Patent ID: 12242918

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, by referring toFIG.1toFIG.7, a present embodiment is described.

Eggs are produced in a farm41having a poultry house. In farm41, eggs are collected, and packed into a tray51. Trays51are stacked in units of, for example, six trays. Trays51are placed on a utensil52using a transfer device61called a palletizer. As shown inFIG.1, a plurality of trays51is arranged on utensil52. InFIG.1, eggs are not illustrated. A unique identification tag53is attached to utensil52. Unique identification tag53is, for example, a barcode. Utensil52is, for example, a so-called pallet, and up to 10,800 eggs are placed while being interposed by dividers.

As shown inFIG.2, eggs placed on utensil52are weighed in farm41. That is, a total weight of eggs, trays51and utensil52is measured.

After measurement, eggs placed on utensil52are loaded, for example, on a truck, and transported to a sorting place42called a GP (Grading & Packing) center. Eggs placed on utensil52may be transported to sorting place42via a ship, an airplane or an electric train after being loaded on a truck or a container. After measurement, eggs may be temporarily stored in a farm side warehouse (not shown) before being shipped to sorting place42.

In sorting place42, eggs transported from farm41are received. Eggs placed on utensil52are stored in a warehouse62in sorting place42. Warehouse62is, for example, automated warehouse62having a storage rack63, a stacker crane64, a warehousing opening65, and a retrieving opening66. Eggs placed on utensil52are warehoused through warehousing opening65. Eggs placed on utensil52are retrieved from the warehouse through retrieving opening66in response to a retrieving request.

As shown inFIG.3, retrieved eggs are sorted in a sorting device67. Eggs retrieved from warehouse62are unloaded from utensil52while they are placed on trays51. Trays51are unstacked, for example, into single trays by an unstacking device (not shown). Further, each egg is transferred from tray51to a conveyor (not shown), for example, by a transfer device (not shown). Sorting device67conducts sorting, for example, by examining each egg conveyed by the conveyor, and weighing each egg. On the other hand, for example, utensils52from which trays51have been unloaded are stacked, for example, in units of a plurality of utensils52and returned to farm41, and used again for transporting eggs from farm41to sorting place42.

An egg information management system1according to the present embodiment is a system that manages information of eggs that are produced in farm41, placed on utensil52attached with unique identification tag53, and transported to sorting place42. In the present embodiment, egg information management system1used in more than one farm41and more than one sorting place42is employed in the application under the egg distribution environment as shown inFIG.2. Egg information management system1assists management of eggs using cloud computing, and is a cloud system that is accessible from both a farm side user device2, and a sorting place side user device3.

As shown inFIG.4, information acquired in farm41is stored in egg information management system1. Information acquired in sorting place42is stored in egg information management system1. As shown inFIG.5, farm side user device2, sorting place side user device3, and egg information management system1are, for example, connected in a mutually communicable manner via a network such as the Internet.

As shown inFIG.4, egg information management system1includes an acquisition unit11, a storage unit12, an operation unit13, and an output unit14. Acquisition unit11, storage unit12, operation unit13, and output unit14may be configured by a physically integrated computer, and may be configured by physically separated computers. Egg information management system1is connected with more than one farm side user device2, and more than one sorting place side user device3in a communicable manner via a network. More than one farm side user device2may be installed in one farm41, and may be installed in different farms41. More than one sorting place side user device3may be installed in one sorting place42, or may be in different sorting places42.

Acquisition unit11acquires ID information read on unique identification tag53. For example, acquisition unit11may read a barcode that is unique identification tag53by means of a reader.

Acquisition unit11acquires information concerning farm41. Information concerning farm41includes, for example, date information, shipping destination information, egg collection date information, raw material egg information, and so on. Also, acquisition unit11acquires information concerning weight of eggs placed on utensil52. Information concerning farm41, and information concerning weight of eggs placed on utensil52is input, for example, by a user of farm41, and transmitted from farm side user device2. As long as a weigh scale that measures the weight of eggs placed on utensil52is configured to be communicable with egg information management system1via a network, information concerning weight of egg may be transmitted from the weigh scale.

Also, acquisition unit11acquires information concerning warehouse62. Examples of information concerning warehouse62include warehousing information and retrieving information. Warehousing information includes warehousing time, information concerning storage rack63in which eggs are stored after warehousing (for example, rack number) and so on. Retrieving information includes retrieving time and so on.

Storage unit12is a cloud storage that is accessible by authorized user devices2,3including a producer in farm41and a producer in sorting place42via a network. Storage unit12stores information concerning farm41transmitted from farm side user device2, and information concerning weight of eggs placed on utensil52in association with unique identification tag53. Also, as shown in later-describedFIG.6and the like, storage unit12may store (manage) information concerning warehouse62(warehouse information) and information concerning farm41(farm information), and weight information in association with a unique identification tag.

Operation unit13processes data for displaying status information of utensil52. Specifically, operation unit13calculates the status of eggs placed on utensil52using information obtained in farm41and information obtained in sorting place42. Status information includes information about whether or not weight of eggs placed on utensil52has been measured on the farm side, and information about whether or not eggs placed on utensil52are stored on the sorting place side. An operation result in operation unit13is stored in storage unit12.

Output unit14outputs information stored in storage unit12to farm side user device2or to sorting place side user device3.

Farm side user device2is, for example, a laptop PC, a desktop PC, a smart device, a tablet terminal and the like. User device2includes an input unit21, a communication unit22, an information acquisition unit23, and a display unit24. Input unit21receives input of information required for management. Communication unit22has a transmitting function of transmitting information input via input unit21to egg information management system1via a network, and a receiving function of receiving information output from egg information management system1via a network. Information acquisition unit23acquires information managed in association with unique identification tag53obtained via communication unit22. Display unit24displays at least one of information input in input unit21and information acquired in information acquisition unit23.

Sorting place side user device3is, for example, a laptop PC, a desktop PC, a smart device, a tablet terminal and the like. User device3includes an input unit31, a communication unit32, an information acquisition unit33, and a display unit34. Input unit31receives input of information required for management. Communication unit32has a transmitting function of transmitting information input via input unit31to egg information management system1via a network, and a receiving function of receiving information output from egg information management system1via a network. Information acquisition unit33acquires information managed in association with unique identification tag53obtained via communication unit32. Specifically, information acquisition unit33acquires information concerning farm41and information concerning weight of eggs placed on utensil52on the basis of ID information read on unique identification tag53. Display unit34displays at least one of information input in input unit31and information acquired in information acquisition unit33.

Next, a method for using egg information management system1is described.

First, at the time of placement of tray51on utensil52, unique identification tag53provided in utensil52is read by a reader. An operator inputs date information, shipping destination information, egg collection date information, and raw material egg information using input unit21of farm side user device2. Information in which information concerning farm41is linked to pallet ID having one-to-one correspondence with each unique identification tag53is temporarily recorded in a temporary recording unit (not shown) or the like, and then transmitted to egg information management system1via a network.

Operation unit13conducts a processing for converting information received via acquisition unit11to data for displaying status information of utensil52. In this manner, data as shown inFIG.6is generated. Operation unit13sets an item regarding status at “palletizer”. That is, the status information indicating that weight of eggs placed on utensil52has not been measured on the farm side is recorded. In storage unit12, an item regarding status, and items of last updated date, number of eggs, egg collection date, raw material egg, farm, and shipping destination are linked to pallet ID and stored.

Next, in the state that trays51are placed on utensil52, a total weight of eggs placed on one utensil52is measured. At this time, unique identification tag53provided in utensil52is again read by a reader. An operator inputs weight information using input unit21of farm side user device2. Information in which information concerning weight of eggs placed on utensil52is linked to pallet ID having one-to-one correspondence with each unique identification tag53is temporarily recorded in a temporary recording unit or the like, and then transmitted to egg information management system1via a network.

Operation unit13conducts a processing for converting information received via acquisition unit11to data for displaying status information of utensil52, and changes the item regarding status from “palletizer” to “measurement completed”. That is, the status information indicating that weight of eggs placed on utensil52has been measured on the farm side is recorded. In storage unit12, an item regarding status, and items of last updated date, and weight are linked to pallet ID and stored.

Next, eggs are placed on utensil52, and transported to sorting place42. Eggs transported to sorting place42are temporarily stored in warehouse62in the state that trays51are placed on utensil52. At the time of receiving into warehouse62after being unloaded from a truck, unique identification tag53provided in utensil52is read again by a reader. An operator inputs warehousing information by using input unit31of sorting place side user device3. Information in which warehousing information is linked to pallet ID having one-to-one correspondence with each unique identification tag53is temporarily recorded in a temporary recording unit or the like, and then transmitted to egg information management system1via a network.

Operation unit13conducts a processing for converting information received via acquisition unit11to data for displaying status information of utensil52, and changes the item regarding status from “measurement completed” to “in warehouse”. That is, the status information indicating that eggs placed on utensil52are stored on the sorting place side is recorded. In storage unit12, an item regarding status, and items of last updated date, and rack number are linked to pallet ID and stored.

Next, at the time of retrieval from warehouse62, unique identification tag53provided in utensil52is again read by a reader. An operator inputs retrieving information by using input unit31of sorting place side user device3. Information in which retrieving information is linked to pallet ID having one-to-one correspondence with each unique identification tag53is temporarily recorded in a temporary recording unit or the like, and then transmitted to egg information management system1via a network.

Operation unit13conducts a processing for converting information received via acquisition unit11to data for displaying status information of utensil52, and changes the item regarding status from “in warehouse” to “discharged”. That is, the status information indicating that eggs placed on utensil52have been removed from the storage place on the sorting place side is recorded. In storage unit12, an item regarding status, and an item of last updated date are linked to pallet ID and stored.

Operation unit13may conduct displaying as shown inFIG.7using data stored in storage unit12. Here, “current status” is changed in real time. For eggs of which current status is “palletizer”, a total weight of eggs, a total number of eggs, and a total number of pallets are displayed. The same applies for “measurement completed”, “in warehouse”, and “discharged”.

As described above, egg information management system1according to the present embodiment is a system that manages information of eggs that are produced in farm41, placed on utensil52attached with unique identification tag53, and transported to sorting place42. This system includes a cloud system that is accessible from both of farm side user device2, and sorting place side user device3. The cloud system manages while associating information concerning farm41transmitted from farm side user device2, and information concerning weight of eggs placed on utensil52with unique identification tag53. Therefore, it is possible to accurately notify information about eggs to be transported from the farm side to the sorting place side without time and labor.

Sorting place side user device3includes information acquisition unit33that acquires information concerning farm41and information concerning weight of eggs placed on utensil52on the basis of ID information read on unique identification tag53.

Operation unit13that processes data for displaying status information of utensil52in display units24,34of user devices2,3is provided, and the status information indicates information about whether or not weight of eggs placed on utensil52has been measured on the farm side, and information about whether or not eggs placed on utensil52are stored on the sorting place side. Therefore, the current amounts of eggs on the farm side, eggs under transportation, and eggs on the sorting place side can be checked in real time both from the farm side and the sorting place side. This is very convenient.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

Information concerning farm41, and information concerning weight of eggs placed on utensil52may be transmitted from the same farm side user device2, and may be transmitted from farm side user devices2that are different from each other. User devices2,3including input units21,31that are mainly used for transmission and user devices2,3including information acquisition units23,33that are mainly used for reception may be separate from each other.

Examples of unique identification tag53include a one-dimensional code, a two-dimensional code, and an RF tag. Unique identification tag53may be visible from outside, and may be embedded in utensil52.

The cloud system may be such a system that connects more than one farm side user device2, and more than one sorting place side user device3.

Sorting place42need not include automated warehouse62, and egg information management system1need not acquire warehousing information or retrieving information from the sorting place side.

Embodiments disclosed herein are merely illustrative, and are not restrictive. The present disclosure is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the scope described above, and it is intended that all modifications within the equivalent meaning and scope of the claims are included.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present disclosure can be applied to an egg information management system.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1: egg information management system,13: operation unit,2: farm side user device,24,34: display unit,3: sorting place side user device,41: farm,42: sorting place,52: utensil,53: unique identification tag