Apparatus and methods for processing items

• US 20060116899A1
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autronic Plastics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autronic Plastics, Inc.
• Inventors: van Koot, Frederik, Keuning, Timothy, R. Lax, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,054,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/402
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5093 For closures

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for processing assets in a lockable container are disclosed. A decoupler receives information from the container or the asset in the container. The container may be associated with a security status, and the item may be associated with a processing status. The decoupler may move the container along a processing path in a sequence based on the security status of the container and/or the processing status of the asset. The decoupler may also lock or unlock the container while moving the container along the processing path. At least a portion of the processing path may be exposed to a magnetic field, which may lock or unlock the container and/o activate or deactivate a security tag associated with the container or the item. The decoupler may also write or read information to or from an RFID tag associated with the container and/or the asset. This information may be used in conjunction with benefit denial, audit, loss prevention, transaction management, and other similar systems.

Claims

1. A lockable container for securing an asset configured to be processed by an automatic container processing assembly having an optical sensor, the lockable container having a security status, the container comprising:

a first cover;

a second cover coupled to the first cover, wherein the first and second covers are configured to move between an open position which allows access to the asset, and a closed position which prevents access to the asset;

a locking member that is configured to move between an unlocked position, in which the first and second covers can move to the open position, and a locked position which locks the first and second covers in the closed position; and

a security status indicator that, when disposed in the assembly in a first position relative to the container, is configured to close an optical circuit between the indicator and the sensor and, when disposed in the assembly in a second position relative to the container, is configured to open the circuit.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the security status indicator comprises a tag.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein the security status indicator exhibits a first reflectivity in the first position and a second reflectivity in the second position.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein the first position is indicative of the secure security status and the second position is indicative of the unsecure security status.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein the security status indicator comprises reflective foil.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein the security status indicator comprises reflective tape.

7. The container of claim 1 wherein the security status indicator comprises reflective ink.

8. The container of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a laser.

9. The container of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a light emitting diode.

10. A method for verifying the security status of a lockable container using a container processing assembly, the lockable container having a security status indicator configured to close an optical circuit between the indicator and an optical sensor in a first position and open the optical circuit in a second position, the method comprising:

aligning the security status indicator with an electromagnetic radiation source within the container processing assembly;

exposing the security status indicator to the electromagnetic radiation source;

detecting reflected electromagnetic radiation from the security status indicator; and

determining, from the detected reflected electromagnetic radiation, whether the optical circuit is open or closed.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein detecting the reflected electromagnetic radiation comprises detecting the intensity of the reflected electromagnetic radiation.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the electromagnetic radiation comprises visible light.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein detecting the reflected electromagnetic radiation comprises detecting the color of the visible light.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein aligning the security status indicator comprises moving the lockable container along a processing path.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the processing path is mechanical.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the security status indicator comprises reflective foil.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the security status indicator comprises reflective tape.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the security status indicator comprises reflective ink.

19. The method of claim 10 wherein exposing the security status indicator to the electromagnetic radiation source comprising shining a laser on the indicator.

20. The method of claim 10 wherein exposing the security status indicator to the electromagnetic radiation source comprises shining a light emitting diode on the indicator.