JPS61203021A - Electronic shipping tag system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a system to be automized allowing the system to be widely applicable by configurating the system in such a manner that data are exchanged each other between an electronic shipping tag which has a memory device, and a data receiving transmitter by means of radio waves. CONSTITUTION:An electronic shipping tag 1 is inserted into a handy data input device 9 allowing the designational address, the nomenclature, and the like of a cargo 4 to be inputted. This allows the electronic shipping tag 1 to store the information allowing the cargo 4 to be transferred with the tag 1 attached. When the cargo 4 comes in the vicinity of a receiver transmitter 2, the electronic tag 1 receives a trigger signal from the data receiver transmitter 2 permitting the stored data to be transmitted by means of radio waves. Then, the receiver transmitter 2 reads the content of received signal. And a computer 3 reads out the designational address from the received data, and directs the command to an automatic sorting device 12 allowing the cargo 4 to be sorted. This configuration enables both an unmanned and the automization of the system to be employed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to an electronic tag system suitable for, for example, managing the sorting of logistics such as luggage and the management of high-mix, low-volume production.

[Background of the invention]

Currently, mainly in the distribution industry, P
OS systems (point of sale) are rapidly expanding. This barcode has been actively adopted by the food industry in Japan since 1978, and its marking rate is currently 70 to 80%, and has reached almost 100% in the United States.

This barcode can be used for inventory management and other purposes by attaching identification information for products and parts to the barcode, scanning the barcode with a barcode reader when entering and exiting the warehouse, and inputting this information into a computer. Automatic ordering, etc. In addition, sorting by destination in the transportation and shipping process is widely used to prevent abnormal contamination during work and automatic packaging.

Regarding barcode reading, there is a problem in that it is necessary to accurately set a barcode reader near the barcode due to its principle, and this must be done manually.

As a solution to this problem, there is, for example, one shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 55-40175. This uses a laser code reader to scan the barcode surface with laser light and automatically read the barcode, eliminating the need for human intervention.

However, even with the above-mentioned conventional technology, when an item with a barcode pasted on it is placed on a line, if the side with the barcode pasted is on the bottom, it cannot be scanned. It was necessary to place it precisely on the line. Furthermore, the conventional barcode described above can only read data, so if you want to add new data to an item on the line, you have to manually paste or replace a different barcode. Complete automation is not possible,
Its scope of application was limited.

[Purpose of the invention]

The object of the present invention is to provide an electronic luggage tag system that is easy to use and has a wide range of applications.

[Summary of the invention]

A feature of the present invention is that data is input and output using radio waves between an electronic tag attached to a moving article and a data transmitter/receiver installed near the article. The above features make it possible to reliably read the data entered into electronic tags, and even when new data needs to be input to electronic tags, it can be done via radio waves, making the system unmanned and automated. Be able to apply it within a range.

[Embodiments of the invention]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic tag system includes an electronic tag 1 attached to a baggage 4 placed on a conveyor 5,
It consists of a data transmitter/receiver 2 installed near (within the range where radio waves can reach) the data transmitter/receiver 2.

As will be explained later with reference to FIG. 2, the electronic tag 1 has a semiconductor memory of about IK bits, and data is input and output using radio waves.

The data transmitter/receiver 2 is connected to a personal computer 3 so that data can be transmitted and received between the two. Note that this personal computer 3 and other large-sized computers (not shown) can of course be connected. Further, by attaching a barcode reader 6 to the data transmitter/receiver 2, data can also be input using the barcode reader 6.

Next, the circuit configurations of the electronic tag 1 and the data transmitter/receiver 2 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

Note that the data transmitter/receiver 2 may be equipped with an accessory device such as a barcode reader, but the circuit configuration of the data communication section is the same as the circuit configuration of the electronic tag 1.

FIG. 2 shows seven examples of the circuit configuration of the electronic tag 1 according to the present invention.

The antenna 108 is connected to a transmitting/receiving switching circuit 107, and this transmitting/receiving switching circuit 107 connects the receiving terminal (Re
)It is connected to the. Further, a transmission terminal (Tr) of the MODEM 104 is connected to a transmission/reception switching circuit 107 via an amplifier 106. Furthermore, MODEM 1
04 is connected to a random access memory (hereinafter referred to as RAM) 101 via a serial-parallel conversion circuit (hereinafter referred to as S/P conversion circuit) 102. In addition,
There is a sequence controller 103 that takes timing between these elements, and a battery 109 for power supply.

Next, the operation of the electronic tag 1 described above will be explained.

When received via MODEM, MODEM generates a carrier detect signal (CD) at 1.0'4, thereby activating the sequence controller 103. The sequence controller 103 inputs the data in the RAM 10I to the MODEM 104 via the S/P conversion circuit 102, and transmits the data-modulated signal from the antenna 108 via the amplifier 106 and the transmission/reception switching circuit 107. Further, by simply changing the procedure of the sequence controller 103, the data following the trigger signal from the data transmitter/receiver 2 can be stored in the RAM 10I.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the circuit configuration of the data transmitter/receiver 2. As shown in FIG.

Regarding the circuit configuration, the S/P conversion circuit 102, sequence controller 103, and MODEM! in the circuit configuration of the electronic tag 1 shown in FIG. 04 is replaced with a microprocessor (MPU) 110, and the other circuit configuration is the same as that of the electronic tag 1. Note that there is no problem in replacing the circuit configuration of the data transmitter/receiver 2 shown in FIG. 3 with the circuit configuration of the electronic tag 1 shown in FIG. 2.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, a parcel delivery service will be described as an example in which the electronic tag system according to the present invention is utilized.

Conventionally, a package 4 has been attached with a tag 7 on which the address of the destination, etc. is written, and a delivery table 8 on which a bar code indicating the destination, type of package, two product names, etc. is written. In the present invention,
The electronic tag 1 will be attached in place of the delivery table 8.

As shown in Figure 4, the flow of the electronic tag 1 in a courier service is as follows: First, the sender or the driver who receives the parcel 4,
Display device such as liquid crystal 10. The electronic tag 1 is inserted into a handy data input device 9 consisting of a barcode reader 6, a keyboard 11, and the like.

Then, the user operates the barcode reader 6 of the handy data input device 9 or the keyboard 11 to input necessary data such as the destination and product name of the package 4 into the memory of the electronic tag 1. The electronic luggage tag 1 in which these data are stored is attached to the luggage 4.
and transported to the distribution center by truck etc.
It is placed on conveyor 5. When the baggage 4 comes near the data transmitter/receiver 2, the charge tag 1 receives a trigger signal from the data transmitter/receiver 2 and transmits the stored data by radio waves. The data transmitter/receiver 2 receives this radio wave and reads the data content. The personal computer 3 extracts destination data from this data content, and issues a command to the device 12 for automatic sorting, thereby sorting the packages 4.

At this time, if necessary, necessary data such as the date and time of passing through the distribution center (8) can be added to the electronic tag 1 from the data transmitter/receiver 2. The automatically sorted packages 4 are further transported by trucks and the like to several distribution centers before being delivered to the consignee. At this time, the electronic tag 1 can be collected and reused.

The above system description is for home delivery, but it can also be used for work management in high-mix, low-volume production, for example,
It has many applications, such as identifying parts of line products such as automobile assembly, inputting inspection results, and instructing work contents.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the system can be constructed without a computer network by intervening in the logistics system the electronic tag 1 that can freely input and output data such as destinations from within the range of radio waves. There is an effect.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the electronic tag system of the present invention, the data input to the electronic tag can be reliably read without contact, and furthermore, the data can be input to the electronic tag by radio waves, making the system unmanned.

It has the excellent effect of being able to be automated.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic tag system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an electronic tag system according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a data transmission/reception diagram according to the electronic tag system according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a parcel delivery service as an example in which the electronic tag system according to the present invention is utilized. 1...Electronic tag, 2...Data transmitter/receiver, 101.
...RAM, 102...S/P conversion circuit, 103...
・Sequence controller, 104...MODEM
, 105°106...Amplifier, 107...Transmission/reception switching circuit, 108...Antenna, 109...Battery, 110...MPU.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An electronic tag system comprising an information display means attached to a moving article, and a data transmitting/receiving means having a storage part and a transmitting/receiving part and installed near the moving article, An electronic tag system characterized in that the information display means has a storage device and inputs and outputs data to and from the data transmitting and receiving means using radio waves. 2. The electronic tag system according to claim 1, wherein the storage device of the information display means is comprised of a semiconductor memory.