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 and extending along a transport path;
at least one cavity extending through the conveying belt adapted to receive an individual piece and having a first opening on the first side and a second opening on the second side, the first and second openings being on opposite sides of the belt and providing access to opposite surface areas of the individual piece, the first and second openings being dimensioned to permit marking on the individual piece through the openings on the first and second sides;
a conveyor adapted to move the conveying belt along the transport path, wherein the transport path includes an inclined portion and a linear portion;
at least one retaining member positioned against one of the first and second openings of the cavity and being located adjacent to and in contact with the conveying belt along a portion of the transport path to hold the individual piece in the cavity as the belt is conveyed along the portion of the transport path;
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 and extending along a transport path; at least one cavity extending through the conveying belt adapted to receive an individual piece and having a first opening on the first side and a second opening on the second side, the first and second openings being on opposite sides of the belt and providing access to opposite surface areas of the individual piece, the first and second openings being dimensioned to permit marking on the individual piece through the openings on the first and second sides; a conveyor adapted to move the conveying belt along the transport path, wherein the transport path includes an inclined portion and a linear portion; at least one retaining member positioned against one of the first and second openings of the cavity and being located adjacent to and in contact with the conveying belt along a portion of the transport path to hold the individual piece in the cavity as the belt is conveyed along the portion of the transport path; 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 adapted to receive an individual piece, the at least one cavity having a first opening on the first side and a second opening on the second side, the first and second openings being on opposite sides of the belt and providing access to opposite surface areas of the individual piece, the first and second openings being dimensioned to permit marking on the individual piece through the openings on the first and second sides; dispensing an individual piece into the cavity on the inclined portion of the transport path; providing a retaining member positioned against one of the first and second openings of the cavity, the retaining member being located adjacent to and in contact with the conveying belt along a portion of the transport path; retaining the piece in the cavity with a retaining as the belt is conveyed along the portion of the transport path; 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