Hide your RFID tags in the floor for forklift position data

When you want positional data for a forklift or similar in the loading dock or factory floor to ensure that the load is taken from the right place, or loaded at the correct container a good idea is to use our floor tag. The floor tag is part of a 125 kHz LF system and designed to be embedded in the floor – out of the way. All that is needed is to drill a small (ca 20mm) hole, drop in the tag and refill the hole.

An LF system is ideal in this case, it both reduces the risk of signals bouncing against the surrounding metal and the risk of reading a neighboring tag instead. We typically install our Ideal125 LF reader in the truck, connected to the trucks terminal wich forward the positional data to the WMS, etc. The antenna is then mounted under the forklift.

As a complement to this positional system. our EVS144 series of code readers can be mounted on the front of the forklift, to id the load and fed back this info to the WMS together with positional data to ensure that the right goods end up in the right position.

Please contact us for more information.

Replacing OIS-L 76/77 in Cimat AGV system

One of our most recent request from a customer was to help them update their old Baumer OIS-L readers whish was beginning to show their age. The update was complicated by the fact that the Tag Data needed to be translated by a resolver database in real-time to positional data for the Cimat AVG:s that were and integrated part of their system. Part of this was also the need to send a tag-in-field signal to their PLC when a tag was in the antenna field for reading.
We solved this by adapting our previous Protocol Converter, make it modular and develop modules where a resolver database, as well as tag-in-field functionality, could be added.

Ideal125 mounted on custom MPCIdeal125 mounted on custom MPC

The MPC is a further development and merge of our ZIOX host unit and Protocol converter. Following customers needs, it evolved and “MPC” now stands for Modular Protocol Converter – making it possible to add desired functions to the base unit, and thereby simplify the development of customer-specific requests. There are for example a complete keyboard emulator as well as a Tag-In-Field circuit that will send a signal as soon as a tag is within reading distance of an RFID antenna.

The basic MPC still keep the basic functions:

  • Bit rate converter that also converts stop/start bits and parity.
  • ZIOX-host controller.

Which can be extended with for example

  • Logic controller – database with resolver data.
  • Keyboard emulation
  • Customer-specific modules
  • Tag-In-Field circuit that will send a signal as soon as a tag is within reading distance of an RFID antenna

USB125 – a handheld reader for control, service and maintenance

Did you know that IdentSystem AB has a small, portable USB LF reader as a complement to our IDEAL125 for fixed montage? USB125 is ideal for control processes in laboratory settings or inventory purposes. It is also well used in service situations as a portable reader in an environment where our IDeal125 reader is fixed installed and where you need a mobile unit for checking readers, inventory, or confirmation of reading data.
It is often used in maintenance: In manufacturing industry tools can be tagged (with for example a small glass tag) to track wear, sharpening and maintenance of press- or stamping tools, drills etc.

​USB125 supports the following chips: EM4x02, EM4x50, EM4x05, HITAG1, HITAG2, HITAGS, Q5, TI-RFID which can be found in a variety of tag types, glass tags, Cable tie tags like HellermannTyton, regular disc tags etc.

Contact us for more information about USB125 and tags.

Custom LF RFID antenna solutions

For LF 125 and 134,5 kHz systems, IdentSystem offer our customers the option of having antennas tailor-made for their applications.

Do you need a large antenna that covers a wide area, or maybe a very small to fit in a specific spot? Maybe shaped as a rectangle, square or a circle or to be fitted and screwed in place like a bolt

We can help you with most requests and adapt our antyennas to your needs. We can do this for both our own IDeal125 and IDeal134 (TambourID) systems and the Baumer OIS-L readers. Contact us for more details.

New series RFID cable ties from HellermannTyton

We at IdentSystem AB are to be able to offer our customers the possibility of purchasing HellermannTytons range of RFID tags. Their products consist of plastic or metal cable ties, cradles and hextags – all with embedded RFID tags – from LF, HF and UHF depending on the model.
The cable ties are available in an assortment of sizes and colours (more details soon on www.identsystem.com or www.identsystem.se).

Using cable ties for RFID tagging is an excellent way of marking equipment and tools for tracking, identification, inventory or maintenance purpose, as well as affixing to fixed positions for control, repair and maintenance routines.

The polyamide cable ties is available with HF RFID tag in yellow and 200mm long as well as yellow, black or Light blue as 13,56MHz HF tags.

The stainless steel cable ties can be found as 13,56MHz HF or 869MHz UHF tags at lengths form 201 up to 838mm length – all in red colour.

The cradles are suitable for up to 7,5 mm wide cable ties and are equipped with an HF RFID tag.

For locations or situations when a cable tie is not suitable, there is also the hextag, which can be affixed to a surface by screw, bolt or glued.

More information will be available shortly on www.identsystem.com, or on our swedish webshop www.identsystem.se. If you cannot wait, get in touch with us on Contact@identsystem.com.

Barcode and RFID working in harmony

In some cases, RFID is the most efficient solution to a specific issue, at some times it is barcodes. At other times you might have to use both technologies to make the best outcome for the customer.

Ident System has in a couple of cases successfully combined the technologies in warehouse/logistics settings where the forklift has been equipped with both our EVS138 in a master-slave configuration to increase the reading area and an IDeal125, with an antenna mounted under the forklift to read tags embedded in the concrete floor.

When the WMS process is started, the forklift approaches the pallet to be moved and the RVS138 automatically start scanning for the code and read it- Thanks to the Master-Slave configuration of two EVS138, a large area can be scanned at a distance up to 13 meters. When the code is read the driver will get instructions where the pallet should be delivered on his terminal. This truck-mounted terminal will be communicating with both EVS138 and IDeal125 through an RS232 interface.

When the truck reaches the drop-off location, for example, a container to be loaded, the antenna mounted at the underside of the forklift reads a tag embedded in the concrete floor and either confirm that the correct destination has been reached, or raise a warning that the wrong tag has been read.

This whole WMS process is set so that it is totally automatic, with only input from the driver being when the process is started, right before the pallet is picked up. Closure of the process is done automatically only when the pallet has been dropped off at the correct destination, if the tag at the location is wrong,m the process will not close.

Tracking the value chain with UHF

For use in the paper packaging industry, IDent System AB has designed an UHF-based system for tracking the paper rolls through the process. Starting from when the tambours are cut down to size for production, the tags are inserted automatically by the cutting machine and will then stay in place until the roll is emptied, allowing complete traceability through the whole process form papermill to the finished packaging.

This particular case is for drink containers, and the tags are tested and approved for use in food industry.

Since the roll has been identified through all its manufacturing steps in the paper mill by its TambourID, by tagging the roll as it is cut up, it is possible to track the roll back through the original paper-making process at the paper mill – especially important in the controlled food industry.

When it arrives at the printer – all data about printing, lamination and other processes will be added to the information and when the final product – a filled drink package leaves the plant, it can later be traced back all the way through manufacturing by connecting its barcode to the roll in case of for example quality issues where traceability is very important.

Naturally, the TambourID, UHF system and final barcodes will also be used to control the logistics flow, and specify how the tambour should be cut, how the individual roll should be printed/treated as well as what package it’s being prepared for.

We are launching a complete UHF line this autumn

As a complement to our Ideal125 and 134 series, we will be launching a complete line of RFID-UHF products this autumn.
Because of the LF versus UHF different characteristics, we believe this will make us able to even better than before adapt and implement our systems with our customers

LF vs UHF
Compared to LF, UHF systems typically have markedly longer reading distance, reads faster and can use active tags – UHF tags are often also cheaper.
LF has shorter reading distance, which can be an advantage to avoid several tags being read at the same time, the LF can also sometimes be an advantage for precision reading in difficult environments such as where there are many metal surfaces or water around. LF antennas can also be custom made to demand since certification is not needed.

What we plan do present to you is:

Readers
A series of three UHF-RFID readers with 4 ports, compact build and longe range reading capabilities. There will be versions developed for embedded use and battery-powered with internal Linux-platform for stand-alone use when needed. Example of application areas for our coming readers is Pos, High-performance handheld systems, Self-service kiosks, Industrial automation, access control, smart shelves, etc.

Tags
Details about tags will be released later, but a range is planned from cable tie markers of goods, labels for warehousing up to industrial use and food products.

Antennas
Our main range of UHF-antennas will initially be adapted to those most suited for optimizing the use of our readers and tags, and those environments we feel will be of most use for our customers.

If you have any special needs in UHF – readers, tags or antennas. Please contact us and we will do our best to include this in our new range!

Identec pc3103 (OIS-P) tag refurbishment program

Identec solution (Baumer) closed down production of the pc3103/xx (OIS-P) tags in 2018. Until now there has been no replacement tags, refurbishment- or update program available for your originally installed tags. Ident System AB can now offer customers that have this type of tags a refurbishment program that makes the tags as new.

The refurbishment program includes:

  • exchange of battery = prolonged lifetime
  • test of tags functions
  • test of micro wave functions.

The program is based on a minimum tag volume of 20 pc per batch or more. If you have any interest in this please contact Ident system.

Introducing our Smart Protocol Converter

Early this year we introduced our EVS Signal Interface Converter (EVS-SIC) as our next product in a series of new releases where refocus on increasing the life and compatibility of your existing system. We have now merged this unit with all the functions form our ZIOX-Host Controller and included more useful features and changed its the ma to EVS-SPC.

  • Keyboard emulator
  • Serial Data Conversion
  • Logic controller
  • ZIOX Host Controller

By connecting the USB port to your forklifts, our EVS-SPC can act as a keyboard emulator instead of Protocol Converter. This means that a readers output when connected to the input of EVS-SPC can be transferred to a truck terminal as if typed on a keyboard. As for the serial data conversion, the connection is made through standard RS232 interfaces both in and out, and the transfer rate on both ports can be selected between 1.200 to 115.200 kbit/s. Parity and/or Stop bits can also be converted. The EVS-SPC can also be used for logic control, i.e. the unit can be programmed with a database for verification of approved ID numbers, which are either used for verification that the tag is correctly read or for control purposes of a connected unit. Lastly, we have integrated the functions of our ZIOX Host converter conveniently into the EVS-SPC to facilitate communication between main systems set up for communication with older devices protocol, in our case often the Baumer Ident ZIOX16 system. EVS-SPC can both act as a polling device for the new system and also converting the host protocol and message to ZIOX16, which means that customers can connect the new IDEAL134,2 system more or less directly in an existing environment. Finally, the EVS-SPC has a software-controlled 5V/1A voltage output that can be externally accessed on the serial port pin 9.