Patent ID: 7908968

Claim:
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: a vertical positioning frame, an upper support structure, a vertical positioning mechanism plate for attaching the laser marker with the vertical positioning mechanism, a vertical threaded rod including upper and lower vertical threaded rod bearings for attaching the vertical threaded rod with the vertical positioning frame and the upper support structure, a vertical threaded rod gear motor attached with the vertical threaded rod and the vertical positioning frame, and vertical support tubing attached with the vertical positioning frame, the vertical positioning mechanism plate, and the upper support structure such that the vertical positioning mechanism plate is attached with the vertical threaded rod and the vertical position mechanism plate travels vertically up and down the vertical threaded rod as the vertical threaded rod is rotated by the vertical threaded rod gear motor whereby the programmable control system is operationally connected with the vertical threaded rod gear motor and the vertical sensor for vertically raising and lowering the laser marker.