GB2348529A

GB2348529A - Object identification

Info

Publication number: GB2348529A
Application number: GB9907417A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clifford Evans
Original assignee: WARREN POINT COMMUNICATIONS LT
Current assignee: WARREN POINT COMMUNICATIONS LT
Priority date: 1999-03-31
Filing date: 1999-03-31
Publication date: 2000-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2019-03-31
Also published as: GB2348529B; GB9907417D0

Abstract

An electronic identifier 4, has a compliant outer housing 6 for insertion, in use, into a recess 3 in an object 1 to be identified. The compliant housing may be a synthetic sponge or a readily deformable rubber. A corresponding method of identification is also provided.

Description

OBJECT IDENTIFICATION This invention relates to the attachment of an identifier, such as an electronic identifying tag, to an object to be identified. There are many industrial processes, for example the newsreel supply industry, in which it is desirable to be able to identify and track an item or material involved in the process both when it is stored and during use in the process.

Proposals have been made in the past to produce containers and supports for the item or material used in industrial processes for such a purpose. With such containers identifiers are usually permanently attached to the container or support, however. This is inconvenient because the identifier, particularly if it is to be a store of a significant amount of data or rewritable, is expensive. This adds expense to the container or support which is not inconsiderable, and can lead to unnecessary waste if the container or support is intended to be disposable after use. Even if the container or support is intended for re-use the identifier often has little purpose once the container or support is empty, meaning that the identifier is not in use for a considerable amount of its life.

Any temporarily attached identifier has, in practice, been difficult to achieve, because it has required a complex attachment mechanism, is specific to a container or support of particular dimensions and there has always been a risk of the identifier detaching itself during the process, leading to possible damage to machinery and the inability to track the object properly.

According to the present invention there is provided an electronic identifier, the electronic identifier having a compliant'outer housing for insertion, in use into a recess in an object to be identified.

The compliant housing may be a synthetic sponge or a readily deformable rubber. The housing may be configured to fit easily within a cylinder, expanding after insertion to retain the identifier in the recess.

With the identifier of the present invention it is possible to attach the identifier to an object by simple compression of the compliant housing and insertion into the recess. Removal is equally as easy by sliding the identifier and its housing from the recess, with compression of the housing if required.

One example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view of an identifier according to the present invention in use; and Figure 2 is an end view of an identifier according to the present invention prior to use.

Referring to figure 1, an object 1 in this example a roll of newsreel paper, is required to be identified during an industrial process, in this case, the printing of a newspaper. The newsreel 1 has a central support 2 with a generally cylindrical hollow core 3. Such a configuration is fairly standard, with the central support 2 being used to manipulate the newsreel 1, although the core diameter can vary.

An identifier 4 in accordance with the invention is placed within the cylindrical core or recess 3. In this example the identifier 4 is an RF transponder, although it could have more complicated read/write electronics incorporated with it, or even complex data storage capability. The identifier 4 has a central core 5 which contains any appropriate circuitry and any appropriate power supply. The identifier 4 also has an outer housing 6. The outer housing 6 is formed from a compliant material, such as a synthetic sponge or compliant rubber.

In an expanded state, as can be seen in figure 2, the housing 6 has a generally circular cross-section, with the core 5 sitting at its center. This configuration ensures that, when the identifier is in use, the core 5 is located for optimum ease of identification by an external source.

In use, the identifier 4 can be inserted into the recess 3 by simple compression of the compliant housing 6.

Once inserted the compliant housing 6 expands to retain the identifier 4 securely within the recess 3. Removal of the identifier 4 is equally as simple, by a simple sliding action, drawing the identifier 4 out of the recess 3.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An electronic identifier, the electronic identifier having a compliant outer housing for insertion, in use, into a recess in an object to be identified.
2. A identifier according to claim 1, wherein the compliant housing is a synthetic sponge.
3. An identifier according to claim 1, wherein the compliant housing is a readily deformable rubber.
4. An identifier according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the housing is configured to fit easily within a cylinder, expanding after insertion to retain the identifier in the recess.
5. A method of identifying an object in an industrial process comprising the steps of: inserting an electronic identifier having a compliant housing into a recess in the object; and reading the identifier during the process.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the process is the printing of a newspaper and the object is a newsreel.