Abstract:
A device for automatic identification and counting of tagged articles massed together in a prescribed size bundles during linen cleaning and sorting processes. A three dimensional scanning of the bundles by multiple passes of a directional RF antenna oriented in different axial planes during each scan within a predescribed vertical path around the bundle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   This invention relates to the identification and counting of clothing articles at the time of collection for processing after use. This is important since associated processing fees are based on an article count and given that there is a usual actual loss encountered during use. Clothing articles such as uniforms are received in large sacks or containers that must be counted to determine if all articles supplied to the user have been returned. Such accurate article count is difficult at best and is typically done by separation and counting by hand. 
   2. Description of Prior Art 
   Prior art devices of this type have relied on a number of different methods to determine actual count beyond a manual physical sorting and count, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,484,066, 4,849,999, 4,897,859. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,066 a garment counting apparatus is disclosed wherein individual garments are “tagged” with a device defined as a source of electro-magnetic radiation and a sensor such as an electro-conductive coil through which the bag is passed thereby generating a current in the coil which can be numerically counted to determine the number of “tags” there within. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,999 is directed to a laundry transfer and counting apparatus that uses an article accelerator passageway in which articles are drawn therein by a source of vacuum located in spaced relation to the entrance thereto. This system thus separates and enumerates the articles as they pass. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,859 claims an apparatus for I.D. and counting linens in bags or bundles using x-rays. Markers are attached to the individual linens and then are passes under an x-ray source where the markers appear as recognizable shapes within the bundles and can be numerically counted. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An apparatus for automatically scanning a group of bundled articles and determining their number and type by receiving RF signals from individual transmitter tags on each article. An integrated directional antenna passes around the bundle on multiple ascending and descending planar receiving paths disseminating their number and individual RF signals achieving an accurate actual count for articles within the bundles so tagged. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of the scanning device of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view thereof; 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view on lines  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevational graphic representation of the scanning antenna in a first vertical ascension scan position; 
       FIG. 5  is a side elevational graphic representation of the scanning antenna in first vertical descending scanning position; 
       FIG. 6  is a side elevational graphic representation of the scanning antenna in a second vertical ascending scan position; 
       FIG. 7  is a side elevational graphic representation of the scanning antenna in a second vertical descending scan position; 
       FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the scanning antenna in first vertical ascending scan position with a scannable border therein; 
       FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the scanning antenna in first and second vertical descending scan position; 
       FIG. 10  is a side elevational graphic representation in solid and broken lines of the scanning antenna in first vertical ascending position around a bundle; 
       FIG. 11  is a side elevational graphic representation in solid and broken lines of the scanning antenna in first and second vertical descending position; 
       FIG. 12  is a side elevational graphic representation in solid and broken lines of the scanning antenna in second vertical ascending position; 
       FIG. 13  is a top plan view of an alternate form of the invention; and 
       FIG. 14  is a side elevational view thereof. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   An automatic identification and counting device  10  of the invention can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings having a main support and guide frame  11 . The support and guide frame  11  has a pair of spaced parallel elongated frame post elements  12  and  12 A extending in vertical orientation with a scanning head assembly  13  movably positioned thereon. The frame elements  12  and  12 A define vertical guide tracks for the scanning head assembly  13  and may be secured (as in this example) to an adjacent wall surface S by pairs of wall attachment brackets  14 A and  14 B at their respective ends. The upper wall attachment bracket pair  14 A extends outwardly from the wall W to the respective front post elements  12  and ends at  12 A. An upper support frame bracket  15  extends between the ends of the upper bracket pairs  14 A in spaced relation to the front post elements  12  and  12 A. 
   The scanning head assembly  13  has an antenna table  16  positioned pivotally within a frame housing  17 . The antenna table  16  is generally flat with a circular opening at  18  centrally located therein. The RF antenna element  19  is positioned about the opening at  18  defining a “scanning loop”. The frame housing  17  has pairs of oppositely disposed vertically spaced parallel frame elements  20 A,  20 B,  20 C and  20 D interconnected at their respective intersections by multiple corner posts  21 A,  21 B,  21 C, and  21 D. Secondary support frame extension pairs  22 A and  22 B are secured to and extend from the respective pair elements  20 A,  20 B,  20 C and  20 D with transverse interconnecting supports  23 A and  23 B therebetween. The free ends of the extension pairs  22 A and  22 B have guide block fittings  24 A and  24 B inter-engaged on the guide track frame element  12  which allows for vertical travel thereon. An activation fitting  25  on a pivot point  26  of the antenna table  16  has an armature  27  extending therefrom in communication with an air cylinder assembly  28 , best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3  of the drawings which is connected to a source of compressed air, not shown. The antenna table  16  and integral RF antenna  19  can be tilted to three sensing planes S 1 , S 2  and S 3  as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 , and  4 – 6  of the drawings. 
   An antenna head drive assembly  29  is positioned on the upper support frame bracket  15 . The drive assembly  29  has an electric motor gear assembly  31  with a cable  32  secured to the scanning head assembly  13  illustrated in just one example of a number of different drive systems available which will be evident to those skilled in the art and is not therefore limited to same as such. 
   In operation, as best seen in  FIGS. 1 , and  9 – 13  of the drawings, a containment bundle  32  shown in broken lines having multiple clothing articles (not shown) within each of which has an RF transmitter tag  33  attached thereto is positioned within the travel path TP of the scanning head assembly  13  as seen in  FIG. 2  of the drawings. The scanning head  13  is then activated with the antenna table  16  tilted to the first ascending sensing plane position S 1  and raised by the drive assembly  29  along the frame elements  12  and  12 A with the bundle  32  passing through the antenna table opening at  18  and the sensing plane S 1  of the RF antenna  19  as shown in broken and solid lines in  FIGS. 8 and 11  of the drawings. 
   At the top of the travel path TP the antenna table  16  is tilted to a horizontal position defined as vertical descension position S 2  and scanning head  13  is lowered down passing through the scanning plane S 2  of the scanning antenna  19  back over the length of the bundle  32  as illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 12  of the drawings. 
   At the bottom of the travel path TP (B) the antenna table  16  is tilted again to the second vertical ascension position S 3  and the scanning head assembly  13  is pulled back up frame elements  12  and  12 A ascending the travel path TP with the bundle  32  passing through the sensing plane S 3  of the antenna  19 . 
   Again at the top of the travel path TP, the antenna table  16  is repositioned back to a second descending position S 2  illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 12  of the drawings and the scanning head assembly  13  travels back down, in essence around the bundle  27  which passes through the scanning plane S 2  of the antenna  19 , completing the multiple scans. 
   It will be evident from the above description that as multiple oscillating scans take place utilizing the re-orientation of the RF antenna sensing planes S 1 , S 2  and S 3  for each scan travel path that an effective detailed scan of the bundle  32  is achieved in which all of the respective RF  33  (tags) are detected assuring an accurate identification and count thereof. 
   It will be seen that only by multiple passes of the RF antenna  19  over the bundle  32  in which during each successive pass the antenna planar scanning relationship orientation is changed that a true effective accurate and quick count be made of the associated articles i.e. tags  33  within the bundle. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 13 and 14  of the drawings, a universal gimble action assembly form of the invention can be seen. A second scanning head assembly  34  has a secondary antenna table support frame  35  pivotally secured within. A drive activation linkage assembly  36  provides for repositioning of the secondary antenna table support frame  35  through hereinbefore described sensing plane positions S 1 –S 3 . 
   A secondary antenna table  37  is pivotally positioned at P within the secondary antenna table support frame  35  and has a circular opening at  37 A therein with a corresponding RF antenna element  37 B thereabout. A secondary drive activation linkage assembly  38  provides for independent repositioning of the secondary antenna table  37  within the table support frame  35  as indicated by broken lines at  39 . 
   It will be evident from the above description that by providing the movable secondary antenna table support frame  35  that the secondary scanning head assembly  34  imparts a “gimble” dual directional repositioning of the secondary antenna table  37 , associated RF antenna element  37 B thereon. Thus the orientation of the movable secondary table support frame  35  and the movable secondary antenna table  37  within provides for a variety of multi-angular planar orientation shifts of the RF antenna scanning loop within its travel path about the containment bundle  32  assuring that all respective RF transmitter tags  33  as previously described will be red despite their orientation within the bundle  32 . 
   It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a new and novel article counter has been illustrated and described and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.