System And Method For Tracking Inventory

• US 20110015780A1
• Filed: 09/16/2010
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TotalTrax, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rush Tracking System, LLC
• Inventors: Andersen, Scott Paul, Kirkham, Richard Ferris
• Granted Patent: US 8,295,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/215
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 18/28 Wound package of webs
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/01 indicating an entity as a function of which control, adjustment or change is performed, i.e. input
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/03 indicating an entity which is measured, estimated, evaluated, calculated or determined but which does not constitute an entity which is adjusted or changed by the control process per se
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/40 Identification
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2553/61 Mechanical means, e.g. contact arms
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2557/13 Data carrier, e.g. chip, transponder, magnetic strip
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2557/50 Use of particular electromagnetic waves, e.g. light, radiowaves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/182 Identification means
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/184 Roll clamps
• 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 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0776 the adhering arrangement being a layer of adhesive, so that the record carrier can function as a sticker
• 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 7/10326 the antenna being of the very-near field type, e.g. capacitive
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil

Abstract

An RFID enabled paper roll includes a tubular core, a paper stock wound around the core, and a radio frequency integrated circuit electrically coupled to an antenna and positioned on the core. A system for reading a radio frequency integrated circuit positioned on an item of inventory in a warehouse comprises a material handling device and an RFID reader coupled to the material handling device. The material handling device has at least member for use in transporting an item of inventory. The reader is configured to read the radio frequency integrated circuit associated with the item of inventory when the item is in proximity to the material handling device.

Claims

1. A system for managing inventory in a structure, the system comprising:

a plurality of overhead spaced-apart references, each reference including an identifier indicative of a reference position amongst the references;

a vehicle in the structure, the vehicle including an upwardly-aimed recognition device which recognizes at least one identifier from a reference in the plurality; and

a computing system for receiving the identifier and determining a vehicle position relative to the spaced-apart references.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the upwardly-aimed recognition device simultaneously reads identifiers from a plurality of references and the computing system triangulates to determine vehicle position.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the upwardly-aimed recognition device is a reading device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a product handling device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the product handling device is a forklift.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a material handling device having a pair of arms extending outwardly that are used to secure products and an automatic identification device on the material handling device is triggered upon the operation of the arms, the automatic identification device adapted to receive product information from an identification tag on a product.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the automatic identification device is an RFID reader.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein a computer processor is in communication with the automatic identification device, and the automatic identification device is adapted to both receive product information from the processor and also transmit product information to the reader.

9. The system of claim 1 comprising:

a location measurement system on the vehicle, the location measurement system sensing movement of the vehicle for consideration by the computing system along with the information provided by the upwardly-aimed recognition device which determines a vehicle position relative to the spaced-apart references.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the location measurement device system includes at least one of an inertial measurement unit and a distance sensor.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the distance sensor is coupled to the inertial measurement unit.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the location measurement system updates a Kalman filter process being executed in the computing system to estimate position of the vehicle during time periods between updates from the upwardly-aimed recognition device.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the distance sensor reads a distance traveled based upon rotation of a wheel on the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle includes a product reader for detecting and gaining information from a product identification device.

15. A material handling device comprising:

a position determining arrangement associated with the material handling device, the position determining arrangement recognizing a position of the material handling device relative to the positions of a plurality of spaced-apart references;

a product identification device being automatically triggered upon a relocation of a product by the material handling device, a product identification resulting in a signal that identifies the product to an administrator for inventory management purposes.

16. The material handling device of claim system of claim 15 including a securing device that extends out and engages products and a securement of the product is recognized upon an activation of the securing device.

17. The material handling device of claim 16 wherein a pressure switch is positioned on the securing device, and when said securing device is activated upon a loading the product, the pressure switch causes activation of the product identification device.

18. The material handling device of claim 15 wherein a distance sensor is used to detect the relocation of the product and trigger the product identification device.

19. The material handling device of claim 18 wherein the distance sensor triggers the product identification device upon a backing away of said material handling device.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the product identification device is a reader, the reader being adapted to interface with RFIC tags.