Merchandise marking with programmable transponders

• US 7,378,965 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2005
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Markem-Imaje Corporation (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Markem Corporation (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Benjamin, David, Oakes, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): La; Anh V.
• Application Number:
  US11/292,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20060125640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/10.5, 340/572.4, 340/572.5, 340/572.7, 156/238, 156/277, 156/272, 235/385, 235/375, 700/115, 700/225, 534/15, 532/34
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 2009/0003 Use of RFID labels
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 2009/405 reading information before printing and applying a label
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/28 Air-blast devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2822 of microwave or radiofrequency circuits of attenuation, gain, e.g. using network analyzers G01R27/28
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07718 the record carrier being manufactured in a continuous process, e.g. using endless rolls
• 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: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/244 Tag manufacturing, e.g. continuous manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part

Abstract

Methods and systems for programming programmable transponders are disclosed. An apparatus for programming programmable transponders can include a label supply for supplying labels, a programing zone into which the labels are conveyed, a feed-system for transporting a label to the programming zone, a source of radiation for communicating tag-information to the transponder, and a shield mechanism. The source can be disposed to illuminate a programming zone into witch the lable is transported. The shield mechanism can substantially enclose the source of radiation and a first one of the labels in the programming zone and exclude at least a second one of the labels.

Claims

1. An apparatus for programming programmable transponders, the apparatus comprising:

a label supply for supplying labels, each of the labels having a programmable transponder;

a programming zone into which the labels are conveyed;

a feed-system for transporting the label to the programming zone;

a source of radiation for communicating tag-information to the transponder, the source being disposed to illuminate the programming zone into which the label is transported; and

a shield mechanism substantially enclosing the source of radiation and a first one of the labels in the programming zone and excluding at least a second one of the labels, the second one of the labels being adjacent to the first one of the labels.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shield mechanism is configured to allow the source of radiation to program the first one of the labels without programming the second one of the labels.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shield mechanism comprises an RF adsorbent material.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shield mechanism is configured to minimize reflections between the source of radiation and the label.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a testing mechanism configured to test the transponder after the transponder has been exposed to the source of radiation.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an applicator disposed adjacent to a tagging zone into which a target is conveyed.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the transponders comprises an RFID tag.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radiation source comprises an antenna.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a printer disposed adjacent to a printing zone into which a target is conveyed, the printer being configured to print visible-information on the target, the visible-information corresponding to at least a portion of the tag-information.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the printer is further configured to print visible-information on the target indicating a non-functional transponder.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shield mechanism comprises a Faraday cage.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shield mechanism comprises a box configured to enclose the first one of the labels.

13. A method for programming programmable transponders, the method comprising:

transporting a label to a programming zone, the label having a programmable transponder;

communicating tag-information to the transponder when the transponder is in the programming zone; and

subsequent to communicating the tag-information to the transponder, marking the label with visible information consistent with the tag information.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising testing the label to determine if the communication of the tag-information to the transponder was successful.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein marking the label with visible information includes marking the label with visible information based on the testing of the label.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein marking the label with visible information based on the testing of the label includes marking the label with visible information being substantially consistent with the tag information if the testing determines that the communication of the tag-information to the transponder was successful.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein marking the label with visible information based on the testing of the label includes marking the label with visible information indicating a defective label if the testing determines that the communication of the tag-information to the transponder was not successful.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising automatically removing a label if the testing determines that the communication of the tag-information to the transponder was not successful.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

subsequent to marking the label with visible information, transporting the label to an applicator disposed adjacent to a tagging zone into which a target is conveyed, and

affixing the label to the target when the target is in the tagging zone.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein transporting the label to the programming zone comprises transporting a strip of labels through the programming zone, the label being affixed to the strip.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising marking the target with visible information, the visible information being consistent with the tag information.