Abstract:
A label and RFID tag issuing apparatus comprises a recording apparatus that records information on a production label and an RFID tag reader/writer that writes and reads part of the recorded information to/from an RFID tag. This label and RFID tag issuing apparatus writes a production number to the RFID tag attached to the container if a container for containing an article or articles carrying the production label and RFID tag is judged to be on the container loading plate. The apparatus, subsequently confirming presence of the container on the container loading plate, records on the production label production information including bar-code data corresponding to the production number that has been written to the RFID. Thus, information recorded on the production label and information stored in the RFID tag are tied, and thereby accidental affixing of a wrong production label onto the container can be prevented.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-110211 filed on Apr. 2, 2004, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     (1) Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a label and RFID tag issuing apparatus comprising a recording apparatus for recording information on a recording medium and an RFID tag reading/writing apparatus. The invention particularly relates to a production label and RFID tag issuing apparatus that issues a production label and an RFID tag, comprising a recording apparatus that records information on a recording medium to be affixed to a container used in factory automation (FA) process or other applications and an RFID tag reading/writing apparatus that can write to the RFID tag coupled with the recording medium part of the information recorded on the recording medium.  
         [0004]     (2) Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Today, to manage articles, a bar-code and RFID tag are used in combination. Japanese patent application Kokai publication No. 2001-229344 describes a data processing apparatus that can convert data between bar-code data and RFID tag data and manage articles using the converted data. This data processing apparatus comprises an RFID tag reader/writer, a data converting means for converting data between bar-code data and RFID tag data, a bar-code reader, and a bar-code printer. The apparatus operates such that the data converting means converts bar-code data decoded from a bar-code that is read by a bar-code reader into RFID tag data, which is then written to an RFID tag, while the data converting means converts RFID tag data read from an RFID tag by the RFID tag reader/writer into bar-code data, which is then inputted to a printer and recorded. Thereby, for example, data of a bar-code recorded on a contained article can be registered in an RFID tag of a carried container, and data related to an article can be efficiently managed.  
         [0006]     In a FA process, for example, a production article or articles such as personal ornaments contained in a container move between a plurality of work flow stages, at each of which an operator does his/her prescribed work picking up the articles from the container and puts them back to the container after finishing the work. In order to manage the traveling container and production articles therein, an RFID tag storing managing data and a production label recording the managing data are attached to one container so that the managing data can be electronically managed by using the RFID tag and the operator can visually confirm the production article by the production label.  
         [0007]     In such a case, the managing data recorded in the production label on the container must correspond to the managing data stored in the RFID tag that is attached to the same container. However, the data processing apparatus described in Japanese patent application Kokai publication No. 2001-229344 is not structured such that a production label and an RFID tag are affixed to the same container wherein issuing of the production label containing managing data to be affixed to the container is related to issuing of an RFID tag containing managing data to be attached to the container. Therefore, a problem arises that an operator accidentally affixes a production label to a wrong container to which an RFID tag that does not correspond to the production label is attached.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for issuing a recording medium and an RFID tag coupled with the recording medium, maintaining a tight relation between the recording medium such as production label that records information and the RFID tag to which part of the information of the recording label is written.  
         [0009]     Another object of the invention is to provide a recording medium and RFID tag issuing apparatus, which comprises a detecting means for detecting presence of a container containing manufacturing articles to which an RFID tag has been previously provided or is to be attached later, a printer for recording information on a recording medium to be affixed to the container, an RFID tag writing means for writing to the RFID tag part of information recorded on the recording medium, and a control means for authorizing the printer to record the information on the recording medium when the detecting means has detected the presence of the container after the writing means has written the part of the information to the RFID tag.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a functional structure pertaining to the first embodiment.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a container used in the first embodiment.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating a process of label and RFID tag issuing controlled by the control section in the first embodiment.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a functional structure pertaining to the second embodiment.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating a process of label and RFID tag issuing controlled by the control section in the second embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same numerals are applied to the similar elements in the drawings, and therefore, the detailed descriptions thereof are not repeated.  
         [0000]     (First Embodiment)  
         [0016]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the label and RFID tag issuing apparatus according to the first embodiment consists of a control section  1 , a weight sensor  2  connected to the control section  1 , an RFID tag reader/writer  3 , a printer  4 , a display  5 , an input section  6 , and a bar-code reader  7 . The weight sensor  2  detects the container  1  loaded on a container loading plate  9 . The bar-code reader  7  is of a handy type that is convenient to handle in a production process. The control section  1  is a control means consisting of a microprocessor and memory and others, and controls outputting recording data to the printer  4  according to programs, outputting information to be displayed to the display  5 , inputting input data from the input section  6 , inputting bar-code data from the bar-code reader  7 . The printer  4  may be any of a thermal printer, ink jet printer, wire-dot printer, etc.  
         [0017]     When this label and RFID tag issuing apparatus is used on a process of manufacturing articles, for example, personal ornaments, the weight sensor  2  is installed in the container loading plate  9  for loading a container  8  containing the manufacturing articles, and detects the container  8  loaded on this container loading plate  9 . The control section  1  detects presence of the container by inputting output from the weight sensor  2  and judging if a magnitude of the output conforms to the weight of the container  8 .  
         [0018]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the container  8  is provided with a pocket on a surface of the container at its lower part for containing and holding the RFID tag  10 , and the upper part of the container on the surface is designed so that the recording paper  12 , which is to become a production label, can be affixed thereto. The production label herein refers to a printed material on which information needed for manufacturing a product such as production number, product name, process instructions instructing works to be carried out in individual stages of the process is recorded. It is so structured that the RFID tag  10  can be contained in and taken out of a container pocket  11 . The container  8 , which contains trinkets such as personal ornaments, forms a box having a lid so as to prevent the articles contained therein from being scattered. The form of the container may be designed according to the size of an article or articles to be manufactured.  
         [0019]     The control section  1  is configured so as to output to the RFID tag reader/writer  3  data to be written to the RFID tag  10  and input data that the RFID tag reader/writer  3  has read from the RFID tag  10 . The RFID tag reader/writer  3  is connected to an antenna  13  disposed in the vicinity of the container loading plate  9 . The RFID tag reader/writer  3  radiates an electromagnetic wave through the antenna to the container carrying the RFID tag  10  on the container loading plate  9 . The RFID tag  10  generates a power from the electromagnetic wave received, writes and reads data to/from the RFID tag  10 , and transmits the data to the RFID tag reader/writer  3 .  
         [0020]     The printer  4  records production information including a bar-code, that is, data pertaining to production on the recording paper  12 . The display  5  displays information for indicating to an operator. The input section  6  inputs data to record on the recording paper  12  and data to be written to the RFID tag  10 . The bar-code reader  7  is used to read a bar-code  12   a  on the recording paper  12  when a bar-code is recorded thereon.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating operation of the label and RFID tag issuing apparatus according to this embodiment. In step S 1 , information to be written and recorded onto the RFID tag and recording paper is inputted from the input section. In step S 2 , it is judged whether or not the container  8  is on the container loading plate  9  by taking the output from the weight sensor  2 .  
         [0022]     If presence of the container  8  is detected, in step S 3 , the control section  1  controls the RFID tag reader/writer  3  so that the RFID tag reader/writer  3  writes part of production information to be recorded by the printer  4 , for example, a production number, into the RFID tag  10  attached to the container  8 . When the writing is done, in step S 4 , the RFID tag reader/writer  3  reads the production number that has been written just now. In step S 5 , the read production number is now compared to one written to examine if the production number has been correctly written to the RFID tag  10 . If a judge is made that it is not correctly written, the writing is reiterated.  
         [0023]     If a judge is made that it is written correctly, in step S 6 , presence of the container  8  on the container loading plate  9  is then checked. If presence of the container  8  is confirmed, in step S 7 , the control section  1  controls the printer  4  so that the printer  4  records on the recording paper  12  information pertaining to production including a bar-code that corresponds to the production number written to the RFID tag. Then, an operator adheres this recording paper  12  on the container  8  to which the RFID tag  10  is attached.  
         [0024]     After this recoding has been done, in step S 8 , the process control keeps monitoring whether or not the container is removed from the container loading plate  9  while observing the weight of the container on the loading plate. If the removal of the container  8  is acknowledged, then in step S 9 , the apparatus waits entry of “termination of the issue process” from the input section  6 . In step S 9 , if input of the termination is not received, then, the process control waits in step S 1  entry from the input section  6  of information to be issued in a subsequent process. If the termination of the issue process is received, the current control of the issue process terminates.  
         [0025]     In this embodiment, when an operator inputs information to be issued, wherein the container  8  holding the RFID tag  10  in the pocket  11  in which no data has been written is placed on the container loading plate  9 , the control section  1  first confirms the presence of the container  8  on the container loading plate  9  by the output from the weight sensor  2  and writes a production number into the RFID tag  10  controlling the RFID tag reader/writer  3 . The production number just written is read back to the apparatus to check if the number has been written correctly. If the correct writing is verified, presence of the container  8  on the container loading plate  9  is rechecked, and production information including a bar-code that corresponds to the production number written to the RFID tag  10  is recorded onto recording paper  12  by the printer  4 .  
         [0026]     In this manner, the apparatus can write a production number to the RFID tag  10  in a state that the container  8  is placed on the container loading plate  9 , and issue recording paper  12  on which production information including a bar-code corresponding to one written to the RFID tag  10  has been recorded, assuring that the container  8  is still on the container loading plate  9 . That is, when the recording paper  12  recording production information including a bar-code corresponding to one written to the RFID tag  10  is issued, the container  8  carrying the corresponding RFID tag  10  surely exists on the container loading plate  9 .  
         [0027]     The operator needs only to take the container  8  on the container loading plate  9  and affix the recording paper  12  just issued on the container  8 . By this action, the recording paper  12  which records production information including bar-code  12   a  corresponding to one written to the RFID tag  10  can be surely affixed on the container  8 , as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0028]     Because removal of the container from the container loading plate  9  by the operator automatically leads to a stage that the apparatus waits a subsequent issue process, the subsequent issue process cannot commence in a state that the previous container is being left on the container loading plate  9 . Accordingly, there would be no fear that a recording paper  12  recording production information that does not correspond to a production number written in the RFID tag  10  attached to one container  8  could be affixed to the same container  8 .  
         [0000]     (Second Embodiment)  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  shows a label and RFID tag issuing apparatus using an optical sensor  14  as a detecting means. The structure of this embodiment excluding the optical sensor  14  is the same as one of the fist embodiment.  
         [0030]     For the optical sensor, a reflective type that incorporates a combination of a light emitting element and photo acceptance element is used. This optical sensor detects presence of the container  8  on the container loading plate  9 , when the container  8  is placed on the container loading plate  9 , by the output of the photo acceptance element, which receives light that is emitted from the light-emitting element and then reflected on the container  8 . In this way, the same effect can be attained using an optical sensor as the detecting means.  
         [0031]     Although the above descriptions were made for structures using the weight sensor and optical sensor, this invention is not limited to such practices. It is possible to make the RFID tag reader/writer  3  serve as double functional apparatus, eliminating use of such sensors. Specifically, first, the RFID tag  10  storing dummy data is prepared beforehand, and the RFID tag reader/writer  3  is provided to operate constantly. In this state, when the container  8  is placed on the container loading plate  9 , the RFID tag reader/writer  3  detects the presence of the container  8  on the container loading plate  9  by reading the dummy data from the RFID tag  10 . After a real production number has been written to the RFID tag  10 , the presence of the container  8  on the container loading plate  9  can be detected by reading the production number. By making the RFID tag reader/writer  3  serve also as a detecting means in this manner, the apparatus structure can be simplified.  
         [0000]     (Third Embodiment)  
         [0032]     A structure of the label and RFID tag issuing apparatus according to the third embodiment is shown in  FIG. 1 . The container  8  used therein carries the recording paper  12  recording a bar-code and the RFID tag  10 , as illustrated in FIG.  2 . The controller  1  performs the issue process according to the procedure described in  FIG. 5 . That is, after information to be issued is taken in from the input section  6  in step S 11 , presence of the container  8  on the container loading plate  9  is judged by the output from the weight sensor in step  12 .  
         [0033]     After the presence of the container  8  is confirmed, in step  13 , the controller  1  makes the printer  4  print on the recording paper  12  production information including a bar-code corresponding to a production number. First, a recording paper  12  is issued, and then, in step  14 , the bar-code reader  7  reads the bar-code  12   a  recorded on the issued recording paper  12 . In this instance, the controller  1  makes a display device indicate an instruction urging an operator to read and confirm the recorded bar-code, and the operator operates the bar-code reader  7  to read the recorded bar-code according to the instruction. In step  15 , the bar-code that has been read is compared with the bar-code data that has been recorded on the recording paper in step  13  to judge if the data of the bar-code has been correctly recorded.  
         [0034]     When correctness of the recording is verified, in step S 16 , presence of the container  8  on the container loading plate  9  is checked. If the presence of the container  8  is confirmed, in step S 17 , the controller  1  makes the RFID tag reader/writer  3  write to RFID tag  10  data corresponding the bar-code, for example, a production number, which is part of information pertaining to production recorded on the recording paper  12 . With this writing done, in step S 18 , the RFID tag reader/writer  3  reads the production number that has just been written. In step S 19 , the production number that has been read is compared with one that was originally written so that check is made to see if the production number was correctly written to RFID tag  10 . If a failure of correct writing is judged, writing to the RFID tag  10  is reiterated.  
         [0035]     If correct writing is verified, in step S 20 , the process control watches if the container  8  is removed from the container loading plate  9  and judges so if it has been done. When the removal of the container  8  is confirmed, in step S 21 , the process control watches if “termination of the issue process” is received from the input section  6  and judges so if it has been done. Unless it is received, the process control waits entry of information to be issued for a subsequent issue process from the input section  6 . If “termination of the issue process” is confirmed, the current issue process terminates.  
         [0036]     In this structure of the embodiment, first, production information including a bar-code data corresponding to a production number is recorded on a recording paper  12  in a state that the container  8  is placed on the container loading plate  9 . Then, the production number is written to the RFID tag  10  in a state that the container  8  is placed on the container loading plate  9 . Because the container  8  to which the recording paper  12  is affixed remains on the container loading plate  9  until the production number is written on it, the operator only needs to withdraw the container  8  on the container loading plate  9  and affix the recorded paper  12  to the container at the point when the writing of the production number has been completed. In this case also, the recording paper  12  recording the production information including a bar-code corresponding to the production number written to the RFID tag  10  can be certainly affixed to the container  8 .  
         [0037]     In this embodiment also, an optical sensor can be used as a detecting means instead of the weight sensor. Alternatively, the RFID tag reader/writer may be used as a dual-purpose apparatus having a function of the detecting means by writing dummy data in the RFID tag  10 .  
         [0038]     In the above embodiments, descriptions have been made for structures in which presence of the container carrying an RFID tag is detected by a detecting means. This invention is not limited to such structures. There may be such a structure in which the container and RFID tag are separated and only RFID tag is detected by a detecting means. Even in this case, since the RFID tag can be related to a recording paper, the two media would need to be attached to a common container.  
         [0039]     Although the above descriptions have been made as examples using a production label like one used in automated factory processes, the invention is not limited to those practices. This label and RFID tag issuing apparatus can be adapted in applications of stock control and physical distribution management, wherein a label that records data related to data having been written to an RFID tag is affixed to a container.  
         [0040]     Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention can be practiced in a manner other than as specifically described therein.