Method of assembly of articles and intermediate created thereby

Abstract

Articles on flexible webs with different pitches are assembled together by displacing portions between articles of one web out of plane to move the articles on that web to the same pitch as the other web, aligning the two webs to register corresponding articles on the two webs, and assembling the corresponding articles together. The assembly may be used for example in the making of RFID tags, labels and inlays.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An intermediate product formed by a process comprising the steps of:
 selecting a first planar substrate with a plurality of first articles disposed on the first planar substrate at a first spacing;   selecting a second planar substrate with a plurality of second articles disposed on the second planar substrate at a second spacing;   displacing portions of the first planar substrate in a direction transverse to the machine direction to draw the first spacing to the second spacing; and   attaching the first article to the second article.   
     
     
         2 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the first articles are RFID antennas and the second articles are RFID straps or chips. 
     
     
         3 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the first articles are RFID transponders and the second articles are hang tags. 
     
     
         4 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the first articles are labels and the second articles are RFID transponders. 
     
     
         5 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second flexible substrate are constructed with one of paper, plastic, or foil. 
     
     
         6 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the step of displacing portions of the first substrate in a direction transverse to the machine direction comprises applying positive or negative pressure to the portions of the first substrate through a vacuum, suction, or mechanical force. 
     
     
         7 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the step of displacing portions of the first substrate in a direction transverse to the machine direction comprises rolling the first planar substrate around a toothed roller. 
     
     
         8 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the step of attaching the first article to the second article further comprises one or more of steps of applying pressure, applying heat, soldering, and welding. 
     
     
         9 . An intermediate RFID web assembly, the assembly comprising:
 a first substrate;   a second substrate;   RFID transponders simultaneously attached to the first substrate at a first spacing, and a second substrate at a second spacing; and   wherein the first spacing is different than the second spacing.   
     
     
         10 . The web assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the RFID transponder consists of (i) an antenna, (ii) a strap, chip or transponder, and (iii) an attachment between (i) and (ii). 
     
     
         11 . The web assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the attachment consists of adhesive, weld, solder, or direct attachment. 
     
     
         12 . The web assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the RFID transponders further comprises an additional RFID component.