RFID conveyor system and method
First Claim
1. A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed, said system comprising:
- a frame;
a conveyor that is disposed movably on the frame and that conveys items through a path of travel, each item having at least one respective radio frequency identification tag disposed thereon;
a plurality of antennas disposed proximate the path of travel so that the antennasradiate radio frequency signals into a first area through which the items pass andreceive responses to the radio frequency signals from the respective radio frequency identification tags on the items in the path of travel,wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas is disposed so that the items pass through the path of travel between the conveyor and the at least one of the plurality of antennas;
at least one radio frequency transmitter that drives the antennas to emit the radio frequency signals into the first area;
at least one radio frequency receiver that receives signals from the antennas corresponding to the responses received by the antennas from the respective radio frequency identification tags and outputs first signals corresponding to the responses;
a detector disposed with respect to the path of travel so that second signals output by the detector indicate a height of items passing proximate the detector through the path of travel, anda processor that receives the first signals from the at least one receiver,wherein the processor is programmed tocontrol the at least one transmitter to drive said antennas in a predetermined sequence with respect to each other,associate a said first signal with a first said item based upon whether the processor receives the first signal from the at least one receiver while at least a portion of the first item is within a second area that includes at least part of the first area, andbased on the second signals, eliminate the at least one of the plurality of antennas from the predetermined sequence when the first item is within the second area if the height of the first item is below a predetermined threshold.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A conveyor system includes a plurality of antennas proximate a conveyor path of travel that radiate radio frequency signals into a first area and receive responses to radio frequency signals from radio frequency identification tags on items on the conveyor. A detector detects a height of items. A processor receives response signals from the receiver and controls a transmitter to drive respective antennas in a predetermined sequence, associate a response with a first item if the processor receives the response signal while at least a portion of the first item is within a second area that includes at least part of the first area, and based on signals from the detector, eliminate at least one of the plurality of antennas from the predetermined sequence if the height of the first item is below a predetermined threshold.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed, said system comprising:
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a frame; a conveyor that is disposed movably on the frame and that conveys items through a path of travel, each item having at least one respective radio frequency identification tag disposed thereon; a plurality of antennas disposed proximate the path of travel so that the antennas radiate radio frequency signals into a first area through which the items pass and receive responses to the radio frequency signals from the respective radio frequency identification tags on the items in the path of travel, wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas is disposed so that the items pass through the path of travel between the conveyor and the at least one of the plurality of antennas; at least one radio frequency transmitter that drives the antennas to emit the radio frequency signals into the first area; at least one radio frequency receiver that receives signals from the antennas corresponding to the responses received by the antennas from the respective radio frequency identification tags and outputs first signals corresponding to the responses; a detector disposed with respect to the path of travel so that second signals output by the detector indicate a height of items passing proximate the detector through the path of travel, and a processor that receives the first signals from the at least one receiver, wherein the processor is programmed to control the at least one transmitter to drive said antennas in a predetermined sequence with respect to each other, associate a said first signal with a first said item based upon whether the processor receives the first signal from the at least one receiver while at least a portion of the first item is within a second area that includes at least part of the first area, and based on the second signals, eliminate the at least one of the plurality of antennas from the predetermined sequence when the first item is within the second area if the height of the first item is below a predetermined threshold.
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2. A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed, said system comprising:
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a frame; a generally planar belt that is disposed movably on the frame and that conveys items through a path of travel, each item having at least one respective radio frequency identification tag disposed thereon; a plurality of antennas disposed proximate the belt so that the antennas radiate radio frequency signals into a first area that is proximate the belt and through which the items pass and receive responses to the radio frequency signals from the respective radio frequency identification tags on the items on the belt, wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas is disposed with respect to the belt so that the items pass through the path of travel between the belt and the at least one of the plurality of antennas; at least one radio frequency transmitter that drives the antennas to emit the radio frequency signals into the first area; at least one radio frequency receiver that receives signals from the antennas corresponding to the responses received by the antennas from the respective radio frequency identification tags and outputs first signals corresponding to the responses; a detector disposed with respect to the belt so that second signals output by the detector indicate a height of items on the belt passing proximate the detector, and a processor that receives the first signals from the at least one receiver, wherein the processor is programmed to control the at least one transmitter to drive said antennas in a predetermined sequence with respect to each other, associate a said first signal with a first said item based upon whether the processor receives the first signal from the at least one receiver while at least a portion of the first item is within a second area that includes at least part of the first area, and based on the second signals, eliminate the at least one of the plurality of antennas from the predetermined sequence when the first item is within the second area if the height of the first item is below a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of processing items on each of which at least one respective radio frequency identification tag is disposed, where the items are conveyed through a path of travel by a conveyor that is disposed movably on a frame, said method comprising the steps of:
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driving a plurality of antennas disposed so that each antenna radiates radio frequency signals into a first area through which the items pass and receives responses to the radio frequency signals from radio frequency identification tags on the items in the path of travel, wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas is disposed with respect to the conveyor so that the items pass through the path of travel between the conveyor and the at least one of the plurality of antennas; providing at least one radio frequency receiver that receives signals from the antennas corresponding to the responses received by the antennas from the radio frequency identification tags and outputs first signals corresponding to the responses; detecting a height of items on the conveyor; driving said antennas in a predetermined sequence with respect to each other; associating a said first signal with a first said item based upon whether the first signal is received from the at least one receiver while at least a portion of the first item is within a second area that includes at least part of the first area; and based on the height detected at the detecting step, eliminating the at least one of the plurality of antennas from the predetermined sequence when the first item is within the second area if the detected height of the first item is below a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed, said system comprising:
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a frame; a conveyor disposed movably on the frame and that conveys items through a path of travel, each item having at least one respective radio frequency identification tag disposed thereon; a plurality of antennas disposed proximate the path of travel so that the antennas communicate with radio frequency identification tags on said items conveyed by the conveyor through the path of travel, wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas is disposed so that the items pass through the path of travel between the conveyor and the at least one of the plurality of antennas; at least one radio frequency transmitter that drives the antennas to communicate with the radio frequency identification tags; a radio frequency receiver in communication with the antennas so that the receiver reads the radio frequency identification tags via the antennas; a detector disposed with respect to the path of travel so that the detector detects a height of items passing proximate the detector through the path of travel; and a processor in communication with the receiver and the detector, wherein the processor is programmed to control the at least one transmitter to drive said antennas in a predetermined sequence with respect to each other, associate information read from a first said radio frequency identification tag by the receiver with a first said item based upon whether the receiver reads the first radio frequency identification tag while at least a portion of the first item is within a predefined first area that is proximate the path of travel and through which the items pass, and responsive to the detector, eliminate the at least one of the plurality of antennas from the predetermined sequence when the first item is within the second area if the height of the first item is below a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification