APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHIPPING LABEL APPLICATION

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. 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 robotic arm having a label suction component capable of picking up a printed label; a first plexiglass shield that comprises a light curtain; wherein said first plexiglass shield and light curtain protect said 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, calibrated to generate sufficient airflow to float said printed label, are disposed between said printer and said robotic arm, and, together, create an air cushion, so as to keep said printed label floating after it exits said printer whereby allowing said robotic arm to pick up said printed label; 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.

2. A method for rapid label application comprising: providing a conveyor belt; providing a barcode reader that is disposed above said conveyor belt and attached to a first cross beam; providing a 3D profiler that is disposed above said conveyor belt and attached to a second cross beam; Recording size, shape, and orientation of a shipping package; providing a first plexiglass shield; providing a light curtain; providing a robotic arm having a label suction component capable of picking up a printed label; wherein said first plexiglass shield and light curtain protect said robotic arm's operating space on one side of said conveyor belt; providing a second plexiglass shield that protects said robotic arm's foot; providing a printer that is disposed next to said robotic arm; printing a shipping label; providing two upward facing fans calibrated to generate sufficient airflow to float said shipping label, and disposed between said printer and said robotic arm; creating an air cushion using said two upward facing fans; whereby said air cushion keeps said shipping label floating after it exits said printer and allowing said robotic arm to pick up said printed label; providing a third plexiglass shield that protects said robotic arm, air cushion, and printer on a side of said conveyor belt; wherein said first plexiglass shield, third plexiglass shied, and said conveyor belt define and protect a critical zone of said robotic arm's operating space; providing a printer control panel that is mounted on said third plexiglass shield; providing an operator control panel that is mounted on said third plexiglass shield and controls said barcode reader, conveyor belt, 3D profiler, robotic arm, and fans.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0016] The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 is an overview, perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 2 is an overview, top-down view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 3 is another overview, perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 6 is a back view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 7 is a top-down detailed view of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 illustrates the disclosed components of the present invention. As illustrated, the present invention comprises a barcode reader, a 3D profiler, a conveyor belt where products sit on and are transported toward the label applicator and printer, a multi-dimensional robotic arm, a cushion of air, and a label printer.

[0024] FIG. 8 is detailed side view of an embodiment of the present invention. It again illustrates the components of the present invention: a barcode reader, a 3D profiler, a conveyor belt, a multi-dimensional robotic arm, and a label printer. FIG. 8 further illustrates an embodiment of the present invention's printer control panel where system operator can start, stop, or control the system operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The invention will be described in the context of a preferred embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates an overview, perspective view of the present invention. The barcode reader 101 is raised above the conveyor belt 103 and the first component underneath which the package 108 passes. The package 108 next passes underneath the 3D profiler 102, which records the size, shape, and orientation of the package 108. A plexiglass shield with light curtain 104 protects the portion of the conveyor belt 103 where the robotic arm 107 is active. A second plexiglass shield 105 protects the conveyor belt 103 on the side where the robotic arm 107 is affixed. The printer 106 sits next to the robotic arm 107.

[0027] FIG. 2 is an overview, top-down view of the present invention. The barcode reader 201 and 3D profiler are again shown with the package 209 passing underneath on the conveyor belt 203. The plexiglass shield with light curtain 204 and plexiglass shield 205 on the side with robotic arm 206 protect the portion of the conveyor belt 203 where the robotic arm 206 is active. The air cushion created by two upward facing fans 207 lies between the printer 208 and the robotic arm 206. Two packages with a properly affixed labels 210, 211 are shown moving to toward the end of the conveyor belt 203.

[0028] FIG. 3 is another overview, perspective view of the present invention. The barcode reader 301 and the 3D profiler 302 are shown, with a package 303 passing underneath on the conveyor belt 304. A second package 305 is shown further along the belt 304, illustrating how the present invention is capable of handling a continuous line of packages. The robotic arm 306 sits on the left side of the embodiment, followed by the air cushion 307 and printer 310. The plexiglass shield with light curtain 309 protects the robotic arm's 306 portion of the conveyor belt 303, and the plexiglass shield 308 protects the robotic arm 306, air cushion 307, and printer 310 on the other side. A package 311 is shown in the process of having a label applied, and another package 312 is shown at the end of the conveyor belt 304 with label properly affixed.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a front view of the present invention. The barcode reader 401 and 3D profiler 402 are shown, with a series of packages 404, 405, 406 moving along the conveyor belt 410. The robotic arm 407 can be seen preparing to affix the next label.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a side view of the present invention. The barcode reader 501 and the 3D profiler 502 are shown above the conveyor belt 503, with a package 504 about to enter the robotic arm's 506 critical zone, protected by a plexiglass shield 505. The robotic arm 506 is followed by the air cushion 507 and the label printer 508.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a back view of the present invention. The barcode reader 601 and the 3D profiler are again shown above the conveyor belt 603. A package 604 is shown moving along the conveyor belt 603. The robotic arm 605, air cushion 606, and label printer 607 are shown protected by the plexiglass shield 608. The plexiglass shield with light curtain 609 is shown on the opposite side.

[0032] FIG. 7 is a top-down detailed view of the present invention. As illustrated, the present invention comprises a barcode reader 701, a 3D profiler 702, a conveyor belt 704 where products 703, 705, 707, 712 sit and are transported toward the label applicator and printer comprising a multi-dimensional robotic arm 708, a cushion of air 709, and a label printer 710. The plexiglass with light curtain 706 is shown opposite the robotic arm 708, with a second plexiglass shield 711 protecting the robotic arm 708, air cushion 709, and printer 710.

[0033] FIG. 8 is detailed side view of the present invention. It again illustrates the components: a barcode reader 801, a 3D profiler 802, a conveyor belt 803 passing underneath the prior two items. A package 804 is shown passing along the conveyor belt 803. Next, the multi-dimensional robotic arm 805 and label printer 809 are shown, with a printer control panel 806 and operator control panel 807 where the system operator can start, stop, or otherwise control the system operation. Finally, the control panels 806 and 807 are mounted on the plexiglass shield 810.