Labeling, marking and pricing of meat products

• US 20030165602A1
• Filed: 02/14/2003
• Published: 09/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SafeFresh Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: SafeFresh Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Garwood, Anthony J.M.
• Application Number:
  US10/368,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20030165602A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/392
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/16 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 13/00 Meat products; Meat meal; Preparation or treatment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 25/067 combined with its conservation
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/062 the movable parts being attached or integral and displaceable into a position overlying the top of the container, e.g. bails, corner plates covers B65D21/064
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/066 the movable parts being supports or feet, e.g. retractable feet, pivotable supports
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/2024 the cover being welded or adhered to the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/2076 in an at least partially rigid container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/264 for absorbing liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/267 the absorber being in sheet form
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/268 the absorber being enclosed in a small pack, e.g. bag, included in the package
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/28 Applications of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants

Abstract

Processing and packaging for perishable goods, such as beef, in a conduit wherein oxygen is substantially excluded and suitable gases such as carbon dioxide are provided at a suitable pressure and in such a manner as to increase the quantity of the gases dissolved in the perishable goods to extend the shelf life of the goods and decontaminate the goods.

Claims

1. A method of labeling goods comprising the steps of:

placing goods in a tray;

acquiring information relating to the goods placed in said tray;

marking said tray with indicia unique to said goods;

storing the information relating to the goods in said tray in a memory keyed to said indicia.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said information is the weight of the goods.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

relaying the information stored in memory to a retail or distribution location over a communication system.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

reading the tray indicia at the retail location;

retrieving the information associated with the tray indicia over a communication system; and

setting a price for the goods using a pricing module based at least in part on said retrieved information.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

reading the indicia on each said tray at the retail location;

retrieving the information associated with the tray indicia over a communication system; and

setting a shelf life for the goods using a shelf life module based in part on said information.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

marking said tray with indicia unique to said tray.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said additional information is selected from the group consisting of weight, fat content, lean content, water content, temperature, and time of packaging.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

grouping one or more trays loaded with goods in a container;

associating a read/write device with said container; and

applying information relating to said goods on said read/write device for each tray stored therein.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

reading the information on the read/write device on the container at the point of retail;

retrieving the information keyed to the indicia on each of said trays; and

comparing the information read from the read/write device and the information retrieved from memory before setting a price for the contents of each said tray.

10. The method of claim 8 comprising:

reading the information on the read/write device on the container;

retrieving the information keyed to the indicia on each of the trays over a communication network; and

setting a price for the goods in each tray based on the information from the read/write device and the information keyed to the indicia on each of the trays.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

reading the information on the read/write device on the container;

retrieving the information keyed to the indicia on each of the trays over a communication network; and

setting a shelf life for the goods in each tray based on the information from the read/write device and the information keyed to the indicia on each of the trays.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said read/write device is an RF ID tag.