Apparatus and system for rapidly attaching identifiers to items

Abstract

A system for processing containers, includes a sensor for sensing contents of a closed container, an identifier applicator for applying, based on an output of the sensor, a predetermined identifier to the container, a controller for controlling the sensor and the identifier applicator, and a read-out device for reading the identifier and communicating a result of read-out of the identifier to the controller.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:  
     
         1 . A system for processing containers, comprising: 
 a sensor for sensing contents of a closed container;    an identifier applicator for applying, based on an output of said sensor, a predetermined identifier to said container;    a controller for controlling said sensor and said identifier applicator; and    a read-out device for reading said identifier and communicating a result of read-out of said identifier to said controller.    
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said identifier applicator comprises a tag applicator for applying tags.  
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said tag applicator comprises a gaseously-driven device for propelling said tag to said container.  
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said tag applicator comprises a pivotable arm, controlled by said controller, for applying said tag to said container.  
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said identifier applicator comprises a label applicator.  
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein said label applicator comprises a pivotable arm controlled by said controller, for applying a label to said container.  
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said sensor senses whether said contents of said container has predetermined characteristics, 
 wherein, when said contents of said container has said predetermined characteristics, said identifier applicator applies an identifier having a first characteristic to said container, and    wherein, when said contents of said container has a characteristic other than said predetermined characteristics, said identifier applicator applies an identifier having a second characteristic to said container.    
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein said identifier comprises a 1-bit tag for indicating one of said container having said predetermined characteristics and said container being devoid of said predetermined characteristics.  
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein said identifier comprises a radio-frequency identification tag, said tag being encodable for indicating contents of said container.  
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein a pressure-sensitive adhesive is provided on a surface of said identifier to be attached to said container.  
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising first and second loading queues for storing first and second identifiers for loading to said identifier applicator.  
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an interrogator for interrogating said identifier after said identifier has been affixed to said container by said identifier applicator.  
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said interrogator comprises a hand-held radio-frequency scanner.  
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein first and second types of tags are attachable to said container, 
 said first type of tag comprising a dummy tag, and said second tag comprising a functional tag, wherein each of said first and second tags comprises one of a 1-bit tag and a multi-bit radio frequency (RF) tag.    
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 2 , further comprising first and second queues for stacking first and second types of tags respectively, 
 wherein, within each queue, said tags are stacked such that a release layer is provided between adjacent tags.    
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said tags have a rectangular shape having a primary surface and a secondary surface, and 
 wherein said tags are stacked face-to-face such that a primary surface of a first tag faces a primary surface of a second, adjacent tag.    
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said tags have a rectangular shape having a primary surface and a secondary surface, and 
 wherein said tags are stacked edge-to-edge such that a secondary surface of a first tag faces a secondary surface of a second, adjacent tag.    
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein at least some of said tags comprise radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for being written to and read from.  
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein said tags comprise RFID tags for a predetermined type of containers and dummy tags for other types of containers.  
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said tags comprise 1-bit tags for being one of armed and unarmed for predetermined types of container and the other of armed and disarmed for other types of containers.  
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said tags comprise 1-bit tags for a predetermined type of containers and dummy tags for other types of container.  
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein said 1-bit tags comprise magnetic tags.  
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein said RFID tags comprise radio frequency 1-bit tags comprising a RLC circuit therein.  
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein each said predetermined identifier has substantially a same outward appearance as another said predetermined identifier.  
     
     
         25 . An apparatus for tagging a container and for use with a sensor for sensing contents of the container, comprising: 
 an identifier applicator for applying a predetermined identifier to a container depending upon a sensed contents of said container;    first and second queues of first and second predetermined identifiers, respectively, for being provided to said identifier applicator based upon the sensed contents of said container; and    a controller for controlling said first and second queues and actuating said identifier applicator at a predetermined time, to apply one of said first and second predetermined identifiers to said container depending upon a sensed contents of said container.    
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein said identifier applicator comprises a tag applicator for applying tags.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein said tag applicator comprises a gaseously-driven device for propelling a tag of said tags to said container.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein said tag applicator comprises a pivotable arm, controlled by said controller, for applying said tag to said container.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein said identifier applicator comprises a label applicator.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein said label applicator comprises a pivotable arm, controlled by said controller, for applying a label to said container.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein first and second types of tags are attachable to said container, said first type of tag comprising a dummy tag, and said second tag comprising a functional tag, and 
 wherein each of said first and second tags comprises one of a 1-bit tag and a multi-bit radio frequency (RF) tag.    
     
     
         32 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , further comprising first and second queues for stacking first and second types of tags respectively, wherein, within each queue, said tags are stacked such that a release layer is provided between adjacent tags.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein said tags have a rectangular shape having a primary surface and a secondary surface, and 
 wherein said tags are stacked face-to-face such that a primary surface of a first tag faces a primary surface of a second, adjacent tag.    
     
     
         34 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein said tags have a rectangular shape having a primary surface and a secondary surface, and 
 wherein said tags are stacked edge-to-edge such that a secondary surface of a first tag faces a secondary surface of a second, adjacent tag.    
     
     
         35 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein at least some of said tags comprise radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for being written to and read from.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein said tags comprise RFID tags for a predetermined type of containers and dummy tags for other types of containers.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein said tags comprise 1-bit tags for being one of armed and unarmed for predetermined types of containers and the other of armed and disarmed for other types of containers.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein said tags comprise 1-bit tags for a predetermined type of containers and dummy tags for other types of containers.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus according to  claim 37 , wherein said 1-bit tags comprise magnetic tags.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein said RFID tags comprise radio frequency 1-bit tags comprising a RLC circuit therein.  
     
     
         41 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein all of said predetermined identifiers have substantially a same outward appearance.