Method and apparatus for producing data carriers equipped with an integrated transponder

• US 7,431,784 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Melzer maschinenbau GmbH
• Original Assignee: Melzer maschinenbau GmbH
• Inventors: Melzer, Rainer, Melzer, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): KOCH, GEORGE R
• Application Number:
  US10/267,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20030089444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,199 Days
• Field of Search: 156/64, 156/299, 156/300, 156/290, 156/291, 156/293, 156/295, 340/571, 340/572.1, 340/572.2, 340/572.3, 340/572.4, 340/572.5, 340/572.6, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/572.9
• US Class Current: 156/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07718 the record carrier being manufactured in a continuous process, e.g. using endless rolls
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1075 of plural laminae from single stock and assembling to each other or to additional lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1092 All laminae planar and face to face
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1093 with covering of discrete laminae with additional lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1322 Severing before bonding or assembling of parts

Abstract

A method for producing data carriers equipped with integrated transponders is disclosed in which the transponders are supplied in a transponder web and are covered on one side with a label, wherein the transponders are separated and aligned before being assembled with an associated label. The disclosure further includes an apparatus for producing data carriers equipped with an integrated transponder that includes a device for supplying a first web of labels and a device for supplying a web of transponders adjoining one another and includes a joining station for cutting and separating the transponders from the transponder web which divides the transponders from the web, separates them and transfers them individually to the label web.

Claims

1. A method for producing data carriers equipped with integrated transponders, comprising:

(a) supplying the transponders in a transponder web,

(b) testing the transponders for function, separating and aligning them,

(c) selectively expelling unserviceable transponders from production after the transponders are separated while the transponder web is stopped;

(d) immediately thereafter permanently assembling only remaining serviceable transponders with a corresponding labels to become said data carriers; and

(e) wherein the testing step of the transponders and the assembling step of transponder and label are carried out substantially simultaneously.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the label is carried in a label web, and wherein a pressure roll presses the label web in the direction of the transponder which has been separated and which is held in alignment with the label.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein every transponder is cut from the transponder web, and wherein the cutting step, the testing step and the assembling step are substantially carried out at the same time.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transponder web comprises a plurality or adjacent transponders, wherein each of said plurality of adjacent transponders is cut from the transponder web, and wherein each serviceable cut transponder is assembled with a corresponding label immediately after the cut.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the testing step of the transponder and the assembling step of transponder and label is provided in one apparatus, such that no re-assembly of the transponder web is necessary responsive to the elimination of unserviceable transponders.

6. A method for producing data carriers equipped with integrated transponders, comprising assembling transponders with labels, the labels having one adhesive side,

wherein the transponders are supplied in a transponder web,

wherein the transponder web is supplied radially to a transponder roll on which said transponder web is held,

wherein the foremost transponder is cut from the transponder web,

wherein said foremost transponder is brought into alignment with the adhesive side of the label for subsequent assembly by a rotation of the roll which is executed while the transponder web stops,

wherein the labels are supplied in a label web spaced from said transponder roll and wherein an axially displaceable pressure roll is arranged on a side of the label web opposite the transponder roll and including moving said pressure roller to displace the label web towards the cut foremost transponder carried on said transponder roll such that the adhesive side of the label web is caused to contact the foremost transponder, and

wherein the transponder roll is hollow and is provided with holes to connect the surface of the transponder roll with one of two chambers, the first chamber providing a negative pressure to absorb a transponder and the second chamber providing a positive pressure to repel a transponder.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the transponder web is provided with markings which permit position monitoring and correction.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein, before being assembled with the label, the transponders are tested for function, and wherein unserviceable transponders, after being separated, are expelled from the production by a rotation of the roll.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the label is carried in an a label web, and wherein a pressure roll presses the label web .in the direction of the foremost transponder held into alignment on the roll such that an adhesive side of the label web picks up the foremost transponder.

10. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein a blank separated from a web of double-sided adhesive is applied to at least the transponder adhering to the label.

11. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein a controller is connected to drives assigned to displace at least the transponder web, the roll and the label, and wherein the transponder web, the roll and the label are driven in a cyclic manner and are synchronized by the controller.

12. A method for producing data carriers equipped with integrated transponders,

(a) supplying at least one label having one adhesive side in a label web,

(b) providing at least one axially movable pressure roll for feeding said at least one label by displacing said label web from its normal path,

(c) providing at least one transponder roll for supplying transponders, wherein said label web is supplied along a normal path that passes said transponder roll while maintaining a predetermined distance from said transponder roll,

(d) displacing the pressure roll axially toward the transponder roll to thereby displace the label web in a direction normal to its normal path toward the transponder roll by said predetermined distance each time the transponder roll supplies a transponder such that the adhesive side of the label web contacts, picks up and covers a corresponding transponder to assemble the label and the transponder. to become said data carrier.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein a transponder web is supplied radially to the transponder roll on which said transponder web is held, and wherein the foremost transponder is cut from the transponder web.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the transponder roll is provided with holes having one of a positive pressure and a negative pressure applied to the transponder roll for respectively attracting by suction and repelling the transponder web.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein a blank separated from a web of double-sided adhesive is applied to the transponder adhering to the label.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the double-sided adhesive is supplied in an endless strip to a cutting and transfer Station, in which the double-sided adhesive covers the transponder and the label on its side facing away from a printed side of the label.

17. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the data carriers provided with the transponders are adhesively bonded to a substrate.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the substrate is supplied as a web-like material to the label web provided with the transponders.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the web-like material is selected from the group comprising plastic, paper, board and silicone.

20. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the data carriers produced are at least partly separated from the data carrier web by punching.

21. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the foremost transponder is cut on the roll from a transponder web, and wherein holes in he roll apply one of a negative pressure for retaining the transponder and a positive pressure for repelling the transponder.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the transponder web is provided with markings which permit position monitoring and correction.

23. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein a controller is connected to at least the roll and the pressure roller, wherein the roll and the pressure roller are driven in an intermitting manner to synchronize the label web and the transponder to be assembled, and wherein the pressure roll and the roll have opposite rotational directions.

24. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a testing unit for testing the transponders for function before being cut from the transponder web, said testing unit being connected to a controller, wherein the cutting unit comprises an expulsion device, comprising the further steps of using the controller to drive the expulsion device to expel the unserviceable transponder and using the cutting unit to cut the next transponder from the transponder web when the controller detects an unserviceable transponder to be the foremost transponder such that every label is assembled with the required number of transponders.

25. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein, before being assembled with the label, the transponders are tested for function, and wherein unserviceable transponders., after being separated, are expelled from the production by a rotation of the transponder roll.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the transponder roll driven responsive to the result of the function test of a transponder individually expels unserviceable transponders from the production and feeds a serviceable transponder towards assembly with an associated label.