Patent ID: 7533710
Filing Date: 2009-05-19
Classification: B65C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for applying tax stamps onto cigarette packages disposed within different cigarette cartons having different height dimensions, comprising: a conveyor for serially conveying a plurality of different cigarette cartons having different height dimensions; a contact member movably disposed at a cigarette carton height determination station for movement into contact engagement with an upper surface portion of a particular one of the plurality of different cigarette cartons, having different height dimensions, disposed at said cigarette carton height determination station; ultrasonic sensor means, disposed at said cigarette carton height determination station, for sensing the distance of said contact member, disposed in contact with the upper surface portion of the particular one of the plurality of different cigarette cartons having the different height dimensions and disposed at said cigarette carton height determination station, from said sensor means and therefore for determining the particular height dimension of the one of the plurality of different cigarette cartons, having the different height dimensions, disposed at said cigarette carton height determination station, and for generating data indicative of the particular height dimension of the particular one of the plurality of different cigarette cartons, having the different height dimensions, disposed at said cigarette carton height determination station; tax stamp application means disposed at a cigarette package tax stamp application station for applying tax stamps to individual cigarette packages disposed within each one of the plurality of cigarette cartons, having the different height dimensions, as each cigarette carton is disposed at said cigarette package tax stamp application station; and first means for automatically adjusting the elevational disposition of said tax stamp application means, disposed at said cigarette package tax stamp application station, in accordance with said height dimension data characteristic of the particular one of the plurality of different cigarette cartons having the different height dimensions, as determined by said contact member and said sensor means disposed at said cigarette carton height determination station, as each one of the plurality of different cigarette cartons, having the different height dimensions, is respectively disposed at said cigarette package tax stamp application station, such that said tax stamp applicator will be properly positioned with respect to the particular one of the plurality of different cigarette cartons, having the different height dimensions, which is being conveyed to said cigarette package tax stamp application station by said conveyor so as to be capable of properly applying tax stamps to the individual cigarette packages of the particular one of the plurality of different cigarette cartons, having the different height dimensions, when the particular one of the plurality of different cigarette cartons, having the different height dimensions, is disposed at said cigarette package tax stamp application station regardless of the particular height dimension of any one of the plurality of different cigarette cartons having the different height dimensions.