System and method for molding RFID tags

A method for making a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the method comprising:

• positioning a pair of ring pins in a cavity of a mold;
• placing a transponder on a ledge of one of the ring pins, wherein:
• the transponder includes an antenna and an integrated circuit (IC) chip;
• and
• an inner radial surface of the antenna contacts the ledge of the one ring pin when the transponder is placed on the ledge;
• closing the mold to hold the transponder between the ring pins;
• injecting material into the mold cavity and around the transponder to form a part of the RFID tag;
• opening the mold;
• ejecting the part from the mold;
• and
• attaching the IC chip to an outer radial surface of the antenna before placing the transponder on the ledge.

A system for making a female part of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that is configured to be secured to an ear of an animal by joining a male part of the RFID tag and the female part of the RFID tag to one another through the ear of the animal, the system comprising:

• a mold having a cavity;
• a fixture configured to hold a transponder within the mold cavity, wherein the transponder includes an antenna and an integrated circuit (IC) chip, wherein the fixture includes a pair of ring pins;
• and
• an injector configured to inject material into the mold cavity, wherein the mold and the fixture are configured such that the injected material is injected directly around the antenna and the IC chip to form a housing of the female part of the RFID tag.

A method for making a female part of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that is configured to be secured to an ear of an animal by joining a male part of the RFID tag and the female part of the RFID tag to one another through the ear of the animal, the method comprising:

• holding a transponder within a cavity of a mold using a fixture, wherein the transponder includes an antenna and an integrated circuit (IC) chip;
• closing the mold;
• injecting material into the mold cavity and directly around the antenna and the IC chip to form a housing of the female part of the RFID tag;
• opening the mold;
• and
• ejecting the female part from the mold, wherein the step of holding the transponder within the mold cavity includes contacting an inner radial surface of the antenna with the fixture.

A method for making a female part of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that is configured to be secured to an ear of an animal by joining a male part of the RFID tag and the female part of the RFID tag to one another through the ear of the animal, the method comprising:

• holding a transponder within a cavity of a mold using a fixture, wherein the transponder includes an antenna and an integrated circuit (IC) chip;
• closing the mold;
• injecting material into the mold cavity and directly around the antenna and the IC chip to form a housing of the female part of the RFID tag;
• opening the mold;
• and
• ejecting the female part from the mold, wherein the step of injecting material into the mold cavity includes injecting material into the mold cavity and directly around opposing side surfaces of the antenna that extend between inner and outer radial surfaces of the antenna.

A method for making a female part of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that is configured to be secured to an ear of an animal by joining a male part of the RFID tag and the female part of the RFID tag to one another through the ear of the animal, the method comprising:

• holding a transponder within a cavity of a mold using a fixture, wherein the transponder includes an antenna and an integrated circuit (IC) chip;
• closing the mold;
• injecting material into the mold cavity and directly around the antenna and the IC chip to form a housing of the female part of the RFID tag;
• opening the mold;
• and
• ejecting the female part from the mold, wherein the step of injecting material into the mold cavity includes injecting material into the mold cavity and directly around the antenna and the IC chip to form the entire housing of the female part of the RFID tag.

A system for making a female part of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that is configured to be secured to an ear of an animal by joining a male part of the RFID tag and the female part of the RFID tag to one another through the ear of the animal, the system comprising:

• a mold having a cavity;
• a fixture configured to hold a transponder within the mold cavity, wherein the transponder includes an antenna and an integrated circuit (IC) chip, and wherein the fixture is configured to hold the transponder within the mold cavity by contacting an inner radial surface of the antenna;
• and
• an injector configured to inject material into the mold cavity, wherein the mold and the fixture are configured such that the injected material is injected directly around the antenna and the IC chip to form a housing of the female part of the RFID tag.