Label Application System
AssigneeDover Europe SàRl
InventorsMichael Baumann, Gerd Buehler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A label application system and method for applying a label to a package travelling on a conveyor along a conveying path includes: an applicator apparatus which is operable to move a label into contact with a package, a control system, which controls operation of the applicator apparatus, and a sensor system operable to detect an edge of the package, a distance from a reference point to the package, and the speed at which the package is travelling, wherein the control system is operable to receive and process the data from the sensor system relating to the package and initiate operation of the applicator apparatus such that the label is applied to the package in a desired position as the package moves in a direction of travel.
Claims25
A label application system for applying a label to a package travelling on a conveyor along a conveying path including:
- an applicator apparatus which is operable to move the label into contact with the package,
- a control system, which controls operation of the applicator apparatus, and
- a sensor system operable to detect an edge of the package, a distance from a reference point to the package, and a speed at which the package is travelling, wherein the sensor system includes an edge detector including an emitter which is angularly offset from an axis extending perpendicular to a direction of travel along the conveying path and towards the direction of travel along the conveying path, and
- wherein the control system is operable to receive and process data from the sensor system relating to the package and initiate operation of the applicator apparatus such that the label is applied to the package in a desired position as the package moves in the direction of travel along the conveying path.
A system according to claim 5 wherein the edge detector is positioned at an angle of around 5 degrees.
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A system according to claim 9 wherein the distance measured from the reference point to the package is along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel along the conveying path.
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A label application system for applying a label to a package travelling on a conveyor along a conveying path including:
- an applicator apparatus configured to move the label into contact with the package,
- a control system, which controls operation of the applicator apparatus, and
- a sensor system configured to detect an edge of the package, a distance from a reference point to the package, and a speed at which the package is travelling,
- wherein the control system is configured to
- receive and process data relating to the package from the sensor system to determine a current position of the package,
- determine an application position of the package and a time at which the package will be at the application position,
- determine an application cycle time required for the applicator apparatus to move to the application position, and
- determine when to initiate operation of the applicator apparatus, using the time at which the package will be at the application position and the application cycle time, such that the label is applied to the package as the package moves in a direction of travel along the conveying path.
A label application system for applying a label to a package travelling on a conveyor along a conveying path including:
- an applicator apparatus which is operable to move the label into contact with the package,
- a sensor system being operable to detect an edge of the package, a distance from a reference point to the package, and a speed at which the package is travelling, the sensor system having a sensor housing, including more than one detector, which is positionable in a known location, and
- a control system, which controls operation of the applicator apparatus, and is operable to receive and process data from the sensor system relating to the package and initiate operation of the applicator apparatus such that the label is applied to the package in a desired position as the package moves in a direction of travel along the conveying path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.