CONVEYING AND MARKING APPARATUS AND METHOD
First Claim
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1. A conveying and marking apparatus comprising:
- a continuous flexible conveying belt having a first side and a second side;
at least one cavity extending through the conveying belt adapted to receive an individual piece and having an opening on the first side and an opening on the second side;
a conveyor adapted to move the conveying belt along a transport path, wherein the transport path includes an inclined portion and a linear portion;
at least one retaining member positioned against the opening on the second side of the cavity;
a dispenser adapted to dispense an individual piece into the cavity; and
a marking unit positioned proximate the linear portion, wherein the marking unit is adapted to mark the piece positioned in the cavity.
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Abstract
A conveying and marking apparatus is disclosed that can convey discrete pieces at high speeds, and in preferred embodiments permits marking on opposite sides of the pieces while the pieces remain in the same position on the conveyor.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A conveying and marking apparatus comprising:
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a continuous flexible conveying belt having a first side and a second side; at least one cavity extending through the conveying belt adapted to receive an individual piece and having an opening on the first side and an opening on the second side; a conveyor adapted to move the conveying belt along a transport path, wherein the transport path includes an inclined portion and a linear portion; at least one retaining member positioned against the opening on the second side of the cavity; a dispenser adapted to dispense an individual piece into the cavity; and a marking unit positioned proximate the linear portion, wherein the marking unit is adapted to mark the piece positioned in the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for conveying and marking pieces, comprising the steps of:
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conveying a continuous flexible conveying belt having a first side and a second side along a transport path including an inclined portion and a linear portion; providing at least one cavity extending through the conveying belt and having an opening on the first side and an opening on the second side and adapted to receive an individual piece; dispensing an individual piece into the cavity on the inclined portion of the transport path; retaining the piece in the cavity with a retaining member positioned against the opening on the second side of the cavity; positioning a marking unit proximate the linear portion; and marking the piece when the piece is proximate the marking unit on the transport path. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification