WO2007037015A1

WO2007037015A1 - Radio tag reading device

Info

Publication number: WO2007037015A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/018027
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yasuhito Kiji; Kouichi Sano; Nobuo Murofushi; Yasuo Matsumoto
Original assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
Priority date: 2005-09-29
Filing date: 2005-09-29
Publication date: 2007-04-05

Abstract

A radio tag reading device uses a container (30) having an object receiving area (32) and a radio tag (36). The radio tag (36) is attached to a position of the container which position is different from the object receiving area (32) and storing information for specifying an object received in the object receiving area (32). The radio tag reading device further uses a receiving base (20) having a first receiving section (21) where the container (30) is placed and also having a second receiving section (22) where a member other than the container is placed, which member is a radio tag installation member (40). An antenna section (11) reads information, by radio communication, from the radio tag (36) attached to the container (30) placed at the first receiving section (21) of the receiving base (20) and from a radio tag (41) attached to the radio tag installation member (40) placed at the second receiving section (22). A display section (19) outputs information of the radio tags (36, 41) read by the antenna section (11).

Description

Specification

Wireless tag reader

Technical field

The present invention relates to a wireless tag reading device that reads information from a plurality of wireless tags attached to different articles.

Background art

Conventionally, a wireless tag called an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag or the like is attached to an article, and information for specifying the article is written in a memory of the wireless tag. A technique for automatically recognizing an article to which the wireless tag is attached by reading the information of the wireless tag with a wireless tag reader is already known.

[0003] Also, a database is prepared in which a unique identifier (ID) of a wireless tag and information on an article to which the wireless tag is attached are stored in association with each other. And, when the wireless tag reader reads the unique identifier of the wireless tag, a technique for automatically recognizing the article by acquiring information related to the article associated with the database power unique identifier is also known.

[0004] In this type of wireless tag reader, an antenna is disposed on the bottom side or side surface of an article table, and a plurality of types of articles with wireless tags attached are placed on the article table. And there existed what moved the goods relatively with respect to the antenna. With such a configuration, the reading accuracy of the wireless tag provided on the article is improved (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-292534).

Disclosure of the invention

[0005] However, in the conventional RFID tag reading apparatus that moves the article relative to the antenna with force, an article table or an antenna moving means is required. For this reason, there is a problem that the configuration is complicated and the cost is increased. In addition, the communication radio waves between the wireless tag and the antenna are easily affected by the influence of the article attached with the wireless tag and the surrounding radio wave environment. For this reason, the information of the wireless tag may be missed. However, the conventional wireless tag reader has not taken into account this kind of information read-out. However, information is overlooked when reading multiple RFID tags at once. In this case, it was very troublesome to specify the power of which information of the RFID tag was read out, and it was actually a waste of time.

[0006] The present invention has been made based on such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the frequency with which information on a wireless tag is read out due to the influence of an article to which the wireless tag is attached. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless tag reader capable of specifying the wireless tag in a short time in a short period of time when information is missed.

[0007] The wireless tag reading device of the present invention includes an article storage area, and the wireless tag that stores information for specifying the article stored in the article storage area is located at a position distinguished from the article storage area. Use attached container. Further, a cradle having a first receiving part in which a plurality of containers are placed and a second receiving part in which a wireless tag attaching member other than the container is placed is used. Furthermore, it comprises tag information output means such as an antenna section and a display section. The antenna unit wirelessly communicates information from the wireless tag attached to the container placed on the first receiving part of the cradle and the wireless tag attached to the wireless tag attaching member placed on the second receiving part. Read it. The tag information output means outputs information on the wireless tag read by the antenna unit. Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a wireless tag reading device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the wireless tag reader according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the first wireless tag reader.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a cradle according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a container in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a container in a second embodiment of the wireless tag reader according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a container in a third embodiment of a wireless tag reader according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a wireless tag reader according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a container in a fourth embodiment of a wireless tag reader according to the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a wireless tag reader according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an overall view of a processing management system to which the wireless tag reading device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a wireless tag reader according to the first embodiment. This apparatus is placed on a wireless tag reader 10 having a horizontal antenna unit 11, a cradle 20 placed on the antenna unit 11 of the wireless tag reader 10, and a first cradle 21 of the cradle 20. Consists of 30 and containers.

[0010] As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2 and the perspective view of FIG. 3, the wireless tag reader 10 includes an interface unit 12 that manages data communication with a computer connected via a wired or wireless communication line, Control unit 13 that controls reading of tag information and output of read information, modulator 14 that modulates transmission data to the wireless tag, transmission amplifier 15 that amplifies the modulation signal and radiates the antenna 16 as a radio wave, antenna Receiving amplifier 17 for amplifying the radio signal received at 16; demodulator 18 that also amplifies the radio wave signal power to the control unit 13; and information read from the RFID tag power or information associated with the information. It consists of a display unit 19 for displaying. The antenna 16 is embedded in the antenna unit 11 so as to have directivity upward from the upper surface of the wireless tag reader 10. The display unit 19 may be provided integrally with the wireless tag reader 10 or may be provided separately.

[0011] The cradle 20 is configured by bonding a box-shaped first receiving portion 21 and a second receiving portion 22 having a sawtooth longitudinal section in a state where the receiving surfaces face upward. It has been. The receiving surface of the first receiving portion 21 is a flat surface so that a plurality of containers 30 that form a rectangular parallelepiped can be aligned in an upright state. The receiving surface of the second receiving portion 22 is inclined forward so that the card-like member 40 in which the wireless tag 41 is embedded can be placed. As a result, the surface force of the card-like member 40 placed on the receiving surface of the second receiving portion 22 is easily seen. The cradle 20 is made of a material that transmits radio waves, such as plastic.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 5, the container 30 stores an article charged from an upper article insertion port 31. It is an envelope with an article storage area 32. The container 30 is formed of a material that transmits electric waves, such as plastic. The bottom 33 of the article storage area 32 has a raised bottom structure that is slightly lifted from the bottom 34 of the container 30. A wireless tag 36 is attached in the vicinity of the approximate center of an area 35 that is distinguished from the article storage area 32 between the bottom 33 of the article storage area 32 and the bottom 34 of the container 30. The wireless tag 36 is embedded in the region 35 so that its gain is high and the direction faces the bottom 34 side of the container 30. In the memory of the wireless tag 36, an ID that is a unique identifier is stored in advance. Further, as necessary, information for specifying an article stored in the article storage area 32 of the container 30 provided with the wireless tag 36 is written. In addition, a label LB (see FIG. 4) on which information about stored articles is printed with characters, bar codes, two-dimensional codes, and the like is attached to the surface of the container 30.

As shown in FIG. 4, the containers 30 are placed side by side on the first receiving part 21 of the cradle 20 with the bottom part 34 facing downward. As a result, the wireless tags 36 attached to the plurality of containers 30 placed on the first receiving portion 21 are arranged in one direction. On the other hand, a card-like member 40 with a wireless tag 41 is placed on the second receiving portion 22 of the cradle 20.

In this state, the cradle 20 is placed on the antenna unit 11 of the wireless tag reader 10 as shown in FIG. Then, the radio tag 36 of each container 30 and the radio tag 41 of the force member 40 react to radio waves radiated from the antenna 16, and radio waves of tag information stored in the memory are transmitted. Radio waves transmitted from the wireless tags 36 and 41 are received by the antenna 16 and demodulated into tag information by the demodulator 18. Next, the tag information or information associated with the tag information processed by the control unit 13 is displayed on the display unit 19 (tag information output means).

As described above, the antenna unit 11 reads information from the wireless tag 36 by radiating a radio wave from a substantially vertical direction with respect to the arrangement direction of the wireless tags 36 in the first receiving unit 21. At this time, an article stored in the article storage area 32 of the container 30 is not interposed between the wireless tag 36 attached to the container 30 and the antenna unit 11. In addition, the container 30 is provided with a predetermined thickness so that the interval between the wireless tags 36 arranged in one direction on the first receiving portion 21 is kept at an interval that ensures no interference. (Interval holding means). [0016] Therefore, there is a space between the article stored in the container 30 and the wireless tag 36 provided on the container 30, and the article is placed between the antenna unit 11 and the wireless tag 36. Since there is no intervening defect, it is possible to greatly reduce the information overwriting due to the influence of goods. However, the distance between adjacent wireless tags is kept at an interval that ensures that no interference occurs, so there is no risk of information being read out due to radio wave interference.

[0017] If the information displayed on the display unit 19 is different from the information on the wireless tags 36 and 41 actually placed on the cradle 20, the wireless tag 36 on the container 30 side and the card form This means that the information of at least one of the wireless tags 41 on the member 40 side has not been read. In this case, the wireless tag 41 on the card-like member 40 side is normally embedded in the card-like member 40 formed of a material such as plastic so that the higher gain direction faces the card surface side. Since the card-like member 40 is placed on the second receiving portion 22 with its card surface facing substantially upward, there is almost no possibility that the wireless tag reader 10 will miss the information of the wireless tag 41. On the other hand, the radio tag 36 on the container 30 side may cause information to be overlooked if the article is made of metal or the like.

[0018] Therefore, when the reading of the wireless tag information occurs, the wireless tag 36 on the container 30 side is examined first. For example, the display contents are confirmed by performing a process such as shifting the position of the container 30 placed on the first receiving part 21. In this way, it is possible to identify a wireless tag whose information has been read out in a short time. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the workload and time required for identifying the wireless tag whose information has been read out.

[0019] If the reading result of the wireless tag is not improved, characters, bar codes, two-dimensional codes, etc. printed on the label LB affixed to the surface of the container 30 are read by the optical reader. This can be dealt with by reading or inputting the unique identifier of the wireless tag from a keyboard. The optical reader and keyboard may be provided in the wireless tag reader 10! /, And installed on the higher-level computer! / But! /

[0020] In the embodiment, the force in which the wireless tag 36 is embedded in the region 35 on the bottom 34 side that is distinguished from the article storage area 32 of the container 30, as shown in FIG. A storage pocket 37 for the wireless tag 36 may be provided, and the wireless tag 36 may be detachably held in the storage pocket 37. For example, if the container 30 is damaged, There is an advantage that tag 36 can be taken out and reused.

Note that, in the first embodiment, the wireless tag 36 is attached to the front side of the container 30. Therefore, if the two containers 30 are arranged facing each other in the first receiving part 21 of the cradle 20, the distance between the wireless tags is narrowed, so that the RFID tag information may be read over. Get higher. Therefore, in such a case, as a second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a spacer 38 is provided so as to maintain an interval between adjacent wireless tags to ensure that no interference occurs. It is desirable to provide the wireless tag 36. The spacer 38 may be provided on the surface of the storage pocket 37 or the container 30 instead of the wireless tag 36. In addition, a partition plate having a thickness that ensures that the adjacent wireless tags do not interfere with each other in the first receiving portion 21 of the receiving base 20 is provided. The containers 30 are partitioned and arranged one by one by this partition plate. In this way, the spacer 38 may be dispensed with.

Further, in the second embodiment, the wireless tag 36 is attached to the bottom side of the container 30 with a high gain and a direction downward, but as a third embodiment, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to attach the wireless tag 36 in a region different from the article storage area 32 on one side of the container 30 with the direction of high gain facing sideways.

In the case of the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the wireless tag reader 10 is provided with a vertical antenna portion 11 A on the side surface portion separately from the horizontal antenna portion 11, and the container 30 side. The information of the wireless tag 36 is read by the vertical antenna 11A. In this way, since the articles stored in the article storage area 32 of each container 30 fall to the bottom side of the container 30 due to their own weight, the distance between the article and the wireless tag 36 can be made sufficiently large and read. The accuracy can be further increased. It goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even if a storage pocket 37 for the wireless tag 36 is provided on the side surface of the container 30 and the wireless tag 36 is detachably held by the storage pocket 37.

Further, as a fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, an article storage area 32 of the container 30 is provided below the article input port 31. A storage pocket 37 is provided in a region 39 that is distinguished from the article storage area 32 between the article insertion port 31 and the upper end surface of the article storage area 32. The wireless tag 36 is detachably stored in the storage pocket 37 with the higher gain facing upward. Alternatively, the higher gain side may be attached to the inner surface of the container in region 39 with the higher gain facing upward. Yes.

In the case of the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the wireless tag reader 10 prepares a lid-type antenna unit 11B separately from the horizontal antenna unit 11. Then, the lid-type antenna unit 11B is arranged so that the plurality of containers 30 placed on the first receiving part 21 of the cradle 20 are covered, and information on the wireless tag 36 on the container 30 side is transmitted to the lid-type antenna. Read by Part 11B. Also in this case, since the article stored in the article storage area 32 of each container 30 falls to the bottom surface side of the container 30 due to its own weight, the distance between the article and the wireless tag 36 can be further increased.

[0026] In FIG. 10, the structure is such that the card-like member 40 placed on the second receiving portion 22 of the force receiving base 20 can be covered at the same time. It is also possible to read the radio tag 36 on the container 30 side and the radio tag 41 of the card-like member 40 in a lump with the lid-type antenna portion 11B.

In the first embodiment, the first receiving portion 21 of the cradle 20 has a box-shaped first receiving portion 21 and accommodates the plurality of containers 30 in an upright state. First receiving portion 21 Need not be box-shaped. For example, a pair of plates are opposed to each other before and after the receiving surface on which the container 30 is placed, and at least one of the plates is slidable back and forth. Then, a plurality of containers 30 placed on the receiving surface may be sandwiched between a pair of plates.

[0028] The wireless tag mounting member placed on the second receiving portion 22 is not limited to the card-like member 40. The wireless tag 41 is directly attached to the member, such as a rod-like member, strip-like member, or disk-like member. If it has a structure that is installed,

Next, an application example of the wireless tag reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This is an example of applying a wireless tag reader to a process management system in a factory that processes parts. For convenience of explanation, a two-step management system of process A and process B will be described.

In this process management system, each container 30 is used as a component container for storing different components. The card-like member 40 is used as an employee card for each worker. The wireless tag 36 provided on each component container 30 and the wireless tag 41 provided on the employee card 40 store only an ID that is a unique identifier.

[0031] Wireless tag readers 10A and 10B are installed in the processes A and B of the factory, respectively. Each of the wireless tag readers 10A and 10B is connected to a management computer 51 via a communication line 52 such as a LAN. The communication line 52 is also connected to wireless communication devices 53 arranged at various locations in the factory. The wireless communication device 53 functions as an access point for mobile communication terminals such as mobile phones and pagers carried by each worker.

The management computer 51 is provided with a parts database 54, a worker database 55, and a process database 56. In the parts database 54, information about parts such as part names and sizes is stored in association with the ID of the wireless tag 36 provided in the parts container 30 in which the parts are accommodated. In the worker database 55, information on the worker such as the identification code of each worker and access information of the mobile communication terminal carried by the worker is stored in the wireless tag 41 provided on the worker card 40 of the worker. It is stored in association with the ID. In the process database 56, for each process, the parts necessary for the process are associated with the identification code of the worker who performs the machining work using the parts and the worker who carries the cradle 20 to each process. It is remembered. It should be noted that the component database 54 can be omitted by storing the information stored in the component database 54 in the wireless tag 36 having the corresponding ID. Further, the worker database 55 can be omitted by storing the information stored in the worker database 55 in the wireless tag 41 having the corresponding ID.

A plurality of component containers 30 are arranged in the first receiving portion 21 of the receiving stand 20. In this state, the cradle 20 also carries the pre-process power. Assume that the cradle 20 has now been transferred to process A. In this case, the worker who has carried the cradle 20 places his / her employee card 40 on the second receiving part 22 of the cradle 20 and then places the cradle 20 on the antenna part 11 of the wireless tag reader 10A. Then, the ID of each wireless tag 36 provided in each component container 30 and the ID of the wireless tag 41 provided on the employee card 40 are collectively read by the wireless tag reader 10A. The read IDs of the wireless tags 36 and 41 are transmitted to the management computer 51 via the communication line 52. The management computer 51 reads the component information corresponding to the ID of the wireless tag 36 from the component database 54. Also, worker information corresponding to the ID of the wireless tag 41 is read from the worker database 55. These database information are returned to the wireless tag reader 10A and displayed on the display unit 19. Therefore, receiving The worker who brought the rack 20 can easily check whether or not the information reading of the wireless tag 36 or 41 has been missed by comparing the display result of the display unit 19 with the actual situation of the cradle 20. Can be confirmed. When it is confirmed that the information has been overlooked, the worker collects his employee card 40 from the second receiving part 22.

On the other hand, in the management computer 51, the process database 56 is searched, and a worker who performs a machining operation using the parts contained in the part container 30 brought into the process A is specified. Next, the employee database 55 is searched, and access information of the mobile communication terminal carried by the worker is acquired. Then, any wireless communication device 53 communicating with the mobile communication terminal is accessed to the mobile communication terminal, and the arrival of the component is notified.

[0035] The worker who has received the notification goes to the installation location of the wireless tag reader 10A in process A, places his / her employee card 40 on the second receiving part 22 of the cradle 20, and then the parts necessary for the processing work. Is taken out from the first receiving part 21. Then, the ID of the wireless tag 41 provided on the employee card 40 newly placed by the wireless tag reader 1 OA is read. Further, the ID of the wireless tag 36 provided in the component container 30 taken out from the first receiving portion 21 cannot be read. As a result, information related to the wireless tag displayed on the display unit 19 changes. At this time, if it is confirmed that the display content does not change, the worker can recognize that the information reading of the wireless tag 36 or 41 has been missed.

[0036] If the information is not read over, the management computer 51 reads the ID of the wireless tag 41 anew and the ID of the wireless tag 36 cannot be read. The parts container 30 taken out by the worker is identified. Then, the process database 56 is referenced to check whether the worker has taken out the wrong parts container 30. As a result, if there is a mistake, a warning message is displayed on the display unit of the wireless tag reader 10A. At this time, the wireless tag reader 10A may be provided with a buzzer so that a warning sound is emitted. Alternatively, the mobile communication terminal power carried by the worker may be warned. This warning alerts the operator to an error in removing the parts container 30.

[0037] It should be noted that the parts container 30 is taken out without the employee card 40 being placed in the second receiving part 22. A warning is also issued. In addition, the number of parts required by one worker is not necessarily one. Therefore, when the ID of the wireless tag 41 provided on the employee card 40 of the next worker is read, the ID of the wireless tag 36 provided on the parts container 30 that contains the parts required by the previous worker is stored. Is read, the management computer 51 notifies the mobile communication terminal carried by the operator in front of the remaining parts.

[0038] Now, the worker who has taken out the correct parts container 30 performs the machining work while facing his work place with his employee card 40 placed on the second receiving portion 22. When the work is completed, the processed parts are stored in the parts container 30, and then go back to the installation place of the wireless tag reader 10A. Then, the parts container 30 is returned to the first receiving part 21 of the cradle 20, and the second receiving part 22 also collects its employee card. Then, the ID of the wireless tag 36 provided in the component container 30 returned to the first receiving portion 21 is read by the wireless tag reader 10A. In addition, the ID of the wireless tag 41 provided on the employee card 40 collected from the second receiving part 22 cannot be read. As a result, information related to the wireless tag displayed on the display unit 19 changes. Also at this time, if the display content does not change, the worker can recognize that the information reading of the wireless tag 36 or 41 has been missed.

[0039] If the information is not read over, the management computer 51 has read the ID of the wireless tag 36 again and the ID of the wireless tag 41 cannot be read. The end is recognized. At this time, if all the parts containers 30 taken out by the worker are not returned, a warning is issued by a display, a buzzer sound, or a mobile communication terminal.

[0040] When the management computer 51 recognizes the completion of all machining operations performed in the process A, the process database 56 is searched to identify the worker who carries the cradle 20 to the next process B. . Then, the transport instruction of the cradle 20 is notified to the mobile communication terminal carried by this worker. The worker who received the notification takes the cradle 20 from the wireless tag reader 10A of process A and transports it to process B, places his employee card 40 in the second receiving part 22, and then places the cradle 20 on the wireless tag reader. Place on 10B. The subsequent steps are the same as in step A.

In this way, when all the processing operations are performed and the product is completed, the product is taken out from the component container 30 and the component container 30 is collected. The recovered parts container 30 can be reused. it can. When reusing, the component information associated with the ID of the radio tag 36 provided in the component container 30 in the component database 54 is updated. In this case, only the wireless tag 36 can be collected and the component container 30 can be discarded.

In the above process management system, the reading results of the RFID tag readers 10A and 10B in each process are constantly recorded in the database by the management computer 51. By doing so, it is possible to trace from the reading history of the wireless tag 36 provided in the component container 30 which process each component is currently in. In addition, the processing time of each employee can be individually investigated from the recognition duration of the wireless tag 41 provided on the employee card 40. Therefore, this information can be used as material for studying work process improvements.

Industrial applicability

[0043] The present invention is used in industries in the technical field of automatically recognizing an article to which the wireless tag is attached by attaching a wireless tag to various articles and reading the information of the wireless tag in a non-contact manner.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A container provided with an article storage area, and a wireless tag for storing information for specifying the article stored in the article storage area attached at a position distinct from the article storage area;

A cradle having a first receiving part on which a plurality of the containers are placed and a second receiving part on which a wireless tag mounting member other than the container is placed;

Information is received from the wireless tag attached to the container placed on the first receiving portion of the cradle and the wireless tag attached to the wireless tag attaching member placed on the second receiving portion. An antenna unit that reads by wireless communication;

Tag information output means for outputting information on the RFID tag read by the antenna unit.

[2] The wireless tag according to [1], wherein the wireless tag attached to each of the plurality of containers placed on the first receiving portion is arranged in one direction on the cradle. Reading device.

3. The antenna unit according to claim 2, wherein the antenna unit reads radio tag information by radiating radio waves from a direction substantially perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the radio tag in the first receiving unit. The wireless tag reader according to the description.

[4] The apparatus according to claim 2 or 2, further comprising interval holding means for maintaining an interval between the wireless tags arranged in one direction in the first receiving portion so as not to cause interference. 4. The wireless tag reader according to 3.

[5] When the container is placed on the first receiving part of the cradle, the article stored in the article storage area is not interposed between the antenna part and the wireless tag. 2. The wireless tag reader according to claim 1, wherein the wireless tag is attached.

[6] A radio tag is attached to an end of one side of the container when placed on the first receiving part of the cradle,

The antenna unit includes a horizontal antenna unit disposed in a bottom direction of the cradle and a vertical antenna unit disposed in a side surface direction of the cradle, and the horizontal antenna The RFID tag force information of the RFID tag mounting member placed on the second receiving part of the cradle is read by the part, and the container of the container placed on the first receiving part of the cradle is read by the vertical antenna part. The wireless tag reader according to claim 1, wherein the wireless tag force information is read.

7. The wireless tag reader according to claim 1, wherein the wireless tag is detachable from the container.