Patent ID: 8831764
Filing Date: 2014-09-09
Classification: B65B,B65G,G05B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A package coding system implemented in a cigarette manufacturing process, said system comprising: an imprinting device configured to imprint an alphanumeric code on each of a series of cigarette packages; a conveyor device configured to convey the cigarette packages, adjacent to and unspaced with respect to each other to form a continuous series and in a feed direction; an inspection device operably engaged with the conveyor device and configured to inspect the alphanumeric code imprinted on each cigarette package in the continuous series thereof conveyed by the conveyor device to determine whether any of the cigarette packages includes a defect in the imprinted alphanumeric code, any of the cigarette packages including the defect being a defective cigarette package; a removal device operably engaged with the conveyor device and configured to be in communication with the inspection device, the removal device being further configured to remove the defective cigarette package from the continuous series of cigarette packages conveyed by the conveyor device in response to identification thereof by the inspection device; and a synchronization device operably engaged with the inspection device, the conveyor device, and the removal device, the synchronization device being configured to determine a position of the defective cigarette package in the continuous series of cigarette packages conveyed by the conveyor device, in response to the determination thereof by the inspection device, and to communicate the position of the defective cigarette package in the continuous series to the removal device so as to notify the removal device of the defective cigarette package being in registration therewith for removal of the defective cigarette package from the continuous series.