Patent ID: 6564527
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: B65B,B65C

Abstract:
A method for detecting the positioning of a label attached to a surface of a pack and presenting a raised contour thereon, the method comprising the steps of:moving a plurality of said packs along a conveying path with an edge of said label disposed transverse to a conveying direction; detecting, using at least two sensors, reflections from at least two locations on each said moving pack, wherein each said reflection is indicative of a distance between one of said sensors and one of said locations, wherein each said location is either on said label or on said surface, and wherein said locations are spaced apart transverse to the conveying direction and define scanning paths extending along each said moving pack and intersecting spaced-apart points on said edge of said label; converting said reflections into electrical signals varying in accordance with the surface contour of said pack along said paths; forming first derivatives of said electrical signals, wherein said first derivatives exhibit peaks representative of the relative locations in the conveying direction of said spaced-apart points on said edge; using an offset in the conveying direction between said location of said points to evaluate the orientation of said edge of said label; and separating said pack from the conveying path if the orientation of said edge is different from a predetermined orientation.