Apparatus for Box Labeling on a Pallet, Method of Providing the Same, and Method of Marking Boxes

A box labeling machine for marking a pallet of boxes, the box labeling machine comprising:

• an input buffer configured to hold the pallet of boxes;
• one or more first sensors configured to determine a first location of the pallet of boxes over the input buffer;
• a first pallet location adjustment mechanism coupled to the input buffer and configured to move the pallet of boxes from the first location over the input buffer to one or more second locations over the input buffer;
• a carousel coupled to the input buffer such that the pallet of boxes can be moved from the input buffer to the carousel;
• one or more second sensors configured to determine a third location of the pallet of boxes over the carousel;
• a second pallet location adjustment mechanism coupled to the carousel and configured to move the pallet of boxes from the third location over the carousel to one or more fourth locations over the carousel;
• at least one printer mechanism configured to apply one or more marks to at least one box of the pallet of boxes while the pallet of boxes is located over the carousel;
• a machine vision mechanism configured to determine a position of the at least one printer mechanism relative to the pallet of boxes;
• and
• an output buffer configured to hold the pallet of boxes and coupled to the carousel such that the pallet of boxes can be moved from the carousel to the output buffer.

A method of providing a box labeling device configured to label one or more boxes supported by a pallet, the pallet having a pallet label, the method comprising:

• providing a reading mechanism configured to read first information from at least one of the one or more boxes or the pallet label;
• providing a computing system configured to determine one or more markings to apply at one or more predetermined locations of the one or more boxes at least partially based on the first information;
• providing a marking mechanism configured to apply the one or more markings at the one or more predetermined locations of the one or more boxes;
• and
• providing a movement mechanism configured to at least partially position the marking mechanism to apply the one or more markings at the one or more predetermined locations without removing the one or more boxes from the pallet.

A method of labeling boxes, the method comprising:

• placing a pallet of boxes on an input buffer;
• moving the pallet of boxes from the input buffer to a box marking region;
• aligning at least one marking mechanism to the pallet of boxes while the box marking region supports the pallet of boxes;
• using the at least one marking mechanism to mark each box on the pallet of boxes while the box marking region supports the pallet of boxes;
• and
• after using the marking mechanism, moving the pallet of boxes to an output buffer.