WO2009027631A1

WO2009027631A1 - A holder for holding a radio frequency identification tag in a reusable core for wound sheet material

Info

Publication number: WO2009027631A1
Application number: PCT/GB2008/002818
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter George Milton
Original assignee: Rftraq Limited
Priority date: 2007-08-24
Filing date: 2008-08-19
Publication date: 2009-03-05
Also published as: GB2462393A; GB0716635D0; GB0920043D0; GB2462393B

Abstract

A holder (2) for holding a radio frequency identification tag in a reusable core for wound sheet material, which holder comprises a body portion (4), a lid (6), a first recess (8) in the body portion (4) for receiving a printed circuit board (10) forming part of the radio frequency identification tag, a second recess (12) in the body portion for receiving a battery (14) forming part of the radio frequency identification tag, a third recess (16) in the body portion (4) for receiving an antenna (18) forming part of the radio frequency identification tag, first retainer means (20) on the lid and for retaining the printed circuit board (10) in the first recess (8), second retainer means (22) on the lid and for retaining the battery (14) in the second recess (12), and third retainer means (24) on the lid and for retaining the antenna (18) in the third recess (16), and the holder (2) being such that it has an upper surface which curves with a radius of curvature like that of a bore in the reusable core so that the holder (2) is locatable in the bore of the reusable core with the upper surface of the holder (2) adjacent an inner surface of the core defining the reusable bore.

Description

A HOLDER FOR HOLDING A

RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAG IN A

REUSABLE CORE FOR WOUND SHEET MATERIAL

This invention relates to a holder for holding a radio frequency identification tag and, more especially, this invention relates to a holder for holding a radio frequency identification tag in a reusable core for wound sheet material.

Radio frequency identification tags comprise a printed circuit board, a battery and an antenna. Most manufacturers of radio frequency identification tags encase the radio frequency identification tag with a potting compound. The potting compound is designed to protect the printed circuit board from environmental conditions, and also to secure the battery in position. The use of a potting compound gives rise to a problem in that it makes the replacement of the battery almost impossible. The use of the potting compound also gives rise to another problem in that it is not possible to conduct a service inspection of the printed circuit board if the printed circuit board should develop a fault. These problems are especially acute for radio frequency identification tags which are to be used in reusable cores for wound sheet material. The reusable cores may be used, for example, in the printing industry, in which case the wound sheet material is paper. The reusable cores may also be used in the packaging industry, in which case the wound sheet material may be thin cardboard or a plastics material.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problems.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a holder for holding a radio frequency identification tag in a reusable core for wound sheet material, which holder comprises a body portion, a lid, a first recess in the body portion for receiving a printed circuit board forming part of the radio frequency identification tag, a second recess in the body portion for receiving a battery forming part of the radio frequency identification tag, a third recess in the body portion for receiving an antenna forming part of the radio frequency identification tag, first retainer means on the lid and for retaining the printed circuit board in the first recess, second retainer means on the lid and for retaining the battery in the second recess, and third retainer means on the lid and for retaining the antenna in the third recess, and the holder being such that it has an upper surface which curves with a radius of curvature like that of a bore in the reusable core so that the holder is beatable in the bore of the reusable core with the upper surface of the holder adjacent an inner surface of the core defining the reusable bore.

The holder of the present invention enables the reusable cores to be used over and over again, with the radio frequency identification tag maintaining its performance, and being able to be inspected and serviced if necessary, for example to replace the battery, or check or repair the printed circuit board or the antenna. The holder of the present invention is especially advantageous bearing in mind that the radio frequency tag may be used in a wide variety of environments in different countries throughout the world, and may be subjected to temperatures as low as -30° C and as high at +60⁰C during normal use. In some uses of the reusable core, the tag will be subjected to several high impact events during normal operations involving using the sheet material that is wound on the reusable core. The holder of the present invention is able to protect the radio frequency identification tag against such high impact events. The holder of the present invention may also be able to protect the radio frequency identification tag from electrostatic discharge, vibration, humidity, electrical interference, centrifugal forces and other long time operational conditions. The holder enables the radio frequency identification tag to be monitored as and when desired during its operational use, and for a wide variety of performance aspects including battery condition, transmission strength, and frequency of transmission.

The holder may be one in which the first retainer means rests on the printed circuit board when the printed circuit board is in the first recess. Preferably the first retainer means is an abutment. Other types of first retainer means may be employed.

The holder may be one in which the second retainer means rests on the battery when the battery is in the second recess. Preferably the second retainer means is an abutment and a plurality of pin members. Other types of second retainer means may be employed.

The holder may be one in which the third retainer means restricts movement of the antenna in the third recess. The third retainer means may be a part circular channel formation. Other types of third retainer means may be employed.

Preferably, the body portion is curved in end view. Such a body portion preferably has longitudinally extending sides which in end view slope radially inwardly towards a longitudinal axis of the core.

Preferably the lid is curved in end view. Such a lid preferably has longitudinally extending sides which in end view slope radially inwardly towards a longitudinal axis of the core.

Usually, the body portion and the lid will be manufactured as mouldings from a plastics material. Any suitable and appropriate plastics material may be employed.

The holder may be manufactured and sold empty. The holder will include the battery, the printed circuit board and the antenna during use.

When the holder includes the battery, the printed circuit board and the antenna, then the holder is preferably hermetically sealed. The holder is preferably hermetically sealed by ultrasonic welding the lid to the body portion. Other sealing methods may be employed, including adhesives. The precise hermetic sealing means is advantageously chosen to be easy to unseal for purposes of enabling the lid to be removed from the body portion, and the tag components in the body portion inspected.

The present invention also extends to a reusable core for wound sheet material, when provided with the holder.

The core may comprise a tube and a pair of end members for fitting one in each end of the tube. The holder may be positioned in the tube. In this case, the holder may be positioned adjacent one end of the tube. If desired, there may be two of the holders, and one of the holders may be positioned adjacent each end of the tube.

Alternatively, the holder may be positioned in one of the end members. If desired, there may be two of the holders, and one of the holders will then be positioned on each one of the end members.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view from above and one side of a holder for holding a radio frequency identification tag in a reusable core;

Figure 2 is an exploded view like Figure 1 but from underneath and one side;

Figure 3 is an end view of the holder shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 shows a reusable core having the holder in a first position; and

Figure 5 is an end view of a central core part of the core shown in Figure 4 and shows an alternative position for placing the holder.

Referring to Figures 1 , 2 and 3 there is show a holder 2 for holding a radio frequency identification tag in a reusable core for wound sheet material. The holder 2 comprises a body portion 4 and a lid 6. A first recess 8 in the body portion 4 is for receiving a printed circuit board 10 forming part of the radio frequency identification tag. A second recess 12 in the body portion 4 is for receiving a battery 14 forming part of the radio frequency identification tag. A third recess 16 in the body portion 4 is for receiving an antenna 18 forming part of the radio frequency identification tag.

The holder 2 is such that there is first retainer means 20 on the lid 6 and which is for retaining the printed circuit board 10 in the first recess 8. Second retainer means 22 is provided on the lid 6 for retaining the battery 14 in the second recess 12. Third retainer means 24 is provided on the lid 6 and is for retaining the antenna 18 in the third recess 16.

The holder 2 is such that it has an upper surface 26 which curves with a radius of curvature like that of a bore in the reusable core so that the holder 2 is locatable in the bore of the reusable core with the upper surface of the holder 2 adjacent an inner surface of the core defining the reusable bore. Figure 5 shows by way of example only a bore 28 in a tube 30 of a reusable core. The tube 30 has an inner surface 32 which defines the bore.

The first retainer means 20 rests on the printed circuit board 10 when the printed circuit board 10 is in the first recess 8. The first retainer means 20 comprises an abutment 34 and a plurality of pin members 36.

The second retainer means 22 rests on the battery 14 when the battery 14 is in the second recess 12. The second retainer means 22 is in the form of a circular abutment.

The third retainer means 24 restricts movement of the antenna 18 in the third recess 16. The third retainer means 24 is a part circular channel formation as can best be appreciated from Figure 2. The part circular channel formation rests on ledges 37 as shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, the first, second and third recesses 8, 12, 16 are in an upper surface of the body portion 4. As shown in Figure 2, the first, second and third retainer means 20, 22, 24 are on an undersurface of the lid 6.

The body portion 4 is curved in end view. The body portion 4 has longitudinally extending sides 38, 40 which in end view slope radially inwardly towards a longitudinal axis of the core.

The lid 6 is curved in end view. The lid 6 has longitudinally extending sides 42, 44 which in end view slope radially inwardly towards a longitudinal axis of the core.

The lid 6 is provided with four locating pegs 46 which locate in holes 48 in the body portion 4. The body portion 4 and the lid 6 may be made as mouldings from a plastics material.

When the holder 2 includes the printed circuit 10, the battery 14 and the antenna 18, then the lid 6 may be hermetically sealed to the body portion 4. This sealing is preferably done by ultrasonic welding.

Figure 4 shows a reusable core 50 comprising the tube 30 and two end members 52, 54. The end members 52, 54 each have a splined portion 56 and an end flange 58. The end flanges 58 abut one each against the ends of the tube 30. Figure 4 shows how the splined portion 56 on each of the end members 52, 54 has been machined away to provide a recess for receiving one of the holders 2. In an alternative embodiment, only one of the end members 52, 54 could be provided with the holder 2. If the reusable core 50 is provided with two of the holders 2, then if one of the radio frequency identification tags should fail, then the other one will continue operating until such time as the failed one is serviced or replaced. In all aspects of the invention, the use of two holders enables the core to be balanced without the need for counter-balance weights.

Figure 5 shows how the inner surface 32 of the tube 30 is provided with longitudinally extending ridges 60 which fit into longitudinally extending grooves in the splined portions 56. Figure 5 also shows how the holder 2 is able to be fitted between a pair of the ridges 60. In Figure 5, the holder 2 is positioned at one end only of the tube 30. If desired however two of the holders 2 could be provided on the tube 30 with one of the holders 2 being at each end of the tube 30.

The holder 2 is easily able to be manufactured. The appropriate components of the radio frequency identification tag are easily able to be assembled in the holder 2. The holder 2 can then be easily sealed and unsealed for battery changing of inspection of the components of the radio frequency identification tag as may be desired. Any components that may need replacing can be replaced, and then the holder can be resealed and reused.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the precise shape of the body portion 4 and the lid 6 of the holder 2 may be varied. The reusable core may be of a different design to that shown in Figure 4. The splined portions 56 on the end members 52, 54 may be replaced by a non-splined tubular portion which pushes into the bore 28 of the tube 30.

Claims

1. A holder for holding a radio frequency identification tag in a reusable core for wound sheet material, which holder comprises a body portion, a lid, a first recess in the body portion for receiving a printed circuit board forming part of the radio frequency identification tag, a second recess in the body portion for receiving a battery forming part of the radio frequency identification tag, a third recess in the body portion for receiving an antenna forming part of the radio frequency identification tag, first retainer means on the lid and for retaining the printed circuit board in the first recess, second retainer means on the lid and for retaining the battery in the second recess, and third retainer means on the lid and for retaining the antenna in the third recess, and the holder being such that it has an upper surface which curves with a radius of curvature like that of a bore in the reusable core so that the holder is locatable in the bore of the reusable core with the upper surface of the holder adjacent an inner surface of the core defining the reusable bore.

2. A holder according to claim 1 in which the first retainer means rests on the printed circuit board when the printed circuit board is in the first recess.

3. A holder according to claim 2 in which the first retainer means is an abutment and a plurality of pin members.

4. A holder according to any one of the preceding claims in which the second retainer means rests on the battery when the battery is in the second recess.

5. A holder according to claim 4 in which the second retainer means is an abutment.

6. A holder according to any one of the preceding claims in which the third retainer means restricts movement of the antenna in the recess.

7. A holder according to claim 6 in which the third retainer means is a part circular channel formation.

8. A holder according to any one of the preceding claims in which the body portion is curved in end view.

9. A holder according to claim 8 in which the body portion has longitudinally extending sides which in end view slope radially inwardly towards a longitudinal axis of the core.

10. A holder according to any one of the preceding claims in which the lid is curved in end view.

11. A holder according to claim 10 in which the lid has longitudinally extending sides which in end view slope radially inwardly towards a longitudinal axis of the core.

12. A holder according to any one of the preceding claims in which the body portion and the lid are manufactured as mouldings from a plastics material.

13. A holder according to any one of the preceding claims and including the battery, the printed circuit board and the antenna.

14. A holder according to claim 13 and in which the holder is hermetically sealed.

15. A holder according to claim 14 in which the holder is hermetically sealed by ultrasonic welding the lid to the body portion.

16. A reusable core for wound sheet material when provided with a holder according to any one of the preceding claims.

17. A reusable core according to claim 16 and which comprises a tube, and a pair of end members for fitting one in each end of the tube.

18. A reusable core according to claim 17 in which the holder is positioned in the tube.

19. A reusable core according to claim 18 in which the holder is positioned adjacent one end of the tube.

20. A reusable core according to claim 19 in which there are two of the holders, and in which one of the holders is positioned adjacent each end of the tube.

21. A reusable core according to claim 17 in which the holder is positioned on one of the end members.

22. A holder according to claim 21 in which there are two of the holders, and in which there is one of the holders on each one of the end members.