Patent ID: 7461495

Claim:
A packaging system for packaging a plurality of individual articles into packs and for collecting together a plurality of packs into a packaged unit, the system including a first part where the individual articles are marked utilising a first marking means, a second part where the packs are marked utilising a second marking means, and a third part where the packaged unit is marked utilising a third marking means, and the first part including packing means for packing the articles into packs and first conveying means for moving the packs from the first part to the second part, and the second part including second conveying means for conveying the packs from the second to the third system part, and the third part including means to collect the plurality of packs into a packaging unit, wherein each of the first, second and third marking means, and the means for collecting the plurality of packs into a packaged unit are connected to a data bus by respective connecting means, there being a control means also connected to the data bus, the control means sending appropriately addressed data bus commands on the data bus to each of the connected components, the data bus commands all using a common computer protocol, and each of the connecting means of the connected components including means to translate data bus commands appropriate to that component into a command protocol which is read by the connected component which responds by performing a productive function, whereby the control means is able to control each of the connected components independent of command protocols recognised by the connected components.