Printed Poly Bag Structure for Blocking Internal Barcode Scans
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing poly bags used in online shipping require obscuring or covering UPC/EAN codes to ensure FNSKU scanning, which is costly and risky, and can lead to mis-scanning of items, especially when multiple items are bundled.
Innovation Solution
A poly bag printed with patterns that prevent scanning of UPC/EAN codes while maintaining transparency, ensuring only the FNSKU is scanned.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sellers obscure or cover existing UPC/EAN codes to ensure FNSKU scanning, then scanning accuracy improves, but processing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-printing barcode-blocking patterns on the poly bag before the item is placed inside. This eliminates the need for sellers to perform additional obscuring actions after packaging, as the blocking function is already in place. The pattern is applied in advance during bag manufacturing, reducing seller processing steps while maintaining scanning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the barcode-blocking function from the seller's manual process and transfers it to the poly bag itself. Instead of requiring sellers to apply obscuring materials or perform covering actions, the bag is manufactured with integrated blocking patterns that automatically prevent UPC/EAN scanning without additional seller intervention.
2Ease of operation
If sellers place FNSKU on the outside of the poly bag, then scanning accessibility improves, but mis-scanning risk increases due to visible original codes
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking pattern is pre-applied to the poly bag surface at the location where the FNSKU will be placed. This preliminary action ensures that when the FNSKU is affixed to the outside of the bag, the original UPC/EAN code beneath it is already blocked from scanning, eliminating mis-scanning risk while maintaining FNSKU accessibility.
3Productivity
If multiple items are bundled in a single poly bag, then packaging efficiency improves, but barcode scanning becomes unreliable due to multiple visible codes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the poly bag surface into multiple blocked zones, each corresponding to a specific item within the bundle. Each item's location on the bag is pre-marked with a blocking pattern that covers only that item's barcode, allowing the scanning system to ignore those specific areas while still reading the FNSKU on the bag exterior.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking patterns are applied locally to specific areas of the poly bag corresponding to each item's position. Rather than covering the entire bag or using a uniform obscuring method, the pattern is strategically placed only where needed to block individual item barcodes, maintaining transparency and visibility in other areas while ensuring scanning accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A code blocking bag for the shipment or processing of items with a barcode or other scannable code having a design that prevents the scanning of codes affixed to items within the bag while permitting the identification or inspection of the items.