APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MARKING ELONGATED ARTICLES

摘要

An apparatus for marking elongated articles such as lumbers while being longitudinally conveyed, and for providing a reliable reading of the applied marks to obtain associated coded information related to the article. The apparatus comprises a marking station followed by a remote reading station. The elongated article is transported on a longitudinal conveyor through the marking station which receives coded information related to the article to be marked, such as identification and/or grade/dimension data. The reading station comprises upper and lower pairs of luminescent ink-jet devices for applying a corresponding information mark pattern on either or both top and under surfaces of the elongated article, which information mark pattern longitudinally extends on each of the marked surfaces. After being handled, the marked article is transferred to a transversely moving conveyor, which transports the marked article through the reading station which is provided with a plurality of optical sensing devices each having luminescence inducing light source, to produce an output signal corresponding to the coded information. A method for marking and reading coded information onto an elongated article ensures reliable article identification whenever the article was turned upside-down while being handled between marking and reading steps.