RFID label printing system

• US 6,593,853 B1
• Filed: 02/18/2000
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brady Worldwide Incorporated (Brady Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Brady Worldwide Incorporated (Brady Corporation)
• Inventors: Scharpf, Peter G., Check, Charles J., Barrett, Tony J., Lauria, Michele, Mauch, Craig A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/507,419
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 340/572.6
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• 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 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 19/07716 the record carrier comprising means for customization, e.g. being arranged for personalization in batch

Abstract

A radio frequency identification device (RFID) label printing system which includes a printer for printing on a label having RFID circuitry. The printer includes a label exit for expelling a printed label, and an external programming module disposed adjacent the label exit for encoding the label expelled from said label exit. The external programming module can include a label marking mechanism which selectively marks a label to indicate a defective label to a user. A host computer communicatively connected to the printer and the external programming module coordinates the operation of the printer and the external programming module.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification device (RFID) label printing system comprising:

a printer including a label exit for expelling a printed label having RFID circuitry;

an external programming module disposed adjacent said label exit for encoding the label expelled from said label exit, said programming module including an antenna disposed adjacent an exit slot of said printer, and having a shield mounted adjacent said antenna for focusing a magnetic field generated by said antenna toward a label being encoded, wherein said shield is formed from material selected from a group consisting of conductive and magnetic materials; and

a host computer communicatively connected to said printer and said external programming module for coordinating the operation of said printer and said external programming module.

2. The RFID label printing system of claim 1, in which said external programming module includes a label marking mechanism for selectively marking a label expelled from said label exit.

3. The RFID label printing system of claim 2, in which said label marking mechanism selectively marks the expelled label by physically deforming the label.

4. The RFID label printing system of claim 1, in which said external programming module is powered by an external power source.

5. The RFID label printing system of claim 1, including mounting hardware for positioning said external programming module adjacent said label exit.

6. An external programming module for programming radio frequency identification device (RFID) labels exiting a printer slot, said module comprising:

an antenna;

circuitry electrically connected to said antenna for interacting with an RFID label, and communicatively connected to a host, wherein said host communicates data to said circuitry for encoding on a printed RFID label exiting said printer slot and passing said antenna; and

a shield mounted adjacent said antenna for focusing a magnetic field generated by said antenna toward a label being encoded, wherein said shield is formed from a material selected from a group consisting of conductive and magnetic materials.

7. The external programming module of claim 6, including a label marking mechanism adjacent said antenna for selectively marking a label expelled from the printer.

8. The external programming module of claim 6, in which said label marking mechanism selectively marks a label by physical deforming said label.

9. The external programming module of claim 6, in which said circuitry is powered by an external source.

10. The external programming module of claim 6, including mounting hardware for positioning said antenna adjacent said exit slot.

11. A programming module for programming printed radio frequency identification device (RFID) labels, said module comprising:

an encoder for encoding a printed RFID label, said encoder including an antenna, and having a shield mounted adjacent said antenna for focusing a magnetic field generated by said antenna toward a label being encoded, wherein said shield is formed from material selected from a group consisting of conductive and magnetic materials;

means for determining whether said label is defective; and

a label marking mechanism disposed adjacent said encoder for selectively marking the printed RFID label if said label is defective.

12. The programming module of claim 11, in which said label marking mechanism selectively marks a label by physically deforming said label.

13. The programming module of claim 11, in which said encoder includes:

an antenna disposed adjacent an exit slot of a printer;

circuitry electrically connected to said antenna for interacting with an RFID label, and communicatively connected to said host computer, wherein said host communicates data to said circuitry for encoding on a label exiting said printer slot and passing said antenna.

14. The programming module of claim 13, in which said circuitry is powered by an external power source.

15. The programming module of claim 11, including mounting structure for mounting said encoder and label marking mechanism adjacent a printer exit slot.

16. The programming module of claim 15, in which said encoder or said label marking mechanism is supported by said mounting structure, and the other of said encoder or said label marking mechanism is supported by said encoder or said label marking mechanism.

17. The programming module of claim 11, in which said label marking mechanism includes a punch mechanism which selectively punches a hole in a RFID label.

18. A method of providing a radio frequency identification device (RFID) label comprising the steps of:

printing on a label having RFID circuitry;

advancing said label into the range of an antenna of a programming module;

focusing radio frequency (RF) energy from said antenna toward said RFID circuitry using focusing means mounted adjacent the antenna to encode data in said RFID circuitry;

determining whether said label is defective; and

selectively marking said label if said label is defective.

19. The method of claim 18, in which the step of determining whether the label is defective includes directing RF energy from said antenna at said RFID circuitry to cause said RFID circuitry to transmit said encoded data.

20. The method of claim 18, in which the step of selectively marking said label includes physically deforming said defective label.

21. The method of claim 18, further including the step of advancing said label out of the range of the antenna, and advancing another label into the range of the antenna.

22. The method of claim 18, in which the step of selectively marking said defective label includes notifying the user of a defective label.

23. The method of claim 18, in which the step of selectively marking said defective label includes updating a log file indicating the defective label.

24. The method of claim 18, in which the step of selectively marking said defective label includes reprinting and reencoding a duplicate label with indicia and data intended for said defective label.

25. In a computer system having a label printing application comprising:

means for printing on a label having radio frequency identification device (RFID) circuitry;

means for advancing said label into the range of an antenna of a programming module;

means for focusing radio frequency (RF) energy from said antenna toward said RFID circuitry to encode data in said RFID circuitry;

means for determining whether said label is defective; and

means for selectively marking said label if said data is not transmitted by said RFID circuitry to indicate the label is defective.

26. The computer system of claim 25, in which the means for determining whether the label is defective includes means for directing RF energy from said antenna at said RFID circuitry to cause said RFID circuitry to transmit said encoded data.

27. The computer system of claim 25, in which the means for selectively marking said label includes means for physically deforming said defective label.

28. The computer system of claim 25, further including means for advancing said label out of the range of the antenna, and advancing another label into the range of the antenna.

29. The computer system of claim 25, in which the means for selectively marking said defective label includes notifying the user of a defective label.

30. The computer system of claim 25, in which the means for selectively marking said defective label includes updating a log file indicating the defective label.

31. The computer system of claim 25, in which the means for selectively marking said defective label includes reprinting and reencoding a duplicate label with indicia and data intended for said defective label.

32. A machine readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

printing on a label having radio frequency identification device (RFID) circuitry;

advancing said label into the range of an antenna of a programming module;

focusing radio frequency (RF) energy from said antenna toward said RFID circuitry to encode data in said RFID circuitry;

determining whether said label is defective; and

selectively marking said label if said data is not transmitted by said RFID circuitry to indicate the label is defective.

33. The machine readable storage as claimed in claim 32, in which the step of determining whether the label is defective includes directing RF energy from said antenna at said RFID circuitry to cause said RFID circuitry to transmit said encoded data.

34. The machine readable storage as claimed in claim 32, in which the step of selectively marking said label includes physically deforming said defective label.

35. The machine readable storage as claimed in claim 32, including a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the step of advancing said label out of the range of the antenna, and advancing another label into the range of the antenna.

36. The machine readable storage as claimed in claim 32, in which the step of selectively marking said defective label includes notifying the user of a defective label.

37. The machine readable storage as claimed in claim 32, in which the step of selectively marking said defective label includes updating a log file indicating the defective label.

38. The machine readable storage as claimed in claim 32, in which the step of selectively marking said defective label includes reprinting and reencoding a duplicate label with indicia and data intended for said defective label.