Method of Implanting RFID Tags in Corrugated Paperboard

Abstract

The disclosure concerns a method, an apparatus and a system for producing or equipping paperboard such that information carriers can be implanted between two layers of material, together with a piece of paperboard material produced in this way and a package. In particular, the disclosure concerns the implantation of an information carrier in corrugated paperboard, taking into account cuts that are subsequently to be made in the transverse direction, the distance of the position at which the cross-cuts are made from the position at which the information carriers are applied, and the movement executed by the web of material between the application position and the cross-cutting position.

1 . A method of producing paperboard or a web of paperboard material wherein at least two layers of material are joined together, wherein information carriers are implanted between the at least two layers of material.  
   
   
       2 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the information carriers are applied to a layer of material carrying the information carrier before the layer of material is joined to another layer of material covering the information carrier.  
   
   
       3 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein after all the layers of material have been joined together, the web of material is severed in the transverse direction (the x-direction) to singulate the web of material into pieces of material, the information carriers previously being implanted such that they are thereupon located at predefined positions in the pieces of material.  
   
   
       4 . The method as in  claim 3 , wherein during the production of the web of material, the layers of material are moved in the longitudinal direction (the y-direction), and in that the information carriers are applied to the carrying layer in a time-controlled manner at positions relative to the longitudinal extent of the layer of material, taking into account 
 predefined cuts that are to be made in the transverse direction (the x-direction),    the distance of the position at which the cross-cuts are made from the position at which the information carriers are applied, and    the movement executed by the web of material between the application position and the cross-cutting position.    
   
   
       5 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein at the applying position is a positioning system comprising a storage magazine for information carriers, so that the information carriers can be continuously applied to the carrying layer of material, which travels past the positioning system.  
   
   
       6 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the method is performed in a corrugated paperboard apparatus having a wet end and a dry end.  
   
   
       7 . The method as in  claim 6 , wherein the corrugated paperboard apparatus comprises at least one single-facer section, one double-facer station, one laminating station, one heating and stretching area and/or one final processing station.  
   
   
       8 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the information carriers contain devices whereby the information from each respective information carrier can be read by means of electromagnetic radiation, acoustomagnetic radiation, radiofrequency waves and/or ultrasonic waves.  
   
   
       9 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the information carriers are RFID transponders or EAS tags.  
   
   
       10 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the outer webs is provided with a marking drawing attention to the internally disposed information carrier.  
   
   
       11 . A piece of paperboard material, wherein the piece of material was produced according to a method as specified in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       12 . A piece of paperboard material, wherein an information carrier is contained within the layers of paperboard or corrugated paperboard.  
   
   
       13 . The piece of paperboard material as in  claim 12 , wherein the information carrier contains a device whereby the information from each respective information carrier can be read by means of electromagnetic radiation, acoustomagnetic radiation, radiofrequency waves and/or ultrasonic waves.  
   
   
       14 . The piece of paperboard material as in  claim 12 , wherein the information carrier is an RFID transponder or an EAS tag.  
   
   
       15 . The piece of paperboard material as in  claim 12 , wherein the piece of material is provided with a marking drawing attention to the internally disposed information carrier.  
   
   
       16 . A package consisting partially or completely of paperboard, wherein an information carrier is contained within the paperboard.  
   
   
       17 . The package as in  claim 16 , wherein the information carrier contains a device whereby the information from each respective information carrier can be read by means of electromagnetic radiation, acoustomagnetic radiation, radiofrequency waves and/or ultrasonic waves.  
   
   
       18 . The package as in  claim 16  or  17 , wherein the information carrier is an RFID transponder or an EAS tag.  
   
   
       19 . The package as in  claim 16 , wherein the package is provided with a marking drawing attention to the internally disposed information carrier.  
   
   
       20 . An apparatus for producing corrugated paperboard, wherein at least one positioning system for applying information carriers is provided, and is arranged within the apparatus in such a way that the information carriers can be implanted between two layers of material.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus as in  claim 20 , wherein the positioning system is disposed between two single-face webs or between a single-face web and a liner web at a location that is encountered before the webs are joined together.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus as in  claim 20 , wherein the positioning system is disposed before or near the laminating station.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus as in  claim 20 , wherein the apparatus comprises a cross-cutter to singulate the web of material into pieces of material, the positioning system being connected to a controller suitable for controlling the positioning system in such fashion that the information carriers are subsequently disposed at predefined positions in the pieces of material.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus as in  claim 20 , wherein the controller is able to control the positioning system in applying the information carriers relative to the longitudinal direction (the y-direction) of the layer of material or the single-face web, taking the following parameters into account: 
 the distance of the positioning system from the cross-cutter,    the nature and speed of the movement executed by the web of material between the positioning system and the cross-cutter, and/or    the geometry of the predefined pieces of material.    
   
   
       25 . The apparatus as in  claim 20 , wherein the positioning system comprises a storage magazine for information carriers, so that the information carriers can be continuously applied by the positioning system to the carrying layer of material or the single-face web.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus as in  claim 20 , wherein the apparatus has a wet end and a dry end.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus as in  claim 20 , wherein the apparatus comprises at least one single-facer section, one double-backer station, one laminating station, one heating and stretching area and/or one final processing station.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus as in  claim 20 , wherein at least one means is provided that is designed to provide at least one of the outer webs with a marking drawing attention to the internally disposed information carriers.  
   
   
       29 . A system for applying information carriers to a layer of material in an apparatus as specified in  claim 20 , wherein the system comprises at least one positioning system that can be arranged within the apparatus such that the information carriers can be implanted between two layers of material.  
   
   
       30 . The system as in  claim 29 , wherein the positioning system is connected to a controller suitable for controlling the positioning system in such fashion that the information carriers are thereupon located at predefined positions in the pieces of material.  
   
   
       31 . The system as in  claim 29 , wherein the controller is able to control the positioning system for applying the information carriers relative to the longitudinal direction (the y-direction) of the layer of material or the single-face web taking the following parameters into account: 
 the distance of the positioning system from the cross-cutter,    the nature and speed of the movement executed by the web of material between the positioning system and the cross-cutter, and/or    the geometry of the predefined pieces of material.    
   
   
       32 . The system as in  claim 29 , wherein at least one sensor is provided to measure the speed of the web of material between the positioning system and the cross-cutter.  
   
   
       33 . The system as in  claim 29 , wherein the positioning system comprises a storage magazine for information carriers, so that the information carriers can be continuously applied by the positioning system to a carrying layer of material or a single-face web.  
   
   
       34 . The system as in  claim 29 , wherein at least one means is provided that is designed to provide at least one of the outer webs with a marking drawing attention to the internally disposed information carriers.