Apparatus and method for attaching an RF tag to a sponge item

1. A method of attaching a tag to a disposable item to track the disposable item, the method comprising:

obtaining a tag;

obtaining a disposable item to be tracked by the tag;

placing the disposable item on a working plate in the form of a conveyer belt;

conveying the disposable item to an attachment point;

determining a location on the disposable item onto which the tag is released from a maneuvering mechanism for attaching to the disposable item depending on the type of disposable item;

attaching the tag to the disposable item using an adhesive material;

applying a pre-determined amount of ultraviolet radiation for a specific duration on the tag attached on the disposable item to cure the adhesive material with the ultraviolet radiation as it passes by an ultraviolet emitting device;

wherein the pre-determined amount is selected depending on the type of adhesive material;

packing one or more of the disposable items into a package; and

counting the number of tags in the package with a tag reader to verify the number of disposable items in the package.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprises a step of folding the disposable item.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the adhesive material, is attached to more than one layer of the folded disposable item.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the ultraviolet radiation cures the adhesive material in more than one layer of the folded disposable item.

5. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the step of attaching is performed before folding the disposable item.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the tag is an RF tag.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the adhesive material is attached to the tag before the tag is attached to the disposable item.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the adhesive material is attached to the disposable item before the tag is attached to the disposable item.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising a step of maneuvering the tag, from a tag storage to the working plate on which the disposable item is mounted.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the adhesive material is an UV curable adhesive.

11. A system for attaching a tag to a disposable item, the system comprising:

a tag storage for storing tags;

a disposable storage adapted to store disposable items;

a maneuvering mechanism adapted to maneuver tags towards the disposable items; wherein the maneuvering mechanism includes a control unit for determining a location on the disposable item onto which the tag is released from the maneuvering mechanism depending on the type of disposable item;

an adhesive material storage unit adapted to provide adhesive material for attaching the tag and the disposable item for tracking the disposable item with the tag;

an ultraviolet radiation module adapted to apply a pre-determined amount of ultraviolet radiation for a specific duration on the tag attached to the disposable item as it passes by the ultraviolet radiation module;

wherein the pre-determined amount of ultraviolet radiation is selected depending on the type of adhesive material so that it cures the adhesive material; and

wherein the system packs one or more of the disposable items into a package and counts the number of tags in the package with a tag reader to verify the number of disposable items in the package.

12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the maneuvering mechanism maneuvers the tag to the adhesive material storage unit before mounting the tag on the disposable item.