Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
  • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
  • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
  • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
  • G06K19/077—Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
  • G06K19/07749—Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
  • G06K19/07758—Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
  • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
  • G05B19/00—Programme-control systems
  • G05B19/02—Programme-control systems electric
  • G05B19/418—Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible manufacturing systems [FMS], integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] or computer integrated manufacturing [CIM]
  • G05B19/4183—Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible manufacturing systems [FMS], integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] or computer integrated manufacturing [CIM] characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
  • G06K19/04—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the shape
  • G06K19/041—Constructional details
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
  • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
  • G05B2219/00—Program-control systems
  • G05B2219/30—Nc systems
  • G05B2219/31—From computer integrated manufacturing till monitoring
  • G05B2219/31156—Network structure, internet
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
  • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
  • G05B2219/00—Program-control systems
  • G05B2219/30—Nc systems
  • G05B2219/31—From computer integrated manufacturing till monitoring
  • G05B2219/31311—Data are id, destination, number of pieces, alternative destination, process data
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
  • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
  • G05B2219/00—Program-control systems
  • G05B2219/30—Nc systems
  • G05B2219/31—From computer integrated manufacturing till monitoring
  • G05B2219/31312—Identify pallet, bag, box code
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
  • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
  • G05B2219/00—Program-control systems
  • G05B2219/30—Nc systems
  • G05B2219/33—Director till display
  • G05B2219/33199—Transponder
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
  • Y02P90/00—Enabling technologies with a potential contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation
  • Y02P90/02—Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Definitions

• This invention relates to the field of packaging, and more particularly to a product container or support which is provided with information and communications capabilities to interface with manufacturing systems, computer systems and database systems to facilitate tracking and control of the application of the product. More specifically, the invention is particularly applicable in connection with the use of paper products in the printing industry.
• the RFID tag stores particular information relating to characteristics of the product and also stores a unique identification code associated with the particular item of product.
• the information stored in the RFID tag may include direct information about that item and/or it may provide one or more data links, for example, either locally or via the Internet, to either dynamic or fixed information databases.
• the item-specific information is provided to the user manufacturing process controls to adjust for the characteristics of the product item
• FIG. 1 is a functional diagram of a system which is useful in connection with the present invention in which local and remotely stored product information is accessed
• FIG. 2 is a functional diagram of a system which is useful in connection with the present invention in which locally stored product information is accessed
• FIG. 3 is a functional diagram of a Radio Frequency Identification system useful in connection with the present invention
• FIG. 4 is a stylized view of a paper roll incorporating the present invention.
• the present invention is particularly well suited for use in connection with a paper roll or skid of paper used in a printing process, and shall be so described in a specific embodiment hereinafter, the present invention is equally well suited for use where accurate and up to date information of other types is to be associated with a particular product type or item in a different manufacturing process.
• a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system 300 useful in employing the present invention comprises a coil or other type of antenna 302, a transceiver (with decoder) 304, and a transponder (commonly called an RFID tag) 306 programmed with unique stored information (data).
• the identification tag 306 contains encoded data corresponding to a unique item identification code along with a limited amount of other product related and or "lookup" data.
• the antenna 302 typically receives and sends radio frequency signals to activate tag 306 and to read and write data to and from the tag 306.
• Antenna 302 may be anyone of a variety of shapes and sizes.
• antenna 302 can be built into a doorway to receive tag data from or to write data to product containers, supports, packages or other things passing through the doorway.
• antenna 302 can be mounted on or adjacent to such machine.
• Antenna 302 can also be associated with a hand held device as will be described below.
• An electromagnetic field produced by antenna 302 can be constantly present when multiple tags may be expected to pass through the field in a more or less continuous or regular stream. If constant interrogation is not required, a sensor device may be provided to activate the field when required (for example, when an item approaches the threshhold). Often the antenna 302 is configured with the transceiver/decoder 304 to become a reader (interrogator) 308, which can be configured, for example, as a hand held or a fixed-mount device. The reader 308 emits radio frequency waves 310 across distances of anywhere from one inch to one hundred feet or more, depending on the signal power output and the operational radio frequency used.
• tag 306 When an RFID tag 306 passes through an electromagnetic sensing zone 312, tag 306 detects the activation signal of reader 308 and responds by emitting code-containing radio frequency waves 314.
• Tag 306 itself may include an antenna (see, for example. FIG. 1 and related discussion below).
• the reader 308 decodes the data encoded in an integrated circuit 15 (memory) of RFID tag 306 and the data is passed to a host computer (see FIG. 1) for processing.
• RFID tag 306 may come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. RFID tag 306 may be characterized as either passive or active. Active RFID tags 306 may be powered by an internal battery (not shown) and typically have read/write capabilities; i.e. tag data can be rewritten or modified. The memory capacity of an active tag 306 will differ according to application requirements. Some RFID systems operate, for example, with 1 MB of internal memory .In a typical read/write RFID system 300, a tag 306 can provide a set of instructions or information and the tag 306 can receive and store encoded information. This encoded information or data then becomes part of the recorded history of the tagged product 316. The battery power of an active tag 306 generally gives it a greater read range.
• Passive RFID tags 306 operate without a separate external power source and obtain operating power from the reader 308. Passive tags 306 consequently are usually lighter in weight than active tags 306, are less expensive and offer a theoretically unlimited operational lifetime.
• a trade off is that passive tags 306 generally have a smaller read range than active tags and typically require a higher powered reader. Read-only tags 306 typically are passive and are programmed with a unique set of data
• Read-only tags 306 most often serve as a key or index into a database in much the same way as a barcode references a database which contains modifiable product-specific information.
• Frequency ranges also distinguish RFID systems 300.
• Low frequency (30 KHz to 500 KHz) systems typically have short reading ranges and lower system costs. These low frequency systems are most commonly used in security, access, asset tracking and animal identification applications.
• Higher frequency (850 MHz to 950 MHz and 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz ) systems typically offer long read ranges (greater than ninety feet) anc higher reading rates.
• RFID systems 300 A significant advantage of RFID systems 300 is the non-contact, non-line-of-sight nature of the technology. Tags 306 can be read through a variety of conditions such as snow, fog. ice. paint, crusted grime, and other visually and environmentally challenging conditions where barcodes or other optically read technologies would be at a disadvantage. RFID tags 300 can also be read in challenging situations at high rates., responding in typical cases in on the order of one hundred milliseconds.
• the range that can be achieved with an RFID system 300 is determined essentially by power available at the reader/interrogator 308 to communicate with tag 306, power available within the tag 306 to respond and environmental conditions, including surrounding structures.
• FIG. I a materials handling, tracking and control system of a type which is useful in connection with one paper handling system which is useful according to the present invention is illustrated.
• an RFID tag 102 is attached to a product support or package or container 101.
• the RFID tag 102 contains a stored, unique identification code and stored product reference information.
• the latter may be used to trigger a database query in the form of an HTML- (Hyper Text Markup Language) link via the Internet to a remotely located product- related information database 105 stored in one or more Internet web servers or database servers 104.
• HTML- Hyper Text Markup Language
• Database 105 contains, for example, product name and or number, manufacturer's name, item serial number, quantity in the package 101, shipping history (which is updated over time), detailed product information, manufacturing data and such other information as may be of value to a manufacturer (e.g., a printer) who makes use of the particular product (e.g., paper) in the chain of commerce.
• a manufacturer e.g., a printer
• the data in database 105 can be updated and maintained accurate, in contrast to physical documents attached to a product at the time of manufacture which is current, at best, as of the date of printing, if they are provided at all.
• the RFID tag 102 is activated so that the information in database 105 may be accessed quickly as the product is introduced into a manufacturing (e.g., printing) process.
• the information can be accessed without physical contact or undue proximity to the package or container 101.
• Internet URL Uniform Resource Locater
• data pertaining to each package (item) 101 is stored in a database or in the RFID tag 102 itself.
• the RFID tag 102 typically contains a unique identification number, a URL address, a "From" field to identify the source of the package 101 and a "To" field to identify its destination.
• the URL address on tag 102 via an interrogater (such as 308) will automatically connect a user to a website which provides the desired information specific to the item at hand.
• items such as date of manufacture, plant location and number, line number, lot number, warranty information and of the order often to twenty user customizable fields for additional information may be provided. Additional information such as product specifications, quality control testing, directions for use, all may be included, all within the storage capabilities of the system.
• HHT hand held terminals 103
• a "basic" HHT 103 is contemplated as a wireless terminal having a display and the capability to connect to the Internet.
• HHT 103 also contains an RFID reader/interrogater. Such a terminal 103 is particularly useful in a manufacturing site. Such a basic HHT 103 displays a number of fields. An "advanced" HHT is also contemplated which has all of the features of the basic HHT and, in addition, can access the full Internet database for information such as product information, tracking, manufacturing data, specifications and quality control data.
• the advanced HHT may also be linked to a hard copy device, if desired.
• Different levels of access and ability to write or enter data can be controlled by means of operator ID information and password or PIN information in a customary manner for handling databases.
• the RFID tag 102 may carry an additional amount of frequently used data, with access to other information being obtained through associated local or remote databases outside of the package, support, container or product itself.
• a roll of paper 10 is supported on a core 16.
• the roll has a face 12 and a side 14.
• An RFID tag 18 is attached at an appropriate place to the roll/core combination.
• the RFID taf may be attached to various locations with respect to the paper roll 10, depending on the required reading range of the information and the physical constraints of the interplay of the roll and any machine on which it is to be used.
• the RFID tag contains coded information corresponding to various paper properties which are communicated through an interrogator 20 to automated printing press equipment 22, enabling adjustments to be made immediately without operator intervention.
• Interrogator 20 can be interface to a local data base or over the Internet to a remote database. Additionally, material use and movement may be tracked by monitoring the movements of the paper roll 10 or skid or other package through the use of the RFID tag 18.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Quality & Reliability (AREA)
• Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
• Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• Credit Cards Or The Like (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=22731700

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (19)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 2001
  • 2001-04-18 EP EP01928633A patent/EP1410274A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-04-18 AU AU2001255468A patent/AU2001255468A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-04-18 WO PCT/US2001/012663 patent/WO2001080146A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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