| US 7,515,047 B2 | ||
| RFID conveyor system and method | ||
| Raymond R. Hillegass, Slatington, Pa. (US); and Ronald M. Zsido, Center Valley, Pa. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Accu-Sort Systems, Inc., Telford, Pa. (US) | ||
| Filed on Mar. 23, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/388,054. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/666938, filed on Mar. 29, 2005. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/773634, filed on Feb. 15, 2006. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0238352 A1, Oct. 26, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. G08B 13/14 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 340—572.1 [340/572.4; 340/572.7; 340/676; 235/462.01] | 27 Claims |

| 1. A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed, said system comprising:
a frame;
a conveyor that is 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;
a first antenna disposed proximate the path of travel so that the first antenna radiates radio frequency signals into a first
area that is proximate the path of travel and through which the items pass;
a second antenna disposed proximate the path of travel so that the second antenna receives responses to the radio frequency
signals from radio frequency identification tags on the items, wherein each response includes information that identifies
the radio frequency identification tag from which the response is received;
a radio frequency receiver that receives signals from the second antenna corresponding to the responses received by the second
antenna from the respective radio frequency identification tags and outputs first signals corresponding to the responses and
including the information;
a barcode reader disposed with respect to the conveyor so that the barcode reader reads barcode label information from barcode
labels on items at a first predetermined position in the path of travel, wherein the barcode reader outputs second signals
corresponding to the barcode label information; and
a processor that receives the first signals from the radio frequency receiver and the second signals from the barcode reader,
wherein
the processor associates said information included in a said first signal with a first said item based upon whether the processor
receives said first signal from the receiver while at least a portion of the first item is within a second area that includes
at least part of the first area, and
the processor associates said barcode label information included in a said second signal with the first item based upon whether
said second signal is received during a period in which the first item is within a predetermined area on the conveyor that
includes the first predetermined position.
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