Cigarette package coding system and associated method
First Claim
1. A package coding system implemented in a cigarette manufacturing process, said system comprising:
- an imprinting device configured to imprint an alphanumeric code on each of a series of discrete cigarette packages;
a conveyor device configured to convey the discrete cigarette packages, adjacent to and unspaced with respect to each other to form a continuous series and in a feed direction;
a removal device operably engaged with the conveyor device, the removal device being further configured to remove a defective cigarette package from the continuous series of discrete cigarette packages conveyed by the conveyor device in response to identification thereof; and
an inspection device operably engaged with the conveyor device and the removal device, and configured to inspect the alphanumeric code imprinted on each cigarette package in the continuous series of discrete cigarette packages conveyed by the conveyor device to determine whether any of the cigarette packages includes a defect in the imprinted alphanumeric code, any one of the cigarette packages including the defect being the defective cigarette package, the inspection device being further configured to compare the alphanumeric code imprinted on each cigarette package with a model alphanumeric code to determine whether any of the cigarette packages includes the defect in the imprinted alphanumeric code.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A package coding system for a cigarette manufacturing process is provided. An imprinting device imprints an alphanumeric code on each of a series of cigarette packages. A conveyor device conveys the cigarette packages in a feed direction. An inspection device is operably engaged with the conveyor device and inspects the alphanumeric code imprinted on each cigarette package conveyed by the conveyor device to determine whether any of the cigarette packages includes a defect in the imprinted alphanumeric code, and thus comprises a defective cigarette package. A removal device is operably engaged with the conveyor device and is configured to be in communication with the inspection device. The removal device is configured to remove the defective cigarette package from the series of cigarette packages conveyed by the conveyor device in response to identification thereof by the inspection device. An associated method is also provided.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A package coding system implemented in a cigarette manufacturing process, said system comprising:
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an imprinting device configured to imprint an alphanumeric code on each of a series of discrete cigarette packages; a conveyor device configured to convey the discrete cigarette packages, adjacent to and unspaced with respect to each other to form a continuous series and in a feed direction; a removal device operably engaged with the conveyor device, the removal device being further configured to remove a defective cigarette package from the continuous series of discrete cigarette packages conveyed by the conveyor device in response to identification thereof; and an inspection device operably engaged with the conveyor device and the removal device, and configured to inspect the alphanumeric code imprinted on each cigarette package in the continuous series of discrete cigarette packages conveyed by the conveyor device to determine whether any of the cigarette packages includes a defect in the imprinted alphanumeric code, any one of the cigarette packages including the defect being the defective cigarette package, the inspection device being further configured to compare the alphanumeric code imprinted on each cigarette package with a model alphanumeric code to determine whether any of the cigarette packages includes the defect in the imprinted alphanumeric code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of verifying package coding in a cigarette manufacturing process, said method comprising:
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imprinting an alphanumeric code on each of a series of discrete cigarette packages using an imprinting device; conveying the discrete cigarette packages, adjacent to and unspaced with respect to each other to form a continuous series and in a feed direction using a conveyor device; inspecting the alphanumeric code imprinted on each cigarette package in the continuous series of discrete cigarette packages conveyed by the conveyor device, using an inspection device operably engaged therewith, by comparing the alphanumeric code imprinted on each cigarette package with a model alphanumeric code, to determine whether any of the cigarette packages includes a defect in the imprinted alphanumeric code, any of the cigarette packages including the defect being a defective cigarette package; and removing the defective cigarette package from the continuous series of discrete cigarette packages conveyed by the conveyor device, using a removal device operably engaged with the conveyor device and configured to be in communication with the inspection device, in response to identification thereof by the inspection device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification