Thermoformed platform having a communications device

• US 20060243174A1
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nextreme LLC
• Original Assignee: Nextreme LLC
• Inventors: Muirhead, Scott A.W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,804,400 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/51.300
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/24308 comprising electronic elements or detection means, e.g. chips, RFIDs or barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/001 Shaping in several steps
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/08 flexible, e.g. films
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/15 incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. extrusion moulding around inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/157 Coating linked inserts, e.g. chains
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/02 Combined thermoforming and manufacture of the preform
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/12 of articles having inserts or reinforcements
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/162 of deep containers or boxes
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/267 Two sheets being thermoformed in separate mould parts and joined together while still in the mould B29C49/0691 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/46 Measuring, controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/18 using heated tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/433 Casing-in, i.e. enclosing an element between two sheets by an outlined seam for bookbinding B42C11/06; for packaging B65B; by laminating B32B37/00; enclosing tubular articles between substantially flat elements B29C66/53261
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/4722 Fixing strips to surfaces other than edge faces fixing strips to edge faces B29C63/0026
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/543 joining more than two hollow-preforms to form said hollow articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/545 one hollow-preform being placed inside the other
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83411 Roller, cylinder or drum types B29C66/83431 takes precedence; rollers, cylinders or drums moving relative to and tangentially to the parts to be joined B29C66/8362
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/96 characterised by the method for implementing the controlling of the joining process
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9672 involving special data inputs, e.g. involving barcodes, RFID tags
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 : PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/12 : PP, i.e. polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2075/00 : Use of PU, i.e. polyureas or polyurethanes or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2017/00 : Carriers for sound or information
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7126 : large, e.g. for bulk storage
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7172 : Fuel tanks, jerry cans
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7178 : Pallets
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0018 : and each contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 : Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00034 : Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 : Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00139 : Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00268 : made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00273 : made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00288 : made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00318 : made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00338 : contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00407 : on the load supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00412 : on the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00437 : on the load supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00442 : on the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00557 : without separate auxiliary elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00562 : chemical connection, e.g. glued, welded, sealed
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0094 : nestable
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 : having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 : Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/244 : Tag manufacturing, e.g. continuous manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2445 : Tag integrated into item to be protected, e.g. source tagging
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 : Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 108/901 : Synthetic plastic industrial platform, e.g. pallet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1049 : Folding only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1051 : by folding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1062 : Prior to assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/109 : Embedding of laminae within face of additional laminae
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1734 : Means bringing articles into association with web

Abstract

An apparatus has a communications device associated therewith. In another aspect of the present invention, a pallet is made from thermoformed polymeric sheets with an attached communications device. A further aspect of the present invention provides a radio frequency identification device attached to an apparatus. In still another aspect of the present invention, a communications device is incorporated into one or more sheets of a pallet or other container prior to forming. Methods of making and using a thermoformed pallet and container, having a communications device, are also provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus for manufacturing extruded plastic sheet having RF devices comprising:

a local computer linked to a network,

an extruder having a first PLC linked to said local computer,

an RF device applicator spaced apart from said extruder and having a second PLC linked to said local computer, and

said local computer communicating with the network and said second PLC and actuating said applicator to selectively affix a RF device upon said extruded plastic sheet.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which:

said applicator includes at least one of a roll, a bundle, a stack or another arrangement of RF devices sequentially affixed by said applicator to the sheet produced by said extruder.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which:

said local computer includes a link to the network,

said local computer link including at least one of a hardwire link and a wireless link, and

wherein said wireless link includes at least one of a LAN, a cellular, a PCS and a 2.4 gigahertz air interface protocol.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes:

a read/write device linked to at least one of the computer and the network for communicating data between the network and the RF devices.

5. An apparatus for affixing RF devices to extruded sheet used in the manufacture of thermoformed articles comprising:

an extruder for producing the sheet,

a gantry spaced apart from said extruder and including an inventory of RF devices,

a press for moving the RF devices to an affixed position upon the sheet, and

a PLC linked to a computer in a network for controlling the operation of said press.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which:

said press includes indexing means for selectively affixing the RF devices in different positions along one of a width and a length of the sheet.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which:

said gantry includes a plurality of presses for affixing a plurality of RF devices at least across a width and along a length of the sheet.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which:

said gantry includes a communications module for downloading data from the network onto the RF devices,

wherein said data is used within the network to identify the sheet with at least one RF device affixed thereto.

9. An apparatus for affixing RF devices to extruded sheet comprising:

an extruder for producing the sheet with the RF devices positioned thereon; and

a frame assembly including a roll of film and a roller,

wherein the roller compresses the film onto the sheet with the RF devices affixed therebetween.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 in which:

said extruder is spaced apart from said frame assembly.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 in which:

the film includes a top surface and a bottom surface, and

said bottom surface includes an adhesive to bond the film to the sheet with the RF devices affixed there between.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 which includes:

said extruder being spaced together with the frame assembly, and

the sheet being heated with the film being compressed over the heated sheet.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 in which:

the film is visibly observed affixed to the sheet.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 in which:

the film at least secures said RF devices to sheet in a web form.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 in which:

the film protects the RF devices from the movement of adjacent sheet.

16. A method for communicating information associated with extruded sheet from a network to a machine that subsequently modifies the sheet comprising the steps of:

providing a first apparatus to extrude the sheet,

providing a second apparatus spaced apart from the first apparatus to affix an RF device to the sheet, and

providing a third apparatus spaced apart from the second apparatus to at least receive information from the RF device on the sheet and the received information being used by a machine PLC to configure a processing characteristic of the machine for subsequently modifying the sheet.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16 which includes:

providing information having at least one of a permanently storable memory component and a temporary storable memory component.

18. A method as set forth in claim 16 which includes:

providing a machine PLC that uses the information to at least look up a preprogrammed processing characteristic retained in the memory of a network computer linked to the PLC and to solicit a processing characteristic instruction from a computer program located within the network before modifying the sheet.

19. A thermoforming apparatus comprising:

a computer linked to a network,

a first read/write module linked to said computer with said first read/write module reading data stored in an RF device affixed to an extruded sheet,

at least a first PLC connected to said computer to receive the RF device data from said first module and to configure an operational characteristic of the apparatus based upon the received data,

a controllable oven to heat the sheet,

a controllable platen with a controllable mold attached thereto to controllably form the heated sheet into an article,

a second read/write module linked to said computer for writing data to the RF device affixed to the article, and

wherein the written data is subsequently used to identify the article within the network.

20. A thermoforming apparatus as set forth in claim 19 in which:

the read data includes a sensed physical condition of the sheet, and

the sensed physical condition is used by at least one PLC to configure an operational characteristic of the apparatus responsive to the physical condition.

21. A thermoforming apparatus as set forth in claim 19 in which:

the written data includes non-erasable data indicative of an article with the data being utilized within the network to identify the article with said RF device affixed thereto.

22. A system comprising:

a manufacturing machine,

a receiver,

an electrical control system connected to said machine and said receiver,

an extruded sheet with at least one data storage device affixed thereto with said sheet being manufactured by said machine into an article, and

said receiver operably interfacing with said data storage device to ascertain data previously stored on said device and said control system changing manufacturing characteristics of said machine based upon data received from the device.

23. A system as set forth in claim 22 in which:

the data is ascertained by said receiver from said data storage device prior to the manufacture of the article containing said device by said machine.

24. A system as set forth in claim 22 which includes:

a transceiver spaced apart from said receiver with said transceiver being operable to send new storable data to said data storage device affixed to the article after being manufactured by said machine.

25. A system as set forth in claim 24 in which:

the new storable data is subsequently ascertained by a second receiver spaced apart from said transceiver.

26. A system comprising:

a manufacturing machine,

an extruded sheet with at least one data storage device affixed thereto with said sheet being manufactured by said machine into an article, and

a transceiver linked to a network and operable to send new data to said data storage device after being manufactured by said machine.

27. A system as set forth in claim 26 which includes:

a receiver spaced apart from said machine to read the data stored on said data storage device affixed to the article.