Abstract
Represented and described is an RFID conversion system for producing RFID products on one and/or more tracks, with a plurality of inlay dispensing modules and with a control device for controlling the inlay dispensing modules. According to the invention, it is provided that each inlay dispensing module is meant and configured for directly loading inlays onto a carrier material, in particular a web shaped or sheet shaped carrier material, or for indirectly loading inlays onto a transport means, such as a vacuum conveyor belt, wherein the inlay dispensing modules can be controlled independently of each other.
Claims
1. A RFID conversion system for single track or multi track production of RFID products, the RFID conversion system comprising: a plurality of inlay dispensing modules; and a control device for controlling the inlay dispensing modules; wherein each inlay dispensing module is meant and configured for direct placement of inlays onto a carrier material or for indirect placement of inlays onto a transport means; and wherein the inlay dispensing modules can be controlled independently of each other and can be operated in different operating modes.
2. The RFID conversion system according to claim 1, wherein a control of the inlay dispensing modules is provided in such a way that, in the event of an interruption of an operating function of a first inlay dispensing module, the interrupted operating function of the first inlay dispensing module is preferably automatically taken over and/or continued by at least one further inlay dispensing module.
3. The RFID conversion system according to claim 1, wherein, more than two inlay dispensing modules are arranged one behind the other in a single track and wherein a control for the inlay dispensing modules is provided in such a way, that in the event of an interruption of an operating function of at least one inlay dispensing module preceding in the transport direction of a carrier material stream of the carrier material, the interrupted operating function is automatically taken over and/or continued by at least one inlay dispensing module following in the transport direction.
4. The RFID conversion system according to claim 1, wherein at least one first inlay dispensing module is provided as a placement module and at least one further inlay dispensing module is provided as a buffer module, and wherein a control of the inlay dispensing modules is provided in such a way, that, if the placement with the first inlay dispensing module is interrupted the placement is continued automatically with the further inlay dispensing module.
5. The RFID conversion system according to claim 1, wherein at least two, inlay dispensing modules are arranged one behind the other in a single track and wherein a control for the inlay dispensing modules is provided in such a way, that when the placement of at least one inlay dispensing module preceding in the transport direction of a carrier material stream of the carrier material is interrupted, the placement is preferably effected automatically with at least one inlay dispensing module following in the transport direction.
6. The RFID conversion system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of inlay dispensing modules are arranged one behind the other in a single track and in wherein a control for the inlay dispensing modules is provided in such a way that placement with a plurality of inlay dispensing modules is effected simultaneously.
7. The RFID conversion system according to claim 1, wherein at least one first inlay dispensing module is provided as a placement module and at least one further inlay dispensing module is provided as a re-dispensing module, wherein at least one defective inlay dispensed by placement with the first inlay dispensing module is detected and ejected and wherein a control of the inlay dispensing modules is provided in such a way that an inlay gap resulting from the ejection of the defective inlay is closed by dispensing a defect free inlay with the further inlay dispensing module.
8. The RFID conversion system according to claim 1, wherein at least two inlay dispensing modules are configured identically and/or wherein a control of the inlay dispensing modules is provided in such a way that the inlay dispensing modules can be operated as a placement module, buffer module and/or re dispensing module as required.
9. The RFID conversion system according to claim 1, wherein multi track producing of RFID products is provided, wherein at least one inlay dispensing module is laterally adjustable onto different carrier material tracks.
10. The RFID conversion system according to claim 1, wherein multi track producing of RFID products is provided, wherein each carrier material track is provided with at least one inlay dispensing module as a placement module and at least one further inlay dispensing module which is laterally adjustable onto different carrier material tracks as a buffer module and wherein a control of the inlay dispensing modules is provided in such a way that the inlay supply of the inlay dispensing modules is consumed with a time delay.
11. A method for controlling an RFID conversion system modules of the RFID conversion system according to claim 1 is provided.
12. The RFID conversion system according to claim 1, wherein the carrier material is a web shaped or sheet shaped carrier material.
13. The RFID conversion system according to claim 1, wherein the transport means is a vacuum conveyor belt.
14. The RFID conversion system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one further inlay dispensing module follows in the transport direction of a carrier material stream of the carrier material.
15. The RFID conversion system according to claim 2, wherein the takeover and/or continuation of the operating function is effected at the same transport speed and/or transport direction of the carrier material stream.
16. The RFID conversion system according to claim 4, wherein the placement is continued automatically with the further inlay dispensing module if an inlay supply of the first inlay dispensing module is exhausted.
17. The RFID conversion system according to claim 8, wherein all the inlay dispensing modules are configured identically.
18. The RFID conversion system according to claim 10, wherein the start of the placement with inlay dispensing modules arranged onto different carrier material tracks is effected with a time delay.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0053] In the following, the invention is described with reference to embodiments, wherein the invention is not limited onto the described embodiments. The drawing shows
[0054] FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic representations of the roll change of an inlay roll of an inlay dispensing module of an RFID conversion system according to the invention with single lane or single track producing of RFID products with the use of a further inlay dispensing module as a buffer module.
[0055] FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic representations of the roll change of an inlay roll of an inlay dispensing module of an RFID conversion system according to the invention with single lane or single track producing of RFID products with the use of three further inlay dispensing modules as buffer modules.
[0056] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the use of a further inlay dispensing module as a re-dispensing module in an RFID conversion system according to the invention for single lane or single track producing of RFID products.
[0057] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of possible sequences for installations of five inlay dispensing modules in an RFID conversion system according to the invention for single lane or single track producing of RFID products.
[0058] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a multi track operating mode of an RFID conversion system according to the invention with several inlay dispensing modules.
[0059] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the multi track producing of RFID products with an RFID converting system according to the invention, wherein several inlay dispensing modules are provided as re dispensing modules in order to close inlay gaps resulting from the ejection of faulty inlays by dispensing fault free inlays.
[0060] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of the multi lane or multi track producing of RFID products, wherein a further inlay dispensing module is provided as a buffer module for a roll change of the inlay rolls of the inlay dispensing modules.
[0061] FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the multi lane or multi track producing of RFID products, wherein several inlay dispensing modules are provided as placement modules, further inlay dispensing modules as re dispensing modules and a further inlay dispensing module as a buffer module for a roll change of the inlay rolls of the placement modules.
[0062] FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of the arrangement of several inlay dispensing modules as placement modules in linear succession for single lane or single track producing of RFID products and integrated good inspection of the inlays using radio.
[0063] FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of the arrangement of several inlay dispensing modules in an RFID conversion system according to the invention to increase system availability.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0064] FIGS. 1A and 1B schematically show the system concept of an RFID conversion system for producing RFID products on a single track. In the exemplary assumption, the placement, i.e. the dispensing, of inlays 1a onto a web or sheet shaped carrier material 2 is effected only with a first inlay dispensing module 3, which operates as a placement module. Following in the transport direction 4 of the carrier material 2, a further inlay dispensing module 3 is provided, which is on standby with the inlay roll inserted. When the end of an inlay roll inserted into the first inlay dispensing module 3 is reached, the operating function of the dispensing module 3 or the placement of the dispensing module 3 is automatically terminated. The further inlay dispensing module 3 then takes over the placement work without interruption, wherein inlays 1b are dispensed onto the carrier material 2 from the inlay roll of the further inlay dispensing module 3 (FIG. 1b). The process is reversed as soon as the inlay roll of the additional inlay dispensing module 3 reaches the end. In this case, the machine control system automatically effects a placement change back onto the first inlay dispensing module 3, which then takes over the placement work of the other inlay dispensing module 3 without interruption. With a single track, two inlay dispensing modules 3 arranged one behind the other are therefore sufficient to enable uninterrupted operation of an RFID conversion system during a roll change.
[0065] With high production output and small inlay rolls, the effort involved in changing rolls increases. The parallel operation of another machine or a short absence of the machine operator is hardly possible without interrupting production. It is therefore advantageous if, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, more than one further inlay dispensing module 3 is provided as a buffer module, for example three buffer modules according to the embodiment shown. A longer uninterrupted production phase is possible due to the plurality of buffer modules. This function can be achieved if a total of more than two dispensing modules 3 are installed, which can perform a placement function.
[0066] Preferably, loading is always effected with only one dispensing module 3. The three other inlay dispensing modules 3 are automatically activated by the machine control system at the end of the inlay roll of a previous dispensing module 3 and used for placement. This enables a longer production phase without operator intervention during a roll change, starting with the first dispensing module 3 and then subsequently with the other dispensing modules 3. This gives the machine operator a longer time window to complete other objects.
[0067] FIG. 2B shows, for example, that the placement function of the carrier material 2 is taken over by a further inlay dispensing module 3 with inlays 1d, which is foremost in the transport direction 4, after the inlay rolls of all preceding dispensing modules 3 have reached the respective end of the roll.
[0068] FIG. 3 schematically shows the use of a further inlay dispensing module 3 as a re dispensing module. In the case of single track dispensing, two dispensing modules 3 arranged one behind the other are sufficient to enable the detection and ejection of faulty inlays and to close any resulting gap by re dispensing a fault free inlay 1d from the inlay roll of the re dispensing module. If, for example, a faulty inlay is detected in the first inlay dispensing module 3, it is ejected. The resulting gap is not closed by the dispensing module 3, as this is not possible at high production speeds. Instead, the re dispensing module 3 is in the waiting position with an inlay 1d that has been checked as faultless. As soon as the gap has reached the re dispensing module 3, it places an inlay 1d in the gap and thereby closes the gap.
[0069] The described inlay dispensing modules 3 can be configured in the same way and can be used in particular as a placement module, buffer module and/or as a re-dispensing module by means of a corresponding control. FIG. 4 shows an example of the installation of five dispensing modules 3 in order to enable different sequences or function assignments of the dispensing modules 3 in single track operation. There are many different sequencing options. For example, as represented, the first two inlay dispensing modules 3 can be provided for placement. The two further dispensing modules 3 following in the transport direction can be used as buffer modules and take over the placement function if the inlay rolls of the preceding dispensing modules 3 have reached the end. The further inlay dispensing module 3 foremost in the transport direction can be used as a re-dispensing module to close gaps created by ejecting faulty inlays. Alternatively, it is also possible to provide the placement with only the first inlay dispensing module 3, while the four following additional inlay dispensing modules 3 are only provided as roll change modules or buffer modules. Alternatively, placement can also be effected with the first four inlay dispensing modules 3, wherein the foremost further inlay dispensing module 3 can be provided for a roll change or as a re-dispensing module. Should a dispensing module 3 fail due to a technical defect or require service, for example to replace worn blades, the RFID plant can continue to be operated with the remaining dispensing modules 3. The machine control system is then able to form new sequences with the remaining functional dispensing modules 3.
[0070] To achieve multi track operation, inlay dispensing modules 3 can also be moved sideways, i.e. transverse to the track direction. The total production capacity of the RFID plant with several lanes or tracks then corresponds to the sum of the individual production capacities of the inlay dispensing modules 3. This is shown schematically in FIG. 5.
[0071] In principle, multi track operation is also possible in such a way that a further inlay dispensing module 3 is provided as a re-dispensing module for each track or lane. Each track then comprises a first inlay dispensing module 3 as a placement module and a further inlay dispensing module 3 downstream in the transport direction 4 of the carrier material as a re dispensing module in order to close gaps that have resulted from the ejection of defective inlays. The ejection can preferably be effected with the placement modules, which are meant and configured according to. This is shown schematically in FIG. 6.
[0072] FIG. 7 schematically shows, in an exemplary embodiment with five dispensing modules 3, the simultaneous placement of, for example, four material webs or tracks of the RFID conversion system with four first inlay dispensing modules 3, which fulfil the placement function. Another inlay dispensing module 3 is designed as a jumper module that can be adjusted laterally onto all tracks and can jump in for the first inlay dispensing modules 3 if their inlay rolls have reached the end. A smart control algorithm can be used to ensure that the inlay rolls of the first inlay dispensing modules 3 reach the end of the roll at different times. At the start of a new production run, for example, the four first inlay dispensing modules 3 can be scheduled to stick to pause times of different lengths. During the time in which a first inlay dispensing module 3 pauses, its placement work is taken over by the other inlay dispensing module 3 as a jumper module. The jumper module can be automatically moved onto the respective track laterally on a linear guide. The algorithm behind the pause sequence can follow from the Gaussian summation formula. During the establishment of a time offset, with which the first inlay dispensing modules 3 begin the placement process, the RFID plant can be operated at reduced power. Once the inlay rolls of all five dispensing modules 3 provided in the embodiment example shown have been changed for the first time, an initial offset has been configured and the production speed can be increased. No further interruptions to operation are then necessary, as in future all inlay rolls will reach the end of the roll at different times. The RFID plant can run through without further interruptions.
[0073] A combination of buffer modules and re dispenser modules is also possible without further ado. In the design example shown in FIG. 8, a total of nine dispensing modules 3 are provided. On each track, at least one first inlay dispensing module 3 is provided as a placement module and at least one downstream inlay dispensing module 3 as a re-dispensing module. The first four inlay dispensing modules 3 in the case of four tracks of the plant, for example are responsible for the actual placement. Four further inlay dispensing modules 3 are available to replace a missing inlay or an inlay gap caused by the ejection of a faulty inlay with a good inlay as re dispensing modules onto the respective track. At least one further inlay dispensing module 3, preferably only one further inlay dispensing module 3, is positioned in front of the other dispensing modules 3 in the transport direction 4 or at the end of the module chain in order to be able to provide an automated roll change as a buffer or jumper module that can be adjusted laterally onto all tracks. This further inlay dispensing module 3 is meant and configured in such a way that it can be offset or moved onto the respective track.
[0074] To ensure that the RFID products are error free, it is necessary to check each individual inlay. This is shown schematically in FIG. 9. The test is effected using electromagnetic transmission, in particular via a high frequency magnetic (proximity) field, and examines the correct functioning of the antenna and microchip. Depending on the scope of the test, a time window of up to 100 ms per inlay is required. For example, if a machine produces at a rate of 60,000 products per hour, a theoretical time period of 60 ms remains for testing each individual product. A comprehensive inspection is therefore not possible. A linear arrangement of several inlay dispensing modules 3, which are operated at a lower cycle rate, provides a remedy as shown in FIG. 9. For example, the RFID conversion system can produce 60,000 products per hour. Thus, in the embodiment shown as an example in FIG. 9, the production rate per dispensing module 3 is only 15,000 products per hour. This increases the cycle time per inlay 1a-1d in the respective dispensing module 3 from 60 onto 240 ms. This makes it possible to shift the inspection of the inlays 1a-1d to the respective dispensing module 3, wherein there is still enough time for extensive inspection of the RFID products even at full production output of the RFID conversion system. This is represented schematically in FIG. 9 by the radio symbol 5.
[0075] According to FIG. 10, the machine control of an RFID conversion system can also allow individual inlay dispensing modules 3 to be deactivated. In the example shown, for example, the first and third inlay dispensing modules 3 assigned to a material track are deactivated. For example, individual dispensing modules 3 can be removed from the production process during maintenance work, such as knife replacement, toothed belt replacement, cleaning or similar, and in the event of faults on the dispensing modules 3. The RFID plant or its control device preferably recognizes a changed operating situation of individual dispensing modules 3 automatically, which preferably leads to an automatic adaptation of the sequences, i.e. the operating mode or function assignment of the operational dispensing modules 3, wherein these can be used as a placement module, buffer module or re dispensing module depending on the sequence. The overall system remains ready for operation and production can continue with reduced output or a reduced range of functions if necessary.
[0076] In all the embodiments described above, the number of dispensing modules 3 is selected by way of example. All dispensing modules 3 are preferably configured identically, in particular in the manner of label dispensers. Each dispensing module 3 can be operated with a machine controller preferably and as required as a placement module, buffer or jumper module or re dispensing module in the mode of operation described in each case. In the system periphery, holding devices are preferably provided for holding the dispensing modules 3 as required.
LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
[0077] 1a-1d Inlay [0078] 2 Carrier material [0079] 3 Inlay dispensing module [0080] 4 Transport direction [0081] 5 Radio symbol
