Ultrasonically welded label systems and methods
AssigneeAvery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
InventorYuk Yu Law
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods of using ultrasonic welding to form labels with RFID tags are disclosed. The methods can be useful for the production of a large volume of labels such as production with roll-to-roll processing. The labels can be useful for consumer products such as garments. The present invention discloses in one embodiment, a label having a first and second printed fabric label layer such that a radio frequency identification (RFID) inlay is disposed between the two printed fabric layers.
Claims20
A label having visible printing, comprising:
- a first layer;
- a second layer ultrasonically welded to the first layer;
- and
- at least one radio frequency identification (“RFID”) inlay disposed between the first layer and the second layer,
- wherein the first layer and the second layer are printed fabric layers,
- wherein the visible printing is arranged on the first layer and the second layer and is visible on outward facing sides of the first layer and the second layer,
- wherein the first layer and the second layer are outermost layers of the label.
A roll-to-roll label processing apparatus, comprising:
- a lamination roll configured to receive a first printed fabric label layer, an radio frequency identification (“RFID”) inlay, and a second printed fabric label layer, and press the RFID inlay between the first printed fabric label layer and the second printed fabric label layer to form a joined label;
- and
- one or more ultrasonic welders configured to ultrasonically weld portions of the second printed fabric label layer to the first printed fabric layer against one or more corresponding rotary anvils to form a continuous web of labels,
- wherein visible printing is arranged on the first layer and the second layer and is the visible printing is visible on outward facing sides of the first layer and the second layer,
- wherein the first layer and the second layer are outermost layers of the label.
A method, comprising:
- receiving, by a lamination roll, a first printed fabric label layer, a plurality of radio frequency identification (“RFID”) inlays, and a second printed fabric label layer;
- joining, by the lamination roll, the first printed fabric label layer, the plurality of RFID inlays, and the second printed fabric label layer;
- and
- ultrasonically welding, by an ultrasonic welder, portions of the second printed fabric layer to the first printed fabric label layer to seal one or more RFID inlays between the first printed fabric layer and the second printed fabric layer to form a continuous web of individual labels each including at least one RFID inlay,
- wherein visible printing is arranged on the first layer and the second layer and is the visible printing is visible on outward facing sides of the first layer and the second layer,
- wherein the first layer and the second layer are outermost layers of the label.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.