Abstract:
To offer a configuration such that the entire status of a large volume of products to which an electronic tag is attached can easily and accurately be distinguished via an antenna.  
     Means for Achieving Objective: The invention comprises an inner tube  30  installed with an electronic tag  20 , an outer tube  10  within which the inner tube  30  is moveable lengthwise, and a reader for data recorded in the electronic tag  20 ; and the cross-sectional shape of the inner tube  30  in a plane perpendicular to the direction in which it moves within the outer tube  30  is formed so as to be almost equivalent to the cross-sectional shape of the outer tube  10  in a similar plane. A weight may be equipped within the inner tube  30 . Alternatively, it may be filled with a liquid of a slightly high specific gravity so that the electronic tag  20  floats. When a plurality of outer tubes  10  are aligned, the electronic tags  20  can all be aligned in similar positions.

Description:
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of Industrial Use  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a suitable electronic tag device attached and used on a core around which is wrapped a flexible material such as a textile, cloth, or the like.  
           [0003]    2. Prior Art  
           [0004]    In the prior art, when information regarding the material, price and the like of an item is to be printed on items sold at retail, it is printed on a piece of paper known as a tag and attached to the item in order to greatly reduce costs. When this type of tag is made out of paper, it is necessary to perform the work of producing it and printing the price and the like thereon, and it is difficult to read. Thus, in recent years paper tags are being converted to electronic tags that can be electronically processed, as shown in FIG. 11. Because information is recorded thereon by means of an electronic device, the information is easy to read and does not easily disappear. This has a big effect on the ability of store employees to confirm sales by means of an electronic device, and to easily calculate the amount of sales.  
           [0005]    [0005]FIG. 11 shows fabric  60 , and a core  61  which is a thin square tube formed from paper. An electronic tag  20  is attached to fabric  60 . Electronic tag  20  is, for example, an IC board and a cover formed from a polymer resin. Electronic tag  20  is attached to fabric  60  or core  62  by means of a thin cord  62 . Because a consumer can look at the numbers and simple words printed on electronic tag  20 , he or she will make a judgment with regard to the material, quantity, and price of the fabric and decide whether or not to purchase it.  
           [0006]    [0006]FIG. 12 is an oblique view showing the gist of a fabric roll price distinguishing device, which can, in a short period of time, identify different types of fabric rolls having electronic tags attached thereto but stored one on top of each other. In FIG. 12, 20 is a plurality of electronic tags,  71  is an antenna for reading the tags, and  65  is a plurality of fabric rolls that each have an electronic tag  20  attached thereto. The plurality of fabric rolls  65  are arranged and stored in container  68 , and disposed on top of antenna  71 .  
           [0007]    Antenna  71  emits signals from an electronic processing device such as a personal computer (not shown) toward electronic tags  20 . The data written onto electronic tags  20  separately respond to antenna  71  with a sequential response signal which contains data for separately identifying electronic tags  20 .  
           [0008]    This sequential response signal contains information on the type of fabric roll, its price, and the like, and thus by using the electronic processing device and electronic tags in which previous data is electronically recorded thereon, things like the condition and cost of a plurality of fabric rolls can be distinguished.  
           [0009]    [0009]FIG. 13 shows a situation in which data relating to fabric  60  is requested, and the fabric  60  is wound around a cylindrical core  61  with an electronic tag  20  attached thereto. Further, FIG. 14 shows a plurality of similarly shaped fabric rolls and cores/electronic tags stacked one on top of each other, and a state in which the electronic tags will be read in a short period of time. In FIG. 14, 20 is an electronic tag, the square flat board  71  is a tag reading antenna,  61  and  63  are cores,  65  and  66  are a plurality of fabric rolls, and  68  is a container. Data signals are sent and received between antenna  71  and electronic tags  20  in the same manner as that shown in FIG. 12. Thus, the entire group can be distinguished in a short period of time in the same manner as that shown in FIG. 12.  
         Problems to be Solved by the Invention  
         [0010]    The electronic tag data reading device shown in FIGS. 12 and 14 has a variety of weaknesses. That is, because the antenna is in a fixed position, there is a difference in the sensitivity of the signals that antenna  71  can receive due to the position of the electronic tags. Because of this, in order for the data from a large number of electronic tags to be received without error, it is necessary to divide the antenna coil, and to position the electronic tags as close as possible to the antenna.  
           [0011]    [0011]FIG. 15 shows the relationship between the position of the antenna coil, the coils of the electronic tags, and the lines of electric flux emitted therefrom. In FIG. 15, 72 is an antenna coil,  73  is an electric tag coil closest to the antenna coil,  74  is an electric tag coil in a position slightly apart from the antenna coil, and  75  is an electronic tag coil furthest away from the antenna coil. In addition,  80  are the electric lines of flux emanating from antenna coil  72 .  
           [0012]    As shown in FIG. 15, tag coil  73  is in a position closest to antenna coil  72  when compared with those of tag coils  74  and  75 . Because the coil surface of the coil tag is parallel with the coil surface of the antenna coil, the largest number of lines of electric flux  80  intersect with the coil surface of tag coil  73  compared to that of tag coils  74  and  75 . Said another way, the lowest number of lines of electric flux  80  intersect with tag coils  74  and  75 .  
           [0013]    Tag coils  74  and  75  are separated by the same distance from the antenna coil. However, there are a smaller number of lines of electric flux that intersect with the coil surface of tag coil  75  because it is orthogonal with respect to the coil surface of the antenna coil.  
           [0014]    Because the distance that tag coils  74  and  75  are separated from the antenna coil, and their angle with respect thereto, is larger than that of tag coil  73 , antenna coil  72  needs to enlarge the signal strength with respect to tag coils  74  and  75 .  
           [0015]    In FIG. 14, because the electronic tags are attached to one end of core  61 , the distance between the plurality of electronic tags  20  and the antenna  71  is generally fixed. However, because another core  63  has an electronic tag  20  attached in exactly the opposite position, it is much further away from antenna  71  and it is necessary to enlarge the signal strength.  
           [0016]    In order to avoid this situation, when fabric rolls  65  are placed in container  68 , they are carefully placed so that the electronic tags  20  are all in the same position. However, this greatly lowers work efficiency.  
           [0017]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to improve the aforementioned weaknesses and make the most of the features of electronic tags by providing an electronic tag device that can easily and reliably distinguish a group of large items with electronic tags attached thereto via a data reading device.  
         MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS  
         [0018]    The electronic tag device according to the present invention is equipped with an inner tube having a built-in electronic tag, an outer tube within which the inner tube is disposed such that can move in the lengthwise direction, and a reading device for reading data recorded on the aforementioned electronic tag. The outer shape [sic] of a cross-section of the inner tube taken orthogonally with respect to the direction that it moves inside the outer tube is formed to be generally equal to the inner shape [sic] of a cross-section of the outer tube taken in the same place.  
           [0019]    An electronic tag device according to the present invention is composed of a hollow space provided so that electronic tag is moveable in the lengthwise direction, an outer tube having filler around the outside of the hollow space, and a reading device for reading data recorded on the electronic tags.  
           [0020]    An electronic tag device according to the present invention is composed of an inner tube member in which the electronic tag can move in a fixed direction, an outer tube in which the inner tube member is eccentrically fixed in a large hollow space, and a reading device for reading data recorded on the electronic tag.  
           [0021]    In regard to the electronic tag, one portion of the reading device provided in the vicinity of one end of the outer tube is an antenna.  
           [0022]    In an electronic tag device of the present invention as shown above, when there is just one outer tube, it is easy to bring the reading device near the position of the electronic tag inside, When a plurality of outer tubes are lined up, it is easy to arrange them so that the distances between the electronic tags and the reading device opposite thereto are all uniform.  
         EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
         [0023]    Details of the embodiments of the electronic tag device of the present invention will be explained with reference to the figures.  
         First Embodiment  
         [0024]    In FIG. 1, (A) is vertical cross-section view, (B) is a horizontal cross-sectional view (from above), and (C) is a side cross-sectional view (from the front). In the figures showing the following embodiments, when the same three views are shown, each cross-section will be shown in the same order.  
           [0025]    In FIG. 1, 10 is an outer tube,  20  is an electronic tag, and  30  is an inner tube. A reading device, not shown in FIG. 1, is positioned below electronic tag  20 . Inner tube  30  is moveable in the lengthwise direction (left to right in FIG. 1) of outer tube  10 . Here, inner tube  30 , outer tube  20 , electronic tag  20 , and the reading device make up the electronic tag device.  
           [0026]    The outer circumference [sic] of a cross-section of inner tube  30  taken orthogonally with respect to the direction that inner tube  30  moves inside outer tube  10  (left to right in FIG. 1) is generally equal to the inner circumference of a cross-section of the outer tube  10 . In this embodiment, both outer tube  10  and inner tube  30  are cylindrical in shape. Inner tube  20  holds electronic tag  20  as shown in FIG. 2.  
           [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 shows the cylindrical shape of inner tube  30 . In FIG. 2, electronic tag  20  is supported at four points by the cylindrical shape of inner tube  30 .  
           [0028]    As is clear from the composition shown in FIG. 1, because inner tube  30  is inserted into outer tube  10  such that is slides in contact therewith, if the right side (in FIG. 1 (A)) of outer tube  10  is tilted downward, electronic tag  20  will move to the right (in FIG. 1) inside outer tube  10  together with inner tube  30 , and will stop at the right end of outer tube  10  as shown in FIG. 1. At this point, inner tube  30  will not tilt with respect to outer tube  10  and will not collapse. That is, when both electronic tag  20  and inner tube  30  move together, their attitude does not change.  
           [0029]    After fabric is wound around the core, an outer tube  10  having an electronic tag  20  is inserted therein. At this time, for example, when the antenna on the data reading device is brought close to one end of the outer tube  10 , the data recorded on the electronic tag  20  inside the core can be easily and reliably recorded via the antenna.  
           [0030]    In the event there are a large number of outer tubes, if that group is arranged to be parallel with each other, by tilting the group of fabric rolls toward the antenna, the electronic tag  20  inside the core will automatically move toward it. Because the positions of a large number of electronic tags can be easily arranged, and the power use of the antenna will not fluctuate due to the position of the electronic tags, the data recorded on all the electronic tags can be easily collected in a short period of time.  
           [0031]    Because the reading device needs a device other than an antenna, it is acceptable to place that device in a block the same as the antenna, and bring the antenna portion closer to the electronic tags  20 .  
         Second Embodiment  
         [0032]    As a second embodiment of the present invention, it is acceptable for both the outer tube and the inner tube to have an angular shape. Here, the dimensions of the outer circumference and the inner circumference are as provided in the first embodiment. According to this configuration, the operational results of the electronic tag device are the same as those in the first embodiment.  
         Third Embodiment  
         [0033]    Next, a third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the outer tube  10 , the electronic tag  20 , and the inner tube  30  are the same as shown in the first embodiment. The electronic tag  20  is in inner tube  30 , but a point of difference is that electronic tag  20  is held in inner tube  30  such that it is parallel with respect to the direction of the movement of inner tube  30 .  
           [0034]    When electronic tag  20  is disposed in this manner, the movement of inner tube  30  is the same as in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, when a reading device is put in the same place as in FIG. 1, the relationship between it and electronic tag  20  is worse than that shown in FIG. 1, and thus it is better to place it the upper direction with respect to the plane of the paper of FIG. 3 (A).  
         Fourth Embodiment  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, 10 is an outer tube,  20  is an electronic device, and  30  is an inner tube.  40  is a weight that is unevenly distributed inside inner tube  30 . Weight  40  has a large specific gravity, and is, for example, a metal such as copper or lead. With respect to using electronic tag  20  in the wireless frequencies, the material used is one that does not create a screen effect. Weight  40  is fixed inside inner tube  30  so that the attitude of inner tube  30  does not change when data is being read from electronic tag  20 .  
           [0036]    Electronic tag  20  is fixed in the lower part of the inside of inner tube  30  by means of weight  40 . When inner tube  30  moves inside outer tube  10 , electronic tag  20  inside inner tube  30  is pulled down by gravity and positioned like that shown in FIG. 1. Thus, in this embodiment, when a large number of outer tubes  10  are lined up, the electronic tags  20  are in a uniform position with respect to the antenna.  
         Fifth Embodiment  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 6 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, inner tube  30  is a short cylindrical shape, and (A) shows a front view and (B) shows a side view. In FIG. 6, 45 is a liquid, and  46  is a float. The specific gravity of float  46  is smaller than that of liquid  45  and the material outside electronic tag  20 , and both float  46  and the material outside electronic tag  20  is selected from a material that will not be dissolved by liquid  45 . Float  46  is fixed to one end of electronic tag  20 . In addition, in FIG. 6, 10,  20 , and  30  are the same elements as those shown in FIG. 1.  
           [0038]    When liquid  45 , electronic tag  20  and float  46  are in the state shown in FIG. 6, electronic tag  20  is in the inner portion of inner tube  30  and always floats on the top thereof due to the difference in specific gravities. Thus, this situation is the same as that in FIG. 5, in that when a large number of outer tubes are lined up, the electronic tags  20  are in a uniform position with respect to the antenna.  
         Sixth Embodiment  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 7 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 7, hollow space  35  is generally positioned in the central portion of outer tube  10 , and filler  36  is inserted into outer tube  36 . Hollow space  35  is formed in a space in filler  36  so that electronic tag  20  is movable in the axial direction of outer tube  35 .  
           [0040]    When electronic tag  20  moves in hollow space  35 , abnormal movement such as rotation or tilting is difficult, and thus its relative position with respect to the item outside outer tube  10  is uniform.  
         Seventh Embodiment  
         [0041]    In FIG. 8, 10 is the outer tube,  20  is the electronic tag, and  37  is an inner tube member. The inner tube member  37 , as shown in the figure, is disposed below the center of outer tube  10 , comes into contact with the lower wall of outer tube  10 , and forms a small cylindrical shape.  
           [0042]    As shown in the figure, the electronic tag can move in correspondence with the movement of outer tube  10 , but because at the time of this movement abnormal movement such as rotation or tilting and the like is difficult, the relative direction of electronic tag  20  is uniform regardless of the position of outer tube  10 . Because of this, even if there are a plurality of outer tubes, data can be collected from the electronic tags by the antenna with an even amount of power because they are all in a uniform direction.  
         Eighth Embodiment  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 9 shows an eighth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 9, 10 is the outer tube,  20  is the electronic tag,  37  is the inner tube member,  38  is a slit, and  39  is a base. Inner tube member  37  has the same shape as that shown in FIG. 8, and is formed inside outer tube  10 . However, in FIG. 9 slit  38  is provided in the hollow space of outer tube  10  in the axial direction. Electronic tag  20  is attached on top of base  39  in the vertical direction, and a portion of electronic tag  20  projects up toward outer tube  10  through slit  38 .  
           [0044]    Electronic tag  20 , in the case of FIG. 9, can move in the axial direction of outer tube  10  together with base  39  in the hollow space of inner tube member  37 . Because the aforementioned slit  38  becomes a guide at the time of movement, there is no tilting or rotation in the direction of movement or in the orthogonal direction. Thus, as explained above, an electronic tag with the same shape can be used.  
           [0045]    [0045]FIG. 10 is applied to every embodiment of the present invention, and is a figure which explains the reading of a plurality of electronic tags in a short period of time. In FIG. 10, for example, cloth rolls  65  that use core  61  as an electronic tag device in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are stored in container  68 . Antenna  71  is opposite core  61 .  
           [0046]    When the container  68  is tilted toward antenna  71 , all of the electronic tags move in the direction of antenna  71 , and the distance between all electronic tags  20  and antenna  71  is maintained in a uniform position. That is, in regard to the power emitted from antenna  71 , there is almost no change in the position of the electronic tags and thus the electrical processing of the data can be simple, accurate, and completed in a short period of time.  
         EFFECT OF THE INVENTION  
         [0047]    As explained above, in the electronic tag device according to the present invention, because an electronic tag is freely moveable inside the outer tube, by tilting a single outer tube as is, or a group of outer tubes lined up together, the electronic tag can move freely therein and will be even with the end thereof. Because of this, the power emissions in a reading device for reading data recorded on an electronic tag are not exceptionally large. Even if an electronic tag is in a tilted position, it can be read accurately and reliably.  
           [0048]    Thus, when rolls of fabric are lined up, even if the direction and position of the attached electronic tags with respect to the antenna is uneven, they can be effectively and appropriately used.  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 1 
           [0050]    Figure showing the first embodiment of the electronic tag device of the invention.  
           [0051]    [0051]FIG. 2 
           [0052]    Figure showing the inner tube used in the first embodiment.  
           [0053]    [0053]FIG. 3 
           [0054]    Figure showing the third embodiment of the electronic tag device of the invention.  
           [0055]    [0055]FIG. 4 
           [0056]    Figure showing the inner tube used in the third embodiment.  
           [0057]    [0057]FIG. 5 
           [0058]    Figure showing the fourth embodiment of the electronic tag device of the invention.  
           [0059]    [0059]FIG. 6 
           [0060]    Figure showing the fifth embodiment of the electronic tag device of the invention.  
           [0061]    [0061]FIG. 7 
           [0062]    Figure showing the sixth embodiment of the electronic tag device of the invention.  
           [0063]    [0063]FIG. 8 
           [0064]    Figure showing the seventh embodiment of the electronic tag device of the invention.  
           [0065]    [0065]FIG. 9 
           [0066]    Figure showing the eighth embodiment of the electronic tag device of the invention.  
           [0067]    [0067]FIG. 10 
           [0068]    Figure illustrating the quick reading of a plurality of the electronic tags applying the embodiments of the invention.  
           [0069]    [0069]FIG. 11 
           [0070]    Figure illustrating a conventional electronic tag in use attached to a fabric core.  
           [0071]    [0071]FIG. 12 
           [0072]    Figure illustrating electronic tags applied to a conventional selection of a plurality of textiles of differing types.  
           [0073]    [0073]FIG. 13 
           [0074]    Figure illustrating the usage of a fabric on a conventional cylindrical core and an electronic tag attached thereto.  
           [0075]    [0075]FIG. 14 
           [0076]    Figure illustrating the quick reading of an entire stack of a plurality of the core and fabric seen in FIG. 13.  
           [0077]    [0077]FIG. 15 
           [0078]    Figure showing the relationship between the coil on the antenna-side in the reader and the coil in the electronic tag. 
       
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMBERS  
       [0079]    [0079] 10 : outer tube  
         [0080]    [0080] 20 : electronic tag  
         [0081]    [0081] 30 : inner tube  
         [0082]    [0082] 35 : hollow space  
         [0083]    [0083] 36 : filler  
         [0084]    [0084] 37 : inner tube part  
         [0085]    [0085] 38 : slit  
         [0086]    [0086] 39 : base  
         [0087]    [0087] 40 : weight  
         [0088]    [0088] 45 : liquid  
         [0089]    [0089] 60 : fabric  
         [0090]    [0090] 61 ,  63 : fabric cores  
         [0091]    [0091] 62 : thin cord  
         [0092]    [0092] 65 ,  66 : textiles  
         [0093]    [0093] 68 : container  
         [0094]    [0094] 71 : antenna  
         [0095]    [0095] 72 : antenna-side coil  
         [0096]    [0096] 73 ,  74 ,  75 : tag-side coil  
         [0097]    [0097] 80 : lines of electric flux