Patent ID: 7740128

Claim:
A method for synchronizing sensor detection in a moving conveyor belt system of the system type having a plurality of sensors spaced along the belt and a sensor reader for detecting and identifying the presence of a sensor passing by the sensor reader, and a plurality of identification tags spaced along the belt and a tag reader for detecting and identifying the presence of a tag passing by the tag reader, the sensor reader configured for detecting and identifying the presence of a sensor independent of the functionality of an identification tag, and a control unit for recording and monitoring time and distance data, the method comprising: calibrating the system by determining associated sensor separations in time and distance data relative to each of the identification tags, continuing this process until a repeating pattern of identification tags is detected and identified by the control unit; acquiring associated time and distance target values from a calibration table for a first sensor (S 1 ) based upon a detected and identified functional tag; initiating time and distance counters; determining whether the first sensor (S 1 ) is detected within the time and distance target values, further comprising: wherein said control unit automatically updates time and distance values in the event that the first sensor (S 1 ) is not detected, based on the next detected functioning tag, thus automatically updating said calibration table.