Installation and method for monitoring the transfer of goods that comprise identification carriers

• US 20070013542A1
• Filed: 06/21/2006
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Astra Gesellschaft Fur Asset Management mbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Astra Gesellschaft Fur Asset Management mbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Stobbe, Anatoli
• Granted Patent: US 7,522,052 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.490
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4183 characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31095 Read write intelligent chip on workpiece, pallet, tool for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31306 Read identification only if object is present
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31308 Capture image asynchronously with processing of analysis, identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31462 Add time stamp to alarm message
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31483 Verify monitored data if valid or not by comparing with reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

Described are an installation and a method for monitoring the transfer of goods that comprise identification carriers, across a loading interface between a mobile transporter and a storage area, or between two mobile transporters. On the loading interface a reading device for contactless reading of the identification carriers and a location acquisition device are arranged and connected to an evaluation- and control device. During transfer of the goods across the loading interface, data of the identification carriers is read by means of a reading device, and location information of the goods is acquired by means of the location acquisition device, and the data is interlinked by means of the evaluation- and control device.

Claims

1. An installation for monitoring the transfer of goods that comprise identification carriers (50) across a loading interface (10) between a mobile transporter and a storage area, or between two mobile transporters, wherein on a mobile loading interface (10) a reading device (14) for contactless reading of the identification carriers (50) and a location acquisition device (82) are arranged and connected to an evaluation- and control device (16), and, during transfer of the goods across the mobile loading interface (10), data of the identification carriers (50) can be read by means of the reading device (14), and location information of the goods can be acquired by means of the location acquisition device (82), and furthermore, the data can be interlinked by means of the evaluation- and control device (16).

2. The installation according to claim 1, wherein on the mobile loading interface (10) in addition an imaging device (38) is arranged and connected to the evaluation- and control device (16), and, during the transfer of the goods across the mobile loading interface (10), by means of the imaging device (38) at least one image of the goods can be acquired and by means of the evaluation- and control device (16) can be linked together with data of the identification carriers (50) and with location information of the goods.

3. The installation according to claim 2, wherein the imaging device (38) can be triggered by the reading device (14) or by a movement detection device (34) that is connected to the evaluation- and control device (16).

4. The installation according to claim 2, wherein the imaging device (38) and the reading device (14) can be triggered by a movement detection device (34) that is connected to the evaluation- and control device (16).

5. The installation according to claim 2, wherein the movement detection device (34) comprises a dual light barrier or a radar sensor (36).

6. The installation according to claim 1, wherein the reading device (14) comprises four reading antennas (18, 20, 22, 24), arranged laterally on the loading interface, each of which antennas (18, 20, 22, 24) has its own reading unit (26, 28, 30, 32) or is connected to a shared reading unit by way of an antenna multiplexer.

7. The installation according to claim 2, wherein the imaging device (38) comprises at least one camera (40) that is directed towards the loading interface (10).

8. The installation according to claim 2, wherein the imaging device (38) comprises further cameras (42) that are directed towards the mobile transporter and/or the storage area.

9. The installation according to claim 2, wherein the imaging device (38) comprises further cameras (44) that are directed towards identification characteristics of the mobile transporter and/or of the storage area.

10. The installation according to claim 2, wherein the evaluation- and control device (16) is connected to a date- and time register (66), and by means of the evaluation- and control device (16) details concerning date and time can be linked with data of the identification carriers (50), with location information and with images of the goods.

11. The installation according to claim 2, wherein the evaluation- and control device (16) is connected, by way of a data interface (70), to a network (72), by way of which network (72) data relating to the identification carriers (50) and images of the goods can be transferred to a central station (74).

12. The installation according to claim 1, wherein by way of a data interface (76) the evaluation- and control device (16) is connected to a network (72), and in that authorisation data can be transmitted from the central station (74) to the evaluation- and control device (16).

13. The installation according to claim 1, wherein a signal device (68) is connected to the evaluation- and control device (16), and is controllable by the evaluation- and control device (16) depending on the data of the identification carriers (50), either exclusively or depending on the data of the identification carriers (50) in connection with stored transfer data and/or by way of transfer data transmitted by way of the network (72).

14. The installation according to claim 13, wherein, in addition, the signal device (68) is controllable depending on information relating to date and time, and/or depending on location information and/or depending on identification data of the gateway (12) or of the reading units (26, 28, 30, 32).

15. A method for monitoring the transfer of goods that comprise identification carriers across a loading interface (10) between a mobile transporter and a storage area, or between two mobile transporters, wherein by means of a reading device (14) arranged on a mobile loading interface (10), for contactless reading of the identification carriers (50), during the transfer of the goods across the mobile loading interface (10), data of the identification carriers (50) is read and by means of a location acquisition device (82), location information of the goods is acquired, and by means of an evaluation- and control device (16), with which the reading device (14) and the location acquisition device (82) are connected, the data of the identification carriers (50) is linked with location information of the goods.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein, in addition, by means of an imaging device (38) at least one image of the goods is acquired and by means of the evaluation- and control device (16), with which the reading device (14), the location acquisition device (82) and the imaging device (38) are connected, the data of the identification carriers (50) is linked with location information of the goods as well as with image data of the image of the goods, of which image there is at least one.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the imaging device (38) is triggered by the reading device (14) or by a movement detection device (34) that is connected to the evaluation- and control device (16).

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the imaging device (38) and the reading device (14) are triggered by a movement detection device (34) that is connected to the evaluation- and control device (16).

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein images of goods are taken that are transferred across the mobile loading interface (10).

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein, in addition, images of the mobile transporter and/or of the storage area are taken and linked with data of the identification carriers (50).

21. The method according to claim 16, wherein, in addition, images of identification characteristics of the mobile transporter and/or of the storage area are taken and linked with data of the identification carriers (50).

22. The method according to claim 16, wherein the data of the identification carriers (50), the location information and the image data are linked with information relating to date and time.

23. The method according to claim 15, wherein by way of a data interface (70) and a network (72) the linked data is transmitted to a central station (74).

24. The method according to claim 15, wherein by way of a network (72) authorisation data is transmitted from the central station (74) to the evaluation- and control device (16).

25. The method according to claim 15, wherein a signal device (68) is controllable, depending on the data of the identification device (50), either exclusively or depending on the data of the identification carriers (50) in connection with stored transfer data and/or by way of transfer data transmitted by way of the network (72).

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein, in addition, the signal device (68) is controlled depending on information relating to date and time, and/or depending on location information.