Code symbol for marking plastic bottles
First Claim
1. Code symbol for marking refillable containers of plastic material, consisting of a mechanically readable variable matrix with a periphery and a data content available therein, wherein the periphery has at least two continuous sides of fixed length, characterized in that the matrix is a rectangular-shaped 3×
- 3 matrix with binary data from 29 =512 different combinations which is composed from a plurality of depressions which are formed in the plastic by means of a laser, that the one continuous side is a fixed 3×
1 line vector which is provided on the top and/or bottom of the matrix, that the other continuous side is a fixed 3×
1 column vector which is provided on the left and/or right side of the matrix, and that the three columns of the matrix are formed from zero, one, two, or three respectively 1×
1 matrix elements from the line vector which are applied and adjoin each other without gaps in the direction of application.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process and an apparatus for marking refillable containers (112), more especially plastic bottles, with code symbols with the aid of which it can be Later ascertained whether a container has to be refilled or separated, are described. The part of the container (112) in which is situated a manufacturer'"'"'s code present from the outset is photographed at a detection station (130) by means of a camera (164). Using code symbols applied previously as a reference marking, the place is determined at which a new code symbol of a round trip code is applied at a marking station (140) by means of a laser. The number of such code symbols gives the number of fillings of the containers (112), and the data content of each code symbol contains a statement concerning the filling inserted in the container, the bottler etc., in each case. With the aid of this, a certain filling sequence can be adhered to, and therefore for example, prevent a plastic bottle which previously contained a cola drink being filled with mineral water, whereas the reverse sequence would be permissible.
16 Citations
1 Claim
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1. Code symbol for marking refillable containers of plastic material, consisting of a mechanically readable variable matrix with a periphery and a data content available therein, wherein the periphery has at least two continuous sides of fixed length, characterized in that the matrix is a rectangular-shaped 3×
- 3 matrix with binary data from 29 =512 different combinations which is composed from a plurality of depressions which are formed in the plastic by means of a laser, that the one continuous side is a fixed 3×
1 line vector which is provided on the top and/or bottom of the matrix, that the other continuous side is a fixed 3×
1 column vector which is provided on the left and/or right side of the matrix, and that the three columns of the matrix are formed from zero, one, two, or three respectively 1×
1 matrix elements from the line vector which are applied and adjoin each other without gaps in the direction of application.
- 3 matrix with binary data from 29 =512 different combinations which is composed from a plurality of depressions which are formed in the plastic by means of a laser, that the one continuous side is a fixed 3×
Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeElpatronic AG
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Original AssigneeElpatronic AG
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InventorsApter, Robert, Weinstock, Julian
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Primary Examiner(s)PITTS, HAROLD I
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Application NumberUS08/398,367Time in Patent Office277 DaysField of Search235/454, 235/494US Class Current235/494CPC Class CodesG01F 17/00 Methods or apparatus for de...G01M 3/3236 by monitoring the interior ...G06K 1/126 by photographic or thermogr...
