WO2008043819A1

WO2008043819A1 - Apparatus for, and method of, transferring a multiplicity of rfid components from a carrier strip onto a set-down strip

Info

Publication number: WO2008043819A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/060843
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dieter Bergmann; Volker PÖNITZ
Original assignee: Mühlbauer Ag
Priority date: 2006-10-13
Filing date: 2007-10-11
Publication date: 2008-04-17
Also published as: DE102006055699A1; DE102006055699B4

Abstract

The invention presents an apparatus for, and a method of, transferring a multiplicity of RFID components (7), which are arranged in a row-like manner on an advancing carrier strip (6), onto predefined set-down surfaces (3), arranged in a row-like manner, of a continuously advancing set-down strip (2), wherein the two strips (6), at least over a predeterminable portion (10), run one above the other with strip planes oriented parallel to one another, and wherein the apparatus has a wedge-shaped edge-profile element (17, 17a) which is arranged in the portion (10) and is intended for deflecting the carrier strip (6), which results in the RFID components (7) being detached from the carrier strip (6), it being possible for the wedge-shaped edge-profile element (17, 17a) to be displaced (21) parallel to the plane of the carrier strip (6) in the portion (10).

Description

Mühlbauer AG 1 1.10.2007

Josef-Mühlbauer-Platz 1 MBR01 -1 15-WOPT

HA / km / kr / nh D-93426 Roding

Apparatus and method for transmitting a plurality of RFID components from one

Carrier tape on a storage tape

description

The invention relates to a device and a method for transmitting a plurality of RFID components arranged in rows on a moving carrier tape to predefined, row-like arranged depositing surfaces of a continuously moving depositing belt, wherein both belts run over each other at least in a predeterminable section with mutually parallel belt planes, according to the preambles of claims 1 and 8.

RFID components, in particular so-called RFID strip sections, which frequently consist of a chip module, ie of a chip and enlarged connection surfaces attached thereto, frequently have to be deposited in personalization machines in a large number from a carrier tape to a storage tape. Here both bands move on.

Transfer devices are known which perform a transfer of the individual RFID strip sections during a short-term standstill, ie when the belts are continued continuously, or deposit these RFID strip sections in an intermediate step on a continuously moving wheel, subsequently surrounding the RFID strip sections the storage belt, which can then move continuously, store. Such devices result in either a discontinuous movement of the belts must take place, which reduces a throughput of the entire personalization machine, or a complex and space-consuming overall construction is required. It is also known that the RFID strip sections, which are located one behind the other on the carrier tape, are detached from the carrier tape by means of a singulation principle, in which the carrier tape is strongly deflected via a fixedly arranged wedge-shaped edge profile element and thereby a detachment of the RFID strip sections takes place from the carrier tape. This often leads to the fact that the RFID strip sections do not come to rest exactly on this provided storage surfaces of the storage tape and thus no reliable contact takes place with an example arranged underneath antenna.

Likewise, transfer devices with suction devices are known in which, by means of a suction step and a blow-off pulse, the RFID strip section is sucked onto a sieve-like structure of a vacuumized opening of a vacuum element and blown to the carrier strip. This requires a precise adjustment of the intake and blow-off pulse parameters for the location-accurate storage of the RFID components or RFID strip sections.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a reliable apparatus and a reliable method for the transmission of a plurality of RFID components from a carrier tape to a storage tape, in which the storage tape can move continuously and the / a location-accurate storage of the RFID components on the storage tape provided storage surfaces with high throughput and cost-effective manner.

This object is achieved on the device side by the features of patent claim 1 and the method side by the features of claim 8.

An essential point of the invention is that, in a device for transmitting a plurality of RFID components arranged in rows on a moving carrier tape, a wedge-shaped edge profile element in a section is arranged on predefined successively serially or meandering storage surfaces or on a shelf carrier of a continuously moving storage belt in which both bands move one above the other with adjacent strip planes, preferably aligned parallel to one another, for deflecting the carrier strip and an borrowing the RFID components from the carrier tape is used, wherein the edge profile element is parallel to the band plane of the carrier tape in the section displaceable. In this way, the wedge-shaped edge profile element is moved out of an intermediate region between, for example, a vacuum device arranged on the upper side, which vacuum-picks the RFID component detaching from the wedge-shaped edge profile element, and the underlying deposition belt, for example, so that the vacuum device transfers it by means of a downward movement of the vacuum device adhering RFID component can take place from top to bottom on the storage tape on the predefined shelf.

It is thus both the wedge-shaped edge profile element and that portion of the carrier tape, which is currently deflected therefrom, briefly moved out of this intermediate area, so that an arrangement of this device according to the invention with two different orientations with respect to the direction of the storage belt is possible, namely once with a running direction of the carrier tape oriented parallel to the course direction of the depositing belt and, alternatively, with a course direction of the carrier belt aligned perpendicular to the running direction of the depositing belt. This not only enables a high throughput and a reliable storage of the RFID components, which can be designed as RFID strip sections, on the provided storage surfaces of the storage belt with a high throughput, but also an optionally subsequent installation and positioning of the transfer device within a Per- sonalisierungsmaschine or a similar system optionally with a vertical or a parallel alignment of the two courses of the carrier tape and the storage belt. This can be decided differently depending on the required space within the overall system.

The wedge-shaped edge profile element of the strip-shaped carrier strip can be continuously and continuously unwound on rollers provided upstream and downstream by means of the section upstream and downstream buffer devices with form-fitting and non-positively clocked strip section feed.

The vacuum device is designed to aspirate each RFID component on its back, while it detaches with its front by moving the edge profile of the carrier tape. There is thus a downward movement of the vacuum device in the direction on the currently releasing RFID component at the same time as the deflection of the carrier tape section, on which the currently accommodated by the vacuum device RFID component is performed performed.

The vacuum device is thus displaceable in the predeterminable section perpendicular to the belt planes in order first to suck each RFID component on its rear side and then to deposit the sucked RFID component on the storage belt, which moves continuously.

According to a preferred embodiment, the displaceable vacuum device for this purpose has a lowering device which deposits each RFID component with its front side facing the storage belt in such a way that it is placed on the storage belt slightly angled, in particular in a front surface area of the front side.

Although the vacuum device has a vacuumizing plate, which is parallel to the storage belt and an underlying storage plate, which is intended as an abutment to the pressure exerted by the Absekeinrichtung from above, but is for an initial Klebeontaktierung the front of the RFID component with the Deposition surface of the storage belt a roll or a rounding arranged on this vacuumizing plate whose function on the one hand, the firm pressing the underlying moving and already stored RFID component on the storage tape and on the other an initial Kontak- ting in the front surface area of the front between the RFID Component and the storage surface is.

The displaceable perpendicular to the belt planes vacuumizing plate of the lowering device is preferably connected to the back of a lifting cylinder, which exerts a corresponding pressure force of the plate and the front side arranged, preferably height-adjustable roller or roll on the isolated RFID component and the underlying therebelow.

In a method according to the invention for the transmission of the plurality of RFID components from the carrier tape to the depositing belt, the carrier tape and the wedge-shaped edge profile element arranged in the portion are deflected, whereby the RFID components detach from the carrier tape, and thereafter or at the same time the wedge-shaped edge profile element are moved parallel to the band plane of the carrier tape in the section.

The wedge-shaped edge profile element can be moved or displaced under the current RFID component and at the same time the carrier tape can be moved from the underside of the RFID

Component are deducted. Advantageously, the RFID component resting on the backside of the RFID component during the removal of the carrier tape can thereby be arranged already before the final separation from the carrier tape on the underside of the vacuuming plate located above it with the adjacent roller, so that a location-accurate Recording the RFID components is ensured.

By means of the adhesive force of an adhesive layer arranged on the underside of the RFID components, the RFID chip modules can be stored on the continuously running storage belt in a speed-synchronized location.

Further advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the dependent claims.

Advantages and expediencies can be found in the following description in conjunction with the drawing. Hereby show:

Fig. 1 in a perspective schematic representation of an inventive

Contraption;

2 shows a perspective side view of a section of the device according to the invention;

3a and in a further schematic side views of the portion of the device according to the invention -3.3;

4 is a perspective schematic representation of the portion of the device according to the invention in a first state, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective schematic representation of the portion of the device according to the invention in a second state. In Fig. 1 the inventive device of the invention is shown in a perspective view. The device 1 is arranged in the region of a storage belt 2 in such a way that a carrier belt 6 runs perpendicular to the running direction of the storage belt 2.

On the carrier tape 2 storage surfaces 3 are marked on which RFID strip sections 7, which are located on the carrier tape 6, to be stored.

The carrier tape 6 is unrolled from a roll 4 and rolled up after the deposition of the RFID components 7 on the storage belt 2 on another roll 5.

The carrier tape 6 is deflected over a plurality of pulleys 8, 9, 1 1 and 12 and other rollers not shown here in such a way that it extends in a section 10 in a plane which is aligned parallel to the belt plane of the storage belt 2. However, the two bands have mutually perpendicular oriented directions, as represented by the reference numerals 14 and 15.

The entire device can be arranged within a common base frame 13 and optionally subsequently arranged in the course of the storage belt 2, for example, within a personalization system.

In Fig. 2, the portion 10, as shown in Fig. 1, reproduced in a schematic side view, wherein the page representation in Fig. 2 allows viewing in the Y direction and the page representation in Fig. 3a allows viewing in the X direction as represented by reference numerals 16 and 16a.

A wedge-shaped edge profile element 17 with a wedge-shaped section 17a is arranged in such a way that the carrier tape 6 can be deflected along its course direction 14 about the wedge-shaped section 17a via deflecting rollers 18, 19 and 20 and thus a detachment of the RFID strip sections located thereon can take place.

The wedge-shaped edge profile element 17 can be displaced along the direction of the arrow 21 such that a displacement movement of the edge profile element 17 takes place simultaneously with the detachment of the RFID strip section 7 from the carrier strip 6 and at the same time a taking place by means of vacuum recording of the RFID strip portion on a back side 7 b can be performed by a vacuumizing plate 22.

As can be seen from FIG. 3 a, with reference to the course direction 15 of the Ababa band 2 in the front surface area 7 c of a front side 7 a of the RFID strip section 7, a roller 24 is provided on the upper side by means of a suspension 23, which can be configured both horizontally and vertically can, arranged. This roller 24 serves to press the RFID strip section 7 onto the storage belt 2 when the RFID strip section is already located with its underside adhesive surface on the storage belt 2 and moves under the roller 24 due to the continuously moving carrier belt 6. This presupposes that the wedge-shaped edge profile element 17 has already been displaced, ie has been moved out of the intermediate region between the vacuumizing plate 22 and the deposition belt 2.

By pressing the roller 24, at least in this area, a slightly angled deposition of the RFID strip section in its front surface area 7c on the storage belt 2 takes place, as represented by the angle 24a in FIG. 3b.

By means of a fastening and displacement device 25, 26 arranged opposite a depositing plate 32, the vacuumizing plate 22 can be moved downwards and upwards, as represented by the double arrow 27.

A lifting cylinder 28 presses from above by spring action 30, 31 for surface transfer of the lifting cylinder on the vacuumizing plate 22 and moves it under pressure down to the storage belt 2 to deposit the RFID strip portion on it. The direction of compression is represented by the arrow 29.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, the section in which both bands are aligned parallel to each other is shown enlarged again in a perspective view, wherein in FIG. 4 a first state in which the RFID strip section is received, and in FIG. 5 a second state in which the RFID strip portion is deposited on the storage belt 2, is shown. It can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5 that after displacement of a carriage on which the wedge-shaped edge profile element 17 is fastened, the vacuumizing plate 22 moves downwards by means of a lifting cylinder 28, around the RFID strip section 7 on the support surface 3 the storage tape 2 store.

All disclosed in the application documents features are claimed as essential to the invention, provided they are new individually or in combination over the prior art.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 device for transmitting

2 storage belt 3 shelves

4.5 rolls

6 carrier tape

7 RFID components

7a front side of the RFID components 7b rear side of the RFID components

7c front area of the RFID components

8, 9, 1 1, 12,

18, 19, 20 pulleys

10 Section 13 Basic frame

14,15 course directions

16 Y direction 16a X direction

17 wedge-shaped edge profile element 17 a front wedge-shaped section

21 displacement direction of the wedge-shaped edge profile element

22 vacuuming plate

23 holding device

24 roller a angle, 26 shift attachment

Shifting direction

lifting cylinder

Compression direction, 31 springs of pressure application

shelf

Claims

Apparatus and method for transferring a plurality of RFID components from a carrier tape to a delivery tape

1. Device for transmitting a multiplicity of RFID components (7) arranged in rows on a moving carrier belt (6) to predefined successively serially or meandering storage surfaces (3) of a continuously moving storage belt (2), both belts (2) 6) at least in a predeterminable section (10) with adjacent mutually aligned belt planes run one above the other, characterized by a in the section (10) arranged wedge-shaped edge profile element (17, 17a) for deflecting the carrier tape (6) and a resulting detachment of the RFID Components (7) of the carrier tape (6), wherein the wedge-shaped edge profile element (17, 17a) in the section (10) parallel to the belt plane of the carrier tape (6) displaceable (21).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the wedge-shaped edge profile element (17, 17 a) perpendicular to the extending direction (15) of the storage belt (2) displaceable (21), wherein the carrier tape (6) in the section (10) has a vertical to the running direction (15) of the storage belt (2) oriented course direction (14).

3. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wedge-shaped edge profile element (17, 17a) parallel to the direction (15) of the

Ablagebandes (2) is displaceable, wherein the carrier tape (6) in the section (10) has a parallel to the direction of extension (15) of the storage belt (2) oriented course direction.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a vacuum device (22, 28, 30, 31) for sucking each RFID component (7) on its rear side (7 b), while it with its front side (7 a) by shifting ( 21) of the edge profile element (17) from the carrier tape (6) detaches.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the vacuum device (22, 28, 30, 31) in the predeterminable section (10) is displaceable perpendicular to the belt planes (27, 29) in order to lift each sucked RFID

Place component (7) on the storage element (2).

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the displaceable vacuum device, a lowering device (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28-

31) which aligns each RFID component (7) slightly angled with its front side (7a) facing the depositing belt (2), beginning with the surface region (7c) of the front side (7a) that protrudes in the running direction (15) of the depositing belt (2) ).

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the lowering device a vertically displaceable to the belt planes plate (22) with a rear side arranged lifting cylinder (28, 30, 31) and a vornelie- ing surface area (7c) of the front side (7a) associated, preferably height-adjustable roller or a rounding (23, 24) on the back (7b) of the RFID component (7) upon displacement (29) of the vacuum device (22, 28, 30, 31) presses.

8. A method for transferring a plurality of RFID components (7) arranged in rows on a moving carrier belt (6) to predefined successively one or more serially arranged storage surfaces (3) of a continuously moving storage belt (2), both belts (6, 2) at least in a predeterminable portion (10) with parallel aligned band plane on top of each other, so that the carrier tape (2) is deflected around a wedge-shaped edge profile element (17, 17a) arranged in the section (10) and thereby the RFID components (7) detach from the carrier tape (6) in that the wedge-shaped edge profile element (17, 17a) is displaced parallel to the strip plane of the carrier strip (6) in the section (10).

9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that each detached RFID component (7) is sucked by means of a vacuum device (22, 28, 30, 31) on its rear side (7b) and then moved by displacement (28, 29). the vacuum device is deposited on the storage belt (2) after the wedge-shaped edge profile element (17, 17a) previously arranged between the vacuum device (22, 28, 30, 31) and the storage belt (2) together with the carrier belt section (FIG. 6) has been pushed out of the section (10).

10. The method of claim 8 or 9, dadu rch geken nzeich net that each RFID component (7) of the sliding vacuum device (22, 28, 30, 31) slightly angled (24 a) on the storage belt (2) is stored.