RFID conveyor system and method

• US 20060238352A1
• Filed: 03/23/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Datalogic Automation Incorporated (Datalogic S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Accu-Sort Systems Incorporated (Datalogic S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Hillegass, Raymond R., Zsido, Ronald M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,515,047 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.700
• 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: B65G 2203/042 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1012 Special detection of object
• 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: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10435 the interrogation device being positioned close to a conveyor belt or the like on which moving record carriers are passing conveying in accordance with bodily destination marks, see B65G47/46, sorting of objects carrying identity markings, see B07C5/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2241 used in or for vehicle tyres
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 17/001 for modifying the directional characteristic of an aerial
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/08 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path waveguide fed H01Q21/0037
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0428 : radiating a circular polarised wave

Abstract

A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed includes a frame, a conveyor that is disposed moveably on the frame and that conveys items through a path of travel, each item having at least one respective radio frequency identification tag disposed thereon, a first antenna, a second antenna, a radio frequency receiver, a barcode reader, and a processor. The processor associates information included in a response from a radio frequency identification tag with a first item if the processor receives the information from the receiver while at least a portion of the first item is within a first area that includes at least part of a second area into which the first antenna radiates radio frequency signals. The processor associates barcode label information from the barcode reader with the first item if the barcode label information is received during a period in which the first item is within a predetermined area on the conveyor.

Claims

1. A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed, said system comprising:

a frame;

a conveyor that is disposed movably on the frame and that conveys items through a path of travel, each item having at least one respective radio frequency identification tag disposed thereon;

a first antenna disposed proximate the path of travel so that the first antenna radiates radio frequency signals into a first area that is proximate the path of travel and through which the items pass;

a second antenna disposed proximate the path of travel so that the second antenna receives responses to the radio frequency signals from radio frequency identification tags on the items, wherein each response includes information that identifies the radio frequency identification tag from which the response is received;

a radio frequency receiver that receives signals from the second antenna corresponding to the responses received by the antenna from the respective radio frequency identification tags and outputs first signals corresponding to the responses and including the information;

a barcode reader disposed with respect to the conveyor so that the barcode reader reads barcode label information from barcode labels on items at a first predetermined position in the path of travel, wherein the barcode reader outputs second signals corresponding to the barcode label information; and

a processor that receives the first signals from the receiver and the second signals from the barcode reader,

wherein

the processor associates said information included in a said first signal with a first said item if the processor receives said first signal from the receiver while at least a portion of the first item is within a second area that includes at least part of the first area, and

the processor associates said barcode label information included in a said second signal with the first item if said second signal is received during a period in which the first item is within a predetermined area on the conveyor that includes the first predetermined position.

2. The system as in claim 1, wherein a single antenna comprises the first antenna and the second antenna.

3. The system as in claim 2, including a plurality of said single antennas.

4. The system as in claim 1, including a detector disposed with respect to the path of travel so that third signals output by the detector indicate presence of the items at a second position with respect to the path of travel.

5. The system as in claim 4, wherein the processor receives the third signals and tracks the items with respect to the first position, the second position and the second area, based on the third signals.

6. A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed, said system comprising:

a frame;

a generally planar belt that is disposed movably on the frame and that conveys items through a path of travel, each item having at least one respective radio frequency identification tag disposed thereon;

a first antenna disposed proximate the belt so that the first antenna radiates radio frequency signals into a first area that is proximate the belt and through which the items pass;

a second antenna disposed proximate the belt so that the second antenna receives responses to the radio frequency signals from radio frequency identification tags on the items on the belt, wherein each response includes information that identifies the radio frequency identification tag from which the response is received;

a radio frequency receiver that receives signals from the second antenna corresponding to the responses received by the second antenna from the respective radio frequency identification tags and outputs first signals corresponding to the responses and including the information;

a barcode reader disposed with respect to the belt so that the barcode reader reads barcode label information from barcode labels on items at a first predetermined position on the belt in the path of travel, wherein the barcode reader outputs second signals corresponding to the barcode label information; and

a processor that receives the first signals from the receiver and the second signals from the barcode reader,

wherein

the processor associates said information included in a said first signal with a first said item if the processor receives said first signal from the receiver while at least a portion of the first item is within a second area that includes at least part of the first area, and

the processor associates said barcode label information included in a said second signal with the first item if said second signal is received during a period in which the first item is within a predetermined area on the belt that includes the first predetermined position.

7. The system as in claim 6, wherein a single antenna comprises a said first antenna and a said second antenna.

8. The system as in claim 7, including a plurality of said single antennas.

9. The system as in claim 7, including a detector disposed with respect to the belt so that third signals output by the detector indicate presence of the items on the belt at a second position with respect to the path of travel.

10. The system as in claim 9, wherein the processor receives the third signals and tracks the items with respect to the first position, the second position and the second area, based on the third signals.

11. The system as in claim 10, including a tachometer that operatively engages the belt and outputs fourth signals corresponding to movement of the belt through the path of travel, wherein the processor tracks each said item with respect to the first position, the second position and the second area, based on the third signals and the fourth signals.

12. The system as in claim 11, wherein the processor maintains a record for each item identified by the third signals as present the second position and associates said information included in said first signal and said barcode label information included in said second signal with the record for the first item.

13. A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed, said system comprising:

a frame;

a generally planar belt that is disposed movably on the frame and that conveys items through a path of travel, each item having at least one respective radio frequency identification tag disposed thereon;

at least one antenna disposed proximate the belt so that the antenna

radiates radio frequency signals into a first area that is proximate the belt and through which the items pass and

receives responses to the radio frequency signals from radio frequency identification tags on the items on the belt, wherein each response includes information that identifies the radio frequency identification tag from which the response is received;

a radio frequency transmitter that drives the antenna to emit the radio frequency signals into the first area;

a radio frequency receiver that receives signals from the antenna corresponding to the responses received by the antenna from the respective radio frequency identification tags and outputs first signals corresponding to the responses and including the information;

a detector disposed with respect to the belt so that second signals output by the detector indicate presence of the items on the belt;

a barcode reader disposed with respect to the belt so that the barcode reader reads barcode label information from barcode labels on items located at a first predetermined position on the belt in the path of travel, wherein the barcode reader outputs third signals corresponding to the barcode label information; and

a processor that controls the transmitter to drive the antenna and that receives the first signals from the receiver, the second signals from the detector, and the third signals from the barcode reader,

wherein the processor is programmed to

responsive to the second signals, track each said item on the belt with respect to the first predetermined position and

a second predetermined position with respect to the path of travel,

associate said information included in a said first signal with a first said item if the processor receives said first signal from the receiver during a period in which at least a portion of the first item passes the second predetermined position and travels through a predetermined distance downstream from the second predetermined position, and

associate said barcode label information included in a said third signals with the first item if said third signal is received during a period in which the first item is within a predetermined area on the belt that includes the first predetermined position.

14. The system as in claim 13, wherein the second signals indicate presence of the items on the belt at a third position with respect to the path of travel upstream from the second position.

15. The system as in claim 14, including a tachometer that operatively engages the belt and outputs fourth signals corresponding to movement of the belt through the path of travel, wherein the processor tracks each said item with respect to the first position, the second position and the third position, based on the second signals and the fourth signals.

16. The system as in claim 15, wherein the processor maintains a record for each item identified by the second signals as passing the third position and associates said information included in said first signal and said barcode label information included in said third signals with the record for the first item.

17. The system as in claim 14, including a plurality of said antennas corresponding to a common said second position.

18. The system as in claim 17, wherein the plurality of antennas includes

a first said antenna disposed on the frame on a side of the belt opposite a side of the belt on which the items are conveyed, so that a gain pattern from the first antenna radiates from the first antenna generally into an area between the frame and the belt and to an area on a side of the belt opposite from the first antenna,

a second said antenna disposed on a first lateral side of the belt with respect to the path of travel, and

a third said antenna disposed on a second lateral side of the belt opposite the first lateral side.

19. The system as in claim 18, including a fourth said antenna disposed on the frame on the side of the belt on which items are conveyed, opposite the first antenna.

20. A method of processing items on which at least one respective radio frequency identification tag is disposed, where the items are conveyed through a path of travel by a conveyor disposed movably on a frame, said method comprising the steps of:

radiating radio frequency signals into a first area proximate the conveyor and through which the items pass and

receiving responses to the radio frequency signals from the respective radio frequency identification tags on the items in the path of travel, wherein the responses include first information that identifies the respective radio frequency identification tags from which the responses are received, and outputting first signals corresponding to the first information;

reading barcode label information from barcode labels on items located at a first predetermined position in the path of travel and outputting second signals corresponding to the barcode label information;

associating the first information included in a said first signal with a first said item if the first signal is output while at least a portion of the first item is within a second area that includes at least part of the first area; and

associating said barcode label information included in a said second signal with the first item if the second signal is output during a period in which the first item is within a predetermined area in the path of travel that includes the first predetermined position.

21. The method as in claim 20, including tracking the items with respect to the first position and the second area.

22. The method as in claim 21, including detecting presence of the items at a second position with respect to the path of travel upstream from the second area, and wherein the tracking step includes tracking the items with respect to the first position, the second position and the second area.

23. The method as in claim 22, including maintaining a record for each item detected at the detecting step and associating the first information included in said first signal and said barcode label information included in said second signal with the record for the first item.

24. A method of processing items on which at least one respective radio frequency identification tag is disposed, where the items are conveyed through a path of travel by a generally planar belt that is disposed movably on a frame, said method comprising the steps of:

driving at least one antenna disposed proximate the belt so that the antenna

radiates radio frequency signals into a first area proximate the belt and through which the items pass and

receives responses to the radio frequency signals from radio frequency identification tags on the items on the belt, wherein each response includes information that identifies the respective radio frequency identification tag from which said response is received;

providing a radio frequency receiver that receives signals from the antenna corresponding to the responses received by the antenna from the radio frequency identification tags and outputs first signals corresponding to the responses and including the information;

providing a barcode reader disposed with respect to the belt so that the barcode reader reads barcode label information from barcode labels on items at a first predetermined position on the belt in the path of travel, wherein the barcode reader outputs second signals corresponding to the barcode label information;

associating said information included in a said first signal with a first said item if the receiver outputs the first signal while at least a portion of the first item is within a second area that includes at least part of the first area; and

associating said barcode label information included in a said second signal with the first item if the barcode reader outputs the second signal during a period in which the first item is within a predetermined area on the belt that includes the first predetermined position.

25. The method as in claim 24, including detecting presence of the items on the belt at a second position with respect to the path of travel upstream from the second area, and tracking the items with respect to the first position, the second position and the second area.

26. The method as in claim 25, including maintaining a record for each item detected at the detecting step and associating said information included in said first signal and said barcode label information included in said second signal with the record for the first item.