CREATING A PACKAGING PRODUCTION DATASET BASED ON PRE-APPROVED PACKAGING FEATURES AND PRODUCING A PACKAGING

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is provided for creating a packaging production dataset for a consumer product packaging, including the steps of: providing a database of pre-approved packaging features in different categories, each having assigned metadata; receiving a selection of pre-approved packaging features; receiving a selection of at least one production machine for the packaging; evaluating the selection of pre-approved packaging features based on its metadata, the evaluating including evaluating its compatibility with the received selection of at least one production machine, the evaluating being based on a comparison of a production machine dataset with a packaging feature, including the metadata thereof; and creating the packaging production dataset defining a packaging according to the pre-approved packaging features. A method for producing a packaging, and a computer system including a graphical user interface, are also provided.

Claims

1.-16. (canceled)

17. A computer-implemented method for creating a packaging production dataset for a consumer product packaging, comprising the steps of: providing a database of pre-approved packaging features in different categories, each having assigned metadata; receiving a selection of pre-approved packaging features; receiving a selection of at least one production machine for the packaging; evaluating the selection of pre-approved packaging features based on its metadata, the evaluating comprising evaluating its compatibility with the received selection of at least one production machine, wherein the evaluating is based on a comparison of a production machine dataset with a packaging feature, including the metadata thereof; and creating the packaging production dataset defining a packaging according to the pre-approved packaging features.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the evaluating further comprises checking the compatibility of at least two packaging features based on their metadata.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of storing the packaging production dataset and retrieving the packaging production dataset for creation of a new packaging production dataset, which at least partially comprises packaging features of the retrieved packaging production dataset.

20. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of receiving a new packaging feature created by a first user, submitting the new packaging feature for approval to a second user, and, if approved by the second user, storing the approved packaging feature as a pre-approved packaging feature in the database.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein the packaging feature is one of a packaging type, a component of a package, at least one property of a print on the package, a brand, a text element, an arrangement of the at least one consumer good in the package, a type of consumer good arranged in the package, and a designated market for the package.

22. The method according to claim 17, wherein the evaluating further comprises evaluating the metadata regarding geographic approval.

23. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of: producing a packaging based on the packaging production dataset, involving at least one of the converting operations of printing, cutting, embossing, folding, creasing, or scoring; receiving an approval of the packaging production dataset based on an evaluation of the produced packaging; and storing the packaging production dataset as an approved packaging production dataset in the database.

24. The method according to claim 17, further comprising evaluating the printed packaging by measuring properties of a print on the packaging using a measuring device, comparing the measured properties with a packaging feature defining color, and approving the packaging feature.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the measuring device is a spectrophotometer.

26. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of approving the packaging production dataset, when all packaging features are either pre-approved packaging features or manually approved by a user.

27. A method for producing a packaging, comprising: performing a computer-implemented method for creating a packaging production dataset according to claim 17; and producing the packaging according to the packaging production dataset.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the step of producing the packaging comprises digital printing.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the packaging production dataset comprises all data necessary for a respective production machine to produce a packaging defined by the selected packaging features.

30. A computer system comprising a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface being configured to display sets of pre-approved packaging features in different categories, and the computer system is configured such that selection by a user of a pre-approved packaging feature in one set reduces a number of selectable pre-approved packaging features in at least another set displayed on the graphical user interface, based on compatibility of the pre-approved packaging features.

31. The computer system of claim 30, wherein the graphical user interface is further configured to enable selection of available production machines, and wherein the computer system is further configured such that the selection by the user of a production machine reduces a number of selectable pre-approved packaging features on the graphical user interface.

32. The computer system of claim 30, wherein the computer system is further configured to display on the graphical user interface a preview of the packaging according to the pre-approved packaging features, selected by the user.

Description

Exemplary Embodiments of the Invention Will Now be Explained with Reference to Figures

[0090] FIG. 1 shows a blank for a hinge-lid container and a hinge-lid container formed from same in accordance with pre-approved packaging features, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0091] FIG. 2 shows a symbolic representation of pre-approved packaging features, a packaging production dataset and production machines according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0092] FIG. 3 shows steps of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0093] FIG. 4 shows a graphical user interface according to an embodiment of the invention during the selection of a packaging feature.

[0094] FIG. 5 shows a graphical user interface according to an embodiment of the invention showing information regarding a packaging production dataset.

[0095] FIG. 1 shows a blank 1, preferably made of cardboard, and a container 2 which results from folding the blank along pre-determined scoring lines or creasing lines. As can be seen, the blank has a distinctive geometry. For example, the vertical edge line of the container is rounded by applying several parallel creasing lines 3 in one panel and rounded edges 4 in another panel. Furthermore, the blank 1 comprises brand representations 5 and text 6 due to legal requirements. Each of these elements or features is determined by a packaging feature, which is a set of data. The blank 2, in particular its material, geometry, and others, is determined by the packaging feature 7. The rounded edge feature, which comprises several parallel creasing lines 3 and according rounded edges 4, is determined by the packaging feature 8. The brand representation 5 is determined by the packaging feature 9. The text 6, in particular its font, size, content, and others, is determined by the packaging feature 10. As can be seen, many more packaging features are comprised in the blank, such as for example the distribution of glue or the thickness of the material. The method of the present invention enables producing the package without a very low likelihood of technical malfunctions or cumbersome trial and error periods in the production setup. For this purpose, a database of pre-approved packaging features is provided, which all have assigned metadata.

[0096] In FIG. 2, a schematic view of the logical data structure of the pre-approved packaging features is shown. For example, in a first category 11, the pre-approved packaging features 12, 13 and 14 are comprised, which define the packaging type. For example, hinge lid container as pre-approved packaging feature 12, soft pack container as pre-approved packaging feature 13 and pouch container as pre-approved packaging feature 14. Each of the pre-approved features comprises metadata 15, 16, 17, which define the compatibility of the pre-approved packaging feature with pre-approved packaging features from other categories and production machines 18, 19, 20. For example, the metadata 15 and 16 both indicate that a die cutting production machine 20 is compatible and required. For creating a package according to pre-approved packaging feature 14, a different production machine 18 may be necessary. Similarly, the metadata 15 and 16 may indicate that the production machine 19, for example a digital laser scoring machine, is compatible, while other scoring machines may not be compatible.

[0097] The next category 21 of pre-approved packaging features may relate to components of the package, such as an information leaflet 24, a sealed inner liner 25 or an electronic heating device 26. Now, the compatibility of these packaging features with packaging features 15, 16, 17 may be evaluated on the basis of the metadata 27, 28, 29 of the packaging features 23, 24, 25.

[0098] In a further category 30 of packaging features, marketing information may be defined. The user now selects a combination of pre-approved packaging features, for example images or copy lines from a marketing campaign, and, according to the embodiment of the inventive method, the selection of the pre-approved packaging features is evaluated based on the metadata. If there are no objections in the combinations, a packaging production dataset 31 is created. Otherwise, an automatic modification of packaging features may be effected or a selection may simply be refused. Also, it is possible to only provide those pre-approved packaging features to the user for selection that are compatible with the previously selected features.

[0099] Other production machines may, for example, be folding and blank cutting machines that are required to manufacture a container as shown in FIG. 1.

[0100] The production machine may then be provided with the packaging production dataset and produce a packaging with the specified features. Depending on the embodiment of the invention, this may still be a packaging for final approval or immediately a packaging for retail. If it is a packaging for approval, further analytics may be carried out, such as measuring properties of the print on the packaging to pre-approve further combinations of packaging features, that is, adapt the metadata accordingly or confirm assumptions reflected in the metadata.

[0101] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the method according to the invention. In a first step 32, packaging features are provided for selection in a digital catalogue. Optionally, additional packaging features may be added to or may be removed from the catalogue by the user. The catalogue may comprise pre-approved packaging features and approved packaging production datasets. By selecting pre-approved packaging features or approved packaging production datasets, or pre-approved packaging features and approved packaging production datasets from the catalogue, a new packaging production dataset may be produced in a second step 33. The selection is evaluated based on the metadata of the selected packaging features, and a packaging production dataset is created. The packaging production dataset may be approved with or immediately after its creation. In a third step 34, one or several packages are produced according to the packaging production dataset. In a fourth step 35, the package or features of the packaging are analyzed by means of a measuring device 36. The result may be used to approve packaging features or the whole packaging production dataset. While this embodiment of the method is rather linear, there may be a reiteration of steps. For example, after the measurement in step 26 indicated an incompatibility of packaging features or of a packaging feature and a production machine, the packaging feature or the selection of the production machine may be amended in step 32.

[0102] FIG. 4 shows a graphical user interface 37 for a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information currently on display allows the user to select a pre-approved packaging feature in the form of a component of the package, namely an inner liner. As can be seen, several different options 38, 39, 40 are available for the inner liner. The user may be provided with supplementary information 41 on the cost and properties of the selected packaging feature. Once a user has selected all properties, the packaging production dataset is displayed as a preview 42 in the graphical user interface 43 of FIG. 4. The preview 42 visualizes selected packaging features and a selection option for the user to create the packaging production dataset. The packaging production dataset is then saved and may be provided to one or several production machines that produce a corresponding package.

[0103] The present invention is particularly beneficial for consumer goods, which require frequent design modifications, due to marketing reasons or legal requirements. Furthermore, it is beneficial for consumer goods, which have to be provided with different packages for different markets, due to marketing reasons or legal requirements. This requires that new types of packaging are quickly implemented in a short amount of time and often for very different production machines depending on the amount of packages to be produced. For example, smaller lot sizes may be beneficially produced through digital printing. Digital printing typically has a higher printing cost per package than conventional printing methods for large production runs, but may be more cost efficient, for smaller production runs. Digital printing is generally more flexible regarding design changes. Depending on the different requirements in the selected package, the printing method may not be technically compatible with other packaging features. Thus, if for example a package is modified by changing the packaging feature of the printing technique and the amount of information provided on the package for a specific market, the inventive method may indicate that this modified selection is not feasible and may propose or automatically carry out amendments in other packaging features. The present invention therefore relies on an online catalogue of pre-approved packaging features and pre-approved packaging production datasets, corresponding to pre-approved products, which may correspond to packages previously produced by the inventive method. Thus, modifications on already available products and the creation of new packaging products may be swiftly carried out.

[0104] The database comprises packaging features with high resolution, detailed information regarding the packaging features. This enables providing the detailed information required for instructing the respective production machine. The database may also comprise lower quality preview information, which may be provided to the user during the selection process. The metadata may not only relate to the packaging but may also define encoding standards, provenance, design ownership, access rights or location of original creation. It may enable tracing back the packaging features to their creator in case of a need for further evaluation or implementation. It will provide information on the production machines, tools or systems used for creation of the packaging and how it should be handled and displayed. The metadata may comprise information on the communication interface of production machines required for the production of the packaging feature. Thus, it may enable the operation of the production machine in a standardized manner from a common user interface for many production machines.

[0105] Thus, all packaging assets and labeling information may be comprised within the pre-approved packaging features. Consequently, it enables simplifying and standardizing packaging development by assembling selected pre-approved packaging features together according to pre-defined parameters and design templates. Thus, packaging production datasets can be created in very short time.