RF-enabled pallet

• US 7,342,496 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2005
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nextreme LLC
• Original Assignee: Nextreme LLC
• Inventors: Muirhead, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope; Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US11/152,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20050237184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/539.13, 340/539.32, 340/571, 340/568.5
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/24308 comprising electronic elements or detection means, e.g. chips, RFIDs or barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/07 Flat, e.g. panels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/11 comprising two or more partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. honeycomb-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/15 incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. extrusion moulding around inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/157 Coating linked inserts, e.g. chains
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/02 Combined thermoforming and manufacture of the preform
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/12 of articles having inserts or reinforcements
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/46 Measuring, controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/02 by heating, with or without pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/54 Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/542 joining hollow covers or hollow bottoms to open ends of container bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/543 joining more than two hollow-preforms to form said hollow articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/545 one hollow-preform being placed inside the other
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7254 honeycomb structures
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2017/00 Carriers for sound or information
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7126 large, e.g. for bulk storage
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7172 Fuel tanks, jerry cans
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7178 Pallets
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0018 and each contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00034 : Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 : Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00139 : Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00273 : made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00288 : made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00318 : made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00338 : contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00407 : on the load supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00412 : on the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00437 : on the load supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00442 : on the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00557 : without separate auxiliary elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00562 : chemical connection, e.g. glued, welded, sealed
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0094 : nestable
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/02 : Measuring two or more variables by means not covered by a single other subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 : characterised by the shape
• 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 19/07767 : the first and second communication means being two different antennas types, e.g. dipole and coil type, or two antennas of the same kind but operating at different frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 : the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 : Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

The inventions involve material handling apparatus developed to operate in radio frequency rich environments. Articles are provided having at least one large compartment capable of enclosing at least one electronic device or a package populated with a plurality of devices. RFID tags are also provided having three antenna arrays situated on three planes to improve electromagnetic and electrostatic coupling with an external distributed network of devices. Pallets are provided with cellular communications devices to provide track and trace functionality. Sensors and actuators are used in connection with the material handling apparatus.

Claims

1. A pallet assembly comprising:

a deck,

a base,

a plurality of legs supporting the deck above the base,

at least one of said legs including a compartment, and

said compartment being exteriorly visible upon a surface of said deck and depending there from to form a leg pocket for receiving at least one centrally positioned electronic device from the group consisting of a RFID tag having a unique ID code, a power supply module, a reader module, and a communications module.

2. A pallet assembly as set forth in claim 1 which includes:

one of said legs being a center leg, and

said center leg including said compartment.

3. A pallet assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which:

said compartment receives a removable cover to enclose said compartment.

4. A pallet assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which:

said base includes a second compartment, and

said second compartment is exteriorly visible and developed to receive a second removable cover to enclose said second compartment.

5. A pallet assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which:

at least one of said first and second compartments contains an electronic device.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a platform having a top surface and a bottom surface,

said top surface positioned above said bottom surface with said top surface being a fixed distance apart from said bottom surface,

said top surface including a recessed portion having an opening therein,

said bottom surface including a leg extending outwardly therefrom,

said recessed portion positioned in overlying relation with said leg to form a compartment having a depth exceeding the distance between said top surface and said bottom surface, and

said compartment having sufficient size capacity to accommodate at least one electronic device.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 which includes:

a cover for closing said recessed portion opening to conceal the electronic device.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which:

said cover does not extend above said top surface.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 which includes:

said fixed distance between said top surface and said bottom surface being between one inch and two inches, and

said compartment depth being less than six inches.

10. A pallet assembly comprising:

a deck having a plurality of members extending therefrom, a load supporting surface, and an opening in said load supporting surface,

a base having a plurality of members extending therefrom,

a snap fit arrangement for joining said deck members to said base members to form a plurality of spaced apart legs connecting said deck to said base,

at least one of said legs including a compartment therein with said deck opening communicating with said compartment and receiving a cover for closing said compartment,

said deck, said base, and said leg members defining a plurality of holes for receiving a plurality of fork tines, and

said compartment including means for communicating with a device reader positioned adjacent to the pallet assembly and a device from the group consisting of an electronic device having a communications module, an electronic device having a reader module, an electronic device having a power supply module, an electronic device having a sensor module, and an electronic device having another means for communicating with a device reader positioned adjacent to the pallet assembly.

11. A pallet assembly as set forth in claim 10 which includes:

said deck opening being positioned within an annular recess and having threads for removeably connecting the cover to said compartment.

12. A pallet assembly as set forth in claim 10 which includes:

said deck opening being positioned so that the cover forms part of said load supporting surface.

13. A material handling apparatus comprising:

a platform having a compartment and an opening communicating with said compartment,

said platform including a removable cover for inserting into said opening to close said compartment,

an electronic device for communicating with a network positioned within said compartment, and

said electronic device including a sensor having a probe for inserting into said opening to sense an exterior condition and communicate the condition to said electronic device.

14. A pallet assembly comprising:

a first member having a compartment and a lid for closing said compartment,

a first RFID device positioned within said first member compartment having a unique ID code and memory space sufficient to store at least one additional ID code,

a second member having a compartment and a lid for closing said compartment,

a second RFID device positioned within said second member compartment having a unique ID code and memory space sufficient to store at least one additional ID code,

said first member connecting to said second member with a snap fit arrangement, and

said first RFID device unique ID code and said second RFID device unique ID code forming a third unique ID code for identifying the pallet assembly with at least one of said first RFID device memory space and said second RFID device memory device storing said third unique ID code.

15. A pallet distribution system comprising:

said pallet assembly of claim 14, and

a network for reading at least one of said first RFID device unique ID code, said second RFID device unique ID code, and said third unique ID code.