# US 10,481,589 B1 · Networked system for coordinated laser labelling of conveyed food products

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,481,589 B1
- Document ID: US10481589B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/406,855
- Filed: 2019-05-08
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2019-05-08
- Assignees: Nll, LLC
- Applicants: Nll, LLC
- Inventors: Gregory P. Drouillard
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481589B1

## CPC

- G05B 19/4155: characterised by program execution, i.e. part program or machine function execution, e.g. selection of a program
- A23N 15/06: Devices for other treatment of fruit, e.g. marking, maturing, polishing
- B23K 26/362: Laser etching
- G05B 19/4189: {characterised by the transport system}
- G05B 2219/33198: Laser, light link, infrared
- G05B 2219/45134: Marking
- G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- A23N: MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR TREATING HARVESTED FRUIT, VEGETABLES OR FLOWER BULBS IN BULK, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PEELING VEGETABLES OR FRUIT IN BULK; APPARATUS FOR PREPARING ANIMAL FEEDING- STUFFS (machines for cutting straw or fodder A01F29/00; disintegrating, e.g. shredding, B02C; severing, e.g. cutting, splitting, slicing B26B, B26D)
- B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A system for coordinated laser marking of mid-conveyance food includes a controller, multiple lasers, and one or more industrial components. The lasers are in network communication with the controller. The controller can send a first instruction set, having a first language, to a first laser, and a second instruction set, having a second language different from the first language, to a second laser, the first laser associated with a first conveyor of multiple conveyors, and the second laser associated with a second conveyor different from the first conveyor. During operation, the first laser applies a marking to a first product as the first product is conveyed along the first conveyor, based on the first instruction set. Also during operation, the second laser applies the marking to a second product as the second product is conveyed along the second conveyor, based on the second instruction set.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system, comprising:
a controller including a processor and a memory in operable communication with the processor;
a plurality of lasers in network communication with the controller, each laser from the plurality of lasers disposed adjacent to an associated conveyor from a plurality of conveyors; and
at least one industrial component associated with the plurality of conveyors,
the controller configured to send (1) a first instruction set, having a first language, to a first laser from the plurality of lasers, and (2) a second instruction set, having a second language different from the first language, to a second laser from the plurality of lasers, the first laser associated with a first conveyor from the plurality of conveyors, and the second laser associated with a second conveyor from the plurality of conveyors, the second conveyor different from the first conveyor,
the first laser configured to apply, during operation and based on the first instruction set, a marking to a first product as the first product is conveyed along the first conveyor, and
the second laser configured to apply, during operation and based on the second instruction set, the marking to a second product as the second product is conveyed along the second conveyor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a conveyance speed of the first product during operation of the first laser is different from a conveyance speed of the second product during operation of the second laser.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first instruction set includes instructions for the first laser to apply a predefined label, and the second instruction set includes instructions for the second laser to apply the predefined label.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one industrial component includes at least one of a sizer, a grader, a sorter, and a conveyor, the controller further configured to:
receive, from the at least one industrial component, a signal encoding an operational deviation associated with the first conveyor;
generate a modified instruction set based on the operational deviation; and
send the modified instruction set to the first laser.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the modified instruction set is sent to the first laser with a transmission time of between 35 microseconds (μs) and 53 μs.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first instruction set specifies at least one of: a font size of the marking, a font type of the marking, or a graphic vector property.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first instruction set specifies at least one of: a blow-off pressure, a blow-off time, a laser fire timing, a laser on time, and a laser off time.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a spray head configured to apply a colorant to the marking on the first product after the marking has been applied to the first product.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, further comprising a compressed air feed configured to direct air onto the applied colorant after it has been applied to the marking on the first product.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, further comprising a sealant dispenser configured to direct sealant onto the applied colorant after it has been applied to the marking on the first product.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first product or the second product is a food product.

### Claim 12

A non-transitory, processor-readable medium storing instructions to:
receive, at a processor, an input associated with a produce lasing variable;
generate, via the processor, a first instruction set for a first laser head based on the input, the first laser head having a first control language, the first instruction set compatible with the first control language;
generate, via the processor, a second instruction set for a second laser head based on the input, the second laser head having a second control language different from the first control language, the second instruction set compatible with the second control language;
send the first instruction set to the first laser head;
send the second instruction set to the second laser head;
receive, at the processor and from a metrology tool, a measurement signal encoding a measurement;
generate, via the processor and in response to receiving the measurement signal, a modified instruction set based on the measurement signal; and
send the modified instruction set to the first laser head, for replacement, by the first laser head, of the first instruction set with the modified instruction set.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the input is received via a graphical user interface (GUI) of the processor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first instruction set includes at least one of: a font size of the marking, a font type of the marking, or a graphic vector property.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions to generate the modified instruction set include instructions to modify at least one of: a blow-off pressure, a blow-off time, a laser fire timing, a laser on time, and a laser off time.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the measurement signal is associated with at least one of a conveyor line speed or a chain stretch.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of claim 12, storing instructions to receive, sequentially at the processor and from the metrology tool, a plurality of measurement signals including the measurement signal, the plurality of measurement signals having an associated sampling rate of at least 100 samples per millimeter of linear conveyor travel.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the sampling rate is 121 samples per millimeter of linear conveyor travel.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the modified instruction set includes instructions to impart a marking onto a product.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the product is a fruit.