Improved tunnel for high density packaged goods

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.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Utility Patent Application No. 15 / 366,775, filed December 1, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background technique [0003] The present invention generally relates to improving the performance of radio frequency identification (RFID) channel readers having boxes of items, such as clothing, packed together compactly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a read lane apparatus for scanning a plurality of cartons of high density packed items moving through an enclosure via a conveyor belt. [0004] Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are electronic devices that can be attached to items whose presence is to be detected and / or monitored. The presence of an RFID tag, and thus the presence of the item to which the RFID tag is attached, can be checked and monitored by a device called a "reader" or "reader panel"....

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Another significant factor is the proximity between tags, which can lead to poor performance

Typically, the worst-case scenario is when the array of RFID tags within the carton is in a relatively fixed position relative to each other; however, some RFID tags may have a higher level of performance degradation than others and may not be detected when conveyed through the scanning lane. read

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