Abstract:
Disclosed are deactivatable RFID labels and tags in individual and web form, and methods of making same. When it is desired to deactivate the label or tag, the tag or label is subjected to tearing. One arrangement involves providing the label or tag with a tear strip by which the RFID transponder in the label or tag is destroyed, and in another arrangement a tag can be torn along a weakening line to destroy the RFID transponder.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The invention relates to RFID labels and tags, to webs of RFID labels and tags, and to methods of making them.  
         [0003]     2. Brief Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     A radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder includes an integrated circuit chip that can be written to and/or read from and an antenna coupled to the chip. It is known to provide RFID transponders in tags and labels.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     It may be desired to deactivate the RFID transponder in the label or tag permanently to protect information in the chip from being read. Once an RFID label is adhesively adhered to a surface of a product or merchandise, it may be difficult and/or time-consuming to scrape the label from the surface or to cut through the label with a blade or a pair of scissors in order to deactivate it or to prevent damage to the product or merchandise. In addition, it depends on the availability of a blade such as a knife blade or a pair of scissors. Even though one attempts to destroy a circuit of an RFID transponder hidden beneath a label, the transponder may be difficult to locate, and a cut or scrape may not permanently destroy the RFID transponder. Similarly, an RFID transponder hidden in a tag may be difficult to locate or to cut or tear the tag so as to assuredly deactivate the tag permanently.  
         [0006]     In accordance with the invention, there is provided improved deactivatable labels or tags or webs of labels or tags wherein a tear strip is used to destroy an RFID transponder on the label or tag. In a specific embodiment of an RFID label, a liner has a release coating, a label having pressure sensitive is releasably adhered to the release coating, an RFID transponder adheres to the adhesive, and a tear strip crosses the RFID transponder, and the tear strip is positioned between the liner and the transponder. In a linerless label, there is no liner, however, the printable face of the label is coated with a release coating. In a specific embodiment of a deactivatable tag, the tag is comprised of a pair of sheets of tag stock laminated to each other to form a tag. An RFID transponder is positioned between the sheets of tag stock, and a tear strip disposed between the sheets crosses the transponder. In another embodiment of a deactivatable RFID tag, a transponder is disposed between a laminated pair of sheets of tag stock, and a line of weakening extends to, but does not cut through or damage the transponder. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAMMATIC DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a roll of deactivatable RFID labels;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of a web of RFID labels also shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the label and tear strip shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the RFID label shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4  applied to a surface of a product such as merchandise, showing the tear strip partially torn through the remainder of the label;  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view similar to  FIG. 5  but showing the tear strip as having torn through the transponder;  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic view showing the labels being printed in a printer;  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of a label material web to which transponders have been applied at spaced apart intervals;  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the web shown in  FIG. 8  to which a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive, a tear strip and a release liner have been applied;  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  is a diagrammatic progressive view showing steps of making the webs depicted for example in  FIGS. 8 and 9 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 11  is a diagrammatic view depicting the progression of steps shown in  FIG. 10 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 12  is a fragmentary top plan view of a label web with a means to facilitate grasping the tear strip;  
         [0019]      FIG. 13  is a view similar to  FIG. 12  showing an alternative means to facilitate grasping the tear strip;  
         [0020]      FIG. 14  is a view similar to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , but showing yet another means to facilitate grasping the tear strip;  
         [0021]      FIG. 15  is an elevational, partially rotated view of a linerless RFID transponder label web;  
         [0022]      FIG. 16  is a top plan, partially broken away view of an RFID tag;  
         [0023]      FIG. 17  is a top plan view of one of the tags shown in  FIG. 16 , with part of the antenna of the RFID transponder having been stripped from the tag;  
         [0024]      FIG. 18  is an end elevational view of the stripped tag shown taken along line  18 - 18  in  FIG. 17 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 19  is a top plan view of a partially formed RFID tag web;  
         [0026]      FIG. 20  is a top plan view similar to  FIG. 18 , but showing a further developed RFID tag web; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 21  is a top plan view of the completed web of deactivatable RFID tags also shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a roll R of a composite web C of deactivatable RFID labels L. The labels L are releasably adhered to a carrier web or liner  25 , frequently referred to as a release liner, coated with a release coating such as a wax or silicone. The labels L are releasably adhered to the release coating on the carrier web  25  by pressure sensitive adhesive  26  as best shown in  FIG. 2 . The undersides of the labels L have RFID transponders  27 . The adhesive  26  is applied to the undersides of the labels L and to the transponders  27 , and the transponders are preferably between the labels L and the adhesive  26 .  
         [0029]     During manufacture, a continuous web of a tear strip  28  is applied to the adhesive  26  across the transponders  27 . The web of tear strip  28  adheres readily to the adhesive  26  which holds the tear strip web  28  in place. The liner  25  is laminated to the adhesive  26  beneath the label material LM which comprises the labels L. The label material LM is then cut into labels L as by fully die cutting to form the labels L as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . It is noted that the tear strip web material between labels is also removed as the matrix or waste label material is stripped away from around the labels L. As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the transponder  27  comprises an RFID chip  29  and an antenna  30 . The tear strip  28  is shown to cross the antenna  30  and is offset from the chip  29  as is preferred, however, the tear strip  28  can be aligned with the chip  29 , if desired.  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  shows the label L applied to the surface of packaging or a product referred to herein as merchandise M. The tear strip  28  is shown as having torn a strip  31  of the label L from the remainder of the label L. If tearing were to continue the tear strip would tear out part of the antenna  30 , thereby deactivating the transponder  27 . The tear strip  28  is underneath the transponder  27  so that pulling on the tear strip  28  tears through the transponder  27 , and preferably the tear strip  28  tears through the antenna  27 .  FIG. 6  shows the tear strip  28  and the adjacent label material LM as having been torn away and as having removed a piece of the antenna  30 , leaving a gap  32  in the antenna  30  and thereby destroying the transponder  27 . Without a functioning antenna  30  the chip  29  cannot be written to or read.  
         [0031]      FIG. 8  shows a longitudinally extending web of the label material LM onto which spaced transponders  27  have been placed or deposited such as by printing.  FIG. 9  shows that a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive  26  has been applied to the underside of the web of label material LM and a web of a tear strip  28  is adhered to the adhesive  26  on the label material LM and to the adhesive  26  on the antenna  30  of the transponder  27 . The liner or carrier web  25  has been applied over the adhesive  26 , the transponder  27  and the tear strip  28  ( FIG. 9 ).  FIG. 10  shows the steps for making the composite web C. In STEP  1 , a web of label material LM is provided. In STEP  2 , transponders  27  (only one of which is shown at STEP  2 ) are applied to the web of label material LM at regularly or equally spaced apart intervals along the length of the web of label material LM. In STEP  3 , a coating of the adhesive  26  is coated onto the web of label material LM and onto the transponders  27 . In STEP  4 , the tear strip web or tear strip  28  is applied to the adhesive-coated web of label material LM so that it crosses the transponder  27 . In STEP  5 , the release liner  25  is applied over the adhesive  26 , the transponder  27  and the tear strip  28 .  FIG. 11  is a diagrammatic view showing the progression of: label material LM being paid out of a roll  33  and passing, for example, about a direction-changing roll  34 . From there, transponders  27  are applied at equally spaced apart intervals to the label material LM. Next, a coating head  35  applies a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive  26  over the label material LM and the transponders  27 . Next, the web of tear strip  28  is applied, and thereafter the carrier web  25  is applied over the adhesive  26 , the transponder  27  and the tear strip  28 . It is to be understood with respect to  FIGS. 10 and 11  that the webs of label material LM, the tear strip  28 , the liner  25  and the adhesive  26  are typically applied in production machines having stations for accomplishing the process and that these webs pass about various rolls as they travel from station-to-station. Also, these steps can be performed in different machines. When the labels L are cut, the tear strip web  28  is cut into definite lengths of tear strips  28  in  FIG. 2 , for example, coextensive in length with the length of the labels L. The tear strip  28  can, if desired, extend beyond the end of the label into the space between adjacent labels L.  
         [0032]      FIGS. 1, 2  and  3  show spaced cuts  36  at the trailing position on the label L that straddle or are outboard of the tear strip  28  which assist in manually grasping the tear strip  28  to tear through the antenna  30 . The cuts  36  preferably do not cut into the tear strip  28  because they are spaced from the tear strip  28 . The transponders  27  are at the leading position near the leading end of the labels L.  
         [0033]     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the labels L are supported on the carrier web  25  as the composite web C is advanced through a printer  37  in the forward direction F. The printer  37  can be any suitable printer, for example, a thermal printer having a thermal print head  38  which cooperates with a rotatable platen roll  39 . Printers such as ink jet, laser, impact, flexographic and other types of printers can be used, if desired. In any event, the top or upper surface of the label L has a printable surface.  
         [0034]      FIG. 12  shows an alternative form of composite web Ca wherein there is a cut  40  at the trailing end of the label L in the shape of a half moon. This cut  40  is through the label material LM and not through the tear strip  28  or the carrier web  25 , and the cut  40  extends to the trailing marginal edge, but is spaced rearward of the transponder  27  (not shown in  FIG. 12 ) which is at the leading position.  
         [0035]      FIG. 13  shows a composite label web Cb wherein there is a single cut or line of weakening  41  to the trailing edge  40 ′ of the label L which aids in locating the tear strip  28  and grasping the tear strip  28 . The user can see the cut and thereby knows where the tear strip  28  is located. The transponder  27  (not shown in  FIG. 13 ) is at the leading position. The telltale indicators I can take other forms such as printed text or graphics, an embossment, or notch, a symbol, a mark or the like.  
         [0036]      FIG. 14  shows a fragmentary position of a label web  25  with labels Lc. The labels Lc have rearwardly extending tabs or extensions  60  which abut the leading edge  61  of the adjacent label Lc. The tear strip  28  is preferably slightly narrower than the tabs  60 , and the tabs  60  overlie the tear strip  28 , namely, the tear strip  28  is between the tabs  60  and the carrier web  25 . The two cuts  62  that form the tabs  60  extend forward of the trailing edges  63  of the labels Lc to assist the start of the tearing of the label Lc when it has been applied to merchandise and it is desired to deactivate the label Lc. The tabs  60  preferably extend in the upstream or trailing direction, that is, opposite the forward direction F so that they do not cause tearing problems as the composite label web Cc progresses through the printer  37  in the feed or forward direction F.  
         [0037]      FIG. 15  shows a linerless web Ca′ the same as, composite web C, except instead of having a carrier web, the label material LM is coated with a suitable release coating  41  on its printable outer surface opposite the adhesive side of the web of label material LM. The web Ca′ has label material LM which preferably has lines of weakening or partial severing  42  to facilitate tearing the labels L′ apart from the remainder of the web Ca′. The release coating  41  enables the web Ca′ to be wound upon itself into a roll R′ and later unwound.  
         [0038]      FIG. 16  shows a pair of webs  43  and  44  of tag stock have been laminated to each other using adhesive  26 ′ and cut into a tag web Ce. The term “tag stock” is not used in any limiting sense and may include paper and/or film or other materials which can be torn to deactivate the RFID transponder  27 . Before the webs  43  and  44  are laminated to each other, transponders  27  are positioned on one of the webs  43  or  44  and a tear strip  28  is placed so as to cross the transponder  27  and, preferably to cross the antenna  30 . The tear strip  28  and the transponder  27  are sandwiched between the webs  43  and  44 . The tag web Ce is also provided with attacher holes  45  by which a tag T can be hung using a plastic fastener from a host product such as a garment. The tag web Ce is also provided with transverse lines of weakening or partial severing  46 ′ at which the tags T are connected, but enable the tags T to be torn from the web Ce when desired. The lines of partial severing  46 ′ include cuts  46 ″ preferably through at least one web  43  or  44 , and through the tear strip  28 . The tag web Ce also has through cuts  47  or other weakening which enable the tear strip  28  to be more easily grasped when attempting to deactivate a tag T.  
         [0039]     The cuts or weakening  36 ,  40 ,  41 ,  47 ,  48 ′,  49 ′ and  60  are visually discernable and serve as markers or telltale indicators I as to where tearing should start so that the tear strip  28  tears through the transponder  27  to tear off a piece of the transponder  27  to deactivate it.  
         [0040]     As shown in  FIG. 16 , the transponder  27  is between the tear strip  28  and the web  43 , and the telltale indicators I are only on the web  43 . If the telltale indicators were in the web  44 , using the tear strip  28  to tear through the web  44  would not tear through the transponder  27 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 19  shows a partially formed deactivatable tag web Ta including webs  48  and  49  of tag stock. Transponders  27  are applied to one of the webs at equally longitudinally spaced intervals, namely, to the web  49  and a suitable adhesive  46 a or another suitable material is coated onto the web  49  and the transponder  27 . After the webs  48  and  49  are preferably permanently laminated to each other, at least one and preferably both webs  48  and  49  are provided with lines or weakening or partial severing  48 ′ and/or  49 ′. The partial severing  48 ′ and/or  49 ′ crosses the antenna  30  without cutting into or through the antenna  30 . The partial severing  48 ′ and/or  49 ′ can, for example, be scoring that penetrates the webs  48  and  49 , or if cuts go through the webs  48  and/or  49  the cuts can be interrupted short of the transponders  27  as shown so as not to damage the transponders  27  or render them inoperable. After a tag Ta′ is separated from the tag web Ta, and used for its desired purpose, the tag Ta′ can be deactivated by tearing along the line(s)  48 ′ and  49 ′, thereby severing the antenna  27 . Each tag Ta′ is comprised of two sheets S and S 1 .  
         [0042]     The terms partial severing or weakening as used herein can, for example comprise perforating, scoring, creasing or embossing.  
         [0043]     Various types of RFID transponders on the market are usable with the labels and tags of the invention. By way of example, not limitation, the RFID transponder  27  illustrated in the drawings is an RFID transponder with a so-called squiggle-type antenna sold by Alien Technology Corporation of 18220 Butterfield Blvd., Morgan Hill, Calif., U.S.A.  
         [0044]     Other embodiments and modifications of the invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and all such of these as come within the spirit of this invention are included within its scope as best defined by the appended claims.