RFID Gantry for Biological Container Inventory
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing inventory process for biological product containers is time-consuming, often taking 4 to 5 hours, which is not compliant with legal requirements and good practices for maintaining product quality, especially considering the strict temperature exposure limits.
Innovation Solution
A method and device utilizing RFID technology with a gantry system and reading panels to rapidly inventory multiple containers by detecting RFID chips on movable receptacles, allowing for efficient tracking and verification of biological products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual tracking methods are used for biological containers, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and measurement precision deteriorate due to time-consuming processes and human error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical tracking methods with an automated optical detection system. Optical sensors and imaging devices automatically capture images of biological containers, and image processing algorithms extract container locations and identifiers, eliminating the need for manual tracking while significantly improving productivity and precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates optical copies (images) of biological containers using imaging devices. These digital copies are then processed through image recognition algorithms to extract information about container locations, identifiers, and statuses, enabling automated inventory management without direct physical interaction with each container
2Measurement precision
If automated optical detection systems are implemented, then productivity and measurement precision improve, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the optical detection system to perform multiple functions: capturing container images, identifying container locations, reading barcodes or labels, and detecting container statuses. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate devices into a single integrated system, improving measurement precision while limiting the increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces image processing algorithms and software intermediaries that bridge the optical detection hardware and the inventory management system. These intermediaries automatically process captured images, extract relevant information, and format data for the database, reducing the complexity burden of the hardware by shifting processing tasks to software
3Loss of information
If comprehensive inventory tracking is implemented, then information completeness improves, but loss of time increases due to processing large datasets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous automated image capture and preliminary processing of container data as containers are placed or removed from the rack. This preliminary action maintains an up-to-date inventory database without requiring batch processing of all containers, thus improving information completeness while minimizing time loss through incremental updates
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for implementing an inventory of a plurality of containers (16) of biological products, each container (16) and/or each package (14) comprising containers (16) being equipped with an identification label containing a wireless communication chip. The method comprises the steps of: - providing a device (12) having a gantry (26) defining a direction of passage (X), - providing a receptacle (10) capable of being moved, the receptacle (10) carrying the plurality of containers (16), - moving the receptacle (10) to pass through the gantry (26) along the direction of passage, and - reading the wireless communication chip of each container and/or package (14, 16) during the movement of the receptacle (10).