Patent ID: 7908968
Filing Date: 2011-03-22
Classification: B44C

Abstract:
1. A vertical marking system for marking a vertical stack of items comprising: a vertical positioning mechanism; a laser marker attached with the vertical positioning mechanism for marking an item in the vertical stack of items; a vertical sensor attached with the vertical positioning mechanism for sensing the items that are in the vertical stack of items and for sensing an upper limit of travel and a lower limit of travel for the vertical positioning mechanism; and a programmable control system for controlling the vertical marking system whereby the programmable control system is operationally connected with the vertical positioning mechanism, the laser marker, and the vertical sensor such that time laser marker continues moving vertically until reaching a marking signal, whereby the marking signal is computed by the programmable control system operationally connected with the vertical sensor and is aligned to pause a vertical movement such that the laser marker is vertically aligned in relation to the item of the vertical stack of items for marking, marks the item, and thereafter the vertical positioning mechanism moves the laser marker vertically and continues moving vertically and marking items until reaching a stop signal, whereby the stop signal is computed by the programmable control system operationally connected with the vertical sensor and is the upper limit of travel or the lower limit of travel, wherein the vertical movement stops for replacing the vertical stack of items with a next vertical stack of items; wherein the vertical positioning mechanism further comprises: