Mobile Table for Implementing Clamshell-to-Case Association

• US 20100006648A1
• Filed: 07/10/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PTx Trimble LLC
• Original Assignee: YottaMark, Inc. (Silgan Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Carr, J. Scott, Luna, Albert Anthony, Grant, Elliott, Calhoon, Sean
• Granted Patent: US 8,240,564 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for associating traceability codes on clamshells with unique identifiers on containers in which the empty clamshells are packed for later use. In various methods, the clamshells are marked with traceability codes and stacked together, one traceability code is read from one of the clamshells in each stack, a unique identifier is read from a container, and the stack,is placed in the container. The traceability code is stored in association with the unique identifier for later retrieval. An exemplary table for making clamshell-to-container associations comprises a scanner for reading traceability codes and rails for positioning stacks of clamshells proximate to the scanner. The table can also comprise a second scanner positioned to read unique identifiers from containers placed proximate thereto. The table can further comprise a computing system to make and store the associations.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

reading a traceability code from a clamshell of a stack of a plurality of clamshells;

reading a unique identifier disposed on a container;

storing the traceability code read from the clamshell of the stack in association with the unique identifier; and

placing the stack in the container.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising printing a traceability code on each of a plurality of labels.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising marking each of the plurality of clamshells with a traceability code by affixing a label of the plurality of labels to each of the clamshells.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising marking each of the plurality of clamshells with a traceability code.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising nesting the plurality of marked clamshells together to form the stack.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising reading a traceability code from each of the plurality of clamshells before nesting the plurality of clamshells.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising reading the traceability code from the clamshell with a first scanner disposed on a table.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising reading the unique identifier from the container with a second scanner disposed on the table.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising fabricating the plurality of clamshells, labeling the plurality of clamshells each with a unique traceability code, reading the unique traceability code from each of the plurality of clamshells, and then nesting the plurality of clamshells.

10. A table comprising:

a top surface;

a lateral rail disposed on the top surface proximate and extending generally parallel to a front side of the top surface;

a transverse rail disposed on the top surface generally perpendicular to the lateral rail;

a first scanner configured to read a traceability code on a clamshell held against a first side of the transverse rail; and

a second scanner configured to read a unique identifier disposed on a container disposed proximate to the top surface.

11. The table of claim 10 wherein the table is configured to be mobile.

12. The table of claim 10 wherein the first scanner is disposed proximate to a second side of the transverse rail that opposes the first side.

13. The table of claim 10 wherein an orientation of the first scanner is adjustable.

14. The table of claim 10 wherein an orientation of the second scanner is adjustable.

15. The table of claim 10 further including a calibration marking disposed on the lateral rail.

16. The table of claim 10 further comprising processing means including logic configured to associate a unique identifier read by the second scanner with one or more traceability codes read by the first scanner, and logic configured to store the association.

17. A system for associating clamshells with containers comprising:

means for consistently positioning a stack of clamshells, each clamshell including a traceability code;

means for reading the traceability code from one clamshell of the stack when the stack is positioned by the means for consistently positioning the stack;

means for reading a unique identifier from a container; and

means for storing an associate between a unique identifier read by the means for reading the unique identifier and the traceability code read by the means for reading the traceability code.

18. A system for associating clamshells with containers comprising:

a table including

a transverse rail disposed on a top surface,

a first scanner configured to read a traceability code on a clamshell of a stack of clamshells held against the transverse rail, and

a second scanner configured to read a unique identifier disposed on a container disposed proximate to the top surface; and

a third scanner in communication with the table.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising a labeler configured to affix labels to clamshells, wherein the third scanner is configured to read traceability codes from the labels affixed to the clamshells by the labeler.

20. The system of claim 18 further comprising a clamshell fabricator.

21. The system of claim 18 further comprising a host computing system, wherein the table further includes logic configured to upload traceability codes and unique identifiers to the host computing system.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the host computing system includes association logic configured to associate traceability codes with unique identifiers and to store the associations.

23. A method comprising:

marking each of a plurality of clamshells with a traceability code;

nesting the plurality of marked clamshells together to form a stack;

storing an association between the traceability code read from a clamshell of the stack and a unique identifier of a container; and

placing the stack in the container.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising reading the unique identifier from the container and determining a traceability code from the unique identifier.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein storing the association between the traceability code read from the clamshell of the stack and the unique identifier of the container includes uploading the traceability code and the unique identifier to a host computing system.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising reading a traceability code from each of the plurality of marked clamshells before nesting the plurality of marked clamshells.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising uploading to the host computing system the traceability codes read from each of the plurality of marked clamshells and associating the traceability codes read from each of the plurality of marked clamshells with the unique identifier.

28. The method of claim 23 further comprising uploading to the host computing system harvest event data and associating the harvest event data with the unique identifier of the container.