U.S. patent number 3,682,470 [Application Number 05/052,865] was granted by the patent office on 1972-08-08 for device for feeding strips of material.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Koichi Takagi, Masuho Yamada.
United States Patent |
3,682,470 |
Takagi , et al. |
August 8, 1972 |
DEVICE FOR FEEDING STRIPS OF MATERIAL
Abstract
A device for feeding strips of material such as labels includes
a picker having gripping means such as a suction element which is
movable to engage a label from a stack of labels in a magazine and
to withdraw it from a magazine. The picker comprises a rotatable
manifold which is rotatably supported on a crank arm. The
rotational movement of the picker is guided by a planetary gear
engaged within an internal gear in a manner to cause the suction
member of the picker to move inwardly substantially normal to each
label to grip the label and to move it away with the picker in a
direction substantially normal to the label. The picker manifold
advantageously includes two radially extending arm portions which
communicate during their rotation with a pressure regulating plate
for alternately connecting the suction member to a vacuum and to a
positive or atmospheric pressure for engaging and releasing the
label during its movement. The label which is engaged and removed
from the magazine is either transferred to an intermediate take off
roller or applied directly to a label support surface on a
rotatable drum which moves the label into association with either
adhesive applying means or heating means so that it will have a
surface which may be subsequently directed onto a device such as a
container which is to receive the label. The receiving roller
advantageously moves through a path which intercepts a belt
conveyor having suction means for withdrawing the label from the
individual supports and then moving it onto a receiving article
such as a container which is moved thereagainst. The label
receiving drum may advantageously include supporting surfaces which
are associated with pressure control means for applying a receiving
suction for engagement of the label and a positive pressure for the
disengagement of the label as necessary. In addition the supporting
surfaces may be moved outwardly for engagement of the label during
the transfer thereof from the picker. The support elements may also
be for either effecting the direct withdrawal of the labels from a
magazine or be oriented to receive the labels from a picker
member.
Inventors: |
Takagi; Koichi (Nagoya City,
JA), Yamada; Masuho (Anjo City, JA) |
Assignee: |
Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki
Kaisha (Tokyo, JA)
|
Family
ID: |
12504429 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/052,865 |
Filed: |
July 7, 1970 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
May 17, 1969 [JA] |
|
|
44/37685 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/95 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65C
9/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65C
9/14 (20060101); B65C 9/08 (20060101); B65h
003/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;271/29,27,DIG.1,32,4 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wegbreit; J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A device for feeding strip materials, such as labels, comprising
magazine means for holding a plurality of labels at a fixed
location, a picker having air pressure operable gripping means and
movable inwardly toward and outwardly away from said magazine
means, rotary means connected to said picker for moving said picker
through a continuous path which extends substantially perpendicular
to the surface of the labels as it moves inwardly toward said
magazine means to engage and grip a label, and which also extends
substantially perpendicular to the surface of the label when it
moves outwardly away from said magazine means with the associated
label, said rotary means including a rotatable shaft having a crank
arm rotatable therewith, said picker comprising a member rotatably
mounted on a second shaft on said crank arm and having a portion
formed as a relatively small diameter spur gear, a relatively large
diameter stationary internal ring gear concentric with said
rotatable shaft and meshing with said spur gear, said picker having
passages therein communicating with said gripping means, a pressure
control member oscillatable on said second shaft adjacent said
picker and communicable with said passages to operate said gripping
means, the rotary movement of said picker member around said
internal ring gear upon rotation of said rotatable shaft producing
the substantially perpendicular movement of the picker toward and
away from said magazine means, and link means connected to said
pressure control member and limiting the latter to a small arc of
oscillation about said second shaft as said picker rotates around
said internal ring gear. picker
2. A feeding device, according to claim 1, wherein said magazine
means comprises a magazine for holding a plurality of labels, and
means for holding the outermost label away from all the rest in the
position to be engaged by said picker.
3. A feeding device, according to claim 1, wherein said picker
comprises a rotatable member having diametrically opposite
outwardly extending arm portions, each of said arm portions
including at least one suction element comprising said gripping
means.
4. A feeding device, according to claim 3, including a plate
control valve, as said control member, having an arcuate groove
defined therein communicating with a suction pressure, said picker
member having a passage therein for each of said suction elements,
said picker member being held in association with said control
member and being movable relatively thereto cyclically to connect
said suction member passage with said groove for communicating a
suction pressure to said suction member during the time at which
said suction member is moved to engage a label.
5. A feeding device, according to claim 1, including a rotatable
drum having a plurality of support surfaces defined around its
periphery, a plurality of pickers arranged around said drum at
angularly spaced locations, said magazine means including a
magazine associated with each of said pickers and means for
transferring labels from each of said pickers to a respective
support surface of said drum as said drum is rotated.
6. A feeding device, according to claim 5, wherein said support
surfaces include segmental portions of said drum and means for
moving said segmental portions outwardly toward an associated
picker when the associated support surface approaches said picker
in order to facilitate the transfer of a label thereto.
7. A feeding device, according to claim 6, wherein said means for
moving said segments outwardly toward the associated picker include
a supporting leg for each support surface and cam means for guiding
said supporting leg during the rotation of said drum.
8. A feeding device, according to claim 1, including a plurality of
pickers, said rotary means including a rotatable central shaft, a
radially extending arm for each of said pickers, each arm being
angularly spaced, means for rotating said shaft, and means for
rotating each of said pickers during rotation of aid shaft with
said arm, said magazine means including a single magazine located
adjacent the periphery of said pickers and arranged adjacent the
path of movement thereof during rotation of said arms.
9. A feeding device, as claimed in claim 4, including a rotatable
transfer member having at least one surface which is movable
through a path to intercept said picker member after said picker
member has picked a label from said magazine means, said picker
member, after moving outwardly away from said magazine means
substantially perpendicular thereto, moving further along a path
intercepting the path of movement of said transfer means to
transfer a label thereto, said plate control valve, at such
interception, disconnecting said secton member passage from said
groove.
10. A label feeding device, according to claim 9, including a
rotatable drum adjacent said transfer means and having a plurality
of receiving surfaces defined around its periphery which are moved
through a path to intercept said transfer means for receiving a
label from said transfer means at the point of interception.
11. A label feeding device, according to claim 10, including means
associated with said transfer means and said drum for facilitating
the release of the label from said transfer means and the
attachment of the label to said drum.
12. A label feeding device, according to claim 11, wherein said
support surfaces are comprised of individual segmental members, cam
means associated with said members for moving said members
outwardly to intercept the path of movement of said transfer means,
and suction means carried onto said segmental members for sucking
and gripping a label when said support means is moved into
association with said transfer means.
13. A label feeding device, according to claim 9, including a
plurality of radially extending crank arms arranged around said
shaft at angularly spaced locations and a picker member rotatably
supported on each of said crank arms so as to be arranged tangent
to a cylinder defined by a line through the outer peripheries of
said picker members, said magazine means including a magazine
located substantially tangential to said cylindrical surface.
Description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to the construction of feeding
devices for individual lengths of strip material, such as labels,
and in particular to a new and useful feeding device which includes
a picker member having gripping means which is adapted to be moved
through a path substantially normal to the label to engage it and
to thereafter move in a direction substantially normal to the label
magazine with the label to a station for example for transfer of
the label to means for applying it to an article.
There is an ever increasing demand for the construction of a device
for applying labels to articles at ever increasing speeds. In one
attempt to design a label feeding machine with increased speed, the
label magazine is swingably mounted for movement in the vicinity of
a turntable picker and when suction means on a picker approaches a
magazine the front ended portion thereof moves forward, within the
predetermined range, in timed relationship to the picker suction
means in order to transfer the label to the latter. After the
completion of the transfer, the magazine moves back ready for the
next feed stroke. With such a construction, the ordinary label
machines require one reciprocating motion of the magazine for each
label to be fed thus taking too much time for any marked speed up
of operation. In addition, the label magazine during the operation
is required to repeat the swinging motions for each feeding
operation. In addition, for each replenishment of the supply of the
labels, the entire machine has to be stopped. A further
disadvantage is that the magazine cannot be increased in length and
its capacity is limited because of the fact that it is mounted for
movement.
The present invention provides an improved machine which operates
with a fixed label magazine and with a picker having gripping means
which is moved in a manner such that it moves toward and away from
the individual labels of the magazine at directions substantially
normal to the labels. For this purpose the picker comprises a
rotary manifold having internal passages which communicate a
suction member thereon alternately with a vacuum and either
atmosphere or a positive pressure, in order to provide for
engagement and release of the individual labels from the magazine.
The manifold is rotatably mounted on a crank arm and carries a
planetary gear which is guided within an internal gear. The
combined rotary movement of the crank arm and the manifold causes
the suction elements of the picker to move through a path which
causes the approach and withdrawal of the suction member to be
substantially perpendicular to the individual labels. This means
that the speed of the movement of the picker may be very rapid and
positive feeding of the labels one after the other may be
accomplished without requiring any shut down of the machines or
delay of the high speed operation. Because the gripping elements on
the picker approach the magazine from a normal direction and leave
in the same manner, the labels can be positively taken out one
after the other at extremely high speeds. Because the label
magazine is fixed, the supply of labels therein can be constantly
replenished without any shut down of the operation.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the feeding
mechanism advantageously includes a transfer roller which provides
an intermediate transfer of the labels from the picker or the
labels may be transferred directly onto a receiving support surface
of a rotary drum. The rotary drum is provided with support surfaces
which advantageously include means which are synchronously
presented to the picker after it is removed from the magazine with
the label so that the label will be transferred easily to the
support surface. For this purpose the support surface
advantageously includes internal passage means for communicating
the surface with suction means for aiding in the transfer. In
addition, the support surfaces may advantageously be mounted on
individual radially extending supports which are guided outwardly
to cause the receiving of the labels on the surface from the picker
and then the movement of the supports backwardly against the
periphery of the drum. The drum is advantageously arranged in
association with means for applying an adhesive to the exterior
surface of the label on the support surface, or to provide a
heating effect thereto in the case of a label such as a plastic
label which may be applied by heat sealing. As the drum is rotated
it moves to a transfer point which intercepts a conveyor belt
having a vacuum roll for receiving each label in succession as the
individual support surfaces are moved thereto. The conveyor belt is
arranged to rotate through a path which intercepts an article to
receive the label, such as a container or the like.
In the preferred arrangement of the invention, the picker member
comprises a plurality of individual sucker elements which are moved
during the rotation of the picker in succession into a gripping
engagement with an associated label. In addition, a plurality of
rotatably supported picker elements may be arranged around a
receiving drum and may operate through a rotatable planetary
movement which moves its associated picker into association with a
separate magazine supply of the labels, so that the drum receives
labels from more than one source at a time.
In still another form of the invention, a plurality of rotatable
picker members are rotatably supported on angularly spaced radially
extending arms of a single shaft member all of which are guided by
a single annular gear which guides the suction elements of each
picker so that it will move toward away from the associated
magazines in directions perpendicular to the surfaces of the
labels. In addition, the picker elements may be moved directly into
association with adhesive applying means or heating means so that
the labels can be transferred directly from the pickers onto a
receiving article such as a can which is also moved into
association with the rotating and revolving picker members.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a strip
material feeding device which includes a fixed magazine for holding
a plurality of the strip material elements at a fixed location and
a picker which has gripping means and which is mounted for rotary
movement such that it approaches and engages a label in a direction
normal to the label and also moves away from the label in a normal
direction.
A further object of the invention is to provide a high speed label
operating device which includes a picker member which is
advantageously in the form of a rotary manifold having a suction
finger which is communicated during rotation of the member with a
source of suction for removing the label and wherein the picker
member is mounted on a crank arm and is guided by engagement of a
planetary gear thereon with an internal gear so that the suction
finger moves substantially normal toward and away from a fixed
magazine for the rapid removal of labels in succession from the
magazine.
A further object of the invention is to provide a label feeding
device which includes a picker having gripping means for removing
labels by movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to
the surface of the label in a fixed magazine, and for thereafter
transferring the label or moving it directly into association with
a support surface, of a drum which is movable to advance the
support surface first toward means for conditioning the label for
adhesive engagement to an article and thereafter toward means for
applying it directly to the article.
A further object of the invention is to provide a label feeding
device which includes a plurality of rotary picker members each of
which is guided for movement on a crank arm such that is approaches
a label at a fixed magazine and moves away from the label in a
direction substantially normal thereto and wherein all of the
picker members are moved through an annular path on the associated
mounting arms past means for conditioning the label for application
to an article and then into direct association with an article for
applying the label to the article.
A further object of the invention is to provide a label feeding and
applying machine which is simple in design, rugged in construction
and economical to manufacture.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention
are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and
forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of
this invention, its operating advantages and specific objects
attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying
drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and
described preferred embodiments of the invention .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a label feeding device constructed in
accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line II--II of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a pressure control plate;
FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line IV-IV of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of the movement of the picker
member and the associated mechanisms;
FIG. 6 is a top plan of another embodiment of label feeding
mechanism which also includes a mechanism for applying the labels
to an article such as a can;
FIGS. 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e, 7f, 7g, and 7h are schematic plan views
of the label feeding mechanism indicating the various stages of
feeding operation;
FIG. 8 is a top plan view of still another embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 9 is a top plan view partly in section on an enlarged scale of
the essential mechanism of the apparatus indicated in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a section taken along the line X--X of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a section taken along the line XI--XI of FIG. 10;
and
FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied
therein as indicated in FIGS. 1 to 5, comprises a label feeding
device which includes a table 1 having a bearing 2 which is secured
thereto by bolts 3 for rotatably supporting a shaft 4. The shaft 4
is rotated by a drive gear 6 which drives through a gear 5 affixed
to the shaft 4.
In accordance with the invention, a crank arm 8 is affixed to the
shaft 4 for rotation therewith and it carries a stub shaft 7 which
rotatably supports a picker or picker manifold member generally
designated 10. A pressure control plate or evacuating plate 9 is
associated with the picker 10 and each is rotatably supported on
the shaft 7 by bearings 11 and 12, respectively.
As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pressure control plate 9
includes a top surface having a semi-circular groove 13 and an
arcuate groove 14 spaced therefrom. The groove 13 provides a vacuum
pressure connection through the passage 15 and a passage 23 in the
picker 10 to individual sucker members or suction elements 21. The
short arcuate groove 14 which is spaced from the groove 13 provides
a communication with either atmosphere or compressed air through a
passageway 16 of the control plate 9 and through the passage 24 to
the suction elements 22 when they are in the positions as indicated
in FIG. 2. When the elements 22 move to the active position engaged
with a label 32 of a magazine 28, as is the case in respect to the
suction elements 21, then the passage 24 will align with the
suction passage through the groove 13. Similarly the suction
elements 21 when they move to the position of the elements 22 as
shown in FIG. 2 they will be communicated with atmospheric
pressure.
As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the picker member 10 comprises a
cylinder having a hub portion 10a with an annular gear portion 20
therearound which meshes with an internal gear 25 which is secured
in a fixed position over the table 1 by a bolt 27 and a bracket
member 26. An arm 17 is connected, at its one end, to the pressure
control plate 9 as indicated in FIG. 2, and at its opposite end, it
is connected to a pin 19 of a crank lever 18 which is pivotally
supported on a pin 20 carried by the table 1. During the operation
the shaft 7 moves around the axis of the shaft 4 and, under the
guidance of the arm 8 and the crank lever 18, which will swing in
the directions indicated by the double arrow, plate 9 oscillates
about shaft 7 through a small arc.
The picker cylinder 10 includes a cylindrical portion or hub 10a
and radially extending arm portions 10b and 10b which are radially
arranged in respect to the axis of the shaft 7. The lower part of
the picker 10 includes a protrusion 10c which is provided with the
spur gear 20. The arm portions 10b, 10b carry rows of suckers 21
and 22, respectively, and, in the embodiment shown, these comprise
three in number arranged in vertical alignment. These suction
elements 21 and 22 comprise gripper means which are associated with
the picker 10, and each is communicated with an negative pressure
for the engagement of the label and subsequently with atmospheric
pressure or a positive pressure to permit disengagement of the
label 28.
The picker is rotated around its own axis and at the same time
revolves around the shaft 4 as the shaft 7 moves around the axis of
the shaft 4. In addition, because the gear ratio of the gear 20 to
the internal gear 25, in the embodiment shown, is 2:3, a single
rotation of the shaft 4 will bring either arm of the picker 10 back
to the magazine position adjacent the magazine 28. The motion of
the individual pickers 21, 22 is indicated by the curved path shown
by the letters i, f g and h in FIG. 5. The center point of the
shaft 4 in the internal gear 25 is located at a. The center point
of the spur gear 20 is located at b and the pitch circle of the
spur gear 20 is located at c. The pitch circle of the internal gear
25 is located at d. The curve e in FIG. 5 as well as in FIG. 1,
indicates the locus of movement of the shaft 7. The lines which
connect the front ends of the rows of the suckers 21 and 22
intersect the pitch circle c.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the label magazine 28 includes a pawl 29
and a keep plate 30. The front tip of the compressed air pipe 31 is
opened in the keep plate 30. Labels 32 are packed in the magazine
and are retained in position by the pawl 29 and the keep plate 30
as indicated.
The operation of the machine shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 is as
follows:
The shaft 4 is rotated by the gear 6 to cause rotation of the crank
arm 8 and the revolving movement of the shaft 7 around a circle
defined by alternate short and long dash lines e in FIG. 5, and in
the direction indicated by the arrow A in that Figure. The picker
10 and the spur gear 20 rotate around the shaft 7 and, at the same
time, they revolve along the internal gear 25. When the shaft 4
makes a complete turn, one point of the picker 10 which faces the
label 32 moves from the position f in FIG. 5, in the direction
indicated by the arrow B, to the position g. Thereafter the picker
moves in the direction of the arrow C from the point g to the point
i and during this movement it passes the position h. After a
complete revolution of the shaft 4 takes place it reaches the point
i and then moves during the next revolution from the point i in the
direction of the arrow D to the position f. The points f, g, h, and
i correspond to the point positions of a row of suction elements 21
and the other point diametrically across the shaft 7 corresponds to
the position of the roll suction elements 22. From the above it is
noted that the suction elements 21 and 22 both approach the labels
32 along a curve i-f and retreat from the labels along a f-g. Each
of these curves approaches substantially a perpendicular path in
respect to the surface of the labels 32. The deviation of the
movement from the perpendicular path is no greater than
10.degree..
As the suction elements 21 or 22 approach the labels 32 the
associated passages 23 and 24 (FIG. 2) which connect to these
individual elements move to a position in which they overlie a
portion of the annular groove 13 and thus a suction pressure is
communicated to the respective picker 21 or 22. The labels 32 are
held in the magazine by the pawl 29 and the keep plate 30 in such a
manner that they are separated from one another by compressed air
which is supplied through compressed air pipe 31. Therefore the
foremost label is immediately attracted by the suction pressure
toward the associated suction element and carried away from the
remaining elements in the direction of the position g. When either
of the suction elements 21 or 22 are moved toward the position h
from the position g they move on the control plate 9 to uncover the
short arcuate slot 14 so that the suction pressure is removed and
the associated suction element is connected to atmosphere. This
reduction of suction pressure releases the label 32, and
immediately after its release, it is caught up by a transfer roll
of the type indicated 40 in FIG. 6, which comes into the position h
and moves away from this position to carry the label to the next
operating station.
By arranging the suction elements 21 and 22 such that they move
along a path which extends substantially normal to and away from
the labels and by arranging the labels such that the end one is
already separated from the remaining stack, it is possible to feed
the labels no matter at how high a speed the picker 10 is
driven.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the label feeding device
also includes means for transferring the label into association
with an article to be covered by the label and to condition the
label for such application. The feeding and transfer mechanism of
FIG. 6 includes a plurality of magazines 28 arranged at angularly
spaced locations around a central transfer drum or rotary wheel 42.
Each magazine station includes a picker generally designated 10
which is identical to the picker described in respect to FIGS. 1 to
5. When each of the pickers 10 are moved to the position
corresponding to the position h in FIG. 5, they intersect carrying
elements or lobes 40a and 40b of a rotary transfer member 41 which
rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6. Each
receiving surface 40a and 40b includes gripper means for example,
in the form of a negative pressure suction apparatus (not shown)
which causes a suction action as the element passes the point h to
remove a label from an associated picker 21 or 22 and transfer it
to an associated surface 40a or 40b. Thereafter the label is
transported to a support surface 43 on rotary drum 42 which
includes a plurality of such surfaces spaced around its periphery.
The drum 42 is mounted on a shaft 44 for rotation therewith in the
direction indicated by the arrow so that the peripheral velocity of
the label supports 43 is kept substantially equal to that of the
surfaces 40a or 40b. One of the surfaces 40a and 40b mates during
each revolution with every other label support surface 43 while the
other one mates with the surfaces 43 between these. Conditioning
means, in the form of a rotatable roller 45, is arranged to engage
the surface 43 for the purpose of either heating the labels or
applying an adhesive thereto to ensure the sticking of the label
when it is applied onto an article.
A conveyor is arranged to operate adjacent the roller 42 and it
includes a vacuum roller which defines a nip with each of the label
supporting surfaces 43 as they are moved thereby. A belt 47 is
trained around the vacuum roller 46 and an additional roller 46' at
the opposite end. The belt 47 which continually runs on the
conveyor rollers 46 and 46' moves into association with each label
on a support 43 as it moves around and therefore, the belt
transfers this label from the support to an article such as a can
or container 100 which is moved under the belt and over a sponge
table 48. The cans 100 are moved from a feed path 101 into
association with a timing screw 49 so that they move beneath the
vacuum roll 46 in time to receive the label in a manner such that
it will be wrapped around the surface thereof and pressed into
engagement therewith as it moves between the sponge table 48 and
the belt 47. During the rotation of the pickers 10, the associated
suction elements 21 and 22 are alternately moved into contact with
the support 40a and 40b of the transfer roller 40 or directly with
alternate ones of the label supports 43 on the drum 42. The labels
with the paste side or heated side turned outwardly are transferred
onto the conveyor belt 47 from each support 43, and, as they are
applied to each container 100 in succession they are stretched out
in a crease proof fashion by means of the roller belt 47 and the
sponge table 48.
The construction permits the continuous smooth supply of labels to
each container no matter how high the speed of the pickers 10.
FIGS. 7a to 7e show the sequence of movement of each of the
elements during the feed out of the labels from the magazine 32 to
the support surfaces 43 of the drum 42.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 8 to 11, a plurality of magazines 28 are
arranged at angularly spaced locations around a drum 55, for
example at a spacing of 90.degree. apart. The drum 55 includes a
fixed shaft 50 which mounts cams 51 and 52 as seen in FIG. 10. One
of the cams, that is the cam 51, is formed with a groove 53 which
extends in one axial direction and an opposite cam 52 is formed
with a groove 54 opposed to the first groove. The drum 55 is
rotatably mounted on the shaft 50, and on the periphery of the drum
are supported a plurality of radially movable label supports 56. In
the embodiment shown, eight supports 56 are provided which move
radially inwardly and outwardly under the control of the cam 53 and
54. For this purpose, each of the supports 56 includes legs 57
which have rollers, one including roller 58 which engages in the
groove 53 and each additional alternate support including a roller
58 which engages in a groove 54. A suction control plate 59 is
arranged adjacent the top of the drum and it carries a passageway
which communicates at the proper time with a vacuum line 60 carried
on a member 60' which is biased into contact with the plate. The
suction pressure is communicated through passages to suction
elements 56a on each support 56 and this suction is effective
whenever the label is to be transferred to the surface. At other
times the suction element 56a is communicated with a compressed air
source or is opened to atmosphere in order to provide a dislodging
of the label from the surface 56. A spur gear 61 is affixed to the
shaft 50 and it receives a driving rotation from further gear drive
means (not shown).
With the above construction as described in FIGS. 8 to 11, each of
the labels 32 is taken out of the magazine 28 by the suction means
21 of the pickers 10 and arrive at the position h shown in FIG. 5.
The rotary drum 55 with the label supports 56 is moved so that as
the support 56 approaches the transfer point h its roller guide 58
is moved in the associated guide groove 53 to cause it to rise from
the rotary drum surface 55 to receive the label. The next adjacent
support 56 is guided by the groove 54 to move away from the
periphery of the rotary drum 55 and to receive a respective label
32. Thereafter, each label is moved into association with a paste
applicator 62 for coating the rear side thereof. With the pasted
face turned outward it is transferred to the conveyor belt and upon
arrival at a predetermined position in respect to the belt 47 each
label 32 is released due to the removal of the suction from the
suction elements 56a and the label is transferred to the periphery
of the container 100. With this arrangement, each support surface
56 which is to receive a label moves away from the periphery of the
drum and thereafter returns to the drum with the label which is
transferred by the picker. In this manner the various transfer
elements do not interfere with the operation of the pickers of the
next adjacent stations. Because all of the functions are
accomplished on a single drum the whole machine can be simplified
in construction. The means for holding the labels on the various
supports may be similar to that shown in FIGS. 8 to 11 or it may
comprise any kind of a means such as a tacky surface such as shown
or suggested in FIG. 6.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, a shaft 4' similar to that
shown in FIG. 1 is provided, which is driven in a similar manner. A
plurality of angularly spaced arms 70 such as eight arms as shown
in this embodiment are secured to the shaft 4' for rotation
therewith. Each arm 70 carries a shaft 7' which rotatably supports
a picker 10' of the type indicated in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to
5. Each picker 10' includes a planetary gear 10c' which is meshed
with an internal gear having a pitch circle indicated at 25'. The
planetary gears 10c' therefore are rotated by the internal gear 25'
and the gear ratio is such that after one complete revolution a
certain point on each gear comes back to its original position.
Each picker 10' is provided with suction elements similar to those
shown in the other embodiments. For this purpose, the gear ratio of
the internal gear 25' to the planetary gearing 10' will be 4:1. A
conveyor belt 47' is trained over sprockets 106 and 108 adjacent
one side of the pickers 10' in a position to receive containers 101
which are fed by a timing screw 49'. The containers move into
association with the picker elements for transfer of the labels
thereto after the labels have been treated by treatment means 51 to
cause them to adhere to the receiving container. Thereafter the
label is flattened between the conveyor belt 47' and a table 48'
having a resilient surface. During the application of the labels to
the containers 101 they are held between adjacent pickers 10' and
the belt 47' and the belt is driven at a suitable speed which will
not cause slippage between itself and the containers. With this
latter construction, because of the use of the multiplicity of
picker elements 10', a larger number of labels may be delivered
from the magazine 32 into association with each container 101.
* * * * *