The Procter Gamble Company

Geoffrey John Kerr

Clifford Theodore Papsdorf

Jason Lee DeBruler

Peter Wiedmann

Rodney Alan Holloway

Johann Dugge

Jason Lee Debruler

A dynamic and adaptive control system for printing cases for and individual packages of consumer products. The system prints one or more checkmarks at a predetermined frequency. As the quality parameters of the checkmark[s] drift from the target criteria towards unacceptable range[s] sampling frequency is autonomously increased proportionately. This system enables one to monitor and act upon a greater range of process parameters than conventional systems, as different checkmarks may be printed in limited space therefor on different packages. This arrangement also reduces unacceptable production, by sampling each case/package if necessary, notifying the operator when corrective action is needed.

In-line case printing system with dynamic sampling frequency and method therefor

An article grouping system capable of forming arrays of articles having a variable number of rows and lanes is included. The article grouping system includes an infeed carrier apparatus having an infeed carrier surface that is movable in a first direction and an outfeed carrier apparatus having an outfeed carrier surface that is movable in a second direction. A grouping apparatus comprising a plurality of carriages and a carriage drive mechanism operatively connected with each carriage. The carriage drive mechanism causes each carriage to independently move in a third direction from an article receiving zone adjacent to the infeed carrier apparatus to an article discharge zone adjacent to the outfeed carrier apparatus. A transfer apparatus includes a frame and an article stabilization member operatively connected with the frame. The article stabilization member moves from an engaging location in the article discharge zone to a disengaging location.

Systems, apparatus, and methods for grouping articles into arrays of various configurations

An automatic handling device for flexible flat products, in particular catamenials, comprises: conveying means ( ) on the infeed side for the serial guidance of the supplied products ( ) in a main infeed direction ( ), conveying means ( ) on the outfeed side for the intermediate stacker units ( ), the compartments ( ) of which are charged with products ( ), to be led off in a main outfeed direction ( ) which is substantially perpendicular to the main infeed direction ( ), and a feed head ( ) for the products ( ) between the conveying means ( ) on the infeed side and on the outfeed side, which oscillates about a pivoting axis ( ) in the plane spanned by the main infeed direction ( ) and outfeed direction ( ) such that, during the oscillating motion in the main outfeed direction ( ), the end ( ) of the feed head ( ) that is turned towards the respective intermediate stacker unit ( ) is synchronous with the respective compartment ( ) of the intermediate stacker unit ( ) for a product ( ) to be transferred into this compartment ( ), and that, during the oscillating motion in the opposite direction, it orients itself toward the next compartment ( ).

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Geneva, Switzerland

Geoffrey John Kerr