Radio frequency identification (RFID) label applicator

• US 7,946,496 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2005
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Ford, John C., Marcus, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haupt; Kristy A
• Application Number:
  US11/660,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20070256788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,094 Days
• Field of Search: 235/387, 235/487, 156/64, 340/572.1, 340/104
• US Class Current: 235/487
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 2009/0003 Use of RFID labels
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 2009/0093 Devices switching between a peelable and a non peelable position
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 2009/405 reading information before printing and applying a label
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/1884 the suction means being a movable vacuum arm or pad
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1707 Discrete spaced laminae on adhered carrier

Abstract

The invention is related to an RFID applicator that may include a peeler member (140) including a peel end (142), the peeler member being configured to cause an RFID label (102) to peel away from a web (110) when the web passes around the peel end; a label tamp assembly (150) configured to receive the RFID label and to move the RFID label into contact with an item (104) on which the RFID label is to be applied; and a label reject assembly having an extendable path altering mechanism (500) located proximate to said peel end, configured to advance from a retracted position to an extended position to alter a path of the web around said peel end, and wherein said extendable path altering mechanism is positioned and dimensioned to inhibit an RFID label from peeling away from said web.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) label applicator comprising:

a peeler member including a peel end, said peeler member being configured to cause an RFID label to peel away from a web when said web passes around said peel end, said peeler member having body portion defining a cavity in said peeler member;

an RFID programming antenna located within said cavity, said RFID programming antenna being configured to transmit programming signals to an RFID label on said web prior to passing around said peel end;

an RFID programmer coupled to said RFID programming antenna, said RFID programmer being configured to generate said programming signals; and

a label tamp assembly, said label tamp assembly being configured to receive said RFID label peeled away from said web and to move said RFID label into contact with an item on which said RFID label is to be applied.

2. The RFID label applicator of claim 1 further comprising a label reject assembly configured to prevent defective RFID labels from being applied to items.

3. The RFID label applicator of claim 2 wherein said label reject assembly comprises an extendable path altering mechanism located proximate said peel end, said extendable path altering mechanism being configured to advance from a retracted position to an extended position such that said extendable path altering mechanism alters a path of said web around said peel end, and wherein said extendable path altering mechanism is positioned and dimensioned to inhibit an RFID label from peeling away from said web when said extendable path altering mechanism is in said extended position.

4. The RFID label applicator of claim 2 wherein said label reject assembly comprises an accumulation pad configured to extend into a path of said label tamp assembly to receive at least one RFID label before said RFID label is applied to an item.

5. The RFID label applicator of claim 1 further comprising a cover over said cavity, wherein said cover includes a material that allows said programming signals to pass through.

6. The RFID label applicator of claim 1 wherein said RFID programming antenna is configured to be laterally adjustable within said cavity.

7. The RFID label applicator of claim 1 wherein said label tamp assembly includes a tamp pad configured to receive said RFID label peeled away from said web.

8. The RFID label applicator of claim 7 wherein said tamp pad includes a vacuum pad.

9. An RFID label applicator comprising:

a peeler member including a peel end, said peeler member being configured to cause an RFID label to peel away from a web when said web passes around said peel end of said peeler member;

an RFID programming system configured to program RFID labels prior to passing around said peel end and to detect defective RFID labels, said RFID programming system including an RFID antenna integrated into said peeler member;

a label tamp assembly, said label tamp assembly being configured to receive said RFID label peeled away from said web and to move said RFID label into contact with an item on which said RFID label is to be applied; and

a label reject assembly configured to extend from a retracted position to an extended position into a path of said label tamp assembly to receive at least one RFID label before said RFID label is applied to an item if said RFID programming system detects a defective RFID label.

10. The RF ID label applicator of claim 9, wherein said label reject assembly includes an accumulation pad for receiving said at least one RFID label before said RFID label is applied to said item.

11. The RF ID label applicator of claim 10, wherein said label reject assembly includes a driving mechanism coupled to said accumulation pad and configured to move said accumulation pad from said retracted position to said extended position.

12. The RFID label applicator of claim 10, wherein said label reject assembly is configured to move said accumulation pad to said extended position in response to detection of a defective RFID label.

13. The RFID label applicator of claim 9, wherein said label tamp assembly includes a vacuum pad.

14. A method of rejecting RFID labels in a RFID label applicator, said method comprising:

programming RFID labels on a web prior to passing said RFID labels around a peel end of a peeler member, wherein programming said RFID labels includes detecting any defective RFID labels;

causing programmed RFID labels to peel away from said web as said RFID labels pass around said peel end of said peeler member; and

receiving an RFID label on a label tamp assembly after said RFID label has peeled away from said web;

moving said label tamp assembly with said RFID label toward an item on which a label is to be applied; and

upon detecting a defective RFID label, extending a label accumulation pad into a path of said label tamp assembly such that said defective RFID label is applied to said label pad instead of being applied to an item, wherein said label accumulation pad is extended to different positions such that defective RFID labels are applied to different locations on said accumulation pad.

15. A radio frequency identification (RFID) label applicator comprising:

a peeler member including a peel end, said peeler member being configured to cause an RFID label to peel away from a web when said web passes around said peel end,

an RFID programming antenna, said RFID programming antenna being configured to transmit programming signals to an RFID label on said web prior to passing around said peel end;

an RFID programmer coupled to said RFID programming antenna, said RFID programmer being configured to generate said programming signals to program an RFID label, wherein said RFID programming antenna is further configured to receive RF signals transmitted from said RFID label, and said RFID programmer is further configured to read and validate a label after programming and indicate if an RFID label is either a programmed RFID label or a defective RFID label;

a label tamp assembly, said label tamp assembly being configured to receive said programmed RFID label peeled away from said web and to move said RFID label into contact with an item on which said RFID label is to be applied; and

a label reject assembly to prevent defective RFID labels from being applied to items;

comprising;

a label accumulation pad configured to receive defective RFID labels thereon;

a label reject driving mechanism coupled to said accumulation pad operable to extend said label accumulation pad into a path of said label tamp assembly upon detection of a defective RFID label whereby a defective RFID label is deposited on said accumulation pad label before said defective RFID label is applied to an item; and

a positioning controller coupled to said label driving mechanical operable to control the positioning of the accumulation pad such that defective RFID labels are applied to different locations on said accumulation pad.

16. The RFID label applicator of claim 15 wherein said peeler member defines a cavity, and wherein said RFID programming antenna is located within said cavity.

17. The RFID label applicator of claim 16 further comprising a cover over said cavity, wherein said cover includes a material that allows said programming signals to pass through.

18. The RFID label applicator of claim 16 wherein said RFID programming antenna is configured to be laterally adjustable within said cavity.