RFID Label Half-Cutting Mechanism for Variable Print Lengths

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional RFID label producing devices face challenges in achieving ease of handling due to fixed half-cutting positions, leading to inconvenient margin removal and handling difficulties when label print lengths vary.

Innovation Solution

An RFID label with a laminate structure featuring two half-cutting parts on either end of the print area, allowing the length of the label main body to be adjusted based on print length, and a label producing device with cooperative control means to vary the position of the half-cutting parts, ensuring consistent label length regardless of print length.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the half-cutting part is provided at one fixed location for each label, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but when the print length is short, a large margin portion remains that requires manual removal by the user

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single half-cutting part into multiple half-cutting parts positioned at different locations along the tape. This segmentation allows different portions of the label to be separated at different points, enabling the label main body length to be adjusted according to print length while maintaining simple manufacturing processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic positioning of half-cutting parts that can be selectively activated based on print length. The control unit dynamically determines which half-cutting parts to use, allowing the label configuration to adapt to varying print requirements while keeping the physical structure relatively simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the cutting part by the cutting means is varied in accordance with the print length, then the margin portion can be eliminated, but the length of the label as a whole becomes short when the print is short, making handling difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidlength of label
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By providing multiple half-cutting parts at different positions, the patent enables selective separation of label portions. This allows the label to maintain a consistent overall length while adjusting the usable label main body length according to print requirements, preventing handling difficulties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent pre-configures multiple half-cutting parts at different locations before printing occurs. The control unit then selects which half-cutting parts to activate based on the actual print length, ensuring the label maintains appropriate dimensions for handling while eliminating excess margin portions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If two half-cutting parts are provided on both end sides of the print area, then the length of the label main body can be adjusted according to print length, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the label separation function into multiple half-cutting parts distributed along the tape. This allows the label main body length to be adaptively adjusted according to print length while distributing the complexity across multiple simple, identical components rather than one complex mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each half-cutting part is designed with the same simple structure but serves different functions depending on which one is activated. This multi-functionality approach allows the system to adapt to various print lengths using identical components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP1801742B1RFID label and label producing device
Publication Date: 2014.10.15 BROTHER KOGYO KK
  • EP1801742B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1801742B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1801742B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A label producing device (1) for producing an RFID label (T) using a tag label tape with print (109) includes a tape feed roller (27) for feeding the tag label tape with print (109), a print head (23) for performing printing on a print area (S) provided in a cover film (103), a half-cut unit (35) for cutting, on both end sides in the tape length direction of the tag label tape with print (9) with respect to the print area (S), layers other than a separation sheet (101d) in the width direction to thereby form half-cut lines (HC1, HC2), and a cutting mechanism (15) for cutting the tag label tape (109) with print in the width direction on sides further toward the both ends in the tape length direction with respect to these two half-cut lines (HC1, HC2).