Radio frequency identification tag inlay sortation and assembly

• US 20050155213A1
• Filed: 01/12/2005
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Eastin, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,479,614 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/593
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2822 of microwave or radiofrequency circuits of attenuation, gain, e.g. using network analyzers G01R27/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• 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 7/0095 Testing the sensing arrangement, e.g. testing if a magnetic card reader, bar code reader, RFID interrogator or smart card reader functions properly testing of electrical circuits G01R31/28
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus for a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag inlay tester and sorter system are described. A tag inlay is received. A characteristic of the tag inlay is tested. The tag inlay is disposed if the tag inlay is determined to fail the test of characteristic. The tag inlay is transported to a processing station if the tag inlay is determined to have passed the test of characteristic. The tag inlay is processed at the processing station. In an aspect, the tag inlay testing and tag inlay processing is performed in a single apparatus. In an alternative aspect, the tag inlay testing is performed by a first apparatus, and the tag inlay processing is performed by a second apparatus.

Claims

1. A method for sorting tag antennas in a sortation system, comprising:

(a) receiving a tag inlay;

(b) testing at least one characteristic of the tag inlay;

(c) disposing of the tag inlay if the tag inlay is determined to fail the testing of step (b);

(d) transporting the tag inlay to a processing station if the tag inlay is determined to have passed the testing of step (b); and

(e) processing the tag inlay at the processing station.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing steps (a)-(e) using a first apparatus.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing steps (a)-(c) using a first apparatus; and

performing step (e) using a second apparatus.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises:

(1) transporting the tag to a testing station; and

(2) testing the tag at the testing station.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises:

(d) transporting the failed tag to a reject station.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) comprises:

(e) transporting the tag inlay to a particular web station of a plurality of web stations if the at least one characteristic of the tag inlay is determined to meet a test criteria for the particular web station.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) comprises:

packaging the tag inlay.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) comprises:

inserting the tag inlay into an accepted tag inlay container.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) comprises:

placing the tag inlay onto a position of a web of pressure sensitive adhesive material.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

(f) transporting the web to a second processing station; and

(g) attaching a release liner to the web.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

(f) advancing the web of the particular web station to present a subsequent position on the web for a next tag inlay.

12. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag sortation system, comprising:

a tag inlay dispenser;

a transport mechanism that receives a tag inlay from said tag inlay dispenser and transports said tag inlay;

a tag inlay tester that tests at least one characteristic of said tag inlay;

a first web station that dispenses a web of pressure sensitive adhesive material, wherein said first web station processes said tag inlay when said tag inlay is transported to the first web station and if said tag inlay is determined to have passed said test of said at least one characteristic, wherein said tag inlay is processed by placing said tag inlay on a position on said web at said web station, wherein said web is advanced to present a subsequent position on said web for a next tag; and

a reject station that disposes of said tag inlay when said tag inlay is transported to said reject station and if said tag inlay is determined to have failed said test of said at least one characteristic.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a first apparatus that includes said tag inlay dispenser, said tag inlay tester, and said reject station; and

a second apparatus that includes said first web station.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

an apparatus that includes said tag inlay dispenser, said tag inlay tester, said reject station, and said first web station.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

at least one additional web station that dispenses a continuous web of pressure sensitive adhesive material, wherein a particular web station of said web stations processes said tag inlay when said tag inlay is transported to said particular web station and said at least one characteristic of said tag inlay is determined to meet a test criteria for said particular web station.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein said tag inlay dispenser receives a web of tag inlays, and includes a tag inlay singulator for singulating tag inlays in the received web of tag inlays.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein said transport mechanism includes a rotary device.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein said transport mechanism includes a conveyor.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein said tag inlay tester comprises at least one reader.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein said tag inlay tester comprises a tag inlay programmer.

21. A method for testing and sorting tag antennas, comprising:

(a) receiving a tag from an infeed magazine that contains a stack of assembled tags;

(b) transporting the tag to a testing station;

(c) testing the tag at the testing station;

(d) transporting the tested tag to a reject station if the tag is determined to be defective;

(e) transporting the tested tag to a particular web station of a plurality of web stations that each include a continuous web of pressure sensitive adhesive material, if the tag is determined by the testing device to be not defective, and is determined to meet the test criteria for the particular web station;

(f) placing the tag received by the particular web station on a position on the web of the particular web station; and

(g) advancing the web of the particular web station to present a subsequent position on the web for a next tag.

22. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag inlay tester and sorter system, comprising:

an infeed magazine that contains a stack of assembled tags;

a tag carrier that receives a tag from the infeed magazine;

a testing station that receives the tag from the tag carrier and tests the received tag;

a plurality of web stations that each include a continuous web of pressure sensitive adhesive material, wherein a particular web station of the plurality of web stations receives the tested tag from the tag carrier if the tag is determined by the testing device to be not defective, and is determined to meet the test criteria for the particular web station, wherein the tag received by the particular web station is placed on a position on the web of the particular web station, and the web is advanced to present a subsequent position on the web for a next tag; and

a reject station that receives the tag if the tag is determined to be defective by the testing device.