Method and apparatus for spin printing indicia on pellet shaped articles
US6286421A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 14, 1998 |
| Grant date | Sep 11, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 14, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41F17/36
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus orient, position and spin print indicia on pellet shaped articles, such as pharmaceutical capsules and the like. More specifically, the method and apparatus use a rotating pick-up drum that receives and transports the pellet shaped articles to a rotating positioning drum that is synchronized with the pick-up drum. The positioning drum receives the pellet shaped articles from the pick-up drum and properly aligns the pellet shaped articles so that they may be transferred to a rotating printing drum which is also synchronized with the positioning drum. The printing drum contains a vacuum source that maintains the pellet shaped articles within pockets as the pellet shaped articles are passed through a printing station. The printing station contains a movable printing roller capable of being moved toward and away from the printing drum such that the printing roller accurately spin prints indicia onto the pellet shaped articles. A servo controller unit is connected to the apparatus and is configured to control, among other features of the apparatus, the rotation speed of the drums, but also the precise location of the printing roller in relationship to the rotating…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.