Merchandise marking with programmable transponders
AssigneeMarkem Corporation
InventorsJonathan Oakes, David Benjamin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems for programming programmable transponders are disclosed. An apparatus for programming programmable transponders can include a label supply for supplying labels, a programing zone into which the labels are conveyed, a feed-system for transporting a label to the programming zone, a source of radiation for communicating tag-information to the transponder, and a shield mechanism. The source can be disposed to illuminate a programming zone into witch the lable is transported. The shield mechanism can substantially enclose the source of radiation and a first one of the labels in the programming zone and exclude at least a second one of the labels.
Claims21
An apparatus for programming programmable transponders, the apparatus comprising:
- a label supply for supplying labels, each of the labels having a programmable transponder;
- a programming zone into which the labels are conveyed;
- a feed-system for transporting the label to the programming zone;
- a source of radiation for communicating tag-information to the transponder, the source being disposed to illuminate the programming zone into which the label is transported;
- and
- a shield mechanism substantially enclosing the source of radiation and a first one of the labels in the programming zone and excluding at least a second one of the labels, the second one of the labels being adjacent to the first one of the labels.
A method for programming programmable transponders, the method comprising:
- transporting a label to a programming zone, the label having a programmable transponder;
- communicating tag-information to the transponder when the transponder is in the programming zone;
- and
- subsequent to communicating the tag-information to the transponder, marking the label with visible information consistent with the tag information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.