
a first supply step of supplying a predetermined number of consumables according to the facility from the supplier to the facility by a management device used by the supplier ;
a consumption amount notifying step of notifying the management device of information regarding the consumption amount of the consumables at the facility by a handheld terminal used by a collector who collects the waste consumables or an acquisition device used at the facility ;
a second supply step of supplying the facility with a number of consumables corresponding to the consumption amount by the management device,
In the consumption amount notification step , the handheld terminal notifies the user based on a measurement of an amount of excrement contained in the collected waste, or the acquisition device notifies the user based on detection of status information of the consumables;
an excrement information acquisition step of acquiring excrement information regarding the amount of excrement contained in the collected waste by a weighing scale used by the waste collector;
an excrement information notifying step of notifying the management device of the excrement information acquired by the handheld terminal;
and calculating, by the management device, aggregate data that aggregates the amount of excrement for each predetermined period for each user of the consumable product,
In the aggregate data calculation step, the management device issues an alert if the change in the rate of increase in the excrement amount in the aggregate data differs from the change in the rate of increase in the excrement amount that accompanies the growth of a user of a given consumable item .

The present invention relates to a method for managing consumables, comprising :
In the second supply process, when the value obtained by subtracting the consumption amount from a specified value for each facility as a predetermined number corresponding to the facility falls below a predetermined threshold, the management device supplies the difference up to the specified value as the number of consumables to replenish.

The present invention relates to a method for managing consumables, comprising :
The consumable product is a disposable diaper,
The disposable diaper has a state detection unit that detects state information for specifying a timing for changing the diaper,
The acquisition device acquires the state information detected by the state detection unit in the consumption amount notification step , and notifies the management device of the acquired state information ;
The method includes a consumption amount calculation step of calculating , by the management device, the amount of disposable diapers consumed in the facility from the status information.

The invention described in claim 4 is the method for managing consumables described in claim 3 ,
The method includes a notification step of notifying , by the acquisition device, the manager terminal of a manager who takes care of the wearer of the disposable diaper, of the status information.

The present invention relates to a method for managing consumables, comprising :
In the notification process, the acquisition device determines whether or not the disposable diaper needs to be changed based on the status information detected by the status detection unit , and notifies the determination result to the manager terminal of the manager who is caring for the wearer of the disposable diaper.

The present invention relates to a method for managing consumables, comprising :
The status detection unit utilizes an RFID system.

The present invention relates to a method for managing consumables, comprising :
The method includes a charging step of charging a fixed fee for the supply of the consumables by the management device .

The present invention relates to a method for managing consumables, comprising :
The consumable product is a disposable diaper,
The method further includes a step of notifying a guardian of a wearer of the disposable diaper of the calculated aggregate data by the management device .

The consumables management device according to the ninth aspect of the present invention comprises:
A management device for managing consumables used in a specified facility,
An acquisition means for acquiring consumption information regarding consumption of the consumables in the facility;
a calculation means for calculating a replenishment amount to be replenished when a value obtained by subtracting the acquired consumption amount from a specified value set for each facility falls below a predetermined threshold value;
a means for acquiring excrement information relating to the amount of excrement contained in the collected waste of the consumables;
A means for calculating aggregate data for each user of the consumables, the aggregate data being the amount of excrement per predetermined period;
a means for issuing an alert when a change in the rate of increase in the amount of excrement in the collected data differs from a change in the rate of increase in the amount of excrement associated with the growth of a user of a given consumable product;
Equipped with.

The consumables management method and device of the present invention can reduce the burden on consumer facilities by supplying and collecting appropriate amounts of consumables such as disposable diapers.

1 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of a consumables management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 3A to 3C are diagrams showing steps of a management method according to the consumables management system of the first embodiment of the present invention. 11 is a diagram showing prescribed numbers and threshold values of consumables for each facility according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specified number and an inventory number of a supplier according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a consumables management system according to a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a consumables management system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of a disposable diaper according to a second embodiment of the present invention in an unfolded state. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a non-wetted disposable diaper according to a second embodiment of the present invention taken along the line AA′ in FIG. 7 . FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the wet disposable diaper according to the second embodiment of the present invention taken along the line AA′ in FIG. 7 . 8 is a cross-sectional view of a non-wetted disposable diaper according to a first modified example of the second embodiment of the present invention taken along the line AA' in FIG. 7. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the wet disposable diaper according to the first modified example of the second embodiment of the present invention taken along the line AA′ in FIG. 7 . 8 is a cross-sectional view of a non-wetted disposable diaper according to modified example 2 of the second embodiment of the present invention taken along line AA' in FIG. 7. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the wet disposable diaper according to the second modification of the second embodiment of the present invention taken along the line AA′ in FIG. 7 .

The first embodiment and modified example, and the second embodiment and modified example of the present invention will be described in detail in this order with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated examples.

First Embodiment
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. First, Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram of a consumables management system 1 of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the consumables management system 1 of the present invention is composed of a supplier facility 110 that supplies disposable diapers as consumables, a consumer facility 120 that consumes the disposable diapers, a collector facility 130 that collects the disposable diapers, a recycler facility 140, and a guardian 150.

The supplier facility 110 includes a supply warehouse 111 which is a warehouse for storing unused disposable diapers, a supply management server 112 which is a management device for managing disposable diaper inventory and shipping, and disposable diaper manufacturing equipment (not shown).
The supply-side management server 112 includes a storage unit 112a, a communication unit 112b, and a control unit 112c.
The supplier facility 110 supplies a predetermined number of disposable diapers to the consumer facility 120 (first supply process: S1).
In addition, the supplier facility 110 appropriately supplies unused paper diapers to the consumer facility 120 in accordance with the amount of paper diapers consumed (second supply process: S4).
In this embodiment, the supplier facility 110 is a manufacturer of disposable diapers, but it may also be a sales agent, wholesaler, or the like.

The consumption facility 120 is, for example, a nursery school with children of the target age for disposable diapers.
The consumption facility 120 has a consumption-side warehouse 121, which is a warehouse for storing unused disposable diapers received from the supplier facility 110, a consumption-side management server 122, which is a management server for managing the inventory of disposable diapers, and a dust box 123 for storing used disposable diapers. The disposable diapers stored in the consumption-side warehouse 121 are sorted by size or by the child who used them. In the dust box 123, the used disposable diapers are also sorted into bags or the like for the child who used them.
The consumption-side management server 122 includes a storage unit 122a, a communication unit 122b, and a control unit 122c.

The collection company facility 130 is a company that collects used paper diapers from the consumption facility 120 and disposes of them appropriately. The collection company facility 130 collects used paper diapers from the consumption facility 120 (collection process: S2).
The collection company facility 130 is responsible for transporting the collected used paper diapers to the recycle company facility 140, but is not limited to this as long as the diapers are properly disposed of in accordance with laws and regulations.
The collection company facility 130 also has a weighing scale 131 for measuring the amount of collected used paper diapers and a handheld terminal 132 for communicating with the outside. The collection company facility 130 notifies the supply-side management server 112 of the amount of used paper diapers measured using the weighing scale 131, i.e., the amount of paper diapers consumed, using the handheld terminal 132 (consumption amount notifying step: S3).

The recycler facility 140 receives used disposable diapers from the collection facility 130, performs a recycling process, and produces recycled pulp. Here, it is advantageous to use ozone treatment in the recycling process because it improves the quality of the recycled pulp.
In addition, the recycler facility 140 supplies the generated recycled pulp to the supplier facility 110 (third supply step: S5).

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the steps of a management method according to the consumables management system 1 of the present invention.
In the consumables management system 1, first, a first supply process (S1) is performed in which a predetermined number of disposable diapers are supplied from a supplier facility 110 to a consumer facility 120.
Next, a collection process (S2) is carried out in which the collection company facility 130 collects used paper diapers from the consumer facility 120.
Next, a consumption amount notifying process (S3) is performed in which the recovery company facility 130 notifies the supply side management server 112 of the amount of paper diapers consumed.
Next, a second supply step (S4) is performed in which unused disposable diapers are supplied to the consumption facility 120 in a number corresponding to the amount of disposable diapers consumed, and the process returns to the collection step (S2).
In addition, the third supply process (S5) in which the recycled pulp produced by the recycler facility 140 is supplied to the supplier facility 110 is carried out after the recovery process (S2) and is carried out simultaneously with the consumption notification process (S3) and the second supply process (S4).

The operation of the consumables management system 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4.

In the first supply process (S1), the control unit 112c of the supply-side management server 112 requests a shipping company or the like to supply a number of disposable diapers according to the specified number for each consumption facility 120 from the table stored in the memory unit 112a, and supplies the number of disposable diapers to the consumption facility 120.

More specifically, the storage unit 112a stores a table in which the consumption facility 120 and the specified number of disposable diapers to be delivered are set for each size. A specific example of the specified number is shown in FIG.
3 illustrates facility A and facility B as consumption facilities 120. Facility A has a set number of 100 small size disposable diapers, 50 medium size disposable diapers, and 50 large size disposable diapers. Similarly, facility B has a set number of 50 small size disposable diapers, 50 medium size disposable diapers, and 50 large size disposable diapers, and supplies the specified number of disposable diapers set in the table to each consumption facility 120.
Here, the supplier facility 110 manufactures disposable diapers so as to maintain in the supply warehouse 111 a quantity of disposable diapers equivalent to the number of disposable diapers consumed by the consumer facility 120 in a specified number of days. Alternatively, if the supplier facility 110 is a sales agent or wholesaler, it requests the manufacture of the disposable diapers from a manufacturer.
The inventory quantity in the supply warehouse 111 is shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 4, the prescribed quantity is the sum of the prescribed quantities of facilities A and B, which are the consuming facilities 120, and the inventory quantity is the sum of the consumption quantities for 10 days at facilities A and B, which are the consuming facilities 120.

The consumption facility 120 stores the disposable diapers supplied from the supplier facility 110 in a consumption-side warehouse 121. When receipt of the disposable diapers is confirmed at the consumption facility 120, receipt information is sent to the supply-side management server 112 in conjunction with a package tracking system on a website based on the shipping company's tracking number for each package. Upon receiving the receipt information, the supply-side management server 112 transmits data on the number of supplies to the consumption-side management server 122. Upon receiving the data on the number of supplies, the consumption-side management server 122 updates the inventory number of disposable diapers held in the consumption-side warehouse 121.
Furthermore, data on the number of supplies may be provided from the consumption facility 120 to the consumption-side management server 122 via the Internet or the like. Furthermore, if the consumption facility 120 is not connected to a network, an employee of the consumption facility 120 may directly contact the supplier facility 110, and the supplier facility 110 may input the number of supplies into the consumption-side management server 122.

In the nursery school of the consumption facility 120, when a nursery teacher confirms that a child wearing a disposable diaper has excreted, the nursery teacher changes the diaper. A fixed size of disposable diaper is assigned to each child, and when changing the diaper, the nursery teacher takes out the designated disposable diaper from the consumption side warehouse 121 and uses it for the change.
The size of the diaper used by each child is stored in the consumer-side management server 122 so that it can be checked as necessary. When changing a diaper, the size may be selected based on the size of the diaper before the change.
Next, the used paper diapers are separated for each child and stored (disposed) in a dust box 123.

The collection company facility 130 visits the consumption facility 120 at a fixed time each day, typically after the nursery school at the consumption facility 120 closes, for example at 7:00 PM, to collect used paper diapers.
In the collection process (S2), the collection facility 130 collects used diapers from the consumer facility 120 and measures the amount of waste (including the weight of the disposable diapers) for each child using a weighing scale 131. This is called the waste information acquisition process. The number of disposable diapers used is also counted visually.
Next, as a consumption amount notifying step (S3), the recycler facility 130 inputs data on the amount of excrement and the number of disposable diapers consumed for each child into a network-connected handheld terminal 132. The data input into the handheld terminal 132 is transmitted via the network to the supply-side management server 112 of the supplier facility 110. The handheld terminal 132 of the recycler facility 130 functions as an excrement information notifying step that transmits the amount of excrement for each child to the supply-side management server 112. In addition, the control unit 112c of the supply-side management server 112 functions as an acquisition means that acquires the amount of disposable diapers consumed at the consumption facility 120.

The supply management server 112 records the number of disposable diapers of each size consumed at the daycare center of the consumption facility 120 and the amount of excrement generated by each child each day, and performs statistical processing to calculate the number of disposable diapers consumed until the next supply and the trend in the amount of excrement generated by each child.

Here, calculation of the number of disposable diapers consumed refers to, for example, in the case of a consumption facility 120 where the supply timing is every day, calculating the total number of disposable diapers consumed for each size that is the same as the number consumed on the previous day, or, in the case of a consumption facility 120 where the supply timing is every three days, calculating the total number of disposable diapers consumed for each size from the previous supply date to the day before the next supply date.
Next, in a second supply step (S4), the control unit 112c of the supplier facility 110 subtracts the calculated total consumption amount from a specified value set for each consuming facility 120, and if the subtracted value falls below a threshold value set for each consuming facility 120, supplies disposable diapers up to the specified value to the consuming facility 120. Here, the control unit 112c functions as a calculation means for calculating the amount of disposable diapers to be replenished.
More specifically, as shown in Fig. 3, a table in which threshold values are set in advance for each consumption facility 120 and size is stored in the memory unit 112a. For example, the specified number of S-size disposable diapers at facility A, which is the consumption facility 120, is 100, and the threshold value is 50, so if the calculated total consumption is 60, the value obtained by subtracting the total consumption from the specified value is 40, which is below the threshold value of 50. In this case, 60 disposable diapers are supplied, which is the difference from the specified value.
This allows disposable diapers to be supplied to the consumption facility 120 at a timing that matches the schedule of the disposable diaper delivery company.

The statistical processing of the transition of excrement amount for each child involves the control unit 112c tallying up and graphing the daily excrement amount and the excrement amount over a specified period (for example, one week or one month). The control unit 112c also compares the excrement amount with past data, and if it differs from the rate of increase that accompanies general growth, it issues an alert, such as displaying this on a graph. This is called the tally data calculation process.

The supply-side management server 112 further stores contact information, such as an email address, for the parents 150 of the children at the consumption facility 120 .
The control unit 112c of the supply-side management server 112 notifies the contact information of the guardian 150 of the data on the amount of excretion per child each day and the statistically processed data via the communication unit 112b. Here, the control unit 112c functions as the aggregate data notification step 10. This allows the guardian 150 to understand the health condition of his or her child in a hygienic manner. For example, a large amount of excretion may indicate obesity, and a small amount may indicate a health risk.
In addition, the control unit 112c also notifies the consumption side management server 122 of the consumption facility 120 of the data on the amount of excretion each child experiences each day and the statistically processed data, so that the consumption facility 120 can use the data to grasp the health condition of each child and to statistically process the differences in the amount of excretion between children as part of an evaluation of the diet, exercise, etc. at the nursery school, or as material for interviews with parents 150.

In addition, the control unit 112c of the supply-side management server 112 calculates the appropriate absorption capacity of the disposable diaper based on the average data of the amount of excrement for each child.
Next, the control unit 112c of the supply-side management server 112 judges, based on the result of the calculation, whether the size of the disposable diaper used by the child (typically the size of the disposable diaper is set according to the amount of absorption (number of times) of the disposable diaper) or the number of disposable diapers per day stored in the supply-side management server 112 is appropriate. If it judges it to be inappropriate, it changes the size of the disposable diaper or the number of disposable diapers stored for that child automatically, or if permission is obtained after contacting the administrator of the supplier facility 110 or the consumer facility 120, and reflects this in the number of disposable diapers to be supplied the next time.
In addition, if the change is made automatically, the administrator of the supplier facility 110 or the consumer facility 120 is notified of the change.
Here, the consumption facility 120 returns the stock of the size before the change to the shipping company, but the change may be reflected after the stock is used up.

The recycler facility 140 receives used paper diapers from the collector facility 130. Here, the recycler facility 140 may also function as the collector facility 130.
The recycler facility 140 transports the used paper diapers it receives to a recycling processing facility, where recycled pulp is obtained through a predetermined procedure.
In recent years, polymer absorbents (SAP sheets) have been widely used in paper diapers, and these can be decomposed by treatment with ozone water to obtain high-quality recycled pulp, so it is preferable to carry out the regeneration treatment using this ozone treatment.
In the consumables management system 1 of the present invention, a certain number of used paper diapers can be collected from the affiliated consumption facility 120, and by aligning the manufacturers of used paper diapers, a certain number of paper diapers eligible for recycling can be obtained. Therefore, it is suitable for ozone treatment because it is easy to set the conditions for ozone treatment (treatment conditions for decomposing polymers, reducing molecular weights, and solubilizing them).

Next, in a third supply step (S5), the recycler facility 140 supplies the recycled pulp produced by the recycling process to the supplier facility 110. The supplier facility 110 uses the supplied recycled pulp to manufacture new disposable diapers. Alternatively, if the supplier facility 110 is a sales agent or wholesaler, it supplies the recycled pulp to a manufacturer and requests them to manufacture disposable diapers.
Therefore, resources can be reused, and the environmental load can be reduced.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the consumables management system 1 is used within a predetermined consuming facility 120. The consumables management system 1 includes a first supply step (S1) of supplying a predetermined number of consumables according to the consuming facility 120 from the supplier facility 110 to the consuming facility 120, a collection step (S2) of collecting waste consumables, a consumption amount notification step (S3) of notifying a management device of the supplier facility 110 of the amount of consumption of the consumables at the consuming facility 120, and a second supply step (S4) of supplying the number of consumables according to the amount of consumption to the consuming facility 120, and the consumption amount notification step (S3) is based on the collection step (S2).
The consumables management system 1 also notifies the guardian 150 of the amount of excrement contained in the collected waste.

This allows information regarding the consumption of consumables at the consumption facility 120 to be shared between the supplier facility 110 and the recycling facility 130, making it possible to supply and collect consumables with less of a burden on the consumption facility 120.
In addition, the waste collected by the collection company facility 130 can be recycled and provided to the supplier facility 110 (or the consumables manufacturer), thereby reducing the environmental burden.
Furthermore, when the recycling facility 130 collects the consumables, it obtains information regarding feces and urine as well as the number of consumables, and provides this information to the guardian 150, etc. via the supplier facility 110, thereby enabling the guardian 150, etc. to obtain information regarding the health condition of the protected person in a hygienic manner.

(Modification of the first embodiment)
A modification of the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of a consumables management system according to a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the first embodiment, in the second supply process (S4), the supplier facility 110 supplies the number of unused disposable diapers corresponding to the consumption amount to the consumption facility 120, but in this modified example, the collection company facility 130 supplies the number of unused disposable diapers corresponding to the consumption amount to the consumption facility 120.

As shown in FIG. 5, this modified example is the same as the first embodiment except for the second step (S4) of supplying a number of unused disposable diapers corresponding to the consumption amount to the consumption facility 120, so only the parts that differ from the first embodiment will be described.

After the consumption notification process (S3), as in the first embodiment described above, the supplier facility 110 records in the supply side management server 112 the number of disposable diapers of each size consumed at the nursery school of the consumer facility 120 and the amount of daily excrement for each child, and calculates the number of disposable diapers consumed until the next supply and performs statistical processing on the trend in the amount of excrement for each child.
Next, the supplier facility 110 subtracts the calculated number of disposable diapers to be consumed until the next supply from a specified value set for each consuming facility 120, and if this value falls below a threshold value set for each consuming facility 120, supplies the number of disposable diapers up to the specified value to the recycler facility 130. The recycler facility 130 supplies the supplied disposable diapers to the consuming facility 120. This is the second supply step (S4) of this modified example.

Second Embodiment
In the first embodiment and the modified example, the collection company facility 130 that collects used paper diapers notifies the supplier facility 110 of the amount of paper diapers consumed at the consumption facility 120 in the consumption amount notification step (S3).
Here, in the second embodiment, an RFID system is used. More specifically, a disposable diaper is used that has an RFID tag 12a as a status detector that detects status information for identifying the timing of changing the disposable diaper. The status information of the disposable diaper is information on whether the disposable diaper is wet due to the child's excrement. When the RFID tag 12a detects that the disposable diaper is wet, it automatically notifies the supplier management server 112 of the supplier facility 110 of the detection (consumption amount notification process: S3).

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of a consumables management system 1 according to the second embodiment.
In the second embodiment, the consumption facility 120 further includes an acquisition device 124 that acquires detection information of wetness of the disposable diaper, which is status information detected by an RFID tag 12a attached to the disposable diaper, and notifies the acquired information to the supply side management server 112 and an administrator terminal 125 carried by the childcare worker, and an administrator terminal 125 carried by the childcare worker and receives notifications from the acquisition device 124.

In the RFID system, an RFID tag 12a including an antenna and an IC chip having a unique identification number of the disposable diaper is attached to the disposable diaper. An acquisition device 124 for acquiring the unique identification number from the RFID tag 12a is provided in a room where a child wearing the disposable diaper having the RFID tag 12a is present.
When the acquisition device 124 is unable to acquire the unique identification number from the RFID tag 12a due to the child's excretion, it determines that the diaper is wet and needs to be changed, and transmits the unique identification number of the wet diaper and a message indicating that it needs to be changed to the manager terminal 125 carried by the childcare worker (notification process).

The structure of the disposable diaper will be described with reference to Figs. 7, 8A and 8B.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the disposable diaper in an unfolded state, FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA' in FIG. 7 when the disposable diaper 11a is not wet, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA' in FIG. 7 when the disposable diaper 11a is wet with liquid such as urine or feces.

As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the disposable diaper 11a is a tape-fastened type disposable diaper, and mainly comprises a surface material 160a, an intermediate material 113a, an absorbent section 114a, a waterproof material 115a, an exterior material 116a, three-dimensional gathers 117a, elastic bodies 1181a, 1182a, and a tape 119a.

The surface material 160a is made of, for example, a non-woven fabric with or without holes, a porous plastic sheet, or the like, and has the property of allowing liquid to pass therethrough.
The raw material fibers of the nonwoven fabric are not particularly limited, and may be, for example, synthetic fibers such as olefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyesters, and polyamides, regenerated fibers such as rayon and cupra, natural fibers such as cotton, or mixed fibers or composite fibers using two or more of these.
The nonwoven fabric may be processed by any known method, such as spunlace, spunbond, thermal bond, meltblown, needle punch, air-through, point bond, etc. For example, if flexibility and drape are required, the spunlace method may be used, and if bulk and softness are required, the thermal bond method may be used, and an appropriate preferred processing method may be used.

The intermediate material 113a can be formed, for example, from the same material as the surface material 160a, and has the properties of absorbing liquid from the surface material 160a, quickly transferring the liquid to the absorbent material, and preventing excrement from flowing back.
The intermediate material does not necessarily have to be made of the same material as the surface material. However, if a similar material is used, the melting points of the surface material 160a and the intermediate material 113a are the same, so that heat sealing or ultrasonic sealing can be suitably used to join the surface material 160a and the intermediate material 113a.

Inside the absorption section 114a, a resin layer 1143a is layered on an antenna layer 1142a having an antenna pattern 1141a on its upper surface. A cutout 1144a is provided in a portion of the antenna layer 1142a and the resin layer 1143a so that the antenna pattern 1141a is exposed, and a highly absorbent polymer SAP (Superabsorbent Polymer) 1145a is embedded in the cutout 1144a and on the resin layer 1143a. The SAP 1145a can quickly absorb approximately 50 to 100 times its own weight in liquid.
The antenna units 121a to 121c including the antenna pattern 1141a of the disposable diaper communicate with the antenna unit 141 of the acquisition device 124, whereby information about the disposable diaper can be read.

Next, FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of the wet disposable diaper 11a taken along line A-A' in FIG. 7. Liquid from urine or feces causes the SAP 1145a to expand, causing the antenna pattern 1141a to break. When the antenna pattern 1141a breaks, it becomes impossible to communicate with the acquisition device 124, and the information on the disposable diaper cannot be read.

The waterproof material 115a is a waterproof sheet that prevents liquid from seeping out of the disposable diaper 11a. The waterproof material 115a also has an RFID tag 12a on the surface facing the absorbent section 114a.

The exterior material 116a is a sheet that covers the outside of the disposable diaper 11a.

The three-dimensional gather 117a is made of a gather sheet 1171a and an elastic body 1181a. For example, the gather sheet 1171a is made of a nonwoven fabric, and the elastic body 1181a is made of a stretchable material such as polyurethane elastic fiber.
The three-dimensional gathers 117a prevent urine and feces from leaking around the thighs (commonly known as side leakage).

In addition, elastic bodies 1182a are provided on both edges of the waterproof material 115a. This allows the disposable diaper 11a to fit around the thighs of the wearer, improving comfort and preventing side leakage, similar to the three-dimensional gathers 117a.

Two tapes 119a are provided on each side of the outer surface of the back side of the waterproof material 115a, and are attached so that the paper diaper fits the lower abdomen of the wearer, thereby preventing urine and feces from leaking from the waist area on the back side (commonly known as back leakage).
Furthermore, the tape 119a can also be used to roll up and secure a used paper diaper when it is discarded, thereby preventing urine and feces from leaking out.

The disposable diaper 11a is not limited to the above-mentioned configuration. For example, the material of the surface material 160a may be polypropylene, and the tapes 119a may be one on each side. The arrangement of the RFID tag 12a is not limited to the surface of the waterproof material 115a on the absorbent section 114a side.
The disposable diaper may also be a pants-type disposable diaper.

In addition, the acquisition device 124 transmits information that the disposable diaper has become wet to the supply side management server 112.

The supply-side management server 112 calculates the amount of disposable diapers consumed at the consumption facility 120 based on the information received from the acquisition device 124 (consumption amount calculation process).
More specifically, when the supply side management server 112 acquires detection information from each consumption facility 120, it counts the consumption amount for each consumption facility and size based on the facility information and size information contained in the detection information, and calculates the consumption amount.
When the value obtained by subtracting the consumption amount from the specified value for the facility and size in the table shown in FIG. 3 falls below the threshold, the supply-side management server 112 supplies disposable diapers up to the specified value.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the collector facility 130 of the consumables management system 1 does not need to count the number of used paper diapers and notify the supplier facility 110 of the number.
In addition, the nursery staff can confirm that the disposable diaper is wet by receiving a notification on the administrator terminal 125 and identify the child whose disposable diaper is wet, making it easy to change the disposable diaper.

(Modification of the second embodiment)
A modification of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9A, 9B, 10A and 10B.

In the second embodiment, the disposable diaper is structured so that the disposable diaper is determined to be wet when information cannot be obtained from the RFID tag 12a of the disposable diaper. In the modified example of the second embodiment, however, the disposable diaper is structured so that the disposable diaper is determined to be wet when information can be obtained from the RFID tag 12a of the disposable diaper. The rest of the configuration of the consumables management system 1 is the same as in the second embodiment.

Referring to Figures 9A and 9B, the structure of the disposable diaper used in the modified example of the second embodiment will be described.

9A is a cross-sectional view of the disposable diaper 11a in a wet state taken along line AA' in FIG. 7. On an antenna layer 1142a having a non-conductive antenna pattern 1141a on its upper surface, a resin layer 1143a having an exposed non-conductive portion of the antenna pattern 1141a, a film 1147a having a conductive material 1146a such as carbon powder attached to the exposed portion of the antenna pattern 1141a, and a highly absorbent polymer SAP 1145a are layered in this order.
When the disposable diaper 11a is not wet, the antenna pattern 1141a is in a non-conductive state, and therefore the acquisition device 124 cannot read information about the disposable diaper 11a.

Next, FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of the wet disposable diaper 11a taken along line A-A' in FIG. 7. The SAP 1145a expands due to liquid such as urine or feces, pushing against the film 1147a, and the conductive material 1146a attached to the film comes into contact with the antenna pattern 1141a, establishing electrical continuity. This allows the acquisition device 124 to acquire information about the disposable diaper 11a. In this case, it is preferable to use an antenna that is not affected by water for the antenna pattern 1141a, since communication is performed in the presence of liquid.

The structure of the disposable diaper 11a used in the modified example of the second embodiment may be as shown in Figures 10A and 10B. The structure of the disposable diaper shown in Figures 10A and 10B is the same as the structure of the disposable diaper 11a shown in Figures 9A and 9B, and is a structure of a disposable diaper that determines that the disposable diaper is wet when information is obtained from the RFID tag 12a of the disposable diaper 11a.

First, FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view of the disposable diaper 11a in a non-wet state taken along the line A-A' in FIG. 7. On top of the antenna layer 1142a on which the non-conductive antenna pattern 1141a is provided, are layered in order the resin layer 1143a, which has a number of holes drilled therein so that the non-conductive parts of the antenna pattern 1141a are exposed, and the SAP 1145a, which is a highly absorbent polymer having a conductive material 1146a such as carbon powder physically adsorbed on its surface. The size of the holes drilled in the resin layer 1143a is set so that the SAP 1145a cannot penetrate into them.

Next, FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of the wet disposable diaper 11a taken along line A-A' in FIG. 7. As SAP 1145a expands due to liquid such as urine or feces, the expanded portion of SAP 1145a is pressed into multiple holes in the resin layer 1143a, contacting and establishing electrical continuity with the antenna pattern 1141a. This allows the acquisition device 124 to acquire information about the disposable diaper 11a. In this case, similar to the structure in FIG. 9, it is preferable to use an antenna that is not affected by water, since the antenna pattern 1141a communicates in the presence of liquid.

In the above embodiment and modified example, the consumables handled by the consumables management system 1 are disposable diapers, but this is not limited to this.

In the above embodiment and modified example, the waste collection facility 130 measures the amount of waste from each child when collecting used paper diapers, but in addition to this, for example, it may check whether there is an occult blood reaction in the waste. This is referred to as an occult blood information acquisition process.
If an occult blood reaction is detected, the guardian 150 or the like may be notified of the occult blood reaction when the amount of excrement is notified. This is referred to as an occult blood information notifying step.

In addition, in the above embodiment and modified example, the supply and recovery to the consumption facility 120, i.e., the first supply process (S1), the second supply process (S4), and the recovery process (S2), may be operated on a flat-rate basis. Here, the process of charging a flat-rate fee is referred to as the charging process.

In addition, in the above embodiment and modified example, the size or number of disposable diapers to be supplied next to the consumption facility 120 is changed depending on the amount of excrement, but this is not limited to the above. For example, if it is determined that the amount of excrement in one batch is small, the diaper may be changed to one with a smaller absorption capacity.

In the above embodiment and modified example, the consumption facility 120 is a nursery school, but this is not limited to this. The consumption facility 120 may also be a care facility for elderly people.

1 Consumables management system S1 First supply process S2 Collection process S3 Consumption amount notification process S4 Second supply process S5 Third supply process 10 Aggregated data notification process 110 Supplier facility 111 Supply side warehouse 112 Supply side management server (management device)
112a: storage unit 112b: communication unit 112c: control unit (acquisition means, calculation means)
11a Disposable diaper 12a RFID tag 1141a Antenna pattern 1142a Antenna layer 1143a Resin layer 1145a SAP
1146a Conductive material 1147a Film 13a Unique identification number 120 Consumption facility 121 Consumption side warehouse 122 Consumption side management server 122a Memory unit 122b Communication unit 122c Control unit 123 Dust box 124 Acquisition device 125 Administrator terminal 130 Collection company facility 131 Weighing scale 132 Handheld terminal 140 Recycle company facility 150 Guardian

Claims (9)

A method for managing consumables used in a specified facility, comprising:
a first supply step of supplying a predetermined number of consumables according to the facility from the supplier to the facility by a management device used by the supplier ;
a consumption amount notifying step of notifying the management device of information regarding the consumption amount of the consumables at the facility by a handheld terminal used by a collector who collects the waste consumables or an acquisition device used at the facility ;
a second supply step of supplying the facility with a number of consumables corresponding to the consumption amount by the management device,
In the consumption amount notification step , the handheld terminal notifies the user based on a measurement of an amount of excrement contained in the collected waste, or the acquisition device notifies the user based on detection of status information of the consumables;
an excrement information acquisition step of acquiring excrement information regarding the amount of excrement contained in the collected waste by a weighing scale used by the waste collector;
an excrement information notifying step of notifying the management device of the excrement information acquired by the handheld terminal;
and calculating, by the management device, aggregate data that aggregates the amount of excrement for each predetermined period for each user of the consumable product,
A method for managing consumables, wherein, in the aggregate data calculation process, the management device issues an alert if the change in the rate of increase in the amount of excrement in the aggregate data differs from the change in the rate of increase in the amount of excrement that accompanies the growth of a user of a given consumable . The method for managing consumables as described in claim 1, wherein, in the second supply process, when the value obtained by subtracting the consumption amount from a specified value for each facility as a predetermined number corresponding to the facility falls below a predetermined threshold, the management device supplies the difference up to the specified value as the number of consumables to be replenished. The consumable product is a disposable diaper,
The disposable diaper has a state detection unit that detects state information for specifying a timing for changing the diaper,
The acquisition device acquires the state information detected by the state detection unit in the consumption amount notification step , and notifies the management device of the acquired state information ;
The method for managing consumables according to claim 1 , further comprising a consumption amount calculation step of calculating an amount of the disposable diapers consumed in the facility from the status information by the management device . The method for managing consumables according to claim 3 , further comprising a notification step of notifying, by the acquisition device, a manager terminal of a manager who takes care of the wearer of the disposable diaper, of the status information. The consumable management method described in claim 4, wherein in the notification process, the acquisition device determines whether or not the disposable diaper needs to be changed based on the status information detected by the status detection unit , and notifies the determination result to a manager terminal of a manager who cares for the wearer of the disposable diaper. The method for managing consumables according to claim 3 , wherein the state detection unit utilizes an RFID system. The method for managing consumables according to claim 1 , further comprising a charging step of charging a fixed fee for the supply of the consumables by the management device . The consumable product is a disposable diaper,
The method for managing consumables according to claim 1 , further comprising a step of notifying a guardian of a wearer of the disposable diaper of the calculated aggregate data by the management device . A management device for managing consumables used in a specified facility,
An acquisition means for acquiring consumption information regarding consumption of the consumables in the facility;
a calculation means for calculating a replenishment amount to be replenished when a value obtained by subtracting the acquired consumption amount from a specified value set for each facility falls below a predetermined threshold value;
a means for acquiring excrement information relating to the amount of excrement contained in the collected waste of the consumables;
A means for calculating aggregate data for each user of the consumables, the aggregate data being the amount of excrement per predetermined period;
a means for issuing an alert when a change in the rate of increase in the amount of excrement in the collected data differs from a change in the rate of increase in the amount of excrement associated with the growth of a user of a given consumable product;
A consumables management device comprising:

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