System and method for tracking inventory

• US 8,295,974 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2010
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TotalTrax, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rush Tracking Systems LLC (TotalTrax, Inc.)
• Inventors: Andersen, Scott Paul, Kirkham, Richard Ferris
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgess, Ramya
• Application Number:
  US12/883,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20110015780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 340/988, 701/23, 701/24, 701/26, 701/201, 701/213, 701/209, 701/210
• US Class Current: 700/213
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 18/28 Wound package of webs
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/01 indicating an entity as a function of which control, adjustment or change is performed, i.e. input
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/03 indicating an entity which is measured, estimated, evaluated, calculated or determined but which does not constitute an entity which is adjusted or changed by the control process per se
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/40 Identification
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2553/61 Mechanical means, e.g. contact arms
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2557/13 Data carrier, e.g. chip, transponder, magnetic strip
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2557/50 Use of particular electromagnetic waves, e.g. light, radiowaves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/182 Identification means
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/184 Roll clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• 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 19/0776 the adhering arrangement being a layer of adhesive, so that the record carrier can function as a sticker
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10326 the antenna being of the very-near field type, e.g. capacitive
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil

Abstract

An RFID enabled paper roll includes a tubular core, a paper stock wound around the core, and a radio frequency integrated circuit electrically coupled to an antenna and positioned on the core. A system for reading a radio frequency integrated circuit positioned on an item of inventory in a warehouse comprises a material handling device and an RFID reader coupled to the material handling device. The material handling device has at least member for use in transporting an item of inventory. The reader is configured to read the radio frequency integrated circuit associated with the item of inventory when the item is in proximity to the material handling device.

Claims

1. A system for managing inventory in a structure, the system comprising;

a plurality of spaced-apart references, each reference including an identifier indicative of a reference position amongst the references;

a vehicle in the structure, the vehicle including recognition device configured to read the identifiers; and

a computing system for receiving the identifiers from the recognition device and configured to determine a vehicle position relative to the spaced-apart references;

wherein, the recognition device simultaneously reads identifiers from a plurality of references and the computing system triangulates to determine vehicle position.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a product handling device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the product handling device is a forklift.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a material handling device having a pair of arms extending outwardly that are used to secure products and an automatic identification device on the material handling device is triggered upon the operation of the arms, the automatic identification device adapted to receive product information from an identification tag on a product.

5. A material handling device comprising;

a position determining arrangement associated with the material handling device, the position determining arrangement recognizing a position of the material handling device relative to the positions of a plurality of spaced-apart references;

a product identification device being automatically triggered upon a relocation of a product by the material handling device, a product identification resulting in a signal that identifies the product to an administrator for inventory management purposes;

wherein the material handling device includes a securing device that extends out and engages products and a securement of the product is recognized upon an activation of the securing device; and

wherein a pressure switch is positioned on the securing device, and when said securine device is activated upon a loading of the product, the pressure switch causes activation of the product identification device.

6. A system for management of inventory, the system comprising:

at least one vehicle;

a first inventory reader coupled to the at least one vehicle, the inventory reader configured to obtain inventory identification information;

a plurality of spaced-apart surveyable references located above said vehicle;

a second locating reader coupled to the at least one vehicle, each of the spaced-apart surveyable references presenting one or more signals, said signals being receivable by said second reader on said vehicle;

a first computer processor in communication with said second reader;

a position locating system for triangulating a position of said vehicle relative to said spaced-apart surveyable references using said first computer processor; and

a location measurement device mounted on the vehicle for dynamically determining the position of the vehicle based at least in part upon sensed readings relating to the movement of the vehicle and wherein the location measurement device works in concert with the position locating system to update the position of the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the location measurement device comprises an inertial measurement unit.

8. The system of claim 6, comprising an error-compensation module operating in the computer.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said error-compensation module is a Kalman filter process.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the vehicle is a material handling device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the material handling device is a forklift.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the material handling device includes a securing device that extends out and engages a product from the inventory;

and

wherein the first inventory reader is automatically activated upon engagement of said securing device with said product.