Device and a method for automatic detection of whether an item is correctly routed

• US 10,053,233 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2015
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lyngsoe Systems A/S
• Original Assignee: Lyngsoe Systems A/S
• Inventors: Jacobsen, Klaus Holst
• Primary Examiner(s): Bidwell, James R
• Application Number:
  US15/548,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20180022473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721, 3405681, 3405727, 3405728, 3406866, 3406865
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/324 Luggage loaders specially adapted for loading individual luggage items into or out of the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/368 Arrangements or installations for routing, distributing or loading baggage
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0264 Luggage
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 43/08 Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22

Abstract

A device for automatic detection of whether an item is correctly routed is provided, the item including at least one radio frequency tag, wherein the device includes an RF communication mechanism for receiving at least one reading from the RF tag, the device being adapted to be arranged at a read point in proximity of the conveying mechanism, which conveying mechanism is operable to transport the item towards a destination, wherein the device is configured to extract identification and/or destination information from the reading received from the item on the conveying mechanism crossing past the device and to verify whether the item is correctly routed. Also, provided is a method for automatic detection of whether an item is correctly routed.

Claims

1. A device for automatic detection of whether an item on an airport conveyor is correctly routed, said item including at least one RFID tag, wherein the device comprises

an RFID antenna, and

an RFID reader, the RFID reader being configured for receiving at least one reading from the tag via the antenna,

wherein said device is adapted to be arranged at a read point in proximity of a conveyor, which conveyor is operable to transport the item towards a destination, wherein the device is configured for extracting identification or destination information or both from the reading received from the item on the conveyor crossing past the device and for verifying whether the item is correctly routed, and wherein the device further comprises a GPS receiver for determining a position of the device and for identifying a parking stand in the airport and identifying an airplane currently being loaded by the conveyor;

and for checking on the basis of the reading whether the item is correctly routed.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a casing inside which there is provided the RFID antenna, the RFID reader, and the GPS receiver;

wherein the casing further comprises a connector for functional connecting the device to a controller of the conveyor, and wherein the device is configured for automatically stopping the conveyor whenever a routing error is detected.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the device further comprises a lamp or a horn or both as a warning mechanism for warning a user of the device whenever a routing error is detected.

4. A method for automatic detection by a device whether an item on an airport conveyor is correctly routed, said item including at least one RFID tag,

wherein the device comprises

an RFID antenna and

an RFID reader, the RFID reader being configured for receiving at least one reading from the tag via the antenna,

wherein said device is adapted to be arranged at a read point in proximity of the conveyor, which conveyor is operable to transport the item towards a destination, wherein the device is configured for extracting identification or destination information or both from the reading received from the item on the conveyor crossing past the device and for verifying whether the item is correctly routed;

wherein the method comprises;

arranging the device at a read point in proximity of the conveyor;

placing the item with the tag on the conveyor and crossing the item by the conveyor past the device;

by the reader receiving at least one reading from the tag via the antenna,

by the device extracting identification or destination information or both from the at least one reading received from the tag while the item is crossing past the device;

by the device verifying whether the item is correctly routed or whether there is a routing error; and

wherein the device comprises a GPS receiver for determining a position of the device, and the method further comprises determining a GPS position of the device, from the GPS position identifying a parking stand in the airport and identifying a flight currently being loaded by the conveyor;

checking on the basis of the reading whether the item is correctly routed.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the device comprises a casing inside which there is provided the RFID antenna, the RFID reader, and the GPS receiver;

and wherein the conveyor is a conveyor belt as part of a belt loader vehicle;

wherein the method comprises arranging the casing of the device on the vehicle at a read point on the side of the conveyor belt.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the item is a suitcase, or a bag, or a package;

wherein the destination is a baggage compartment of an airplane;

wherein the method further comprises driving the belt loader vehicle under an airplane and loading the suitcase, bag or package into the baggage compartment of the airplane by the conveyor belt only if the suitcase, bag or package is verified as correctly routed.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the casing comprises a connector for functional connection of the device to a controller of the conveyor, and wherein the device is configured for automatically stopping the conveyor via the connector whenever a routing error is detected;

wherein the method further comprises connecting the connector to the controller of the conveyor and, during checking of the routing of the item, automatically causing the conveyor to stop whenever a routing error is detected by the device.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the device comprises a lamp or a horn or both as a warning means, wherein the method further comprises activating the lamp or the horn or both for warning a user of the device whenever a routing error is detected.