Accu-sort Systems, Inc.

Raymond R Hillegass

Zhong-Min Liu

Peter J Goidas

Ronald M Zsido

An antenna for use in a conveyor system in which items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed are moved on a conveyor along a path of travel, includes a ground plane, a substrate having a bottom surface received adjacent the ground plane, at least one patch element disposed on a top surface of the substrate, a cover received adjacent the top surface of the substrate, and a front static conductive strip disposed along a front edge of the cover. The antenna is disposed beneath the conveyor and a front edge of the antenna is transverse to the path of travel. The front static conductive strip is electrically connected to the ground plane such that an electrostatic discharge event adjacent the front static conductive strip is discharged to the ground plane.

Electrostatic discharge safe under conveyor antenna

A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed includes 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. A first antenna is disposed proximate the path of travel so that the first antenna radiates radio frequency signals into a first area that is proximate the conveyor and through which the items pass and receives responses to the radio frequency signals from the respective radio frequency identification tags. A second antenna is proximate the first antenna and the path of travel so that the second antenna radiates radio frequency signals into the first area. At least one radio frequency receiver receives signals from the first antenna corresponding to the responses received by the antennas from the respective radio frequency identification tags and outputs first signals corresponding to the responses. A processor receives the first signals and is programmed to associate a first signal with a first item when the processor receives the first signal while at least a portion of the first item is within a predetermined second area that includes at least part of the first area. The second antenna radiates radio frequency signals that interfere with reception of and response to the radio frequency signals from the first antenna by a respective radio frequency identification tag in the presence of radio frequency signals from the first antenna and the second antenna. The second antenna is disposed with respect to the first antenna and the conveyor so that the second antenna radiates radio frequency signals into a third area that is proximate to but generally excludes the second area.

RFID conveyor system

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, a second antenna, a radio frequency receiver, a barcode reader, and a processor. The processor associates information included in a response from a radio frequency identification tag with a first item if the processor receives the information 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 first antenna radiates radio frequency signals. The processor associates barcode label information from the barcode reader with the first item if the barcode label information is received during a period in which the first item is within a predetermined area on the conveyor.

RFID conveyor system and method

A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed includes a frame having a generally planar top surface, a generally planar belt that is disposed moveably on the frame above the top surface 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 on the frame so that the antenna extends above the generally planar top surface between the generally planar top surface and the belt, the at least one antenna being oriented with respect to the belt so that the at least one antenna radiates radio frequency signals into a first area that is proximate the belt and through which the items pass and receives responses to the radio frequency signals from radio frequency identification tags on the items.

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, a second antenna, a radio frequency receiver, a processor, and radiation absorbing material disposed between the first and second antennas and the path of travel, so that the absorbing material shields a portion of the radiation that would otherwise radiate into an area through which the items pass.

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Slatington, PA, United States of America

Raymond R Hillegass