High speed continuous conveyor printer/applicator
AssigneeImtec, Inc.
InventorWilliam J. Murphy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A label printer and applicator system which determines the height and position of moving objects on a conveyor while printing labels and positioning the labels for application on the moving objects. The printer/applicator includes a controllable label buffer, applicator actuator and label ejector to receive and apply the printed label, or eject the label when it has been determined that the application to the object cannot be made. Further embodiments include multiple applicators deployed along the conveyor to permit higher conveyor velocities and avoidance of unlabeled objects due to height/proximity relationships with adjacent packages.
Claims9
Apparatus for applying printed labels on moving objects, comprising
- means for detecting one of said moving objects;
- first means for receiving one of said printed labels corresponding to said detected moving object;
- means for determining the first cycle time of application of said received label on said detected moving object;
- means for determining the time available to apply said received label on said detected moving object;
- means for providing an apply enable signal when said time available is at last equal to said first cycle time, and for providing a reject signal when said first cycle time exceeds said first available time;
- means for ejecting said received labels according to said eject signal;
- and
- first means for applying said received label on said detected object according to said apply enable signal.
Apparatus for applying printed labels on moving objects, comprising:
- first applicator means for receiving one of said printed labels corresponding to said detected moving object;
- means for determining the trajectory of said first applicator means to a selected apply point on a selected one of said moving objects;
- means for detecting the concurrence of said trajectory with at least a portion of an adjacent one of said selected moving object;
- means for providing an apply enable signal in the absence of a detected concurrence, and for providing a reject signal when said concurrence is detected;
- and
- means for ejecting said received labels according to said eject signal, wherein
- said first applicator means applies said received label on said selected object according to said apply enable signal.
A method of applying printed labels on moving objects, comprising the steps of:
- detecting one of said moving objects;
- receiving one of said printed labels corresponding to said detected moving object;
- determining the first cycle time of application of said received label on said detected moving object;
- determining the time available to apply said received label on said detected moving object;
- providing an apply enable signal when said time available is at least equal to said first cycle time, and for providing a reject signal when said first cycle time exceeds said first available time;
- applying said received label on said detected object according to said apply enable signal;
- and
- ejecting said received label according to said eject signal.
A method of applying printed labels on moving objects, comprising the steps of:
- detecting one of said moving objects;
- detecting an adjacent one of said moving objects;
- receiving one of said printed labels corresponding to said detected moving object by an applicator arm;
- determining the trajectory of said applicator arm for applying said received label on said detected moving object relative to said detected adjacent one of said moving objects;
- providing an apply enable signal when said detected adjacent one of said moving object does not interfere with said trajectory, and providing a reject signal when said detected adjacent object interferes with said trajectory;
- applying said received label on said detected object according to said apply enable signal;
- and
- ejecting said received label according to said eject signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.