Abstract:
A device for identifying and storing objects having identification carriers has accommodation wells for the objects, combined with antennae of a reading unit. Each accommodation well has a protection device that is controlled by an evaluation- and control circuit of the reading unit. If, after reading and evaluating identification carrier data of the object, the device determines that the object is authorized, the protection device allows the object in the accommodation well or allows the object to remain in the accommodation well. If the object is not authorized, the protection device prevents the object from being accommodated in the accommodation well or prevents the object from remaining in the accommodation well.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to a device for identifying and storing objects comprising identification carriers. 
         [0003]    2. The Prior Art 
         [0004]    German Patent Application No. DE 102 18 850 C1 describes a device for identifying and storing at least one object comprising an identification carrier. Objects comprising identification carriers can be inserted in one of the accommodation wells and can be locked. However, it is possible to insert objects into any desired accommodation well and to lock them. In order to allow simpler and clearer tracking of objects, it may be necessary to allocate an exclusive accommodation well to each object and to ensure that only the exclusive accommodation wells can be used for storing the objects allocated to these exclusive accommodation wells. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device for identifying and storing objects comprising identification carriers, which device permits insertion of the objects into accommodation wells, or which device permits objects to remain in accommodation wells, only when the objects are authorized, while preventing the above when the objects are unauthorized. 
         [0006]    This object is met by a device for identifying and storing objects comprising identification carriers, that has accommodation wells combined with antennae of a reading unit. Each accommodation well has a protection device that is controlled by an evaluation- and control circuit of the reading unit. The protection device, after reading and evaluating identification carrier data of the object, when the object is authorized, allows for accommodation of the object in the accommodation well or allows the object to remain in the accommodation well. When the object is not authorized, the device prevents the object from being accommodated in the accommodation well or prevents the object from remaining in the accommodation well. 
         [0007]    An evaluation circuit of the reading unit checks scanned identification carrier data to establish whether the selected accommodation well is allocated to the object and whether storage of the object in the accommodation well is permissible. A protection device controlled by the evaluation circuit allows only the storage of authorized objects in the selected accommodation well, while preventing the storage of unauthorized objects. 
         [0008]    Because of the above, the tracking of objects becomes significantly easier. Available or missing objects can thus be controlled directly by way of occupied or free accommodation wells, because there is an exclusive allocation only between the objects and the accommodation well. 
         [0009]    The protection device can comprise a blocking element which in the case of an unauthorized object, projects into the accommodation well, and which can be removed from the accommodation well only if the object is authorized. 
         [0010]    When the object is not authorized, the insertion of the object into a non-permissible accommodation well is mechanically prevented and indicated to the user by the blocking element. In contrast to this, if the object is authorized, it may be inserted into the accommodation well, and may remain in the accommodation well. 
         [0011]    The blocking element can be activated by an electric-motor driven, electromagnetic or piezoelectric actuator. 
         [0012]    Because of the above, the blocking element can be activated independently of any optionally present locking device. The blocking element can be mechanically coupled to an actuator of the locking device for the object, and can be activated by the actuator. 
         [0013]    As a result of the above, the same actuator can be used both for operating a locking device for the object, and for activating the blocking element. This solution only requires a mechanical blocking element and a spring element, and therefore is not associated with any increase in design space. 
         [0014]    The actuator of the locking device can be electric-motor driven, electromagnetic or piezoelectric. 
         [0015]    The protection device can also be a spring element that can be tensioned by inserting the object in the accommodation well, which spring element exerts an ejection force onto the object. If the object is not authorized, the object is pushed from the accommodation well by releasing the spring element. If the object is authorized the locking device in the accommodation well is activated and any pushing out of the object by the spring element can be blocked. 
         [0016]    This design is particularly easily implementable because only an additional spring element is required. While an object can at first be inserted into any accommodation well, the associated locking device only fastens the object if an authorization is present. In contrast to this, if the object is unauthorized, the object is ejected as soon as it is released. 
         [0017]    With a design comprising the locking element, preferably two reading antennae are arranged on the accommodation well, which reading antenna can be coupled to an identification carrier antenna in the object. One reading antenna is positioned such that in a locked position of the object, it is coupled to the identification carrier antenna, while the other reading antenna is positioned such that it is already coupled to an object present at the entry to the accommodation well via the identification carrier antenna of the object. 
         [0018]    Because of the above, identification carrier data can be read in both relevant positions. There is no need for an increase in the transmission output or in the receiver sensitivity, Which increase would be necessary if only one reading antenna were used for larger reading distances. Increasing the transmission output or the receiver sensitivity would have a disadvantage in that the spacing from adjacent accommodation wells would have to be increased in order to enable selective reading and in order to prevent inductive disturbance. 
         [0019]    The antennae can be designed as two separate coils that enclose the accommodation well, or as one coil that encloses the accommodation well, which coil comprises two separate galvanically connected windings. 
         [0020]    In a system for identifying and storing objects comprising identification carriers by means of accommodation wells combined with antennae of a reading unit, the reading units and actuators are connected to a shared evaluation- and control circuit. Furthermore, the evaluation- and control circuit is connected to visual signal transmitters that are allocated to each accommodation well. The evaluation- and control circuit comprises an input device by means of which, by way of automatic reading or manual input of identification carrier data, the visual signal transmitters that are associated with the respective accommodation well can be activated. 
         [0021]    Because of the above, by reading or inputting the identification carrier data, the associated accommodation well can be indicated, and the object can be led in a targeted manner to the valid accommodation well. 
         [0022]    By means of the input device, it is also possible to enter or change the allocation between accommodation wells and identification carrier data of the objects. 
         [0023]    Furthermore, the evaluation- and control circuit can be connected to a monitoring system that based on the allocation of objects and accommodation wells, registers the presence or absence of objects. 
         [0024]    With security-relevant facilities or equipment it is possible with the invention, by way of the presence or absence of objects that have to be carried along by personnel employed in such facilities, to register the presence or absence of the personnel. Typical applications include industrial, scientific or military facilities which may only be operated if nobody is present in the danger zone of the facility. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
           [0026]    In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views: 
           [0027]      FIG. 1  shows an accommodation well with a protection device, designed as a plug-in protection, and a locking device; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  shows an accommodation well with a protection device, designed as an ejection device, and a locking device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0029]    Referring now in detail to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows an accommodation well  10 , attached to a front plate  12  of the housing of a storage device with an insertion protection and a locking device. At the front of accommodation well  10  a visual signal transmitter  56  is arranged, which, in the case of several possible accommodation wells, signals to the user which accommodation well is valid for accommodation or removal of objects. In accommodation well  10  an object  14  has been inserted and locked. Accommodation well  10  and object  14  are cylindrical in shape. The end of object  14 , which end is shown on the right-hand side of the drawing, is bevelled, and spaced apart from this end there is a circumferential ring groove  16 . Within object  14 , an identification carrier with an antenna coil  18  is arranged, with the axis of said antenna coil  18  being aligned parallel in relation to the longitudinal central axis of object  14 . The end of object  14 , shown on the left side of the drawing, comprises at least one borehole  20 , which is, for example, suitable for accommodating a key ring or a wire loop with keys attached thereto. 
         [0030]    Accommodation well  10  is enclosed by a cylindrical coil comprising two windings  22 ,  24  located in coil chambers, which windings  22 ,  24  are used as a reading antenna for the non-contacting reading of identification carrier data of the object. A first coil chamber with a first winding  22  is arranged in the entrance region of accommodation well  10 , in front of front plate  12 , while a second coil chamber with a second winding  24  is arranged in the middle region of the accommodation well  10 , behind front plate  12 . 
         [0031]    By arranging separate windings  22 ,  24  of the reading antenna, identification carrier data of an object  14  can be read and evaluated both in a position of the object directly in front of accommodation well  10 , and in a position within accommodation well  10 . 
         [0032]    The locking device comprises an electromagnetic actuator  26  comprising a magnet coil  28  and an armature  30 . Armature  30  continues outside magnet coil  28  as a locking pin  32 , with the face of armature  30  being bevelled. In the state where no current is applied to actuator  26 , locking pin  32  is pushed into accommodation well  10  by a spring  34 , engages the circumferential groove (ring groove)  16  of object  10  and thus assumes a locking position. In the state where current is applied to actuator  26 , the force of spring  34  is overcome and locking pin  32  is pulled downwards from accommodation well  10  and assumes an unlocked position. Because of the above, object  14  is freely movable in accommodation well  10  and can be pulled out. 
         [0033]    As a result of its bevelled right-hand end, when object  14  is inserted in accommodation well  10 , object  14  can push locking pin  32  out of accommodation well  10  by way of the bevelled front of locking pin  32 , without current having to be applied to electromagnetic actuator  26  for this purpose. When object  10  has reached its end position, locking pin  32  springs back as a result of the force of spring  34 , before engaging ring groove  16  of object  14 . 
         [0034]    A spring-loaded ball  36  on accommodation well  10 , which ball  36  also engages ring groove  16 , fixes the position of object  14  in accommodation well  10  such that locking pin  32  does not come to rest against a flank of ring groove  16  of object  10  and thus cannot block, by frictional engagement, locking pin  32  and thus armature  30 . 
         [0035]    In applications where insertion of an object in an incorrect accommodation well is to be prevented, while the object in the correct accommodation well is not to be locked, a locking pin is not required. In this case, spring-loaded ball  36 , which engages ring groove  16 , merely fastens the object to accommodation well  10 . Such a design makes it possible to quickly remove the objects in case of an emergency, e.g. in applications associated with firefighting or emergency services activities. In such applications, it is of crucial importance that in the case of a call-out, the objects are in the correct accommodation wells. 
         [0036]    At the end of the accommodation well  10  there is an insertion switch  50  that is operated by inserted object  14  so as to signal the presence of an object  14  in accommodation well  10 . 
         [0037]    Accommodation well  10  further comprises a protection device with a blocking element  38  that prevents the insertion of unauthorized objects while allowing the insertion of authorised objects. Blocking element  38  comprises a transverse leg that points approximately perpendicularly in relation to the longitudinal axis of accommodation well  10  and is arranged on a longitudinal leg  40  that in turn is swivellably held on the housing of accommodation well  10  and is pre-tensioned by a spring  42 . By swivelling longitudinal leg  40  inwards, blocking element  38  enters accommodation well  10  by way of a slit  44  in the front region of accommodation well  10 , thus assuming a locked position. By swivelling longitudinal leg  40  outwards, blocking element  38  leaves accommodation well  10 , thus assuming a release position. 
         [0038]    Longitudinal leg  40  is coupled on one side to electromagnetic actuator  26 . In the state where current is applied to actuator  26 , engaging pins  54  of armature  30  grip longitudinal leg  40  from behind and swivel it outwards. Blocking element  38  assumes the released position. If, subsequently, an object  14  is inserted in accommodation well  10 , blocking element  38  remains in the released position because return into the blocked position is blocked by object  14 . In contrast to this, when no current is applied to actuator  26 , armature  30  can return to the locked position as a result of the force of its spring  34 , and locking pin  32  can engage ring groove  16  of object  14  as soon as object  14  has been fully inserted into accommodation well  10 . 
         [0039]    Control of actuator  26  and of visual signal transmitter  56  takes place via an evaluation-and control circuit  48  that is connected to a reading unit  46 . Prior to the return of an object  14 , by way of an input device  58  that is connected to evaluation- and control device  48 , the identification carrier data of the object  14  is entered. This can be effected by manual input or by automatic reading of the identification carrier data by an additional reading unit on input device  58 . After evaluation of the identification carrier data, by way of the evaluation- and control circuit  48 , visual signal transmitter  56  of the allocated accommodation well  10  is activated. As soon as object  14  is subsequently held in front of the opening of the accommodation well  10 , by way of first winding  22  of the reading antenna, identification carrier data of object  14  is read and evaluated. This additional evaluation is to ensure that the object held in front of the opening of accommodation well  10  is the same object whose identification carrier data has previously been entered by way of input device  58 , rather than it being some other object  14 . 
         [0040]    If the object is authorized, current is applied to the actuator associated with accommodation well  10 , and blocking element  38  is moved to the release position. Object  14  can then be inserted into accommodation well  10 . In the inserted state, by way of second winding  24  of the reading antenna, identification carrier data of object  14  is again read and evaluated. 
         [0041]    If authorization is confirmed, no current is applied to actuator  26 , and locking pin  32  can engage ring groove  16  of object  14 . Otherwise, e.g. in the case of an exchange of the object originally read in front of accommodation well  10  by some other inserted object, current is applied to actuator  26 , and an alarm is issued. The object must be removed from accommodation well  10  if the alarm is to be cleared. 
         [0042]    In order to release an object  14 , which release can be initiated by entering an authorization code via an input device for example, current is applied to actuator  26  so that locking pin  32  comes out of ring groove  16  and takes up an unlocked position. At the same time, visual signal transmitter  56  is activated in order to show the user the applicable accommodation well  10 . The released object  14  can then be removed from accommodation well  10  within a predefinable period of time. 
         [0043]    If object  14  is not removed, the current supply to actuator  26  is terminated, and locking pin  32  again engages ring groove  16 . If object  14  is removed, which can be monitored by way of the position of insertion switch  50  and by reading the identification carrier data via second winding  24  of the reading antenna, the current supply to actuator  26  ceases immediately. After object  14  has been withdrawn from accommodation well  10 , blocking element  38  can then immediately assume its blocked position again, thus preventing any insertion of unauthorized objects in accommodation well  10 . 
         [0044]    A bevelled surface on the rear of blocking element  38  is used to prevent blocking of object  14  during withdrawal, by swivelling blocking element  38  into ring groove  16 . While the bevelled surface slides along the flank of ring groove  16 , blocking element  38  temporarily swivels to the outside, thus clearing the way. Subsequently, as a result of the force of spring  42 , blocking element  38  swivels inwards again. 
         [0045]    In the design according to  FIG. 2 , the protection device comprises a spring element  52  that can be tensioned by inserting object  14  in accommodation well  10 . In this arrangement, spring element  52  is axially aligned with accommodation well  10 , is supported on the rear of accommodation well  10 , and in its released state projects a considerable distance into accommodation well  10 . In this arrangement, the reading antenna comprises only one winding  24  in the middle region of accommodation well  10 . 
         [0046]    Irrespective of its authorization, an object  14  can at first be inserted into accommodation well  10 . In a position in which data interchange between an identification carrier antenna  18  and only winding  24  of reading antenna is possible, identification carrier data of object  14  is read and evaluated. 
         [0047]    If the object is not authorized, current is applied to actuator  26  so that locking pin  32  assumes its unlocked position, and object  14  when released is subsequently pushed out of accommodation well  10  by the relaxing spring element  52 . If the object is authorized, no current is applied to actuator  26 , and after object  14  has been fully inserted into accommodation well  10 , locking pin  32  can engage ring groove  16 , thus fastening object  14 . 
         [0048]    In order to release an object  14 , which release is for example also initiated by entering an authorization code by way of an input device, current is applied to actuator  26 . However, since as a result of the force of spring element  52  acting on the object  14  one flank of ring groove  16  is pressed against locking pin  32 , thus blocking armature  30  as a result of frictional engagement, object  14  at first remains fastened. However, by further pressing object  14  into accommodation well  10  beyond the fastened position, frictional engagement ceases so that armature  30  can attract, and locking pin  32  can move out ring groove  16  and assume its unlocked position. Object  14  can then be removed from accommodation well  10 , or if let go would automatically be pushed out of accommodation well  10 . 
         [0049]    Furthermore, by means of input device  58 , the allocation between accommodation wells  10  and identification carrier data of objects  14  is entered. In this way an allocation can be brought about or changed that is clear and easily comprehensible to users and user groups alike. 
         [0050]    The evaluation- and control circuit  48  can also be connected to, or form part of, a higher-order monitoring system. For example, the presence or absence of personnel that is engaged in industrial, scientific or military plant has to be monitored. If this personnel for access authorization to hazardous areas have to carry the above-mentioned object with them, and after leaving said hazardous areas have to return said objects by inserting then into the accommodation wells of the device, then it is possible, by way of tracking the presence or absence of the objects, to track the presence or absence of personnel. 
         [0051]    A security device can then monitor the presence or absence of personnel, and can release a plant for operation only when there are no longer any personnel present in the hazardous region. 
         [0052]    Accordingly, while only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.