Apparatus for conveying and marking pellet-shaped articles

Abstract

An article marking apparatus which generally includes a transfer drum for receiving a series of articles from a feed hopper, for transfer to a conveyor system, and a pair of printing heads associated with the article marking apparatus at different locations along the path through which the articles progress. One printing head is positioned along the arcuate transfer path developed as the articles progress about the transfer drum, so as to apply indicia to one side of the articles being processed as they traverse the transfer drum. The other printing head is positioned along the conveyor system, so as to apply indicia to the other side of the articles being processed as they traverse the conveyor system. As a result, indicia are capable of being applied to both sides of the articles being processed in a single processing operation. To permit the application of indicia to different types of articles with a minimum amount of set-up and readjustment, the transfer drum preferably incorporates series of laterally spaced, yet differently configured rows of article receiving cavities; and a vacuum shoe which is capable of variable positioning along the inner face of the transfer drum so as to select the rows or groupings of rows of cavities which are to be called into operation, and accordingly, the type of articles which are to be processed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.