Pallet recycling system, radio tag, pallet, and management method and program

• US 7,388,492 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2005
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US11/215,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20060212165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/568.1, 340/539.13, 340/505, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/10.4, 340/10.51, 235/375, 235/383, 235/385
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/38 Details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00034 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00268 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00278 the load supporting surface and the base surface being identical
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00288 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00318 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00343 contact surface being substantially in the form of a panel
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A pallet recycling system for managing a pallet to support pallet recycling, comprising:

• • a managing section connected to a network that manages a pallet distribution;
  • a radio tag given to the pallet that records and transmits a pallet distribution; and
  • a tag reader/writer that reads out the pallet distribution information recorded in the radio tag and writes the pallet distribution information into the radio tag, and communicates with the managing section,
  • wherein
  • the radio tag has a reading out region where an information on a pallet owner is recorded, and a dedicated memory region where an user information is able to be read out or written in using the tag reader/writer.

Claims

1. A pallet recycling system for managing a pallet to support pallet recycling, comprising:

a managing section connected to a network to manage pallet distribution;

a pallet including a radio tag, said radio tag recording and transmitting pallet distribution information; and

a tag reader/writer to read out the pallet distribution information recorded in said radio tag, to write the pallet distribution information to said radio tag, and to communicates with said managing section,

said radio tag having a read-only memory having a serial number of said radio tag recorded therein, a first dedicated memory region where information corresponding to a pallet owner information is recorded using said tag reader/writer, and a second dedicated memory region where user information is recorded using said tag reader/writer;

said tag reader/writer writing to said first dedicated memory region of said radio tag updated pallet owner information.

2. The pallet recycling system according to claim 1, wherein said first dedicated memory region of the radio tag further records information corresponding to a company group which mutually uses the pallet.

3. The pallet recycling system according to claim 1, wherein use history of said pallet is written to and read from said second dedicated memory region.

4. The pallet recycling system according to claim 1, wherein reading from and writing to the radio tag is conducted when said pallet is shipped in and out.

5. The pallet recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the user information recorded in said second dedicated memory region is updated when the user of the pallet is changed.

6. The pallet recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the tag reader/writer transmits at least a pallet number, a name of the owner of said pallet, a name of a company group, the user information to the managing section connected to the network, and the managing section manages said pallet, goods on-board, a location, a user, use information.

7. The pallet recycling system according to claim 6, wherein, when a user of said pallet is changed to a different user, an initial charge is charged to the different user at the time the different user begins to use said pallet.

8. The pallet recycling system according to claim 6, wherein, when said pallet is used by user other than the owner of said pallet or the company group, the managing section manages a charge for use based on a period of time or frequency of use when said pallet is returned.

9. The pallet recycling system according to claim 8, wherein a route information of a pallet which is lost and found at a place de-routed from a distribution route is obtained using said tag reader/writer, and sent to said managing section connected to the network, and said managing section charges a last user of the lost pallet a monetary fee.

10. The pallet recycling system according to claim 6, wherein, when said pallet is used by the user other than the owner of said pallet or the company group, the managing section manages a charge for use such that an initial charge is imposed when the user begins using said pallet and that a charge determined depending on a period of time or frequency of use is subtracted from the initial charge.

11. The pallet recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the tag reader/writers are installed at a plurality of major gates through which said pallet passes.

12. The pallet recycling system according to claim 1, wherein, when said pallet is used by an entity other than the pallet owner or company group, the first and second dedicated memory regions of said pallet are cleared using a particular command sent from said managing section.

13. The radio tag according to claim 1, wherein said radio tag is an active-type radio tag incorporating a battery, said radio tag transmits and receives an electric wave of a UHF band from said tag reader/writer.

14. The pallet according to claim 1, wherein a part of a structural member of said pallet is removable, said radio tag is embedded in the structural member so as not to be removed, and said radio tag is recyclable together with the structural member.

15. A method for managing a pallet recycling system for managing a pallet to support pallet recycling, the pallet including a radio tag, the radio tag recording and transmitting pallet distribution information, the radio tag having a read-only memory having a serial number of the radio tag recorded therein, a first dedicated memory region where information corresponding to a pallet owner information is recorded, and a second dedicated memory region where user information is recorded, the method comprising:

(a) reading, using a tag reader, pallet distribution information from the second dedicated memory region;

(b) transmitting the pallet distribution information read from the second dedicated memory region to a managing section via a network;

(c) comparing the pallet distribution information recorded in the second dedicated memory region of the radio tag and pallet distribution information recorded in a managing section;

(d) updating the pallet distribution information in the managing section when the pallet distribution information recorded in the second dedicated memory region of the radio tag is different from the pallet distribution information recorded in the managing section;

(e) acquiring distribution route information from the radio tag of the pallet; and

(f) charging a recorded last user a monetary fee when the pallet is found to be de-routed according to the acquired distribution route information.

16. The method for managing a pallet recycling system according to claim 15, wherein the information read from and written to the radio tag is encrypted.

17. The method for managing a pallet recycling system according to claim 15, wherein, when it is determined that the first and second dedicated memory regions are empty, the information having been sent to the managing section is deleted.

18. The method for managing a pallet recycling system according to claim 17, further comprising (g) changing a serial number of the pallet recorded in the first dedicated memory region.