On-the-fly package printing system with scratch off layer

• US 10,685,191 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2016
• Issued: 06/16/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Maverick Partners LLC
• Original Assignee: Joseph P. Hattrup
• Inventors: Hattrup, Joseph A., French, Ralph P., Lawson, Nathaniel Evert, Allen, Gregory J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brockington, III, William S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ross, Scott M
• Application Number:
  US15/252,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20160371512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/024 for printing on segmented surfaces, e.g. sticker sheets, label rolls
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1835 Transforming generic data
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1859 involving data processing distributed amongst different data processing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

An ON-THE-FLY PACKAGE LABEL PRINTING SYSTEM for a variety of packages containing a variety of products. A package handling device receives and guides a web through a package handling device. A printer system associated with the package handling device generates and prints on-the-fly a plurality of different, unique, individual scannable QR codes. Each QR code indicates the weight of the product in the package as indicated by a weighing system and/or indicates the ingredients of the product in each package as indicated by a ingredients device.

Claims

1. An on-the-fly package label printing system for a variety of packages containing a variety of products, said system for printing on each package of a web of successive packages a permanent record indicative of the product weight and product ingredients in the package, said system comprising:

a package handling device receiving the web and guiding the web through the package handling device;

a clock generating a unique series of alpha-numeric times, each representing a chronological time of day;

a printer system associated with the package handling device and the clock, said printer system configured to generate a plurality of different, unique, individual scannable QR codes embedded with the alpha-numeric time at the time of printing of the QR code and configured to print on each package of the web one of the plurality of different, unique, individual scannable QR codes as the packages are guided through the package handling device;

wherein each QR code is printed on-the-fly as the web moves through the package handling device;

wherein each QR code is an alpha-numeric form of an alpha-numeric time of printing of the QR code on the package as indicated by the clock such that each time of printing each QR code on each package is unique and such that each QR code is unique so no two packages have the same time of printing and no two packages have the same QR code;

at least one of;

a weighing system configured to weigh the product in each package after the package is filled; and

an ingredients system configured to track the ingredients of the product in each package after the package is filled;

wherein each QR code indicates the weight of the product in the package as indicated by the weighing system and/or indicates the ingredients of the product in each package as indicated by the ingredients system; and

a database device storing a plurality of data records comprising package parameters, each data record linked to only one, non-sequential URL defined by one of the plurality of scannable QR codes;

wherein the non-sequential URL comprises 11 ASCII characters compressed from a 16 alphanumeric character code defined as CCCCCsssssssssss wherein;

CCCCC is 5 alpha-numeric characters which includes 9 alpha-numeric characters compressed to 5 alpha-numeric characters; and

sssssssssss is 11 alpha-numeric characters based on a timestamp every 100th of a second.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a layering device for applying a removable layer over the QR code so that the applied removable layer covers completely the QR code, and a layer printer supported by the package handling device configured to print on each layer after the layer is applied over each QR code.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

an imaging system for monitoring images on the web to identify the location of the images on the web relative to the printer and relative to the label applicator, said imaging system for controlling the operation of the printer and the layering device; and

a roll driver responsive to the imaging system configured to gather the web into a roll after printing by the layer printer wherein the roll driver gathers the web at a rate which synchronizes the placement of the printing of each QR code on each package.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the printer system comprises a first TTO printer for printing the QR code and a first promotion image on the web, wherein the layering device comprises a scratch off label applicator applying a scratch off label to the web to cover the printed QR code and to cover the printed first promotion image, and wherein the layer printer comprises a second TTO printer for printing a message image on the scratch off label.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising a packaging machine for filling the packages, a packaging machine controller for controlling the operation of the packaging machine and wherein the controller coordinates with the printer system and the layer printer so that printing, layering and packaging are coordinated as part of one in-line, on-the-fly system.

6. The system of claim 5 for use with a QR code scanning device:

wherein the QR code scanning device is configured to scan a particular scannable QR code on a particular package,

wherein the QR code scanning device is configured to determine a unique URL corresponding to the scanned particular scannable QR code wherein the unique URL corresponds to the link indicating product weight of the package and/or product ingredients of the package.

7. The system of claim 6 for use with a manufacturing system for manufacturing the packages from the web and for supplying individual package information wherein the supplied package information of each package is cross-referenced to the individual scannable QR code of the package.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the individual package information comprise at least one of:

package size, package date of manufacture, package expiration date, package operators/handlers, location of package manufacture, unique package characteristics, manufacturing process variables (e.g., temperature, humidity, sterility, cook time) of the package, FDA reports regarding the package, recalls regarding the package, and SQF certifications of the package.

9. The system of claim 8 for use with a materials system for supplying materials to the manufacturing system for the individual packages and for supplying individual material information wherein the individual package information comprise at least one:

type of ingredients of the package, source of ingredients of the package, key ingredients of the package, and ingredient amounts of the package.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the individual package information comprise at least one of:

information provided by a distributor of the particular package;

information provided by a a retailer of the particular package;

information provided by a a manufacturer of the particular package;

information provided by a a materials supplier of the particular package;

information provided by a a brand owner of the particular package;

wherein each of the distributor, retailer, manufacturer, materials supplier, and/or brand owner provides different information.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein a group of packages is formed by an additional package handling device and further comprising:

an additional clock providing an alpha-numeric additional time representing a chronological time of day;

a group printer system associated with the additional package handling device and the additional clock, said group printer system configured to generate a plurality of different, unique, individual scannable group QR codes including the alpha-numeric additional time and configured to print on the group one of the plurality of different, unique, individual scannable group QR codes as the packages handled by the additional package handling device;

wherein the group scannable QR code and cross-referenced to the QR codes of the packages in the group.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a database device storing a plurality of data records comprising package parameters, each data record linked to only one, non-sequential URL defined by one of the plurality of scannable QR codes;

wherein the non-sequential URL comprises a plurality ASCII characters compressed from a plurality alphanumeric character code defined as a first series C and a second series s wherein;

C is a plurality of alpha-numeric characters which are compressed; and

s is a plurality of alpha-numeric characters based on a timestamp.