Automated tracking system for baking pans and trays

A system for tracking and managing baking pans and trays used on productions lines in commercial environments:

• (a) a set of baking pans or trays, wherein the set of baking pans or trays includes a plurality of individual baking pans or trays, wherein each individual baking pan or tray includes a unique identification tag positioned thereon, and wherein each unique identification tag includes information about the individual baking pan or tray on which the identification tag is positioned;
• and
• (b) a data acquisition system, wherein the data acquisition system includes:
• (i) at least one sensor mounted in proximity to a production line conveyor for detecting baking pans or trays positioned on the conveyor;
• (ii) at least one tag-reading device, wherein the at least one tag reading device is activated when the at least one sensor detects a pan or tray on the conveyor, and wherein the at least one tag reading device reads information from each identification tag and transmits the information to a controller;
• and
• (iii) a controller, wherein the controller includes hardware and software that controls the at least one sensor and the at least one tag reading device, and that receives, processes, and outputs the information read from the identification tags on the baking pans or trays;
• (c) a server in communication with the data acquisition system, wherein the server includes hardware and software that receives, processes, and outputs the information received from the controller;
• and
• (d) an end-user terminal, wherein the end-user terminal includes an interactive user interface that displays reports about the baking pans and trays.

A system for tracking and managing baking pans and trays, comprising:

• (a) a baking environment, wherein the baking environment includes a conveyor adapted to move baking pans or trays through a baking product production line;
• (b) a set of baking pans or trays, wherein the set of baking pans or trays includes a plurality of individual baking pans or trays, wherein each individual baking pan or tray includes a unique identification tag positioned thereon, and wherein each unique identification tag includes information about the individual baking pan or tray on which the identification tag is positioned;
• (c) a data acquisition system, wherein the data acquisition system includes:
• (i) at least one sensor mounted in proximity to the conveyor for detecting baking pans or trays on the conveyor;
• (ii) at least one tag-reading device, wherein the at least one tag reading device is activated when the at least one sensor detects a pan or tray on the conveyor, and wherein the at least one tag reading device reads information from the identification tag and transmits the information to a controller;
• and
• (iii) a controller, wherein the controller includes hardware and software that controls the at least one pair of sensors and the at least one tag reading device, and that receives, processes, and outputs the information from the identification tags on the baking pans or trays;
• and
• (d) a server in communication with the data acquisition system, wherein the server includes hardware and software that receives, processes, and outputs the information received from the controller;
• and
• (c) an end-user terminal, wherein the end-user terminal includes an interactive user interface that displays reports about the baking pans and trays.