U.S. patent number 3,888,725 [Application Number 05/342,283] was granted by the patent office on 1975-06-10 for air manifold with mask and label applicator utilizing the same.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Compac Corporation. Invention is credited to John B. French.
United States Patent |
3,888,725 |
French |
June 10, 1975 |
Air manifold with mask and label applicator utilizing the same
Abstract
A label applicator for applying a label to an article comprising
a supporting structure, a station at which the label is releasably
retained, a manifold on the supporting structure defining an air
chamber adapted to receive gas under pressure, aperture means for
allowing the gas in the chamber to escape and move toward the
station to remove the label and apply it to the article, and a mask
having opening means therein mounted with the opening means and the
aperture means in partial registry and with the mask masking off
part of the aperture means.
Inventors: |
French; John B. (Hacienda
Heights, CA) |
Assignee: |
Compac Corporation (Newark,
NJ)
|
Family
ID: |
23341144 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/342,283 |
Filed: |
March 16, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
156/556; 156/767;
156/755; 156/DIG.38; 156/541; 156/566; 221/211; 221/278; 239/523;
239/563; 239/600 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65C
9/28 (20130101); Y10T 156/1994 (20150115); Y10T
156/1707 (20150115); Y10T 156/1744 (20150115); Y10T
156/1928 (20150115); Y10T 156/1768 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
B65C
9/28 (20060101); B65C 9/26 (20060101); B65h
029/24 () |
Field of
Search: |
;156/556,584,497,285,540,356,541,358,542,363,DIG.31,444,DIG.38,566
;239/523,563,562,DIG.21,518,600 ;221/211,278 ;269/21,321A
;271/90,194,195 ;425/DIG.60,DIG.102 ;294/64,65 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Van Horn; Charles E.
Assistant Examiner: Gallagher; J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Peterson; Gordon L.
Claims
I claim:
1. A label applicator for applying a label to an article
comprising:
a supporting structure;
means on the supporting structure for releasably retaining the
label;
a manifold on the supporting structure;
said manifold defining a chamber adapted to receive gas under
pressure and having a slot leading from the exterior of said
chamber to the interior of said chamber;
said manifold having aperture means for directing gas from the
chamber to apply the label to the article;
a mask having opening means therein, said mask being insertable
through said slot into said chamber; and
said manifold including means for mounting said mask in said
chamber with said opening means and said aperture means being in at
least partial registry and with said mask masking off part of said
aperture means whereby said mask influences the configuration of
the air pattern which moves from said chamber toward said
preselected location.
2. A label applicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting
means releasably mounts the mask on the mainfold so that the mask
can be slidably removed to permit variation in the configuration of
the air pattern.
3. A label applicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said manifold
includes first and second outer plates and spacer means for
cooperating with said plates to at least partially define said
chamber, said spacer means being sandwiched between said plates and
defining said slot therein, said mask having a plate-like section
which is insertable through said slot and into said chamber, said
aperture means extending through said first plate and said opening
means being in said plate-like section of said mask.
4. A label applicator as defined in claim 3 wherein said plate-like
section is contiguous said first plate at said aperture means, said
mask substantially closing said slot to thereby minimize leakage of
gas from said chamber through said slot.
5. A label applicator as defined in claim 4 wherein said aperture
means includes a plurality of apertures in said first plate, said
second plate being generally opposite said first plate and having
an inlet port therein, a diffuser, and means for mounting said
diffuser on said second plate with said diffuser being at least
partially in said inlet, said diffuser distributing the air
entering said chamber through said inlet.
6. A label applicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said manifold
has an inlet to allow gas under pressure to be supplied to said
chamber and said label applicator includes diffuser means in the
path of the gas in the inlet for distributing such gas in said
chamber.
7. A label applicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said manifold
includes a plurality of sections and means for holding said
sections together without retaining said mask in said chamber.
8. A label applicator as defined in claim 1 including tube means
attached to said manifold in communication with said aperture
means.
9. A label applicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said retaining
means includes a housing having a gas pervious wall and means for
reducing the pressure in said housing to less than atmospheric
pressure, said manifold being at least partially within said
housing.
10. A label applicator for applying a label to an article
comprising:
a supporting structure;
means on the supporting structure for releasably retaining the
label;
an enclosure defining a chamber;
said enclosure including relatively broad first and second end
walls and an axially short peripheral wall;
said first end wall having an inlet for admitting gas under
pressure to said chamber;
said second endwall having a plurality of apertures therein through
which gas can be discharged from the chamber to remove the label
and apply the label to the article;
a diffuser member; and
means for mounting said diffuser member in the path of gas flow
from said inlet, said diffuser member assisting in the distribution
of the gas under pressure to all of the apertures in said second
wall whereby gas can flow through all of such apertures.
11. A label applicator as defined in claim 10 wherein said mounting
means includes means for mounting said diffuser member on said
first end wall with said diffuser member being at least partially
in said inlet.
12. A label applicator as defined in claim 10 wherein said diffuser
member defines a gas admission pattern to said chamber which
substantially circumscribes said diffuser member.
13. A label applicator as defined in claim 10 wherein said inlet
includes a bore and a counterbore with the counterbore opening into
said chamber, said mounting means mounting said diffuser member on
said first end wall with at least a substantial portion of said
diffuser member being in said counterbore, said counterbore being
flared radially outwardly as it extends axially inwardly.
14. A label applicator for applying a label to an article
comprising:
a supporting structure;
means on the supporting structure for releasably retaining the
label,
a manifold on the supporting structure;
said manifold defining a chamber adapted to receive gas under
pressure;
said manifold having aperture means for directing gas from the
chamber to apply the label to the article;
a mask having opening means therein;
means for mounting said mask with said opening means and said
aperture means being in at least partial registry and with said
mask masking off part of said aperture means whereby said mask
influences the configuration of the air pattern which moves from
said chamber to apply the label to the article, and
said mounting means having a lateral opening through which said
mask is receivable by said mounting means whereby replacement of
said mask is facilitated.
15. A label applicator for applying a label to an article
comprising:
a supporting structure;
means for releasably retaining the label;
a manifold on the supporting structure;
said manifold defining a chamber adapted to receive gas under
pressure;
said manifold having aperture means for directing gas from the
chamber to apply the label to the article;
a mask having opening means therein;
means for mounting said mask with said opening means and said
aperture means being in at least partial registry and with said
mask masking off part of said aperture means whereby said mask
influences the configuration of the air pattern which moves from
said chamber to apply the apply the label to the article; and
said manifold including a plurality of plates and means for
interconnecting said plates without locking said mask to said
manifold.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many articles such as containers for products and/or the products
themselves must bear label providing pricing information, product
identification, etc. The labels are typically supplied on an
elongated backing strip with the labels being adhesively secured to
the backing strip. The labeling function is carried out by a label
applicator which removes the labels and applies them to the
articles as the articles are conveyed past the applicator.
In one type of label applicator, the labels are sequentially
removed from the backing strip and releasably retained at a
preselected location. For example, the removed labels may be held
against a grid by vacuum pressure. The labels are removed from the
grid and applied to the article to be labeled by a blast of air
from an air manifold.
The air blast must be relatively forceful. For example, the air
blast must have sufficient force to (i) overcome the vacuum
pressure which tends to hold the label against the grid, (ii)
transfer the label from the grid to the article, and (iii) apply
the label to the article. The air blast must also be fast acting so
that the label applicator can apply labels as rapidly as possible.
Accordingly, it is important that the force of the air blast be
used efficiently.
The specific embodiment shown in common assignee's copending
application Ser. No. 289,349 filed on Sept. 15, 1972, and entitled
Label Applicator, uses an air blast most efficiently by tailoring
the air pattern, i.e., cross-sectional configuration of the air
stream, in accordance with the shape of the label so that a maximum
amount of the air blast will impinge directly against the label.
For example, if the label to be applied is long and thin, an air
pattern having a long and thin cross section is used. While this is
a highly effective concept, one problem to which the present
invention is directed is increasing the speed with which the
configuration of the air pattern can be changed.
Another problem to which the present invention is directed is the
distribution of air within the manifold. The air manifold has a
chamber and a plurality of spaced apertures which define an outlet
for the chamber. The air passes through the outlet and is directed
against the label held against the grid. The chamber must be
sufficiently broad to provide communication from the air inlet to
all of the apertures; however, to make the label applicator fast
acting, the chamber should be of small volume. This means that the
chamber may have relatively broad end walls and an axially short
peripheral wall. It is important that air be distributed to all of
the apertures at about the same time and in sufficient quantities
so that the air blast can accurately and efficiently perform the
intended functions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention substantially increases the speed with which
the cross-sectional configuration of the air blast can be changed.
This is accomplished by using a mask having opening means therein
of an appropriate configuration to produce the desired cross
sectional configuration of the air blast. The mask is arranged so
that the opening means and the aperture means are in partial
registry and so that the mask masks off part of the aperture means.
This allows the mask to control the cross-sectional configuration
of the air pattern emanating from the air manifold.
The mask can be mounted in such a way so that it can be easily
removed and replaced with another mask having opening means of a
different configuration to thereby provide an air pattern of a
different cross-sectional configuration. In a preferred form of
this invention, the mask can be simply slid into and slid out of
the air manifold and no fastening devices are necessary to retain
the mask in position. This provides for very rapid changing of the
configuration of the air pattern.
The present invention also assures that all portions of the opening
means of the mask will be supplied with air under pressure. This is
accomplished by employing a diffuser in the air inlet to the
chamber. The diffuser distributes the air under pressure to all
portions of the opening means. Thus, no portion of the opening
means is "starved" for air.
The portion of the air manifold forming the chamber can
advantageously include first and second outer plates with spacer
means sandwiched between the outer plates. The plates and the
spacer means cooperate to define the chamber. A slot can
advantageously be formed in the spacer means. The mask is at least
partially insertable into the chamber through the slot and is
slidably receivable therein to facilitate installation and removal
of the mask.
The aperture means in the manifold can include a plurality of
apertures and the opening means in the mask can include a plurality
of openings. With this arrangement, the mask masks off some of the
openings and the apertures are in substantial registry with other
of the openings to thereby provide the desired opening pattern. The
mask substantially closes off the slot in the manifold to minimize
air loss from the chamber through the slot.
The end wall opposite the end wall containing the apertures has an
inlet for the admission of air under pressure into the chamber. The
diffuser can advantageously include a diffuser member mounted
across the inlet in the path of the incoming air. The diffuser
spreads the incoming air laterally in the chamber. To further
assist the spreading action, the inlet includes a bore and a
counterbore with the counterbore being flared and opening into the
chamber. The peripheral surface of the diffuser member is flared
outwardly so that it is parallel in cross section to the surface
defining the counterbore. This provides an annular passage which
extends radially outwardly as it extends axially into the
chamber.
The invention can best be understood by reference to the following
description taken in connection with the accompanying illustrative
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partially schematic side elevational view of a label
applicator constructed in accordance with the teachings of this
invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken generally
along line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and showing the air manifold and the
adjacent structure of other portions of the label applicator.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, bottom view of the construction shown in
FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through an air manifold
constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the air manifold.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 shows a label applicator 11 which includes a supporting
structure 13. A storage reel 15 and a takeup reel 17 are suitably
rotatably mounted on the supporting structure 13. An elongated
strip 19 of labels is wound on the storage reel 15 and extends over
a plurality of guide rollers 21 and in between a pair of drive
rollers 23 to the takeup reel 17. The takeup reel 17 is caused to
rotate in accordance with the amount of the strip 19 which is
supplied thereto, all of which can be accomplished in a manner well
known in the art. The strip 19 is also caused to pass over a
peeling bar 25 in moving between the reels 15 and 17.
The label applicator 11 also includes an applicator section 27
(FIGS. 1 and 2). The applicator section 27 includes a housing 29
which is substantially sealed except for the lower end thereof
which is covered by a grid 31. In the embodiment illustrated, the
grid 31 includes a plurality of longitudinally extending, spaced,
parallel slats 33 defining slots 35 therebetween (FIGS. 2 and
3).
The housing 27 also includes a door 37 hingedly mounted on a fixed
portion of the housing 29 by a pair of hinges 39. The hinges 39 are
spring loaded to normally bias the door 37 to the closed position
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The door 37 can be manually pivoted to an
open position about the hinges 39 by pulling outwardly on a knob 41
affixed to the door.
The housing 29 is evacuated to less than atmospheric pressure by a
motor driven fan 42, and accordingly, there is a vacuum or slight
negative air pressure at the grid 31. This negative air pressure
can advantageously be continuously maintained during the operation
of the label applicator 11.
The strip 19 includes a backing strip 43 and a plurality of
adhesive labels 45 adhered to the backing strip. When the strip 19
passes over the peeling bar 25, the strip is forced to undergo a
reverse bend with the result that the label 45 at the peeling bar
is removed from the backing strip 43 at a location immediately
beneath, and adjacent one end of, the grid 31. The negative air
pressure at the grid 31 causes the label 45 to be retained against
the lower face of the grid with the adhesive side of the label
facing downwardly.
A plurality of articles or containers 47 are positioned on a
conveyor 49 and passed beneath the grid 31. The conveyor 49 moves
one of the containers 47 directly beneath the label 45 which is
retained on the grid 31. A header or air manifold 51 (FIGS. 1, 2, 4
and 5) is mounted on the housing 29 and blows the label 45 from the
grid 31 onto the upper surface of the container 47 therebelow. The
blast of air is provided automatically by the air manifold 51 in
response to the presence of the container 47 beneath the label 45
on the grid 31. Although the labels 45 are shown as being applied
to the upper surface of the containers 47, it should be understood
that the label applicator 11 can be used to apply labels of
different sizes and shapes to various surfaces of different
configurations. Also, gases other than air may be employed, if
desired, by the manifold 51.
The manifold 51 is mounted on the housing 29 so that its position
in a plane parallel to the grid 31 can be adjusted. This in turn
adjusts the position in the air blast discharged by the air
manifold. With this kind of adjustment, the label applicator is
better suited to apply labels of different sizes and
configurations. In addition, the adjustability of the air manifold
allows it to be used regardless of the location on the grid 31 at
which the label is located.
In the embodiment illustrated, the manifold 51 is adjustably
mounted by a bracket 53 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which is affixed at one end
to the manifold 51. The other end of the bracket 53 is sandwiched
between a wall 55 of the housing 29 and a nut plate 57. The wall 55
has slots 59, the longitudinal axes of which are aligned. The
bracket 53 has slots 61, the longitudinal axes of which are
parallel and extend transversely to the longitudinal axes of the
slots 59. Screws 63 extend through the slots 59 and 61 and are
received in the nut plate 57 to thereby fixedly mount the air
manifold 51. By loosening of the screws 63, the screws, the bracket
53, the nut plate 57, and the manifold 51 can be moved right or
left (as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3) as permitted by the slots 59. In
addition, with the screws 63 loosened, the bracket 53 and the air
manifold 51 can be moved up or down as viewed in FIG. 3 as
permitted by the slots 61. This permits the air manifold 51 to be
located in any position (within the limits of the slots 59 and 61)
in a plane parallel to the grid 31.
A preferred construction of the air manifold 51 is shown in FIGS.
2-5. The manifold 51 includes an upper end plate 65, a lower end
plate 67, and spacer means 69 sandwiched between the plates 65 and
67. For convenience and in order to correspond with the orientation
shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the plates 65 and 67 are referred to herein
as upper and lower plates; however, these words are not intended to
limit the orientations in which the air manifold 51 can be used as
it can be used in virtually any orientation. Although the spacer
means 69 could take different forms, in the embodiment illustrated,
it includes a tubular plate 71 and a generally U-shaped plate 73.
The plates 65, 67, 71 and 73 are held together at their corners by
screws 75.
In the embodiment illustrated, the plates 65 and 67 are rectangular
and the plate 71 has a rectangular outer periphery and a
rectangular opening 77 therein. The U-shaped plate 73 has an outer
periphery which is substantially co-extensive with the outer
peripheries of the plates 65, 67 and 71 along three sides of these
plates and an inner periphery which is co-extensive with three
sides of the rim of the opening 77. One side of the U-shaped plate
73 is open.
With the plates 65, 67, 71 and 73 assembled, they define a chamber
79. The plates 65 and 67 form relatively broad end walls for the
chamber and the plates 71 and 73 form an axially short peripheral
wall for the chamber. Thus, the chamber 79 has relatively broad
dimensions in a plane parallel to the plates 65 and 67 and a small
dimension in a direction transverse to the plates 65 and 67. The
volume of the chamber 79 is small so that it can completely fill
with air in a minimum period of time. The open side of the U-shaped
plate 73 forms a lateral opening or an elongated slot 81 (FIG. 4)
which provides communication between the interior and the exterior
of the chamber 79. Except for the slot 81, the chamber 79 is
substantially airtight.
The upper plate 65 has a central opening therein defining an air
inlet 83. A conduit 85 connects the inlet 83 to a source of air
under pressure (not shown). A valve such as a solenoid valve 87
(FIG. 2) can be opened and closed so that the conduit 85 can supply
bursts of air under pressure to the chamber 79 in accordance with
the requirements for label application.
More specifically, the inlet 83 includes a threaded cylindrical
bore 89 and a frustoconical counterbore 91 (FIG. 4). The
counterbore 91 opens into the chamber 79 and is of progressively
increasing diameter as it extends axially inwardly. The end of the
conduit 85 is threadedly connected to the threaded bore 89 and a
lock nut 93 locks the conduit against the inadvertent separation
from the manifold 51.
An air diffuser in the form of a diffuser member 95 is located
within the counterbore 91. Although the diffuser member 95 could be
of different constructions, in the embodiment illustrated, it is in
the form of a solid plug or a deflector of frustoconical
configuration. The diffuser member 95 is concentric with the
counterbore 91 and defines therewith an annular passage 97 which
extends radially outwardly as it projects axially inwardly.
The diffuser member 95 could be mounted in different ways. However,
in the embodiment illustrated, the diffuser member 95 is mounted on
the plate 65 by a pair of screws 99 which extend through the plate
65 and are threadedly attached to the diffuser member. As shown in
FIG. 4, the heads of the screws 99 are countersunk and covered by
the lock nut 93.
The lower plate 67 has a plurality of threaded apertures 101
therein. Tubes 103 having external screw threads are threaded into
some of the apertures 101 as shown in FIG. 4 and other of the
apertures 101 are left open. Each of the tubes 103 has an annular
shoulder 105 at the outer end thereof. A sleeve-like spacer 107
surrounds each of the tubes 103 and is retained between the
shoulder 105 and the lower face of the plate 67. The spacer 107 is
sized so as to prevent the tube 103 from entering the air chamber
79 and to keep the tube flush with the inner face of the plate
67.
Each of the tubes 103 cooperates with the associated aperture 101
to define a passage or aperture leading from the chamber 79 and
projecting toward the label 45 on the grid 31. The tube 103 defines
an outlet section 109 of this aperture which is of lesser diameter
than the adjacent section 111 of the aperture and of lesser
diameter than the aperture 101. Preferably the tubes 103 extend
into the slots 35 to a position closely adjacent the label 45. In
the embodiment illustrated, the tubes terminate slightly upwardly
of the lower plane of the grid 31.
The air manifold 51 also includes a mask 113 which includes a
plate-like section 115 having a plurality of openings 117 therein
and a flange 119. The number and location of the openings 117 are
selected in accordance with the desired air pattern configuration.
For example, the peripheral row of apertures may lie just inside
the periphery of the label 45.
The plate-like section 115 is slidably receivable in the slot 81.
With the plate-like section 115 inserted into the air chamber 79,
the slot 81 is substantially closed by the mask 113 in that the
cross sectional size and shape of the plate-like section 115 is
substantially identical to the cross sectional size and shape of
the slot 81. The plate-like section 115 rests on the lower plate 67
and the flange 119 abuts the periphery of the upper plate 65 and
projects slightly thereabove to facilitate removal of the mask 113
from the air manifold 51. The plate-like section 115 is shaped and
dimensioned so as to engage all three sides of the U-shaped plate
73 when the mask is in the chamber 79.
With the mask inserted into the air manifold 51, some of the
openings 117 are in registry with some of the apertures 101. Other
of the apertures 101 are closed or masked off by the plate-like
section 115. All of the apertures 101 for which no tube 103 is
provided are masked off by the mask 113. Thus, the pattern of the
openings 117 controls the cross-sectional configuration of the air
pattern which is discharged from the chamber 79. The presence of
the plate-like section 115 in the chamber 79 reduces the volume of
the chamber in that the axial dimension of the chamber is
reduced.
In use of the label applicator 111, the strip 19 is moved from the
storage reel 15 to the takeup reel 17, and this results in one of
the labels 45 being removed from the backing strip 43 and retained
against the lower face of the grid 31 by the vacuum within the
housing 29. The conveyor 49 moves one of the containers 47 to a
location immediately beneath the label 45 on the grid 31. When this
has occurred, the valve 87 is automatically open in any
conventional manner to provide a blast or pulse of air to the
chamber 79.
The diffuser member 95 deflects and distributes the air from the
conduit 85 as the air enters the chamber 79. This assures that all
of the openings 117 of the mask 113 will be supplied with an
adequate volume of air at substantially the same time. The air in
the chamber 79 passes through the openings 117 and through the
tubes 103 in registry with such openings. The air passes out
through the outlet sections 109 and is discharged against the upper
face of the label 45. Although the slight vacuum pressure is
maintained within the housing 29, the air blast is sufficient to
remove the label 45 from the lower face of the grid 31, transfer
the label 45 to the container 47 immediately therebelow and apply
the label to the container with sufficient force to cause the label
to be adhered to the container. The mask 113 tailors the
configuration of the air blast from the manifold 51 to a cross
sectional configuration which approaches the configuration in plan
of the label 45. This assures that the air blast will be used most
efficiently, and that the label will be properly applied to the
container 47.
No fasteners are used to retain the mask 113 in the chamber 79. To
the extent, if any, that the air pressure within the chamber 79
tends to remove the mask 113 from the manifold 51, the friction
between the mask and the remainder of the manifold is sufficient to
prevent such removal.
If labels of a different size and/or configuration are to be
utilized, the door 37 is manually opened and the mask 113 is
manually removed from the manifold 51. The mask 113 is then
replaced in the manifold 51 with a mask having a pattern of the
openings 117 which is compatible with the new label. This change
over can be accomplished in a matter of seconds.
In the embodiment illustrated, the passage section 109 is reduced
in cross sectional area. This provides further assurance that all
of the tubes 103 will transmit air in meaningful quantities toward
the label 45. However, because the present invention employs the
diffuser member 95, the passage through the tubes 103 can be of
constant diameter if desired, and each of the tubes will still be
supplied with air in adequate quantities to perform the label
application function.
All or some of the apertures 103 may be provided with the tubes
103. If desired, the tubes 103 may be eliminated entirely; however,
one advantage of the tubes is that they can extend into the slots
35 of the grid 31 to reduce the length of the gap through which the
air blast must travel prior to contacting the label 45 on the grid.
If desired, one or more of the apertures 101 can be plugged with a
threaded plug as described in common assignee's copending
application entitled Label Applicator filed on Sept. 15, 1972.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that the apertures 101 and the
passages through the tubes 103 define aperture means and the
openings 117 constitute opening means. To the extent that the
opening means are in registry with the aperture means, an outlet is
provided for the air blast from the chamber 79. The shape of this
outlet and hence of the air blast emanating therefrom is controlled
by the opening means provided in the mask 113.
Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been shown
and described, many changes, modifications and substitutions may be
made by one having ordinary skill in the art without necessarily
departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.
* * * * *