Label inspection and rejection system and method for use thereof

A label inspection and rejection system for positioning a product package having at least two labels provided thereon relative to at least two cameras to facilitate capturing pictures and/or video of the at least two labels on the product package, and for rejecting the product package if the product package is mislabeled, the label inspection and rejection system comprising:

• the at least two cameras configured to capture pictures and/or video of the two labels provided on the product package,
• a frame assembly including an upper portion, a lower portion, and a product-transit area at least partially between the upper and lower portions, the upper portion configured to support a first camera of the at least two cameras, and the lower portion configured to support a second camera of the at least two cameras,
• a first conveyor mechanism supported at in part by the frame assembly, the first conveyor mechanism extending at least partially through the product-transit area, the first conveyor mechanism including a first carrier and a second carrier spaced apart from one another in the product-transit area,
• the first carrier including at least a first engagement surface configured to engage a first portion of the product package and a second engagement surface configured to engage a second portion of the product package, and the second carrier including at least a third engagement surface configured to engage a third portion of the product package and a fourth engagement surface configured to engage a fourth portion of the product package, the first, second, third, and fourth engagement surfaces being moveable through at least a portion of the product-transit area,
• a rejection mechanism including a second conveyor mechanism including a third carrier for moving the product package through the rejection mechanism, and an actuator for contacting the product package to remove the product package from the third carrier,
• wherein, when engaged to the product package, the first and second carriers move the product package through the product-transit area such that a first label on the product package passes underneath the first camera and a second label on the product package passes overtop the second camera, and, if the product package is mislabeled, the actuator is actuated to contact the product package to remove the product package from the third carrier.

A method of positioning a product package having at least two labels provided thereon relative to at least two cameras to facilitate capturing pictures and/or video of the at least two labels, and for rejecting the product package if the product package is mislabeled, the method comprising:

• providing the product package on a first conveyor mechanism, the first conveyor mechanism including a first carrier and a second carrier;
• supporting the product package on at least a first engagement surface of the first carrier and a second engagement surface of the second carrier;
• exposing a first upwardly-facing label provided on the product package, and exposing a second downwardly-facing label provided on the product package;
• moving the product package at least partially through a product-transit area defined at least in part by a frame assembly via actuation of the first carrier in one of a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction, and actuation of the second carrier in the other of a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction;
• capturing pictures and/or video of the first upwardly-facing label and the second downwardly-facing label using a first camera and a second camera, respectively, of the at least two cameras, the first camera being mounted on an upper portion of the frame assembly and the second camera being mounted on a lower portion of the frame assembly;
• after capturing the pictures and/or video of the first upwardly-facing label and the second downwardly-facing label, moving the product package to a second conveyor mechanism;
• and
• if the product package is mislabeled, actuating an actuator to contact the product package and remove the product package from the second conveyor mechanism.