In-line case printing system with dynamic sampling frequency and method therefor
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsJohann Dugge, Geoffrey John Kerr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dynamic and adaptive control system for printing cases for and individual packages of consumer products. The system prints one or more checkmarks at a predetermined frequency. As the quality parameters of the checkmark[s] drift from the target criteria towards unacceptable range[s] sampling frequency is autonomously increased proportionately. This system enables one to monitor and act upon a greater range of process parameters than conventional systems, as different checkmarks may be printed in limited space therefor on different packages. This arrangement also reduces unacceptable production, by sampling each case/package if necessary, notifying the operator when corrective action is needed.
Claims19
A device for controlling printing of at least one checkmark on a case, said device comprising:
- a printer for applying at least one checkmark to a first plurality of said cases at a predetermined frequency;
- an analyzer for determining whether or not a first plurality of checkmarks printed on a case in a first plurality of cases has acceptable status, borderline status or unacceptable status according to one or more predetermined criteria;
- a feedback loop for increasing, decreasing or maintaining said predetermined frequency of applying said at least one checkmark to said first plurality of cases in response to said status of said one or more predetermined criteria,
- wherein said device prints and analyzes every nth case according to a predetermined algorithm and increases the frequency of printing and analyzing said cases in response to said status of said predetermined criteria.
A device for controlling printing of at least one checkmark on a case, said device comprising:
- a printer for applying at least one checkmark to a first plurality of said cases at a predetermined frequency;
- an analyzer for determining whether or not a first plurality of checkmarks printed on a case in a first plurality of cases has acceptable status, borderline status or unacceptable status according to one or more predetermined criteria;
- a feedback loop for increasing, decreasing or maintaining said predetermined frequency of applying said at least one checkmark to said first plurality of cases in response to said status of said one or more predetermined criteria,
- wherein said device prints and analyzes every nth case according to a predetermined algorithm and increases said conveyor speed in response to said status of said predetermined criteria.
A device for controlling printing of at least one checkmark on a case, said device comprising:
- a printer for applying at least one checkmark to a first plurality of said cases at a predetermined frequency;
- an analyzer for determining whether or not a first plurality of checkmarks printed on a case in a first plurality of cases has acceptable status, borderline status or unacceptable status according to one or more predetermined criteria;
- a feedback loop for increasing, decreasing or maintaining said predetermined frequency of applying said at least one checkmark to said first plurality of cases in response to said status of said one or more predetermined criteria,
- wherein said device prints a first checkmark on every nth package and a second checkmark on every S1*nth package where S1 is a sampling coefficient between 0 and 1.
A device for controlling printing of indicia on packages, said device comprising:
- a checkmark printer for applying a plurality of first checkmarks to a first plurality of said packages at a first predetermined frequency and a second plurality of indicia to a second plurality of packages at a second predetermined frequency, said first plurality of packages and said second plurality of packages being different from the other;
- an indicium printer for applying at least one indicium to each of said packages of said first plurality and said second plurality,
- a conveyor for transporting said packages relative to said printer at a predetermined conveyor speed, whereby said packages may be selectively printed thereon with said indicium and said checkmarks;
- an analyzer for determining whether or not at least some of said checkmarks has acceptable status, borderline status or unacceptable status according to one or more predetermined criteria;
- a feedback loop between said analyzer and said checkmark printer for increasing, decreasing or maintaining said predetermined frequency of applying said first checkmark and said predetermined frequency of apply said second checkmark to said first plurality of packages and said second plurality of packages, respectively, in response to said statuses of said one or more predetermined criterion.
A method for controlling printing of indicia on packages, said method comprising the steps of:
- applying a plurality of first printed checkmarks to a first plurality of said packages at a first predetermined frequency;
- applying a second plurality of printed indicia to a second plurality of packages at a second predetermined frequency, said first plurality of packages and said second plurality of packages being different from the other;
- transporting said packages relative to an analyzer at a predetermined speed;
- selectively analyzing at least some of said packages to determine whether or not a respective checkmark thereon has acceptable status, borderline status or unacceptable status according to one or more predetermined criteria;
- increasing, decreasing or maintaining said predetermined frequency of applying said at least one first checkmark and said second checkmark to said first plurality of packages and said second plurality of packages, respectively, in response to said status of said one or more predetermined criteria, and/or
- increasing, decreasing or maintaining said predetermined speed of transporting said packages, in response to said status of said one or more predetermined criteria.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.