RFID tags are provided for incorporation into the packaging of a microwavable food item, with the RFID tag being configured to be safely microwaved. The RFID tag includes an antenna defining a gap and configured to operate at a first frequency. An RFID chip is electrically coupled to the antenna across the gap. A shielding structure is electrically coupled to the antenna across the gap and overlays the RFID chip. The shielding structure includes a shield conductor and a shield dielectric at least partially positioned between the shield conductor and the RFID chip. The shielding structure is configured to limit the voltage across the gap when the antenna is exposed to a second frequency that is greater than first frequency. In additional embodiments, RFID tags are provided for incorporation into the packaging of a microwavable food item, with the RFID tag being configured to be safely microwaved. The RFID tag includes an RFID chip and an antenna electrically coupled to the RFID chip. The antenna may have a sheet resistance in the range of approximately 100 ohms to approximately 230 ohms, optionally with an optical density in the range of approximately 0.18 to approximately 0.29. Alternatively, or additionally, the antenna may be configured to fracture into multiple pieces upon being subjected to heating in a microwave oven. Alternatively, or additionally, the RFID tag may be incorporated in an RFID label that is secured to the package by a joinder material with a greater resistance than that of the antenna, such as a sheet resistance in the range of approximately 100 ohms to approximately 230 ohms.

A method and system for authenticating a variety of consumer products is provided. The system includes a plurality of near field communication (NFC) tags configured for coupling to a variety of consumer products, the tags programmed to provide identifying data associated with a single consumer product to an NFC-capable mobile computing device, a central database for storing said data, a server communicably connected to a communications network and configured to access the database, and a mobile application executing on a mobile computing device, configured to read said identifying data from the NFC tag, read an image marker from the consumer product, communicate said identifying data to the server, and view 3D renderings of the consumer product.

Systems and methods for coupling a tag to an item. The methods comprise: dispensing the tag from a tag feeder of a tag applicator; performing first operations by the tag applicator to mechanically move the tag into a nest of the tag applicator; determining if a given criteria is met based on feedback information received from at least one of a user of the tag applicator and a sensor provided with the tag applicator; and performing second operations by the tag applicator to couple the tag to the item, when a determination is made that the given criteria is met.

A method of making a coffee beverage that includes steps of: inserting a portion capsule into a coffee machine that includes: a pump and an optical detector; the portion capsule having: a base element that has a cavity in which a beverage material is provided, the cavity is free of a filter in the cavity; a flange extending outwardly from the base element; a cover attached to a top side of the flange; an optically detectable identifier provided on a bottom side of the flange, the bottom side of the flange opposes the top side of the flange; detecting the optically detectable identifier with the optical detector and comparing the detected optically detectable identifier to a stored reference; operating the pump and/or the coffee machine to supply the water to the portion capsule only after the optically detectable identifier coincides with the stored reference.

A container (200) is provided. The container (200) comprises a mouth (202), a cap (204) for operably exposing or closing the mouth (202), a sealing layer (206) on top of the mouth (202) and a security label (208) which is scannable. At least a portion (204a) of the cap (204) is transparent. The security label (208) is disposed over the sealing layer (206) below the transparent cap (204) and the security label (208) is machine scannable.

A storage device and external hardware, with the storage device including a storage body which is provided with a storage chamber having storage openings. A first plate of the storage body is connected to a first folding flap. A first security mechanism is used to connect to the first folding flap and a second plate so that the storage openings are closed. The second plate is provided with a second security mechanism, which is used to connect the second plate to the first folding flap, or so that the adjacent storage opening of the first plate is connected to the adjacent storage opening of the second plate so as to seal the storage openings. The storage body can use the first security mechanism and the second security mechanism to seal the storage openings two or more times, so as to facilitate the reuse of the storage body and improve environmental protection. External hardware can reseal the storage openings of the used storage body so as to extend the usage life of the storage body, facilitating the reuse of the storage body and improving environmental protection.

An improved system detects an environmental anomaly in a shipping container and initiates a mediation response through a generated layered alert notification. The system includes sensor-based ID nodes associated with packages within the container, and a command node mounted to the container communicating with the ID nodes and an external transceiver on a vehicle transporting the container. The command node is programmed to detect sensor data from the ID nodes; compare the sensor data to package environmental thresholds in context data related to each ID node; detect the environmental anomaly when the comparison indicates an environmental condition for at least one package exceeds its environmental threshold; responsively generate a layered alert notification identifying a mediation recipient and mediation action, and establishing a mediation response priority based upon the comparison; and transmit the layered alert notification to the transceiver unit to initiate a mediation response related to the mediation action.

A system for dispensing one or more products can include one or more product containers, each with a port for dispensing a product, a housing with one or more product cavities for removably receiving the product containers, one or more quantity sensors for detecting a quantity of product within one or more product containers, one or more actuators for dispensing product from one or more product containers, and a controller configured to monitor or control one or more aspects of the system.

A single-serving coffee pod includes: a hollow capsule having an opening at a first end thereof and at least one smaller opening in a second end thereof opposite the first end; a filter disposed within the capsule; a plurality of whole coffee beans located within the capsule; and a removable covering disposed over the opening of the capsule.

The disclosure provides a preform layered body and a layered container produced by biaxial stretch-blow forming of the layered body. In this preform layered body, an RFID tag has been inserted between an inner-layer-use mouth part and an outer-layer-use mouth part that are to remain unaltered, with no biaxial stretch-blow forming performed thereon, as a container mouth part for a layered container. Since the container mouth part does not become exposed to the high temperature and high pressure for stretch-blow forming purposes, abuses to the RFID tag, such as damage, breakage, and deformation, which arise from the heating, pressurization, and stretching during the stretch-blow forming, can be avoided reliably. In addition, labor-saving and counterfeit prevention effect can be anticipated by causing the RFID tag to hold product information.