# US 10,372,951 B2 · Tunnel for high density packaged goods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,372,951 B2 - Document ID: US10372951B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/366,775 - Filed: 2016-12-01 - Published: 2018-06-07 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-01 - Assignees: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC - Applicants: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services, LLC - Inventors: Ian J. Forster - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10372951B2 ## CPC - G06K 7/10445: {the record carriers being fixed to further objects, e.g. RFIDs fixed to packages, luggage, mail-pieces or work-pieces transported on a conveyor belt} - G06K 7/0008: {General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer} - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS ## Abstract A read tunnel device is disclosed for scanning a plurality of cartons of high density packaged items moving through an enclosure via a conveyor belt. The read tunnel device is positioned over a section of the conveyor belt, such that the plurality of cartons on the conveyor belt pass directly through the read tunnel device. Further, the cartons are induced to tumble as they transit through the read tunnel device in one or more dimensions, the tumbling changes arrangement of the items within the cartons and also changes read direction with respect to the antenna in the enclosure. For example, the read tunnel device can comprise a tube angled down from the conveyor belt so a carton will transit down the tube using the force of gravity. Or, a mechanical structure such as mechanical flippers can pick up the carton and rotate it in controlled increments. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A read tunnel device for scanning a plurality of cartons of high density packaged items moving through an enclosure, comprising: a read chamber; and a radio frequency identification (RFID) scanning enclosure for reading the plurality of cartons; and a conveyor belt for moving the plurality of cartons through the enclosure; and at least one antenna positioned within the read chamber; and wherein the at least one antenna projects radio frequency energy to read RFID tags attached to the items; and a tube comprising apertures that allow RFID readers to scan the plurality of cartons to read the RFID tags attached to the items. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The read tunnel device of claim 1, wherein the read tunnel device is positioned over a section of the conveyor belt, such that the plurality of cartons on the conveyor belt pass directly through the read tunnel device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The read tunnel device of claim 2, wherein the RFID tags on the items are energized and read in the read chamber by a reader and signals are transmitted back to the reader, identifying the cartons and transmitting information that the RFID tags contain. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The read tunnel device of claim 3, wherein the cartons are induced to tumble as they transit through the read tunnel device in one or more dimensions, changing arrangement of the items within the cartons but also changing read direction with respect to the at least one antenna in the enclosure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The read tunnel device of claim 4, wherein the enclosure comprises a tube angled down from the conveyor belt so a carton will transit down the tube using force of gravity. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The read tunnel device of claim 5, wherein the tube comprises helical ridges inside it and rotates clockwise or counter-clockwise. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The read tunnel device of claim 6, wherein the tube is RF transparent such that the carton is scanned during transit of the carton through the tube. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The read tunnel device of claim 4, wherein mechanical flippers are used to rotate the carton in controlled increments. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The read tunnel device of claim 4, wherein a robotic hand is utilized to rotate and move the cartons. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The read tunnel device of claim 9, wherein the robotic hand comprises multiple degrees of freedom. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The read tunnel device of claim 10, wherein the robotic hand can apply translation and rotation in any axis to the carton. ### Claim 12 A read tunnel device for scanning a plurality of cartons of high density packaged items moving through an enclosure, comprising: a read chamber; and a radio frequency identification (RFID) scanning enclosure that comprises an angled tube for reading the plurality of cartons; and a conveyor belt for moving the plurality of cartons through the enclosure; and at least one antenna positioned within the read chamber; and wherein the at least one antenna projects radio frequency energy to read RFID tags attached to the items; and wherein the plurality of cartons are induced to tumble as they transit through the read tunnel device in one or more dimensions, changing arrangement of the items within the plurality of cartons but also changing read direction with respect to the at least one antenna in the enclosure; and wherein the angled tube is angled down from the conveyor belt so the plurality of cartons will transit down the tube using force of gravity; and wherein the tube comprises apertures that allow RFID readers to scan the plurality of cartons to read the RFID tags attached to the items. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The read tunnel device of claim 12, wherein the tube comprises helical ridges inside it and rotates clockwise or counter-clockwise. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The read tunnel device of claim 13, wherein the tube is RF transparent such that the plurality of cartons are scanned during transit of the plurality of cartons through the tube.