Electrically controlled apparatus for marking objects

Claim 1

In a electrically controlled apparatus for marking an object travelling at a speed which may vary along a conveyer, having a selectively operable marking mechanism for marking the object with a code consisting of selected characters such as letters and/or figures, code selection means connected to a storage register through read-in means for storing code characters selected by said selection means and read-out means for reading out the stored characters from said storage register and for supplying to the marking mechanism actuating signals corresponding to said characters, first sensing means for sensing the presence of said object along said conveyer, second sensing means for sensing the speed of travel of said object along said conveyer, and control means connected to said first and second sensing means and to said storage register, said control means being responsive to the presence of said object along said conveyer as detected by said first sensing means for causing said actuating signals to begin to read out from said storage register, said control means further including means for controlling the rate of read-out of said actuating signals in accordance with the variable speed of travel of the object along the conveyer as sensed by second sensing means so that said characters are marked on said object at a rate dependent on the rate of travel of said object.