The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 28, 1981
Filed:
Sep. 30, 1977
Max N Baker, Rural Hall, NC (US);
Watson M Dufour, Pfafftown, NC (US);
Julian R Martin, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
John D Welch, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Donald R Wilkinson, Clemmons, NC (US);
Marvin G Woempner, Thomasville, NC (US);
R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Abstract
An improved machine for automatically applying transfers such as tax stamps to multiple packages contained in a carton is disclosed. The machine comprises a conveyor for advancing a carton through an opening station, where it is opened to expose the packages therein, through a stamping station, where tax stamps in the form of heat or water transfers or ink printing are applied to each of the packages by a movable platen, and through a closing station where the carton is closed and resealed. The machine is adjustable to accommodate a variety of carton and package sizes and to apply the transfers to a selected part of each package in the carton accurately, while using stock transfer sheets on which the transfers are mounted with a predetermined spacing that does not necessarily correspond to the spacing of packages within the carton. The various sizes are accommodated by means of an adjustable stop mechanism which interrupts the motion of each carton as it passes through the stamping station to thereby stop the carton at a selected location with respect to the transfer sheet and the stamp transfer platen. After the transfer has been applied, the stop mechanism is activated to allow the carton to continue its motion through the stamping station. The adjustable stop and the platen are shiftable laterally with respect to the stamping station to apply selected transfers from the transfer sheet to the packages in the carton, and the stop is adjustable with respect to the platen to apply the transfers to selected locations on the package.