System and method of repackaging an item having a unique identification code

Abstract

The invention is a method and system of repackaging a packaged item having a representation of a unique identification code attached to the original package. The packaged item having a first unique identification code may be removed from its original packaging and be repackaged in a replacement package and information associated with the first unique identification code may be associated with a second unique identification code. A representation of the second unique identification code may be attached to the replacement package so that the information associated with the item may be recalled at a desired time. The invention may help reduce or limit the possibility of losing information that is unique to the repackaged item. The information associated with the item may also be used to determine an appropriate type of replacement package for the item so that the overall efficiency of repackaging an item may be improved.

1 . A method of repackaging comprising: 
 providing a packaged item comprising an original package, an item enclosed in the original package, and having a representation of a first unique identification code on the original package;    inputting the first unique identification code into a data system;    recalling information that is associated with the first unique identification code;    determining from the recalled information a replacement package type for the enclosed item;    associating in the data system the recalled information with a second unique identification code;    removing the item from the original package;    enclosing the item in the replacement package; and    imparting to the replacement package a representation of the second unique identification code.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the representation of the first and second unique identification code is a machine readable code and the step of inputting the first unique identification code comprises scanning the machine readable representation of the first unique identification code with a data entry device.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the replacement package type further comprises instructing a package dispensing machine to automatically dispense the replacement package type.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the package dispensing machine includes two or more different replacement package types.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the step imparting the second unique identification code to the replacement package further comprises printing the representation of the second unique identification code onto a surface of the replacement packaging as it is dispensed.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the step imparting the representation of the second unique identification code to the replacement package comprises attaching a label to the replacement package that includes the representation of the second unique identification code encoded thereon.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step imparting the representation of the second unique identification code to the replacement package comprises selecting a replacement package having the representation of the second unique identification code predisposed thereon.  
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the representation of the second unique identification code is predisposed on the replacement package and the step of associating the recalled information with a second unique identification code further comprises inputting the second unique identification code into the data system so that the recalled information is associated with the second unique identification code.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising signaling to an operator the replacement package type for repackaging the item, and wherein an operator selects the replacement package based on the signal.  
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of associating the recalled information with a second unique identification code further comprises generating the second unique identification code.  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein generating the second unique identification code further comprises creating a machine readable representation of the second unique identification code.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the recalled information includes product-specific information and item-specific information.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the recalled information includes information used to impart human readable information onto the replacement package.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the data system comprises a computer and an associated storage medium.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the item comprises a food product.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the original package is leaking.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the provided packaged item comprises a formerly vacuum packaged item, and wherein the original package is leaking.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the enclosing step comprises vacuum packaging the item in the replacement package.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second unique identification code is the same as the first unique identification code.  
   
   
       20 . A method of repackaging comprising: 
 providing a packaged item comprising an original package, an item enclosed in the original package, and a representation of a first unique identification code applied to the original package;    inputting the first unique identification code into a data system;    recalling information that is associated with the first unique identification code, the recalled information including a replacement package type for the enclosed item;    dispensing the replacement package for the item;    associating in the data system the recalled information with a second unique identification code;    removing the item from the original package;    enclosing the item in the replacement package; and    imparting to the replacement package a representation of the second unique identification code.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of printing the representation of the second unique identification code onto the replacement package.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of dispensing the replacement package further comprises the data system instructing a package dispensing machine to automatically dispense the replacement package.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising providing to an operator the packaging information directed to the replacement package, wherein an operator selects the replacement package based on the provided packaging information.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising vacuum packaging the item in the replacement package, and wherein the item comprises a meat product.  
   
   
       25 . A system for repackaging an item having a representation of a first unique identification code, said system comprising: 
 a data system having a data processor and an associated storage medium, wherein the storage medium is configured to store information associated with the first unique identification code and the processor is configured to associate the information with a second unique identification code;    a data entry device that is configured to input the first unique identification code into said data system so that the information associated with the first unique identification code may be recalled from the storage medium, wherein the information associated with the first unique identification code includes a recommended replacement package type for the item;    a package dispensing machine having one or more different replacement package types; and    an identification code transfer device that is configured to impart a representation of the second unique identification code.    
   
   
       26 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the package dispensing machine is operatively connected to the data system and is configured to automatically dispense an appropriate replacement package in which to repackage the item.  
   
   
       27 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the package dispensing machine is capable of dispensing an appropriate replacement package and printing a representation of the second unique identification code onto the appropriate replacement package.  
   
   
       28 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the data system comprises a computer terminal that is configured to display the replacement package type for the item being repackaged.  
   
   
       29 . The system for repackaging an item according to  claim 25 , wherein the identification code transfer device is operatively connected to the data system and is configured to do one or more of: 
 print the representation of the second unique identification code onto a surface of the replacement package as it is being dispensed from the package dispensing machine;    print the representation of the second unique identification code onto a label that is adherable to the replacement package that is dispensed from the package dispensing machine; and    encode the second unique identification code into a radio frequency tag.    
   
   
       30 . The system for repackaging an item according to  claim 25 , wherein the identification code transfer device comprises a plurality of labels each of which have a representation of a unique identification code encoded thereon, and wherein the data entry device is configured to input a second unique identification code from one of the labels into the data system so that the recalled information is associated in the data system with the second unique identification code.  
   
   
       31 . The system for repackaging an item according to  claim 25 , wherein the representation of the second unique identification code is predisposed on the replacement package and the package dispensing machine serves as the identification code transfer device.  
   
   
       32 . The system for repackaging an item according to  claim 25 , wherein the representation of the second unique identification code is predisposed on the replacement package and the identification code transfer device is configured to input the second unique identification code into the data system.  
   
   
       33 . The system for repackaging an item according to  claim 25 , wherein the data entry device is configured to input the second unique identification code from the replacement package into the data system so that the recalled information is associated in the data system with the second unique identification code.  
   
   
       34 . The system for repackaging an item according to  claim 25 , wherein the data entry device comprises an optical bar code scanner, a radio frequency reader, a keyboard, or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       35 . The system for repackaging an item according to  claim 25 , further comprising a vacuum packaging device.