Accu-sort Systems, Inc.

James N Cox

William Mitchell Scott

Edward I Chaleff

Richard Skokowski

Charles Lapinski

Charles Eckert

David A Wurz

Jeffrey G Sharpe

Meghanad D Wagh

Troy R Herman

Michael J Kuhno

Anthony M DiMauro

A system for applying radio frequency identification tags on which are disposed respective barcodes includes a processor and a plurality of representations of the items accessible by the processor. Each representation is associated with at least one of the barcodes and includes an indication of a predetermined position for placement of the radio frequency identification tag on an item corresponding to the barcode. A barcode reader and a display are in communication with the processor. When the barcode reader detects a first barcode on a first item, the barcode reader outputs a first signal to the processor identifying the first barcode. The processor receives the first signal, identifies a first representation that is associated with the first barcode, and outputs to the display a second signal associated with the first representation. The display receives the second signal associated with the first representation and displays the first representation.

RFID tag system

A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed includes a frame, a conveyor disposed movably on the frame and that conveys items through a path of travel, each item having at least one respective radio frequency identification tag disposed thereon, at least one first antenna, at least one second antenna, a radio frequency receiver, and a processor. The processor associates a first signal with a first item if the processor receives the first signal from the receiver while at least a portion of the first item is within a first area that includes at least part of a second area into which the antenna radiates radio frequency signals. The first antenna radiates radio frequency signals if at least one item is in the path of travel within a third area that includes, and is larger than, the first area.

RFID conveyor system and method

A conveyor system includes a plurality of antennas proximate a conveyor path of travel that radiate radio frequency signals into a first area and receive responses to radio frequency signals from radio frequency identification tags on items on the conveyor. A detector detects a height of items. A processor receives response signals from the receiver and controls a transmitter to drive respective antennas in a predetermined sequence, associate a response with a first item if the processor receives the response signal while at least a portion of the first item is within a second area that includes at least part of the first area, and based on signals from the detector, eliminate at least one of the plurality of antennas from the predetermined sequence if the height of the first item is below a predetermined threshold.

A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed includes a frame, a conveyor that is disposed moveably on the frame and that conveys items through a path of travel, each item having at least one respective radio frequency identification tag disposed thereon. A first antenna is disposed proximate the path of travel so that the first antenna radiates first radio frequency signals into a first area through which the items pass. A second antenna is disposed proximate the path of travel so that the second antenna receives first responses to the first radio frequency signals from the respective radio frequency identification tags. The information identifies a class protocol. A third antenna is disposed proximate the path of travel downstream from the first antenna and the second antenna. A fourth antenna is disposed proximate the path of travel so that the fourth antenna receives second responses to the radio frequency signals from the respective radio frequency identification tags. A transmitter drives the first antenna to emit the first radio frequency signals into the first area and drives the third antenna to emit second radio frequency signals into a second area. A radio frequency receiver receives signals from the second antenna corresponding to the first responses and outputs first output signals corresponding to the first responses and including the information. The receiver receives signals from the fourth antenna corresponding to the second responses and outputs second output signals corresponding to the second responses. A processor receives the first output signals and controls the transmitter to drive the third antenna responsively to the first output signals.

RFID conveyor system

A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed includes a frame and a conveyor disposed moveably on the frame and that conveys items through a path of travel, each item having at least one respective radio frequency identification tag disposed thereon. A plurality of antennas are disposed proximate the path of travel so that the plurality of antennas radiate radio frequency signals into first areas through which the items pass and receive responses to the radio frequency signals from the respective radio frequency identification tags on the items. A first antenna is offset with respect to the path of travel from a second antenna so that the radio frequency signals from the second antenna generally do not interfere with reception of responses by the first antenna from radio frequency identification tags located within a predetermined second area along the path of travel. A radio frequency receiver receives signals from the first antenna corresponding to the responses received by the first antenna from the radio frequency identification tags and outputs first signals corresponding to the responses. A processor receives the first signals from the receiver and is programmed to associate a first signal with the first item if the processor receives the first signal from the receiver while at least a portion of the first item is within the second area.

A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed comprises a frame and a conveyor that is disposed moveably on the frame and that conveys items through a path of travel, each item having at least one respective radio frequency identification tag disposed thereon. At least one antenna is disposed proximate the path of travel so that the antenna radiates radio frequency signals into a first area through which the items pass and receives responses to the radio frequency signals from radio frequency identification tags on the items passing through the path of travel. A radio frequency transmitter drives the antenna. A radio frequency receiver receives the signals corresponding to the responses and outputs the first signals corresponding to the responses. A processor receives the first signals from the receiver and is programmed to associate a first signal with a first item if the processor receives the first signal from the receiver while at least a portion of the first item is within a predefined second area that includes at least part of the first area. The processor is programmed to define a length of the second area with respect to the path of travel based on a distance between the first item and a second item next following the first item in the path of travel.

A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed includes a frame, a conveyor disposed movably on the frame and that conveys items through a path of travel, each item having at least one respective radio frequency identification tag disposed thereon, at least one first antenna, at least one second antenna, a radio frequency receiver, and a processor. The processor is programmed to associate information included in a first signal corresponding to a response from a radio frequency identification tag with a first item if the processor receives the first signal while at least a portion of the first item is within a first area that includes at least part of a second area into which the first antenna radiates radio frequency signals. If the processor receives a predetermined number of first signals while at least a portion of the first item is within the first area, wherein the predetermined number of first signals includes information identifying the same radio frequency identification tag, the processor thereafter prohibits association of the information with a second item that is upstream from the first item.

A method for processing scanned code data, including a plurality of strings, to determine whether the scanned code data is part of a valid code begins by examining a first string of a first scanned code data. A cluster is opened with the first string if the first string contains a start pattern. At least one valid middle portion of the first string is identified and a transition position count associated with the at least one valid middle portion is stored. A second scanned code data is searched for a second string matching at least part of the first string in the cluster. If a match is found, then the second string is added to the end of the cluster. The cluster is closed upon detection of a stop pattern and is then decoded.

Method for assembling fragments of scanned data

A scanner which can read machine-readable code on an object. A scanner has a scanning device, a data device and a reconstruction device. The scanning device can repetively scan the code and provide a scan signal repetively corresponding to at least fragments of the code. The data device is coupled to the scanning device and responds to its scan signal for repetively storing it. The reconstruction device is coupled to the data device for reconstructing the code from at least two of the fragments of the code.

Scanner for reconstructing optical codes from a plurality of code

A scanner can read machine-readable code on an object. A scanner has a scanning device, a data device, and a registration device. The scanning device can repetitively scan the code and provide a scan signal repetitively corresponding to at least fragments of the code. The data device is coupled to the scanning device and responds to its scan signal for repetitively storing it. The registration device is coupled to the data device for reconstructing the code from at least two of the fragments of the code by relatively shifting the code fragments until they are in registration.

Scanner to combine partial fragments of a complete code

Scanner

A scanner can read machine-readable code on an object. A scanner has a scanning device, a data device, and a registration device. The scanning device can repetitively scan the code and provide a scan signal repetitively corresponding to at least fragments of the code. The data device is coupled to the scanning device and responds to its scan signal for repetitively storing it. The registration device is coupled to the data device for reconstructing the code from at least two of the fragments of the code. The registration device relatively shifts the code fragments until they are in registration. Thus one of the fragments provides a beginning portion of the code and the other an ending portion. Both fragments provide a registered middle portion of the code.

Growing community of inventors

Green Lane, PA, United States of America

James N Cox