Direct to package printing system with RFID write/read capability

• US 6,557,758 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1999
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Moore North America Incorporated (RR Donnelley & Sons Company)
• Original Assignee: Moore North America Incorporated (RR Donnelley & Sons Company)
• Inventors: Monico, Dominick L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRANKLIN, JAMARA ALZAIDA
• Application Number:
  US09/409,869
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/380, 235/435, 235/487, 235/384, 340/10.51, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/10.4, 340/572--57
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/18 Devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks applying data to information carriers G06K1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00508 Printing or attaching on mailpieces printing mechanisms B41J; security printing B41M3/14; marking methods B41M5/00; inks C09D11/00; record carriers with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00112 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00532 Inkjet
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00629 Circuit, e.g. transponder

Abstract

A passive RFID tag is provided in a product, and then the product is packaged. Rather than printing a high-quality label that must be optically scanned, and applying the label on the package, shipping and tracking data are encoded in the RFID tag. Then the only thing that needs to be applied to the package is human readable address information, which may be imaged directly on the package, such as by an ink jet printer. The final package need have no label at all, let alone one with shipping and tracking information.

Claims

1. A method of handling a product, comprising:

(a) installing an RFID tag within the product;

(b) providing the product with RFID tag in a package;

(c) imaging human-readable address information directly on the package; and

(d) encoding the RFID tag with at least one of shipping and tracking data,

wherein said imaging step and said encoding step are practiced substantially simultaneously.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein (c) is practiced using an ink jet printer.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein (a)-(d) are practiced so that no label with shipping or tracking information is provided on the package.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein (c) is practiced using low resolution printing.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein (c) is practiced using an ink jet printer.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein (a)-(d) are practiced so that no label with shipping or tracking information is provided on the package.

7. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein (a) is practiced using a passive RFID tag.

8. A packaged product produced by the method of claim 6.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein (c) is practiced using an ink jet printer.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein (c) and (d) are practiced using a combination printer and RF transmitter.

11. A packaged product produced by the method of claim 1.

12. A packaged product, comprising:

a product having an RFID tag embedded there within and encoded with at least one of shipping and tracking data;

a package packaging said product and having an external surface; and

human readable address or tracking indicia visible from said external surface.

13. A package as recited in claim 12 wherein said human readable indicia is imaged substantially directly on said package external surface.

14. A package as recited in claim 13 wherein said human readable indicia is low resolution address indicia.

15. A package as recited in claim 13 wherein said package is substantially devoid of a label with RFID technology and at least one of shipping and tracking data.

16. A package as recited in claim 15 wherein said RFID tag has both tracking and shipping information, and wherein said package is substantially devoid of a label with shipping or tracking indicia.

17. A package as recited in claim 12 wherein said RFID tag has both tracking and shipping information, and wherein said package is substantially devoid of a label with shipping or tracking indicia.

18. A package as recited in claim 12 wherein said RFID tag is a passive RFID tag.

19. A method of packing a product having an RFID tag therein, comprising:

(a) providing the product with an RFID tag there within, in a package;

(b) imaging a human readable address so that it is visible from the exterior of the package; and

(c) encoding the RFID tag with at least one of shipping and tracking data,

wherein said imaging step and said encoding step are practiced substantially simultaneously.

20. A method as recited in claim 19 wherein the RFID tag is a passive RFID tag.