Method and apparatus for marking an egg with an advertisement, a freshness date and a traceability code

• US 20060138105A1
• Filed: 01/17/2006
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yta Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Egg Fusion, Inc.
• Inventors: Parker, Bradley E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,951,409 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/121.690
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 43/10 Grading and stamping
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/32 Material from living organisms, e.g. skins
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/50 Inorganic material, e.g. metals, not provided for in B23K2103/02 – B23K2103/26
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0622 by shaping pulses
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0838 by using an endless conveyor belt
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/402 involving non-metallic material, e.g. isolators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/435 characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/475 for heating selectively by radiation or ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/38 for embossing, e.g. for making matrices for stereotypes
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/407 for marking on special material
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4073 Printing on three-dimensional objects not being in sheet or web form, e.g. spherical or cubic objects B41J3/283, B41J3/286 take precedence; building up a 3D object using individual droplets from jetting heads B29C64/112
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/262 recording or marking of inorganic surfaces or materials, e.g. glass, metal, or ceramics marking of plastic artifacts with inorganic additives B41M5/267
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes

Abstract

A method of marking an egg is disclosed and comprises applying radiant energy to the shell of an egg so as to cause discoloration of the eggshell, thereby forming a marking comprising at least a traceability code and a freshness date. Apparatus is also disclosed for applying markings on eggs being processed by an egg-handling machine that is designed and configured to transport a plurality of eggs therethrough, wherein the apparatus comprises a radiant energy source located in proximity to the egg-handling machine, the radiant energy source being configured to apply radiant energy to the eggs as the eggs are transported past the radiant energy source to selectively discolor the shell of the eggs and form markings on the shell, including a freshness date and a traceability code.

Claims

1. A method of marking an egg comprising:

applying radiant energy to the shell of an egg so as to cause discoloration of the eggshell, thereby forming a marking comprising at least a traceability code and a freshness date.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said marking further comprises an advertisement.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said radiant energy is applied by a laser.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said markings are formed by a generally stationary radiant energy source as the egg is transported by said source.

5. Apparatus for applying markings on eggs being processed by an egg-handling machine that is designed and configured to transport a plurality of eggs therethrough, said apparatus comprising:

a radiant energy source located in proximity to the egg-handling machine, said radiant energy source being configured to apply radiant energy to the eggs as the eggs are transported past said radiant energy source to selectively discolor the shell of the eggs and form markings on the shell, including a freshness date and a traceability code.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the egg-handling machine is an egg-grading machine.

7. A method of marking at least one egg, comprising:

conveying the egg to a marking station having at least one laser marking device configured to apply laser energy of sufficient intensity to etch indicia in the outer surface of the shell of the egg;

activating the laser device to apply laser energy to the egg and thereby etch the indicia in the outer surface of the egg shell;

said indicia comprising at least a freshness date and a traceability identification.

8. A method as defined in claim 7 wherein said indicia further comprises advertising text and/or graphics.

9. A method as defined in claim 7 wherein said applied laser energy ablates and melts surface egg shell material to an approximate depth within the range of about 25 to about 200 micrometers.

10. A method as defined in claim 9 wherein said depth is within the range of about 50 to about 90 micrometers.

11. A method as defined in claim 7 wherein said applied laser energy ablates and melts surface egg shell material to an approximate depth that is within the range of about 5 to about 8 per cent of the thickness of the egg shell.

12. A method as defined in claim 7 wherein said traceability identification comprises one or more items of information selected from the group consisting of:

a traceability code;

an identification of the producer of the egg;

an address of the producer;

a process date of the egg;

a time of processing the egg;

an identification of the grader of the egg;

an identification of the packer lane in which the egg was processed;

an identification of the customer who purchased the egg;

an indication of the type of packaging of the egg;

an indication of the color of the egg;

an indication of the temperature at which the egg was washed;

an indication of the temperature of the cooler in which the egg was placed;

an identification of any advertising indicia that was placed on the egg.

13. An egg having indicia on an outer portion of its shell, said indicia comprising a freshness date and a traceability code that specifies unique identification and history information regarding the egg.

14. An egg as defined in claim 13 wherein said indicia is laser etched on the outer portion of its shell.

15. An egg as defined in claim 13 wherein said unique identification and history information comprises one or more items of information selected from the group consisting of:

a traceability code;

an identification of the producer of the egg;

an address of the producer;

a process date of the egg;

a time of processing the egg;

an identification of the grader of the egg;

an identification of the packer lane in which the egg was processed;

an identification of the customer who purchased the egg;

an indication of the type of packaging of the egg;

an indication of the color of the egg;

an indication of the temperature at which the egg was washed;

an indication of the temperature of the cooler in which the egg was placed;

an identification of any advertising indicia that was placed on the egg.

16. An egg as defined in claim 13 wherein said traceability code is capable of being inserted into a field of at least one predetermined Internet website, which website is configured to display said identification and history information of the egg.

17. An egg having the outer surface of its shell laser etched with a freshness date and a traceability code that specifies unique identification and history information regarding the egg.

18. A system for processing eggs and providing information relating to eggs that are processed through the system, the system comprising egg grading, candling, marking and packing stations, said system including a central processing unit having associated memory that is configured to receive and store data relating to eggs that are processed through the system, said system comprising:

conveying the eggs through said egg grading station where said eggs are graded and data relating to the grade of each egg is transmitted to said central processing unit;

conveying the eggs through said egg candling station where said eggs are candled and data relating to the candling of each egg is transmitted to said central processing unit;

conveying the eggs through said egg marking station where said eggs are marked with at least a freshness date and a traceability code that specifies unique identification and history information regarding the egg;

storing data relating to the marking of each egg in memory associated with said central processing unit;

conveying the eggs through said egg packing station where data relating to the packaging of each egg is transmitted to said central processing unit;

said central processing unit being operatively connected to a predetermined website that is accessible through the Internet, wherein said identification and history information regarding an individual egg is accessible by inserting its traceability code in a predetermined field of said website.

19. A system as defined in claim 18 wherein said markings further comprising advertising indicia.

20. A system as defined in claim 18 wherein said marking station comprises at least one laser.