RFID systems and graphic image fusion

• US 20060176180A1
• Filed: 06/27/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Communications, Inc (Middleby Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fusion Graphics Inc
• Inventors: Freund, Robert Frank
• Granted Patent: US 7,369,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.800
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2037/0042 the coating being applied in solid sheet form, e.g. as meltable sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/1404 feeding inserts cut out from an endless sheet outside the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14049 feeding inserts by a swing arm
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14737 decorations printed on the insert by a digital imaging technique
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14745 in-line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14852 incorporating articles with a data carrier, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14918 in-mould-labelling
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 37/0032 the coating being applied upon the mould surface before introducing the moulding compound, e.g. applying a gelcoat B29C44/14 and B29C44/32 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14 incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles B29C45/1671 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14008 Inserting articles into the mould B29C45/14827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14221 by tools, e.g. cutting means
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14811 Multilayered articles B29C45/14827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/26 Scrap or recycled material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2715/006 Glues or adhesives, e.g. hot melts or thermofusible adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/002 Coloured
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0087 Wear resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B31D 1/027 involving, marking, printing or coding
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/5218 characterised by inorganic additives, e.g. pigments, clays
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2445 : Tag integrated into item to be protected, e.g. source tagging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/12 : Surface bonding means and/or assembly means with cutting, punching, piercing, severing or tearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1322 : Severing before bonding or assembling of parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1339 : Delivering cut part in sequence to serially conveyed articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1707 : Discrete spaced laminae on adhered carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/171 : Means serially presenting discrete base articles or separate portions of a single article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1906 : Delaminating means responsive to feed or shape at delamination
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1933 : Spraying delaminating means [e.g., atomizer, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 : Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A security and/or tracking information and graphic image fusion system to be used with verification equipment to provide a tamper proof labeled article having security and/or tracking information thereon. The label comprises a printable sheet having at least one RFID device thereon, and an outer layer thereon. The RFID device provides security and/or tracking information for the labeled article. The label may further include at least one visible image printed thereon. To provide additional layers of security, at least one invisible IR or UV image, or both, may also be printed on the printable sheet to provide security and/or tracking information. The visible image provides the graphic image. The label is permanently fused by an in-mold molding process to an article made of plastic, rubber or the combination thereof to render it tamper proof.

Claims

1. A label comprising:

a printable sheet having at least one RFID (radio frequency identification) device thereon wherein

the at least one RFID device is configured to provide security and/or tracking information, and

the label is configured such that the label may be applied in-mold to an article.

2. The label of claim 1, wherein the printable sheet comprises precipitated silica filled micro-porous material.

3. The label of claim 1, wherein the at least one RFID device comprises at least one RFID antenna printed on the printable sheet, and at least one RFID chip attached to the at least one RFID antenna

4. The label of claim 3, wherein the at least one RFID antenna is printed onto the label with a conductive ink.

5. The label of claim 3, wherein the at least one RFID chip is bonded to the at least one RFID antenna by an adhesive.

7. The label of claim 1 wherein the RFID devices includes an RFID antenna comprised of a conductive adhesive applied to the printable sheet, wherein the adhesive is operable to bond to an RFID chip.

8. The label of claim 1, further including at least one visible image which at least partially overlies the at least one RFID device.

9. The label of claim 1, wherein the RFID device stores at least one radio frequency, and wherein the radio frequency comprises the security and/or tracking information.

10. The label of claim 1, wherein the at least one visible image is printed with inks selected from lithographic, gravure, flexographic, and screen inks, and combinations thereof.

6. The label of claim 6, wherein the adhesive is a UV or IR sensitive adhesive.

11. A label comprising:

a printable sheet having at least one invisible IR or UV image printed thereon;

at least one visible image printed thereon;

at least one (radio frequency identification) RFID device thereon; and

an outer layer thereon, wherein

the at least one RFID device is configured to provide security and/or tracking information;

the at least one invisible IR or UV image is configured to provide security information; and

the label is configured such that the label may be applied in-mold to an article.

12. The label of claim 11, wherein the printable sheet comprises precipitated silica filled micro-porous material.

13. The label of claim 11, wherein the at least one RFID device comprises at least one RFID antenna and at least one RFID chip.

14. The label of claim 13, wherein the at least one RFID antenna is printed onto the label by a conductive ink.

15. The label of claim 14, wherein the at least one RFID chip is bonded to the at least one RFID antenna by an adhesive.

16. The label of claim 15, wherein the adhesive is a light sensitive adhesive.

17. The label of claim 11, wherein the at least one visible image at least partially overlies the at least one RFID device.

18. The label of claim 11, wherein the at least one RFID device stores at least one radio frequency, and wherein the at least one radio frequency comprises the security and/or tracking information.

19. The label of claim 11, wherein the at least one visible image is printed with inks selected from lithographic, gravure, flexographic, and screen inks, and combinations thereof.

20. The label of claim 11, wherein the at least one invisible image comprises at least one IR image which is printed on the printable sheet such that the at least one visible image at least partially overlies the at least one invisible IR image.

21. The label of claim 11, wherein the at least one invisible IR image is visible under light having a wavelength between about 800 angstroms to about 3000 angstroms.

22. The label of claim 11, wherein the at least one invisible IR image comprises a plurality of invisible IR images.

23. The label of claim 11, wherein the at least one invisible IR image comprises a bar code, and wherein the bar code comprises the security information.

24. The label of claim 11, wherein the at least one invisible IR image comprises a dot matrix pattern, and wherein the dot matrix pattern comprises the security information.

25. The label of claim 11, wherein the invisible IR image is configured such that the invisible IR image exhibits an expected change in absorption and reflection, and wherein the excepted change in absorption and reflection comprises the security information

26. The label of claim 11, wherein the at least one invisible image is at least one UV image printed on the printable sheet such that the at least one invisible UV image at least partially overlies the at least one visible image.

27. The label of claim 26, further including a trace molecular chemical in the invisible UV image.

28. The label of claim 26, wherein the at least one invisible UV image comprises a plurality of invisible UV images.

29. The label of claim 26, wherein the at least one invisible UV image comprises a bar code, and wherein the bar code comprises the security information.

30. The label of claim 26, wherein the at least one invisible UV image comprises a dot matrix pattern, and wherein the dot matrix pattern comprises the security information.

31. The label of claim 26, wherein the at least one invisible UV image comprises a block print over the visible image, and wherein the block print comprises the security information.

32. The label of claim 26, wherein one UV image may be printed over another UV image and detected using optical spectroscopy.

33. The label of claim 26, wherein the invisible UV image is configured such that the invisible UV image exhibits an expected change in absorption and reflection, and wherein the excepted change in absorption and reflection comprises the security information.

34. The label of claim 26, wherein at least one invisible IR image is printed on the printable sheet such that the at least one visible image overlies the at least one IR image and at least one invisible UV image is printed on the printable sheet such that the at least one invisible UV image at least partially overlies the at least one visible image.

35. A labeled article, comprising

an article comprising a material selected from plastic, rubber, and combinations thereof;

a label comprising a printable sheet having at least one (radio frequency identification) RFID

device thereon, and an outer layer thereon, wherein;

the at least one RFID device is configured to provide security and/or tracking information; and

the label is permanently fused to the article during the manufacture of the article.

36. The labeled article of claim 35, further including at least one visible image which at least partially overlies the at least one RFID device.

37. A labeled article, comprising

an article comprising a material selected from plastic, rubber, and combinations thereof;

a label comprising a printable sheet having at least one invisible IR or UV image printed thereon, at least one visible image printed thereon, at least one (radio frequency identification) RFID device thereon and an outer layer thereon, wherein;

the at least one RFID device is configured to provide security and/or tracking information;

the at least one invisible IR or UV image is configured to provide security and/or tracking information; and

the label is permanently fused to the article during the manufacture of the article.

38. The labeled article of claim 37, wherein the at least one invisible image is at least one invisible UV image printed on the printable sheet such that the at least one invisible UV image at least partially overlies the at least one visible image.

39. The labeled article of claim 37, wherein the at least one invisible image is at least one IR image which is printed on the printable sheet such that the at least one visible image at least partially overlies the at least one invisible IR image.

40. The labeled article of claim 37, wherein the at least one visible image at least partially overlies the at least one RFID device.

41. The labeled article of claim 37 wherein at least one invisible IR image and at the least one invisible UV image are printed on the printable sheet,

the at least one invisible IR image being configured to provide security and/or tracking information;

the at least one invisible UV image being configured to provide security and/or tracking information;

the at least one visible image is printed on the printable sheet such that the at least one visible image at least partially overlies the at least one invisible IR image; and

the at least one invisible UV image is printed on the printable sheet such that the at least one invisible UV image at least partially overlies the at least one visible image.

42. A system for providing security and/or tracking information, comprising:

a labeled article comprising a material selected from plastic, rubber, and combinations thereof and a label, wherein;

the label comprises a printable sheet having at least one (radio frequency identification) RFID device thereon,

and an outer layer thereon;

the at least one RFID device is configured to provide security and/or tracking information; and

the label is permanently fused to the article during the manufacture of the article; and

a verification system comprising verification equipment that is programmed to receive the security and/or tracking information provided by the at least one RFID device on the label.

43. The system of claim 42, further including at least one visible image which at least partially overlies the at least one RFID device.

44. A system for providing security and/or tracking information, comprising:

a labeled article comprising a material selected from plastic, rubber, and combinations thereof and a label, wherein;

the label comprises a printable sheet having at least one (radio frequency identification) RFID device thereon, at least one visible image printed thereon, and an outer layer thereon;

the at least one RFID device is configured to provide security and/or tracking information; and

the at least one invisible IR or UV image is configured to provide security and/or tracking information;

the label is permanently fused to the article during the manufacture of the article;

a verification system comprising verification equipment that is programmed to receive the security and/or tracking information provided by the at least one RFID device on the label; and

a verification system comprising verification equipment that is programmed to verify the security and/or tracking information provided by the at least one invisible IR or UV image on the label.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the at least one invisible image is at least one invisible IR image which is printed on the printable sheet such that the at least one visible image at least partially overlies the at least one invisible IR image;

wherein the invisible IR image is configured such that the invisible IR image exhibits an expected change in absorption and reflection, and wherein the verification equipment is programmed to verify the expected change in absorption and reflection.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the at least one visible image at least partially overlies the at least one RFID device.

47. The system of claim 44, wherein the at least one invisible image is at least one invisible UV image printed on the printable sheet such that the at least one invisible UV image at least partially overlies the at least one visible image.

48. The system of claim 44, wherein multiple UV images with small variations in wavelength are printed on the label.

49. The system of claim 44, wherein at least one invisible IR image is printed on the printable sheet such that the at least one visible image overlies the at least one IR image and at least one invisible UV image is printed on the printable sheet such that the at least one invisible UV image at least partially overlies the at least one visible image.

50. A system for removing multiple labels from a label medium comprising:

a label medium comprising a plurality of labels, the labels comprising a printable sheet having at least one RFID device bonded thereon;

a die cutting station comprising a tool arm, wherein the tool arm is configured to remove the labels from the label medium; and

a transfer mechanism configured to

feed the label medium to the die cutting station,

transfer the label medium through the die cutting station, and

deliver the label medium out of the die cutting station after the labels have been removed,

wherein the removed labels are configured such that the labels may be applied in-mold to an article.

51. A system according to claim 50 wherein the printable sheet comprises a printed UV image, a printed IR image, or combinations thereof.

52. A system according to claim 50 wherein the label medium may comprise a sheet or a roll.

53. A system according to claim 50 wherein the tool arm comprises a robot.

54. A system according to claim 50 wherein the tool arm comprises a plurality of die rods configured to remove the labels from the label medium upon contacting the label medium.

55. A system according to claim 54 wherein the die rods further comprise vacuum cups disposed on the surface of the die rods, the vacuum cups configured to grip the removed labels by suction.

56. A system according to claim 54 further comprising a die cutting support oriented opposite the tool arm, the die cutting support includes a plurality of grooves configured to receive the die rods when the die cutting support and tool arm are joined, wherein the joining of the die cutting support and the tool arm is operable to remove the labels from a label medium disposed between the die cutting support and the tool arm.

57. A system according to claim 50 further wherein the transfer mechanism comprises a reel to reel mechanism operable to feed the label medium to the die cutting station, transfer the label medium through the die cutting station, and deliver the label medium out of the die cutting station after the labels have been removed.

58. A system according to claim 57 wherein the reels comprise a plurality of prongs on the other surface configured to couple to a plurality of slots located on the label medium, the coupling operable to transfer the label medium though the die cutting station.

59. A system according to claim 50 wherein the transfer mechanism comprises hardware adapted to stabilize the label medium upon delivery and transfer through the die cutting station.

60. A system according to claim 50 further comprising a molding station adjacent the die cutting station, the molding station adapted to fuse the removed labels into an article.

61. A system according to claim 60 wherein the molding station comprises an injection molding apparatus.

62. A system according to claim 60 wherein the tool arm is operable to extend from the die cutting station into the molding station.

63. A system according to claim 60 wherein the molding station utilizes a material comprised of plastic, rubber, or combinations thereof.

64. A system for producing multiple labels comprising:

a label medium comprising a plurality of unbonded labels, the unbonded labels comprising printable sheets;

at least one RFID device feeding mechanism operable to provide a plurality RFID devices for coupling to the plurality of unbonded labels, the plurality of RFID devices having of RFID chips and being configured to provide security/and or tracking information;

at least one adhesive supply operable to provide an adhesive to be applied to the plurality of unbonded labels, the adhesive operable to couple the RFID chips to the plurality of unbonded labels;

at least one tool arm configured to receive the RFID chips from the RFID feeding mechanism and attach the RFID chips to the plurality of unbonded labels at a location where the adhesive material was applied;

a curing station adapted to bond the RFID chips to the plurality of unbonded labels;

a transfer mechanism configured to transfer the label medium through the system;

wherein the removed labels are configured such that the labels may be applied in-mold to an article.

65. A system according to claim 64 wherein the printable sheet comprises a printed UV image, a printed IR image, or combinations thereof

66. A system according to claim 64 wherein the label medium may comprise a sheet or a roll.

67. A system according to claim 64 wherein the RFID device has an RFID antenna attached to the RFID chip.

68. A system according to claim 64 wherein the adhesive comprises a conductive polymer.

69. A system according to claim 64 wherein the conductive polymer is operable to perform as an RFID antenna and the adhesive is also operable to bond to the RFID chip.

70. A system according to claim 64 wherein the adhesive comprises a UV or IR sensitive adhesive

71. A system according to claim 70 wherein the curing station comprises a light source operable to bond the RFID chips to the unbonded labels by exposing the UV or IR adhesive to light.

72. A system according to claim 64 wherein at least one verification system is located adjacent the RFID device feeding mechanism, the verification system operable the read the RFID devices before the RFID devices are delivered to the tool arm for attachment to the unbonded labels.

73. A system according to claim 72 further comprising at least one bypass port adjacent the verification system, the bypass port operable to divert malfunctioning RFID devices from the feeding mechanism prior to being delivered to the tool arm for attachment to the unbonded labels.

74. A system according to claim 72 wherein the bypass port comprises a venturi tube.

75. A system according to claim 64 wherein at least one verification system is located adjacent the UV or IR curing station, the verification system operable to read the bonded labels and detect whether any of the bonded labels are functioning improperly.

76. A system according to claim 64 wherein the RFID chip feeding mechanism may comprise a vibratory bowl feeder

77. A system according to claim 64 further comprising a die cutting station comprising:

a tool arm, wherein the tool arm is configured to remove the labels from the label medium; and

a transfer mechanism operable to

receive the label medium from the curing station;

transfer the label medium through the die cutting station; and

deliver the label medium out of the die cutting station after the labels have been removed.

78. A system according to claim further 77 comprising a molding station adjacent the die cutting station, the molding station adapted to fuse the removed labels into an article.

79. A system according to claim 78 wherein the tool arm is operable to extend from the die cutting station into the molding station.

80. A system according to claim 78 wherein the molding station comprises an injection molding apparatus.