Process equipment tracking system

• US 20050205658A1
• Filed: 03/16/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Newage Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Newage Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Needling, Michael C., Greer, David, Younan, George, Baker, Kenneth D., Rozenblat, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,259,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/90 Remote control, e.g. wireless, via LAN, by radio, or by a wired connection from a central computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A process equipment tracking system utilizing an attached RF ID tag attached to the process equipment during manufacture or thereafter. The RF ID tag is coded with an identification specific to the particular process equipment. An RF ID tag reader is provided, which is usable by a user to obtain the identification from the RF ID tag on the process equipment, preferably after the equipment is installed at the user facility. The RF ID tag reader includes a user input for at least one trackable event and can write data based on the at least one trackable event back onto the RF ID tag. The RF ID tag reader is at least one of connectable to a PC or the internet, or is compatible for uploading the identification and any user input to an internet accessible device. A process equipment database is provided, having process equipment-related information. The process equipment database provides access to a user to obtain the process equipment-related information based on the identification from the RF ID tag and receives and stores data related to the at least one trackable event.

Claims

1. A process equipment tracking system, comprising:

an attached RF ID tag and an attachment device adapted to attach the RF ID tag to a piece of process equipment;

an RF ID tag reader/writer useable by a user to obtain the identification from the RF ID tag on the process equipment and including a user input for at least one trackable event, and being able to write data on the at least one trackable event onto the RF ID tag, the RF ID tag reader being at least one of connectable to an internet or compatible for uploading the identification and the user input to a network access device; and

a data base having process equipment related information, including at least one of manufacturing date, replacement date, batch number, lot number, material specifications, material lot number, certificates of compliance, size specifications, fitting specifications, description, customer data, batch process description, cleaning operations and customer application associated with the identification for the process equipment, the data base provides access to a user to obtain the process equipment related information based on the identification and receives and stores data related to the at least one trackable event.

2. The process equipment tracking system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface and a re-order database provided with the database which allows a user to re-order new process equipment based on the RF ID tag identification.

3. The process equipment tracking system of claim 1, wherein the data related to the at least one trackable event is stored in at least one of a local process equipment history data base and an internet accessible history database, which is used to store data on a series of trackable events.

4. The process equipment tracking system of claim 3, further comprising an automatic notice generation system which interrogates the process equipment data base regarding an expected replacement life of the process equipment, and generates an electronic notice to the user prior to an expiration of the process equipment expected replacement life.

5. The process equipment tracking system of claim 1, further comprising a user notice database having at least one of maintenance information and recall information for the process equipment which is accessible based on the RF ID tag identification.

6. The process equipment tracking system of claim 1, wherein the network access device includes a computer.

7. The process equipment tracking system of claim 1, wherein the process equipment comprises at least one of a valve, a vessel, a pump, a filter, a bio processing bag, and a UV lamp used in a pharmaceutical or chemical processing system.

8. The process equipment tracking system of claim 1, wherein the attachment device includes a molded silicone pouch which contains the RF ID tag.

9. The process equipment tracking system of claim 1, wherein the attachment device includes at least two pieces of polymeric laminate material which encase the RF ID tag therebetween.

10. The process equipment tracking system of claim 1, wherein the attachment device includes a tape which connects the RF ID tag to the piece of process equipment.

11. The process equipment tracking system of claim 10, wherein the tape includes a silicone tape.

12. The process equipment tracking system of claim 1, wherein the attachment device includes an encapsulated RF ID strap which contains the RF ID tag, the strap including interlocking portions which connect the strap to the piece of process equipment.

13. The process equipment tracking system of claim 12, further comprising an adhesive which adheres the RF ID strap to the piece of process equipment.

14. A method of tracking a piece of process equipment using a tracking system for obtaining process equipment data, comprising:

affixing an RF ID tag encoded with an identification on the process equipment;

providing process equipment information relating to the process equipment in a process equipment data base correlated to the identification;

a user reading the RF ID tag with an RF ID tag reader;

the user inputting data on at least one trackable event regarding the process equipment into the RF ID tag reader;

writing the data on the at least one trackable event onto the RF ID tag;

uploading data from the RF ID tag reader to a PC, an internet accessible device or connecting the RF ID tag reader to an internet;

accessing the process equipment data base;

retrieving data relating to the process equipment from the process equipment data base using the identification; and

uploading data on the at least one trackable event to a process equipment history data base to build the process equipment history data base.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

a user using the internet and logging into a host web site; and

the uploading of the data relating to the at least one trackable event regarding the process equipment includes uploading data on a series of trackable events.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the trackable event is a process equipment wear related event.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

calculating an expected process equipment life based on the process equipment history data base.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one trackable event relates to at least one of:

process equipment cleaning, a number of batches of material processed or passed through process equipment, and an installation date of process equipment.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining a process equipment life expectancy based at least on the process equipment history data base; and

interfacing with the process equipment history data base and electronically notifying the user to reorder prior to an expiration of the determined process equipment life expectancy.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

interfacing with the process equipment data base and electronically notifying the user to reorder prior to an expiration of a process equipment life expectancy.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

reordering replacement process equipment based on the process equipment data base and the process equipment identification.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

automatically notifying the user re a maintenance and/or recall.