IP Library Granted Patent US 12,563,371
Granted Patent B2
US 12,563,371 · App. 18/837,142 · Granted Feb 24, 2026

Item managing apparatus, item managing system, and item managing method

Inventors: Yoshiyuki Ueda (Tokyo, JP); Mitsutoshi Sakagami (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: SATO CORPORATION
H04W4/38G06Q30/0201
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,563,371
App. No.
18/837,142
Granted
Feb 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An item managing apparatus includes: an item attachment device including a linear member and a biasing member, the linear member including one end that is attached to an item, the biasing member biasing the linear member from the one end in a first direction; a communication device attached to the linear member; and a device accommodation part that can accommodate the communication device, the device accommodation part being configured to exert an electromagnetic shielding function for the communication device when the communication device is accommodated in the device accommodation part. When no external force is applied to the item against biasing force of the first direction generated by the biasing member, the communication device is accommodated in the device accommodation part, and when external force is applied to the item against the biasing force of the first direction, the communication device is enabled to exit from the device accommodation part.

Claims (44)

1 . An item managing apparatus comprising:

an item attachment device including a linear member and a biasing member, the linear member including one end that is attached to an item, the biasing member biasing the linear member from the one end in a first direction;

a communication device attached to the linear member; and

a device accommodation part that can accommodate the communication device, the device accommodation part being configured to exert an electromagnetic shielding function for the communication device when the communication device is accommodated in the device accommodation part, wherein

when no external force is applied to the item against biasing force of the first direction generated by the biasing member, the communication device is accommodated in the device accommodation part, and when external force is applied to the item against the biasing force of the first direction generated by the biasing member, the communication device is enabled to exit from the device accommodation part.

2 . The item managing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the item attachment device includes a case that accommodates the biasing member, and

a winding mechanism is incorporated in the case, the winding mechanism being configured to be able to wind at least a part of a portion included in the linear member and exposed from the case, with the biasing force of the first direction generated by the biasing member.

3 . The item managing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the case and the device accommodation part are formed integrally with each other.

4 . The item managing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the case is incorporated into the device accommodation part.

5 . The item managing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the biasing member is a weight attached to the other end of the linear member.

6 . The item managing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the item is a product arranged in a store for being tried out.

7 . An item managing system comprising:

the item managing apparatus according to claim 1 ;

a wireless device wirelessly communicating with the communication device; and

a measurement device configured to acquire a result of whether communication by the wireless device with the communication device is possible over time, and, based on the result of whether the communication is possible, to measure a frequency at which the wireless device is able to communicate with the communication device.

8 . The item managing system according to claim 7 , further comprising a reference communication device arranged at a position that is not shielded by the device accommodation part when the communication device is accommodated in the device accommodation part, wherein

the wireless device communicates with the reference communication device, and

the measurement device is configured to acquire a result of whether communication by the wireless device with the reference communication device is possible over time, and, based on the result of whether the communication is possible, to measure a frequency at which the wireless device is able to communicate with the reference communication device.

9 . The item managing system according to claim 7 , wherein

the communication device is a wireless tag that collects surrounding radio waves and converts the collected radio waves into electric power, the wireless tag including a capacitor that stores the electric power.

10 . The item managing system according to claim 7 , wherein

the communication device is a UHF-band wireless tag.

11 . The item managing system according to claim 7 , wherein

the communication device is an HF-band wireless tag.

12 . The item managing system according to claim 7 , wherein

the communication device is a microwave-band wireless tag.

13 . An item managing method comprising:

providing an item attachment device including a linear member and a biasing member, the linear member including one end that is attached to an item, the biasing member biasing the linear member from the one end in a first direction;

attaching a communication device to the linear member;

configuring a device accommodation part having an electromagnetic shielding function, in such a way that the communication device is accommodated in the device accommodation part when no external force is applied to the item against biasing force of the first direction generated by the biasing member,

exiting, by the communication device, from the device accommodation part, with external force applied to the item against the biasing force of the first direction generated by the biasing member, and communicating with a wireless device; and

acquiring a result that concerns whether communication by the wireless device with the communication device is possible over time, and measuring a frequency at which the wireless device is able to communicate with the communication device, based on the result of whether the communication is possible.

14 . An item managing system comprising:

the item managing apparatus according to claim 2 ;

a wireless device wirelessly communicating with the communication device; and

a measurement device configured to acquire a result of whether communication by the wireless device with the communication device is possible over time, and, based on the result of whether the communication is possible, to measure a frequency at which the wireless device is able to communicate with the communication device.

15 . The item managing system according to claim 14 , further comprising a reference communication device arranged at a position that is not shielded by the device accommodation part when the communication device is accommodated in the device accommodation part, wherein

the wireless device communicates with the reference communication device, and

the measurement device is configured to acquire a result of whether communication by the wireless device with the reference communication device is possible over time, and, based on the result of whether the communication is possible, to measure a frequency at which the wireless device is able to communicate with the reference communication device.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 1, 2025
From: SATO HOLDINGS KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: SATO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 072085/0034 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2024
From: UEDA, YOSHIYUKI; SAKAGAMI, MITSUTOSHI
To: SATO HOLDINGS KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 068230/0691 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-030449 · Feb 28, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250193642A1 · Jun 12, 2025
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