Multi stream RFID tag applicator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12099889-B2
Application number	US-202117539974-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 1, 2021
Priority date	Jan 20, 2021
Publication date	Sep 24, 2024
Grant date	Sep 24, 2024

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag applicator including a spool system for holding and guiding a tape including a plurality of RFID tags from a first spool to a second spool, an RFID programmer coupled to spool system to send a programming signal to each of the tags passing from the first spool to the second spool, an RFID reader coupled to the spool system for reading a return signal from a programmed RFID tag in order to reject or accept the programmed tag, and an applicator member operatively coupled to the RFID reader to cause an RFID tag to peel away from the tape onto a passing substrate if the RFID tag is accepted by the RFID reader or pass to the second spool if rejected.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag applicator comprising:
a spool system for holding and guiding a tape including a plurality of RFID tags from a first spool to a second spool;
an RFID programmer operatively connected to the spool system to send a programming signal to each of the tags passing from the first spool to the second spool;
an RFID reader operatively connected to the spool system for reading return signals from programmed RFID tags in order to accept properly programmed RFID tags and reject improperly programmed RFID tags; and
an applicator member operatively connected to the RFID reader, wherein in response to the RFID tag being accepted by the RFID reader, the applicator member is configured to cause a programmed RFID tag to peel away from the tape onto a passing substrate and in response to the RFID tag being rejected by the RFID reader, the applicator member is configured to cause the programmed RFID tag to pass to the second spool, wherein the applicator member comprises a roller actuating between a pressed and a depressed position to applying the RFID tag to the passing substrate.

2. The tag applicator of claim 1 , further comprising a controller operatively connected to the spool system and the RFID reader for accelerating the spool system in order to accelerate the tape in response to the RFID tag being rejected.

3. The tag applicator of claim 1 , wherein the applicator member includes a blade below the roller for peeling the RFID tag away from the tape when pressed by the roller.

4. The tag applicator of claim 1 , wherein the RFID programmer is directed at a location adjacent to the applicator member.

5. The tag applicator of claim 1 , wherein the RFID programmer is adjacent to the RFID reader.

6. The tag applicator of claim 1 , further comprising a camera operatively connected to the spool system to detect a presence of an upcoming substrate intended to be paired with an RFID tag.

7. The tag applicator of claim 6 , wherein the camera is positioned slidably on an arm, at a location downstream of the RFID reader with respect to a travel direction of packing blanks pointed in a direction towards the applicator member.

8. A system for applying first radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to packaging comprising:
a first RFID tag applicator operatively connected to a track configured to be moved along the track and fixed at plurality of positions along the track;
a die cutter positioned upstream of the RFID tag applicator to cut and feed a cardboard blank to the tag applicator; and
a controller operatively coupled to the tag applicator and the die cutter to meter a tag applicator spool speed to match the die cutter blank output.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first RFID tag applicator includes a spool system and an RFID reader, and wherein the controller is configured to accelerate the spool system in skip an RFID tag rejected by the RFID reader to an RFID tag.

10. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a second RFID tag applicator coupled to the track at an adjustable distance from the first RFID tag applicator.

11. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a camera positioned slidably on an arm, at a location downstream of the die cutter pointed in a direction towards the die cutter to detect a presence of an upcoming blank.

12. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a conveyor belt located beneath the first tag applicator for advancing the cardboard blanks.

13. A method of applying radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to packaging comprising:
feeding a packaging blank towards a first RFID tag applicator;
sending a programming signal to an individual RFID tag located on a spooling tape holding a plurality of RFID tags of the first RFID applicator as each individual RFID tag passes from the first spool to the second spool; sending a reader signal and receiving one of a pass or fail bounce back signal to ensure that an RFID tag has been properly programmed; and
actuating an applicator member to press a properly programmed RFID tag onto a passing packaging blank, wherein the applicator member comprises a roller and the actuating comprises actuating by the roller between a pressed and a depressed position to applying the RFID tag to the passing substrate.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising actuating an applicator member upwards in response to an improperly programmed RFID tag being detected.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising stopping the tag applicator and die cutter in response to more than two consecutive RFID tags being improperly tagged.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the RFID tags are pressed onto a surface of a packaging blank such that the RFID tags become part of an inner surface of a package when the blank is erected.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising adjusting a distance between the first RFID tag applicator and a second RFID applicator.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising winding the spooling tape onto an ending spool.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the wound tape includes improperly programmed RFID tags.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprises cutting the cardboard blank of specific size and configuration before feeding the carboard blank towards the first RFID tag applicator.

Assignees

• Westrock Shared Services Llc

Inventors

• Hammond Theodore M
• Dwyer John P

Classifications

• G06K7/10297

  arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 (cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00) · CPC title

• B31B50/8122

  Applying patches · CPC title

• B65C2009/404

  prior to labelling · CPC title

• B65C2009/0003

  Use of RFID labels · CPC title

• B65C9/40

  Controls; Safety devices · CPC title