palette

Abstract

To provide a pallet capable of easily attaching an IC tag.SOLUTION: A pallet 1 includes a housing section 30 for housing an IC tag 100. The housing section 30 includes: a tag insertion opening 31 that is located on an outer surface of the pallet 1; and a holding portion 35 that holds the IC tag 100 inserted up to a housing position inside the pallet 1, wherein the holding portion 35 comprises: a central protrusion piece 60 that presses a first surface 101 of the IC tag 100 at the housing position; a second guide piece 42 that presses a second surface 102 of the IC tag 100; and a slip-off prevention portion 50 that allows movement of the IC tag 100 inserted from the tag insertion opening 31 toward the housing position and restricts movement of the IC tag 100 from the housing position toward the tag insertion opening 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pallet capable of accommodating an IC tag. [Background technology]

[0002] Pallets used for transporting and storing goods are fitted with IC tags for managing the pallets themselves and the goods placed on them. The IC tags store, for example, information that can identify the pallet or the goods placed on the pallet. The information stored in the IC tags is read, for example, by wireless communication using a reader / writer connected to a management device. For example, the pallet disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a storage section that stores a tag holder with an IC tag attached on the pallet in order to attach the IC tag. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-048659 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When attaching an IC tag to a pallet using a tag holder, after attaching the IC tag to the tag holder, it is necessary to attach the tag holder to the pallet. Therefore, there is a need to further simplify the process of attaching IC tags to pallets. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A pallet for solving the above problem is a pallet having a storage section for storing a plate-shaped IC tag, the storage section being located on the outer surface of the pallet and including an opening through which the IC tag can be inserted, and a holding section being located inside the pallet and holding the IC tag inserted from the opening to a storage position in the storage section where the IC tag is stored, the holding section including a first pressing piece which is a convex strip with a first pressing surface that presses a first surface of the IC tag at the storage position, a second pressing piece which is a convex strip with a second pressing surface that presses a second surface opposite the first surface of the IC tag at the storage position, and a stop piece that allows movement of the IC tag inserted from the opening toward the storage position and restricts movement of the IC tag from the storage position toward the opening.

[0006] According to the above configuration, when the IC tag is inserted from the opening toward the storage position, the IC tag is pressed and sandwiched between the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece. Therefore, the IC tag can be attached to the pallet without using a tag holder, simplifying the work required to attach the IC tag to the pallet. The retaining piece is provided with a retaining piece, so that even if the IC tag becomes detached from the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece, the IC tag can be prevented from falling out of the opening. Furthermore, because the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece that sandwich the IC tag are convex, manufacturing the pallet by injection molding is easier than, for example, a configuration in which the IC tag is pressed and held by a complex spring shape.

[0007] In the above-mentioned pallet, it is preferable that the pallet is configured by butting an upper member and a lower member, the storage portion is a recess spanning the upper member and the lower member, the opening is provided on the outer surface of one of the upper member and the lower member, and the holding portion is provided on the other of the upper member and the lower member. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the distance between the IC tag held by the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece and the retaining piece compared to a configuration in which the retaining piece is located on the upper member or the lower member where the opening is provided. As a result, even if the IC tag becomes detached from the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece, the movement of the IC tag can be restricted within a narrower range, thereby effectively suppressing rattling of the IC tag.

[0008] In the above-mentioned pallet, the retaining piece is preferably an elastic piece that blocks the entry path of the IC tag from the opening toward the storage position. According to the above-mentioned configuration, the IC tag inserted through the opening presses against the elastic piece, displacing the elastic piece, allowing the IC tag to be inserted to the storage position. Then, when the IC tag overcomes the elastic piece, the elastic piece elastically returns to its original position, thereby restricting the movement of the IC tag from the storage position toward the opening.

[0009] In the above-mentioned pallet, it is preferable that the storage section further includes a guide section located in the upper or lower member in which the opening is provided, and the guide section guides the IC tag to the holding section. According to the above-mentioned configuration, an IC tag inserted from the opening toward the storage position is guided toward the holding section as it passes through the guide section. Therefore, an IC tag inserted from the opening toward the storage position can be smoothly inserted toward the holding section.

[0010] In the above-mentioned pallet, it is preferable that the first pressing piece has an inclined surface that is inclined from the end of the first pressing surface on the opening side so as to increase the distance between the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece along the pressing axis along which the first pressing surface and the second pressing surface press the IC tag. According to the above-mentioned configuration, the inclined surface makes it easy to insert the IC tag between the first pressing surface and the second pressing surface.

[0011] In the above pallet, the holding portion includes a guide portion that determines the range of motion of the IC tag in a direction along the pressing axis, and the guide portion includes a first guide surface that determines the range of motion of the first surface and a second guide surface that determines the range of motion of the second surface in the direction along the pressing axis, and the second guide surface is the second pressing surface provided on the second pressing piece, and the opening side end of the first guide surface and the opening side end of the second pressing surface are located closer to the opening than the opening side end of the inclined surface, and it is preferable that the distance along the pressing axis between the first guide surface and the second pressing surface is greater than the distance along the pressing axis between the first pressing surface and the second pressing surface and is smaller than the distance along the pressing axis between the opening side end of the inclined surface and the second pressing surface. According to the above configuration, the range of movement of an IC tag inserted from the opening toward the storage position in the direction along the pressing axis is defined by the first guide surface and the second pressing surface, which is the second guide surface. As the insertion progresses further, the IC tag smoothly transitions from being guided by the first guide surface and the second pressing surface, which is the second guide surface, to being guided between the first pressing surface and the second pressing surface by the inclined surface. Therefore, the IC tag inserted from the opening can be smoothly inserted between the first pressing surface and the second pressing surface.

[0012] In the above-mentioned pallet, the holding section preferably includes a plurality of the second pressing pieces, and the first pressing piece is preferably located between two adjacent second pressing pieces in a one-dimensional direction intersecting the insertion direction of the IC tag and a pressing axis along which the first pressing surface and the second pressing surface press against the IC tag. According to the above-mentioned configuration, the first pressing piece is located between the two second pressing pieces in the one-dimensional direction intersecting the insertion direction of the IC tag and the pressing axis, thereby enabling the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece to stably hold the IC tag. Furthermore, even if one of the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece is located at the same position in the one-dimensional direction intersecting the insertion direction of the IC tag and the pressing axis, the first pressing piece and one of the second pressing pieces will be configured to face each other. In this case, if the thickness of the IC tag is small, the clearance between the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece must also be small. Therefore, when manufacturing a pallet, the dimensions of the mold parts that define the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece become smaller, making the mold parts more susceptible to damage. In this regard, if the first pressing piece is positioned between two second pressing pieces in a one-dimensional direction that intersects with the insertion direction of the IC tag, the positions of the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece become misaligned in the one-dimensional direction. Therefore, when manufacturing a pallet, the dimensions of the mold parts that define the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece can be increased, making the mold parts less susceptible to damage.

[0013] In the above-mentioned pallet, the opening is preferably provided on the loading surface on which the goods are placed. According to the above-mentioned configuration, the opening is provided on the loading surface, so that the IC tag is inserted from above downward. Therefore, even if the IC tag stored on the pallet is subjected to an impact when the pallet is loaded or unloaded, the IC tag is less likely to come off from its stored position. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, an IC tag can be easily attached to a pallet. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pallet. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged top view showing a tag insertion slot provided on a pallet. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged bottom view of a storage section provided on the pallet. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the housing portion taken along the cutting line shown in FIG. [Figure 5] 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line shown in FIG. 4, showing an enlarged view of the holding portion. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line shown in FIG. 2, showing an enlarged view of the configuration of the holding section when the IC tag is inserted. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line shown in FIG. 2, showing an enlarged view of the configuration of the holding section when the IC tag is inserted up to the storage position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] [palette] An embodiment of the pallet will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 7. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis shown in Figures 1 to 7 are perpendicular to one another.

[0017] As shown in Figure 1, pallet 1 is a four-way, single-sided pallet. Pallet 1 comprises an upper member 10 that forms the upper part of pallet 1 and a lower member 20 that forms the lower part of pallet 1. Pallet 1 is configured in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, with upper member 10 and lower member 20 welded together in an overlapping state along the Z axis.

[0018] The upper member 10 is a member manufactured by gas-assisted molding, which is an example of injection molding. An example of the synthetic resin that forms the upper member 10 is polypropylene. The upper member 10 includes a deck board 11 having a rectangular plate shape. The outer surface of the deck board 11 is a loading surface 11A on which an article is placed.

[0019] The lower member 20 is manufactured by gas-assisted molding, which is an example of injection molding. An example of the synthetic resin that constitutes the lower member 20 is polypropylene. The lower member 20 includes a rectangular ground board 21. The outer surface of the ground board 21 is the ground surface that faces the surface on which the pallet 1 is placed.

[0020] The pallet 1 has nine girders 2 that connect the deck board 11 and the ground board 21. Each girder 2 is made up of an upper girder portion 12 provided on the upper member 10 and a lower girder portion 22 provided on the lower member 20. The upper girder portion 12 is a portion that extends along the Z axis from the deck board 11 towards the ground board 21. The lower girder portion 22 is a portion that extends along the Z axis from the ground board 21 towards the deck board 11. The upper member 10 and the lower member 20 form the pallet 1 by welding the opposing upper girder portions 12 and lower girder portions 22 to each other.

[0021] Of the nine beams 2, four beams 2 located at the four corners of the pallet 1 are corner beams 2A. Of the nine beams 2, two beams 2 located between two corner beams 2A in the direction along the X axis are first intermediate beams 2B. Of the nine beams 2, two beams 2 located between two corner beams 2A in the direction along the Y axis are second intermediate beams 2C. Of the nine beams 2, one beam 2 located between two second intermediate beams 2C in the direction along the X axis and between two second intermediate beams 2C in the direction along the Y axis is a central beam (not shown). The central beam is located at the center of the pallet 1 in the direction along the X axis and in the direction along the Y axis.

[0022] Furthermore, the pallet 1 has two first insertion openings 3A defined by a first intermediate girder 2B between two square beams 2A on each of two side surfaces perpendicular to the Y axis. That is, the pallet 1 has four first insertion openings 3A. Similarly, the pallet 1 has two second insertion openings 3B defined by a second intermediate girder 2C between two square beams 2A on each of two side surfaces perpendicular to the X axis. That is, the pallet 1 has four second insertion openings 3B. The first insertion openings 3A and second insertion openings 3B are openings for inserting forks when transporting the pallet 1.

[0023] The loading surface 11A is a surface perpendicular to the Z axis. Rubber grommets 13 and anti-slip tape 14 are provided on the loading surface 11A. The grommets 13 and anti-slip tape 14 prevent an article placed on the loading surface 11A from shifting position. The number and positions of the grommets 13 and anti-slip tape 14 provided on the loading surface 11A can be determined arbitrarily. Also, the loading surface 11A may not be provided with the grommets 13 and anti-slip tape 14.

[0024] The pallet 1 has a storage section 30 that stores an IC tag 100 (see FIG. 4). The storage section 30 is located near the center in the direction along the X axis and near the center in the direction along the Y axis. The storage section 30 is a recess that is recessed from the loading surface 11A toward the lower member 20. The storage section 30 has a tag insertion opening 31 that is an opening through which the IC tag 100 is inserted. As an example, the tag insertion opening 31 is located near the center of the loading surface 11A, in particular above the central beam.

[0025] [IC tag] Here, the IC tag 100 housed in the pallet 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the IC tag 100 includes a rectangular plate-shaped housing, an IC chip housed in the housing, and a small antenna. The IC tag 100 utilizes RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology, which uses radio waves to read and write data in the IC chip without contact. The IC chip stores management information for managing the pallet itself and the items placed on the pallet. As an example, the IC tag 100 is a passive type without a power source. The IC tag 100 performs communication such as writing and reading of management information by receiving radio waves emitted by a reader / writer with an antenna. Note that the IC tag 100 may also be an active type with a built-in power source.

[0026] The housing of the IC tag 100 constitutes the outer shape of the IC tag 100. The housing has a first surface 101 and a second surface 102 opposite the first surface 101. The distance between the first surface 101 and the second surface 102 corresponds to the thickness of the housing. As an example, the housing has a thickness of 0.5 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less. The first surface 101 and the second surface 102 each have a square shape with a side length of 20 mm or more and 80 mm or less. The dimension of one side of either the first surface 101 or the second surface 102 corresponds to the width of the IC tag 100.

[0027] Next, each part of the storage section 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. [Tag insertion slot] 2, the tag insertion slot 31 provided in the storage section 30 has an opening center 31A and two opening end portions 31B. The opening center portion 31A is a part of the tag insertion slot 31. The opening end portions 31B are parts of the tag insertion slot 31, and are located at each end of the opening center portion 31A in the direction along the Y axis. The tag insertion slot 31 is configured with the opening center portion 31A and the two opening end portions 31B to have a size that allows the IC tag 100 to be inserted.

[0028] In the direction along the X axis, the opening width defined by the opening center portion 31A is larger than the opening width defined by the opening end portions 31B. In the direction along the X axis, the opening width defined by the opening end portions 31B is larger than the thickness of the IC tag 100. In the direction along the Y axis, the opening width defined by the opening center portion 31A is smaller than the width of the IC tag 100. In the direction along the Y axis, the opening width of the tag insertion slot 31 defined by the two opening end portions 31B is larger than the width of the IC tag 100.

[0029] [Internal structure of the storage compartment] 4, the storage section 30 is a recess that extends from a tag insertion opening 31 located on the loading surface 11A of the upper member 10 to the lower member 20. The storage section 30 partially penetrates the upper member 10 and the lower member 20, and is partially blocked by the lower member 20 so that the IC tag 100 does not fall out.

[0030] The storage section 30 includes the tag insertion opening 31 described above, as well as a guide section 32 and a holding section 35. The guide section 32 is a portion of the storage section 30 that is configured in the upper member 10. The holding section 35 is a portion of the storage section 30 that is configured in the lower member 20. The IC tag 100 is inserted from the tag insertion opening 31 through the guide section 32 to the holding section 35. The insertion direction D in which the IC tag 100 is inserted is, for example, a direction along the Z axis, from above to below.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3 , the lower member 20 has a first through hole 23 and two second through holes 24 below the position where the storage section 30 is provided. The first through hole 23 and the second through holes 24 penetrate from the outer surface of the ground board 21 to the storage section 30. The first through hole 23 is located in the center of the storage section 30 in the direction along the Y axis in the lower member 20. The second through holes 24 are located on both sides of the first through hole 23 in the direction along the Y axis. The first through hole 23 and the second through hole 24 allow water and foreign matter that has entered the storage section 30 to be discharged. Furthermore, the second through holes 24 are configured to be large enough to visually recognize the IC tag 100 stored in the storage section 30. This allows the presence or absence of the IC tag 100 inside the storage section 30 to be confirmed not only from above but also from below.

[0032] [Invitation Section] 4, the guiding section 32 has a first inner surface 32A and a second inner surface 32B. The first inner surface 32A and the second inner surface 32B are opposing surfaces that define the storage section 30 in the guiding section 32 and are surfaces that are perpendicular to the X-axis. The first inner surface 32A is a surface that faces a first surface 101 of the IC tag 100 inserted through the tag insertion opening 31. The second inner surface 32B is a surface that faces a second surface 102 of the IC tag 100 inserted through the tag insertion opening 31.

[0033] 2, the guide portion 32 includes two first guide pieces 33 and two second guide pieces 34. The two first guide pieces 33 are provided at each of the boundaries between the opening center portion 31A and the two opening ends 31B in the direction along the Y axis. The two second guide pieces 34 are provided between the two first guide pieces 33 in the direction along the Y axis.

[0034] 4, the first guide piece 33 is a convex ridge that protrudes from the first inner surface 32A toward the second inner surface 32B along the X axis and extends from the tag insertion opening 31 to near the lower end of the upper member 10 along the Z axis. The first guide piece 33 has a first guide surface 33A. The first guide surface 33A faces the second inner surface 32B and is inclined so as to approach the second inner surface 32B as it progresses from the upper end on the tag insertion opening 31 side in the insertion direction D.

[0035] The second guide piece 34 is a convex ridge that protrudes from the second inner surface 32B toward the first inner surface 32A along the X axis and extends along the Z axis from the tag insertion opening 31 to near the lower end of the upper member 10. The second guide piece 34 has a second guide surface 34A. The second guide surface 34A is a surface that faces the first inner surface 32A and is inclined so as to approach the first inner surface 32A as it progresses from the upper end on the tag insertion opening 31 side in the insertion direction D.

[0036] In the direction along the X axis, the distance between the first guide surface 33A and the second guide surface 34A decreases as the insertion direction D progresses. The distance between the first guide surface 33A and the second guide surface 34A in the direction along the X axis is configured to be equal to or greater than the thickness of the IC tag 100, even near the lower end of the upper member 10 where the distance is smallest. The first guide piece 33 and the second guide piece 34 are convex strips, which makes it easier to manufacture the upper member 10 by injection molding compared to a configuration in which these pieces have complex shapes.

[0037] [Holding part] As shown in FIG. 4 , the holding section 35 includes a third inner surface 35A and a fourth inner surface 35B. The third inner surface 35A and the fourth inner surface 35B are opposing surfaces that define the storage section 30 in the holding section 35 and are perpendicular to the X-axis. The third inner surface 35A faces the first surface 101 of the IC tag 100 inserted through the tag insertion opening 31. The fourth inner surface 35B faces the second surface 102 of the IC tag 100 inserted through the tag insertion opening 31. The third inner surface 35A may be stepped relative to the first inner surface 32A, or may be flush with the first inner surface 32A. Similarly, the fourth inner surface 35B may be stepped relative to the second inner surface 32B, or may be flush with the second inner surface 32B.

[0038] 5, the holding portion 35 includes two inner walls 36, a guide portion 40, a retaining portion 50, and a central protrusion 60. The two inner walls 36 are provided in the lower member 20 near the boundary between the lower member 20 and the upper member 10. The two inner walls 36 are provided, one at each end of the holding portion 35 in the direction along the Y axis.

[0039] Each inner wall 36 includes a first portion 36A, a second portion 36B, and a third portion 36C. The first portion 36A protrudes from the third inner surface 35A toward the fourth inner surface 35B and is a portion where a base end of a first retaining piece 51 included in a retaining portion 50 (described later) is located. The second portion 36B protrudes from the fourth inner surface 35B toward the third inner surface 35A and is a portion where a base end of a second retaining piece 52 included in a retaining portion 50 (described later) is located. The third portion 36C is a portion connected to three surfaces: the third inner surface 35A, the fourth inner surface 35B, and one of the surfaces of the holding portion 35 that define the accommodation portion 30 and that is perpendicular to the Y-axis.

[0040] Each third portion 36C has a side surface 36D that is perpendicular to the Y axis and faces the center of the storage section 30. The two side surfaces 36D face each other. The distance between the two side surfaces 36D is configured to be greater than the width of the IC tag 100. The two side surfaces 36D define the range of movement of the IC tag 100 along the Y axis when it enters the holding section 35.

[0041] [Information Department] 5, the guide section 40 includes two first guide pieces 41 and two second guide pieces 42. One first guide piece 41 is located at the end of each first section 36A closer to the center of the storage section 30 in the direction along the Y axis. One second guide piece 42 is located at the end of each second section 36B closer to the center of the storage section 30 in the direction along the Y axis. The two second guide pieces 42 are located closer to the center of the storage section 30 than the two first guide pieces 41 in the direction along the Y axis.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 4 , the first guide piece 41 is a convex ridge that protrudes from the third inner surface 35A toward the fourth inner surface 35B along the X axis and extends from the position of the inner wall 36 to the lower end of the lower member 20 along the Z axis. The first guide piece 41 includes a first guide surface 41A and a first inclined surface 41B. The first guide surface 41A faces the fourth inner surface 35B and faces the first surface 101 of the IC tag 100 inserted through the tag insertion slot 31. The first inclined surface 41B is inclined from the upper end of the first guide surface 41A toward the tag insertion slot 31 so as to increase the distance between the first guide piece 41 and the second guide piece 42 in the direction along the X axis.

[0043] The second guide piece 42 is a protrusion that protrudes from the fourth inner surface 35B toward the third inner surface 35A along the X axis. The second guide piece 42 extends along the Z axis from the position of the inner wall 36 to the lower end of the lower member 20, and has a generally L-shape that extends from the lower end of the lower member 20 to the third inner surface 35A along the X axis.

[0044] The second guide piece 42 includes a second guide surface 42A, a second inclined surface 42B, and an abutment surface 42C. The second guide surface 42A is a surface that faces the third inner surface 35A and is part of a portion that extends from the inner wall 36 to the lower end of the lower member 20. The second guide surface 42A faces the second surface 102 of the IC tag 100 inserted through the tag insertion slot 31. The second guide surface 42A is slightly inclined so that the distance from the first guide surface 41A in the direction along the X axis decreases as the insertion direction D progresses. The second inclined surface 42B is inclined from the upper end of the second guide surface 42A toward the tag insertion slot 31 so that the distance between the first guide piece 41 and the second guide piece 42 in the direction along the X axis increases. The abutment surface 42C is a surface that faces the tag insertion slot 31 and is part of a portion that extends toward the third inner surface 35A at the lower end of the lower member 20. The insertion length of the IC tag 100 inserted through the tag insertion slot 31 reaches a maximum when the IC tag 100 abuts against the abutting surface 42C.

[0045] The guide unit 40, by using the first guide surface 41A and the second guide surface 42A, defines the range of movement in the direction along the X-axis of the IC tag 100 that has entered the holder 35. The guide unit 40, by using the first guide surface 41A and the second guide surface 42A, makes it easy to insert the IC tag 100 between the first guide surface 41A and the second guide surface 42A.

[0046] [Prevention part] As shown in FIG. 5, the retaining portion 50 includes two first retaining pieces 51 and two second retaining pieces 52. The first retaining pieces 51 are plate-shaped elastic pieces provided one for each first portion 36A. The first retaining pieces 51 protrude toward the fourth inner surface 35B from a base end located on a surface of the first portion 36A facing the fourth inner surface 35B. The first retaining pieces 51 include a third inclined surface 51A at their tip ends. The third inclined surface 51A is a surface located on the tag insertion slot 31 side and is inclined so that the thickness of the first retaining pieces 51 decreases toward the tip ends of the first retaining pieces 51.

[0047] The second retaining pieces 52 are plate-shaped elastic pieces provided one for each second portion 36B. The second retaining pieces 52 protrude toward the third inner surface 35A from a base end that faces the third inner surface 35A of the second portion 36B. The second retaining pieces 52 have a fourth inclined surface 52A at their tip ends. The fourth inclined surface 52A is a surface located on the tag insertion opening 31 side and is inclined so that the thickness of the second retaining pieces 52 decreases toward the tip ends of the second retaining pieces 52.

[0048] In the direction along the Y axis, one first retaining piece 51 and one second retaining piece 52 are located between the first guide piece 41 and the side surface 36D. In addition, the first retaining piece 51 is located closer to the side surface 36D than the second retaining piece 52 in the direction along the Y axis. In other words, the retaining portion 50 is provided in a different position from the guide portion 40 and the central protrusion piece 60 in the direction along the Y axis.

[0049] The tip of the first retaining piece 51 is located between the first guide surface 41A and the second guide surface 42A in the direction along the X axis. The tip of the second retaining piece 52 is located between the first guide surface 41A and the second guide surface 42A in the direction along the X axis, and at the same position as the tip of the first retaining piece 51. Therefore, the retaining portion 50 uses the first retaining piece 51 and the second retaining piece 52 to block the entry path of the IC tag 100 from the tag insertion opening 31 toward the back of the holding portion 35. Note that the tip of the second retaining piece 52 does not have to be located at the same position as the tip of the first retaining piece 51, as long as the distance between the tip of the first retaining piece 51 and the tip of the second retaining piece 52 in the direction along the X axis is smaller than the thickness of the IC tag 100. For example, the tip of the second retaining piece 52 may be biased toward either the third inner surface 35A or the fourth inner surface 35B relative to the tip of the first retaining piece 51 in the direction along the X-axis.

[0050] The first and second retaining pieces 51 and 52 have a thickness that allows them to be displaced in the insertion direction D when pressed in the insertion direction D by the IC tag 100 inserted from the tag insertion port 31. By providing the third inclined surface 51A and the fourth inclined surface 52A, it becomes easier for the IC tag 100 inserted from the tag insertion port 31 to press the first and second retaining pieces 51 and 52 in the insertion direction.

[0051] [Central protrusion] 5, the central protrusion 60 is located at the center of the storage section 30 in the direction along the Y axis, between the two second guide pieces 42. The central protrusion 60 is a protruding ridge that protrudes from the third inner surface 35A toward the fourth inner surface 35B. The tip of the central protrusion 60 is located between the first guide surface 41A and the second guide surface 42A in the direction along the X axis.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 4, the central protrusion 60 extends along the Z axis from near the center of the lower member 20 to the lower end of the lower member 20. The central protrusion 60 has a pressing surface 60A and a fifth inclined surface 60B. The pressing surface 60A is the surface facing the fourth inner surface 35B. The pressing surface 60A is slightly inclined so that the distance from the second guide surface 42A in the direction along the X axis decreases as the insertion direction D progresses. The pressing surface 60A faces the first surface 101 of the IC tag 100 inserted through the tag insertion slot 31.

[0053] The distance along the X axis between the second guide surface 42A and the pressing surface 60A is shorter than the distance along the X axis between the first guide surface 41A and the second guide surface 42A. The distance along the X axis between the second guide surface 42A and the pressing surface 60A is shorter than the thickness of the IC tag 100.

[0054] The fifth inclined surface 60B is a surface that inclines from the upper end of the pressing surface 60A toward the tag insertion slot 31 so as to increase the distance between the central protrusion 60 and the second guide piece 42 in the direction along the X axis. The distance along the X axis between the first guide surface 41A and the second guide surface 42A is shorter than the distance along the X axis between the end of the fifth inclined surface 60B on the tag insertion slot 31 side and the second guide surface 42A. Furthermore, the end of the first guide surface 41A on the tag insertion slot 31 side and the end of the second guide surface 42A on the tag insertion slot 31 side are both located closer to the tag insertion slot 31 than the end of the fifth inclined surface 60B on the tag insertion slot 31 side.

[0055] In the retaining portion 35, the first guide piece 41, the second guide piece 42, and the central protrusion 60 are convex strips, which makes it easier to manufacture the lower member 20 by injection molding compared to a configuration in which these have complex shapes. In particular, because the second guide piece 42 and the central protrusion 60 are convex strips, it makes it easier to manufacture the lower member 20 by injection molding compared to a configuration in which the IC tag 100 is pressed and held by a complex shape, such as a spring shape.

[0056] [Relationship between IC tag and holder] The IC tag 100 inserted through the tag insertion port 31 has its first surface 101 pressed by the pressing surface 60A and its second surface 102 pressed by the two second guide surfaces 42A. In other words, the IC tag 100 is held in the holder 35 by being sandwiched and pressed from both sides along the X-axis by the pressing surface 60A and the two second guide surfaces 42A. That is, the X-axis is a pressing axis along which the pressing surface 60A and the two second guide surfaces 42A press the IC tag 100. Furthermore, in the direction along the Z-axis, the position where the IC tag 100 is sandwiched and held between the pressing surface 60A and the two second guide surfaces 42A is the storage position where the IC tag 100 is stored in the storage unit 30.

[0057] Furthermore, in the direction along the Y axis, the position where the pressing surface 60A presses the first surface 101 is between the positions where the two second guide surfaces 42A press the second surface 102. This allows the pressing surface 60A and the second guiding surfaces 42A to hold the IC tag 100 in a stable state.

[0058] The pressing surface 60A is an example of a first pressing surface that presses the first surface 101 of the IC tag 100. The central protruding piece 60 is an example of a first pressing piece that has a first pressing surface. The second guide surface 42A is an example of a second pressing surface that presses the second surface 102 of the IC tag 100. The second guide piece 42 is an example of a second pressing piece that has a second pressing surface.

[0059] Furthermore, in the holding portion 35, the distance along the X-axis between the second guide surface 42A and the pressing surface 60A is shorter than the thickness of the IC tag 100. If one of the second guide pieces 42 and the central protrusion 60 are configured to be located at the same position along the Y-axis, one of the second guide surfaces 42A and the pressing surface 60A will face each other. In this case, if the thickness of the IC tag 100 is small, the clearance between the second guide piece 42 and the central protrusion 60 will also need to be small. As a result, in manufacturing the pallet 1, the dimensions of the mold parts that define the second guide piece 42 and the central protrusion 60 will be small, making the mold parts more susceptible to damage.

[0060] In this regard, the holding portion 35 is configured so that the central projection 60 is located between the two second guide pieces 42 in the direction along the Y axis, i.e., in a one-dimensional direction intersecting the insertion direction D and the pressing axis. This results in a state in which the position of the central projection 60 is misaligned with the positions of the two second guide pieces 42 in the direction along the Y axis. Therefore, in manufacturing the pallet 1, the dimensions of the mold parts that define the central projection and second guide pieces 42 can be increased, making the mold parts less susceptible to damage.

[0061] [Operation of the embodiment] Hereinafter, the operation of the pallet 1 and the method of attaching the IC tag 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 4, when storing the IC tag 100 in the pallet 1, first, the IC tag 100 is inserted into the storage section 30 from the tag insertion opening 31. The IC tag 100 inserted into the guide section 32 from the tag insertion opening 31 moves in the insertion direction D while its position in the direction along the X axis is guided by the first guide surface 33A and the second guide surface 34A. When the IC tag 100 reaches the lower end of the guide section 32, i.e., the lower end of the upper member 10, it is positioned between the first guide surface 41A and the second guide surface 42A in the direction along the X axis. In this state, the IC tag 100 is further inserted from the guide section 32 toward the holder 35.

[0063] 6, the IC tag 100 inserted into the holder 35 passes between the first inclined surface 41B and the second inclined surface 42B and reaches a position between the first guide surface 41A and the second guide surface 42A. At this time, the IC tag 100 presses the first retaining piece 51 and the second retaining piece 52, displacing them in the insertion direction D. The displacement of the first retaining piece 51 and the second retaining piece 52 in the insertion direction D allows the IC tag 100 to move to the storage position.

[0064] Then, the IC tag 100 inserted into the holder 35 is guided in its position along the X-axis by the first guide surface 41A and the second guide surface 42A until it reaches the position of the fifth inclined surface 60B. Furthermore, the IC tag 100 is pressed into between the pressing surface 60A and the second guide surface 42A while being guided by the fifth inclined surface 60B.

[0065] At this time, the distance along the X axis between the first guide surface 41A and the second guide surface 42A is shorter than the distance along the X axis between the end of the fifth inclined surface 60B on the tag insertion slot 31 side and the second guide surface 42A. Therefore, the IC tag 100 smoothly transitions from being guided by the first guide surface 41A and the second guide surface 42A to being guided by the second guide surface 42A and the fifth inclined surface 60B. Therefore, the IC tag 100 can be smoothly pressed into between the pressing surface 60A and the second guide surface 42A.

[0066] 7, the IC tag 100 inserted to the storage position is held in the storage position by being sandwiched along the pressing axis through surface contact between the pressing surface 60A and the second guide surface 42A. At this time, the central protrusion 60 and the second guide piece 42 hold the IC tag 100 without being significantly deformed or bent from their original shapes even when the IC tag 100 is pressed in.

[0067] The storage position may be any position where the IC tag 100 is held by being sandwiched between the pressing surface 60A and the second guide surface 42A, and the IC tag 100 does not have to be inserted to a position where it abuts against the abutting surface 42C.

[0068] Furthermore, when the IC tag 100 is inserted to the storage position, the first retaining piece 51 and the second retaining piece 52 are released from the pressure of the IC tag 100 and elastically return to their original positions. Therefore, even if the IC tag 100 comes out from between the pressing surface 60A and the second guiding surface 42A, the retaining portion 50 restricts the movement of the IC tag 100 from the storage position toward the tag insertion opening 31. By positioning the retaining portion 50 on the lower member 20, the movement of the IC tag 100 can be restricted within a narrower range, thereby suitably suppressing rattling of the IC tag 100.

[0069] [Effects of the embodiment] According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) In the holding unit 35, the IC tag 100 is sandwiched between the pressing surface 60A, which is an example of a first pressing surface, and the second guide surface 42A, which is an example of a second pressing surface, and is held in the holding unit 35. Therefore, the IC tag 100 can be attached to the pallet 1 without using a tag holder, which simplifies the work required to attach the IC tag 100 to the pallet 1.

[0070] (2) The second guide piece 42 and the central protrusion piece 60 are convex strips, which makes it easier to manufacture the pallet 1 by injection molding compared to a configuration in which the IC tag 100 is pressed and held by a complex spring shape, for example.

[0071] (3) By providing the retaining portion 35 with the anti-slip portion 50, even if the IC tag 100 comes out from between the pressing surface 60A and the second guide surface 42A, the IC tag 100 can be prevented from falling out of the tag insertion port 31.

[0072] (4) By positioning the retaining portion 50 on the lower member 20, the retaining portion 50 is closer to the storage position than in a configuration in which the retaining portion 50 is positioned on the upper member 10. As a result, even if the IC tag 100 comes out from between the pressing surface 60A and the second guiding surface 42A, the movement of the IC tag 100 can be restricted within a narrower range, and rattling of the IC tag 100 can be suitably suppressed.

[0073] (5) The first and second retaining pieces 51 and 52 are pressed and displaced by the IC tag 100 inserted through the tag insertion opening 31, allowing the IC tag 100 to be inserted up to the storage position. When the IC tag 100 passes over the first and second retaining pieces 51 and 52, the first and second retaining pieces 51 and 52 elastically return to their original position, thereby restricting the movement of the IC tag 100 from the storage position toward the tag insertion opening 31.

[0074] (6) When the IC tag 100 is inserted from the tag insertion opening 31 toward the storage position, it is guided by the guide portion 32 so that its position in the direction along the X axis is between the first guide surface 41A and the second guide surface 42A as it passes through the upper member 10. Therefore, the IC tag 100 inserted from the tag insertion opening 31 toward the storage position can be smoothly inserted between the first guide surface 41A and the second guide surface 42A.

[0075] (7) By providing the fifth inclined surface 60B on the central protruding piece 60, the fifth inclined surface 60B can make it easier to insert the IC tag 100 between the pressing surface 60A and the second guiding surface 42A. (8) In the holder 35, the IC tag 100 can smoothly transition from a state where it is guided by the first guide surface 41A and the second guide surface 42A to a state where it is guided by the second guide surface 42A and the fifth inclined surface 60B.

[0076] (9) In the direction along the Y axis, the central projection 60 is positioned between the two second guide pieces 42, so that the central projection 60 and the two second guide pieces 42 can hold the IC tag 100 in a stable state.

[0077] (10) In the direction along the Y axis, the position of the central protrusion 60 is offset from the positions of the two second guide pieces 42. Therefore, when manufacturing the pallet 1, the dimensions of the mold parts that define the central protrusion 60 and the second guide pieces 42 can be increased, making the mold parts less likely to be damaged.

[0078] (11) By providing the tag insertion port 31 on the loading surface 11A, the IC tag 100 is inserted from above downward. That is, the insertion direction D is from above downward. Therefore, even if an impact is applied to the IC tag 100 stored on the pallet 1 when the pallet 1 is loaded or unloaded, the IC tag 100 is unlikely to come off between the pressing surface 60A and the second guide surface 42A.

[0079] The above embodiment can be modified as follows. The tag insertion port 31 may be provided on the ground surface of the ground board 21. In this case, the storage section 30 is turned upside down. Even with this configuration, the IC tag 100 can be stored in the pallet 1. Also, if the volume of the beam 2 is sufficiently large, such as when the pallet 1 is a two-way insertion type, the tag insertion port 31 may be provided on the side of the pallet 1, and the storage section 30 may be a recess extending along the X-axis or Y-axis.

[0080] In manufacturing the pallet 1, the position of the central protrusion 60 and the position of the second guide piece 42 may be aligned in the Y-axis direction, as long as the strength of the mold parts defining the central protrusion 60 and the second guide piece 42 can be ensured. For example, if the thickness of the IC tag 100 is large, the distance along the X-axis between the pressing surface 60A and the second guide surface 42A will also be large. In this case, in manufacturing the pallet 1, the dimensions of the mold parts defining the central protrusion 60 and the second guide piece 42 can be increased to ensure strength. In this case, the IC tag 100 may be sandwiched between the central protrusion 60 and one second guide piece 42.

[0081] Three or more second guide pieces 42 may be provided. In this case, it is sufficient that the central protrusion 60 is positioned between two adjacent second guide pieces 42 in the direction along the Y axis. Even with this configuration, strength can be ensured by increasing the dimensions of the mold parts that define the central protrusion 60 and the second guide pieces 42 when manufacturing the pallet 1.

[0082] The distance along the X axis between the first guide surface 41A and the second guide surface 42A may be the same as the distance along the X axis between the end of the fifth inclined surface 60B on the tag insertion slot 31 side and the second guide surface 42A. That is, the position of the first guide surface 41A and the position of the end of the fifth inclined surface 60B on the tag insertion slot 31 side may coincide in the direction along the X axis. Even in this case, in the holder 35, the IC tag 100 can smoothly transition from a state where it is guided by the first guide surface 41A and the second guide surface 42A to a state where it is guided by the second guide surface 42A and the fifth inclined surface 60B.

[0083] Instead of the fifth inclined surface 60B, the central protrusion 60 may be provided with an R-surface, which is a curved surface that increases the distance between the central protrusion 60 and the second guide piece 42 in the direction along the X-axis from the upper end of the pressing surface 60A toward the tag insertion opening 31. Even in this case, the R-surface makes it easier to insert the IC tag 100 between the pressing surface 60A and the second guiding surface 42A.

[0084] The storage section 30 may be configured so that the holding section 35 is located in the upper member 10 without providing the guide section 32. In this case, the storage section 30 is configured to be located only in the upper member 10. Furthermore, the lower member 20 is only provided with the first through hole 23 and the second through hole 24 that penetrate to the storage section 30. Even with this configuration, the work required to attach the IC tag 100 to the pallet 1 can be simplified.

[0085] In the storage section 30, the guiding section 32 may be configured to guide the IC tag 100 into the holding section 35 as the IC tag 100 advances in the insertion direction D. For example, the guiding section 32 may be configured to guide the IC tag 100 so that the IC tag 100 is positioned at least between the first inclined surface 41B and the second inclined surface 42B in the direction along the X axis.

[0086] The configuration of the retaining portion 50 is not limited to a configuration including the first retaining piece 51 and the second retaining piece 52, which are elastic pieces. For example, the IC tag 100 may be provided with an arbitrary spring shape. Then, the interference between the retaining portion 50 having an arbitrary shape and the spring shape of the IC tag 100 may be configured to allow movement of the IC tag 100 from the tag insertion opening 31 toward the storage position, and to restrict movement of the IC tag 100 from the storage position toward the tag insertion opening 31.

[0087] The retaining portion 50 may be configured to include only the first retaining piece 51, or similarly, may be configured to include only the second retaining piece 52. Even in this case, movement of the IC tag 100 from the tag insertion opening 31 toward the storage position can be permitted, and movement of the IC tag 100 from the storage position toward the tag insertion opening 31 can be restricted.

[0088] The retaining portion 50 may be located in the upper member 10. For example, if the retaining portion 50 is located in the upper member 10, the IC tag 100 can be accommodated in the pallet 1 even if the length of the IC tag 100 along the insertion direction D is greater than the dimension of the lower member 20 along the Z axis.

[0089] The storage unit 30 is not limited to being provided on the central girder, but may be provided on any of the girders 2 among the square girder 2A, the first intermediate girder 2B, and the second intermediate girder 2C. The pallet 1 may also be a two-way pallet, and in this case too, the storage unit 30 may be provided on any of the girders connecting the upper member 10 and the lower member 20. [Explanation of symbols]

[0090] D...Insertion direction 1. Palette 10...Upper member 11A…Loading surface 20…Lower member 30...Storage section 31...Tag insertion slot 32...Invitation section 33...First lure piece 34...Second guide piece 35...Holding part 40…Information department 41...First guide piece 41A...First guide surface 42...Second guide piece 42A...Second guide surface 50...Prevention part 51...First retaining piece 52...Second retaining piece 60...Central protrusion 60A...Pressure surface 60B…5th slope 100...IC tag 101...Side 1 102…Second side

Claims

1. A pallet having a storage section for storing a plate-shaped IC tag, The storage section is an opening located on the outer surface of the pallet and into which the IC tag can be inserted; a holding section located inside the pallet, the holding section holding the IC tag inserted from the opening to a storage position in the storage section where the IC tag is stored, The holding portion is a first pressing piece that is a convex strip having a first pressing surface that presses a first surface of the IC tag at the storage position; a second pressing piece that is a convex strip having a second pressing surface that presses a second surface of the IC tag opposite to the first surface at the storage position; a retaining piece that allows movement of the IC tag inserted from the opening toward the storage position and restricts movement of the IC tag from the storage position toward the opening, The pallet is configured by butting an upper member and a lower member together, the accommodation portion is a recessed portion that straddles the upper member and the lower member, the opening is provided in an outer surface of one of the upper member and the lower member, the holding portion is provided on the other of the upper member and the lower member, The retaining piece is an elastic piece that blocks the path of the IC tag from the opening toward the storage position. palette.

2. the accommodation portion further includes a guide portion located in one of the upper and lower members, the member in which the opening is provided; The guide portion guides the IC tag to the holder portion.

10. The pallet of claim 1.

3. A pallet having a storage section for storing a plate-shaped IC tag, The storage section is an opening located on the outer surface of the pallet and into which the IC tag can be inserted; a holding section located inside the pallet, the holding section holding the IC tag inserted from the opening to a storage position in the storage section where the IC tag is stored, The holding portion is a first pressing piece that is a convex strip having a first pressing surface that presses a first surface of the IC tag at the storage position; a second pressing piece that is a convex strip having a second pressing surface that presses a second surface of the IC tag opposite to the first surface at the storage position; a retaining piece that allows movement of the IC tag inserted from the opening toward the storage position and restricts movement of the IC tag from the storage position toward the opening, the first pressing piece has an inclined surface that is inclined from an end of the first pressing surface on the opening side so as to increase the distance between the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece along a pressing axis along which the first pressing surface and the second pressing surface press against the IC tag; the holding portion includes a guide portion that defines a range of movement of the IC tag in a direction along the pressing axis, the guide portion includes a first guide surface that defines a movable range of the first surface and a second guide surface that defines a movable range of the second surface in a direction along the pressing axis, The second guide surface is the second pressing surface provided on the second pressing piece, an end portion of the first guide surface on the opening side and an end portion of the second pressing surface on the opening side are located closer to the opening than an end portion of the inclined surface on the opening side, The distance between the first guide surface and the second pressing surface along the pressing axis is greater than the distance between the first pressing surface and the second pressing surface along the pressing axis, and is smaller than the distance between the end of the inclined surface on the opening side and the second pressing surface along the pressing axis. palette.

4. A pallet having a storage section for storing a plate-shaped IC tag, The storage section is an opening located on the outer surface of the pallet and into which the IC tag can be inserted; a holding section located inside the pallet, the holding section holding the IC tag inserted from the opening to a storage position in the storage section where the IC tag is stored, The holding portion is a first pressing piece that is a convex strip having a first pressing surface that presses a first surface of the IC tag at the storage position; a second pressing piece that is a convex strip having a second pressing surface that presses a second surface of the IC tag opposite to the first surface at the storage position; a retaining piece that allows movement of the IC tag inserted from the opening toward the storage position and restricts movement of the IC tag from the storage position toward the opening, the holding portion includes a plurality of the second pressing pieces, The first pressing piece is located between two adjacent second pressing pieces in a one-dimensional direction intersecting with the insertion direction of the IC tag and with a pressing axis along which the first pressing surface and the second pressing surface press the IC tag. palette.

5. The opening is provided on a loading surface of the pallet on which an article is placed. A pallet according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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