The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 18, 1997
Filed:
Mar. 03, 1995
Robert Apter, Zurich, CH;
Julian Weinstock, Rudolfstetten, CH;
Elpatronic AG, Zug, CH;
Abstract
An apparatus is disclosed for marking refillable containers, more especially plastic bottles, with code symbols for later ascertaining whether a container has to be refilled or separated. The part of the container in which is situated a manufacturer's code present from the outset is photographed at a detection station by a camera. Using code symbols applied previously as a reference marking, the place is determined at which a new code symbol of a round trip code is applied at a marking station with a laser. The number of such code symbols gives the number of fillings of the containers, and the data content of each code symbol contains a statement concerning the filling inserted in the container, the bottler etc., in each case. With the aid of this, a certain filling sequence can be adhered to, for example, prevent a plastic bottle which previously contained a cola drink being filled with mineral water, whereas the reverse sequence would be permissible.