Transport and storage unit having an identification unit and a reading unit

• US 8,471,681 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Erich Schaarschmidt
• Original Assignee: Erich Schaarschmidt
• Inventors: Schaarschmidt, Erich
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): LITTLEJOHN JR, MANCIL H
• Application Number:
  US12/676,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20100194540A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,754 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/5.61, 340/10.3, 340/10.43, 343/700
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/205 Means for the attachment of labels, cards, coupons or the like; cards or coupons for the other types of rigid or semi-rigid containers B65D25/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 7/045 Casks, barrels, or drums in their entirety, e.g. beer barrels, i.e. presenting most of the following features like rolling beads, double walls, reinforcing and supporting beads for end walls thermally insulated barrels, B65D81/3802
• 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 19/07762 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier wearable, e.g. having the form of a ring, watch, glove or bracelet record carriers for insertion in the human body for medical purposes A61B90/00; record carriers adapted for attachment to animals A01K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07771 the record carrier comprising means for minimising adverse effects on the data communication capability of the record carrier, e.g. minimising Eddy currents induced in a proximate metal or otherwise electromagnetically interfering object
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07796 arrangements on the record carrier to allow stacking of a plurality of similar record carriers, e.g. to avoid interference between the non-contact communication of the plurality of record carriers

Abstract

A transportation and storage unit includes a transponder identification unit for distinguishing and identifying goods or other objects, a multiplicity of which may be disposed, transported and/or stored and/or handled on palettes or similar transport aids in so-called groups, bunches, units or bundles. A plurality of mutually-separated transponders are embedded in the transponder identification unit. The transponder identification unit surrounds the periphery of the transportation and storage unit. A reading unit for sensing a multiplicity of transportation and storage units is also provided.

Claims

1. A transportation and storage unit, comprising:

a periphery of the transportation and storage unit;

a ring-shaped transponder identification unit surrounding said periphery of the transportation and storage unit for distinguishing and identifying goods or other articles, a multiplicity of the goods or other articles to be disposed, transported and/or stored and/or handled on pallets or transportation aids in groups or units or bundles;

said ring-shaped transponder identification unit configured for mechanically spacing the transportation and storage units at intervals from one another for forming a radio gap from other transportation and storage units disposed on a pallet or a transportation aid; and

a plurality of mutually spaced-apart transponders embedded in said transponder identification unit.

2. The transportation and storage unit according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of transponders are at least four transponders embedded in said transponder identification unit at intervals from one another and said transponders have identical identification data.

3. The transportation and storage unit according to claim 2, wherein said at least four transponders are five to six transponders.

4. The transportation and storage unit according to claim 1, wherein said transponder identification unit surrounds said periphery of the transportation and storage unit annularly.

5. The transportation and storage unit according to claim 1, wherein said transponder identification unit is disposed centrally and substantially horizontally relative to the transportation and storage unit.

6. The transportation and storage unit according to claim 1, which further comprises first and second rolling and/or centering rings, said transponder identification unit being disposed as a third ring between said rolling and centering rings.

7. The transportation and storage unit according to claim 1, which further comprises two rolling and centering rings, at least one of said rolling and centering rings being in the form of a transponder identification unit.

8. The transportation and storage unit according to claim 1, which further comprises a basic body of the transportation and storage unit, said transponders being protected from external mechanical influences by said transponder identification unit and being placed at intervals from said basic body.

9. The transportation and storage unit according to claim 1, which further comprises at least one of a shielding foil or a plate for said transponders providing protection from mechanical influences.

10. The transportation and storage unit according to claim 1, wherein said transponder identification unit is configured to receive frequencies in the UHF band.

11. The transportation and storage unit according to claim 1, wherein said transponders are active transponders.