WO2021033106A1 - System for reading at least one electronic tag associated with at least one textile item, and relative method - Google Patents

System for reading at least one electronic tag associated with at least one textile item, and relative method Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2021033106A1
WO2021033106A1 PCT/IB2020/057676 IB2020057676W WO2021033106A1 WO 2021033106 A1 WO2021033106 A1 WO 2021033106A1 IB 2020057676 W IB2020057676 W IB 2020057676W WO 2021033106 A1 WO2021033106 A1 WO 2021033106A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
support surface
textile item
electronic tag
reader
reading
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2020/057676
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Gabriele SCARAFIOTTI
Original Assignee
L.I.M. Lavanderia Industriale Mappanese 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 L.I.M. Lavanderia Industriale Mappanese S.R.L. filed Critical L.I.M. Lavanderia Industriale Mappanese S.R.L.
Priority to EP20764162.2A priority Critical patent/EP4018356A1/en
Publication of WO2021033106A1 publication Critical patent/WO2021033106A1/en

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Classifications

    • 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
    • G06K7/10019—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 resolving collision on the communication channels between simultaneously or concurrently interrogated record carriers.
    • G06K7/10108—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 resolving collision on the communication channels between simultaneously or concurrently interrogated record carriers. interrogating only those RFIDs that fulfill a predetermined requirement, e.g. selecting all RFIDs having the same speed and moving in a cloud like fashion, e.g. on the same train; interrogating only RFIDs having a certain predetermined temperature, e.g. in the same fridge, another possibility being the active ignoring of a group of tags that fulfill a predetermined requirement, equivalent to the Boolean NOT operation

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to a system for reading at least one electronic tag associated with at least one textile item, according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the present invention also refers to a relative method for reading at least one electronic tag associated with at least one textile item.
  • each electronic tag in such a way as to implement RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) technology.
  • RFID Radio Frequency IDentification
  • the value of the automatic identification lies in a special microchip which, affixed to different supports according to use, exploits the principle of electromagnetic induction.
  • the electronic tag when prompted by a special reader (also known as "RFID reader"), activates an automatic process of communication and data exchange in reading and writing, since said electronic tag comprises a memory which contains a plurality of information.
  • RFID reader also known as "RFID reader”
  • a unique identification serial code (also called “TID - Transponder IDentification” or “UID - Unique Identifier”) can be entered in said memory of the electronic tag which, since it cannot be falsified, constitutes an identification system that is not only unique but also certain, which allows to obtain an absolutely effective and efficient tracking and traceability system of each single item.
  • Another plus of the electronic tags of the RFID type is that textile items, unlike barcodes, can be read massively, that is all at the same time even when the textile items and the objects to which they are affixed are stacked, superimposed, closed in a box, or distributed over a very large space, such as a warehouse.
  • the electronic tag when it enters the range (from a few centimetres to a few tens of meters) of a reader, in particular of the RFID type, the electronic tag is "awakened” and (with no need for power supply in the case of a passive tag, or by using its own internal battery in the case of an active tag), it responds to the reader, reflecting a response signal that is decoded by the reader.
  • the electronic tag is usually made up of a special tag that resists high pressures of a hydroextraction press, as well as the temperatures of washing and of a mangle used for an ironing phase.
  • the information that creates the association with the relative owner is stored on the smart tag, by also specifying all the characteristics related to the item itself (for example: size, colour, fabric, and so on).
  • the procedure determines the number and type of items, allowing to optimize the service cycle according to highly functional criteria, avoiding waste and errors both in the reception and delivery phase, recording date, time, number of items delivered and relative type.
  • the use of smart tags allows to reduce sorting times during the laundry process, avoiding long and laborious manual counts, with a consequent reduction in management costs. It should also be considered that the use of self-identification, in particular based on RFID technology, also allows to reduce the stock of items in the warehouse and with the customers, thanks to an extremely punctual and precise monitoring of how many items the customer actually uses, thus optimizing the rotation of stocks/items.
  • the tracking and traceability of the information managed with smart tags in fact, further improves the quality of the service because, by counting the number of washes to which each item has been subjected, it is possible to verify the degree of wear in order to intervene proactively in the planning of the replacement without generating disservices.
  • a further advantage of automatic identification is related to the fact that it allows to insert in the tags, in addition to the number of washes, also further information on the best type of washing for each single item or garment, in such a way as to best preserve the integrity thereof and therefore the duration thereof.
  • the reading of each electronic tag present on each item can be hindered by the electronic tag present on another item, essentially any tag present on a determined item, thus being a cause of possible interference for the reading of another tag present on another and different item.
  • the main object of the present invention is to indicate a system, and a relative method, for reading at least one electronic tag associated with at least one textile item, conceived in such a way as to overcome the drawbacks present in the state of the art.
  • an object of the present invention is to indicate a system, and a relative method, for reading at least one electronic tag associated with at least one textile item, which are conceived in such a way as to allow each treated textile item to be checked with accuracy and to ensure to obtain an optimal result with a continuity that can be considered acceptable.
  • a further object of the present invention is to indicate a system, and a relative method, for reading at least one electronic tag associated with at least one textile item conceived in such a way as to nullify, or at least drastically reduce, the possibility that any interference between a plurality of electronic tags present on a plurality of textile items can lead to errors in reading each electronic tag associated with each textile item.
  • the subject matter of the present invention is a system and a method for reading at least one electronic tag associated with at least one textile item, incorporating the characteristics of the appended claims, which form an integral part of the present description.
  • FIG. 1 represents a schematic perspective view of a system for reading at least one electronic tag associated with at least one textile item, said system being made in accordance with the present invention
  • Figure 2a represents a simplified perspective view of the system of Figure 1
  • Figure 2b represents a top view of the system of Figure 2a.
  • the reference number 1 indicates as a whole and in a preferred embodiment a system according to the present invention for reading at least one electronic tag 2 associated with at least one textile item 3.
  • said at least one electronic tag 2 is made in such a way as to comprise a memory (not shown in the attached figures) which contains a plurality of information relating to the textile item 3 with which said at least one electronic tag 2 is associated.
  • said at least one electronic tag 2 is of the type implementing RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) technology.
  • said at least one textile item 3 can consist of one or more of the following items: tablecloths, napkins, towels, bedsheets, pillowcases, blankets, quilts, curtains, gowns or uniforms.
  • the system 1 comprises a support surface 10 adapted to support said at least one textile item 3.
  • said support surface 10 can be indifferently so realized as to comprise a conveyor belt (like in the embodiment shown by way of example in the attached figures) associated with moving means (not shown in the attached figures) adapted to move the conveyor belt itself, or said support surface 10 can consist of a flat and continuous surface (for example, a table), or said support surface 10 can be constituted by a substantially discontinuous surface, for example made by means of a plurality of rollers (not shown in the attached figures) placed side by side, and so on.
  • said support surface 10 can be made in such a way as to comprise one or more supporting elements 11, such as for example legs (like in the embodiment shown in the attached figures 1 and 2) or a single base (not shown in the attached figures) adapted to support said support surface 10.
  • the system 1 comprises at least one reader 20 associated with said support surface 10 for reading the information contained in said at least one electronic tag 2, in particular said reading occurring when said at least one electronic tag 2 enters the range of said at least one reader 20.
  • said at least one reader 20 is positioned within a structure 12A (shown in the form of a tunnel in Figure 1 but which can also consist of different elements, such as for example a box-like element) associated with at least one portion of the support surface 10 and defining an environment 12B adapted to receive said at least one textile item 3; on the other hand, in the example of embodiment shown in Figures 2a and 2b, said at least one reader 20 is positioned on at least one wall 12C which departs substantially perpendicular to the support surface 10.
  • a structure 12A shown in the form of a tunnel in Figure 1 but which can also consist of different elements, such as for example a box-like element
  • said at least one reader 20 comprises a pair of readers 20 substantially facing each other, in particular said pair of readers 20 being positioned on opposite sides with respect to the support surface 10.
  • said at least one reader 20 can be associated with the support surface 10 in a different way with respect to what is shown in the embodiments of the attached figures, as well as the number and positioning of readers 20 can be different from that of the object of said embodiments.
  • the system 1 comprises oscillatory means (indicated as a whole with the reference number 30 in Figure 1) associated with at least one portion of the support surface 10 and adapted to produce a periodic or random oscillation of said at least one portion of the support surface 10 and/or of said at least one textile item 3 during the reading, carried out by said at least one reader 20, of said at least one electronic tag 2 associated with said at least one textile item 3.
  • oscillatory means (indicated as a whole with the reference number 30 in Figure 1) associated with at least one portion of the support surface 10 and adapted to produce a periodic or random oscillation of said at least one portion of the support surface 10 and/or of said at least one textile item 3 during the reading, carried out by said at least one reader 20, of said at least one electronic tag 2 associated with said at least one textile item 3.
  • said oscillation generated by the oscillatory means 30 can be constituted by an oscillation and/or by a mechanical vibration around an equilibrium point, in which said oscillation/vibration can precisely be periodic (such as, for example, the motion of a pendulum) or random (such as the movement of a tire on a road). It is also evident that, in accordance with the present invention, said oscillation/vibration can be indifferently produced according to one or more directions by said oscillatory means 30.
  • said oscillatory means 30 are associated with at least one portion of the support surface 10, wherein said at least one portion is positioned near said at least one reader 20.
  • said oscillatory means 30 can be positioned near openings (not shown) of said at least one portion of the support surface 10; this embodiment is particularly usable in the case in which the support surface 10 consists of a flat and continuous surface (for example, a table).
  • said oscillatory means 30 can be positioned below with respect to said at least one portion of the support surface 10; this embodiment is particularly usable in the case in which the support surface 10 is constituted by a conveyor belt and/or by a plurality of rollers placed side by side.
  • said at least one portion of the support surface 10 can also consist substantially of the entire support surface 10, the oscillatory means 30 therefore being made in such a way as to produce a periodic or substantially random oscillation/vibration of the entire support surface 10.
  • said oscillatory means 30 comprise at least one vibrating element 31 adapted to produce an oscillation, consisting of a vibratory motion, of said at least one portion of the support surface 10 and/or of said at least one textile item 3 with respect to the support surface 10.
  • said vibrating element 31 can consist of a vibrating plate.
  • said oscillatory means 30 comprise at least one moving element 32 adapted to move substantially perpendicularly to said support surface 10 so as to obtain an oscillation consisting of a sussultatory and/or undulatory motion of said at least one portion of the support surface 10 and/or of said at least one textile item 3 with respect to the support surface 10.
  • said at least one textile item 3 comprises a plurality of stacked or superimposed textile items 3 (as shown in Figure 1), wherein each textile item 3 comprises a respective electronic tag 2.
  • the provision of the oscillatory means 30 allows to obtain a periodic or random oscillation/vibration of said at least one textile item 3 during the reading of the electronic tag 2 associated with said at least one textile item 3 in such a way as to obtain a precise reading of the electronic tag 2 present on said at least one textile item 3.
  • Said periodic or random oscillation is particularly relevant especially in the case in which the reading of a plurality of electronic tags 2 associated with a plurality of stacked or superimposed textile items 3 is to be carried out; in fact, said periodic or random oscillation/vibration allows substantially to nullify, or at least drastically reduce, the possibility of any interference between said electronic tags 2 present on a plurality of textile items 3 during the reading carried out by said at least one reader 20.
  • the system 1 according to the present invention is conceived in such a way as to allow each treated textile item 3 to be checked with accuracy and in such a way as to ensure that an optimal result is obtained with a continuity that can be considered acceptable.
  • the method according to the present invention comprises a step c) of activating oscillatory means 30 associated with at least one portion of the support surface 10, in particular in correspondence of said at least one reader 20, in order to obtain a periodic or random oscillation of said at least one portion of the support surface 10 and/or of said at least one textile item 3 during the reading, carried out by said at least one reader 20, of said at least one electronic tag 2 associated with said at least one textile item 3.
  • said step c) is carried out by activating at least one vibrating element 31 adapted to produce an oscillation, consisting of a vibratory motion, of said at least one portion of the support surface 10 (on which said at least one textile item 3 rests) and/or of said at least one textile item 3 with respect to the support surface 10.
  • said step c) is carried out by activating at least one moving element 32 adapted to move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the predominant development direction of said support surface 10, so as to obtain an oscillation consisting of a sussultatory and/or undulatory motion of said at least one portion of the support surface 10 (on which said at least one textile item 3 rests) and/or of said at least one textile item 3 with respect to the support surface 10.
  • said step c) is carried out by activating the oscillatory means 30 substantially simultaneously with the reading of the information contained in said at least one electronic tag 2 by said at least one reader 20.
  • said step a) is carried out by positioning a plurality of stacked or superimposed textile items 3 on the support surface 10.
  • steps a) and b) according to the present invention can be carried out in a substantially simultaneous way, i.e. when one or more textile items 3 are positioned on the support surface 10 and, at the same time, in such a way that they are in the range of at least one reader 20 associated with said support surface 10; this occurrence usually takes place when the positioning of said one or more textile items 3 on the support surface 10 is made manually, for example by a user who places one or more textile items 3 in a portion of the support surface 10 which is in the range of at least one reader 20.
  • step b) being subsequent to step a).
  • This occurrence usually takes place when the support surface 10 consists of a conveyor belt and/or a plurality of rollers (not shown in the attached figures) placed side by side, since said one or more textile items 3 are positioned on the support surface 10 (as envisaged in step a) and then are moved in such a way as to cause said at least one electronic tag 2 associated with said at least one textile item 3 to enter the range of at least one reader 20 (as envisaged in step b).
  • the system 1 and the method for reading at least one electronic tag 2 associated with at least one textile item 3 according to the present invention allow to overcome the drawbacks of the systems known to the state of the art, in particular by providing for the production of a periodic or random oscillation/vibration of said at least one textile item 3 during the reading of the electronic tag 2 associated with said at least one textile item 3 in such a way as to allow a precise reading of the electronic tag 2 present on said at least one textile item 3.
  • Said periodic or random oscillation/vibration is particularly relevant above all in the case in which the reading of a plurality of electronic tags 2 associated with a plurality of stacked or superimposed textile items 3 is to be carried out; consequently, the system 1 and the method according to the present invention substantially allow to nullify, or at least drastically reduce, the possibility of any interference between said electronic tags 2 present on a plurality of textile items 3.
  • the system 1 and the method according to the present invention are conceived in such a way as to check each treated textile item 3 with accuracy, and to ensure that an optimal result is obtained with a continuity that can be considered acceptable.

Abstract

The present invention refers to a system (1) for reading at least one electronic tag (2) associated with at least one textile item (3), said system (1) comprising: - a support surface (10) adapted to support said at least one textile item (3); - at least one reader (20) associated with said support surface (10) for reading the information contained in said at least one electronic tag (2), in particular said reading occurring when said at least one electronic tag (2) enters the range of said at least one reader (20). The peculiar characteristic of the present invention consists in the fact that said system (1) comprises oscillatory means (30) associated with at least one portion of the support surface (10) and adapted to produce a periodic or random oscillation of said at least one portion of the support surface (10) and/or of said at least one textile item (3) during the reading, carried out by said at least one reader (20), of said at least one electronic tag (2) associated with said at least one textile item (3).

Description

SYSTEM FOR READING AT LEAST ONE ELECTRONIC TAG ASSOCIATED WITH AT LEAST ONE TEXTILE ITEM, AND RELATIVE METHOD
DESCRIPTION
The present invention refers to a system for reading at least one electronic tag associated with at least one textile item, according to the preamble of claim 1. The present invention also refers to a relative method for reading at least one electronic tag associated with at least one textile item.
As is known, in the catering sector, in that of hospitals and also in that of retirement homes and small and large communities, thousands of textile items are managed every day, such as tablecloths, napkins, towels, bedsheets, pillowcases, blankets, quilts, curtains, gowns, uniforms and so on.
Whether the service is managed internally or outsourced, the industrialization of the processes involves a tight handling that is very difficult to govern.
In this context, a manual inventory takes a long time, not to mention the fact that the items are very similar and are often confused, as well as temporarily lost or permanently lost.
As a result, in recent times the use of automatic identification of textile items has been more and more frequent, in particular by using an electronic tag associated with each single item in such a way as to allow it to be identified uniquely, thus speeding up automatically the taking in charge and the handling linked to all the associated washing, drying and ironing processes in order to provide highly efficient services.
In particular, it is known to realize each electronic tag in such a way as to implement RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) technology.
In this context, the value of the automatic identification lies in a special microchip which, affixed to different supports according to use, exploits the principle of electromagnetic induction.
In fact, the electronic tag , when prompted by a special reader (also known as "RFID reader"), activates an automatic process of communication and data exchange in reading and writing, since said electronic tag comprises a memory which contains a plurality of information.
For example, a unique identification serial code (also called "TID - Transponder IDentification" or "UID - Unique Identifier") can be entered in said memory of the electronic tag which, since it cannot be falsified, constitutes an identification system that is not only unique but also certain, which allows to obtain an absolutely effective and efficient tracking and traceability system of each single item.
Another plus of the electronic tags of the RFID type is that textile items, unlike barcodes, can be read massively, that is all at the same time even when the textile items and the objects to which they are affixed are stacked, superimposed, closed in a box, or distributed over a very large space, such as a warehouse. In summary, when it enters the range (from a few centimetres to a few tens of meters) of a reader, in particular of the RFID type, the electronic tag is "awakened" and (with no need for power supply in the case of a passive tag, or by using its own internal battery in the case of an active tag), it responds to the reader, reflecting a response signal that is decoded by the reader.
It is therefore evident that RFID technology allows new scale economies to the different industrial realities with a price/performance offer with high added value.
This is particularly true in the case of industrial laundries, since the association of a smart tag with each single item ensures that the system recognizes it uniquely in every point of the supply chain in which it is located, updating the status of the manufacturing process from time to time.
In fact, the electronic tag is usually made up of a special tag that resists high pressures of a hydroextraction press, as well as the temperatures of washing and of a mangle used for an ironing phase. The information that creates the association with the relative owner is stored on the smart tag, by also specifying all the characteristics related to the item itself (for example: size, colour, fabric, and so on). The procedure determines the number and type of items, allowing to optimize the service cycle according to highly functional criteria, avoiding waste and errors both in the reception and delivery phase, recording date, time, number of items delivered and relative type.
In the case of the laundries, thanks to the computerization of the activities for taking in charge of the delivery of dirty linen and returning the clean one, it is then possible to apply a rate based on the actual number of garments washed (and no longer based on the total weight of the items taken in charge, as was the case in the state of the art prior to the use of the electronic tags).
Furthermore, the use of smart tags allows to reduce sorting times during the laundry process, avoiding long and laborious manual counts, with a consequent reduction in management costs. It should also be considered that the use of self-identification, in particular based on RFID technology, also allows to reduce the stock of items in the warehouse and with the customers, thanks to an extremely punctual and precise monitoring of how many items the customer actually uses, thus optimizing the rotation of stocks/items. The tracking and traceability of the information managed with smart tags, in fact, further improves the quality of the service because, by counting the number of washes to which each item has been subjected, it is possible to verify the degree of wear in order to intervene proactively in the planning of the replacement without generating disservices.
In the laundry sector, a further advantage of automatic identification, in particular based on RFID technology, is related to the fact that it allows to insert in the tags, in addition to the number of washes, also further information on the best type of washing for each single item or garment, in such a way as to best preserve the integrity thereof and therefore the duration thereof.
Last but not least, automatic identification avoids human error that can lead to the loss or exchange of items or garments.
However, the owner of the present invention has noticed that the systems known in the state of the art for the automatic identification of textile items have some drawbacks mainly due to the difficulties that such systems of the known type encounter in carrying out a correct reading of each electronic tag that is present on textile items; in particular, these difficulties appear to be of a certain importance when said textile items are superimposed on each other and/or stacked.
In fact, especially in the case in which textile items are superimposed on each other and/or stacked, the reading of each electronic tag present on each item can be hindered by the electronic tag present on another item, essentially any tag present on a determined item, thus being a cause of possible interference for the reading of another tag present on another and different item.
It is therefore evident that such interference between the electronic tags can cause an incorrect reading of each of said electronic tags, consequently causing an evident malfunction of the entire system, with evident negative consequences for the user, especially in economic and organizational terms.
In this context, the main object of the present invention is to indicate a system, and a relative method, for reading at least one electronic tag associated with at least one textile item, conceived in such a way as to overcome the drawbacks present in the state of the art.
In particular, an object of the present invention is to indicate a system, and a relative method, for reading at least one electronic tag associated with at least one textile item, which are conceived in such a way as to allow each treated textile item to be checked with accuracy and to ensure to obtain an optimal result with a continuity that can be considered acceptable.
A further object of the present invention is to indicate a system, and a relative method, for reading at least one electronic tag associated with at least one textile item conceived in such a way as to nullify, or at least drastically reduce, the possibility that any interference between a plurality of electronic tags present on a plurality of textile items can lead to errors in reading each electronic tag associated with each textile item.
In order to achieve these objects, the subject matter of the present invention is a system and a method for reading at least one electronic tag associated with at least one textile item, incorporating the characteristics of the appended claims, which form an integral part of the present description.
Further objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description and the appended figures, provided solely by way of non-limiting example, wherein:
- Figure 1 represents a schematic perspective view of a system for reading at least one electronic tag associated with at least one textile item, said system being made in accordance with the present invention;
- Figure 2a represents a simplified perspective view of the system of Figure 1, while Figure 2b represents a top view of the system of Figure 2a.
Switching to the description of the attached figures, the reference number 1 indicates as a whole and in a preferred embodiment a system according to the present invention for reading at least one electronic tag 2 associated with at least one textile item 3.
In particular, said at least one electronic tag 2 is made in such a way as to comprise a memory (not shown in the attached figures) which contains a plurality of information relating to the textile item 3 with which said at least one electronic tag 2 is associated. Preferably, said at least one electronic tag 2 is of the type implementing RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) technology.
Furthermore, said at least one textile item 3 can consist of one or more of the following items: tablecloths, napkins, towels, bedsheets, pillowcases, blankets, quilts, curtains, gowns or uniforms.
The system 1 according to the present invention comprises a support surface 10 adapted to support said at least one textile item 3.
It should be noted that, in accordance with the present invention, said support surface 10 can be indifferently so realized as to comprise a conveyor belt (like in the embodiment shown by way of example in the attached figures) associated with moving means (not shown in the attached figures) adapted to move the conveyor belt itself, or said support surface 10 can consist of a flat and continuous surface (for example, a table), or said support surface 10 can be constituted by a substantially discontinuous surface, for example made by means of a plurality of rollers (not shown in the attached figures) placed side by side, and so on.
Furthermore, said support surface 10 can be made in such a way as to comprise one or more supporting elements 11, such as for example legs (like in the embodiment shown in the attached figures 1 and 2) or a single base (not shown in the attached figures) adapted to support said support surface 10.
The system 1 according to the present invention comprises at least one reader 20 associated with said support surface 10 for reading the information contained in said at least one electronic tag 2, in particular said reading occurring when said at least one electronic tag 2 enters the range of said at least one reader 20.
In the example of embodiment shown in Figure 1, said at least one reader 20 is positioned within a structure 12A (shown in the form of a tunnel in Figure 1 but which can also consist of different elements, such as for example a box-like element) associated with at least one portion of the support surface 10 and defining an environment 12B adapted to receive said at least one textile item 3; on the other hand, in the example of embodiment shown in Figures 2a and 2b, said at least one reader 20 is positioned on at least one wall 12C which departs substantially perpendicular to the support surface 10.
It should also be noted that, in both embodiments shown in the attached figures, said at least one reader 20 comprises a pair of readers 20 substantially facing each other, in particular said pair of readers 20 being positioned on opposite sides with respect to the support surface 10.
However, it is clear that said at least one reader 20 can be associated with the support surface 10 in a different way with respect to what is shown in the embodiments of the attached figures, as well as the number and positioning of readers 20 can be different from that of the object of said embodiments.
In accordance with the present invention, the system 1 comprises oscillatory means (indicated as a whole with the reference number 30 in Figure 1) associated with at least one portion of the support surface 10 and adapted to produce a periodic or random oscillation of said at least one portion of the support surface 10 and/or of said at least one textile item 3 during the reading, carried out by said at least one reader 20, of said at least one electronic tag 2 associated with said at least one textile item 3.
In substance, said oscillation generated by the oscillatory means 30 can be constituted by an oscillation and/or by a mechanical vibration around an equilibrium point, in which said oscillation/vibration can precisely be periodic (such as, for example, the motion of a pendulum) or random (such as the movement of a tire on a road). It is also evident that, in accordance with the present invention, said oscillation/vibration can be indifferently produced according to one or more directions by said oscillatory means 30. In a preferred embodiment and shown in the attached figures, said oscillatory means 30 are associated with at least one portion of the support surface 10, wherein said at least one portion is positioned near said at least one reader 20.
In particular, said oscillatory means 30 can be positioned near openings (not shown) of said at least one portion of the support surface 10; this embodiment is particularly usable in the case in which the support surface 10 consists of a flat and continuous surface (for example, a table).
Alternatively, said oscillatory means 30 can be positioned below with respect to said at least one portion of the support surface 10; this embodiment is particularly usable in the case in which the support surface 10 is constituted by a conveyor belt and/or by a plurality of rollers placed side by side.
It is evident that, according to the present invention, said at least one portion of the support surface 10 can also consist substantially of the entire support surface 10, the oscillatory means 30 therefore being made in such a way as to produce a periodic or substantially random oscillation/vibration of the entire support surface 10.
In a preferred embodiment, said oscillatory means 30 comprise at least one vibrating element 31 adapted to produce an oscillation, consisting of a vibratory motion, of said at least one portion of the support surface 10 and/or of said at least one textile item 3 with respect to the support surface 10. In particular, said vibrating element 31 can consist of a vibrating plate.
In addition or alternatively, said oscillatory means 30 comprise at least one moving element 32 adapted to move substantially perpendicularly to said support surface 10 so as to obtain an oscillation consisting of a sussultatory and/or undulatory motion of said at least one portion of the support surface 10 and/or of said at least one textile item 3 with respect to the support surface 10.
It should be noted that said at least one textile item 3 comprises a plurality of stacked or superimposed textile items 3 (as shown in Figure 1), wherein each textile item 3 comprises a respective electronic tag 2.
It is therefore evident that the system 1 for reading at least one electronic tag 2 associated with at least one textile item 3 according to the present invention allows to overcome the drawbacks present in the state of the art.
In fact, the provision of the oscillatory means 30 allows to obtain a periodic or random oscillation/vibration of said at least one textile item 3 during the reading of the electronic tag 2 associated with said at least one textile item 3 in such a way as to obtain a precise reading of the electronic tag 2 present on said at least one textile item 3.
Said periodic or random oscillation is particularly relevant especially in the case in which the reading of a plurality of electronic tags 2 associated with a plurality of stacked or superimposed textile items 3 is to be carried out; in fact, said periodic or random oscillation/vibration allows substantially to nullify, or at least drastically reduce, the possibility of any interference between said electronic tags 2 present on a plurality of textile items 3 during the reading carried out by said at least one reader 20.
It is therefore evident that the provision of the oscillatory means 30 allows to avoid interference between said electronic tags 2 which could lead to errors in reading each electronic tag 2 associated with each textile item 3.
Consequently, the system 1 according to the present invention is conceived in such a way as to allow each treated textile item 3 to be checked with accuracy and in such a way as to ensure that an optimal result is obtained with a continuity that can be considered acceptable.
The main steps of a method for reading at least one electronic tag 2 associated with at least one textile item 3 according to the present invention will be described below, wherein said method comprises the following steps: a) positioning said at least one textile item 3 on a support surface 10 adapted to support said at least one textile item 3; b) causing said at least one electronic tag 2 associated with said at least one textile item 3 to enter the range of at least one reader 20 associated with said support surface 10, so as to allow said at least one reader 20 to read the information contained in said at least one electronic tag 2.
The method according to the present invention comprises a step c) of activating oscillatory means 30 associated with at least one portion of the support surface 10, in particular in correspondence of said at least one reader 20, in order to obtain a periodic or random oscillation of said at least one portion of the support surface 10 and/or of said at least one textile item 3 during the reading, carried out by said at least one reader 20, of said at least one electronic tag 2 associated with said at least one textile item 3.
In particular, said step c) is carried out by activating at least one vibrating element 31 adapted to produce an oscillation, consisting of a vibratory motion, of said at least one portion of the support surface 10 (on which said at least one textile item 3 rests) and/or of said at least one textile item 3 with respect to the support surface 10.
In addition or alternatively, said step c) is carried out by activating at least one moving element 32 adapted to move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the predominant development direction of said support surface 10, so as to obtain an oscillation consisting of a sussultatory and/or undulatory motion of said at least one portion of the support surface 10 (on which said at least one textile item 3 rests) and/or of said at least one textile item 3 with respect to the support surface 10.
Preferably, said step c) is carried out by activating the oscillatory means 30 substantially simultaneously with the reading of the information contained in said at least one electronic tag 2 by said at least one reader 20.
Preferably, said step a) is carried out by positioning a plurality of stacked or superimposed textile items 3 on the support surface 10.
It should be noted that steps a) and b) according to the present invention can be carried out in a substantially simultaneous way, i.e. when one or more textile items 3 are positioned on the support surface 10 and, at the same time, in such a way that they are in the range of at least one reader 20 associated with said support surface 10; this occurrence usually takes place when the positioning of said one or more textile items 3 on the support surface 10 is made manually, for example by a user who places one or more textile items 3 in a portion of the support surface 10 which is in the range of at least one reader 20.
Alternatively, said steps a) and b) according to the present invention can be carried out at different times, in particular step b) being subsequent to step a). This occurrence usually takes place when the support surface 10 consists of a conveyor belt and/or a plurality of rollers (not shown in the attached figures) placed side by side, since said one or more textile items 3 are positioned on the support surface 10 (as envisaged in step a) and then are moved in such a way as to cause said at least one electronic tag 2 associated with said at least one textile item 3 to enter the range of at least one reader 20 (as envisaged in step b).
From the above description the characteristics of the system 1 and of the method according to the present invention are therefore clear, so are the advantages thereof.
In fact, the system 1 and the method for reading at least one electronic tag 2 associated with at least one textile item 3 according to the present invention allow to overcome the drawbacks of the systems known to the state of the art, in particular by providing for the production of a periodic or random oscillation/vibration of said at least one textile item 3 during the reading of the electronic tag 2 associated with said at least one textile item 3 in such a way as to allow a precise reading of the electronic tag 2 present on said at least one textile item 3.
Said periodic or random oscillation/vibration is particularly relevant above all in the case in which the reading of a plurality of electronic tags 2 associated with a plurality of stacked or superimposed textile items 3 is to be carried out; consequently, the system 1 and the method according to the present invention substantially allow to nullify, or at least drastically reduce, the possibility of any interference between said electronic tags 2 present on a plurality of textile items 3.
It is therefore evident that the peculiar provisions of the system 1 and of the relative method according to the present invention allow to avoid interference between said electronic tags 2 which could lead to errors in reading each electronic tag 2 associated with each textile item 3.
Consequently, the system 1 and the method according to the present invention are conceived in such a way as to check each treated textile item 3 with accuracy, and to ensure that an optimal result is obtained with a continuity that can be considered acceptable.
There are numerous possible variants to the system 1 for reading at least one electronic tag 2 associated with at least one textile item 3 according to the present invention, and to the relative method previously described by way of an example, without thereby departing from the novelty principles inherent in the inventive idea, as it is clear that in its practical implementation the forms of the illustrated details may be different, and the same may be replaced with technically equivalent elements.

Claims

1. System (1) for reading at least one electronic tag (2) associated with at least one textile item (3), said system (1) comprising:
- a support surface (10) adapted to support said at least one textile item (3);
- at least one reader (20) associated with said support surface (10) for reading the information contained in said at least one electronic tag (2), in particular said reading occurring when said at least one electronic tag (2) enters the range of said at least one reader (20), said system (1) being characterized in that it comprises oscillatory means (30) associated with at least one portion of the support surface (10) and adapted to produce a periodic or random oscillation of said at least one portion of the support surface (10) and/or of said at least one textile item (3) during the reading, carried out by said at least one reader (20), of said at least one electronic tag (2) associated with said at least one textile item (3).
2. System (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said oscillatory means (30) are associated with at least one portion of the support surface (10), wherein said at least one portion is positioned near said at least one reader (20).
3. System (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said oscillatory means (30) comprise at least one vibrating element (31) adapted to produce an oscillation, consisting of a vibratory motion, of said at least one portion of the support surface (10) and/or of said at least one textile item (3) with respect to the support surface (10).
4. System (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims 2 and 3, characterized in that said oscillatory means (30) comprise at least one moving element (32) adapted to move substantially perpendicularly to said support surface (10), so as to obtain an oscillation consisting of a sussultatory and/or undulatory motion of said at least one portion of the support surface (10) and/or of said at least one textile item (3) with respect to the support surface (10).
5. System (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one textile item (3) comprises a plurality of stacked or superimposed textile items (3), wherein each textile item (3) comprises a respective electronic tag (2).
6. System (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support surface (10) is so realized as to comprise a conveyor belt, in particular associated with moving means adapted to move said conveyor belt.
7. System (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one reader (20) comprises a pair of readers (20) substantially facing each other, in particular said pair of readers (20) being positioned on opposite sides with respect to the support surface (10).
8. System (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one reader (20) is positioned within a structure (12A) associated with at least one portion of the support surface (10) and defining an environment (12B) adapted to receive said at least one textile item (3).
9. Method for reading at least one electronic tag (2) associated with at least one textile item (3), said method comprising the following steps: a) positioning said at least one textile item (3) on a support surface (10) adapted to support said at least one textile item (3); b) causing said at least one electronic tag (2) associated with said at least one textile item (3) to enter the range of at least one reader (20) associated with said support surface (10), so as to allow said at least one reader (20) to read the information contained in said at least one electronic tag (2), said method being characterized in that it comprises a step c) of activating oscillatory means (30) associated with at least one portion of the support surface (10), in particular in correspondence of said at least one reader (20), in order to obtain a periodic or random oscillation of said at least one portion of the support surface (10) and/or of said at least one textile item (3) during the reading, carried out by said at least one reader (20), of said at least one electronic tag (2) associated with said at least one textile item
(3)·
10. Method according claim 9, characterized in that said step c) is carried out by activating at least one vibrating element (31) adapted to produce an oscillation, consisting of a vibratory motion, of said at least one portion of the support surface (10) and/or of said at least one textile item (3) with respect to the support surface (10).
11. Method according to one or more of claims 9 and 10, characterized in that said step c) is carried out by activating at least one moving element (32) adapted to move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the predominant development direction of said support surface (10), so as to obtain an oscillation consisting of a sussultatory and/or undulatory motion of said at least one portion of the support surface (10) and/or of said at least one textile item (3) with respect to the support surface (10).
12. Method according to one or more of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that said step c) is carried out by activating the oscillatory means (30) substantially simultaneously with the reading of the information contained in said at least one electronic tag (2) by said at least one reader (20).
13. Method according to one or more of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that said step a) is carried out by positioning a plurality of stacked or superimposed textile items (3) on the support surface (10).
14. Method according to one or more of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that said steps a) and b) are carried out substantially at the same time.
15. Method according to one or more of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that said steps a) and b) are carried out at different times, in particular step b) following step a).
PCT/IB2020/057676 2019-08-19 2020-08-14 System for reading at least one electronic tag associated with at least one textile item, and relative method WO2021033106A1 (en)

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IT102019000014850 2019-08-19
IT102019000014850A IT201900014850A1 (en) 2019-08-19 2019-08-19 SYSTEM FOR READING AT LEAST ONE ELECTRONIC LABEL ASSOCIATED WITH AT LEAST ONE TEXTILE ITEM, AND RELATIVE METHOD

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Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3901435A (en) * 1970-09-25 1975-08-26 Agfa Gevaert Ag Information carrier for use on exposed films and film-containing receptacles
US20150095254A1 (en) * 2012-04-05 2015-04-02 Type22 B.V. Method and system for depositing and checking of baggage into airline flights
EP3540629A2 (en) * 2018-03-13 2019-09-18 Denso Wave Incorporated Apparatus for detecting tag movements and wireless tag reader

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3901435A (en) * 1970-09-25 1975-08-26 Agfa Gevaert Ag Information carrier for use on exposed films and film-containing receptacles
US20150095254A1 (en) * 2012-04-05 2015-04-02 Type22 B.V. Method and system for depositing and checking of baggage into airline flights
EP3540629A2 (en) * 2018-03-13 2019-09-18 Denso Wave Incorporated Apparatus for detecting tag movements and wireless tag reader

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