Method and system for optimizing laser marking on a food product

A method for laser marking individual objects with indicia at a marking station while the objects travel along at least one path through a processing system, wherein at least one laser marking unit is positioned adjacent at least one path along which the objects are conveyed, the at least one laser marking unit operable to direct at least one laser beam onto the objects to mark the objects with indicia as the objects pass through the marking station, wherein the objects are disposed in a package adapted for distribution thereof prior to passing through the marking station, the method comprising:

• obtaining status data associated with at least one of at least one operational parameter of the processing system, at least one operational parameter of the at least one laser marking unit, at least one characteristic of the individual objects to be marked, at least one characteristic of the indicia to be marked thereon, and combinations thereof;
• determining, in response to at least a portion of the status data, at least one operational parameter of the at least one laser marking unit;
• configuring the at least one operational parameter of the least one laser marking unit in accordance with such determination;
• and
• directing at least one laser beam from at the least one laser marking unit onto the objects in accordance with the at least one operational parameter to form indicia thereon.

An apparatus for laser marking individual objects with indicia at a marking station, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor operable to control laser marking of individual objects;
• at least one laser marking unit operatively coupled to the at least one processor and controlled in part by the at least processor, the at least one laser marking unit positioned adjacent at least one path along which the objects are conveyed, the at least one laser marking unit operable to direct at least one laser beam onto the objects to mark the objects with indicia as the objects pass through the marking station, wherein the objects are disposed in a package adapted for distribution thereof prior to passing through the marking station;
• and
• a non-transient memory operatively coupled to the at least one processor and operable to store data associated with the laser marking of the objects;
• wherein the least one processor is operable to:
• obtain status data associated with at least one of at least one operational parameter of the at least one laser marking unit, at least one characteristic of the individual objects to be marked, at least one characteristic of the indicia to be marked thereon, at least one operational parameter of an associated processing system, and combinations thereof;
• determine in response to at least a portion of the status data, at least one operational parameter of the at least one laser marking unit;
• configure the at least one operational parameter of the least one laser marking unit in accordance with such determination;
• and
• direct at least one laser beam from at the least one laser marking unit onto the objects in accordance with the at least one operational parameter to form indicia thereon.