Patent Application
20080079543
The present invention can be better understood and details concerning it appear on reading the following description made with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing, in which:
In
In order to identify the articles 1 by article type, each of them is fitted with an RLC label 3 that is resonant at a determined frequency. The transmitter member 4 transmits a plurality of signals sequentially at respective frequencies corresponding to the frequencies of the various RLC labels 3 fitted to each of the types of article 1. As an indication, the transmitted signals lie in a frequency range of about 1 MHz to 40 MHz, with each of the signals being transmitted for a transmission time of about 10 ms. As a result, if for a signal transmitted at a given frequency and a given amplitude, the amplitude of the signal received is attenuated, then the presence within the receptacle 2 of an article 1 of the corresponding type is detected, as shown by way of example for transmitted signals B, C, and D. The receiver member 5 detecting a transmitted signal of an amplitude that is not attenuated corresponds to the absence within the receptacle 2 of any article 1 of the corresponding type, as shown by way of example for transmitted signal A. The duration required for transmitting a sequence A, B, C, and D is of the order of 1 s.
In addition, the receiver member 5 is fitted with measurement means 6 for measuring the amplitude of any attenuation in the amplitude of the signals it receives. As a result, depending on the magnitude of the attenuation of the amplitude of the signal, the number of articles 1 for a given type of article 1 can be determined, as shown by way of example for transmitted signal D.
The apparatus is also fitted with a computer 7 in communication with memory means 8 that associate each type of RLC label 3 with the corresponding type of article 1 in order to make use of the information generated by the receiver member 5 detecting signals, and in order to deduce therefrom the presence or absence of articles 1 and also the number of articles for each type of article 1. Display means 9 enable the content of the receptacle 2 in terms of article type and the numbers of articles 1 contained therein.
In
When the driver makes an order with an operator, the operator inputs the nature of the order into a computer 10 or the like, and more particularly the types and the numbers of articles 1 for making up the order. It will be understood that these input means 10 are means associated with the apparatus of the present invention, optionally forming an integral portion of the apparatus, and that these input means 10 may be of any kind without departing from the specified scope of the invention.
The operator prepares the order and places the articles 1 in a receptacle 2. The articles 1 are wrapped in individual packaging of the kind suitable for carrying the RLC label 3 corresponding to the type of article 1. Once the order has been prepared, the operator places the receptacle in a verification station 11 such as a compartment, a tunnel, or the like, corresponding to a space disposed between the transmitter member 4 and the receiver member 5. The sequence of signals is transmitted and the information relating to reception of these signals is analyzed by the computer 7. The display means 9 enable the operator to see the numbers and types of articles 1 contained in the receptacle 2, and the operator verifies that the articles 1 handed over correspond to the order. When the prepared order does indeed correspond, the operator can hand the order over to the driver.
