WO2005047115A1 - Systeme de maniement de materiel avec etiquetage de source dynamique - Google Patents

Systeme de maniement de materiel avec etiquetage de source dynamique Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2005047115A1
WO2005047115A1 PCT/US2004/037933 US2004037933W WO2005047115A1 WO 2005047115 A1 WO2005047115 A1 WO 2005047115A1 US 2004037933 W US2004037933 W US 2004037933W WO 2005047115 A1 WO2005047115 A1 WO 2005047115A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
article
label
labeling system
application apparatus
conveying surface
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2004/037933
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Joe D. Dunlap, Jr.
Original Assignee
Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. filed Critical Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
Priority to EP04801050A priority Critical patent/EP1687206B1/fr
Priority to DE602004014182T priority patent/DE602004014182D1/de
Priority to CA002545847A priority patent/CA2545847A1/fr
Publication of WO2005047115A1 publication Critical patent/WO2005047115A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
    • B65C9/00—Details of labelling machines or apparatus
    • B65C9/08—Label feeding
    • B65C9/10—Label magazines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
    • B65C9/00—Details of labelling machines or apparatus
    • B65C9/08—Label feeding
    • B65C9/18—Label feeding from strips, e.g. from rolls
    • B65C9/1865—Label feeding from strips, e.g. from rolls the labels adhering on a backing strip
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
    • B65C9/00—Details of labelling machines or apparatus
    • B65C9/40—Controls; Safety devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
    • B65C9/00—Details of labelling machines or apparatus
    • B65C2009/0003—Use of RFID labels

Definitions

  • the present invention is directed to a material handling system and, in particular, to a label application and method for use with such material handing system.
  • the invention is particularly adaptable for use in the application of a particular label selected from a plurality of different labels to articles being conveyed by a conveying surface of the material handling system.
  • the invention is particularly adapted for use in the application of different labels, wherein at least one of the labels is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.
  • RFID tags provide unique identification codes for articles or a group of articles, such as carried by a pallet, carton, or the like.
  • an RFID tag may be read remotely using radio frequency signals emitted by an RF reader which then, in turn, receives RF signals sent by the RFID tag.
  • One difficulty with RFID tags is that the product or article upon which the tag is placed, or the packaging material for the product, can affect the performance of the tag. For example, if the article is made up of a large quantity of a liquid, such as water, bleach, or the like, the article tends to absorb signals emitted by the RFID tag, thereby distorting the signals. In a similar fashion, if the article contains an appreciable amount of metal, such as pop cans, or the like, the metal may distort the RFID signals emitted by the RFID tag.
  • RFID tags are provided by various suppliers. Some RFID tags are high performance tags that are capable of emitting relatively clear RFID signals even in the presence of distorting articles, such as articles containing a significant amount of liquid or metal. Such high quality RFID tags typically come at a premium price. Other RFID tags come at a low cost, but may be low performance tags that are not as capable of emitting clear radio frequency signals in the presence of liquids, metals, or the like.
  • a method and apparatus of selectively applying a particular label from a plurality of different types of labels includes providing a label application apparatus that is adapted to selectively apply at least one of a plurality of different types of labels to an article. An article is identified.
  • the label application apparatus is controlled to selectively apply at least one of a plurality of different labels to the article as a function of the identity of that article.
  • a method and apparatus of applying radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to an article includes providing a conveyor having a conveying surface for conveying articles and providing a plurality of different types of RFID tags, at least some of the RFID tags having different radio frequency emitting capabilities than other of the RFID tags.
  • a characteristic of an article is determined on the conveying surface that may affect a radio frequency signal emitted by the RFID tag.
  • One of the pluralities of different types of RFID tags are selected as a function of the characteristic of the article and the selected RFID tag is applied to the article on the conveying surface.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a label application apparatus, according to the invention
  • Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus in Fig. 1
  • Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus in Fig. 1
  • Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the apparatus in Fig. 4
  • Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a dispenser, according to the invention
  • Fig. 6 is a side elevation of an alternative embodiment of a label application apparatus
  • Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the apparatus in Fig. 6
  • a label application system, or apparatus, 10 includes a label application apparatus 16 having a dispenser assembly 18 for dispensing a plurality of different types of labels and an applicator 20 for transporting a dispensed label and applying the label to an article A (Figs. 1-4).
  • Article A is being conveyed by a conveying surface 14 of a conveyor 12.
  • a code reader such as a barcode scanner 22, reads any barcode label, which may be a one-dimensional line type barcode or a two-dimensional barcode, and conveys that information to a control (not shown).
  • the code reader may alternatively optically recognize text and other characters.
  • the control includes a database which, as is conventional, relates the barcode identified by barcode scanner 22 with a stock-keeping unit (SKU) as well as other information about the article, such as its weight, size, and the like.
  • SKU stock-keeping unit
  • the database also relates a label type, such as an RFID tag type, with that SKU corresponding with the barcode.
  • the database may be set up based upon the known electromagnetic characteristics of each particular SKU.
  • certain SKUs may be identified as corresponding to articles which may interfere with the radio frequency emissions of an RFID tag.
  • Such SKUs would be associated with an RFID tag of a particular type, such as a high performance RFID tag.
  • the articles corresponding to the SKU may have characteristics that do not substantially interfere with the transmission of radio frequency signals.
  • the database may associate a different type of RFID tag with SKUs having such non-interfering materials.
  • the RFID tag associated with such non-interfering article may be of a lower performance RFID tag which may emit radio frequency signals which are more easily interfered with.
  • the control reads the barcode information from barcode scanner 22, applies that information to the database and looks up the type of RFID tag assigned to that article A.
  • dispenser assembly 18 in order to dispense the type of tag determined by the control to be applied to the particular article.
  • dispenser assembly 18 includes multiple dispensers 19, each having a label reel 24 containing different types of RFID or barcode tags.
  • Transporter 20 includes a head 21, such as a suction head, which is known in the art, that may be selectively positioned adjacent the reel 24 having the selected RFID tag.
  • transporter 20 moves head 21 vertically in order to apply the tag to article A.
  • transporter 20 is a two- dimensional transporter, utilizing a two-axis servo actuator 26.
  • Two-axis servo actuator 26 may be of the type used in automatic storage and retrieval systems of the type marketed by Siemens Dematic Corp. of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
  • two- axis servo 26 is capable of laterally positioning head 21 with respect to conveying surface 14. This may be useful in positioning the label on a certain location on the article A, notwithstanding lateral uncertainty in the positioning of the article.
  • two- axis servo 26 allows placement at a position on the article to reduce interference with RFID performance due to liquids and metals.
  • an RFID tag 80 may be placed generally between metal cans, as illustrated in Fig. 8a, rather than directly over the metal can, as illustrated in Fig. 8b.
  • Each dispenser 19, may have the capability of not only dispensing a label or tag, but also printing indicia on the tag.
  • the dispenser 19 may print, by way of example, a barcode on the RFID tag, or a blank label, to be applied to the article.
  • the printed tag or label may identify either the type of tag, or other information about the tag or the article.
  • the dispenser 19 may include an electronic writing device in order to write code to the selected RFID tag.
  • RFID tags may include an Electronic Product Code (EPC) which includes not only the information provided with a conventional Uniform Product Code (UPC) associated with barcodes, but also a unique serial number for the article.
  • Dispenser 19 may include the capability of writing an EPC to the RFID tag.
  • dispenser assembly 18 is illustrated as having multiple dispensers 19, in an alternative embodiment shown in Fig. 5, a single dispenser 18' may be capable of dispensing multiple different types of labels. Such a dispenser may include two or more different reels that are dispensed with a single dispenser.
  • dispenser assembly 18, 118' is capable of dispensing multiple different types of tags from a single dispenser
  • transporter 20 may be a single axis, or dimension, transporter capable of vertical motion to transport the dispensed tag from the dispenser assembly to the article. While dispenser assembly 18, 118' may be utilized solely to dispense different types of RFID tags, it may also be used to dispense different types of tags, such as an RFID tag, a barcode label, or both. Likewise, dispenser assembly 18 may dispense different types of RFID tags and a barcode label.
  • a detail of dispenser assembly 14 is illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein the head 21 of the transporter is seen being capable of lateral motion from juxtaposition with each of dispensers 19. Figs.
  • FIG. 6 and 7 illustrate a label application system 110 which is capable of applying labels and tags to the side of the article.
  • System 110 includes a scanner 122 for scanning barcodes or performing optical character recognition on incoming articles. The articles are edge aligned using conventional rails 123.
  • a label application apparatus 116 may include a dispenser assembly 118 with a plurality of label dispensers 119. Each label dispenser 119 may include a printer for applying indicia to the label and an RFID label reader/writer and/or verifier device 132 for reading, writing and or verifying data on RFID tags. Device 132 may also have the capability of collecting unreadable RFID tags.
  • Label applicator 10 may include a combination transporter and application 120 for vertically positioning and applying a particular type of RFID tag.
  • the tag or label can be positioned with respect to both the vertical as well as the horizontal location on the article.
  • a reader/verifier 134 may be used to verify the label or tag on the article.
  • the present invention provides the ability to select a specific type of RFID and selectively position the tag on the article or carton.
  • a plane optical label, such as a barcode label, can also be applied either alone or in combination with an RFID tag.
  • the present invention is capable of achieving a high level of read rate at a low cost basis for the user. Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the invention which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.

Landscapes

  • Labeling Devices (AREA)
  • Transition And Organic Metals Composition Catalysts For Addition Polymerization (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé et un appareil (10) permettant de sélectivement appliquer une étiquette particulière en provenance d'une pluralité de différents types d'étiquette qui consiste à fournir un appareil d'application d'étiquette (16) conçu pour sélectivement appliquer (20) au moins un de ces différents types d'étiquette (24) sur un article (a). Un article est identifié. L'appareil d'application d'étiquette est commandé de façon à sélectivement appliquer au moins un des différents types d'étiquette sur l'article en fonction de l'identité de cet article.
PCT/US2004/037933 2003-11-12 2004-11-12 Systeme de maniement de materiel avec etiquetage de source dynamique WO2005047115A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04801050A EP1687206B1 (fr) 2003-11-12 2004-11-12 Systeme d'etiquetage et procédé associé
DE602004014182T DE602004014182D1 (de) 2003-11-12 2004-11-12 Etikettiersystem und zugehöriges verfahren
CA002545847A CA2545847A1 (fr) 2003-11-12 2004-11-12 Systeme de maniement de materiel avec etiquetage de source dynamique

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US48162803P 2003-11-12 2003-11-12
US60/481,628 2003-11-12

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/267,663 Continuation US9566260B2 (en) 2003-11-12 2005-11-04 Treatment and prevention of liver disease associated with parenteral nutrition (PN)

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2005047115A1 true WO2005047115A1 (fr) 2005-05-26

Family

ID=34590071

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2004/037933 WO2005047115A1 (fr) 2003-11-12 2004-11-12 Systeme de maniement de materiel avec etiquetage de source dynamique

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1687206B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE396928T1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2545847A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE602004014182D1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2005047115A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1707492A1 (fr) * 2004-07-02 2006-10-04 Böwe Bell + Howell Ensemble d'application d'étiquettes sans bande de support
EP1932371A2 (fr) * 2005-09-16 2008-06-18 Clevx, LLC Systeme d'identification par radiofrequence
US7987141B2 (en) 2005-01-28 2011-07-26 Bowe Bell & Howell Company Dynamically changing label size during mail processing

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2612551B2 (es) * 2017-01-04 2018-08-23 Orbital Gestión, S.L. Máquina de etiquetas con microchip y procedimiento de utilización de la misma

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4615757A (en) * 1985-07-03 1986-10-07 Hobart Corporation Method and apparatus for package labeling
WO1993023292A1 (fr) * 1992-05-13 1993-11-25 Accu-Sort Systems, Inc. Ensemble mobile d'impression et de pose d'etiquettes
US5425823A (en) * 1990-08-30 1995-06-20 B.C.E. Technologies Combination label printer and application device
US5684275A (en) * 1995-01-17 1997-11-04 Ossid Corporation Computer controlled weighing and labelling apparatus
US5897741A (en) * 1998-02-09 1999-04-27 Premark Feg L.L.C. Apparatus for applying security tags to labels
DE19750204A1 (de) * 1997-11-13 1999-05-27 Etifix Etikettiersysteme Gmbh Anlage und Verfahren zum Etikettieren von Gegenständen unterschiedlicher Größe
US20030189490A1 (en) * 2002-04-03 2003-10-09 3M Innovative Properties Company Radio-frequency indentification tag and tape applicator, radio-frequency identification tag applicator, and methods of applying radio-frequency identification tags

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4615757A (en) * 1985-07-03 1986-10-07 Hobart Corporation Method and apparatus for package labeling
US5425823A (en) * 1990-08-30 1995-06-20 B.C.E. Technologies Combination label printer and application device
WO1993023292A1 (fr) * 1992-05-13 1993-11-25 Accu-Sort Systems, Inc. Ensemble mobile d'impression et de pose d'etiquettes
US5684275A (en) * 1995-01-17 1997-11-04 Ossid Corporation Computer controlled weighing and labelling apparatus
DE19750204A1 (de) * 1997-11-13 1999-05-27 Etifix Etikettiersysteme Gmbh Anlage und Verfahren zum Etikettieren von Gegenständen unterschiedlicher Größe
US5897741A (en) * 1998-02-09 1999-04-27 Premark Feg L.L.C. Apparatus for applying security tags to labels
US20030189490A1 (en) * 2002-04-03 2003-10-09 3M Innovative Properties Company Radio-frequency indentification tag and tape applicator, radio-frequency identification tag applicator, and methods of applying radio-frequency identification tags

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1707492A1 (fr) * 2004-07-02 2006-10-04 Böwe Bell + Howell Ensemble d'application d'étiquettes sans bande de support
US7987141B2 (en) 2005-01-28 2011-07-26 Bowe Bell & Howell Company Dynamically changing label size during mail processing
EP1932371A2 (fr) * 2005-09-16 2008-06-18 Clevx, LLC Systeme d'identification par radiofrequence
EP1932371A4 (fr) * 2005-09-16 2009-02-25 Clevx Llc Systeme d'identification par radiofrequence
US8179259B2 (en) 2005-09-16 2012-05-15 Clevx, Llc Radio frequency identification system
US9424452B2 (en) 2005-09-16 2016-08-23 Iii Holdings 1, Llc Radio frequency identification system for use with an assembly line
US9977939B2 (en) 2005-09-16 2018-05-22 Iii Holdings 1, Llc Programming and placement techniques for RFID tags without antennas

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1687206B1 (fr) 2008-05-28
ATE396928T1 (de) 2008-06-15
EP1687206A1 (fr) 2006-08-09
CA2545847A1 (fr) 2005-05-26
DE602004014182D1 (de) 2008-07-10

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