Methods and systems for sensing and rectifying pellet shaped articles for subsequent processing
US5894801A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 1997 |
| Grant date | Apr 20, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05B2219/50151
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A dispenser dispenses pellet shaped articles onto a conveyer. The conveyer conveys the pellet shaped articles past a video sensor that senses any pellet shaped articles needing rotation so that they are uniformly oriented. The sensor provides a signal to a manipulating device which manipulates certain pellet shaped articles so that all of the articles are uniformly oriented. The conveyer transports the pellet shaped articles to a first pellet shaped article modifying device that, for example, prints indicia on the pellet shaped articles. A rectifying drum reorients all of the pellet shaped articles in order for printing to be performed on a reverse side. A second sensor and a second manipulating device may also be provided. An inspection system to determine whether a pellet shaped article is defective after a performed modification is also provided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.