Patent ID: 7777997

Claim:
A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed, the system comprising: a frame, a conveyor that is disposed movably on the frame and that conveys items through a path of travel, each item having at least one respective radio frequency identification tag disposed thereon, an antenna disposed on the frame so that the conveyor is movable along the path of travel relative to the antenna, the antenna having a front edge and a rear edge that are transverse to the path of travel so that the antenna radiates radio frequency signals into a first area through which the items pass, wherein the antenna comprises, a ground plane, a substrate having a bottom surface received adjacent the ground plane, at least one patch element disposed on a top surface of the substrate, a cover received adjacent the top surface of the substrate, and a front static conductive strip disposed along a front edge of the cover such that the front static conductive strip is transverse to the path of travel of the conveyor, wherein the front static conductive strip is electrically connected to the ground plane such that an electrostatic discharge event adjacent the front static conductive strip is discharged to the ground plane.