Method of making deactivatable tags

• US 4,846,922 A
• Filed: 11/24/1987
• Issued: 07/11/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Inventors: Benge, S. Eugene, Froning, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US07/124,712
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 156/52, 156/155, 156/272.2, 156/273.9, 156/324, 156/51, 333/185, 340/572, 361/402, 427/96, 427/121, 427/123
• US Class Current: 156/324
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0672 with resonating marks
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/242 Tag deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2437 Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/244 Tag manufacturing, e.g. continuous manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2442 Tag materials and material properties thereof, e.g. magnetic material details
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 41/041 Printed circuit coils apparatus or processes for manufacturing printed circuits in general H05K3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/702 of thick-or thin-film circuits or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/165 incorporating printed inductors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/0522 Using an adhesive pattern
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/1545 Continuous processing, i.e. involving rolls moving a band-like or solid carrier along a continuous production path
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/046 by selective transfer or selective detachment of a conductive layer
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/202 using self-supporting metal foil pattern

Abstract

This invention relates to a deactivatable tag useable with an electronic article surveillance system and comprised of planar conductive material cut into a pair of inverse, first and second spiral conductors wrapped about each other and positioned for capacitive and inductive coupling. The invention also relates to method of making tags wherein conductors are cut from a planar web of conductive material in a continuous process in a manner that the cutting results in the formation of two spiral conductors without accompanying waste of conductive material, and thereafter positioning the conductors to provide resonant circuits. The conductors of each pair are connected by welding to provide a reliable circuit. A film of electrostatic-charge-draining material on a web of deactivatable tags prevents their premature deactivation.

Claims

1. Method of making deactivatable tags for use in an electronic article surveillance system, comprising the steps of:

forming a longitudinally extending web of a connected series of tags by using a continuous supporting web with each tag having a detectable resonant circuit on the supporting web and a deactivator, and applying a continuous longitudinally extending web of conductive material to the supporting web along the series of tags to help prevent circuit deactivation from electrostatic discharge.

2. Method of making deactivatable tags for use in an electronic article surveillance system, comprising the steps of:

forming a longitudinally extending web of a connected series of tags by using a continuous supporting web with each tag having a detectable resonant circuit on the supporting web and a deactivator, and applying a continuous longitudinally extending film of electrostatic-charge-draining material to the supporting web along the series of tags to help prevent circuit deactivation caused by electrostatic discharge.

3. Method of making deactivatable tags for use in an electronic article surveillance system, comprising the steps of:

forming a longitudinally extending web of a connected series of tags by using a continuous supporting web with each tag having a detectable resonant circuit on the supporting web and a deactivator, and applying a continuous longitudinally extending coating of conductive material to the supporting web along the series of tags to help prevent circuit deactivation caused by electrostatic discharge.

4. Method of making deactivatable tags for use in an electronic article surveillance system, comprising the steps of:

forming a longitudinally extending web of a connected series of tags by using a continuous supporting web with each tag having a detectable resonant circuit on the supporting web and a deactivator, and coating a continuous longitudinally extending film of antistatic material on the supporting web along the series of tags in sufficient amount and concentration to help prevent circuit deactivation caused by electrostatic discharge.