Detection of seal integrity on products using RFID

• US 10,565,411 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2018
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2017
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Akki, Munear T
• Application Number:
  US16/225,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20190205581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 79/0087 the deformable part being located in a closure, e.g. in caps or lids
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 79/02 Arrangements or devices for indicating incorrect storage or transport B65D79/005 takes precedence ; measuring devices G01
• 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 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10386 the interrogation device being of the portable or hand-handheld type, e.g. incorporated in ubiquitous hand-held devices such as PDA or mobile phone, or in the form of a portable dedicated RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10405 the interrogation device including an arrangement for sensing environmental parameters, such as a temperature or acceleration sensor, e.g. used as an on/off trigger or as a warning means

Abstract

A system and method for determining and communicating the status of a sealable container. The system comprises a seal status detection component that is positioned adjacent to or on a lid comprising a deflectable component. The lid engages the sealable container to form a seal. The seal status detection component moves between a first state of operation where there is a gap between the seal status detection component and the deflectable component of the lid, and a second state of operation where the seal status detection component is adjacent to or in contact with the deflectable component of the lid. The seal status detection component has a first frequency response to interrogation by a reader when the seal is intact, and a second frequency response when the seal is broken.

Claims

1. A system for detecting a status of a seal comprising:

a container;

a lid configured to engage the container to form the seal between the lid and the container;

a seal status detection component positioned adjacent to the lid for indicating and communicating the status of the seal;

the seal status detection component comprise a RFID tag that is positioned over the lid;

enabling an operation of the RFID tag when the lid is inwardly deflected, as when an interior of the container is in a vacuum state;

when the seal of the container is broken and the interior of the container is no longer in the vacuum state, the lid will un-deflect, or pop up, and come into proximity or contact with the RFID tag, thereby disabling the operation of the RFID tag;

the enabling and disabling operation of the RFID tag read by a RFID reader.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a deflectable component movable between a first orientation and a second orientation.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first orientation is an inward deflection created when the container is sealed and an interior of the container is in a vacuum state.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the second orientation is an outward deflection created when the seal is not intact.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the seal status detection component is disposed over the deflectable component.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the seal status detection component is operable when the deflectable component is in the first orientation.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the seal status detection component is inhibited when the deflectable component is in the second orientation.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the seal status detection component moves between a first state of operation when the seal is intact and a second state of operation when the seal is not intact.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the seal status detection component moves between a first identity having a first frequency response when the seal is intact and a second identity having a second frequency response when the seal is not intact.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the lid is comprised of a conductive metal or a dielectric material.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the seal detection status component uses near field communication to communicate the status of the seal.