Roll remaining amount detection device and roll remaining amount management system

Abstract

To provide a roll body residual quantity detection device which acquires a residual quantity of corrugated board base paper wound around roll paper without requiring modification of a corrugation machine, and is used for inventory management.SOLUTION: A residual quantity detection device 10 includes: an RFID reader 20 for reading out an identification code specifying roll paper formed by winding a long sheet-like corrugated board base paper in a roll shape in a non-contact manner from an RFID label storing the identification code, which is attached to the roll paper; and an output part 40 for making the identification code associated with a residual quantity of corrugated board base paper, and outputting the associated values to a server 150 storing the residual quantity of the corrugated board base paper for each of the roll paper, and is arranged so as to be brought into close contact with a predetermined position in a corrugation machine used by rolling out the corrugated board base paper from the roll paper arranged at the predetermined position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for detecting the remaining amount of a roll body and a system for managing the remaining amount of a roll body. [Background technology]

[0002] Corrugated cardboard sheets are manufactured by laminating together cardboard base paper (a (front) liner (flat), a corrugated medium, and a (back) liner (flat)) using a corrugating machine. The cardboard base paper is formed into roll paper that is wound into a roll. When manufacturing the cardboard sheet, the roll paper is set in a predetermined position in the corrugating machine (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] After a predetermined amount of cardboard sheets has been produced by the corrugating machine, the remaining roll paper is removed from the corrugating machine and stored as inventory in a warehouse, etc. At this time, the length (remaining amount) of cardboard base paper remaining on the roll paper is managed, and the next time it is set in the corrugating machine, it is taken into consideration according to the amount of cardboard sheets to be produced.

[0004] On the other hand, the corrugating machine is equipped with sensors that detect the diameter of the roll of paper set in a predetermined position, the length or speed at which the cardboard base paper is unwound from the roll of paper, and the remaining amount of cardboard base paper in the set roll of paper is managed based on the information detected by the sensors. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-096311 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the reason why the corrugating machine uses a sensor to manage the remaining amount of roll paper is because of the corrugating machine's operation of manufacturing cardboard sheets, and is due to internal needs of the corrugating machine.

[0007] Therefore, in order to manage the remaining amount of roll paper after use in the corrugating machine, it is necessary to output the remaining amount of roll paper detected by the corrugating machine to an external device (outside the corrugating machine).

[0008] However, because corrugating machines detect the remaining amount of roll paper for internal needs, there is a problem in that the corrugating machine's hardware and software must be modified in order to output the detected information externally for inventory management.

[0009] The above-mentioned problem is not limited to inventory management of rolls of cardboard base paper used in corrugating machines, but can also occur in processing equipment that performs manufacturing and other processes using rolls of long, sheet-like material (paper, cloth, resin, metal) wound into a roll.

[0010] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a roll remaining quantity detection device and a roll remaining quantity management system that can obtain the remaining amount of material wound on a roll without the need to modify the processing device, and can use this information for inventory management. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The first aspect of the present invention is a device for detecting remaining amounts of a roll body, comprising: an RFID reader that contactlessly reads an identification code stored in an RFID tag attached to a roll body formed by winding a long sheet-like material into a roll; a sensor that detects the remaining amount or amount of the material used; and an output unit that associates the identification code read by the RFID reader with the remaining amount of the material detected by the sensor, or associates the identification code read by the RFID reader with the amount used detected by the sensor, and outputs the result to a management device in which the remaining amount of material for each roll body is stored.

[0012] The second aspect of the present invention is a roll remaining amount management system comprising: a management device that stores a database in which an identification code that identifies a roll body, which is stored in an RFID tag attached to the roll body, corresponds to the remaining amount of material in the roll body; and a remaining amount detection device according to the present invention, wherein the management device has an update unit that rewrites the remaining amount of material in the database that is associated with the roll body of the identification code to the remaining amount input from the remaining amount detection device, or to the remaining amount obtained by subtracting the amount used output from the remaining amount detection device from the remaining amount of material stored in the database. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the roll remaining amount detection device and roll remaining amount management system of the present invention, the remaining amount of material wound on a roll can be obtained without the need to modify the processing device, and can be used for inventory management. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a roll paper management system including a roll paper remaining amount management system and a roll paper determination device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a diagram showing roll paper that is managed by the roll paper management system of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3]2 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the roll paper management system shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the position at which an RFID label is attached to roll paper, and is a cross-sectional view of the essential parts showing the state where the RFID label is attached to a non-metallic part facing the cavity in the roll paper. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the position at which an RFID label is attached to roll paper, and is a cross-sectional view of the essential parts showing the state where the RFID label is attached to a reinforcing tube facing the cavity in the roll paper. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the position of the RFID label attached to the roll paper, showing the RFID label affixed across the reinforcing tube facing the cavity in the roll paper and the non-metallic part. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a specific database. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a remaining amount detection device. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a part of a corrugating machine (an example of a processing device) that produces cardboard sheets using rolled paper set in a predetermined position. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a roll paper determination device according to an embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the determination device is placed close to a spare roll of paper placed in a standby position on the same transport path as the roll of paper set in a predetermined position in the corrugating machine. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a list of "correct" or "incorrect" judgments displayed on a monitor for spare roll paper placed in all standby positions and connected to each judgment device wirelessly or by wire. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Embodiments of a roll remaining amount detection device and roll remaining amount management system according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a roll paper 200 management system including a roll paper 200 remaining amount management system 300 and a roll paper 200 determination device 60 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the roll paper 200 that is the object of management by the roll paper 200 management system of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the roll paper 200 management system shown in Figure 1.

[0016] The management system for the illustrated roll paper 200 (an example of a roll body) includes a barcode reader 130, an RFID label issuing machine 140, a server 150 (an example of a management device), an RFID reader 180 for inventory management, a remaining amount detection device 10, and a determination device 60.

[0017] The roll paper 200 is, for example, a long sheet of cardboard base paper 202 (see FIG. 2) wound into a roll and set in a corrugating machine for manufacturing cardboard sheets.

[0018] 2, the roll paper 200 has a hollow cavity 201 extending in the axial direction formed in the center in the diameter direction, and cylindrical reinforcing tubes 203 are provided on both axial ends of this cavity 201. The reinforcing tubes 203 are made of, for example, a metal material, and are provided to prevent deformation of the cardboard base paper 202 around the cavity 201 when the support shaft of the corrugating machine 400 (described later) is inserted.

[0019] The barcode reader 130 optically reads the barcode written on the barcode label 110, references information (specification information) relating to the specifications of the cardboard base paper 202 (such as the thickness, length, and paper type of the cardboard base paper 202) stored in the barcode reader 130 in correspondence with the barcode, and outputs the referenced specification information to the outside.

[0020] In this embodiment, when a roll of paper 200 is newly received (initial receipt) (YES in step 1 (S1) of the flowchart in Figure 3), the barcode on the barcode label 110 attached to the roll of paper 200 is read (S2 in Figure 3), and the specification information corresponding to that barcode is output to the RFID label issuing machine 140.

[0021] The specification information of the cardboard base paper 202 corresponding to the barcode does not have to be stored in the barcode reader 130 itself, but may be obtained from an external source such as the server 150.

[0022] The RFID label issuing machine 140 issues an RFID label 120 (RFID tag) that has an IC chip that stores an identification code (ID) that corresponds to the barcode input from the barcode reader 130 (S3 in Figure 3). The RFID label 120 issued by the RFID label issuing machine 140 is affixed to the stored roll paper 200 either manually by a worker or automatically by a robot. The roll paper 200 with the RFID label 120 affixed is transported to a designated storage area and stored.

[0023] Figures 4 to 6 are diagrams showing the positions at which the RFID label 120 is attached to the roll paper 200, with Figure 4 being a cross-sectional view of the essential parts showing the state where it is attached to the non-metallic part facing the cavity 201 of the roll paper 200, Figure 5 being a cross-sectional view of the essential parts showing the state where it is attached to the reinforcing tube 203 facing the cavity 201 of the roll paper 200, and Figure 6 being a cross-sectional view of the essential parts showing the state where it is attached across the reinforcing tube 203 facing the cavity 201 of the roll paper 200 and the non-metallic part.

[0024] Here, the RFID label 120 may be attached, for example, to a portion of the cavity 201 of the roll paper 200 that does not contact the reinforcing tube 203, i.e., a non-metallic portion of the roll paper 200, as shown in Figure 4, or to the reinforcing tube 203 of the cavity 201 of the roll paper 200, as shown in Figure 5, or to the reinforcing tube 203 of the cavity 201 of the roll paper 200, as shown in Figure 6, so as to straddle the reinforcing tube 203 and the non-metallic portion of the cavity 201 of the roll paper 200.

[0025] It is generally desirable to place the RFID label 120 away from metal parts, so the arrangement shown in Figure 4 is preferable, but there are also RFID labels that exhibit sufficient reception sensitivity even when in contact with metal parts, and when such an RFID label 120 is used, the arrangement shown in Figures 5 and 6 may be used, in which case the reinforcing tube 203, which is the metal part, can function as an antenna.

[0026] The RFID label issuing machine 140 outputs to the server 150 the identification code stored in (the IC chip of) the issued RFID label 120 and the specification information of the cardboard base paper 202 obtained from a barcode or externally.

[0027] The server 150, which is an example of a management device, includes a database 160 and an update unit 170. The database 160 stores the identification code (ID) input from the RFID label issuing machine 140 and various information such as specification information and inventory information for the cardboard base paper 202, in association with each other. The update unit 170 registers the identification code and specification information of the received roll paper 200 in the database 160, in association with each other (S4 in FIG. 3).

[0028] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a specific database 160. As shown in Fig. 7, in this specific example of database 160, paper type, first stocking date, last used date, remaining amount (remaining length), and storage area, which are examples of specification information, are associated with identification codes. Note that the specific contents of database 160 are not limited to the example shown in Fig. 7.

[0029] The update unit 170 updates the information by rewriting the length in the specification information of the cardboard base paper 202 stored in the database 160 to the remaining amount of cardboard base paper 202 in the roll paper 200 output from the remaining amount detection device 10 described below, or by rewriting the inventory information.

[0030] The inventory information in the database 160 is updated when the RFID reader 180 for inventory management (described below) reads the RFID label 120 of the roll paper 200 stored in the storage area and queries the server 150 (S5 in Figure 3), and the information on the storage area for the roll paper 200 that is being stocked for the first time is registered by this update.

[0031] The inventory management RFID reader 180 reads the identification code from the RFID label 120 attached to each of the many rolls of paper 200 (e.g., rolls 210, 220, ..., 280) that have been received and stored in a storage area such as a warehouse, and compares this with the database 160 of the server 150 to manage inventory information such as the presence or absence of rolls of paper 200 (registering and updating the storage area in the database).

[0032] The RFID reader 180 can read information such as the identification code stored on the RFID label 120 without coming into contact with the RFID label 120, and therefore does not need to be in close proximity to each roll of paper 200 stored in a warehouse, as is the case with a barcode reader.

[0033] That is, it is possible to read the identification codes of multiple RFID labels 120 present within a certain range of space almost simultaneously at one time. The certain range is the distance range within which communication is possible between the RFID reader 180 and the RFID labels 120, and within the certain range, the RFID reader 180 can read information such as the identification codes stored in the RFID labels 120 without contact.

[0034] The extent of this range will vary depending on the specifications of the RFID reader 180 and RFID label 120, the spatial conditions (whether the space is separated by a wall or is an open space without a wall, and the density of the paper rolls 200 with RFID labels 120 attached, etc.) Therefore, inventory management using RFID labels 120 can significantly reduce the effort required to manage the inventory of paper rolls 200 in a warehouse.

[0035] (Remaining amount detection device, remaining amount management system) Figure 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the remaining amount detection device 10, and Figure 9 is a schematic diagram showing part of a corrugating machine 400 (an example of a processing device) that produces cardboard sheets using roll paper 200 set in predetermined positions 410, 420, and 430.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 8, the remaining amount detecting device 10 includes an RFID reader 20, a sensor 30, and an output unit 40. For example, as shown in Fig. 9, the remaining amount detecting device 10 is placed near predetermined positions 410, 420, 430 where the roll paper 200 is set in a corrugating machine 400 that produces cardboard sheets by unwinding cardboard base paper 202 from the roll paper 200. The remaining amount detecting device 10 is configured separately from the corrugating machine 400.

[0037] 11 , which will be described later, the roll paper 200 is placed on a plate-shaped transport body 470 that moves along a transport path 450 formed on the floor that extends via a standby position 450 to the predetermined position 410. The transport body 470 with the roll paper 200 placed on it then moves along the transport path 450 to the predetermined position 410, setting the roll paper 200 at the predetermined position 410. The same process is used to set the roll paper 200 at the other predetermined positions 420 and 430.

[0038] The range in which the RFID reader 20 is positioned near the predetermined positions 410, 420, and 430 varies depending on the specifications of the RFID reader 20 and the RFID label 120 and the spatial conditions, as in the case of the RFID reader 180 described above, but it is the range in which the RFID label 120 of each roll of paper 200 positioned at each predetermined position 410, 420, and 430 can be read.

[0039] In other words, the RFID reader 20 placed near the predetermined position 410 is configured so that the direction of the transmitted radio waves and the strength of the electric field are adjusted in advance, so that it can communicate with the RFID label 120 of the roll paper 200 placed at the predetermined position 410 and read information such as the stored identification code.

[0040] With similar settings, an RFID reader 20 placed near a predetermined position 420 can read information such as the identification code of the RFID label 120 of the roll paper 200 placed at the predetermined position 420, and an RFID reader 20 placed near a predetermined position 430 can read information such as the identification code of the RFID label 120 of the roll paper 200 placed at the predetermined position 430.

[0041] The sensor 30 detects, in a non-contact manner, the remaining amount (remaining length) of the cardboard base paper 202 of the roll paper 200 placed at the predetermined position 410. The sensor 30 detects the diameter or radius of the roll paper 200, for example, by irradiating the roll paper 200 with laser light. The sensor 30 also includes a calculation unit that calculates the remaining amount of the cardboard base paper 202 based on the detected diameter or radius.

[0042] Specifically, the calculation unit of the sensor 30 calculates the remaining amount based on the detected diameter or radius and the thickness of the cardboard sheet 202. The thickness of the cardboard sheet 202 is determined by the specifications of the roll paper 200, so the calculation unit may store this thickness in advance, or the output unit 40 of the remaining amount detection device 10 may communicate with the server 150 to obtain the specification information for the roll paper 200 stored in the database 160 of the server 150.

[0043] The sensor 30 need only detect the remaining amount of cardboard base paper 202 of the paper roll 200, and is not limited to using laser light to detect the diameter or radius of the paper roll 200. Therefore, the sensor may detect the diameter or radius of the paper roll 200 using a method other than laser light, or may detect a physical quantity other than the diameter or radius of the paper roll 200.

[0044] An example of a physical quantity that can be detected that is different from the diameter or radius of the roll paper 200 is the number of rotations per hour (rotational speed) of the cardboard liner paper 202 from the roll paper 200 while the corrugating machine 400 is in operation. The corrugating machine 400 produces cardboard sheets at a constant speed, so the speed at which the roll paper 200 is unwound and the cardboard liner paper 202 is fed out is constant.

[0045] The rotation speed of the paper roll 200, which rotates as the cardboard sheet 202 is unwound, is determined by the diameter or radius of the paper roll 200. In other words, the rotation speed of the paper roll 200 increases as the diameter or radius decreases. Therefore, by detecting the rotation speed of the paper roll 200, the sensor 30 can detect the remaining amount of cardboard sheet 202 on the paper roll 200 in relation to the constant speed at which cardboard sheets are manufactured (the cardboard sheet unwinding speed).

[0046] The constant speed at which the cardboard sheets are manufactured (the speed at which the cardboard base paper is fed out) can be obtained in advance when the corrugating machine is operated, and therefore the calculation unit of the sensor 30 may store this in advance.

[0047] The output unit 40 outputs the identification code of the roll paper 200 read by the RFID reader 20 and the remaining amount of the cardboard base paper 202 detected by the sensor 30 as information that correlates the information.

[0048] The information output from the output unit 40, which associates the identification code of the roll paper 200 with the remaining amount of cardboard base paper 202, is input to the server 150 (S7 in FIG. 3). The server 150's update unit 170 uses the associated information to identify the roll paper 200 from the information stored in the database 160 that corresponds to the identification code of the roll paper 200 that was input, and rewrites (updates) the remaining amount of specification information that corresponds to the identification code of that roll paper 200 with the input remaining amount of cardboard base paper 202 (S8 in FIG. 3).

[0049] As described in detail above, the device 10 for detecting remaining amount of roll paper 200 of this embodiment is configured as follows: That is, the device (remaining amount detecting device 10) for detecting remaining amount of roll (roll paper 200) of this embodiment includes: an RFID reader (RFID reader 20) that contactlessly reads an identification code from an RFID tag (RFID label 120) that stores an identification code that identifies the roll (roll paper 200), which is attached to the roll (roll paper 200) made of a long sheet-like material (corrugated cardboard base paper 202) wound into a roll; a sensor (sensor 30) that contactlessly detects the remaining amount or used amount of the material; and an output unit (output unit 40) that associates the identification code read by the RFID reader with the remaining amount of the material detected by the sensor, or associates the identification code read by the RFID reader with the used amount detected by the sensor, and outputs the associated information to a management device (server 150) in which the remaining amount of material for each roll is stored. The remaining amount detecting device 10 is disposed in the vicinity of a predetermined position (predetermined positions 410, 420, 430) where the roll body is disposed in a processing device (corrugating machine 400) that unwinds the material from the roll body and uses it.

[0050] With this configuration, the remaining amount detection device 10 of this embodiment can independently obtain the remaining amount of cardboard base paper 202 wound around the roll paper 200, so there is no need to obtain the remaining amount from the corrugating machine 400 by, for example, modifying the corrugating machine 400.

[0051] Therefore, the remaining amount detecting device 10 of this embodiment can automatically obtain and manage the remaining amount of cardboard base paper in the roll paper 200 without relying on the corrugating machine 400.

[0052] Furthermore, the sensor 30 in the remaining amount detection device 10 of this embodiment detects the remaining amount without contacting the roll paper 200, and therefore does not have contact resistance with the roll paper 200 as with sensors that detect the remaining amount by contacting the roll paper 200, and does not affect the operation of the corrugating machine 400.

[0053] The sensor 30 may be one that comes into contact with the roll paper 200. That is, if the sensor 30 is, for example, a driven roller type that comes into contact with the cardboard sheet 202, the length of the cardboard sheet 202 that has been fed (= circumference × number of rotations; amount used) can be detected from the circumference and number of rotations of the driven roller.

[0054] Furthermore, the remaining amount detecting device 10 of this embodiment and the server 150 storing the database 160 constitute a remaining amount management system 300 (see FIG. 8) for roll paper 200, which is one embodiment of the present invention. That is, the roll remaining amount management system (remaining amount management system 300) of this embodiment includes a management device (server 150) that stores a database (database 160) in which identification codes that identify the roll (roll paper 200) are associated with the remaining amount of the material (cardboard base paper 202) in the roll, which are stored on RFID tags (RFID labels 120) attached to the roll, and the remaining amount detecting device (remaining amount detecting device 10) of the present invention, and the management device includes an update unit (update unit 170) that rewrites the remaining amount of the material associated with the roll of identification code in the database with the remaining amount input from the remaining amount detecting device, or rewrites the remaining amount of the material stored in the database with the remaining amount obtained by subtracting the amount used output from the remaining amount detecting device.

[0055] With this configuration, the remaining amount management system 300 of this embodiment can independently obtain the remaining amount of cardboard base paper 202 wound around the roll paper 200, so there is no need to obtain the remaining amount from the corrugating machine 400 by, for example, modifying the corrugating machine 400.

[0056] Therefore, the remaining quantity management system 300 of this embodiment can automatically acquire and manage the remaining amount of cardboard base paper in the roll paper 200 without relying on the corrugating machine 400, thereby reducing the effort and cost of roll paper inventory management.

[0057] Note that the above explanation is of the remaining amount detection device 10 when the roll paper 200 is set at the predetermined position 410 of the corrugating machine 400, but other remaining amount detection devices 10 for roll paper 200 set at other predetermined positions 420, 430 have the same configuration and perform the same function.

[0058] Furthermore, although the remaining amount detection device 10 of this embodiment is arranged near a predetermined position 410 of the corrugating machine 400, the remaining amount detection device for the roll body and the remaining amount detection device of the remaining amount management system of the present invention are not limited to being arranged near a predetermined position 410 of the corrugating machine 400.

[0059] In other words, the roll paper remaining amount detection device and remaining amount detection device of the remaining amount management system of the present invention may be configured such that the sensor 30 and RFID reader 20 are placed near a predetermined position 410 or the like of the corrugating machine 400, the output unit 40 is placed at a position away from the predetermined position 410 or the like, and the sensor 30 and RFID reader 20 are connected to the output unit 40 wirelessly.

[0060] Furthermore, according to the remaining quantity management system 300, which is one embodiment of the present invention and which has the remaining quantity detection device 10 of this embodiment and a server 150 storing the database 160, the remaining quantity of the cardboard base paper 202 wound around the roll paper 200 can be obtained independently, so there is no need to obtain it from the corrugating machine 400 by modifying the corrugating machine 400, for example.

[0061] The sensor 30 in the remaining amount detecting device 10 of this embodiment detects the remaining amount of the cardboard sheet 202, but the physical quantity detected by the sensor 30 is not limited to the radius or diameter of the paper roll 200 or the rotation speed of the paper roll 200. In other words, the sensor 30 may also detect the length (amount used) of the cardboard sheet 202 from the paper roll 200 used by the corrugating machine 400.

[0062] In this case, the sensor 30 only needs to detect the length of the cardboard sheet 202 being fed by the corrugating machine 400. The remaining amount (initial value) of the cardboard sheet 202 before the roll paper 200 is set in the predetermined position 410 of the corrugating machine 400 is stored in the database 160.

[0063] Therefore, when the sensor 30 detects the amount of cardboard base paper 202 used by the corrugating machine 400, the sensor 30 can obtain the remaining amount of cardboard base paper 202 by subtracting the usage fee from the remaining amount (initial value) obtained from the database 160.

[0064] If the corrugating machine 400 is equipped with a monitor that displays the remaining or used amount of cardboard paper 202 on the roll paper 200 currently set in the predetermined position 410, a camera device that photographs the remaining or used amount displayed on the monitor and acquires the image of the remaining or used amount as numerical data through image recognition processing can also be used as the sensor 30. In other words, the sensor 30 can be any device that acquires the remaining amount of cardboard paper 202 on the roll paper 200 set in the predetermined position 410, 420, 430.

[0065] (judgment device) Figure 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the roll paper determination device 60, and Figure 11 is a schematic diagram showing the determination device 60 positioned near a spare roll paper 220 (200) placed in a standby position 411 on the same conveying path 450 as the roll paper 210 (200) set in a predetermined position 410 of the corrugating machine.

[0066] The determination device 60 is one embodiment of a roll determination device, and as shown in Fig. 10, it includes an RFID reader 20, a collation unit 70, and a determination output unit 80. For example, as shown in Fig. 11, the determination device 60 is placed near a spare roll of paper 220 that is placed in a standby position 411 on the same conveyance path 450 as the roll of paper 210 that is set in a predetermined position 410 of the corrugating machine and is in use.

[0067] The roll paper 220 placed on the transporting body 460 and arranged at the standby position 411 is a spare roll paper to be used when the remaining amount of corrugated cardboard paper 202 in the roll paper 210 currently being used by the corrugating machine 400 runs out. When the remaining amount of roll paper 210 set at the predetermined position 410 runs out, the roll paper 220 set at the standby position 411, while still placed on the transporting body 460, moves along the transport path 450 to the predetermined position 410 and is set at the predetermined position 410 in place of the roll paper 210. The roll paper 220 set at the predetermined position 410 is then used by the corrugating machine 400 to manufacture cardboard sheets.

[0068] The RFID reader 20 communicates only with the RFID label 120 of the roll paper 220 placed in the standby position 411 and reads information such as the stored identification code, but does not communicate with the RFID label 120 of the roll paper 210 placed in the predetermined position 410 and does not read information such as the identification code stored in the RFID label 120 of the roll paper 210.

[0069] The collation unit 70 communicates with the server 150 and acquires the correct specifications of the roll paper 200 to be placed in the predetermined position 410 (such as the type of paper for the cardboard base paper 202) from the production plan stored in the server 150.

[0070] The production plan held by the server 150 is a production plan formulated by a production management system that manages the production of cardboard sheets using the corrugating machine 400. The production plan includes the correct specifications of the roll paper 200 required to correspond to the production plan for manufacturing cardboard sheets using the corrugating machine 400.

[0071] The collating unit 70 checks the database 160 of the server 150 for the identification code stored on the RFID label 120 of the paper roll 220 in the standby position 411 that was read by the RFID reader 20. The collating unit 70 then compares the specification information corresponding to the identification code of the paper roll 220 obtained from the database 160 with the correct specifications obtained from the production plan held by the server 150, and outputs the collation result indicating whether the specifications of the paper roll 220 match the correct specifications that should be set in the predetermined position 410 of the corrugating machine 400 to the determination output unit 80.

[0072] The judgment output unit 80 is, for example, a display device, and displays (outputs) a judgment based on the comparison result input from the comparison unit 70 as to whether the specifications of the roll paper 220 set in the waiting position 411 match the correct specifications that should be set in the specified position 410 of the corrugating machine 400.

[0073] Specifically, when a comparison result indicating that the specifications of the roll paper 220 match the correct specifications is input, the judgment output unit 80 displays a "correct" judgment. On the other hand, when a result indicating that the specifications of the roll paper 220 do not match the correct specifications is input, the judgment output unit 80 displays a "false" judgment.

[0074] When the decision output unit 80 displays the decision "wrong," it makes the "wrong" decision stand out in order to inform nearby workers that the roll paper 220 set in the standby position 411 is of the wrong specifications. Specifically, the decision output unit 80 displays the "wrong" decision in a color that is easily noticeable to workers, or flashes it.

[0075] Furthermore, the decision output unit 80 may issue an alarm sound to alert the operator instead of or in addition to making the display more conspicuous.

[0076] When the judgment of the roll paper 220 waiting at the standby position 450 is "false," the judgment output unit outputs an instruction signal to the transport body 460 so that the transport body 460 is not automatically transported from the standby position 450 to the specified position 410, and maintains the roll paper 220 stopped at the standby position 450.

[0077] On the other hand, if the judgment of the roll paper 220 is "positive," the judgment output unit 80 outputs an instruction signal to the transport body 460 to allow the spare roll paper 220 in the standby position 411 to be automatically transported to the specified position 410 when the remaining amount of roll paper 210 in the specified position 410 runs out.

[0078] As explained in detail above, roll paper judgment device 60 is configured as follows: That is, roll (roll paper) judgment device 60 includes an RFID reader (RFID reader 20) that reads an identification code stored in an RFID tag (RFID label 120) of a roll (roll paper 220) made of a long, sheet-like material (corrugated cardboard base paper 202) wound into a roll and placed in a standby position (standby position 411) before being placed in a predetermined position (predetermined position 410), a collation unit (collation unit 70) that acquires the correct specifications of the roll to be placed in the predetermined position, compares the acquired correct specifications with the specifications corresponding to the identification code of the roll at the standby position read by the RFID reader, and outputs the comparison result, and a judgment output unit (judgment output unit 80) that outputs a judgment as to whether the specifications of the roll at the standby position are correct based on the comparison result.

[0079] With this configuration, the roll paper judgment device 60 can automatically determine whether the roll paper 220 placed in the standby position 411 as a spare roll paper for the roll paper 210 placed in the specified position 410 and used in the corrugating machine 400 has the correct specifications for a spare roll paper before the roll paper 220 is actually set in the specified position 410.

[0080] If the result of the comparison indicates that the roll paper 220 is of incorrect specifications, the roll paper 220 stopped at the standby position 411 can be removed from the standby position 411 by manual operation or the like, and the roll paper 200 of the correct specifications can be relocated to the standby position 411.

[0081] This improves the operating efficiency of the corrugating machine 400 compared to when the roll paper 220 with the incorrect specifications is actually placed in the predetermined position 410 and the incorrect specifications are discovered at that time.

[0082] That is, if a roll paper 220 with incorrect specifications is placed in the predetermined position 410 and the incorrect specifications are discovered at that time, an extra step is required to move the roll paper 220 away from the predetermined position 410 and replace it with a roll paper with the correct specifications at the predetermined position 410. This means that the corrugating machine 400 is stopped for longer periods of time than if such an extra step were not required, reducing the operating efficiency of the corrugating machine 400.

[0083] However, since the determination device 60 can determine whether the roll paper 220 with incorrect specifications is incorrect at the standby position 411 before it is placed at the predetermined position 410, the roll paper 210 placed at the predetermined position 410 can be used and the roll paper 220 with incorrect specifications can be replaced with a roll paper with the correct specifications while the corrugating machine 400 is operating, without extending the time the corrugating machine 400 is stopped and without reducing the operating efficiency of the corrugating machine 400.

[0084] Furthermore, since the determination device 60 does not acquire information relating to the specifications of the cardboard base paper 202 used in production by the corrugating machine 400 from the corrugating machine 400, there is no need to modify the corrugating machine 400.

[0085] In other words, the determination device 60 can automatically determine the specifications of the cardboard base paper 202 in the roll paper 220 placed in the standby position 411 without relying on the corrugating machine 400.

[0086] In the judgment device 60, the judgment output unit 80 itself outputs the judgment display and sound, but in the judgment device of the present invention, the judgment output unit may output the judgment to an external monitor connected wirelessly or the like, and display the judgment on that monitor or generate an alarm sound.

[0087] Figure 12 shows an example of a screen display on the monitor 90 (display device) that displays a list of ``correct'' or ``incorrect'' judgments for spare roll paper 220 that is connected to each judgment device 60 wirelessly or via a wired connection and placed in all standby positions 411, 421, and 431.

[0088] For example, as shown in Figure 9, in a corrugating machine 400 in which two rolls of paper 200, 200 in use are placed at predetermined position 410, two rolls of paper 200, 200 in use are placed at predetermined position 420, and two rolls of paper 200, 200 in use are placed at predetermined position 430, two spare rolls of paper 220 are placed at standby positions 411, 421, 431, corresponding to the rolls of paper 200 in use at each of the predetermined positions 410, 420, 430, respectively.

[0089] Therefore, a determination device 60 may be provided corresponding to each spare roll of paper, and the determination output unit 80 of each determination device 60 may display a list of "correct" or "incorrect" determinations for all of these spare rolls of paper 220 (six in total) placed in the standby positions 411, 421, 431 on an external monitor 90 connected wirelessly or by wire to each determination device 60, as shown in FIG. 12. The external monitor 90 may be connected to each determination device 60 via a server 150. Note that the external monitor 90 is separate from the determination device 60, but may be part of the components that make up the determination device 60.

[0090] In this way, by outputting the judgments of multiple spare roll paper 220 in a list on one monitor 90, the judgments of multiple spare roll paper 220 can be checked all at once on one monitor 90, which reduces the effort required for checking compared to going around and checking the judgments of each individual judgment device 60.

[0091] The above description has been given on the assumption that the determination device 60 is configured separately from the remaining amount detection device 10, but the determination device 60 may be configured to be incorporated into the remaining amount detection device 10. In this case, the RFID reader 20 of the determination device 60 and the RFID reader 20 of the remaining amount detection device 10 can be shared by a single RFID reader 20.

[0092] The roll paper remaining amount detection device 10, remaining amount management system 300, and determination device 60 of this embodiment use roll paper 200, in which long, sheet-like cardboard base paper 202 is wound into a roll, as the roll body, and a corrugating machine 400, which unwinds and uses the cardboard base paper 202 from the roll paper 200, as the processing device.

[0093] However, the roll body remaining amount detection device, remaining amount management system and determination device according to the present invention can be applied not only to corrugating machines but also to processing equipment that performs manufacturing and other processes using roll bodies in which long, sheet-like materials (paper, cloth, resin, metal) are wound into a roll, not just corrugating machines. [Explanation of symbols]

[0094] 10 Remaining amount detection device 20 RFID Reader 40 Output section 120 RFID labels 150 servers 200 rolls of paper 202 Corrugated cardboard 400 Corrugating Machine 410 Predetermined position

Claims

1. an RFID reader that contactlessly reads an identification code from an RFID tag that stores an identification code that identifies a roll of a long, sheet-like material, the identification code being attached to the roll; a sensor that detects the remaining amount of the material and is provided separately from the processing device that unwinds the material from the roll body and uses it; an output unit that associates the identification code read by the RFID reader with the remaining amount of the material detected by the sensor, and outputs the result to a management device that stores the remaining amount of material for each roll, the sensor detects the diameter or radius of the roll body, and calculates the remaining amount of the roll paper based on the detected diameter or radius and the acquired thickness of the roll paper wound in a roll shape on the roll body; a roll remaining amount detection device disposed in the processing device near a predetermined position where the roll is disposed;

2. The roll body is a roll of cardboard material wound into a roll, 2. The device for detecting the remaining amount of a roll body according to claim 1, wherein the processing device is a corrugating machine that produces cardboard sheets using the cardboard base paper.

3. a management device that stores a database in which an identification code that identifies a roll body, the identification code being stored in an RFID tag attached to the roll body, is associated with the remaining amount of material in the roll body; and the roll remaining amount detection device according to claim 1 or 2, The management device is a roll remaining amount management system that includes an update unit that rewrites the remaining amount of the material associated with the roll of the identification code in the database to the remaining amount input from the remaining amount detection device.

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