Multi stream RFID tag applicator
AssigneeWestRock Shared Services, LLC
InventorsTheodore M. Hammond, John P. Dwyer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag applicator including a spool system for holding and guiding a tape including a plurality of RFID tags from a first spool to a second spool, an RFID programmer coupled to spool system to send a programming signal to each of the tags passing from the first spool to the second spool, an RFID reader coupled to the spool system for reading a return signal from a programmed RFID tag in order to reject or accept the programmed tag, and an applicator member operatively coupled to the RFID reader to cause an RFID tag to peel away from the tape onto a passing substrate if the RFID tag is accepted by the RFID reader or pass to the second spool if rejected.
Claims20
A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag applicator comprising:
- a spool system for holding and guiding a tape including a plurality of RFID tags from a first spool to a second spool;
- an RFID programmer operatively connected to the spool system to send a programming signal to each of the tags passing from the first spool to the second spool;
- an RFID reader operatively connected to the spool system for reading return signals from programmed RFID tags in order to accept properly programmed RFID tags and reject improperly programmed RFID tags;
- and
- an applicator member operatively connected to the RFID reader, wherein in response to the RFID tag being accepted by the RFID reader, the applicator member is configured to cause a programmed RFID tag to peel away from the tape onto a passing substrate and in response to the RFID tag being rejected by the RFID reader, the applicator member is configured to cause the programmed RFID tag to pass to the second spool, wherein the applicator member comprises a roller actuating between a pressed and a depressed position to applying the RFID tag to the passing substrate.
A system for applying first radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to packaging comprising:
- a first RFID tag applicator operatively connected to a track configured to be moved along the track and fixed at plurality of positions along the track;
- a die cutter positioned upstream of the RFID tag applicator to cut and feed a cardboard blank to the tag applicator;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the tag applicator and the die cutter to meter a tag applicator spool speed to match the die cutter blank output.
A method of applying radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to packaging comprising:
- feeding a packaging blank towards a first RFID tag applicator;
- sending a programming signal to an individual RFID tag located on a spooling tape holding a plurality of RFID tags of the first RFID applicator as each individual RFID tag passes from the first spool to the second spool;
- sending a reader signal and receiving one of a pass or fail bounce back signal to ensure that an RFID tag has been properly programmed;
- and
- actuating an applicator member to press a properly programmed RFID tag onto a passing packaging blank, wherein the applicator member comprises a roller and the actuating comprises actuating by the roller between a pressed and a depressed position to applying the RFID tag to the passing substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.