DE8808187U1 - container - Google Patents

Description

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Description:

The invention relates to a container, in particular a tray for holding cigarettes, filter rods or the like, which is provided with an information carrier for the information data about the container contents.

Containers in the form of trays are used to hold cigarettes and filter rods, for example, in order to transport them to the relevant machines, such as packaging machines, or to store ^them . Cigarette factories usually have hundreds of such trays in circulation and in storage.

The contents of each tray must be marked. For example, the diameter, length, date of manufacture, brand, machine on which the cigarettes or filter rods were made, etc. must be indicated. The marking is necessary in order to transport the tray to the correct packaging machine, to reject the tray in the event of quality problems, and to deposit and retrieve the trays in storage facilities in such a way that the storage time can be determined at any time.

The necessary information about the contents of the trays is currently listed on slips of paper that are attached to the tray or on the tray lid. Sometimes colored slips of paper are also used to identify the trays. This type of labeling of the trays with information about the contents of the trays can only be used with the appropriate personnel, whereby the information about the contents of the trays must be read by the operators^ so that manual control of the

Trays can be adjusted* Automatic control of the trays is not possible.

Based on this, the invention is based on the task of providing a container with an information carrier, by means of which an automatic recognition of the information data about the respective container contents and thus an automatic control of the container is possible.

As a technical solution, the invention proposes that the information carrier is an electronic data carrier that can be written to and read by means of a corresponding electronic read/write device for the electronic storage of the information data.

Preferably, the electronic data carrier is a chip with integrated circuits for inductive data transmission.

A container designed according to this technical teaching with an electronic data carrier for the information data about the container contents has the advantage that automatic recognition of this information data and thus automatic control of the container is possible. The electronic data carrier is arranged in a specific position on the respective container so that data exchange is possible using a stationary electronic read/write device. The electronic data carriers are now available in sizes that allow attachment to the container without disturbing existing space, which has the advantage that existing containers can easily be retrofitted with the electronic data carriers. The electronic data carrier is particularly suitable for containers in the form of trays for cigarettes and filter rods.

In the process of treating the trays, the required information data is provided by means of the snts ⁿ xschsndsn

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Write-read devices on the respective tray filling machines automatically transfer the data to the electronic data carrier of the respective tray and store it there. This automatic input of the information data is fully electronic, without the need for personnel. Through this electronic storage of the information data, each tray can be found and identified at any decision point within the transport system, on the packaging machine or in the storage facility using a write-read device arranged at the respective location, so that the respective tray can be directed _to the appropriate destination.

After the tray is emptied, the data carrier is re-labeled with an appropriate read/write device in order to be sent to a new address.

Overall, by using electronic data storage devices on the racks, the entire production of cigarettes and filter rods transported in racks can be controlled fully automatically using a computer, without the need for appropriate operating personnel.

An embodiment of a container according to the invention in C) the form of a tray with an electronic data carrier is shown schematically in a perspective view in the drawing and is described below.

The tray consists of a flat and essentially cuboid-shaped housing 1, which serves to hold cigarettes 2, which are indicated schematically. On the outside 3 of the housing 1, namely on the front face, an electronic data carrier 4 is fixedly arranged at a specific point, which is, for example, a chip with integrated circuits. In the embodiment shown, the electronic data carrier 4 is designed like a button, without disturbing the existing space on the housing 1 of the tray.

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Using an electronic read/write device (not shown), appropriate information about the contents of the tray can be transferred to the electronic data carrier 4 and stored digitally therein. Information data can be, for example, the diameter, length, date of manufacture, brand and the manufacturing machine of the cigarettes 2. Using the read/write device, the information stored in the electronic data carrier 4 can be called up again and the contents of the tray can be identified. In this way, the entire production of cigarettes 2 transported in trays can be controlled fully automatically by means of a computer without the need for operating personnel.

List of symbols:

1 housing

t cigarette

9 Outside

A electronic data carrier

H/GY/en

Claims (2)

Expectations: 1. Containers, in particular trays for holding cigarettes (2), filter rods or the like, which are provided with an information carrier for the information data on the container contents, characterized,
that the information carrier is an electronic data carrier (4) that can be written to and read by means of a corresponding electronic read/write device for the electronic storage of the information data. 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic data carrier (4) is a chip with integrated circuits for inductive data transmission.