Tine-mounted antenna for an RFID

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#1. Field of the Invention

#The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

#FIG. 1 provides a sketch of a lift truck with antennas mounted on the tines;

#FIG. 2A provides a schematic of a pallet loaded with tagged inventory according to one embodiment of the invention;

#Reference will now be made in detail to the particular embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

#FIG. 1 shows a forklift 105 for use in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Forklift 105 is used here merely for purposes of illustration and it will be understood that in various embodiments the invention may be used on many different forklift configurations. Forklift 105 has a pair of tines 110a and 110b that are used to lift a load (such as, for example, a loaded pallet) for transporting the load from one location to another. The term “tine” may be alternatively referred to as a “fork.” In the embodiment of FIG. 1, tine 110b is fitted with an antenna system 100 mounted on the forklift tine according to one embodiment of the invention. Other embodiments may have an antenna system mounted on both tines 110a, 110b. Typically, an operator drives forklift 105 in the direction indicated by arrow 116 and inserts tines 10a and 110b under the load before raising tines 110a and 110b for transporting the load. Sometimes during this operation, tines 110a and 110b may not be located at an appropriate point below the load. Consequently, the operator has to drive back and forth to reposition forklift 105. However, this back and forth driving can be eliminated by using an additional fixture 115, referred to in the art as a “sideshifter,” which provides bilateral movement in the direction indicated by bi-directional arrow 117. The sideshifter allows the operator to reposition tines 110a and 110b laterally without having to travel back and forth to do so.

#An exemplary sideshifter 115 is shown in FIG. 1. Sideshifter 115 is typically mounted on a mounting frame that for purposes of description is referred to herein as a carriage 120. Sideshifter 115 is slideably mounted on an upper horizontal lip of carriage 120 and can be moved sideways, by an operator of forklift 105. The sideways movement is indicated by arrow 117.