Wireless transmitter key for EAS tag detacher unit
First Claim
1. Detacher apparatus for removing an EAS tag from an article of merchandise, the EAS tag comprising a first element and a second element, the first and second elements adapted for assembly together by snap connection through the article of merchandise, the EAS tag further comprising release means for selectively releasing said snap connection, the detacher apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
removal means, in said housing, for selectively actuating said release means of the EAS tag to release said snap connection so that said first and second elements may be separated from each other to detach the EAS tag from the article of merchandise;
control means for selectively actuating said removal means, said control means being switchable between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, said control means operating in said first mode to actuate said removal means to actuate the release means of an EAS tag presented at said housing only in response to an identification signal generated by said EAS tag, said control means operating in said second mode to actuate said removal means to actuate the release means of an EAS tag presented at said housing in the absence of an identification signal generated by said EAS tag; and
means for receiving a conditioning signal for switching said control means from said first mode of operation to said second mode of operation.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for removing reusable "hard" EAS tags from articles of merchandise is controlled so as to operate in response to identification data generated by an RFID element in the hard tag. A transmitter-key device is provided to selectively condition the detaching unit to operate in the absence of the otherwise required identification data. The transmitter-key device may also be used to turn the detaching unit on and off. Data indicative of the identity of the holder of the transmitter-key device may be stored in the detaching unit or an associated point-of-sale terminal to log detaching transactions authorized by the transmitter-key device.
234 Citations
14 Claims
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1. Detacher apparatus for removing an EAS tag from an article of merchandise, the EAS tag comprising a first element and a second element, the first and second elements adapted for assembly together by snap connection through the article of merchandise, the EAS tag further comprising release means for selectively releasing said snap connection, the detacher apparatus comprising:
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a housing; removal means, in said housing, for selectively actuating said release means of the EAS tag to release said snap connection so that said first and second elements may be separated from each other to detach the EAS tag from the article of merchandise; control means for selectively actuating said removal means, said control means being switchable between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, said control means operating in said first mode to actuate said removal means to actuate the release means of an EAS tag presented at said housing only in response to an identification signal generated by said EAS tag, said control means operating in said second mode to actuate said removal means to actuate the release means of an EAS tag presented at said housing in the absence of an identification signal generated by said EAS tag; and means for receiving a conditioning signal for switching said control means from said first mode of operation to said second mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of operating an EAS tag detacher, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing the detacher in a first mode of operation in which the detacher operates to separate snap-connected elements of an EAS tag only in response to an ID signal generated by the tag; and transmitting a conditioning signal to the detacher to switch the detacher from said first mode of operation to a second mode of operation in which the detacher separates snap-connected elements of an EAS tag presented for separation in the absence of an ID signal generated by the tag. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. An article identification system, comprising, in combination:
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a plurality of reusable ID tags for being removably attached to articles to be identified, each of the ID tags including an identification element for transmitting identifying information via radio communication; a detacher device for receiving the identifying information transmitted by the identification element of the ID tags and for selectively responding to the received identifying information by removing the ID tags from the articles; and at least one transmitter-key device for transmitting a conditioning signal to the detacher device to place the detacher device in a mode of operation in which the detacher device removes an ID tag from a respective article in the absence of identifying information transmitted by the ID tag. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Detacher apparatus for removing an EAS tag from an article of merchandise, the EAS tag comprising a first element and a second element, the first and second elements adapted for assembly together by snap connection through the article of merchandise, the EAS tag further comprising release means for selectively releasing said snap connection, the detacher apparatus comprising:
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a housing; removal means, in said housing, for selectively actuating said release means of the EAS tag to release said snap connection so that said first and second elements may be separated from each other to detach the EAS tag from the article of merchandise; control means for selectively actuating said removal means, said control means being switchable between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, said control means operating in said first mode to actuate said removal means to actuate the release means of an EAS tag presented at said housing only in response to a trigger signal generated by a device external to said detacher apparatus, said control means operating in said second mode to actuate said removal means to actuate the release means of an EAS tag presented at said housing in the absence of said trigger signal; and means for receiving a conditioning signal for switching said control means from said first mode of operation to said second mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification