JP3099413B2 - Electronic tag reader - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic tag reader for reading information from an electronic tag attached to a delivery.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a delivery center such as a home delivery service, when sorting out shipments, tags or the like are visually checked and manually identified. As a result, a large amount of cost and time are required for sorting the shipments. Also, due to misreading the tag,
There are also problems such as being shipped to the wrong place.

[0003] Therefore, mounting an IC chip having a communication function and a storage function on a tag and writing and reading information on and from the electronic tag using radio waves is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-203221. Has been proposed.

[0004] However, the data transceiver for reading data from an electronic tag disclosed in this publication is configured to read data when the electronic tag reaches a range where radio waves can reach. When the vehicle enters the range where radio waves can reach, there is a problem that radio waves interfere with each other and the delivery cannot be correctly recognized.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic tag reader capable of reading information from each delivery with high accuracy.

[0006]

[0007]

According to the present invention, delivery information is recorded.
The transmission information is reflected and the response radio wave is reflected
Affixes the electronic tag that can be sent to the delivery
In the electronic tag reader that reads the delivery information by a response radio wave from the electronic tag ,
Adjustable in the height direction of the delivery above the moving path
Is provided at the
A first transmitting / receiving means for receiving a response radio wave, a height detecting means for detecting a height of the delivery, and a position of the first transmitting / receiving means in response to an output of the height detecting means. Stuff
And position changing means for changing the position close to the electronic tag affixed to the upper portion of the movement path the lower part of the delivery article
Is sent to the bottom of the delivery
Receiving a response radio wave from the attached electronic tag
And the first transmission / reception means.
And the frequency of the interrogation radio wave transmitted from the second transmitting / receiving means
The gist of the invention is to provide an electronic tag reader which is characterized by different numbers .

[0008]

[0009]

According to the present invention, the first transmission / reception means is provided with a moving arrangement.
Position adjustment in the height direction of the delivery above the movement path of the shipment
Is installed in the system and transmits the interrogation signal to
Receiving the wave, and the second transmitting / receiving means is provided under the moving route of the delivery.
Section, send the interrogation radio wave and paste it on the bottom of the delivery
Receiving the response radio wave from the attached electronic tag
And the first transmitting / receiving means and the second transmitting / receiving means
The frequency of the interrogation radio wave transmitted from the transmitting and receiving
I have. Therefore, even if the interrogation radio wave from the first transmitting / receiving means
Passed through the delivery and received by the second transmitting / receiving means
However, the interrogation radio wave from the first transmitting / receiving means is
The frequency is different from the interrogation signal transmitted from the
Therefore, it is necessary to reflect the interrogation radio wave from the second transmitting / receiving means.
The electronic load returned by the same frequency as this question radio wave
Response radio wave from the tag and interrogation signal from the first transmitting / receiving means
Waves can be distinguished, and the information on the
Can be taken.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of an interrogator .
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the home delivery slip shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a transponder mounted on the home delivery slip shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of an interrogator for reading information from the home delivery slip shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG . 1, at a delivery center or the like, a delivery to which a delivery note 1 as an electronic tag is attached is conveyed by a belt conveyor 7. Immediately below the belt conveyor 7, an interrogation signal is transmitted to the transponder 21 of the courier slip 1 in proximity to the belt conveyor 7, and an identification signal transmitted from the transponder 21 in response to the interrogation signal is transmitted. A transmission / reception antenna 57 of the interrogator 5 for receiving data or the like is provided. Based on the identification data received by the transmission / reception antenna 57, the delivery is sorted by a sorting mechanism (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 2, the home delivery slip 1 has a structure in which a binding section 11 bundles a requester's copy 13, a delivery slip 15, a destination copy 17, a mount 19, and the like. The requester's copy 13, the delivery slip 15, and the destination copy 17 can be cut out from the binding portion 11 at perforations. Client copy 1
Reference numeral 3 has a write column 131 in which the client writes the destination and the client. Delivery slip 15 and destination copy 17 are written in column 1
There is a copy unit for copying the content of 31. The delivery slip 15 is a slip collected by a delivery person at the end of delivery. On the back side of the delivery slip 15, a transponder 21 described later is provided so as to avoid the copying section. The backing of the mount 19 is an adhesive surface,
The home delivery slip 1 is configured to be attached to a package.

The transponder 21 is configured to be thinner than the home delivery slip 1 as shown in FIG. Transponder 21
As shown in FIG. 3, an IC chip 23 for performing internal information processing, an antenna 25 for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves,
The battery 23 is a power supply for driving the chip 23. I
The C chip 23 includes a memory 29, a modulator 31, a detector 33,
A level comparator 35, a CPU 37, and a clock generator 39 are provided.

The memory 29 stores received data in addition to the program executed by the CPU 37.
7 is backed up. The level comparator 35 includes an operational amplifier, and has a configuration in which the voltage of the output signal of the detector 33 is compared with a reference voltage, and if the voltage of the output signal is higher than the reference voltage, the battery 27 is connected to the CPU 37 and the clock generator 39.

The operation of the transponder 21 will now be described. For example, when the interrogation signal transmitted from the interrogator 5 installed in the automatic sorting line is received by the antenna 25, the detector 33
Extracts an interrogation signal from the received signal received by the antenna 25. The interrogation signal is output to both the level comparator 35 and the CPU 37.

The level comparator 35 compares the voltage level of the output signal of the detector 33 with a reference voltage. If the voltage of the output signal of the detector 33 is higher than the reference voltage,
Connect to U37 and clock generator 39. Thus C
The PU 37 and the clock generator 39 are activated. When the output signal of the detector 33 is lower than the reference voltage, the CPU 3
7 and the clock generator 39 are not connected to the battery 27,
U37 is in a so-called sleep state.

When activated, the CPU 37 executes a program stored in the memory 29 based on a clock signal. If the received data output from the detector 33 is data such as a destination, the received data is stored in the memory 29. When the received data is an instruction to read data such as a destination, the CPU 37 executes a program stored in advance in the memory 29, reads the data stored in the memory 29, and outputs a signal corresponding to the data to the modulator 31. I do.

The impedance of the diode of the modulator 31 is changed by the signal output from the CPU 37,
The non-conductive state switches. This allows the modulator 31 to:
The electromagnetic wave from the interrogator 5 is modulated and the data is transmitted to the antenna 25.
Send more.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the interrogator 5 includes a carrier oscillating circuit 51 for generating a carrier of a transmission electromagnetic wave, a modulator 53 for superimposing information on the carrier, and a circulator 55 for separating a transmission wave and a reception wave. A transmission / reception antenna 57 serving as an entrance and exit of an electromagnetic wave, a demodulator 59 for extracting information from a received wave, and a signal processing unit 61 for controlling the modulator 53 and the demodulator 59 to process information. The signal processing unit 61 is provided with a CPU 6 for performing information processing and communication with the outside.
3 and a clock generator 65 for supplying an operation clock signal to the CPU.

Next, the operation of the circuit configuration of the interrogator 5 will be described. The transmission wave from the interrogator 5 is generated by modulating the carrier generated by the carrier oscillation circuit 51 by the modulator 53. That is, the data transmitted from the signal processing unit 61 to the modulator 53 is superimposed on the transmission wave.

The transmission wave thus produced is sent to the circulator 55, from which it is sent to the transmission / reception antenna 57 and radiated into the air. Then, if a response signal is returned from the transponder 21 of the home delivery slip 1, the transmission / reception antenna 57 receives it. The received wave is circulator 5
The information contained in the received wave is extracted and sent to the signal processing unit 61 for processing.

The signal information section 61 receives control signals and various information input from the external interface 67 and sends transmission data to the modulator 53. Then, the signal processing unit 61 receives data such as identification information of the transponder 21 from the demodulator 59 and outputs it to the external interface 67. The data output from the external interface 67 is used for sorting packages.

Courier slip 1 having the configuration described above
The interrogator 5 is used as follows. First, the address, name, and the like of the requester and the destination are written in the entry field 131 of the courier service slip 1. Then, the client copy 13 is cut out and passed to the client. Then, data having the same content as the content entered in the write column 131 is written into the memory 29 of the transponder 21 by a predetermined writer. As this writer, the same one as described in JP-A-61-203221 can be used. Then, the home delivery slip 1 is attached to the package.

The packages are collected at a distribution center, where the packages are conveyed by a belt conveyor 7 on a sorting line. When the transponder 21 of the courier slip 1 attached to the luggage receives the interrogation signal from the transmitting / receiving antenna 57 of the interrogator 5 installed below the belt conveyor 7 during the transportation of the luggage, the transponder 21 stores the interrogation signal in the memory 29. Sends information about delivery such as the report destination. Transmitter / receiver antenna 5 of interrogator 5
Numeral 7 receives data such as the destination from the transponder 21 and identifies the destination of the package without contact. Automatic sorting is performed based on the destination area thus identified.

It is necessary that the material of the belt conveyor 7 be a material that transmits radio waves. Therefore, metals must be avoided. For example, plastic may be used, but plastic containing metal is not suitable.

According to the above structure , the delivery item is placed on the belt conveyor 7 so that the delivery service slip 1 faces the belt conveyor 7 and is conveyed. Can be read. Therefore, it is possible to avoid confusing the identification code of the delivery destination or the like sent from the home delivery slip of one delivery with the identification code of the home delivery slip of another delivery.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of another interrogator . In FIG. 5, an arm 8 that can move up and down is attached to the side of the belt conveyor 7, and the transmitting / receiving antenna 57 of the interrogator 5 is attached to the arm 8 so as to be located directly above the belt conveyor 7. In addition, belt conveyor 7
Is provided with a height sensor 9 for detecting the height of the delivery.

In the above, before the identification code is read by the transmitting / receiving antenna 57, the height of the delivery 3 is confirmed by the height sensor 9, and the height of the transmitting / receiving antenna 57 is changed according to the height. This change is performed by driving the arm 8 to a position corresponding to the detected height by a control circuit and a motor (not shown) based on the height data from the sensor 9.

Since the transmission / reception antenna 57 is located above the delivery 3, the delivery 3 is oriented such that the surface on which the home delivery slip 1 is attached faces upward, and the delivery 3 is conveyed to the belt conveyor. 7 need to be placed.

According to the above , the position of the transmitting / receiving antenna 57 can be changed according to the height of the delivery 3.
Even if the heights of the delivery items are different from each other, the information can be read in the vicinity of the courier service slip 1 and the identification code sent from the courier service slip of one delivery item can be used for another delivery item. Is not confused with the identification code of the home delivery slip.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention . In this embodiment, an interrogator 5 is provided below the belt conveyor 7.
Transmission and reception antenna 57a is provided, and the belt conveyor 7
A transmission / reception antenna 57b is provided on the
The frequency of the interrogation signal sent from the
You.

In the above embodiment, the height of the delivery 3 conveyed by the belt conveyor 7 is first checked by the height sensor 9. And according to the height, the transmitting and receiving antenna 5
A signal for raising or lowering 7b is sent from the height sensor 9 to the arm 8, and the transmitting / receiving antenna 57b is raised or lowered.

At this time, the home delivery slip 1 is placed on the lower surface of the delivery 3.
Is attached, the home delivery slip 1 can communicate with the transmitting / receiving antenna 57a. In addition, if the home delivery slip 1 is attached to the upper surface of the delivery 3, the home delivery slip 1 can communicate with the transmitting / receiving antenna 57b.

The transmitting and receiving antennas 57a and 57b are
1.5 to 2 with respect to the area of the upper or lower surface of the delivery 3
It has a configuration having about twice the area. For this reason, the home delivery slip 1 attached to the side of the delivery 3 can communicate with either of the transmitting and receiving antennas 57a and 57b.

Further, the frequencies of the two antennas are shifted by 3 MHz in order to prevent interference between the transmitting and receiving antennas 57a and 57b. According to a third embodiment,
Regardless of the position of the courier slip 1 attached to the delivery 3 , the courier slip 1 is located near any of the antennas.
, And the identification code sent from the courier slip of one delivery is not confused with the identification code of the courier slip of another delivery.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, the information is read from the electronic tag at a position where the information can be read accurately. In addition, information can be read without error from each electronic tag attached to each delivery. As a result, information reading accuracy is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an interrogator .

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the home delivery slip shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a transponder mounted on the home delivery slip shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of an interrogator for reading information from the home delivery slip shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of another interrogator .

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention .

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Courier slip, 3 ... Delivered goods, 5 ... Interrogator, 7 ... Belt conveyor, 8 ... Arm, 9 ... Height sensor, 21 ... Transponder, 57, 57a, 57b ... Antenna

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65G 47/49 B65G 43/08 G06K 7/08

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method for storing delivery information and storing the delivery information
Can be transmitted by reflecting the interrogation radio wave as a response radio wave
Attach a unique electronic tag to the delivery and respond to the electronic tag.
In an electronic tag reader that reads the delivery information by radio waves , the height of the delivery is located above the moving path of the moving delivery.
It is provided so that the position can be adjusted in the direction
First transmitting / receiving means for receiving a response radio wave from the electronic tag
And a height detecting means for detecting a height of the delivery, and the first transmission / reception in response to an output of the height detecting means.
A position changing means for changing a position of the means to a position close to the electronic tag attached to the upper part of the delivery, and a question changing radio wave provided at a lower part of a movement route of the delivery,
The electronic tag attached to the lower part of the delivery
Second transmission / reception means for receiving these response radio waves , wherein the first transmission / reception means and the second transmission / reception means are provided.
Make the frequency of the interrogation radio wave transmitted from the means different
Electronic tab reading apparatus according to claim.