JP2009035362A - Empty box information detection system - Google Patents

Abstract

An empty box information detection system capable of easily detecting a returnable empty box without performing extra work.
An empty box information detection system includes an RF tag that is stored in a return box 1 and stores information including at least identification information in advance, and the information can be read from the outside by wireless communication, and an accommodation in the return box 1 Depending on the presence or absence of an object, the electromagnetic shielding provided in the box 1 is movable between the communication shielding position P1 for blocking wireless communication between the RF tag 3 and the outside and the communicable position P2 for enabling wireless communication. A reader 4 that reads information from the RF tag 3 by performing wireless communication with the plate 6 and the RF tag 3 that is not blocked by the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 among the RF tags 3 existing in the communicable area; Based on the information read by the reader 4 from the RF tag 3, it comprises a return box management device 5 provided with an empty box detection means 52 for determining the presence or absence of the contents in the return box 1 to which the RF tag 3 is attached. Is done.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an empty box information detection system.

  Conventionally, a factory assembly line manufactures products by assembling multiple types of parts, but if you store more parts than necessary in the assembly line, there is a problem that it interferes with work, Store a return box containing each of multiple types of parts in a warehouse, etc., and as the product is manufactured, if there is a shortage of parts on the assembly line, take out the return box containing the required parts from the warehouse, It was to be supplied to the assembly line.

In such a production system, when parts used in the assembly line of a factory are put into a parts shelf installed on the side of the assembly line, in order to manage whether or not the parts are put into the parts shelf correctly In the past, an article management apparatus has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this article management apparatus, when a returnable box containing parts is inserted into the shelf of a parts shelf, information on the part is read by radio communication from an RF tag attached to the returnable box, and the RF attached to the shelf By reading the shelf number and the component information corresponding to the shelf number from the tag by wireless communication, it was confirmed whether the returnable box was put in the correct shelf.
JP 2007-99464 A

  By the way, in the above-mentioned assembly line, in order to search for empty empty boxes, employees go around the assembly line, find empty boxes, move to the warehouse and take out the return boxes containing the same parts, Although it was brought into the line, it was necessary to periodically go through the assembly line and search for empty returnable boxes, so the workability was poor. In the article management apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document, an empty box return shelf for placing a returnable box that is an empty box is provided, and an empty box return shelf is placed on the empty box return shelf. By reading information on parts from IC tags attached to return boxes placed on return boxes, empty boxes are found and replenished from the warehouse. We had to take a returnable box to the empty box return shelf, and workability was poor.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to provide an empty box information detection system that can easily detect a returnable empty box without extra work. There is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is an empty box information detection system for detecting empty box information of a returnable box used for accommodating an article and delivering it to a delivery location of the article, The first storage medium that is stored in the return box and stores information including at least identification information in advance, and the information can be read from the outside by wireless communication, and the first storage medium according to the presence or absence of the contents in the return box A communication shielding member provided in the return box movably between a communication shielding position for blocking wireless communication between a storage medium and the outside and a communication possible position for enabling the wireless communication, and exists in a communicable area Wireless communication means for reading information from the storage medium by performing wireless communication with a storage medium whose wireless communication is not blocked by the communication shielding member, and the wireless communication means reads from the storage medium. Based on the information, characterized by comprising the empty boxes detecting means for determining the presence or absence of the housing of the storage medium is in mounted returnable containers.

  In the invention of claim 2, in the invention of claim 1, when the contents in the returnable box are exhausted, the communication shielding member is moved from the communication cut-off position to the communicable position or from the communicable position to the communication cut-off position. Shielding member driving means is provided.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a second storage medium that stores information different from the first storage medium that is readable from the outside by wireless communication is passed through the box. The wireless communication between the second storage medium and the outside is enabled when the communication shielding member is moved to the communication shielding position, and the communication shielding member is moved by the communication shielding member while the communication shielding member is moved to the communicable position. The wireless communication between the storage medium and the outside is cut off.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the storage medium capable of wireless communication with the outside in a state where the first storage medium and the second storage medium are housed in a returnable box. Work content information related to use is stored in advance, and a notification means is provided for notifying the user of the work content information read from the storage medium by the wireless communication means when a returnable box enters the communicable area. It is characterized by that.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the storage medium is a storage medium capable of wireless communication with the outside in a state in which an article is accommodated in the return box. The position information related to the delivery location of the articles accommodated in the return box attached with the medium is stored in advance, and the position information read from the storage medium by the wireless communication means when the return box enters the communicable area. Based on the above, there is provided a determination means for determining whether or not the delivery location of the returnable box matches the delivery location indicated by the position information, and a notification means for informing the user of the determination result of the determination means. It is characterized by that.

  The invention of claim 6 is the invention of claim 3, wherein a plurality of types of articles are grouped, and the first and second storage media are attached to a return box containing articles belonging to the same group. The same group information is stored in advance in a storage medium that can communicate with the outside while the article is stored in the returnable box, and wireless communication is performed when the returnable box enters the communicable area. Based on the group information read from the storage medium by the means, the determination means for determining whether or not there is a returnable box containing articles belonging to different groups, and the determination result of the determination means is notified to the user. An informing means is provided.

  A seventh aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in any of the fourth to sixth aspects of the invention, the notifying means comprises character notifying means for notifying the notification contents in characters.

  The invention of claim 8 is characterized in that, in any of the inventions of claims 4 to 6, the notification means comprises voice notification means for notifying the notification contents by voice.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the communication shielding member moves between the communication shielded position or the communicable position depending on the presence or absence of the contents, the wireless communication between the storage medium and the outside is blocked and the wireless communication When the returnable box becomes empty, the wireless box can be detected by reading information from the storage medium when the wireless communication is switched from the blocked state to the possible state. If the communication box is switched to a state in which wireless communication is cut off when the return box becomes empty, it becomes impossible to read information from the storage medium, so that the empty box can be detected. Therefore, there is no need to perform extra work such as writing empty box information to the storage medium attached to the empty return box or moving the empty return box to another location. In addition, an empty returnable box can be easily found, and an apparatus for writing information to a storage medium is not required, so that an expensive apparatus such as a reader / writer is not required.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when there is no stored item in the returnable box, the communication shielding member is moved by the shielding member driving means, so that the operator does not have to move the communication shielding member. There is an effect that it can be further reduced.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since wireless communication is always possible with one of the first and second storage media, any storage medium when a returnable box enters the communicable area. By performing wireless communication, it is possible to confirm that the returnable box has been brought into the communicable area. Therefore, there is an effect that inventory management can be performed by grasping the number of returnable boxes in the communicable area and the number of empty returnable boxes.

  According to the invention of claim 4, by notifying the work content information read from the storage means by the notification means, it is possible to save the operator from having to confirm the work content and to reduce work mistakes. is there.

  According to the invention of claim 5, by notifying the worker that the returnable box has been delivered to a place different from the delivery location registered in advance, the wrong returnable box is opened or stored in the returnable box. It is possible to prevent the use of existing articles.

  According to the invention of claim 6, by notifying an operator that a returnable box containing items belonging to different groups has been delivered, the incorrect returnable box is opened, or an item stored in the returnable box. It is possible to prevent the use of.

  According to the invention of claim 7, by notifying the notification contents in characters, it is possible to reliably notify the information desired to be conveyed to the worker.

  According to the invention of claim 8, by notifying the notification contents by voice, it is possible to notify the information to an operator who is not looking at the direction of the notification means.

  The empty box information detection system according to the present invention uses a RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) tag (RF tag, IC tag or ID tag) to store an article and deliver it to a delivery place of the article. The information on the RF tag is detected by the reader in a non-contact manner, and the empty box information of the returnable box is detected by the reader. Below, in the assembly line of the factory, out of the returnable boxes containing articles used in the assembly line The case where a returnable box whose contents are empty is detected will be described as an example.

(Embodiment 1)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the empty box information detection system of the present embodiment includes a rectangular parallelepiped return box 1 whose upper surface is open, and an RF tag 3 held by a case 2 attached to the side surface of the return box 1. A reader that reads information from the RF tag 3 by performing short-range wireless communication using an electromagnetic field or radio wave between the (first storage medium) and the RF tag 3 in the communicable area. 4 (wireless communication means) and a return box management device 5 that detects empty box information based on information read from the RF tag 3 by the reader 4 are provided as main components. Although the returnable box management device 5 is realized by a personal computer or the like, the reader 4 and the returnable box management device 5 may be integrated by adding an RFID reader function to the returnable box management device 5.

  The RF tag 3 is a so-called passive type RF tag. A radio communication unit 32 that performs radio communication with the reader 4 via the antenna coil 31 by electromagnetic induction, and an RF tag based on energy of a signal received by the antenna coil 31. A power supply unit 33 that generates an internal operating power supply, unique identification information, corresponding attribute information of the returnable box 1 (for example, an identification number assigned to the returnable box 1 and information on an article stored in the returnable box 1), and the like. The storage unit 34 in which the information to be included is registered in advance, and the control unit 35 that controls the operation of each unit.

  The case 2 is formed in a square frame shape, and an RF tag 3 formed in a horizontally long rectangular plate shape is attached to the lower half of the return box 1 on the bottom side. Grooves (not shown) are formed in the opposing surfaces of the left and right side pieces 2a, 2a of the case 2, and both side edges of a rectangular plate-shaped electromagnetic shielding plate 6 (communication shielding member) are supported in the grooves, The electromagnetic shielding plate 6 is slidable in the vertical direction along the side piece 2a. For ease of explanation, the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 is shown with hatching.

  The electromagnetic shielding plate 6 is formed of a material that absorbs radio waves and is approximately the same size as the RF tag 3. When the article is accommodated in the returnable box 1, the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 is opened as shown in FIG. Since the passing box 1 is placed with the side 1a facing upward, the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 moves downward (the bottom side of the passing box 1) by its own weight, and the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 covers the front side of the RF tag 3. Here, in the returnable box 1, at least the part on the back side of the RF tag 3 is formed of a material that absorbs radio waves, so that the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 covers the front side of the RF tag 3, Communication with the outside is blocked (the position P1 of the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 at this time is referred to as a communication blocking position). On the other hand, when the article in the return box 1 is emptied and the return box 1 is placed with the bottom plate facing upward as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 is placed on the lower side (the opening of the return box 1). The RF tag 3 is exposed by moving to the 1a side, and wireless communication between the RF tag 3 and the outside becomes possible (the position P2 of the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 at this time is referred to as a communicable position).

  The returnable box management device 5 also includes tag information acquisition means 51 for acquiring information read by the reader 4 from the RF tag 3 existing in the communicable area from the reader 4, and information acquired by the tag information acquisition means 51. In addition, the empty box detecting means 52 for detecting the presence or absence of the contents in the returnable box 1 to which the RF tag 3 is attached (that is, whether or not it is empty), and the detection result of the empty box detecting means 52 as voice or text And a notification means 53 (speech notification means and character notification means).

  Thus, the RF tag 3 attached to the returnable box 1 is shielded by the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 in a state in which articles are stored in the returnable box 1 (a state in which the opening 1a is directed upward). Since communication is impossible, even if the returnable box 1 containing articles is brought into the communicable area of the reader 4, the RF tag 3 attached to the returnable box 1 and the reader 4 Communication between them is not possible. Thereafter, the articles stored in the return box 1 are used for assembling and are emptied, and when the operator places the empty box in the upside down position, the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 moves downward due to its own weight. Since the RF tag 3 is exposed by moving, the RF tag 3 can communicate with the outside. At this time, when the reader 4 communicates with the RF tag 3, the information stored in the storage unit 34 of the RF tag 3 is read, and the information read by the reader 4 is empty via the tag information acquisition unit 51. Since it is sent to the detection means 52, the empty box detection means 52 can detect the return box 1 that has become an empty box based on the information read by the reader 4. When the empty box detecting means 52 detects the returnable box 1 that has become an empty box, the notification information 53 (for example, the returnable box 1 or the returnable box) becomes empty by the notification means 53 as the voice notification means and the character notification means. 1) is notified to the worker who supplies the article to the assembly line by voice or text, so that the worker himself / herself circulates the assembly line and becomes an empty box 1 Can be saved, and the workability can be improved and the labor can be saved. In addition, by notifying the worker of empty box information, the returnable box 1 containing the necessary parts can be removed from the warehouse and delivered to the assembly line in a short time. It is possible to prevent shortage and production delay. Further, since an apparatus for writing information to the RF tag 3 is not required, there is an effect that an expensive reader / writer that can perform both reading and writing is unnecessary.

  By the way, in this embodiment, the rectangular plate-shaped electromagnetic shielding plate 6 is slidably supported in the vertical direction by both side pieces 2a of the rectangular frame-shaped case 2, but the configuration of the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 is the above-described configuration. It is not limited to this, and it only needs to be movable between the communicable position and the communication cut-off position according to the presence or absence of the contents. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), the RF tag 3 is attached to the side surface of the return box 1, and the lower side of the RF tag 3 in a state where the return box 1 is placed with the opening 1a on the upper side. A stopper piece 1b is provided on the side of the RF tag 3, and a shaft 1c that pivotally supports one end in the longitudinal direction of the rectangular electromagnetic shielding plate 6 is provided on the side of the RF tag 3, and the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 is centered on the shaft 1c. You may attach so that rotation is possible. In this example, when the passing box 1 is placed with the opening 1a facing upward as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 is rotated counterclockwise until the lower edge abuts against the stopper piece 1b. Since the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 is held in a state where the front surface side of the RF tag 3 is covered by the electromagnetic shielding plate 6, communication between the RF tag 3 and the outside is blocked by the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 (this position) Is the communication blocking position). On the other hand, when the return box 1 is emptied and placed upside down, as shown in FIG. 3B, the other end in the longitudinal direction of the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 (the side opposite to the shaft 1c) hangs down by its own weight, and RF Since the tag 3 is exposed, in this state, the RF tag 3 can communicate with the outside (this position becomes a communicable position).

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the RF tag 3 is attached to the side surface of the return box 1, and the upper side of the RF tag 3 is placed with the opening box 1a placed on the upper side. A hinge 1d that supports the long side of the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 having a rectangular plate shape may be provided at the site, and the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 may be rotatably attached around the hinge 1d. In this example, when the passing box 1 is placed with the opening 1a facing upward as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 has its own weight so that the side not pivotally supported by the hinge 1d is the lower side. Is rotated about the hinge 1d and the RF tag 3 is covered by the electromagnetic shielding plate 6, so that communication between the RF tag 3 and the outside is blocked by the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 (this position is referred to as a communication blocking position). Become). On the other hand, when the return box 1 is emptied and placed upside down, as shown in FIG. 4B, the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 is placed under its own weight so that the side not pivotally supported by the hinge 1d is the lower side. Since the RF tag 3 is exposed around the hinge 1d, the RF tag 3 can communicate with the outside in this state (this position becomes the communicable position).

  In the present embodiment, when the article is stored in the returnable box 1, the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 moves to the communication cut-off position, and when it is empty, the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 moves to the communicable position. On the contrary, the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 may be moved to a communicable position when the article is stored, and may be moved to the communication interrupting position when it becomes an empty box. In this case, when the returnable box 1 containing the articles is brought into the communicable area, communication is performed between the RF tag 3 attached to the returnable box 1 and the reader 4. The returnable box management device 5 detects the presence of the returnable box 1. On the other hand, if the return box 1 is emptied and the top and bottom are placed upside down, the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 moves to the communication cut-off position, and communication between the RF tag 3 and the reader 4 is cut off. The empty box detection means 52 of the apparatus 5 cannot communicate with the RF tag 3 that has been able to communicate with it, so it is determined that the return box 1 to which the RF tag 3 is attached has become an empty box, The notification means 53 is used to notify the information of the returnable box 1 that has become an empty box.

(Embodiment 2)
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component which is common in the empty box information detection system demonstrated in Embodiment 1, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the returnable box 1 used in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the rectangular frame-like case 2 holding the RF tag is attached to the side surface of the return box 1, and the case 2 is passed through. The RF tag 3 is attached to the lower half of the bottom side of the box 1, and the RF tag 7 having the same configuration as that of the RF tag 3 and storing information different from the RF tag 3 in the remaining upper half of the case 2. (Second storage medium) is attached. And the groove | channel (not shown) is formed in the opposing surface of right-and-left both-side piece 2a, 2a of case 2, The both-sides edge of the rectangular-plate-shaped electromagnetic shielding board 6 is supported in this groove | channel, and an electromagnetic shielding board 6 is slidable in the vertical direction along the side piece 2a. The RF tag 7 includes an antenna coil 71, a wireless communication unit 72, a power supply unit 73, a storage unit 74, and a control unit 75, similar to the RF tag 3, and the operations of the units 71 to 75 are the same as those of the RF tag 3. Since it is the same as that of the antenna coil 31, the radio | wireless communication part 32, the power supply part 33, the memory | storage part 34, and the control part 35, the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the state where the article is stored in the return box 1, the return box 1 is placed with the opening 1a facing upward as shown in FIG. 6 (a). (The bottom side of the box 1), the front side of the RF tag 3 is covered by the electromagnetic shielding plate 6, and the RF tag 7 is exposed. Here, in the returnable box 1, the parts on the back side of the RF tags 3 and 7 are made of a material that absorbs radio waves, so that the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 covers the front side of the RF tag 3, While communication with the outside is blocked (the position of the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 at this time is referred to as a communication cut-off position), communication between the RF tag 7 and the outside becomes possible. On the other hand, when the passing box 1 is emptied and the passing box 1 is placed with the bottom plate facing upward as shown in FIG. 6B, the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 is lowered by its own weight (the opening 1a side of the passing box 1). The RF tag 3 is exposed by moving to the position, and wireless communication between the RF tag 3 and the outside becomes possible (the position of the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 at this time is referred to as a communicable position), and the front side of the RF tag 7 is By being covered, communication between the RF tag 7 and the outside is blocked.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 5, the return box management device 5 determines, for example, whether the return box 1 is placed at the correct location based on the information acquired by the tag information acquisition means 51. The determination unit 54 is provided, and the determination result of the determination unit 54 is notified by the notification unit 53.

  Thus, in a state where articles are stored in the return box 1 (a state in which the opening 1a is directed upward), the RF tag 3 is the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 among the RF tags 3 and 7 attached to the return box 1. The communication with the outside is blocked, and the RF tag 7 is exposed so that the communication with the outside is possible. In this state, when the returnable box 1 containing articles is brought into the communicable area of the reader 4, the reader 4 cannot communicate with the RF tag 3, but communicates with the RF tag 7. As a result, the information stored in the RF tag 7 is read and sent to the returnable box management device 5. Here, when the work content information related to the use of the article stored in the returnable box 1 is stored in advance with respect to the storage unit 74 of the RF tag 7 that is in a communicable state when the article is stored, The work content information acquired by the tag information acquisition means 51 is notified by voice or text by the notification means 53, so that it is possible to save the operator from checking the work content and reduce work mistakes. is there. In addition, wireless communication with any one of the RF tags 3 and 7 is always possible. Therefore, when the return box 1 enters the communicable area, wireless communication with any of the RF tags 3 and 7 is performed. By doing so, it is possible to confirm that the returnable box 1 has been brought into the communicable area. Therefore, there is an effect that more detailed inventory management can be performed by grasping the number of returnable boxes 1 in the communicable area and the number of returnable boxes 1 that are empty.

  Note that the storage unit 74 of the RF tag 7 that is in a communicable state when the article is accommodated stores position information regarding the delivery location of the article stored in the return box 1 to which the RF tag 7 is attached. You may make it let it. In this case, when the returnable box 1 containing articles is brought into the communicable area of the reader 4, the reader 4 performs wireless communication with the RF tag 7, whereby the position information stored in the RF tag 7 is obtained. It is read and sent to the returnable box management device 5. Here, in the returnable box management apparatus 5, based on the position information acquired by the determination means 54 via the tag information acquisition means 51, the delivery location of the returnable chest 1 and the actual delivery location (that is, the reader 4 can communicate). It is determined whether or not the location includes the area), and the determination result is notified using the notification means 53. Therefore, when the return box 1 is delivered to a location different from the delivery location registered in advance in the RF tag 7, the notification means 53 can notify the worker that the delivery location is different, so the wrong passage There is an effect that it is possible to prevent the box 1 from being opened and the articles stored in the returnable box 1 from being used.

  Further, when a plurality of types of articles are grouped, communication is performed in a state in which the articles are accommodated among the RF tags 3 and 7 attached to the return box 1 that accommodates articles belonging to the same group. The same group information may be stored in advance in the storage unit 74 of the RF tag 7 in a possible state. In this case, when the returnable box 1 storing articles is brought into the communicable area of the reader 4, the reader 4 performs wireless communication with the RF tag 7, whereby the group information stored in the RF tag 7 is stored. It is read and sent to the returnable box management device 5. Here, in the returnable box management apparatus 5, the determination unit 54 determines whether there is a returnable box 1 containing articles belonging to different groups based on the group information acquired via the tag information acquisition unit 51. Then, the determination result is notified using the notification means 53. Therefore, when performing assembly work using articles belonging to a certain group, if there is a return box 1 storing articles belonging to different groups, the return box 1 storing articles of different groups has been delivered. When the notification means 53 notifies the operator of this fact, it is possible to prevent the wrong returnable box 1 from being opened or the articles stored in the returnable box 1 from being used.

(Embodiment 3)
The empty box information detection system of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, in the empty box information detection system described in the first embodiment, an article detection unit 11 that detects the presence or absence of an article in the box, and the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 is driven according to the detection result of the article detection unit 11. The shielding box driving unit 12 is provided in the box 1. In addition, since it is the same as that of the empty box information detection system demonstrated in Embodiment 1 or 2 except the return box 1, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to a common component and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The article detection unit 11 detects the presence / absence of an article by, for example, detecting a change in weight or posture when the returnable box 1 is empty using a pressure sensor that detects a load or a gyro sensor that detects an angular velocity. To do.

  Based on the detection result of the article detection unit 11, the shielding plate driving unit 12 moves the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 to the communication cutoff position P <b> 1 when the article is accommodated in the return box 1 and the inside of the return box 1. When is empty, the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 is moved to the communicable position P2. As described in the first embodiment, when the article is stored in the return box 1, the shielding plate driving unit 12 moves the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 to the communicable position P <b> 2 and the inside of the return box 1 is empty. In this case, the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 may be moved to the communication cutoff position P1.

  Thus, according to this embodiment, as described in the first embodiment, when the contents of the return box 1 are emptied, it is not necessary for the operator to turn the return box 1 over, and the electromagnetic shielding plate 6 is moved. Therefore, the workability can be further improved.

  In addition, the article detection unit 11 and the shielding plate driving unit 12 described in the present embodiment may be applied to the empty box information detection system of the second embodiment, and the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  In the above-described embodiments, the storage unit 34 of the RF tag 3 or the storage unit 74 of the RF tag 7 stores the attribute information of the corresponding return box 1 in addition to the unique identification information. 3 and 7, the attribute information of the corresponding return box 1 can be read, but only unique identification information is given to the RF tags 3 and 7, and the attribute information related to the corresponding return box 1 (for example, return box 1 The identification number attached to the item or the information of the article stored in the returnable box 1) may be stored in a storage unit (not shown) of the returnable box management device 5. In this case, when the reader 4 performs wireless communication with the RF tag 3 or the RF tag 7 existing in the communicable area, the unique identification information stored in the RF tags 3 and 7 is read into the reader 4. And sent to the returnable box management device 5. At this time, the returnable box management device 5 reads the attribute information of the corresponding returnable box 1 from the storage unit based on the identification information of the RF tags 3 and 7 acquired by the tag information acquisition means 51. For example, the read attribute information Is notified by the notification means 53, and information on the returnable box 1 that has become an empty box can be notified to the operator. In this way, if the attribute information of the returnable box 1 corresponding to the RF tags 3 and 7 is stored in the storage unit of the box management device 5, the attribute information of the returnable box 1 is stored for the RF tags 3 and 7. There is no need to store in advance, it is possible to easily cope with changes in attribute information, and there is an advantage that the capacity of the storage units 34 and 74 can be reduced.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the passive type RF tag is described as an example. However, as the RF tags 3 and 7, active type tags incorporating a power source may be used.

It is a schematic block diagram of the empty box information detection system of Embodiment 1. (A) (b) is the perspective view which showed typically the returnable box used for the same as the above. (A) (b) is the perspective view which showed typically the other returnable box used for the same as the above. (A) (b) is the perspective view which showed typically another returnable box used for the same as the above. It is a schematic block diagram of the empty box information detection system of Embodiment 2. (A) (b) is the perspective view which showed typically the returnable box used for the same as the above. It is a schematic block diagram of the empty box information detection system of Embodiment 3.

Explanation of symbols

1 Returnable box 3 RF tag (first storage medium)
4 Reader (Wireless communication means)
5 Returnable box management device 6 Electromagnetic shielding plate (communication shielding member)
7 RF tag (second storage medium)
52 Empty box detection means

Claims (8)

An empty box information detection system for detecting empty box information of a returnable box used for accommodating an article and delivering it to a delivery place of the article,
The first storage medium that is stored in the return box and stores information including at least identification information in advance, and the information can be read from the outside by wireless communication, and the first storage medium according to the presence or absence of the contents in the return box A communication shielding member provided in the return box movably between a communication shielding position for blocking wireless communication between a storage medium and the outside and a communication possible position for enabling the wireless communication, and exists in a communicable area Wireless communication means for reading information from the storage medium by performing wireless communication with a storage medium whose wireless communication is not blocked by the communication shielding member, and information read from the storage medium by the wireless communication means An empty box information detection system comprising: an empty box detection means for determining whether or not there is a stored item in a return box to which the storage medium is attached.   When there is no item in the return box, there is provided shielding member driving means for moving the communication shielding member from the communication cutoff position to the communicable position or from the communicable position to the communication cutoff position. The empty box information detection system according to claim 1.   A state in which a second storage medium storing information different from the first storage medium, which is readable from the outside by wireless communication, is held in the return box, and the communication shielding member is moved to the communication shielding position The wireless communication between the second storage medium and the outside becomes possible, and the wireless communication between the second storage medium and the outside is blocked by the communication shielding member with the communication shielding member moved to the communicable position. 3. The empty box information detection system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:   Among the first and second storage media, work content information related to the use of the article is stored in advance in a storage medium capable of wireless communication with the outside while the article is housed in a returnable box, 4. An empty box according to claim 3, further comprising notifying means for notifying a user of work content information read from the storage medium by the wireless communication means when a returnable box enters the communicable area. Information detection system.   Delivery of articles stored in a return box attached with the storage medium to a storage medium capable of wireless communication with the outside while the articles are stored in the return box among the first and second storage media The location information on the location is stored in advance, and when the returnable box enters the communicable area, the delivery location of the returnable box is determined based on the location information read from the storage medium by the wireless communication means. 4. Empty box information according to claim 3, further comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not the delivery location is indicated; and a notification unit that notifies the user of the determination result of the determination unit. Detection system.   Of the first and second storage media that are attached to a returnable box containing items belonging to the same group in which multiple types of articles are grouped, Based on the group information read from the storage medium by the wireless communication means when the same group information is stored in advance in a storage medium capable of communication and a returnable box enters the communicable area. The determination means for determining whether or not there is a returnable box containing articles belonging to different groups, and a notification means for notifying a user of the determination result of the determination means. 3. The empty box information detection system according to 3.   The empty box information detection system according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the notifying means comprises character notifying means for notifying the contents of the notification in characters.   The empty box information detection system according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the notification means includes voice notification means for notifying the notification contents by voice.

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