JP2005267074A - Wireless tag automatic reader - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a small-sized wireless tag automatic reading device in which a storage container is easy to handle and low in cost.
In a wireless tag automatic reading device 20 that reads information of a wireless tag 12 stored in a storage container 10 by radio waves, a mounting table having a mounting surface 21A having substantially the same shape and the same area as the bottom surface of the storage container. 21 and the antenna unit 23 disposed below the storage container mounting surface and transmitting / receiving radio waves to / from the radio tag, and stored in the radio tag based on radio waves received by the antenna unit. And a reading device 24 for reading the ID.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless tag automatic reading device that wirelessly reads information of a wireless tag stored in a storage container.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a data carrier having a unique ID (RFID) set and a memory area where information can be rewritten, and capable of reading IDs and writing and reading arbitrary information without contact using radio, so-called radio Tags are attracting attention.

  For example, in the past, a wireless tag was affixed to each envelope used for recorded mail such as registered mail and parcel mail, and the tracking management code set for the envelope with the tag attached to this wireless tag was written. In addition, the RFID tag reader is installed at each site from postal acceptance to delivery, and the tracking management code is read from the RFID tag attached to the envelope at each site and notified to the information center. By doing so, a system has been proposed that enables centralized record management and quick tracking of records handled mail.

The RFID tag reader of this system is provided with a tunnel-like antenna attachment portion in the middle of the roller conveyor, and antennas for communication with the RFID tag are attached to the inner upper surface and both side surfaces of the antenna attachment portion. Then, each operator can move the storage container storing a plurality of pieces of mail on a roller conveyor and pass through the tunnel of the antenna mounting portion, thereby allowing each piece of mail to pass through the communication antenna in the tunnel. The information of the wireless tag attached to is read (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-175621

  However, since the conventional RFID tag reading apparatus uses a roller conveyor, there is a problem that the apparatus becomes large. In addition, since a plurality of antennas are required, there is a problem that costs increase. Furthermore, since the storage container is passed through the tunnel of the antenna mounting portion, there is a problem that the storage container is inconvenient to handle and the workability is poor.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a small-sized RFID tag automatic reading device in which a storage container is easy to handle and low in cost.

  In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides a wireless tag automatic reading device that reads information on a wireless tag stored in a storage container by radio waves, and has substantially the same shape and area as the bottom surface of the storage container. Based on a mounting table having a storage container mounting surface, an antenna unit disposed below the storage container mounting surface and transmitting / receiving radio waves to / from the wireless tag, and radio waves received by the antenna unit And reading means for reading information stored in the wireless tag.

  According to the present invention, handling of the storage container can be simplified, and the wireless tag automatic reader can be reduced in size and cost.

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

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a wireless tag automatic reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a storage container placed on the wireless tag automatic reading device according to the embodiment.

  1 and 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a storage container, and 20 denotes a wireless tag automatic reading device.

  The storage container 10 is formed in a rectangular box shape, and a plurality of mail items 11 are stored therein. These postal items 11 are stacked and arranged in the longitudinal direction of the storage container 10, and a wireless tag 12 is attached to each predetermined position. That is, the wireless tags 12 attached to the postal matter 11 are all directed in the same direction as the postal matter 11 is stacked in the storage container 10. The wireless tag 12 is a so-called data carrier that can read and write information by radio waves, and a unique ID (information) is stored in advance in the memory unit.

  A black region 13 is provided on each corner bottom surface side of the storage container 10. This black region 13 is a region that is blacked out as if it were read, and the range extends to the two side walls that form the corners.

  The wireless tag automatic reading device 20 includes a mounting table 21 having a mounting surface 21A (storage container mounting surface) for mounting the storage container 10, and an inspection position (predetermined position) on the mounting table 21. It is comprised from the positioning member 22 (positioning means) for positioning to.

  The mounting surface 21A of the mounting table 21 has substantially the same shape and the same area as the bottom surface of the storage container 10, and the antenna portion 23 is embedded over the entire surface. The antenna unit 23 transmits and receives radio waves to and from the wireless tag 12 in the storage container 10 mounted on the mounting table 21.

  A reading device 24 (reading means) is connected to the antenna unit 23. The reading device 24 reads the ID stored in the wireless tag 12 based on the radio wave received by the antenna unit 23.

  The positioning member 22 is formed in an L shape by a long member 22a and a short member 22b. The long member 22 a and the short member 22 b are disposed along the edge of the mounting table 21, and each inner side surface forms a positioning surface 25 that abuts the side wall surface of the storage container 10.

  An optical sensor 26 (detection means) is provided at the inner surface of the corner of the positioning member 22, that is, at a position facing the black region 13 of the storage container 10 when the storage container 10 is positioned at the inspection position of the mounting table 21. . The optical sensor 26 irradiates light toward the inside of the positioning member 22 and detects the intensity of the light reflected and returned by some obstacle (for example, the storage container 10).

  The positioning member 22 is provided with a display monitor 27. The display monitor 27 displays a sign indicating completion of positioning of the storage container 10 and a sign indicating completion of reading of the wireless tag 12.

  A control device 28 (control means) is connected to the antenna unit 23, the reading device 24, the optical sensor 26, and the display monitor 27. The control device 28 determines whether or not the storage container 10 is correctly positioned at the inspection position based on the detection result of the optical sensor 26, and displays on the display monitor 27 when the storage container 10 is correctly positioned at the inspection position. A function of displaying a sign indicating completion of positioning of the storage container 10; a function of waiting for the storage container 10 to be correctly positioned at the inspection position; and causing the reader 24 to start reading the wireless tag 12 in the storage container 10; When the reading of the wireless tag 12 is completed, the display monitor 27 has a function of displaying a reading completion sign of the wireless tag 12, and constitutes a processing device 30 for executing the various functions described above together with the reading device 24. doing.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the processing apparatus 30 according to the embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the processing device 30 includes an interface unit 31 with an external computer connected via a network, a data processing unit 32 that processes transmission data to the wireless tag 12 and reception data from the wireless tag 12. A modulator 33 that modulates transmission data to the wireless tag 12, a transmission amplifier 34 that amplifies the modulated signal and radiates it as a radio wave from the antenna unit 23, a reception amplifier 35 that amplifies the radio signal received by the antenna unit 23, and is amplified. And a demodulator 36 that demodulates data from the radio signal and supplies the data to the data processing unit 32.

  An A / D (analog / digital) converter 37 is connected between the optical sensor 26 and the data processing unit 32. The A / D converter 37 converts an analog signal from the optical sensor 26 into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal to the data processing unit 32.

  Next, an operation when the wireless tag automatic reading device 20 having the above configuration is used will be described.

  When the postal item 11 is received at the post office window, the wireless tag 12 is attached to a predetermined position of the postal item 11, and the ID stored in the wireless tag 12 is recorded in the main computer in correspondence with the delivery information of the postal item 11. To do. The delivery information may be a slip number, a sender, a recipient, a product name, and the like.

  Next, the received postal matter 11 is stored in the storage container 10 so that each wireless tag 12 faces the same direction. Then, the storage container 10 in which a plurality of mail items 11 are stored is placed on the placement table 21, and the side wall thereof is brought into contact with the positioning surface 25 of the positioning member 22. Thereby, the storage container 10 is correctly positioned at the inspection position of the mounting table 21.

  When the storage container 10 is correctly positioned at the inspection position of the mounting table 21, the black region 13 of the storage container 10 faces the optical sensor 26 of the positioning member 22. Therefore, almost all the light from the light sensor 26 is absorbed by the black region 13, and the light sensor 26 detects light having an intensity lower than a preset threshold value.

  When the optical sensor 26 detects an intensity lower than the threshold value, a sign indicating completion of positioning of the storage container 10 is displayed on the display monitor 27 and reading of the wireless tag 12 in the storage container 10 is started by the reading device 24.

  Here, the IDs of the plurality of wireless tags 12 stored in the storage container 10 are collectively read by radio waves. Thereby, the quantity of the postal matter 11 in the storage container 10 is counted instantly.

  When the reading of the wireless tag 12 is completed, a reading completion sign is displayed on the display monitor 27. The operator sees this reading completion sign and carries the storage container 10 to the next step.

  This series of operations is performed not only in the post office that accepts the postal matter 11 but also in each relay point of the delivery route, such as a delivery center or a regional center. Thereby, since the quantity of the postal matter 11 in the storage container 10 can be confirmed at each relay point at any time, tracking management of the postal matter 11 can be performed quickly and easily.

  According to the wireless tag automatic reading device 20 configured as described above, the antenna unit 23 is embedded in the mounting table 21 for mounting the storage container 10, and the shape and area of the mounting table 21 are substantially the same as the bottom surface of the storage container 10. I have to. Therefore, compared with the case where the conventional roller conveyor is used, the structure of an apparatus can be remarkably reduced in size.

  In addition, since the wireless tag 12 can be read simply by embedding one antenna portion 23 in the mounting table 21, the cost can be reduced compared to the case where three antennas are attached to a conventional tunnel-like antenna attachment portion. Can do.

  Furthermore, since the storage container 10 can be positioned simply by bringing the side surface of the storage container 10 into contact with the positioning member 22, the handling of the storage container 10 is simplified and the working efficiency of the operator can be improved.

  Further, the wireless tag 12 in the storage container 10 is started to be read after the storage container 10 is correctly positioned at the inspection position. For this reason, when reading the wireless tag 12, all the wireless tags 12 in the storage container 10 are oriented in the optimum direction for reading, so that reading failures are considerably suppressed.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Further, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine suitably the component covering different embodiment.

  Specifically, in the present embodiment, the shape of the storage container 10 is a rectangular box shape, but is not particularly limited as long as the wireless tag 12 can be stored.

1 is a perspective view showing a wireless tag automatic reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The perspective view which mounts and shows a storage container in the radio | wireless tag automatic reader which concerns on the embodiment. The block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the processing apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Storage container, 12 ... Wireless tag, 10 ... Wireless tag automatic reader, 21 ... Mounting table, 21A ... Mounting surface (storage container mounting surface), 22 ... Positioning member (positioning means), 23 ... Antenna part, 24... Reading device (reading means), 26... Optical sensor (detection means), 28... Control device (control means).

Claims (4)

In the wireless tag automatic reading device that reads the information of the wireless tag stored in the storage container by radio waves,
A mounting table having a storage container mounting surface having substantially the same shape and the same area as the bottom surface of the storage container;
An antenna unit that is disposed below the storage container mounting surface and transmits and receives radio waves to and from the wireless tag;
Reading means for reading information stored in the wireless tag based on the radio wave received by the antenna unit;
An apparatus for automatically reading a radio tag, comprising:   2. The wireless tag automatic reading device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna unit is embedded in the mounting table.   3. The wireless tag automatic reading device according to claim 1, further comprising positioning means for positioning the storage container at a predetermined position on the storage container mounting surface. Detecting means for detecting whether or not the storage container is correctly positioned at a predetermined position on the storage container mounting surface;
Control means for waiting for the storage container to be correctly positioned at a predetermined position, and causing the reading means to start reading the information of the wireless tag;
The wireless tag automatic reading device according to claim 3, further comprising:

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