Variable printed beverage labels

• US 20030116915A1
• Filed: 04/23/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecc-Jolt, LLC
• Original Assignee: The Jolt Company, Inc. (The Boylan Bottling Co.)
• Inventors: Rapp, Carl J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,705,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/292
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/02 Cards; Special shapes of cards card-printing methods B41K, B41M
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/003 Blackjack; Twenty one
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/005 Poker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0012 the other object being a container or part thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/001 Games or toys connected to, or combined with, other objects; Objects with a second use as a toy or game
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 23/14 of tags , labels, cards, coupons, decorations or the like B65D23/008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/205 Means for the attachment of labels, cards, coupons or the like; cards or coupons for the other types of rigid or semi-rigid containers B65D25/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/36 adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/06 the advertising matter being combined with articles for restaurants, shops or offices on paper articles G09F23/10

Abstract

One or more beverage container labels and the method for creating a first static part and a second variable part including printing the image on the label using a single pass. The printing apparatus having a computer with memory to store a first static portion of an image and a second variable portion of an image so that a rasterizer connected to the memory and combining the first static portion and the second variable portion can form an image for printing. The apparatus also has a printer connected to the rasterizer for printing the image on a label in one step.

Claims

1. A method of printing a beverage label comprising:

(a) printing a first side of the label using a static printing process;

(b) forming an image for printing a second side of the label, the image having a fixed part and a variable part;

(c) rasterizing the image;

(d) printing the rasterized image on a second side of the label;

(e) printing a first side of a second label using the static printing process;

(f) retrieving the image for printing the second side of the label;

(g) changing the variable part;

(h) rasterizing the image; and

(i) printing the rasterized image on the second side of the second label.

2. A method of printing a beverage label having a static part and a variable part comprising:

(a) rasterizing an image including the static part and the variable part; and

(b) printing the rasterized image on the label using a single pass.

3. A method of printing a beverage label comprising:

(a) storing a static image portion of the label;

(b) storing a plurality of variable image portions of the label;

(c) combining the static portion of the label with one of the variable image portions of the label; and

(d) printing the combined image on the label.

4. Apparatus for printing a beverage label comprising:

(a) a computer having memory storing a first static portion of an image and a second variable portion of an image;

(b) a rasterizer connected to the memory and combining the first static portion and the second variable portion to form an image for printing;

(c) a printer connected to the rasterizer for printing the image on a label in one step.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 comprising memory storing a plurality of variable portions of an image, and a selector for selecting a variable portion to be combined with the static portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 comprising a counter connected to the printer and the selector changing the variable portion after a preselected number of labels have been printed.

7. A plurality of beverage containers comprising:

a first beverage container having a first label affixed thereto, the first label having a first plurality of visible indicia printed thereon, the first plurality of indicia representing a first plurality of static images, and a first indicia, representing a first variable image; and

a second beverage container having a second label affixed thereto, the second label having a second plurality of visible indicia printed thereon, the second plurality of visible indicia representing a second plurality of static images similar to the first plurality of visible indicia and a second indicia different from the first indicia.

8. The plurality of beverage containers of claim 7 the first label having the first plurality of visible indicia together with the second label having a second plurality of indicia comprising a set.

9. The plurality of beverage containers of claim 8, the set comprising famous people such as famous sports people.

10. The plurality of beverage containers of claim 8, the set comprising the set of living things such as endangered animals.

11. The plurality of beverage containers of claim 8, the set comprising events.

12. The plurality of beverage containers of claim 7, wherein the first and second indicia are concealed till an addition act is taken.

13. The plurality of beverage containers of claim 7, wherein the first and second indicia are available from another service.

14. A beverage container comprising a label affixed thereto, the label having a plurality of visible indicia printed thereon, the plurality of indicia representing one or more images, and an independent indicia, representing a concealed image, the visible indicia and the independent indicia together completing a set of images.

15. The beverage container of claim 14, wherein the set comprising a set of people such as famous people.

16. The beverage container of claim 14, wherein the independent image is not visible till an additional action is taken.

17. The beverage container of claim 14, wherein the plurality of images and the concealed image together is the set comprising the set of living things such as endangered animals.

18. The beverage container of claim 14, wherein the set comprising the set of places.

19. The beverage container of claim 14, wherein the set comprising art.

20. The beverage container of claim 14, wherein the set comprising written material such as quotes.

21. The beverage container of claim 14, wherein the set comprises ideas such as inventions.