U.S. patent application number 11/671060 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-31 for product and document fulfilment system.
This patent application is currently assigned to PSI PERIPHERAL SOLUTIONS INC.. Invention is credited to Wing Fai Lam, John P. Panunto.
Application Number | 20070121158 11/671060 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32041796 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070121158 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Panunto; John P. ; et
al. |
May 31, 2007 |
PRODUCT AND DOCUMENT FULFILMENT SYSTEM
Abstract
A product and document fulfilment system for merging together
discrete articles and specific documentation which pertains to each
discrete article, and for packaging and labelling the same. The
system comprises an article conveyor on which discrete articles are
carried seriatim, a first machine code reader for reading the
unique machine readable code on each discrete article, a printer
for printing a specific document pertaining to the article,
instruction control means governing the delivery of the appropriate
document to be merged with the article, a merging station where the
specific document and the article are merged, a second machine code
reader for reading the machine readable code on the specific
document, first memory and counter means for recognizing the
identity of the discrete article at the merging station, and
accept/reject means to accept the merged article and specific
document when a match occurs, or reject the item when no match
occurs.
Inventors: |
Panunto; John P.; (Oakville,
ON) ; Lam; Wing Fai; (Mississauga, ON) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARKS & CLERK
P.O. BOX 957
STATION B
OTTAWA
ON
K1P 5S7
CA
|
Assignee: |
PSI PERIPHERAL SOLUTIONS
INC.
3535 Laird Road
Mississauga
CA
L5L 5Z4
|
Family ID: |
32041796 |
Appl. No.: |
11/671060 |
Filed: |
February 5, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10259619 |
Sep 30, 2002 |
7184178 |
|
|
11671060 |
Feb 5, 2007 |
|
|
|
09688125 |
Oct 16, 2000 |
6791706 |
|
|
10259619 |
Sep 30, 2002 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
358/1.15 ;
358/1.18 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 61/26 20130101;
B43M 3/04 20130101; B65B 63/005 20130101; B65B 61/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
358/001.15 ;
358/001.18 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/12 20060101
G06F003/12 |
Claims
1. A product and document fulfilment system for merging together
discrete articles and specific documentation which pertains to each
discrete article, and for packaging and labelling the same,
comprising: an article conveyor on which discrete articles are
carried seriatim, and where each discrete article carries on it a
unique machine readable code having instruction information
pertaining thereto; a first machine code reader for reading each
unique machine readable code; a printer for printing a specific
document which pertains to each discrete article in keeping with
the instruction information contained in said unique machine
readable code associated with each said discrete article; a merging
station where said specific discrete article and its respective
specific document are merged together; and a control module
providing instructions to merge the specific document and its
respective discrete article.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising first memory and
counter means associated with said article conveyor and said first
machine code reader wherein, at any instant in time the identity of
a specific discrete article at said merging station is known.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an accept/reject
module to accept the merged article and specific document when the
information read from a specific document matches information from
said first memory and counter means, so as to permit said merged
article and specific document to proceed for further handling, and
to reject said merged article and specific document when no match
occurs.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said first memory and counter
means operates to store information as to the unique machine
readable code for each specific discrete article as it is carried
seriatim past said first machine code reader in memory, and to
recover the information in that unique machine readable code for
that specific discrete article from memory when said counter has
determined that the specific discrete article has reached said
merging station.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said counter determines that a
specific discrete article has reached said merging station as a
result of one of the circumstances chosen from the group consisting
of: a given number of sequential steps of said article conveyor
have occurred since the article passed said first machine code
reader, and a predetermined period of time has expired since the
article passed said first machine code reader.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third machine
code reader adjacent said merging station, whereby the unique
machine readable code of a specific discrete article is read as the
article reaches the merging station, and the information contained
in the unique machine readable code for that specific discrete
article is fed to said first memory and counter means.
7. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a storage and
supplemental conveyor means for delivering at least one
non-discrete article to said merging station in keeping with
instruction information contained in each unique machine readable
code for each discrete article, as it is read at said first machine
code reader.
8. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a label printer and
a packager for packaging each merged discrete article and its
respective specific document and for placing a label on the package
where said label carries specific discrete information in keeping
with instructions derived from said instruction information
contained in the respective unique machine readable code.
9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a label printer and
a packager for packaging each merged discrete article, its
respective specific document and said at least one non-discrete
article, and for placing a label on the package where said label
carries specific discrete information in keeping with instructions
derived from said instruction information contained in the
respective unique machine readable code.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a second machine
code reader for reading information on the respective specific
document.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a fourth machine
code reader located after said label printer and packager for
reading said label and comparing the information read therefrom
with the information retained in said first memory and
12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a fourth machine
code reader located after said label printer and packager, for
reading said label and comparing the information read therefrom
with the information retained in said first memory and counter
means.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each discrete article is
chosen from the group consisting of articles of clothing, books,
pharmaceuticals packaged software, packaged computer parts or
accessories, cosmetics, small household appliances, small household
electronic devices, and sporting goods: and wherein each specific
document is chosen from the group consisting of invoices and
packaging slips.
14. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each discrete article is
chosen from the group consisting of articles of clothing, books,
pharmaceuticals, packaged software, packaged computer parts or
accessories, cosmetics, small household appliances, small household
electronic devices, and sporting goods; wherein each specific
document is chosen from the group consisting of invoices and
packaging slips; and wherein each non-discrete article is chosen
from the group consisting of catalogues, brochures, CDs,
promotional gifts, and combinations thereof.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each unique machine readable
code on a respective discrete article is chosen from the group
consisting of barcodes, magnetic characters, coded magnetic strips,
OCR readable characters, and combinations thereof: and wherein each
machine code reader is chosen from the group consisting of barcode
readers, magnetic character readers, magnetic strip readers,
optical character readers and combinations thereof.
16. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said instruction information
includes data chosen from the group consisting of customer number
identity of the respective discrete article, and the combinations
thereof.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
10/259,619, filed Sep. 30, 2002, which is a Continuation-in-Part
application of application Ser. No. 09/688,125 filed Oct. 16, 2000,
now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,791,706, both of which are
incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to product and document fulfilment
systems, whereby discrete articles and specific documentation which
pertains to each discrete article are merged together for packaging
and labelling. The invention also relates to such systems where
non-discrete articles may also be packaged with each discrete
article, where the non-discrete articles which are packaged with
one specific article may or may not be the same as those which are
packaged with any other specific article.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The parent application, noted above, teaches a machine and
process for making and applying documents to objects, and
particularly an order fulfilment, distribution, and inventory
control system whereby related documents or control items such as
packing slips are made and applied to specific goods. That
invention is particularly related to a machine however, where a
pouch or pocket for documents which relate to a specific article is
manufactured, and the document is delivered to the packaged article
for further handling.
[0004] To that end the parent application discusses the features of
such an application of printing and folding documents, the
background of that invention, and the details thereof some of which
are either directly related to or supplemental to an understanding
of the present invention.
[0005] Distribution warehouses, organizations, or carriers who
fulfil orders for goods or items to be delivered to customers
generally rely on significant and manually intensive processes, or
at best partially automated processes, to create and affix a
packing slip for shipment of goods. The document, or a set of
documents, must first be created; and those documents will describe
the content, warranty, control marks, operation, drawings,
destination or address, or other pertinent information or inventory
control object or transponder related to the shipment or item. The
documents are typically printed on letter size paper, but may be
folded up to a size of one sixth of the original size, so as to
display the intended destination address but to maintain other
information relating to the contents, the costs thereof, and so on,
hidden from view until such time as the packaging slip is removed
from a pouch. In prior systems, such documents were manually
inserted into a translucent adhesive pouch which was affixed to the
outside of a package, which could have been a box, bag, or
envelope.
[0006] The parent invention seeks to overcome the manually
intensive process either partially or completely, by using a
combination of paper handling devices and providing a specific
sequence and control for the provision of documents and the pouch
into which they will be placed.
[0007] Thus, the parent application teaches an invention which
employs single or double rolls of tape, to create a functional
container for documents and/or inventory control transponders which
may be full sized or folded. By using specific materials. selected
adhesive portions, transparency, and markings, a pouch is created
by the single or double rolls of tape which may then be used to
suit various needs and automation requirements for fulfilment
and/or inventory control.
[0008] Accordingly, the parent application teaches a machine which
accepts documents of various orientations and sizes from common
printers so as to lower fulfilment automation costs. The parent
application also teaches a machine which assembles one or more
related documents or control items into a set which may be folded
to a smaller size. The intent is to increase usage and to reduce
fulfilment costs.
[0009] In keeping with the teaching of the parent application, a
machine is provided which encloses a set of related documents in an
opaque or translucent, adhesive or self-adhesive pouch, envelope,
or attachment for a package. The machine is such that the related
documents may be moved from a printer, accumulated, folded,
enclosed, and applied to a package.
[0010] The machine and process in keeping with the parent
application teachings comprise an adjustable high speed document
receiving station at which various sized documents from common
printers will be received. Then an adjustable accumulator station
uses various optical marks and/or software to control the number of
documents which are accumulated to form a set, and the movement of
that set of documents to further stations. Various industry
standard folds may be applied to the document set, which may then
be optionally folded further to create a smaller size document set.
The orientation of the document set may be controlled.
[0011] Then, single or multiple rolls of adhesive or non-adhesive
materials are fed to a station to create a container pouch, or
other document attachment device, into which the document set may
then be inserted and placed onto a package such as a box, envelope,
or bag. Specific teachings of the machine and its process are
provided in the parent application and to the extent that those
teachings are relevant to the present invention they are repeated
hereafter.
[0012] It should be noted, however, that the entire machine and
process are controlled by software, programmable logic controllers
and various sensors which have an additional ability to control or
to be controlled by external programmable logic controllers or
computers. Similar computer or instruction control means are
provided for in the present invention: however it will be evident
that specifics of the computer control are well known to those
skilled in that art and moreover such specifics will apply on a
case-by-case basis with respect to the specific product and
document fulfilment system which is in keeping with the present
teachings, and the manner in which it is employed.
[0013] Thus, as will be described in greater detail hereafter, the
present invention allows the use of machines and conveyor equipment
which are otherwise known, together with software control, sensing
components, and the like, so as to provide a fulfilment system
which applies labels and the like to discrete articles being
shipped. Moreover, the present invention optionally permits the
placement of non-discrete articles in the same shipping package,
where differing non-discrete articles may be included in different
packages in keeping with specific instructions relating to
preferences of the recipient of the package to be shipped, either
as they have been indicated by that recipient to the packager, or
as they are known by the packager from its own database of customer
preferences.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Thus, the present invention provides a product and document
fulfilment system for merging together discrete articles and
specific documentation which pertains to each discrete article, and
for packaging and labelling the same.
[0015] Included in the product and document fulfilment system of
the present invention is an article conveyor on which discrete
articles are carried seriatim. Each discrete article carries on it
a unique machine readable code which has instruction information
pertaining thereto.
[0016] There is a first machine code reader for reading each unique
machine readable code.
[0017] A printer is provided for printing a specific document which
pertains to each discrete article in keeping with the instruction
information contained in the unique machine readable code
associated with each discrete article.
[0018] Instruction control means are provided to instruct a
document delivery means to deliver the specific document which
pertains to a specific discrete article from the printer to a
merging station, so as to be merged with the respective discrete
article.
[0019] There is, therefore, a merging station which has a second
machine code reader adjacent thereto. The second machine code
reader is at a position where the specific discrete article and its
respective specific document are merged together so that the second
machine code reader can read information on the respective specific
document.
[0020] First memory and counter means are associated with the
article conveyor and the first machine code reader whereby, at any
instant in time, the identity of a specific discrete article at the
merging station is known.
[0021] Accept/reject means are provided to accept the merged
article and the specific document associated therewith, when the
information read from the specific document matches information
from the first memory and counter means. The merged article and
specific documents are thereby permitted to proceed for further
handling. However, when there is no match between the information
read from the specific document and the information from the first
memory and counter means the accept/reject memory means acts to
reject the merged article and specific document.
[0022] Typically, the first memory and counter means operates to
store information as to the unique machine readable code for each
specific discrete article as it is carried seriatim past the first
machine code reader, in its memory and so as to recover the
information in that unique machine readable code from memory for
that specific discrete article when the counter has determined that
the specific discrete article has reached the merging station.
[0023] The counter may determine that any specific discrete article
has reached the merging station as a result of one of several
different circumstances including: a given number of sequential
steps of the article conveyor have occurred since the article
passed the first machine code reader, or a predetermined period of
time has expired since the article passed the first machine code
reader.
[0024] A third machine code reader may be adjacent to the merging
station, so that the unique machine readable code of a specific
discrete article is read as the article reaches the merging
station. Thus, the information which is contained in the unique
machine readable code for that specific discrete article is fed to
the first memory and counter means.
[0025] The apparatus of the present invention may further comprise
a storage and supplemental conveyor for delivering at least one
non-discrete article to the merging station, in keeping with
instruction information which is contained in each unique machine
readable code for each discrete article, as it is read at the first
machine code reader.
[0026] Further, apparatus in keeping with the present invention
will typically comprise a label printer and a packager for
packaging each merged discrete article and its respective specific
document, and for placing a label on the package where the label
carries specific discrete information in keeping with instructions
derived from the instruction information contained in the
respective unique machine readable code as it was read from the
discrete article.
[0027] Where non-discrete articles are also merged with the
discrete article and its respective specific document that at least
one non-discrete article is also delivered to the label printer and
packager for handling, accordingly.
[0028] There may be a fourth machine code reader which is located
after the label printer and packager for reading the label and
comparing the information read therefrom with the information which
is retained in the first memory and counter means.
[0029] Typically each discrete article may be one of the following:
it could be an article of clothing, a book, packaged
pharmaceuticals, packaged software, packaged computer parts or
accessories, cosmetics, small household appliances, small household
electronic devices, and sporting goods.
[0030] Typically, the specific document which is fitted with each
discrete article, as it is merged therewith at the merging station,
is an invoice or packaging slip, and it could also include specific
warranty information, shipping and tracking data, etc.
[0031] Moreover, typically the non-discrete articles are such as
catalogues, brochures, CDs, promotional gifts, and combinations
thereof.
[0032] In general, the unique machine readable code on any
respective discrete article is a barcode, but it might be a
magnetic character, a coded magnetic strip, OCR readable
characters, or combinations thereof.
[0033] Thus, the machine code reader may typically be a barcode
reader, a magnetic character reader, a magnetic strip reader, an
optical character reader, or a combination thereof.
[0034] The instruction information which is included in the unique
machine readable code typically consists of a customer number, and
the identity of the respective discrete article, and combinations
thereof.
[0035] Also, additional data which are related to each customer
number are stored in the instruction control means--typically, a
computer. Such additional data may include such as the customer
name and address, customer preferences, additional billing
information, customer credit information, and the like, and
combinations thereof.
[0036] In general, the package into which the discrete article and
its respective document and optionally the at least one
non-discrete article are placed, may be a preformed envelope an
envelope which is formed in the packager, a bag, a box, or other
suitable container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic
of the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use
and method of operation, together with further objectives and
advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following
drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention
will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly
understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of
illustration and description only and are not intended as a
definition of the limits of the invention. Embodiments of this
invention will now be described by way of example in association
with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0038] FIG. 1 provides a functional view of apparatus in keeping
with the present invention; and
[0039] FIG. 2 provides a system view in schematic form, for the
product and fulfilment system in keeping with the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0040] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic
of the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use
and method of operation, together with further objectives and
advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following
discussion.
[0041] Turning first to FIG. 1, a typical functional view of a
product and document fulfilment system in keeping with the present
invention is shown, in a general configuration such as will be
found in the shipping room of a catalogue merchandiser, for
example. No specific apparatus elements are intended to be
specifically illustrated it being understood that most of the
elements of the apparatus of FIG. 1 are ones which are individually
well known to skilled persons in the respective industries.
However, it is the combination of those elements, their operation,
and their control, which is the subject of the present
invention.
[0042] First, it must be understood that the purpose of a product
and document fulfilment system is to ensure that specific products
are merged with specific documents relating thereto, for shipment
to a customer. Thus, it is important that the order which has been
made by any specific customer be fulfilled, and that fulfilment of
that order shall encompass production of a package which is such
that the specific discrete article which has been ordered by that
customer, together with the documentation pertaining to, and
governing the delivery of, that specific discrete article, has been
merged with the article for further handling.
[0043] In its broadest concept, the present invention provides a
product and document fulfilment system which may lead up to the
machinery of the parent application, at which point a document is
prepared and folded, placed in a document pouch, and attached to
the package.
[0044] A typical example of discrete articles to be packaged and
labelled, in keeping with the present invention, together with
their specific documentation, may be such as articles of clothing,
camping articles, sporting goods, and the like, all of which may be
included in the catalogue of, or at the website of, a catalogue
and/or e-commerce retailer. Considering only the question of
articles of clothing, and specifically such articles as shirts it
will be understood that any customer might order a specific and
discrete article of clothing which would have a particular colour
and a particular size. It would not do for that retailer to ship
the wrong colour and/or the wrong size to the customer, because
business could be lost and in any event additional cost would be
encountered in recovering and correcting the mistake.
[0045] Neither would it be appropriate for information which is
relevant to one article of goods being sold to be placed into the
package with other goods being sold. For example, if the goods are
pharmaceuticals, the wrong instructions might be packaged with the
pharmaceuticals unless appropriate care is taken, and moreover it
is possible to deduce that a particular customer has a specific
physical or mental ailment if information concerning the
pharmaceuticals for treatment of that ailment are mailed to the
wrong person.
[0046] Thus, for any retail operation, or shipment consolidator who
packages and ships differing products for different clients to
specific customers of those clients, a foolproof product and
document fulfilment system which will not make mistakes, is of
paramount importance.
[0047] However, it will be understood that it is also of great
importance to any such retailer or consolidator that such product
and fulfilment system shall be provided at a reasonable cost so as
to permit the delivery of the products to the ultimate customers
thereof, at a reasonable price.
[0048] Accordingly, a warehouse is provided, not shown, which
includes a shipping and packaging room in which the product and
document fulfilment system 10, in keeping with the present
invention, is installed.
[0049] It will be understood, of course, that the operation of the
product and document fulfilment system is typically controlled by
an instruction control centre which is shown schematically at 12.
The instruction and control centre may be a single computer, it may
be a plurality of interconnected computers, and it may also include
or comprise distributed intelligence among the apparatus
controllers for various elements of the product and document
fulfilment system in keeping with the present invention.
[0050] From a storage area, the discrete articles to be handled by
the product and document fulfilment system in keeping with the
present invention are typically placed on an infeed conveyor 20,
22, which delivers discrete articles to a convergence conveyor
element 24. The articles are then delivered to an alignment
conveyor 26. The order in which the discrete articles are delivered
to the alignment conveyor 26 is not predetermined. They are simply
delivered one after another as they have been placed onto the
infeed conveyor 20, 22 by warehouse workers. However, it will be
understood that each of the discrete articles as it is delivered to
the infeed conveyor 20, 22 has been handled by the warehouse
workers who take those items from inventory, and that at that time
a label has been placed on the article identifying it as being an
article which is in fulfilment of a specific order that has been
placed by a specific customer. In other words, the destiny of each
discrete article as it is delivered to the alignment conveyor 26 is
known as a consequence of a label of some sort or other which has
been placed on the article by such as a warehouse worker. The label
which has been placed on the specific article is one which has been
probably generated by an order desk, instructing that a specific
and discrete article shall be taken from inventory for delivery to
a specific customer.
[0051] Thus, the label which is placed on each discrete article
will contain at least information such as a customer number or
other control number. The label may also contain other information
including the identity of the respective discrete article, as well
as information relating to the customer and the preferences of the
customer, as discussed hereafter.
[0052] The alignment conveyor 26 feeds each discrete article
seriatim to an article conveyor 28, along which it will pass until
it reaches a merging station 32, described hereafter. First, each
discrete article will in turn pass a first machine code reader 30,
which will read the unique machine readable code which has been
placed on the article, and which thereby contains instruction
information pertaining to that article.
[0053] As is understood from the discussion above each machine
readable code on each discrete article is unique to that
article.
[0054] A printing station 34 is provided, and it includes a printer
which is typically such as a laser printer or the like, and that
printer will print a specific document which pertains to each
discrete article. The specific document is therefore in keeping
with instruction information which is contained in the unique
machine readable code associated with each discrete article. It
will be understood that the printer prints the specific document
which will pertain to a specific discrete article, after that
specific discrete article has passed the first machine code reader
30.
[0055] As the discrete article continues along the article conveyor
28, the instruction control centre 12 instructs a document delivery
means 36 to deliver the specific document which pertains to a
specific discrete article from the printer 34 to the merging
station 32, to be merged with the respective discrete article.
[0056] The manner in which the article and the specific document
which pertains thereto are merged at the merging station 32 is
beyond the scope of the present invention, and will depend at least
in part on the nature of the article. Nonetheless, a discrete
product or article/document set will be produced at the merging
station 32, for further handling.
[0057] A second machine code reader 40 is provided at the merging
station 32, adjacent but downstream therefrom, so as to be placed
at a position where the specific discrete article and its
respective specific document have been merged together. The second
machine code reader 40 will read the information from the
respective specific document.
[0058] First memory and counter means are associated with the
article conveyor 28, and will be found in the instruction and
control centre 12. The purpose of the first memory and counter
means is to specifically know at any instance in time the identity
of the specific discrete article which has arrived at the merging
station 32.
[0059] Accordingly, after an article/document set has left the
merging station 32 and the document has been read by the second
machine code reader 40, the first memory and counter means will
match the information which has been read from the specific
document with the information from the first memory and counter
means which is relevant to the specific discrete article that has
just gone past the merging station 32. If a match occurs, then
accept/reject means 42 will accept the merged article and specific
document, and will pass the article/document set on for further
handling in a manner described hereafter. Otherwise, if there is no
match--in other words, there is a mismatch between the information
relevant to the specific discrete article at the merging station
32, as it is known to the first memory and counter means--then the
accept/reject means 42 will reject the article/document set and
sent it via a chute or conveyor 44 to a bin 46.
[0060] Typically, the first memory and counter means in the
instruction control centre 12 operates to store information as to
the unique machine readable code for each specific discrete article
as it is carried seriatim past the first machine code reader 30 in
its memory. It then functions to recover the information in that
unique machine readable code from memory for that specific discrete
article, when the counter has determined that the specific discrete
article has reached the merging station 32.
[0061] How the counter determines that a specific discrete article
has reached the merging station 32, comes as a consequence of one
of several different circumstances. For example typically the
article conveyor 28 operates incrementally under process
control--typically from the instruction control centre 12--whereby
each time an article/document set leaves the merging station 32,
the article conveyor 28 moves forward a specific amount, and thus
operates in stepped fashion. The number of steps between the
position at which the first machine code reader 30 is placed and
the merging station 32, is known, and thus it is known how many
steps are required for any specific discrete article to reach the
merging station 32 after it has passed the first machine code
reader 30. Otherwise, if the article conveyor 28 operates at a
known rate continuously, then a predetermined period of time will
determine when a specific discrete article whose presence has been
noted at the first machine code reader 30 has reached the merging
station 32.
[0062] However, there may also be a third machine code reader 50
which is adjacent to the merging station 32, but upstream from the
merging station 32. Thus, the unique machine readable code of a
specific discrete article may be read by the machine code reader 50
as the article reaches the merging station 32. The information
contained in the unique machine readable code for that specific
discrete article is fed to the first memory and counter means in
the instruction control centre 12, and may be utilized as a double
check against the counter or instead of the counter, so as to
assure the accept/reject means 42 of the identity of the specific
discrete article at the merging station 32 at the same time as the
document is being read by the machine code reader 40.
[0063] In general, the product and document fulfilment system and
apparatus in keeping with the present invention further comprises a
label printer and a packager machine or station indicated generally
at 52. The purpose of the label printer and packager 52 is to
package each merged discrete article/document set, and to place a
label on the package into which the merged discrete
article/documents set has been placed, in a manner outside the
scope of the present invention. The label is typically printed on a
printer 54, and is placed on the package so as to carry discrete
information which is in keeping with instructions that are derived
from the instruction information contained in the respective unique
machine readable code associated with the discrete article.
[0064] Thus, for example, the unique machine readable code on the
article as it reaches the label printer and packager station 52 may
include a customer number, and therefore the necessary address and
other information relating to that customer may be derived from a
customer database maintained within the instruction control centre
12. Very often, the specific discrete instruction information which
is carried in the unique machine readable code on any discrete
article may also contain additional information relating to the
preferences of the customer, or the intentions of the shipper of
the article, to include additional non-discrete items with the
discrete article, Such non-discrete items particularly include
catalogues and brochures which may have been requested by the
specific customer, or which may be intended to be placed with the
article being shipped by the shipper in keeping with known
preferences of the customer.
[0065] Thus, the product and document fulfilment system of the
present invention may further comprise a storage and feeding
station 56 from which one or more non-discrete articles may be feed
to a supplemental conveyor 58 for delivery also to the merging
station 32, together with a specific article/document set.
[0066] For example, a determination may be made either as a
consequence of a specific request from the customer, or at the
instigation of the shipper, to provide the catalogues or brochures,
a CD, or a promotional gift, or any of them, together with the
discrete article which is being delivered to the customer on the
order of that customer.
[0067] It will be understood, of course, that the specific
non-discrete article or articles that are to be merged with the
merged article/document set at the merging station 32 are,
therefore, in keeping with further instructions which are included
in the instruction information contained in the unique machine
readable code on each specific discrete article.
[0068] Returning to the label printer and packager 52 and the label
printer 54 which is found within the label printer and packager
station 52, it will be understood that the label printer 54 will
print a label in keeping with specific discrete information that is
found from the respective unique machine readable code on the
specific discrete article being packaged. Once again, that specific
information may be recalled from a database whereby a customer
number provides all of the necessary information for the shipping
label to be printed.
[0069] However, for purposes of greater certainty a fourth machine
code reader 60 may be located after the label printer and packager
station 52, for reading the label and comparing the information
which is read therefrom with the information which is retained in
the first memory and counter means contained in the instruction
control centre 12. This assures that the correct information is
printed on the label, since the identity of the customer for the
specific discrete article will have been determined from the unique
machine readable code on that article, and since it is known which
article it is.
[0070] It will also be understood, of course, that the label
printer and packager 52 could be the folding and labelling machine
which is described in the parent application together with
additional and appropriate ancillary equipment. In any event, the
specifics of that label printer and packager station 52 are beyond
the scope of the present invention.
[0071] While not limited thereto, it can be noted that typical
discrete articles which may be handled by the product and document
fulfilment system in keeping with the present invention may include
such items as articles of clothing, books, pharmaceuticals,
packaged software, packaged computer parts or accessories,
cosmetics, small household appliances, small household electronic
devices, and sporting goods. Typically, the specific document which
is associated with discrete article is an invoice or packaging
slip, but it may also include warranty information tracking
information, and the like.
[0072] Each unique machine readable code which is placed on a
respective discrete article is typically a barcode, but it might be
a magnetic character, coded magnetic strip, or OCR readable
characters. Thus, the machine code readers 30, 40, 50, 60 are
typically barcode readers, but might be magnetic characters
readers, magnetic strip readers, optical character readers and
combinations thereof.
[0073] It will be understood that a database relating to each
customer, and possibly also relating to differing kinds of
non-discrete articles that might be shipped depending on the nature
of the discrete article to be shipped will be maintained in the
instruction control centre. Thus, while the instruction information
which is included in the unique machine readable code for each
specific discrete article may include only a customer number, and
might also include the identity of the respective discrete article,
other additional data may also be found either in that
instructional data or more particularly in a database found within
the instruction control centre. Such additional data may include
the customer name and customer address, the customer preferences,
additional billing information, customer credit information, and
combinations thereof.
[0074] Of course, the nature of the package into which the discrete
article and its respective document, may be placed, and optionally
the non-discrete article or articles, is outside the scope of the
present invention, but will be understood to include such as
preformed envelopes, envelopes that are formed in the packager,
shipping bags of various sorts, and boxes and other suitable
containers.
[0075] Turning briefly to FIG. 2, a system view of the present
invention is provided. Particularly, it will be seen that discrete
articles come into the product and document fulfilment system,
which is in keeping with the present invention as shown at arrow
70; and packaged and labelled discrete articles leave the product
and document fulfilment system as shown at arrow 72. Various
interrelations of the differing elements which comprise the product
and document fulfilment system 10 are indicated by the lines
interconnecting the various elements and which will be understood
by those skilled in the art to represent paths along which data and
instructions will flow.
[0076] There has been described a product and document fulfilment
system which satisfies the requirements of a number of industries
and retail establishments which specific discrete articles together
with specific documentation pertaining to that specific discrete
article are to be merged and prepared for packaging and delivery to
the respective customers or recipients thereof.
[0077] Other modifications and alterations may be used in the
design and manufacture of the apparatus of the present invention
without departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying
claims.
[0078] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow
unless the context requires otherwise the word "comprise" and
variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood
to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of
integers or steps but not to the exclusion of any other integer or
step or group of integers or steps.
* * * * *