Radio frequency identification tag inlay sortation and assembly

• US 7,479,614 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2005
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Eastin, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey; Patrick H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hageman; Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/033,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20050155213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,469 Days
• Field of Search: 209/552, 209/571, 209/573
• US Class Current: 209/573
• 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 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• 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: G06K 7/0095 Testing the sensing arrangement, e.g. testing if a magnetic card reader, bar code reader, RFID interrogator or smart card reader functions properly testing of electrical circuits G01R31/28
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus for a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag inlay tester and sorter system are described. A tag inlay is received. A characteristic of the tag inlay is tested. The tag inlay is disposed if the tag inlay is determined to fail the test of characteristic. The tag inlay is transported to a processing station if the tag inlay is determined to have passed the test of characteristic. The tag inlay is processed at the processing station. In an aspect, the tag inlay testing and tag inlay processing is performed in a single apparatus. In an alternative aspect, the tag inlay testing is performed by a first apparatus, and the tag inlay processing is performed by a second apparatus.

Claims

1. A method for sorting tag antenna inlays in a sortation system including a tag antenna inlay dispenser and a tag antenna inlay transport mechanism, the method comprising:

pre-cutting a single tag antenna inlay from a roll of tag antenna inlays;

dispensing the single tag antenna inlay from the tag antenna inlay dispenser to the tag antenna inlay transport mechanism;

testing at least one characteristic of the single tag antenna inlay;

disposing of the single tag antenna inlay if the tag antenna inlay is determined to fail the testing of the at least one characteristic;

transporting the single tag antenna inlay to a selected processing station of a plurality of processing stations based on a determination that the at least one characteristic of the tag antenna inlay satisfies a test criteria for the selected processing station; and

processing the single tag antenna inlay at the selected processing station.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing said dispensing, testing, disposing, transporting and processing using a first apparatus.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing said dispensing, testing and disposing using a first apparatus; and

performing said processing using a second apparatus.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sortation system includes a testing station, and said testing comprises:

transporting the single tag antenna inlay to the testing station; and

testing the single tag antenna inlay at the testing station.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said disposing comprises:

transporting the single tag antenna inlay to a reject station if the tag antenna inlay is determined to fail said testing of the at least one characteristic.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sortation system includes a plurality of web stations, and said transporting comprises:

transporting the single tag antenna inlay to a selected web station of the plurality of web stations based on a determination that the at least one characteristic of the tag antenna inlay satisfies a test criteria for the selected web station.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing comprises:

packaging the single tag antenna inlay.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing comprises:

inserting the single tag antenna inlay into an accepted tag antenna inlay container.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing comprises:

placing the single tag antenna inlay onto a position of a web of pressure sensitive adhesive material.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transporting the web to a second processing station; and

attaching a release liner to the web.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

advancing the web of the particular web station to present a subsequent position on the web for a next tag antenna inlay.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing at least one pre-cut tag antenna inlay in the tag antenna inlay dispenser.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a plurality of pre-separated tag antenna inlays in the tag antenna inlay dispenser.