An apparatus for an efficient label application comprising a conveyor belt; a barcode reader that is disposed above a conveyor belt and attached to a first cross beam; a 3D profiler that is disposed above said conveyor belt and attached to a second cross beam, and records size, shape, and orientation of a shipping package; a first plexiglass shield that comprises a light curtain; wherein said first plexiglass shield and light curtain protect a robotic arm's operating space on one side of said conveyor belt; a second plexiglass shield that protects said robotic arm's foot; a printer that is disposed next to said robotic arm; two upward facing fans that are disposed between said printer and said robotic arm, and, together, create an air cushion; a third plexiglass shield that protects said robotic arm, air cushion, and printer on second side of said conveyor belt; said first plexiglass shield, third plexiglass shied, and said conveyor belt define and protect a critical zone of said robotic arm's operating space; a printer control panel that is mounted on said third plexiglass shield; an operator control panel that allows said apparatus to be started, stopped, and calibrated, and is mounted on said third plexiglass shield.

An apparatus for an efficient label application comprising a conveyor belt; a barcode reader that is disposed above a conveyor belt and attached to a first cross beam; a 3D profiler that is disposed above said conveyor belt and attached to a second cross beam, and records size, shape, and orientation of a shipping package; a first plexiglass shield that comprises a light curtain; wherein said first plexiglass shield and light curtain protect a robotic arm's operating space on one side of said conveyor belt; a second plexiglass shield that protects said robotic arm's foot; a printer that is disposed next to said robotic arm; two upward facing fans that are disposed between said printer and said robotic arm, and, together, create an air cushion; a third plexiglass shield that protects said robotic arm, air cushion, and printer on second side of said conveyor belt; said first plexiglass shield, third plexiglass shied, and said conveyor belt define and protect a critical zone of said robotic arm's operating space; a printer control panel that is mounted on said third plexiglass shield; an operator control panel that allows said apparatus to be started, stopped, and calibrated, and is mounted on said third plexiglass shield.

In a system for building labels, such as adhesive-backed labels or tags produced on rolls or sheets for printing, an image or graphic of an arrangement of labels is displayed to a user and continuously updated in real time as parameters relating to construction of the labels are provided by the user in order to provide real time feedback. In one aspect, a user can be guided by the system to make various selections and/or inputs, such as selecting between rolls or sheets, types of material, size/measurements, shape(s), color(s), and the like, in progressing stages of a customized label build, with a displayed graphic of a corresponding arrangement of labels being continuously updated instantly at each stage to visually reflect the user's input. Upon completion, the system can communicate with an industrial machine to build the labels for the user consistent with the input as depicted by the graphic.

In a system for building labels, such as adhesive-backed labels or tags produced on rolls or sheets for printing, an image or graphic of an arrangement of labels is displayed to a user and continuously updated in real time as parameters relating to construction of the labels are provided by the user in order to provide real time feedback. In one aspect, a user can be guided by the system to make various selections and/or inputs, such as selecting between rolls or sheets, types of material, size/measurements, shape(s), color(s), and the like, in progressing stages of a customized label build, with a displayed graphic of a corresponding arrangement of labels being continuously updated instantly at each stage to visually reflect the user's input. Upon completion, the system can communicate with an industrial machine to build the labels for the user consistent with the input as depicted by the graphic.

A system for labeling a reel of electrical components includes an automated robotic manipulator movable between a reel grasping position and a reel releasing position; a sensor positioned to scan a label on a reel as the reel is moved by manipulator from the reel grasping position to the reel releasing position, to gather initial reel information; a label generator configured to generate a new label with information based at least in part on the initial reel information; and a label actuator positioned to affix the new label to the reel as the reel remains held by the manipulator. The sensor may be a barcode scanner. The label generator may be a label printer. The label actuator may be a pneumatic actuator. The system may also have a stack of reels to be labeled. Also included is output receptacle to receive the reel after the new label is affixed.

A method for labelling reels, wherein a movable expansion shaft of a robot engages a first portion of a cylindrical inner surface of a reel and an application roller with a printed label retained thereon engages a second portion of the cylindrical inner surface and attaches the printed label on the second portion of the cylindrical inner surface.

A method for labelling reels, wherein a movable expansion shaft of a robot engages a first portion of a cylindrical inner surface of a reel and an application roller with a printed label retained thereon engages a second portion of the cylindrical inner surface and attaches the printed label on the second portion of the cylindrical inner surface.

A tape having a strip shape extending in a lengthwise direction and a widthwise direction includes: a subject surface located on the tape and exposed in a thickness direction; a first marker provided on the subject surface and being greater than the subject surface in reflectivity to light with a particular wavelength; and a second marker provided on the subject surface and being less than the subject surface in the reflectivity. At least a portion of the first marker and at least a portion of the second marker are identical to each other in position in the widthwise direction. At least a portion of one of the first marker and the second marker and at least a portion of another of the first marker and the second marker are different from each other in position in the lengthwise direction.

A tape having a strip shape extending in a lengthwise direction and a widthwise direction includes: a subject surface located on the tape and exposed in a thickness direction; a first marker provided on the subject surface and being greater than the subject surface in reflectivity to light with a particular wavelength; and a second marker provided on the subject surface and being less than the subject surface in the reflectivity. At least a portion of the first marker and at least a portion of the second marker are identical to each other in position in the widthwise direction. At least a portion of one of the first marker and the second marker and at least a portion of another of the first marker and the second marker are different from each other in position in the lengthwise direction.

A system moves items, like containers and/or pallets, through a label printing station. The station has a label printer that prints adhesive labels; and a robot arm terminating at a movable end with a suction pad or vacuum device and sensors. The station has sensors configured to measure a height of the item; and a processor coupled to receive the height of the item, to control the robot arm and label printer, and to receive label information from a server. The processor has a memory containing code that computes desired label positions based on height of the container/pallet. A method of labeling an item includes printing an adhesive label with the label information obtained from a server; receiving the adhesive label on a suction pad or vacuum device attached to a movable end of a robot arm, and determining a first labeling position from measured height of the container/pallet.