Conveyor / tunnel reader
Fixed / mounted
What is it?
Conveyor readers are designed for high-speed automated reading on belt conveyors, sorters, and packaging lines. Antennas surround the conveyor in a tunnel or arch configuration so every surface of a carton or tote is illuminated as it passes through. These systems routinely read 100% of tags on items moving at 3+ metres per second - essential for sortation and automated fulfilment centres where there is no time for manual scanning.
How it works
A photo-eye or motion sensor triggers the reader when an item enters the tunnel zone. The reader activates all antenna ports simultaneously or in rapid sequence, creating a 360-degree RF field around the item. Because the tunnel constrains the read zone, RF energy stays focused on the target item rather than leaking to adjacent conveyors. GPIO outputs can trigger diverter gates to sort items based on the tags read. The reader reports each read event with a timestamp and antenna ID, allowing middleware to associate specific tags with specific items on the belt.
Industries
Use cases
- Automated carton verification on packing lines
- Sortation and divert control
- Shipping verification at pack-out
- Case-level serialisation and aggregation
- 100% read-rate auditing for compliance
Pros
- Near-100% read rates at conveyor speed
- Constrained read zone prevents cross-reads
- GPIO integration for inline automation
- Handles high item throughput without bottlenecks
- Can read all six faces of a carton in one pass
Cons
- Requires precise physical alignment with conveyor
- Tunnel dimensions must match item sizes
- Metal conveyors can cause RF reflections
- Higher installation complexity than standalone readers
- Only effective on items that fit through the tunnel
Specifications
| Category | Fixed / mounted |
|---|---|
| Frequency | UHF (860–960 MHz) |
| Read range | 0.5–3 m (focused within tunnel) |
| Environment | Indoor only |
| IP rating | IP50–IP54 |
| Connectivity | Ethernet, PoE, GPIO (photo-eye triggers), Serial |
| Antenna configuration | 4–8 antennas in tunnel or arch configuration |
| Price range | $3,000–$8,000 per tunnel system |