The application is the divisional application that application people is Sensormatic Electronics Corp, international filing date is on December 1st, 2005, international application no is PCT/US2005/043958, national applications number is 200580052476.9, denomination of invention is the application for a patent for invention of " magnetic detacher with open visit ".
Background technology
Electronic article surveillance (EAS) system is designed to prevent without permission from controlled area mobile article.Typical EAS system can comprise monitoring system and one or more safety label.Described monitoring system can set up interrogation in the accessing points of described controlled area.Safety label can be secured on the article of such as clothing articles.If the article adding label enter interrogation, then may alert trigger, shift out article with label without permission for representing from described controlled area.Generally, controlled area can be left at the article with label and not before alert trigger, safety label must be made invalid.
Safety label can adopt various ways, comprising soft label and hard label.Usually, soft label is disposable, is only only used once, and hard label can be reused.An example of soft label is the label of adhesive-backed security.Soft label can be made invalid (deactivate) by the invalid unit of such as scanner, and described scanner is when its contact or close to using specific magnetic field to make described soft tag deactivation during described soft label.
Hard label generally includes: plastic tag body, and it contains EAS sensor; And locking device, comprises pin or tack, its by article and folder to described tag body so that article and label are tightened together.Generally, hard label needs detacher unit to remove tack from tag body, and described article can be separated with hard label.In some applications, detacher unit can comprise magnet assembly, and it applies magnetic field to discharge described tack to tag body.
Fig. 1 illustrates traditional hard label 10, and it has plastic tag body 11, and plastic tag body 11 is formed with jut 12.Described tag body 11 holds EAS sensor 13, and it is for alert trigger.Described hard label 10 comprises the tack 14 of the head 15 with expansion.As shown in the figure, tack 14 is fastened in tag body 11 by clamping device 16.
Fig. 2 illustrates the traditional magnetic assembly 20 of detacher unit.Magnet assembly 20 comprises cylindrical magnet 21 and magnetized toroidal magnet 22 on the contrary, and toroidal magnet 22 is stacked on the top of cylindrical magnet 21.As shown in the figure, magnet assembly 20 comprises the cavity 23 that the degree of depth is roughly 6-7 millimeter.This configuration is suitable for well for the conventional hard tag of such as hard label 10, and wherein, the cavity 23 of magnet assembly 20 is compatible with the jut 12 of tag body 11.In order to allow to take out tack 14, jut 12 is inserted in cavity 23, in order to the high-intensity magnetic field be used in toroidal magnet 22.Magnet assembly 20 provides in cavity 23 to be enough to force clamping device 16 depart from and allow to take out from tag body 11 the substantially vertical magnetic field of tack 14.
Tag in application in the tagged many of such as bottle and CD, such as, the clamping device of hard label can be embedded in the existing packaging of article, or can have little profile to minimize the possibility of inefficacy, and the placement of item of convenience.For such application with ensure requirement, need the design of different stripping attachment to provide the open visit of the clamping device for described embedding or little profile, and simultaneously, provide enough magnetic field.
Detailed description of the invention
Multiple detail can be provided at this and understand embodiments of the invention up hill and dale.But those skilled in the art can understand, embodiments of the invention can be put into practice when there is no these details.In addition, do not describe known method, process, parts and circuit in detail, not obscure embodiments of the invention.Be appreciated that concrete structure disclosed herein and function detail can be representational, and must not limit scope of the present invention.
It should be noted that any the quoting for " embodiment " in description represents that special characteristic, structure or the characteristic described in conjunction with described embodiment is included at least one embodiment.The same embodiment of the inevitable all instructions of the appearance of phrase " in an embodiment " everywhere in description.
Fig. 3 illustrates an embodiment of magnetic detacher 30.In this embodiment, magnetic detacher 30 comprises magnet assembly 31, and it comprises cylindrical magnet 32 and toroidal magnet 33.In various implementation, cylindrical magnet 32 and toroidal magnet 33 can comprise one or more permanent magnet.Usually, permanent magnet has the magnetized axis of the restriction depending on magnetic history, the orientation of material, geometry and other materials attribute.
In various embodiment, permanent magnet can comprise the ferromagnetic parts of the paramagnetic parts of such as samarium (Sm) and neodymium (Nd) and such as iron and cobalt (Co).During the making of permanent magnet, can set up crystalline domain structure, the intra-domain magnetization of its display orientation, this is called as magneto-crystalline anisotropy, is the mechanism producing high-intensity magnetic field.Permanent magnet can process, and described process comprises the compression of the parts such as when there is surrounding magnetic field, the sintering of compression material and remagnetize.
The example of permanent magnet includes, but are not limited to neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) magnet, hard ferrite magnet and cobalt magnet, and described cobalt magnet is such as SmCo (SmCo) magnet and aluminium nickel cobalt (AlNiCo) magnet.That permanent magnet can comprise sintering and/or bond magnet.Described permanent magnet also can comprise multiple coating to stop corrosion.
In each embodiment, magnetic detacher 30 is structured and arranges to various magnetic clamping device provides the access opened.Therefore, the clamping structure of the hard label of any angle position be positioned at relative to its axle can depart from by magnetic detacher 30.In various implementation, magnetic detacher 30 is configured to provide around the comparatively symmetrical magnetic field of its axle, makes it be used in the hard label of any angle position.
In embodiment in figure 3, such as, the upper surface 34 of cylindrical magnet 32 is roughly coplanar and concentric with the upper surface of toroidal magnet 33.As shown in the figure, cylindrical magnet 32 and toroidal magnet 33 substantially flush, allow to receive hard label in any direction.Therefore magnetic detacher 30 provides open visit to the various magnetic clamping devices in hard label.Described embodiment is not limited in this context.
In some embodiments, the upper surface of cylindrical magnet 32 upwards or downwards slightly can offset from the upper surface 35 of toroidal magnet 33.Such as, the upper surface 34 of cylindrical magnet 32 can from the upper surface 35 of toroidal magnet 33 upwards or offset downward 2-3 millimeter.Described embodiment is not limited in this context.
In various embodiment, magnet assembly 31 comprises toroidal magnet 33, and it is magnetized diametrically.Toroidal magnet 33 can comprise such as multiple part 36-1-n, and wherein, n represents positive integer value, and each of multiple part 36-1-n is magnetized on the direction at center pointing to toroidal magnet 33.In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, such as, toroidal magnet 33 is divided into Part I 36-1, Part II 36-2, Part III 36-3 and Part IV 36-4 by four.In Fig. 3, white arrow represents magnetized direction.In this embodiment, for the first half of toroidal magnet 33, magnetic flux inwardly points to the center of toroidal magnet 33, and is bent upwards out outside toroidal magnet 33.The magnetic field of toroidal magnet 33 is added to the magnetic field of the upper finger produced by core cylindrical magnet 32, produces very strong magnetic field.
In some embodiments, the direction of magnetization shown in Fig. 3 can be reversed.Such as, core cylindrical magnet 32 can produce the magnetic field of lower finger, and the center of magnetic flux from toroidal magnet 33 can outwards guide by toroidal magnet 33.
In various implementation, magnet assembly 31 provides the magnetic field of the relative symmetry around its axle, makes magnetic detacher 30 can be used for being positioned at the hard label of any angle position.In some embodiments, soft iron material can be placed in the bottom of magnet assembly 31, to obtain keeper effect, and strengthens Surface field.
In each embodiment, toroidal magnet 33 can be divided into four or more part, and each magnetic part is magnetized on the direction at center pointing to toroidal magnet 33.Be appreciated that, when being less than the part of four, toroidal magnet 33 can have sizable changes of magnetic field, therefore clamping device only can depart from specific angle position.
Fig. 4 illustrates an embodiment of magnetic detacher 40.In this embodiment, magnetic detacher 40 comprises magnet assembly 41, and it comprises cylindrical magnet 42 and half-ring magnet 43.In various implementation, cylindrical magnet 42 and half-ring magnet 43 can comprise one or more permanent magnet.
In each embodiment, magnetic detacher 40 is structured and arranges from the side of magnet assembly 41 provides to various magnetic clamping device the access opened.Therefore, the clamping structure of the hard label of the various angle positions of the side be located at relative to magnet assembly 41 can depart from by magnetic detacher 40.Generally, the height (such as 12 millimeters) of half-ring magnet 43 will be greater than the height (such as 7 millimeters) of the toroidal magnet 22 of magnet assembly 20, to provide enough magnetic field to depart from the various clamping devices of hard label, the side of magnetropism assembly 41 provides open access simultaneously.Described embodiment is not limited in this context.
Fig. 5 illustrates an embodiment of magnetic detacher 50, and in the present embodiment, magnetic detacher 50 comprises magnet assembly 51, and it comprises the first rectangular magnet 52, second rectangular magnet 53 and the 3rd rectangular magnet 54.In various implementation, the first rectangular magnet 52, second rectangular magnet 53 and the 3rd rectangular magnet 54 can comprise one or more permanent magnet.In some embodiments, magnetic detacher 50 can comprise one or more other rectangular magnet.
In each embodiment, magnetic detacher 50 is structured and arranges to various magnetic clamping device provides the access opened.In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, such as, the upper surface 56 of upper surface 55, second rectangular magnet 53 of the first rectangular magnet 52 and the upper surface 57 of the 3rd rectangular magnet 54 roughly coplanar.As shown in the figure, the first rectangular magnet 52, second rectangular magnet 53 and the 3rd rectangular magnet 54 substantially flush, allow to hold hard label in any direction.Therefore magnetic detacher 50 provides to the various magnetic clamping devices in hard label the access opened.Be appreciated that due to asymmetric, the magnet with rectangular geometry trends towards producing the magnetic field more weak than the magnet with circular geometry, and does not have the symmetry in orientation.Described embodiment is not limited in this context.
Table 1 illustrate center in the cylindrical magnet that configures at various magnetic detacher in the comparison of the Surface field of kilogauss (kG).Described configuration can comprise toroidal magnet, and it has internal diameter (ID), external diameter (OD) and height (h).
Table 1
As shown in table 1, the configuration of the stripping attachment of only single cylindrical magnet is used to provide than using the stripping attachment of magnet assembly to configure lower Surface field.Use single configurations of magnets to realize open visit to need only to use such as cylindrical magnet by removing toroidal magnet 22 from the magnet assembly 20 of magnet.Such means have been compromised dismounting magnetic field, because clamping device must be designed to be opened by more weak magnet, therefore clamping device is caught be easier to by " outside (street) " magnet and lost efficacy.
Also as shown in table 1, can realize when suitably have selected the size of the toroidal magnet that can be placed in cylindrical magnet and similar magnetic field, the magnetic field that provides is provided by the conventional detacher of the toroidal magnet be used in cylindrical magnet.Therefore, use the stripping attachment of the toroidal magnet flushed with cylindrical magnet to be configured in when suitably have selected magnet size and provide open access and enough magnetic field.Such as, the height of toroidal magnet (such as toroidal magnet 33) can be brought up to 12 millimeters, or, external diameter can be brought up to and be greater than 60 millimeters to obtain the magnetic field levels being greater than 7.1kG being used for such stripping attachment configuration.In addition, use has the stripping attachment configuration with the semi-circular magnet being greater than 12 height superposed in cylindrical magnet also can provide enough magnetic field, allows the open visit of the side from described magnet assembly simultaneously.Described embodiment is not limited to this context.
Fig. 6 illustrates an embodiment of curve Figure 60, and described curve Figure 60 illustrates the magnetic field levels of the function as the height using the various magnetic stripping attachments of the toroidal magnet flushed with cylindrical magnet to configure.As shown in the figure, it is possible for using larger magnet to strengthen magnetic field further.Described embodiment is not limited thereto context.
Fig. 7 illustrates an embodiment of curve Figure 70, and described Figure 70 illustrates the magnetic field levels of the function of the distance at the center as magnetic surface.As shown in the figure, each embodiment of described magnetic detacher has enhanced field projection (fieldprojection) compared with the magnet assembly of magnet.In such embodiment, compared with the magnet assembly of magnet, described magnetic detacher has longer field projection, allows magnetic detacher to depart from the clamping device of hard label with larger distance.Described embodiment is not limited thereto context.
Above-mentioned discussion and magnetic field value are based on the NdFeB magnet using level 35.If use the magnet of the higher level of the NdFeB magnet of such as level 50, then magnetic field levels will improve 10-15% usually.Described embodiment is not limited thereto context.
In various implementation, described embodiment comprises: magnetic detacher, for providing the access opened to various hard label; And enough strong magnetic field levels, for departing from the clamping device of such hard label.Described embodiment may be used for the multiple of such as bottle and CD and tags in application, wherein, the clamping device of hard label can be embedded in the existing packaging of article, or can have little profile to minimize the possibility of inefficacy, and the placement of item of convenience.
In various implementation, described embodiment avoids to be needed to use large profile or outstanding design in the multiple application that tags of such as bottle and CD.Often problem is had, because outstanding clip easily snaps or is subject to other infringement in the use of the very thin outstanding clip loaded onto of the packaging of such as CD, jewel box or glasses.The use of outstanding clip also counteracts that effectively to use shelves space, because jut occupies space, and makes to be difficult to stack or arrange commodity.
In various implementation, described embodiment comprises the magnetic detacher using magnet assembly, and described magnetic detacher provides the magnetic field levels than will the configuration of the stripping attachment of single magnet be used higher.Such embodiment avoids the demand of the clamping device of the hard label be designed for compared with weak magnet, described compared with weak magnet will reduce for invalid antagonism.
Although the special characteristic of embodiment as described in having described as said, now for those skilled in the art, many amendments can be carried out, substitute, change and equivalent.Therefore, it should be understood that appended claim be intended to contain fall into described embodiment true spirit in all such amendments and change.