RFID product identification and tracking system

• US 8,154,406 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2010
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hershey Chocolate and Confectionary Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hershey Chocolate and Confectionary Corporation
• Inventors: Feldenzer, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US12/695,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20100127872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/686.1, 340/686.2, 340/10.1, 340 104- 1042, 340/10.51, 414/749.1, 700225-227, 198/339.1, 198/340, 198/341.01, 198/341.03, 198/341.04, 198/348, 198/890, 198/434, 198/436, 198/437
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Apparatus for RFID tagging of packages is provided, including a conveyor, along which tags having microchips and antennae are applied to packages, with the tags being encoded via radio waves, to contain information about package identification and other information, with the encoding being done upstream of a palletizer system, and with the palletizer system being provided for receiving encoded packages from the conveyor.

Claims

1. Method for RFID tagging of packages comprising:

transporting packages along a predetermined conveyor path of a transport conveyor, with tags having microchips and antennae applied to the packages;

reading information including bar codes or other indicia from each package transported on said conveyor with a sensor as a package passes the sensor;

connecting a central computer to the sensor to receive the information on each package passing from said sensor;

encoding the tags by transmitting radio waves providing information about package identification to the microchips of the tags, via the antennae of the tags, the encoding being controlled by the central computer;

applying an encoded tag to a package with a tag applying means proximate to the package, the tag applying means being controlled by the central computer;

verifying that an applied tag has proper installation and proper activation, with verifying means, the verifying means being connected to the central computer; and

providing a palletizer system at a predetermined location downstream from the tag applying means for removing encoded packages from the conveyor and delivering at least some encoded packages to at least one pallet station, the palletizer system being connected to receive signals from the central computer;

wherein the encoding occurs upstream of the location of the palletizer system;

wherein the palletizer system includes;

at least one discharge station positioned along the transport conveyor, the operation of which is determined by a signal from the central computer;

at least one receiver conveyor line connected to a respective discharge station;

and at least one pallet station connected to a respective receiver line;

wherein each respective discharge station has a discharge controller, a pusher mechanism controlled by said discharge controller, and a pusher plate movable by said pusher mechanism to contact a designated package; and

wherein the discharge controller is connected to said central computer to receive designated package information, wherein the discharge controller reads the tag on each package as it passes, whereby the pusher mechanism and pusher plate are operated to push a package onto the respective receiver line when the designated package information read from a package tag matches the information received from the central computer.

3. The method of any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein each pallet station includes:

a rotatable pallet plate capable of holding packages received from a respective receiver conveyor line;

a pallet motor mechanism connected to rotate the pallet plate; and

a web of wrapping material positioned proximate to the rotatable pallet plate.

4. The method of any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the palletizer system further includes means for transferring tagged packages from each respective receiver line to the respective pallet station associated therewith.

5. The method of any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the means for applying the tags to packages includes fluid-impelled apparatus for delivery of the tags to the packages, the fluid-impelled delivery being controlled by signals from the central computer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the fluid-impelled apparatus comprises:

a motor controlled by the central computer;

a valve operated by the motor;

a compressed air line leading from the valve; and

an air delivery plate positioned to impel tags toward a package passing by on the transport conveyor.

7. The method of any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the tag applying means controlled by the central computer includes a tag applicator, and means for vertically adjusting the position at which tags are applied to packages.

8. The method of claim 7, also including means for delivering tags to the tag applicator having an elongate tape with tags carried thereon;

and means for separating the tags from the tape, wherein the tag delivering means controls the tag delivery by controlling tape movement in response to control signals from the computer.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the tag delivering means includes:

a pair of position rollers for positioning a package on the transport conveyor;

a position sensor for sensing a package;

a tape roll dispenser including a drive roll and a plurality of idler rolls wherein the dispensed tape travels downward to the drive roll then upward;

a tape feed controller connected to the central computer and the drive roll;

an applicator controller connected to the position sensor and to the tape feed controller;

and

a doctor blade positioned to intercept, in-turn, each tag on the tape to separate it from the tape.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the doctor blade is positioned proximate said drive roll, wherein the tag separation occurs when the tape is traveling downward, and wherein the tag applicator is positioned below the doctor blade.

11. The method of any one of claims 1 and 2, also including:

sensing information on a package passing by on the transport conveyor;

wherein the encoding step encodes package permanent bar code information, package history, date of manufacture, and manufacturing location to a tag prior to its application to a package;

wherein the packages transported by the transport conveyor are of various heights;

wherein the tags applied to the packages are passive tags;

wherein the palletizer system includes a plurality of different receiver lines connected to the conveyor for receiving tagged packages, means for directing tagged packages to selected ones of the receiver lines depending upon the package identification encoded on tags on the packages, a plurality of pallet stations, and means for transferring packages from the receiver lines to predetermined ones of the pallet stations pursuant to a control signal from the central computer;

wherein the central computer provides encoding instructions for the encoding step; and

wherein the tag applying means also includes means for delivering tags via an elongate tape by which the tags are carried, means for separating the tags from the tape, and fluid-impelled delivery apparatus.

2. Method for RFID tagging of packages comprising:

transporting packages along a predetermined conveyor path of a transport conveyor, with tags having microchips and antennae applied to the packages;

reading information including bar codes or other indicia from each package transported on said conveyor with a sensor as a package passes the sensor;

connecting a central computer to the sensor to receive the information on each package passing from said sensor;

encoding the tags by transmitting radio waves providing information about package identification to the microchips of the tags, via the antennae of the tags, the encoding being controlled by the central computer;

applying an encoded tag to a package with a tag applying means proximate to the package, the tag applying means being controlled by the central computer;

verifying an applied tag for proper installation and proper activation, with verifying means being connected to the central computer; and

providing a palletizer system at a predetermined location downstream from the tag applying means for removing encoded packages from the conveyor and delivering at least some encoded packages to at least one pallet station, the palletizer system being connected to receive signals from the central computer;

wherein the encoding occurs upstream of the location of the palletizer system;

wherein the palletizer system includes;

a plurality of discharge controllers positioned sequentially along the transport conveyor, each discharge controller being connected to the central computer to receive respective package information, each discharge controller having associated therewith a package sensor;

a pusher and a pusher plate associated with each discharge controller;

a plurality of receiver conveyor lines connected respectively to receive packages from a respective discharge controller pusher and pusher plate; and

a plurality of pallet stations connected one each to a respective receiver conveyor line;

wherein each discharge controller and the associated pusher and pusher plate are operated to push a package onto the respective receiver conveyor line in response to the package information received from the central computer.