Document stand

Abstract

To provide a document stand, while holding a document in an easily visible state, causing a reader / writer to reliably read / write information by appropriately setting a positional relation between an RF tag of a document and the reader / writer.SOLUTION: When a reader / writer 20 is disposed at a position facing an RF tag 52 in a document 50, with it supported by a support base 10, on the support base 10 for supporting the document 50 on which the RF tag 52 is disposed and the document 50 is supported by the support base 10, a document stand can provide a state where the reader / writer 20 can read / write the RF tag 52. Even when sizes of the document 50 and of the reader / writer 20 are different, the document stand dispenses with any positioning of the document 50 with respect to the reader / writer 20, and causes the reader / writer 20 to quickly read / write with respect to the RF tag 52 only by supporting the document 50 on the support base 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a document stand with a reader / writer that supports documents and can read and write information to / from RF tags arranged on the documents.

Background Art

[0002] Regarding certification documents, in recent years, while retaining the function as a conventional written document where the described matters are visible, information (data) of separately recorded described matters can be read from the outside, and there are increasing cases where such information is utilized for the acceleration of procedures that require certification documents. As a method of coexisting such readable information with the written document, examples include issuing the document as an IC card or arranging an RF tag on a paper document.

[0003] On the other hand, in order to read or write information recorded on an IC card as a document or an RF tag arranged on a document, a reader / writer corresponding to such an IC card or RF tag is used.

[0004] Conventional reader / writers can correctly read and write information by positioning an IC card or an RF tag within the communication range of the reader / writer, such as by overlapping the IC card or RF tag on the reader / writer. As an example of such a conventional reader / writer, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-113727.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007] Furthermore, since RF tags in documents are usually small compared to the overall size of the paper document, if the location of the RF tag is not clearly indicated on the document and the user does not know the location of the RF tag in advance, it is expected that it will take time for the reader / writer to correctly align the RF tag.

[0008] In addition, when a designated worker wanted to view the contents of a document, for example, to verify that the electronic information recorded on the document matched the printed information, the small size of the reader / writer presented a challenge: it was difficult to ensure that the reader / writer could read and write the electronic information while simultaneously keeping the document in a state where its contents were easily visible.

[0009] The present invention was made to solve the aforementioned problems, and aims to provide a document stand that can hold documents in an easily viewable state while appropriately setting the positional relationship between the RF tag on the document and the reader / writer, thereby ensuring reliable reading and writing of information by the reader / writer. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The document stand disclosed in the present invention comprises a support base capable of supporting a document in a predetermined restraint state, the document having a base on which predetermined information is visibly written and an RF tag containing information related to the information written on the base integrally disposed thereon, and a reader / writer capable of reading and writing information recorded on the RF tag, wherein the reader / writer is disposed on the support base in a position facing the RF tag of the document supported on the support base.

[0011] As described above, according to the disclosure of the present invention, a reader / writer is positioned on a support base that restrains and supports a document on which an RF tag is placed in a fixed position, facing the RF tag on the document while it is supported on the support base, so that when the document is supported on the support base, the reader / writer can read and write to the RF tag on the document. This eliminates the need to align the document with the reader / writer, even if the size of the document on which the RF tag is placed and the reader / writer are different. The reader / writer can quickly perform reading and writing simply by supporting the document on the support base. In addition, the RF tag on the supported document is less likely to shift relative to the reader / writer, improving the reliability of reading and writing by the reader / writer.

[0012] Furthermore, by adjusting the document support status on the support stand and the reader / writer placement, the relative positions of the RF tags on the documents and the reader / writer can be appropriately configured. This makes it easier to achieve both the visibility of the document's contents and the read / write performance of the reader / writer, allowing users to easily grasp the document's contents directly and enabling the reader / writer to read and write information from the RF tags without problems.

[0013] Furthermore, the document stand disclosed in the present invention may optionally include a reader / writer equipped with a display unit indicating the status of the reader / writer, and the support base is positioned such that the display unit of the reader / writer can be exposed without overlapping with the documents supported on the support base or any part of the support base.

[0014] As described above, according to the disclosure of the present invention, the display unit of the reader / writer is located on the support base in a position that does not overlap with the various parts of the support base or the documents being supported, making it visible. This allows the user to easily and quickly check the status of the reader / writer that is reading or writing information to the RF tag through the display unit. If the reader / writer enters an abnormal state, the user can quickly grasp the abnormal state of the reader / writer and take appropriate action. In addition, the user, having grasped the changes in the operating status of the reader / writer, such as the completion of reading or writing, through the display unit, can change the documents to be read or written supported on the support base at the correct timing, enabling the reading and writing of multiple documents to proceed quickly and without causing a decrease in the reliability of reading and writing.

[0015] Furthermore, the document stand disclosed in the present invention may optionally have a support base comprising a plate-shaped main panel and one or more legs protruding from the main panel, wherein at least a portion of the legs is in contact with the surface to which the support base is to be installed, and in this installed state, the support base is self-supporting with the main panel upright or inclined, and the documents can be supported along one surface of the main panel, and the reader / writer is disposed on the opposite side of the first surface of the main panel of the support base.

[0016] As described above, according to the disclosure of the present invention, the main panel and legs of the support stand enable the support stand to stand on its own when installed on the surface to be installed. Documents are supported on the main panel, which is in an upright or inclined state on this self-supporting support stand, while a reader / writer is positioned on the part of the main panel opposite to the document. The reader / writer reads and writes to the RF tag of the document via the main panel. As a result, the document supported along the upright or inclined main panel is in a state where the contents are easily visible, and the reader / writer is positioned on the back side of the document, so the contents of the document are not hidden by the reader / writer and are visible. This ensures that the reader / writer can read and write the information on the RF tag without any problems, and the user can easily and accurately read the contents of the document, and the information related to the contents can be appropriately utilized together with the information on the RF tag.

[0017] Furthermore, the document stand disclosed in the present invention may optionally have a support base that houses a reader / writer so that it can be inserted and removed, and the storage unit is positioned such that, when the support base is installed on the surface to be installed, the vertical center of the storage unit is located below the vertical center of the main panel of the support base.

[0018] As described above, according to the disclosure of the present invention, when the support base for housing the reader / writer is installed on the surface to which the support base is to be installed, the vertical center of the housing portion is positioned below the vertical center of the main panel portion, and the reader / writer is positioned as low as possible when housed. By lowering the position of the reader / writer, the center of gravity of the entire stand, including the support base and the reader / writer, is lowered, stabilizing the self-supporting state of the support base and making it less likely to tip over.

[0019] Furthermore, the document stand disclosed in the present invention may optionally include a cable for connecting the reader / writer to an information processing device that processes information read from the RF tag of the document and information to be written to the RF tag, and the support base may have one or more locking parts provided on the opposite side of the main panel portion to the side of the main panel portion for locking and holding the cable of the reader / writer.

[0020] As described above, according to the disclosure of the present invention, a locking portion for securing the cable of the reader / writer is arranged on the opposite side of one side of the main panel portion of the support base (the side on which the reader / writer is located), and the cable is secured to this locking portion so that the cable is held along the main panel portion. In addition to preventing the cable from separating from the main panel portion, the reader / writer can also be held in a state where it cannot easily move relative to the support base due to the restraint imposed by the held cable, thereby preventing the reader / writer from unintentionally falling off the support base.

[0021] In addition, the document stand according to the disclosure of the present invention may, if necessary, have a transparent or translucent plate-shaped front panel portion disposed on the side of the one surface of the main panel portion with a predetermined gap interposed therebetween and the main panel portion, and the document can be inserted and removed into and from the gap between the front panel portion and the main panel portion.

[0022] Thus, according to the disclosure of the present invention, the front panel portion is disposed on the side of one surface of the main panel portion, and a gap is interposed between the front panel portion and the main panel portion. The document can be inserted into and removed from the gap between the front panel portion and the main panel portion, and the document is positioned and supported between the front panel portion and the main panel portion. By doing so, except when the supported document is moved by an operation related to taking in and out by the user, the front panel portion covering the document from the front makes it difficult for the surrounding influence to reach the document, and the document can be restrained from easily moving from above the main panel portion. While ensuring a state where the described matters of the document are visible, the deviation of the document can be prevented, and the reading and writing of the information of the RF tag by the reader / writer can be accurately executed.

[0023] In addition, while the supported document is located on the side of one surface of the main panel portion, the reader / writer is located on the side of the other surface of the main panel portion, so that the insertion and removal of the document into and from the gap and the handling of the reader / writer do not affect each other. The document can be supported by the support stand or removed from the support stand regardless of the attachment and detachment of the reader / writer. Similarly, the attachment and detachment operation of the reader / writer can be performed regardless of the presence or absence of the document in the gap.

[0024] In addition, the document stand according to the disclosure of the present invention may, if necessary, have the reader / writer detachably disposed on the opposite side of the one surface of the main panel portion, and the direction in which the document can be inserted into and removed from the gap between the front panel portion and the main panel portion of the support stand is different from the direction in which the reader / writer can be attached to and detached from the support stand.

[0025] According to the disclosure of the present invention, by making the direction of detaching / attaching the reader / writer to / from the support base different from the direction of inserting / removing the document into / from the gap between the front panel portion and the main panel portion of the support base, the operation related to the detachment / attachment of the reader / writer and the operation related to the insertion / removal of the document can be made essentially different, making it difficult to cause incorrect operations such as trying to insert the reader / writer into the gap between the front panel portion and the main panel portion or trying to insert the document outside the gap between the front panel portion and the main panel portion, and enabling the document and the reader / writer to be handled appropriately.

[0026] Also, since the direction of the force applied when inserting / removing the document into / from the gap is different from the direction of the force applied when detaching / attaching the reader / writer, even if, for example, an excessive force is applied to the support base when detaching / attaching the reader / writer and the support base moves due to the reaction, the document will not accidentally come out under the influence of such a force. That is, the influence of the force applied to one side does not affect the other side, and the support state of the document and the attachment state of the reader / writer can be made stable.

[0027] In addition, the document stand according to the disclosure of the present invention, if necessary, has a gap between the front panel portion and the main panel portion of the support base opened so that the document can be inserted at the end side farther from the leg portion in the main panel portion, and the support base is configured such that the document can be inserted / removed in the vertical direction with respect to the gap between the front panel portion and the main panel portion, and the reader / writer can be detached / attached in the horizontal direction (left - right direction) on the opposite side of the one surface in the main panel portion.

[0028] As described above, according to the disclosure of the present invention, the gap between the front panel and the main panel of the support base is left open at the end of the main panel that is farther from the legs, and the document can be inserted into and removed from the gap by moving it in an up-and-down direction, which is significantly different from the sideways attachment and detachment direction of the reader / writer. This allows the document to be inserted into and removed through the open part of the gap located at the top when the support is installed. In particular, when inserting the document, if the bottom of the document is inserted into the gap and released, the document will fall and reach a position corresponding to the support state at the back of the gap where the reader / writer can read and write to the RF tag of the document. This eliminates the need to manually push the document to the bottom of the gap, improving the work efficiency related to handling documents, and for example, when reading and writing information on multiple documents, the work of changing documents on the support base can be performed efficiently and quickly.

[0029] Furthermore, the document stand disclosed in the present invention includes a support base capable of supporting a document in a predetermined restrained state, the document comprising a base on which predetermined information is visibly written, and an RF tag containing information related to the information written on the base integrally disposed thereon, and a reader / writer capable of reading and writing information recorded on the RF tag can be disposed on the support base at a position that is in a positional relationship with the RF tag of the document when the document is supported.

[0030] As described above, according to the disclosure of the present invention, a reader / writer can be positioned on a support base that restrains and supports a document on which an RF tag is attached in a fixed state, so that it can communicate with the RF tag on the document while it is supported on the support base. When the document is supported on the support base with the reader / writer positioned on it, the reader / writer can read and write to the RF tag on the document. With the reader / writer positioned on the support base, the reader / writer can perform reading and writing simply by supporting the document on the support base, eliminating the need to align the document with the reader / writer, and allowing the reader / writer to quickly read and write information. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0031] [Figure 1] This is a front view of a document stand relating to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a rear view of a document stand relating to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a plan view of a document stand according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a bottom view of a document stand relating to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a left side view of a document stand related to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a right side view of a document stand relating to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a rear view of a document stand according to one embodiment of the present invention, with the reader / writer removed. [Figure 8] This is a right side view of a document stand according to one embodiment of the present invention, with the reader / writer removed. [Figure 9] This is an explanatory diagram showing the state of inserting documents into a document stand related to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] This diagram illustrates the positional relationship between the reader / writer and the RF tag of a document in the document support state of a document stand according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the document support state of a document stand according to one embodiment of the present invention when it is installed on a surface to which it is to be installed. [Figure 12] This is a right side view of a document stand according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] This is an enlarged view of section A in Figure 12. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0032] Hereinafter, a document stand according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on Figures 1 to 11. In this embodiment, an example of a stand that supports a vehicle inspection certificate (vehicle registration certificate) as a document (information recording medium) and can read and write information to an RF tag placed thereon will be described.

[0033] In the figures above, the document stand 1 according to this embodiment comprises a support base 10 capable of supporting a document 50 with an RF tag 52 in a predetermined restrained state, and a reader / writer 20 capable of reading information recorded on the RF tag 52 and writing information to it.

[0034] The document 50 supported by the document stand 1 according to this embodiment is a base sheet 51 on which predetermined information is visually represented as text, images, diagrams, two-dimensional codes, etc., and an RF tag 52 containing information related to the information written on the base sheet 51 is integrally disposed on the base sheet 51. Specifically, this document 50 is a vehicle inspection certificate equipped with an RF tag 52 as an electronically compatible specification.

[0035] The support base 10 comprises a plate-shaped main panel section 11, a transparent front panel section 12, legs 13 protruding from the main panel section 11, and a housing section 14 for housing the reader / writer 20.

[0036] The support base 10 is installed by bringing the end of the main panel section 11 closest to the leg section 13 and the end of the leg section 13 furthest from the main panel section 11 into contact with the installation surface 90 on which the support base 10 is to be installed. In this installed state, the support base 10 can stand on its own with the main panel section 11 tilted.

[0037] The main panel portion 11 is made of plastic such as acrylic resin, which has a color tone that does not transmit much light, such as milky white, and is configured as a plate-like body with a roughly rectangular shape. The main panel portion 11 is designed to support documents 50 by aligning it with one side on which the legs 13 do not protrude.

[0038] When the main panel 11 is installed on the mounting surface 90 of the support base 10, the upper central part of the main panel 11, as viewed from the front, is a notched portion 11a. Each corner of the main panel 11, including the one facing this notch 11a, is rounded by chamfering. Alternatively, each corner of the main panel 11 may be chamfered to a C-shape. Furthermore, the corners of each end face of the main panel section 11 can also be rounded or chamfered. In particular, by chamfering the corner where the end face with the notch 11a (the upper end face in the installed state) intersects with the first face (see Figures 12 and 13), when the document 50 is moved from above to below and supported by the main panel section 11, the document 50 is less likely to hit the upper end face of the main panel section 11 and be prevented from moving, and the document 50 can be smoothly transferred to a state of support by the main panel section 11.

[0039] The area around the notch 11a in the main panel 11 can be used as a gripping area. For example, when inserting or removing the reader / writer 20 into or from the housing 14 of the support base 10, by inserting a part of the hand (such as fingers) into the notch 11a and using the area around the notch 11a as a grip, the support base 10 will not slip or move from the hand even if an external force is applied, and the support base 10 can be supported by the hand in a state where it cannot be easily moved, allowing for smooth insertion and removal of the reader / writer 20.

[0040] The front panel portion 12 is made of a transparent or semi-transparent plastic such as acrylic resin, and is formed as a rectangular plate-like body, allowing the contents of the document 50 surface to be visible through it.

[0041] The front panel portion 12 is formed in a smaller shape than the main panel portion 11, and in particular, in a rectangular shape in which the ratio of its size in the short side direction is smaller than the ratio of its size in the long side direction relative to the main panel portion 11, and is disposed on one side of the main panel portion 11 with a predetermined gap between it and the main panel portion 11.

[0042] The front panel section 12 is positioned so that one of its long sides overlaps with one of the long sides of the main panel section 11, specifically the long side that is closer to the mounting surface 90 when the support base 10 is installed. The other long side of the front panel section 12 is positioned so that, when viewed from the front side of the main panel section 11, it overlaps with the bottom of the notch 11a of the main panel section 11.

[0043] In other words, the notch 11a of the main panel 11 is positioned so as not to overlap with the front panel 12 when viewed from the front side of the main panel 11, making it easy to grasp documents 50 supported along one side of the main panel 11 with your fingers through the notch 11a. Alternatively, the other long side of the front panel may be positioned so as to overlap with the other long side of the main panel when viewed from the front side of the main panel, and the front panel may also be provided with a notch similar to that of the main panel.

[0044] The front panel section 12 is integrally connected to the main panel section 11 via side plates 12a and a bottom plate 12b. Of these, two bottom plates 12b are arranged at a predetermined interval so as to create an opening 12c in the center.

[0045] The gap between the front panel 12 and the main panel 11 is closed on the sides and bottom by the side plate 12a and the bottom plate 12b, respectively, leaving only the top open. In this way, documents 50 can be inserted from above into the gap between the front panel 12 and the main panel 11 and removed from above, and the documents 50 can be positioned and supported in this gap between the front panel 12 and the main panel 11.

[0046] The documents 50, positioned between the front panel 12 and the main panel 11, are supported by the front panel 12, side plates 12a, and bottom plate 12b surrounding them, preventing them from easily moving from the main panel 11, except when moved vertically by the user during insertion or removal operations. Furthermore, even if something other than documents, such as small debris or water, accidentally enters the gap between the front panel 12 and the main panel 11, these can be removed through the opening 12c in the center of the bottom plate 12b, making it easy to maintain a state where the support of the documents 50 is not impaired.

[0047] The leg portion 13 is made of plastic such as acrylic resin, similar to the main panel portion 11, and is formed as a rectangular plate-like body. It is connected and integrated with the main panel portion 11 at a predetermined location on the other side of the main panel portion 11, opposite to the one side, near one of the longer sides of the main panel portion 11, in a direction that is approximately perpendicular to the main panel portion 11, and is arranged to protrude from the main panel portion 11.

[0048] The distal end of the leg portion 13 relative to the main panel portion 11, together with the end of one of the longer sides of the main panel portion 11 that is close to the leg portion 13, comes into contact with the surface to be installed, such as the desk top surface, where the support base 10 is to be installed, and the support base 10 is in the installed state. In this installed state of the support base 10, the main panel portion 11 is tilted toward the side with the leg portion 13, so that one surface of the main panel portion 11 is tilted by approximately 20° from the upright position, and the documents 50 are supported along this tilted surface of the main panel portion 11.

[0049] The connection position of the leg portion 13 to the main panel portion 11 is set closer to the housing portion 14 than the center position in the region between one long side of the main panel portion 11 and the housing portion 14. This position is above the center position in the region from one long side of the main panel portion 11 to the lower end of the housing portion 14 when the support base 10 is installed on the surface 90 to be installed. The connection position is set so that the center of gravity of the support base 10 is not positioned excessively rearward relative to the leg portion 13, allowing the support base 13 to stand on its own without difficulty, while the main panel portion 11 is in an appropriate inclined state, specifically, one surface of the main panel portion 11 is inclined by 20° or more from the upright position, in other words, it is inclined until the angle between the main panel portion 11 and the surface 90 to be installed is 70° or less.

[0050] The leg portion 13 is configured to consist of only one continuous plate-like structure, but it is not limited to this configuration; it can also be configured to consist of multiple smaller structures arranged in a row. Furthermore, the leg portion 13 is not limited to a plate shape; it can also be of other shapes, such as a rod shape.

[0051] Furthermore, the legs 13 are configured to protrude approximately at a right angle from other surfaces of the main panel 11. However, they can also be configured to protrude from the main panel in a predetermined direction corresponding to the desired tilt angle, at predetermined locations including the ends of the main panel. In this case, the direction in which the legs protrude from the main panel can be made variable, allowing for adjustment of the tilt angle of the main panel when the support base is installed.

[0052] Furthermore, the leg portion 13 is not limited to being provided in such a configuration that it tilts the main panel portion 11 when installed on the mounting surface 90 of the support base 10, but may also be provided in such a configuration that it keeps the main panel portion upright.

[0053] The housing section 14 is located at a predetermined location near one of the short sides of the main panel section 11 on the other side of the main panel section 11, and houses the reader / writer 20 so that it can be inserted and removed. The reader / writer 20 housed in this housing section 14 has a rectangular, roughly thick plate-like outer shape, and with a predetermined surface that serves as the reading surface 25 facing the RF tag 52, it performs reading and writing of information recorded on the RF tag 52. Details will be described later.

[0054] The housing section 14 consists of a first member 14a and a second member 14b, which are attached to predetermined locations on other surfaces of the main panel section 11 at predetermined intervals in the short-side direction of the main panel section 11. When the storage section 14 is installed on the mounting surface 90 of the support base 10, its vertical center is positioned below the vertical center of the part of the support base 10 other than the storage section, specifically the main panel section 11. This positions the relatively heavy reader / writer 20 of the document stand 1 as low as possible when it is stored, lowering the center of gravity of the entire stand and ensuring that the document stand 1 is stable and less likely to tip over.

[0055] The first member 14a and the second member 14b that make up the storage section 14 are made of plastic such as acrylic resin, similar to the main panel section 11, and are arranged so that their longitudinal directions are parallel to the long side of the main panel section 11. The reader / writer 20 can be stored in the space between these first member 14a and the second member 14b with its reading surface 25 in substantially contact with the other surface of the main panel section 11. The reader / writer 20 is positioned so that its longitudinal direction coincides with the long side direction of the main panel section 11, and can be inserted and removed from the first member 14a and the second member 14b that make up the storage section 14 in the same direction as the long side direction of the main panel section 11. When installed on the mounting surface 90 of the support base 10, the reader / writer 20 is inserted and removed from the horizontally oriented storage section 14 in the same horizontal direction as the insertion and removal of documents 50.

[0056] However, the entrance and exit for the reader / writer in the housing section 14, which consists of the first member 14a and the second member 14b, is positioned along one of the short sides of the main panel section 11. Furthermore, the longitudinal dimensions of the first member 14a and the second member 14b are smaller than the longitudinal dimensions of the reader / writer 20. As a result, when the reader / writer 20 is housed, a predetermined portion of the reader / writer 20 closer to one of the short sides protrudes longitudinally from the first member 14a and the second member 14b, as well as from the main panel section 11. Specifically, when the support base 10 is installed on the mounting surface 90, the reader / writer 20 housed in the housing section 14, which is located to the right when viewed from the front of the main panel section 11, protrudes laterally from one of the short sides of the main panel section 11, which is the right side when viewed from the front of the main panel section 11.

[0057] The first member 14a of the housing section 14 is positioned such that, when the reader / writer 20 is housed in the housing section 14, it overlaps with a portion of the end face (upper end face) on one of the long sides of the reader / writer 20 and a portion of the back surface 26 of the reader / writer 20, opposite to the reading surface 25, that is, it overlaps from two sides. The position of the portion (inner surface) of the first member 14a facing the end face on one of the long sides of the reader / writer 20, or the position of the end face on one of the long sides of the reader / writer 20 when housed in the housing section 14, is positioned so that, when viewed from the front side of the main panel section 11, it overlaps with the position of the other long side (upper end) of the front panel section 12.

[0058] Furthermore, the second member 14b is positioned so as to overlap with a portion of the other long side end face (lower end face) of the reader / writer 20, a portion of the other short side end face (side face) of the reader / writer 20, and a portion of the back surface 26 of the reader / writer 20 near the other long side, that is, to overlap from three sides.

[0059] In this way, the first member 14a and the second member 14b, which constitute the housing section 14, overlap with each surface of the reader / writer 20 in its housing state, thereby restricting the reader / writer 20 to being able to move in any direction other than in the direction of insertion and removal.

[0060] The housing section 14 is composed of a first member 14a and a second member 14b, and a gap is created between the first member 14a and the second member 14b. This allows the cable 22 connected to the reader / writer 20 to be passed through the gap and easily pulled out from inside to outside the housing section 14 when housing the reader / writer 20 in the housing section 14. Even when the cable 22 is directly connected to the reader / writer 20, the reader / writer 20 can be housed in the housing section 14 without any problems, and the cable 22 can be handled outside the housing section 14 for connection or other purposes without any hindrance.

[0061] In the housing section 14, the distance (C2) between the portion of the second member 14b that overlaps with the back surface 26 of the reader / writer 20 and the other surface of the main panel section 11 may be slightly larger than the distance (C1) between the portion of the first member 14a that overlaps with the back surface 26 of the reader / writer 20 and the other surface of the main panel section 11 (see Figure 8). In this case, if a commercially available reader / writer 20 is used, even if an anti-slip member 28 made of an elastic material or the like is provided on the back surface 26 of the reader / writer 20, this anti-slip member 28 will not interfere with the second member 14b and will not hinder the housing of the reader / writer 20 in the housing section 14.

[0062] With respect to the first member 14a, the portion that overlaps with the back surface 26 of the reader / writer 20 is small enough that it does not overlap with the anti-slip member 28 on the back surface 26 of the reader / writer 20. Therefore, the distance between this portion and the other surfaces of the main panel portion 11 can be approximately the same as the thickness of the main body portion of the reader / writer 20 excluding the anti-slip member 28.

[0063] In addition, in the second member 14b, in areas that overlap with the back surface 26 of the reader / writer 20, where overlap with the anti-slip member 28 on the back surface 26 of the reader / writer 20 cannot occur during the housing process, the distance between a part or all of these areas and other surfaces of the main panel 11 (distance from the main panel 11 to the spacer 14d) (C3) can be configured to be approximately the same as the thickness of the main body of the reader / writer 20, similar to the case of the first member 14a, as shown in the example of providing a spacer 14d in Figures 7 and 8. This allows the reader / writer 20 to be held more stably in the housing state.

[0064] Furthermore, the first member 14a and the second member 14b can also be arranged such that the distance between the portions of the first member 14a and the second member 14b that overlap the back surface 26 of the reader / writer 20 and the other surfaces of the main panel 11 decreases as it moves away from one of the shorter sides of the main panel 11 where the entrance and exit for the reader / writer 20 in the housing 14 is located.

[0065] In this case, when inserting and housing the reader / writer 20 into the housing section 14, as it moves further into the housing section 14, the reader / writer 20 comes into contact with the first member 14a and the second member 14b that make up the housing section 14, as well as other surfaces of the main panel section 11, experiencing frictional resistance. The reader / writer 20 also pushes against the first member 14a and the second member 14b that make up the housing section 14, causing elastic deformation, while simultaneously experiencing resistance based on the reaction force of this elastic deformation. As a result, a certain amount of force is required to push the reader / writer 20 to reach the back of the housing section 14. However, once the reader / writer 20 reaches the back of the housing section 14, it becomes fitted between the first member 14a and the second member 14b and the main panel section 11, preventing it from easily coming loose and thus preventing the reader / writer 20 from unintentionally falling out of the housing section 14 of the support base 11.

[0066] Furthermore, in order to obtain the same effect as described above, the first member 14a and the second member 14b of the housing section 14 may be arranged such that the distance between the portion of the first member 14a that overlaps with the end face of one long side of the reader / writer 20 and the portion of the second member 14b that overlaps with the end face of the other long side of the reader / writer 20 decreases as it moves away from one short side of the main panel section 11.

[0067] The reader / writer 20 is capable of reading and writing information recorded on the RF tag 52 without contact, and is configured to be positioned on the support base 10 so as to face the RF tag 52 of the document 50 supported on the support base 10.

[0068] More specifically, the reader / writer 20 is housed in a storage section 14 on the opposite side of the main panel section 11 of the support base 10 from the side that supports the document 50, with its reading surface 25 facing the main panel section 11 (opposite to the other side of the main panel section 11), allowing it to be inserted and removed. This ensures that the reader / writer 20 is positioned on the support base 10 in a stationary state, and that it aligns perfectly with the location of the RF tag 52 on the document 50, which is supported on the support base 10, via the main panel section 11, allowing for seamless communication with the RF tag 52 on the document 50 through the main panel section 11.

[0069] The mechanism for reading and writing information recorded on the RF tag 52 in this reader / writer 20 is similar to that of known reader / writers employing short-range wireless communication technology, which wirelessly communicates with IC cards and RF tags, supplies power, and reads and writes information to the IC chips mounted on them. A detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0070] Furthermore, the reader / writer 20 is connected to an information processing device such as a computer (not shown in the diagram), and exchanges information read from the RF tag 52 of the document 50 and information to be written to the RF tag 52 with the information processing device, just like a known reader / writer, so a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0071] The reader / writer 20 is provided with a display unit 21 that indicates the status of the reader / writer 20 in a predetermined area near one of its shorter sides. The display unit 21 is configured such that a power lamp 21a is positioned towards one of the longer sides of the reader / writer 20, and a communication status confirmation lamp 21b is positioned towards the other longer side of the reader / writer 20.

[0072] The display unit 21 of the reader / writer 20 corresponds to the main panel 11 of the support base 10 and the portion that protrudes from the support base 14 when it is housed in the storage unit 14, and is exposed without overlapping with the documents 50 supported by the support base 10 or any part of the support base 10. In this way, the display unit 21, when installed on the mounting surface 90 of the support base 10, protrudes to the side of the main panel unit 11 and is always visible from the side of the support base 10.

[0073] Alternatively, instead of the display unit 21, or in conjunction with the display unit 21, another notification means other than the display unit may be provided, such as a buzzer or other sound output unit to indicate that reading is complete or that the RF tag 52 has left the reading area (communication area) of the reader / writer 20 after the document 50 has been removed.

[0074] The reader / writer 20 has a cable 22 for connecting to an information processing device that processes information read from the RF tag 52 and information to be written to the RF tag 52. This cable 22 is directly connected and electrically connected to the other short side of the reader / writer 20, which is opposite to the short side where the display unit 21 is located.

[0075] Of the cable 22 of the reader / writer 20, the portion within a predetermined range close to the reader / writer 20 is held in place by the support base 10, just like the reader / writer 20, when it is housed in the reader / writer 20's housing section 14, and remains immobile.

[0076] In detail, multiple locking parts 15 and 16 for securing the cable 22 of the reader / writer 20 are provided on the other side of the main panel portion 11 of the support base 10 where the housing portion 14 is located. By securing the cable 22 to these multiple locking parts 15 and 16, the cable 22 is held along the other side of the main panel portion 11, preventing it from separating from the main panel portion 11. Furthermore, the reader / writer 20 is also held in a state where it cannot easily detach from the housing portion 14 due to the restraint imposed by the cable 22 held in this manner.

[0077] The locking parts 15 and 16 are positioned such that one of them has its longitudinal direction aligned with the long side of the main panel part 11, and the other has its longitudinal direction aligned with the short side of the main panel part 11. This arrangement allows the cable 22, which is locked to the locking parts 15 and 16 facing different directions, to be held and restrained in a state that makes it difficult for it to shift in its longitudinal direction, preventing the cable 22 from becoming loose and preventing it from moving away from the locking parts 15 and 16.

[0078] Specifically, the locking portions 15 and 16 are arranged such that one locking portion 15, whose longitudinal direction is aligned with the long side of the main panel portion 11, is positioned near the center of the other side of the main panel portion 11, and the other locking portion 16, whose longitudinal direction is aligned with the short side of the main panel portion 11, is positioned on the other side of the main panel portion 11 closer to the other short side (farther from the housing portion 14) and closer to one of the long sides (the lower right side when viewed from the back side of the main panel portion 11).

[0079] Furthermore, the locking parts 15 and 16 are provided with locking openings at both ends in the longitudinal direction, that is, openings for inserting and removing the cable 22 from the parts that clamp and lock the cable 22, and these openings are oriented in different directions from each other, so that the locked cable 22 does not come off from both openings at the same time.

[0080] One locking portion 15, located near the center of the other side of the main panel portion 11, has an opening at one end in the longitudinal direction that faces downward when viewed from the rear side of the main panel portion 11 (left side), and an opening at the other end in the longitudinal direction that faces upward when viewed from the rear side of the main panel portion 11 (right side). In contrast, the other locking portion 16 has an opening at one end in the longitudinal direction that faces left when viewed from the rear side of the main panel portion 11 (upper side), and an opening at the other end in the longitudinal direction that faces right when viewed from the rear side of the main panel portion 11 (lower side).

[0081] However, the orientation of the locking openings in these locking parts 15 and 16 is not limited to the above combinations. As long as the cable can be locked in place without any problems, the orientation of the openings at both ends in the longitudinal direction may be reversed from the above, or the orientation of the openings at both ends in the longitudinal direction may be aligned to the same direction.

[0082] In addition, the distance between the second member 14b and the leg portion 13 of the housing portion 14 in the support base 10 can be set to an appropriate size for the cable 22 of the reader / writer 20, and a portion of the cable 22 can be housed between these second member 14b and leg portion 13. In this case, if the distance between the second member 14b and leg portion 13 is approximately the same as the thickness of the cable 22, the cable 22 can be clamped and restrained by these second member 14b and leg portion 13, thereby suppressing unnecessary movement of the cable, similar to the locking portions 15 and 16.

[0083] The reader / writer 20 is configured to operate by being powered by a connected information processing device, similar to known reader / writers. However, it is not limited to this configuration, and may also be powered by a built-in battery or by a commercial power supply connected directly or via an AC adapter.

[0084] Next, the usage state of the document stand according to this embodiment will be described. As a premise, the document stand 1 is assumed to be installed on a mounting surface 90 such as the top surface of a desk. The reader / writer 20 is housed in the housing section 14 of the support base 10, and the cable 22 of the reader / writer 20 is locked to the locking sections 15 and 16 of the support base 10 and connected to the information processing device, so that the reader / writer 20 receives the power supply necessary for operation and the power lamp 21a is lit.

[0085] When the document stand 1 is installed on the mounting surface 90, the main panel portion 11 and the leg portion 13 of the support base 10 are in contact with the mounting surface 90, and the support base 10 is in a self-supporting state that does not easily fall over.

[0086] The document to be read or written, 50, is inserted into the gap between the front panel 12 and the main panel 11 of the support base 10 through the open portion at the top of this gap (see Figure 9). When the document 50 is positioned in the gap, it is supported along the main panel 11, and at the same time, the document 50 is restrained by the front panel 12, the side plate 12a, and the bottom plate 12b, so that it cannot be easily moved except when moved vertically by the user's removal or detachment operation.

[0087] In the supported state of document 50, the RF tag 52 attached to document 50 is positioned on the front side of the reader / writer 20 housed in the support base 10, and the reader / writer 20 can communicate with the RF tag 52 via the main panel section 11. In addition, in the supported state of document 50, the user can visually see the information written on the surface of document 50 through the transparent front panel section 12.

[0088] If the reader / writer 20 is already properly positioned on the support base 10 and is operational when the document 50 is supported, it will establish communication with the RF tag 52 within the communication range without any problems and indicate that it is able to communicate with the RF tag 52 normally, for example by lighting up the communication status confirmation lamp 21b on the display unit 21.

[0089] Based on the display on the display unit 21, etc., it is confirmed that the reader / writer 20 is in a state where it can operate normally. When the user performs an operation through the information processing device according to the guidance, the reader / writer 20 communicates with the RF tag 52 and performs reading and writing of information. Alternatively, once the reader / writer 20 establishes communication with the RF tag 52, it may be configured to automatically communicate with the RF tag 52 and perform reading and writing of information without requiring any operation from the user.

[0090] In the case of reading, the data of the information read by the reader / writer 20 is sent from the reader / writer 20 to the information processing device and predetermined processing is performed. In the case of writing, data of the information to be written, which has been pre-processed for writing by the information processing device, is sent to the reader / writer 20, and the reader / writer 20 writes the information to the RF tag 52. During these read and write operations, the communication status indicator lamp 21b on the display unit 21 of the reader / writer 20 lights up or blinks, allowing the user to recognize that the operation is in progress.

[0091] The completion of reading or writing in the reader / writer 20 can be indicated to the user by ending the lit or blinking state of the communication status confirmation lamp 21b on the display unit 21 that indicated the execution of reading or writing, by changing the communication status confirmation lamp 21b to a different lit or blinking state, or by notification by another notification means other than the display unit, such as outputting a sound indicating completion from a sound output unit such as a buzzer. In addition, the completion of reading or writing in the reader / writer 20 may be notified to the user by a status display on the display means of the information processing device.

[0092] The user confirms the completion of writing to the RF tag 52 by the reader / writer 20 from the display on the display unit 21 of the reader / writer 20 or the display on the information processing device, and once the user has finished tasks such as making use of the information directly visible from the document 50 and the information read by the reader / writer 20, for example, comparing and confirming the information recorded on the RF tag 52, which has been read by the reader / writer 20 and displayed on the display means of the information processing device, with the information written on the surface of the document 50, the user removes the document 50, which is supported by the support base 10, from the gap between the front panel 12 and the main panel 11 and retrieves it.

[0093] The removal of the document 50 from the gap can be performed smoothly because the user can securely grip the document 50 with their fingers through the notch 11a of the main panel 11, and there is no need to move the support stand 10 to remove the document 50.

[0094] If there are multiple similar documents 50 that require operations including reading and writing information by the reader / writer 20, the above procedure will be repeated while switching the documents 50 supported by the support stand 10.

[0095] As described above, in this embodiment, the document stand has a support base 10 that restrains and supports the document 50 on which the RF tag 52 is placed in a fixed position, and the reader / writer 20 is positioned opposite the RF tag 52 on the document 50 when it is supported on the support base 10, enabling communication with it. When the document 50 is supported on the support base 10, the reader / writer 20 can read and write to the RF tag 52 on the document 50. Therefore, even if the size of the document 50 on which the RF tag 52 is placed and the reader / writer 20 are different, there is no need to align the document 50 with the reader / writer 20, and the reader / writer 20 can quickly perform reading and writing simply by supporting the document 50 on the support base 10. In addition, the RF tag 52 on the supported document 50 is less likely to shift relative to the reader / writer 20, improving the reliability of reading and writing by the reader / writer 20.

[0096] Furthermore, by adjusting the support state of the document 50 on the support base 10 and the placement position of the reader / writer 20, the positional relationship between the RF tag 52 on the document 50 and the reader / writer 20 can be made appropriate. This makes it easier to achieve both the visibility of the contents written on the document 50 and the read / write performance of the information by the reader / writer 20. As a result, it is easy to obtain a state in which the user can easily grasp the contents of the document 50 directly, and the reader / writer 20 can read and write information from the RF tag 52 without any problems.

[0097] In the document stand according to the above embodiment, the main panel portion 11 and leg portion 13 of the support base 10 are brought into contact with the mounting surface 90, thereby enabling the support base 10 to stand on its own and providing a stable mounting state for use in supporting documents 50. However, it is also possible to provide a wall fixing portion with a magnet on the other side of the main panel portion of the support base, and to attach the support base to a surface such as a wall made of a material to which magnets can be attracted, such as iron, via the wall fixing portion.

[0098] When arranging the wall-mounting part on the support base 10, it is desirable to position the wall-mounting part slightly offset from the center of the main panel 11 to one of the shorter sides, corresponding to the fact that the heavy reader / writer 20 in the stand is located towards one of the shorter sides of the main panel 11, causing the center of gravity of the entire stand to be biased towards one of the shorter sides (left side when viewed from the back of the main panel 11). This brings the center of gravity of the entire stand as close as possible to the wall-mounting part when the stand 1 is mounted via the wall-mounting part, so that excessive moments due to the shift in the center of gravity do not act on the wall-mounting part.

[0099] Furthermore, in the document stand according to the above embodiment, the support base 10 is configured to support one type of document 50, and to support the RF tag 52 attached to the document 50 in a state where it can be read and written by the reader / writer 20. However, the support base can also be configured to support other documents of a different size than the above document 50 in a state where they can be read and written. For example, the support base may be configured to support IC card type driver's licenses or individual number cards (My Number cards).

[0100] In this case, for example, it is desirable to configure the system so that the IC card representing the driver's license can be read and written by the reader / writer via the main panel, by positioning and supporting the driver's license in a location that faces the front of the reader / writer's reading surface. Furthermore, when positioning the driver's license in front of the reader / writer, it is desirable to allow insertion and removal from the gap from a different orientation than in the case of document 50, so that the document can be positioned in the optimal location for proper reading and writing by the reader / writer, which varies depending on the type of document, without requiring complex operations.

[0101] Furthermore, in the document stand according to the above embodiment, the document 50 is inserted into the gap between the front panel 12 and the main panel 11 of the support base 10 and supported. However, it is also possible to widen the gap between the front panel and the main panel of the support base so that the document, along with its cover, can be inserted into this gap and supported. In this case, the document can be supported by the support base and made ready for reading and writing with a reader / writer without having to remove it from its cover, allowing for easy reading and writing of information on the document.

[0102] In addition, the document stand disclosed in the above embodiment is expected to contribute to achieving some of the 17 goals of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as "Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation" and "Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns." [Explanation of Symbols]

[0103] 1. Document stand 10 Support stand 11 Main Panel Section 11a Notch 12 Front panel section 12a side plate 12b Bottom plate 12c aperture 13 Legs 14. Detention Unit 14a First member 14b Second member 14d Spacer 15, 16 Locking parts 20 Reader / Writer 21 Display section 21a Power indicator light 21b Communication status indicator lamp 22 Cables 25 Reading surface 26 Back side 28 Anti-slip material 50 documents 51 Mounting board 52 RF tags 90 Installation surface

Claims

1. A support stand capable of supporting a document in a predetermined restraint state, the document comprising a base on which predetermined information is visibly written, and an RF tag containing information related to the information written on the base, which is integrally disposed on the base, It includes a reader / writer capable of reading information recorded on an RF tag and writing information to it. The support base is installed with at least a portion of it in contact with the surface to be installed, and has a plate-like portion that is upright or inclined in the installed state, and is capable of supporting the documents upright or inclined along one side of the plate-like portion. The reader / writer is positioned to face the RF tag of the document supported on the support base, and is located on a part of the support base that is opposite to one of its surfaces via the plate-shaped portion. A distinctive document stand.

2. In the document stand according to claim 1, The aforementioned reader / writer is provided with a display unit that indicates the status of the reader / writer, The support base is positioned such that the display unit of the reader / writer can be exposed without overlapping with the document supported by the support base or any part of the support base. A distinctive document stand.

3. In the document stand according to claim 1 or 2, The support base has a plate-shaped main panel and one or more legs protruding from the main panel, and is installed with at least a portion of the legs in contact with the surface to which the support base is to be installed. In this installed state, the support base is self-supporting with the main panel upright or tilted, and the documents can be supported along one side of the main panel. The reader / writer is disposed on the side opposite to the one side of the main panel portion of the support base. A distinctive document stand.

4. In the document stand according to claim 3, The support base has a housing section for accommodating a reader / writer so that it can be inserted and removed, The housing portion is positioned such that, when installed on the mounting surface of the support base, its vertical center is located below the vertical center of the main panel portion of the support base. A distinctive document stand.

5. In the document stand according to claim 3 or 4, The reader / writer has a cable for connecting to an information processing device that processes information read from the RF tag of the document and information to be written to the RF tag. The support base is provided with one or more locking parts on the opposite side of the main panel portion to the side of the one surface, for locking and holding the cable of the reader / writer. A distinctive document stand.

6. In the document stand according to any one of claims 3 to 5, The support base has a transparent or translucent plate-shaped front panel portion that is disposed on one side of the main panel portion with a predetermined gap between it and the main panel portion. The gap between the front panel and the main panel allows for the insertion and removal of the documents. A distinctive document stand.

7. In the document stand described in claim 6, The reader / writer is detachably disposed on the opposite side of the main panel portion from the one side. The orientation in which the documents can be inserted into and removed from the gap between the front panel and the main panel of the support base is different from the orientation in which the reader / writer can be attached to and removed from the support base. A distinctive document stand.

8. In the document stand according to claim 7, The gap between the front panel and the main panel of the support base is opened at the end of the main panel furthest from the legs so that the documents can be inserted. The support base is designed so that the documents can be inserted and removed vertically in the gap between the front panel and the main panel, and so that the reader / writer can be attached and removed horizontally on the opposite side of one of the surfaces of the main panel. A distinctive document stand.

9. A support stand is provided that can support a document, which consists of a base sheet on which predetermined information is visibly written, and an RF tag containing information related to the information written on the base sheet, in a predetermined restraint state. The support base is installed with at least a portion of it in contact with the surface to be installed, and has a plate-like portion that is upright or inclined in the installed state, and is capable of supporting the documents upright or inclined along one surface of the plate-like portion. The support base is designed so that, when the document is supported, a reader / writer capable of reading and writing information recorded on an RF tag can be installed at a location opposite to the one surface via the plate-like portion, and in a position facing the RF tag of the document. A distinctive document stand.

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