John David Chester

US Patent:

7324921, Jan 29, 2008

Filed:

Dec 28, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/023890

Inventors:

Byron M. Sugahara - Vero Beach FL, US
Avrum A. Freelund - Glen Cove NY, US
Hal B. Haygood - Sugar Land TX, US
Robert A. Goertz - Sugar Land TX, US
John Chester - Katy TX, US
Stephen W. Poole - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

RFTrax Inc. - Sugar Land TX

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

702183, 324512

Abstract:

The container inspection system operates globally at container handling facilities around the world and includes at least one transport apparatus located at a container handling facility having a spreader or other framework for connecting and handling cargo containers of all shapes and sizes. The transport apparatus is in communication with a computer network including several computing devices that provide to the transport apparatus comparison data including load models, load signatures, weight profile, and sensory limits related to a particular container. Sensors can be located on the spreader, inside the container, and invasively through the container and provide scanned characteristic data that is compared to the comparison data to determine a pass status or a fail status for the container. Ancillary data and authority input may be provided to the system by outside sources, such as other inspection systems and governmental entities. The transport apparatuses then move the connected container to a first location if a pass status is determined and a second location if a fail status is determined.