Inkless Packaging Marking via Laser-Activated Additives
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Solution Overview
Problem
The food packaging industry faces challenges in providing traceability and efficiently marking packages with identifying information, as existing marking processes are time-consuming and require customization for each product, hindering quick recall and ensuring product quality and safety.
Innovation Solution
A method using a color-changing composition integrated into packaging materials that transforms from a first state to a second state in response to external stimuli, such as light or heat, to form identifying indicia on packages, including the use of a laser in vending machines to activate the additive and generate images or multi-color configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional marking processes are used to mark packages with identifying information, then traceability and product identification are achieved, but the process requires additional time and customization for each product
Solution Approach 1:
The package is pre-marked with invisible indicia during manufacturing that can be activated later. This preliminary marking with latent information allows rapid activation at the point of sale without requiring time-consuming customization processes for each product.
Solution Approach 2:
An external stimulus (light, heat, or other energy source) acts as an intermediary to activate the invisible indicia on the package. This mediator transforms the latent marking into visible identifying information, enabling quick traceability without direct marking processes.
2Reliability
If conventional marking processes are used to mark packages, then product identification is achieved, but customization is required for each product produced
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging material incorporates a universal responsive additive that can be activated by external stimuli to reveal different identifying indicia. This single universal system replaces multiple customized marking systems, allowing the same package design to serve multiple products through selective activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The visible identifying information is achieved by changing the state of the additive through external stimuli (light, heat, etc.). By altering the physical or chemical parameters of the additive, the package transitions from an unmarked state to a marked state with specific product identification.
3Reliability
If conventional marking processes are used, then identifying indicia are formed on packages, but the process reduces efficiency and increases waste
Solution Approach 1:
The marking information is extracted from the packaging material itself rather than being applied as a separate layer. The invisible indicia are inherent to the package structure, and activation simply reveals this embedded information, eliminating the need for additional marking materials and processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The visible identifying indicia are created by transforming the state of existing material in the package rather than applying new material. The additive copies the function of traditional ink or marking materials but does so through state transformation, reducing waste and improving efficiency.
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
This approach enables flexible and efficient on-demand marking of packages with product-specific information, reducing waste and simplifying inventory management by allowing generic films to be used across multiple products, while ensuring high-quality and safe packaging.
Implementation Method 1
a color-changing composition integrated into packaging materials that transforms from a first state to a second state in response to external stimuli, such as light or heat
Implementation Method 2
a color-changing composition integrated into packaging materials that transforms from a first state to a second state in response to external stimuli, such as light or heat
Implementation Method 3
said sales device includes a laser configured to activate said additive
Data Source
AI summary
A method of marking a package (72) includes providing a package (72) including an additive transformable from a first state to a second state in response to an external stimulus and presenting said package via a sales device (80). At least a portion of said additive is in said first state when said package is presented in said sales device (80). At least a portion of said additive is activated to form identifying indicia on said package within said sales device (80).