GB1276420A - Article marking apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1276420 Sorting postal mail XEROX CORP 21 Dec 1970 [24 Dec 1969] 60523/70 Heading B8A Certain ones of a series of Addressed articles 9 are marked so as to be readily distinguished from unmarked articles, by marking means 50 arranged for movement into contact with the surface of an article 9. Drive means 51, 52, 54 moves the marking means, and is controlled by means 48 for scanning the article addresses. The latter are carried on labels 32 supplied in strip form from a supply roll 34. The control means is adapted on a predetermined article address, to actuate the drive means to cause the marking means 50 to move into contact with the predetermined article and make a mark (11) (Fig. 3, not shown), in response to a control mark (45) (Fig. 1, not shown) on the predetermined article address. The control means includes means to delay actuation of the drive means after sensing of the predetermined article address. The latter comprises a mechanical delay device (Fig. 4). A switch actuator 69 on a rotor 68 is projected by energization of a solenoid 62 following operation of a switch 48 controlled by motivation of the scanning means 48. The rotor 68 is stepped around in synchronism with the operation of a machine 5 which is addressing the articles. By the time the rotor 68 steps round into a position in which the projected actuator 69 reaches an operating member of a switch 74 controlling the marking pen 50, the addressed article has been conveyed into position beneath the pen.