Vibratory feeder systems for RFID elements

A system for making RFID devices, comprising:

• a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) components, the RFID components being RFID elements or chips that are flexible non-silicon chips of flexible plastic material with printed electronics;
• a vibratory feeder containing the plurality of RFID components, which vibratory feeder moves and orients the RFID components and dispenses the RFID components in at least one stream of RFID components, the leading one of which is a lead RFID component;
• a movable support configured to follow a move and stop flow pattern;
• a transfer station located along the movable support;
• a plurality of RFID antennas in an ordered sequence on the movable support upstream of the transfer station, wherein the RFID components include an orientation feature as the RFID components vibrate in the vibratory feeder, the orientation feature enhancing orientation of the RFID components with respect to the RFID antennas, the orientation feature comprising RFID components with a first surface that is smooth and a second surface that is rough, or RFID components with a first surface that is flat and a second surface that is curved;
• a securement feature of the RFID component, the RFID antenna or both, the securement feature being selected from the group consisting of adhesives, conductive adhesives, dielectric adhesives, pressure sensitive adhesives, epoxy adhesives, anisotropic conductive paste, heat sensitive adhesives, heat and pressure sensitive adhesives, hot melt adhesives, welding, ultrasonic welding, electronic welding, magnet field systems, electronic field systems, and combinations thereof;
• the transfer station provides a location at which the lead RFID component engages one of the RFID antennas while at the transfer station when the movable support is stationary with respect to the lead RFID component, whereby a combined RFID component and antenna is assembled, the combined RFID component and antenna is an RFID device;
• and
• a control system.

A method for making RFID devices, comprising:

• providing a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) components, the RFID components being RFID elements or chips that are flexible and having an orientation feature comprising RFID components with a first surface that is smooth and a second surface that is rough or RFID components with a first surface that is flat and a second surface that is curved;
• depositing the plurality of RFID components into a bowl of a vibratory feeder and moving and orienting the RFID components in vibratory feeder bowl;
• dispensing the RFID components in at least one stream of RFID components, the leading one of which is a lead RFID component;
• presenting a movable support having a plurality of RFID antennas in an ordered sequence on the movable support, the movable support following a move and stop flow pattern and having a transfer station therealong;
• engaging, while at the transfer station, the lead RFID component with one of the RFID antennas and assembling same into a combined RFID component and antenna;
• and
• collecting the combined RFID component and antenna and providing an RFID device therefrom.