Placard having embedded RFID device for tracking objects

• US 7,948,384 B1
• Filed: 08/13/2008
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MPT Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MPT Incorporated
• Inventors: Kennedy, Todd B.
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US12/191,088
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.8, 340/572.7, 340/572.1, 340/539.13, 340/825.36, 235/385, 235/492
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/80 Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging bio-packaging Y02W90/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A method of embedding an RFID device in a reusable object includes the steps of providing a placard including a plurality of layers, and providing an RFID device including an integrated circuit coupled to an antenna. In one example, the placard includes a top layer, upper intermediate layer, lower intermediate layer, bottom layer, and a plurality of adhesive layers. The method further includes the steps of embedding said RFID device in the placard between an adjacent two of said layers, and encoding the RFID device with information. The method further includes the steps of providing a pallet having a cavity extending into an interior of the pallet, inserting the RFID device into the cavity so that the RFID device is located entirely within the interior of said pallet, and non-removably securing the RFID device within the cavity. In one example, the pallet includes a support base and a top surface.

Claims

1. A method of embedding an RFID device in a reusable object including the steps of:

embedding an RFID device in a placard between two adjacent layers thereof, said placard comprising at least top and bottom layers having respective exposed surfaces and having no adhesive layer on the exposed surface of either of said top and bottom layers;

providing a pallet having a cavity extending into an interior of the pallet;

inserting the placard having said RFID device embedded therein into the cavity so that said placard is located entirely within the interior of said pallet; and

non-removably securing the placard within the cavity.

2. The method of claim 1, said pallet comprising a support base including said cavity, and a top surface;

the method further comprising non-removably securing said top surface to said support base after said placard has been inserted into said cavity to thereby embed said placard in said pallet.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said support base defines a plurality of support feet for the pallet, and wherein said cavity is defined within an interior of at least one of said support feet.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of non-removably securing said top surface to said support base is performed by welding.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said cavity includes a slot.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said pallet includes a support brace, and wherein said slot is formed therein.

7. The method of claim 5, further including the step of sealing the slot with a filler material to secure the placard within the slot.

8. The method of claim 5, further including the step of sealing the slot with a closure member to secure the placard within the slot.

9. The method of claim 1, the placard further comprising an upper intermediate layer and a lower intermediate layer disposed between said top and bottom layers;

said RFID device being embedded between said upper and lower intermediate layers.

10. The method of claim 9, further including the step of printing indicia on at least one of the top and bottom layers, said indicia being selected from the group consisting of indicia that display at least one of the following:

a part name, a serial number, company information and advertising information.

19. The method of claim 1, said cavity extending from an opening in an exterior surface of said pallet to an interior of said pallet, said placard being inserted into said cavity through said opening.

20. The method of claim 1, said placard having a thickness not exceeding 1 mm.

21. The method of claim 1, said placard having a thickness not exceeding 0.5 mm.

22. The method of claim 1, said placard further comprising a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive in between the adjacent layers wherein said RFID device is embedded, said pressure-sensitive adhesive layer having sufficient thickness to ensure continuous and intimate contact with both said adjacent layers around the RFID device, to thereby ensure a complete seal between those layers around the RFID device.

23. The method of claim 22, said pressure-sensitive adhesive layer having a thickness approximately equal to that of said RFID device.

11. A method of embedding an RFID device in a reusable object, including the steps of:

providing a placard including at least a top layer, an upper intermediate layer, a lower intermediate layer, and a bottom layer, said top and bottom layers having respective exposed surfaces, said placard having no adhesive layer on the exposed surface of either of said top and bottom layers, wherein an RFID device is embedded in the placard between adjacent layers thereof;

providing a pallet including a support base, a top surface, and a cavity extending into an interior of at least one of said support base and top surface;

inserting the placard into said cavity so that the embedded placard is located entirely within said cavity; and

non-removably securing said placard having said RFID device embedded therein within said cavity.

12. The method of claim 11, further including the step of welding said top surface to said support base after said placard has been inserted into said cavity to thereby non-removably secure said placard in said pallet.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said support base defines a plurality of support feet for the pallet, and wherein said cavity is defined within an interior of at least one of said support feet.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said cavity is a slot and wherein said method further includes the step of sealing said slot with at least one of a filler material and a closure member to secure said embedded RFID placard within the slot.

15. A pallet structure, including:

a placard including at least a top layer and a bottom layer having respective exposed surfaces, and having no adhesive layer on the exposed surface of either of said top and bottom layers;

an RFID device embedded in the placard between adjacent layers thereof and including an integrated circuit coupled to an antenna; and

a pallet including an interior cavity that is integrally formed as a portion of said pallet and adapted to completely receive said placard therein; and

said placard being non-removably sealed within said cavity.

16. The pallet structure of claim 15, wherein said pallet includes a support base and said sealing device includes a top surface, said cavity extending into an interior of at least one of said support base and top surface, and wherein said support base and top surface are non-removably secured together after the placard is received within said cavity to non-removably seal said placard therein.

17. The pallet structure of claim 15, further including a filler material at least partially received within said interior cavity to seal said placard therein.

18. The pallet structure of claim 15, further including a firing mark provided on an exterior portion of said placard that is adapted to notify a machine to perform an appropriate action on said placard during manufacturing thereof.

24. The pallet structure of claim 15, said cavity extending from an opening in an exterior surface of said pallet to an interior of said pallet, said placard being inserted into said cavity through said opening.

25. The pallet structure of claim 15, said placard having a thickness not exceeding 1 mm.

26. The pallet structure of claim 15, said placard having a thickness not exceeding 0.5 mm.

27. The pallet structure of claim 15, said placard further comprising a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive in between said adjacent layers wherein said RFID device is embedded, said pressure-sensitive adhesive layer having sufficient thickness to ensure continuous and intimate contact with both said adjacent layers around the RFID device, to thereby ensure a complete seal between those layers around the RFID device.

28. The pallet structure claim 27, said pressure-sensitive adhesive layer having a thickness approximately equal to that of said RFID device.

29. The pallet structure of claim 15, said placard further including an upper intermediate layer and a lower intermediate layer in between said top and bottom layers, and a plurality of adhesive layers between adjacent ones of said top layer, upper intermediate layer, lower intermediate layer and bottom layer.