System and method for batch conversion of RFID tag to RFID label

• US 20060060657A1
• Filed: 02/23/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Worldlabel Holding Pte Limited
• Original Assignee: Alex Poh Teck Choong, Seng Hwee Koh, Siang Beng Chng
• Inventors: Choong, Alex Poh Teck, Koh, Seng Hwee, Chng, Siang Beng
• Granted Patent: US 7,267,286 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• 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 19/0776 the adhering arrangement being a layer of adhesive, so that the record carrier can function as a sticker

Abstract

A system for batch conversion of RFID tag onto a label in a liner, to produce a RFID label, the system having at least a RFID tag dispenser having a plurality of RFID tags, a liner having a plurality of labels, each label spaced apart and marked with pitch marks, a bar code printer and electrical motor to move the liner forward. The system has additionally, a pitch mark sensor and a PLC controller. The pitch mark sensor detects the position of the pitch marks of a label, then sends a signal to the RFID tag dispenser to issue a RFID tag, moving the plurality of RFID tags along towards the liner, causing the RFID tag to be embedded onto the label to produce the RFID label. The system can include a further sensor at the RFID tag dispenser. A method for embedding the RFID tag using the system is also proposed.

Claims

1. A system to embed a RFID tag onto a label in a liner for the purpose of batch conversion of RFID tag to RFID label, the system having at least a RFID tag dispenser having a plurality of RFID tags, a liner having a plurality of labels spaced apart, roller modules to ensure proper alignment of the liner, driver roller and electrical motor to move the liner and RFID tags forward, a bar code printer 4 for printing of bar codes as well as to move the liner forward, the system further comprising:

each label marked with pitch marks to denote the beginning and ending of each label,

a pitch mark sensor; and

a PLC Controller;

wherein the pitch mark sensor detects the position of the pitch marks of a first label, the pitch mark sensor sends a signal to the RFID tag dispenser to issue a RFID tag, the issue of the RFID tag moves the plurality of RFID tags along towards the liner, causing a first RFID tag to be embedded onto the first label to produce a first RFID label on which information is further encoded and printed onto the first RFID label, the PLC Controller then moves a second RFID tag towards the liner so that a second RFID tag is embedded onto a second label in the liner and so on.

2. A system to embed a RFID tag onto a label in a liner for the purpose of batch conversion of RFID tag to RFID label, as claimed in claim 1, the system having a second sensor, the second sensor being a RFID dispensing sensor.

3. A pitch mark sensor for a system to embed a RFID tag onto a label in a liner for the purpose of batch conversion of RFID tag to RFID label, as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, the pitch mark sensor being a photoelectric sensor.

4. A pitch mark sensor for a system to embed a RFID tag onto a label in a liner for the purpose of batch conversion of RFID tag to RFID label, as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, the pitch mark sensor being an optical sensor.

5. A RFID dispensing sensor for a system to embed a RFID tag onto a label in a liner for the purpose of batch conversion of RFID tag to RFID label, as claimed in claim 2, the RFID dispensing sensor being a photoelectric sensor.

6. A RFID dispensing sensor for a system to embed a RFID tag onto a label in a liner for the purpose of batch conversion of RFID tag to RFID label, as claimed in claim 2, the RFID dispensing sensor being a counting sensor.

7. A pitch mark used in a system to embed a RFID tag onto a label in a liner for the purpose of batch conversion of RFID tag to RFID label, as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, the pitch mark being an eye mark.

8. A pitch mark used in a system to embed a RFID tag onto a label in a liner for the purpose of batch conversion of RFID tag to RFID label, as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, the pitch mark being a registration mark.

9. A pitch mark used in a system to embed a RFID tag onto a label in a liner for the purpose of batch conversion of RFID tag to RFID label, as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, the pitch mark being a tiny perforation.

10. A pitch mark used in a system to embed a RFID tag onto a label in a liner for the purpose of batch conversion of RFID tag to RFID label, as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, the pitch mark being a bump.

11. A pitch mark used in a system to embed a RFID tag onto a label in a liner for the purpose of batch conversion of RFID tag to RFID label, as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, the pitch mark being an indentation.

12. A method to embed a RFID tag onto a label in a liner for the purpose of batch conversion of RFID tag to RFID label for a system as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising the following steps:

marking each label with pitch marks to denote the beginning and ending of each label,

detecting the pitch marks of the first label by the pitch mark sensor;

transmitting a signal from the pitch mark sensor to the PLC Controller to move a first RFID tag towards the first label for embedding;

embedding the first RFID tag onto the first label to form the first RFID label;

moving the first RFID label forward towards the bar code printer and driver roller, for printing and encoding,

moving a second label forward to the pitch mark sensor;

detecting the pitch mark of the second label by the pitch mark sensor,

transmitting a signal from the pitch mark sensor to the PLC Controller to cause the RFID tag dispenser to issue a RFID tag,

causing a second RFID tag to move towards the second label for embedding,

and so on until the RFID tags are all embedded onto the labels and information encoded and printed onto the RFID labels.

13. A method to embed a RFID tag onto a label in a liner for the purpose of batch conversion of RFID tag to RFID label for a system as claimed in claim 2, the method comprising the following steps:

marking each label with pitch marks to denote the beginning and ending of each label,

detecting the pitch marks of the first label by the pitch mark sensor;

transmitting a signal by the pitch mark sensor to the PLC Controller to move a first RFID tag towards the first label for embedding,

embedding first RFID tag onto the first label to form the first RFID label;

moving the first RFID label forward towards the bar code printer for printing and, encoding;

moving a second label forward to the pitch mark sensor;

detecting the pitch mark of the second label by the pitch mark sensor,

transmitting a signal to the PLC Controller;

transmitting a signal from the PLC Controller to the RFID dispensing sensor, causing the RFID tag dispenser to issue a RFID tag from the RFID tag dispenser, moving a second RFID tag towards the second label,

embedding the second RFID tag onto the second label to form a second RFID label;

and so on until the RFID tags are all embedded onto the labels and information encoded and printed onto the RFID labels.