Customizable item labeling system for use in manufacturing, packaging, product shipment-fulfillment, distribution, and on-site operations, adaptable for validation of variable-shaped items

• US 20090050267A1
• Filed: 08/11/2008
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Maverick Enterprise, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Maverick Enterprises, Inc. (Enoplastic S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Johnson, Bruce A., Baranello, Michael J., Riper, Josh Van, Conlon, Kevin M.
• Application Number:
  US12/228,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20090050267A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/312
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 1/045 acting one after the other
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 1/047 by rotating the article about one of its axes
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/04 having means for rotating the articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/17 Surface bonding means and/or assemblymeans with work feeding or handling means

Abstract

A system for labeling a plurality of items, each having a periphery. The system has: a rotary-station comprising a pair of plate-members each having a rotation axis, the pair of plate-members is adapted for holding each of the plurality of items, individually; a labeler assembly for providing a plurality of dedicated labeling; a mechanism for applying a labeling-edge of a dedicated labeling created for a first item of the plurality of items, leaving a first labeling tail, while holding the first item between the pair of plate-members; and a roller for contouring the first labeling tail around at least a portion of the periphery of the first item by making contact between a rolling surface and the first labeling tail while the first item moves in a spinning fashion between the pair of plate-members. The system may incorporate a single-rotary station unit or a multi-rotary station unit. An associated method of labeling a plurality of items is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for labeling a plurality of items, each having a periphery, the system comprising:

(a) a rotary-station comprising a pair of plate-members each having a rotation axis, said pair adapted for holding each of the plurality of items, individually;

(b) a labeler assembly for providing a plurality of dedicated labeling;

(c) a mechanism for applying a labeling-edge of a first of said dedicated labeling to a first item of the plurality of items, leaving a first labeling tail, while holding said first item between said pair of plate-members; and

(d) a roller for contouring said first labeling tail around at least a portion of the periphery of said first item by making contact between a rolling surface and said first labeling tail while said first item moves in a spinning fashion.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) a pick-and-place robot mechanism for orienting said first item between said pair of plate-members prior to said holding;

(b) said labeler assembly comprising a printer for creating said dedicated labeling;

(c) a computerized inspection apparatus for image capture of said first item to which said dedicated labeling has been applied.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said rotary-station is fixed at a first location while:

said labeler assembly provides said dedicated labeling, said labeling-edge is applied, and said first labeling tail is contoured around said portion of the periphery of said first item.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

(a) further comprising a table assembly, adapted for rotation, to which said rotary-station is secured; and

(b) said first item is oriented between said pair of plate-members at a first station location, and upon rotational movement of said table assembly, said first item oriented between said pair of plate-members is moved into a second station location for application of said labeling-edge of said first dedicated labeling.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

once said labeling-edge is applied, upon rotational movement of said table assembly, said first item oriented between said pair of plate-members is moved into a third station location for said contouring said first labeling tail.

6. The system of claim 1:

(a) further comprising;

a second rotary-station comprising a second pair of plate-members each having a rotation axis; and

a table assembly, adapted for rotation, to which said first and second rotary-stations are secured; and

(b) wherein said first item is oriented between said first pair of plate-members at a first station location, and then moved into a second station location for application of said labeling-edge of said first dedicated labeling.

7. The system of claim 1:

(a) further comprising;

a second rotary-station comprising a second pair of plate-members each having a rotation axis;

a third rotary-station comprising a third pair of plate-members each having a rotation axis; and

a table assembly, adapted for rotation, to which said first, second, and third rotary-stations are secured; and

(b) wherein;

said first item is oriented between said first pair of plate-members at a first station location, and then moved into a second station location; and

a second item of the plurality of items is oriented between said second pair of plate-members at said first station location while said first rotary-station is at said second station location.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein:

once said second item oriented between said second pair of plate-members is moved into said second station location and said first item oriented between said first pair of plate-member is moved into a third station location, a third item of the plurality of items is oriented between said third pair of plate-members at said first station location while said second rotary-station is at said second station location and said first rotary-station is at said third station location.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the periphery of at least a first, second, and third item of the plurality of items, are different from one another.

10. A method for labeling a plurality of items, each having a periphery, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) orienting a first item of the plurality of items between a pair of plate-members each having a rotation axis;

(b) automatically providing a first of a plurality of dedicated labeling;

(c) while holding said first item between said pair of plate-members, applying a labeling-edge of said first dedicated labeling to said first item, leaving a first labeling tail; and

(d) contouring said first labeling tail around at least a portion of the periphery of said first item by making contact between a rolling surface and said first labeling tail while said first item moves in a spinning fashion along with said pair of plate-members.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said rotary-station is fixed at a first location while said steps of automatically providing said first dedicated labeling, applying said labeling-edge to said first item, and contouring said first labeling tail around at least a portion of the periphery, are performed.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein:

(a) said orienting said first item between said pair of plate-members is performed at a first station location;

(b) said applying said labeling-edge to said first item is performed at a second station location while still holding said first item between said pair of plate-members; and

(c) said contouring said first labeling tail is performed at a third station location while still holding said first item between said pair of plate-members.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein movement from said first station to said second station and from said second station to said third station are performed by rotating a table assembly to which a first rotary-station comprising said pair of plate-members, has been secured.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

(a) orienting a second item of the plurality of items between a second pair of plate-members each having a rotation axis; and

(b) orienting a third item of the plurality of items between a third pair of plate-members each having a rotation axis.