Patent ID: 6658817
Filing Date: 2003-12-09
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
A production, mixing and packaging method that produces a plurality of mixed groups of consumer products, wherein each of the mixed groups of consumer products comprises at least two consumer products that differ from each other in that at least a part or component of one of the at least two consumer products has an image printed on it that is different from an image printed on at least a part or component of another of the at least two consumer products, the method comprising:a. providing at least one digitally-controlled printhead at a point in a production line such that the printhead is able to print on at least a part or a component of a consumer product as it passes the at least one printhead; b. providing an image storage device that contains data relating to a plurality of different images; c. providing an image sequencer that sets a sequence in which the stored images are to be printed, thereby determining the mix of consumer products in each mixed group of consumer products; d. digitally controlling the printhead to print the images on at least a part or a component of a consumer product as it passes the at least one printhead based on the data in the image storage device as sequenced by the image sequencer; and e. packaging a plurality of consumer products into a single unit in order to produce one of the plurality of mixed groups of consumer products; whereby, the plurality of mixed groups of consumer products are produced, mixed and packaged without there being a step of mechanically mixing products or parts or components thereof.