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

• US 7,522,052 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2006
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Astra Gesellschaft Fur Asset Management mbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Astra Gesellschaft Fur Asset Management mbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Stobbe, Anatoli
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US11/472,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20070013542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/539.13, 340/825.49, 340/573.1, 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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), said installation comprising a loading interface (10) between a mobile transporter and a storage area, or between two mobile transporters, a reading device (14) for contactless reading of the identification carriers (50), a location acquisition device (81), an image-recording device (38), a signalling device (68), and an evaluation- and control device (16), the reader device (14), the location acquisition device (81), the image-recording device (3), and the signalling device (68) being connected with the 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), location data of the goods can be acquired by means of the location acquisition device (81), and image data including at least one image of the goods can be recorded by means of the image-recording device (38), and the data can be interlinked by means of the evaluation- and control device (16), and the signalling device (68) can be controlled by the evaluation and control device (16), wherein the location acquisition device is a global positioning device (81), the image-recording device (38) and the reader device (14) can be triggered by means of a movement detection device (34) that is connected with the evaluation- and control device (16), and can detect both a movement and a movement direction, and the detected movement direction, together with the data of the identification carriers, the location data detected by the global positioning device, and the at least one image of the goods, can be linked by means of the evaluation- and control device (16), and compared with reference data, and the signalling device (68) can be controlled as a function of the comparison.

2. The installation according to claim 1, wherein the movement detection device (34) comprises a dual light barrier or a radar sensor (36).

3. 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.

4. The installation according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device (38) comprises at least one camera (40) that is directed towards the loading interface (10).

5. The installation according to claim 4, wherein the imaging device (38) comprises further cameras (42) that are directed towards the mobile transporter and/or the storage area.

6. The installation according to claim 4, 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.

7. The installation according to claim 1, 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.

8. The installation according to claim 1, 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).

9. 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 wherein authorization data can be transmitted from the central station (74) to the evaluation- and control device (16).

10. The installation according to claim 1, wherein the signal device (68) 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).

11. 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 during the transfer of the goods across the loading interface (10), data of the identification carriers (50) is read by means of a reading device (14) for contactless reading of the identification carriers (50), location data of the goods is acquired by means of a location acquisition device (81), and at least one image of the goods is acquired by means of an image-recording device (38), and the data of the identification carriers (50), the location data, and the at least one image are linked with one another by means of an evaluation- and control device (16), and a signalling device (68) is turned on, wherein the image-recording device (38) and the reading device (14) are triggered by means of a movement detection device (34) that is connected with the evaluation- and control device (16), and detects both a movement and a movement direction, and the detected movement direction, together with the data of the identification carriers (50), the location data detected by way of a global positioning device, and the at least one image of the goods, are linked by means of the evaluation- and control device, and compared with reference data, and a signal is generated by the signalling device (68), as a function of the comparison.

12. The method according to claim 11, 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).

13. The method according to claim 11, 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).

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the data of the identification carriers (50), the location information and the image data are linked with information relating to date and time.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein by way of a data interface (70) and a network (72) the linked data is transmitted to a central station (74).

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein by way of a network (72) authorization data is transmitted from the central station (74) to the evaluation- and control device (16).

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the 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).

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein, in addition, the signal device (68) is controlled depending on information relating to date and time.