Registers – Records
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-25
2004-07-13
Tremblay, Mark (Department: 2876)
Registers
Records
C235S492000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06761318
ABSTRACT:
This application claims priority to the foreign application filed on Apr. 25, 2000, in Europe and having a serial number of 00303431.1.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to reusable containers having electronically and/or optically readable identification means and to a process for the monitoring and recordal of product information during filling or refilling the containers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Containers for the purchase, transportation and dispensing of products are well known in the art and are in widespread use.
Such containers are available in a wide variety of shapes and forms. They may be assembled from a wide variety of components, and may be manufactured from a wide variety of materials.
Containers may generally be divided into two distinct classes.
The first class is non-reusable containers, that is to say, where the container is employed as a single use component and is disposed of when emptied of its contents.
The second class is reusable containers, that is to say, where the container is returned to the point of sale or dispense to be refilled once emptied of its contents. This process may be repeated many times, and the container may be refilled with contents different to those previously in the container.
Typically, a reusable container is designed to contain, transport and dispense a product according to the product properties and intended use.
A reusable container typically has features that enable the container to survive the process of return and reuse.
Typically, reusable containers are designed with the minimal use of materials and components in order to provide a minimal cost.
Although the use of non-reusable containers has some advantages in that it is easy to implement within the constraints of the current distribution and retail system, the use of non-reusable containers is less environmentally friendly and also makes the inherent cost of this method more expensive, than the refill method described above.
Reusable containers are used, for example, in the beverage and dairy industries wherein empty containers are returned to the vendor/product manufacturer for subsequent cleaning and refilling of said containers on the production line.
Containers in the art may typically contain bar codes as a means of identification. Such bar codes provide the retailer with a means of stock control and a method of automatic pricing control, that is to say, the retailer is no longer required to affix individual pricing stickers to products. However, it will be appreciated that within a certain class of products the bar code identification will be identical and therefore it is not possible to vary the code within that class over time in order that certain products within the class may carry different information to others.
The use of reusable containers in an environment wherein the user or consumer directs the refilling process has a number of inherent problems. For example, the user or consumer may attempt to refill the reusable container with a product type different to that originally held in the container; the user or consumer may attempt to fill the container beyond its capacity; the user or consumer may not correctly position the container in the filling point of the dispensing machine prior to commencing the filling process.
By “dispensing machine” in the present invention is meant a machine that dispenses product in response to one or more selections that are input into the machine by the consumer or user. Such a system may be operated by coin, token, card, or other suitable means.
A further problem that may be encountered is that whilst the consumer or user may refill the reusable container with an identical product type, said product type may contain minor variations over the original product held in the reusable container, for example, with respect to fragrance, colour, etc. In such a situation, it is beneficial to both the retailer and the consumer or user that the reusable container comprises functionality that allows the product characteristics at any given time, as well as the product history over time as the bottle undergoes a series of refill cycles, to be monitored and recorded. Thus, this data will become different for individual reusable containers as time progresses, in spite of said containers originally containing the same product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a reusable container, which comprises therein one or more electronically and/or optically readable identification means.
According to the present invention, there is further provided a process for the monitoring and recordal of product information during the filling or refilling of a reusable container, which comprises reading an electronic and/or optical identification means on said reusable container and storing the information obtained therefrom in a storage means that is capable of being interrogated to extract and optionally process said information.
Identification means in the form of, for example, electronic tags allow a reader or scanner to read data from the tag and/or write data to the tag. The reusable container then essentially becomes “intelligent”.
By “intelligent” in the present invention is meant that the electronic tag may allow, for example, collection of specific consumer data, such as buying frequency, quantity, product type, product customisation characteristics; direct billing of the consumer instead of using coins, notes/bills, or a credit or debit card at the filling point of the dispensing machine or at the check-out of the retail store; simplification of the dispensing machine by identifying the size of the reusable container being used and signalling that the reusable container is correctly positioned; refilling control measures by only allowing dispensing of the correct product type from the dispensing machine into the reusable container; identification of the consumer or user in order to provide a personalised greeting and to offer the choice of repeating previous customisation preferences; better asset management for the retailer, that is to say, the tag may monitor the reusable container's product history, its use record, etc; management of the supply chain, that is to say, optimising supply chain responsiveness.
Said identification means may be of any kind commonly used in the art. In a preferred embodiment, said identification means may be of one or more types selected from resistance tagging, optical tagging and transponder tagging, depending upon the requirements for the monitoring and recording of information.
Resistance tagging is a method wherein the reusable container may be identified by a dispensing machine through electronic resistance. A circuit, which is moulded into the reusable container during manufacture, has a specific electrical resistance and therefore may identify the size and intended use of the reusable container. The dispensing machine is programmed to function only when it detects the specific band of electronic resistance that is acceptable.
Optical tagging is a method wherein a series of slots are moulded into the reusable container. Said slots are detected by an optical reader. The slots are moulded in such a way as to provide identification of the reusable container by the dispensing machine and thus to ensure that only the correct product type may be refilled into the container.
Transponder tagging is a method wherein a transponder chip is attached to the reusable container. Said chip may be read by the dispensing machine, thereby preventing the cross-contamination caused by refilling the reusable container with the incorrect product type.
The storage means for information in the present invention, may be at a location remote from the container or in a location on the container.
The design of the reusable container may include provision for ease of handling in use, such as and by way of example only, handles integral to the container design or as an additional component or components; flexible members or components such as straps, webbing, collars; ad
Dudek David Robert
Saniford Peter
Shell Oil Company
Tremblay Mark
LandOfFree
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