Printer and scale for handling RFID labels
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A label printing mechanism for handling labels with associated RFID tags, the mechanism comprising:
- a housing;
a label supply location within the housing;
a label path extending from the label supply location to a label output slot of the housing;
a print head located within the housing along the label path for printing indicia on labels passing thereby;
an RF unit for reading and/or writing from and/or to label RFID tags on labels, the RF unit including an antenna located in a position to be proximate to label RFID tag antennas that have exited the housing through the label output slot; and
a control associated with the label printer and RF unit for operation thereof;
a corrugator mechanism located external of the label output slot for placing a bend in the given label along a bend axis that is parallel to a travel direction of the given label as it exits so as to prevent curling of the label away from the RF unit antenna.
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Abstract
A label printer for handling labels with RFID tags includes one or more advantageous features such as locating an RF encoder unit antenna in position to read and/or write to label antennas after the label antennas have exited a label output slot of the printer, providing light elements to indicate status of a read and/or write operation to a label RFID tag or a voiding step to void labels when a read and/or write operation is unsuccessful.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A label printing mechanism for handling labels with associated RFID tags, the mechanism comprising:
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a housing; a label supply location within the housing; a label path extending from the label supply location to a label output slot of the housing; a print head located within the housing along the label path for printing indicia on labels passing thereby; an RF unit for reading and/or writing from and/or to label RFID tags on labels, the RF unit including an antenna located in a position to be proximate to label RFID tag antennas that have exited the housing through the label output slot; and a control associated with the label printer and RF unit for operation thereof; a corrugator mechanism located external of the label output slot for placing a bend in the given label along a bend axis that is parallel to a travel direction of the given label as it exits so as to prevent curling of the label away from the RF unit antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A label printing mechanism for handling labels with associated RFID tags, the mechanism comprising:
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a housing; a label supply location within the housing; a label path extending from the label supply location to a label output slot of the housing; a print head located within the housing along the label path for printing indicia on labels passing thereby; an RF unit for reading and/or writing from and/or to label RFID tags on labels, the RF unit including an antenna located in a position to be proximate to label RFID tag antennas that have exited the housing through the label output slot; and a control associated with the label printer and RF unit for operation thereof; wherein the RF unit antenna is located external of the housing; wherein the RF unit antenna is located within an antenna housing that has a generally planar surface located parallel to an exit path of the given label, the RF unit antenna lying generally in a plane parallel to the generally planar surface.
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Specification