CONTAINER FOR SENDING OBJECTS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAID CONTAINER

• US 20100012653A1
• Filed: 12/03/2007
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
• Inventors: Ulrich, Keith, Wilms, Stefan
• Application Number:
  US12/517,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20100012653A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/1.500
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 79/02 Arrangements or devices for indicating incorrect storage or transport B65D79/005 takes precedence ; measuring devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3825 rigid container being in the form of a box, tray or like container with one or more containers located inside the external container
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53087 with signal, scale, illuminator, or optical viewer

Abstract

There is provided a container for transporting objects. The container has an interior to hold at least one object. An exemplary container comprises an inner box and an outer box. The exemplary container also comprises at least one sensor for detecting measured data relating to the object, the at least one sensor being located between the inner box and the outer box. The exemplary container additionally comprises at least one transponder connected to the at least one sensor.

Claims

1-58. -58. (canceled)

59. A container for transporting objects, the container having an interior to hold at least one object, the container comprising:

an inner box;

an outer box;

a sensor for detecting measured data relating to the object, the sensor being located between the inner box and the outer box; and

a transponder connected to the sensor.

60. The container recited in claim 59, comprising another sensor located in the interior.

61. The container recited in claim 59, wherein the transponder is arranged further to the outside of the container than the sensor.

62. The container recited in claim 59, wherein the transponder and the sensor are configured as components that are physically separated from each other.

63. The container recited in claim 59, wherein the transponder and the sensor are connected to each other by at least one cable.

64. The container recited in claim 59, wherein the transponder and the sensor are connected to each other by an electromagnetic coupling device.

65. The container recited in claim 59, wherein the container has a structure comprising several layers.

66. The container recited in claim 65, wherein there is at least one layer between the sensor and the transponder.

67. The container recited in claim 65, wherein at least one of the layers absorbs and/or reflects electromagnetic radiation.

68. The container recited in claim 59, wherein the sensor is located in an interior of the inner box.

69. The container recited in claim 59, wherein the sensor is located in an area of the outer box.

70. The container recited in claim 59, wherein the transponder is located between the inner box and the outer box.

71. The container recited in claim 59, wherein the outer box, when in an unfolded and/or set up position, is essentially rectangular.

72. The container recited in claim 59, wherein at least two opposite side walls of the outer box have lines of weakness running in a direction of a main axis of the container.

73. The container recited in claim 59, wherein the outer box is adapted to be folded along at least two opposite edges and along two opposite lines of weakness.

74. The container recited in claim 59, wherein the inner box is attached to the outer box by at least one tab.

75. The container recited in claim 59, wherein a connection between the inner box and the outer box is created by glue.

76. The container recited in claim 59, wherein, in order to be closed, the inner box has, at least at one end, at least one flap connected to a side wall via a folding line.

77. The container recited in claim 59, wherein, in order to be closed, the inner box has four flaps at both ends.

78. The container recited in claim 59, wherein, in order to be closed, the outer box has, at least at one end, at least one flap which is connected to a side wall via a folding line.

79. The container recited in claim 59, wherein, in order to be closed, the outer box has four flaps at both ends.

80. The container recited in claim 59, wherein there is a marked area on the container for applying an address.

81. The container recited in claim 59, wherein a structure for closing the container is located inside the container.

82. The container recited in claim 81, wherein the structure for closing the container comprises adhesive tape.

83. The container recited in claim 59, comprising shock-absorbing materials disposed in spaces between the inner box and the outer box.

84. The container recited in claim 59, wherein the shock-absorbing materials comprise paper, cardboard, foam and/or styrofoam elements.

85. The container recited in claim 59, wherein the sensor is adapted to acquire measured data about the object, and to transmit the measured data to the transponder, and wherein the transponder is adapted to transmit status information to a reading unit as a function of the measured data.

86. The container recited in claim 85, wherein the status information is stored.

87. The container recited in claim 85, wherein the status information is stored in a storage medium installed in the container.

88. A method for producing a container that has an interior to hold at least one object, the container comprising an inner box and an outer box, the method comprising incorporating a sensor-transponder unit into the container or into a blank intended for the production of the container, the sensor-transponder unit comprising a sensor that is adapted to detect measured data relating to the object, the sensor being adapted to be disposed between the inner box and the outer box, the sensor-transponder unit comprising a transponder connected to the sensor.

89. The method recited in claim 88, wherein the transponder and the sensor are located in two housings that are separate from each other.

90. The method recited in claim 88, wherein the blank comprises layers of the container once the container is finished.

91. The method recited in claim 88, wherein the sensor and the transponder are incorporated between different blanks.

92. The method recited in claim 88, wherein the sensor is incorporated into the interior.

93. The method recited in claim 88, wherein the container comprises a connection element having at least one wire.

94. The method recited in claim 93, wherein the connection element comprises at least one optical waveguide.

95. The method recited in claim 88, wherein the sensor is closer to the object than the transponder is.

96. The method recited in claim 88, wherein the sensor and the transponder are separated from each other by an interlayer.

97. The method recited in claim 96, wherein the interlayer has a thermally insulating effect.

98. The method recited in claim 96, wherein the interlayer has a shock-absorbing effect.

99. The method recited in claim 96, wherein the interlayer absorbs electromagnetic radiation.

100. The method recited in claim 96, wherein the interlayer reflects electromagnetic radiation.

101. The method recited in claim 88, comprising performing a logistical process in a logistics system as a function of an evaluation relating to the container.

102. The method recited in claim 101, wherein the logistical process comprises diverting the container out of a given transportation process.

103. The method recited in claim 101, wherein the logistical process comprises a selection of another mode of transportation.

104. The method recited in claim 88, comprising determining a position of the transponder.

105. The method recited in claim 104, comprising storing the position of the transponder.

106. The method recited in claim 104, comprising storing the position of the transponder in a data processing unit.

107. The method recited in claim 88, comprising:

determining the position of the container; and

associating the position of the container with status information obtained from the sensor.

108. The method recited in claim 88, comprising supplying energy to the transponder.

109. The method recited in claim 108, wherein the energy is supplied by a reading unit.

110. The method recited in claim 108, comprising relaying the energy from the transponder to the sensor.

111. The method recited in claim 88, comprising establishing a signal line between the sensor and the transponder via a connection element.

112. The method recited in claim 88, comprising transporting the container in a logistics system.

113. The method recited in claim 112, comprising transporting the container from a sending location to a receiving location.

114. The method recited in claim 112, wherein the logistics system comprises a reader that interacts with the transponder so that the measured data is transmitted to a reading unit.

115. A container for transporting objects, the container comprising:

inner box means for holding at least one object;

outer box means for holding the inner box means;

sensing means for detecting measured data relating to the object, the sensing means being located between the inner box means and the outer box means; and

transponder means connected to the sensing means.