Radio-frequency indentification tag and tape applicator, radio-frequency identification tag applicator, and methods of applying radio-frequency identification tags

A radio-frequency identification tag and tape applicator, comprising:

• a) a tag and tape handling system, comprising:
• i) a base;
• ii) a tape supply holder attached to said base;
• iii) a tag supply holder attached to said base;
• and
• iv) a tag applying mechanism attached to said base for applying a tag to a length of tape;
• v) a carrier roll holder attached to said base;
• and
• vi) a carrier path from said tag supply holder to said carrier roll holder;
• and
• vii) a first interrogator attached to said base;
• b) a roll of a plurality of radio-frequency identification tags on a carrier mounted on said tag supply holder;
• c) a roll of tape mounted on said tape supply holder;
• d) a taping head for applying the tag and the length of tape to an object, wherein said taping head comprises:
• i) a tape cutting mechanism;
• and
• ii) a tape applying mechanism, wherein said tag applying mechanism is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein when said tag applying mechanism is in said first position, said tag applying mechanism does not apply one of said radio-frequency identification tags to a length of tape, and wherein when said tag applying mechanism is said second position, said tag applying mechanism applies one of said radio-frequency identification tags to said length of tape;
• and
• e) a tape path between said tape supply holder to said tape applying mechanism, wherein said tape cutting mechanism is located on said tape path between said tape supply holder and said tape applying mechanism, and wherein said tag applying mechanism is located on said tape path between said tape supply holder and said tape cutting mechanism;
• wherein said first interrogator tests one of said radio-frequency identification tags for the functionality of said tag, and if said tag is functional, then said first interrogator writes information to said tag, wherein after said first interrogator writes the information, said first interrogator reads said tag for the information to verify the information was properly written to said tag, and wherein after said first interrogator verifies the information, said tag applying mechanism moves to said second position to contact said tape to adhere one of said radio-frequency identification tags to said tape and to separate said tag from said carrier.

A radio-frequency identification tag applicator, comprising:

• a) a radio-frequency identification tag supply holder;
• b) a carrier roll holder;
• c) a carrier path from said radio-frequency identification supply roll holder to said carrier roll holder;
• d) a tag dispensing mechanism along said carrier path between said radio-frequency identification supply roll holder and said carrier roll holder for applying a tag to an object;
• and
• e) an interrogator for writing information to radio-frequency identification tags along said carrier path between said radio-frequency identification tag supply holder and said tag dispensing mechanism.

A radio-frequency identification tag applicator, comprising:

• a) a radio-frequency identification tag supply holder;
• b) a carrier roll holder;
• c) a carrier path from said radio-frequency identification supply roll holder to said carrier roll holder;
• d) a tag dispensing mechanism along said carrier path between said radio-frequency identification supply roll holder and said carrier roll holder for applying a tag to an object, wherein said tag dispensing mechanism is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein when said tag dispensing mechanism is in said first position, said tag dispensing mechanism dispenses said tag, and wherein when said tag dispensing mechanism is said second position, said tag dispensing mechanism does not dispense said tag for application to the object;
• e) an interrogator for writing information to radio-frequency identification tags along said carrier path between said radio-frequency identification tag supply holder and said tag dispensing mechanism;
• and
• f) a roll of a plurality of radio-frequency identification tags on a carrier mounted on said tag supply holder;
• wherein said interrogator tests one of said radio-frequency identification tags for the functionality of said tag, and if said tag is functional, then said interrogator writes information to said tag, wherein after said interrogator writes the information to said tag, said interrogator reads said tag for the information to verify the information was properly written to said tag, and wherein after said first interrogator verifies the information, said tag applying mechanism moves to said first position to apply said tag to the object.

A package in combination with a radio-frequency identification tag, comprising:

• a) a package;
• b) a length of tape applied to the package;
• and
• c) a radio-frequency identification tag located between the tape and the package.

A method of applying a radio-frequency identification tag to tape, comprising the steps of:

• providing a length of tape, wherein the length of tape includes a backing and an adhesive on the backing;
• providing a first radio-frequency identification tag on a carrier;
• contacting the first radio-frequency identification tag to the adhesive of the tape;
• and
• separating the radio-frequency identification tag from the carrier to apply the first radio-frequency identification tag to the length of tape.

A method of applying a radio-frequency identification tag to tape, comprising the steps of:

• providing a length of tape, wherein the length of tape includes a backing and an adhesive on the backing;
• providing a first radio-frequency identification tag on a carrier;
• testing the radio-frequency identification tag for the functionality of the radio-frequency identification tag, and if the radio-frequency identification tag is functional, then writing information to the radio-frequency identification tag;
• contacting the first radio-frequency identification tag to the adhesive of the tape;
• separating the radio-frequency identification tag from the carrier to apply the first radio-frequency identification tag to the length of tape;
• and
• applying the length of tape and the radio-frequency identification tag to an object.