Automated RFID Tag Placement System for Textile Substrates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual placement of RFID tags on supports, such as textiles, is time-consuming, costly, and prone to errors, making it inefficient for industrial laundry cycles that require durable and long-lasting tags.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a displacement member and a holding member that automates the placement of RFID tags on supports, using a supply device with a drive member and orientation mechanism to unwind and orient a label ribbon, facilitating precise and reproducible attachment, and including a verification module to detect defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual placement of RFID tags is used, then flexibility and simplicity are maintained, but time consumption and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated self-service placement where the RFID tag is automatically fed from a reel, positioned, and attached to the substrate without human intervention. The placement device autonomously completes the entire placement cycle, eliminating manual labor while maintaining operational simplicity through automated mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If manual placement of RFID tags is used, then operational simplicity is maintained, but cost and error rate increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical placement system with an automated mechanical placement device. This substitution eliminates human labor costs and associated errors while maintaining mechanical simplicity through automated feeding, positioning, and attachment mechanisms that are easier to operate than manual processes.
3Productivity
If automated placement system is implemented, then productivity and precision are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The placement device is designed as a multi-functional unit that combines reel feeding, tag extraction, positioning, and attachment capabilities in a single integrated system. This universal device handles multiple operations that would otherwise require separate mechanisms, improving productivity while controlling complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic components including a movable carriage that transitions between rearmost and forward positions, and a reel that rotates to feed tags. These dynamic elements enable automated placement operations while maintaining manageable complexity through well-defined motion patterns and mechanical advantages.
4Manufacturing precision
If automated placement system is implemented, then placement precision is improved, but device complexity and initial cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning the RFID tag on the movable carriage before the substrate arrives, and by pre-aligning the tag orientation using the reel mechanism. This preliminary preparation ensures precise placement when the tag is transferred to the substrate, achieving high precision without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a system (1) for preparing a radiofrequency identification tag (2) with a view to attachment to a support (3), characterized in that it comprises a placement device (10) for placing the tag (2), configured so as to place the tag (2) on the support (3), the placement device (10) comprising a displacement member (100) that is movable between a loading position and a placement position, and a holding member (101) having a configuration for releasing the tag (2) and a configuration for holding the tag (2), the holding member (101) being in the configuration for holding the tag during a movement of the displacement member (100) between the loading position and the placement position. The system makes it possible to automate the placement of the tag (2) with a view to its attachment to the support (3), for example a textile.