Patent ID: 11858282
Assignee: MARS, INCORPORATED
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A system for marking tablet-shaped articles, the system comprising:
a hopper configured to receive at least one tablet-shaped article, the hopper including an article aligner disposed proximate an exit path of the hopper, wherein the article aligner comprises a bottom panel and two side panels extending therefrom, wherein there is a bottom opening defined in the bottom panel proximate to a closed end of the article aligner and configured to dispense tablet-shaped articles;
a conveyor having opposing first and second side portions, at least one pocket defined in the conveyor between the opposing first and second side portions, the conveyor configured to receive from the article aligner of the hopper the tablet-shaped article in the at least one pocket;
a first window defined in the first side portion, the first window comprising an opening between the pocket and an external environment;
a first printing head adjacent the first side portion of the conveyor, the first printing head configured to mark the tablet-shaped article conveyed from the hopper through the first window;
an inspection station configured to detect a presence of a marking on the tablet-shaped article and instruct the first printing head to mark the tablet-shaped article when no marking is detected; and
an article rotator configured to rotate the at least one tablet-shaped article to orient an unmarked face of the tablet-shaped article towards the first side portion of the conveyor when a marking is detected by the inspection system.