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 cigarette packages;
a conveyor device configured to convey the cigarette packages, adjacent to and unspaced with respect to each other to form a continuous series and in a feed direction;
an inspection device operably engaged with the conveyor device and configured to inspect the alphanumeric code imprinted on each cigarette package in the continuous series thereof conveyed by the conveyor device 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;
a removal device operably engaged with the conveyor device and configured to be in communication with the inspection device, the removal device being further configured to remove the defective cigarette package from the continuous series of cigarette packages conveyed by the conveyor device in response to identification thereof by the inspection device; and
a synchronization device operably engaged with the inspection device, the conveyor device, and the removal device, the synchronization device being configured to determine a position of the defective cigarette package in the continuous series of cigarette packages conveyed by the conveyor device, in response to the determination thereof by the inspection device, and to communicate the position of the defective cigarette package in the continuous series to the removal device so as to notify the removal device of the defective cigarette package being in registration therewith for removal of the defective cigarette package from the continuous series.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
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.
182 Citations
18 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 cigarette packages; a conveyor device configured to convey the cigarette packages, adjacent to and unspaced with respect to each other to form a continuous series and in a feed direction; an inspection device operably engaged with the conveyor device and configured to inspect the alphanumeric code imprinted on each cigarette package in the continuous series thereof conveyed by the conveyor device 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; a removal device operably engaged with the conveyor device and configured to be in communication with the inspection device, the removal device being further configured to remove the defective cigarette package from the continuous series of cigarette packages conveyed by the conveyor device in response to identification thereof by the inspection device; and a synchronization device operably engaged with the inspection device, the conveyor device, and the removal device, the synchronization device being configured to determine a position of the defective cigarette package in the continuous series of cigarette packages conveyed by the conveyor device, in response to the determination thereof by the inspection device, and to communicate the position of the defective cigarette package in the continuous series to the removal device so as to notify the removal device of the defective cigarette package being in registration therewith for removal of the defective cigarette package from the continuous series. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. 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 cigarette packages using an imprinting device; conveying the 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 thereof conveyed by the conveyor device, using an inspection device operably engaged therewith, 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; removing the defective cigarette package from the continuous series of 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; and determining a position of the defective cigarette package in the continuous series of cigarette packages conveyed by the conveyor device, in response to the determination thereof by the inspection device, using a synchronization device operably engaged with the inspection device, the conveyor device, and the removal device, and communicating the position of the defective cigarette package in the continuous series to the removal device so as to notify the removal device of the defective cigarette package being in registration therewith for removal of the defective cigarette package from the continuous series. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification