Abstract: A cover for a roll of contaminant removal tape and methods of placing an applicator inside a cover. The cover includes a wall that defines a cavity, where the cavity includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and where the first end of the cavity is open to receive a roll of contaminant removal tape and a slot for receiving a handle attached to the roll of contaminant removal tape, where the slot includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end, where the first end of the slot is open to receive the handle attached to the roll of contaminant removal tape, and where the second end of the slot is closed to contain the handle attached to the roll of contaminant removal tape.

Abstract: An asset tracking system is provided, having particular usefulness in connection with the interrogation of RFID-tagged pallets by a forklift equipped with one or more RFID reader antennas. A useful embodiment of an RFID-tagged pallet is described, along with other beneficial components of such a system.

Abstract: A tamper indicating device includes a light transmissive backing and a layer of adhesive. The backing comprises a blown film including a first, continuous phase and a second, discontinuous phase. The backing is normally light transmissive, and becomes opaque upon tampering sufficient to internally delaminate said backing. Preferably, the blown film contains from 60 to 85 parts by weight of the first, continuous phase and from 15 to 40 parts by weight of the second, discontinuous phase. More preferably, the first phase comprises polypropylene and the second phase comprises an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer or ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer or an ethylene/vinyl acetate/vinyl alcohol terpolymer. The tamper indicating device can include either or both of an initially viewable indicia that becomes obscured upon internal delamination of the backing and a latent indicia that becomes viewable upon internal delamination of the backing.

Abstract: An expandable wheel for supporting an endless abrasive belt. The present invention relates more particularly to an expandable wheel for supporting an endless abrasive belt, which includes an hub having an axis and a plurality of wheel segments engaged with the hub, where the hub and the plurality of wheel segments are adapted to rotate about the axis, and where the plurality of wheel segments are movable between a first radial position and a second radial position.

Abstract: A combination tag is disclosed, including a magnetically-responsive element and a radio frequency-responsive element. In one embodiment, the magnetically-responsive element also functions as an antenna for the radio frequency-responsive element.

Abstract: A surface treating article including a surface treating member and a fastener including a fiducial. The present invention also provides a preferred method of making a surface treating article that includes to a method of sensing the location of a fasteners on a surface treating web and thereafter cutting the surface treating web around the fastener to provide a surface treating article.

Abstract: An object tracking and management system and method using radio-frequency identification (“RFID”) tags is disclosed. Objects to be moved between locations are outfitted with RFID tags having information relating to the identities of the objects. The locations are also marked by RFID tags containing information on the locations. A transport vehicle for moving the objects is equipped with an RFID interrogator capable of detecting signals from the RFID tags. An onboard processor provides the operator of the vehicle with instructions on the movement of objects. The processor also determines the identities of the objects and locations from the detected signals and provides the operator with feedback as to the identity of an object being moved, the location of the vehicle and any error in carrying out the instructions. Numerous variations of the basic system and method using RFID tags are also described.

Abstract: Antenna shelf tape is disclosed for use with items having radio frequency identification elements or tags associated with items of interest.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a mechanical fastener. A preferred embodiment of the method includes moving a substrate along a web path, where the substrate includes a first major surface and a plurality of stems extending from the first major surface of the substrate and each of the stems includes a stem end, radiantly heating the stem ends to form softened ends, and thereafter deforming the softened ends into convex heads with a deformable surface. A preferred embodiment of the apparatus includes a web conveyor, where the web conveyor defines a web path, a heating source located adjacent the web conveyor and a deformable surface located down the web path from the heating source, where the deformable surface includes a durometer hardness of greater than 10 Shore OO and less than 70 Shore A.

Abstract: A tape applicator. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a tape applicator that includes a tape head having a base, a tape roll holder attached to the base and a tape application roller for applying a tape to a surface attached to said base, where the tape applicator includes a tape path from the tape roll holder to the tape application roller, and includes a x-axis actuator operatively connected to the tape head for moving said tape applicator in the x-axis direction and a y-axis actuator operatively connected to the tape head for moving said tape applicator in the y-axis direction. The present invention also relates to methods of applying tape to surface.

Abstract: A vacuum-assisted tape applicator includes means for transporting the tape toward the object; means for applying the tape onto adjacent first and second sides of the object; and means for cutting the tape to form a tag. The means for applying includes means for contacting the tape to the first side of the object with the longitudinal centerline of the tape substantially perpendicular to the common edge; means for contacting the tape to the second side of the object with the longitudinal centerline of the tape substantially parallel to the direction of object travel; and means for wiping the tape from the longitudinal centerline toward the transverse edges to minimize bubbles under the tape and wrinkles in the tape. The apparatus can include means for holding the tape during application. The length of the leading leg of the tag can be adjusted and the applying force can also be adjusted to reduce crushing the corners of the object.

Abstract: An electronic article surveillance marker is disclosed, including a signal producing layer and a signal blocking layer. The signal producing layer includes flux collection portions joined by magnetic switching sections each having a major axis A, and the signal blocking layer comprises signal blocking elements overlying each flux collection portion. The elements each have at least one boundary that overlies a magnetic switching section and preferably has a tangent T that is not perpendicular to the major axis A of that magnetic switching section. Methods of making the inventive marker are also disclosed.

Abstract: A packaged good article including an article, a packaging material and a tearable tape system. The packaging material is formed about the article. The tearable tape system is secured to the packaging material and includes at least a first section and a second section. The tearable tape system can assume a number of forms. Regardless, the first section is tearable relative to the second section. With this configuration, the tearable tape system is configured to be tearable from an initial, unopened state and an opened state. In the initial, unopened state, an area of the packaging material otherwise contacting the tearable tape system is intact. Conversely, in the opened state, the tearable tape system tears an opening through the packaging material, with the second section remaining secured to the packaging material. The second section, in combination with the packaging material, provides a handle for carrying the packaged good article in the opened state.

Abstract: A mechanical fastener. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a mechanical fastener including engaging stems having heads with demarcation lines. The present invention also provides a method of making a mechanical fastener that includes placing a layer of heated material on stem ends to soften the stem ends and deforming the softened stem ends into convex heads.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing variable information on a tape to form a tape segment, cutting the tape segment to form a tag, and applying the tag onto an object includes a printer for printing information onto the tape segment. A controller controls the printer in response to input to vary the information printed onto the tape. The printed tape segment is transported to a location for application onto the object and is cut. An adhesive tape can have variable information printed on it and can be applied onto an object. The tape includes a backing layer and an adhesive layer on the first side of the backing layer. At least one of the backing layer and the adhesive layer are colored to yield a tape opacity of greater than 60. The tape can have a scan rating of at least C when applied on a black background and an opacity of at least 65.

Abstract: Splicing tape for splicing a leading edge portion of a roll of sheet material to a further sheet comprising a carrier layer having on a first major surface a first adhesive layer and on a second major surface opposite to the first major surface in the order given a non-tacky polymer layer and a second adhesive layer. The splicing tape being capable of delamination between the carrier layer and the non-tacky polymer layer when preparing the splice.

Abstract: An integrally molded brush. A preferred embodiment of the integrally molded brush includes a) a generally planar hub having an outer periphery, where the hub has a thickness of at least 0.05 inches; and b) a plurality of bristles extending from the outer periphery of the hub, where each of the bristles includes a bristle tip opposite the hub, where the bristle tip has a thickness up to 0.03 inches, and where the molded brush comprises a thermoplastic polymeric material. The present invention also provides a method of molding an integrally molded brush. A preferred embodiment of the method includes the steps of: a) heating a thermoplastic polymer to allow the thermoplastic polymer to be injected into a mold; b) injecting the thermoplastic polymer into a mold, wherein the mold includes a hub section and a plurality of bristle sections in fluid communication with the hub section, where the bristle tip section has a thickness up to 0.

Abstract: The invention is a tamper indicating device including a backing. The backing includes a first phase and a second phase. The backing is normally light transmissive, but a peeling force causes the backing to internally delaminate and become opaque. A first skin layer is fixed to the backing wherein the skin layer minimizes pre-destruction of the backing. A layer of adhesive is applied to the first skin layer, which can be affixed to a substrate.

Abstract: A tape handling system including a tape mount roller, a first accumulator movable between first and second positions, a printer for printing on tape, and a second accumulator movable between first and second positions. Movement of the second accumulator from the first position to the second position causes the printer to begin printing. An apparatus including the tape handling system and a tape applicator.