Patent ID: 8789748

Claim:
For a plurality of packages in respective storage stations within an apparatus, each having a substantially planar outside surface bearing a symbol thereon, a method for each said package comprising: retrieving the package from the corresponding said storage station; moving the package to an inspection station inside the apparatus; rotating the package about an axis of the substantially planar outside surface such that it is generally perpendicular to: an illumination of light emitted by a light source in the inspection station; and a viewing axis of one of an image capture camera in the inspection station; capturing an image of the symbol borne on the substantially planar outside surface of the package that is generally perpendicular to: the illumination of light emitted by the light source in the inspection station; and the viewing axis of the image capture camera in the inspection station; reading the symbol in the captured image to identify source data; encoding the source data to obtain first encoded data; applying an identifying label bearing the first encoded data to the package; retrieving the labeled package from the inspection station inside the apparatus; and moving the labeled package to one of the storage stations inside the apparatus.