Apparatus for manufacturing strips of electronic tags

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus (1) for manufacturing strips (4) of electronic tags, the manufacturing process of which involves the continuous insertion of wire segments, each supporting an electronic device, between a lower tape (3b) and an upper tape (3a), each of which is continuously unwound from a reel (2b, 2a). The apparatus includes a sealing station having a sealing zone (Zc) and a guide device (11) located upstream of the sealing zone. The guide device also includes a presser foot (11b) located alongside the assembly zone (Za) for applying controlled pressure to the assembly formed by the upper tape (3a), the wire segments, and the lower tape (3b).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electronic identification tagging of textile items such as clothing, or more generally of any kind of item. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing electronic identification tags. [Background technology]

[0002] Tags used in the identification field are often designated by the name "RFID tag" (an acronym for the expression "Radio Frequency Identification"). Such tags comprise an electronic identification chip with radio frequency transmission and reception capabilities coupled to an antenna.

[0003] WO2021089939 discloses a rectangular RFID tag, typically 3 cm to 20 cm long and 0.5 mm to 2 cm wide. The tag consists of two sections of textile tape, which are assembled and sealed together by the main surfaces of the textile tape. A segment of RFID wire, i.e., a wire segment carrying an electronic identification chip coupled to an antenna, is sandwiched between these two surfaces. The tag is sufficiently flexible so as not to alter the flexibility of the textile part to which it is intended to be integrated. The tag's form factor and flexibility allow it to be integrated into a seam, for example, by at least partially placing the tag between overlock loops on the textile part.

[0004] To produce such tags, the aforementioned document proposes providing a long RFID wire in the form of a reel carrying a plurality of regularly spaced electronic identification devices. The RFID wire unwound from the reel is guided to a cutting station where segments are successively cut, each segment equipped with an electronic identification device. The segments are inserted one by one between two continuously advancing tapes unwound from their respective reels. This insertion is performed by a guide pipe, which transports the segments picked up from the cutting station into an insertion zone of a sealing station. In this insertion zone, the segments transported by the pipe are reeled in by the advancing two tapes. When the collected segments are sandwiched between the two tapes, the two tapes are sealed together.

[0005] This manufacturing device allows the RFID wire segment to be placed between two tapes at a selected distance. The strip of electronic tags 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 that this device can be used reliably at high speeds.

[0007] Object of the invention The object of the present invention is to propose such an improvement.

[0008] Summary of the Invention To this end, the subject of the present invention is an apparatus for manufacturing a strip of electronic tags according to claim 1.

[0009] According to other advantageous, non-limiting features of the present invention, taken alone or in any technically feasible combination, The sealing station includes an anvil having a major surface and a sonotrode having an active surface positioned opposite the major surface of the anvil in a sealing zone, through which two tapes can be advanced and heat-sealed together. The guide device includes pressure means coupled to the presser foot for controlling the pressure applied to the assembly formed by at least the upper and lower tapes. The anvil is formed by a rotating drum having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the direction of advancement and a peripheral surface carrying two lateral rows of marking teeth defining a central groove, the marking teeth forming the main surface of the anvil. The rotating drum has two circular sides, and the rows of marking teeth are recessed from the circular sides towards the inside of the periphery, leaving two lateral spaces. The presser foot has two longitudinal arms. The presser foot has a support surface between its longitudinal arms that carries a groove. The presser foot is mounted across the drum so that its longitudinal arms are positioned parallel to the circular sides of the drum in two lateral spaces. The guide device comprises a body having two tunnels forming an upper guide channel and a lower guide channel, respectively, and the two tunnels and the central pipe open into an internal housing in which the presser foot resides. Before the sealing station there is a large wire cutting station to collect the segments. The manufacturing apparatus includes a cauterization station for receiving the tag strip and forming a heat seal pad in a central portion of the dead zone of the strip that is free of wire segments. The manufacturing device includes a pre-cutting station for forming two transverse cuts in the dead zone of the strip to cut at least the lateral portions of the tape located outside the central portion occupied by the heat seal pad. The manufacturing apparatus includes at least one alignment station for positioning a salient element on one of the tapes, wire segments, and / or tag strips as they advance. The manufacturing apparatus includes at least one folding station located upstream of the sealing station, the folding station receiving a relatively wide tape and folding it longitudinally to form an upper tape and a lower tape. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] 1 shows an apparatus for manufacturing a strip of electronic tags according to the present invention; [Figure 2a] 3 shows diagrammatically the RFID wire cutting and assembly operations performed by the cutting and sealing stations of the apparatus according to the invention; [Figure 2b] 3 shows diagrammatically the RFID wire cutting and assembly operations performed by the cutting and sealing stations of the apparatus according to the invention; [Figure 3a] 1 shows some elements of a sealing station according to the invention from two different angles. [Figure 3b] 1 shows the anvil and sealing station sonotrode according to the invention in more detail. [Figure 4] 1 illustrates the principle implemented by the guidance device according to the invention; [Figure 5a] 3A-3C show different views of a part of the guide device of the sealing station of the device according to the invention; [Figure 5b] 3A and 3B show different views of another part of the guide device of the sealing station of the device according to the invention. [Figure 6] 3 shows an embodiment of a guide device for a sealing station of the device according to the invention; [Figure 7] 1 shows a tag strip produced by an apparatus according to the invention; [Figure 8] 1 shows a perspective view of a presser foot according to the present invention; [Figure 9] 1 illustrates a shell that partially defines a guide device, according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] By way of preamble, it should be remembered that the tag strips produced by the device according to the invention are obtained by inserting a segment of RFID wire equipped with an electronic identification device between two continuously advancing tapes, these tapes being designated by the expressions "lower tape" and "upper tape".

[0012] Advantageously, the RFID wire segment is not inserted and fixed between two tapes, but is simply held between these two tapes sealed together, for example, along the side of the tape. This configuration is particularly advantageous, as it allows such a tag to be firmly attached to the textile part, for example, by a straight seam or an overlock stitch. Stresses experienced by the textile part (e.g., in tension) are transmitted to the tape portion between which the RFID wire segment is held, but not to the RFID wire itself, which could damage the textile part, 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.

[0013] The two tapes (when the tag is intended to integrate textile components, an application that will be considered as an example in the detailed description of this specification) are typically made of textile fibers made of a material that can be melted at moderate temperatures, for example below 400°C, and generally between 100°C and 400°C. Such a meltable material may correspond to the thermoplastics commonly used in the clothing industry (such as polyamides with a melting temperature of about 180-260°C, or polyesters with a melting temperature of about 260°C). It may also correspond to a plastic material. As will be explained in a later section of this specification, these tapes may have slight beads on their lateral edges that can be advantageously used to guide the positioning of the tape.

[0014] According to this specification, RFID wire refers to a woven wire carrying several electronic identification chips and antennas distributed along the length of the wire. Regarding the different methods for obtaining such wires, reference may be made to the documents cited in the introduction. The chips embedded in the RFID wire form a slight protrusion, which makes it easier to identify their position along the length of the wire. As will be explained later, this feature can be used to advantage in the device according to the invention.

[0015] FIG. 1 shows a general view of an apparatus 1 for manufacturing strips of electronic tags according to the invention.

[0016] As can be seen from this overview, the apparatus 1 includes a first reel 2a and a second reel 2b, which include an upper tape 3a and a lower tape 3b, respectively. The apparatus also includes a third reel 2c, which includes an RFID wire 3c. The lower tape 3a, the upper tape 3b, and the RFID wire are unwound from their respective reels 2a, 2b, 2c, advance in a general direction through the apparatus 1, and are processed by a series of stations 7a-7i, which perform various processes to form a strip of electronic tags 4. The strip is collected on a tag reel 2d for storage and future use.

[0017] The lower tape 3a, upper tape 3b and tag strip 4 flow continuously from station to station through the apparatus 1, while the RFID wire 3c advances discontinuously until it is sandwiched in a segment between the two tapes 3a, 3b. The unwinding of the reel 2c is interrupted during a cutting operation to remove the segment before it is inserted between the lower tape 3a and the upper tape 3b.

[0018] The apparatus comprises a number of drive and guide devices 6, for example consisting of rotationally driven rollers, arranged along the length of the apparatus 1 between the various stations 7a to 7i that make up the apparatus, in order to make it possible to unwind the reels and advance the tapes 3a, 3b, the strips 4 and the RFID wire 3c.

[0019] In particular, the apparatus 1 is fitted with a drive and guide device 6 located between the third reel 2c containing the RFID wire 3c and the cutting station 7b. In particular, as will be explained in more detail in the following section, this drive device 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.

[0020] The apparatus 1 also comprises a plurality of tensioning devices 5 for the tapes 3a, 3b, RFID wire 3c, and tag strips 4. Generally speaking, the tension of the tapes 3a, 3b, RFID wire 3c, and / or strips of electronic tags 4 must be controlled, typically between 0.2N and 5N, in order to control the elongation of the textile material and accurately identify the movement of the tapes within the apparatus 1. In particular, in the assembly and sealing zones of the apparatus 1, which will be presented in later sections of this application, care is taken to apply as uniform a tension as possible to the tapes 3a, 3b.

[0021] In this way, the drive and guidance device 6 and the tensioning device 5 are advantageously arranged upstream and / or downstream of a particular station and are configured to control the tension in the strip of tape 3 a, 3 b, RFID wire 3 c and / or electronic tag 4 at the station in question. It is therefore preferable to apply a relatively high tension to the elements during the sealing or cauterizing operation, and a relatively low tension after the pre-cutting operation and during the test operation.

[0022] 1 are all aligned along a single general direction of advance, this is by no means an essential feature of the invention. More generally, the stations of apparatus 1 may be arranged freely in space, the apparatus 1 being provided with sufficient drive and guide devices 6 and tensioning devices 5 to drive and guide the tapes 3a, 3b, RFID wire 3c and tag strips 4 between these different stations in any suitable configuration.

[0023] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the device 1 comprises a number of stations, as will be described in the sections below, which unwind successively from reels 2a, 2b, 2c onto tag reel 2d. Each of the stations 7a to 7i is provided with a control unit (comprising a microcontroller, CPU or other form of computing means, memory, input / output ports, etc.), in addition to the explicitly described devices for implementing the specific operations of the station in question, which allows the described operations to be carried out in a coordinated manner during advancement. For this purpose, the control units of the various stations can communicate with each other, with the drive and guidance device 6 and with the tensioning device 5, either directly or via a supervision unit of the device 1.

[0024] · Alignment station 7a. The first alignment station 7a is positioned opposite the RFID wire 3c. This allows the location of an electronic identification device within the RFID wire 3c as it unwinds from the reel 2c to be identified. For example, the first alignment station 7a can be a cam that is positioned relative to the RFID wire 3c as it advances, and the cam is displaced when a protrusion on the RFID wire 3c passes by (the protrusion corresponds to the identification chip described above). The cam is associated with a contact, and the displacement of the cam triggers the contact to generate a signal indicating the time the chip has passed. This passage time can be communicated to the subsequent cutting station 7b, which can use this information to precisely cut the RFID wire 3c to form functional segments, each of which includes an electronic identification device comprising the chip and its antenna.

[0025] It should be noted that the apparatus according to the present disclosure may include other alignment stations, allowing salient features on one of the tapes 3a, 3b, the RFID wire 3c, and / or the tag strip 4 to be identified and located as they advance. This allows stations 7a-7i to be properly synchronized and operated. This may include locating the identification chip, as exemplified with reference to the first alignment station, the antenna, the tag dead zone, and the tag ablation zone (these terms are defined below). These alignment stations may implement various techniques for detecting the dead zone or ablation zone, such as mechanical detection, capacitance measurement to locate the antenna, and / or optical measurement (camera or simple transmission-operated photodiode).

[0026] Cutting station 7b This station 7b is also facing the RFID wire 3c. It may, for example, be equipped with one or more blades (or any other form of cutting means) that can be activated at a given cutting time to separate the RFID wire segment from the RFID wire 3c. This station is connected to the alignment station 7a as explained above and receives the time at which the chip passes this station 7a. The cutting time can easily be determined from the passing time, the distance between the two stations, the feed speed of the RFID wire 3c, and the length of the RFID wire segment. To enable this cutting, as already mentioned, the advancement of the RFID wire 3c is temporarily stopped just before the cutting moment to allow the cutting means to be activated.

[0027] Advantageously, at this cutting point, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2a, the free end E of the RFID wire 3c is already "sandwiched" between the lower tape 3b and the upper tape 3a advancing through 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 moment of cutting, the free end E of the RFID wire 3c, sandwiched between the tapes 3a and 3b, cannot be driven by these tapes. This tension created in the RFID wire at the time before the activation of the cutting means makes cutting the RFID wire 3c easier and more accurate.

[0028] Immediately after the moment of cutting, the RFID wire segment 3d is released from the remaining RFID wire 3c, and it is caught in the continued advance of the tapes 3a, 3b, fully inserted and sandwiched between them. After the moment of cutting, the RFID wire 3c resumes its advance. The waiting time between the moment of cutting and the moment of resumption of advance is selected so as to introduce a dead zone in the tag tape 4, i.e., a zone of strip without RFID wire. Thus, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2b, the free end E of this wire 3c advances towards the assembly zone Za of the next sealing station 7c, where it is sandwiched between the lower tape 3b and the upper tape 3a.

[0029] To allow the free end E of the RFID wire 3c to advance and engage between the lower tape and the upper tape, the drive and guide device 6 can be positioned directly behind the cutting blade and between the cutting station 7b and the next sealing station. In particular, this allows the RFID wire segment 3d to be transported to the assembly zone Za if it is shorter than the distance separating the cutting position from the assembly zone Za, but does not allow the free end E of the RFID wire segment 3d to be pinched in the assembly zone Za at the moment of cutting. In this configuration, the drive and guide device 6 applies tension to the RFID wire 3c before cutting.

[0030] If the RFID wire 3c is sufficiently rigid and the distance between the cutting location and the assembly zone Za is appropriate, such a drive device is not necessary and the free end of the RFID wire is pushed towards the next sealing station without needing to be guided and / or driven. A coating station can be positioned opposite the RFID wire 3c and before the cutting station 7b to inject a material (e.g., resin) onto the RFID wire 3c to make the material sufficiently rigid for this mode of operation.

[0031] A mechanism can also be provided for cutting a portion of the RFID wire 3c to remove it from the apparatus 1, i.e., to prevent this portion of wire from being transported to the next sealing station 7c. Such a mechanism can be useful when the distance between two identification chips carried by the RFID wire 3c is longer than the desired tag length. In this case, it is desirable to cut a portion of the RFID wire 3c to shorten the length of the electronic identification device, and therefore the length of the segment removed from the RFID wire 3c, to the tag length. This mechanism can also be useful for ejecting a segment of RFID wire 3c that is found to be malfunctioning, to prevent it from being integrated into a tag on the strip 4.

[0032] This can be achieved by installing a movable pipe between the cutting means of the cutting station 7b and the assembly zone Za. To eject a portion of the wire, the portion is introduced into the movable pipe, which is oriented or moved so as to prevent the portion from being transported to the assembly zone Za of the next sealing station 7c. Once the portion of the wire has been cut, the cut portion of the RFID wire 3d is ejected by an ejection roller located at the outlet of the movable pipe, or by a jet of air in the movable pipe, or by any other ejection means (e.g., vibration).

[0033] Seal Station 7c As can be seen, this station immediately follows the cutting station 7b. On the one hand, the RFID wire segment is precisely sandwiched between the 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 remains constrained by the two tapes 3a, 3b. At the exit of this sealing station 7c, the tag strip 4 is transported to the next station of the device 1.

[0034] In the sealing station 7c according to the invention, sealing is achieved by heat sealing. To this end, the sealing station 7c is equipped with a sonotrode having an active surface opposite the main surface of the anvil. The active surface is positioned at a controlled distance from the main surface in a sealing zone where two pre-assembled tapes can be advanced and heat-sealed together. As is well known, the sonotrode is formed by a metal part subjected to ultrasonic waves. The sonotrode's holding pressure and the vibration energy returned to the tape advancing between the sonotrode and the anvil locally melt the tape, thereby sealing it by heat sealing.

[0035] In the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 3a and 3b, the anvil is formed by a rotating drum 8 having a rotation axis R perpendicular to the advancement direction. The rotation of the drum 8 helps drive the tapes (particularly the lower tape 3b before the sealing operation) and the tag strip 4 (when the two tapes are sealed together after the sealing operation). The drum 8 has a peripheral surface disposed between two side surfaces 8a, 8b. The peripheral surface 8c has a width corresponding to the width of the tapes 3a, 3b. The peripheral surface 8c carries two lateral rows of marking teeth 9a, 9b that define a central groove 9c. The marking teeth 9a, 9b form the main surface of the anvil. The active surface of the sonotrode 10 also has two teeth located opposite the rows of teeth on the drum within the sealing zone. This configuration allows for the creation of sealing points on both sides of the tag strip 4 along its length.

[0036] As can be clearly seen in Figure 3b, the central groove 9c of the drum 8 and the space between the two rows of teeth of the sonotrode 10 provide a passage for the central portion of the tape, which has been deformed by the RFID wire segments assembled together and sandwiched between the tapes. The presence of this passage is highly advantageous, as it allows the protrusions created by the tips of the RFID wire segments to advance freely within the tag tape, i.e., without the risk of these protrusions impeding or slowing down the advancement of the tag tape. It also allows the lower and upper tapes to be deformed perfectly symmetrically around the RFID wire segments and therefore perfectly aligned longitudinally.

[0037] Also, preferably, the rows of teeth are not flush with the drum sides 8a, 8b, but are recessed from these sides toward the inside of the circumferential surface 8c to leave two lateral spaces 14a, 14b for positioning the lateral beads of the upper and lower tapes 3a, 3b. This configuration helps to position the two tapes precisely opposite each other during the sealing operation and to guide the progression of the tapes through the stations.

[0038] Naturally, the precision with which the two tapes 3a, 3b are sealed together to keep the RFID wire segment 3d restrained depends on the precision with which the two tapes and the RFID wire segment sandwiched between them were pre-assembled. To this end, the sealing station 7c comprises a guide device 11 located between the cutting station 7b and the sealing zone Zc, upstream of the sealing zone Zc. Figure 4 shows the principle implemented by the guide device 11.

[0039] Very generally, this guide device 11 comprises a part 11a, the different views of which are shown in Fig. 5a, which has an upper guide channel 12a and a lower guide channel 12b for respectively guiding the advance of an upper tape 3a and a lower tape 3b from their respective reels 2a, 2b. These two guide channels 12a, 12b converge with their main surfaces to join the two tapes 3a, 3b in an assembly zone Za located immediately upstream of the sealing zone Zc. In the assembly zone, the guide device 11 may have a support 11e for receiving the two joined tapes 3a, 3b and guiding their advance.

[0040] The part 11a of the guide device 11 also includes a central pipe 13 located between the upper and lower guide channels 12a, 12b. This central pipe 13 extends from a first end 13a, located near the cutting station 7b, to a second end 13b, which opens in the assembly zone Za. As shown in FIG. 5a, the two ends are located on two opposite sides of the part 11a. During operation, the free end E of the RFID wire 3c coming from the cutting station 7b is introduced through the first end 13a of the central pipe 13, travels through this pipe 13, and emerges in the assembly zone Za, where it is sandwiched between the lower tape 3b and the upper tape 3a flowing from the respective guide channels 12b, 12a. As noted above, the cutting station 7b is synchronized with the sealing station 7c, whereby the RFID wire 3c is cut to form an RFID wire segment 3d, advantageously sandwiched between the two advancing tapes 3a, 3b when the free end E of the RFID wire 3c is engaged in the assembly zone Za. This configuration makes it easier to cut a wire that is installed under tension and allows the wrapped RFID wire segment to be pulled as it is cut as the two tapes move. The RFID wire segment 3d is progressively sandwiched between the two tapes 3a, 3b, assembled, and transported to the sealing zone Zc, where the two tapes are sealed together.

[0041] FIG. 5b shows a different view of part 11a of guide device 11 in an alternative configuration. In this configuration, the second end 13b of central pipe 13 opens into upper guide channel 12a. As can be clearly seen in the top view of part 11a shown in FIG. 5b, the intersection of pipe end 13b with the plane defining the bottom of the guide channel forms an opening in the shape of a portion of an ellipse. This configuration favors gradual contact between upper tape 3a and the RFID wire segment emerging from this opening. In particular, this configuration allows the RFID wire segment to be held laterally centered between the two tapes, facilitating positioning of the RFID wire segment relative to the groove in the support surface of the presser foot, as will be shown later.

[0042] As already mentioned briefly, the brief interruption of the RFID wire 3c to ensure its severance allows for the introduction of "dead" zones in the tag strip 4 produced by the sealing station, where no part of the RFID wire is present. These dead zones, free of RFID wire and uniformly distributed over the entire tag strip, allow for the separation of two consecutive tags in the strip 4. The dead zones form zones in which two tapes can be transversely sealed together without risking damage to the electronic identification devices. The dead zones also form zones for locating the pre-cut portions of the tags, which allow for easy separation of the tags from the strip 4, for example by tearing them.

[0043] The drive mechanism and ability to advance the tapes to "grab" the RFID wire segment requires that the upper and lower tapes 3a, 3b apply sufficient pressure to the free end E of the RFID wire, especially at the moment of cutting. However, this pressure must be kept under control to avoid excessive tension on the tapes 3a, 3b. To this end, the guide device 11 of the sealing station 7c includes a presser foot 11b positioned alongside the tape assembly in the assembly zone Za, facing the flat support. The presser foot has a support surface designed to apply controlled pressure to the assembly formed by at least the upper and lower tapes 3a, 3b. The presser foot is a movable part, and its support surface applies controlled pressure to one of the two tapes in the assembly zone Za to press the two tapes together and drive the RFID wire segment. Control of the pressure applied to the assembly by the presser foot 11b can be achieved by a calibrated pressure medium, such as a spring, a cylinder, or a flexible blade. In particular, the presser foot must be able to lift as the protrusion passes over a segment of RFID wire that corresponds to an identification chip embedded in that wire segment.

[0044] If such a sealing station configuration is selected, the support surface of the presser foot 11b also allows the assembly formed by the two tapes to be pressed with controlled pressure against the rotating drum, which helps the tapes 3a, 3b to adhere to the drum and be transported to the sealing zone.

[0045] Figure 6 shows such a configuration. There is a guide device with a part 11a for guiding the tapes 3a, 3b and RFID wire 3c into the assembly zone Za. A presser foot 11b here is mounted astride the drum 8, which forms the anvil of the sealing station. This part 11b has two longitudinal arms 11b1, 11b2 arranged parallel to the drum sides 8a, 8b in two lateral spaces 14a, 14b. These arms help to guide the movement and positioning of the tapes 3a, 3c within the sealing zone.

[0046] 8 shows a perspective view of the presser foot 11b. This depiction clearly shows the two longitudinal arms 11b1, 11b2 intended to be placed on either side of the drum 8. Between these two arms there is a support surface 11b3 for applying controlled pressure in the assembly zone. This support surface is provided with grooves that are sized to the shape of the wire segments and allow for correct positioning of the assembly formed by the upper tape 3a, the wire segments, and the lower tape 3b.

[0047] One embodiment of the guide device 11 can take the form of a body having two tunnels formed therein, forming an upper guide channel 12a and a lower guide channel 12b, respectively, that meet in the body's internal housing, which defines the assembly zone Za. The body can be formed from two complementary shells, one of which, shell 11', is shown in FIG. 9 to allow visualization of the tunnels and other elements that make up the guide device. The body also has a central pipe 13a disposed within the internal housing between the two tunnels 12a, 12b, extending from a first end to a second end that opens into the assembly zone Za. A presser foot 11b is positioned within the internal housing, allowing a pressure means to apply controlled pressure to the assembly formed by the two tapes. As shown in FIG. 9, the guide can be positioned so that a drum 8 is inserted into the internal housing. The main surface of the drum then forms a support on which the presser foot 11b rests to apply controlled pressure to the assembly formed by the upper tape 3a, the wire segment, and the lower tape 3b.

[0048] Cautery Station 7d The cauterization station 7d precedes the pre-cutting station 7e. This station receives the tag strip and is driven through the device 1 in the direction of the reel 2d. The purpose of this station is to transversely seal the two tapes 3a, 3b to each other. As mentioned above, this sealing is preferably performed within each dead zone of the tag strip to avoid damaging the electronic identification device. This seal can be welded in the same way as the transverse seals at the sealing station. Therefore, this station can comprise an anvil and a sonotrode, arranged opposite each other, between which the tag strip 4 advances. The active surface of the sonotrode can be located in the central portion of the strip and extend transversely across a width narrower than the strip. In this way, a heat seal pad is formed within the dead zone, allowing this central portion to be closed between two consecutive tags.

[0049] The textile fibers forming the tape are fused together at a heat seal pad in the central section of the strip. On either side of this central pad, the textile fibers remain intact. As at sealing station 7c, the anvil may take the form of a drum, allowing the tag strip 4 to rotate.

[0050] Pre-cutting station 7e This station follows directly or indirectly from the cauterization station 7d. Knives, for example, formed on a rotating roller, are used to create two transverse cuts in the tag strip as it advances through this station within the dead zone. These transverse cuts are designed to cut at least a portion of the tape that was not melted by the heat seal pad installed in the central portion of the strip during the previous cauterization step. At the end of this step, two consecutive tags on the tag strip 4 are secured together by a narrow width of melt material. This thin width can be easily peeled from the strip to remove the tags. For this purpose, the narrow width of melt material is precisely dimensioned to allow the tags to be peeled using a calibrated force. The amorphous melt nature of this narrow width prevents the textile wire from being pulled from the tape during the peeling step, thus preventing the tags from being clearly separated from the tag strip 4.

[0051] Figure 7 shows a portion of the tag strip 4 obtained after the cauterization and pre-cutting stations. The heat seal points 4a formed during the passage through the sealing station can be seen running laterally along both sides of the strip. Heat seal pads 4b are also found in the central part of the strip, within the dead zone. Finally, there are transverse cuts 4c, 4c' designed to cut off the portion of the strip that was not melted by the heat seal pads located in the central part of the strip. It can be seen that two consecutive tags are secured together by a thin layer of molten material.

[0052] RF Control Station 7f This station is used to check the correct operation of the electronic identification device of each tag, in particular whether this device is able to receive and transmit identification radio frequency signals. Non-functional tags can be identified for marking.

[0053] Vision Inspection Station 7g This station allows for the acquisition of successive images of the tag strip 4. These images can be analyzed for manufacturing defects either by visual inspection or automated inspection. For example, manufacturing defects may include identifying incomplete heat seal points or pads, or missing or missing pre-cut notches. Tags with manufacturing defects can be identified for marking.

[0054] RF coding station 7h This station encodes electronic identification devices and assigns them unique identification numbers. This station is also used to identify electronic devices that have failed during encoding.

[0055] Marking station for malfunctioning or defective tags. This station makes it possible to visually mark non-functional or defective tags, for example by applying a colored layer, when identified in one of the preceding RF inspection stations 7f, RF encoding station 7h or vision inspection station 7g. This station may be equipped with a dispensing nozzle connected to an ink reservoir, making the whole unit capable of projecting a visual mark onto the tag tape 4, and more precisely onto the advancing pre-registered tag. In this way, the end user can easily distinguish between functional and non-functional tags without necessarily repeating tests already performed on the device 1.

[0056] It is of course understood that not all of these stations are necessarily present in the device 1 according to the present invention, or that these stations may be arranged in any order that is technically consistent, other than the order shown.

[0057] Of course, the invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and alternative embodiments may be added without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0058] In particular, in the described embodiment, the upper tape 3a and the lower tape 3b are two independent tapes unwound from two separate reels. Without departing from the scope of the present invention, the upper tape 3a and the lower tape 3b can be formed from a single wide tape and folded longitudinally to form two adjacent tapes 3a, 3b. The wide tape can be folded using a dedicated folding station on the apparatus 1, located upstream of the sealing station. Alternatively, this folding step can be performed in the upstream section of the guiding device 11. The configuration of the two guiding channels of this apparatus 11 is then adjusted to allow the lower tape and the upper tape to be guided together. In this case, the sealing step can consist of forming a single line of heat-sealing points along the folding zone of the wide tape.

[0059] The properties of the upper and lower tapes can be selected according to the intended application of the electronic tag, in particular the properties of the part into which the tag is intended to be integrated. Thus, according to the example shown in this detailed description, the tape can be of textile nature if the tag is intended to be integrated into a textile part. However, the tape can be selected to be of a completely different nature, in particular based on at least one polymer. For example, if the tag is integrated into a tire or other rubber-based product, the tape can be made of an elastomeric material, preferably virgin, cured, or vulcanized rubber. It is known in the art to integrate an RFID device (i.e., an electronic identification chip with radio frequency transmission and reception capabilities coupled to an antenna) between two virgin rubber bands, and this assembly is integrated into the tire structure during its manufacture, in particular before the curing stage. Generally speaking, the lower and upper tapes, whether identical or different, can be selected from any suitable material.

[0060] Furthermore, it is not essential that the electronic chip of the electronic device consists of an electronic identification chip. More generally, it can be any type of electronic chip, for example an electronic chip forming a sensor that can optionally incorporate a transmitting and receiving function connected to an antenna so as to be able to communicate these measurements. Alternatively, it can be an electronic chip with a light emitting function. Thus, from this point of view, the invention generally relates to an apparatus for manufacturing electronic tags that include an electronic device integrated in a tape.

Claims

1. Apparatus (1) for manufacturing an electronic tag strip (4), wherein the manufacturing process includes the continuous insertion of wire segments supporting electronic devices between a lower tape (3b) and an upper tape (3a) that advance in the forward direction, the apparatus comprising a sealing station (7c), the sealing station (7c) having a sealing zone (Zc), and - Guidance device (11), which is located upstream of the seal zone (Zc), i. An upper guide channel (12a) and a lower guide channel (12b) for guiding the upper tape (3a) and the lower tape (3b), respectively, and for aligning the upper tape (3a) and the lower tape (3b) together in the assembly zone (Za) located upstream of the seal zone (Zc), ii. A guide device (11) having a central pipe (13a) positioned between the upper guide channel (12a) and the lower guide channel (12b), wherein the central pipe (13a) extends from a first end to a second end that is open in the assembly zone (Za), and the central pipe (13a) is designed to guide the wire segment so that it is sandwiched between the upper tape (3a) and the lower tape (3b), Apparatus (1) comprising: a retaining foot (11b) positioned at least alongside the assembly zone (Za) for applying controlled pressure to the assembly formed by the upper tape (3a), the wire segment, and the lower tape (3b).

2. The manufacturing apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sealing station (7c) comprises an anvil (8) having a main surface and a sonotrode (10) having an active surface located in the sealing zone (Zc) opposite to the main surface of the anvil (8), and the two tapes can be advanced through these and heat-sealed together.

3. The manufacturing apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the induction device (11) includes a pressurizing means coupled to the pressing foot (11b) for controlling the pressure applied to the assembly formed by at least the upper tape (3a) and the lower tape (3b).

4. The manufacturing apparatus (1) according to claim 2, wherein the anvil is formed by a rotating drum (8) having a rotation axis (R) perpendicular to the forward direction and a circumferential surface (8c) that supports two lateral rows of marking teeth (9a, 9b) defining a central groove (9c), and the marking teeth form the main surface of the anvil (8).

5. The manufacturing apparatus (1) according to claim 4, wherein the rotating drum (8) has two circular sides (8a, 8b), and the rows of marking teeth (9a, 9b) are recessed inward from the circular sides (8a, 8b) toward the circumferential surface (8c) such that two lateral spaces (14a, 14b) are left.

6. The manufacturing apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pressing foot (11b) comprises two longitudinal arms (11b1, 11b2).

7. The manufacturing apparatus (1) according to claim 6, wherein the pressing foot (11b) has a support surface (11b3) that supports a groove (11b4) between the longitudinal arms (11b1, 11b2).

8. The manufacturing apparatus (1) according to claim 5, wherein the pressing feet are mounted across the drum (8) such that the two longitudinal arms (11b1, 11b2) are positioned parallel to the circular side surface of the drum in the two lateral spaces (14a, 14b).

9. The manufacturing apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the induction device (11) comprises a main body having two tunnels that form the upper induction channel (12a) and the lower induction channel (12b), and the two tunnels and the central pipe (13a) open into a housing in which the retaining foot (11b) is located.

10. The manufacturing apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a larger wire cutting station (7b) for collecting the segments is located in front of the sealing station (7c).

11. The manufacturing apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a cauterizing station (7d) for receiving the tag strip (4) and for forming a heat seal pad (4b) in the central portion of the dead zone of the strip (4) that is not wire segmented.

12. The manufacturing apparatus (1) according to claim 11, further comprising a pre-cutting station (7e) for forming two transverse cuts (4c) in the dead zone of the strip in order to cut at least the transverse portion of the tape located outside the central portion occupied by the heat-sealing pad (4b).

13. The manufacturing apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising at least one alignment station for positioning prominent elements on one of the tapes (3a, 3b), the wire segment, and / or the tag strip (4) as they advance.

14. The manufacturing apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising at least one folding station located upstream of the sealing station, wherein the folding station receives a relatively wide tape and folds it longitudinally to form the upper tape (3a) and the lower tape (3b).

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