US3720940A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for sorting packages and the like
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-09-29
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Granted: 1973-03-13
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Expires: 1990-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of an electrical element responsive to a particular electrical signal and suitable for use, for example, in sorting luggage and the like. In the preferred embodiment, a reradiator responsive to a particular frequency is secured to a tag attached to a piece of luggage. A signal generator is oriented in proximity with the passage of luggage in a baggage conveying system. A circuit is provided which includes a threshold detector for generating a signal when the reradiator responsive to a predetermined frequency passes in proximity to a signal from the signal generator. The circuit includes a digital decoder network for generating an error signal when misdirected luggage intercepts the signal from the signal generator. A package detector unit, including a photoelectric network is included with the circuit to provide an indication that a package was missed when a predetermined combination of input signals was not received by the circuit within a predetermined time after the passage of the package.
Inventors
- 👤 H Fox
- 👤 M Hubelbank
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 07:53
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/08; G06K7/082; G06K7/083; G06K7/086; B; B07; B07C; B07C3/00; B07C3/10; B07C3/12; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/34; B65G47/46; B65G47/48; B65G47/49; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/74; G01S13/75; G01S13/751; G01S13/753; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/067; G06K19/0672
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A circuit for distinguishing articles comprising: electrical means secured to an article which are capable of being detected by said circuit under predetermined conditions; signal generating means for generating a signal; signal receiving means for receiving said signal and providing an output signal indicative of the presence of predetermined characteristics of said electrical circuit mean; package detection means for detecting the presence of an article and generating a detection signal indicative thereof; and decoding means responsive to both said output signal and said detection signal for decoding said output signal to provide an indication of whether an article is detected and is included within the class of articles covered by said predetermined conditions and wherein said output signal indicates the absence of said predetermined conditions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A circuit for distinguishing articles comprising: electrical means secured to an article which are capable of being detected by said circuit under predetermined conditions; signal generating means for generating a signal; signal receiving means for receiving said signal and providing an output signal indicative of the presence of predetermined characteristics of said electrical circuit mean; package detection means for detecting the presence of an article and generating a detection signal indicative thereof; and decoding means responsive to both said output signal and said detection signal for decoding said output signal to provide an indication of whether an article is detected and is included within the class of articles covered by said predetermined conditions and wherein said output signal indicates the absence of said predetermined conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
125 words
A circuit for distinguishing articles comprising: electrical means secured to an article which are capable of being detected by said circuit under predetermined conditions; signal generating means for generating a signal; signal receiving means for receiving said signal and providing an output signal indicative of the presence of predetermined characteristics of said electrical circuit mean; package detection means for detecting the presence of an article and generating a detection signal indicative thereof; and decoding means responsive to both said output signal and said detection signal for decoding said output signal to provide an indication of whether an article is detected and is included within the class of articles covered by said predetermined conditions and wherein said output signal indicates the absence of said predetermined conditions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
125 words
A circuit for distinguishing articles comprising: electrical means secured to an article which are capable of being detected by said circuit under predetermined conditions; signal generating means for generating a signal; signal receiving means for receiving said signal and providing an output signal indicative of the presence of predetermined characteristics of said electrical circuit mean; package detection means for detecting the presence of an article and generating a detection signal indicative thereof; and decoding means responsive to both said output signal and said detection signal for decoding said output signal to provide an indication of whether an article is detected and is included within the class of articles covered by said predetermined conditions and wherein said output signal indicates the absence of said predetermined conditions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said electrical means comprises an insulating material including a capacitor and an inductor tuned to a predetermined frequency, said predetermined frequency being said predetermined characteristics so that said signal output means provides an output signal only upon receipt of a signal having a frequency at about said predetermined frequency.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said electrical means comprises a reradiator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said package detection means includes a source of light and photo-responsive circuit means for receiving at least a portion of said light for providing said detection signal when an article intercepts said portion of said light.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said circuit is positioned relative to a luggage conveying system and said electrical means is secured to said luggage so that said decoding means providEs a signal indicating that a piece of luggage is not included within the class of luggage intended for a predetermined destination.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said signal generating means is a circuit for providing an audio-modulated FM signal tuned to a predetermined frequency.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
The circuit as set forth in claim 6 wherein said signal receiving means includes a circuit for receiving said signal which is responsive to said predetermined frequency to provide a distinguishable signal having a component indicating the presence of said predetermined frequency and means for distinguishing said component to provide a digital signal indicative of the presence of a predetermined magnitude of said component.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
The circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said signal generating means include a plurality of signal generators; said signal receiving means includes a plurality of signal receivers each of which is in circuit with a detector circuit wherein each of said detector circuits provides a digital output signal indicative of the presence of determined characteristics of said electrical circuit means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The circuit as set forth in claim 8 wherein said decoding means includes switch means capable of being selectively set to receive signals from a first signal source to provide a first output signal and from the remainder of a plurality of sources to provide a second output signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The circuit as set forth in claim 9 wherein said decoding means includes a plurality of gate circuits connected to receive said first signal and said second signal to provide said indication of whether an article is included within the class of articles covered by said predetermined conditions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The circuit as set forth in claim 10 wherein said decoding means includes means for generating a signal indicating that an article has been missed.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for distinguishing articles comprising the steps of: providing electrical means in combination with an article wherein said electrical means are capable of being detected by an electrical circuit under predetermined conditions, generating an electrical signal, receiving said signal and providing an output signal which denotes the presence of predetermined characteristics of said electrical circuit means, detecting the presence of said article, generating a detection signal indicative of the presence of said article, and decoding said output signal and said detection signal to provide an indication of whether an article is included within the class of articles covered by said predetermined conditions.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for distinguishing articles comprising the steps of: providing electrical means in combination with an article wherein said electrical means are capable of being detected by an electrical circuit under predetermined conditions, generating an electrical signal, receiving said signal and providing an output signal which denotes the presence of predetermined characteristics of said electrical circuit means, detecting the presence of said article, generating a detection signal indicative of the presence of said article, and decoding said output signal and said detection signal to provide an indication of whether an article is included within the class of articles covered by said predetermined conditions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the step of providing electrical means is further defined in that said electrical means is a reradiator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the step of detecting is further defined by the steps of providing a source of light, and receiving said source of light in such a manner that said detection signal is generated when an article intercepts said source of light.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the step of providing electrical means is further defined in that said electrical means comprises a circuit tuned to a predetermined frequency and the step of receiving is characterized in that an output signal is produced only upon receipt of a signal having a frequency at about said predetermined frequency.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method as set forth in claim 15 is further defined in that the step of providing electrical means is characterized in that said electrical means are provided in combination with luggage to be conveyed in a luggage conveying system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the steps of generating and receiving are performed in proximity with said luggage conveying system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-12 | 1976-09-11 | 1977-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-12 | 1980-09-11 | 1981-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-12 | 1984-09-11 | 1985-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |