Case-Level Traceability without the need for inline printing

• US 7,766,240 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2008
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Inc.
• Original Assignee: YottaMark, Inc.
• Inventors: Grant, Elliott
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Thien Minh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yang; Minghui
• Application Number:
  US12/176,334
• Time in Patent Office: 745 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/462, 235/385, 235/462.01, 235/462.32, 235/470, 235/494, 283/74, 283/79, 283/81, 283/101
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A pre-printed case label is provided for labeling cases that contain item-level packages such as clamshells of produce or loose bulk produce. The pre-printed case label includes a common identifier and space for adding a tag that includes a unique identifier. A case that includes the pre-printed case label and the tag provides case-level traceability through the distribution chain. Additionally, the item-level packages, or items of loose bulk produce, can include their own individual traceability codes to extend the traceability down to the item level. Methods provided herein associate non-lot-specific information, like brand and quantity, and lot-specific information, like harvest event data, with the unique identifier.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

affixing a case label to a case, the case label including a first identifier having a first data structure that is both machine-readable and human-readable;

affixing a tag to the case, the tag including a second identifier having a second data structure that is both machine-readable and human-readable; and

storing lot-specific information in association with the second identifier;

reading the first identifier simultaneously with the second identifier.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein affixing the tag to the case comprises adhering the tag to the case label.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising reading the second identifier.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the lot-specific information comprises a harvest date.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising filling the case with a plurality of unit-level packages.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising marking each unit-level package with a traceability code.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising storing a traceability code of a unit-level package in association with the second identifier.

8. A method comprising:

affixing a tag to a case label disposed on a case,

the case label including a first identifier including a first data structure that is both machine-readable and human-readable,

the tag including a second identifier including a second data structure that is both machine-readable and human-readable;

storing lot-specific information in association with the second identifier; and

reading the first identifier simultaneously with the second identifier.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising filling the case with a plurality of unit-level packages.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising marking each unit-level package with a traceability code.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising storing a traceability code of a unit-level package in association with the second identifier.