Registers – Systems controlled by data bearing records – Credit or identification card systems
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-25
2004-05-11
Lee, Michael G. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Systems controlled by data bearing records
Credit or identification card systems
C235S375000, C235S380000, C235S383000, C235S454000, C235S494000, C382S142000, C382S143000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06732921
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a system for managing a large number of reusable multi-trip receptacles each of which is marked by a code in an identifiable manner, the multi-trip receptacles being used in a number of cycles in several local stations separated from each other and the code being read at each cycle.
The invention furthermore relates to a code which is particularly suitable for this system for managing a large number of reusable multi-trip receptacles, the coding elements being able to be placed only at positions which are arranged in a grid.
The multi-trip receptacles can be transport means or containers, in particular reusable drinks bottles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the drinks industry, the same type of drinks bottles, so-called pool bottles, are used by several drinks bottling plants which together form a so-called pool. These are multi-trip bottles. The use of the same type of bottle by several drinks bottlers simplifies the return and re-use of the empty bottles for the consumer and the drinks bottlers. In the case of glass bottles, this system has proved successful for many years, and the bottles are reused on average thirty times or more and have a usage life of many years.
For some time, reusable plastic bottles have also been on the market. Plastic bottles have a softer surface than glass bottles and therefore scratch more easily, so that they become unsightly after approx fifteen cycles or uses. In addition, they are not as dimensionally stable as glass bottles and shrink slightly over time, so that they no longer have the quoted capacity. It is therefore necessary to limit the number of times they are re used and the overall usage life of such plastic bottles.
It is known to code the bottles with a 28-bit code which amongst other things gives the manufacturer and the date of manufacture. This code is read at each cycle, i.e. before each use of the bottle, and when a certain usage life is exceeded, the bottle is removed and destroyed.
A laser coding is also known in which each bottle is marked on the side upon each use using a laser beam, the height of the mark giving the number of uses. Each time the bottle is used, the mark applied the previous time is read or recorded, and a new mark is applied at a certain distance above it. This mark consists of a small welding point produced using the laser beam. Only the number of uses or cycles can be established by means of this mark, but not the age of the bottle. In addition, the welding point interferes when inspecting empty bottles with a CCD camera, as it can easily be taken for a foreign body. A further disadvantage of this mark is that it can be easily missed or its reading suppressed, so that unsightly bottles are then in the cycle and in addition the task of disposing of the bottle is passed onto the next user. Finally, each drinks bottling station must be equipped with a laser for applying the mark.
A process for filling multi-trip receptacles with a liquid product is known from DE-A-41 21 881 in which the containers are provided with a code before being filled. Before filling, the correctness of the code is tested. The code consists of a code body which can be attached to the bottom of the container. The code body has a number of vertical holes which are scanned by pins of the code-reading device.
A device for marking containers with a replenishing and refilling code is known from DE-A-42 37 517, the codes that are already present being recorded and the container being rotated such that the additional refilling code to be applied does not cover the already present refilling codes or overlap with them. The refilling codes are applied to the plastic containers by means of a laser marking system. The laser beam is shaped by a mask.
The application of an optically readable code mark on a plastic bottle using a laser beam is known from DE-A-41 07 012. The laser beam is directed onto a horizontal surface of the bottle, e.g. the support ring or the base surface at an angle of 7 to 15° to the axis of the plastic bottle. The code mark can be formed from linear or punctiform indentations which can be applied laterally in sequence.
It is known from DE-C-41 26 626 to provide a plastic bottle under the surface with a mark by focussing a Laser beam on a point which lies inside the wall material of the relevant surfaces.
An optical-electrical sensor for reading a bottle code mark is known from DE-A-37 22 422, which consists of raised points or lines. By means of an optical fiber, a light beam is directed onto the code mark and the reflected light directed to a photoelectric receiver.
A control system for the recognition, counting, logging and recording of various uses in a bottling plant is known from DE-U-295 13 600, the whole bottling process being controlled via a central unit.
The object of the invention is to create a system for managing a large number of reusable multi-trip receptacles which, by simple means, facilitates a limitation of the number of uses or cycles of each individual multi-trip receptacle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object is achieved according to the invention in that data which have been recorded in the local stations for the individual multi-trip receptacle are stored allocated to the read code in a central station, and are evaluated to establish the number of cycles or uses of each multi-trip receptacle.
Preferably the age of each multi-trip receptacle is also established using the data stored in the central station. When a certain age or a certain number of uses is reached, the local stations are informed that the multi-trip receptacle in question is no longer to be used. To this end, each local station contains a memory in which the code of those multi-trip containers which are no longer to be used is stored. Each bottle is identified before filling, using the code, and the read code is compared with the stored codes of the multi-trip receptacles no longer to be used. If necessary, the multi-trip receptacle is then removed.
With the system according to the invention, the data transfer between the stations and the central station occurs expediently at regular intervals, e.g. daily or weekly. The time interval is to be shorter than half of the shortest time interval to be expected between two successive uses of the same multi-trip receptacle. This ensures that no multi-trip receptacle is used too often simply because the data in the central station have not been updated.
Before or during the first use of a new multi-trip receptacle, the following information is preferably stored by the central station in combination with the code, and these data are stored allocated to the code, in the central station:
the date of manufacture,
the manufacturer,
the local station in which the new multi-trip receptacle is used for the first time.
Preferably, the data stored in the central station at each cycle, allocated to the code of each multi-trip receptacle, contain one or more of the following details:
the contents, e.g. the drink bottled
the date on which the multi-trip receptacle was recorded in the local stations, i.e. the current date,
the local station in which the multi-trip receptacle is currently recorded.
The recording of the contents is advantageous in particular for plastic drinks bottles as these bottles preserve the taste of the drink, e.g. of a bottled fruit juice If water is bottled the next time the bottle is used, the water will still taste of this fruit juice. Through the process according to the invention, it can be ensured that only bottles in which no flavouring-containing drink was previously bottled are used for water.
Using the data stored in the central station before or during the first use, and the data added to this during each cycle, the following values can be established for each multi-trip receptacle through the evaluation of these data in the central station:
the age,
the number of uses,
the number of uses or passages in a particular local station.
The whole history of the multi-trip receptacle emerges from these data. Much more detailed char
Heuft Bernhard
Wehren Friedrich
Gardner & Carton & Douglas LLP
Heuft Systemtechnik GmbH
Kim Ahshik
Lee Michael G.
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