Packaging device and container for sheet objects

• US 20070112459A1
• Filed: 11/26/2004
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crane Payment Innovations Limited (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Crane Payment Innovations Limited (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Hutton, Les, Bell, Malcolm
• Granted Patent: US 7,748,610 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/221
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 25/141 packaging flat articles in boxes
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/025 for applying, e.g. printing, code or date marks on material prior to packaging
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/26 Thin-walled containers, e.g. formed by deep-drawing operations B65D1/165 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/08 Containers of variable capacity containers of polygonal cross-section adapted to be of variable capacity formed by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/0005
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/162 the container, the lid and the hinge being made of one piece B65D43/161 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/422548 filling or loading process
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2405/311 and serving also as package
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/12 Containers for valuable papers
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/34 Monitoring the contents of devices, e.g. the number of stored valuable papers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/807 Tamper proof

Abstract

This invention relates to a packaging device (1) for packaging a stack of sheet objects that have an attributable monetary value in a container (4), the device (1) comprising means (34, 35) for determining value data relating to the monetary value attributed to a sheet object to be stacked in the container (4), and an RF reader/writer (52) for writing said value data to an RFID device (21) associated with the container (4).

Claims

1. Packaging for a stack of monetary objects, comprising a container to receive the monetary objects, which once opened cannot be re-used as such packaging, and an RFID device to be packaged within the container so as to be removable from the container when opened for re-use in another said container.

2. Packaging according to claim 1 including a closure member for sealing the RFID device inside the container.

3. Packaging according to claim 1 wherein the RFID device is a read/write RFID tag.

4. Packaging according to claim 2 wherein the RFID device is a read-only RFID tag.

5. Packaging according to claim 1, containing a stack of sheet monetary objects therein.

6. Packaging according to claim 5 wherein the RFID device comprises a member that forms a base for the stack of sheet monetary objects.

7. Packaging according to claim 2 wherein the RFID device is releasably attached to the underside of the closure member.

8. Packaging according to claim 1 wherein the container is made of recyclable plastics material.

9. A method of processing monetary objects comprising:

packaging the monetary objects by stacking them in a container, which once opened cannot be re-used for such packaging, and providing an RFID device within the container so as to be removable from the container when opened for re-use in another said container.

10. A method according to claim 9 including opening the container, removing the monetary objects from the opened container, removing the RFID device from the container and re-using the RFID device when packaging monetary items in another said container.

11. A method according to claim 10 including sending the opened container to be recycled (S140) after removal of the monetary objects and the RFID device therefrom.

12. A method according to claim 10 including deleting data from the RFID device removed from the container.

13. A method according to claim 9 including recording in the RFID device data corresponding to the monetary objects stacked in the container.

14. A method according to claim 9 including sealing a closure member onto the container with the stack of monetary items therein.

15. A method according to claim 14 including providing the RFID device on the closure member within the container.

16. A method according to claim 9 including providing the RFID device as member that forms a base for the stack of monetary objects.

43. A method according to claim 15, comprising:

sensing the RFID device within a predetermined locality; and

triggering an alarm.

17. A packaging system for packaging a stack of sheet objects that have an attributable monetary value in a container, comprising

(i) a packaging device, comprising:

means for determining first value data relating to a sheet object to be stacked in the container; and

an RF reader/writer for writing said first value data to an RFID device,

(ii) at least one container configured to be filled with a stack of sheet objects by the packaging device and closed such that once opened the container cannot be re-used, and

(iii) an RFID device to be included with the container and removed therefrom once the container has been opened for use when packaging sheet objects in another said container.

18. A system according to claim 17, comprising first processing means having a first a database for storing said first value data therein.

19. A system according to claim 18, comprising display means for displaying data stored in said first database to a user.

20. A system according to any one of claim 17, comprising:

an unpacking device for removing sheet objects from the container and determining second value data relating to sheet objects removed from the container.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein the unpacking device comprises RF means for reading the first value data stored on the RFID device.

22. A system according to claim 21, comprising second processing means having a second database for storing the first value data read from the RFID device and the second value data determined by the unpacking device.

23. A system according to claim 22, comprising an alarm, wherein the second processing means is operable to compare said first value data to said second value data and to trigger the alarm in the event that the first value data is not reconciled with the second value data.

24. A system according to claim 22, wherein the second processing means is operable to compare said first value data to said second value data and to control said RF means to delete the first value data from the RFID device in the event that the first value data is reconciled with the second value data.

25. A system according to claim 22, comprising display means for displaying the information stored in the other database to a user.

26. A system according to claim 17, comprising:

an RF detector for detecting the RFID device, wherein the RF detector is operable to write tracking information to the RFID device.

27. A system according to claim 26, wherein the RF detector is operable to transmit said tracking information to the first processing means, and the first processing means is operable to store said tracking information in the first database in association with the first value data.

28. A system according to claim 26, wherein the RF detector is operable to transmit said tracking information to the second processing means, and the second processing means is operable to store said tracking information in the second database in association with the first value data.

29. A system according to claim 26, wherein the tracking information comprises the time and or the date when the RFID device is detected by the RF detector.

30. A system according to claim 17, comprising an alarm and an RF detector for detecting the RFID device, wherein the RF detector is operable to trigger the alarm in response to detecting the RFID device.

31. A system according to claim 17, wherein the packaging device comprises a sealing device for sealing the container and the RFID device is disposed so as to be sealed inside the container.

32. A system according to claim 31, comprising a closure member to be sealed by the sealing device onto the container.

33. A system according to claim 32, wherein the RFID device is releasably attached to the closure member.

34. A system according to, claim 17, wherein the first and/or the second value data relate to the monetary value attributed to said sheet objects and/or the number of sheet objects in said stack.

36. A method according to claim 22, comprising storing said first value data in a first database.

35. A method of transporting sheet objects that have an attributable monetary value, the method comprising:

determining first value data relating to a stack of sheet objects packaged in a container that is closed such that once opened the container cannot be re-used;

writing said first value data to an RFID device associated with the container; and

sealing the RFID device inside the container such that the device can be re-used once the container is opened to remove the stack.

37. A method according to claim 35, comprising:

unpacking the stack of sheet objects from the container;

determining second value data relating to the stack of sheet objects;

reading the first value data from the RFID device;

removing the RFID device from the container for re-use; and

storing said first value data and said second value data in a second database.

38. A method according to claim 37, comprising comparing the first value data with the second value data and triggering an alarm in the event that the first value data is not reconciled with the second value data.

39. A method according to claim 37, comprising comparing the first value data with the second value data and deleting the first value data from the RFID device in the event that the first value data is reconciled with the second value data.

40. A method according to claim 35, comprising:

sensing the RFID device within a predetermined locality; and

writing tracking information to the RFID device.

41. A method according to claim 40, comprising storing said tracking information in the first database and/or the second database.

42. A method according to claim 40, wherein the tracking information comprises the time and/or the date at which the RFID device is sensed.

44. A method according to claim 35, wherein the first and/or the second value data relate to the monetary value attributed to said stack of sheet objects and/or the number of sheet objects in said stack.

54. A system according to claim 42, wherein the request signal and/or the data stored in the first database are transmitted over the internet.

45. A packaging system for packaging a stack of sheet objects that have an attributable monetary value in a container, comprising

(i) a packaging device, comprising:

means for determining first value data relating to a sheet object to be stacked in the container; and

an RF reader for reading identification information from an RFID device associated with a container,

(ii) at least one container configured to be filled with a stack of sheet objects by the packaging device and closed such that once opened the container cannot be re-used,

(iii) an RFID device to be included within the closed container and removed therefrom once the closed container has been opened for use when packaging sheet objects in another said container, and

(iv) first processing means having a first database for storing identification information read from the RFID device in association with said first value data.

46. A system according to claim 45, comprising display means for displaying data stored in said first database to a user.

47. A system according to claim 45, comprising:

an unpacking device for removing sheet objects from the container and determining second value data relating to sheet objects removed from the container.

48. A system according to claim 47, wherein the unpacking device comprises RF means for reading the identification information stored on the RFID device.

49. A system according to claim 48, comprising second processing means having a second database for storing the identification information read from the RFID device in association with the second value data determined by the unpacking device.

50. A system according to claim 49, comprising display means for displaying information stored in the second database to a user.

51. A system according to claim 49, wherein said second processing means is operable to send, across a network, a request signal to said first processing means, said request signal relating to the identification information read from the RFID device.

52. A system according to claim 51, wherein the first processing means is operable to transmit data stored in the first database in association with the identification information, across a network, to the second processing means in response to receiving said request signal.

53. A system according to claim 52, wherein the second processing means is operable to store data received from the first processing means in the second database in association with the identification information read from the RFID device.

55. A system according to claim 45, comprising:

an RF detector for detecting the RFID device, wherein the RF detector is operable to read the identification information stored on the RFID device and to transmit tracking information to the first processing means, the first processing means being operable to store said tracking information in association with the identification information read by the RF detector in said first database.

56. A system according to claim 55, wherein the tracking information comprises the time and or the date when the RFID device is detected by the RF detector.

57. A system according to claim 45, comprising an alarm and an RF detector for detecting the RFID device, wherein the RF detector is operable to trigger the alarm in response to detecting the RFID device.

58. A system according to claim 45, wherein the packaging device comprises a sealing device for sealing the container, and the RFID device is disposed so as to be sealed inside the container.

59. A system according to claim 58, comprising a closure member to be sealed by the sealing device onto the container.

60. A system according to claim 59, wherein the RFID device is releasably attached to the closure member.

61. A system according to claim 45, wherein the first and/or the second value data relate to the monetary value attributed to said sheet objects and/or the number of sheet objects in said stack

62. A method of transporting sheet objects that have an attributable monetary value, the method comprising:

determining first value data relating to a stack of sheet objects packaged in a container that is closed such that once opened the container cannot be re-used;

reading identification information from an RFID device associated with the container;

storing said identification information in a first database in association with said first value data and

sealing the RFID device inside the container such that the device can be removed and re-used once the container is opened to remove the stack.

63. A method according to claim 62, comprising:

sensing the RFID device within a predetermined locality;

reading the identification information stored on the RFID device; and

storing tracking information on the first database in association with the identification information.

64. A method according to claim 63, wherein the tracking information comprises the time and/or the date at which the RFID device is sensed.

66. A method according to claim 63, comprising:

sensing the RFID device within a predetermined locality; and

triggering an alarm.

67. A method according to claim 63, comprising:

unpacking the stack of sheet objects from the container;

determining second value data relating to the stack of sheet objects;

reading the identification information from the RFID device;

retrieving first value data associated with the identification information read from the RFID device from the first database;

storing said first value data and said second value data in a second database in association with the identification information read from the RFID device.

68. A method according to claim 67, comprising:

comparing said first value data with said second value data; and

triggering an alarm in the event that the first value data is not reconciled with the second value data.

69. A method according to claim 68, comprising:

comparing said first value data with said second value data; and

deleting, from the first and/or the second database, data associated with the identification information read from the RFID device, in the event that the first value data is reconciled with the second value data.

70. A method according to claim 62, wherein the first and/or the second value data relate to the monetary value attributed to said stack of sheet objects and/or the number of sheet objects in said stack.