Apparatus and method for identification and/or marking of objects by means of RFID

• US 8,752,763 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2009
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Felix Schoeller Supply Chain Technologies GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Felix Schoeller Supply Chain Technologies GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Rademacher, Horst
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUDORF, LAURA A
• Application Number:
  US13/132,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20110248084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 Days
• Field of Search: 235/451, 235/375, 235/435, 235/440, 340 101- 106, 3405721-5727, 343880-883
• US Class Current: 235/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10435 the interrogation device being positioned close to a conveyor belt or the like on which moving record carriers are passing conveying in accordance with bodily destination marks, see B65G47/46, sorting of objects carrying identity markings, see B07C5/34

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for identification and/or marking of objects (6) by means of RFID having a read or write/read unit (1) for wire-free reading from and/or writing to a memory unit (8a) of an RFID transponder (8) which is connected to the object (6) to be identified and/or to be marked, wherein the read or write/read unit (1) has a transmitting/receiving module (3), which has at least one antenna (4, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45). According to the invention, the apparatus is characterized in that the at least one antenna (4, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45) is arranged such that it can move. The invention also relates to a method for identification and/or marking of an object (6) by means of RFID.

Claims

1. Apparatus for identification or marking of objects by means of radiofrequency identification (RFID) with a read or write/read unit for wireless reading from or writing to a memory unit of an RFID transponder connected to the object to be identified or marked, wherein the read or write/read unit comprises a transmitting/receiving module having at least one antenna, characterized in that the at least one antenna is movably arranged, wherein the apparatus comprises a positioning unit for positioning the at least one antenna in a movement path of the object to be identified or marked, wherein the positioning unit is configured as an extension arm which is configured to be displaced in a translational manner into the movement path and arranged on a free end of which is the at least one antenna, and wherein the at least one antenna is arranged together with the drive unit at the free end of the extension arm.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna is arranged in a rotationally movable manner.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the at least one antenna as a radiating surface and is rotationally movable about a rotational axis substantially perpendicular to the radiating surface.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least one antenna has a radiating surface and is rotationally movable about a rotational axis substantially parallel to the radiating surface.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna is arranged to be translationally movable.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the at least one antenna has a radiating surface and is arranged to be translationally movable along an axis located substantially parallel to the radiating surface.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein means are provided to detect an object to be identified or marked, wherein the means are coupled to the read or write/read unit in such a way that upon detection of an object, the read or write/read unit is activated.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the detection means are configured as a light barrier arrangement.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a drive unit to move the at least one antenna.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the drive unit to move the at least one antenna and the read or write/read unit are coupled in such a way that upon activation of the read or write/read unit, the drive unit is activated to produce the movement of the at least one antenna.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the drive unit is configured as an electric motor with a gearing connected upstream.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna is arranged in the movement path of an object to be identified or marked, in such a way that the antenna movement is configured to be produced by the moved object.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the at least one antenna is pivotably arranged in such a way that the antenna is configured to be pivoted by an object to be identified or marked from the movement path thereof in the manner of a swing door.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus additionally has a barcode scanner to identify an object.

15. Method for identification or marking of an object by means of radiofrequency identification (RFID) comprising the following steps:

activating the read or write/read unit upon the approach of an object to be identified or marked, moving the at least one antenna and simultaneously identifying or marking the object by reading from or writing to the memory unit of a RFID transponder; and

positioning the at least one antenna in the movement path of the object to be identified or marked,

displacing an extension arm in a translational manner into the movement path wherein on a free end of the extension arm is arranged the at least one antenna and wherein the at least one antenna is arranged together with the drive unit at the free end of the extension arm.

16. Method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one antenna is moved by a drive unit.

17. Method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one antenna is moved by a machine operator.

18. Method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one antenna is moved by the object to be identified or marked.

19. An apparatus for identification or marking of objects by means of radiofrequency identification (RFID) with a read or write/read unit for wireless reading from or writing to a memory unit of an RFID transponder connected to the object to be identified or marked,

wherein the read or write/read unit comprises a transmitting/receiving module having at least one antenna, characterized in that the at least one antenna is movably arranged, wherein the apparatus comprises a positioning unit for positioning the at least one antenna in a movement path of the object to be identified or marked, wherein the positioning unit is configured as a frame construction with at least one segment, which is configured to be moved within the frame construction and into the movement path of an object to be identified and/or marked, the at least one antenna being arranged on the segment, and wherein the at least one antenna is arranged together with the drive unit in an inner volume of the segment, the drive unit being configured to bring about a rotation of the at least one antenna.

20. Method for identification or marking of an object by means of radiofrequency identification (RFID) comprising the following steps:

activating the read or write/read unit upon the approach of an object to be identified or marked;

moving the at least one antenna and simultaneously identifying or marking the object by reading from or writing to the memory unit of a RFID transponder and positioning the at least one antenna in a movement path of the object to be identified or marked, wherein the positioning unit is configured as a frame construction with at least one segment; and

moving the segment within the frame construction and into the movement path of an object to be identified or marked, the at least one antenna being arranged on the segment, and wherein the at least one antenna is arranged together with the drive unit in an inner volume of the segment, and bring about a rotation of the at least one antenna.