Patent Application
20230214621
The present invention relates generally to inventory tracking and management systems and, more particularly, to a compact and rugged electronics system and container of an RFID-based inventory tracking and management system that may be used to manage the tracking and shipping of products in a storage or warehouse environment.
Radio frequency identification (“RFID”) based inventory tracking and management systems may help facilitate efficient location, identification, and delivery of target products to a target destination within a storage and shipping environment, such as a warehouse. In one example, an inventory tracking and managing system includes a forklift (or other product transportation vehicle) installed with an RFID reader, antennas, user interface, and sensor to wirelessly identify a product on or near the forklift, confirm the correct product is picked up by the forklift via a centralized computer system, and communicate with the operator of the forklift (via the user interface) to deliver the target product to a target destination. As the operator drives the forklift within the environment, the RFID-based inventory tracking and management system (also referred herein as the “RFID-based system”) continuously reads location designation RFID tags associated with the surrounding environment and communicates with a centralized computer to alert the operator (via the user interface) that the operator is on the correct track or path in real-time. Generally speaking, the RFID-based tracking system equips a forklift with the tools to read product and location designation RFID tags disposed on products and throughout the warehouse to fill orders accurately.
An example inventory tracking and management system includes an RFID reader and antennas disposed on a forklift, wireless communication devices and nodes disposed on the forklift and throughout the environment to facilitate data collection, storage and processing, a user interface device and detection system disposed on the forklift, and a centralized asset tracking and management device having a product and order database and a tracking and communication application. The user interface device carried by the forklift includes a remote tracking and communication application in communication with the centralized asset tracking and management device and the RFID reader to perform various tasks. The user interface device may include a display or interface screen to visually present information to the forklift operator or other user. The operation of the RFID-based inventory tracking and management system is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. App. No. 16/855,636 and U.S. Pat. App. No. 16/370,742, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The inventory tracking and management system includes various location and product designation RFID tags disposed around the environment and on products in the warehouse. For example, location designation RFID tags are disposed on the floor at various entrances, shipping portals, loading bays, and/or support structures throughout the environment; and product designation RFID tags are located on outer surfaces of containers or packaging of products stored in the warehouse environment. Each of the location designation RFID tags and the product designation RFID tags has a unique ID stored in the centralized asset tracking and management device to associate each location designation RFID tag with a particular landmark, and to associate each product designation RFID tag with a particular product of the warehouse inventory. The centralized tracking and communication application communicates with the user interface devices and the RFID tag readers to track and manage the movement of products between the bays, shelves and racks, and the shipping portals or loading bays of the environment.
Each forklift in the environment is integrated into the RFID-based system by installing a number of electronic components onto the forklift, connecting the forklift battery to the components, and connecting the components to each other. The connections required for installation create a complicated web of electrical wires. For example, the RFID reader, antennas, sensor, controller/transmitter, and user interface are all installed onto the forklift and draw power from the forklift battery. The RFID reader is electrically wired to multiple antennas, user interface, a power source, and a transmitter/controller; the transmitter/controller is electrically wired to the sensor or detection device disposed on the forklift (for example, the tongs of the forklift), the power source, the RFID reader, and is in communication with the user interface; and the sensor is electrically wired to the power source and transmitter/controller.
Retrofitting each forklift or vehicle within a storage and shipping environment with the various components of the RFID-based tracking and management system is time consuming, complicated, and requires specialized knowledge. The wired connections installed and disposed on the forklift are not only difficult to set up, but are also susceptible to disconnection when the forklift experiences rough terrain, impact, or general vibrations during the course of operation. Moreover, installation can be further complicated when the environment has different models of forklifts having various battery capacities and voltages. In this case, installation of the RFID-based system on one forklift could look very different from installation on a different forklift used in the warehouse environment.
A compact RFID electronics system and container as described herein simplifies integrating a forklift with an RFID-based tracking and management system. The compact RFID electronic container can include a voltage converter, regulator, charge guard, and/or transmitter/controller with intuitive connection ports to facilitate power connection between the forklift battery and the RFID reader, forklift computer, and/or sensor mounted to the forklift. The container is pre-assembled, thereby eliminating the need for an operator to connect the transmitter/controller or forklift battery directly to any of the components on the forklift. Rather, the container includes connection ports preconfigured to make the necessary communication and power connections between the internal components (i.e., the voltage converter, regulator, transmitter/controller, charge guard, and/or RFID reader in some examples) and the external components (i.e., the RFID reader in some examples, sensor, user interface device, and power source). The compact and simplified RFID electronics container eliminates the need for an operator or an installer with specialized knowledge to integrate a forklift or other vehicle in a warehouse/manufacturing environment into an RFID-based tracking and managing system.
In some cases, the container includes a plurality of connection ports disposed through one or more walls of the housing of the container to facilitate installation of the RFID reader, sensor, and user interface device on the forklift. The connection ports are arranged for intuitive assembly, and may include color-coding and/or locking mechanisms, to ensure proper connection between the external components mounted on the forklift and the container. The compact RFID electronics container is pre-assembled so that the internal components are connected appropriately within the housing of the container to facilitate connections between the container and the external components on the forklift. So configured, the container may be configured to deliver the appropriate voltage from the forklift battery to the external components, and arrange wireless and wired communications between external components and internal components of the container.
Finally, the compact RFID electronics container is ruggedized to protect the internal and external electrical connections of the container from being disconnected or otherwise disrupted during operation of the forklift. In a warehouse environment, the forklift or other transport vehicle is often exposed to vibrations, turbulence, and/or other environmental impact when picking up, delivering, and dropping off products. The internal components are protected by the walls of the container, and the connections between the container and external components are secured through locking mechanisms. Moreover, the internal components may be welded, glued, fastened or otherwise secured within the container in a manner that makes them less susceptible to movement and electrical disconnections during use, thereby making the components ruggedized.
In some examples, the container may be arranged to house the RFID reader in addition to the transmitter/controller, voltage converter, and regulator. In this example, the RFID reader is an internal component and is arranged to easily connect with one or more antennas mounted to the forklift and externally disposed relative to the container.
Generally speaking, the forklifts 18, 180 with integrated compact containers 100, 200 move about the environment 10 to pick up products 13 stored on storage shelves 12 in various bays 14A-14X and deliver the products 13 to loading bays 16 for shipping. Likewise, the forklifts 18, 180 may also pick up new products from the loading bays 16 (or from trucks at the loading bays 16) and place the new products at any of the various bays 14 of the shelves 12 for storage in the environment 10. The forklifts 18, 180 may also move products 13 between shelves 12 and between bays 14. Each forklift 18, 180 of
Each of the RFID tags 30, 32, and 34 has a different and unique ID associated therewith and these IDs are known by an asset tracking and management device 26 or centralized computer, so that the asset tracking and management device 26 can associate each location designation RFID tag 30, 32 with a particular bay 14 or a loading bay 16 or another position within the storage facility, and each product designation RFID tag 34 with a particular product 13. The centralized computer 26 includes a product and order database 27 and a centralized asset tracking and management application 36 to track and store data related to the products and movement of the forklift 18, 180. The product database 27 and application 36 will be discussed in more detail below.
In
Generally speaking, the container 100 is integrated into the RFID-based system by electronically and communicatively connecting various components carried by the forklift 18. For example, the sensor 40 mounted on the forklift 18 detects when a product 13 is near or on the tongs 112 of the forklift 18, and sends a signal to the transmitter/controller disposed in the container 100 upon such a detection. The transmitter/controller communicates the information from the sensor 40 to the user interface device 23, and also signals to the RFID reader 20 to turn on and begin reading RFID tags, via the antennas 21A, 21B, and 21C. When a product antenna 21A reads the product designation RFID tag 34 on the product 13, the RFID reader 20 locks onto the RFID tag 34 and communicates the information to the user interface device 23, which relays the information to the centralized computer 26. The centralized computer 26 analyzes the information received, and communicates to the operator via a user interface at the user interface device 23 whether the product 13, which the forklift 18 is near or is carrying, is a correct product associated with an order to be filled.
As shown in
Generally speaking, the sensor 40 is communicatively coupled with the transmitter/controller 138 through the connection port 150. In one example, when a weight, for example, is detected on the tongs 112 of the forklift 18, the sensor 40, which may be a weight sensor, such as a strain gauge, communicates with the transmitter/controller 138 that a product is placed on the tongs 112. The transmitter/controller 138 then sends a signal to wake up or turn on the RFID reader 20 (via the connection port 154) to activate the antennas 21A, 21B to start reading the product designated RFID tag 34 of the product 13 on the forklift 18. The RFID reader 20 receives a reading of the one or more product antennas 21A, 21B sends the unique identifier of the RFID tag 34 to the user interface device 23. The user interface device 23 processes and locks onto the RFID tag 34 and communicates with the centralized computer 26 to determine whether the product 13 carried by the forklift 18 is a correct product. The user interface at the user interface device 23 displays a message to the operator, indicating whether or not the product 13 on the tongs 112 of the forklift 18 is the correct product. In some examples, the sensor 40 may send a signal of the actual weight or displacement of the product 13 to the transmitter/controller 138, which may communicate this value to the user interface at the user interface device 23. The user interface device 23 receives and relays the weight information of the product 13 to the centralized computer 26 to compare the measured weight with a stored weight to assist in determining if the product 13 is the correct product or if the product is damaged (as evidenced by a change in weight, for example). This measurement may also assist the computer 26 to determine if the product 13 being retrieved includes enough material for the order being fulfilled. For example, various products 13 may be rolls of material from which material for an order is taken, with the remaining material on the roll being placed back on the shelf for later use for another order. Tracking the weight of the product 13 may assist in assuring that enough product is actually available (on a roll for example) for a particular order, when the product 13 is picked up.
The container 100 also receives power from the forklift battery 108 (via connection port 152) to deliver power the transmitter/controller 138, the sensor 40, and the RFID reader 20. Specifically, the power or voltage regulator 146 receives power from the forklift battery 108 via connection port 152 and regulates the power to produce a sustainable and consistent voltage to the voltage converter 142. As shown in
As will be understood, the container 100 includes a housing 116 with an interior volume 120 and a plurality of walls defining the interior volume 120. The plurality of walls include walls 124, 126, 128, and 130 (as labeled in
In the example of
The plurality of connection ports 150, 152, 154, 156, 158 are disposed through the walls 124, 126, 128, 130 of the housing 116 to connect components disposed in the interior volume 120 of the container 100 (i.e., the regulator 146, the voltage converter 142, the transmitter 138, the heat sink 164, the fan 168, the RFID reader 20, etc.) with the components externally disposed relative to the container housing 116 (i.e., the RFID reader 20, the sensor 40, the user interface device 23, the battery 108, etc.). For example, the sensor connection port 150 is disposed through the fourth wall 130 to connect the sensor 40 to the transmitter 138. The first connection port 154 is disposed through the first wall 124 to connect the RFID reader 20 to the voltage converter 142. The second connection port 152 is disposed through the third wall 128 of the housing 116 to connect the voltage converter 142 and regulator 146 to the power supply 108. The third connection port 156 is disposed through the first wall 124 to connect the RFID reader 20 to the transmitter 138. Of course, the connection ports 150-158 may be disposed in any of the walls or sides of the container 100 and multiple connection ports 150-158 may be disposed in any single wall or side of the container 100.
The container 100 is ruggedized to protect both internal and external electrical connections between the connected components of the RFID-based system. The wires connecting the internal components (i.e., regulator 146, voltage converter 142, transmitter 138, the heat sink 164, the fan 168, RFID reader 20) to the connection ports 150, 152, 154, 156, and 158 may be fastened or secured (e.g., via soldering) to a surface in the interior volume 120 of the container 100 (e.g., a circuit board or interior surface of the bottom wall 132) to minimize disruption and movement of the internally disposed wired connections. Additionally, the connection ports 150, 152, 154, 156, and 158 disposed through the one or more walls include (or may be configured to receive) mating connectors to provide an additional form of security to the wired connections between the container 100 and the external components (e.g., the RFID reader 20, the sensor 40, the user interface device 23, the battery 108, etc.) mounted on or carried by the forklift 18. These security and attachment features beneficially ruggedize the container 100 and the wired connections with the components of the forklift 18 to minimize disruption and disconnection of the RFID-based system when the forklift 18 experiences impacts, vibrations, turbulence, or other disturbances from the environment 10. The electrical connectors of the container 100 and components mounted on the forklift 18 may be, for example, screw-in, push-pull, bayonet, break-away, twist-lock, plug-in, push-to-lock, press-fit, crimp, flange, male-female, shielded, sealed, weld, spring, or hybrid connectors. Some specific examples include BNC, SMA, SMB, SMC, and UHF connectors. Other electrical connectors may also be used that are suitable for high-shock and vibration applications. Additionally, or alternatively, the connection ports 150, 152, 154, 156, 158 may be color-coded to correspond with colored wires that are to be connected to the external components.
In some examples, the connecting wires and cables used for connecting the externally disposed components of the forklift 18 to the container 100 may be pre-configured to facilitate assembly. For example, the sensor 40 may be connected to the sensor connection port 150 using a nine foot 24/4 shielded 4-wire signal cable. The RFID reader 20 may be connected to the first connection port 154 using an 18 inch 22/2 shielded 2-wire 24V cable, and to the third connection port 156 using an 18 inch 22/2 shielded 2-wire relay contact. The power source 108 may be connected to the second connection port 152 using a 10 foot 18/2 shielded 2-wire cable. Other cable lengths and types may be used.
The container 100 may include additional components requiring power from the voltage converter 142, such as, for example, the internal fan 168, to regulate the internal temperature of the container 100. In other examples, the container 100 may include the heat sink 164 in the interior volume 120 of the housing 116, or on the exterior of the housing 116, or coupled between the interior and the exterior of the housing 116 to regulate the internal temperature of the container 100.
Each voltage V1, V2, V3 may be set depending on the different requirements of the transmitter 138, the RFID reader 20, and the sensor 40. For example, the voltage converter 142 can either be fixed or configurable. With a fixed voltage converter 142, the voltages V1, V2, and V3 are predetermined based on the power requirements of the components that are coupled to the voltage converter 142. With a configurable voltage converter 142, the voltages V1, V2, V3 may be adjusted, e.g., either manually via switches, buttons, knobs, or through software via the user interface device 23 or other configuration device, when connecting the voltage converter 142 to the various components of the container 100. In some examples, the voltage converter 142 may include security screws or other security features to protect the settings of the voltage converter 142 or to lock the configurable settings of a configurable voltage converter 142. In yet another example, the housing 116 of the container 100 may include switches externally accessible relative to the interior volume 120 of the container 100 to allow an installer to adjust or configure the voltage settings of the voltage converter 142 in the field without opening the container 100. These settings may also be protected by any desired locking mechanism, such as a set screw or covering plate.
In the example illustrated in
The arrangement of the connection ports 150, 152, 154, 156 of the container 100 in
Optionally, the container 100 may include a back-up power source, such as a battery 160 (which may be a rechargeable battery, such as a lithium ion battery), disposed in the interior volume 120 of the housing 116 in case the container 100 becomes disconnected from the battery 108 of the forklift 18 or external power source, and/or a backup battery of the container 100 becomes temporarily drained. In
In another example container 200 of
In
As shown in
The container 200 also includes second and third connection ports 258, 260 disposed in the second sidewall 226 of the housing 216. The second connection port 258 communicatively couples the portable user interface device 23 with the transmitter/controller 138, and the third connection port 260 communicatively couples the RFID reader 20 to the portable user interface device 23. The container 200 includes a heat sink 264 and a fan 268 to regulate the internal temperature of the interior volume 220 of the container 200. However, in another example, the container 200 may include a Bluetooth or other short range communications device to facilitate wireless communication between the RFID reader 20 and the user interface device 23. In this example, the third connection port 260 would be unnecessary.
The arrangement of the connection ports 250, 252, 258, 260 and I/O ports 255 of the container 200 may be configured in other manners, and the container 200 is not limited to the arrangement illustrated in
The connection ports of the first and second containers 100, 200 are ruggedized and shock-resistant to maintain the electrical connections between the external components (e.g., the RFID reader 20, the sensor 40, the user interface device 23, the battery 108, etc.) and internal components (e.g., the transmitter 138, the voltage converter 142, the regulator 146, the RFID reader 20, etc.) of the containers 100, 200. The connection ports may include locking or other security features to resist disconnection from the external components as the forklift 18, 180 experiences knocks, jolts, and bumps. The connection ports may also be varied from one another to facilitate assembly with external components. For example, the sensor connection port 150, 250 that is arranged to connect with a sensor 40, for example, may include a color that matches a color wire or connection of the sensor 40. The second connection port 152, 252 may be a different color than the sensor connection port 150, 250 to match with a power supply connection. In other examples, the different connection ports may be different colors and/or may use different physical connector configurations so that a physical connection with the wrong component is avoided. Some connection ports may be arranged to receive locking connectors of external connecting wires and lines, and other connection ports may be without locking connectors. To facilitate integration of the container 100, 200 within the RFID-based system, and particularly installation and assembly onto a forklift 18, 180, each container 100, 200 may be packaged with preconfigured wires and connectors designed for intuitive assembly. Each wire connecting the container 100, 200 to an external component may be a predetermined length to ensure that the correct connections are made.
The containers 100, 200 may be easily attached or mounted to the forklift 18, 180 to facilitate set up on-site. As shown in
The user interface device 23 is typically disposed on the forklift 18, 180 in a position that is viewable and accessible by the forklift operator. In particular, the user interface device 23 may be positioned, for example, to the right side of the forklift operator. Generally speaking, the user interface device 23 may be a standalone computing device, such as a laptop, a tablet device, a phone or other handheld device, etc. In some examples, the user interface device 23 may be incorporated or integrated into the forklift 18, 180. As illustrated in
Each forklift 18, 180 is equipped with multiple antennas 21A, 21B, and 21C, connected to the RFID reader 20, that detect and read location and product designation RFID tags 30, 32, and 34. The multiple antennas 21A, 21B, and 21C help determine the position of the forklift 18, 180 in the environment 10 and, in turn, the location of the product 13 to be picked up or delivered. The antennas 21A, 21B, and 21C may be placed around the forklift 18, 180 to minimize interference with the operation of the forklift 18, 180. In the illustrated examples of the forklifts 18, 180 of
Each of the multiple antennas 21A, 21B, and 21C may be coded to detect and selectively read only RFID tags 34 placed on products 13 and RFID tags placed at various locations in the environment 30, 32 (e.g., shelves, bays, loading bays, floor, walls, columns, ceiling, etc.). The antennas 21A, 21B, and 21C may be mounted in different positions on the forklift 18, 180, oriented in different directions, and enabled or turned on at different times to read RFID tags. For example, the first antenna 21A may be coded to read only RFID tags 34 disposed on products 13, the second antenna 21B may be coded to detect and read only RFID tags 30 placed on the storage shelf 12 and the bays 14, and the third antenna 21C may be coded to detect and read only RFID tags 32 on the floor or walls of the environment. As such, each antenna 21A, 21B, 21C may only read the RFID tags 34, 32, and 30 they are coded to read.
In one example, the antenna 21A may be placed on or near the tongs 112 of the forklift 18, 180 and configured to detect the RFID tag 34 of a product 13 that is on or near the tongs 112 (without detecting floor RFID tags 32 or shelf RFID tags 30). The second antenna 21B may be front-facing and configured to detect the RFID tag 30 on the shelf 12 or bay 14 (without detecting product RFID tags 34 or floor RFID tags 32). The second antenna 21B may help identify whether the forklift 18, 180 picks up a product 13 from, or delivers a product 13 to, the correct shelf 12 or bay 14. The third antenna 21C may be configured to detect the location of the forklift 18, 180 by reading floor and wall tags 32 to identify a particular location in the environment (without detecting product RFID tags 34 or shelf RFID tags 30). The third antenna 21C may help identify whether the forklift 18, 180 is delivering or picking up the product to the correct location in real-time.
The transmitter/controller 138 in the container 100, 200 may enable or read the floor tags 32 so that the user interface device 23 and the centralized system 22 can track the whereabouts of the forklift 18, 180 and confirm that the forklift 18, 180 is in the desired or correct place to pick up a product 13 and to track where a product 13 is put down, etc. The container 100, 200 receives signals from each of the antennas 21A, 21B, and 21C, and the transmitter/controller 138 may enable or disable the antennas 21A, 21B, and 21C separately depending on the action of the forklift 18, 180.
Each of the antennas 21A, 21B, 21C depicted in the figures may be one or more antennas, and many configurations and orientations are possible. In one example, the antenna 21A may be front facing and the other antennas 21B and 21C may be rear or downward facing. Each antenna may be selectively turned on by, or used by, the RFID reader 20 to limit the amount of RFID tags that are being read by the RFID reader 20. In another example, the first front facing antenna 21A can be oriented to point straight ahead of the forklift 18, 180, the second front facing antenna 21B can be oriented to point above the forklift 18, 180, and the third front facing antenna 21C can be oriented to point below the forklift 18, 180. It will be appreciated that the antennas 21A, 21B, and 21C may also be oriented to point to the left and right of the forklift 18, 180. Referring back to
Various location designation RFID tags 30 and 32 are disposed around the environment 10 to identify different locations of the environment 10. Each of the tags 30 and 32 may have a known and unique identification number such that the antennas 21B, 21C disposed on the forklift 18, 180 can identify the various location designation RFID tags 30, 32 disposed within the environment 10. In the example of
As previously described, the centralized asset tracking and management device 26 receives and stores the various location and product designation RFID tags 30, 32, 34 read by the RFID-based system, and analyzes the data received with the data stored to confirm or stop the actions of the forklift operator. The centralized asset tracking and management device 26, which may be a user workstation, a server, or any other type of computing device, may be located in a different room or in a more protected environment than the shipping or warehouse floor. The asset tracking and management device 26 includes a centralized tracking and management application 36 that is stored in a memory of, and executed on, a processor of the device 26. The tracking application 36 is communicatively connected to one of the nodes 24 (via a wired or a wireless connection and a communication interface of the device 26) and thus is connected to the wireless communication network within the facility 10. The tracking application 36 communicates with the user interface devices 23, transmitters/controllers 138, and the RFID tag readers 20 to obtain information from, and to provide information to, the user interface devices 23. Additionally, the tracking application 36 tracks and manages the movement of products 13 between the shelves 12 and the loading bays 16, as well as information detected by the sensor 40.
More particularly, the tracking application 36 stores information regarding the RFID tags 30, 32, 34 in the product and order database 27 of the device 26. Likewise, the tracking application 36 stores information for each of the RFID tags 34 associated with each product 13, such as the product name, type, quantity, weight, etc. of the product 13. The tracking application 36 may further create, store, and use a list of orders, order numbers, or job numbers identifying various jobs or shipping orders. In particular, each order may include a list of one or more products 13 that needs to be moved within the environment 10. Each job or order number includes a specific product or group of products and may include the RFID tag or ID numbers for the RFID tags 34 associated with those products 13. For example, when a product 13 first arrives in the environment 10, a unique RFID tag 34 is placed on the product 13 to associate that product 13 with a unique ID that is stored in the product and order database 27 of the tracking application 36.
The tracking application 36 may also store information received from the sensor 40 on the forklift 18, 180. Turning back to
Additionally, or alternatively, the measured weight detected by the sensor 40 may be compared with a weight of the target product 13 stored in the memory of the tracking application 36 to identify whether the product 13 carried by the forklift 18, 180 is a correct product. If the detected weight matches the stored weight, then the centralized asset tracking and management device 26 can send a visual and/or audible message to the operator or driver of the forklift 18, 180, via the user interface device 23, that the correct product is on the forklift 18, 180. If the detected weight does not match the stored weight by a predetermined threshold difference, then the centralized asset tracking and management device 26 can alert the operator or driver of the forklift 18, 180, via the user interface device 23, that the product 13 on the forklift 18, 180 is a damaged or incorrect product.
In another example, the detection device 40 is a laser based detection device having a laser transmitter that directs a laser beam toward the product 13 on the forklift 18, 180 and a detector that detects reflected light from the product 13. The detection device 40 may detect the presence of a product 13 on or near the forklift 18, 180 via a sensor that senses the reflection. When no product 13 is on or near the forklift 18, 180, the laser beam does not reflect off of any product 13 close to the detection device 40. However, if a product 13 is on or near the forklift 18, 180, the light reflects back at a magnitude received by the detection device 40 signaling to the transmitter/controller 139 that a product 13 is on or near the front of the forklift 18, 180.
However, other types of sensors besides lasers could be used in or for the detection device 40 including, for example, electromagnetic sensors (that use other wavelengths of electromagnetic energy to detect the presence of product 13 on or near the forklift 18, 180), sonic detectors, optical detection devices, etc. Further, the detection device 40 may be placed in a location on the front of the forklift 18, 180 that minimizes the possibility of damage due to general wear and tear and/or shifting or sliding products 13 picked up by the forklift 18, 180. The detection device 40 may also be covered to minimize impact damage from products picked up by the forklift 18, 180.
Turning back to
The detection device 40 on the forklift 18, 180 detects the presence of a product 13 on the forklift 18, 180 and may turn on the RFID reader 20 of the forklift 18, 180, via the transmitter/controller 128 of the container 100, 200. The RFID reader 20 then turns on the antenna 21A and signals the antenna 21A to read the product designation RFID tag 34 on the product 13. The RFID reader 20 may communicate that information to the tracking application 36 via the user interface device 23, using the communication network devices 22, 24. The tracking application 36 may then determine whether the RFID tag ID associated with the product 13 on the forklift 18, 180 is the correct RFID tag ID of the product 13 associated with the order (using the order and product information in the database 27). The application 36 may communicate with the user interface device 23 on the forklift 18, 180 to inform the forklift operator whether or not the correct product for the order is the product 13 on the forklift 18, 180. If the correct product is picked up, the centralized computer 26 registers a pick-up event.
After confirmation (e.g., alarm, signal, message via the user interface 23) that the forklift operator picked up the correct product for the order, the forklift operator transports the product 13 to a targeted loading bay 16 to deliver the product 13 to a delivery truck. As the forklift 18, 180 moves throughout the environment 10 carrying the product 13, the RFID reader 20 (through the use of the antennas 21B, 21C) may continuously identify the location of the of the forklift 18, 180 by detecting the closest location designation RFID tags 30, 32 associated with various landmarks in the environment 10 (e.g., pillars, areas, bays 14, loading bays 16, etc.). The user interface device 23 may receive information detected by the antennas 21B, 21C via the RFID reader 20, and may communicate real-time location information to the tracking application 36 of the centralized computer 26. More particularly, as the forklift operator drives the forklift 18, 180 to a particular loading bay 16, the RFID reader 20, in communication with the antenna 21C of the forklift 18, 180, reads the location designation RFID tag 32 associated with that bay 16 as being the last detected or closest tag 30. The forklift operator may then place the product 13 on a truck at the loading bay 16 and back away from the product 13, thereby removing the product 13 from the forklift tongs 112. The detection device 40 communicates with the user interface device 23 (via the transmitter/controller 138 of the container 100, 200) that the product 13 has been dropped off or has been removed from the tongs 112 of the forklift 18, 180, indicating a drop-off event has occurred at the identified loading bay 16. The transmitter/controller 128 of the container 100, 200 may signal the drop-off event to the user interface device 23, which is in communication with the tracking application 36 of the centralized computer 26. The user interface device 23 communicates the drop-off event and associated location (i.e., last detected location) of the forklift 18, 180 with the central tracking system 26. The tracking application 36 may then determine if the detected loading bay 16 is the targeted loading bay 16 (i.e., the loading bay 16 in which the product 13 is to be placed on a truck for this order). As a result, the centralized tracking computer 26 registers the drop-off event at the location of the product 13 and stores this information in the product database 27.
The results of the pick-up and drop-off events are communicated to the user interface device 23 of the forklift 18, 180 in real time, instructing the forklift operator that they are at the correct loading bay 16. In one example, when the forklift 18, 180 performs a drop-off event, the user interface device 23 or the RFID tag reader 20 of the forklift 18, 180 may send the current location of the forklift 18, 180 (based on the currently detected or last detected location designation RFID tag 32) to the tracking application 36 to determine whether the forklift 18, 180 is at the correct loading bay 16 for the order. The tracking application 36 determines whether the forklift 18, 180 is near or at the appropriate loading bay 16 associated with the truck used for delivering the order. The tracking application 36 then sends a signal to the user interface device 23 of the forklift 18, 180 to indicate to the forklift operator that the forklift 18, 180 is at the wrong truck or loading bay 16 or that the forklift 18, 180 is at the correct truck or loading bay 16.
Finally, although certain systems and assemblies have been described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, while the disclosed systems and assemblies have been shown and described in connection with various examples, it is apparent that certain changes and modifications, in addition to those mentioned above, may be made. This patent application covers all examples of the teachings of the disclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents. Accordingly, it is the intention to protect all variations and modifications that may occur to one of ordinary skill in the art.
This application claims priority to, and the benefit of the filing date of, U.S. Provisional Pat. Application No. 63/266,507, filed Jan. 6, 2022 and entitled “COMPACT RUGGED RFID ELECTRONICS SYSTEM,” the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63266507 | Jan 2022 | US |
