RFID control system
AssigneeSDI Industries, Inc.
InventorPatrick Eidemiller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for routing a carrier on a movable conveyance system having a multiplicity of switching stations and at least one carrier. Each carrier has an electronic readable tag coupled thereto, and each tag has a specific identifier that can be read. A reader is configured to read the electronic readable tag and to communicate the tag's identifier to a controller. The controller, in turn, is configured to control at least one switching station of the movable conveyance system based at least in part on the identifier.
Claims36
A system for transporting a product, comprising:
- a movable conveyance system having a plurality of pathways for transporting a product along a predetermined pathway;
- a carrier movably coupled to one of the plurality of pathways, said carrier adapted to move the product from a first location to a second location, said carrier further having an electronic readable transponder coupled thereto, said transponder containing information for routing the product along the plurality of pathways;
- a reader joined to the movable conveyance system being in selective electronic communication with the transponder such that the information can be transmitted from the transponder to the reader;
- a switch for selectively switching between pathways such that the carrier can be directed from one pathway to another;
- and
- a controller for selectively activating said switch, said controller in communication with the reader such that the reader may convey the information to the controller, wherein activation of the switch is based at least in part on the information.
A decentralized system for routing a carrier through a fixed location, comprising:
- a movable conveyance system for routing a carrier along a path, said movable conveyance system having a plurality of tracks;
- a carrier for transporting at least one product, said carrier being removably coupled to the movable conveyance system;
- an RFID tag coupled to the carrier, said RFID tag containing information for routing the carrier;
- a reader for obtaining the information, said reader being located adjacent to the movable conveyance system so as to be able to receive a signal from the tag and in selective communication with the tag;
- a switch for switching between the plurality of tracks of the movable conveyance system;
- a controller for controlling the operation of the switch, said controller being in communication with the reader such as to receive the information from the reader, and said controller being in communication with the switch, wherein the controller performs an operation on the switch based at least in part on the information.
A method of routing a carrier on a movable conveyance system having a plurality of tracks, comprising:
- programming a readable chip with information for routing a carrier on a movable conveyance system;
- coupling the readable chip to the carrier;
- placing the carrier on the movable conveyance system;
- reading the information on the readable chip;
- after reading, transmitting, the information to a controller, said controller being configured to operate a switch for switching tracks on the movable conveyance system;
- and
- transmitting instructions from the controller to the switch to perform a function based at least in part on the information.
A method of routing a carrier on a movable conveyance system, comprising:
- coupling an electronic read-only chip to a carrier, said read-only chip having a specific readable code;
- programming at least one controller to recognize the code;
- placing the carrier on a movable conveyance system;
- reading, by a reader, the code on the readable chip;
- transmitting, by the reader, the code to the controller;
- and
- instructing, by a controller, a switching station to perform a function based at least in part on the code.
A system for routing garments on a movable conveyance system, comprising:
- an electronic readable tag coupled to a mother hook, said tag having a specific identifier that can be read and said mother hook preceding, on the movable conveyance system, the garments to be routed;
- a reader configured to read the electronic readable tag;
- and
- a communications link between the reader and at least one controller, the communications link configured to communicate the identifier to the at least one controller wherein the at least one controller is configured to control at least one switching station of the movable conveyance system based at least in part on the identifier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.