Electronic tag coating device and electronic tag coating method

Abstract

To provide an electronic tag coating device and an electronic tag coating method for efficiently coating an RFID tag.SOLUTION: An electronic tag coating device includes a folding device which allows a rubber tape piece 2 cut out from a rubber tape 1 long in a longitudinal direction to be mounted thereon, wherein the folding device includes a base plate 21 and a wrapping plate 22 that are integrated by being aligned in the longitudinal direction when the folding device is in an open state, and allow one rubber tape piece 2 to be mounted thereon, and the wrapping plate 22 is folded on the base plate 21 when the folding device is in a close state. When the folding device is in the open state, an RFID tag 3 is arranged on a part on the side of the base plate 21 in the rubber tape piece 2 on the base plate 21 and the wrapping plate 22, and when the folding device becomes in the close state, the part on the side of the base plate 21 and the part on the side of the wrapping plate 22 in the rubber tape piece 2 are controlled so as to sandwich the RFID tag 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic tag coating device and an electronic tag coating method.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, it has been considered to attach RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags to various objects for identification and management of those objects. An RFID tag consists of a chip in which data is stored and an antenna for transmitting and receiving data. The data of the RFID tag can be remotely read and written using radio waves.

[0003] Generally, an RFID tag is coated with a coating material to protect the chip and the antenna. When an RFID tag is to be provided on a tire, it is preferable to use rubber, which is the same material as the tire, as the coating material. Therefore, conventionally, it has been proposed to coat an RFID tag with rubber by the method described in Patent Document 1. Specifically, a large number of RFID tags are arranged at equal intervals on a long rubber belt, a small rubber sheet is placed on each RFID tag to cover the RFID tag, and each RFID tag is cut out together with the surrounding rubber from the rubber belt.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, the conventional method requires manufacturing a large number of small rubber sheets separately from the long rubber belt, transporting them to the location of the long rubber belt, and placing them on the RFID tags, which is not efficient.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method capable of efficiently covering an electronic tag such as an RFID tag.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The present invention includes the following embodiments.

[0008] [1] In an electronic tag coating apparatus that wraps an electronic tag with rubber to obtain a coated electronic tag, a feeding device that feeds a rubber tape that is long in the front-rear direction forward, and a folding device that is disposed in front of the feeding device and can place a rubber tape piece cut from the rubber tape are provided. The folding device includes a base plate and a wrapping plate that are aligned in the front-rear direction in an open state to form a single unit for placing one rubber tape piece, and when in a closed state, the wrapping plate is folded onto the base plate. When the folding device is in the open state, the electronic tag is disposed on the portion of the rubber tape piece on the base plate side among the rubber tape pieces on the base plate and the wrapping plate, and when in the closed state, the coated electronic tag is produced by sandwiching the electronic tag between the portion of the rubber tape piece on the base plate side and the portion on the wrapping plate side. An electronic tag coating apparatus that is controlled as such.

[0009] [2] Each of the base plate and the wrapping plate is provided with an adsorption surface capable of adsorbing the rubber tape piece, and the adsorption surface of the base plate and the adsorption surface of the wrapping plate can independently adsorb the rubber tape piece. The electronic tag coating apparatus according to [1].

[0010] [3] The electronic tag coating apparatus according to [1] or [2], provided with a pressing device that presses the coated electronic tag placed on the base plate from above.

[0011] [4] The wrapping plate is provided with a suction surface capable of sucking the rubber tape piece, and a protrusion forming member is provided on the wrapping plate so as to protrude higher than the suction surface and contact the base plate in the closed state, and the protrusion forming member is detachable from the wrapping plate. The electronic tag coating device according to any one of [1] to [3].

[0012] [5] The electronic tag coating device according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein a recess is formed at a place where the electronic tag is arranged on at least one of the base plate and the wrapping plate.

[0013] [6] In an electronic tag coating method for producing a coated electronic tag by wrapping an electronic tag with rubber, a rubber tape long in the front-rear direction is sent forward toward a folding device including a base plate and a wrapping plate arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, and the rubber tape is cut to cut out a rubber tape piece, which is placed so as to straddle the base plate and the wrapping plate. An electronic tag is arranged on a portion of the rubber tape piece on the base plate side, and the wrapping plate is folded toward the base plate side to sandwich the electronic tag between the portion of the rubber tape piece on the base plate side and the portion on the wrapping plate side, thereby producing the coated electronic tag. [Advantages of the Invention]

[0014] According to the device and method of this embodiment, the electronic tag can be efficiently coated. [Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0015]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] The embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described below are merely examples, and those appropriately modified without departing from the gist of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention.

[0017] First, the configuration of the electronic tag coating device of the present embodiment will be described. The electronic tag coating device of the present embodiment is a device that sandwiches an RFID tag 3 (see FIG. 9), which is a type of electronic tag, between a single rubber tape piece 2 to obtain a coated RFID tag 4 (see FIG. 10).

[0018] In the following description, the front refers to the direction in which the rubber tape 1 is fed out, and the rear refers to the opposite direction. Also, the left and right are expressions when viewing the electronic tag coating device from the rear.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic tag coating device of the present embodiment includes a feeding device 10 that feeds a long rubber tape 1 in the front-rear direction forward, a cutting device 19 that is disposed in front of the feeding device 10 and cuts the rubber tape 1 to cut out a rubber tape piece 2, a folding device 20 that is disposed in front of the cutting device 19 and covers the RFID tag 3 with the rubber tape piece 2 to form a covered RFID tag 4, a tag supply device 40 that supplies the RFID tag 3 to the folding device 20, a pressing device 55 (see FIG. 8) that presses the covered RFID tag 4 on the folding device 20, a winding device 50 that is disposed in front of the folding device 20 and winds a plurality of covered RFID tags 4 with a resin tape 5, a tag transfer device 41 that moves the covered RFID tag 4 from the folding device 20 to the winding device 50, and a control device 57 (see FIG. 8) that controls the electronic tag coating device.

[0020] The rubber tape 1 has a resin tape 6 attached to one side and is supplied in a state of being wound around a winding cylinder 11. The feeding device 10 includes a peeling device 12 that peels the resin tape 6 from the rubber tape 1 drawn from the winding cylinder 11, a winding cylinder 13 that winds the resin tape 6 peeled from the rubber tape 1, and a feeding conveyor 14 that feeds the rubber tape 1 from which the resin tape 6 has been peeled forward. The feeding conveyor 14 consists of two upper and lower conveyors, and the rubber tape 1 is fed forward while being sandwiched between these conveyors.

[0021] The cutting device 19 is provided with a sharp blade for cutting the rubber tape 1. Examples of the blade include those that cut the rubber tape 1 by any of dropping, rotating, moving left and right, etc., and the blade of an ultrasonic cutter. Such a blade cuts the rubber tape 1 at the position of the rear end of a wrapping plate 22 (details will be described later) in the folding device 20.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 2, the folding device 20 includes a front base plate 21 and a rear wrapping plate 22. The base plate 21 and the wrapping plate 22 are connected by a hinge 23. The wrapping plate 22 can operate about the hinge 23 and is folded onto the base plate 21.

[0023] Figs. 2 and 3 are views of the folding device 20 in the open state. Also, Fig. 4 is a view of the folding device 20 in the closed state. The two-dot chain line in Fig. 4 shows the wrapping plate 22 during the change from the open state to the closed state.

[0024] When the folding device 20 is in the open state shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the wrapping plate 22 is located rearward with respect to the base plate 21. At this time, the upper surface of the base plate 21 and the upper surface of the wrapping plate 22 are on the same plane, and the rubber tape 1 can be placed on that plane. The surfaces on the base plate 21 and the wrapping plate 22 where the rubber tape 1 is placed are defined as placement surfaces 21a and 22a, respectively.

[0025] On the other hand, when the folding device 20 is in the closed state shown in Fig. 4, the wrapping plate 22 is placed on the base plate 21 with the placement surface 22a in the open state facing downward. That is, the placement surface 21a of the base plate 21 and the placement surface 22a of the wrapping plate 22 face each other in the closed state.

[0026] The folding device 20 is provided with a drive device 24 (see Fig. 8) for operating the wrapping plate 22. As the drive device 24, a rotary actuator, a motor, a rack and pinion, etc. can be used. The open state and the closed state of the folding device 20 are realized by the drive device 24 driving and the wrapping plate 22 operating about the hinge 23.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 5, the hinge 23 has blades 23b and 23c provided on both sides of the hinge pin 23a. One blade 23b is fixed to the mounting surface 21a of the base plate 21 by a plurality of bolts 23d, and the other blade 23c is fixed to the mounting surface 22a of the wrapping plate 22 by a plurality of bolts 23d.

[0028] At the location of each bolt 23d, a spacer 25 is sandwiched between the blade 23b of the hinge 23 and the mounting surface 21a of the base plate 21, and a spacer 25 is also sandwiched between the blade 23c of the hinge 23 and the mounting surface 22a of the wrapping plate 22. The spacer 25 has holes formed therein, and the bolt 23d passes through the holes. Since the hinge 23 is detachable from each plate, the spacer 25 is also detachable.

[0029] Also, as shown in FIG. 2, two left and right protrusion forming members 26 are provided at a location on the wrapping plate 22 away from the hinge 23. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a recess 32 is formed in the mounting surface 22a of the wrapping plate 22, the lower part of the protrusion forming member 26 enters the recess 32, and the upper part of the protrusion forming member 26 protrudes higher than the mounting surface 22a. Further, the protrusion forming member 26 is detachably provided on the wrapping plate 22 by a fixture such as a bolt.

[0030] When the folding device 20 is in the closed state, as shown in FIG. 4, the protrusion forming member 26 protruding downward from the mounting surface 22a of the wrapping plate 22 abuts against the mounting surface 21a of the base plate 21.

[0031] The vertical height of the protrusion forming member 26 and the thickness of the spacer 25 inserted under the hinge 23 are selected such that when the folding device 20 is in the closed state, the mounting surfaces 21a and 22a of the base plate 21 and the wrapping plate 22 are parallel, and the distance between these mounting surfaces 21a and 22a is an interval suitable for the thickness of the covered RFID tag 4.

[0032] On the placement surface 21a of the base plate 21 and the placement surface 22a of the wrapping plate 22, there are adsorption surfaces 27a, 27b (see Fig. 2) to which the rubber tape 1, the rubber tape piece 2, and the coated RFID tag 4 are to be adsorbed respectively. Each of the adsorption surfaces 27a, 27b is an area of the placement surfaces 21a, 22a where a number of adsorption holes 28a, 28b are arranged in alignment in the front-back, left-right directions. When air is sucked from these adsorption holes 28a, 28b, the rubber tape 1 etc. is adsorbed to the adsorption surfaces 27a, 27b.

[0033] The adsorption surfaces 27a, 27b are subjected to a non-sticking treatment so that the rubber tape 1 can be easily peeled off from the adsorption surfaces 27a, 27b when air is not being sucked from the adsorption holes 28a, 28b. The non-sticking treatment is a treatment that makes the adsorption surfaces 27a, 27b less sticky to rubber than before treatment, for example, a treatment that makes the surfaces have irregularities (such as sandblasting treatment).

[0034] The adsorption holes 28a of the base plate 21 and the adsorption holes 28b of the wrapping plate 22 are connected to separate suction devices 29a, 29b (see Fig. 8). Therefore, the adsorption to the adsorption surface 27a of the base plate 21 and the adsorption to the adsorption surface 27b of the wrapping plate 22 can be independently controlled.

[0035] At the center of the adsorption surface 27a of the base plate 21, a recess 30 (see Fig. 2) that is recessed with respect to the surroundings is formed. The RFID tag 3 is arranged at a location above this recess 30 with the rubber tape piece 2 sandwiched therebetween. Also, the depth of the recess 30 is, for example, about half of the thickness of the completed coated RFID tag 4.

[0036] The adsorption surface 27a of the base plate 21 is a single plane except for the adsorption holes 28a and the recess 30. Also, the adsorption surface 27b of the wrapping plate 22 is a single plane except for the adsorption holes 28b.

[0037] At a location in front of the suction surface 27a on the base plate 21, a stopper 31, which is a plate-shaped member, is fixed. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the stopper 31 protrudes upward from the placement surface 21a. When the rubber tape 1 is fed from the rear to the front and reaches the suction surface 27a, the front end of the rubber tape 1 hits the stopper 31.

[0038] The stopper 31 can be adjusted in its position in the front-rear direction according to the size of the coated RFID tag 4 to be produced. For this purpose, the stopper 31 is detachably attached to a plurality of locations in the front-rear direction of the base plate 21 by fixing tools such as bolts.

[0039] The base plate 21 and the wrapping plate 22 are depicted as simple single plates in FIGS. 2 to 4, but they are not limited to such shapes and may have various shapes as required. For example, the base plate 21 may be larger than that depicted in FIGS. 2 to 4 and extend to a location below the wrapping plate 22 in FIG. 3 and serve as the base of the entire folding device 20.

[0040] Here, the operation of such a folding device 20 will be described based on FIG. 6 as follows. First, the rubber tape 1 sent from the feeding device 10 is placed on the base plate 21 and the wrapping plate 22 of the folding device 20 in an open state and hits the stopper 31 and stops (see FIG. 6(a)). After stopping, the rubber tape 1 is cut at the position of the rear end of the wrapping plate 22, and the RFID tag 3 is placed on the portion of the cut-out rubber tape piece 2 on the side of the base plate 21 (see FIG. 6(b)).

[0041] Next, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 4, the wrapping plate 22 is folded toward the base plate 21, so that the RFID tag 3 is sandwiched between the portion of the rubber tape piece 2 on the base plate 21 side and the portion on the wrapping plate 22 side (see Fig. 6(c)). Next, when the wrapping plate 22 returns to the rear of the base plate 21, the covered RFID tag 4 is formed on the base plate 21 (see Fig. 6(d)).

[0042] Returning to the description of the parts other than the folding device 20, the pressing device 55 (see Fig. 8) includes a cylindrical pressing roller 56 (see Fig. 1) and a moving device (not shown) that moves the pressing roller 56 along the upper surface of the base plate 21. The pressing roller 56 is composed of a cylindrical member made of an elastomer resin, a cylindrical member with rubber lining, or the like. The pressing roller 56 is a roller that presses the covered RFID tag 4 placed on the base plate 21 while rolling. The vertical distance between the pressing roller 56 and the base plate 21 is adjusted so that the pressing roller 56 can press the covered RFID tag 4 placed on the base plate 21. It is preferable that the elastomer resin or rubber lining constituting the pressing roller 56 is relatively soft so as not to damage the covered RFID tag 4.

[0043] The tag supply device 40 and the tag transfer device 41 (see Fig. 1) are devices that can hold and move the RFID tag 3 or the like by a method such as suction. The tag supply device 40 and the tag transfer device 41 adsorb and hold the covered RFID tag 4 by using, for example, the suction force of air. The tag supply device 40 and the tag transfer device 41 are attached to the same frame (not shown).

[0044] The resin tape 5 that winds up the coated RFID tag 4 is supplied to the winding device 50 in a state of being wound around the winding cylinder 51. As shown in FIG. 1, the winding device 50 includes a conveying conveyor 52 that sends the resin tape 5 drawn from the winding cylinder 51 forward, and a winding unit 53 that winds up the resin tape 5 sent forward by the conveying conveyor 52. The conveying conveyor 52 also serves as a place to place the coated RFID tag 4 on the resin tape 5.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 7, when the coated RFID tag 4 is on the base plate 21 of the folding device 20, its longitudinal direction is in the front-rear direction. The tag transfer device 41 lifts the coated RFID tag 4 from the base plate 21, rotates it 90° as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 7, and then places it on the resin tape 5 on the conveying conveyor 52 of the winding device 50. Therefore, on the conveying conveyor 52, the longitudinal direction of the coated RFID tag 4 is in the left-right direction. The resin tape 5 used for winding up the coated RFID tag 4 has a width equal to or greater than the length in the longitudinal direction of the coated RFID tag 4, and is wider than the resin tape 6 pasted on one side of the rubber tape 1.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 8, the drive devices 24 of the feeding device 10, the cutting device 19, the folding device 20, the suction devices 29a and 29b, the tag supply device 40, the pressing device 55, the winding device 50, the tag transfer device 41, etc. are connected to the control device 57. The control device 57 controls these connected devices to implement the electronic tag coating method of this embodiment.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 9, the RFID tag 3 is slender, consisting of a rectangular chip 3a and spiral antennas 3b extending from both sides of the chip 3a. The sizes of the RFID tags 3 vary. The length in the longitudinal direction of the RFID tag 3 is, for example, 30 to 70 mm. Also, the maximum length in the short side direction of the RFID tag 3 (that is, the length in the left-right direction of the chip 3a) is, for example, 2 to 5 mm.

[0048] The size of the rubber tape piece 2 that covers the RFID tag 3 is suitable for covering the RFID tag 3 and varies. The length of the rubber tape piece 2 in the longitudinal direction is, for example, 80 to 160 mm. Also, the length of the rubber tape piece 2 in the short transverse direction is, for example, 10 to 30 mm. The thickness of the rubber tape piece 2 is, for example, 0.3 to 0.9 mm.

[0049] Fig. 10 shows the covered RFID tag 4 in which the RFID tag 3 is covered by the rubber tape piece 2. The size of the covered RFID tag 4 is half the length of the rubber tape piece 2 in the longitudinal direction and the same length as the rubber tape piece 2 in the short transverse direction. Also, the length of the rubber tape 1 in the left - right direction matches the length of the rubber tape piece 2 in the left - right direction.

[0050] The type of rubber used for the rubber tape 1 and the rubber tape piece 2 is not limited. For example, it may be the rubber used for any member (such as a belt edge tape) that constitutes a tire, or it may be a rubber specially developed for wrapping the RFID tag 3.

[0051] Next, the electronic tag covering method of this embodiment will be described. This method is implemented based on the control by the control device 57.

[0052] First, in the feeding device 10, the rubber tape 1 with the resin tape 6 is pulled out from the winding cylinder 11, and in the peeling device 12, the resin tape 6 is peeled off from the rubber tape 1. The peeled resin tape 6 is wound around the winding cylinder 13. The rubber tape 1 from which the resin tape 6 has been peeled is sent to the folding device 20 by the feeding conveyor 14.

[0053] The rubber tape 1 reaches the folding device 20 in the open state and is placed on the suction surfaces 27a and 27b of the wrapping plate 22 and the base plate 21. When the front end of the rubber tape 1 hits the stopper 31, the movement of the rubber tape 1 stops, and the rubber tape 1 is adsorbed to the suction surfaces 27a and 27b (see Fig. 6(a)). After adsorption, the rubber tape 1 is cut by the cutting device 19 at the position of the rear end of the wrapping plate 22, and the rubber tape piece 2 is cut out. The cut rubber tape piece 2 remains adsorbed to the suction surfaces 27a and 27b. As a result, the rubber tape piece 2 is placed in a state of straddling the wrapping plate 22 and the base plate 21.

[0054] Next, the RFID tag 3 is placed on the portion of the rubber tape piece 2 on the base plate 21 side by the tag supply device 40 (see Fig. 6(b)). Next, the wrapping plate 22 is folded toward the base plate 21 side. That is, the folding device 20 becomes the closed state (see Fig. 4). By this folding, the RFID tag 3 is sandwiched between the portion of the rubber tape piece 2 on the base plate 21 side and the portion on the wrapping plate 22 side (see Fig. 6(c)). At this time, it is preferable that the rubber tape piece 2 is folded at the center position in the front-rear direction, and the front end and the rear end of the rubber tape piece 2 before folding coincide by folding. By sandwiching the RFID tag 3 between the folded rubber tape pieces 2, the covered RFID tag 4 is formed.

[0055] Next, while the adsorption to the suction surface 27a of the base plate 21 continues, only the adsorption of the suction surface 27b of the wrapping plate 22 ends. Then, the wrapping plate 22 returns to a position behind the base plate 21 away from the covered RFID tag 4. As a result, the folding device 20 returns to the open state. Also, the covered RFID tag 4 remains on the base plate 21 (see Fig. 6(d)).

[0056] Next, the pressing roller 56 of the pressing device 55 presses the coated RFID tag 4 on the base plate 21 from above while rolling. As a result, the rubber tape pieces 2 sandwiching the RFID tag 3 come into close contact with each other, and if there is air inside the coated RFID tag 4, the air is pushed out. When the pressing by the pressing roller 56 is completed, the adsorption of the coated RFID tag 4 to the adsorption surface 27a of the base plate 21 is completed.

[0057] Next, the tag transfer device 41 moves the coated RFID tag 4 from above the base plate 21 onto the transport conveyor 52 of the winding device 50. A resin tape 5 pulled out from the winding cylinder 51 is placed on the transport conveyor 52, and the tag transfer device 41 places the coated RFID tag 4 on the resin tape 5 (see Fig. 7).

[0058] When the coated RFID tag 4 is removed from above the base plate 21, the rubber tape 1 is sent from the feeding device 10 to the folding device 20 again, and the next coated RFID tag 4 is produced in the folding device 20. In this way, on the base plate 21, every time the produced coated RFID tag 4 is removed, the rubber tape 1 is fed in and the next coated RFID tag 4 is produced.

[0059] The transport conveyor 52 of the winding device 50 repeats moving and stopping. Every time the transport conveyor 52 stops, a new coated RFID tag 4 is placed on the resin tape 5 on the transport conveyor 52 by the tag transfer device 41. Every time a coated RFID tag 4 is placed, the transport conveyor 52 moves a certain distance. By repeating this, the coated RFID tags 4 are arranged at equal intervals on the resin tape 5 on the transport conveyor 52 as shown in Fig. 7. The resin tape 5 on which the coated RFID tags 4 are arranged at equal intervals in this way is wound up by the winding unit 53.

[0060] The resin tape 5 wound in a roll in the take-up section 53 is conveyed to the location of the tire manufacturing facility. Then, in the tire manufacturing facility, the coated RFID tag 4 is peeled off from the resin tape 5 and attached to the tire. The coated RFID tag 4 is attached, for example, to the side surface of the bead filler of the tire. Then, the sidewall rubber is attached from above the coated RFID tag 4 attached to the side surface of the bead filler.

[0061] During the process of providing the coated RFID tag 4 to the tire in this way, since the RFID tag 3 is protected by the surrounding rubber (the rubber that was originally the rubber tape piece 2), it will not be damaged. Also, since the RFID tag 3 is covered with rubber and becomes the coated RFID tag 4, it is easy to control the attachment location.

[0062] In this way, since the RFID tag 3 is embedded inside the tire, there is no risk of the RFID tag 3 coming off the tire. Note that since rubber allows radio waves to pass through, the RFID tag 3 has no functional problems even when embedded in the tire.

[0063] The RFID tag 3 provided on the tire can be used for traceability and production management in tire factories and automobile factories. In addition, it can also be used for recording regular inspection results, mileage records, retread records, etc. after the vehicle is equipped.

[0064] Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0065] As described above, the electronic tag coating device of this embodiment includes a feeding device 10 that feeds the long rubber tape 1 in the front-rear direction forward, and a folding device 20 that is arranged in front of the feeding device 10 and can place the rubber tape piece 2 cut out from the rubber tape 1.

[0066] This folding device 20 includes a base plate 21 and a wrapping plate 22 arranged in the front-rear direction when in the open state, and is a device in which the wrapping plate 22 is folded onto the base plate 21 when in the closed state. When this folding device 20 is in the open state, the RFID tag 3 is arranged on the portion on the base plate 21 side among the rubber tape pieces 2 placed on the base plate 21 and the wrapping plate 22, and when it becomes the closed state, the RFID tag 3 is sandwiched between the portion on the base plate 21 side and the portion on the wrapping plate 22 side of the rubber tape piece 2 to control the production of the covered RFID tag 4.

[0067] According to this electronic tag covering device, one rubber tape piece 2 cut from one rubber tape 1 can cover the RFID tag 3. Therefore, for example, it is not necessary to prepare a large number of small rubber sheets separately from the long rubber belt, such as when arranging a plurality of RFID tags 3 on a long rubber belt and placing a small rubber sheet on each RFID tag 3. Therefore, according to this electronic tag covering device, the RFID tag 3 can be efficiently covered with rubber.

[0068] In addition, since there is no need for a device for producing, transporting, and placing the above-mentioned small rubber sheets on the RFID tag 3, the facilities for producing the covered RFID tag 4 can be simplified.

[0069] In addition, according to this electronic tag covering device, as long as the RFID tag 3 can be placed on any part (preferably the center, of course) on the base plate 21 side of the rubber tape piece 2, the RFID tag 3 can be sandwiched between the rubber tape pieces 2. Therefore, even if the accuracy of the placement position of the RFID tag 3 on the rubber tape piece 2 is slightly poor, the covered RFID tag 4 can be produced.

[0070] In addition, since this electronic tag covering device covers the RFID tags 3 one by one with rubber, it can also be used for the production of the covered RFID tags 4 as experimental samples and the production of small-lot products.

[0071] Further, adsorption surfaces 27a and 27b capable of adsorbing the rubber tape piece 2 are provided on each of the base plate 21 and the wrapping plate 22, and the adsorption surface 27a of the base plate 21 and the adsorption surface 27b of the wrapping plate 22 can independently adsorb the rubber tape piece 2. Therefore, before folding the wrapping plate 22, the rubber tape piece 2 is adsorbed across the adsorption surface 27a of the base plate 21 and the adsorption surface 27b of the wrapping plate 22. After folding the wrapping plate 22, the covered RFID tag 4 that has been covered is adsorbed only on the adsorption surface 27a of the base plate 21, and the covered RFID tag 4 is separated from the adsorption surface 27b of the wrapping plate 22. Such usage can be adopted.

[0072] In addition, the electronic tag coating device of the present embodiment is provided with a pressing device 55 that presses the covered RFID tag 4 placed on the base plate 21 from above. Therefore, by pressing the covered RFID tag 4 on the base plate 21 from above, the rubber tape pieces 2 sandwiching the RFID tag 3 can be brought into close contact with each other, and the air remaining inside the covered RFID tag 4 can be extruded.

[0073] In addition, the wrapping plate 22 is provided with a protruding forming member 26 that protrudes higher than the adsorption surface 27b and contacts the base plate 21 when in the closed state. Therefore, a gap is secured between the adsorption surface 27a of the base plate 21 and the adsorption surface 27b of the wrapping plate 22, and the covered RFID tag 4 is sandwiched in the gap, preventing the RFID tag 3 from being crushed.

[0074] Here, since the protruding forming member 26 is detachable from the wrapping plate 22, the size of the protruding forming member 26 can be selected according to the thickness of the covered RFID tag 4 to be manufactured, and the gap between the adsorption surface 27a of the base plate 21 and the adsorption surface 27b of the wrapping plate 22 can be adjusted.

[0075] In addition, a hinge 23 for connecting the base plate 21 and the wrapping plate 22 is provided, and spacers 25 are sandwiched between each plate and the blades 23b, 23c of the hinge 23, and these spacers 25 are detachable. Therefore, by changing the thickness of the spacers 25, the gap between the suction surface 27a of the base plate 21 and the suction surface 27b of the wrapping plate 22 can be adjusted even at the hinge 23 portion.

[0076] In addition, since a recess 30 is formed at the location on the base plate 21 where the RFID tag 3 is disposed, it is possible to prevent the RFID tag 3 from being crushed between the base plate 21 and the wrapping plate 22.

[0077] Further, the electronic tag coating method of the present embodiment is a method of producing a coated RFID tag 4 by placing a rubber tape piece 2 cut by cutting a rubber tape 1 that is long in the front-rear direction across the base plate 21 and the wrapping plate 22 of the folding device 20, disposing the RFID tag 3 on the portion of the rubber tape piece 2 on the base plate 21 side, and folding the wrapping plate 22 toward the base plate 21 side to sandwich the RFID tag 3 between the portion of the rubber tape piece 2 on the base plate 21 side and the portion on the wrapping plate 22 side.

[0078] According to this method, the RFID tag 3 can be efficiently coated with rubber by sandwiching the RFID tag 3 with the rubber tape piece 2 cut from one rubber tape 1.

[0079] Various changes can be made to the above embodiments. Any one of the modification examples described below may be applied to the above embodiments, or any two or more of them may be combined and applied to the above embodiments. The combination can be freely made.

[0080] <Modification Example 1> The feeding device for the rubber tape 1 only needs to be able to feed the rubber tape 1 that is long in the front-rear direction toward the folding device 20 in the front, and the detailed configuration is not limited to that of the above embodiment.

[0081] <Modification Example 2> In the above method, part of the operations performed by the apparatus may be performed manually by an operator. For example, the cutting of the rubber tape 1 between the delivery conveyor 14 and the folding apparatus 20 may be performed by the operator. Also, when starting the delivery apparatus 10, the operator may attach the leading end of the resin tape 6 peeled from the rubber tape 1 to the winding cylinder 13, or insert the leading end of the rubber tape 1 after peeling the resin tape 6 into the delivery conveyor 14.

[0082] <Modification Example 3> The base plate 21 and the wrapping plate 22 may be reversed front and back. In that case, the wrapping plate 22, which is disposed in front of the base plate 21 in the open state, will be folded toward the rear base plate 21 when the closed state is reached. In this case, the stopper 31 is provided on the wrapping plate 22.

[0083] <Modification Example 4> Instead of the stopper 31, a sensor for detecting the rubber tape 1 non - contact may be provided. In that case, when the sensor detects that the leading end of the rubber tape 1 has reached a predetermined position on the base plate 21, the feeding of the rubber tape 1 from the delivery apparatus 10 is controlled to stop. Thereby, the leading end of the rubber tape 1 stops at the position of the leading end of the adsorption surface 27a of the base plate 21.

[0084] <Modification Example 5> In the above embodiment, the recess 30 was formed in the adsorption surface 27a of the base plate 21, but such a recess may be formed in the adsorption surface 27b of the wrapping plate 22 instead of the base plate 21. Also, such a recess may be formed in the adsorption surfaces 27a and 27b of both the base plate 21 and the wrapping plate 22.

[0085] <Modification Example 6> The operating sequence of the electronic tag coating device may be slightly changed from the sequence of the above embodiment as long as the coated RFID tag 4 can be produced without problems. For example, after the rubber tape 1 is placed on the base plate 21, the RFID tag 3 may be placed on the rubber tape 1 first, and then the rubber tape 1 may be cut into rubber tape pieces 2.

[0086] <Modification Example 7> The protrusion forming member 26 may be provided on the base plate 21 instead of the wrapping plate 22. Further, the protrusion forming member 26 may be provided on both the wrapping plate 22 and the base plate 21.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0087] 1... rubber tape, 2... rubber tape piece, 3... RFID tag, 3a... chip, 3b... antenna, 4... coated RFID tag, 5... resin tape, 6... resin tape, 10... feeding device, 11... winding cylinder, 12... peeling device, 13... winding cylinder, 14... feeding conveyor, 19... cutting device, 20... folding device, 21... base plate, 21a... mounting surface, 22... wrapping plate, 22a... mounting surface, 23... hinge, 23a... hinge pin, 23b... blade, 23c... blade, 23d... bolt, 24... driving device, 25... spacer, 26... protrusion forming member, 27a... suction surface, 27b... suction surface, 28a... suction hole, 28b... suction hole, 29a... suction device, 29b... suction device, 30... recess, 31... stopper, 32... depression, 40... tag supply device, 41... tag transfer device, 50... winding device, 51... winding cylinder, 52... conveying conveyor, 53... winding part, 55... pressing device, 56... pressing roller, 57... control device

Claims

1. An electronic tag coating device that forms a coated electronic tag by wrapping an electronic tag with rubber, a feeding device that feeds a long rubber tape in the front-rear direction forward, and a folding device that is disposed in front of the feeding device and can place a rubber tape piece cut from the rubber tape, wherein the folding device includes a base plate and a wrapping plate that are aligned in the front-rear direction in an open state to form a single unit for placing one rubber tape piece, and when in a closed state, the wrapping plate is folded onto the base plate, when the folding device is in the open state, the electronic tag is disposed on the portion of the rubber tape piece on the base plate side among the rubber tape pieces on the base plate and the wrapping plate, and when in the closed state, the coated electronic tag is produced by sandwiching the electronic tag between the portion of the rubber tape piece on the base plate side and the portion on the wrapping plate side, an electronic tag coating device.

2. Each of the base plate and the wrapping plate is provided with a suction surface capable of sucking the rubber tape piece, and the suction surface of the base plate and the suction surface of the wrapping plate can independently suck the rubber tape piece. The electronic tag coating device according to Claim 1.

3. The electronic tag coating device according to Claim 1 or 2, further provided with a pressing device that presses the coated electronic tag placed on the base plate from above.

4. The wrapping plate is provided with a suction surface capable of sucking the rubber tape piece, and a protrusion forming member that protrudes higher than the suction surface on the wrapping plate and contacts the base plate when in the closed state is provided, and the protrusion forming member is detachable from the wrapping plate. The electronic tag coating device according to Claim 1.

5. The electronic tag coating device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein a recess is formed at a location where the electronic tag is disposed on at least one of the base plate and the wrapping plate.

6. In an electronic tag coating method for producing a coated electronic tag by wrapping an electronic tag with rubber, a long rubber tape in the front-rear direction is fed forward toward a folding device including a base plate and a wrapping plate aligned in the front-rear direction, Place the rubber tape piece cut by cutting the rubber tape across the base plate and the wrapping plate. Place the electronic tag on the portion of the rubber tape piece on the base plate side. An electronic tag coating method for producing the coated electronic tag by folding the wrapping plate to the base plate side and sandwiching the electronic tag between the portion of the rubber tape piece on the base plate side and the portion on the wrapping plate side.

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