Transporter device and method for conveying objects to be labeled or stamped

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10000307-B2
Application number	US-201514739888-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 15, 2015
Priority date	Dec 11, 2012
Publication date	Jun 19, 2018
Grant date	Jun 19, 2018

Abstract

System including a stamping device configured to apply stamps to first and second products having target surfaces. The stamping device applies the stamps when the target surfaces are moved into a stamp-application region. The system also includes a first transporter device having a receiving side. The first transporter device is configured to hold the first products such that the target surfaces of the first products are exposed along the receiving side. The system also includes a second transporter device having a receiving side. The second transporter device is configured to hold the second products such that the target surfaces of the second products are exposed along the receiving side of the second transporter device. The first and second transporter devices are configured to hold the respective first and second products such that the target surfaces of the first and second products face in a generally common direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
transporting rectangular-shaped products in a carton transporter device toward a stamp applicator system, the rectangular-shaped products having planar target surfaces;
applying pressure-sensitive labels to the planar target surfaces of the rectangular-shaped products in the carton transporter device using the stamp applicator system;
transporting cylindrical-shaped puck products in a block transporter device toward the stamp applicator system, the cylindrical-shaped puck products having curved target surfaces that project out from the block transporter device toward the stamp applicator system; and
applying the pressure-sensitive labels to the curved target surfaces of the cylindrical-shaped puck products using the stamp applicator system,
wherein the carton transporter device and the block transporter device hold the respective rectangular-shaped products and the cylindrical-shaped puck products such that the planar target surfaces of the rectangular-shaped products and the curved target surfaces of the cylindrical-shaped puck products are an equal distance from the stamp applicator system while the pressure-sensitive labels are applied to the planar target surfaces of the rectangular-shaped products and are applied to the curved target surfaces of the cylindrical-shaped puck products.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the pressure-sensitive labels to the curved target surfaces includes moving the stamp applicator system downward toward the curved target surfaces of the cylindrical-shaped puck products that project out from the block transporter device and pressing the pressure-sensitive labels onto the curved target surfaces using the stamp applicator system.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transporting additional rectangular-shaped products in a second carton transporter device toward the stamp applicator system one or more of subsequent to or prior to applying the pressure-sensitive labels onto the curved target surfaces of the cylindrical-shaped puck products in the block transporter device, the additional rectangular-shaped products having additional planar target surfaces; and
applying pressure-sensitive labels onto the additional planar target surfaces of the additional rectangular-shaped products using the stamp applicator system.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the pressure-sensitive labels includes applying tax stamps to the cylindrical-shaped puck products using the stamp applicator system.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising loading the cylindrical-shaped puck products into the block transporter device such that the curved target surfaces of the cylindrical-shaped puck products project out from an upper surface of the block transporter device to a common elevation from the upper surface of the block transporter device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressure-sensitive labels are applied to the curved target surfaces of the cylindrical-shaped puck products by the stamp applicator system from above the cylindrical-shaped puck products.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising loading the cylindrical-shaped puck products into the block transporter device through one or more openings in a first side of the block transporter device such that the curved target surfaces of the cylindrical-shaped puck products project out from one or more openings in a different, second side of the block transporter device that is non-parallel to the first side of the block transporter device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the block transporter device includes a transport body having a plurality of sides including a receiving side and a longitudinal side, the receiving and longitudinal sides extending between opposite ends of the transport body, wherein the transport body includes at least one product cavity that has a first opening along the receiving side and a second opening along the longitudinal side, wherein the second opening along the longitudinal side is sized and shaped to receive at least one of the cylindrical-shaped puck products, the first opening permitting said at least one of the cylindrical-shaped puck products to clear the receiving side and project therefrom.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the transport body is not capable of receiving said at least one of the cylindrical-shaped puck products through the first opening.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the transport body includes interior surfaces that define the at least one product cavity, the interior surfaces configured to hold said at least one of the cylindrical-shaped puck products in a designated position.

11. A method comprising:
transporting rectangular-shaped products in a carton transporter device toward a stamp applicator system, the rectangular-shaped products having planar target surfaces;
applying pressure-sensitive labels to the planar target surfaces of the rectangular-shaped products in the carton transporter device using the stamp applicator system;
transporting cylindrical-shaped puck products in a block transporter device into a stamp-application region, the cylindrical-shaped puck products having convex target surfaces;
applying stamps to the convex target surfaces of the cylindrical-shaped puck products,
wherein the carton transporter device and the block transporter device hold the respective rectangular-shaped products and the cylindrical-shaped puck products such that the planar target surfaces of the rectangular-shaped products and the convex target surfaces of the cylindrical-shaped puck products are at an equal elevation while the stamps are applied to the planar target surfaces of the rectangular-shaped products and are applied to the convex target surfaces of the cylindrical-shaped puck products.

12. A method comprising:
transporting rectangular-shaped products in a carton transporter device toward a stamp applicator system, the rectangular-shaped products having planar target surfaces;
applying pressure-sensitive labels to the planar target surfaces of the rectangular-shaped products in the carton transporter device using the stamp applicator system;
loading cylindrical-shaped puck products having convex target surfaces into a first transporter device such that the curved surfaces of the cylindrical-shaved puck products project out from an upper surface of the first transporter device to a common elevation from the upper surface of the first transporter device; and
applying the pressure-sensitive labels onto the target surfaces of the cylindrical-shaped puck products using the stamp applicator system.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising transporting the cylindrical-shaped puck products in the first transporter device toward the stamp applicator system subsequent to loading the cylindrical-shaped puck products into the first transporter device.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein applying the pressure-sensitive labels includes moving the stamp applicator system downward toward the target surfaces of the cylindrical-shaped puck products that project out from the first transporter device and pressing the pressure-sensitive labels onto the target surfaces using the stamp applicator system.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein applying the pressure-sensitive labels includes applying tax stamps to the cylindrical-shaped puck products using the stamp applicator system.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the pressure-sensitive labels are applied to the target surfaces of the cylindrical-shaped puck products by the stamp applicator system from above the cylindrical-shaped puck produ

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Fisher Joseph M

Classifications

• B65G2201/0261

  Puck as article support · CPC title

• Y10T156/10

  Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor · CPC title

• B65C3/00 Primary

  Labelling other than flat surfaces (of fabrics B65C5/00) · CPC title

• B65C9/06

  Devices for presenting articles in predetermined attitude or position at labelling station · CPC title

• Y10T156/1744

  Means bringing discrete articles into assembled relationship · CPC title