Label having a cavity for receiving a RFID device and an apparatus and method of making and assembling the same

• US 20060181423A1
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pittsfield Weaving Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pittsfield Weaving Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Arey, Bruce, Bleckmann, Frederick
• Granted Patent: US 7,724,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.800
• CPC Class Codes: B31D 1/025 Applying patches, washers or reinforcements
• 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: G08B 13/2437 Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2445 Tag integrated into item to be protected, e.g. source tagging

Abstract

The present invention includes an apparatus for inserting a radio frequency device into a label. A ribbon of labels has a plurality of labels and a cavity formed in each of the labels. A mechanism linearly advances the ribbon of labels. A device inserts at least one radio frequency device into the cavity of a respective label. An upper layer of the ribbon of labels is slit along the channel to form an opening along a top of each of the cavities and at least one RFID device, such as a tag or coin is inserted within at least one of the plurality of cavities. A label for removably holding the RFID device includes an upper and lower layer of material. The cavity is formed between the upper and lower layers. An area of interference is located at a top of the cavity for holding the RFID device within the cavity.

Claims

1. An apparatus for inserting a radio frequency device into a label comprising:

a ribbon of labels having a plurality of labels and a cavity formed in each of the labels, each cavity having an interference point located therein;

a mechanism for linear advance of the ribbon of labels; and

a device for inserting at least one radio frequency device into the cavity of a label past the interference point to removably secure the device within the cavity.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ribbon of labels is a woven ribbon of labels containing a logo or text.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency device is an RFID tag.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency device is an RFID coin.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ribbon of labels includes a plurality of labels having a woven cavity disposed on both sides of a channel, and further comprising a first slitting device for slitting an upper layer of the ribbon of labels along the channel to form an opening along a top of each of the cavities.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a folding station for folding the ribbon of labels to expose the openings of the cavities.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the device for inserting at least one radio frequency device comprises an aligning and insertion block containing a plurality of RFID devices.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the aligning and insertion block includes a pair of magazines disposed on either side of the path of the ribbon of labels.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an advancement device in communication with each of said magazines to position at least one RFID device in one or more of said cavities.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising an unfolding device for unfolding the ribbon of labels.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a second slitting device for cutting the length of ribbon of labels along a lower layer to form at least two separate lengths of labels, each of the lengths of labels having a plurality of cavities.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sensor in communication with the linear advance mechanism for controlling the advance of the ribbon of labels.

13. A label made with the apparatus of claim 1.

14. A label for removably holding a radio frequency device, the label comprising:

an upper and lower layer of material;

a cavity formed between said upper and lower layers; and

an area of interference located at a top of the cavity for holding the radio frequency device within the cavity.

15. The label of claim 14, further comprising a retraction point in communication with said area of interference, whereby pressure at said retraction point will allow the radio frequency device to be pushed past said area of interference to insert or remove the radio frequency device from the cavity.

16. The label of claim 14, wherein the upper and lower layers of material are woven.

17. The label of claim 14, wherein the upper and lower layers of material are welded together along a bottom edges and sides.

18. The label of claim 14, wherein the radio frequency device is an RFID tag.

19. The label of claim 14, wherein the radio frequency device is an RFID coin.

20. A method for forming a plurality of labels incorporating a radio frequency device comprising the steps of:

providing a ribbon of labels, the ribbon of labels including a plurality of labels having a cavity disposed on both sides of a channel

slitting an upper layer of the ribbon of labels along the channel to form an opening along a top of each of the cavities; and

inserting at least one radio frequency device within at least one of the plurality of cavities.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of folding the ribbon of labels to expose the openings of the cavities prior to inserting the radio frequency devices into the cavities.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of inserting the at least one radio frequency device comprises providing an aligning and insertion block containing a plurality of RFID devices.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the aligning and insertion block includes a pair of magazines disposed on either side of the path of the ribbon of labels and the step of inserting the RFID devices includes simultaneously inserting at least one RFID device into the cavities disposed on both sides of the channel.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of slitting a bottom layer of the ribbon of labels to separate the ribbon of labels along the channel.

25. An apparatus for inserting a radio frequency device into a label comprising:

a ribbon of labels including a plurality of labels disposed on both sides of a channel;

a mechanism for linear advance of the ribbon of labels; and

a device for inserting at least one radio frequency device into the cavity of at least one of said plurality of labels.