Radio-frequency tags for sorting post-consumption items

• US 20040133484A1
• Filed: 01/08/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hodges, Donna K., Kreiner, Barrett M.
• Application Number:
  US10/338,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20040133484A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 2301/0016 RFID-tags
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 2501/0054 Sorting of waste or refuse
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/3412 according to a code applied to the object which indicates a property of the object, e.g. quality class, contents or incorrect indication sorting according to size measured by light-responsive means B07C5/10; sorting according to optical properties B07C5/342; for packages B65D79/02; for information carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

An apparatus and method of selectively sorting post-consumption items that are associated with radio-frequency tags based on data received from the RF tag. One embodiment includes a conveyor, a picker arm, and an RF reader. Another embodiment includes an RF reader and a receptacle for selectively holding post-consumption items based on data retrieved from the associated RF tag.

Claims

1. A method for selectively sorting commingled post-consumption items, comprising:

determining data corresponding to a post-consumption item of a plurality of commingled post-consumption items based on a radio-frequency (RF) tag associated with the post-consumption item;

selectively sorting the post-consumption item based on the determined data.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining data comprises receiving an RF signal from the RF tag and determining a composition of the post-consumption item based on the received RF signal

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein sorting the post-consumption item comprises transferring the item to a selected one of a plurality of locations based on the determined composition of the item.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein sorting the post-consumption item comprises transferring the item to a selected one of a plurality of conveyors based on the determined composition of the item.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein sorting the post-consumption item comprises determining an estimated location of the post-consumption item by triangulation among a plurality of RF receivers.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein sorting the post-consumption item comprises retrieving the post-consumption item based on the estimated location of the post-consumption item.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein retrieving the post-consumption item comprises gripping the item.

8. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein retrieving the post-consumption item comprises magnetically securing the item.

9. An apparatus for selectively sorting commingled post-consumption items, comprising:

a first conveyor that conveys commingled post-consumption items;

a radio-frequency (RF) reader that reads data corresponding to a post-consumption item of a plurality of commingled post-consumption items based on an RF tag associated with the post-consumption item; and

a picker arm that removes the post-consumption item from the conveyor based on the read data.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising a computing device in communication with the RF reader and the picker arm, the computing device processes data received from the RF tag and controls the picker arm.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the picker arm further comprises a sensor for locating the post-consumption item by triangulation.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the picker arm comprises a magnet that magnetically secures a magnetic post-consumption item.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the picker arm comprises a suction device that secures the post-consumption item.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the picker arm comprises a pointed device that secures the post-consumption item by piercing the item.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising a plurality of second conveyors located proximate the first conveyor, wherein each of the plurality of second conveyors conveys post-consumption items of a particular composition.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the further comprising a computing device in communication with the RF reader and the picker arm and the computing device causes the picker arm to transfer the post-consumption item to one of the plurality of second conveyors based on a composition of the post-consumption item determined from the read data.

17. An apparatus for storing post-consumption items, comprising:

a receptacle for containing a post-consumption item having an associated radio-frequency (RF) tag; and

an RF reader associated with the receptacle that receives data from the RF tag; and

a controller in communication with the RF reader, the controller responds to the data received from the RF tag.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the receptacle comprises a plurality of compartments and a diverter that diverts between the plurality of compartments and wherein the controller causes the diverter to divert the post-consumption item to a particular compartment based on the data received from the RF tag.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein the RF reader receives an indication of a composition of the post-consumption item from the RF tag and wherein the controller causes the diverter to divert the post-consumption item to a particular compartment based on the indication of the composition received from the RF tag.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the receptacle comprises a door and a latch and the controller causes the door to unlatch based on the data received from the RF tag.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 17, further comprising an audible alarm in communication with the controller and wherein the controller causes the audible alarm to alarm based on the data received from the RF tag.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein the controller causes the audible alarm to alarm if the received data indicates that the item does not have a predefined composition.