Container labeling systems and methods of use

A system for applying labels or printed information to individual containers in a stack, comprising:

• a. at least one applicator system having:
• i. a horizontal track,
• ii. a carriage movably mounted on said horizontal track, wherein said carriage is connected to a mechanism for moving said carriage along said horizontal track,
• iii. an extension system on said carriage for extending out from said carriage and retracting back toward said carriage, and
• iv. an applicator mounted on said extension system;
• b. a vertical track on which said at least one applicator system is mounted;
• c. a vertical actuator for moving said at least one applicator system along said vertical track;
• d. a conveyor located adjacent to said track for positioning multiple, adjacent stacks of containers into a position in which said containers are accessible to said applicator, and said at least one applicator system is operable to move along said horizontal track and said vertical track to position said applicator in proximity to multiple individual containers within each of said stacks of containers and apply labels or printing to said multiple individual containers within each of said stacks of containers;
• and
• e. an electronic system for controlling the position of said conveyor, said carriage, and said extension system, and for operating said applicator.

An apparatus for marking items comprising:

• a. A vertically oriented support member having a track along said member;
• b. A support carriage movably engaged with said track and attached to a vertical motion imparting member operable to move said carriage vertically along said track;
• c. A movable support member on said carriage that may be extended and retracted in a horizontal direction;
• d. An applicator unit located on said support member of said carriage;
• e. A conveyor located adjacent to said vertically oriented support member, said conveyor being capable of moving at least one stack of items located thereon into a marking position accessible to said applicator;
• f. At least one sensor adjacent to said conveyor for determining a position of said at least one stack of items on said conveyor;
• and
• g. An electronic control unit in communication with said conveyor, said at least one sensor, said vertical motion imparting member, said movable support member, and said applicator unit, wherein said electronic control unit is operable to control said vertical motion imparting member to position said applicator unit in alignment with multiple individual items in said at least one stack of items and to control said moveable support member to extend said applicator unit and mark said individual items in said at least one stack.

A process of marking containers comprising the steps of:

• a. Moving at least one stack of containers such that a first group of said containers is located adjacent to a movable marking apparatus;
• b. Moving a carriage having an extendable member thereon in a vertical direction adjacent to said group of containers until an endmost container of said group is detected, said extendable member supporting a marking apparatus;
• c. extending said extendable member toward said group of containers, marking a first container of said group using said marking apparatus, and retracting said extendable member away from said group of containers;
• d. moving said carriage a pre-determined distance to position in which said extendable member in alignment with a second container of said group;
• and
• e. extending said extendable member toward said second container, marking said second container using said marking apparatus, and retracting said extendable member way from said group of containers.