Method and apparatus for bulk food marking and tracking
First Claim
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1. A method for tracking and recording the processing of food products from the farm to the ultimate consumer, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a label maker with a number generator for printing a scannable unique code or number upon a label, for producing uniquely encoded labels as required;
applying permanent labels onto a plurality of food gathering baskets located on the premises of the food gathering organization, each label being coded for uniquely identifying each basket and the associated manufacturer, each label being provided through use of said label maker; and
scanning the respective labels on said baskets when distributed to crop pickers, for recording on said ledger the name of the crop picker assigned a particular basket, along with other information printed on the label, and date and time marking.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for tracking and recording the processing of food products from the farm to the ultimate consumer, provides for recording each step on a central ledger, whereby the time, dates of manufacture, and manufacturers of all containers, including gathering baskets used to carry associated food products are tracked, along with crop pickers'"'"' names in association with their identified gathering baskets, the time and date of all manufacturing or processing and packing steps, and the identity of associated processors, packers, distributors, and wholesalers.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for tracking and recording the processing of food products from the farm to the ultimate consumer, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a label maker with a number generator for printing a scannable unique code or number upon a label, for producing uniquely encoded labels as required;
applying permanent labels onto a plurality of food gathering baskets located on the premises of the food gathering organization, each label being coded for uniquely identifying each basket and the associated manufacturer, each label being provided through use of said label maker; and
scanning the respective labels on said baskets when distributed to crop pickers, for recording on said ledger the name of the crop picker assigned a particular basket, along with other information printed on the label, and date and time marking. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for tracking and recording the production of food products from farms where the food products are grown, through the entire food processing chain to the consumer, said method comprising the steps of:
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applying to every relatively large container a permanent label imprinted with a scannable unique code or number, said label to be applied at the time of manufacture, for uniquely identifying each container throughout their entire period of use;
scanning a label after application to a container, for date and time marking the manufacture of the container, and identifying the manufacturer;
applying to any pallet loaded with a plurality of relatively small containers, a permanent label imprinted with a scannable unique code or number, said label to be applied at the time of loading each said pallet(s), for uniquely identifying each said pallet(s) as used in association with said plurality of relatively small containers;
scanning the label on each said pallet(s), for date and time marking the loading of the pallet, identifying the relatively small containers, and their manufacturer;
applying permanent labels onto a plurality of food gathering baskets located on the premises of the food gathering organization, each label being coded for uniquely identifying each basket and the associated manufacturer; and
scanning the respective labels on said baskets when distributed to crop pickers, for recording on said ledger the name of the crop picker assigned a particular basket, along with other information printed on the label, and date and time marking. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A system for tracking and recording the production of food products from farm to ultimate consumer, comprising:
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a label maker including a unique number generator, for applying a scannable unique number on each label made, for permitting a user to produce a uniquely encoded label to be placed on any basket, container, or processing vessel used for containing or holding food over the entire production chain and process for the associated food product(s), each label being further encoded when applicable with information identifying farms, crop pickers, manufacturers, food product(s), and production lines;
a scanner for scanning each label as applied to a basket or any other container holding the associated food products, said scanner being utilized over each step involved in moving, transporting, transferring, or storing associated food products and/or associated containers or processing vessels, said scanner providing digitized signals representative of the information on each label scanned, and the date and time of scanning;
a personal computer (PC) responsive to the scanner, for reading the digitized label information into an associated memory;
a server computer remote for each user;
means for permitting a user to transmit from said memory of said PC to said server computer, the digitized information from each label scanning;
a central ledger for permanently storing the digitized label information received by said server computer; and
means for permitting a user to access the information stored on said central ledger. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification