Production line for making short run radio frequency identification tags and labels

• US 10,158,161 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2012
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Inventors: Forster, Ian J., Oelsner, Christian K., Revels, Robert, Kingston, Benjamin, Cockerell, Peter, Howard, Norman
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, MINH N
• Application Number:
  US13/552,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20120280047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,343 Days
• Field of Search: 29600, 29601, 295921, 29840-842, 29825, 29846, 343700 MS, 343895, 3405721-5724, 3405728
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/364 for making a groove or trench, e.g. for scribing a break initiation groove
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2305/10 Fibres of continuous length
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/302 Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2317/12 Paper, e.g. cardboard
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2519/02 RFID tags
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/12 characterised by using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/10 Removing layers, or parts of layers, mechanically or chemically
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/145 Printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07718 the record carrier being manufactured in a continuous process, e.g. using endless rolls
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0775 arrangements for connecting the integrated circuit to the antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07754 the connection being galvanic
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 11/003 Manufacturing lines with conductors on a substrate, e.g. strip lines, slot lines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1052 with cutting, punching, tearing or severing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49156 with selective destruction of conductive paths
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5317 : Laminated device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53174 : Means to fasten electrical component to wiring board, base, or substrate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 : Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24917 : including metal layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2809 : including irradiated or wave energy treated component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2817 : Heat sealable

Abstract

The present invention is a method and apparatus for producing ready to use RFID devices in a convenient and economical manner. The apparatus of the present invention may be collocated with a manufacturer of consumer goods.

Claims

1. A continuous radio frequency identification (RFID) production line for producing an RFID device comprising:

a supply of material advancing in a machine direction;

a supply of conductive material, each of the supply of material and conductive material are advanced in the machine direction;

a combination web which advances in the machine direction;

an adhesive coating station for applying a pattern of adhesive to the supply of material;

a laminating station for laminating the supply of conductive material to the pattern of adhesive;

a first cutting station for cutting an antenna pattern in the conductive material, such that the first cutting station has a first die cutting or cold foil process and then laser cutting;

a first printing device for printing human and/ or machine readable indicia on the supply of material;

a chip placement device for placing a chip on the antenna pattern to form the RFID device;

an encoding station for encoding unique information on to the chip that relates to a product associated with the chip;

a discrete printed area; and

a reading and/or scanning station for comparing the encoded information with the human and/or machine readable indicia;

where the discrete printed area is removed when information encoded on the chip does not match the human and/or machine readable indicia in the discrete area,

such that the production line can produce an intermediate assembly having at least an RFID device disposed in a label or hang tag.

2. The RFID production line of claim 1, including a discard station after the reading and/or scanning station for discarding a faulty RFID device.

3. The RFID production line of claim 1, wherein the chip placement device is provided by one of a strap or direct chip attach device.

4. The RFID production line of claim 1, wherein the first cutting station is one of a laser cutter or cold foil process.

5. The RFID production line of claim 1, including a second printing station to provide one of conductive ink to the conductive material or additional human and or machine readable indicia.

6. The RFID production line of claim 1, wherein the chip placement device is provided with a supply of straps or chips on a web.

7. A continuous radio frequency identification (RFID) production line for producing an RFID device comprising:

a supply of material advancing in a machine direction;

a supply of conductive material each of the supply of material and conductive material are advanced in the machine direction;

an adhesive coating station for applying a pattern of adhesive to the supply of material;

a laminating station for laminating the supply of conductive material to the pattern of adhesive;

a first cutting station for cutting an antenna pattern in the conductive material, such that the first cutting station has a first die cutting or cold foil process and then laser cutting;

a first printing device for printing fixed information on the supply of material and variable information on the supply of material;

a chip placement device for placing a chip on the antenna pattern to form the -RFID device;

an encoding station for encoding information on to the chip;

a discrete printed area; and

a reading and/or scanning station for comparing the encoded information with the fixed and variable information and if information on the chip does not match the fixed and variable information, the device is marked to indicate that the device is defective; and

the discrete printed area is removed;

such that the product line can produce an intermediate assembly having an RFID device in a label or a hang tag.