Patent ID: 7468670

Claim:
A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed, said 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; a first antenna disposed proximate the path of travel so that the first antenna emits radiation that carries radio frequency signals into a first area that is proximate the path of travel and through which the items pass; a second antenna disposed proximate the path of travel so that the second antenna receives responses to the radio frequency signals from radio frequency identification tags on the items; a radio frequency receiver that receives signals from the second antenna corresponding to the responses received by the second antenna from the respective radio frequency identification tags and outputs first signals corresponding to the responses; a processor that receives the first signals from the receiver and associates a said first signal with a first said item based upon whether the processor receives the last-mentioned first signal from the receiver while at least a portion of the first item is within a second area that includes at least part of the first area; and a radiation absorbing material disposed between the first antenna and the path of travel, offset from the path of travel and with respect to the second area, so that the absorbing material shields a portion of the radiation that would otherwise radiate into a third area that is adjacent the second area and through which the items pass and thereby inhibits radio frequency identification tags in the third area from receiving sufficient said radiation to emit responses.