Radio frequency labels on reusable containers

• US 20030067381A1
• Filed: 11/26/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2000
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Moore North America Incorporated (RR Donnelley & Sons Company)
• Original Assignee: Moore North America Incorporated (RR Donnelley & Sons Company)
• Inventors: Soltysiak, John R., Shipston, Adele C., Mitchell, Nancy G., Grabau, Robert E.
• Application Number:
  US10/303,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20030067381A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.92
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/205 Means for the attachment of labels, cards, coupons or the like; cards or coupons for the other types of rigid or semi-rigid containers B65D25/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0776 the adhering arrangement being a layer of adhesive, so that the record carrier can function as a sticker
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/80 Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging bio-packaging Y02W90/10

Abstract

It is possible to accurately and conveniently determine the origin, contents, position, and/or destination of a reusable container (such as a tote or bin, particularly for a manufacturing process) by applying a permanent adhesive label with embedded programmable RFID to the reusable container at a location where the RFID may be detected and reprogrammed. The RFID is programmed with accurate variable information including relating to at least one of the origin, contents, position, and destination of the container, and at at least one location the variable information of the RFID is detected. After a first use of the reusable container it is reprogrammed with other accurate variable information, and the detecting and reprogramming are repeated multiple times. Preferably the label is of a substantially moisture impermeable material such as a plastic film, or synthetic paper.

Claims

1. A method of accurately determining at least one of the origin, contents, position, and destination of a reusable container comprising:

(a) applying a permanent adhesive label with imbedded or mounted programmable RFID device to the reusable container at a location where the RFID device may be detected and reprogrammed;

(b) programming the RFID device with accurate variable information including relating to at least one of the contents, position, and destination of the reusable container;

(c) at at least one location, detecting the programmed variable information of the RFID device;

(d) after a first use of the reusable container pursuant to the programmed variable RFID information thereof, reprogramming the RFID device with other accurate variable information including relating to at least one of the origin, contents, position, and destination of the reusable container; and

(e) repeating (c) and (d) multiple times.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein (b) is also practiced to program the RFID device with non-variable information which is not affected by subsequent reprogramming pursuant to (d) and (e).

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein (a) is practiced using a substantially moisture impermeable label.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein (a) is practiced using a label with human readable indicia thereon visible from the exterior of the reusable container.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein (a) is practiced to apply the label to the exterior of the reusable container.

6. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein (a) is practiced using a substantially moisture impermeable label.

7. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein (a) is practiced using a label with human readable indicia thereon visible from the exterior of the reusable container.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein (a) is practiced to apply the label to the exterior of the reusable container.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein (a) is practiced using a label made by combining an RFID chip with a face stock/transfer tape laminate, and verifying the functions of the RFID device at least twice prior to final label construction.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein (a) is practiced using paper stock mounting an RFID chip laminated between two pieces of plastic film, one piece of plastic film having permanent adhesive on an exterior surface thereof.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein (a) is practiced using a plastic film stock having properties simulating those of paper with an RFID chip embedded therein or mounted thereon.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein (b) (d), and (e) are practiced to program the RFID device with all of the origin, contents, position, and destination of the reusable container.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the reusable container includes material or objects therein during passage thereof from a programming position to a destination position;

and wherein (b)-(e) are practiced during a manufacturing process using or making the material or objects.

14. A reusable container comprising:

a container body adapted to hold therein material or objects being handled;

a label having pressure sensitive permanent adhesive and an RFID programmable chip mounted thereon or embedded therein; and

said label adhered to said reusable container by said pressure sensitive adhesive.

15. A reusable container as recited in claim 14 wherein said label is of substantially moisture impervious material.

16. A reusable container as recited in claim 15 wherein said label also comprises human readable indicia.

17. A reusable container as recited in claim 16 wherein said label is applied to the exterior of said reusable container.

18. A reusable container as recited in claim 17 wherein said container has an open top and contains material or objects therein which are inserted and removed through the open top.

19. A reusable container as recited in claim 14 wherein said RFID chip is programmed by erasable variable information including at least one of the origin, contents, destination, and position thereof, and non-variable information.

20. A reusable container as recited in claim 19 wherein said RFID chip is programmed with all of origin, contents, destination, and position information for said reusable container.