US3613885A

US3613885A - Bottle label detector-label inspecting and sorting apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3613885A
Application number: US854877A
Authority: US
Inventors: Denis O Rehse; Alfred P Brooks; Michael J Bilello
Original assignee: Pfizer Inc
Current assignee: Pfizer Inc
Priority date: 1969-09-03
Filing date: 1969-09-03
Publication date: 1971-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-19

Abstract

A starwheel turntable abstracts articles from a conveyor and returns properly labeled objects to it. Inadequately labeled objects are diverted and segregated. Labels are sensed in an initial portion of the turntable and accept signals generated thereby are advanced to the diverter when the articles pass through an advance triggering device. A verifying reject signal for the following article is generated when the immediate article is passing between the triggering device and the diverter. The release of this reject signal is delayed until after the next article has time to pass through the advance triggering device and is cancelled if such next advance triggering is accomplished. This prevents any article slipping by the signal advancing trigger without actuating it from being accepted. The reject signal is accordingly held in a bistable switch long enough to reject the following article if it does not trigger the advance of its own label detecting signal. The advance and verifying signals are conveniently triggered by photoelectric devices. Label detecting is effectively accomplished for transparent and semitransparent articles by a series of photoelectric sensing heads having illuminated scanning chambers past which the articles pass closely adjacent. A label disperses sufficient light back into the chamber to generate an accept signal, whereas, the transparent or semitransparent unlabeled wall transmits the light away without generating a signal.

Description

United States Patent Denis 0. Rehse Long Island City, N.Y.; Alfred P. Brooks, Cranbury, N.J.; Michael [72] Inventors J. Bilello, Staten Island, NY. [21] Appl. No. 854,877 [22] Filed Sept. 3, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 19, 1971 [73] Assignee Pfizer Inc.

New York, N.Y.

by said Rehse and Brooks [54] BOTTLE LABEL DETECTOR-LABEL INSPECTING Primary ExaminerRichard A. Schacher Assistant ExaminerGene A. Church Attorney-Connolly and l-lutz ABSTRACT: A starwheel turntable abstracts articles from a conveyor and returns properly labeled objects to it. Inadequately labeled objects are diverted and""segregated. Labels are sensed in an initial portion of the turntable and accept signals generated thereby are advanced to the diverter when the articles pass through an advance triggering device. A verifying reject signal for the following article is generated when the immediate article is passing between the triggering device and the diverter. The release of this reject signal is delayed until after the next article has time to pass through the advance triggering device and is cancelled if such next ad vance triggering is accomplished. This prevents any article slipping by the signal advancing trigger without actuating it from being accepted. The reject signal is accordingly held in a bistable switch long enough to reject the following article if it does not trigger the advance of its own label detecting signal. The advance and verifying signals are conveniently triggered by photoelectric devices. Label detecting is effectively accomplished for transparent and semitransparent articles by a series of photoelectric sensing heads having illuminated scanning chambers past which the articles pass closely adjacent. A label disperses sufficient light back into the chamber to generate an accept signal, whereas, the transparent or semitransparent unlabeled wall transmits the light away without generating a signal.

PATENTEUUBT 19 ISTI SHEET 5 [IF 5 5 Voli 1 61" Sup 0Z7 E ST BOTTLE LABEL DETECTOR-LABEL INSPECTING AND SOR'IING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus for detecting the presence or absence of labels on articles (such as containers) and more particularly relates to such apparatus in which inadequately labeled objects are sorted out and abstracted from the main stream. It still more particularly relates to such apparatus which photoelectrically senses the presence or absence of labels on transparent or semitransparent containers, especially bottles containing pharmaceutical products, for which labels are absolutely required.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many devices have been developed for detecting whether containers are adequately labeled and for sorting out unlabeled or inadequately labeled articles. It is essential in packaging pharmaceutical goods that no unlabeled container be shipped. Sensitive devices are, however, prone to reject some properly labeled containers with the inadequately or unlabeled containers. Rejecting properly labeled articles is time consuming and costly. The seriousness of false rejection is apparent when one considers that the false rejection of even I will divert more than two bottles per minute when the production rate exceeds more than 200 articles per minute. Existing devices also require special inks, marks or holes on the labels or elaborate positioning systems. An object of this invention is to provide a relatively simple, economical and dependable device for determining whether packaged articles are adequately labeled and for minimizing the rejection of only those which are improperly or inadequately labeled.

SUMMARY Labeled objects are advanced in predetermined time sequence along a conveyor. The sorting means in the path of the conveyor has accept and reject positions. A photosensitive sensing means mounted alongside the conveyor generates "accept" signals if it detects the presence of a label in a predetermined position and transmits them to an accept signal storage means. A signal advancing station causes the storage device to transmit the signals to the sorting means in response to passage of the object through it. This conditions the actuator for the sorting means to hold it in the position for accepting objects. which have generated accept" signals. A verifying means is also provided for insuring that objects are rejected if they have slipped through the signal advancing means without actuating it. This double-checking function is conveniently provided by a time-delayed reject signal generating means, which is actuated by passage of the object between the signal advancing means and the sorter. TI-Iis signal advancing means is also connected to the signal rejecting generator for cancelling the preinserted reject signal. The passage of an object past the signal advancing means therefore accomplishes two functions.

It advances an accept signal from the sensing means to the sorting actuating means to maintain it in the accept position for a properly labeled object. It also cancels the reject signal generated by the passage of the previous object past the reject signal generator before its delayed transmission to the sorting actuator is accomplished. This insures that objects are not ac cepted unless they have generated accept" signals as a result of sensing properly applied labels and have also actuated the signal advancing means to transmit the results of the label sensing to the sorting actuator.

A highly efficient photosensitive detecting device has an illuminated chamber disposed closely adjacent the path of travel of articles on the track. A port in the chamber is blocked by the sides of articles passing close by it. Lightreflecting labels disperse light back into the chamber to generate signals, whereas the absence of a label permits the light to pass through the transparent or semitransparent wall of the article and out of the chamber.

A starwheel transport efficiently traverses articles in the aforementioned inspection and sorting path. THe movement of the starwheel is effectively synchronized with the conveyor by a pair of photosensitive detectors. One of the detectors is disposed in the entrance portion of the starwheel transport and the other i disposed to sense the phase of movement of the starwheel. he starwheel-detecting device interrupts rotation of the Starwheel when it arrives at a position to receive an article. The article-sensing device overrides the starwheelsensing device to continue rotation of the starwheel when an article arrives in position to enter the receiving pocket in the starwheel. This insures that articles enter each pocket of the starwheel as it rotates without the danger of a bottle jam-up. Extremely rapid inspection and sorting can thus be accomplished as a result of the aforementioned features without accepting inadequately labeled articles or rejecting more than a bare minimum of properly labeled articles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Novel features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of this invention installed in conjunction with an article-conveying system;

FIG. 2 is a front view in elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view in elevation of photoelectrical portions of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. I along the line 44;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of electrical control portions of the embodiment shown in FIGS. I and 2;

FIG. 6A is more detailed electrical diagram showing components incorporated in the diagram shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 6B is an electrical diagram of a starwheel synchronization circuit for use with the apparatus shown in FIGS. l-6A.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. I is shown a label-detecting and article-sorting system 10 mounted along a conveyor 12 of packaged articles 14, such as bottles of pharmaceutical tablets. Device I0 includes a starwheel transport 20 revolving within circular rail 22. Starwheel 20 includes three article-receiving pockets 24 for traversing the articles about the inspection and sorting path in a predetermined timed relationship. Six sensing devices 26 are mounted in an initial section of rail 22 for generating an accept" signal if they detect the presence of a label 28 (shown in FIG. 2) upon a bottle 14. Labels 28 are of a contrasting color relative to bottle 14 and are for example white upon a relatively dark bottle. However, a white label on a clear bottle with a white powder content is also detectable. Bottles 14 rotate as they are rapidly traversed by starwheel 20 and more than one detecting sensor 26 is therefore necessary to insure that an accept" signal is generated by each bottle 14 carrying a label 28. The provision of a number of sensing devices 26 is more economical and rapid than one sensing device and elaborate bottle-positioning systems. After bottle 14 traverses sensors 26, it goes through signal advancing detector 30 of a photoelectric type for gate I later described in detail in conjunction with FIGS 36. Bottle I4 then passes through verifying detector 32 for gate 2 which conditions the system for rejecting the following article if it does not actuate the signal advancing detector 30 for gate 1.

Diversion of unlabeled articles is accomplished by deflector 34 actuated by rotational solenoid 39. Return spring of rotational solenoid 39 biases deflector 34 to the bottle rejecting or abstracting position shown in broken outline in FIG. 1.

Electrical actuation of solenoid 39 forces deflector 34 against the force of the return spring 38 to the retracted or bottle-accepting position shown in full outline in FIG. I. In

the full-line position deflector 34 allows bottles 14 carried in pockets 24 to be returned to conveyor 12 through return chute 40. Bottles 14 abstracted by deflector 34 in the brokenline position are delivered to exit chute 42 and exit conveyor 44 for discharge to a reject-collecting station not shown.

FIG. 3 shows photoelectric aspects of the system including sensors 26 and

gate detectors

30 and 32. Sensors 26 each include an optical head 46 mounted in rail 22. Heads 26 include two small intersecting holes 48 and 50 which are on the order of one-half of 0. inch in diameter, for example 0.040 inch in diameter. Illuminating hole 50 is disposed at an angle a, for example 70, from horizontal receptor hole 48. Light is delivered to illuminating holes 50 by fibre optics 52 (glass strands of 0.001 of an inch diameter) which are connected in a bundle 54 in block 56 mounted on frame 58 containing light source 60 and infrared-absorbing plate 62. The light delivered through fibre optic 52 passes through hole 50 and a joint hole 64 in the side of the head 46 adjacent passing bottles 14. If a label 28 passes adjacent joint hole 64, the light dispersed therefrom is collected in passage 48 and conducted through another fibre optic 66 to bundle 68 in sensing block 70. A photosensitive element 72 is mounted at the lower end of optic bundle 68 for actuation thereby. Photosensitive element 72 may be any type of photosensitive element such as a phototransistor, a photodiode or an ordinary photoelectric cell. Phototransistors are, however, preferred because of their higher sensitivity and speed. The sensitivity of photosensitive device 70 is governed by adjusting potentiometer 74, and its output is connected to the electronic circuit through wires 76.

Gate detectors

30 and 32 are part of photosensitive devices for detecting the passage of objects. They utilize a fiber optic 52 conducting a beam of light through transmission hole 78 in channeled gate block 80 for detection by a photoelectric cell 82 in hole 83 in the opposite walls of block 80.

Holes

78 and 83 are aligned with each other and their centerline 85 is disposed at an angle below the horizontal, which is for example 7, to cause the gate-actuating beam to catch bottles which might be missed or tilted. The passage of an article 14 through the transmitted beam of light accordingly actuates photoelectric cell 82 in a conventional manner.

FIGS. 5 and 6A show electrical portions of the device in conjunction with a schematic representation in simplified linear form of apparatus 10, deflector 34, return chute 40 and exit chute 42. The electrical portions of the device include six photoelectrical sensors 26 connected to photosensitive element 72 within the block designated sensor A. Sensor A is in turn connected to connected devices including amplifier B, flip-flop C, time delay D, reading circuit E, memory F and actuator for solenoid G. Photosensitive detector 30 is connected to a series of electrical devices including gate 1 and amplifier H.

Photosensitive detector 32 is connected to a series of devices including gate 2, amplifier J, bistable flip-flop K and time delay L. Amplifier H is also cross-connected to reading circuit E and to bistable flip-flop K.

FIG. 6A shows the components in correspondingly lettered blocks in FIG. 5. The output of flip-flop C goes through diode 100, used to charge capacitor 102 which is the timing element of time delay D. Diodes I04 and 106 are used to prevent the breakdown of the emitter-base junctions of transistors 108 and 110. Capacitor 112 is a memory element capacitor. Diode 116 discharges memory capacitor 112 into resistor 118 when transistor 120 is off. Diode 114 has a leakage current to match that of diode 116. Transistor 122 is a phase inverter for gate 1. Transformer 124 is used to isolate the AC line, which is required for proper grounding.

When a bottle enters the sensing area, it can generate from one to six pulses if it has a label because there are six sensing stations 26 to insure that a signal is generated as the bottle rotates. Such signal is amplified at B and fed to flip-flop C which is set to a preselected threshold. The output from flipflop C is fed to time delay holding circuit D and a signal is fed to the open switch of reading circuit E and temporarily blocked from the memory circuit F.

Meanwhile, the bottle advances to photosensitive detector 30 for gate 1 where it breaks a photocell beam. This generates a signal which is amplified at H and fed to reading circuit E, allowing transmittal to the memory unit F of the signal previously generated in the time delay circuit. The memory unit directly operates the actuator for solenoid G, placing it in the open or accept position. Then the bottle leaves photosensitive detector 30 and removes the read signal. Between this time and the time the next bottle enters the sensing area, the time delay by circuit D will elapse. This will have no eflect on the memory because the read signal has previously been removed.

If the bottle entering the sensing area has no label, no signal above the threshold is generated by the sensing station A, and the time delay circuit D is not energized. Thus, there will be no signal at the input to the reading circuit E, and when the bottle passes gate 1, giving the reading command, the memory unit F will be discharged. This now places solenoid G in the reject mode. An accept signal is always represented by a positive voltage in the actuator for solenoid G, whereas a reject signal is represented by a lack of voltage.

Assume that an accepted bottle has placed the solenoid in accept mode. As a second labeled bottle enters the system, it in turn generates a signal as before at A, and the same is amplified at B, accepted by flip-flop C and a time delay signal is generated at D. The second bottle then proceeds to pass gate 1, providing a signal, which is amplified to refresh the memory F, and the solenoid G remains in the accept mode.

This sequence requires further refinement because of the possibility that a bottle without a label may fail to break the gate 1 photobeam at detector 30, e.g. if it is tipped on its side. Thus, there would be no signal at the reading circuit E, no reading command would be generated at gate l. Memory F would remember the previous label and stay in the accept mode, thus potentially accepting a nonlabeled bottle. This remote possibility is eliminated by the inclusion of verifying gate 2.

Continuing with the sequence of an accepted bottle which has passed the sensor and gate 1, the same now passes photosensitive detector 32 for gate 2. Here, a photocell beam is again interrupted, generating a further signal which is amplified at J and fed into bistable flip-flop K. The output of K is a reject signal which is time delayed at L and which will cause memory F to go into the reject mode. This causes solenoid G to reject if and only if gate 1 does not reset bistable flip-flop K and cancel the reject signal before the time delay has elapsed.

The entire sequence is now reviewed as it applies to several bottles passing through the stations. Assuming that bottle No. l enters the system, sensor A detects a label. The amplified signal is fed from B to flip-flop C and in turn to time delay circuit D. Bottle No. 1 now passes gate 1, providing a signal which is amplified at H and fed to reading circuit E. Memory F then enters the accept mode and actuator G for solenoid G goes into the accept position. Bottle No. 1 now proceeds to gate 2, generating a further signal, which is amplified at .I and fed to flip-flop K. The reject output from this flip-flop is fed into time delay circuit L.

Meanwhile, bottle No. 2 enters the system, sensor A detects the label, and the amplified signal is fed from B to C and into the time delay circuit D. Bottle No. 2 now passes gate l and the signal from this station is amplified and simultaneously does two things: (a) it resets flip-flop K, cancelling the reject signal before the time delay at L has elapsed; and (b) it is simultaneously fed to reading circuit E and memory F remains in the accept mode. Solenoid G remains in the accept position and thus diverter or deflector 34 is not closed at any time in a normal sequence of labeled bottles.

Starwheel synchronization device 84 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and electrical components thereof are shown on FIG. 6. Synchronization device 84 includes photosensitive gate 3 shown in FIG. 1 in position to detect an article 14 in an initial portion of device 10. Gate 3 includes a photosensitive detector 86 similar in structure to

detectors

30 and 32 for gates l and 2. When an article 14 has entered within photosensitive detector 86 for gate 3 as shown in FIG. 1, it is in position to be received within article-receiving pocket 24 in starwheel 20.

Gate 6 is mounted under rail 22 in position to detect the phase of rotation of shaft 99 of starwheel It senses such phase of rotation by sensing the position of one of three tabs 90 extending at angles 120 relative to each other from shaft 88 to correspond to the relative angles of pockets 24 in starwheel 20. Gate 4 includes sensing means 92 similar to aforementioned photosensitive detecting means 30. 32, and 36.

Gates

3 and 4 are connected as shown in FIG. 6A to the starwheel synchronization circuit 94 which is described in detail in FIG. 6B.

Diode 130 prevents the 40-volt signal from feeding into the S-volt supply. Transistor 126 feeds a precise voltage into the timing unit of the flip-flop. Transformer K28, having a 36-volt AC and a 5-volt AC output, is the AC source for the two power supplies.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the components of the electrical circuit for accomplishing the following functions gate 3 senses if a bottle is in the proper position to be picked up by the wheel. If it is, starwheel 20 continues uninterrupted; but if it is not, then synchronization solenoid operated clutch and brake 96 stops starwheel 20 at a given point determined by gate 4. When a bottle 14 does get to the proper position, synchronous clutch and brake 96 drops out and allows the wheel to continue. The pause in operation occurs at a time when the system is not sensitive to a delay.

Synchronization solenoid-operated clutch and brake 96 is activated with a higher than normal voltage to insure fast, positive pull in which is then lowered to permit continuous operation.

Synchronization of starwheel 20 takes place when synchronous solenoid-operated clutch and brake 96 is activated to stop the rotation of the starwheel three times when the photoelectric beam of gate 4 is interrupted. The signal to activate synchronous clutch and brake 96 from gate 4 is overridden when gate 3 senses a bottle M is completely entered within the starwheel transport slot ready for transport. At this point, the signal of gate 4 to synchronous clutch and brake 96 is overridden, resulting in the deactivation of the synchronous solenoid, and allowing the starwheel to rotate. The electrical circuitry for accomplishing these functions is shown in FIG. 6B.

Sorting system or apparatus 10 thus operates at an extremely fast rate of speed with remarkable efficiency. It does not pass any inadequately labeled items even at article transport rates of over 200 bottles per minute. It falsely rejects only 0.1 percent even at these high rates of speed. In so doing it does not require any special inks, markings or critical positioning of bottles or labels.

We claim:

ll. An apparatus for inspecting whether articles are labeled and sorting them comprising an article-transporting means, article-diverting means connected to said transporting means for abstracting unlabeled articles, said article-transporting means including a traclt, label-sensing means mounted upon an initial portion of said track, signal-generating means connected to said label-sensing means for generating accept signals when said sensing means detects a label upon an article, signal storage means for holding said accept signal while said article is being traversed along said track, actuating means connected to said diverting means for causing it to move from article accepting to diverting positions, said signal storage device being connected to said actuating means, a signal advance triggering means being disposed on said track a predetermined distance after said sensing means, gate means connecting said signal advance triggering means with said storage device whereby the condition of said storage device is advanced to said actuating device to position said diverting means in the accept position if said sensing means has detected a label upon said article, verifying means for said signal advance triggering means connected to said actuating means, said verifying means being timed with respect to the passage of articles along said track for generating reject signals and transmitting them to said actuating means after said article has passed through said signal advance triggering means, said signal advance triggering means being connected to said verifying means for cancelling reject signals generated thereby in response to actuation of said signal advance triggering means whereby said diverting means is maintained in the article-accepting position when labeled articles are detected and said signal advance triggering means is actuated.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said verifying means includes verifying triggering and reject signal generating means said verifying triggering means being disposed on said track between said signal advance verifying means and said'diverting means, said verifying triggering means being connected to said reject signal generating means which it triggers to generate a reject signal, and time delay means connected between said reject signal generating means and said actuating means whereby a reject signal generated by the passage of an article is stored a predetermined time sufficient to allow the succeeding article to traverse the track past said signal advance triggering means and to thus cancel said reject signal if said succeeding article actuates said signal advance triggering means.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim'l wherein said label detecting means comprises a series of label sensing elements for successively scanning the passage of an article and for generating at least one "accept signal if a label is present on said article.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said articletransporting device is constructed and arranged to rotate said article past said signal-sensing devices whereby said labelsensing elements are caused to scan the entire periphery of said article.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said labelsensing elements are photosensitive devices.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said photosensitive devices comprise a scanning head, said scanning head being disposed closely adjacent the path of travel of said articles on said track, an illuminated chamber in said head adjacent the path of travel of said articles on said track, an outlet port in said illuminated chamber adjacent said path of travel of said articles, a source of light in said head connected to said illuminated chamber and disposed at an acute angle with respect to the side of said articles passing adjacent said illuminated chamber, a photosensitive detector connected to said illuminated chamber, limiting means connected to said photosensitive means, the threshold of said limiting means being set to generate a signal in said sensing means when a predetermined amount of light is detected in said chamber whereby said signal is generated when a lightreflecting article passes closely adjacent said port and disperses light back into said illuminated chamber and wherein said light passes through the transparent wall of said article and out of said chamber in the absence of a label.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said signal advance triggering means comprises photosensitive means mounted along said track for actuation by the passage of an article past it.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said verifying triggering means comprises photosensitive triggering means mounted on a portion of said track between said signal advance triggering and said diverting means for actuation by the passage of an article past it.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said accept" signal generating means comprises electrical switch means.

110. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said signal storage means comprises time delay and reading circuit means, and said time delay means holding said signal in said storage means long enough to maintain it available for advance to said actuating means when said article actuates said signal advance triggering means.

11 11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuat ing means connected to said diverting means comprises electrical memory and solenoid actuating means.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said reject signal generating means comprises a bistable electronic switching means.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein a time delay means for delaying the release of said reject Signal is connected between said bistable electronic switching means and said actuating means.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said articlediverting means is biased to the accept position.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said articletransporting means comprises a pocketed starwheel and arcuate track.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said track includes aligned entrance and return sections for abstracting articles from a conveyor and returning accepted" articles thereto.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said article transporting means also includes an exit section connected to said track, said diverting means being connected between said exit section and said track whereby rejected articles are removed from said article-transporting device before they can be returned to said conveyor means.

18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein holding means is connected to the entrance to said track whereby articles are delivered one at a time to said starwheel.

19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein synchronization means is provided between said starwheel and said articles being transported thereby, said synchronization means including starwheel rotational phase sensing means, starwheel stopping means, said starwheel rotational phase sensing means being connected to said starwheel stopping means for stopping its rotation when its pockets are in position ,for picking up articles, article-sensing means mounted on said track where articles are picked up by said starwheel, and said article-sensing means being connnected to said starwheelstopping means for overriding the input from said starwheel rotational phase sensing means whereby said starwheel is caused to continue rotation when articles are disposed in positions for pickup in said pockets.

20. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said starwheel rotational phase sensing means comprises projections on said starwheel corresponding to the angular phase of said pockets, and photosensitive means for detecting when said projections are in positions corresponding to the pickup positions of said pocket.

21. An apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said article-sensing means comprise photosensitive article-detecting means.

Claims

1. An apparatus for inspecting whether articles are labeled and sorting them comprising an article-transporting means, articlediverting means connected to said transporting means for abstracting unlabeled articles, said article-transporting means including a track, label-sensing means mounted upon an initial portion of said track, signal-generating means connected to said label-sensing means for generating ''''accept'''' signals when said sensing means detects a label upon an article, signal storage means for holding said ''''accept'''' signal while said article is being traversed along said track, actuating means connected to said diverting means for causing it to move from article accepting to diverting positions, said signal storage device being connected to said actuating means, a signal advance triggering means being disposed on said track a predetermined distance after said sensing means, gate means connecting said signal advance triggering means with said storage device whereby the condition of said storage device is advanced to said actuating device to position said diverting means in the ''''accept'''' position if said sensing means has detected a label upon said article, verifying means for said signal advance triggering means connected to said actuating means, said verifying means being timed with respect to the passage of articles along said track for generating reject signals and transmitting them to said actuating means after said article has passed through said signal advance triggering means, said signal advance triggering means being connected to said verifying means for cancelling reject signals generated thereby in response to actuation of said signal advance triggering means whereby said diverting means is maintained in the article-accepting position when labeled articles are detected and said signal advance triggering means is actuated.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said verifying means includes verifying triggering and reject signal generaTing means said verifying triggering means being disposed on said track between said signal advance verifying means and said diverting means, said verifying triggering means being connected to said reject signal generating means which it triggers to generate a reject signal, and time delay means connected between said reject signal generating means and said actuating means whereby a reject signal generated by the passage of an article is stored a predetermined time sufficient to allow the succeeding article to traverse the track past said signal advance triggering means and to thus cancel said reject signal if said succeeding article actuates said signal advance triggering means.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said label detecting means comprises a series of label sensing elements for successively scanning the passage of an article and for generating at least one ''''accept'''' signal if a label is present on said article.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said article-transporting device is constructed and arranged to rotate said article past said signal-sensing devices whereby said label-sensing elements are caused to scan the entire periphery of said article.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said label-sensing elements are photosensitive devices.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said photosensitive devices comprise a scanning head, said scanning head being disposed closely adjacent the path of travel of said articles on said track, an illuminated chamber in said head adjacent the path of travel of said articles on said track, an outlet port in said illuminated chamber adjacent said path of travel of said articles, a source of light in said head connected to said illuminated chamber and disposed at an acute angle with respect to the side of said articles passing adjacent said illuminated chamber, a photosensitive detector connected to said illuminated chamber, limiting means connected to said photosensitive means, the threshold of said limiting means being set to generate a signal in said sensing means when a predetermined amount of light is detected in said chamber whereby said signal is generated when a light-reflecting article passes closely adjacent said port and disperses light back into said illuminated chamber and wherein said light passes through the transparent wall of said article and out of said chamber in the absence of a label.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ''''accept'''' signal generating means comprises electrical switch means.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said signal storage means comprises time delay and reading circuit means, and said time delay means holding said signal in said storage means long enough to maintain it available for advance to said actuating means when said article actuates said signal advance triggering means.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuating means connected to said diverting means comprises electrical memory and solenoid actuating means.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said article-diverting means is biased to the ''''accept'''' position.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said article-transporting means comprises a pocketed starwheel and arcuate track.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said track includes aligned entrance and return sections for abstracting articles from a conveyor and returning ''''accepted'''' articles thereto.

19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein synchronization means is provided between said starwheel and said articles being transported thereby, said synchronization means including starwheel rotational phase sensing means, starwheel stopping means, said starwheel rotational phase sensing means being connected to said starwheel stopping means for stopping its rotation when its pockets are in position for picking up articles, article-sensing means mounted on said track where articles are picked up by said starwheel, and said article-sensing means being connnected to said starwheel-stopping means for overriding the input from said starwheel rotational phase sensing means whereby said starwheel is caused to continue rotation when articles are disposed in positions for pickup in said pockets.