阅读说明：本技术 用于分页装订支持rfid的标签的不可知线内检验系统 (Invisible inline inspection system for paginated RFID-enabled tags ) 是由 G·拉斐尔 P·科克雷尔 D·沃德 J·布劳维尔特 T·恩廷赫 J·惠勒 A·狄查兹 于 2019-12-23 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种用于生产已分页装订的支持RFID的标签(包括标记、标签、票证、贴纸等)的不可知线内检验系统。包括带RFID检验器的RFID检验底座单元,该RFID检验器用于检查支持RFID的标签的程序数据是否进行过检验。进纸模块位于RFID检验底座上游,该模块接收支持RFID的标签流,支持RFID的标签流需通过RFID检验进行分页装订,采集器模块位于RFID检验底座单元下游,该模块接收来自RFID检验底座单元的RFID检验标签。在进给未切割标签的连续流的系统中,切纸机模块位于检验底座单元与采集器模块之间。(An unknown inline inspection system for producing paginated RFID-enabled labels (including labels, tags, tickets, stickers, etc.). An RFID verification base unit with an RFID verifier for checking whether program data of an RFID-enabled tag is verified is included. The paper feeding module is located at the upstream of the RFID inspection base, the paper feeding module receives a label flow supporting RFID, the label flow supporting RFID needs to be subjected to paging binding through RFID inspection, and the collector module is located at the downstream of the RFID inspection base unit and receives the RFID inspection labels from the RFID inspection base unit. In a system that feeds a continuous stream of uncut labels, a cutter module is located between the inspection base unit and the collector module.)

1. An unknown inline inspection system for producing paginated RFID-enabled tags, said tags comprising labels, tags, tickets, stickers and the like, the system comprising:

an RFID inspection base unit including an RFID checker which checks whether program data of the RFID-enabled tag is inspected;

the paper feeding module is positioned at the upstream of the RFID inspection base and used for receiving a label flow supporting the RFID from a label source supporting the RFID, and the label flow is subjected to paging binding through RFID inspection; and

a collector module located downstream of the RFID inspection base unit, the module receiving the RFID inspection tags from the RFID inspection base unit.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cutter module located downstream of the RFID inspection base unit and upstream of the collector module, the cutter module separating the RFID inspection tag from the RFID inspection base unit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the infeed module comprises a roll-to-roll service loop that presents RFID-enabled tags to the RFID inspection base unit while allowing for accumulation of RFID-enabled tags to accommodate movement of the RFID-enabled tags through the RFID inspection base unit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the infeed module comprises a leading infeed conveyor that presents RFID-enabled tags to the RFID inspection base units.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the single-feed transport nip is located between the RFID authentication base unit and the collector module.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the guillotine module comprises a rotary guillotine.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the guillotine module comprises a line cutter.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the guillotine module comprises a compound cutter that services two RFID tags thereon.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID inspection base unit comprises a scanner for reading RFID tag identification indicia, an RFID verifier, and a bad tag marker.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the identifying indicia is a barcode type of indicia.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the RFID inspection mount further comprises a registration sensor located at an interface between the sheet feed module and the RFID inspection mount unit.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID-enabled tags are preprinted using a printer located upstream of and in line with the feeder module.

13. An unknown inline inspection system for producing paginated RFID-enabled tags, said tags comprising labels, tags, tickets, stickers and the like, the system comprising:

an RFID inspection base unit including an RFID checker which checks whether program data of the RFID-enabled tag is inspected;

a paper feed module located upstream of the RFID inspection base and receiving a stream of RFID-enabled tags from an RFID-enabled tag source, the stream of RFID-enabled tags to be page bound by RFID inspection, the paper feed module including a roll-to-roll service loop that presents the RFID-enabled tags to the RFID inspection base unit while accounting for accumulation of the RFID-enabled tags to accommodate movement of the RFID-enabled tags through the RFID inspection base unit;

a cutter module located downstream of the RFID inspection base unit and upstream of the collector module, the cutter module separating the RFID inspection tags from the RFID inspection base unit; and

a collector module located downstream of the RFID inspection base unit for receiving RFID inspection tags from the RFID inspection base unit.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the cutter module is selected from the group consisting of a line cutter, a double cutter servicing two RFID tags thereon, and a rotary cutter.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the RFID inspection base unit comprises a scanner for reading RFID tag identification indicia, an RFID verifier, and a bad tag marker.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the RFID inspection base unit comprises a registration sensor at an interface between the infeed module and the RFID inspection base unit.

17. An unknown inline inspection system for producing paginated RFID-enabled tags, said tags comprising labels, tags, tickets, stickers and the like, the system comprising:

an RFID inspection base unit including an RFID checker which checks whether program data of the RFID-enabled tag is inspected;

a paper feed module, located upstream of the RFID inspection base, that receives a stream of RFID-enabled labels from an RFID-enabled label source, the RFID-enabled label stream being subjected to RFID inspection for pagination, the paper feed module including a leading pre-feed conveyor that presents the RFID-enabled labels to the RFID inspection base unit;

a collector module located downstream of the RFID inspection base unit for receiving RFID inspection tags from the RFID inspection base unit; and

and the single paper feeding conveying clamp is positioned between the RFID inspection base unit and the collector module.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the RFID inspection base unit includes a scanner for reading RFID tag identification indicia, an RFID verifier, and a bad tag marker.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the RFID inspection base unit further comprises a registration sensor located at an interface between the infeed module and the RFID inspection base unit.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the RFID-enabled tags are preprinted using a printer located upstream from and in line with the feeder module.

Technical Field

The invention relates to page binding of RFID-enabled tags. More particularly, the present invention relates to an agnostic inline inspection system for producing paginated RFID-enabled labels (including labels, tags, tickets, stickers, etc.).

Description of related Art

Printing devices such as thermal printers and inkjet printers are used to produce printed materials, which may include RFID-enabled labels. Typical RFID-enabled tags include labels, tags, tickets, stickers, and the like, sometimes referred to herein as "RFID-enabled tags". The RFID-enabled labels may be provided in the form of a single sheet of printing paper, a roll, or otherwise divided into discrete units or pieces (e.g., individual labels or tags), and the printed material must then be cut to size. Some printing devices include an internal cutter that cuts the substrate to size after printing is applied to the substrate. While an in-line cutter may provide adequate functionality, the in-line cutter may also have various drawbacks when maintenance is required. For example, if the substrate is drawn into a cutter or jammed in the cutter while passing through the printing device, or if the cutter is inoperable, the cutter must be accessed to correct the error. Thus, some printing devices employed in the manufacturing of RFID-enabled labels have prepared uncut rolls of labels.

In accordance with the encoder program for the RFID-enabled label inlay, with the software application as an aid, the RFID-enabled labels may contain indicia to assist in tracking each label. In these instances, the program data for each RFID-enabled tag may be checked using an RFID verifier, such as using a separate antenna and reader module. Each RFID-enabled tag may be read, inspected, and verified. If the verification program fails to validate the tag's program data (e.g., EPC-product electronic code), the tag may be designated as a non-compliant tag, such as by designating the tag as a non-compliant tag with a bad tag marker.

Background

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is directed to several aspects, which may be embodied separately or collectively in the devices and systems claimed hereinafter. These aspects may be used alone, or in combination with other aspects of the subject matter described herein, and the description of these aspects is not intended to exclude these aspects from being used alone, or such aspects from being claimed in different combinations, as defined in the appended claims.

When preparing printed materials with RFID-enabled labels, global compliance initiatives require RFID-enabled labels to be handled by what can be considered as page stitching of the RFID-enabled labels. In this type of operation, the present invention accomplishes page binding by way of an unknown inline inspection system and method incorporating a base unit and modules that can be variously combined to accomplish page binding of various RFID-enabled tags, producing page-bound RFID-enabled tags and RFID inspection tags, such as labels, tags, tickets, stickers, and the like.

In one aspect, an unknown inline inspection system and method for producing paginated RFID enabled tags (including labels, tags, tickets, stickers, etc.) is provided, the system comprising: an RFID inspection base unit including an RFID checker which reads and checks whether program data of an RFID-enabled tag is inspected; a paper feed module located upstream of the RFID inspection base, the module receiving a RFID-enabled label stream from an RFID-enabled label source, the RFID-enabled label stream being in either a single format or a continuous format, the format requiring page binding by RFID inspection; and a collector module located downstream of the RFID inspection base unit, the collector module receiving RFID inspection tags from the RFID inspection base unit.

In yet another aspect, an unknown inline inspection system and method for producing paginated RFID enabled tags (including labels, tags, tickets, stickers, etc.) is provided, the system comprising: an RFID inspection base unit including an RFID checker which reads the tag and checks whether program data of the RFID-enabled tag is inspected; the paper feeding module is positioned at the upstream of the RFID inspection base and used for receiving the RFID-supporting label flow from the RFID-supporting label source, and the RFID-supporting label flow needs to be subjected to paging binding through RFID inspection; and a cutter module located inline downstream of the RFID inspection base unit and upstream of a collector module located downstream of the RFID inspection base unit, the cutter module receiving the RFID inspection tags from the RFID inspection base unit. The collection unit may also receive defective labels that have been labeled to indicate that the labels are inoperable.

In another aspect, an unknown inline inspection system and method for producing paginated RFID enabled tags (including labels, tags, tickets, stickers, and the like) is provided, the system comprising: an RFID inspection base unit including an RFID checker which reads and checks whether program data of an RFID-enabled tag is inspected; the paper feeding module is positioned at the upstream of the RFID inspection base and used for receiving the RFID-supporting label flow from the RFID-supporting label source, and the RFID-supporting label flow needs to be subjected to paging binding through RFID inspection; and a cutter module, i.e., a rotary cutter, a linecutter, a die cutter, or a double cutter, the cutter module being located downstream of the RFID verification base unit and upstream of a collector module located downstream of the RFID verification base unit, the cutter module receiving the RFID verification tags from the RFID verification base unit.

In a further aspect, there is provided an unknown inline inspection system and method for producing paginated RFID enabled tags (including labels, tags, tickets, stickers, and the like), the system comprising an RFID inspection base unit comprising: a reader for reading the identification mark of the RFID-enabled tag, and checking whether the program data of the RFID-enabled tag is verified in conjunction with the RFID verifier; a bad label marking machine; the paper feeding module is positioned at the upstream of the RFID inspection base and used for receiving the RFID-supporting label flow from the RFID-supporting label source, and the RFID-supporting label flow needs to be subjected to paging binding through RFID inspection; and a cutter module located in-line downstream of the RFID inspection base unit and upstream of a collector module located downstream of the RFID inspection base unit, the cutter module receiving the RFID inspection tags from the RFID inspection base unit.

In yet another aspect, where a user uses a personal computer or other computing device to download information to a printer and the printer transfers labels to an unknown inline inspection system, an unknown inline inspection system and method for producing paginated RFID-enabled labels is provided, the unknown system comprising: an RFID inspection base unit including an RFID checker which reads and checks whether program data of an RFID-enabled tag is inspected; the paper feeding module is positioned at the upstream of the RFID inspection base and used for receiving the RFID-supporting label flow from the RFID-supporting label source, and the RFID-supporting label flow needs to be subjected to paging binding through RFID inspection; and a collector module located downstream of the RFID inspection base unit that receives the RFID authentication tag from the RFID inspection base unit.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an RFID inspection base unit or machine of the unknown inline inspection system;

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram showing an RFID inspection base unit and certain features thereof associated with a roll-to-roll or service loop type of infeed module for receiving roll media from a printer;

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram illustrating an RFID inspection base unit and certain features thereof associated with the feeder module and printer of FIG. 2A and further illustrating line and double cutters and stacker options;

FIG. 2C is a schematic diagram illustrating an RFID inspection base unit and certain features thereof associated with the feeder module and printer of FIG. 2A and further illustrating a rotary cutter and stacker options;

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram showing an RFID inspection base unit and certain features thereof associated with a sheet feed module of the sheet feed or automatic sheet feed type for receiving single-printed labels or multi-page labels from a printer;

FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram illustrating an RFID inspection base unit and certain features thereof associated with the sheet feed module and printer of FIG. 3A, and further illustrating stacker options;

FIG. 4 is an elevational conceptual view of an unknown inline inspection system arrangement of the type shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C;

FIG. 5 is a front left perspective view of the unit shown in FIG. 2B, with the stacker unit omitted, showing an embodiment of a linear cutter unit;

FIG. 5A is a detailed perspective view of an embodiment of a linear cutter unit generally shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a front right perspective view of the unit shown in FIG. 2B;

FIG. 7 is a front left perspective view of the unit shown in FIG. 2C; the stacker unit is ignored, and an embodiment of the rotary paper cutter unit is shown;

FIG. 7A is an exploded perspective detail view of an embodiment of a rotary cutter unit;

FIG. 7B is an exploded perspective detail view of the rotating blade assembly of the embodiment of the guillotine unit;

FIG. 8 is a front right perspective view of the unit shown in FIG. 2C;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a roll-to-roll or service loop type paper feed module for receiving web media from a printer;

FIG. 10 is an elevational conceptual view of an unknown inline inspection system arrangement of the type shown in FIG. 3B;

FIG. 11 is a right perspective view of the unknown inline inspection system shown in FIG. 3B;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a sheet feed module of the type for receiving a single printed label or a multi-page label from a printer;

FIG. 13 is a left perspective view of the unknown inline inspection system shown in FIG. 3B, illustrating a single sheet printing option embodiment;

FIG. 13A is a detail perspective view of FIG. 12 showing a sheet-fed print transport gripper module embodiment;

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the transfer clip module;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a registration sensor, such as a registration sensor located at an RFID verification base unit or machine feed end;

FIG. 16 is an electrical block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an unknown inline inspection system.

Detailed Description

As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are described and illustrated herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary embodiments, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed manner.

The unknown in-line inspection system and method is directed to page binding RFID-enabled labels, such as labels having pressure sensitive adhesives, to be affixed to consumer goods, packaging, and the like. Including reading each individual label, encoding the RFID inlay, verifying the RFID inlay, and designating (e.g., marking (e.g., ink dots) or adding indicia) any RFID labels that do not meet the verification criteria, thereby indicating that the particular label cannot be read and, therefore, is a reject and not useful for its intended purpose.

Labels of this type are typically printed or otherwise imaged using the described unknown in-line inspection system and method, which is advantageously used in conjunction with an outboard printer and/or outboard unwinder to feed material, which may be rolls, webs or streams of labels that have been previously cut or otherwise prepared for use after inspection by the subject inspection system and/or method, into an inspection unit. The system is adapted for use in conjunction with a personal computer or other data processing method, either locally or connected to a remote data center, to download information to the printer, which information will contain instructions to transfer the tag to an in-line RFID inspection system, if desired. This type of unknown in-line RFID-enabled tag inspection system is sized and designed for desktop use.

RFID inspection base unit or machine

An embodiment of a base unit or machine component of the unknown inline inspection system and method is shown in FIG. 1 and is generally designated at 21. This embodiment can be considered a flexible paging binder for RFID tags, available from the allidanesen retail information services limited printer systems department, usa, with address: monarch Lane 170, miami burgh, ohio, usa, zip code 45342. The illustration associated with the base unit is a diagrammatic representation of the unknown options of the upstream infeed module (generally designated at 22), the downstream collector module 23, and (when applicable to the particular unknown system) the guillotine module (generally designated at 24, located between the base unit 21 and the collector module 23). By design and programming, the guillotine and collector modules can be quickly and mechanically attached to adjacent units and inserted into the base unit or machine 21, facilitating the creation of the correct registry and functions based on the in-line programming and operating parameters of the entire unknown in-line inspection system.

Also shown is a labeler assembly, shown in the drawings, of known type, generally designated at 25, which holds a roll of pre-cut pressure-sensitive labels or stickers to be applied to labels processed by an unknown system which finds them as non-compliant labels, which may be referred to as "bad labels". When a bar code scanner or other reader or RFID verifier detects or "sees" a non-compliant label, the labeler is triggered to place a sticker or other indicator on the particular non-compliant label. Other marking systems may be employed; such as an inkjet printing station or other inkjet device, which would be particularly suitable for label media compatible with inkjet marking. Essentially, when a tag is marked as a "bad" tag by any mechanism, the user will know that any tag so marked needs to be discarded. The mark should be clear and legible to allow an operator to see and discard the defective product.

Fig. 1 further generally illustrates a conveyor at 26, which may be referred to as a main conveyor, along which labels flow for handling and processing along the base unit. In a typical setup, the main conveyor runs at a continuous speed, which is determined according to the particular application the system is performing. There is shown a sensor, generally designated at 27, for sensing registration of the label flowing onto the conveyor after positioning. The registration sensor may sense holes in the label or label substrate or holder, or may sense color information, for example, for assessing proper registration when the label is flowing. Activation of knob 29 of the registration sensor assembly causes the sensor head to traverse the web flow along main conveyor 26. Further details of registration sensor 27 are shown in fig. 15, including upper sensor adjustment shaft 78, lower sensor adjustment shaft 79, and upper and lower registration sensor units.

A scanner or reader, generally designated at 28, is located above the conveyor; in an embodiment this is a bar code type scanner for reading the markings on the labels as they flow over the conveyor. A scanner or reader captures and "reads" a bar code or other indicia or system and sends the content to be encoded onto that particular label to the RFID encoder. If not read properly, the label will not be properly encoded and the labeler or other system will mark the label as a defective or "bad" label. Reader systems other than bar code based systems, including camera recognition software, need to be considered. When installed, the scanner or reader 28 is shown traversing a path that is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the main conveyor 26. The mounting may also tilt the scanner or reader.

The base unit and its associated unknown in-line components may produce a paginated RFID enabled inspection tag. The base unit is part of a modular, agnostic system that is configured and dimensioned to accommodate a plurality of modules, including in particular the options and embodiments of the infeed module 22, the collector module 23, the guillotine module 24 (as needed), and the transport clamp assembly (as needed), as generally shown in fig. 12 and 12A. The feeder module receives labels from a suitable type of printing device, including a thermal printer type, a laser type, an inkjet type, or other suitable printing device for printing RFID-enabled labels. A data processing device or controller (e.g., a microprocessor) associated with the system or printer, such as a user's personal computer or other data processing device in a local or remote location, may have the capability to control the operation of the system. It is also to be understood that the various units, modules and devices illustrated herein are merely exemplary units, modules and devices, and that their individual details and configurations may vary without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The illustrated printing device 10 includes a housing or casing 12, which may be formed of any suitable material (e.g., a generally rigid metallic material and/or a rigid plastic material). Housing 12 contains various components that may include a supply of substrate material, a mechanism for applying printing to the substrate material, and a mechanism for passing the substrate material through the interior of housing 12 and out of housing 12 via opening 14 where the substrate material exits printing device 10 as printed material. In addition, the base unit or machine shown in FIG. 2A may have RFID verification and RFID encoding capabilities.

B. Sheet feedingModule

Fig. 2A, 2B and 2C schematically illustrate the addition of a roll-to-roll or service loop type infeed module, generally designated at 31, for receiving a roll media or label web from a printing device, generally designated directly or indirectly at 32. The feeder module may be configured to receive printed RFID-enabled tags fed directly from the printing device for inspection and processing along the base unit or machine 21. In the present feed module embodiments, the RFID-enabled tags may be in roll, web, or continuous form, such as spaced longitudinally (and in some embodiments laterally) along a single roll or web, allowing an intact web or roll to present the RFID-enabled tags to the base unit or the analysis and action components of the machine. The platen arm may be a part of the feeding module 31 and the label media may be fed automatically through the system, for example at a constant speed slightly faster than the direct feed printer. When the paper pressing arm descends, paper feeding is operated until the paper pressing arm reaches a preset height, and the printer waits for follow-up through the feedback of the service loop system. This approach allows the printer to make backups as needed, even to the location where the media is to be removed.

If desired, RFID-enabled tags may be separated from each other, such as by the addition of a mechanical cutter, sonic blade, or other technique suitable for the particular type of tag and system, before exiting the agnostic system of the present disclosure. In this regard, reference is made to, for example, FIG. 2B, in which a line cutter module, generally designated at 33, or a compound cutter module, generally designated at 34, is added, and to FIG. 2C, in which a rotary cutter module 35, located downstream of the base unit or machine, is added. A stacker module, generally designated at 36, may be provided downstream of the cutter module.

Fig. 3A and 3B schematically illustrate the positioning of a sheet-feed or auto-feed type of feeder module, generally designated at 37, for directly or indirectly receiving a single printed label or multiple-page labels from the print feed 32. Whereas this version of RFID-enabled tags is pre-cut prior to entering the base unit or machine 21, the downstream cutter module is negligible. Embodiments of stacker module 36 of collector module 23 may be located downstream of the RFID inspection base unit or machine of the unknown inline inspection system, either using vertical stacker equipment or horizontal stacker equipment.

Generally, for any of the feeder modules, or for other modules of these systems, each module may have a bolt-on mounting arrangement and interface coupling with a card. Some of the infeed modules (e.g., a roll-to-roll version of the infeed module) and main conveyor 26 may be propelled by a web guide assembly, such as the web guide assembly embodiment shown at 39.

C. Handling RFID-enabled label web or roll media

To some extent, FIG. 4 conceptually presents an arrangement of an unknown inline inspection system, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, including a roll-to-roll or service loop type feed module, generally designated at 31, for receiving a web of media or label web directly or indirectly with a platen arm from a printing device, generally designated at 32. Registration sensor embodiment 41 of sensor 27 is positioned along an initial portion of the base unit or machine, such as the feed end of the base unit or machine, the feed end of main conveyor 26, or otherwise disposed downstream of the feed module 31 in this embodiment. The registration sensor 41 can determine whether a particular tag has an appropriate relationship with the remaining unknown inline inspection system.

According to this embodiment, at the infeed end of the base unit or machine, for handling a web of web media or RFID-enabled labels, each web or web having a plurality of RFID-enabled labels. An exemplary embodiment of a roll-to-roll or service loop assembly module 31 (with or without a platen arm) is shown in fig. 9 for the present inline inspection system embodiment. The illustration contains two flatbed units 61, linear guide shaft 62, service loop platen 63 and service loop platen stop spring 64.

The embodiment of fig. 4 includes a stacker module 36 for collecting the page bound printed/encoded labels. The stacker module is adapted to accommodate a variety of label types and short or long labels or tags. In this embodiment, the stacker platform 42 moves downward as the labels accumulate. If desired, when the stacker is full, the sensor is triggered to signal the unknown inline inspection system to stop providing time for removing a stack of labels or tags from the stacker module.

Examples of different cutter modules for this type of system include the following embodiments. Fig. 5 and 5A disclose a line cutter embodiment, generally designated at 43 and 44, respectively. Including stationary blade assemblies and linear blade hand guards, blade motors and spring extensions, rotary transport clamp motors, linear cutter assemblies, pivot rods, and encoders. In one embodiment of the inline cutter assembly, the cutting function is accomplished without leaving "white lines" or unwanted marks on the cut edge. This embodiment is particularly useful for dark colored flood labels where coating cracking can produce an unexpected mark.

Another embodiment of the line cutter assembly is a line compound cutter module embodiment that enables compound cutting to remove material, such as "blanks," or additional stock or substrate material printed between labels on a roll or web. For example, the present embodiments are particularly well suited for forming "rounded" labels, as well as for edge-to-edge color printing. The illustrated embodiment of the line type compound cutter module is generally shown in FIG. 5A and includes a fixed blade 64, a line type blade motor, a paging binder transport, a rotary transport motor 65, a line type cutter, a pivot bar, a sliding carriage and shaft, and a cutter pull bar. FIG. 6 shows an unknown system that includes a linear cutter embodiment 45 specifically prepared for single-cut or multiple-cut modules.

Fig. 7, 7A, 7B, and 8 illustrate a rotary cutter embodiment of the cutting module. Rotary cutter embodiment 46 as shown in fig. 7, no stacker module is added downstream, e.g., the rotary cutter has been mounted to the chassis unit or machine frame by pins and fixing elements (e.g., screws, bolts, clips), typically in conjunction with insertion into the chassis unit or machine, to coordinate its function in the inline system. As with the other plug-in details mentioned herein, this plug-in functionality can be replaced with a wireless arrangement. FIG. 8 illustrates the present embodiment wherein the stacker module 36 is adapted to receive cut labels from the rotary cutter module 46. The illustrated embodiment of the rotary cutter module includes a separate rotary blade assembly 51, a blade drive shaft 52, a cutter motor 53, a paging binder transport clip assembly 54, a transport clip idler 55, and a blade home position sensor 56. The illustrated rotary blade assembly 51 includes a fixed blade assembly 57, a rotary blade 58, a blade bridge blade 59, and a bearing 60. These details show the components found in the present embodiment, and other components may be found in other rotary cutter embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of an unknown inline inspection system and method for producing paginated RFID-enabled tags, labels, tickets, stickers and other RFID-enabled items that require accurate, convenient, and rapid inspection of criteria and parameters, while rejecting items that have not been analyzed by the system and method.

D. Processing a single-sheet single-label stream supporting RFID

To some extent, FIG. 10 conceptually presents an arrangement of an unknown inline inspection system, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Registration sensor embodiment 41 of sensor 27 is positioned along an initial portion of the base unit or machine, such as the feed end of base unit or machine 21, the feed end of main conveyor 26, or otherwise disposed downstream of the feed module in this embodiment, generally designated at 71. The registration sensor 41 can determine whether a particular tag flowing along the sheet feed module 71 is in an appropriate relationship with the remaining unknown inline inspection system or other tags being advanced by the page binding apparatus.

In fig. 10 and 11, the paper feed module 71 shown in the present embodiment includes an auxiliary conveyor 72 having the components shown in fig. 12. The components in fig. 12 include a plurality of rollers 73, a drive gear 74, an idler roller 75, a drive roller 76, and a plurality of bearings 77 of the auxiliary conveyor. These components illustrate a particular embodiment of a sheet feed module, and allow for other details and parts.

The embodiment of fig. 10 generally includes a stacker module 36 that may collect printed/encoded labels that have been page bound. The stacker module is adapted to accommodate a variety of label types and short or long labels or tags. In this embodiment, the stacker platform 42 moves downward as the labels accumulate. If desired, when the stacker is full, the sensor is triggered to signal the unknown inline inspection system to stop providing time for removing a stack of labels or tags from the stacker module.

To accommodate the ordered transfer from the main conveyor of the base unit or machine of this embodiment, a transfer clamp module generally designated at 81, i.e., the embodiment of the transfer clamp module shown in fig. 13, 13A and 14, may be provided. This embodiment includes a paging binder transport nip assembly 82 embodiment, which in this case includes a transport nip roller, an electrostatic brush, a transport nip drive roller, a transport nip stripper, and a jam sensor. Fig. 14 also shows a transport nip feed motor 83, a transport nip gear 84, and a transport nip signal assembly 85.

E. Operation of the system as a whole

FIG. 16 provides an embodiment in block diagram schematic or electrical block diagram form showing the overall system of an unknown inline inspection system for producing inspection RFID-enabled tags that have been page bound. A paging binder main Printed Circuit Board (PCB)91 (such as used by Thinkify or Impinj readers) is shown in the figure and is in interactive communication with the operation of the various components of the overall system. Various versions and options are shown, including communication with an external processor or computer 92, which external processor or computer 92 may be a user's personal computer or other remote data system, which may be located at a central location serving a hub and spoke architecture. Also shown as an example of a guillotine module selection is an interface 93 for either the line cutter module 94 or the rotate cutter module 94 options.

It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative of some of the application of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, including combinations of features disclosed herein either individually or as claimed, without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. For these reasons, the scope herein is not limited to the above description, but rather is as described in the following claims, and it is to be understood that the claims may be directed to features herein, including combinations of features disclosed or claimed herein, individually.