U.S. patent number 3,779,829 [Application Number 05/219,986] was granted by the patent office on 1973-12-18 for labeling machine.
This patent grant is currently assigned to NJM, Inc.. Invention is credited to Edwin K. Wolff.
United States Patent |
3,779,829 |
Wolff |
December 18, 1973 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
LABELING MACHINE
Abstract
The labeling machine comprises a pressure sensitive label
dispenser for delivering either completely or partially released
labels to label applicators on a label applying drum. The labels
may be delivered directly to the applicators or to a stationary
label holder having two spaced members for engaging spaced portions
of a precisely positioned supported label and between which moves
the label applicators. If the labels are delivered to the label
holder, the applicators successively strip the precisely registered
labels from the holder before carrying them to a label applying
station for application to articles moving along a given path. The
applicators are so constructed and so oriented at the label
applying station that they will move the labels at the applying
station in a path parallel to the path of movement of the articles
and at the same speed as the articles, and will apply such labels
precisely to given areas of the articles.
Inventors: |
Wolff; Edwin K. (Stockholm,
NJ) |
Assignee: |
NJM, Inc. (Hoboken,
NJ)
|
Family
ID: |
22821563 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/219,986 |
Filed: |
January 24, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
156/361;
156/DIG.12; 156/364; 156/566; 156/DIG.33; 156/475 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65C
9/42 (20130101); B65C 9/188 (20130101); B65C
3/14 (20130101); B65C 9/18 (20130101); Y10T
156/1768 (20150115); B65C 2009/0081 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65C
9/42 (20060101); B65C 3/14 (20060101); B65C
9/08 (20060101); B65C 9/00 (20060101); B65C
9/18 (20060101); B65C 3/00 (20060101); B32b
031/00 (); B65c 009/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;156/566,475,DIG.5,DIG.8,DIG.9,DIG.12,DIG.14,DIG.28,DIG.33,DIG.37 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Drummond; Douglas J.
Claims
I claim:
1. In a labeling machine having a label pick-up station and a label
applying station, means for moving an article toward and past said
labeling station, a label applicator having a label supporting
surface for carrying and applying a label to an article at said
labeling station, means for moving said label applicator along a
closed path from said pick-up station toward said labeling station
and operative to bring said applicator to a stop at said pick-up
station, means coactive at said pick-up station while said
applicator is in a stationary condition thereat, for registering a
label relative to said supporting surface thereof and operative so
that in the stationary registered condition of a label with
relation to such surface a given line in the plane of the label is
coincident with a given line in the plane of said surface, and
means for creating at said supporting surface a suction condition
sufficient to hold the label thereto in such registered
condition.
2. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 1, in which said
registering means include a labeling register element associated
with said applicator, and means for feeding a label while under
vacuum control into engagement with said register element.
3. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 2, including means for
supporting said register element in stationary condition at said
pick-up station adjacent to said closed path of movement of said
applicator.
4. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 2, in which said label
register element is mounted on said applicator in association with
said label supporting surface thereof.
5. In a labeling machine ss defined in claim 1, in which said
registering means includes a stationary label holder located at
said pick-up station and having a label holding surface adjacent to
said closed path of movement of said applicator, means for creating
at said holder supporting surface a low suction condition
sufficient to hold a label thereto, and means for slidably
advancing a label across such holder supporting surface under
suction control and for halting such movement when said given line
in the plane of the label will come into coincidence with said
given line in the plane of said applicator surface, and in which
said means for creating a suction condition at said applicator
label supporting surface creates thereat a higher suction than that
created at said holder supporting surface.
6. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 5, in which said means
for slidably advancing and halting the movement of a label on said
holder supporting surface includes a label register element mounted
on said holder in association with said label supporting surface
thereof and in the path of the slidable movement of a label on the
latter.
7. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 5, in which said means
for slidably advancing and halting the movement of a label on said
holder supporting surface includes movable means for carrying a
label in secured registered relation thereon toward such surface
and for advancing the separated leading end of the label slidably
across such surface, means for progressively separating the label
from said carrier means as it is advanced across such holder
surface, and means for halting the movement of said carrying means
when the label reaches its registered position on said holder
supporting surface and while the trailing end of the label is still
secured to such carrier means.
8. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 5, in which said label
holder has a pair of spaced label holding suction surfaces disposed
on opposite sides of said closed path for holding spaced portions
of a label with the central position thereof spanning said closed
path, and in which said label advancing means slidably advances a
label across both of said spaced surfaces simultaneously to its
registered position, said applicator in its movement away from the
pick-up station stripping the registered label from both of said
spaced surfaces.
9. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 5, in which said label
holder surface faces in the direction of travel of said applicator
on said closed path, and in which said applicator label supporting
surface faces in the direction of travel of said applicator on said
closed path in the region of said label holder.
10. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 6, in which said
means for slidably advancing and halting the movement of a label on
said holder supporting surface further include means for feeding
toward such surface a label supporting strip having labels provided
thereon in spaced registered relation at a given forward velocity,
and mean for successively detaching labels from said supporting
strip without interfering with the forward velocity imparted to a
detached label by said advancing supporting strip, whereby the
detached label is propelled across said holder supporting surface
into engagement with said label register element while under the
control of the suction on said holder supporting surface.
11. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 1, in which said
registering means includes means for advancing a label supporting
strip having labels provided thereon in spaced registered relation,
means operative during the advancement of said supporting strip to
successively detach the foremost terminal labels at least partially
from said supporting strip so as to advance them toward said
pick-up station, and means operative to halt the advancing movement
of each terminal label when it reaches a position in which said
given line in the plane thereof will come into coincidence with
said given line in the plane of said applicator surface.
12. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 11, in which said
operative means includes means operative to stop the advancing
movement of the strip by said advancing means each time the
trailing end of a label on the strip passes a given point in the
path of movement of the strip, whereby the terminal label will be
completely detached from the strip and propelled into the pick-up
station, and means associated with said applicator to stop the
advancement of such terminal label.
13. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 11, in which said
operation means includes means operative to stop the advancing
movement of the strip by said advancing means, each time a given
point adjacently in advance of the trailing ends of the labels on
the strip arrives at a given point in the path of movement of the
strip, such points being so selected that the terminal label in its
registered position will only be partially detached and will have
its trailing end still secured to said supporting strip.
14. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 1, in which said
applicator moving means moves the applicator into position to
enable the label supporting surface thereof to receive a label
prior to the advancement of such label to said pick-up station, in
which said suction creating means creates a low suction condition
at said applicator surface prior to the advancement of such label
to said pick-up station, and in which said registering means
includes means for slidably advancing a label across said
applicator surface under such suction control and for halting such
movement when it reaches a position in which said given line in the
plane of the label will come into coincidence with said given line
in the plane of the applicator surface.
15. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 1, including means
for orienting the label supporting surface of said applicator
during the movement of said applicator so that when the latter is
at said pick-up station, said surface thereof faces in the
direction of said path, said orienting means being operable to turn
said applicator surface toward said label applying station as the
applicator approaches the latter from said pick-up station so that
when said applicator is at said label applying station said given
line of the label carried thereby will be in registration with a
corresponding given line of the article at such station.
16. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 15, in which said
orienting means comprises a shaft, means operable to turn such
shaft to given positions as said applicator moves along said closed
path and thereby to control the direction in which said label
supporting surface faces, a pivot carried by said shaft, a lever
movably mounted on said pivot, a member slidably mounted on said
shaft, means preventing rotational movement of said slidable member
on said shaft, means coupling one arm of said lever to said
slidable member, an applicator finger bearing said label supporting
surface connected to the other arm of said lever, and means
operable to slidably move said member to given positions on said
shaft as said applicator moves along said closed path and thereby
to control the transverse movement of said finger relative to said
shaft.
17. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 16, in which the
portion of said applicator finger bearing said label supporting
surface is so configured with relation to said orienting means as
to enable such surface to deposit a label on any given portion of
an article at said label applying station, said applicator moving
means being synchronized with said article moving means so that
said orienting means is enabled to cause said label supporting
surface to carry a label at said label applying station so that it
is substantially parallel to the path of movement of the article to
which it is to be applied for a substantial distance in the same
direction and at the same linear speed as the article.
18. In a labeling machine having a label pick-up station and a
label applying station, means for moving an article toward and past
said labeling station, a label applicator habing a label supporting
surface for carrying and applying a label to an article at said
labeling station, means for moving said label applicator along a
closed path from said pick-up station toward said labeling station,
means associated with said pick up station for advancing a label
supporting strip having a series of labels successively provided
thereon, means operative to control the operation of said advancing
means, a first means operative during the advancement of said
supporting strip for successively detaching the foremost terminal
labels from said strip so as to advance them toward said pick-up
station, first detector means connected to and controlling said
control means and operative to cause the latter to stop the
advancing movement of the strip by said advancing means each time a
portion at least of a label carrying section of said strip that is
provided with a label passes a given point in the path of movement
of the strip, a second means spaced upstream from said first means
for periodically performing an operation on the labels carried by
said strip and having its operation controlled by said control
means, and second detector means connected to and controlling said
control means and operative to cause the latter to stop the
advancing movement of the strip by said advancing means each time
it detects a label in a label carrying section of said strip,
whereby said second means will perform its operation on each label
carried by the strip even through a strip label carrying section
located downstream therefrom will not have a label thereon.
19. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 18, including third
detector means connected to and controlling said control means,
said third detector means being located along the path of movement
of the articles to said label applying station, and operative to
actuate said control means to start said advancing means each time
a bottle is detected thereby.
Description
THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an automatic machine for applying one or
more labels to articles moving successively along a given path.
This invention particularly relates to an improved labeling machine
which is especially advantageous for the application of pressure
sensitive labels supplied to the machine on a continuous backing
web, although it can be employed to equal benefit in the
application of other types of labels supplied either in the form of
a web or from a hopper.
One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved
labeling machine capable of precisely applying pressure sensitive
labels to given areas of articles regardless of the location of
such areas on such articles or the configuration of the
articles.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved labeling
machine capable of accurately registering on articles, pressure
sensitive labels which may be partially or totally released from
supporting backing webs at the label pick-up station.
A further object of the invention to to provide an improved
labeling machine capable of accurately registering on articles
pressure sensitive labels from backing webs that may be fed to the
label pick-up station in horizontal, vertical, or other angular
planes.
A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved
labeling machine which is capable of accurately registering and
holding at the pick-up station thereof, pressure sensitive labels
which have been totally released from the backing web supplying
them to such station.
Other objects of the invention, as well as the features of novelty
thereof, will become apparent from a perusal of the following
description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings,
in which
FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing in plan view a label machine
capable of single labeling, or of simultaneously applying two
labels to opposite sides of an article;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of one of the label applying devices in
the machine of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an elevational view of one of the label applying devices
in combination with a label dispenser for supplying completely
released pressure sensitive labels, and having an applicator finger
for applying labels to the shoulders of odd shaped bottles;
FIG. 4 is a partial elevational view looking toward the left side
of the device shown in FIG. 3, as viewed in such figure;
FIG. 5 is a partial elevational view of a label dispenser for
supplying pressure sensitive labels to the labeler in partially
released condition;
FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view showing a label dispenser for
supplying vertically disposed labels horizontally to the
labeler;
FIG. 7 is a partial elevational view looking toward the left side
of the discharge end of the dispenser shown in FIG. 6, as viewed in
such figure;
FIG. 8 is a partial elevational view showing the labeler provided
with an applicator finger for applying labels to the bodies of
bottles;
FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic drawing in plan view of the drive
mechanism for the several devices in the machine;
FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic drawing in plan view of the suction
system of the machine;
FIG. 11 is a detailed plan view showing how the label applying
heads of the labeler are connected in the suction system;
FIG. 12 is a partial diagrammatic plan view showing a label
dispenser supplying vertically disposed carrier attached labels
horizontally and directly to the label applicator finger;
FIG. 13 is a partial diagrammatic elevational view showing the
means associated with the dispenser for printing code or batch
numbers on the labels;
FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic drawing showing generally the circuit for
controlling the printer means in FIG. 13; and
FIG. 15 is a partial elevational view illustrating modified forms
of registering means.
In the drawings, the reference numeral 10 indicates generally the
frame of label applying machine embodying the invention. Mounted on
the frame 10 is an article conveyor 11 of usual construction for
carrying the articles 12 to be labeled successively to and past the
operating mechanisms as they travel through the machine. These
operating mechanisms include a feed screw generally designated 14
and located at the entry end of the machine. Adjacent to the feed
screw 14, is an article registering device, generally designated
15, for repositioning the articles on the conveyor 11 after they
are discharged by such feed screw so that the articles will come
successively into precise registration with relation to the
applicators 16 which apply the labels thereto at the labeling
station 17. The labels for the articles are supplied from two label
dispensers 20,20 to the applicators 16 at the pickup stations 60.
The labels applied to the articles at the labeling station 17 are
completely secured to the articles at a following pressure station
generally designated 18. During the travel of the articles 12 from
the feed screw 14 to and past the labeling station 17 and the
pressure station 18, the lower run of a pressure belt 19 overlying
the conveyor 11, presses down on their tops so that the articles
during such portion of their travel through the machine, are held
between such lower run of the belt 19 and the conveyor 11.
The feed screw 14 which is of known construction, is rotatably
mounted so that is is located at one side of the article path in
adjacent parallel relation to the entry end portion of the conveyor
11. As is shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings, the feed screw is driven
from the main shaft 25 which extends the length of the machine and
is continuously driven at a rate of three revolutions per cycle of
operation of the machine, by an electric motor 26 that is connected
thereto by a belt 27 coupling its drive wheel 28 to a pulley 29
mounted on a shaft 30 aligned with the main shaft 25. Shaft 30 is
connected in driving relation to the main shaft 25 by an electric
clutch and brake unit 31 which is so constructed that when the
clutch portion thereof is operated to disengage the shaft 30 from
shaft 25, the brake portion thereof will be simultaneously applied
to the main shaft 25 to stop the rotational movement of the latter.
Thus, although the main shaft 25 is braked to a stop, the motor 26
will continue to rotate the shaft 30.
The main shaft 25 is provided with a drive sprocket wheel 35 which
is chain connected to a sprocket wheel 36 provided on one end of a
shaft 37 arranged in parallelism with the main shaft. The other end
of shaft 37 is provided with a sprocket wheel 38 which is connected
by a chain to a sprocket wheel 39 for driving a chain of gears 40
connected to the shaft of the feed screw 14. The aforesaid parts
connecting the feed screw 14 to the main shaft 25 are designed to
produce a rotational speed for the feed screw of one revolution per
cycle of operation of the machine. Thus, if the machine is set up
to label 200 articles per minute, the feed screw will rotate at a
rate of 200 revolutions per minute to space the articles at a
definite pitch so that they advance in timed relation to the
mechanisms operating at that label speed.
The articles in their travel from the feed screw 14 are next
engaged by the registering device 15. This device adjusts them from
the positions in which they have been left on the conveyor 11 by
the feed screw, to positions on the conveyor in which they will be
presented to the label applicators in precise registered position
relative to the latter for accurate application of the labels
thereto. As is shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the registering
device is composed of two units 45,45' located one on each side of
the conveyor 11 and having jaws 46,46' disposed in opposed
relation. The jaws 46,46' are each constituted of an article
contacting head of suitable material and the three pairs of jaws
shown simultaneously engage three articles on the conveyor. The
jaws 46 are spring pressed to enable them to engage the articles
with a yielding pressure, whereas jaws 46' provide a rigid backing
for the yielding pressure exerted by jaws 46 on the articles. In
all other respects the two units 45,45' are similar in construction
and are constructed in the manner particularly disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 3,522,134, dated July 28, 1970. As in the constructions
disclosed in said patent, each of the units is composed of a
vertical shaft 47, in FIG. 9, which is connected at its lower end
by a bevel gear set 48 of 5:3 ratio to one end of a transverse
shaft 49 connected in driven relation to the main shaft 25 of the
machine through gearing 50. The shaft 47 has asssociated therewith
mechanism similar to that disclosed in the aforesaid patent to
impart to the carriage 51 carrying the associated set of three jaws
a translatory rotational movement such that said jaws, in each
cycle of rotation thereof, will move into engagement with three of
the articles 12 at a progressively changing rotational speed, then
while maintaining their engagement with such articles, will move in
the direction of travel of the articles at exactly the same
velocity as that of the articles, and then after a given period of
time, will disengage from the articles and move away from them at a
progressively changing rotational speed until they again assume
their normal rotational speed.
As previously indicated, the labeling station may be provided with
one labeling unit for applying one label to each article, or may be
provided with two labeling units, such as the units designated
generally 55 and 56 in FIG. 1 of the drawing, to enable the
application of two labels simultaneously to each article. The units
55 and 56 are similar and include intermittently moving
multi-station turrets 57 and 58, respectively, each of which
carries at each station thereof a label applying device 59 provided
with an articulated vacuum label applicator 16. The two turrets 57
and 58 rotate in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows,
and are adjustable relative to each other to accommodate different
sized articles. In the intermittent rotary movements of each
turret, the applicators 16 thereof successively stop at a label
pick-up station designated 60, successively pick up the labels 61
supplied to such station and carry them to the labeling station 17
where they are successively applied to the articles. The devices 20
for supplying the labels 61 which are of the pressure sensitive
type, to the pick-up stations 60, may be commercial pressure
sensitive dispensers, such as are now being made in this country by
Avery Products Corporation, Compac Coporation and Dennison Mfg. Co.
The versatility of the machine of this invention is demonstrated by
the fact that it can be readily coordinated with these commercial
dispensers which supply pressure sensitive labels that are
completely, or only partially stripped from the backing webs on
which they are mounted, and that are discharged from the dispensers
at a variety of angles including the vertical and horizontal. Thus,
as is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, a typical commercial
dispenser is shown as including a housing 65 containing the
required mechanism for operating the dispenser. The housing 65 also
supports in exterior relation a driven roll 66 for drawing the
backing 67 on which the pressure sensitive labels are mounted from
a supply roll 68, a label stripper plate 69, and a roll 70 for
drawing the backing 67 over the plate 69 and feeding it to a
take-up reel 71. In accordance with this invention, the housing 65
has been provided with a bracket 72 for adjustably mounting the
dispenser on an upright post 73 supported by a table plate 74. The
bracket 72 is also provided with a transverse fixed bar 75 for
rotatably supporting the supply reel 68.
It will be observed that in the operation of the dispenser shown in
FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, the backing 67 with the labels 61
adhered thereto is drawn from the supply reel 68 and around the
sharp edge provided on the lower end of the stripper plate 69. As
the backing strip is progressively bent back over the sharp
stripper plate edge, the labels 61 are successively peeled off the
backing strip. It will be observed more clearly in FIG. 3 of the
drawings that as each label 61 begins to peel free from the
reversing backing or carrier strip 67 at the bottom of the stripper
plate 69, it will feed vertically downwardly across the vertically
disposed outer surface 78 of a suction backup plate 79. Soon after
the label has freed itself entirely from the carrier paper strip,
the advancing end of the label engages against stops 80,80 mounted
on the plate 79 to properly register the label thereon with its
centerline exactly aligned with the centerline of the applicator 16
in position to pick it up, as will hereinafter become more clear.
The velocity of feed of the backing strip is such that the freed
label will be propelled forwardly across the surface 78 to
positively seat it against the stops 80,80 despite the retarding
influence being exerted thereon by the suction through the plate
79. As soon as the stops 80,80 halt the forward motion of the
label, the suction exerted through plate 79 will grab and hold the
label in its registered position. It has been found that this
registration of the label can be facilitated if the plate surface
78 is covered with a layer 81 of a lubricant material such as
Teflon as such a surface lessens the retarding frictional and
pneumatic resistance to the movement of the label toward the stops
80,80.
The suction backup plate 79 forms one wall of a label holding
device 82 supported in depending relation from the bottom of the
housing 65. The holding device 82 is constructed in the form of a
housing to provide a closed chamber 83 which communicates through
an opening in the bottom of the housing 65 with the interior of the
latter. Within the housing is provided a suitable fan (not shown)
for creating therein a low vacuum that is exerted on the portions
of the plate 79 to be covered by the label 61 through the openings
84 in such plate (note FIG. 4). The vacuum thus created is just
sufficient to hold the label in its registered position against the
surface 78 until positively removed therefrom. It will be noted
from a comparison of FIGS. 2-4 that the plate 79 and consequently
the holding device 82 is provided with a channel-like opening 85
through which pass the applicators 16 in their step-by-step
movements. During each period of dwell of the turret 57 one of the
applicators 16 is located in an at-rest position within such
opening 85 with its forward label carrying surface 86 substantially
flush with the label carrying surface 78 of the label holder 82 so
that such surface 86 will come into engagement with the central
portion of the printed side of the label 61 that is registered on
the label holder surface 78. The timing of the machine is such that
the applicator will arrive at this position after a label 61 has
been projected from the carrying sheet 67 to the label holder
surface 78. It will be noted in FIG. 3 of the drawings that the
shafts of the two backing strip drive rolls 66 and 70 of the
dispenser are provided with sprocket wheel 87 and 88, respectively,
which are connected by a chain 89. Associated with sprocket wheel
77 is an electric clutch and brake unit 90 for controlling the
rotational movements of the drive rolls 66 and 70 and consequently
the feed of the carrier sheet 67. The clutch and brake unit 90 is
electrically connected to, and actuated to initiate the feed of the
carrier sheet by a photo-electric beam unit 91, in FIG. 2, located
at a place relative to the conveyor 11 that is positioned upstream
from the labeling station 17 a distance at least three times the
pitch of the bottles 12. Whenever an article 12 breaks the beam of
unit 91, the feed of the backing strip 67 is initiated. As a result
of such location of the beam unit 91, the feed of the backing strip
67 will be initiated whenever there is present on the conveyor an
article to be labeled by the terminal label on such backing strip,
and just after an applicator has moved beyond the label holder 82.
The feed of such strip is further controlled by a photo-electric
beam unit 92 located within the dispenser housing 65 and also
electrically connected to the clutch and brake unit 90. The beam
unit 92 is so arranged in a known manner with respect to the
backing strip 67 upstream from the terminal label on such strip,
that it sends an electric signal to unit 90 when the trailing end
edge of a following label 61 on such backing strip moves past the
beam thereof, thereby to stop the feed of the backing strip. When
this occurs the terminal label on the backing strip will have been
projected into registered position on the label holder 82 and its
movement will have been halted. Thus, when an applicator 16 moves
to the stationary position it will occupy on the next period of
dwell of the machine, there will be provided on the label holder 82
a label 61 in registered stationary relation. It will be noted in
FIG. 4 of the drawings that in a period of dwell of the machine,
the centerlines of the applicator 16, of the channel or opening 85,
of the backing strip 67 on the stripper plate 69, and of the label
61 as registered by the stops 80,80, will all be substantially
coincident. As a result of this arrangement, when vacuum is then
applied to the applicator 16 and the latter advances in the next
step of its movement, the label 61 will be firmly carried thereby
in the position in which it has been registered on the label holder
82, i.e. with the centerlines of the label and applicator label
carrying surface coincidental. While in the example shown, the
centerlines have been illustrated as the means for effecting the
desired registration, it will be understood that any given line on
such elements may be selected as the means for accomplishing such
registration. It is known in the art, that in accordance with known
methods of preparing pressure sensitive labels on backing sheets,
such labels are so prepared on the latter that they are all
precisely positioned in accurate relation with each other on the
backing sheet. Thus, any given longitudinal line on the usual
backing sheet provided with pressure sensitive labels may be
selected as the reference line. The backing strip is then fed to
the place of discharge of the labels thereon under the positive
control of guides such as the guides 64,64 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4
of the drawings, so that the label will be discharged with the
selected given line thereof, i.e. the centerline in the example
shown, will be in registration with the corresponding given line of
the label in the registered condition of such label on the stops
80,80. The stops 80,80 will overcome any inaccuracies that might
occur in the operation of the dispenser such as for example in the
stripping and propelling action of the dispenser. It will also be
understood that the label 61 as it moves across the surface 78 of
the plate 79 on which such stops are mounted will be retarded by
the frictional and pneumatic resistance offered to its movement by
such surface. The speed of discharge of the label from its backing
sheet is so correlated to such resistance condition that the label
progressively entering onto the surface 78, slides under the
positive control of the vacuum, across such surface until it comes
into contact with the stops with a speed just sufficient to effect
accurate registration thereof on the stops without buckling, which
the vacuum also tends to prevent.
This same result can be attained with label registering mechanism
embodying the invention regardless of the manner in which the
pressure sensitive labels are supplied in accordance with known
methods. Thus, there is shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, a type of
dispenser provided with a known label register means 93
constituting photo-electric beam means and so constructed and
located with relation to the backing strip 67 that it registers and
stops the web with all but a small section of the terminal label 61
stripped from the backing web 67. The section of label remaining
adhered to the backing web is just enough to insure registration of
the label and the unit accomplishes such registration of the
terminal label with relation to the centerline of the applicator 16
with such accuracy that it is unnecessary to provide on the suction
back-up plate 79 the registering stops 80,80 in the embodiment
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. It will, of course, be understood that
while the detached portion of the label is being advanced it will
slide over the surface 78 of plate 79 under the control of the
suction applied at such surface, and that when the feed of the web
has been stopped by the register means 93, the suction exerted
through the openings or ports in plate 79 will grip the label and
hold it in proper registered position to be picked up by the
applicator 16. The suction required for such purposes may be of the
order of one or two inches of mercury, or from 1/2-1 pound per
square inch. When suction is subsequently provided in the
applicator 16 for this purpose, such suction is sufficiently great
as to exert a stronger grip on the label than the adhesive
connection between the backing strip and the small remaining
attached section or sections of the label. For example, a suction
of approximately 15 inches of mercury, or 7 1/2 pounds per square
inch, may be provided in such applicator. Thus, when the applicator
16 is advanced in its next step of movement, it is enabled to strip
such remaining attached portion of the label from the backing web
without disturbing the registered position of the label on the
applicator. This form of the invention is especially useful when
the labels to be applied to the articles are of insufficient
stiffness and would have a tendency to fold rather than slide
across a holding surface, as in the case of labels which are made
from adhesively coated and printed thin plastic films.
In FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings there is shown a dispenser which
feeds the backing strip horizontally in vertically disposed
position to one side of the label holding device 82 which in such
construction is in suction communication with the interior of the
housing 65 through a side wall of the latter. In this construction,
as in the construction shown in FIG. 5, the label register means 93
is a photo-electric beam arrangement for so controlling the feed of
the backing strip that the backing stip is stopped while a small
portion of the terminal remains attached thereto to effect the
proper registration of the label on the label holder 82.
Accordingly, this embodiment will function in the same manner as
described with respect to the embodiment of FIG. 5 when the
applicator 16 advances to remove the registered label 61 from the
holder 82 and strip it entirely from the backing strip 67. However,
it will be evident that the emboidment shown in FIG. 5 is better
suited for those labels whose body rigidity is insufficient to
enable them to be fed properly in the manner indicated in FIGS. 6
and 7.
The labeling unit shown in detail in FIGS. 2, 3 and 9 to 11 of the
drawings is the labeling unit designated 55 in FIG. 1, and since
both of such label units are of similar construction, a detailed
description of unit 55 will suffice for an understanding of the
construction and operation of both units. As is shown in FIG. 3 of
the drawings, the turret of unit 55 is composed of a vertical shaft
95 that extends through and is rotatably supported by a suitable
bearing unit 96 mounted on the table plate 74. The lower end of
shaft 95 below the table plate 74 has secured thereto a cam plate
97 provided with cam rollers 98 which engage with the cam groove of
a cylindrical cam 99 in a manner well known in the art. The
cylindrical cam 99 is secured to a horoizontal shaft 100 rotatably
supported by bearings 101,101 provided at the lower ends of
depending bearing brackets carried by the table plate 74. Mounted
on one end of shaft 101 is a sprocket wheel 102 that is chain
connected to a sprocket wheel 103 secured to the main shaft 25
(note FIG. 9 which indicates the driving connections for both units
55 and 56).
Secured to the vertical shaft 95 above and in spaced relation to
the table plate 74 is turret plate 105 carrying in properly spaced
relation six vertically disposed bearing units 106 for rotatably
supporting the vertical shafts 107 of the six label applying
devices 59 in each of the labeling units 55 and 56. The lower end
of each vertical shaft 107 has secured thereto a cam arm 108
provided with a cam roller 109 which engages a cam track 110
provided in the upper surface of a horizontal cam plate 111 mounted
on top of the table plate 74. The cam track 110 is designed to
progressively turn each label applying device 59 during its travel
from the label pick-up station 60 to the label applying station 17
and back to station 60 so that the centerline of the label carrying
surface 86 of its applicator 16 at station 60 comes into
coincidence with the centerline of the label registered on the
label holder 82, and at station 17 will be, with the centerline of
the article, in a vertical plane radial to the turret's shaft 95.
Each label applying device 59 is composed of a substantially
cylindrical body 112 slidably mounted on shaft 107 and provided
with an annular cam track 113 in which rides a cam roller 114
provided on the inner end of a pivoted lever arm 115 on the outer
end of which is mounted on the label applicator 16. The arm 115 is
mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of a pin 117 provided
on a bracket device 116 secured to the top of shaft 107. It will
thus be understood that as the body 112 slidably moves vertically
on the shaft 107, the arm 115 will be caused by the cam track 113
and cam roll 114 to pivot about the axis of bracket pin 117 to
thereby advance or retreat the applicator 16 as indicated by the
dotted and full line positions thereof shown in FIG. 3. The body
112 is normally biased to its uppermost position in which the
applicator will be fully advanced, by a vertically disposed
compression spring 118 secured at its ends to a post 119 on the
body 112 and a post 120 fixed to a collar 121 on shaft 95. The
range of movement of the applicator 16 from a fully retracted
position to a fully advanced position is controlled by cam
mechanism including a vertical arm 122 secured at its top to the
body 112 and carrying at its lower end a cam roller 123 which
engages the bottom cam edge 124 of a ring cam 125. The cam 125 is
supported in concentric relation to the turret plate 105 by ears
126 which are adjustably secured to posts 127 mounted on the cam
plate 111. It will be noted that each arm 122 is slidable in a
guide block 128 secured in projecting relation to the turret plate.
Thus, while the body 112 is freely slidable on the shaft 107, it is
restricted against rotational movement by the arm 122 and guide
block 128.
It will be understood that in the operation of the machine, the
cylindrical cam 99 will be rotated continuously by the main shaft
25, through sprocket wheels 102 and 103 and shaft 100 and that in
each cycle of such operation the turret plate 105 will be advanced
one step by the cylindrical cam 99. When during a period of dwell
in the step-by-step movement of the turret, a label applying device
59 is located at the pick-up station 60, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cam
member 123 thereof will be located on the ring cam 125 to position
the label carrying surrace 86 of the applicator 16 vertically, and
the cam roller 109 will be located on the plate cam 111 to position
such surface 86 in parallelism with the printed side of the label
61 held in registered relation by the label holder 82. In this
condition of the parts the centerline of the applicator surface 86
will be coincident with the centerline of the label 61 being held
by low suction on the holder 82. Prior to the next step of movement
of the applicator 16 suction of greater degree then that applied to
the label by the holder 82 is furnished in the applicator 16 so
that it grips the label firmly in its registered condition. On the
next step of the applicator 16, the latter will strip the label
from the holder 82 and the cam plate 111 will commence to
progressively rotate the applying device's shaft 107 to change the
angle of the held label relative to a plane radial to the axis of
turret shaft 95, and the cam ring 125 will commence to change the
position of the body 112 of the label applying device 59 on the
shaft 107 thereof to advance the applicator 16 about the pivot 117.
At the end of this first step of movement from the pick-up station
60, the label and applicator will be at the positions shown by the
label 61' and applicator 16', respectively, in FIG. 2 of the
drawings. This process is continued so that at the end of the next
step of the turret the label and applicator will be in the
positions shown by the label 61" and the applicator 16",
respectively, in FIG. 2. It will be noted that by this time the
label will have been turned so that it is almost parallel to the
line of movement of the articles 12 on the conveyor 11. During the
next step of the turret and when the applicator reaches the place
indicated by the vertical plane 130 that contains its centerline
and is radial to the axis of shaft 107, the applicator 16 will be
pivoted to the extent that its label carrying surface 86 will be
advanced almost to the position at which it will apply the label to
the article 12' for which it is intended as indicated by the dotted
outlined end of applicator 16. It will be understood that at this
time, the article 12' will have advanced from its full line
position to a position in which its central line is also contained
in the vertical plane 130, and the carried label is parallel to the
path of movement of such article. The surface 86 of applicator 16
will maintain this parallel relation until it arrives at
approximately the place designated by the vertical plane 132
through its centerline and the axis of shaft 107. During this
interval the applicator surface 86 will have a movement parallel to
and equal in velocity to the movement of the article 12' on the
conveyor 11. While the surface 86 is moving through the distance
indicated by the planes 130-132 parallel to and with equal velocity
to the article 12', the cam ring 125 will cause the applicator 16
to flick forwardly to apply the label to article 12' and retract.
This label applying action takes place at the place indicated by
the vertical plane 131. It will be noted that at this moment, the
centerlines of the article 12', the label 61 being applied and the
applicator surface 86 will be contained in the plane 131 and that
the latter will be radial to both the shaft 107 of the label
applying device and the turret shaft 95. During such final flicking
movement of the applicator 16, the vacuum thereto is broken and a
positive discharge of air is passed therethrough to positively
deposit the label on the article. On the return of the label
applying device, whose operations have above been considered, to
the pick-up station, the applicator 16 is retracted and rotated
until it is returned to the condition in which it is ready to move
through the passage 83 in unit 82 and pick up the label which has
been registered on such unit, as indicated in FIG. 2 of the
drawings.
The apparatus for controlling the pneumatic condition of the
applicators 16 is shown in FIGS. 1-3, 10 and 11 of the drawings. As
shown more clearly in FIG. 3, a portion of such apparatus is
mounted on the upper end of the turret shaft 95 and includes a
rotatable valve plate 135 which is secured to such shaft and which
is provided with six valve openings 136, in FIG. 11, to which are
connected one end of six flexible hoses 137, the other ends of
which are suitably connected to the applicators 16. Mounted on
valve plate 135 is a stationary valve plate 138, the two plates
being separated by a lubricating ring 139 made of any suitable
lubricating material such as Rulon or Teflon. Plate 138 has a
central bearing lined opening for receiving the upper end of the
turret shaft 95 and is provided with three ports, a pick-up port
140, a carrying port 141 and a blow off port 142. The three ports
are arranged on plate 138 so that port 140 is located at the
pick-up station 60, port 142 is located at the labeling station 17,
and port 151 is located between ports 140 and 142 on the path the
labels are carried by the applicators. Ports 140 and 142 extend
entirely through plate 138 while port 141 communicates with an
elongated chamber 143 having a perforated bottom wall 144 so that
continuous suction is provided in the applicators 16 traveling from
the pick-up station 60 to the labeling station 17. The ports 140,
141 and 142 are in communication with three passageways 145, 146
and 147, in FIG. 10, extending along a stationary transverse
bracket member 148 secured at one end to the stationary valve plate
138 and secured at its other end to the frame of the machine. Thus,
the bracket member 148 and plate 138 form a bearing support for the
upper end of the turret shaft 95. As is shown in FIG. 10, passage
145 includes a solenoid valve 149 which controls the supply of
vacuum to the pick-up port 140. Passage 145, together with passage
146, is also connected to a second solenoid vacuum valve 150, a
filter 151 and a vacuum pump 152. Passage 147 is connected to valve
150 and to a solenoid air valve 153 which controls a supply of air
thereto from a source of air under pressure. The pressurized air
from such source is controlled by a regulator valve 154.
It will be understood from the foregoing that when a label applying
device 59 is located at the pick-up station 60 during a dwell of
the turret, solenoid valve 149 is caused to acutate to supply
vacuum to the device's applicator 16 through the port 140 in plate
138, the applicator's associated port 136 in plate 135, and its
associated hose 137, thereby enabling it to pick up the label
registered on the holder 82. As the applicator, or finger 16
advances through the next two steps of the turret, vacuum is
supplied thereto from the carrier port 141. During the interval
that the finger 15 is moving with the conveyoer at constant
velocity, its associated opening 136 in valve plate 135 passes
under the blow off port 142 in plate 138, where vacuum is changed
to air pressure to blow off the label carried by the finger. This
blowing is controlled by valve 153. Vacuum valve 150 closes when
air valve 153 opens to pass air pressure to the port 142.
It will be observed in FIG. 3 of the drawings, that the applicator,
or finger 16 is configured to place the label on the inclined
shoulder of the bottle shown in dotted outline in such figure. By
varying the contour of the FIG. 16 and the cams controlling the
movements of the same, the finger can be made to place the label on
any surface portion of the article, whether such surface portion be
vertically, or horizontally disposed, or disposed at any angle
therebetween. Thus, in FIG. 8 of the drawings there is shown an
applicator or finger 16' having a straight contour enabling it to
apply the label registered thereon to the vertical wall forming the
body of a bottle. In such a construction, instead of applying the
label by a pivoting motion of the finger, as in the embodiment of
FIG. 3, the finger 16' may be mounted on a slide 155 whose
associated guide block 156 is mounted on the bracket 116 carrying
the pivot pin 117 for the lever arm 115. Instead of carrying the
finger 16' as in the construction of FIG. 3, the lever 115 is
connected by a universal coupling 157 to the slide 155. In all
other respects, the construction of the label applying device shown
in FIG. 8 is similar to that shown in FIG. 3.
It will be understood that in its operations, the finger 16' will
be slidably advanced and retracted by a sliding movement instead of
with a pivotal movement as in the case of finger 16, but in all
other respects will operate the same as the latter. Thus, at the
labeling station, the finger 16' during the final step of its
advancement will slidably flick forwardly to deposit the label on
the article as indicated in dotted outline in FIG. 8. The same
result may be accomplished by bending the upper portion of the
finger 16 backwardly, instead of forwardly, and using the pivoted
construction shown in FIG. 3.
The labeled articles 12 pass from the label applying station 17 to
the pressure station 18 for final application of the labels thereto
by any suitable means such as the pressure means disclosed in said
U.S. Pat. No. 3,522,134 for completing the application of the
label, or the pressure means shown in FIG. 1 herein. In the
construction illustrated in FIG. 1, the labeled articles at
pressure station 18 pass between the inner runs of two pressure
belts 160 and 161 made of a compressible material of any suitable
material such as a thick foam or sponge rubber, capable of applying
the whole area of an applied label to the article with a resilient
pressure. The belts 160, 161 are driven by rollers mounted on the
belt shafts 162, 163, respectively, so as to move in the same
direction and at the same speed as the articles 12 on the belt 11.
As is shown in FIG. 9, the belt shafts 162, 163 are connected by
vertical shafts 164, 165, respectively, and horizontal shafts 166,
167, respectively, to the transverse shaft 49 driven from the main
shaft 25. The shaft terminates at the article discharge end of the
machine in a gear box 170 and is connected through the latter to a
transverse shaft provided with a sprocket wheel 171. The wheel 171
is chain connected to a sprocket wheel 172 mounted on a transverse
shaft carrying the end drive wheel 173 for the conveyor 11 so that
such wheel is located in alignment with shaft 25. The other end
wheel 174, in FIG. 1, for the conveyor is a freely rotating wheel.
Adjacently to the gear box 170, the main shaft 25 is provided with
a sprocket wheel 175 which is chain connected to a sprocket wheel
176 mounted on the drive shaft of a gear box 177 to which is
drivenly connected the drive wheel 178, in FIG. 1, of the pressure
belt 19.
The previously discussed constructions utilize a label holder 82 to
slidably receive the label 61 from the dispensing device and from
which the applicator 16 pick up the registered labels to deliver
them to the labeling station. It is within the contemplation of
this invention however, to register the labels directly 0n the
applicators without the use of a vacuum label holder 82. In FIG. 12
of the drawings there is shown a dispenser 20 of the type depicted
in FIGS. 6 and 7, wherein the label 61 is properly registered while
suspended or partially attached to the backing strip 67. The thus
registered label instead of having been slid across the vacuum
plate of a label holder as in the construction of FIG. 6, is slid
across the label carrying surface 181 of the applicator 180 which
has come to rest just prior to the feed of such label thereto. In
the practice of this method, the applicators 18o prior to the
delivery of labels thereto at the pick-up station, are provided
with a low suction of the order of a couple of inches of mercury,
say 1 pound per square inch, in order to enable the label to be
slid across the label carrying surraces 181 thereof into registered
position and yet to enable such applicators to hold the registered
labels thereon. The vacuum system may be so timed that such suction
may be applied as an applicator is approaching its receiving
position, or as soon as it has arrived and is stopped at its
receiving position, in which position the label carrying surface
181 thereof is substantially flush with the path of movement of the
detached portion of the label that will then be partially peeled
off the carrier sheet 67.
The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 15 of the drawings, indicates
the manner in which labels that are entirely peeled off the carrier
sheet 67 by the stripping action of the dispenser 20 may be
registered on the label carrying surface 184 of an applicator 185.
It will be understood that the dispenser 20 in FIG. 15 is of the
type shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings and will propel the
labels 61 therefrom in the manner explained in connection with the
construction shown in such latter figures. As in the embodiment of
FIG. 12, the applicators 185 will successively come to a stop at
their label receiving position in the pick-up station and will be
provided prior to the feed of a label thereto with suction of a low
order. The applicators 185 may each be provided with registering
stops 186 mounted on the forward suction plate thereof forming the
label carrying surface 184 and located below the latter. The stops
186,186 function in the manner explained with respect to the stop
80,80 in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 to effect registration of
the propelled label 61 on the applicator. Instead of providing the
stop on the applicators, one set of stops such as the stops 186',
186' shown in dotted outline in FIG. 15 may be provided at the
pick-up station. Thus, as indicated such stops 186',186' may be
spaced apart so that the applicators pass therebetween in the
manner of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The stops 186',
186' may be supported in such spaced condition by brackets 187,187
secured to the dispenser 20. In the operation of this embodiment,
the label 61' is propelled from the dispenser after the applicator
185 has come to a stop at the pick-up station in position to
slidably receive the label on its label carrying surface 184 and a
suction condition has been created at such surface. The delivered
label 61' will come to a halt astraddle the stops 186',186' which
will correctly register it on the surface 184 of the applicator. On
the next stop of movement of the applicator, the suction surface
thereof will remove the label from the stops and carry it toward
the labeling station.
FIGS. 13 and 14 of the drawings illustrate a feature of the
invention which assures that each label will be provided with a
code or batch number even though there may be labels missing on the
carrier sheet supplied to the dispenser. As has been previously
described, the photo-electric sensing means 92 in the housing 65
causes the movement of the carrier backing or web 67 to come to a
halt when the trailing edge of a label 61 passing through such
sensor allows the light to trigger the same. During such period of
dwell a code or batch number printer 191 will imprint a subsequent
label 61' with the desired code or batch number. Assuming now that,
as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the sensor unit 92 has just been
triggered by label 61 to stop the feed of the backing strip 67 and
that the space designated 190 on the strip in which would
ordinarily be provided a succeeding label is instead empty. On the
next movement of the web, due to the fact that there is no label in
the space 190, the sensor 92 will permit the web to continue
advancing until the trailing edge of the next affixed label 61"
triggers the sensor 92.
Such an uninterrupted advance of the web over two stops would
result in the failure of label 61'" which follows label 61' to be
provided with a code or batch number. Thus, when such label is
applied to an article there are no means whereby such article can
be traced in the event its contents comes into question.
In accordance with the invention such a possiblity is overcome, by
electrically coupling a second photo-electric sensor unit 194 with
sensor 92 so that such sensor 194 will also stop the web when the
trailing edge of label 61'" passes therethrough after the normal
single stop advance of such web. The printer 191 will then operate
to print the code or batch number on label 61'". It will be
understood that the printer 101 which is of a construction known to
the art and of the type now employed in labeling machines made by
the New Jersey Machine Corporation of New Jersey, is as in such
labeling machines, connected to the main drive shaft 25 in a
suitable manner so that every time the carrier strip 67 comes to
rest it is actuated to print a label. The manner in which the
aforesaid control is exercised will become apparent from a
consideration of FIG. 14 which shows an electric control and relay
box 195 to which the above described article photo-electric sensor
91 and the label photo-electric sensors 92 and 194 are electrically
connected. Also electrically connected to the mechanism in box 195
are the imprinter 191, electric clutch 196 and brake 197, the
latter two of which consititute the clutch and brake unit 90 shown
in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Thus, a signal from either scanner 92 or
194 will stop the web, applying the brake and triggering the
imprinter 191. The web feed is actuated by an article 12 triggering
the scanner 91 across the conveyor 11. In order that the carrier
strip 67 may not be in a slack condition as it passes through the
scanner 194, a conventional drag pad 198 is provided in advance of
such scanner. It is also desirable to provide a free loop 199
between the drag pad 198 and the draw rolls 200 for advancing the
web from the supply roll 68.
While I have hereinabove described and illustrated in the drawings
preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that modifications may be made therein without
departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *