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

Claim 10:
11. A method for marking tablet-shaped articles, the method comprising:
providing a system for marking tablet-shaped articles, the system including:
a hopper, 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, the conveyor having opposing first and second side portions, at least one pocket defined in the conveyor between the first and second side portions;
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; and
an inspection station;

disposing at least one tablet-shaped article in the hopper;
dispensing the at least one tablet-shaped article from the hopper into the at least one pocket defined in the conveyor;
conveying the at least one tablet-shaped article from the hopper to the first printing head, wherein conveying the at least one tablet-shaped article includes detecting the presence of a marking on the tablet-shaped article with the inspection station and instructing the first printing head to mark the tablet-shaped article when no marking is detected;
rotating 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; and
marking the at least one tablet-shaped article with the first printing head, wherein the first printing head marks the at least one tablet-shaped article through the first window.