U.S. patent number 3,886,032 [Application Number 05/270,387] was granted by the patent office on 1975-05-27 for addressing machine label transport.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Xerox Corporation. Invention is credited to Herbert C. Artelt, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,886,032 |
Artelt, Jr. |
May 27, 1975 |
Addressing machine label transport
Abstract
An article addressing machine for use with a continuous strip
label supply, the addressing machine having a labeling head
including a label transfer wheel; transport means for supplying
articles to the transfer wheel for addressing thereof, means
adapted when actuated to cut one label at a time from said label
supply strip; and means for transporting the labels from the
cutting means to the label transfer wheel including an endless
vacuum conveyor belt operating in timed relationship with said
transfer wheel whereby to assure timely feed of labels to said
transfer wheel and consequent proper positioning of addresses on
the articles.
Inventors: |
Artelt, Jr.; Herbert C.
(Wildwood, IL) |
Assignee: |
Xerox Corporation (Stamford,
CT)
|
Family
ID: |
26713595 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/270,387 |
Filed: |
July 10, 1972 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
36888 |
May 13, 1970 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
156/521;
156/566 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65C
9/1803 (20130101); Y10T 156/1339 (20150115); Y10T
156/1768 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
B65C
9/08 (20060101); B65C 9/18 (20060101); B32b
031/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;156/521,264,250,566,520,519 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Drummond; Douglas J.
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 36,888, filed May
13, 1970, now abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In an article addressing machine adapted for use with uncut
labels in the form of a continuous strip arranged in at least two
longitudinally extending rows, said machine including addressing
means for bringing individual labels into physical contact with
said articles, with means for feeding said articles to said
addressing means for addressing thereof, the combination of:
means for separating said strip into individual labels for use by
said addressing means,
transport means for carrying said labels from said separating means
to said article addressing means, said transport means including a
movable belt-like conveyor operatively arranged adjacent the
discharge side of said separating means so as to receive said
labels as they are discharged by said separating means, and vacuum
means for releasably tacking said labels to said conveyor belt
means for feeding said strip forward to said separating means, said
separating means including first knife means adapted to cut said
strip longitudinally between said label rows as said strip is fed
forward to said separating means by said strip feeding means, said
spearating means including second knife means downstream of said
first knife means for cutting said strip transversely into
individual labels, said conveyor belt extending across the
discharge side of said second knife means whereby to receive said
labels as they are discharged by said second knife means; and
drive means for said addressing machine having means for moving
said conveyor belt and said separating means in timed relation with
said addressing means, said second knife means being adapted to cut
in scissors-like fasion transversely across said label form so that
said labels are deposited on said moving conveyor belt in
predetermined spaced relationship for use by said addressing
means.
2. In an article addressing machine adapted for use with uncut
labels in the form of a continuous strip, the labels being arranged
in at least two longitudinally extending rows, said machine
including addressing means for bringing individual labels into
physical contact with said articles, with means for feeding said
articles to said addressing means for addressing thereof, the
combination of:
means for separating said strip into individual labels for use by
said addressing means, and
transport means for carrying said labels from said separating means
to said article addressing means, said transport means including a
movable belt-like conveyor operatively arranged adjacent the
discharge side of said separating means so as to receive said
labels as they are discharged by said separating means, and vacuum
means for releasably tacking said labels to said conveyor belt,
said conveyor belt having vacuum holddown perforations
therethrough, said vacuum means including a vacuum distributor
extending across the discharge side of said separating means over
which said conveyor belt runs, said distributor having individual
vacuum port means opposite each of said label rows leading to said
conveyor belt whereby vacuum is supplied to said belt to enable
labels discharged by said separating means to be attached thereto,
and valve means for controlling admission of vacuum to said
distributor port means.
3. The addressing machine according to claim 2 in which said
separating means is cyclicly operated to generate said labels
intermittently;
said valve means including means for controlling admission of
vacuum to each of said distributor vacuum port means, and means for
operating said valve means in timed relationship with said
addressing machine whereby said valve means operates to interrupt
the supply of vacuum to each of said distributor vacuum port means
following movement of the last label in each cycle therepast.
4. In an article addressing machine adapted for use with uncut
labels in the form of a continuous strip the labels being arranged
in at least two longitudinally extending rows, said machine
including addressing means for bringing individual labels into
physical contact with said articles, with means for feeding said
articles to said addressing means for addressing thereof, the
combination of:
means for separating said strip into individual labels for use by
said addressing means;
transport means for carrying said labels from said separating means
to said article addressing means, said transport means including a
movable belt-like conveyor operatively arranged adjacent the
discharge side of said separating means so as to receive said
lables as they are discharged by said separating means, and vacuum
means for releasably tacking said labels to said conveyor belt;
means for feeding said strip forward to said separating means, said
separating means including first knife means adapted to cut said
strip longitudinally between said label rows as said strip is fed
forward to said separating means by said strip feeding means, said
separating means including second knife means downstream of said
first knife means for cutting said strip transversely into
individual labels, said conveyor belt extending across the
discharge side of said second knife means whereby to receive said
labels as they are discharged by said second knife means;
said means to separate said label strip longitudinally comprising
second knife means upstream of said first mentioned knife means for
cutting said label strip longitudinally between said label rows
whereby said first mentioned knife means discharges individual
labels onto said conveyor belt operating run for movement toward
said transfer row; and
means for driving said conveyor belt and said first mentioned knife
in timed relation with one another, said first mentioned knife
means being adapted to cut said label strip in scissors-like fasion
so that individual labels are deposited on said moving conveyor
belt operating run in predetermined spaced relationship for use by
said transfer member.
5. In an article addressing machine adapted for use with an uncut
label strip, the labels being arranged on the strip in at least two
longitudinally extending rows, said machine including a rotatable
transfer member for bringing labels into physical contact with the
articles being addressed with means for feeding said articles to
said transfer member for addressing thereof, the combination
of:
means for separating said label strip into individual labels for
use by said transfer member;
means for moving said label strip through said separating means and
to said transfer member whereby to provide separated labels to said
transfer member, said separating means including knife means
adapted to cut said label strip transversely between adjoining
labels, said label strip moving means including a movable belt-like
conveyor upstream of said transfer member operatively arranged with
an operating run of said belt extending along the discharge side of
said knife means in a direction generally paralleling the cutting
line of said knife means so as to receive label strip cut by said
knife means and carry the cut label strip toward said transfer
member; and
vacuum means for releasably tacking said cut label strip to said
conveyor belt operating run;
said conveyor belt having vacuum hold-down perforations
therethrough, said vacuum means including a vacuum distributor
extending below the discharge side of said knife means over which
said conveyor belt operating run rides, said distributor having
individual vacuum port means for each of said label rows whereby to
enable vacuum to be supplied to selected areas of said belt run and
permit attaching of cut label strip from individual label rows to
said belt run to be controlled, and valve means for controlling
admission of vacuum to said distribution port means.
6. The addressing machine according to claim 5 in which said
separating means and said label strip moving means including said
conveyor belt are cyclically operated in timed relationship with
said transfer member whereby to supply individual labels to said
transfer member;
and means for operating said valid means in response to movement of
said conveyor belt whereby to interrupt the supply of vacuum to
each of said individual distributor vacuum port means as the
trailing edge of said cut label strip on said belt operating run
moves therebeyond to thereby prevent premature tacking of the next
succeeding label strip cut by said knife means to said belt run.
Description
This invention relates to article addressing machines, and more
particularly to article addressing machines incorporating improved
means for transporting labels from the label supply to the machine
address transfer means.
In machines for addressing articles such as envelopes, newspapers
and the like, the supply of labels is conveniently in the form of
an endless strip or length of uncut labels, normally four or five
abreast. Typically, these labels are generated by a computer. As
can be appreciated, addressing machines in these applications
include means such as knives to separate the strip into individual
labels prior to use. Following separation, the individual labels
are transported or carried to the machine label transfer means
where the address information or the label itself is transferred to
the articles.
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a new
and improved article addressing machine.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an article
addressing machine incorporating improved means for transporting
individual labels to the addressing machine label transfer
mechanism.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved
vacuum transport belt for feeding labels from the label source to
the label transfer means of an addressing machine.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a label
transport belt with vacuum means for temporarily tacking labels to
the belt.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an article
addressing machine having a label transfer wheel, a scissors-like
label cutter, and movable conveyor belt means at the label cutter
discharge to receive the labels one by one as they are discharged
from the cutter, the operating speeds of the label cutter and
conveyor belt being integrated with that of the transfer wheel to
provide labels to the transfer wheel in predetermined timed
order.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved
vacuum transport mechanism for supplying labels to the label
transfer mechanism of an addressing machine incorporating means to
control vacuum admission to the transport mechanism in accordance
with movement of the labels.
This invention relates to an article addressing machine adapted for
use with uncut labels in the form of a continuous strip, comprising
in combination; addressing means for bringing individual labels
into physical contact with the articles; means for feeding articles
to the addressing means for addressing thereof; means for
separating the strip into individual labels for use by the
addressing means; and transport means for carrying the labels from
the separating means to the article addressing means, the transport
means including a movable belt-like conveyor operatively arranged
adjacent the discharge side of the separating means so as to
receive the labels as they are discharged by the separating means,
and vacuum means for releasably tacking the labels to the conveyor
belt.
Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the ensuing
description and drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing the addressing machine of the
present invention coupled with a discharge conveyor;
FIG. 2 is a side view with parts broken away showing the addressing
machine labeling head of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the labeling head shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 2
showing details of the label form feeding and separating mechanism
together with the label transport means;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing details of the labeling head
guillotine;
FIG. 6 is an end view partially in section of the labeling head
shown in FIG. 2 showing details of the label strip drive
mechanism;
FIG. 7 is a side view with parts broken away showing a modified
labeling head incorporating vacuum supply arrangement for the cut
label transport belt; and
FIGS. 8 and 9 are views taken along lines 8--8 and 9--9
respectively in FIG. 7 showing details of the vacuum control valve
port arrangement.
Referring to the drawings, there is shown the labeling or
addressing machine, designated generally by the numeral 10, of the
present invention. As will appear more fully hereafter, addressing
machine 10 serves to transfer labels 11, or the information
thereon, onto articles 13. Labels 11 are supplied to the labeling
head portion 16 of addressing machine 10 in the form of a
continuous sheet 20 which usually consists of label rows 64 four or
five abreast. As will appear, label sheet 20 is cut into individual
labels 11 which are carried by transport belt 35 to transfer wheel
17. Wheel 17 then transfers the label itself or the information
thereon to articles 13.
As is understood by those skilled in the addressing or labeling
art, labels 11 may be physically transferred to articles 13 as by
gluing. Alternately, the label information only may be tranferred
to the articles. In this latter instance, wax impressions on the
label are transferred with the aid of heat and pressure to the
articles, the used labels preferably being collected in a suitable
storage tray (not shown) for possible reuse as glued labels or
simply destroyed. In this latter type of application, transfer shoe
30 of wheel 17 incorporates suitable heating means (not shown) to
facilitate transfer of the label information.
Articles 13, which may comprise envelopes, cards, newspapers, and
the like, are stored in hopper 12. Article transport 14 carries the
articles 13 one at a time past transfer wheel 17 where the articles
are labeled. The labeled articles may be then carried to a suitable
take away conveyor 18 by transport 14.
Addressing machine 10 has a table-like base 15 on which article
hopper 12 and article transport 14 are operatively supported, the
feeding surface of transport 14 being substantially level with the
surface of base 15. In this arrangement, articles 13 rest partially
on the surface of base 15 as they are carried past transfer wheel
17 by transport 14.
Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, transfer
wheel 17 is supported by drive shaft 17'. Shaft 17' is rotatably
journaled in the frame member 26 of labeling head 16. Frame member
26 is in turn mounted on base 15 adjacent transport 14. Transfer
wheel 17 has a curved label transfer shoe 30 mounted on the
periphery thereof and extending partially about the circumference
of wheel 17. Wheel 17 is supported on frame member 26 opposite a
suitable pressure roll (not shown) carried by base 15 and between
which articles 13 are carried by transport 14. Suitable adjusting
means (not shown) may be provided to enable the spacing between
transfer wheel shoe 30 and the surface of the pressure roll to be
varied to accommodate different thickness articles and different
pressure requirements.
Vacuum holddown ports 31 (shown in FIG. 6) open to the periphery of
shoe 30. Ports 31 communicate via suitable control valve means (not
shown) with a vacuum source to provide vacuum to the periphery of
label transfer shoe 30 for temporarily attaching labels 11 to shoe
30 during the labeling process.
In applications where labels 11 are physically attached to articles
13 as by gluing, vacuum holddown ports 31 of transfer shoe 30 are
opened to the vacuum source as shoe 30 moves from a point opposite
lower drive pulley 38 of label transport 35 to the area opposite
article transport 14. In applications where the label information
only is transferred, the vacuum control valve means in transfer
wheel 17 may be altered to sustain vacuum to ports 31 of shoe 30
until shoe 30 is past the label transfer point. This facilitates
removal of the used labels from the transfer area and deposit in a
used label storage tray when used.
It is understood that in applications where labels 11 are
physically attached to articles 13, a suitable glue dispenser or
applicator, such as a dispensing roller (not shown), is provided to
coat the underside of the label with adhesive prior to contact of
the label with the article being addressed. In this application,
the glue dispensing roller is normally disposed above article
transport 14 and to the left of transfer wheel 17 as seen in FIG. 2
of the drawings.
Label transport belt 35 is supported by a pair of pulleys 38, 39
rotatably jounaled on frame member 26. Lower pulley 38, which as
will appear comprises the drive pulley for belt 35, is arranged
proximate the path of movement of transfer wheel shoe 30. Pulley
39, which comprises an idler pulley, is supported at the remote end
26' of frame member 26 just beyond the effective cutting width of
guillotine 40.
Referring particularly to FIGS. 2-4 of the drawings, transport belt
35 comprises a flexible belt perforated at spaced points along its
length. The upper run of label transport belt 35 rides in recess 43
of elongated vacuum distributing member or distributor 44 secured
to frame 26 underneath the discharge side of guillotine 40. Vacuum
distributing member 44 is sized to extend substantially the full
distance between pulleys 38, 39, ends 44' of member 44 being
suitably curved to mate with the curved portions of pulleys 38, 39
opposite thereto. The label supporting surface 48 of vacuum
distributing member 44 is substantially flat with belt recess 43
extending centrally along the length thereof, the depth of recess
43 being such that the upper surface of belt 35 is substantially
level with or slightly higher than the surface 48 of member 44. As
best seen in FIG. 4, a raised outer lip 50 is provided along the
outer edge of label supporting surface 48. The inside edge of label
supporting surface 48 is defined by the lower cutting edge 66 of
guillotine 40 extending therealong.
Vacuum distributing member 44 has a vacuum chamber 46 therein
communicated through distributor hoses 47 with a vacuum source,
represented by supply hose 97. A series of vacuum ports 49 are
provided along the length of transport belt recess 43 to supply
vacuum from chamber 46 to label transport belt 35 as belt 35 moves
along recess 43. As can be understood, this arrangement provides,
in cooperation with perforations 42 in belt 35, vacuum along the
upper run of belt 35 to tack or attach the labels to belt 35
following operation of guillotine 40 and enable belt 35 to
transport the labels laterally to transfer wheel 17.
Lower drive pulley 38 has vacuum ports 52 (best seen in FIG. 3)
opening to the periphery thereof to provide holddown vacuum for
carrying the labels therealong to transfer wheel 17. Suitable
vacuum control means (not shown) serve to control vacuum admission
to ports 52 so as to provide vacuum to the periphery of pulley 38
in the area extending from vacuum distributing member 44 to a point
opposite label transfer wheel 17.
Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, a pair of shafts 55, 56
are rotatably journaled on rear supports 62 of labeling head frame
member 26. A pair of feed sprockets 58 are secured to lower shaft
55, sprockets being arranged to engage perforations 60 in margins
65 of label form 20. In addition, shaft 55 has mounted at spaced
points therealong roller anvils 61, the number and position of
anvils 61 corresponding to the points where form 20 is to be slit
longitudinally into label rows 64 and margins 65 removed. Upper
shaft 56 has mounted thereon opposite ends of the roller anvils 61
and in cutting relationship thereto disc-like slitters 63. As can
be understood, slitters 63 cooperate with anvils 61 to slit label
form 20 in a lengthwise direction to thereby remove margins 65 and
separate form 20 into individual rows 64. Label rows 64 are
subsequently cut into individual labels 11 by guillotine 40. As
will appear, shaft 55 is intermittently rotated to advance label
sheet 20 toward guillotine 40, shaft 56 being suitably geared to
shaft 55 for concurrent rotation therewith.
To support the slitted label form as the form feeds toward
guillotine 40, frame member 26 is provided with a relatively smooth
lower guiding base 68 which extends to vacuum distributing member
44 and forms the lower cutting edge 66 of guillotine 40. Spaced
upper guides 67 cooperate with base 68 to guide the label rows 64
to guillotine 40.
In addition to lower cutting edge 66, guillotine 40 includes an
upper knife 69. Knife 69 is carried by part 70 slidably supported
for up and down movement in vertical grooves 71 in labeling head
frame member 26. Upper knife part 70 is reciprocated by means of an
eccentric shaft 74 rotatably journaled in frame extensions 62 and
connected to part 70 by links 76. Links 76 are journaled on
eccentric shaft 74 by suitable bearing means (not shown) and are
secured to part 70 by suitable pin means. As will appear, eccentric
shaft 74 is driven in unison with vacuum drive pulley 38 from drive
belt 78, shown in FIG. 6.
To maintain the slitted label sheet stationary during operation of
guillotine 40, collapsible braking members 80 are suspended from
the lower surface of knife part 70. Braking members 80, which are
slidably received in recesses 81 in part 70, are biased downwardly
by springs 82 toward guiding base 68. As can be understood, on
movement of part 70 toward base 68, braking members 80 first
contact the slitted label sheet 20 to hold sheet 20 stationary
during operation of guillotine 40.
To correlate feed of labels 11 with cyclic operation of label
transfer wheel 17, the cutting edge 69' of knife 69 is angled so
that knife 69, during the cutting stroke thereof, cuts in a
scissors-like fashion from right to left as viewed in FIGS. 2 and
5. Labels 11 are accordingly cut off one by one so that there
results on label transport belt 35, which is continuously driven, a
series of labels 11 spaced a predetermined distance from one
another. It is understood that the relative operating speeds of the
several component parts of labeling head 16 including guillotine 40
and transport belt 35 are chosen to provide predetermined spacing
between the labels 11 on transport belt 35 as will assure a
continuous supply of labels to shoe 30 of transfer wheel 17, each
label being positioned on shoe 30 in proper location for transfer
of the label itself, or the address information therefrom, onto
articles 13 as the articles are brought forward by article
transport 14.
Addressing machine 10 is driven by a suitable motor (not shown),
there being suitable power transfer means from the machine motor to
article transport 14 and to transfer wheel shaft 17' in labeling
head 16. Suitable clutch means (not shown) may be provided to
interrupt drive to transfer wheel 17 in the event of failure of
interruption in the supply of articles being labeled.
Head drive shaft 87 extends laterally along labeling head 16 and is
suitably journaled in frame member 26 thereof. Both vacuum drive
pulley 38 and shaft 87 are drive from transfer wheel shaft 17'
through suitable power transfer means such as gears (not shown) at
a speed sufficient to assure a continuous supply of cut labels to
transfer wheel 17. Shaft 87 drives eccentric shaft 74 by means of
drive belt 78.
Referring particularly to FIG. 6, sprocket shaft 55 has an
adjustable ratchet type input clutch 88 supported on the outermost
end thereof. Clutch 88 is driven in oscillating fashion by
eccentric shaft 74 through link 89 which is pinned off-center to
eccentric shaft pulley 90 and to clutch 88. Slitter shaft 56 is
geared to rotate in unison with but in a direction opposite to
sprocket drive shaft 55.
Clutch 88 includes a suitable adjustable screw 91 to enable one-way
driving arc of clutch 88 to be adjusted. As is apparent, on
rotation of eccentric shaft 74 by drive belt 78 to operate
guillotine 40, eccentric 89 first turns the input member of clutch
88 in a forward or label sheet feeding direction (the direction
shown by the solid line arrow in FIG. 6). Clutch 88 accordingly
engages to drive sprocket shaft 55, which in turn drives slitter
shaft 56 to advance label sheet 20, the duration of engagement of
clutch 88 being adjusted to advance label sheet 20 one label width.
The continued rotation of eccentric shaft 74 operates guillotine 40
to cut off the label width advanced thereunder, the cut labels
dropping onto transport belt 35. While guillotine 40 is operated,
drive link 89 reverses the drive to clutch 88 (the direction shown
by the dotted line arrow in FIG. 6) to interrupt power to shafts
55, 56 and advance of label sheet 20.
OPERATION
During operation of addressing machine 10, a supply of articles 13
to be labeled is provided in hopper 12, it being understood that
hopper 12 is adjustable to accommodate the various size articles.
Article transport 14 feeds articles 13 singly from hopper 12 to
transfer wheel 17 where the articles are labeled, the labeled
articles being discharged by transport 14 onto the takeaway
conveyor 18.
At the same time, labeling head 16 operates to supply labels 11
from form 20 to transfer wheel 17. Wheel 17 in turn serves to
transfer the labels 11 or the address information therefrom, onto
articles 13.
With operation of addressing machine 10, clutch 88 of labeling head
16, which is drivingly connected to head drive shaft 87 via drive
belt 78 and link 89, serves to index sprocket drive shaft 55
forward once each revolution of shaft 87 to advance label form 20
one label width. As label form 20 advances, slitters 63 on shaft 56
cut form 20 longitudinally to remove margins 65 and separate form
20 in label rows 64. At the same time, the previously slitted
leading end of form 20 advances under guillotine 40 and over belt
35 where the label rows 64 are cut in succession by guillotine
knife 69 into individual labels 11.
It is understood that vacuum from distributing member 44 serves,
through the medium of perforations 42 in belt 35, to temporarily
tack labels 11 to the portion of belt 35 moving underneath
guillotine 44. As the labels on belt 35 reach drive pulley 38, the
vacuum supply to ports 49 in pulley 38 retains the labels on
periphery of pulley 38 until the labels come opposite the rotating
transfer shoe 30 at which point the vacuum supply to ports 49 of
pulley 38 is shut off to permit the labels to be transferred from
belt 35 and pulley 38 to transfer wheel shoe 30. It is understood
that vacuum holddown ports 31 in shoe 30 are opened to the vacuum
source as transfer wheel shoe 30 comes opposite drive pulley 38 by
the transfer wheel vacuum control valve means (not shown).
The label supply means, that is, strip feed sprockets 58,
guillotine 40 and label transport belt 35 are driven in unison with
transfer wheel 17 at speeds chosen to provide an uninterrupted
supply of cut labels to transfer wheel 17, such that each label is
correctly positioned on transfer wheel shoe 30 for transfer of the
label itself, or the information therefrom, onto the articles 13 as
they are brought forward by transport 14.
While a five row label form 20 is illustrated herein, it is
understood that form 20 may comprise one or more rows. Where a
different type and size label form is employed, form feed sprockets
58 and the cooperating anvils and slitters 61, 63 respectively are
adjusted on their respective shafts 55, 56 to correlate their
position with the specific label form used. In addition,
corresponding adjustments in the relative operating speeds of the
various components of labeling head 16 may be contemplated with
different types and sizes of label forms to assure a continuous and
properly spaced supply of labels to transfer wheel 17.
Referring now to the modified labeling head shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and
9, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, a modified vacuum
distributing member 44' is provided, member 44' being comprised of
plural, separate vacuum chambers 100 each communicated with the
vacuum supply hose 97 through control valve 102 and individual
vacuum lines 103. As will appear more fully, the number of vacuum
chambers 100 equal the number of label rows 64. Vacuum ports 49 in
recess 43 of distributing member 44' are provided for each chamber
100, the ports for each chamber 100 being arranged in the surface
of member 44' substantially in line with the label row associated
with that chamber.
Control valve 102 includes a rotatable valve spool 105 driven in
unison with labeling head 16 by head drive shaft 87 through gear
set 106. Valve spool 105 rides in a cylindrical valve body 107
having vacuum admission port 108 therethrough opposite recess 109.
Port 108 communicates with vacuum supply hose 97.
Valve spool 105 includes a lower vacuum supply recess 109 extending
completely around the periphery thereof, opposite to and in open
communication with supply port 108. Plural vacuum distributing
recesses 110, 111, 112, 113 and 114, each of a predetermined
arcuate length as will appear more fully, are provided opposite
ports 117 in valve body 107. Ports 117 communicate via distributor
lines 103 with the individual vacuum chambers 100 in distributing
member 44. Recess 120 in spool 105 communicates supply recess 109
with recesses 110, 111, 112, 113 and 114.
As can be understood, vacuum from supply hose 97 is continuously
admitted to the valve body 107. As spool 105 rotates in operative
unison with labeling head 16, vacuum chambers 100 are communicated
with the vacuum source for predetermined intervals during each
revolution of spool 105 as determined by the arcuate extent of the
several recesses 110, 111, 112, 113 and 114. And, as is apparent,
the vacuum supply to member 44' is totally interrupted for a short
interval just prior to descent of guillotine knife 69.
As best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the individual vacuum distributing
recesses 110, 111, 112, 113 and 114 are of varying arcuate extent,
with that of recess 110, which serves the vacuum chamber 100
nearest lower drive pulley 38 being the longest. The arcuate extent
of the remaining recesses 111, 112 113 and 114 progressively
decrease. By this construction, the interval during which the
vaccum chambers 100 are open to the vacuum source is varied in
correspondence with actual label feeding requirements with the
result that the chamber 100' farthest from transfer wheel 17 is
open to the vacuum source for only a very short interval. The
remaining vacuum chambers are open to the vacuum source for
progressively greater intervals, the vacuum chamber closest
transfer wheel 17 being open to the vacuum source for the longest
interval.
It is understood that chambers 100 need only be open to the vacuum
source for a period sufficient to feed labels 11 thereover. Once
the last label has past, the vacuum supply may be interrupted until
the next cutting cycle. By terminating the vacuum supply to the
various chambers 100 as the labels move therepast, vacuum is
conserved and any tendency for the slitted label form to become
prematurely tacked to belt 35 as the slitted form 20 is advanced
under guillotine knife 69 for the next cutting cycle is
obviated.
The operation of the modified labeling head shown in FIGS. 7-9 of
addressing machine 10 is the same as that described heretofore
except that communication between the chambers 100 of distributing
member 44' and the vacuum source (represented by supply hose 97) is
progressively interrupted by control valve 102 as the last label
generated during each cutting cycle of guillotine 40 moves
therepast in the direction of transfer wheel 17. Specifically,
during the cutting stroke of guillotine knife 69, the several
chambers 100 of vacuum distributing member 44' are open to the
vacuum source by valve 102. As the labels are cut by guillotine 40,
they drop in succession (from right to left in FIG. 7) onto the
moving belt 35 in the predetermined spaced order described
heretofore. Vacuum admitted to belt 35 via perforations 42 of belt
35 and ports 49 in distributing member 44' serves to tack the
labels to belt 35 and thereby assure positive transport of the
labels in predetermined spaced relationship forward to transfer
wheel 17 (from left to right in FIG. 7).
As the last label passes beyond each vacuum chamber, valve 102,
which is driven in timed relationship with labeling head 16 from
gear set 106, terminates the vacuum supply to that chamber. This
obviates any tendency for the ends of the slitted label form to
become prematurely tacked to the moving conveyor belt 35 as the
label form 20 is advanced forward under guillotine knife 69 with
possible misaligned cutting of the labels by guillotine 40. At the
same time, the vacuum supply is conserved.
It is understood that where different types and size label forms
are used, the arrangement and number of vacuum chambers 100 in
vacuum distributing member 44' as well as the porting arrangement
and timing of control valve 102 would be altered to correspond with
the specific form used.
Initial feeding of the slitted label form 20 under knife 69 of
guillotine 40 may occur prior to feeding of the last label
generated by the previous cutting cycle of guillotine 40 and
termination of the vacuum supply to all of the vacuum chambers in
distributing member 44'. In that circumstance, the labels remaining
on belt 35 from the previous cutting cycle effectively prevent
premature tacking of the advancing label form to belt 35 in those
areas where vacuum is still supplied to distributing member 44'.
And, as described heretofore, valve 102 terminates the vacuum
supply to those chambers with passage of the last label
therebeyond.
While the invention has been described with reference to the
structure disclosed, it is not confined to the details set forth;
but is intended to cover such modifications, or changes as may come
within the scope of the following claims.
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