Flexible Carrier with Absorbing Dyes for Bar Code Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flexible plastic ring carriers for unitizing containers often cause issues during bar code scanning, where individual container bar codes are mistakenly read instead of the multi-package bar code, leading to incorrect pricing and inventory control problems.
Innovation Solution
A flexible carrier with specifically selected blended dyes that absorb laser light and maintain a neutral color, preventing bar code readers from scanning individual container bar codes by positioning the bar codes inward or using a combination of red absorbing dyes and UV fluorescing dyes to block light from the scanner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional transparent carriers are used to unitize containers, then the carrier allows visibility and maintains a neutral appearance, but individual container bar codes can be mistakenly scanned instead of the multi-package bar code
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a light-absorbing dye coating specifically to the portions of the carrier that block individual container bar codes, while leaving other areas transparent. This localized application of the dye coating creates different optical properties in different regions of the carrier, allowing light absorption where needed while maintaining visibility elsewhere.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-absorbing dye coating acts as an intermediary element between the bar code scanner and the individual container bar codes. The coating absorbs the laser light from the scanner, preventing it from reaching the individual bar codes and causing false scans, while allowing the scanner to still read the multi-package bar code when properly positioned.
2Reliability
If light-absorbing dyes are added to block bar codes, then individual container bar codes are blocked from scanning, but the carrier color may shift from neutral
Solution Approach 1:
The dye coating is applied locally only to specific areas of the carrier where bar code blocking is needed, rather than uniformly across the entire carrier. This localized application blocks individual bar codes while minimizing the overall visual impact on the carrier's neutral appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dyes that absorb light in the red portion of the spectrum, which compensates for the blue color cast that would otherwise result from absorbing red light. This color compensation technique maintains the carrier's neutral appearance while effectively blocking the laser light from individual bar codes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively blocks individual container bar codes from being scanned, ensuring that the correct multi-package bar code is read, thus preventing incorrect pricing and improving inventory control, while maintaining a neutral color and minimizing color shifts.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible carrier with specifically selected blended dyes that absorb laser light and maintain a neutral color
Implementation Method 2
The carrier of the present invention, although traditionally generally transparent, may additionally include an absorbing dye and a fluorescing dye
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for blocking a bar code in a package includes a carrier with a plurality of apertures. The carrier is formed with a plastic material containing an absorbing dye and a fluorescing dye so that a bar code on each container is not readable by a bar code scanner.