公开(公告)号：US06419782B1

公开(公告)日：2002-07-16

申请号：US09457981

申请日：1999-12-09

申请人： David A. Johnson ,  Robert J. Chmielewski ,  James V. Lysaught

发明人： David A. Johnson ,  Robert J. Chmielewski ,  James V. Lysaught

IPC分类号： B65C100

CPC分类号： B65C1/02 ,  B65C9/44 ,  B65C2009/401 ,  Y10T156/171

摘要： An automatic label printing and application system applies a custom label at a dynamically determined location on articles being moved along a conveyer. The system includes a bar code scanning system, preferably a group of bar code scanners each arranged to read at an assigned elevation above the conveyer belt. This configuration allows the system controller to generally determine the vertical height of pre-printed bar code on the article. The system uses photoelectric sensors to detect articles being moved along the conveyer, as well as an encoder and bar code scanning data to determine the horizontal position of the pre-printed bar code on the surface of the article. In this manner, the system dynamically determines both the vertical and horizontal position of the pre-printed bar code on the surface of the article. The system further includes a series of label printing and application stations that are configured to print customized labels on the surface of the article in a horizontal and vertical position to cover the pre-printed bar code, at least partially. In general, the stations are adjusted to apply labels at different elevations above the conveyer belt. The application elevation of labels is selected by selecting the appropriate label printing and application stations. The horizontal position of the label on the article is determined by coordinating encoder pulses in response to signals from photoelectric sensor for the respective label printing and application unit. The system also preferably includes a verification bar scanner at the downstream end to verify that an accurate label has been properly positioned on the article.

摘要翻译： 自动标签打印和应用系统在动态确定的位置对沿着输送机移动的物品上应用自定义标签。 该系统包括条形码扫描系统，优选地是一组条形码扫描器，每个条形码扫描器被布置成在输送带上方的分配的高度读取。 该配置允许系统控制器通常确定物品上预先打印的条形码的垂直高度。 该系统使用光电传感器来检测沿输送机移动的物品，以及编码器和条形码扫描数据，以确定物品表面上预先打印的条形码的水平位置。 以这种方式，系统动态地确定物品表面上预先打印的条形码的垂直和水平位置。 该系统还包括一系列标签打印和应用站，其被配置为在水平和垂直位置上打印物品表面上的定制标签，以至少部分地覆盖预先打印的条形码。 一般来说，调整车站以在传送带上方的不同高度应用标签。 通过选择适当的标签打印和应用程序站来选择标签的应用程序高程。 通过响应于来自光电传感器的相应标签打印和应用单元的信号，协调编码器脉冲来确定商品上标签的水平位置。 该系统还优选地包括在下游端的验证条扫描器，以验证准确的标签已被适当地定位在物品上。