PRINTER WITH INTEGRATED RFID DATA COLLECTOR

• US 20090194588A1
• Filed: 02/04/2008
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: Jones, Clive G., Entingh, Timothy J., Brown, Michael R., Roberts, Richard E., Davis, Regina A., Blanchard, Raymond A. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 7,931,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/440
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4075 Tape printers; Label printers
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/44 Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/50 Mechanisms producing characters by printing and also producing a record by other means , e.g. printer combined with RFID writer
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 2009/0003 Use of RFID labels
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41875 characterised by quality surveillance of production
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0025 the arrangement consisting of a wireless interrogation device in combination with a device for optically marking the record 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 5/00 Methods or arrangements for verifying the correctness of markings on a record carrier; Column detection devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A RFID printer for printing and determining the quality of RFID record members having transponders is provided. The RFID printer may be used to print RFID record members utilizing a continuous moving web. In particular, a RFID printer includes an integrated RFID data collector such that identifying RFID transponder information may be recorded and associated with a barcode for inventory tracking purposes. An association file created by the RFID printer may be transferred to a manufacturer or retailer brand owner. The association file may be deleted from the RFID printer upon acknowledgment of receipt of the transmitted association file to the manufacturer or retail brand owner. The RFID printer provides methods for determining quality of RFID printed record members.

Claims

1. A RFID printer, comprising:

a barcode scanner;

a RFID reader;

a communication interface;

an antenna configured to emit a RFID field and coupled to and cooperating with the RFID reader to read from at least one RFID transponder included in a record member;

a printing system having a print head and a drive mechanism to drive a web of RFID record members past the print head for printing data thereon;

a memory; and

a processor, the processor coupled to the memory, the printing system, the barcode scanner, the antenna, and to the RFID reader and operable to read and print on the RFID record member as the web continues in motion, the processor configured to perform the steps of;

reading a RFID transponder to collect an identification number of the RFID transponder;

linking the identification number of the RFID transponder with a barcode;

creating an association file, the association file including a listing of identification numbers of RFID transponders and associated barcodes;

storing the association file in the memory;

printing on the record member having the RFID transponder, the barcode linked to the transponder identification number;

receiving an instruction to transmit the association file;

transmitting the association file;

receiving another instruction to delete the association file from memory; and

deleting the association file.

2. The RFID printer as recited in claim 1, wherein the barcode is a UPC.

3. The RFID printer as recited in claim 1, further comprising top and bottom feed rollers having matching grooves in a location where the RFID transponder passes.

5. The RFID printer as recited in claim 1, wherein the antenna is located upstream of the print head.

6. The RFID printer as recited in claim 1, wherein the printing on the record member containing the RFID transponder occurs on both sides of the record member.

7. The RFID printer as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to perform the steps of:

counting the number of printed record members; and

determining if the counted number of printed record numbers exceeds a stored total number of record numbers allowed to be printed before receipt of the instruction to transmit the association file; and

if the counted number of printed record number exceeds the stored total number or record numbers allowed to be printed, halting printing until receipt of the instruction to transmit the association file.

8. The RFID printer as recited in claim 1, wherein total number of record numbers allowed to be printed before receipt of the instruction to transmit the association file comprises approximately 20,000 record members.

28. The RFID printer as recited in claim 1, wherein the antenna is enclosed in a seamless metal box.

29. The RFID printer as recited in claim 28, wherein the seamless metal box comprises an aluminum seamless metal box.

4. The RFID printer as recited in clam 1, further comprising a knife assembly to produce a square cut when cutting RFID record members.

9. A method of determining a measure of quality of RFID transponders included in record members on a continuous moving web, the method comprising the steps of:

reading a RFID transponder included in a record member as the record member advances on a continuous web;

counting the number of reads for the RFID transponder; and

evaluating the RFID transponder based on the number of counted reads.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the evaluating step further comprises the steps of:

if the number of counted reads is greater than or equal to a predetermined number, marking the RFID transponder as acceptable; and

if the number of counted reads is less than the predetermined number, marking the RFID transponder as unacceptable.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the record member having the unacceptable RFID transponder is printed upon with an overstrike pattern.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the record member having the unacceptable RFID transponder is cut into pieces.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the unacceptable RFID transponder is labeled in an association file as being unusable.

30. The method of claim 10, wherein the predetermined number is three.

14. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for reading a RFID transponder included in a record member advancing on a continuous moving web, the steps comprising:

reading a RFID transponder to collect an identification number of the RFID transponder;

linking the identification number of the RFID transponder with a barcode;

creating an association file, the association file including a listing of identification numbers of RFID transponders and associated barcodes;

storing the association file in memory;

printing on the record member having the RFID transponder, the barcode linked to the transponder identification number;

receiving an instruction to transmit the association file;

transmitting the association file;

receiving another instruction to delete the association file from memory; and

deleting the association file.

15. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

counting the number of printed record members; and

determining if the counted number of printed record numbers exceeds a stored total number of record numbers allowed to be printed before receipt of the instruction to transmit the association file; and

if the counted number of printed record number exceeds the stored total number or record numbers allowed to be printed, halting printing until receipt of the instruction to transmit the association file.

16. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 15, wherein total number of record numbers allowed to be printed before receipt of the instruction to transmit the association file comprises approximately 20,000 record members.

17. A method of determining a measure of quality of RFID transponders included in record members advancing on a continuous moving web, the method comprising the steps of:

creating an association file, the association file including a listing of identification numbers of RFID transponders and associated barcodes;

reading a RFID transponder included in a record member;

scanning a barcode printed on the record member;

determining if the RFID transponder and barcode are readable;

if the RFID transponder and barcode are readable, recording the readability results in the created association file; and

if the RFID transponder or barcode are not readable, cutting the record member having the unreadable RFID transponder or barcode into pieces and recording the destruction of the record member in the created association file.

18. A method of determining a measure of quality of RFID transponders using a RFID printer capable of printing on both sides of a record member, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a command to place RFID printer into a RFID transponder reader mode;

placing the RFID printer into the reader mode;

reading a RFID transponder;

counting a number of reads for the RFID transponder; and

evaluating the RFID transponder based on the number of counted reads.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the evaluating step further comprises the steps of:

if the number of counted reads is greater than or equal to a predetermined number, marking the RFID transponder as acceptable; and

if the number of counted reads is less than the predetermined number, marking the RFID transponder as unacceptable.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the unacceptable RFID transponder is recorded in an association file as being unusable.

31. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining if the read RFID transponder matches any of a last four previously read RFID transponders.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein if the read RFID transponder matches any of the last four previously read RFID transponders, destroying the record member having the read RFID transponder.

21. A method of determining a measure of quality of RFID transponders using a RFID printer capable of printing on both sides of a record member, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting an instruction to place the RFID printer into a reader mode;

receiving RFID transponder information;

transmitting the received RFID transponder information through a web server to verify the received RFID transponder information;

receiving a first indication if the RFID transponder information is discovered and valid; and

receiving a second indication if the RFID transponder information in not discovered or if the RFID transponder is invalid.

22. The method recited in claim 21, wherein the received first indication is communicated through a displayed green light.

23. The method recited in claim 21, wherein the received second indication is communicated through a displayed red light.

24. A method of printing RFID record members, the method comprising:

reading a RFID transponder to collect an identification number of the RFID transponder, the RFID transponder included in a record member;

linking the identification number of the RFID transponder with a barcode;

creating an association file, the association file including a listing of identification numbers of RFID transponders and associated barcodes;

storing the association file in a memory;

printing on the record member having the RFID transponder, the barcode linked to the transponder identification number;

receiving an instruction to transmit the association file;

transmitting the association file;

receiving another instruction to delete the association file from the memory; and

deleting the association file.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

counting the number of printed record members; and

determining if the counted number of printed record numbers exceeds a stored total number of record numbers allowed to be printed before receipt of the instruction to transmit the association file; and

if the counted number of printed record number exceeds the stored total number or record numbers allowed to be printed, halting printing until receipt of the instruction to transmit the association file.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein total number of record numbers allowed to be printed before receipt of the instruction to transmit the association file comprises approximately 20,000 record members.

27. A system for printing RFID record members, the system comprising:

a RFID printer, the RFID printer including a barcode scanner, a RFID reader, an antenna configured to emit a RFID field and coupled to and cooperating with the RFID reader to read at least one RFID transponder included in a record member, a printing system having a print head and a drive mechanism, and a processor, the processor configured to create an association file, the association file including a listing of identification numbers of RFID transponders and associated barcodes; and

a host computer in communication with the RFID printer, the host computer receiving the association file from the RFID printer upon request and retransmitting the association file for inventory tracking purposes, the host computer receiving acknowledgement of receipt of the retransmitted association file, the host computer instructing the RFID printer to delete the transmitted association file upon receipt of the retransmitted association file.