System for providing onsite, on-demand ear tag printing for livestock operations

Abstract

A system for providing end-users with, and with the ability to produce, customized, individually variable plastic tags for use in livestock management operations. The present system eliminates the need for factory production of customized ear tags (with the inherently required order lead time), reduces the likelihood of waste through over-ordering and the inconvenience of shortages, and provides near infinite flexibility in selecting the indicia which will appear on any given ear tag or batch of ear tags. The present method will provide end-users with greater flexibility, more useful end products, all at potential cost savings through resulting efficiencies.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A system for producing on-site, on-demand production of individually customized identification tags at livestock facilities comprising: 
 a plurality of tag blanks as substrates for production of said identification tags;    tab lamination material having an adhesion side and an opposite, non-adhesion side, said adhesion side being configured for producing indicia, visible from said non-adhesion side, upon processing by a lamination material printing apparatus, said tag lamination material being sized and shaped for application to said tag blanks;    a lamination material printer apparatus for effecting said producing of indicia on said lamination material, said lamination material printer apparatus being operably interfaced with a computer with software executable on said computer, said software for controlling printing by said lamination printer apparatus onto said adhesion side of said lamination material, said lamination printer apparatus having a film positioning apparatus for positioning said lamination material into position relative to said lamination printer apparatus for a printing apparatus of said lamination printer apparatus to apply printed images onto said lamination material, said printed images being controlled by said software;    a lamination material application apparatus configured for durably applying said lamination material to one or more said tag blanks after producing indicia thereon through operation of said lamination printer apparatus.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said software includes user-actuatable features for selecting variable indicia for printing onto said lamination material.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said software includes printer control features, customized via a graphical user interface, for selecting and arranging indicia which said lamination printer apparatus will, upon actuation by said computer, print onto a said lamination material which is positioned for printing by said film positioning apparatus.  
     
     
         4 . A system for providing on-site, on-demand production of individually customized identification tags at livestock facilities comprising: 
 a fluid jet printer apparatus and a operably interfaced computer with software executable on said computer, said software for controlling printing by said fluid jet printer onto print media, said fluid jet printer having a tag positioning apparatus for positioning a first tag blank into position relative to said fluid jet printer for a printing apparatus of said fluid jet printer to apply printed images onto said tag blank, said printed images being controlled by said software;    a tab lamination apparatus for applying a protective, substantially transparent barrier atop a printed image on a said tag blank for protecting said printed image from abrasion or chemical alteration.    
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein said software includes user-actuatable features for selecting variable indicia for printing onto said tag blanks.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4  wherein said software includes printer control features, customized via a graphical user interface, for selecting and arranging indicia which said fluid jet printer will, upon actuation by said computer, print onto a said tag blank which is positioned for printing by said tag positioning apparatus.