Labeling conveyor systems and methods of labeling
AssigneeLaitram, L.L.C.
InventorsMark Costanzo, Christopher J. Gatz, David Herbert Myers, Eric M. Pressler, Bryant G. Ragan, Matthew L. Fourney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A labeling conveyor system and a method for labeling parcels for high throughput. A diverting conveyor selectively directs parcels to separate label applicators depending on a predetermined parcel characteristic, such as height. Parcel sensors determine the characteristic of each parcel.
Claims34
A conveyor system comprising:
- a diverting conveyor extending in width from a first side to a second side and including a conveyor belt advancing upstream to downstream in a conveying direction and having diverting elements engaged with parcels;
- a parcel sensor identifying a characteristic of each parcel;
- an actuator engaging the diverting elements to selectively direct each of the parcels to a first lateral position or a different second lateral position across the width of the conveyor belt depending on the identified characteristic of the parcel;
- a first label applicator located along the diverting conveyor to apply labels to parcels at the first lateral position;
- a second label applicator located along the diverting conveyor to apply labels to parcels at the second lateral position.
2 The conveyor system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the parcel sensor senses the height of each parcel as the identified characteristic.
The conveyor system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the parcel sensor is a light curtain, photo eye, camera, or rangefinder.
A conveyor system comprising:
- an alignment conveyor aligning parcels along a first side of the alignment conveyor;
- a diverting conveyor extending in width from a first side to a second side and including a conveyor belt advancing upstream to downstream in a conveying direction and including freely rotatable parcel-supporting belt rollers rotatable on axes parallel to the conveying direction, wherein the diverting conveyor receives the aligned parcels from the alignment conveyor along the first side of the diverting conveyor;
- a first label applicator located along the diverting conveyor to apply labels to parcels conveyed along the first side of the diverting conveyor;
- a second label applicator located along the diverting conveyor to apply labels to parcels conveyed along the second side of the diverting conveyor;
- a plow elevated above the diverting conveyor along the first side across a gap having a gap height that allows parcels having a height less than the gap height to pass through to the first label applicator and blocks parcels having a height greater than the gap height;
- wherein the plow has an oblique upstream face that diverts blocked parcels atop the belt rollers toward the second side of the diverting conveyor to be labeled by the second label applicator.
A conveyor system comprising:
- a diverting conveyor extending in width from a first side to a second side and including a conveyor belt advancing upstream to downstream in a conveying direction and having parcel-supporting belt rollers rotatable on axes parallel to the conveying direction;
- a parcel-height sensor measuring the height of each parcel;
- an actuator having angularly adjustable actuation rollers contacting the belt rollers to selectively change the direction of rotation of the belt rollers toward the first side or the second side to selectively direct each of the parcels to a first lateral position or a different second lateral position across the width of the conveyor belt depending on the height of each parcel;
- a first label applicator located along the diverting conveyor to apply labels to parcels below a predetermined height at the first lateral position;
- a second label applicator located along the diverting conveyor to apply labels to parcels above the predetermined height at the second lateral position.
A method for labeling a variety of parcel types, the method comprising:
- determining the height of each parcel in a stream of parcels;
- comparing the height of each parcel to a predetermined height;
- conveying each parcel whose height is less than the predetermined height to a first label applicator that applies a label to the top of the parcel from above;
- conveying each parcel whose height exceeds the predetermined height to a second label applicator that applies a label to a side of the parcel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.