DESC:BACKGROUND
Technical Field
The embodiments herein generally relate to serialization, temper proofing and aggregation in a packaging line and more particularly to, but not limited to, an integrated system which includes subsystems for serializing, temper proofing and aggregation of a case packaging in single packaging system, thereby improving the throughput efficiency of the packaging line.
Description of the Related Art
The pharmaceutical industry is an ever-changing environment that is constantly threatened by illegal activity, especially in the form of falsified products and vandalism to packaging. Therefore, serialization and tamper-resistance are essential in the inhibiting of bogus and unsafe medicines reaching the public. Falsified medicine is the production of counterfeit pharmaceutical products that do not adhere to the strict regulatory standards imposed by government agencies to ensure consumer safety. This can take various forms, with the key factor being that they usually contain low quality or incorrect ingredients, or an incorrect dosage of the drugs. Falsification can also be in the form of the information surrounding the product’s provenance trail, such as the manufacturer, country of manufacture, and commercialization owner. Similarly, the distribution channels logged in its records and documents can be falsified to cover up the original source. The main problem is not of the falsification of products, but rather the increasing difficulty in detecting them before they reach the consumer. If a product is noticeably fake, it can be removed from the distribution process and possibly tracked to its source, whereas a highly convincing reproduction can spread across the globe. Over recent years, the manufacturing process behind falsified medicines has become so sophisticated and adaptive that large quantities have passed through quality control and legislative tests. This poses a very real problem to the health and wellbeing of consumers worldwide.

Now, serialization is a process of assigning a unique serial number to each saleable unit of each prescription product, which is linked to information about the product’s origin, batch number and expiration date. The units can then be tracked effectively in entire supply chain right from production to retail distribution to the final dispensation to the patient. Serialization also presents challenges at many different points in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Label redesign - For many manufacturers, serialization will require a significant redesign of labels to allow space for the new 2D barcode. Consequently, changes in labeling may also necessitate alterations or redesign of packaging structure or graphic elements. Maintaining production efficiency - the new labeling requirements will have an impact on multiple packaging processes. Adhering labels and scanning bundles, cases and pallets will all slow down the packaging line. The manufacturer will need to increase manpower or automation to maintain current levels of production. Data management and availability - In addition to physical packaging changes, data management needs will grow rapidly. The IT architecture must also be able to generate, store, capture and transmit millions of serial numbers for numerous supply chains.

The only way to effectively identify a pack is to give them a unique identifier. This may contain an ISO-compliant product code of up to say 50 characters, a randomized serial number of up to say 20 characters, a batch number, an expiry date, etc. There may also the option to include a national reimbursement or identification number. All of this information is carried by a 2D barcode meeting a minimum print quality. It is then checked against its entry in an official repositories system during the distribution process. With regards to tamper-proofing measures, the choice of the technical specification is left to the manufacturer. Whatever the chosen solution is they must be suitable for an end-to-end verification system and effective against all forms of tampering.
To fight this global scourge, more than 40 countries are working on track-and-trace laws and standards to thoroughly regulate pharmaceutical products as they pass through the supply chain with strict serialization, aggregation and coding requirements. Aggregation impacts serialization projects on the packaging lines throughout manufacturers’ operations and the overall supply chain. It provides any company involved in pharmaceutical packaging with the ability to build a serialized relationship between unique identifiers assigned to packaging containers. Not only does this ease the minds of pharmaceutical companies but also meets requirements in the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) and the EU Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD). If you have a case with a serial number and salable units (cartons, bottles) with unique serial numbers within that case, aggregation enables associate the multiple serial numbers of the individual units (child) with their case (parent). Thus, establishing a “parent-child” relationship as products move through the packaging stages of the pharmaceutical supply chain. Aggregation lets you scan the case’s barcode to determine the identity of all the contents within the case. The key end-user benefit of aggregation removes the need to open the case and scan all of the individual saleable units. You can scan one code and understand exactly what is in the whole shipment, every case, bundle, individual carton, etc., making it challenging for counterfeit products to enter the market. This is one of the reasons that aggregation can facilitate the material handling aspects of serialized projects in warehouse environments and create efficiencies across the entire supply chain.

Now there exist an integrated serialization and tamper evident system, aggregation and palletization systems, and serialization and aggregation (inside a case packer) each as a standalone unit or system. However, there is no stand-alone unit or system which is capable of doing serialization, tamper evidence and aggregation on a single standalone machine or system, but there exists a modular configuration only for serialization and tamper evidence. Individual cartons still have to be inspected at serialization zone. Further there exist a prior patent application WO/2015/089653 which relates to a system for carrying, inspecting and selectively releasing successively carried items comprising an upper carrier assembly, an item control unit, an item inspection unit and an item ejection mechanism. However, this prior art reference only talks about a vacuum assembly which capture successively carried items from above and carry them along the item travelling path. This reference uses a vacuum suction-based conveyor for product transfer and has a limitation that it does not provide individual carton movement and speed control of each carton. Also, there is no control on gap between successive products i.e. it has fixed gap between successive products. This application has solution for only print-inspection operation and an optional tamper label application on top side.

Accordingly, there remains a need for an integrated track and trace technique with a single system for serialization, tamper proofing and aggregation using linear servo-based product transfer system. This single system should be providing an integrated track and trace solution which includes serialization and tamper proofing with rejection unit and aggregation, having linear servo-based system capable of handling product transfer with variable speed. Further, the integrated system should be adaptable with modular capabilities having multiple configurable options in single design architecture. For example: serialization, tamper evident and aggregation in one configuration and serialization and/or tamper Evident and/or aggregation in another configuration for effectively delivering high speed, automatic packaging solution with reduced footprint.
SUMMARY
The present embodiment herein discloses system for serialization, tamper proofing and aggregation in packaging line. The system includes an entry conveyor conveying plurality of filled cartons, a linear servo transfer unit characterized in that having a product movers to pick up the cartons from the conveyor, wherein the movers moves along a pre-defined guided path on the linear servo transport unit picking and carrying the respective cartons from the conveyor which is coming into the servo transfer unit at a variable speed, a serialization unit which consists of a printer and a camera along with illumination unit, wherein the printer prints specified predefined data on the carton and sends the carton for acceptance by checking through a visual inspection mechanism, a tamper evident unit , which applies tamper proof labels on the carton at openable flaps, a rejection mechanism, moving the cartons into a rejection bin which is located on top of the linear servo unit, wherein the mechanism ejects the carton into the bin on failure to qualify set parameters for accuracy and quality of serialization print or tamper proofing label application, a carton stacker placed on rear side of the linear servo unit stacks accepted carton to form a row until pre-defined layers of rows is built on one-another to form an aggregation layer, and an exit conveyor to carry the arranged layer of cartons towards an aggregation platform for inspection unit to carry out inspection of codes on all the cartons in a single instance and on completion of the inspection, the complete layer of cartons is pushed into a shipper for final packaging and /or for further conveying of the shipper.

In an embodiment, the system has a footprint in range 3 to 5 square meter. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cartons stacker is of adjustable size container having bottom side open for the carton to escape. The conveyor may be placed parallel to the linear servo line below the stacker, which takes out cartons one by one from the stacker.
The cartons are transferred from conveyor to the aggregation platform and arranged adjacent to each other to form a row of cartons facing an aggregation inspection unit.
A method for serialization, tamper proofing and aggregation in packaging line, said method comprising steps of: conveying plurality of filled cartons through a conveyor, picking up the cartons from the conveyor by a linear servo transfer unit characterized in that having a product movers wherein the movers moves along a pre-defined guided path on the linear servo transport unit picking and carrying the respective cartons from the conveyor which is coming into the servo transfer unit at a variable speed, printing specified predefined data on the carton through a serialization unit which consists of a printer and a camera along with illumination unit, sending the carton for acceptance by checking through a visual inspection mechanism, applying tamper proof labels on the carton at openable flaps through a tamper evident unit, moving the cartons into a rejection bin which is located on top of the linear servo unit, ejecting the carton which fails to qualify set parameters for accuracy and quality of serialization print or tamper proofing label application, stacking a pre-defined layers of rows by a carton stacker which is placed on rear side of the linear servo unit, carrying the arranged layer of cartons towards an aggregation platform for inspecting codes on all the cartons, inspecting all the cartons in a single instance through an inspection unit and pushing the inspected cartons into a shipper for final packaging and /or for further conveying of the shipper.
These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in the accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in the context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments:

The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical view of a system performing serialization, temper proofing and aggregation in a packaging line presently used in industry according to an embodiment mentioned herein;

FIG. 2 illustrates a typical top schematic layout of a system performing serialization, temper proofing and aggregation in a packaging line presently used in industry according to an embodiment mentioned herein;

FIG. 3 illustrates a front schematic view of an integrated track and trace system for performing serialization, tamper proofing and aggregation in a packaging line according to an embodiment mentioned herein;

FIG. 4 illustrates a rear schematic view of an integrated track and trace system for performing serialization, tamper proofing and aggregation in a packaging line according to an embodiment mentioned herein;

FIG. 5 illustrates a top schematic view of an integrated track and trace system for performing serialization, tamper proofing and aggregation in a packaging line according to an embodiment mentioned herein; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a method for performing serialization, tamper proofing and aggregation using an integrated track and trace system in a packaging line according to an embodiment mentioned herein.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

References in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” member that a particular feature, structure, characteristics, or function described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth such as particular architectures, interfaces, techniques, etc. in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. That is, those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its spirit and scope. In some instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. All statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.

Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that block diagrams herein can represent conceptual views of illustrative circuitry embodying the principles of the technology. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow charts, state transition diagrams, pseudo code, and the like represent various processes which may be substantially represented in computer readable medium and so executed by a computer or processor, whether such computer or processor is explicitly shown.

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical view of a system performing serialization, temper proofing and aggregation in a packaging line presently used in industry according to an embodiment mentioned herein. currently available solutions include following integrations and automations:
1. Serialization + Tamper Evident system
2. Casepacker Type-1 (Cartonator packing + Shipper/Case packing) with optional Serialization and / or Aggregation facility
3. Casepacker Type-2 (Shipper/Case packing) with optional Aggregation facility

In most of the solutions available in market are either of the above two options: standalone systems successively placed in the given order or integrated systems with optional inspection facilities. In case of optional facilities, specialties being different (Mechatronics for machines and Optics & Software for Inspection), customers evaluate Casepacker and Inspection Solutions differently and integrates to get required solutions as per intended specifications.

FIG. 2 illustrates a typical top schematic layout of a system performing serialization, temper proofing and aggregation in a packaging line presently used in industry according to an embodiment mentioned herein. Find below an integrated line solution with most likely solution from customer perspective:

1. Serialization + Tamper Evident system:
This type of solution is readily available with ACG as well as other make options in market. This has become a common and standard solution for customers with requirement of Serialization & Tamper proofing label application.

This type of system uses a conveyor mounted on a structure for the movement of cartons from Print, Inspection, Tamper label application and Rejection area. The respective units operate respective functions and carton accepted for pre-set criteria for Print & Tamper Label application is passed on to the next system.

2. Casepacker Type-2 integrated with Inspection system for Aggregation:
In this, stand-alone casepacker (excluding carton packing i.e. cartonator) system is used for bundling of cartons in shipper. Cartons from upstream machine are moved to the bundling area by using conveyor. The system can create array of cartons i.e. layer and push them on to the platform (or directly inside the shipper), one after the other. Once multiple layers are formed and pushed into the shipper (in case layers are directly pushed in the shipper, all the layers are built inside the shipper only); the shipper is passed on the next system.

This casepacker in integrated with Inspection Camera for Aggregation. The camera system is placed such that it can view the complete layer, inspect all coded cartons in one go and give feedback to the system for acceptance/ rejection.

3. Label Print & Application unit (PnA):
The shipper filled with cartons is moved on to the conveyor for label application through an intermediate stage, where shipper is inverted through 90° making flap-side upwards to avoid spilling of carton out of the shipper.

Meanwhile, the Label gets printed and ready for application on the shipper. The shipped is moved through label application, label Inspection and rejection area by conveyor; where respective actions takes place. The shipper accepted for pre-set criteria for Print & Application of Aggregation Label is passed on to the next system. The taping unit may be placed either between casepacker and PnA unit or after label application unit.

The above case described is fully automatic solution, where there is no manual intervention required since entry of the carton in serialization system until shipper coming out with label. This type of solution gives output of 5-20 shippers per minute, which depends upon carton feeding speed, carton size, label application speed, array size of each layer of a bundle, number of layers in one shipper, aggregation label application type (straight type or L type), etc. For maximum carton size ACG supports i.e. 200x200x150 mm (LxWxH), the footprint required for above functions is approximately 6.5x3 m that too with very compact & precise positioning of systems and sub-units.

Accordingly, there remains a need for an integrated track and trace technique with a single system for serialization, tamper proofing and aggregation using linear servo-based product transfer system. Further, the integrated system should be adaptable with modular capabilities having multiple configurable options in single design architecture.

The present embodiments herein provides an integrated system and method for serialization, temper proofing and aggregation in a packaging line. The uses of the method and apparatus or device disclosed herein includes subsystems for serializing, temper proofing and aggregation of a case packaging in single packaging system, thereby improving the throughput efficiency of the packaging line. Referring now to the figures, more particularly from FIG. 3 to FIG. 6, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, preferred embodiments are shown.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front schematic view of an integrated track and trace system for serialization, tamper proofing and aggregation in a packaging line according to an embodiment mentioned herein. The system 100 includes an entry conveyor 1, an exit conveyor 2, a linear servo transfer unit 3 and a tamper evident unit 8. In an embodiment, the linear servo transfer unit 3 may be based on variable speed in order to transfer/ transport cartons 5 or packages at a variable speed.

In an embodiment, a control system (inclusive of CPU, PLC, electronic components & electrical circuits, etc) (not shown in the FIG.) may control the working of the system 100 in pre-defined programmable manner. The Control commands and the system 100 interaction may be performed using a human machine interface unit HMI (not shown in the FIG.).

In an embodiment, the linear servo transport system 3 may carry product movers 4. In one example embodiment, the number of product movers 4 may vary with respect to throughput requirement and configuration of the system 100. The movers 4 moves along a pre-defined guided path on the linear servo transport system 3 picking and carrying the respective cartons 5. The product movers 4 may be equipped with gripping mechanism (not shown in the FIG.) for holding the carton 5. Here the method of product gripping and handling may vary, while the basic idea of product transportation remains the same.

In an embodiment, the cartons 5 coming from entry conveyor 1 are picked up by the product movers 4 at the entry of the linear servo product transfer system 3, irrespective of the entry speed and gap between two successive cartons. The carton 5 moves with mover along the path on linear servo system 3 through different stations. The variable speed motion capability of linear servo system 3 enables to maintain differential carton speeds at different stations as per maximum permissible speeds limited to complete the respective functionality.

FIG. 4 illustrates a rear schematic view of the integrated track and trace system 100 for serialization, tamper proofing and aggregation in a packaging line according to an embodiment mentioned herein. The system 100 further includes a serialization unit 6 which consists of a printer & camera along with illumination unit (both not shows in the FIG.). The printer prints specified predefined data 7 on the carton 5 and then sends the carton 5 for acceptance by checking through a visual inspection mechanism.

The track of the product movement is a closed loop, where the cartons 5 travels in linear path initially, then follows curved path to change the orientation & direction of movement by 180° and then again travels in a linear path until it reaches last station. In an embodiment, the product movers 4 moves idle along the closed path, up to entry conveyor before gripping the next carton 5. This arrangement utilizes the transport system more efficient way by reducing idle movement of the product movers 4 as well as achieving multiple operations in a compact footprint.

In an embodiment, the linear servo transport system 3 may either be positioned vertically, so that the return path is vertically above the forward path (as shown in FIG. 1); or it may also be positioned horizontally, so that the return path is behind the forward path (not shown in the FIG.).

FIG. 5 illustrates a top schematic view of the integrated track and trace system for serialization, tamper proofing and aggregation in a packaging line according to an embodiment mentioned herein. The carton 5 first moves through the serialization area 6, where the printer prints 7 the appropriate data 7 and camera unit inspects the same. In one example embodiment, the camera may be a smart camera which may be capable of decoding the printed code on the carton 5 and provide response to the control system. In another example embodiment, the camera may be a simple camera, which only grabs images and sends to the control system to decode and take further necessary action.

The inspection unit can inspect one or multiple cartons at a time, depending upon the carton sizes and inspection Field of View (FOV) available. This required controlled movement of successive cartons is achieved by linear servo transport system 3. As the carton enters into the next station, if the serialization print 7 has been decoded successfully and the control system has accepted that carton; the tamper evident unit 8 applies tamper proofing labels 9 on the carton 5 at openable flaps. The accuracy of this tamper proofing label application is checked by sensors (or camera) in the same station and signals control system appropriate feedback. In case, if the carton must be rejected due to absence or improper print quality, tamper proofing label is not even applied. The carton 5 moves along curved path on the return side of the servo track and moved through rejection area.

For failure to qualify set parameters for accuracy and quality of any of the serialization print or tamper proofing label application, the rejection mechanism 10 moves that carton into a rejection bin 11. The rejected cartons can be taken out of rejection bin after set intervals or it is also equipped with bin full signal to let the operator know the same and take necessary action.

In an embodiment, the accepted cartons further move along with the product movers 4 into the aggregation zone. Every accepted carton 5 may be first pushed into a carton stacker 13, placed on rear side of the linear servo track, by a carton pusher 12 which may be placed on front side of the linear servo track.

In an embodiment, the cartons stacker 13 may be adjustable size container having bottom side open for the carton escape. A conveyor 14 runs parallel to linear servo line below the stacker 13, which takes out cartons 5 one by one from the stacker 13. The cartons 5 are transferred from conveyor to aggregation platform 15 and arranged adjacent to each other to form a row of cartons facing an aggregation inspection unit 16.

In an embodiment, the cartons 5 may be transferred from product movers 4 to aggregation platform 15 and arranged adjacent to each other to form a row of the cartons facing an aggregation inspection unit 16. In an embodiment, the pusher type unit or robotic pick-n-place unit used as product transfer mechanism 12 for transferring cartons on to aggregation platform.

In an example embodiment, once the pre-defined number of cartons is set on the platform to form a row, the aggregation platform moves downwards by distance equal to the height of the carton. This may allow next row of the cartons to be built above the first row of the cartons. The process continues until pre-defined number of rows is built on one-another to form an aggregation layer.

On completion of aggregation layer, the aggregation camera unit 16 inspects codes on all the cartons in a single instance. On completion of inspection activity, the complete layer of cartons is pushed into the shipper 17, which is placed between the aggregation platform & aggregation inspection unit. The shipper 17 gets closed and moved along the exit conveyor.
Meanwhile, the control unit saves the data and share with the labeling system (print & apply), which applies label 19 on the shipper moving on exit conveyor. The code printed on this label carries information of all the cartons in the aggregated layer. This code on the label also gets checked either by scanner or by camera. In case of improper print or label application, the shipper may be moved in the rejected area out of exit conveyor or may be taken out of the line in the next system/station.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method for performing serialization, tamper proofing and aggregation using an integrated track and trace system in a packaging line according to an embodiment mentioned herein. The method includes following steps, wherein in step 200 plurality of filled cartons 5 is conveyed through a conveyor 1.

In step 202, the cartons are picked up from the conveyor by a linear servo transfer unit 3 characterized in that having a product movers 4. Here the movers 4 moves along a pre-defined guided path on the linear servo transport unit 3 picking and carrying the respective cartons 5 from the conveyor which is coming into the servo transfer unit at a variable speed.

In step 204, predefined data 7 is printed on the carton 5 through a serialization unit 6 which consists of a printer and a camera along with illumination unit. In step 206, the carton 5 is sent for acceptance by checking through a visual inspection mechanism. In step 208, tamper proof labels 9 are applied on the carton 5 at openable flaps through a tamper evident unit 8.

In step 210, the cartons are moved into a rejection bin 11 which is located on top of the linear servo unit. In step 212, the carton which fails to qualify set parameters for accuracy and quality of serialization print or tamper proofing label application are ejected. In step 214, a pre-defined layers of rows are stacked by a carton stacker 13 which is placed on rear side of the linear servo unit.

In step 216, the arranged layer of cartons are carried towards an aggregation platform 15 for inspecting codes on all the cartons. In step 218, all the cartons are inspected for accuracy of codes in a single instance through an inspection unit 16 which includes a camera. In step 220, the inspected cartons are pushed into a shipper 17 for final packaging and /or for further conveying of the shipper 17.

The advantageous embodiment of the present disclosure provides sub units of serialization, tamper evident and aggregation, while the system 100 may be equipped with modular capability, wherein the user may choose to opt for any of the three possible combinations: a) Serialization + Tamper Evident + Aggregation, b) Serialization + Tamper Evident, and c) Serialization + Aggregation.

In an embodiment, the system 100 may be converted into option (b) or (c) just by removing respective sub unit from standard solution i.e. option (a). In case of option (b), as aggregation unit is not the part of the system 100, the exit conveyor may be placed at the end of the linear servo track after tamper evident unit. The product movers 4 hold only rejected carton while moving along the loop on return track and reject them into the bin with the help of the rejection mechanism 10. The product movers 4 carrying may be accepted cartons drops them on the exit conveyor and move idle on further path.

In an advantageous embodiment, the system may be designed to pick up the cartons 5 from conveyor having little to no gap between them. The system 100 will adjust according to the carton pitch. The cartons 5 may be picked up from the conveyor using the gripping mechanism. The product mover 4 may pick up the cartons 5, print and inspect them. The good cartons may be applied with tamper proof seals and again checked for the presence of tamper seals. Finally, the totally accepted cartons will be released to the downstream conveyor. The pick-up mechanism may be servo based and have grippers to pick the cartons 5 in the directions of motion. The system 100 may operate at different speed related to each function of print-inspect, tamper proof seal and reject.

In yet another advantageous embodiment, the system 100 may be retrofitted on any conveyor unit or system, the cartons 5 with uneven spacing between them may be picked up, and there is no separate rejection mechanism 10 – thus reducing the need for additional units, all the three functions in a single system which additionally proves to be space saving.

Here the integrated track and trace system are regarding method of integration of 3 basic functional units as mentioned earlier, in order to provide following benefits to the customer as compared to existing solutions:
1. Higher throughput (20+ shippers/min) (depends on carton size, array and no. of layers)
2. Smaller Footprint (conceptually approx. 3x2 m)
3. No requirement of Separator Unit to maintain required gap
4. Modularity of solutions (Serialization + Tamper Evident Labelling + Aggregation OR Serialization + Aggregation OR Serialization + Tamper Evident Labelling)
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope. ,CLAIMS:1. A system 100 for serialization, tamper proofing and aggregation in packaging line comprising:
an entry conveyor 1 conveying plurality of filled cartons 5;
a linear servo transfer unit 3 characterized in that having a product movers 4 to pick up the cartons from the conveyor, wherein the movers 4 moves along a pre-defined guided path on the linear servo transport unit 3 picking and carrying the respective cartons 5 from the conveyor which is coming into the servo transfer unit at a variable speed;
a serialization unit 6 which consists of a printer and a camera along with illumination unit, wherein the printer prints specified predefined data 7 on the carton 5 and sends the carton 5 for acceptance by checking through a visual inspection mechanism;
a tamper evident unit 8, which applies tamper proof labels 9 on the carton 5 at openable flaps;
a rejection mechanism 10, moving the cartons into a rejection bin 11 which is located on top of the linear servo unit, wherein the mechanism ejects the carton into the bin on failure to qualify set parameters for accuracy and quality of serialization print or tamper proofing label application;
a carton stacker 13 placed on rear side of the linear servo unit stacks accepted carton 5 to form a row until pre-defined layers of rows is built on one-another to form an aggregation layer; and
an exit conveyor 2 to carry the arranged layer of cartons towards an aggregation platform 15 for inspection unit 16 to carry out inspection of accuracy of codes on all the cartons in a single instance and on completion of the inspection, the complete layer of cartons is pushed into a shipper 17 for final packaging and /or for further conveying of the shipper 17.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system 100 has a footprint in range 3 to 5 square meter.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cartons stacker 13 is of adjustable size container having bottom side open for the carton to escape.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a conveyor 14 is placed parallel to the linear servo line below the stacker 13, which takes out cartons 5 one by one from the stacker 13.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1 and 4, wherein the cartons 5 are transferred from conveyor 14 to the aggregation platform 15 and arranged adjacent to each other to form a row of cartons facing an aggregation inspection unit 16.
6. A method for serialization, tamper proofing and aggregation in packaging line, said method comprising steps of:
conveying plurality of filled cartons 5 through a conveyor 1;
picking up the cartons from the conveyor by a linear servo transfer unit 3 characterized in that having a product movers 4, wherein the movers 4 moves along a pre-defined guided path on the linear servo transport unit 3 picking and carrying the respective cartons 5 from the conveyor which is coming into the servo transfer unit at a variable speed;
printing specified predefined data 7 on the carton 5 through a serialization unit 6 which consists of a printer and a camera along with illumination unit;
sending the carton 5 for acceptance by checking through a visual inspection mechanism;
applying tamper proof labels 9 on the carton 5 at openable flaps through a tamper evident unit 8;
moving the cartons into a rejection bin 11 which is located on top of the linear servo unit;
ejecting the carton which fails to qualify set parameters for accuracy and quality of serialization print or tamper proofing label application;
stacking a pre-defined layers of rows by a carton stacker 13 which is placed on rear side of the linear servo unit;
carrying the arranged layer of cartons towards an aggregation platform 15 for inspecting codes on all the cartons;
inspecting all the cartons in a single instance for accuracy of codes through an inspection unit 16; and
pushing the inspected cartons into a shipper 17 for final packaging and /or for further conveying of the shipper 17.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the system 100 has a footprint in range 3 to 5 square meter.
8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cartons stacker 13 is of adjustable size container having bottom side open for the carton to escape.
9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein a conveyor 14 is placed parallel to the linear servo line below the stacker 13, which takes out cartons 5 one by one from the stacker 13.
10. The method as claimed in claim 6 and 9, wherein the cartons 5 are transferred from conveyor 14 to the aggregation platform 15 and arranged adjacent to each other to form a row of cartons facing an aggregation inspection unit 16.