Method and apparatus for producing images on eggs
US6796241B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 28, 2003 |
| Grant date | Sep 28, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 28, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41F17/30
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for distributing mass copies of text and/or images on a novel medium, namely eggs, by using the eggshell of the egg as an advertising or message-bearing medium. Mass quantities of eggs are imprinted with a promotional image prior to distributing said eggs to consumers. The promotional image can be, for indicative of a modification to the egg's content, or consist of warnings or instructions pertaining to security or emergency matters. The shells of the eggs are imprinted by a method comprising the steps of (1) repeatedly transferring one row of eggs at a time from a carton having M rows of N eggs to N empty egg-receiving cradles until all the eggs in the carton has been transferred, moving the cradles through a number of imprinting stations, imprinting N eggs at each such station with N tampons, and transferring N imprinted eggs at a time into each of the M rows in the cartons.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.