Patent ID: 7876220
Filing Date: 2011-01-25
Classification: D06F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a plurality of garments; a garment conveyor moving the plurality of garments within a garment processing plant; at least one carrier coupled with the garment conveyor for moving the plurality of garments within the garment processing plant; a plurality of transmitters, each transmitter configured with a unique identifier and attached to an article selected from the group consisting of a respective one of the plurality of garments and the at least one carrier; an interrogation station positioned proximate to the garment conveyor to read each of the plurality of transmitters; a sorter in communication with the interrogation station, the sorter being capable of sorting the plurality of garments according to the unique identifier of each of the plurality of transmitters; wherein the interrogation station further comprises an antenna operably configured to extend a pair of nonaligned polarized electromagnetic interrogation signals toward the plurality of garments moved by the garment conveyor, the pair of signals being longitudinally aligned to permit a selected one of the plurality of transmitters passing through one of the pair of interrogation signals to subsequently pass through the other of the pair, which ensures reception regardless of orientation of the selected transmitter.