Device for manufacturing electronic tag strip

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for manufacturing an electronic tag strip (4), the manufacturing method comprising continuously inserting conductor segments between a lower belt (3b) and an upper belt (3a), each conductor segment carrying an electronic device, each of the lower belt (3b) and the upper belt (3a) being continuously unwound from a reel (2b, 2a). The device comprises a sealing station having a sealing zone and a guiding device (11) arranged upstream of the sealing zone (Zc). The guiding device further comprises a presser foot (11b) arranged to align with the assembly zone (Za) in order to apply a controlled pressure to the assembly formed by the upper belt (3a), the wire segment and the lower belt (3b).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electronic identification tagging of textile articles (such as clothing) or more generally any kind of article. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device for manufacturing electronic identification tags. Background Art

[0002] Tags used in the identification field are generally designated as "RFID tags" (the initials of the expression "Radio Frequency Identification"). Such tags include an electronic identification chip with radio frequency transmission - reception functions connected to an antenna.

[0003] Document WO2021089939 discloses a rectangular RFID tag, whose length generally ranges between 3 cm and 20 cm, and whose width generally ranges between 0.5 mm and 2 cm. The tag consists of two parts of textile tape, which are assembled and sealed to each other through their main surfaces. Clamped between these two surfaces is an RFID wire segment, that is, a wire segment with an electronic identification chip connected to an antenna. This tag has sufficient flexibility so as not to change the flexibility of the textile article in which the tag is intended to be integrated. The shape factor and flexibility of such a tag enable it to be integrated into a seam, for example, by placing it at least partially between the overlock loops on the textile article.

[0004] To manufacture such a tag, the aforementioned document proposes to provide a long RFID wire with a plurality of regularly spaced electronic identification devices in the form of a reel. The RFID wire unrolled from the reel is guided to a cutting station, where segments are continuously cut, each segment including an electronic identification device. The segments are inserted one by one between two continuously advancing tapes unrolled from their respective reels. This insertion is carried out by means of a guiding tube, which conveys the segments taken out from the cutting station into the insertion area of the sealing station. In this insertion area, the segments conveyed by the tube catch up with the advancement of the two tapes. When the collected segments are clamped between the two tapes, the two tapes are sealed together.

[0005] This manufacturing device enables the RFID wire segments to be arranged at a selected distance between the two tapes. The electronic tag strip can then be cut into tags at a collection station or pre - cut at a pre - cutting station. In the latter case, the strip can be collected on a reel for storage and future use.

[0006] Further improvements are needed to ensure reliable use of the device at high speeds.

[0007] Object of the Invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to propose such improvements. Summary of the Invention

[0009] To achieve this object, the subject matter of the present invention is a device for manufacturing an electronic tag strip according to claim 1.

[0010] According to other advantageous non - restrictive features of the present invention (individually or according to any technically feasible combination):

[0011] · The sealing station includes an anvil having a main surface and an ultrasonic horn having an acting surface arranged opposite to the main surface of the anvil at the sealing area. Two tapes can advance through the sealing area and are heat - sealed together;

[0012] · The guiding device includes a pressure device coupled to a pressure foot to control the pressure applied to a component formed by at least an upper tape and a lower tape;

[0013] · The anvil is formed by a rotating drum having a rotation axis perpendicular to the advancing direction and an outer peripheral surface. The outer peripheral surface has two rows of lateral marking teeth defining a central groove, and the marking teeth form the main surface of the anvil;

[0014] · The rotating drum has two circular side surfaces, and the rows of marking teeth are indented from the circular side surfaces towards the inner side of the outer peripheral surface so as to leave two lateral spaces;

[0015] · The pressure foot includes two longitudinal arms;

[0016] · The pressure foot includes a bearing surface with a groove between the longitudinal arms;

[0017] · The pressure foot is straddle - mounted on the drum such that the longitudinal arms are arranged parallel to the circular side surfaces of the drum at the two lateral spaces;

[0018] · The guiding device includes a body having two channels respectively forming an upper guiding groove and a lower guiding groove, and the two channels and a central tube lead to a housing in which the pressure foot resides;

[0019] · In front of the sealing station is a large - wire cutting station for collecting the segments;

[0020] · The manufacturing device includes a cauterizing station for receiving the tag strip and forming a heat - sealing pad in the central portion of the dead zone of the strip without a wire segment;

[0021] · The manufacturing device includes a pre - cutting station for forming two transverse incisions in the dead zone of the strip to at least cut the side portions of the tape arranged outside the central portion occupied by the heat - sealing pad;

[0022] · The manufacturing apparatus includes at least one registration station for positioning a significant element on one of the tapes, a wire segment, and / or a label strip as the one of the tapes, the wire segment, and / or the label strip advances.

[0023] · The manufacturing apparatus includes at least one folding station arranged upstream of the sealing station. The folding station receives a relatively wide tape and longitudinally folds the relatively wide tape onto itself to form an upper tape and a lower tape. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] Figure 1 shows an apparatus for manufacturing an electronic label strip according to the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2a 、 Figure 2b schematically shows RFID wire cutting and assembly operations performed by a cutting station and a sealing station of the apparatus according to the present invention;

[0027] Figure 3a shows some elements of the sealing station according to the present invention from two different angles;

[0028] Figure 3b shows in more detail the anvil and the ultrasonic horn of the sealing station according to the present invention;

[0029] Figure 4 shows the principle implemented by the guiding device according to the present invention;

[0030] Figure 5a shows different views of a part of the guiding device of the sealing station of the apparatus according to the present invention;

[0031] Figure 5b shows different views of another part of the guiding device of the sealing station of the apparatus according to the present invention;

[0032] Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the guiding device for the sealing station in the apparatus according to the present invention;

[0033] Figure 7 shows a label strip produced by the apparatus according to the present invention;

[0034] Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a presser foot according to the present invention;

[0035] Figure 9 shows a housing partially defining a guiding device according to an embodiment.​​​​​​​​​​ Detailed implementation mode

[0036] By way of introduction, it should be remembered that the label strip produced by the device according to the present invention is obtained by inserting an RFID wire segment including an electronic identification device between two continuously advancing tapes, which are represented by the expressions "lower tape" and "upper tape".

[0037] Advantageously, the RFID wire segment is not fixed to the two tapes between which it is inserted, but is simply held between these two tapes sealed together, for example along their sides. This configuration is particularly advantageous because it enables such a label to be firmly attached to a textile piece, for example by a straight seam or an overlock seam. The stresses (e.g., in terms of tension) to which the textile piece is subjected are transmitted to the tape portions between which the RFID wire segment is held, but not to the RFID wire itself (which could damage the RFID wire segment, for example, by separating the identification chip from the antenna). Thus, the electronic identification device can slide between the two tapes to which it is not attached.

[0038] The two tapes (which, when the label is intended to be integrated into a textile piece, are an example application in this detailed description) are typically made of textile fibers composed of a material that is fusible at a moderate temperature (e.g., below 400 °C and generally between 100 °C and 400 °C). Such a fusible material can correspond to thermoplastics commonly used in the clothing industry (such as nylon with a melting temperature of approximately 180 °C to 260 °C or polyester with a melting temperature of approximately 260 °C). It can also correspond to plastic materials. These tapes can have slight beads at their lateral edges, which can advantageously be used to guide the positioning of the tapes, as will be explained in a later part of this specification.

[0039] According to this specification, an RFID wire refers to a textile wire with a plurality of electronic identification chips and antennas distributed along the length of the wire. For different ways of obtaining such a wire, reference can be made to the documents cited in the introduction. The chips embedded in the RFID wire form slight protrusions, making it easy to position them along the length of the wire. This feature can be well used in the device according to the present invention, as will be explained later.

[0040] Figure 1 shows an overall view of the device 1 for manufacturing an electronic label strip according to the present invention.

[0041] ​As can be seen from this overview, the device 1 includes a first reel 2a and a second reel 2b respectively containing an upper tape 3a and a lower tape 3b. The device also includes a third reel 2c containing an RFID wire 3c. The lower tape 3a, the upper tape 3b and the RFID wire each unwind from their reels 2a, 2b, 2c and advance in a general direction through the device 1 to be processed by a series of stations 7a - 7i, which perform various processes to form an electronic label strip 4. The strip is collected on a label reel 2d for storage and future use.

[0042] The lower tape 3a, the upper tape 3b and the label strip 4 continuously pass through the device 1 from one station to another. In addition, the RFID wire 3c advances discontinuously until it is segmented and clamped between the two tapes 3a, 3b. The unwinding of the reel 2c is interrupted during the cutting operation to remove the segment before inserting it between the lower tape 3a and the upper tape 3b.

[0043] To enable the reels to unwind and the tapes 3a, 3b, the strip 4 and the RFID wire 3c to advance, the device is equipped with a plurality of drive and guide means 6 (e.g., which consist of rotatably driven rollers) arranged along the length of the device 1 between the respective stations 7a - 7i that make up the device.

[0044] Specifically, the device 1 is equipped with drive and guide means 6 located between the third reel 2c containing the RFID wire 3c and the cutting station 7b. Specifically, this drive means 6 is used to "push" the free end of the RFID wire towards the next sealing station 7c after the RFID wire has been cut, as will be explained in more detail in the following section.

[0045] The device 1 is also equipped with a plurality of tensioning means 5 for the tapes 3a, 3b, the RFID wire 3c and the label strip 4. Generally, the tension of the tapes 3a, 3b, the RFID wire 3c and / or the electronic label strip 4 must be controlled, typically between 0.2 N and 5 N, in order to control the elongation of the textile material and accurately identify the movement of the tapes in the device 1. Specifically, it will be noted that the most identical possible tension is applied to the tapes 3a, 3b in the assembly area and the sealing area of the device 1, which will be presented in a later part of this application.

[0046] In this way, and advantageously, the drive and guide means 6 and the tensioning means 5 are arranged upstream and / or downstream of certain stations and are configured to control the tension of the tapes 3a, 3b, the RFID wire 3c and / or the electronic label strip 4 in the stations in question. Thus, preferably, a relatively high tension is applied to the elements during the sealing or burning operation, and a relatively low tension is applied after the pre - cutting operation and during the testing operation.

[0047] Although formed Figure 1The stations of the device 1 shown are arranged along a single overall forward direction, but this is by no means a necessary feature of the invention. More generally, the stations of the device 1 can be freely arranged in space, and the device 1 is provided with sufficient drive and guide means 6 and tensioning means 5 to drive and guide the belts 3a, 3b, the RFID wire 3c and the label strip 4 between these different stations in any suitable configuration.

[0048] In the Figure 1 shown embodiment, the device 1 continuously includes a plurality of stations from the unwinding reels 2a, 2b, 2c to the label reel 2d, which are described in the following sections. Each of the stations 7a - 7i is provided with a control unit (including a microcontroller, a CPU or other form of computing device, a memory, input / output ports, etc.) in addition to the explicitly described means for implementing the operations specific to the station in question, which enables the described operations to be carried out in a coordinated manner during advancement. For this purpose, the control units of the individual stations can communicate with each other directly or via the supervision unit of the device 1, communicate with the drive and guide means 6, and communicate with the tensioning means 5.

[0049] · Registration station 7a

[0050] The first registration station 7a is positioned opposite the RFID wire 3c. It enables the position of the electronic identification device to be identified in the RFID wire 3c unwound from its reel 2c. For example, it can be a cam positioned against the RFID wire 3c as the RFID wire 3c advances, and the cam is displaced when the protrusion on the RFID wire 3c passes by (the protrusion corresponds to the identification chip as explained previously). The cam is associated with a contactor, and its displacement triggers the contactor, thereby generating a signal indicating the time when the chip has passed. This passing time can be communicated to the next cutting station 7b, which can use this information to precisely cut the RFID wire 3c and form a functional segment, that is, including the electronic identification device, which includes the chip and its antenna.

[0051] It should be noted that the device according to the present specification may include other registration stations, so that significant elements on one of the belts 3a, 3b, on the RFID wire 3c and / or on the label strip 4 can be identified and positioned as the belt 3a, 3b, the RFID wire 3c and / or the label strip 4 advance. This positioning enables the stations 7a - 7i to be synchronized and operate correctly. This can include positioning the identification chip (as illustrated with reference to the first registration station just now), the antenna, the dead zone of the label, the burning zone of the label (these terms will be defined later). These registration stations can implement various techniques, for example, mechanical detection, capacitance measurement for positioning the antenna, and / or optical measurement (camera or simple transmissive photodiode operation) for detecting the dead zone or the burning zone.

[0052] · Cutting station 7b

[0053] This station 7b is also opposite to the RFID wire 3c. For example, it includes a blade or multiple blades (or any other form of cutting device), which can be activated at a given cutting time to separate an RFID wire segment from the RFID wire 3c. This station is connected to the registration station 7a as described above and receives the time of the passing chip through this station 7a. Based on the passing time, the distance between the two stations, the feeding speed of the RFID wire 3c, and the length of the RFID wire segment, the cutting time can be easily determined. To enable such cutting, and as already mentioned, preferably the advancement of the RFID wire 3c is briefly stopped shortly before the cutting instant to allow the activation of the cutting device.

[0054] Advantageously, at Figure 2a the cutting point schematically shown, the free end E of the RFID wire 3c has been "clamped" between the lower belt 3b and the upper belt 3a advancing at the "assembly" zone Za of the next sealing station 7c. During the short period between the stop of the advancement of the RFID wire 3c and the cutting instant, the free end E of the RFID wire 3c clamped between the belts 3a, 3b cannot be driven by these belts. The tension generated in the RFID wire at this time makes it easier and more precise to cut the RFID wire 3c before the cutting device is activated.

[0055] Immediately after the cutting instant, the RFID wire segment 3d is released from the remaining part of the RFID wire 3c, and the RFID wire segment catches up with the continuous advancement of the belts 3a, 3b and is fully inserted and clamped therebetween. After the cutting instant, the RFID wire 3c resumes its advancement. The waiting time between the cutting instant and the instant of resuming the advancement is selected to introduce a dead zone into the label tape 4, that is, a zone of the strip without the RFID wire. The free end E of this wire 3c thus advances towards the assembly zone Za of the next sealing station 7c to be clamped between the lower belt 3b and the upper belt 3a, as Figure 2b schematically shown.

[0056] To enable the free end E of the RFID wire 3c to advance and engage between the lower and upper belts, the driving and guiding device 6 can be directly positioned behind the cutting blade, between the cutting station 7b and the next sealing station. Specifically, if the RFID wire segment 3d is less than the distance separating the cutting position from the assembly zone (which does not allow its free end E to be clamped in the assembly zone Za at the cutting instant), this allows the RFID wire segment 3d to be conveyed to the assembly zone. In this configuration, the driving and guiding device 6 tensions the RFID wire 3c before cutting.

[0057] If the RFID wire 3c is rigid enough and the distance between the cutting position and the assembly zone Za is appropriate, such a driving device is not required, and the free end of the RFID wire is pushed towards the next sealing station without being guided and / or driven. The coating station can be positioned in front of the cutting station 7b, opposite the RFID wire 3c, to pour a material (e.g., resin) onto the RFID wire 3c to make it rigid enough for this operating mode.

[0058] A mechanism can also be provided to cut a portion of the RFID wire 3c and remove it from the device 1, that is, to prevent this portion of the wire from being conveyed to the next sealing station 7c. This mechanism may be useful if the distance between two identification chips carried by the RFID wire 3c is greater than the desired tag length. In this case, it is desirable to cut a portion of the RFID wire 3c to reduce the length of the electronic identification device to the tag length, and thus reduce the length of the segment removed from the RFID wire 3c to the tag length. This mechanism can also be used to withdraw a segment of the RFID wire 3c that has been identified as malfunctioning and avoid integrating it into the tag strip 4.

[0059] This can be achieved by placing a movable tube between the cutting device at the cutting station 7b and the assembly zone Za. To withdraw a portion of the wire, this portion is introduced into the movable tube, which is oriented or moved to prevent it from being conveyed to the assembly zone Za of the next sealing station 7c. Once this portion of the wire has been cut, the cut portion of the RFID wire 3d is withdrawn by means of a withdrawal roller located at the outlet of the movable tube or by an air jet in the movable tube or by any other withdrawal means (e.g., vibration).

[0060] · Sealing station 7c

[0061] As will be understood, this station follows directly after the cutting station 7b. On the one hand, the RFID wire segment is precisely clamped between two tapes 3a, 3b in the assembly zone Za, and on the other hand, the two tapes are sealed together so that the RFID wire segment 3d is held captive by the two tapes 3a, 3b. At the outlet of this sealing station 7c, the tag strip 4 is conveyed to the next station of the device 1.

[0062] In the sealing station 7c according to the present invention, the sealing is achieved by thermal sealing. For this purpose, the sealing station 7c includes an ultrasonic horn that has an operating surface opposite the main surface of the anvil. This operating surface is positioned at a controlled distance from the main surface at the sealing zone through which two pre-assembled tapes can advance and be thermally sealed together. As is well known, the ultrasonic horn is formed of a metal part that is subjected to ultrasonic waves. The holding pressure of the ultrasonic horn and the vibrational energy returned to the tapes advancing between the ultrasonic horn and the anvil cause the tapes to melt locally and seal them together by thermal sealing.

[0063] In Figure 3a and Figure 3b In the preferred embodiment shown, the anvil is formed by a rotary drum 8 having a rotation axis R perpendicular to the forward direction. The rotation of the drum 8 helps to drive the belt (especially the lower belt 3b, before the sealing operation) and the label strip 4 (after the sealing operation, when the two belts have been sealed together). The drum 8 has an outer peripheral surface disposed between two side surfaces 8a, 8b. The outer peripheral surface 8c has a width corresponding to the width of the belts 3a, 3b. It carries two rows of lateral marking teeth 9a, 9b that define a central groove 9c. The marking teeth 9a, 9b form the main surface of the anvil. The working surface of the ultrasonic welding head 10 also has two teeth that are positioned to oppose the rows of teeth on the drum in the sealing area. This configuration allows sealing points to be formed along the length on both sides of the label strip 4.

[0064] The central groove 9c of the drum 8 and the spacing between the two rows of teeth of the ultrasonic welding head 10 provide a passage for the central portion of the belts assembled together, which are deformed due to the RFID wire segments sandwiched therebetween, as is clearly visible in Figure 3b . The presence of this passage is very advantageous because it allows the protrusions generated by the chips of the RFID wire segments to advance freely in the label strip, that is, there is no risk of these protrusions blocking or slowing down the advancement of the label strip. It also allows the lower and upper belts to deform perfectly symmetrically around the RFID wire segments and thus be perfectly longitudinally aligned.

[0065] Also preferably, the rows of teeth are not flush with the drum side surfaces 8a, 8b, but are recessed from these side surfaces towards the inner side of the outer peripheral surface 8c so as to leave two lateral spaces 14a, 14b for positioning the lateral hems of the upper belt 3a and the lower belt 3b. This configuration helps to precisely position the two belts relative to each other during the sealing operation and guides them through the station.

[0066] The accuracy of sealing the two belts 3a, 3b to hold the RFID wire segment 3d naturally constrained depends on the correct prior assembly of the two belts and the RFID wire segment sandwiched therebetween. To this end, the sealing station 7c includes guiding means 11 located upstream of the sealing area Zc, between the cutting station 7b and this sealing area Zc. Figure 4 shows the principle implemented by the guiding means 11.

[0067] Very generally speaking, the guiding means 11 includes a part 11a( Figure 5a(which shows different views of this part), this part has an upper guide groove 12a and a lower guide groove 12b, which are respectively used to guide the forward movement of the upper belt 3a and the lower belt 3b from their respective reels 2a, 2b. These two guide grooves 12a, 12b converge at the assembly area Za located immediately upstream of the sealing area Zc to connect the two belts 3a, 3b through their main surfaces. In the assembly area, the guiding device 11 may have a support member 11e to receive the two connected belts 3a, 3b and guide their forward movement.

[0068] The part 11a of the guiding device 11 further includes a central tube 13 disposed between the upper guide groove 12a and the lower guide groove 12b. This central tube 13 extends from a first end 13a on one side of the cutting station 7b to a second end 13b that opens outward at the assembly area Za. As Figure 5a (shown), the two ends are disposed on two opposite surfaces of the part 11a. In operation, the free end E of the RFID wire 3c from the cutting station 7b is guided through the first end 13a of the central tube 13, advances through the tube 13, and appears at the assembly area Za, where the free end E is sandwiched between the lower belt 3b and the upper belt 3a from the respective guide grooves 12b, 12a. As previously described, the cutting station 7b is synchronized with the sealing station 7c such that when the free end E of the RFID wire 3c engages at the assembly area Za and is sandwiched between the two advancing belts 3a, 3b, the RFID wire 3c is advantageously cut to form an RFID wire segment 3d. This configuration makes it easier to cut the wire under tension, thereby allowing the RFID wire segment caught up in the movement of the two belts to be pulled when being cut. The RFID wire segment 3d is conveyed and gradually sandwiched between the two belts 3a, 3b to bring the assembly to the sealing area Zc, where the two belts are sealed together.

[0069] Figure 5b (which shows different views of the part 11a of the guiding device 11 in an alternative configuration. In this configuration, the second end 13b of the central tube 13 leads to the upper guide groove 12a. The intersection of the plane defining the bottom of the guide groove and the end 13b of the tube forms an opening in the shape of a part of an ellipse, which is clearly visible in the top view of the part 11a as Figure 5b (shown). This configuration facilitates the gradual contact between the upper belt 3a and the RFID wire segment emerging from this opening. Specifically, this configuration enables the RFID wire segment to be held laterally centered between the two belts to facilitate its positioning relative to the groove in the presser foot support surface, as will be shown later.

[0070] ​As already briefly mentioned, the RFID conductor 3c is interrupted to ensure that the short moment during its cutting allows for the introduction of "dead" zones into the label strip 4 produced by the sealing station, in which zones there are no parts of the RFID conductor. These dead zones, which are free of RFID conductors and are evenly distributed over the label strip, enable two successive label strips 4 to be separated. It forms zones where the two bands can be sealed together transversely without the risk of damaging the electronic identification device. It also forms zones for positioning the pre-cut of the label so that the label can be easily separated from the strip 4, for example by tearing.

[0071] The ability of the drive mechanism and the drive belt to "grip" segments of the RFID conductor requires the upper belt 3a and the lower belt 3b to exert sufficient pressure on the free end E of the RFID conductor, especially at the moment of cutting. However, this pressure must be kept under control to avoid over-tensioning the belts 3a, 3b. To this end, the guiding means 11 of the sealing station 7c includes a pressure foot 11b which is arranged to be aligned with the belt assembly in the assembly zone Za, opposite a flat support. The pressure foot has a bearing surface which is designed to exert a controlled pressure on the assembly formed by at least the upper belt 3a and the lower belt 3b. The pressure foot is a movable part, and its bearing surface is applied with a controlled pressure on one of the two belts at the assembly zone Za in order to squeeze the two belts together and enable the segments of the RFID conductor to be driven. The control of the pressure exerted by the pressure foot 11b on the assembly can be achieved by means of a calibrated pressure device (such as a spring, a cylinder or a flexible blade). Specifically, the pressure foot must be able to rise when the projection passes through the segment of the RFID conductor corresponding to the identification chip embedded in the conductor segment.

[0072] When this sealing station configuration is selected, the bearing surface of the pressure foot 11b also enables the assembly formed by the two belts to be pressed against the rotating drum with a controlled pressure. This helps the belts 3a, 3b to attach to the drum and be conveyed to the sealing zone.

[0073] Figure 6 shows this configuration. There are guiding means which include a part 11a for guiding the belts 3a, 3b and the RFID conductor 3c to the assembly zone Za. The pressure foot 11b is mounted astride here on the drum 8 which forms the anvil of the sealing station. This part 11b has two longitudinal arms 11b1, 11b2 which are arranged parallel to the side surfaces 8a, 8b of the drum at two lateral spaces 14a, 14b. These arms help to guide the movement and positioning of the belts 3a, 3c in the sealing zone.

[0074] Figure 8 ​​A perspective view of the presser foot 11b is shown. This figure clearly shows two longitudinal arms 11b1, 11b2 intended to be placed on both sides of the drum 8. Between these two arms is a bearing surface 11b3 for applying a controlled pressure in the assembly area. The bearing surface is provided with a groove, the size of which is designed according to the shape of the wire segment, so that the assembly formed by the upper tape 3a, the wire segment and the lower tape 3b can be correctly positioned.

[0075] In one embodiment of the guiding device 11, it can take the form of a body, in which two channels are formed, which respectively form an upper guiding groove 12a and a lower guiding groove 12b. These channels converge at the inner housing of the body, and this housing defines the assembly area Za. The body can be formed by two complementary outer shells, and one of these outer shells 11’ is shown in Figure 9 so that the channels and other elements forming the guiding device can be seen. The body also has a central tube 13a arranged between the two channels 12a, 12b. The central tube 13a extends from a first end to a second end that opens outwards at the assembly area Za in the inner housing. The presser foot 11b is positioned in the inner housing and has a pressure device that enables it to apply a controlled pressure to the assembly formed by the two tapes. As shown in Figure 9 , the guiding member can be arranged such that the drum 8 is inserted into the inner housing. Then, the main surface of the drum forms a support, and the presser foot 11b abuts against this support to apply a controlled pressure to the assembly formed by the upper tape 3a, the wire segment and the lower tape 3b.

[0076] · Sealing station 7d

[0077] The sealing station 7d is in front of the pre-cutting station 7e. It receives the label strip driven in the direction of the reel 2d in the device 1. The process carried out by this station aims to seal the two tapes 3a, 3b laterally to each other. As has been seen, this sealing is preferably carried out in each dead zone of the label strip to avoid damaging the electronic identification device. This sealing can be by welding, and the lateral sealing at the sealing station can also be by welding. Therefore, this station can include an anvil and an ultrasonic welding head arranged opposite each other, and the label strip 4 advances between the anvil and the ultrasonic welding head. The working surface of the ultrasonic welding head can be arranged at the central part of the strip and laterally extend over a width narrower than the tape. In this way, a heat seal pad is formed in the dead zone so that this central part can be closed between two consecutive labels.

[0078] The textile fibers forming the tapes are fused together at the heat seal pad in the central part of the strip. On both sides of this central area, the textile fibers remain intact. As in the sealing station 7c, the anvil can take the form of a drum so that the label strip 4 can rotate.

[0079] · Pre-cutting station 7e

[0080] This station is directly or indirectly located behind the cauterization station 7d. As the label strip advances along this station, two transverse cuts are formed in the label strip in the dead zone using, for example, a knife formed on a rotating roller. These transverse cuts are designed to cut at least those portions of the tape that were not melted by the heat sealing pad placed in the central part of the strip during the previous cauterization step. At the end of this step, two consecutive labels on the label strip 4 are fixed together by a thin-width molten material. This thin width can be easily torn off the strip to remove the label from the strip. To this end, the thin-width molten material is precisely dimensioned such that the label can be torn off using a calibrated force. This thin-width amorphous, molten nature prevents the textile conductors from being pulled out of the tape during such a tearing step and thus prevents the label from separating significantly from the label strip 4.

[0081] Figure 7 shows a portion of the label strip 4 obtained after the cauterization station and the pre-cutting station. It can be seen that heat sealing points 4a extending laterally along the sides of the strip have been formed during passage through the sealing station. The heat sealing pad 4b is also present in the dead zone in the central part of the strip. Finally, there are transverse cuts 4c, 4c' which are designed to cut the portions of the strip that were not melted by the heat sealing pad located in the central part of the strip. It can be seen that two consecutive labels are fixed to each other by a thin layer of molten material.

[0082] · RF control station 7f

[0083] This station is used to check the correct operation of the electronic identification device of each label. Specifically, it checks whether the device is capable of receiving and sending identification radio frequency signals. Non-functional labels can be identified for marking.

[0084] · Visual inspection station 7g

[0085] This station enables the acquisition of consecutive images of the label strip 4. These images can be analyzed for manufacturing defects either visually or through automatic inspection. For example, this can involve identifying imperfect heat sealing points or heat sealing areas, or missing or insufficient pre-cut notches. Labels with manufacturing defects can be identified for marking.

[0086] · RF coding station 7h

[0087] This station codes the electronic identification device, assigning it a unique identification number. This station is also used to identify electronic devices that malfunction during coding.

[0088] · Marking station for faulty or incorrect labels.

[0089] ​If a non-functional label or a fault label has been identified in one of the previous stations 7f for RF inspection, 7h for RF encoding or 7g for visual inspection, the station enables visually marking the non-functional label or the fault label, for example by applying a color layer. The station may include a dispensing nozzle connected to an ink reservoir, and the whole unit allows the visual marking to be sprayed onto the label strip 4 and more precisely onto the pre-registered labels that are advancing. In this way, the end user can easily distinguish functional labels from non-functional labels without having to repeat the tests already carried out on the device 1.

[0090] Of course, it should be understood that not all of these stations must be present in the device 1 according to the invention, or they may be arranged in any technically consistent order different from the order shown.

[0091] Naturally, the invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and alternative embodiments can be added without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims.

[0092] Specifically, in the described embodiment, the upper strip 3a and the lower strip 3b are two independent strips unwound from two separate reels. Without exceeding the scope of the invention, the upper strip 3a and the lower strip 3b can be formed by a single wide strip that is longitudinally folded onto itself to form two adjacent strips 3a, 3b. A dedicated folding station on the device 1 located upstream of the sealing station can be used to fold the wide strip. Alternatively, this folding step can be carried out in the upstream part of the guiding device 11. Then the configuration of the two guiding grooves of the device 11 is adjusted to allow the lower strip and the upper strip to be guided together on one side. In this case, the sealing step may include forming a single thermosealing dotted line along the folding zone of the wide strip.

[0093] The nature of the upper strip and the lower strip can be selected according to the application field targeted by the electronic label and in particular according to the nature of the part into which the label is intended to be integrated. Thus, according to the examples shown in this detailed description, when the label is intended to be integrated into a textile piece, the strip may have a textile nature. However, the strip can be chosen to have completely different properties, especially based on at least one polymer. For example, when the label is to be integrated into a tire or other rubber-based product, the strip can be made of an elastomeric material and preferably raw rubber, cured rubber or vulcanized rubber. It is known in the art to integrate an RFID device (i.e., an electronic identification chip with radio frequency transmission-reception function connected to an antenna) between two raw rubber strips, and this assembly is integrated inside the structure of the tire during the manufacture of the tire and in particular before the curing stage. Generally speaking, the lower strip and the upper strip can be selected from any suitable material, whether they are the same or different.

[0094] Furthermore, the electronic chip of the electronic device does not have to consist of an electronic identification chip. More generally, it can be any type of electronic chip (e.g., an electronic chip forming a sensor) which can optionally incorporate a transmit-receive function connected to an antenna in order to be able to communicate these measurements. Alternatively, it can be an electronic chip with a lighting function. From this point of view, generally speaking, the present invention thus relates to a device for manufacturing an electronic label for an electronic device integrated into a band.

Claims

1. A manufacturing device (1) for manufacturing an electronic tag strip (4), the manufacturing method including continuously inserting wire segments between a lower belt (3b) and an upper belt (3a) advancing in a forward direction, each wire segment carrying an electronic device, the device including a sealing station (7c) having a sealing zone (Zc) and comprising: · A guiding device (11) arranged upstream of the sealing zone (Zc) and having: i. An upper guiding groove (12a) and a lower guiding groove (12b) for guiding the upper belt (3a) and the lower belt (3b) respectively and bringing the upper belt (3a) and the lower belt (3b) together at an assembly zone (Za) located upstream of the sealing zone (Zc); ii. A central tube (13a) arranged between the upper guiding groove (12a) and the lower guiding groove (12b), the central tube (13a) extending from a first end to a second end opening outwards at the assembly zone (Za), the central tube (13a) being designed to guide the wire segments to sandwich the wire segments between the upper belt (3a) and the lower belt (3b); · A presser foot (11b) arranged to be at least aligned with the assembly zone (Za) so as to apply a controlled pressure to the assembly formed by the upper belt (3a), the wire segments and the lower belt (3b).

2. The manufacturing device (1) according to claim 1, wherein, the sealing station (7c) includes an anvil (8) having a main surface and an ultrasonic welding head (10) having an acting surface arranged opposite to the main surface of the anvil (8) at the sealing zone (Zc), and the two belts can advance through the sealing zone and be heat-sealed together.

3. The manufacturing device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, the guiding device (11) includes a pressure device coupled to the presser foot (11b) to control the pressure applied to the assembly formed by at least the upper belt (3a) and the lower belt (3b).

4. The manufacturing device (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, the anvil is formed by a rotating drum (8) having a rotation axis (R) perpendicular to the forward direction and an outer peripheral surface (8c), and the outer peripheral surface is provided with two rows of lateral marking teeth (9a, 9b) defining a central groove (9c), and the marking teeth form the main surface of the anvil (8).

5. The manufacturing device (1) according to claim 4, wherein, the rotating drum (8) has two circular side surfaces (8a, 8b), and the rows of marking teeth (9a, 9b) are indented from the circular side surfaces (8a, 8b) towards the inside of the outer peripheral surface (8c) so as to leave two lateral spaces (14a, 14b).

6. The manufacturing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, the presser foot (11b) includes two longitudinal arms (11b1, 11b2).

7. The manufacturing apparatus (1) according to claim 6, wherein, the presser foot (11b) includes a bearing surface (11b3) with a groove (11b4) between the longitudinal arms (11b1, 11b2).

8. The manufacturing apparatus (1) according to claim 6 or 7 when combined with claim 5, wherein, the presser foot is mounted astride the roller (8) to arrange the longitudinal arms (11b1, 11b2) parallel to the circular side surface of the roller at the two lateral spaces (14a, 14b).

9. The manufacturing apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, the guiding device (11) includes a main body having two channels respectively forming the upper guiding groove (12a) and the lower guiding groove (12b), and the two channels and the central tube (13a) lead to the housing in which the presser foot (11b) resides.

10. The manufacturing apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, in front of the sealing station (7c) is a large wire cutting station (7b) for collecting the segments.

11. The manufacturing apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, the manufacturing apparatus includes a burning station (7d) for receiving the label strip (4) and forming a heat seal pad (4b) in the central portion of the dead zone of the strip (4) without a wire segment.

12. The manufacturing apparatus (1) according to claim 11, the manufacturing apparatus includes a pre-cutting station (7e) for forming two transverse incisions (4c) in the dead zone of the strip to at least cut the side portions of the strip arranged outside the central portion occupied by the heat seal pad (4b).

13. The manufacturing apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, the manufacturing apparatus includes at least one registration station for positioning significant elements on one of the tapes (3a, 3b), the wire segment, and / or the label strip (4) when one of the tapes (3a, 3b), the wire segment, and / or the label strip (4) advances.

14. The manufacturing apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, the manufacturing apparatus includes at least one folding station arranged upstream of the sealing station, the folding station receiving a relatively wide tape and longitudinally folding the relatively wide tape onto itself to form the upper tape (3a) and the lower tape (3b).

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