Random case sealer

1. A case sealer comprising:

a base assembly;

a top-head assembly supported by the base assembly;

an actuator operably connected to the top-head assembly to move the top-head assembly relative to the base assembly;

a first sensor configured to transmit an object-detected signal responsive to detecting an object and an object-undetected signal responsive to no longer detecting the object;

a second sensor configured to transmit an object-detected signal responsive to detecting the object beneath the top-head assembly;

a tape cartridge downstream of the second sensor and configured to apply tape from a tape supply to the object; and

a controller communicatively connected to the first and second sensors and operably connected to the actuator, the controller configured to:

receive a first object-detected signal from the first sensor;

responsive to receiving the first object-detected signal from the first sensor, control the actuator to begin raising the top-head assembly;

after receiving the first object-detected signal from the first sensor, receive a first object-detected signal from the second sensor; and

after receiving the first object-detected signal from the second sensor and responsive to receiving a second object-detected signal from the first sensor while the object is beneath the top-head assembly and before the object has reached the tape cartridge, control the actuator to begin raising the top-head assembly.

2. The case sealer of claim 1 , further comprising a third sensor communicatively connected to the controller and configured to transmit an object-detected signal responsive to detecting the object.

3. The case sealer of claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to, after receiving the first object-detected signal from the second sensor and responsive to receiving a first object-detected signal from the third sensor before receiving the second object-detected signal from the first sensor, not control the actuator to begin raising the top-head assembly responsive to receiving the second object-detected signal from the first sensor.

4. The case sealer of claim 3 , wherein the tape cartridge comprises a cutter arm and a cutter-arm actuator operably coupled to the cutter arm to move the cutter arm from an extended position to a retracted position, wherein the controller is further configured to, responsive to receiving the first object-detected signal from the third sensor, control the cutter-arm actuator to move the cutter arm from the extended position to the retracted position.

5. The case sealer of claim 4 , wherein the tape cartridge further comprises a roller arm comprising a roller and a roller-arm actuator operably coupled to the roller arm to move the roller arm from an extended position to a retracted position, wherein the controller is further configured to, responsive to receiving the first object-detected signal from the third sensor, control the roller-arm actuator to move the roller arm from the extended position to the retracted position.

6. The case sealer of claim 2 , wherein the second sensor is positioned downstream of the first sensor and the third sensor is positioned downstream of the second sensor.

7. The case sealer of claim 1 , further comprising a mast assembly supported by the base assembly, the mast assembly comprising the actuator and supporting the top-head assembly, wherein the second sensor is supported by the base assembly and the first sensor is supported by the top-head assembly.

8. The case sealer of claim 1 , further comprising a drive assembly comprising a drive element and a drive-assembly actuator operably connected to the drive element to drive the drive element, wherein the controller is operably connected to the drive-assembly actuator and further configured to, responsive to receiving the second object-detected signal from the first sensor, control the drive-assembly actuator to stop driving the drive element.

9. The case sealer of claim 1 , wherein the top-head assembly is movable relative to the base assembly between a lowermost position and an uppermost position, wherein controller is further configured to, responsive to receiving the second object-detected signal from the first sensor, control the actuator to raise the top-head assembly to its uppermost position.

10. The case sealer of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a first object-undetected signal from the first sensor;

responsive to receiving the first object-undetected signal from the first sensor, control the actuator to enable the top-head assembly to begin descending; and

after receiving the first object-detected signal and the first object-undetected signal from the first sensor, receive the first object-detected signal from the second sensor.

11. The case sealer of claim 10 , further comprising a third sensor communicatively connected to the controller and configured to transmit an object-detected signal responsive to detecting the object, wherein the controller is further configured to, after receiving the first object-detected signal from the second sensor, responsive to receiving a first object-detected signal from the third sensor before receiving the second object-detected signal from the first sensor, not control the actuator to begin raising the top-head assembly responsive to receiving the second object-detected signal from the first sensor.

12. The case sealer of claim 11 , wherein the tape cartridge comprises a cutter arm and a cutter-arm actuator operably coupled to the cutter arm to move the cutter arm from an extended position to a retracted position, wherein the controller is further configured to, responsive to receiving the first object-detected signal from the third sensor, control the cutter-arm actuator to move the cutter arm from the extended position to the retracted position.

13. The case sealer of claim 12 , wherein the second sensor is positioned downstream of the first sensor and the third sensor is positioned downstream of the second sensor.