Method of manufacturing an article having a radio frequency identification (RFID) device
First Claim
1. A manufacturing machine assembly for producing an article having a radio frequency identification (RFID) device with the article fabricated from a continuous sheet of stock having a top surface and a bottom surface with an adhesive layer and release liner, said assembly comprising:
- a support frame for supporting the continuous sheet of stock as the sheet of stock moves through said machine assembly;
a printing station for printing indicia on the top surface of the continuous sheet of stock that define a first strip and a second strip of the stock;
a cutting station mounted to said support frame for cutting the continuous sheet of stock to separate the first and second strips;
a stripping device mounted to said support frame for removing the release liner from the first strip to expose the adhesive layer;
an applicator mounted to said support frame for applying a plurality of the RFID devices to the exposed adhesive layer of the first strip; and
a pair of coupling rollers rotatably mounted to said support frame for moving the adhesive layer of the first strip into a bonded relationship with the second strip to mate the first and second strips and form a continuous series of articles wherein the first strip defines the top surface and the second strip defines the bottom surface of the articles and the plurality of RFID devices are sandwiched between the first and second strips;
at least one of said coupling rollers including an integral notch for providing a passageway for the RFID devices as the first and second strips pass between said coupling rollers, thereby ensuring that the RFID devices are not damaged during the bonding of the first and second strips.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A manufacturing machine assembly for producing an article having a radio frequency identification (RFID) device. The article is fabricated from a continuous sheet of stock with an adhesive layer and a release liner. A printing station prints indicia on the sheet of stock. A cutting station cuts the continuous sheet of stock to form first and second strips. The release liner is removed from the first strip to expose the adhesive layer and an applicator applies a number of the RFID devices to the exposed adhesive layer. Coupling rollers, each having an integral notch, bond the adhesive layer of the first strip with the second strip such that the RFID devices are sandwiched between the first and second strips. Alternatively, the release liner from the second strip may also be removed such that the adhesive layer of the first strip is bonded with the adhesive layer of the second strip to sandwich the RFID devices between the adhesive layers.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A manufacturing machine assembly for producing an article having a radio frequency identification (RFID) device with the article fabricated from a continuous sheet of stock having a top surface and a bottom surface with an adhesive layer and release liner, said assembly comprising:
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a support frame for supporting the continuous sheet of stock as the sheet of stock moves through said machine assembly;
a printing station for printing indicia on the top surface of the continuous sheet of stock that define a first strip and a second strip of the stock;
a cutting station mounted to said support frame for cutting the continuous sheet of stock to separate the first and second strips;
a stripping device mounted to said support frame for removing the release liner from the first strip to expose the adhesive layer;
an applicator mounted to said support frame for applying a plurality of the RFID devices to the exposed adhesive layer of the first strip; and
a pair of coupling rollers rotatably mounted to said support frame for moving the adhesive layer of the first strip into a bonded relationship with the second strip to mate the first and second strips and form a continuous series of articles wherein the first strip defines the top surface and the second strip defines the bottom surface of the articles and the plurality of RFID devices are sandwiched between the first and second strips;
at least one of said coupling rollers including an integral notch for providing a passageway for the RFID devices as the first and second strips pass between said coupling rollers, thereby ensuring that the RFID devices are not damaged during the bonding of the first and second strips. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of manufacturing an article having a radio frequency identification (RFID) device using a machine assembly having a pair of coupling rollers with at least one of the rollers including an integral notch, the article being fabricated from a continuous sheet of stock having a top surface and a bottom surface with an adhesive layer and release liner, said method comprising the steps of:
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printing indicia on the top surface of the continuous sheet of stock to define a first strip and a second strip of the stock;
cutting the continuous sheet of stock to separate the first and second strips of stock;
removing the release liner from the first strip to expose the adhesive layer;
applying a plurality of the RFID devices to the exposed adhesive layer of the first strip;
aligning the first and second strips with the coupling rollers;
aligning the RFID devices with the notch in the coupling roller;
mating the adhesive layer of the first strip with the second strip to bond the first and second strips together and form a continuous series of articles wherein the first strip defines the top surface and the second strip defines the bottom surface of the articles, and simultaneously passing the RFID devices through the notch to ensure that the RFID devices are not damaged as the plurality of RFID devices are sandwiched between the first and second strips. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of manufacturing an article having a radio frequency identification (RFID) device with the article being fabricated from a continuous sheet of stock having a top surface and a bottom surface with an adhesive layer and release liner, said method comprising the steps of:
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printing indicia on the top surface of the continuous sheet of stock to define a first strip and a second strip of the stock;
cutting the continuous sheet of stock to separate the first and second strips of stock;
inverting one of the first and second strips 180 degrees relative to the other first and second strip;
removing the release liner from the first strip to expose the adhesive layer of the first strip;
applying a plurality of the RFID devices to the exposed adhesive layer of the first strip;
removing the release liner from the second strip to expose the adhesive layer of the second strip;
mating the adhesive layer of the first strip with the adhesive layer of the second strip to bond the first and second strips together and form a continuous series of articles wherein the first strip defines the top surface and the second strip defines the bottom surface of the articles and the plurality of RFID devices are sandwiched between the adhesive layers of the first and second strips. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification