METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING BAR CODE INFORMATION TO PRODUCTS DURING PRODUCTION.

摘要

Bar code information (310, 330) is printed on a printable surface (300) of a product (125), such as a label (300) or container of the product, or the product itself, during a production run. A first component (310) of a composite bar code symbol, which may identify a product carried in the containers, is either pre-printed or printed during a production run, and a second component (330), which may identify a lot, batch, expiration date or commodity number, is printed during the production run. Check data may be used to confirm the accuracy of information that is used by a printer computer (120). A database (188) may be accessed to determine if recovered information from first and second bar code symbols portions (610, 620) is consistent. A standalone printer (146) may supply labels (147) to one or more production lines (100) on an as-needed basis.