Methods for electronic tracking of units originating from a common source, and assemblies comprising transponders attached to meat spikes

• US 6,545,604 B1
• Filed: 07/01/1999
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1999
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Dando, Ross S., Tuttle, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, John
• Application Number:
  US09/346,635
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.9, 340/825.15, 340/825.35, 452/198, 452/148
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: A22B 5/0064 for classifying or grading carcasses; for measuring back fat
• CPC Class Codes: A22B 7/00 Slaughterhouse arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A22B 7/007 Means containing information relative to the carcass that can be attached to or are embedded in the conveying means
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 17/10 Marking meat or sausages marking animals A01K11/00; labelling B65C
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• 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 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

In one aspect, the invention encompasses a method for electronic tracking of units originating from a common source which comprises a plurality of units physically joined with one another. A first transponder is physically associated with the common source, and the source is split to separate it into three or more of the units. A second transponder is physically associated with one of the three or more units, and the second transponder sends a code. The code of the second transponder is electrically associated with an identifier of the common source. In a particular aspect, the common source is an animal carcass.

Claims

1. A method for electronic tracking of units originating from a common source, comprising:

physically associating a first transponder with a common source, the source comprising a plurality of units physically joined with one another, the first transponder sending a code which is electrically associated with the common source;

splitting the common source to separate the source into two or more of the units;

physically associating a second transponder with one of the two or more units, the second transponder sending a code; and

electrically associating the code of the second transponder with an identifier of the common source in a database.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first transponder is associated with the common source for a period of time during which the second transponder is not physically associated with the common source.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the second transponder is not associated with any portion of the common source until after the splitting of the common source into two or more units.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second transponders comprise radio frequency identification devices, and wherein the sending a code comprises stimulating the radio frequency identification devices with an interrogator and transmitting data from the stimulated devices to the interrogator.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the physically associating the second transponder occurs after the splitting of the source into two or more units.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the common source comprises at least a portion of an animal body, wherein the units are different cuts of meat comprised by the animal body, and wherein the splitting comprises cutting the animal body into said units.

35. The method of claim 1 wherein the physically associating comprises physically associating the first transponder with a monolithic common source.

7. A method for electronic identification of meat units originating from a common animal carcass, comprising:

physically associating a first transponder with an animal carcass, the first transponder sending a code which is electrically associated with an identifier of the animal carcass;

splitting the animal carcass into two or more units and physically associating a second transponder with one of the two or more units, the second transponder being joined to a meat spike, the physically associating the second transponder with said one of the units comprising inserting the meat spike into said one of the units, the second transponder sending a code; and

electrically associating the code of the second transponder with the identifier of the animal carcass.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the first transponder is joined to a meat spike, and wherein the physically associating the first transponder with said carcass comprises inserting the meat spike into said carcass.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the carcass is hung from a hanger on a trolley, and wherein the physically associating the first transponder with said carcass comprises joining the first transponder to the hanger.

10. A method for electronic identification of meat units originating from a common animal carcass, comprising:

providing an animal carcass on a conveyer and conveying the carcass through a meat processing plant, the animal carcass being no more than half of an animal body and initially having a first transponder physically associated therewith, the first transponder sending a code which is electrically associated with an identifier of the animal carcass;

first splitting the animal carcass into at least two first units, one or more of the first units being physically separated from the first transponder after the first splitting;

physically associating one or more second transponders with at least one of the first units which are physically separated from the first transponder after the first splitting, the second transponders sending codes; and

electrically associating the codes of the second transponders with the identifier of the animal carcass.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the first and second transponders comprise radio frequency identification devices, and wherein the sending a code comprises stimulating the radio frequency identification devices with an interrogator and transmitting data from the stimulated devices to the interrogator.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the first transponder is joined to a meat spike, and wherein the physically associating the first transponder with said carcass comprises inserting the meat spike into said carcass.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the second transponders are joined to meat spikes, and wherein the physically associating the second transponders with said at least one of the first units comprises inserting the meat spikes into said at least one of the first units.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the carcass is hung from a hanger on a trolley, and wherein the physically associating the first transponder with said carcass comprises joining the first transponder to the hanger.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

second splitting at least one of the first units into at least two second units, one or more of the second units being physically separated from both the first and second transponders after the second splitting;

physically associating one or more third transponders with at least one of the second units which are physically separated from the first and second transponders after the second splitting, the third transponders sending codes; and

electrically associating the codes of the third transponders with the identifier of the animal carcass.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

packaging a collection of units comprising one or more packaged units selected from the group consisting of first units, second units and mixtures thereof;

removing transponders from the units of the collection before the packaging;

providing a package identifier associated with the package in a database; and

associating an identifier of the packaged units with the identifier of the animal carcass in the database, the identifier of the animal carcass being ascertained by interrogating the transponders physically associated with the units of the collection before the packaging.

17. A method for electronic identification of an originating animal carcass for packaged meat units, comprising:

providing a first animal carcass on a conveyer and conveying the first animal carcass through a meat processing plant, the first animal carcass initially having a first transponder physically associated therewith, the first transponder sending a code which is electrically associated with an identifier of the first animal carcass;

first splitting the first animal carcass into at least two first units, one or more of the first units being physically separated from the first transponder after the first splitting;

physically associating one or more second transponders with at least one of the first units which are physically separated from the first transponder after the first splitting, the second transponders sending codes;

electrically associating the codes of the second transponders with the identifier of the first animal carcass;

providing a second animal carcass on a conveyer and conveying the second animal carcass through the meat processing plant, the second animal carcass initially having a third transponder physically associated therewith, the third transponder sending a code which is electrically associated with an identifier of the second animal carcass;

second splitting the second animal carcass into at least two second units, one or more of the second units being physically separated from the third transponder after the second splitting;

physically associating one or more fourth transponders with at least one of the second units which are physically separated from the third transponder after the second splitting, the fourth transponders sending codes;

electrically associating the codes of the fourth transponders with the identifier of the second animal carcass;

packaging a collection of units comprising one or more packaged units selected from the group consisting of first units, second units and mixtures thereof;

removing transponders from the units of the collection before the packaging;

providing a package identifier associated with the package in a database; and

electrically associating an identifier of the packaged units with the identifiers of the first and second animal carcasses in the database, the identifiers of the first and animal carcasses being ascertained by interrogating the transponders physically associated with the units of the collection before the packaging.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the first, second, third and fourth transponders comprise radio frequency identification devices, and wherein the sending of codes from the first, second third and fourth transponders comprises stimulating the radio frequency identification devices with one or more interrogators and transmitting data from the stimulated devices to the interrogators.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the first, second, third and fourth transponders comprise radio frequency identification devices, and wherein the ascertaining of the interrogating the transponders stimulating the transponders removed from the units of the collection before the packaging with an interrogator and transmitting data from the stimulated transponders to the interrogator.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the second and fourth transponders are joined to meat spikes, and wherein the physically associating the second fourth transponders with said first and second units comprises inserting the meat spikes into the first and second units.

21. An identification assembly comprising:

a housing having an outer periphery;

a transponder entirely contained within the housing; and

at least one spike removably secured to the housing.

22. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the housing and spike comprise plastic.

23. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the housing has only one spike extending therefrom.

24. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the housing and spike consist essentially of plastic.

25. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the housing comprises a pair of planar surfaces joined by a sidewall, and wherein the at least one spike extends from one of the surfaces.

26. The assembly of claim 25 wherein the planar surfaces comprise circular outer peripheries, and wherein the sidewall extends around the circular outer peripheries.

27. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the housing comprises a pair of planar surfaces joined by a sidewall, and wherein the at least one spike is spaced from the sidewall.

28. The assembly of claim 27 wherein the planar surfaces comprise circular outer peripheries, and wherein the sidewall extends around the circular outer peripheries.

29. A meat identification assembly comprising a transponder removably attached to a meat spike.

30. The assembly of claim 29 wherein:

the meat spike comprises;

a rod having a pair of opposing ends;

a point at one of the opposing ends of the rod; and

a holder at an other of the opposing ends of the rod; and

the transponder is attached to a substrate configured to slide over the rod and be retained by the holder.

31. The assembly of claim 29 wherein:

the meat spike comprises;

a rod having a pair of opposing ends;

a point at one of the opposing ends of the rod; and

a loop at an other of the opposing ends of the rod; and

the transponder is attached to a substrate configured to be retained to the rod by the loop.

32. A meat identification assembly comprising a radio frequency identification device (RFID) attached to a meat spike, and wherein:

the meat spike comprises;

a rod having a pair of opposing ends;

a point at one of the opposing ends of the rod; and

a holder at an other of the opposing ends of the rod; and

the RFID is attached to a substrate configured to slide over the rod and be retained by the holder.

33. The assembly of claim 32 wherein the RFID is configured as a passive device.

34. The assembly of claim 32 wherein:

the holder comprises a loop at the other of the opposing ends of the rod; and

the substrate is configured to be retained to the rod by the loop.

36. An identification assembly comprising a transponder housed in an assembly having at least one spike extending therefrom, and wherein the housing comprises a pair of planar surfaces joined by a sidewall, and wherein the at least one spike extends from the sidewall, and wherein the at least one spike is configured for insertion into an object while maintaining substantially the same shape after insertion as before insertion, and wherein the at least one spike alone secures the identification assembly to the object;

and

wherein the planar surfaces comprise circular outer peripheries, and wherein the sidewall extends around the circular outer peripheries.

37. The assembly of claim 36 wherein the at least one spike is rigid.

38. A meat identification assembly comprising a transponder attached to a meat spike, the meat spike comprising:

a rod having a pair of opposing ends;

a point at one of the opposing ends of the rod; and

a holder at an other of the opposing ends of the rod; and

the transponder is attached to a substrate configured to slide over the rod and be retained by the holder.

39. A meat identification assembly comprising a transponder attached to a meat spike, the meat spike comprising:

a rod having a pair of opposing ends;

a point at one of the opposing ends of the rod; and

a loop at an other of the opposing ends of the rod; and

the transponder is attached to a substrate configured to be retained to the rod by the loop.

40. A meat identification assembly comprising a radio frequency identification device (RFID) attached to a meat spike, the meat spike comprising:

a rod having a pair of opposing ends;

a point at one of the opposing ends of the rod; and

a holder at an other of the opposing ends of the rod; and

the RFID is attached to a substrate configured to slide over the rod and be retained by the holder.

41. A meat identification assembly comprising a radio frequency identification device (RFID) attached to a meat spike, the meat spike comprising:

a rod having a pair of opposing ends;

a point at one of the opposing ends of the rod; and

a loop at an other of the opposing ends of the rod; and

the RFID is attached to a substrate configured to be retained to the rod by the loop.

42. An identification assembly comprising a transponder housed in an assembly having at least one spike extending therefrom, and wherein the housing comprises a pair of planar surfaces joined by a sidewall, and wherein the at least one spike extends from the sidewall, and wherein the at least one spike is configured for insertion into an object while maintaining substantially the same shape after insertion as before insertion;

and

wherein the planar surfaces comprise circular outer peripheries, and wherein the sidewall extends around the circular outer peripheries.

43. A meat identification assembly comprising a transponder attached to a meat spike, the meat spike comprising:

a rod having a pair of opposing ends;

a point at one of the opposing ends of the rod; and

a holder at an other of the opposing ends of the rod; and

the transponder is attached to a substrate configured to slide over the rod and be retained by the holder.

44. A meat identification assembly comprising a transponder attached to a meat spike, the meat spike comprising:

a rod having a pair of opposing ends;

a point at one of the opposing ends of the rod; and

a loop at an other of the opposing ends of the rod; and

the transponder is attached to a substrate configured to be retained to the rod by the loop.

45. A meat identification assembly comprising a radio frequency identification device (RFID) attached to a meat spike, and wherein:

the meat spike comprises;

a rod having a pair of opposing ends;

a point at one of the opposing ends of the rod; and

a loop at an other of the opposing ends of the rod; and

the RFID is attached to a substrate configured to be retained to the rod by the loop.