Patent ID: 6645327
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: B31D,B65C,B65H,G06K,G08B,Y10T

Abstract:
Apparatus for forming printed labels having electronic tags thereon, comprising:a media supply station configured to receive a linerless strip of label stock having a front face, an opposite back face, and a layer of adhesive on said back face; a tag supply station configured to receive a linerless strip of RF tags; a tag application station positioned to apply an electronic tag to said back face of a label; a print station having a printhead for printing on said front face, said print station being positioned upstream of said tag application station and downstream of said media supply station; an RF read head positioned between said tag supply station and said tag application station to check for the presence of defective tags: a media cutter positioned upstream of said tag application station and downstream of said print station for cutting said strip of label stock into discrete labels; a media guide pathway extending between said media supply station and said tag application station a tag cuter positioned upstream of said tag application station and downstream of said tag supply station for cutting said strip of electronic tags into discrete tags; and a tag guide pathway extending between said tag supply station and said tag application station.