Patent · US Active

Systems and methods of associating individual packages with harvest crates

US8428773B1 · kind B1 · utility

8Cited by
87References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 12, 2009
Grant dateApr 23, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 21, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P90/30
  • WIPO fieldIT methods for management
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Clamshells for packaging produce, or other unit packaging, are labeled with unique codes. Harvest crates for transporting filled clamshells from the harvest, or other containers for transporting unit packaging, are also labeled with unique codes. A plurality of labeled un-filled clamshells are nested together and placed into each harvest crate before the harvest, and the codes from the clamshells and the harvest crate are stored in association. In some instances, clamshells are de-nested, labeled with pre-printed labels, and nested again before being placed into the harvest crates. At the harvest the clamshells are removed from the harvest crate, de-nested, filled with produce, packed back into the harvest crate, and moved into the distribution chain. The unique codes are further associated with other information such as harvest data.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.