David John Bledsoe

US Patent:

6645327, Nov 11, 2003

Filed:

Aug 28, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/942206

Inventors:

Pixie A. Austin - Marysville WA
Duane M. Fox - Snohomish WA
David N. Bledsoe - Mukilteo WA

Assignee:

Intermec IP Corp. - Beverly Hills CA

International Classification:

B32B 3104

US Classification:

156 64, 156263, 156277, 156362, 156378, 156387, 156517, 156556

Abstract:

Linerless label stock is fed to a printer that prints on the front face of the label stock and then to a media cutter. The cutter cuts the strip into discrete labels, which are fed to a tag application station. A strip of electronic tags is fed through an encoder that detects defective tags and then to a tag cutter that cuts the strip into discrete tags. Defective tags exiting the cutter are diverted away from the tag application station. Non-defective tags are conveyed to the tag application station where they are secured to the back face of labels.

US Patent:

62805444, Aug 28, 2001

Filed:

Apr 21, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/296161

Inventors:

Duane M. Fox - Snohomish WA
David N. Bledsoe - Albuquerque NM

Assignee:

Intermec IP Corp. - Beverly Hills CA

International Classification:

B32B 3104
B32B 3500

US Classification:

156 64

Abstract:

A system includes a method and apparatus for printing labels and applying electronic tags, e. g. RF tags, to the labels, and also includes the resulting labels. The apparatus comprises a label media supply station that receives a strip of label media. The back face of the media may have adhesive thereon, which may be protected by a liner. The media is conveyed to a print station for printing on the front face of the media. A strip of RF tags is conveyed from a tag supply station to a tag application station downstream of the print station. At the tag application station, an electronic tag is applied to the back face of a label that has been printed at the print station. Preferably, a tag strip bar defines the location at which a tag is brought into contact with the back face. The bar is configured to provide a sharp turn in a pathway for a liner portion of the strip of tags. This separates the liner from the tag as the tag is applied to the label.