GB2442964A

GB2442964A - Device for identifying and storing objects having transponder elements

Info

Publication number: GB2442964A
Application number: GB0620766A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anatoli Stobbe; Wilfried Herrmann
Original assignee: Astra Gesellschaft fuer Asset Management mbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Astra Gesellschaft fuer Asset Management mbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2006-10-19
Filing date: 2006-10-19
Publication date: 2008-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 2026-10-19
Also published as: GB0620766D0; GB2442964B

Abstract

A device for identifying and storing objects 14 having transponder elements 18 in accommodation wells 10 provided with antennae 22, 24 of a reading unit 46. Each accommodation well comprises a protection device that is controlled by a control circuit 48 of the unit 46 which reads and evaluates the transponder identification data. If the data is authorised the object can enter the well and be retained therein. Authorised objects may be released when required. If the transponder data is not authorised the object is either prevented from entering or is prevented from remaining in the well. A detent latch element 32 retains the object 14 and can be retracted by a solenoid 28 (or electric motor or piezoelectric actuator) for release. As shown a blocking member 38, also under the control of the solenoid 28, will block the entry of any unauthorised object detected by antenna 22. Antenna 24 confirms the identity of a retained object. In another embodiment an unauthorised object may be inserted but when it is detected by antenna 24 the detent 32 is released and the object is expelled by a spring.

Description

1 2442964

DEVICE FOR IDENTIFYING AND STORING OBJECTS COMPRISING

IDENTIFICATION CARRIERS

The invention relates to a device for identifying and storing objects comprising identification carriers.

From DE 102 18 850 Cl, a device for identifying and storing at least one object comprising an identification carrier is known. Objects comprising identification carriers can be inserted in one of the accommodation wells and can be locked. However, it is possible to insert objects into any desired accommodation well and to lock them. In order to allow simpler and clearer tracking of objects, it may be necessary to allocate an exclusive accommodation well to each object and to ensure that only the exclusive accommodation wells can be used for storing the objects allocated to said exclusive accommodation wells.

It is an object to provide a device for identifying and storing objects comprising identification carriers, which device permits insertion of the objects into accommodation wells, or which device permits objects to remain in accommodation wells, only in the case of authorisation, while preventing the above in the case of non-authorisat ion.

According to the present invent ion, there is provided a device for identifying and storing objects comprising identification carriers by means of accommodation wells combined with antenna of a reading unit, wherein each accommodation well comprises a protection device that is controlled by an evaluation-and control circuit of the reading unit, which protection device, after reading and evaluating identification carrier data of the object, in the case of authorisation of the object releases accommodation of said object in the accommodation well or allows said object to remain in the accommodation well, while in the case of non-authorisation prevents the object from being accommodated in the accommodation well or prevents said object from remaining in the accommodation well.

By means of an evaluation circuit of the reading unit, scanned identification carrier data is checked to establish whether the selected accommodation well is allocated to the object and whether storage of the object in the accommodation well is permissible. A protection device controlled by the evaluation circuit allows only the storage of authorised objects in the selected accommodation well, while preventing the storage of unauthorised objects.

Because of the above, the tracking of objects becomes significantly easier. Available or missing objects can thus be controlled directly by way of occupied or free accommodation wells, because there is an exclusive allocation only between the objects and the accommodation well.

The protection device can comprise a blocking element which in the case of non-authorisation of the object projects into the accommodation well, and which can be removed from the accommodation well only in the case of authorisation of the object.

Because of the above, in the case of non-authorisation, already the insertion of the object into a non-permissible accommodation well is mechanically prevented and indicated to the user by means of the blocking element. In contrast to this, in the case of authorisation, it becomes possible to insert the object into the accommodation well, and it also becomes possible for the object to remain in the accommodation well.

The blocking element can be activated by an electric-motor driven, electromagnetic or piezoelectric actuator.

Because of the above, the blocking element can be activated independently of any optionally present locking device.

The blocking element can be mechanically coupled to an actuator of the locking device for the object, and can be activated by means of said actuator.

As a result of the above, the same actuator can be used both for operating a locking device for the object, and for activating the blocking element. This solution only requires a mechanical blocking element and a spring element, and therefore is not associated with any increase in design space.

The actuator of the locking device can be designed so as to be electric-motor driven, electromagnetic or piezoelectric.

The protective device can also comprise a spring element that can be tensioned by inserting the object in the accommodation well, which spring element exerts an ejection force onto the object. In the case of non-authorisation of the object, said object can be pushed from the accommodation well by releasing the spring element, while in the case of authorisation of the object, by activating the locking device in the accommodation well, any pushing out of the object by the spring element can be blocked.

This design is particularly easily implementable because only an additional spring element is required.

While an object can at first be inserted into any accommodation well, the associated locking device only fastens the object if an authorisation is present. In contrast to this, in the case of non-authorisation the object is ejected as soon as it is released.

In the case of a design comprising the locking element, preferably two reading antenn are arranged on the accommodation well, which reading antenna can be coupled to an identification carrier antenna in the object. One reading antenna is positioned such that in a locked position of the object it is coupled to the identification carrier antenna, while the other reading antenna is positioned such that it is already coupled to an object present at the entry to the accommodation well by way of the identification carrier antenna of the object.

Because of the above, identification carrier data can be read in both relevant positions. There is no need for an increase in the transmission output or in the receiver sensitivity, which increase would be necessary if only one reading antenna were used for larger reading distances. Increasing the transmission output or the receiver sensitivity would be associated with a disadvantage in that the spacing from adjacent accommodation wells would have to be increased in order to make possible selective reading and in order to prevent inductive disturbance.

The antenna can be designed as two separate coils that enclose the accommodation well, or as one coil that encloses the accommodation well, which coil comprises two separate galvanically connected windings.

In a system for identifying and storing objects comprising identification carriers by means of accommodation wells combined with antenn of a reading unit, the reading units and actuators are connected to a shared evaluation-and control circuit. Furthermore, the evaluation-and control circuit is connected to visual signal transmitters that are allocated to each accommodation well. The evaluation-and control circuit comprises an input device by means of which, by way of automatic reading or manual input of identification carrier data, the visual signal transmitters that are associated with the respective accommodation well can be activated.

Because of the above, by reading or inputting the identification carrier data, the associated accommodation well can be indicated, and the object can be led in a targeted manner to the valid accommodation well.

By means of the input device it is also possible to enter or change the allocation between accommodation wells and identification carrier data of the objects.

Furthermore, the evaluation-and control circuit can be connected to a monitoring system that based on the allocation of objects and accommodation wells registers the presence or absence of objects.

As a result of the above, in the case of security-relevant facilities or equipment it is possible, by way of the presence or absence of objects that have to be carried along by personnel employed in such facilities, to register the presence or absence of said personnel.

Typical applications include industrial, scientific or military facilities which may only be operated if nobody is present in the danger zone of the facility.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing, in which:-Fig. 1 shows an accommodation well with a protection device, designed as a plug-in protection, and a locking device; and Fig. 2 shows an accommodation well with a protection device, designed as an ejection device, and a locking device.

Fig. 1 shows an accommodation well 10, attached to a front plate 12 of the housing of a storage device with an insertion protection and a locking device. At the front of the accommodation well a visual signal transmitter 56 is arranged, which, in the case of several possible accommodation wells, signals to the user which accommodation well is valid for accommodation or removal of objects. In accommodation well 10 an object 14 has been inserted and locked. The accommodation well 10 and the object 14 are cylindrical in shape. The end of the object 14, which end is shown on the right-hand side of the drawing, is bevelled, and spaced apart from this end there is a circumferential ring groove 16. Within the object 14 an identification carrier with an antenna coil 18 is arranged, with the axis of said antenna coil 18 being aligned parallel in relation to the longitudinal central axis of the object 14. The end of the object 14, which end is shown on the left-hand side of the drawing, comprises at least one borehole 20, which is, for example, suitable for accommodating a key ring or a wire loop with keys attached thereto.

The accommodation well 10 is enclosed by a cylindrical coil comprising two windings 22, 24 located in coil chambers, which windings 22, 24 are used as a reading antenna for the non-contacting reading of identification carrier data of the object. A first coil chamber with a first winding 22 is arranged in the entrance region of the accommodation well 10, in front of the front plate 12, while a second coil chamber with a second winding 24 is arranged in the middle region of the accommodation well 10, behind the front plate 12.

By arranging separate windings 22, 24 of the reading antenna, identification carrier data of an object 14 can be read and evaluated both in a position of the object directly in front of the accommodation well 10, and in a position within the accommodation well 10.

The locking device comprises an electromagnetic actuator 26 comprising a magnet coil 28 and an armature 30. The armature 30 continues outside the magnet coil 28 as a locking pin 32, with the face of said armature 30 being bevelled. In the state where no current is applied to the actuator 26, the locking pin 32 is pushed into the accommodation well 10 by a spring 34, engages the circumferential groove (ring groove) 16 of the object 10 and thus assumes a locking position. In the state where current is applied the actuator 26, the force of the spring 34 is overcome and the locking pin 32 is pulled downwards from the accommodation well 10, wherein said locking pin 32 assumes an unlocked position. Because of the above, the object 14 is freely movable in the accommodation well 10 and can be pulled out.

As a result of its bevelled right-hand end, when the object 14 is inserted in the accommodation well 10, said object 14 can push the locking pin 32 out of the accommodation well 10 by way of the bevelled front of said locking pin 32, without current having to be applied to the electromagnetic actuator 26 for this purpose. When the object 10 has reached its end position, the locking pin 32 springs back as a result of the force of the spring 34, before engaging the ring groove 16 of the object 14.

A spring-loaded ball 36 on the accommodation well 10, which ball 36 also engages the ring groove 16, fixes the position of the object 14 in the accommodation well such that the locking pin 32 does not come to rest against a flank of the ring groove 16 of the object 10 and thus cannot block, by frictional engagement, the locking pin 32 and thus the armature 30.

In the case of applications where insertion of an object in an incorrect accommodation well is to be prevented, while the object in the correct accommodation well is not to be locked, there is no need to provide a locking pin. In this case the spring-loaded ball 36, which engages the ring groove 16, merely fastens the object to the accommodation well 10. Such a design makes it possible to quickly remove the objects in case of an emergency, e.g. in applications associated with firefighting or emergency services activities. In such applications it is of crucial importance that in the case of a call-out the objects are in the correct accommodation wells.

At the end of the accommodation well 10 there is an insertion switch 50 that is operated by the inserted object 14 so as to in this way signal the presence of an object 14 in the accommodation well 10.

The accomodation well 10 further comprises a protection device with a blocking element 38 that prevents the insertion of unauthorised objects while allowing the insertion of authorised objects. The blocking element 38 comprises a transverse leg that points approximately perpendicularly in relation to the longitudinal axis of the accommodation well 10 and is arranged on a longitudinal leg 40 that in turn is swivellably held on the housing of the accommodation well and is pre-tensioned by a spring 42. By swivelling the longitudinal leg 40 inwards, the blocking element 38 enters the accommodation well 10 by way of a slit 44 in the front region of said accommodation well 10, thus assuming a locked position. By swivelling the longitudinal leg 40 outwards, the blocking element 38 leaves the accommodation well 10, thus assuming a release position.

The longitudinal leg 40 is coupled on one side to the electromagnetic actuator 26. In the state where current is applied to the actuator 26, engaging pins 54 of the armature 30 grip the longitudinal leg 40 from behind and swivel it outwards. The blocking element 38 assumes the released position. If, subsequently, an object 14 is inserted in the accommodation well 10, the blocking element 38 remains in the released position because return into the blocked position is blocked by the object 14. In contrast to this, when no current is applied to the actuator 26, the armature 30 can return to the locked position as a result of the force of its spring 34, and the locking pin 32 can engage the ring groove 16 of the object 14 as soon as the object 14 has been fully inserted into the accommodation well 10.

Control of the actuator 26 and of the visual signal transmitter 56 takes place by means of an evaluation-and control circuit 48 that is connected to a reading unit 46. Prior to the return of an object 14, by way of an input device 58 that is connected to the evaluation-and control device 48, the identification carrier data of the object 14 is entered. This can be effected by manual input or by automatic reading of the identification carrier data by means of an additional reading unit on the input device 58. After evaluation of the identification carrier data, by way of the evaluation-and control circuit 48, the visual signal transmitter 56 of the allocated accommodation well 10 is activated. As soon as the object 14 is subsequently held in front of the opening of the accommodation well 10, by way of the first winding 22 of the reading antenna, identification carrier data of the object 14 is read and evaluated. This additional evaluation is to ensure that the object held in front of the opening of the accommodation well 10 is the same object whose identification carrier data has previously been entered by way of the input device 58, rather than it being some other object 14.

In the case of authorisation, current is applied to the actuator associated with the accommodation well 10, and the blocking element 38 is moved to the release position. The object 14 can then be inserted into the accommodation well 10. In the inserted state, by way of the second winding 24 of the reading antenna, identification carrier data of the object 14 is again read and evaluated.

If authorisation is confirmed, no current is applied to the actuator 26, and the locking pin 32 can engage the ring groove 16 of the object 14. Otherwise, e.g. in the case of an exchange of the object originally read in front of the accommodation well 10 by some other inserted object, current is applied to the actuator 26, and an alarm is issued. The object has to be removed from the accommodation well 10 if the alarm is to be cleared.

In order to release an object 14, which release is for example initiated by entering an authorisation code by way of an input device, current is applied to the actuator 26 so that the locking pin 32 comes out of the ring groove 16 and takes up an unlocked position. At the same time the visual signal transmitter 56 is activated in order to show the user the applicable accommodation well 10. The released object 14 can then be removed from the accommodation well 10 within a predefinable period of time.

If the object 14 is not removed, the current supply to the actuator 26 is terminated, and the locking pin 32 again engages the ring groove 16. If the object 14 is removed, which can be monitored by way of the position of the insertion switch 50 and by reading the identification carrier data by means of the second winding 24 of the reading antenna, the current supply to the actuator 26 ceases immediately. After the object 14 has been withdrawn from the accommodation well 10, the blocking element 38 can then immediately assume its blocked position again, thus preventing any insertion of unauthorised objects in the accommodation well 10.

A bevelled surface on the rear of the blocking element 38 is used to prevent blocking of the object 14 during withdrawal, by swivelling the blocking element 38 into the ring groove 16. While the bevelled surface slides along the flank of the ring groove 16, the blocking element 38 temporarily swivels to the outside, thus clearing the way. Subsequently, as a result of the force of the spring 42, the blocking element 38 swivels inwards again.

In the design according to Fig. 2 the protection device comprises a spring element 52 that can be tensioned by inserting the object 14 in the accommodation well 10. In this arrangement the spring element 52 is axially aligned with the accommodation well 10, is supported on the rear of the accommodation well 10, and in its released state projects a considerable distance into the accommodation well 10. In this arrangement the reading antenna comprises only one winding 24 in the middle region of the accommodation well 10.

Irrespective of its authorisation, an object 14 can at first be inserted into the accommodation well 10. In a position in which data interchange between an identification carrier antenna 18 and the only winding 24 of the reading antenna is possible, identification carrier data of the object 14 is read and evaluated.

In the case of non-authorisation, current is applied to the actuator 26 so that the locking pin 32 assumes its unlocked position, and the object 14 when released is subsequently pushed out of the accommodation well 10 by the relaxing spring element 52. In the case of authorisation no current is applied to the actuator 26, and after the object 14 has been fully inserted into the accommodation well 10, the locking pin 32 can engage the ring groove 16 thus fastening the object 14.

In order to release an object 14, which release is for example also initiated by entering an authorisation code by way of an input device, current is applied to the actuator 26. However, since as a result of the force of the spring element 52 acting on the object 14 one flank of the ring groove 16 is pressed against the locking pin 32, thus blocking the armature 30 as a result of frictional engagement, the object 14 at first remains fastened. However, by further pressing the object 14 into the accommodation well 10 beyond the fastened position, frictional engagement ceases so that the armature 30 can attract, and the locking pin 32 can move out of the ring groove 16 and assume its unlocked position. The object 14 can then be removed from the accommodation well 10, or if let go would automatically be pushed out of the accommodation well 10.

Furthermore, by means of the input device 58 the allocation between accommodation wells 10 and identification carrier data of the objects 14 is entered.

In this way an allocation can be brought about or changed that is clear and easily comprehensible to users and user groups alike.

The evaluation-and control circuit 48 can also be connected to, or form part of, a higher-order monitoring system. For example, the presence or absence of personnel that is engaged in industrial, scientific or military plant has to be monitored. If this personnel for access authorisation to hazardous areas have to carry the above-mentioned object with them, and after leaving said hazardous areas have to return said objects by inserting then into the accommodation wells of the device, then it is possible, by way of tracking the presence or absence of the objects, to track the presence or absence of personnel.

A security device can then monitor the presence or absence of personnel, and can release a plant for operation only when there are no longer any personnel present in the hazardous region.

Claims

1. A device for identifying and storing objects comprising identification carriers by means of accommodation wells combined with antenna of a reading unit, wherein each accommodation well comprises a protection device that is controlled by an evaluation-and control circuit of the reading unit, which protection device, after reading and evaluating identification carrier data of the object, in the case of authorisation of the object releases accommodation of said object in the accommodation well or allows said object to remain in the accommodation well, while in the case of non-authorisation prevents the object from being accommodated in the accommodation well or prevents said object from remaining in the accommodation well.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the protection device comprises a blocking element which in the case of non- authorisation of the object projects into the accommodation well and which can be removed from the accommodation well only in the case of authorisation of the object.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the blocking element can be activated by an electric-motor driven, electromagnetic or piezoelectric actuator.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the blocking element can be mechanically coupled to an actuator of a locking device for the object, and can be activated by means of said actuator.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the actuator of the locking device can be designed so as to be electric-motor driven, electromagnetic or piezoelectric.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the protection device comprises a spring element that can be tensioned by inserting the object in the accommodation well, which spring element exerts an ejection force onto the object, and in that in the case of non-authorisation of the object, said object can be pushed out of the accommodation well by releasing the spring element, while in the case of authorisation of the object, a locking device in the accommodation well blocks said object against being pushed out by the spring element.

7. The device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein two reading antenn are arranged on the accommodation well, which reading antenn can be coupled to an antenna coil of the identification carrier in the object, one of which reading antenna in a locked position of the object and the other one in a position of the object located at the entry to the accommodation well is coupled to the antenna coil of the identification carrier.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the antenn are two separate windings that enclose the accommodation well.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the antenn are designed as one coil that encloses the accommodation well, which coil comprises two separate galvanically connected windings.

10. A system for identifying and storing objects comprising identification carriers by means of accommodation wells combined with antenn of a reading unit, according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the reading units and actuators are connected to a shared evaluation-and control circuit, in that, furthermore, the evaluation-and control circuit is connected to visual signal transmitters that are allocated to each accommodation well, and in that the evaluation-and control circuit comprises an input device by means of which, by way of automatic reading or manual input of identification carrier data, the visual signal transmitters that are associated with the respective accommodation well can be activated. is

11. The system according to claim 10, whereth by means of the input device the allocation between accommodation wells and identification carrier data of the objects can be entered or changed.

12. The system according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the evaluation-and control circuit is connected to a monitoring system that based on the allocation of objects and accommodation wells registers the presence or absence of objects.

13. A device for identifying and storing objects, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.