Patents Assigned to Markem Corporation
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Patent number: 7578874Abstract: A method for forming a mark on a food product is disclosed. The method includes: (a) heating an edible hot melt ink including a colorant to a temperature sufficient to liquify the ink; and (b) transferring the ink to a substrate to provide a mark on the food product.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2002Date of Patent: August 25, 2009Assignee: Markem CorporationInventors: Ann Benjamin, DeAva Lambert
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Publication number: 20090181222Abstract: A method for forming a mark on a substrate is disclosed. The method includes: (a) heating an edible hot melt ink including a colorant to a temperature sufficient to liquify the ink; and (b) transferring the ink to a substrate to provide a mark on the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2009Publication date: July 16, 2009Applicant: MARKEM CORPORATIONInventors: Ann Reitnauer, DeAva Lambert
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Publication number: 20090076633Abstract: A method for configuring a marking device includes, at a control system, establishing communication with the marking device; receiving, from the marking device, information about capabilities of the marking device; presenting the received information about capabilities of the marking device to a user; receiving, from the user, instructions to set machine settings for the marking device; and causing the marking device to be configured according to the instructions received from the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2008Publication date: March 19, 2009Applicant: Markem CorporationInventors: Chris Sullivan, Simon Starkey, James Cupit, Jacob Harris
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Patent number: 7460921Abstract: A method and associated software and a system for automatic package marking makes use of specification of an image for a package. The specification includes specifications of data fields for marking on a package. Data values for the data fields are received from multiple data sources. Images are formed based on the received data values and the specification of the image.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2004Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: Markem CorporationInventors: Chris Sullivan, Simon Starkey, James Cupit, Jacob Harris
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Patent number: 7378965Abstract: Methods and systems for programming programmable transponders are disclosed. An apparatus for programming programmable transponders can include a label supply for supplying labels, a programing zone into which the labels are conveyed, a feed-system for transporting a label to the programming zone, a source of radiation for communicating tag-information to the transponder, and a shield mechanism. The source can be disposed to illuminate a programming zone into witch the lable is transported. The shield mechanism can substantially enclose the source of radiation and a first one of the labels in the programming zone and exclude at least a second one of the labels.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2005Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: Markem CorporationInventors: Jonathan Oakes, David Benjamin
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Patent number: 7355614Abstract: A system converts graphic images, such as those created by graphics applications, to a format that can be efficiently printed on a material by a laser printing system. An image can be converted to a set of locations by defining progressively smaller contours of the image, and a material can be marked by directing a laser beam according to the locations. Converting the image can involve identifying a set of points that trace boundary pixels of a marking area of the image such that the set of points form a contour of the marking area, removing the boundary pixels from further consideration with respect to defining the contours for the marking area, repeating the identifying and the removing until all pixels of interest in the marking area have been considered, and determining the locations from the identified points.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2005Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: Markem CorporationInventor: Kevin Franklin
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Patent number: 7322520Abstract: A system for authenticating a merchandise unit includes a memory for storing an electronic product code obtained from and identifying the merchandise unit, and a sensor for detecting an attribute of a marking medium associated with the merchandise unit. The system is configured to output data representative of the attribute and the identity of the merchandise unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2005Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: Markem CorporationInventors: Todd Warden, Paul Mills
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Patent number: 7322688Abstract: A printing method includes printing an ultraviolet light curable jettable ink including a colorant, a photoinitiating system, and cationic reagent onto a substrate provide a marking, and exposing the marking to ultraviolet radiation after at least two second. The ultraviolet light curable inkjet ink having Brookfield viscosity of between about 1 and 50 centipoise at printing temperature, and between about 170 and 500 centipoise at a shear rate of 20 S?1 and at a temperature of about 20° C.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2005Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: Markem CorporationInventor: Richard C. Woudenberg
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Patent number: 7267272Abstract: A method for marking an article of merchandise with content represented by a bitmap stored in a source array of a source memory includes identifying, within a destination memory, a destination array. The destination array has a first region having boundaries aligned with boundaries of a first data chunk of the destination memory, and a second region having boundaries aligned with a second data chunk of the destination memory, the second data chunk being smaller than the first data chunk. A first region of the source array is copied onto the first region of the destination array in units of the first data chunk, and a second region of the source array is copied onto the second region of the destination array in units of the second data chunk.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2004Date of Patent: September 11, 2007Assignee: Markem CorporationInventors: Larry Antonuk, Chris Sullivan, Glenn Scadova
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Patent number: 7201309Abstract: A method for allocating serial numbers among packaging sites includes receiving, from a packaging site, a query directed to a first server for the identity of a second server, providing the packaging site with information, from the first server, the information leading to the second server, receiving, from the packaging site, a query directed to the second server for the identity of a third server, providing the packaging site information, from the second server, the information leading to the third server. The method also includes receiving, from the packaging site, a query directed to the third server; and providing the packaging site at least one serial number from the third server.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2004Date of Patent: April 10, 2007Assignee: Markem CorporationInventors: Jonathan Oakes, David Benjamin
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Patent number: 7191019Abstract: A dynamically-reconfigurable production line includes an item-interaction unit and an item-identification unit configured to read item data from an item approaching the item-interaction unit. On the basis of the item data, a processor accesses a memory to select particular configuration data stored therein provided by the item-identification unit. The processor then causes an actuator to reconfigure the production line consistent with the particular configuration data.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2005Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Assignee: Markem CorporationInventor: Eddy Verstraeten
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Patent number: 7180419Abstract: An apparatus for applying a programmable transponder to a target includes an applicator disposed adjacent to a tagging zone into which the target is conveyed and a feed-system for transporting a label to the applicator, each of the labels having a programmable transponder. A radiation source is disposed to illuminate a programming zone into which the label is transported. This radiation source communicates tag-information to the transponder. The communication of tag-information can occur either before or after the transponder is applied to the target.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2004Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Markem CorporationInventors: Jonathan Oakes, David Benjamin
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Patent number: 7046267Abstract: A method of controlling a laser to print symbols of an image on moving products with various velocities. The method may include grouping, organizing and/or moving symbols to stripes, leading edge clipping correction, trailing edge clipping correction and updating clipping correction in real-time.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2003Date of Patent: May 16, 2006Assignee: Markem CorporationInventors: Kevin Franklin, Moses Derkalousdian, Steve Meyer
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Publication number: 20060016866Abstract: A method for allocating serial numbers among packaging sites includes receiving, from a packaging site, a query directed to a first server for the identity of a second server, providing the packaging site with information, from the first server, the information leading to the second server, receiving, from the packaging site, a query directed to the second server for the identity of a third server, providing the packaging site information, from the second server, the information leading to the third server. The method also includes receiving, from the packaging site, a query directed to the third server; and providing the packaging site at least one serial number from the third server.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2004Publication date: January 26, 2006Applicant: Markem CorporationInventors: Jonathan Oakes, David Benjamin
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Patent number: 6962292Abstract: An apparatus for selectively peeling a tag off of a strip of tags has a peel bar having a beak for peeling a tag off of the strip. The peel bar is mounted to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof by movement of the strip. A retaining element selectively engages the peel bar. The retaining element has a first position in which the peel bar is held stationary, and a second position in which the peel bar is free to rotate.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2004Date of Patent: November 8, 2005Assignee: Markem CorporationInventors: Frances H. Benton, Paul Bisson
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Patent number: 6958762Abstract: A system converts graphic images, such as those created by graphics applications, to a format that can be efficiently printed on a material by a laser printing system. An image can be converted to a set of locations by defining progressively smaller contours of the image, and a material can be marked by directing a laser beam according to the locations. Converting the image can involve identifying a set of points that trace boundary pixels of a marking area of the image such that the set of points form a contour of the marking area, removing the boundary pixels from further consideration with respect to defining the contours for the marking area, repeating the identifying and the removing until all pixels of interest in the marking area have been considered, and determining the locations from the identified points.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2004Date of Patent: October 25, 2005Assignee: Markem CorporationInventor: Kevin Franklin
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Patent number: 6936410Abstract: A method of marking a substrate includes contacting the substrate with a composition and contacting the composition with energy sufficient to produce a change in the composition that can be detected optically. In some embodiments, the change produces a white mark.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2003Date of Patent: August 30, 2005Assignee: Markem CorporationInventors: Michael P. Secord, Richard J Larson, Jr.
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Patent number: 6896937Abstract: Radiation-curable ink compositions and methods of printing including the compositions are disclosed. In some embodiments, a radiation-curable hot melt ink composition includes a colorant, a polymerizable monomer, and a photoinitiating system. The photoinitiating system can include 0.5-1.5% by weight of an aromatic ketone photoinitiator, 2-10% by weight of an amine synergist, 3-8% by weight of an alpha-cleavage type photoinitiator, and 0.5-1.5% by weight of a photosensitizer.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2003Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Assignee: Markem CorporationInventor: Richard C. Woudenberg
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Patent number: 6835424Abstract: A marking composition includes a polymerizable first material that comprises silicon and a second material capable of extending polymeric chains of the first material, wherein the marking composition is capable of undergoing a change that can be detected optically when the composition is contacted with energy.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2003Date of Patent: December 28, 2004Assignee: Markem CorporationInventors: Richard J. Larson, Jr., Michael P. Secord, Richard C. Woudenberg, Jr.
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Patent number: 6835457Abstract: A marking composition includes a polymerizable first material that comprises silicon and a second material capable of extending polymeric chains of the first material, wherein the marking composition is capable of undergoing a change that can be detected optically when the composition is contacted with energy.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2001Date of Patent: December 28, 2004Assignee: Markem CorporationInventors: Richard J. Larson, Jr., Michael P. Secord, Richard C. Woudenberg, Jr.