Abstract:
A method of dating a food product that includes packaging at least two packages of a food product into a storage container and after packaging the at least two packages the method further includes making the at least two packages with a date wile the at least two packages are located within the storage container.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to marking food products, and more specifically, marking products with a date. 
         [0002]    Often, food products are placed into packages, and the packages are marked with a date that determines the date by which the food product should be used or sold. The date is often referred to as a “sell by date,” “expiration date,” or a “best if used by date.” In one process, several packages of the food product are packaged into a larger storage container, such as a box. Afterwards, the box is placed into a freezer for a period of time until the food products within the box are shipped or sold. Often, when the box is removed from the freezer for shipment or sale, the food products within the box will be thawed and refrigerated. In such a process, the date of removing the box from the freezer determines the date marked on the package. Typically, after removing the box from the freezer, the packages that store the food products are removed from the box and marked with the date and repackaged into the box for shipment or sale. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of dating a food product. The method includes aging at least two package of a food product into a storage container and, after packaging the at least two packages, the method further includes marking the at least two packages with a date while the at least two packages are located within the storage container. 
         [0004]    In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a method of dating a food product that include packaging a plurality of packages of a food product into a storage container through a first opening of the storage container and closing the first opening of the storage container. After packaging the plurality of packages and closing the first opening, the method further includes, marking the plurality of packages with a date while the plurality of packages are located within the storage container through a second opening of the storage container. 
         [0005]    In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a cardboard box storage container that includes a base, a plurality of sidewalls that extend upwardly from the base and oriented generally normal to the base to define a storage area. The plurality of sidewalls each includes a first end coupled to the base ad a second end opposite the first end. The storage container further includes a first opening formed by the second ends of the plurality of sidewalls, a top flap that closes the first opening to inhibit access to the storage area, and a side flap formed in at least one of the plurality of sidewalls. The side flap is movable between a closed position to inhibit access to the storage area and a open position to facilitate access to the storage area. 
         [0006]    Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an apparatus for marking a food product embodying the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged front perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  showing a storage container prior to opening. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged rear perspective view illustrating the storage container with one door open and another door being opened. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged front perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  showing the storage container after being opened and prior to marking. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged rear perspective view illustrating the storage container and packages within the storage container after marking. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  illustrating a storage container flipping device with the store container in a first position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6  illustrating the storage container in a second position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  illustrating a storage container rotating device and the storage container in a first position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 8  illustrating the storage container in an intermediate position between the first position and a second position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 8  illustrating the storage container in the second position exiting the rotating device. 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  illustrating a door closing device. 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  illustrating a door sealing device. 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged perspective view of the storage container. 
       
    
    
       [0020]    Before any embodiment of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details on construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood at the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly an encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates a product marking assembly  20  for marking food packages stored within a storage container  22 . While the illustrated product marking assembly  20  is particularly suited for marking food pages with a date, in other applications, the product marking assembly  20  can be used to mark any suitable product with other information. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 13 , in the illustrated construction, the storage container  22  is a cardboard box that includes a base  2  and sidewalls  26  that extend upwardly from and normal to the base  24  to define a storage area  30 . The sidewalls  26  each include a first end  32  coupled to the base  24  and a second end  34 . The second ends  34  of the sidewalls  26  define a first or top opening  36  through which packages  38  are packaged into the storage container  22 . The top opening  36  includes a length L 1  and the width W 1  that define an area of the top opening  36 . As would be understood by one of skill in the art, a top flap  40  is coupled to the second ends  34  of the sidewalls  26  and the top flap  40  is utilized to close the top opening  36  of the storage container  22 . 
         [0023]    The storage container  22  further includes side flaps  42   a  and  42   b  and apertures  44  that extend through the sidewall  26 . The illustrate flaps  42   a  and  42   b  are formed from perforated lines  46   a,    46   b,    46   c,  and  46   d  in the sidewall  26  of the storage container  22 . The apertures  44  are located within a boundary created by the perforated lines  46   a,    46   b,    46   c,  and  46   d.  As will be discussed in more detail below, the apertures  44  are utilized to rotate the side flaps  42   a  and  42   b  about the perforated line  46   d,  which form a hinge for the flaps  42   a  and  42   b.    FIG. 13  illustrates the side flap  42   a  in an open position such that a side aperture  50   a  is created in the sidewall  26  and the side flap  42   b  in a closed position before being opened. The side aperture  50   a  has a length L 2  and width W 2  that define a area of the of the side aperture  50   a.  The area of the side aperture  50   a  is less than the area of the top opening  36 , and in the illustrated construction, the area of the side aperture  50   a  is approximately ten percent of the area of the top opening  36 . In other constructions, the area of the side aperture  500   a  is less than one-half of the area of the top opening  36 . 
         [0024]    In the, illustrated construction, the storage container  22  includes two side flaps  42   a  and  42   b  that correspond to two stacks  54   a  and  54   b  of packages  38  located within the storage container  22 . Accordingly, all of the food packages  38  be accessed for marking through the side apertures  50   a  or  50   b  (see  FIG. 5 ). While the illustrated storage container  22  includes two side flaps  42   a  and  42   b,  in other constructions, the storage container can include any suitable number of side flaps. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the product marking assembly  20  includes an opening device  60 , a marking device  62 , a flipping device  64 , a rotating device  66 , a closing device  68 , and a sealing device  70 . The opening device  60 , the marking device  62 , and the flipping device  64  are oriented along an upper conveyor  74 . The rotating device  66  is located on a first lower conveyor  76 . The closing device  68  and the sealing device  70  are located above a second lower conveyor  78 . The conveyor  74 ,  76 ,  78  are operable to transport the container  22  in the direction of the arrow  80 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 2 and 3 , the illustrated opening device  60  includes two hooks  82  that rotate about an axis  84 . The opening device  60  further includes a rotating member  86  and a shaft  88  that interconnects the hooks  82  and the rotating member  86 . The rotating member  86  can be any suitable member, such as a motor, a combination of a motor and a spring, and the like that are operable to rotate the shaft  88 . A position sensor  90  ( FIG. 2 ) is coupled to the conveyor  74  adjacent the location of the opening device  60 . 
         [0027]    The sensor  90  determines when a leading edge  92  of the container  22  passes the hooks  82  of the opening device  60 . After the leading edge  92  of the container  2  travels past the desired position, the hooks  82  are rotated in the direction of the arrows  94  of  FIG. 3  such that the hooks  82  contact the sidewall  26  of the container  22  that faces the opening device  60 . Meanwhile, the conveyor  74  continues to move the container  22  in the direction of arrow  80 , and the hooks  82  move along the sidewall  26  of the container  22 . When the apertures  44  align with the hooks  82 , the hooks  82  move further in the direction of the arrows  94  such that the hooks  82  are received in the apertures  44 . With the hooks  8  within the apertures  44 , continued movement of the container  22  in the direction of the arrow  80  by the conveyor  74  tears the perforations  46   a,    46   b,  and  46   c  (see  FIG. 13 ) to create the side flap  42   a  that hinges along the perforated line  46   d.  Similarly, the container  22  continues to move in the direction of arrow  80  ad the opening device  60  opens the side flap  42   b.  Due to the geometry of the hooks  82 , and the side flap  42   a,  the hooks  82  will disengage from the flap  42   a  after the flap  42   a  opens and in preparation for opening the other side flap  42   b.  After the sensor  90  detects that the container  22  has traveled past the opening device  60 , the rotating member  86  rotates the hooks  82  in a direction opposite the arrows  94  such that the hooks  8  do not, contact the leading edge of the next container. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the illustrated marking device  6  includes six print heads  98  that are operable to mark packages  38  that are stored within the storage container  22 . In the illustrated construction, the six print head  98  are vertically arranged to correspond to stacks  54   a  and  54   b  of six food packages  38  (see  FIG. 5 ) that are stored within the storage container  22 . Of course, in other constructions the marking device can include any suitable number of print heads  98  depending on the number and arrangement of packages located within the storage container  22 . While in the illustrate construction, the marking device  62  includes print heads  98  to mark the packages  38 , in other constructions, other suitable devices, such as stamps and the like can be used to mark the packages  38 . 
         [0029]    The marking device  62  receives the container  22  with the side flaps  42   a  and  42   b  opened to create side apertures  50   a  and  50   b  respectively. As the apertures  50   a  passes the print heads  98 , the print heads  98  each mark one of the packages  38  of the first stack  54   a  with a, date  100  through the aperture  50   a.  Likewise as the aperture  50   b  passes the print heads  98 , the print heads  98  each mark one of the packages  38  of the second stack  54   b  with the date  100  through the aperture  50   b.  The date  100  marked onto the packages  38  be a future date that corresponds to a date by which food products within the packages  38  should be sold to the consumer, consumed, and the like. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the flipping device  64  includes a horizontal bar  104  coupled to an actuator  110 . The actuator  110  can be an suitable actuator, such as a pneumatic actuator, hydraulic actuator and the like. The actuator  110  is operable to move the horizontal bar  104  be the positions illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . A tape slide  112  is located between upper conveyor  74  and the first lower conveyor  76  adjacent the flipping device  64 . 
         [0031]    In the illustrated construction, after the package  38  ( FIG. 5 ) are marked by the marking device  62 , the conveyor  74  transports the container  22  toward the flipping device  64 . When the container  22  is adjacent the bar  104  of the flipping device  64 , the bar  104  moves to the position illustrated in  FIG. 7  to push the container  22  toward the lower conveyor  76 . The slide  112  facilitates a smooth transition of the container  22  from the upper conveyor  74  to the lower conveyor  76 . By moving from the upper conveyor  74  to the lower conveyor  76 , the container  22  is flipped such that the apertures  50   a,    50   b  are upwardly facing (see  FIG. 7 ). Then, the lower conveyor  76  transports the container  22  in the direction of arrow  80  toward the rotating device  66 . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the rotating device  66  includes a cage  116  and a drive member  118  that rotates the cage  116  about an axis  120 . The cage  116  includes a first half  122  located on a left side of the conveyor  76  and a second half  124  located on a right side of the conveyor  76 . The first and second halves  122  and  124  of the at cage  116  are separated a distance slightly greater than a height H 1  of the storage container  2 . Therefore, the storage container  22  can pass through the cage  116  on the conveyor  76  in the position illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The drive member  118  can be any suitable drive member, such a motor, hydraulic actuator, pneumatic actuator, and the like that is operable to rotate the cage  116  about the axis  120 . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 8-10 , when the container  22  is positioned between the first and the second halves  122  and  124  of the cage  116 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the drive member  118  rotates the cage  116  about the axis  120 . Rotation of the cage  116  rotates the container  22  approximately 180 degrees such that the closing direction of the side flaps  42   a,    42   b,  generally indicated by the arrows  128  of  FIG. 10 , is opposite the direction that the conveyor  76  transports container  22 , indicated by the arrow  80 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , the closing device  68  includes a flap closing member  132  having a tapered front portion  134 , a curved transition  136  and a generally flat bottom portion  138 . The bottom portion  138  of the flap closing member  132  is located a distance above a table surface  142  of the second lower conveyor  78  approximately the width W 1  of the storage container  22 . 
         [0035]    As the container  22  continues to travel in the direction of arrow  80  toward the closing device  68 , the container  22  is received by the second conveyor  78  and the second lower conveyor  78  continues to move container  22  in the direction of arrow  80 . As the container  22  moves in the direction of arrow  80 , the flap closing member  132  contacts the side flaps  42   a  and  42   b  to close the slide flaps  42   a  and  42   b.    
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , the sealing device  70  includes a tape application assembly  146  that is operable to apply tape  148  stored on a roll  150  to the storage container  22 . Of course, in other constructions, the sealing device  70  may not utilize tape to seal the store container, in other constructions, adhesives and the like can be utilized to seal the storage container  2 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , with the side flaps  42   a  and  42   b  in the closed position, the conveyor  78  moves the container  22  in the direction of arrow  80  and underneath the sealing device  70 . In the illustrated construction, the sealing device  70  applies tape  148  to the sidewall  26  of the container  22  to seal or hold the slide flaps  42   a  and  42   b  in the closed position. After the container  22  exits the conveyor  78 , the container  22  can be shipped, sold, etc. 
         [0038]    For some food products, the food products are froze after they are packaged and then thawed prior to shipment, sale, etc. Thawing the food product establishes a date in which the food product should be sold, consumed, and the like. Because the thawing date is unknown when the packages  38  are first packaged into storage container  22 , the date  100  is marked on the packages  38  after the packages  38  are packaged into the storage container  22 . The product marking assembly  20  marks the packages  38  through the side apertures  50   a  and  50   b,  and their the packages  38  remain within the container  22  and the packages  38  do not have to be unpacked from the container  22 . Thus, the top opening  36  (see  FIG. 13 ) can remain closed while the packages  38  are marked. The side apertures  50   a  and  50   b  facilitate access to all of the packages  38 . Within the container  22  while the packages  38  remain packed within the container  22 . Whereas, as best seen in  FIG. 13 , many of the packages  38  would be inaccessible for marking through the top opening  36  if the packages  3  remain packed within the container  22 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIGS. 13 , in one method of operation, the packages  38 , which contain a food product, are packaged into the storage container  22  through the first or top opening  36  as would be understood by one of skill in the art. Then, the top flap  40  is closed to cover the top opening  36  and the top flap  40  is taped or sealed closed. With the packages  38  of the food product in the storage container  22 , the storage container  22  is placed into a freezer to freeze the food product until the packages  38  are shipped, sold, etc. 
         [0040]    Prior to shipment, sale, etc, the storage container  22 , which includes the packages  38 , is removed from the freezer and refrigerated or thawed. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , after the storage container  22  is removed from the freezer or at any time prior to shipment, sale, etc., the container  22  is loaded onto the first lower conveyor  76 . The first lower conveyor  76  transports the container  22  in the direction of arrow  80  of  FIG. 2  toward the opening device  60 . The opening device  60  opens the side flaps  42   a,    42   b  of the container  22  to create the side apertures  50   a,    50   b,  Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , with the side flaps  42   a,    42   b  open, the container  22  is transported by the conveyor  74  to the marking device  62 . The marking device  62 , using the print heads  98 , marks of the packages  38  within the storage container  22  with the date  100 . 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  6 , and  7 , after marking, the container  22  is transported to the flipping device  64 . The flipping device  64  pushes the container  22  off of the upper conveyor  74  and onto the lower conveyor  76 , which flips the container  22  such that the side apertures  50   a,    50   b  are upwardly facing. Referring to  FIGS. 8-10 , after being flipped, the container  22  is rotated approximately 180 degrees such that the closing direction, indicated by the arrows  128 , of the flaps  42   a,    42   b  is opposite the direction, indicated by arrow  80 , that the container  22  travels. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , next, the conveyor  78  moves the container  22  under the flap closing member  132 . The flap closing member  132  contacts the flaps  42   a,    42   b  and pushes the flaps  42   a,    42   b  toward the closed position while the conveyor  78  continues to move the container  22  in the direction of arrow  80 . Referring to  FIG. 12 , after the flaps  42   a,    42   b  are closed, the sealing device  70  applies tape  148  to the sidewall  26  of the container  22  to hold the flaps  42   a,    42   b  in the closed position. As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , after being taped, the container  22  exits the conveyor  78  and is ready for shipment, sale, etc. 
         [0043]    Thus, the invention provides, among other things, a product marking assembly that that is operable to mark packages with a date while the package remain packaged within a storage container. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.