WO2010097822A1 - Procédé et station de lecture d'une pluralité d'étiquettes rfid - Google Patents

Procédé et station de lecture d'une pluralité d'étiquettes rfid Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2010097822A1
WO2010097822A1 PCT/IT2009/000072 IT2009000072W WO2010097822A1 WO 2010097822 A1 WO2010097822 A1 WO 2010097822A1 IT 2009000072 W IT2009000072 W IT 2009000072W WO 2010097822 A1 WO2010097822 A1 WO 2010097822A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tags
antenna
container
roll
axis
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IT2009/000072
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Stefano Bergonzi
Original Assignee
Actvalue Consulting & Solutions S.R.L.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Actvalue Consulting & Solutions S.R.L. filed Critical Actvalue Consulting & Solutions S.R.L.
Priority to PCT/IT2009/000072 priority Critical patent/WO2010097822A1/fr
Publication of WO2010097822A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010097822A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F95/00—Laundry systems or arrangements of apparatus or machines; Mobile laundries 
    • D06F95/002—Baskets or bags specially adapted for holding or transporting laundry; Supports therefor
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F93/00—Counting, sorting, or marking arrangements specially adapted for laundry purposes
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F93/00—Counting, sorting, or marking arrangements specially adapted for laundry purposes
    • D06F93/005—Marking arrangements
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F95/00—Laundry systems or arrangements of apparatus or machines; Mobile laundries 
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
    • G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
    • G06K7/10009—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
    • G06K7/10316—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers
    • G06K7/10336—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil

Definitions

  • EP 1376446 describes a method and an apparatus with a cylindrical antenna into or from which containers containing tags are dropped or lifted. In the case of lifting, an entire section of a conveyor with on it the container to be scanned is moved towards the cylindrical antenna. Such system cannot in fact obtain good results, especially when scanning occurs near the bottom of the container. Furthermore, it is unsuitable for moving roll-containers .
  • EP 1139277 describes a scanning of objects with tags in pallets by means of one or more antennas, including ring shaped. No solution to the automatic treatment of roll- containers is suggested.
  • a fault of the mentioned known systems is also that in order to be able to identify a relatively high number of tags, the scanning speed must be very low and the scanning times are therefore unsatisfactory, especially for automated applications .
  • the general object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks by providing an optimized method for detecting a large number of tags arranged in a limited volume, in particular mixed up and with even big variations in density.
  • a further object is to provide a station that applies the method in an efficient way in the automatic processing of roll-containers.
  • a method for the automatic reading of a plurality of RFID tags in a limited volume comprising allowing a tilted circular antenna to slide according to an axis along the volume and which embraces the volume while a relative rotation is applied around said axis between antenna and plurality of tags in the volume, in which the scanning speed of the antenna along the axis is automatically varied according to the density of the tags detected during scanning.
  • a station for the automatic reading of a plurality of RFID tags in a limited volume comprising a tilted circular antenna that is motorized to slide according to an axis along the volume to embrace the volume and motorized means for the relative rotation, around said axis, of antenna and plurality of tags in the volume, characterized in that it comprises a control unit which during scanning commands the variation of the scanning speed of the antenna along the axis according to the density of the tags detected during scanning.
  • FIG. 1 represents a schematic view of a possible reading station applying the method according to the invention
  • - figure 2 represents a schematic view in cross section of a part of the station in figure 1;
  • - figure 3 represents a side view, schematic and partial, of an area of the station in figure 1;
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 represent perspective views, from above and below respectively, of a container for the articles to be introduced in the station of figure 1;
  • - figure 6 represents a view from below of a wheeled platform that can be associated with, or which can represent the bottom of a container similar to that shown in the figures 3 and 4.
  • figure 1 shows a reading station, generically identified by 10.
  • the station comprises a linear transfer section 11, or horizontal conveyor, for moving one or more stacked roll- containers 12 from an entrance area 13 to an exit area 14.
  • a linear transfer section 11 or horizontal conveyor
  • roll-container when this is in fact formed of several containers, one on top of the other.
  • Slides or other known manual or automatic access systems can be provided to sequentially convey the roll-containers to the entrance area and remove them from the exit area.
  • the transfer section 11 crosses a reading chamber 15 which is advantageously identified by a metal wall structure (continuous, cage, mesh, etc.), indicated by a broken line, which provides both physical protection to the reading area, to prevent for example any risks to persons, and screening against excessive electromagnetic interferences.
  • a metal wall structure continuous, cage, mesh, etc.
  • the transfer section 11 comprises a pair of rails 20, 21 for the guided sliding of the lower wheels 19 of the roll-container and a corresponding chain conveyor for fastening onto and dragging the roll-container along the rails.
  • the chain conveyor advantageously comprises a pair of motorized chains 22, 23 that slide parallel and close to the rails 20, 21 to engage the containers close to the wheels with an engagement protrusion 24, 25 of a plurality of engagement protrusions arranged at intervals along the chains.
  • the control unit 12 which operates the conveyor motor.
  • Known sensors e.g., with photocell, proximity, etc., not shown, can be present to detect the position of the roll-container along the rails (e.g., at the start, in the correct position in the reading chamber, and at the exit of the transport section) and help control movement.
  • the lifting and rotation unit 16 present in the reading chamber, lifts the container on command from the transport system and rotates it according to a vertical axis 26.
  • the reading unit 17 comprises a tilted circular reading antenna 27 with its centre coaxial with the axis 26 and which is moved vertically by means of a motorized carriage 28 that runs along vertical guides 29.
  • the lift comprises two pairs of arms pivoted X fashion and which support a horizontal platform 31.
  • a motorization 32, with nut screw brings the lower extremities of the arms of each X closer together (thanks to a carriage sliding along guides 33) so as to move the platform 31 vertically and keep it horizontal (thanks to a carriage sliding of the upper extremities of the opposite arms along guides 34 on the platform) .
  • a vertical shaft 35 coaxial with the axis 26 and motorized with a gearmotor 36 to turn around the axis.
  • a horizontal plate 37 At the upper extremity of the shaft 35 is a horizontal plate 37 for supporting and lifting the roll-container.
  • the shaft 35 is long enough to allow suitably separating the roll-container from the underlying masses when the lift 30 is operated, so as to reduce their interferences during the readings.
  • the antenna 27 can reach a lower height such T/IT2009/000072
  • the plate is advantageously made of plastic material .
  • the figure 3 shows, by means of a broken line, the lifting effect of the plate 37 when the lift is operated.
  • the plate is round in shape, slightly tapered upwards, with an upper engaging groove 38 that extends along a diameter to be accommodated in a complementary impression on the bottom of the roll-container. This structure has been found advantageous for a rapid and reliable lifting and rotation of a roll-container keeping it centered.
  • the use of a plate of small diameter with respect to the size of the container base permits minimizing the masses of interference underneath the container during rotation and reading .
  • the figures 4 and 5 show a container for use in the machine. It is made of plastic, to prevent interferences during reading, and is suitably ribbed for the required sturdiness.
  • the container can have on the bottom an impression 39 substantially specular to the plate 37 (so the plate is accommodated with little play in the impression during lifting) and have the castor wheels 19 constrained.
  • Several containers can be stably placed one on the other until a maximum height is reached for entrance to the reading chamber .
  • a platform 40 can be envisaged, shown in the figure 6, it too pressed in plastic, having underneath the impression 41 specular to the plate 37 and castor wheels 19.
  • the station 10 can also accommodate different containers, by simply placing them on the platform 40 to make "roll- containers” .
  • the containers can thus be without the dimensions of the wheels, making them easier to stack.
  • it can also be envisaged that only the lowermost container have wheels, and the platform be avoided.
  • the roll-containers are moved to the entrance 13 until at least the front wheels are engaged in the horizontal conveyor.
  • the control unit 18 controls the conveyor to move the roll-container until this is in the correct position in the reading chamber. After this, the conveyor is stopped and the lift 30 is operated to engage the plate 37 on the bottom of the roll-container and lift it into the reading position. In this position, the wheels no longer interfere with the guides of the horizontal conveyor and the motor 36 can be operated to continuously turn the roll-container around the axis 26. This axis passes substantially through the centre of gravity of the container. The lower engagement avoids swerving and ensures centering.
  • the antenna is moved vertically to cover the entire roll-container (or the stacked roll-containers) and to read all the RFID tags present in the scanned volume.
  • the combination of container rotation and vertical movement of the tilted antenna permits the reliable coupling of the antenna with all the tags present in the volume .
  • power connection problems are avoided between the antenna and the transceiver apparatus of the unit 12, and these can thus be made using simple flexible wires instead of with sliding contacts.
  • the scanning speed of the antenna along the axis 26 is varied repeatedly by the control unit 18 according to the density or tag density variation determined from time to time.
  • the speed is advantageously varied inversely according to the number of tags detected in a previous scanning section.
  • the scanning of the antenna slows down while if the number of tags tends to drop, the scanning speed increases.
  • the total scanning time is thus optimized and no risk exists of missing the detection of some of the tags, especially in areas of the container with a higher concentration or density of tags.
  • the scanning speed follows the pattern of the density or concentration of tags in the scanning direction.
  • the antenna be moved by steps along the axis 26 and at each step the detectable tags be counted to then use the resulting number to change the movement of the antenna at the next step.
  • the detection of the tags occurs during a stop time of the antenna between one step and the next. After the detection, the antenna is moved by the next step and the new number of tags is read.
  • the number of tags read at each step changes the length of the following step and/or the stop time between one step and another for the detection of the tags.
  • the length of each step can be calculated by the control unit to be inversely proportionate to the number of tags detected at the previous step.
  • the stop time between one step and the next can be calculated in a way directly proportionate to the number of tags detected at the previous step.
  • the proportionality between number of tags and movement speed (as continuous speed or as a result of the length of the step and/or stop time) will depend on the performance of the electronic detection system, meaning the number of tags that can be detected with a high degree of reliability at that speed of movement. This can be calculated or verified experimentally according to the system and set in the control unit.
  • the initial scanning speed is selected the same or below that associable with a reliable reading of an expected maximum number of tags readable in a scanning section of the antenna.
  • the reading volume can also be very high. Furthermore, the reading of a multitude of tags in a volume equal, for example, to an entire roll-container, can be performed at a high speed.
  • the reading system described here allows the reliable scanning (100% reading rate) of a roll-container in a time below one minute, and therefore absolutely competitive compared to the known systems .
  • the reading chamber which allows scanning more than one roll container at a time further reduces the time needed to process a large number of roll-containers .
  • the sliding annular antenna station can be different to how it has been shown to describe the method according to the invention and its parts can be missing or be varied, as easily imaginable by the expert technician in the light of the description given above, also in virtue of the type of articles or article containers to be processed. Entrance and exit buffers can also be envisaged that allow waiting lines to adapt the needs in the arrival and departure times imposed by the rest of the system to the processing time in the station according to the invention. If the container has to be lifted further in the reading chamber, the lift can be of different type, even with double or triple pantograph.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Artificial Intelligence (AREA)
  • Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé de lecture automatique d'une pluralité d'étiquettes RFID dans un volume limité comprenant le glissement selon un axe (26) le long du volume d'une antenne circulaire inclinée (27) qui englobe le volume pendant que l'on applique une rotation relative autour du dit axe entre l'antenne et la pluralité d'étiquettes dans le volume, la vitesse de balayage de l'antenne le long de l'axe variant automatiquement en fonction de la densité des étiquettes détectées au cours du balayage. L'invention concerne également une station de lecture (10).
PCT/IT2009/000072 2009-02-26 2009-02-26 Procédé et station de lecture d'une pluralité d'étiquettes rfid WO2010097822A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IT2009/000072 WO2010097822A1 (fr) 2009-02-26 2009-02-26 Procédé et station de lecture d'une pluralité d'étiquettes rfid

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IT2009/000072 WO2010097822A1 (fr) 2009-02-26 2009-02-26 Procédé et station de lecture d'une pluralité d'étiquettes rfid

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2010097822A1 true WO2010097822A1 (fr) 2010-09-02

Family

ID=41334474

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IT2009/000072 WO2010097822A1 (fr) 2009-02-26 2009-02-26 Procédé et station de lecture d'une pluralité d'étiquettes rfid

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2010097822A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3454309A1 (fr) * 2017-09-08 2019-03-13 Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha Dispositif et procédé de lecture d'informations de produit à partir d'une étiquette sans fil attachée au produit par ce dispositif

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2004074873A1 (fr) * 2003-02-18 2004-09-02 Tagsys Sa Systeme concu pour minimiser les zeros de couplage dans un champ electromagnetique
US6983033B1 (en) * 2004-05-20 2006-01-03 Howard Jenkins Gimbled scanning identification device

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2004074873A1 (fr) * 2003-02-18 2004-09-02 Tagsys Sa Systeme concu pour minimiser les zeros de couplage dans un champ electromagnetique
US6983033B1 (en) * 2004-05-20 2006-01-03 Howard Jenkins Gimbled scanning identification device

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3454309A1 (fr) * 2017-09-08 2019-03-13 Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha Dispositif et procédé de lecture d'informations de produit à partir d'une étiquette sans fil attachée au produit par ce dispositif
CN109472954A (zh) * 2017-09-08 2019-03-15 东芝泰格有限公司 读取装置及控制方法、终端设备

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN105579365B (zh) 仓储装置、仓储系统以及用于运行仓储系统的方法
US8989892B2 (en) Apparatus and method for the defined intermediate storage and picking of produced articles of the same type but different size
US8066469B2 (en) Tray stacking apparatus
US20130213769A1 (en) Production cell with a workpiece transfer device, and transport device for workpieces and part carriers
US20080006647A1 (en) Automatic apparatus for storing and dispensing packaged medication and other small elements
KR20130029802A (ko) 자동 창고 및 자동 창고로의 입고 방법
EP2805903B1 (fr) Procédé et dispositif de déchargement d'objets empilés, tels que des boîtes
US20220143810A1 (en) Automated System For Handling Containers With Product Loading
EP3450362B1 (fr) Dispositif pour charger un groupe de produits sur une palette
CN212173837U (zh) 用于逐层地操作彼此堆叠地布置的件货垛层的装置
EP0588068B1 (fr) Système et méthode pour manipuler des articles
WO2010097821A1 (fr) Station de lecture automatique d'étiquettes rfid dans un conteneur roulant
US4358236A (en) De-palletizing/palletizing apparatus for cans and can-type containerizations
WO2010097822A1 (fr) Procédé et station de lecture d'une pluralité d'étiquettes rfid
US6739108B2 (en) Fragile container handling system for retort/sterilization processes
WO2001002275A1 (fr) Appareil destine a empiler ou a depiler des contenants
EP0404102B1 (fr) Installation pour le traitement d'objets mécaniques dans un bain de lavage
GB2353776A (en) Stacking and destacking of nestable containers
US11565894B2 (en) Rotary discharge of containers from a depalletizer
CN113247510A (zh) 搬运装置及仓储系统
EP3609690B1 (fr) Dispositif et procédé de transfert destinés au transfert d'éléments de pneumatique à partir d'un récipient vers un dispositif de service
JP7171992B2 (ja) ケース移載システム及びケース移載方法
JP4067292B2 (ja) 処理設備
JPS63225009A (ja) ストツカ−
CN214826315U (zh) 搬运装置及仓储系统

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 09787654

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

32PN Ep: public notification in the ep bulletin as address of the adressee cannot be established

Free format text: NOTING OF LOSS OF RIGHTS PURSUANT TO RULE 112(1) EPC (EPO FORM 1205A DATED 21.01.12)

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 09787654

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1