Material handling apparatus having a reader/writer

• US 7,752,980 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2007
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nextreme LLC
• Original Assignee: Nextreme LLC
• Inventors: Muirhead, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, JOSE V
• Application Number:
  US11/704,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20070163472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 108/51.11, 108/57.25, 108/57.28, 108/901, 108/902, 108/57.27, 340/505, 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/10.1, 340/825.36, 340/539.13, 340/985, 340/825.49, 705/26, 705/28, 235/492, 235/486, 700/1, 425/135, 425/137, 425/169
• US Class Current: 108/57.25
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/24308 comprising electronic elements or detection means, e.g. chips, RFIDs or barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/001 Shaping in several steps
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/08 flexible, e.g. films
• 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 51/162 of deep containers or boxes
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/267 Two sheets being thermoformed in separate mould parts and joined together while still in the mould B29C49/0691 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/46 Measuring, controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/18 using heated tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/433 Casing-in, i.e. enclosing an element between two sheets by an outlined seam for bookbinding B42C11/06; for packaging B65B; by laminating B32B37/00; enclosing tubular articles between substantially flat elements B29C66/53261
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/4722 Fixing strips to surfaces other than edge faces fixing strips to edge faces B29C63/0026
• 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 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83411 Roller, cylinder or drum types B29C66/83431 takes precedence; rollers, cylinders or drums moving relative to and tangentially to the parts to be joined B29C66/8362
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/96 characterised by the method for implementing the controlling of the joining process
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9672 involving special data inputs, e.g. involving barcodes, RFID tags
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 : PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/12 : PP, i.e. polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2075/00 : Use of PU, i.e. polyureas or polyurethanes or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• 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 2519/00268 : made of one piece
• 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: G08B 13/2417 : having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 : Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/244 : Tag manufacturing, e.g. continuous manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2445 : Tag integrated into item to be protected, e.g. source tagging
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 : Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 108/901 : Synthetic plastic industrial platform, e.g. pallet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1049 : Folding only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1051 : by folding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1062 : Prior to assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/109 : Embedding of laminae within face of additional laminae
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1734 : Means bringing articles into association with web

Abstract

An industrial platform, specifically, a pallet or a container, for storing and transporting articles with attached RFID tags includes an electronic communications device having components that are tracked to identify the location and status of the platform. The device also includes components to communicate with the RFID tags attached to the articles, as well as RF tags located within the distribution environment. A microprocessor with memory manages and stores the information obtained from the multiple tags and components. A portable wireless device transmits data within distributed wireless networks. A power supply provides for mobility and autonomous operation. The device is part of a condition responsive indicating system that tracks the platform and monitors its contents in real time.

Claims

1. An electrical communications device for use within a condition responsive indicating system having the electrical communications device and the RFID tags therein comprising:

a body,

an interrogator for querying the RFID tags within reading range of said interrogator,

said interrogator positioned on said body and using a first radio frequency signal from the RFID tags to detect a specific condition information of the RFID tags,

at least one communications component for communicating out of range of said interrogator,

said communications component positioned on said body and receiving at least a second radio frequency signal having system information from a remote host and transmitting a third radio frequency signal having the condition information to said remote host,

a circuit board positioned on said body to connect said interrogator to said communications component,

said circuit board having a microprocessor for processing, storing and controlling the communication of information within the system,

said microprocessor being responsive to the specific condition information and system information based upon rules stored in memory or instructions communicated within the system,

a battery positioned on said body and being electrically connected to said circuit board, and

said battery being source of power for at least one of the interrogator, communications component and microprocessor.

2. An electronic communications device as set forth in claim 1 which includes:

an RFID based interface card electrically connected to said circuit board, and

said RFID based interface card using a fourth radio frequency signal for communicating with RFID tags within a range to obtain further condition information for the purpose of surveillance to which the system is responsive.

3. An electronic communications device as set forth in claim 1 in which:

said body includes an industrial platform with said industrial platform having a surface for holding articles thereon and an internal chamber for holding said interrogator, said at least one communications component, said circuit board, and said battery, and

said interrogator detects the specific condition information of when an article with an attached RFID tag is added to or removed from said surface of said industrial platform.

4. An electronic communications device as set forth in claim 3 in which:

at least one of said interrogator, at least one communications component and microprocessor includes an electronic manifest for at least one article on said industrial platform.

5. An electronic communications device as set forth in claim 1 in which:

said at least one communications component has a portable wireless communications device that operates within at least one of a local area network for transceiving information with a local network host and a cellular network communications device for transceiving information with a remote cellular network host.

6. An electronic communications device as set forth in claim 5 in which:

said body includes an industrial platform,

said industrial platform, and

said at least one communications component has a first memory section for holding permanent information that uniquely identifies said industrial platform and a second memory section for holding real-time condition information related to said industrial platform.

7. An electronic communications device as set forth in claim 6 in which:

said second memory section holds real-time condition information of said portable wireless communications device including a time, date and location information that is detected using the second frequency signal.

8. An electronic communications device as set forth in claim 7 in which:

said microprocessor utilizes the real-time condition information based upon said rules and instructions.

9. An electronic communications device as set forth in claim 1 in which:

said microprocessor uses rules in memory to selectively obtain condition information using said interrogator and to transmit condition information including the obtained condition information using said at least one communications component.

10. An electronic communications device as set forth in claim 1 which includes:

said microprocessor being instructed by the remote host to obtain specific condition information using said interrogator and to return specific condition information including the obtained specific condition information using said at least one communications component.

11. A system having at least one RFID tag and a pallet apparatus with an electronic device for tracking the pallet therein comprising:

a body for holding a RFID tag reader/writer, at least one communications device, a microprocessor, and a portable power supply thereon,

said RFID tag reader/writer for communicating with the RFID tag within an interrogation range,

said at least one communications device for obtaining condition information including a real-time location,

said at least one communications device electrically connected to said RFID tag reader/writer,

said microprocessor electrically connected to said RFID tag reader/writer,

said microprocessor for processing, managing, and storing condition information acquired at different times from the at least one communications device, and

said portable power supply electrically connected to at least one of said RFID tag reader/writer, said at least one communications device, and said microprocessor to supply electric power to said RFID tag reader/writer, said microprocessor and said communications device.

12. A system as set forth in claim 11 which includes:

said at least one communications device having a cellular communications component having integral means for determining a current position.

13. A system as set forth in claim 11 in which:

said communications device has the ability to collect real-time data within a distribution system, and

a GPS component for determining a current position.

14. A system as set forth in claim 11 in which:

said communications device includes at least one of a portable LAN communicator and a RFID transponder that communicates with external devices positioned along a distribution path for determining a current position.

15. A system as set forth in claim 11 in which:

said communications device includes apparatus to monitor, store and communicate condition information indicative of an environmental condition.

16. A system as set forth in claim 11 which includes:

said microprocessor being responsive to condition information, utilizing the RFID reader/writer to store condition information in a memory of the RFID tags and condition information obtained from the RFID tags by the RFID reader/writer in a memory of the communications device.

17. A system as set forth in claim 11 in which:

at least one of the RFID reader/writer, communications device and microprocessor includes time and date information or a wireless access to time and date information, so that a time and date at which condition information is obtained can be recorded.

18. A system as set forth in claim 11 in which:

said communications device includes a receiver for receiving over a wireless network instructions for the electronic device to perform an operation based upon predetermined criteria, and a transmitter for transmitting over the wireless network the condition information obtained after performing the operation.