Sonoco Development Incorporated

Cliff Bellum

James W Lowry

Xiaokai Niu

Yanping Qiu

Johannes Wim Van De Camp

Mark P Burns

A multilayer tubular structure for products with an identification device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a resiliently flexible band is biased with respect to the tubular structure, and the identification device, such as a radio frequency identification device, is interposed therebetween.

Removable identification device for multilayer tubular structures

A multilayer tubular structure for products with an identification device being embedded or interposed between two of the multiple layers of the tubular structure. The identification device is responsive to radio frequencies and is able to store and transmit information about the multilayer tubular structure, the products, and processes that have been performed on same. A method is provided for manufacturing a multilayer tubular structure by embedding a radio frequency identification device between two of the multiple layers.

Identification device for multilayer tubular structures

Wide ply gaps are intentionally introduced into one or more plies in a radially intermediate zone of the wall of a spirally wound tube. Each ply having wide ply gaps is narrower than the width that would ordinarily be employed at a given spiral winding angle to achieve a butt joint between adjacent edges of consecutive turns of the ply, and the ply is wound at that given spiral winding angle in such a manner that gaps are defined between the adjacent edges of the consecutive turns of the ply. The wide ply gaps have the effect of increasing the compliance of the intermediate zone of the tube wall in the radial direction. Such increased radial compliance has been found to improve the ID stiffness of the tube relative to a tube constructed of the same materials but having no ply gaps in the intermediate zone.

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Hartsville, SC, United States of America

Cliff Bellum