CN106211798B

CN106211798B - RFID hanging tag

Info

Publication number: CN106211798B
Application number: CN201480074701.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: M·L·丹卡伍思; R·H·甘恩
Original assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
Current assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
Priority date: 2013-12-04
Filing date: 2014-12-04
Publication date: 2024-05-31
Anticipated expiration: 2034-12-04
Also published as: CN106211798A

Abstract

A hangtag is disclosed. The hangtag can include an RFID identifier, a hole, and upper and lower portions separated by a perforation. The hangtag may additionally be manufactured on a roll such that once the identifier is removed from the roll, substantially no tackiness remains on the hangtag.

Description

RFID hanging tag

Background

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags and identifiers are common tools used to tag, identify and track a variety of goods and people. Such tagged items are related to a wide range of industries and include packages being transported, automobiles, keys (keys), livestock, identification marks, and goods in storage. RFID identifiers, either active or passive, are typically used with RFID readers to read information from the RFID identifiers embedded in the tags. For passive identifiers, a typical RFID reader/writer activates transponder circuits in the identifier by transmitting a power signal. The power signal may convey data, which may be stored in the transponder memory, or the transponder circuit may transmit a response signal containing data previously stored in its memory. If the transponder circuit transmits a response signal, the RFID reader/writer receives the response signal and interprets the stored data. The data is then transferred to the host for processing.

Even though trends are toward RFID tags, there are advantages to placing optical information on the tag such that the article has both optical and RFID information, such as the ability to read the tag using more than one technology. This may be beneficial because RFID tag technology is less prevalent than bar code technology, and many businesses or users may not have suitable RFID readers to read RFID identifiers. Thus, it is desirable to have both RFID and optically readable information on a single tag. It is common for these labels to take the form of self-adhesive placed on, for example, a package for shipping.

However, forming adhesive RFID/optical labels is not the best choice for many applications. For example, when attempting to peel the label, the adhesive is detrimental to the surface of the article. Also, the adhesive does not allow for very easy reuse of the label.

Furthermore, the ability to manufacture large numbers of labels in a quick and efficient manner is highly desirable.

Disclosure of Invention

A swing ticket is disclosed in accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment. The hangtag can include an RFID identifier, a hole, and upper and lower portions separated by a perforation. The hangtag may additionally be manufactured on a web (web) such that once the identifier is removed from the web, substantially no tackiness remains on the hangtag.

Drawings

The advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments. The following detailed description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Exemplary fig. 1 illustrates an RFID tag;

exemplary fig. 2 shows an RFID tag on a web for printing;

Exemplary fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an RFID tag positioned on a web; and

Exemplary fig. 4 shows a cross section of a label 100 of the present invention adhered to a web 10.

Detailed Description

Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternative embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. In addition, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description, a discussion of several terms used herein follows from the following description.

As used herein, the word "exemplary" means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration. The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but merely exemplary. It should be appreciated that the described embodiments are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Furthermore, the terms "embodiments of the invention," "embodiments" or "invention" do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, a swing ticket may be disclosed. The hangtag can include an RFID identifier, a hole, and upper and lower portions separated by a perforation. The hangtag may additionally be manufactured on a roll such that substantially no tackiness remains on the hangtag once the identifier is removed from the roll.

Exemplary fig. 1 shows a label 100 that may include an upper portion 100 and a lower portion 120. In one embodiment, the label 100 of the present invention, once removed from the web 10, may serve as an identifier. The upper 100 may include a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) aspect such as an identifier 130, which may be a conventional active or passive RFID identifier. The size, specification and location of the RFID identifier 130 are shown for discussion and illustration purposes and do not represent a preferred size or arrangement of the identifier. The RFID identifier 130 may further include an antenna, transponder, memory, and/or optional energy storage device, or as desired for a particular application. In one embodiment, RFID identifier 130 attaches the chip to the antenna using a strap. RFID identifier 130 may be interrogated and read via any suitable RFID reader. Further, the RFID identifier 130 may be reprogrammable or fixed, or as desired.

The upper portion 110 may also include openings such as holes 140. The aperture 140 may be used to hang the tag 100 on a product or other item. The aperture 140 may be any size as desired. The upper portion 110 may be separated from the lower portion 120 by perforations 150. Perforations 150 may allow a user to easily separate upper portion 110 from lower portion 120. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other separation means may be used, such as partial depth-wise (depth-wise) cutting along the entire width of the label. The separation means may also simply be a printed indicia which indicates to the user where the label is to be cut for separation.

Fig. 1 illustrates that the tag 100 of the present invention may be manufactured in roll form and that once the tag 100 is printed and the RFID component of the tag 100 is encoded, a ticket, ticket or label is obtained that has rounded corners and behaves like a peel or piggyback ticket, ticket and/or label. In one embodiment, the ticket, tag and/or label removed from the web has four complete rounded corners and no notches (notches). The invention contemplates that the corners of the identifier, ticket or label are not limited to circles, but may be any kind of geometry.

Referring now to exemplary fig. 1, 2 and 3, labels 100 may be manufactured on a web 10. Multiple tags 100 may be manufactured on a single web 10, which may be an efficient method of manufacturing the tags 100. In addition, the label 100 and web 10 are constructed in a layered or laminated manner. Cutting or stamping using any kind of cutting machine, such as a die cutter, laser cutter, may be used to define the shape of the labels 100 on the web 10 and allow a user to easily peel the labels 100 from the web 10. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tag with integrated RFID identifier 130 acts as a piggyback tag, which can be used, for example, to strip coupons on products in storage.

The tag 100 may include an identifier stock 160, an RFID identifier 130, a first adhesive layer 170, and a liner 180. The identifier stock 160 may be a material on which optically readable information may be printed. The identifier stock 160 of the present invention may be any kind of material and is not limited to paper, plastic, fabric. In some non-limiting examples, the optically readable information may be a bar code, text, symbol, and/or number. Liner 180 may be a conventional release liner, such as a silicone-covered liner. In one embodiment of the invention, the liner is a bleached glassine white liner having good roll label converting characteristics designed for low to medium speed dispensing applications. The adhesive layer 170 may bond the identifier stock 160, the RFID identifier 130, and the liner 180 together so that the label 100 remains structurally sound when the label 110 is removed from the web 10. The present invention contemplates liner 180 in one embodiment of the present invention being part of label 100 such that when label 100 is removed from web 10, liner 280 is part of the label structure and discards adhesive 14 and facestock (face stock) of web 10.

The web 10 may include a facestock 12 and a second adhesive layer 14. The facestock 12 may be any conventional facestock used for printing webs. The adhesive layer 14 may maintain the label 100 in contact with the web 10 at least when printed, coded, and manufactured. Further, the adhesive layer 14 may remain on the web 10 when the user removes the label 100 from the web 10. The contact interface between liner 180 and adhesive layer 14 may be designed such that after removal from web 10, label 100 may not substantially retain tackiness and thus the final label may be used as a label, ticket, or tag.

Multiple labels 100 may be printed on a single web 10 and each label 100 may be defined by a cut, such as die cut, so that each label 100 may be lifted or peeled from the web 10 if desired.

According to at least one non-limiting exemplary embodiment and referring generally to exemplary fig. 1-4, at least one and optionally a number of labels 100 may be manufactured on a web 10. The identifier stock 160, RFID identifier 130, first adhesive layer 170, liner 180, second adhesive layer 14, and facestock 12 may be combined in a laminated fashion. The RFID identifier 130 may be encoded with a particular set of information and the identifier stock 160 may have optically readable information printed thereon. Once removed from the web 10, the label 100 may have substantially no tackiness thereon due to the inherent properties of the liner 180. Further, the tag 100 may have an opening 140 and a perforation 150 defined thereon, and may be utilized in an RFID system for labeling and/or tracking items. The tag 100 may be hung from an object using the aperture 140. An external reader may interrogate the RFID identifier 130 to obtain information stored in the RFID identifier 130, and/or the information may be obtained by reading optically readable information printed on the identifier stock 160. The lower portion 120 may be removed if desired, for example for recording purposes.

Fig. 4 of the present invention illustrates a cross section of a label 100 adhered to a web 10, wherein the label 100 may be removed from the web 10 such that the liner 180 becomes part of the label structure. The tag 100 of fig. 4 includes an identifier stock 160, an RFID component 130, a first adhesive layer 170, and a liner 180. The identifier stock 160 has a first side 161 and a second side 162, wherein a first adhesive layer adheres to the second side 162 of the identifier stock 160. The RFID component or identifier 130 is located on the second side 162 of the identifier 130 and the perimeter of the adhesive layer 170 extends beyond the general area of the RFID component 130. Thus, the second side 162 of the identifier stock 160 is in contact with both the RFID component 130 and the first adhesive layer 170, and the first adhesive layer 170 adheres the RFID component 130 to the second side 162 of the identifier stock 160. The first adhesive layer has both a first face 171 and a second face 172, with a liner 180 adhered to the second face 172 of the adhesive layer 170. As illustrated in fig. 4, the liner 180 may be adhered to the web portion 10 comprising the second adhesive layer 14 and facestock 12.

The foregoing description and drawings illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Those skilled in the art will recognize additional variations of the embodiments discussed above.

The above-described embodiments should therefore be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. It will therefore be appreciated that variations to these embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

1.A label, comprising:

An identifier material having a first side and a second side,

A first adhesive layer having a first face and a second face, wherein the first adhesive layer is adhered to the second face of the identifier stock through the first face of the first adhesive layer;

An RFID component, the RFID component having a total area, and

A liner adhered to the second face of the first adhesive layer,

Wherein a perimeter of the first side of the first adhesive layer extends beyond a total area of the RFID component such that the second side of the identifier material is in contact with both the RFID component and the first adhesive layer, and the first adhesive layer adheres the RFID component to the second side of the identifier material,

Wherein the label is adhered to the web such that the liner becomes a part of the label when the label is removed from the web and such that the label is manufactured on the web such that once the label is removed from the web, no tackiness remains on the label.

2. The label of claim 1 wherein the web includes a second adhesive layer and a facestock.

3. The label of claim 1, wherein the label can be used as a swing ticket once removed from the web.

4. The label of claim 1 wherein the liner is a bleached cellophane white liner.

5. The tag of claim 1 wherein the tag is a piggyback tag.

6. The label of claim 1, wherein the label is manufactured using a roll-to-roll process.

7. The label of claim 1, wherein the label is free of indentations.