The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 09, 2009
Filed:
Mar. 23, 2006
James N. Cox, Green Lane, PA (US);
James N. Cox, Green Lane, PA (US);
Accu-Sort Systems, Inc., Telford, PA (US);
Abstract
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.