WO2023220662A1

WO2023220662A1 - System and method for secure packaging

Info

Publication number: WO2023220662A1
Application number: PCT/US2023/066857
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adam Martin
Original assignee: Dave & Adam's Card World Llc
Priority date: 2022-05-10
Filing date: 2023-05-10
Publication date: 2023-11-16

Abstract

A method for packaging includes beginning a video recording of a product. The product is shrink-wrapped to obtain a shrink-wrapped product, and shrink-wrapping the product is recorded in the video recording. A label is affixed to the shrink-wrapped product. The label contains an identifier, such as, for example, a QR code. The label being affixed is recorded in the video recording. The video recording is ended, and the video recording is associated with the identifier.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SECURE PACKAGING

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/340,239, filed on May 10, 2022, now pending, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Field of the Disclosure

[0002] This disclosure relates to packaging processes.

Background of the Disclosure

[0003] In various fields, there is a growing concern for tampering of packages. For example, individuals may open a package, remove and/or replace the contents of the package with counterfeit goods, and re-sell the package to unsuspecting purchasers. A purchaser has no way of verifying that the contents of the package has not been tampered with after leaving the manufacturer. Such a concern is especially prevalent in the case of online sales, where the seller may not be personally known by the purchaser.

[0004] Existing methods for secure packaging (i.e., to prevent tampering of packages) use tamper-proof stickers or tape and/or shrink-wrap to seal packages. In theory, the purchaser would be able to detect if the seal has been broken to detect possible tampering. However, individuals have been able to carefully remove and re-apply the tamper-proof stickers or tape and shrink-wrap such that no broken seal can be easily detected. Individuals may also produce counterfeit stickers or tape to reseal the package after tampering.

[0005] These problems are of particular concern in the field of trading cards. In this field, the authenticity of a trading card can only be trusted with a verifiable chain-of-possession of the card from the manufacturer. Sellers of trading cards need to be able to assure that the cards they are selling are authentic, and purchasers need to be able to verify the seller’s claims of authenticity.

[0006] Therefore, what is needed is a method for secure packaging. Brief Summary of the Disclosure

[0007] In an aspect, the present disclosure may be embodied as a method for packaging. The method may include beginning a video recording of a product. The product is shrink-wrapped to obtain a shrink-wrapped product, and shrink-wrapping the product is recorded in the video recording. In some embodiments, the product is first enclosed in a case, and the case is subsequently shrink-wrapped. A label is affixed to the shrink-wrapped product. The label contains an identifier (e.g., a unique identifier). For example, the identifier may be a QR code. Affixing the label is recorded in the video recording. The video recording is ended.

[0008] The video recording is associated with the identifier. For example, the video recording may be associated with the identifier by recording a timestamp in the video recording when the product is shown to the camera; defining a video clip in the video recording, the video clip corresponding to a portion of the video recording between fixed periods of time before and after the timestamp; and uploading the video clip to a webpage, wherein the webpage is accessible via the identifier.

[0009] The video recording may be captured using at least one camera. In such an embodiment, the product may be in a field of view of the at least one camera while shrink-wrapping the product and affixing the label on the shrink-wrapped product. In some embodiments, the product is shown to the at least one camera, such that a product reference number on the product is in the field of view of the at least one camera.

[0010] In some embodiments, the method includes identifying the product in a packaging software program; and generating and printing the label using the packaging software program.

[0011] In another aspect, the present disclosure may be embodied as a shrink-wrapped product produced by any of the methods disclosed herein.

[0012] In another aspect, the present disclosure may be embodied as a system having a packager configured to seal a product within a plastic film; a heater configured to conform the plastic film to the exterior of the product to produce a shrink-wrapped product; a camera configured to record the packager and the heater to produce a video recording; and wherein the video recording is accessible via an identifier contained in a label affixed to the shrink-wrapped product.

Description of the Drawings

[0013] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the disclosure, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a system for secure packaging according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a packaged product resulting from the method of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is an illustration of another packaged product resulting from the method of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description of the Disclosure

[0014] Although claimed subject matter will be described in terms of certain embodiments, other embodiments, including embodiments that do not provide all of the benefits and features set forth herein, are also within the scope of this disclosure. Various structural, logical, process, step, and electronic changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0015] In a first aspect, the present disclosure may be embodied as a method 100 for secure packaging. With reference to FIG. 1, the method 100 may include the following steps.

[0016] At step 101, a product may arrive at an operating facility. The product may be an article of manufacture. For example, the product may be a trading card. The product may arrive at the operating facility directly from the manufacturer or manufacturer-authorized wholesaler. It should be understood that the product may arrive from the manufacturer in various levels of packaging. For example, trading cards may arrive from the manufacturer in packaging (from smallest to largest) of a pack, box, or case. A pack may contain one or more trading cards. A box may contain one or more packs. A case may contain one or more boxes. The operating facility may sell the product in one or more levels of packaging. Reference to “product” in this disclosure may include one or more bare products, one or more packs of a product, one or more boxes of a product, or one or more cases of a product.

[0017] At step 102, a video recording process begins. The video recording process may be performed by one or more cameras, each camera having a field of view. The cameras may be arranged such that the field of view of each camera overlaps. The camera may be in a fixed location in the operating facility. For example, the camera may be fixed to a stand or tripod, such that the camera is stable during the video recording process. The camera may be movable, such that the field of view may change during the video recording process. The camera may be moved manually by a user. For example, the camera may be carried or worn by the user during the video recording process. The camera also may be moved by a gantry or other movable system during the video recording process. The camera may be operated manually by a user to begin the recording process, or the camera may be instructed to begin the recording process may a computer in communication with the camera.

[0018] At step 103, the product is shown to the camera. For example, the product may be moved such that such that it enters the field of view of the camera and/or may move closer to and/or further away from the camera. In this way, by moving closer, the camera may provide a more detailed view of the product. The camera may be focused using any method known in the art. The product may be re-oriented such that the entirety of the product is shown to the camera. For example, the product may be rotated such that top, bottom, and sides of the product are shown to the camera. In some embodiments, only a portion of the product may be shown to the camera. For example, a portion of the product comprising a label or identifier may be shown to the camera. In a particular embodiment, the product is shown to the camera such that the serial number or product reference number of the product is shown to the camera. In some embodiments, one or more additional cameras may be provided and the recorded videos may be combined. For example, in an embodiment with two cameras, a combined video may show each camera view in a split-screen arrangement, such as, for example, where a first camera view is shown on the left side of the video and a second camera view is shown on the right side of the video. Other techniques for combining multiple camera views may be used. For example, where the cameras having overlapping fields of view, the video recording may be combined so as to have a wider (combined) field of view.

[0019] At step 104, the product is enclosed in a case, such as, for example, an acrylic case. The case may be at least partially transparent, such that the product (and any markings on the product) may be visible through the case. The case may protect the product. The case may be of various sizes to accommodate products of various sizes and/or various levels of packaging. It should be understood that some products and/or levels of packaging may not require being enclosed in a case. For example, large products or otherwise sturdy products may not require being enclosed in a case. In the case of trading cards, a case of trading cards may not require being enclosed in a case. In another example, it may be desirable to enclose a box or a pack of trading cards in a case. A tamper- evident (i.e., “tamper-proof’) security sticker may be applied to the case. For example, the sticker may be applied such that it would need to be removed and/or broken in order to open the case. The tamper-proof security sticker may include a hologram or other markings containing branding or identifying information of the operating facility.

[0020] At step 105, the product is shrink-wrapped. The shrink-wrap process may include disposing the product in a plastic film (for example, a plastic sleeve) and sealing the plastic film such that the product is sealed within the plastic film. In some embodiments, the shrink-wrap process may include applying heat to the plastic film. By applying heat to the plastic film, the plastic film may shrink and conform to the shape of the product. The plastic sleeve may be at least partially transparent, so that the product is at least partially visible through the plastic sleeve after the shrinkwrap process. When the product is enclosed in a case, shrink-wrapping the product is accomplished by shrink-wrapping the case. In embodiments where the plastic film and the case being at least partially transparent, the product may be at least partially visible through the plastic film and the case after the shrink-wrap process. The plastic film may contain branding or identifying information of the operating facility.

[0021] At step 106, an identifier is associated with the product. For example, the identifier may be a one or two-dimensional code. In a particular embodiment, the identifier may be a QR code. The identifier may be associated with the serial number of the product. A new identifier may be generated for each product. For example, when the product is a pack of trading cards, the identifier may be generated and associated with the serial number of the pack. When the product is a box of trading cards, the identifier may be generated and associated with the serial number of the box (and the serial numbers of any packs within the box). When the product is a case of trading cards, the identifier may be generated and associated with the serial number of the case (and the serial numbers of any boxes or packs within the box). In this way, the identifier may be used to track the product and/or the contents of the product.

[0022] The identifier may be used to access information about the product. For example, the identifier may direct a user to a website comprising information about the product. It should be understood that when the identifier is a QR code, a user may access the website by scanning the QR code with a user device (e.g., a smartphone). The website may also include the video recording. In this way, a user may be able to view the process to verify that the product has not been tampered with.

[0023] At step 107, a label containing the identifier is affixed to the shrink-wrapped product. The label may be printed by a printer, a labeler, or the like. The label may be affixed to any surface of the shrink-wrapped product. For example, the label may be affixed to the top surface or front surface of the shrink-wrapped product. The label may be affixed to the shrink-wrapped product such that the portion of the product comprising a product label or product reference number (e.g., a stock- keeping unit “SKU” number, a serial number, or other product label or product reference number) may not be covered by the label. The label may be a tamper-evident device, such as a tamper- evident sticker. The label may include anti-counterfeiting measures, such as, for example, one or more holograms.

[0024] At step 108, the video recording process ends. The camera may be operated manually by a user to end the recording process, or the camera may be instructed to end the recording process by a computer in communication with the camera. It should be understood that each of steps 103 to 106 may be performed within the field of view of the cameras. Thus, the video recording process may record the handling of the product from the time that it was received from the manufacturer, to the time that it was sealed within shrink-wrap with a label affixed to the shrink-wrapped product. In this way, the video recording may provide end users with a verifiable chain-of-possession of the product from the manufacturer. In some embodiments, it is undesirable to edit the video recording between the beginning of the product handling process and the end of the process. For example, in some embodiments of the method, the video recording of the above-described product handling process is not edited (e.g., not edited during while the product is being shrink-wrapped, labeled, etc.) Editing may include one or more of deleting portions, re-ordering portions, changing the playback speed, altering one or more image characteristics of the video (e.g., contrast, brightness, color, sharpness, etc.) In some embodiments, the video recording may include one or more features to demonstrate that no editing has occurred — e.g., SMPTE time code, absolute time, etc.

[0025] Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method 200 for secure packaging. With reference to FIG. 2, the method 200 may include the following steps.

[0026] At step 201, a product to be packaged is identified in a packaging software program. The packaging software program may be executable by a processor of personal computer, smartphone, or other computing device. The packaging software program may be configured to display various information on a display of the computing device. The packaging software program may include one or more fields, which may be interactively operated by a user. The product may be identified in the packaging software program by invoice number. For example, when a product is received from a manufacturer, the manufacturer may include an invoice identifying the one or more products included in an order. The user may enter the invoice number into one of the fields of the packaging software program to search for the invoice, or the user may select the invoice from a list of invoices. Thus, by looking up the invoice number, the product can be identified. Alternatively, the product may be identified by a so-called “PK number.” Each product may be given a unique PK number by the manufacturer. The user may enter the PK number into one of the fields of the packaging software program to search for the product, or the user may select the PK number from a list of PK numbers. Thus, by looking up the PK number, the product may also be identified.

[0027] At step 202, a label is generated and printed. After identifying the product to be packaged in the packaging software program, the product may be selected by the user. For example, when one or more products are displayed on the computing device by the packaging software program, the user may select the product to be packaged via one or more inputs (touch input, keyboard input, mouse input, etc.) Selecting the product to be packaged may cause the packaging software program to generate the label. Alternatively, the label may be generated by a separate selection made after selecting the product to be packaged. The label may include a product title, a QR code, and a holographic seal. The QR code may direct a user to the video recording process described with respect to the method 100 above. The packaging software program may record a timestamp in the video recording when the label is generated. Thus, a portion of the video recording that shows the product being packaged may be identified.

[0028] At step 203, the product to be packaged is shrink-wrapped and the label is affixed to the product. As described with respect the method 100 above, the product may be directly shrink- wrapped, or it may be enclosed in a case, such as, for example, an acrylic case, before it is shrink- wrapped.

[0029] At step 204, the video recording is reconciled with the timestamp of the shrink- wrapped product. For example, fixed periods of time before and after the timestamp corresponding to the product may be determined, and the portion of the video recording between the fixed periods of time may define a video clip. The fixed periods of time may be predetermined — for example, selected depending on the speed of the packing process. Alternatively, the video clip may be defined by the user to a custom length. The video clip may be uploaded to a server, accessible by a webpage, emailed, or otherwise made available. For example, the webpage may be accessed via the QR code on the label, such that a user may view the video clip. The video clip being associated the shrink- wrapped product, may allow the user to verify the packaging process performed on the product in order to confirm that there has been no tampering.

[0030] Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a system 300. The system 300 may be defined within a work area 301 of an operating facility. With reference to FIG. 3, the system 300 may include the following components.

[0031] The system 300 may include a product pallet or table 310. The product pallet 310 may include one or more products received from a manufacturer. For example, the one or more products may be one or more trading cards, disposed in a pack, case, or box.

[0032] The system 300 may further include a workstation 320. A product may be moved from the product pallet 310 to the workstation 320. The workstation 320 may include, for example, a computing device having a processor, which executes the packaging software program described with respect to method 200. In this way, a user may identify the product as the product to be packaged in the packaging software program and generate a label at the workstation 320. For some products, the product may also be enclosed in a case, such as, for example, an acrylic case, at the workstation 320.

[0033] The system 300 may further include a packager 330. The product may be moved from the workstation 320 to the packager 330. The packager 330 may be configured to insert the product into a plastic film. In some embodiments, the packager 330 may be configured to at least partially seal the product in a plastic film. For example, the plastic film may be configured as a plastic sleeve. In such an embodiment, once the product has been disposed in the plastic sleeve, the packager 330 may be configured to apply heat to an open end of the plastic sleeve, such that the product is at least partially sealed within the plastic sleeve.

[0034] The system 300 may further include a heater 340. The product may be moved from the packager 330 to the heater 340. The heater may be configured to apply heat to the plastic film. For example, the heater 340 may be a handheld heat gun or other configuration. When heat is applied to the plastic film, the plastic film may shrink and conform to the shape of the product, and thereby produce a shrink-wrapped product. In some embodiments, the packager and the heater may be integrated into a single machine.

[0035] The system 300 may further include an output table 350. The shrink-wrapped product may be moved from the heater 340 to the output table 350. At the output table 350, a label (generated at the workstation 320) may be affixed to the shrink-wrapped product.

[0036] The system may further include a completed table 360. The shrink-wrapped product may be moved from the output table 350 to the completed table 360 after the label is affixed to the shrink-wrapped product.

[0037] It should be understood that the product may move through the system 300 by starting at the product pallet 310, and moving to the workstation 320, packager 330, heater 340, output table 350, and completed table 360 through the packaging process. The product may be moved by manually by a user or automatically by a robot, conveyor, or other means of controllable motion.

[0038] The system may further include one or more cameras 370. The one or more cameras 370 may be arranged within the work area 301, such that the product remains within the field of view of the one or more cameras 370 throughout the work area 301 during the secure packaging process. The one or more cameras 370 may be at fixed locations in the work area 301, or may be movable within the work area 301 to track the movement of the product.

[0039] An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a packaged product 400 resulting from the secure packaging method of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4, the packaged product 400 includes a product 410 sealed in shrink-wrap 420. A label 425 is affixed to the shrinkwrap 420.

[0040] Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a packaged product 401 resulting from the secure packaging method of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5, the packaged product 401 differs from the packaged product 400 in that the product 410 is first enclosed in a case 415 before being sealed in shrink-wrap 420.

[0041] Although the present disclosure has been described with respect to one or more particular embodiments, it will be understood that other embodiments of the present disclosure may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Hence, the present disclosure is deemed limited only by the appended claims and the reasonable interpretation thereof.

Claims

Claims:

1. A method comprising: beginning a video recording of a product; shrink-wrapping the product to obtain a shrink-wrapped product, wherein shrink-wrapping the product is recorded in the video recording; affixing a label on the shrink-wrapped product, wherein the label contains an identifier, and wherein affixing the label is recorded in the video recording; ending the video recording; and associating the video recording with the identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is a QR code.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein shrink-wrapping the product comprises: enclosing the product in a case; and shrink-wrapping the case.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the video recording is captured using at least one camera, and the product is in a field of view of the at least one camera while shrink-wrapping the product and affixing the label on the shrink-wrapped product.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein before shrink-wrapping the product, the method further comprises: showing the product to the at least one camera, such that a product reference number on the product is in the field of view of the at least one camera.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein associating the video recording with the identifier comprises: recording a timestamp in the video recording when the product is shown to the camera; defining a video clip in the video recording, the video clip corresponding to a portion of the video recording between fixed periods of time before and after the timestamp; and uploading the video clip to a webpage, wherein the webpage is accessible via the identifier.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying the product in a packaging software program; and generating and printing the label using the packaging software program.

8. A shrink-wrapped product produced by the method of claim 1.

9. A shrink-wrapped product produced by the method of claim 3.

10. A system comprising: a packager configured to seal a product within a plastic film; a heater configured to conform the plastic film to the exterior of the product to produce a shrink- wrapped product; a camera configured to record the packager and the heater to produce a video recording; and wherein the video recording is accessible via an identifier contained in a label affixed to the shrink-wrapped product.