US 11,884,444 B2
Robotic product labeling system
Brian Michael Ghere, Chattanooga, TN (US); and Timothy David Ralston, Calhoun, GA (US)
Assigned to SHAW INDUSTRIES GROUP, INC., Dalton, GA (US)
Filed by Shaw Industries Group, Inc., Dalton, GA (US)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/644,271.
Prior Publication US 2023/0182948 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
Int. Cl. B32B 41/00 (2006.01); B65C 9/40 (2006.01); B25J 9/00 (2006.01); B25J 15/06 (2006.01); B25J 19/02 (2006.01); B41J 3/407 (2006.01); B65C 1/02 (2006.01); B65C 9/26 (2006.01); B65C 9/46 (2006.01); G01S 17/08 (2006.01); G06K 19/06 (2006.01)
CPC B65C 9/40 (2013.01) [B25J 9/0093 (2013.01); B25J 15/0616 (2013.01); B25J 19/02 (2013.01); B41J 3/4075 (2013.01); B65C 1/021 (2013.01); B65C 9/26 (2013.01); B65C 9/46 (2013.01); G01S 17/08 (2013.01); G06K 19/06028 (2013.01); B65C 2009/401 (2013.01); G05B 2219/50391 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A label printing station comprising:
a transporter adapted to move an item through the label printing station, or pause the item's movement;
a label printer adapted to print labels of variable size and having a backing covering an adhesive and adapted to remove the backing from the labels;
a robot arm comprising a mounting base, a plurality of connected shafts and rotators, an applicator pad comprising, a vacuum line, a vacuum device or suction pad at an end of the robot arm, and sensors at the end of the robot arm, wherein the sensors comprise a barcode reader, a proximity sensor, and a microswitch of pad sensors;
at least one sensor mounted on the conveyor configured to measure and provide a height of the item to a processor, to provide arrival and/or departure time of the item to a processor, and/or to provide transporter speed or pausing of the item to a processor; and
a processor coupled to the sensor, which receives data from the sensor to trigger label placement at a desired location on the item, to control the robot arm and the label printer, and to receive label information from a server; wherein the processor has a memory containing code;
wherein the processor directs the vacuum device or suction pad to grab a label from the printer then move into a desired position relative to the item, whereafter air is applied through the vacuum line through the vacuum device or suction pad to blow the label onto the item wherein the label is then adhered to the item.