Abstract: The disclosed inventory control system is well suited for many types of small-volume products. A plurality of electronic tags 1 are installed in a floor 3 in which data on installation locations is stored, a storage shelf 8 for storing inventory, and a movable reader 23 that reads location data from the electronic tags 1 and carries a product that moves along the aisle. Data stored in an electronic tag, from among a plurality of electronic tags 3, installed near the storage shelf 8 on which inventory is stored contains data on a product stored on the storage shelf 8. The movable reader 23 comprises a communications antenna 4 that communicates in a wireless fashion with the electronic tags, a transceiver connected to the communications antenna 4, a data processor that sends and receives data via the transceiver, and a database 7 that provides data to the data processor.

Abstract: The disclosed merchandise tag is a non-contact wireless tag, has a color change layer on its surface, and the price data stored therein can be read out and rewritten. It can be easily attached and removed, reduces the amount of attachment implements used, and allows the display thereon to be easily changed by means of a heat treatment, magnetic treatment, or the like. The merchandise tag has an attachment hole 2 and a slit 3 that is formed to extend from the attachment hole up to the circumference of the merchandise tag, and contains a semiconductor integrated circuit, and one or more price data entries can be stored in the semiconductor integrated circuit. It preferably includes a rounded portion 4 at the intersection between the slit 3 and the circumference such that the angle formed between the slit 3 and the circumference is between 20 and 70 degrees.

Abstract: A distribution system in which many types of small-volume products classified according to product type, which includes clothing, accessories, shoes, bags, and wallets, design, color, and size are combined for shipping in one or more packing boxes to a retail store. Products 9 are packed in a package 4 at a shipping site 1 and shipped via a distribution network 3 to a receiving site 2. An electronic package tag 5 containing data on a plurality of packed products 9 of differing type, color, and size is attached to each packing box, and electronic product tag 10 containing specific product data is attached to each packed product 9. The data stored on the electronic package tag 5 and the electronic product tags 10 is read at the receiving site 2, compared to the intended package contents were actually received.

Abstract: A non-contact electronic tag reading device reliably reads a non-contact electronic tag when an operator holding an article to which a non-contact electronic tag has been attached passes by. The non-contact electronic tag reading device includes a partition 3 (for example, a door or the like) that is provided in a passage leading to a warehouse or stockroom, and a non-contact electronic tag reading antenna 4. The non-contact electronic tag reading antenna 4 is attached to the partition 3 and faces the passage. When an operator holding an article 61 to which a non-contact electronic tag 7 has been attached is passing past the partition 3, the data from the non-contact electronic tag 7 is read by the non-contact electronic tag reading antenna 4.

Abstract: A merchandise control system accurately keeps track of merchandise volume, thereby solving the problem of ambiguity that existed in the actual sales volume and the required replenishment quantity because of the inability to differentiate between disbursements of articles from warehouse adjacent to a store and actual sales. The merchandise control system preferably includes a merchandise quantity information store 1, a merchandise quantity information updater 2, a merchandise quantity information history store 3, and a merchandise quantity information and merchandise quantity information history provider 4.

Abstract: The disclosed merchandise tag is a non-contact wireless tag, has a color change layer on its surface, and the price data stored therein can be read out and rewritten. It can be easily attached and removed, reduces the amount of attachment implements used, and allows the display thereon to be easily changed by means of a heat treatment, magnetic treatment, or the like. The merchandise tag has an attachment hole 2 and a slit 3 that is formed to extend from the attachment hole up to the circumference of the merchandise tag, and contains a semiconductor integrated circuit, and one or more price data entries can be stored in the semiconductor integrated circuit. It preferably includes a rounded portion 4 at the intersection between the slit 3 and the circumference such that the angle formed between the slit 3 and the circumference is between 20 and 70 degrees.

Abstract: The entire status of a large volume of products in the form of large sheets of fabric (or other flexible material) each wrapped around a core incorporating an electronic tag can easily and accurately be distinguished via an antenna of an external reading device. Each core includes an inner tube 30 containing an electronic tag 20, and an outer tube 10 within which the inner tube 30 is free to move lengthwise. When the two tubes are viewed in a plane orthogonal to a common longitudinal axis, the cross section of the inner tube is preferably complementary to that of the outer tube such that an outer surface of the inner tube 30 is surrounded by a similarly shaped internal surface of the outer tube 10, and the inner tube is constrained to move inside the outer tube along said common axis. A weight may be provided within the inner tube 30. Alternatively, the inner tube may be filled with a liquid of a slightly high specific gravity so that the electronic tag 20 floats.

Abstract: A distribution system in which many types of small-volume products classified according to product type, which includes clothing, accessories, shoes, bags, and wallets, design, color, and size are combined for shipping in one or more packing boxes to a retail store. Products 9 are packed in a package 4 at a shipping site 1 and shipped via a distribution network 3 to a receiving site 2. An electronic package tag 5 containing data on a plurality of packed products 9 of differing type, color, and size is attached to each packing box, and electronic product tag 10 containing specific product data is attached to each packed product 9. The data stored on the electronic package tag 5 and the electronic product tags 10 is read at the receiving site 2, compared to the intended package contents were actually received.

Abstract: A distribution system in which many types of small-volume products classified according to product type, which includes clothing, accessories, shoes, bags, and wallets, design, color, and size are combined for shipping in one or more packing boxes to a retail store. Products 6 are packed in a package 2 at a shipping site 20 and shipped via a distribution network 4 to a receiving site 30. An electronic tag 1 containing data on a plurality of packed products 6 of differing type, color, and size is attached to each packing box, and the data stored on the electronic tag 1 is read at the receiving site 30 with a tag read device 32, stored in a database system 34, and printed on a printer 35.

Abstract: An electronic tag device is attached to products, such as accessories, clothing, shoes, bags, and wallets, of an indefinite and/or complex shape on which the use of a visually identifiable tag may be difficult due to bending or folding. The electronic tag device comprises an electronic tag 1 and an attaching implement 2, and is attached to a product 3 via the attaching implement 2. The product 3 is an article such as an accessory, article of clothing, shoe, bag, or wallet with an indefinite and/or complex shape, while the electronic tag 1 is a non-contact-type wireless tag in which information about the product is recorded. Preferably, each tag is provided with tilting means at one end of the tag for cooperating with an inwardly protruding lip of a receptacle to facilitate the tilting of the uppermost tag of a vertical stack of similarly shaped tags retained inside the receptacle.

Abstract: A product inspection device can confirm the presence of a tag to which a product is not attached or a product to which a tag is not attached when information is to be read from an electronic tag attached to a packaged product and an inspection is to be conducted. The device comprises a scale 2 that determines the weight of a packaged product 14 or the total weight of a plurality of packed products 14 in a state in which one or a plurality of products 11 to which a non-contact, wireless electronic tag 7 is attached are packed; and a read/write device 3 for the electronic tag 7 attached to the plurality of products 14. The packaged product or products are inspected based on the information on the weight of the product or products stored in the electronic tag 7.