Product packaging arrangement using invisible marking for product orientation

• US 6,370,844 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2000
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Energizer Brands, LLC (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stricker, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): PARADISO, JOHN ROGER
• Application Number:
  US09/495,283
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 534/27, 534/44, 534/46, 534/98, 531/48, 535/44, 535/09, 706/703, 706/705, 706/776, 706/777, 706/461
• US Class Current: 53/446
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/58 Turning articles by positively-acting means, e.g. to present labelled portions in uppermost position
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/14 and operating to control, or stop, the feed of articles or material to be packaged
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/00 Decoration means, markings, information elements, contents indicators see also B65D5/4212, B65D33/004
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/324 the compartments being interconnected, e.g. by small channels
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/368 the compartments being interconnected, e.g. by small channels
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/252 about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/42 with light sources activated by non-visible radiation cathode ray image or pattern display tubes H01J31/10; lamps with luminescent screens excited by cathode rays H01J63/06

Abstract

A system and method of arranging products, such as batteries, in a display package according to a desired orientation with efficient space utilization. The method includes providing products to be packaged, and applying an invisible orientation marking on each of the products. The orientation marking is visible when illuminated with ultraviolet light and is generally invisible to consumers under normal ambient light conditions. The method also includes illuminating the products with ultraviolet light, scanning each of the products, detecting the orientation marking on each of the products, orienting each of the products based on the detecting steps, and disposing each of the oriented products in a package so that the products have a desired orientation.

Claims

1. A method of arranging product in a display package according to a desired orientation, said method comprising the steps of:

providing one or more products to be packaged;

applying an invisible marking on said one or more products, said marking generally being indistinguishable to consumers under ambient light conditions;

scanning each of said one or more products;

detecting said marking on each of said one or more products;

orienting each of said one or more products based on said detecting step; and

disposing each of said oriented products in a package so that each of said one or more products has a desired orientation.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of applying said marking comprises applying an ultraviolet readable marking.

3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein said step of detecting further comprises applying ultraviolet light to said one or more products so that said ultraviolet light readable marking phosphoresces.

4. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein said step of detecting includes detecting a predetermined color with a photo detector.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of scanning comprises rotating each of said one or more products relative to a detector.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of providing one or more products comprises providing one or more batteries for packaging in a battery display package.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of disposing said one or more products in a package comprises disposing said one or more products in a blister package.

8. A method of arranging batteries in a battery display package having a transparent window according to a desired orientation, said method comprising the steps of:

providing one or more batteries to be packaged;

applying an invisible marking on said one or more batteries, said marking generally being indistinguishable to consumers under ambient light conditions;

scanning each of said one or more batteries;

detecting said marking on each of said one or more batteries;

orienting each of said one or more batteries based on said detecting step; and

disposing each of said oriented batteries in a package so that each of said one or more batteries has a desired orientation.

9. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein said step of applying said marking comprises applying an ultraviolet readable marking.

10. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein said step of detecting further comprises applying ultraviolet light to said one or more batteries so that said ultraviolet light readable marking phosphoresces.

11. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein said step of detecting includes detecting a predetermined color with a photo detector.

12. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein said step of scanning comprises rotating each of said one or more batteries relative to a detector.

13. A system for packaging one or more products in a display package, said system comprising:

a marking device for applying an invisible orientation marking to each of one or more products, wherein said invisible orientation mark is generally indistinguishable to consumers under normal ambient light conditions;

a scanner for scanning each of said products to determine the location of the invisible orientation marking; and

a pick up assembly for engaging each of said one or more products based on the detected orientation marking and placing each of said products in a display package so each of said products are oriented in a desired orientation according to the orientation marking.

14. The system as defined in claim 13, wherein said scanner comprises:

a source of ultraviolet light for phosphorescing said orientation marking; and

a photo detector for detecting the orientation mark under ultraviolet light.

15. The system as defined in claim 13, wherein each of said one or more products comprises a battery.

16. The system as defined in claim 13, wherein said marking devices applies said invisible marking to a label on each of the one or more products.

17. A product display package containing one or more products arranged in a desired orientation, said package comprising:

a blister package having a housing defining a compartment for compactly housing product; and

one or more products disposed in said blister package, each of said one or more products having an invisible orientation marking that is generally indistinguishable to consumers under normal ambient light conditions, wherein each of said one or more products are oriented in a desired orientation in said blister package based on said invisible orientation marking.

18. The package as defined in claim 17, wherein said package comprises a battery package for housing one or more batteries.

19. The package as defined in claim 17, wherein said invisible orientation marking comprises an ultraviolet light readable marking.

20. The package as defined in claim 17, wherein said blister package comprises a transparent window to allow viewing of the product in the package.

21. The package as defined in claim 17, wherein said marking is applied to the outer surface of a label.