Radio frequency identification bag tracking and recycling system, and bag counting rack associated therewith

• US 20060187058A1
• Filed: 02/07/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph T. Regard
• Original Assignee: Joseph T. Regard
• Inventors: Regard, Joseph T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,248,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.800
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

An RFID-based system for tracking, managing, dispensing and recycling bags, particularly retail and grocery-type bags such as t-shirt bags and the like. The preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplates a system wherein there is employed at a T-Shirt bag fabrication facility an RFID tag dispensing system for affixing an RFID tag to the thermoplastic film utilized in forming a T-shirt bag, which bag is formed into a stack. The RFID tag is associated with the bag at the time of manufacture, and information pertaining to said bag is saved in a central computer, which is subsequently used in shipping and management of the bag(s). A sensor bag rack is provided for supporting the bag pack during dispensing and use of the bags at the checkout counter, which supports the bag during loading and is configured to relay data on said bag as it is removed from the rack for placement in the customers cart, or otherwise provided to the customer. An alternative system contemplates a sensor which counts the bags at they are removed from the rack and compiles the number of bags per customer per transaction, which is used to calculate the deposit to be charged the customer for the bags used. Data on the number of bags used in bagging of the customers goods is thereby provided, which maybe used to calculate a deposit for each bag, which is charged to the customer. The customer may also be associated with each bag for compiling subsequent data on recycling of said bags. Lastly, the present invention contemplates a recycling bin which incorporates an RFID scanner to scan a collection of bags simultaneously as they are returned by the user, utilizing the data to calculate a refund due the customer.

Claims

1. A system for tracking thermoplastic bags at a retail establishment having a check out area, comprising:

a bag having an RFID tag situated therewith, said bag being associated with a stack of bags;

a sensor associated with the check out area;

whereby, upon said bag being dis-associated from said stack of bags, said scanner is formed to scan said bag to discern RFID data on said bag.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said bag is a t-shirt grocery bag.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein there is further provided a bag rack to support said stack of bags, and wherein said sensor is associated with said bag rack.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said sensor senses said RFID tag upon removal of said bag from said rack.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein each of said bags forming said stack of bag has an RFID tag embedded therein.

6. A system for tracking bags, comprising:

a bag having an RFID tag situated therein;

a bin having a receiving area having an RFID sensor associated therewith;

whereby, upon said bag being placed in said receiving area of said bin, said RFID sensor scans said receiving area to discern RFID data on said bag.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said bin is a recycling bin.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein there is provided a plurality of bags having RFID tags individually situated therein, and wherein, upon said plurality of bags being placed together in said receiving area of said bin, said RFID sensor scans said receiving area to discern RFID data on each of said bags.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said bags comprise thermoplastic grocery bags.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said thermoplastic grocery bags comprise t-shirt bags.

11. The method of manufacturing t-shirt grocery bags, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a plurality of RFID tags, each having distinct RFID data;

b. applying said RFID tag to a web of film in uniformly spaced fashion;

c. forming a t-shirt bag from said web of film such that a single RFID tag is associated with said bag.

12. The method of tracking a bag, comprising the steps of:

a. forming a bag having an RFID tag associated therewith, said RFID tag having RFID data;

b. scanning said bag during a transaction, and utilizing said RFID data to calculate a deposit amount charged as a component of said transaction;

c. scanning said bag after use, and utilizing said RFID data to calculate a credit based upon the deposit amount charged.

13. The method of recycling a grocery bag, comprising the steps of:

a) forming a stack of bags, each bag having an RFID tag having RFID data;

b) placing said stack of bags upon a bag rack;

c) opening one of said bags upon said rack, and placing product therein, providing a filled bag;

d) removing said filled bag from said rack;

e) scanning said filled bag as it is removed from said rack, providing RFID data on said bag;

f) utilizing said RFID data to calculate a deposit on said bag, which deposit is charged to a customer;

g) providing said bag to said customer;

h) utilizing said bag to convey said product;

I) emptying said bag of said product, providing a used bag;

j) utilizing an RFID scanner to scan said used bag, providing RFID data on said bag;

k) utilizing said RFID data to calculate a credit based upon said deposit.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein in step “

j”

there is further provided the steps of;

I. providing a recycling bin having a receiving area having an RFID scanner associated therewith;

ii. placing said bag into said receiving area of said recycling bin;

iii. utilizing said RFID scanner to scan said receiving area, receiving RFID data on said bag situated within said receiving area.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said recycling bin has a lid covering said receiving area, and wherein there is further provided the steps of:

ia. providing a switch associated with said lid, said switch associated with said RFID scanner, said switch configured to initiate scanning of said receiving area by said RFID area for a predetermined period of time upon said lid closing upon said receiving area;

ib. lifting said lid, depositing said bag into said receiving area;

ic. closing said lid, utilizing said switch to initiate scanning of said RFID area.

16. A recycling bin, said recycling bin having formed therein a receiving area for receiving a bag, said receiving area having an RFID scanner associated therewith;

whereby, upon placement of a bag into said receiving area, said RFID scanner is formed to scan said receiving area to discern data on any bag having RFID tags associated therewith, providing RFID data.

17. The recycling bin of claim 16, wherein said receiving area is formed to receive a plurality of bags, and wherein said RFID scanner is formed to scan said receiving area to discern data on any of said plurality of bags in said receiving area having RFID tags associated therewith.

18. The recycling bin of claim 17, wherein said receiving bin has a lid and a floor, and wherein said closing of said lid provides controls said RFID scanner.

19. The recycling bin of claim 18, wherein floor opens to allow the contents of said receiving area to fall therethrough after said RFID scanner has scanned said receiving area.

20. The recycling bin of claim 17, wherein said RFID data is used to calculate a deposit refund.