Registers – Systems controlled by data bearing records – Mechanized store
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-21
2003-04-29
Le, Thien M. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Systems controlled by data bearing records
Mechanized store
Reexamination Certificate
active
06554186
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a product inspection device used with a no-contact type of electronic tag, and more particularly to an product inspection device that simultaneously reads a plurality of no-contact type electronic tags attached to products packed in containers, and confirms the contents thereof without unpacking.
BACKGROUND ART
With various types of distribution and inventory control systems, product inventory must be confirmed in response to each change in the season or manufacturing process. However, an important element which harms the efficiency of this sort of product inspection work is unpacking and repacking.
That is, with distribution and inventory processes in general, because the product is packed into containers, the content of the boxes is unpacked in order to confirm its existence, and then is repacked in order to be re-inventoried and redistributed.
As a means of performing this type of product inspection work efficiently, a device has been proposed which would confirm whether or not the contents exists while it is still packed in the container.
FIG. 5
shows this sort of prior art product inspection device that can inspect a product without unpacking it. The product inspection device is composed of a plurality of products
15
to be inspected having electronic tags
7
attached thereto, an electronic tag read/write device
3
, and a container
4
. Electronic tag
7
is a no-contact type of electronic tag.
In the prior art product inspection device shown in
FIG. 5
, when a plurality of products
15
packed in container
4
are disposed in the vicinity of electronic tag read/write device
3
, read/write device
3
can read information stored on electronic tags
7
through the walls of the container because electronic tag
7
is of the no-contact type.
Therefore, if information relating to a product attached to electronic tag
7
is stored thereon, it becomes possible to confirm the contents of container
4
without unpacking and removing the contents thereof, and eliminates the need to unpack and repack during product inspection.
However, the prior art example shown in
FIG. 5
has a defect in that positive proof of the information read from the electronic tag cannot be obtained.
That is, the transmission ability of electronic tag
7
largely depends on the distance between the electronic tag reading device
3
, the angle at which they face each other, whether other electronic tags are piled on top thereof, and the like. There is also a danger that some electronic tags
7
may not be read, and a miscount will occur due to a misreading of the electronic tag
7
.
Moreover, in cases where a product
6
inside container
4
has no electronic tag
7
attached thereto, the product
6
will not be recognized, and similarly, in cases where an electronic tag
7
inside container
4
has no product
6
attached thereto, even though the product itself is missing, it will be recognized as being present.
That is, the prior art example shown in
FIG. 5
has a defect in that it can confirm the presence of a tag, but it cannot confirm if another tag is not present or if the product is present.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
An inventory control system according to the present invention is composed of a plurality of products that have electronic tags attached thereto, means for determining the total weight of said plurality of products, and an electronic tag read/write device. The electronic tag is a no-contact type wireless tag, and the information stored on the electronic tag includes at least information relating to the weight of the product to which it is attached.
According to the present invention, it is possible to avoid the problems with the prior art inspection device created by products that do not have electronic tags attached thereto or electronic tags which have been separated from products.
In packing products for distribution and storage, it becomes possible to record product weight on an electronic tag attached to the product.
In inspecting products after distribution and storage, it becomes possible to compare the weight of the product to be inspected and the container after distribution and storage with the weight before distribution and storage.
If by chance a mistake is made in reading an electronic tag by means of the second effect, with the electronic tag reader, it becomes possible to know of the presence of a product in which a mistake was made in reading its weight, even in the case where a mistake was made in the identification of the product attached to said electronic tag.
When a product not having an electronic tag attached thereto is accidentally placed into a container, it becomes possible to detect this.
It becomes possible to detect a solitary electronic tag in the container that is not attached to a product.
An inspection of an organization is remarkably more valuable than that of the prior art inspection device.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3737631 (1973-06-01), Harris
patent: 4373133 (1983-02-01), Clyne et al.
patent: 4787467 (1988-11-01), Johnson
patent: 4940116 (1990-07-01), O'Connor et al.
patent: 4959530 (1990-09-01), O'Connor
patent: 5239167 (1993-08-01), Kipp
patent: 6296184 (2001-10-01), Dejaeger
patent: 2000-137758 (2000-05-01), None
JP 2000-137758-English Language Abstract.
Caputo Lisa M.
Le Thien M.
Leading Information Technology Institute, Inc.
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