US 2003/0116285 A1 · Linear stamp applicator machine and method of operating the same

Abstract

Apparatus and method for applying tax stamps to individual cigarette packages of different cigarette cartons, manufactured by different cigarette manufacturers and therefore having different height dimensions, comprises a cigarette carton height determination station, a cigarette carton opening station, a cigarette package tax stamp application station, a cigarette carton closing station, and a cigarette carton exit station. Each particular cigarette carton has its height dimension determined at the first cigarette carton height determination station, and such height dimension data is transmitted to a programmable logic controller (PLC). Cigarette carton opening mechanisms are located at the cigarette carton opening station, a tax stamp applicator is located at the tax stamp application stamper, and cigarette carton closing mechanisms are located at the cigarette carton closing station. All of such mechanisms are operatively connected to elevational adjustment servo drive mechanisms which are controlled by the programmable logic controller (PLC) so as to automatically adjust the elevational disposition of such mechanisms in accordance with the height dimension data characteristic of each cigarette carton.

Claims15

Dependent claims

Apparatus for applying tax stamps onto cigarette packages disposed within different cigarette cartons having different height dimensions, comprising:

a conveyor for serially conveying a plurality of different cigarette cartons having different height dimensions;
means for determining the particular height dimension of each one of the plurality of different cigarette cartons having different height dimensions;
a tax stamp applicator disposed at a cigarette package tax stamp application station;
and
first means for automatically adjusting the elevational disposition of said tax stamp applicator at said cigarette package tax stamp application station in accordance with the height dimension data characteristic of a particular one of the plurality of different cigarette cartons being conveyed to said cigarette package tax stamp application station by said conveyor such that said tax stamp applicator is properly positioned with respect to the particular one of the plurality of different cigarette cartons being conveyed to said cigarette package tax stamp application station by said conveyor so as to be capable of applying tax stamps to individual cigarette packages of the particular one of the plurality of different cigarette cartons when the particular one of the plurality of different cigarette cartons is disposed at said cigarette package tax stamp application station regardless of the particular height dimension of the particular one of the plurality of different cigarette cartons.

2 more elements

A method of applying tax stamps onto cigarette packages disposed within different cigarette cartons having different height dimensions, comprising the steps of:

providing a conveyor for serially conveying a plurality of different cigarette cartons having different height dimensions;
determining the particular height dimension of each one of the plurality of different cigarette cartons having different height dimensions at a height determination station;
providing a tax stamp applicator at a cigarette package tax stamp application station;
and
automatically adjusting the elevational disposition of said tax stamp applicator at said cigarette package tax stamp application station in accordance with the height dimension data characteristic of a particular one of the plurality of different cigarette cartons conveyed to said cigarette package tax stamp application station by said conveyor such that said tax stamp applicator is properly positioned with respect to the particular one of the plurality of different cigarette cartons being conveyed to said cigarette package tax stamp application station by said conveyor so as to be capable of applying tax stamps to individual cigarette packages of the particular one of the plurality of different cigarette cartons when the particular one of the plurality of different cigarette cartons is disposed at said cigarette package tax stamp application station regardless of the particular height dimension of the particular one of the plurality of different cigarette cartons.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Linear stamp applicator machine and method of operating the same

Life of this patent

Linear stamp applicator machine and method of operating the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15