Media application system with autonomous media replenishment

1 . A system comprising:

a media applicator configured to apply media to objects, the media applicator comprises:

a platen assembly, and

a dancer arm,

the platen assembly and the dancer arm are moveable between a media processing position and a media loading position, the platen assembly and the dancer arm moving towards each other when transitioning to the media loading position and moving away from each other when transitioning to the media processing position;

a robotic device operatively coupled to the media applicator, the robotic device configured to move the media applicator; and

a media replenishment system configured to stage a supply of media for installation in the media applicator.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the media replenishment system comprises:

a panel;

a bracket operatively coupled to the panel and at least one shaft extending from the bracket, the at least one shaft being configured to support at least a portion of the supply of media.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the replenishment system comprises:

a hopper configured to store a plurality of media rolls in a stacked configuration;

a hopper outlet for presenting a selected one of the plurality of media rolls as the supply of media for installation in the media applicator.

4 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a receptacle;

the robotic device configured to move the media applicator to the receptacle,

the media applicator configured to autonomously discard media components remaining in the media applicator into the receptacle after media is depleted.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the media applicator comprises:

a media outlet;

a printhead;

a media payout spindle;

a take-up spindle.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the platen assembly is configured to move between a media processing position in which the platen roller and the printhead are configured to form a nip and a media loading position in which the platen assembly is positioned to facilitate installation of the supply of media in the media applicator.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the platen assembly is positioned between the media payout spindle and the take-up spindle when the platen assembly is in the media loading position.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the dancer arm is rotatable about an axis of rotation to move between the media processing position and the media loading position, wherein the dancer arm is disposed adjacent to the platen assembly in the media loading position.

9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the supply of media is received on the media payout spindle and the take-up spindle and a length of media extends about the platen assembly and the dancer arm when the platen assembly and the dancer arm are in the media loading position.

10 . The system of claim 6 , wherein in response to the supply of media being installed in the media applicator, the platen assembly and the dancer arm move to the media processing position to position a portion of the length of media between the nip and to maintain tension on the length of media along a media path.

11 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the take-up spindle and the platen assembly are moveable between a media processing position and a media loading position.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the take-up spindle and the platen assembly move towards each other when transitioning to the media loading position and move away from each other when transitioning to the media processing position.

13 . A system comprising:

a media applicator configured to apply media to objects;

a robotic device operatively coupled to the media applicator, the robotic device configured to move the media applicator; and

a media replenishment system configured to stage a supply of media for installation in the media applicator,

wherein the media replenishment system comprises:

a media tray configured to hold a plurality of media rolls; and

a base plate that includes a gripper head, an extension bar, and a tensioning bar,

the gripper head configured to retrieve a selected one of the plurality of media rolls from the feed tray,

the extension bar configured to pull a length of media from the selected one of the plurality of media rolls,

the tensioning bar configured to tension the selected one of the media rolls to stage the supply of media.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the gripper head is configured to move between a media presentation position in which a terminal free end of the gripper head extends away from the feed tray and a media acquisition position in which the terminal free end of the gripper head extends towards the feed tray.

15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the extension bar and the tensioning bar are configured to move between a first position and a second position to pull and apply tension to the supply of media.

16 . A system comprising:

a media applicator configured to apply media to objects;

a robotic device operatively coupled to the media applicator, the robotic device configured to move the media applicator; and

a media replenishment system configured to stage a supply of media for installation in the media applicator, the media replenishment system comprises:

a panel;

a bracket operatively coupled to the panel and at least one shaft extending from the bracket, the at least one shaft being configured to support at least a portion of the supply of media,

wherein the supply of media is a media roll having a media core about which the media is wound and a take-up core to which a terminal end of a liner of the media is attached, and

a cartridge separates the media core from the take-up core by a specified distance and applies tension along a length of media extending between the media core and the take-up core.

17 . A system comprising:

a media applicator configured to apply media to objects;

a robotic device operatively coupled to the media applicator, the robotic device configured to move the media applicator; and

a media replenishment system configured to stage a supply of media for installation in the media applicator, the replenishment system comprises:

a hopper configured to store a plurality of media rolls in a stacked configuration;

a hopper outlet for presenting a selected one of the plurality of media rolls as the supply of media for installation in the media applicator, and

wherein the supply of media is a media roll having a media core about which the media is wound and a take-up core to which a terminal end of a liner of the media is attached, and

a cartridge separates the media core from the take-up core by a specified distance and applies tension along a length of media extending between the media core and the take-up core.

18 . A method comprising:

determining that a supply of media in a media applicator has been depleted, the media applicator being operatively coupled to a robotic device;

moving the media applicator via the robotic device to interface with a media replenishment system, the media replenishment system configured to present a staged supply of media for installation in the media applicator; and

receiving the staged supply of media in the media applicator.

19 . A non-transitory medium storing instructions, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor causes the processor to:

determine that a supply of media in a media applicator has been depleted, the media applicator being operatively coupled to a robotic device;

move the media applicator via the robotic device to interface with a media replenishment system, the media replenishment system configured to present a staged supply of media for installation in the media applicator; and

cause the media applicator to receive the staged supply of media.