| US 7,538,675 B2 | ||
| RFID conveyor system | ||
| Raymond R. Hillegass, Slatington, Pa. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Accu-Sort Systems, Inc., Telford, Pa. (US) | ||
| Filed on Mar. 23, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/387,365. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/773634, filed on Feb. 15, 2006. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/666938, filed on Mar. 29, 2005. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0238351 A1, Oct. 26, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. G08B 13/14 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 340—572.1 [340/572.7] | 29 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 conveyor and through which the items pass and
receives responses to the radio frequency signals from the respective radio frequency identification tags on the items on
the conveyor;
a second antenna 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 that receives signals from the first antenna corresponding to the responses received
by the first antenna from the respective radio frequency identification tags and outputs first signals corresponding to the
responses; and
a processor that receives the first signals from the at least one receiver and is programmed to associate a said first signal
with a first said item when the processor receives the first signal from the at least one receiver while at least a portion
of the first item is within a predetermined second area that includes at least part of the first area,
wherein 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 said respective radio frequency identification tag in the presence of radio frequency
signals from the first antenna and the second antenna, and wherein 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.
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