High speed sticker placer having horizontal and vertical positioning

A sticker placer configured to place stickers onto a layer of material accumulated from a material stacking device that forms a material package, wherein said material is arranged in a lengthwise direction within the material package, said sticker placer comprising:

• a first set of sticker holders arranged separate from the material stacking device and configured to receive a first set of stickers in a lengthwise orientation substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the material arranged in the material package and substantially in line with a direction of travel of a first positioning device that positions the first set of sticker holders, wherein the first set of sticker holders is configured to receive a plurality of stickers from a sticker supply while the first positioning device positions the first set of sticker holders in a first rearward position that is away from the layer of material and to deposit the plurality of stickers directly onto the material package being formed by the material stacking device while the first positioning device positions the first set of sticker holders in a second forward position that is proximal to the layer of material;
• and
• a second set of sticker holders arranged separate from the material stacking device and configured to receive a second set of stickers in a lengthwise orientation substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the material arranged in the material package and substantially in line with a direction of travel of a second positioning device that positions the second set of sticker holders, wherein the second set of sticker holders is configured to receive a plurality of stickers from the sticker supply while the second positioning device positions the second set of sticker holders in a first rearward position that is away from the layer of material and to deposit the plurality of stickers directly onto the material package being formed by the material stacking device while the second positioning device positions the second set of sticker holders in a second forward position that is proximal to the layer of material,
• wherein, during operation of the sticker placer, the first positioning device positions the first set of sticker holders in the first position at a different time than the second positioning device positions the second set of sticker holders in the first position, and
• wherein corresponding sticker holders in the first and second set of sticker holders are arranged in a common vertical plane such that the sticker holders are configured to remain within the common vertical plane and to pass over or under one another during operation of the sticker placer.

A sticker placer, comprising:

• a plurality of sticker holders arranged in complementary-operating pairs, wherein a first sticker holder is configured to receive a sticker from a sticker supply while arranged in a first position at approximately the same time a second sticker holder is arranged in a second position to deposit a sticker in a material package being formed by a material stacker, and wherein the second sticker holder is configured to receive a sticker from a sticker supply while arranged in a first position at approximately the same time the first sticker holder is arranged in a second position to deposit a sticker in the material package being formed;
• and
• a sticker rake-off system comprising a plurality of rake-off members arranged in a rake-off position behind the stickers to apply a force on a rearward end of the stickers to retain the stickers within the package while the plurality of sticker holders are being moved from the second positions to the first positions,
• wherein the rake-off members are further arranged in a non-obstructing position so as not to block the movement of stickers into the material package while the plurality of sticker holders are being moved from the first positions into the second positions.

A sticker placer configured to place stickers onto a material package being formed by a material stacker, comprising:

• a plurality of sticker holders arranged in complementary-operating pairs, wherein each sticker holder comprises a lengthwise orientation substantially parallel to a direction of movement of the sticker holders during operation of the sticker placer;
• a first positioner and a second positioner separately operated from the first positioner,
• wherein the first positioner is configured to arrange a first sticker holder in a first position to receive a sticker from a sticker supply at approximately the same time the second positioner positions a second sticker holder in a second position to deposit a sticker in the material package being formed,
• wherein the second positioner is configured to position the second sticker holder in a first position to receive a sticker from a sticker supply at approximately the same time the first positioner arranges the first sticker holder in a second position to deposit a sticker in the material package being formed, and
• wherein the first sticker holder and the second sticker holder are arranged lengthwise in a common vertical plane such that the sticker holders are configured to pass over or under one another in a lengthwise direction during operation of the sticker placer;
• and
• a sticker rake-off system comprising a plurality of rake-off members configured to apply a force to a rearward end of the stickers as the sticker holders are retracted from the material package being formed to hold the stickers in place in the material package.

A sticker placer for placing stickers between layers in a package being formed by a material stacker, said sticker placer comprising:

• a first sticker holder arranged on a first sticker holder arm, wherein the first sticker holder arm is attached to and configured to be moved by a first horizontal positioning device and a vertical positioning device, separate from the first horizontal positioning device, to receive a sticker from a sticker supply and to deliver the sticker to the package being formed between a first and a second layer in the package but not between a second and a third layer in the package;
• a second sticker holder arranged on a second sticker holder arm, wherein the second sticker holder arm is attached to and configured to be moved by a second horizontal positioning device and a vertical positioning device, separate from the second horizontal positioning device, to receive a sticker from the sticker supply and to deliver the sticker to the package being formed between the second and the third layer in the package but not between the first and second layer in the package,
• wherein the first sticker holder and the second sticker holder are configured to travel within substantially the same vertical plane;
• and
• an electronic control unit configured to control the horizontal and vertical positioning devices such that the first sticker holder places stickers between a first set of alternating layers in the package being formed and the second sticker holder places stickers between a second set of alternating layers in the package being formed.