Abstract: A pellet marking device which does not rely upon contact between the marking device and the pellets to be marked in the course of its operation makes use of a system for carrying the pellet-shaped articles to be imprinted, and an ink-jet system for applying the indicia to the articles as the articles are carried through the apparatus.

Abstract: An article marking apparatus which generally includes a transfer drum for receiving a series of articles from a feed hopper, for transfer to a conveyor system, and a pair of printing heads associated with the article marking apparatus at different locations along the path through which the articles progress. One printing head is positioned along the arcuate transfer path developed as the articles progress about the transfer drum, so as to apply indicia to one side of the articles being processed as they traverse the transfer drum. The other printing head is positioned along the conveyor system, so as to apply indicia to the other side of the articles being processed as they traverse the conveyor system. As a result, indicia are capable of being applied to both sides of the articles being processed in a single processing operation.

Abstract: A carrier for aligning a plurality of generally cylindrical articles for presentation to a printing apparatus incorporates at least one pocket having a pair of recesses formed at an angle to one another, a first of the recesses being oriented so as to receive an article from an article rectification apparatus and a second of the recesses being oriented so as to present the article to the printing apparatus, and sloping surfaces connecting the pair of recesses so that an article received in the first recess is capable of being transported along the sloping surfaces to the second recess as the carrier proceeds to the printing apparatus.

Abstract: Printing apparatus for marking small articles in which a printing head (24) having a design roll (26) and a printing roll (30), mounted for rotation about parallel axes (28,32), is movable between an operative position in which the printing roll prints indicia on the articles and a dwell position in which the printing roll is spaced from the articles. The movement of the printing head between the operative and dwell position is pivotal about the design roll rotation axis.

Abstract: Capsule handling apparatus having a specially configured capsule carrier (50) which permits faster operation, ejection of misoriented capsules, and sizing of capsules having telescoping cap and body portions. A capsule is received in an elongated recess (50a) in a face of the carrier. A passage (50f), leading from an outside surface of the carrier into the recess, facilitates loading a capsule into the recess. In one form, the carrier recess has two compartments (50c, 50d). When a force (90) is imparted to a capsule tending to push the capsule through the passage, a properly oriented capsule hangs up on a wall (50e) between the compartments, while a misoriented capsule freely passes through the passage and is ejected. An oversized capsule having an end projecting from the passage is engaged by a guide (98) which pushes the projecting end of the capsule into the recess to size the capsule.

Abstract: Capsule orienting apparatus in which misoriented asymmetric capsules inadvertently passed by a rectifying unit are segregated from properly oriented capsules. Capsules (12) are delivered by a rectifying drum (14) to capsule carrying pockets (38) in a segregating drum (36) which have recessed portions (38a) sized to loosely receive properly oriented capsules and tightly receive misoriented capsules. As the loosely held, properly oriented capsules pass a discharge point, they are released. The tightly held, misoriented capsules remain in the segregating drum (36) past the discharge point and are ejected from the segregating drum downstream from the discharge point.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which transports and rectifies objects, such as pharmaceutical capsules, and prints appropriate indicia on the objects. The apparatus comprises a two-drum system, the first drum being used to shift objects from a radial to a longitudinal position, and then to reorient some of the capsules so that, when the capsules are delivered to a second drum, the cam drum, all capsules are pointing in the same direction. The system takes advantage of gravity for rectification. Spin printing means are provided to print indicia on the rectified objects, as the objects travel along the periphery of the cam drum. A process for operating the apparatus is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for transporting, orienting and printing indicia upon materials which have dissimilar ends, like capsules, in a predetermined orientation and position. The apparatus includes three rotatable drums in tangential arrangement. The first two drums each include a plurality of peripherally spaced pockets sized and shaped to receive and carry individual capsules. Means are provided for each drum to orient certain preselected capsules from a radial to a longitudinal position with a selected end trailing. The so-oriented capsules are then delivered to the third drum for further processing, like printing, such as spin-printing. Means are provided to receive the longitudinally oriented capsules from the second drum in a longitudinal orientation, and to rotate the capsules from the longitudinal to a transverse orientation, whereupon selected indicia may be applied to the capsules.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for transporting, orienting and printing indicia upon materials which have dissimilar ends, like capsules, in a predetermined orientation and position. The apparatus includes three rotatable drums in tangential arrangement. The first two drums each include a plurality of peripherally spaced pockets sized and shaped to receive and carry individual capsules. Means are provided for each drum to orient certain preselected capsules from a radial to a longitudinal position with a selected end trailing. The so-oriented capsules are then delivered to the third drum for further processing, like printing, such as spin-printing. Means are provided to receive the longitudinally oriented capsules from the second drum in a longitudinal orientation, and to rotate the capsules from the longitudinal to a transverse orientation, whereupon selected indicia may be applied to the capsules.