Videojet Systems International, Inc.

A.b. Dick Company

Richard J Kuhns

Chandrakant R Bhatia

Michael E Stober

Steven D Vannice

Neil A Polit

A method and system for temporarily halting an article for sensing with a fixed sensing system without altering its average speed. While halted, the article's orientation is manipulated for seeking and presenting a specific area thereon for sensing. The time available for manipulation results from accelerating each article relative to the average speed of articles prior to sensing. The sensing of the article includes visually reading a label thereon to identify the article, and inspection of the article for determining its physical condition. If desired, the physical condition of the article such as a glass bottle may also be evaluated without halting movement thereof. Once the article has been identified and inspected, the article is categorized based on the visual information obtained. Articles in certain categories are rejected from those evaluated.

System and method for seeking and presenting an area for reading with a

A system for analyzing the physical condition of a moving article, such as a glass bottle, in a stream of articles of manufacture which are moving at a predetermined speed. A light source illuminates a portion of the moving article to be analyzed at an illumination angle, and a camera obtains an image of the illuminated portion of the article. The camera is disposed to view the article at a viewing angle that is distinct from the illumination angle, thereby substantially reducing the amount of reflected light received by the camera. A transparent surface is interposed between the camera and the article and angled to reduce the amount of reflected light received by the camera. A computer or the like processes the image to evaluate the physical condition of the article, and categorizes the article into distinct categories based upon the physical condition of the article.

A media feed roll apparatus is provided for the transfer of articles such as envelopes, magazines and newspapers, one by one, from a stack to a transport which conveys these articles to a work station for printing or labeling. The apparatus and methodology according to the invention allow for independent adjustment of the roller nip between upper drive rollers and lower facing rollers so that an article such as an envelope can be inserted into the nip with the roller pairs providing substantially equal nip pressure on the article. Roller nip pressure is achieved through a mechanism allowing raising and lowering of the upper drive rollers, preferably by a pivotal action, which are independently suspended. Upon being released from the mechanism, the rollers are biased toward the article thereby creating substantially equal nip pressure on the article even if the nip spacing is different as a result of the article having different thicknesses.

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Crystal Lake, IL, United States of America

Richard J Kuhns