EP-4253702-B1 - SELF-DETACHING ANTI-THEFT DEVICE WITH POWER REMOVAL STATION

Inventors

• CASANOVA, Jose
• PEREZ, SERGIO, M.
• CLARK, JOHN, J.
• ZIRK, Randy, J.

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20160610

Claims (18)

1. A method for operating a security tag, comprising: establishing an electrical connection between the security tag and an external Power Removal Station ; performing operations by the security tag to authenticate a detach command sent from the external Power Removal Station; allowing power to be supplied from the external Power Removal Station to an electro-mechanical component of the security tag when the detach command is authenticated; and actuating the electro-mechanical component so that a pin of the security tag transitions from an engaged position where the security tag is coupled to an article to an unengaged position where the security tag is uncoupled from the article without any human assistance or mechanical assistance by a device external to the security tag, wherein a transitioning is achieved by moving the pin out of a first portion of the security tag, through a gap, and into an aperture formed in a second portion of the security tag, and wherein, when the pin is in the unengaged position, ends of the pin reside entirely within the first portion of the security tag.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the detach command is sent from the external Power Removal Station to the security tag when a verification has been made that the article to which the security tag is attached has been successfully purchased.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein an end of the pin resides within an aperture formed in the first portion of the security tag at least partially spaced apart from the second portion of the security tag by the gap when the pin is in the engaged position.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the pin is fully retracted into the second portion of the security tag when the pin is in the unengaged position.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gap is sized and shaped to prevent a user's access to the pin while the security tag is being coupled to the article at least partially inserted into the gap.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pin is fixedly coupled to a housing of the security tag.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electro-mechanical component is a solenoid or a motor.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the power is supplied to the electro-mechanical component by actuating a switch of the security tag.
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the performing operations comprises receiving by the external Power Removal Station a signal sent from a computing device when a verification has been made that the article to which the security tag is attached has been successfully purchased, and the actuating the electro-mechanical component comprises supplying power from the external Power Removal Station to the security tag in response to reception of the signal by the external Power Removal Station so as to enable actuation of a mechanical component of the security tag.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the mechanical component is actuated upon authentication of a detach command sent from the external Power Removal Station and received at the security tag.
11. A security tag, comprising: an electro-mechanical component; an electrical connector coupled to the electro-mechanical component and configured to establish an electrical connection between the security tag and an external Power Removal Station; and an electrical circuit configured to authenticate a detach command sent from the external Power Removal Station, allow power to be supplied from the external Power Removal Station to the electro-mechanical component when the detach command is authenticated, and cause actuation of the electro-mechanical component so that a pin of the security tag transitions from an engaged position where the security tag is coupled to an article to an unengaged position where the security tag is uncoupled from the article without any human assistance or mechanical assistance by a device external to the security tag, wherein a transitioning is achieved by moving the pin out of a first portion of the security tag, through a gap, and into an aperture formed in a second portion of the security tag, and wherein, when the pin is in the unengaged position, ends of the pin reside entirely within the first portion of the security tag.
12. The security tag according to claim 11, wherein the detach command is sent from the external Power Removal Station to the security tag when a verification has been made that the article to which the security tag is attached has been successfully purchased.
13. The security tag according to claim 11, wherein an end of the pin resides within an aperture formed in the first portion of the security tag at least partially spaced apart from the second portion of the security tag by the gap when the pin is in the engaged position.
14. The security tag according to claim 13, wherein the pin is fully retracted into the second portion of the security tag when the pin is in the unengaged position.
15. The security tag according to claim 11, wherein the gap is sized and shaped to prevent a user's access to the pin while the security tag is being coupled to the article at least partially inserted into the gap.
16. The security tag according to claim 11, wherein the pin is fixedly coupled to a housing of the security tag.
17. The security tag according to claim 11, wherein the electro-mechanical component is a solenoid or a motor.
18. The security tag according to claim 11, wherein the power is supplied to the electro-mechanical component by actuating a switch of the security tag.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 62/174,780, filed June 12, 2015. FIELD OF THE INVENTION This document relates generally to security tags used in Electronic Article Surveillance ("EAS") systems. More particularly, this document relates to security tags and methods for facilitating a self-detaching of a security tag using a power removal station. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A typical EAS system in a retail setting may comprise a monitoring system and at least one security tag or marker attached to an article to be protected from unauthorized removal. The monitoring system establishes a surveillance zone in which the presence of security tags and/or markers can be detected. The surveillance zone is usually established at an access point for the controlled area (e.g., adjacent to a retail store entrance and/or exit). If an article enters the surveillance zone with an active security tag and/or marker, then an alarm may be triggered to indicate possible unauthorized removal thereof from the controlled area. In contrast, if an article is authorized for removal from the controlled area, then the security tag and/or marker thereof can be detached therefrom. Consequently, the article can be carried through the surveillance zone without being detected by the monitoring system and/or without triggering the alarm. Radio Frequency Identification ("RFID") systems may also be used in a retail setting for inventory management and related security applications. In an RFID system, a reader transmits a Radio Frequency ("RF") carrier signal to an RFID device. The RFID device responds to the carrier signal with a data signal encoded with information stored by the RFID device. Increasingly, passive RFID labels are used in combination with EAS labels in retail applications. As is known in the art, security tags for security and/or inventory systems can be constructed in any number of configurations. The desired configuration of the security tag is often dictated by the nature of the article to be protected. For example, EAS and/or RFID labels may be enclosed in a rigid tag housing, which can be secured to the monitored object (e.g., a piece of clothing in a retail store). The rigid housing typically includes a removable pin which is inserted through the fabric and secured in place on the opposite side by a mechanism disposed within the rigid housing. The housing cannot be removed from the clothing without destroying the housing except by using a dedicated removal device. A typical retail sales transaction occurs at a fixed Point Of Sale ("POS") station manned by a store sales associate. The store sales associate assists a customer with the checkout process by receiving payment for an item. If the item is associated with an EAS/RFID element, the store sales associate uses the dedicated removal device to remove the security tag from the purchased item. A retail sales transaction can alternatively be performed using a mobile POS unit. Currently, there is no convenient way to detach a security tag using a mobile POS unit. Options include: the use of a mobile detacher unit in addition to a mobile POS unit; the use of a fixed detacher unit located within the retail store which reduces the mobility of the mobile POS unit; or the use of a fixed detacher unit located at an exit of a retail store which burdens customers with a post-POS task. None of these options is satisfactory for large scale mobile POS adaption in a retail industry. GB 2 340 873 A discloses a security tag capable of wireless communication with an external authentication system for controlling the detachment of the tag from purchased articles. US 2014/091933 A1 discloses a method for remote authentication and detachment of a security tag and to supplying power to the tag. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This document concerns a method for operating a security tag according to claim 1 and a security tag according to claim 11. The method involves: establishing an electrical connection between the security tag and an external Power Removal Station ("PRS"); performing operations by the security tag to authenticate a detach command sent from the external PRS; allowing power to be supplied from the external PRS to an electro-mechanical component (e.g., a solenoid or a motor) of the security tag when the detach command is authenticated; and actuating the electro-mechanical component so that a pin of the security tag transitions from an engaged position to an unengaged position without any human assistance or mechanical assistance by a device external to the security tag. The detach command can be sent from the external PRS to the security tag when a verification has been made that an article to which the security tag is attached has been successfully purchased. Also, the power can be supplied to the electro-mechanical component by actuating a switch of the security tag. The pin is fixedly coupled to the security t