Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ELECTRONIC ARTICLE SURVEILLANCE MARKERS FOR
DIRECT APPLICATION TO OPTICALLY RECORDED MEDIA
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to specialized markers which are useful in
magnetic-type electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems, which can be
directly
applied to the surface of optically recorded media without having adverse
effects on
the operation or durability of the media. Markers of the invention include
single-
status markers and reversibly reactivatable dual-status markers, both of which
are
useful in magnetic-type electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems.
Background
Magnetic-type EAS systems are widely used to inhibit the theft of
merchandise such as clothing, books, cassettes and compact disks. Electronic
article
surveillance (EAS) systems are often used to prevent unauthorized removal of
articles from a protected area, such as a library or retail store. An EAS
system
usually includes an interrogation zone or corridor located near the exit of
the
protected area and markers or tags attached ~o the articles to be protected.
EAS
systems have been based on magnetic, RF, microwave and magneto-restrictive
technologies. Regardless of the particular technology involved, the EAS
systems
are designed such that the tag will produce some characteristic response when
exposed to an interrogating signal in the corridor. Detection of this
characteristic
response indicates the presence of a sensitized tag in the corridor. The EAS
system
then initiates some appropriate security action, such as sounding an audible
alarm,
locking an exit gate, etc. To allow authorized removal of articles from the
protected area, tags that are either permanently or reversibly deactivatable
(i.e., dual
status tags) are often used.
Although EAS markers have been in common use for the theft protection of
optically recorded media such as compact disks and CD-ROM's, the markers have
generally been adapted for attachment to the packages containing new compact
CA 02272145 1999-OS-28
disks and have been poorly suited for direct attachment to the
compact disk itself. For libraries and other institutions
that repeatedly check compact disks in and out to accommodate
the needs of customers and clients, effective inventory
control would prefer that EAS markers are attached to the
compact disk.
Some markers for direct attachment to compact disks
have been developed. One, available as "DCD-1"* from
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, MN, is a
single marker strip and security overlay which are attached to
a compact disk. However, this marker adversely effects the
mechanical balance of the disk, which can adversely affect the
operation of modern high rotation speed CD-ROM drives, CD
players, and other optically recorded media playback equipment
which require that the media be mechanically balanced for
proper operation. Another product, "CD-Guard", available from
Knogo North America, Inc., Hauppauge, Long Island, NY, suffers
the same mechanical balance drawback. An optical information
storage disk comprising an embedded, generally annular, dual-
status EAS marker is described in coassigned U.S. Patent
Number 5,347,508.
There is therefore a need in the art for a marker
specifically designed for protection of optically recorded
media.
Summary
The invention may be summarized according to a first
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broad aspect as an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS)
marker adapted for direct application to optically
recorded media such as compact disks, CD-ROM's, laser disks,
digital video disks, and the like. The marker includes a
support sheet and one or more marker elements which are
positioned such that the mass distribution of the marker is
symmetrically disposed about the center of the marker. This
ensures that when the marker is properly positioned on the
optically recorded media, the marker does not adversely affect
the mechanical balance of the media.
According to a second broad aspect, the invention
may be summarized as an electronic article surveillance marker
for optically recorded media, the marker comprising: two
elongated marker elements with parallel axes of elongation;
and a support sheet having a center hole, the support sheet
adapted to support the marker elements in parallel alignment
and symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the center
hole such that the marker has a mass distribution that is
symmetrically disposed about the center of the marker such
that when the marker is properly attached to the optically
recorded media, the mechanical balance of the optically
recorded media is not adversely affected.
According to a third broad aspect, the invention may
be summarized as an electronic article surveillance marker for
use with optically recorded media, the marker comprising: (a)
a flexible support sheet; (b) at least one marker element,
comprising a signal-producing layer, supported in a fixed
position on the support sheet; and (c) an adhesive on the
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support sheet~for adhering the support sheet to the media;
such that the marker has a mass distribution that is
symmetrically disposed about the center of the marker.
According to a fourth broad aspect, the invention
may be summarized as an optical disk comprising: (a) a planar
major surface having a center hole; and (b) two marker
elements, at least one of which includes a signal-producing
layer, bonded to the major surface and symmetrically disposed
about the center of the disk.
According to a fifth broad aspect, the invention may
be summarized as an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS)
marker for optically recorded media, the marker comprising: at
least one marker element comprising a signal-producing layer;
a support sheet adapted to support the marker elements in
fixed positions such that the marker has a mass distribution
that is symmetrically disposed about the center of the marker;
and adhesive for attaching the marker to the optically
recorded media, wherein the adhesive is chemically non-
reactive with the optically recorded media; wherein when the
marker is properly attached to the optically recorded media,
the mechanical balance of the optically recorded media is not
adversely affected.
According to a sixth broad aspect, the invention may
be summarized as an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS)
marker for optically recorded media, the marker comprising: at
least one marker element comprising a signal-producing layer;
a support sheet adapted to support the marker elements in
fixed positions such that the marker has a mass distribution
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that is symmetrically disposed about the center of the marker;
and adhesive for attaching the marker to the optically
recorded media, wherein the adhesive is chemically non-
reactive with the optically recorded media; wherein when the
marker is properly attached to the optically recorded media,
the mechanical balance of the optically recorded media is not
adversely affected and wherein the at least one marker element
is a single marker element continuously extending around the
center of the marker.
According to a seventh broad aspect, the invention
may be summarized as an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS)
marker adapted for attaching to optically recorded media, the
marker comprising: only one marker element continously
extending around the center of the marker, wherein the marker
element comprises a signal-producing layer; and a support
sheet adapted to support the marker elements in fixed
positions such that the marker has a mass distribution that is
symmetrically disposed about the center of the marker; wherein
when the marker is properly attached to the optically recorded
media, the mechanical balance of the optically recorded media
is not adversely affected.
According to another broad aspect, the invention may
be summarized as an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS)
marker adapted for optically recorded media, the marker
comprising: at least two marker elements, at least one of
which comprises a signal-producing layer, and arranged in
mutually non-orthogonal positions; a support sheet adapted to
support the marker elements in fixed positions such that the
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marker has a mass distribution that is symmetrically disposed
about the center of the marker; and adhesive for attaching the
marker to the optically recorded media; wherein when the
marker is properly attached to the optically recorded media,
the mechanical balance of the optically recorded media is not
adversely affected.
According to still another broad aspect, the
invention may be summarized as an Electronic Article
Surveillance (EAS) marker adapted for optically recorded
media, the marker comprising: at least two marker elements
with parallel axes of elongation each comprising a signal-
producing layer, wherein the marker elements have different
signal-producing characteristics that combine to produce a
characteristic signal that is different than the signal from
either of the individual marker elements; and a support sheet
adapted to support the marker elements in fixed positions such
that the marker has a mass distribution that is symmetrically
disposed about the center of the marker; wherein when the
marker is properly attached to the optically recorded media,
the mechanical balance of the optically recorded media is not
adversely affected.
According to yet another broad aspect, the invention
may be summarized as a method of providing an Electronic
Article Surveillance (EAS) marker for application to a surface
of optically recorded media, comprising the steps of: a)
providing a support sheet; b) providing one or more marker
elements each comprising a signal-producing layer; and c)
attaching the marker elements to the support sheet such that
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the marker elements has a mass distribution that is
symmetrically disposed about the center of the support sheet.
According to a further broad aspect, the invention
may be summarized as a method of providing an Electronic
Article Surveillance (EAS) marker for application to a surface
of optically recorded media, comprising the steps of: a)
providing a carrier strip including a low-tack adhesive
surface; b) providing one or more marker elements at least one
of which comprises a signal-producing layer; c) applying the
marker elements to the carrier strip such that the marker
elements has a mass distribution that is symmetrically
disposed about the center of the carrier strip; d) providing a
support sheet including an adhesive surface; and e)
transferring the marker elements from the carrier strip to the
support sheet such that the marker elements have a mass
distribution that is symmetrically disposed about the center
of the support sheet.
According to still another broad aspect, the
invention may be summarized as a compact disk construction,
comprising: a compact disk, the compact disk having a centered
hole; and an electronic article surveillance marker adapted to
protect the compact disk from unauthorized removal from a
protected area, the marker comprising: two elongated marker
elements having parallel axes of elongation, attached to a
first side of the compact disk, the marker elements oriented
in parallel alignment and symmetrically disposed on opposite
sides of the centered hole such that the mass distribution of
the marker is symmetrically disposed about the center of the
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compact disk, and such that attachment of the marker
elements to the compact disk does not adversely affect the
mechanical balance of the compact disk.
According to yet another broad aspect, the
invention provides an optically recorded media construction
comprising: an optically recorded media having a centered
hole; and one marker element which comprises a signal-
producing layer and an adhesive layer; wherein the marker
element is attached to an outer surface of the optically
recorded media by means of the adhesive layer, the marker
element being symmetrically disposed about the centered hole
such that the attachment of the marker element does not
adversely affect the mechanical balance of the optically
recorded media.
According to still yet another broad aspect, the
invention provides an optically recorded media construction
comprising: an optically recorded media having a centered
hole; and at least two marker elements, at least one of
which comprises a signal-producing layer; each of the at
least two marker elements having an adhesive layer; wherein
each of the marker elements is attached, by means of its
adhesive layer, to an outer surface of the optically
recorded media, the marker elements being symmetrically
disposed about the centered hole such that the attachment of
the marker elements does not adversely affect the mechanical
balance of the optically recorded media.
According to yet a further broad aspect, the
invention provides an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS)
marker for optically recorded media having a centered hole,
the EAS marker comprising: at least two marker elements
dissimilar in dimensions, at least one of said marker
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elements comprising a signal-producing layer; each of the at
least two marker elements having an adhesive layer; and a
support sheet adapted to support the marker elements in
fixed positions; wherein when each of the marker elements is
attached, by means of its adhesive layer, to the optically
recorded media, the marker elements being symmetrically
disposed about the centered hole such that the attachment of
the marker elements does not adversely affect the mechanical
balance of the optically recorded media.
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Brief Description of the Drawinsts
The various objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be
better understood upon reading and understanding the following Detailed
Description and accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows one embodiment of a marker according to the present
invention;
Figures 2A and 2B show a side views of the marker of the type shown in
Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a simplified side view of a dual status marker element;
Figures 4A and 4B show side views of two embodiments of the marker of
the present invention attached to a compact disk;
Figures SA and SB show a top views of alternate bi-directionally responsive
dual status markers;
Figures 6A and 6B show top views of an alternate markers, designed to
constrain the marker elements to the nonrecorded region of a compact disk;
Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 show processes for producing markers of the present
invention.
Detailed Descri t~ ion
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of
illustration a
specific embodiment in which the invemion may be practiced. It is to be
understood
that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
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The invention is an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) marker adapted
for direct application to optically recorded media such as compact disks, CD-
ROM's, laser disks, digital video disks, and the like. For simplicity of
illustration,
the following Detailed Description and will often refer to the specific case
of
S compact disks; however, those of skill in the art will readily recognize
that the
markers described herein are applicable to any optically recorded media.
The EAS marker for this application is easy to apply to an exposed surface
of the optically recorded media, provides good detection performance, does not
interfere with the physical operation of the media or of the equipment for
reading
the media, and does not cause short or long term damage to the media.
Specifically, the adhesive on the marker must be chemically non-reactive with
any
materials used in the media, and the marker installation must not adversely
affect
the mechanical balance of the media. Also, the marker should preferably be
compatible with the performance characteristics of the detection and the
activation/deactivation equipment in common EAS System use.
A first embodiment of an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) marker 10
for optically recorded media is shown in top view in Figure 1 and in side view
in
Figure 2. The marker includes a circular support sheet 12 having a centered,
concentric circular hole 14, and two marker elements 16 and 18 positioned such
that the mass distribution of the marker IO is symmetrically disposed about
the
center of the marker 10. This ensures that when the marker 10 is properly
placed
on a compact disk, the marker does not adversely effect the mechanical balance
of
the disk. The mechanical balance of the disk is very important for proper
operation
of high speed CD-ROM drives, CD players and other optically recorded media
playback equipment. The marker 10 also includes an adhesive layer 24 (Figure
2A)
which is used to attach the marker to a compact disk.
The hole 14 of the support sheet 12 acts as an alignment mechanism and
serves to assist the user in properly positioning the marker onto the compact
disk or
other optically recorded media. The hole 14 is centered on the support sheet
12
and is of a size and shape to substantially correspond to the hole in a
typical CD,
CD-ROM, Laser disk, or other optically recorded media. Markers are preferably
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adapted for different media by providing markers with
different sized support sheets and centered holes which
correspond to the physical size of the media at issue. To
attach the marker 10 to a compact disk, the user simply
orients the hole 14 with the hole of the media. When the two
holes are aligned, the marker can be attached to the media.
By properly positioning the marker onto the media, the
mechanical balance of the marker ensures that presence of the
marker on the media will not adversely effect the performance
of the media or of any media playback equipment, such as CD
players or CD-ROM drives.
In an alternate embodiment, shown in Figure 2B, a
marker 10 also includes a release liner 23 on top of adhesive
Layer 24. The release liner protects the adhesive layer 24
from damage and from accidental attachment to other surfaces.
To attach the marker 10 to a compact disk, the release liner
is removed, exposing the adhesive layer 24, which is then used
to attach the marker to the compact disk.
The marker elements 16 and 18 can be dual status or
single status. If the marker elements 16 and I8 are single
status, the marker elements 16 and 18 would consist of a
signal producing layer of low coercive force, high
permeability magnetic material. For a dual status marker, one
of several possible alternative embodiments is shown in Figure
3. Figure 3 shows a side view of a dual status marker element
of the type described in coassigned U.S. Patent Number
3,765,007. The dual status marker I8 includes a signal-
producing layer 32 of low coercive force, high permeability
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magnetic material, and a signal-blocking layer 34 which
includes a plurality of segments 36 of remanently magnetizable
magnetic material. In alternative embodiments, signal-
blocking layer 34 may be a contiguous layer of remanently
magnetizable magnetic material.
Referring again to Figure l, marker elements 16 and
18 are preferably in parallel alignment and symmetrically
disposed on opposite sides of hole 14. In one preferred
embodiment, marker elements 16 and 18 are further preferably
positioned with their inner edges separated by a distance
greater than 4 cm, and the dimensions of marker elements 18
and 20 are further preferably selected such that their maximum
radial extent, from the center of the hole 14 is less than
about 5.9 cm.
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Figure 4A shows a side view of a marker IO attached to a surface of a
compact disk 28. Support sheet 12, marker element 18 and the adhesive layer 24
are attached to a first side 26 of the compact disk 28 with the adhesive layer
24.
Preferably, the first side 26 is the nonrecorded or "label" side of the
compact disk
28, while the second side 30 of the compact disk 28 is the optically
detectable
recorded surface 30. In this embodiment, support sheet 12 is preferably
designed to
remain attached to the compact disk 28, and functions to protect the marker
elements 16 and I8 from damage and from tampering.
In an alternate embodiment, shown in Figure 48, the support sheet I2 is
designed so that it is releasable. In this embodiment, the adhesive 24 with
which the
marker elements are attached to the compact disk should be more aggressive
than
the adhesive (not shown) with which the marker elements are attached to the
support sheet. In this way, once the marker elements are attached to the
compact
disk 28, the support sheet 12 is removed, leaving the marker elements 16 and
18
attached to the surface of the compact disk. This embodiment may be preferred
for
certain applications where the additional weight of the support sheet, if left
attached
to the compact disk, would be undesirable.
For compact disk applications such as that shown in Figure 4A, support
sheet I2 is preferably transparent and colorless, permitting information
printed on
the surface 26 of compact disk 28 to be easily read while providing protection
for
the marker elements and the label. For selected compact disk applications, it
may
be preferred for at Ieast portions of support sheet 12 to contain white
pigment
and/or to have a printable surface so the support sheet can function as a
label.
In addition to the embodiments shown in Figures 2A-B and 4A-B where the
marker is a slack of elements comprising the support sheet 12, marker elements
16
and 18 and adhesive layer 24, it shall be understood that other embodiments in
which the order of the elements are changed are also within the scope of the
invention. For example, the order of elements could be support sheet 12,
adhesive
layer 24 with marker elements 16 and 18 on top of the adhesive layer 24,
without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
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Adhesive materials suitable for use as adhesive
layer 24 preferably have chemically inert characteristics in
terms of interactions with any of the materials used in the
construction of the optically recorded media or its label. In
other words, the adhesive 24 is preferably nonreactive with
any of the materials used in the construction of the media or
its label. Additionally, no materials used in adhesive layer
24 can bleed or migrate out of the layer such that they come
in contact with the drive mechanisms or other internal parts
of the playback equipment, storage containers, etc., or
corrode the reflective coating on the media, etc. One
preferred adhesive is available from Minnesota Mining and
Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, MN as No. 9461P Transfer
Adhesive.
In one exemplary embodiment of the marker 10 support
sheet 12 is a circular segment of transparent polyethylene
terephthalate film having a thickness of 50 microns (2 mils)
and a diameter of 11.4 cm (4.5in.). The center hole 14 has a
diameter of 1.7 cm (0.67in.). Marker element 18 is about 7.7
cm (3 in.) long and 1 mm (40 mils) wide. The signal producing
layer 32, which is coextensive with marker element 18, is
about 18 micrometers (0.7 mils) thick and made from an
amorphous magnetic alloy consisting of about 67% (atomic
percent) Co, 5% Fe, and 25% H and Si, which is commercially
available from AlliedSignal Corp. of Parsippany, New Jersey,
as Product No. 2705 M. The signal-blocking layer 34 includes
a plurality of spaced segments, each approximately 5 mm long,
40 micrometers thick, and the same width as the signal-
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producing layer, made from an FeCr alloy which is commercially
available from Arnold Engineering of Marengo, Illinois as
Arnokrome 3*. In the preferred embodiment, the samples of
Arnokrome 3 used in the example marker were subjectedlto an
annealing process to achieve a uniform coercivity of about 200
+/- 30 Oersteds. Also in the preferred embodiment, the
samples of Product No. 2705 M were annealed to reduce the
coercivity and enhance anisotropy in the cross-web direction.
Although specific materials are described herein, it shall be
understood by those of skill in the art that different
materials and different marker constructions could be used
without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In one embodiment, marker elements 16 and 18 are
preferably substantially identical in dimensions, material
specifications, and in the characteristic signals they produce
when interrogated in an active state by an EAS system. In an
alternate embodiment, the marker elements are dissimilar in
dimensions, material specifications, or both to produce a
combined characteristic signal which is detectably different
from the characteristic signals of individual marker elements,
ambient noise signal sources, etc.
An alternative form of dual-status Electronic
Article Surveillance (EAS) marker 60 of the invention is shown
in Figure 5A. Marker 60 is similar to that described in
commonly assigned U.S. Patent Number 4,829,288. Marker 60
comprises a circular support sheet 62 having a centered,
concentric circular hole 64 and further comprises four long
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narrow rectangular marker elements 66, 68, 70, and 72. The
marker elements 66, 68, 70, and 72 are preferably
symmetrically disposed about the center of hole 64, and in one
preferred embodiment, the inner edges of elements 66, ~68, 70,
and 72 form a square. In one specific embodiment, the
elements 66, 68, 70, and 72 are located such that their
closest distance of separation from the center of the marker
is preferably at least 1.9 cm. The length and width
dimensions of marker elements 66, 68, 70, and 72 are selected
such that their maximum radial extent, from the center of the
hole 64 is preferably less than about 5.9 cm. The discrete
marker elements 66, 68, 70, and 72, act as orthogonal
switching elements, enabling the marker 60 to have a "bi-
directional" response. Although marker elements 66, 68, 70,
and 72 are illustrated in Figure 5A in an embodiment where the
ends of the elements are physically separated from each other,
those of skill in the art will readily recognize that other
embodiments where the adjacent ends of marker elements are in
mutual contact are also within the scope of the present
invention. Also, EAS markers having an odd number of marker
elements in non-orthogonal arrangements such as an EAS marker
(not shown) having marker elements in an equilateral
triangular arrangement are also well within the scope of the
present invention. Again, an important feature is that the
mass of the marker is symmetrically disposed about the center
of the marker, thus ensuring that the mechanical balance of a
compact disk is maintained after the marker is attached.
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Another alternative form of "bi-directionally
responsive" dual-status marker is shown in Figure 5B. Marker
76 is similar to those described in U.S. Patent Numbers
4,746,908, 4,825,197 and 4,967,185. Marker 76 comprises a
circular support sheet 12, and a single marker element 80
comprising a contiguous signal producing layer extending
around the center hole 14 of support sheet 12. Marker 76 has
corner areas 84, 86, 88 and 90 which act as flux collectors to
concentrate the magnetic flux from the interrogation field
through the interconnecting members 92, 94, 96 and 98, which
serve as the detectable switching elements.
The above described embodiments are useful for those
compact disks that are recordable or recorded on only one
surface. For compact disks or laser disks that are recordable
on both surfaces, or for those applications where it may be
desirable to mark the recorded side of a single sided compact
disk, a marker such as those shown in Figures 6A and 6B may be
preferred. The marker of Figure 6A includes two marker
elements 17 and 19 on a support sheet 12, having a centered,
concentric circular hole 14. The marker 40 of Figure 6B
includes a single marker element 41 of the type shown in
Figure 5B. A ring shown as phantom line 13 in both Figures 6A
and 6B corresponds to the nonrecorded or "hub" region of the
optically recorded. This nonrecorded region 13 is the portion
of the compact disk where a CD-ROM drive or CD player clamps
onto the compact disk. For most compact disks the nonrecorded
region has a radius of about 1.9 cm, although it shall be
understood that for this embodiment, the marker elements need
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only be within the hub region of the optically recorded media,
regardless of its particular dimension.
In the embodiments shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the
marker elements 17, 19, and 41, respectively, are positioned
on the markers 20 and 40, respectively, such that the marker
elements are attached to the nonrecorded region of the compact
disk. By restraining the marker elements to the nonrecorded
region of the compact disk, the marker elements cannot
interfere with the disk reading
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mechanism of a CD-ROM drive or CD player. In addition, the marker elements are
again carefully positioned to maintain the mechanical balance of a compact
disk to
which they are properly attached.
A process for producing dual-status markers 10 of the type shown in Figure
1 is shown in Figures 7-10. A continuous web of EAS marker~construetion 100,
shown in an end view in Figure 8, is first produced by bringing the strips of
remanently magnetizable foil 110 into properly aligned contact with the strip
of high
permeability magnetic foil 102 and laminating an adhesive coated side of tape
104
to the exposed surfaces of foil 102 and foil 110 by transporting them in
contact
under pressure between nip rollers 112 and 114.
Figure 9 shows the next stage of the process, in which a marker
construction 100 is brought into a shearing station 120 which shears off a
narrow
strip to form a marker element 16 with its long dimension equal to the width
of
marker construction 100, and releasably adheres marker element I6 to a low-
tack
1 S adhesive side 118 of a temporary carrier strip 1 l6. In one preferred
embodiment,
the adhesive side 118 of the carrier strip I 16 is coated with a pressure
sensitive
adhesive on adhesive side 1I8. An exemplary carrier strip is No. 295 Tape,
available from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, MN.
However, other suitable pressure sensitive adhesive carrier strips could also
be
used.
In station 120, guideways and positioning means transport the substantially
continuous strip of marker construction 100 in a direction which is orthogonal
to
the direction in which the carrier strip 116 is transported so that marker
eiements 16
thus formed are inherently aligned with their long dimension along _the long
dimension of the carrier strip 116. The guideways and positioning means for
the
two orthogonal strips are located such that the marker elements will be
adhered in
an off center location when applied to carrier strip 116. A series of off
center
marker elements 16 is sequentially applied along the length of carrier strip 1
I6 by
incrementally advancing the position of carrier strip 1 I6 after each marker
element
16 is sheared and applied to its low-tack surface.
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In a first embodiment, the other marker elements 18 are applied to the low-
tack adhesive surface 1 I 8 of carrier strip 116 on the ofd center locations
opposite
from marker elements 16 by rotating the carrier strip 180° after marker
elements 16
are applied, and re-transporting carrier strip 116 through shearing station
:~20. In
processes where carrier strip I 16 is rewound onto its supply reel after
markers 116
are applied, carrier strip 116 must be transported through shearing station
120 in
the opposite direction to enable proper off center positioning of markers
elements
18. In an alternative process variation, carrier strip 116 with marker
elements 16
attached to adhesive surface 118 is temporarily retained on the take-up reel,
and the
take-up reel is removed and installed in the position of the original supply
reel.
Carrier strip 116 is then transported through shearing station 120 in the same
direction used for the installation of marker elements 16 to accomplish ofd
center
positioning and attachment of markers elements 18. In either process, the
longitudinal positioning of carrier strip 116 must be controlled such that
marker
elements 16 will be in the same longitudinal position as marker elements 18.
This
ensures that the proper positioning of the marker elements on the marker is
maintained to ensure proper mechanical balance of a compact disk when the
marker
is properly attached thereto.
In another alternative process variation, shown in Figure 10, carrier strip
l I6 is sequentially transported through shearing station 120, which applies
marker
element 16, and a second shearing station I20', which applies marker element
18 in
the opposite off center position. The spacing between shearing stations 120
and
120' is designed such that marker elements 16 and 18 are aligned to achieve a
properly balanced marker. Figure 10 shows marker construction 100, from which
marker elements 16 are sheared, moving into shearing station 120, and marker
construction 100', from which marker elements 18 are sheared, moving into
shearing station 120'. iVlarker constructions 100 and 100' may optionally be
identical, or they may differ in such a way that marker element 18 has
different
signal-producing characteristics from marker element 16.
The product formed by any of the aforementioned process variations,
comprising carrier strip 1 16 with marker elements 16 and 18 applied to its
low-tack
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CA 02272145 1999-OS-28
adhesive surface I 18, is an EAS marker transfer sheet 130. The transfer sheet
130
can be used to transfer the marker elements to any other adhesive surface. For
example, the transfer sheet 130 could be used to transfer marker elements to
the
high-tack adhesive surface of a support sheet such as circular support sheet
12,
shown in Figures 1 and 2. EAS marker transfer sheets 130 of tha invention are
also
useful to transfer marker elements to adhesive surfaces of other objects,
product
labels or packaging. For these other uses, different marker configurations
andJor
dimensions other than the specific marker embodiments shown herein could be
used, as they may not have the mechanical balance requirements of a compact
disk.
In another embodiment, with the addition of an adhesive layer 24 on the
marker side of the carrier strip I 16, the carrier strip 116 of transfer sheet
130 could
function as the support sheet 12 of any of the markers shown in Figures 1, SA-
B or
6A-B, in the case where the support sheet 12 is releasable as shown in Figure
4B.
In a variation of the above described processes of Figures 7-I0, the marker
elements of any of the above described marker embodiments could be directly
attached to a support sheet 12, instead of to a temporary carrier sheet 1 I 6.
In an altecaative EAS marker transfer sheet embodiment of the invention,
not shown, a layer of high-tack adhesive and a removable carrier sheet are
laminated or otherwise applied to the side of EAS marker construction 100,
opposite from the side that wits be adhered to surface I 18 of carrier strip
116,
before construction 100 enters shearing station I20. Similarly, a layer of
high-tack
adhesive and a removable carrier sheet would be laminated or otherwise applied
to
the side of EAS marker construction 100' before it entered shearing station
120', if
two shearing stations were used. After removal of the removable carrier layer
from
each marker element, the resulting transfer sheet 130 is suitable for direct
application of a dual-status Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) marker of
the
invention to the label surface of a compact disk, or to some other item. For
application of multiple marker elements to items other than compact disks,
different
configurations and/or dimensions may be required or preferred.
Although specific embodiments have been shown and described herein for
purposes of illustration of exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by
those of
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CA 02272145 1999-OS-28
ordinary skill that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent
implementations
designed to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the specific
embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the
present
invention. Those of ordinary skill will readily appreciate that the present
invention
could be implemented in a wide variety of embodiments. This application is
intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the preferred embodiments
discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this invention be defined by
the
claims and the equivalents thereof.
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