CA1097269A - Labelling system - Google Patents
Labelling systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA1097269A CA1097269A CA262,410A CA262410A CA1097269A CA 1097269 A CA1097269 A CA 1097269A CA 262410 A CA262410 A CA 262410A CA 1097269 A CA1097269 A CA 1097269A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- label
- carrier strip
- labels
- portions
- strip
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
- B65C9/00—Details of labelling machines or apparatus
- B65C9/26—Devices for applying labels
- B65C9/36—Wipers; Pressers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
- B65C9/00—Details of labelling machines or apparatus
- B65C9/08—Label feeding
- B65C9/18—Label feeding from strips, e.g. from rolls
- B65C9/1865—Label feeding from strips, e.g. from rolls the labels adhering on a backing strip
- B65C9/1876—Label feeding from strips, e.g. from rolls the labels adhering on a backing strip and being transferred by suction means
- B65C9/1884—Label feeding from strips, e.g. from rolls the labels adhering on a backing strip and being transferred by suction means the suction means being a movable vacuum arm or pad
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F3/00—Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
- G09F3/02—Forms or constructions
- G09F3/0286—Forms or constructions provided with adaptations for labelling machines
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F3/00—Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
- G09F3/08—Fastening or securing by means not forming part of the material of the label itself
- G09F3/10—Fastening or securing by means not forming part of the material of the label itself by an adhesive layer
Abstract
LABELLING SYSTEM
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
There is provided a new arrangement for pressure sen-sitive labels mounted along a carrier strip, and also a new method and means for removing these labels from the carrier strip and applying them to a product. The label carrier strip is divided down its middle forming separable halves, with the labels mounted over both halves. The separable halves carrier strip is pulled along a plate towards a V-shaped notch in one edge of said plate. The V is somewhat wider than the carrier strip. At the notch, the two halves of the carrier strip bend and are drawn through the V-shaped notch, each half over a dif-ferent side of the V. This causes the two carrier strip halves to follow divergent paths from each other, and also from the label, forcibly releasing the label from the carrier strip halves. The label is thereby forced to continue in a straight line over and past the V-shaped notch until it is free of the carrier strip. It cannot follow the carrier strip halves through the V. The label is accompanied, during this process of removal by a vacuum equipped application device, which is at tached to the label before, while and after the label passes over the V-shaped removal zone. The application device then carries the label a safe distance beyond the V-shaped notch and applies it to a product. The application device can be a bel-lows with holes in its face for vacuum, and extendable by air pressure. In manufacture, labels are formed by positioning a web on a carrier strip, die cutting the web to form labels and then removing the web waste, leaving the labels mounted on the carrier strip. With this invention, the label-carrying web need not have had its waste (matrix) removed from between and around the labels during manufacture.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
There is provided a new arrangement for pressure sen-sitive labels mounted along a carrier strip, and also a new method and means for removing these labels from the carrier strip and applying them to a product. The label carrier strip is divided down its middle forming separable halves, with the labels mounted over both halves. The separable halves carrier strip is pulled along a plate towards a V-shaped notch in one edge of said plate. The V is somewhat wider than the carrier strip. At the notch, the two halves of the carrier strip bend and are drawn through the V-shaped notch, each half over a dif-ferent side of the V. This causes the two carrier strip halves to follow divergent paths from each other, and also from the label, forcibly releasing the label from the carrier strip halves. The label is thereby forced to continue in a straight line over and past the V-shaped notch until it is free of the carrier strip. It cannot follow the carrier strip halves through the V. The label is accompanied, during this process of removal by a vacuum equipped application device, which is at tached to the label before, while and after the label passes over the V-shaped removal zone. The application device then carries the label a safe distance beyond the V-shaped notch and applies it to a product. The application device can be a bel-lows with holes in its face for vacuum, and extendable by air pressure. In manufacture, labels are formed by positioning a web on a carrier strip, die cutting the web to form labels and then removing the web waste, leaving the labels mounted on the carrier strip. With this invention, the label-carrying web need not have had its waste (matrix) removed from between and around the labels during manufacture.
Description
~AC~GF~OUND OF' T~IE IN~JL'N'L'ION
This int~arl-~io~. relates to improv~mellt~ in lahel ap-plying ]Il-.IC~I iller~y .
All prevlous ancl presently ]cnown machinery for appl~
S in~r pressu~e sensi-tive la~els ~o an article use the same kind of carrier web for the labels, and -the same kind of label rer.loving me~hod.
The conventional carrie~ web consists of a series of labels with a viscous ~pressure sensitive) adhesive applied to a carrier strip of paper which has been coated on the label supporting side with a release agent. The labels are spaced along the strip, and the unneeded waste (or matrix) from which the labels have been die cu~ is always removed during manufac-ture.
The labels are removed sequentially by pulling the ; carrier strip around a relatively sharp edge under tension.
The label, because of its sti~ness, releases from the carrier web and continues in a straight line over the edge rather than bend sharply and fQllow the carrier web~
This estab~ished method has a number of drawbacks:
1) The need to remove all the waste or matri~ from between and around labels during manufac-tur~-, because i-ts presence tends to hold labels in place during peeling~ ~ ;
This waste removal r~qui.rement makes the labels cost much more, ~ecause it limits -the printing and die cutting speed severely and because a great deal oE costly extra material has to be added around~each label ^to make -the ladderlike waste strip strong enough to remove by pulling it ~ree af-ter die cut~
ting on a printing press~
C'i~
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This int~arl-~io~. relates to improv~mellt~ in lahel ap-plying ]Il-.IC~I iller~y .
All prevlous ancl presently ]cnown machinery for appl~
S in~r pressu~e sensi-tive la~els ~o an article use the same kind of carrier web for the labels, and -the same kind of label rer.loving me~hod.
The conventional carrie~ web consists of a series of labels with a viscous ~pressure sensitive) adhesive applied to a carrier strip of paper which has been coated on the label supporting side with a release agent. The labels are spaced along the strip, and the unneeded waste (or matrix) from which the labels have been die cu~ is always removed during manufac-ture.
The labels are removed sequentially by pulling the ; carrier strip around a relatively sharp edge under tension.
The label, because of its sti~ness, releases from the carrier web and continues in a straight line over the edge rather than bend sharply and fQllow the carrier web~
This estab~ished method has a number of drawbacks:
1) The need to remove all the waste or matri~ from between and around labels during manufac-tur~-, because i-ts presence tends to hold labels in place during peeling~ ~ ;
This waste removal r~qui.rement makes the labels cost much more, ~ecause it limits -the printing and die cutting speed severely and because a great deal oE costly extra material has to be added around~each label ^to make -the ladderlike waste strip strong enough to remove by pulling it ~ree af-ter die cut~
ting on a printing press~
C'i~
~IL0~7~s:i~3
2 ) Tfle la~el Deeling~ process usecl in all previous lab211irlg macnin2s recluires pulling the web under high tens;on ov~r a re:la-tive~y sharp edge~ Tirly cuts or nic}cs caused by the die cu~tting ancl slit~ing weaken the web and i-t frequently breaks, ~specially at high speed.
3) Small invisible interruptions in the release coating are common~ Through them the label adhesive is able to adhere strongly to the unprot~cted carrier web. Whe~ this occasionally occurs at the leading ed~e o a label~ it will not p2el but will follow th~ carrier strip around even a sharp edge. The same can happen when the adhesive is cold, or too old.
4) The need for great stiffness in the label material prevents the use of many desired materials such as plastics, lS or very thin labels, or very soft and pliant labels.
5) Durlng the~peeling process, labels are being projected beyond the peel~ng edge and are essentially ~sup-ported, except occasionally on one side (oppo~site the adh~sive).
They are easily disturbed and deflected by small irregularities5 tramp particles of adhesive, air currents~ or static electricity.
They are easily disturbed and deflected by small irregularities5 tramp particles of adhesive, air currents~ or static electricity.
6) The means of actually applying the labels varies, including a blast o~ air (inaccurate at any distance and does :
not apply labels firmly~, a roller ~inaccurate), and~a`plunger too rigid and destruc-tive on moving products).
~ 7~ Automatic labelling machinery is very cos-tly, partly because of sophisticated electronic label sensing and ~ web control systems within the labeller.
! ~ ~ I* should be appreciated therefore that a label car-rying arrangement ~nd apparatus for applying labels therefrom to goods, whioh permits the use of very thin and soft labels ~7Z69 clS well as sti.Efer labels, whlch permits the use of lower cost label strips, and wh:ich permits label application at higher speeds and with grcater reliability ~han presently known systems would be most desirable~
SU~IARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordi.ng to one aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for automatically sequentially applying ;~
labels to objects, said apparatus comprising: a label strip including first and second parallel carrier strip portions and a plurality of labels adhered therealong so as to bridge said carrier strip portions; a plate having irst and second substan- -tially planar surfaces and an edge lying substantially in the plane of said plate; said plate edge including a V-shaped region extending into said plate comprised of first and second edge ~ :
: portions converging toward the apex of said V-shaped region; ~ ;;
: strip transport means for moving said label strlp along a irst ~.
path extending substantially contiguous with said first planar .`.
surface toward said apex and then along first and second branch : paths respectively extending around said first and second edge portions and thence in diverging directions adjacent said second . ;
planar:surface; said strip transport means including ~1) take-up ; :
means positioned down-path from said first and second edge por- ~.
tlons engaging both sald first and second carrier strip portions ~ ~ :
for pulling them at the same rate along said first and second path branch segments at a substantially first linear rate and (2) means positioned up path rom said apex In engagement with said carrier strip portions tending to reduce their rate~o move .
ment to less than said first linear rate thus creating tension in said carrier strip portions; and label-applying means operable to engage labels immediately adjacent to said apex as said S~
j ~97~6~?
carrier s~rip portions are simultaneously separated from each other and from sa:id labels and to press said engaged labels against objects to be labelledO
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for use with a label strip including first and second parallel carrier strip porti.ons and a plurality :;
of labels adhered thcrealong so as to bridge said carrie:r strip portions, for automatically sequentially removing labels from ~ ~.
said label s~rip and applying them to objects, said apparatus comprising: a plate having upper and lower substantially planar surfaces and an edge lying substantially in the plane of said plate; said plate edge including a V-shaped region extending into said plate comprised of first and second edge portions con-verging toward the apex of said V-shaped region; str,p transport : :
, means for moving said label strip along a first path extending :
; substantially contiguous wlth sald upper planar surface toward ~ ;~
said apex and first and second branch paths respectively~extend- ~ ~
i~ ing around said first and second edge portions and thence~in . ~.
diverging directions adjacent said lower planar surface, said strip transport means lncluding means posi~ioned up-path from :~
said apex for admitting a label strip along said first path and :.
: take-up means positioned down-path from said first and second ~::
: edge portions for~pulling said first and second carrier strip ~-portions respectively along said first and second branch paths at the same rab.e af movement; label handling means alternately ~:~ operable to pick up and release a l~abel; label transport meansoperable in synchronism with said label han~dling means for i : moving said label handling means between a pick-up position ~ immediately adjacent to said apex whereat labels are picked up 30 as said carrier strip portions are simultaneously separated from ~ , ~ .
Z6~3 each other and from said labels and a release position whereat said labels are released; and means for synchronizing the operation of saicl label trans-port means with the movement of said label strip.
Accordlng to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method oE separating labels from a carrier strip wherein said labcls are spaccd along and adhesively attached to the carrier strip and the carrier strip includes first and second abutting parallel carrier strip portions with the labels bridging and adhesively attached to both of the carrier strip portions, said method comprising: moving said carrier strip with said labels thereon to a predetermined location; and moving sald carrier ; strip portions in diverging directions from said predetermine~ location to successively separate each label from said carrier strip portions.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of separating labels from a carrier strip wherein said labels are spaced along and adhesively attached to said carrier strip compris~
ing: moving said carrier strip with said labels thereon to a predetermined location; longitudinally slitting said carrier strip along a path which passes underneath said labels prior co reaching said predetermined location to form two abutting carrier strip portions bridged by said spaced labels; moving said carrier s~rip portlons in divergir.g directions from said predetermined loca-; tion to successively separate each label from said carrier strip port:ions.
According to a further ~spect of the present invention there is provided a method of separating labels from an elongated carr~er strip includ-ing first and second abutting parallel carrier strip portions having labels spaced therealong bridging and adhesively attached to both of said carrier strip portions~ comprising: moving said carrier strip along a first path substantially contiguous with a first planar surface defining first and ; second V-shaped edges; pulling said first and second carrier strip portions around said first and second edges in diverging directions to successively separate each label from said carrier strip portions; and controlling the . ~
- 5a -~',t~
- '-:~Q~7Z6~
~: rate of movement of said first and second carrier strip portions to prevent any cumulative di:Eferential linear movement therebetween.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~IE DRA INGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention:
; Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a labelling system con-structed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
Pigure 2 is a view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing details of a label carrying arrangement thereof;
Figure 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 3A is a view taken on the line 3A-3A of Figure l; ~ :
Figure 4 is a more complete perspective view of the labelling ~ .,.
system of Figure l;
Figure 5 is a partially sectional plan view of the system of Figure 4, :
Figure 6 is a partial perspective view of the apparatus of Figure ;~
4J showing some of the details of the plunger carrying apparatus thereof;
Figure 7 is a partially sectional~side view of the system of Figure 4 and shows other details thereof;~
:
~:
- 5b -
not apply labels firmly~, a roller ~inaccurate), and~a`plunger too rigid and destruc-tive on moving products).
~ 7~ Automatic labelling machinery is very cos-tly, partly because of sophisticated electronic label sensing and ~ web control systems within the labeller.
! ~ ~ I* should be appreciated therefore that a label car-rying arrangement ~nd apparatus for applying labels therefrom to goods, whioh permits the use of very thin and soft labels ~7Z69 clS well as sti.Efer labels, whlch permits the use of lower cost label strips, and wh:ich permits label application at higher speeds and with grcater reliability ~han presently known systems would be most desirable~
SU~IARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordi.ng to one aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for automatically sequentially applying ;~
labels to objects, said apparatus comprising: a label strip including first and second parallel carrier strip portions and a plurality of labels adhered therealong so as to bridge said carrier strip portions; a plate having irst and second substan- -tially planar surfaces and an edge lying substantially in the plane of said plate; said plate edge including a V-shaped region extending into said plate comprised of first and second edge ~ :
: portions converging toward the apex of said V-shaped region; ~ ;;
: strip transport means for moving said label strlp along a irst ~.
path extending substantially contiguous with said first planar .`.
surface toward said apex and then along first and second branch : paths respectively extending around said first and second edge portions and thence in diverging directions adjacent said second . ;
planar:surface; said strip transport means including ~1) take-up ; :
means positioned down-path from said first and second edge por- ~.
tlons engaging both sald first and second carrier strip portions ~ ~ :
for pulling them at the same rate along said first and second path branch segments at a substantially first linear rate and (2) means positioned up path rom said apex In engagement with said carrier strip portions tending to reduce their rate~o move .
ment to less than said first linear rate thus creating tension in said carrier strip portions; and label-applying means operable to engage labels immediately adjacent to said apex as said S~
j ~97~6~?
carrier s~rip portions are simultaneously separated from each other and from sa:id labels and to press said engaged labels against objects to be labelledO
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for use with a label strip including first and second parallel carrier strip porti.ons and a plurality :;
of labels adhered thcrealong so as to bridge said carrie:r strip portions, for automatically sequentially removing labels from ~ ~.
said label s~rip and applying them to objects, said apparatus comprising: a plate having upper and lower substantially planar surfaces and an edge lying substantially in the plane of said plate; said plate edge including a V-shaped region extending into said plate comprised of first and second edge portions con-verging toward the apex of said V-shaped region; str,p transport : :
, means for moving said label strip along a first path extending :
; substantially contiguous wlth sald upper planar surface toward ~ ;~
said apex and first and second branch paths respectively~extend- ~ ~
i~ ing around said first and second edge portions and thence~in . ~.
diverging directions adjacent said lower planar surface, said strip transport means lncluding means posi~ioned up-path from :~
said apex for admitting a label strip along said first path and :.
: take-up means positioned down-path from said first and second ~::
: edge portions for~pulling said first and second carrier strip ~-portions respectively along said first and second branch paths at the same rab.e af movement; label handling means alternately ~:~ operable to pick up and release a l~abel; label transport meansoperable in synchronism with said label han~dling means for i : moving said label handling means between a pick-up position ~ immediately adjacent to said apex whereat labels are picked up 30 as said carrier strip portions are simultaneously separated from ~ , ~ .
Z6~3 each other and from said labels and a release position whereat said labels are released; and means for synchronizing the operation of saicl label trans-port means with the movement of said label strip.
Accordlng to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method oE separating labels from a carrier strip wherein said labcls are spaccd along and adhesively attached to the carrier strip and the carrier strip includes first and second abutting parallel carrier strip portions with the labels bridging and adhesively attached to both of the carrier strip portions, said method comprising: moving said carrier strip with said labels thereon to a predetermined location; and moving sald carrier ; strip portions in diverging directions from said predetermine~ location to successively separate each label from said carrier strip portions.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of separating labels from a carrier strip wherein said labels are spaced along and adhesively attached to said carrier strip compris~
ing: moving said carrier strip with said labels thereon to a predetermined location; longitudinally slitting said carrier strip along a path which passes underneath said labels prior co reaching said predetermined location to form two abutting carrier strip portions bridged by said spaced labels; moving said carrier s~rip portlons in divergir.g directions from said predetermined loca-; tion to successively separate each label from said carrier strip port:ions.
According to a further ~spect of the present invention there is provided a method of separating labels from an elongated carr~er strip includ-ing first and second abutting parallel carrier strip portions having labels spaced therealong bridging and adhesively attached to both of said carrier strip portions~ comprising: moving said carrier strip along a first path substantially contiguous with a first planar surface defining first and ; second V-shaped edges; pulling said first and second carrier strip portions around said first and second edges in diverging directions to successively separate each label from said carrier strip portions; and controlling the . ~
- 5a -~',t~
- '-:~Q~7Z6~
~: rate of movement of said first and second carrier strip portions to prevent any cumulative di:Eferential linear movement therebetween.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~IE DRA INGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention:
; Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a labelling system con-structed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
Pigure 2 is a view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing details of a label carrying arrangement thereof;
Figure 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 3A is a view taken on the line 3A-3A of Figure l; ~ :
Figure 4 is a more complete perspective view of the labelling ~ .,.
system of Figure l;
Figure 5 is a partially sectional plan view of the system of Figure 4, :
Figure 6 is a partial perspective view of the apparatus of Figure ;~
4J showing some of the details of the plunger carrying apparatus thereof;
Figure 7 is a partially sectional~side view of the system of Figure 4 and shows other details thereof;~
:
~:
- 5b -
7~'169 r'igure B is a view taken on -the line B-~ of Figure 7 ;
E`lgure 'J is a fron~ elev~-~tion v:iew o~ tlle syst~m o~
F'iure ~;
E'igure 10 is a view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig-ure 5;
Figur2 11 is a vie~ ta~en on the line 11-11 of Fig-ure 5;
Figure 12 is a sec-tional front view showing -the ;~
bellows of the. apparatus of Figure 9;
Figure 13 is a bottom view of the bellows of Figure 12;
Figure 14 is a perspective view of the label roll of the system of Figure 4;
lS Figure 15 is a front elevation view of a fan-~olded label arrangement constructed 1n~accordanca with~another em- :
:~ bodirnent of the invention~
~:
;~: ; Figure 16 is a partial perspective view o~ a~label strip constructed in accordance with another embodiment~of the invention, which includes a matrix~ surrounding th~ labels;
.
Figure 17 is a perspective view of a step;stripper : apparatus constructed in accordance wi~h another embodiment :~ ~
of the invention;
: : : Figure 18 is a partial p~rspective top view of a . :
label strip constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;
Figure 19 is a partial perspective bottom view o~:a :~ label strip of Figure 18;
Figure 20 is a view taken on the line 20-20 of:Fig-ure 18;
:: :
7~
Fi~ure 2:l i5 a parti~L p Lar`! view o.F a .I.abel strip cons~r~lctel in accordance w:i.th another embodimcnt o~ -tne in~entio~;
Figur2 ~2 is a par-tial plan vi~w of a la~eL strip and s-tripper system cons-truc-ted in accordance with ano-ther ambodime~nt of the :invention;
Figur2 23 is a view taken on the line 23-23 of Fig-ure 22;
Figure 24 is a partial plan view of a lab211ing sys-tem constructed in accordance wl-th ano~her embodiment of - thè invention; ~ ;
~ igure 25 is a view taken on the line 25-25 of Figure 2~; and . Figures 26 and 27 are respactively cross-sec*ional 15 views of a preferred bellows shape illustrating it at three stages of operation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI:MENTS
- :
Figures~l - 3 illustrate details of a label;carry-~ ing arrangement 10 of the invention, which includes an elon-;~ 20 gated backing we~ or carrier strip 12 and a multiplicity of labeIs 14 spacad along the l~.ngth of the carrier strip. ~Each of the labels 14 has~ a front face 14a with a decorative~ de-sign or other marking printed thereon, and a rear face 14b : with contact adhesive thereon. The carrier strip has a front : : 25 face 12a with:release coating 7 such as silicon~ ~ which facil-itates stripping of the label ;adhesive from:the carrier strip.
: The carrier strîp 12 includes a separation line 16 extending along its length at a middle portion thereof, to divide the . carrier strip in-to -~-wo carrier strip portions 18, 20 t~at support differen~ porti.ons of the lab~l 14.
7Z~9 ~pparltus shown in F; rur~ 1 tor stripping tile lahels 14 from tl~e carrier s-trip 12 includes a labeL stripp~r or separa~or în the form of a p:Late ~ having a substantia:Lly V-shaped edge region or notch 24 which forms a pair of separator S edges 26 a 2a~ The carrier strip with the labels thereon ini-tially moves along an upper face 30 of -the label separator towards -the Y-shaped edge portion or region 24 7 with the sepa-ration line 16 aligned with the bottom of the V. Each of the carrier strip por-tions 18, 20 extends around a diferent one of ~he separator edges 26, 2~, so that -the carrier strip is ~ pulled apart therea-t. The strip portion 18 which extends ; around the separator edge 2S, move~ along the underside or lower face 32 of the plate, extends around an auxiliary guide edge 34, and then extends along the upper face 30 of the separator plate. The other carrier strip portion 20 extends in a corresponding manner, around the separator ed8e~8, around another auxiliary guide edge 36~ and then along the upper fàce o the separa-tor plate. It can be seen~that as each label 14 moves into the Y-shaped notch 24, the two car~
?0 rier strip portions 18, 20 are directed downwardly and apar.
from each other, so that the label tends to continue to move in the direction of arrow 38. The label cannot follow the ~ two halves of the carrier s-trip through the notch. As~shown ;~ in Figure 3A, the radius of curvature R of each edge, such as 28, need not be sharp. Instead, the radius R is greater than the thickness T of the carrier strip, which minimi~es the pos-slbili-ty of tearing the carrier s-trip. If desired~ the sepa-~: .
rator edges need no-t be stationary but may ~e rollers of suitable diameter.
~8-109 ~,~69 In order to advallce the :La~f.~l carryin~ arran~ernent lU, it is neoe;isary on:Ly to pu:l.1 the two carrier s-trlp port:ions 1~.
2Q alon~ the pa-ths of the arrows 40 7 42. I'he labels 1~ on the carrier strip 12 ~ill then move hPyond -the V-shaped edge reginn 2~ and become s~parated from the carrier strip. Of course, in order to apply the labels to articlex indicated at A~ it is necessary to provide a means for reliabl~ moving the Ereed labels against th~ articles. A labelling machine, to be dQs-cribed below, provides a plunger whicll engages the labels and reliably appli~s them to the goods.
Figures 4 - 9 illustrate details of a labelling :
machine S0 which moves the label strip 10 to apply the labels 14 thereo.n against articles A. The labelling machine 50 in-cludes a frame 52 with an upstanding center wall 54, a label ~ 15 guiding and moving apparatus 56 on the first side of the up-; ~ standing wall 5~, and drive and control apparatu~s 58 on the other side of the upstanding wall. The label guiding and moving apparatus 56 includes a supply reel 60 rotata~ly mounted - on the frame and carrying a roll of the label strip la. The label is guided from the ree~ 60 around a guide roll 62 and~
~: :
past a spring strip 63~ around a feed roll 6~, and along the upper side of the separator plate 22 towards the V-shaped edge .~ region 24 thereo~. The two carrier strip portions 18,.20:
which have been separated at the V-shaped edge region 24~ are pulled along their respective paths by a pair of tensioning rollers 66, 68. After pass.ing through the -tensioning rollers 66, 68, th~ two carrier strip portîons 18, 20 may be direeted into a bin for later disposal.
A plunger apparatus 70 which is disposed near the V-shaped groove 24 of the separatoF plate, serves to engage _g _ ~972169 each la'~ Eor~e, during~ allcl aet~r i-ts s~parat:ion .~:c~om the carrier strir~, and ~o carry that l.abel agains-t .~n article A, so tha~ the adrleslve-bearin~; face o.f the label is pressed against the article, The articles are carried on a conveyor appara-tus C pas-t the labell.ing rnachine ~ and rnov~men-t o:E the plunger 70 is timed so tha-t a label is applied -to each article passing thereby. As illus ~rated in Figure 7, the plunger ap-paratus 70 includes a plunger or bellows supporting plete 72 and a bellows 74 with an inner portion 76 fixed to the plunger supporting plate and an outer end face 78. A flexible hose 80 ex-tends from a pressure control 82 to a tubular coupling 84 which opens to the inside of the bellows~ 7~ The pressura con-trol 82 can supply a low pressure which is less than atmospheric, or vacuum, through the -tube 80 to the bellows 74 to contract the bellows from the relaxed position shown at 74 -to a con-tracted p~sition wherein its end face is at 78a. ~Alternatively, pressure control 82 can supply pressured air through the hose : 8Q to th~ bellows 74 to expand the bellows to the configuration indicated at 74b wherein the end face has been thrust ou-t to - 20 the pos;tion 78b. When a label lies against the end~face 78:
~:~ and air pressure is appIied to the bellows, its end face 78 pushes the label against an article.
The bellows support plate 72 can move substan tially ; : longitudinally as indicated by arrows :86. Thus, the plate 72 can move the bellor~s 74, in its contracted position, rearwardly to the position indicated at 74c wherein the face of the bel-lows at 73c lies over the next label to be separated ~rom ~he backing strip. Thereafter~ the bellows support plate moves down so the bellows engages a label, and -the support plate advances the bellows 7~ in synchronis~ wi-th advancament of the ~ ~ .
~7~6~
label strip :l.0 so tl~a~ the bellows face 7& moves with the labe:l.
while the label is being comp~et~ly separa-ted from its carrier strip. The hellows is then ex-tended towards th~ position 75b to press the label against an article that is -to be labelled.
In order to securely hol~ a la~el agairLs-t the bellows face 78 prior to applying -the lab21 to an article, and -to then reject the label from the bellows Face as the bellows withdraws from the article? the bellows face 78 is provided with slits that form a hole 90, as shown in Figura 8. The hole permits a low rate of air movement through the face into the bellows, when a vacuum has been applied through the -tube 80 to the bel~
lows. A vacuum is applied to the bellows to hold it in a con-tracted state while it is first pressed against a iabel at the posi-tion 74c in Figure 7. The vacuum continues to be applied while the bellows moves with the label as the label separates from carrier strip and passes off the V-shaped edge of the separator plate 22~ The vacuum not only keeps the;bellows eon-tracted, but also serves to hold the label fi~mly against the face of the bellows. When the bellows lies opposite the articl:e ~20 to be labelled, pressured gas such as air is suddenly applied to the bellows. The pressured air causes the bellows to~expand towards the configuration 74b to press agàinst the article.
For the application of thin flexible labels, and where precise location of the label on the article is not lmpor-tant, the hole 90 is formed so -that some air leaks out. The pressured air tends to reject the label from the ace 73 of the bellows, but it does no-t matter if the lahel flies off the bellows even as it is moving towards the article if the distance to the article is not great. The pressured air re~ection o the label helps in preventing -the label Erom sticking to the bellows as :
~g397~
thce b~l:lows contrcl~ts .ln(l draws awl~ From th2 art;cl~. Th~ bel-lows normally l~egirls to wi-tildraw from tlle art:icle as the pres-sure thDr~in :is reclu~ed bu-t is s-till at a substantial level, inasrnuch as the comp:Letely unp~essured hellows t~nds to assume a config~lra-tion wherein its face is at 7a when pressurP in the bellows r2aches the atmospheric value.
Figure l~ illustrates the shape of the bellows 74 in its relaxed state~ The bellows is molded of elastomaric i~ate-rial ? with a recess 81 in the bellows face~ and with three slits cut into the recessed portion to forrn the hole ~0. The recess forms three flaps 83 which can readily bend inwardly but not outwardly. Accordingly, when a vacuum îs applied to the bellows air can pass into the bellows through the hole 90. However, when pressured air is applied inside the bellows, the flaps 83 lS ~end to press against one another to close the hole and minimize the escape of air from the bellows. The flaps 83 therefore fo~m~a check valve which couples th faoe ~f the bellows to the inside thereof, to allow air flow substantiaIly only in a di-rection into the be]lows 20 ~ When the bellows contracts, the inside o ~e bellows end contacts a substantially rigid internal member 85~tnat limits the contraction of the bellows. The in~ernal member 85 has a guide surface 85g which engages a correspondingly shaped surface 78g~of -the bellows end to not only limit the longitudinal on-~
traction of the bellows end, but also to laterally position it As a result~ the bellows beg;ns each expansion from the same lateral posi-tion and orientation. This results in the bellows ;~
tending to sxtend along the same path each time, to provide greater accuracy in the positioning of -the labels on the articles.
Wh:~n the bellows is contracted? its end ~ace lies at~the plane .
1~ :
,;
-- . .
87, while l~hell lully e~te~l.de~l WitllOUt arl artic:Le i.n the way th~ b~llc)w~, can ~xpand to the plane 89. Normcllly, an ar~i.cle i5 pOS i~ionecl abo~l~ three quarters of che distance from the plane 87 to the pl~ne 89. In examining causes for erratic di-rec-tions ~f bellows expansion, it has ~een found that one cause is tha~ the ~olds o:F the bellows may tend to s ticic to one another when compressed during the application of vacuum in the bellows. When the bellows begins expanding, locations which tended to s-tick together, tend to resist extension and the bellows tends to curve as it expands. It has been found that the application of release powder such as is used in plas-tic injection molding, eliminates the sticking problem, the powder being applied *o both the inside and outside of the bel-lows fold. It has been found that the release powder remains in place during long continuous use of the bellows.
As ;llustra~ed in Figures 5 and 9, the apparatus for .
~; advancing the label carrying arr~ngement includes a motor 91~
which is coupled through a belt 92 to a pulley 94~ The pulley shaft 96 is coupled through a singl~ cycle clutch 98 to a drive shaft 100. The single cycle clutch 98 merely permits opera~ion of the machine one cycle at a time, the drive shaft 100 rotating only one revolution each time a pin 1~2 is pulled out and rP-leased, but the shaft 100 rotating continuously if the pin 102 is retained in a pulled-out condi~ion. ThQ drive shaft 100 rotates a crank 103 that drives a rack or slide 104 back and forth. Th~ slide 104 has~gear teeth engaged with a gear 106 t~hat is coupled through cln overrunning clutch 107 to a sprocket wheel 108, so that the sprocket wheel 108 turns in only one direction~ This sprocket wheel 10 8 i5 coupled by a timing belt 110 to another sprocket wheel 11~ which drives another single :
.
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~097Z69 c~cl~ C~ltC~ 113. 'rll~! si~-lgl~ ~ycl~ t~ iv~s cl too~led wh~el 121 and a feed shart 114. The feed roll 64~ WlliCh pulls the labe~l s~rip 10 o~f the supply reel, is ~ixed to and clriven by the feed shat 114. The singl~ cycle clutch is enabled -to S turn the Feed sha~t when a pîn 117 on the slide 104 hits a pawl 119 -to pivot the pawl out of engagement with ~he toothed wheel 121 on the f~2d shaft, which releases the single cycle clutch for turning the feed shaft 114. Thus, the feed roll 64 cannot turn until a predetermined time in each~cycleO The feed roll can then rota-te jus-~ enought to advance the label strip 10 by a distance S equal to the cen-ter-to-center distance of the labels along -the strip. The slide 104, at tha-t -time, will have moved pin 117 out oE engagement with the pawl 119, which s-tops further rotation of the wheel 121 and feed shaft 114.
The two tensioning rollers~66, 68 which pull the car-rier strip portions, are fixed to the same fe d shàft 114 to which the feed roll 64 is fixed. Therefore, as the feed roll 64 feeds the label strip 10 towards the V-shaped notch 24 ~ ~
where -the labels are separated from the carrier strip, the -~ 20 tensioning rolls 66, 68 turn in unison~to pull the carrier ; strip portions 18, 20 to thereby pull the 1abel strip oYer the edges of the notch 24. In order to assure tension in the car-rier strip portions 18, 2~, the two tensioning rollers ~66, 68 are constructed with a diameter E slightly larger th~n -the diam-eter of the fe d roll 64~ resulting in the surfaces of the ten-~;~ sioning rolls 66, 68 turning slightly fas-ter than the surface of *he feed rolls 64. The *ension rolls 66, 68 are in the form of rubber tires that permit slippage of the carrier s-trip portions 18~ 20 -tnereon, so that the strip por-tions are pulled to maintain tension bu-t are not pulled so hard as to tear them.
_ l L~ _ 72~i~
As ~;ho~Yn in Fiaur~ Ll, b~cki.ng rolls 120 are provided to pres~
th2 c~arrier stri.~ por~tior1s sllc~h as ~ a~Ja;Tlst a correspondir1g t~nsio~ roll2r ~6. Al.so~ a strl~er blac1~ 1.2l ;.~ prov1ded that e.;-tends irl~o a g~o~)vc o~ th~ tensioning roller to insure se~arc1tion o~ the carri~r strip ~ortlons from roller 66. ~n alt2rnative arrangement would be to put sprocket~. on the -tensioning rollers engaging slits 226 and omit them on fead roller 6'~.
At a first timQ in each cycle of operation, the bel lows 74 descends against a label and begins moving forwardly with the l.-Lbel. In order for the labelling machin~ to operate properly~
it is ~ec2ssary that at that time the label strip be posi*ioned so that ther2 is a label at the position l4p shown in Fi~ure 5, which is the pos;tion at which the face of the bellows descends against the lahel. In order to accurately co~ rol ^the posittons of the labels, -the feed roll 64 is provided with sprockets 1?2 for en-gaging the label strip. As shown in Figures 5 and lO~, the sprockets 122 are spaced abou-t the feed roll by the distance S ~etween the~
labals, and are designed to fit into the separation line 16 be~ween ~ the carriar s~trip portions and into the space or gap 15 between the labels. Thus, a label carrying arrangement or la~el strip forms its own sprocket holes at gaps 15 and the ~eed roll 64 is formed with sprockets that engage the sprockethole~s of the label strip to control the positions of the labels in the ~achine. It may be noted that these sprocket holes at the gaps 15 between adjacent la~el~, arise automatically in the production o~ the label - carrying arrangement, and it is not necessary to for~ special sprocke-t holes along edges of the bac]cing strip to en~ble con-trQl of label position in the machine. Additional sprocket holes can be provided, however, to avoid contact of labels with sprockets.
A~ shown in Figur~s 6 ancl 7, the plunger apparatus 70 is moved '~ack and forth by a tow bar 130 which has an inner en~l ~ixecl-to the slide 104 and an outer end fi~d -to the bel-lows-supporting pla-te 72. Although the primary motion o~ the S bellows supporting plate 72 is back and ~orth in the direction of arrows 86, .it is also necessary -to raise the forward end of the plate 72 which holds tha bellows 74 during rearward motion of the bellows. Th.is is to prevent the bellows ~rom rubbing on the label strip during such rearward motion. The support plate 12 is guided by a pair of rearward tabs 132 which can move back and forth in guide slots 134 formed in guide ways 144 on the machine ~rame, while the fron-t of the pla~e has a pair oE tabs 136 which can ~ove along either of; two guide slots 138, 140 that are separa-ted by a divider 147. When the support plate 72 moves slightly forward, in the direction of~
arrow F, from the position shown~in Figure 6, each~of its for~
ward tabs 136 which has~been moving along the lower slot 138, Decomes free to move up towards the level o~upper slot 140. ~ :
A forward spriDg 142 disposed~along each of the guide ways 144, urges each tab 136 to move up, so that when the slide 72 moves rearwardly its tabs 136 slide at a higher level. As~ a result, the contracted bellows of the plunger apparatus 70 oan move rea~wardly to a position over a next label (14p in Figure 5~ to be appliedg wi*hout rubbing against -the label strlp. As the forward tabs 136 approach their rearward posi-: ~ :
tion~ they pass rearward of the divider 147 that separates the upper and lower slots, and also pass under a rearward spring :;:
148 tha-t urges the tabs 13~ downuardly. The tow bar 130 ~Jhich ~- moves the support plates 72 back and forth~ has a series~ of slots cu-t into it, to provide increased flexibility~ to permit :: ~
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~he ~ront portio~l of -the s~lpport pLat~ to move ~Ip and doi/n a small distclnc~ as i.t rnoves bac~ a~d iorth.
The use o-~ anparatus to rnove the label a list~nce ~eyond th~ separator edges before thrusting the label towards an article~ avoids "hinging" of the label. Hinging is the phenomenon of -the rear end of the label -tending to stick -to the separation edge or carrier strip a and therefore to tend -to resis-t movement against an article to ~e labelled.
As described above, the application of vacuum and pressured air to the bellows -through the hose 80 1s controlled by the pressure control B2. As illustrated in Figure 9g the pressure control 32 includes an air pressure inlet lS0 through which pressured air is c~nstantly applied, a vacuum inle-t 152 to which a vacuum is constantly applied, and an outlet 154 which is coupled to the hose 80. A valv~ member 156 can move up and down to alternately couple the outlet 154 to either the : air inlet 150 or the vacuum inlet 152. A rod 158 fixed to the valve member 156, is moved up and down by a cam~l60 that is fixed to the drive shaft 100. The cam 160 is configured so that a v~cuum i5 applied to the pressure control outlet 154 during the time when -the bellow~ engages a label and moves with the labzl to a position opposite the article.to be labelled. The ~:
cam is configured to then operate the valve member 156 so that ; pressured air is applied to the bellowa to extend it briefly~
near -the end of its fo~ward travel after which the vacuum is again applied to the pressure control ou-tlet~
The angle A (Figure 5~ oI the V-shaped slot 24 is shown as being on the order of 90 for the labPlling machine of Figures 1 ~ 9~ IE the labels 14 are spaced close to one another along the leng-th of -the carrier strip, then at ~he beginning of . .
~9~
each cycle, ~he n~t label to be appliecl 1ILP, w:ill b2 pOskti~lleC
~ith a consiclerable are~ r~ of its lecldln~7~ edge por-ti.on unsup-ported by ~he plate ~ 2 or by any part oE the carr;er str:ip .
Suc~ e~posure a-t -the area ll~r arises because ~he label strip 10 must have been advanced at -the end o~ the previous cycle so that the previous label 14-t wa~ advanc~d clear o~ -the carrier strip. The existence of an unsupported label region 14r is disadvan-tageous where very thin and flexible labels, such as one mil thick polyethylene labels, are u-tilized, because such labels are subject ~o fluttsring or other disturbances due~to the vacuum and air pressures applied in their vicini~ty, prior to the bellows face 78 making contact wi~h the lab~. The existence of an unsupported label region 14r ~ ( shown in Figure S) can be avoided by increasing the angle A of the V-shaped slot to a greater angle, such as from 90 to an angle B of 135, as shown for the stripper 264 of Figures ~4 and 25.
This can allow a prsvious labal 14e to~have been D ved clear of the guide plate 166 while the next label l~f has lit-tle or~
; no region which is unsupported. By making~the stripper~`264 o~
2~ a sîngle piece of material and by maintaining its edges in the same plane, the strip portions do not slip sideways along the auxiliary edgas. lt may be noted that in a typical label strip~
as with circular labels, the ~ap between ad~acent~labels is approximately 1~8 of an inch, and a large angle o~ at least ~110 18 required to avoid any unsupported la~el region at the next label to be applied while permitting the previous label ~to advance clear o~ the support plate.
Th separation technique utilized in the present in-vention~ permits ~he utilization of a low cost label carrying arrangement or label strip o~ the type shown a~ 190 in Figure 16.
:
~rlle labe:l strip 190 is i.d~ticcll w:i-th l~lbel strip lo of Fi~,ure 1 e.~c~p~ ~hat it includes a scrim or matrix 192 surrounding the labels ll~b and oE -the sc~ne material as -the labels 14b. The ma-trix :L92 is die cut -to ~orm separa-tion lines 194 around each S label and separation sli~s 196 which lie between the labels and over -the separation lines 16b of the carrier s-trip 12b. In a typi-cal prior art procass for -the production of the labels 14b, the labels are die cu~ from a strip of label material, with the cut-ting lines separating the strip of label material into label areas forming ~he labels ll~b and a matrix area forming:the matrix 192. Heretofore, the ma-trîx area 192 had to be removed from ~ ;
around the labels 14b prior to packaging and sellin~ the labels, because of the way labels wera separated from the carrier web, i . e ., bending the web around a sharp curve, around which the lab~1 would not follow. If the matrix material is lef~ in place, be- ~
, cause of the presence of fine bridging filaments of papcr or ad-he6ive between label and matr~x material, which are still preS3nt despite die cutting ~ the label will not consi6tently separate ::
or peel away from the~carrying~web. By utilizing the label strip 190 with the matrix 192 le~t on the carrier strip~ the:
cost of the labels can be reduced since the cost of matrix : removal is eliminated and matrices can be made thinner and of :~ thinner paper stock, as can labels.
The ma~rix 192, which is divided into two portions by the separation slits 196, is pulled apart by the separation : apparatus of the present invention, with each half of -the : matri~ such as 192a, 192b moving with;the carrier strip portionunder it around the edges of the separation plate.
The labelling strip can be provided in different forms. As illustrated in Figure 14, the label strip 12 can be 7;~6~
provicle~ as cl ro:l..l 200 of many turns w:ith a cardboard tu`L)e 2Q~
a-t the eenter ~}~at Ei-ts on-to ~ shaft of the l.abelling machine.
~îgure 15 lllustratcs a fan-folded arrangement 2n4 of the label-ling strip 12, which is used for produci.ng cOMputer printed labels. The apparatus for movin~ -the carrier s-trip portions in di~ferent direotions to separate -them from one another and from -the labels also can have a variety of forms. In the apparatus of Figure 1, the separation edges which form a V-shaped notch~
are nonaligned because the axes of t~e edges exténd at an angle of less than 180 rom one another, but with the axes of the edges substantially intersecting one another at the bottom of the V. In Figure 17, a separation device 210 is illustrated which includes a pair of separa-tion edges 212~ 214 with their axes 212a, 214a also nonaligned, but with the axes of the: ~dges extending parallel to one ano~her but spaced from one another along tha path of the labels 14h. This apparatus perfo-~ms bet-ter than prior art separators which utilize just one edge around which a carrier strip is pulled, because in the present device only half of -the carrier strip must be separated from~the label .
at each separation edge. It may be noted that moré than ~wo :
separate carrier s-trip portions and a corresponding numbér of edge means can be provided, as in the separator 216 of Figure 17A.
The moving of the labels in a positive m~nner towards the separation edges as by the feed roll 64 (Figure 4~, and i~
synchronism with pulling of th2 carrier strip portions by the tensioni~g rolls 66, 68, is impor-tarLt in minimizing the tension which must be~applied to th carrier strip portions. By re-; duein~ the tenslon in~the c~rrier strip portions required -to ~ 30 pull them around the edges~ thP machine minimizes the possibility -~2~- ~
97~6~
of tearin~-r t:he carrier striE~ portions. The redllction in re-quirecl t2nsioll is clue -to the "capstan elEect"~ which is the phenomenon that a rope wrapp~d about a capstan canno^t be easily pulled if -there is even a slight ~ension in -the other end of S the rope, but can be easily pulled ;f -the other end of the rope is fed -towards the capstan. The feed roll 64 serves -to posi--tively feed the label strip -towards the separation edges in synchronism with the tensioning means pulling -the carrier strip portions, so that the carrier strip is maintained under tension, but the machine op~rates properly ~ith only a relatively small tension.
In the apparatus of Figure 4~ the pos;tive feeding a~
-the label strip is accomplished by the roll 64 which has the thin sprocke~s 122 that project through the separation line of the carrier strip and into the gap between adjacent labels. The thin sprockets could damage the labels i~ mor~ than a small force is applied to the label s-trip.~ To avoid this~, other sprocket holes can be formed in -the label stripO Figures 18 -20 il~Iustrate a label~strip Z20 which includes a~carrier strip 222, labels 14i, and a matrix 224 of label material, wherein both the carrier strip 22 and matrix 224 have cuts~in them or recelv;ng sprockets. Cuts 228 in the matrlx and cuts 226 in~
the carrier which lie under~the cut regions of ~h~ matrix3 form weakened regions which can be easily pen~trated by sproc-ke-ts such as that indicated~ at 230. The cuts 226~ ~28 can be formed without producing confetti like was-te which would have to be removed rom th cutting machine. Figure 21 illustrates still another label strip 240~ which includ2s a matrix 242 over a carrier strip~ and with tabs~2~4 cut in -the carrier strip and overlying tabs 246 cut in the ma-trîx~ for receiYing .
~ .
~1 ~
~7'~i9 sproc~ets. It is aLso possi~ Le -to form CUtS or ho:Les only in the carrier s-t:rlp ~ bllt near l:he edge of the carrler 5trip, SO
tilat sp~'OClC2 ~:S can p~ss througll the carrier s trip and merely press us ~tha ed~es of the matrix away from the carrier strip.
~ . ., S ~ these cuts can also be in -the la~el area if necessary.
Figures 22 and 23 illustrate a portion of a label applying apparatus which can u*ilize a label strip 250 which is ini*ially supplied with a carrier strip 252 that does not have a separation line there;n~ but which still utili~es tha inventive ~eature o~ this invention of separating the carrier strip ~rom tha label by pulling differsnt portions of the car-rier strip along dif~eren~ paths. In the apparatus of Figures 22 and 23, this is accomplished by utili~ing a slitter 254 whi.ch slits the carrier strip to permit two portions 256, 258 of the carrier strip to be pulled in diferent directions. The slitter 254 is a -thin disc rotatably mounted on~a shaft 260 and~loca-ted at the bottom of -the notch 262 of the sepa~ator plate~264~ The top of the slitter disc 254 can be located approximately even ;~
with the upper surface of the plate 264, although it~could be located sliehtly above or below it. ~ The slitter also can ba~
located a distance up-path fr3m the bottom of the V-notch 262, to slit tha carrier strip a distance prior to its raaching the V-no-tch. Figure 26 and Figure 27 are cross sectional views of a preferr d bellows shape.~ Figure 26;àc-tually is a split viaw wîth the left half~ showing the bellows 270 when its in~erior .
is at atmospheric pressure. It will be seen that the bellows may have the form o the ~rustum of a cone or a pyramid. The righ-t side of Figure 26 shows~the bellows 270 when ~ully re-~ tracted 7 as happens when a vacuum is established in its interior.
Figure 27 shows the bellows 270 when fully extended and applying ~2-lab~l to all objec-t 272.
'Lhe reason the ~orn~ shor~n is preferred is because, upon retraction c>f the bellows as in Figure ~6, there is no sticking to~eth~r oE the Eolds. This occurs with th~ usual S cylindrical or square shaped ballows. Upon expansion there-after the be:Llows ~lay not extend Pully or extend with the base at an ængle, thus d~feating label application~ Furthermore, because of the frustum of a cone shape, -the bel~ows, when ex-~ tended against an obj~ct, as shown in Figure 26, wraps itself partially around the o~ject, insuring proper la~el placement.
Thus, the invention pro~ides a new la~el carryingarrangement or label strip, and a separation apparatus for~
separating the labels from the carrier strip, to permit the highly reliable separation of labels from the s-trip while per-lS mitting the use of a wide variety of labels including:verythin and flexible labels.
: By u-tilizing this in~ention, the labeI~carrying web is made far less expensive to manufactu~e ~as much as 30%3.
Labels can now be made of material of extreme thinness an~d flexibility (.OOl" soft polyethylene, for èxample~. The peel- ~ ~
ing proce~s is 100% positive. The label must separate when the ~ :
carrier web passes through the V-shaped notch. Furthermore, : ~ -the process of peeling does not require any appreoiable~ tension of the web.
~ The label lS held by the application plunger before, during and after the peeling process, so that~ in one sense~
: the label does not have to be:trans~erred to any place a~*er peeling7 because it is already in that place.
~: The method of label application is a pneumatically-actuated bellows which holds the label firmly by vacuum until :
- ~23-, 7;:Ei9 e~tend2d hy C1 hLast o~ 1QW presstlre air~ It carl apply lclb~:Ls over a wicle ran~e o:F produc-t heigh~ variation, is ex-tremely fdSt (a~out 2 . 6 millisecollcis ) ~ is con:Eormable ~o product shapes, and can easi.ly label products going by at high speed ~24" per second) withou-t d~mage.
Another advantageous characteristic of the new label-ling system is the eli.mination of any elec-~ronic label s~nsing or electromechanical web drivès, which must be sophis-~icated for high speeds and therefore expensive and inclined to failure.
The eliminat.ion of such label sensing and web drive systems is possible due to the use oE various slits in the label carrying web, which are employed somewhat like sprocket holes, by the machine, to con*rol the advance and location of the~labels within the machine. They are available at no cost because of their special design which is only suited for the kind~of die ; cutting used to make pressure sensitive labels.
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Although particular embodiments of ~he invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognize~d ~ that modifications and variations may readily occur to those ;~ ~ 20 skilled in the art and consequently it is intended that the~
claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.
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: ~ -: : :
E`lgure 'J is a fron~ elev~-~tion v:iew o~ tlle syst~m o~
F'iure ~;
E'igure 10 is a view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig-ure 5;
Figur2 11 is a vie~ ta~en on the line 11-11 of Fig-ure 5;
Figure 12 is a sec-tional front view showing -the ;~
bellows of the. apparatus of Figure 9;
Figure 13 is a bottom view of the bellows of Figure 12;
Figure 14 is a perspective view of the label roll of the system of Figure 4;
lS Figure 15 is a front elevation view of a fan-~olded label arrangement constructed 1n~accordanca with~another em- :
:~ bodirnent of the invention~
~:
;~: ; Figure 16 is a partial perspective view o~ a~label strip constructed in accordance with another embodiment~of the invention, which includes a matrix~ surrounding th~ labels;
.
Figure 17 is a perspective view of a step;stripper : apparatus constructed in accordance wi~h another embodiment :~ ~
of the invention;
: : : Figure 18 is a partial p~rspective top view of a . :
label strip constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;
Figure 19 is a partial perspective bottom view o~:a :~ label strip of Figure 18;
Figure 20 is a view taken on the line 20-20 of:Fig-ure 18;
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7~
Fi~ure 2:l i5 a parti~L p Lar`! view o.F a .I.abel strip cons~r~lctel in accordance w:i.th another embodimcnt o~ -tne in~entio~;
Figur2 ~2 is a par-tial plan vi~w of a la~eL strip and s-tripper system cons-truc-ted in accordance with ano-ther ambodime~nt of the :invention;
Figur2 23 is a view taken on the line 23-23 of Fig-ure 22;
Figure 24 is a partial plan view of a lab211ing sys-tem constructed in accordance wl-th ano~her embodiment of - thè invention; ~ ;
~ igure 25 is a view taken on the line 25-25 of Figure 2~; and . Figures 26 and 27 are respactively cross-sec*ional 15 views of a preferred bellows shape illustrating it at three stages of operation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI:MENTS
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Figures~l - 3 illustrate details of a label;carry-~ ing arrangement 10 of the invention, which includes an elon-;~ 20 gated backing we~ or carrier strip 12 and a multiplicity of labeIs 14 spacad along the l~.ngth of the carrier strip. ~Each of the labels 14 has~ a front face 14a with a decorative~ de-sign or other marking printed thereon, and a rear face 14b : with contact adhesive thereon. The carrier strip has a front : : 25 face 12a with:release coating 7 such as silicon~ ~ which facil-itates stripping of the label ;adhesive from:the carrier strip.
: The carrier strîp 12 includes a separation line 16 extending along its length at a middle portion thereof, to divide the . carrier strip in-to -~-wo carrier strip portions 18, 20 t~at support differen~ porti.ons of the lab~l 14.
7Z~9 ~pparltus shown in F; rur~ 1 tor stripping tile lahels 14 from tl~e carrier s-trip 12 includes a labeL stripp~r or separa~or în the form of a p:Late ~ having a substantia:Lly V-shaped edge region or notch 24 which forms a pair of separator S edges 26 a 2a~ The carrier strip with the labels thereon ini-tially moves along an upper face 30 of -the label separator towards -the Y-shaped edge portion or region 24 7 with the sepa-ration line 16 aligned with the bottom of the V. Each of the carrier strip por-tions 18, 20 extends around a diferent one of ~he separator edges 26, 2~, so that -the carrier strip is ~ pulled apart therea-t. The strip portion 18 which extends ; around the separator edge 2S, move~ along the underside or lower face 32 of the plate, extends around an auxiliary guide edge 34, and then extends along the upper face 30 of the separator plate. The other carrier strip portion 20 extends in a corresponding manner, around the separator ed8e~8, around another auxiliary guide edge 36~ and then along the upper fàce o the separa-tor plate. It can be seen~that as each label 14 moves into the Y-shaped notch 24, the two car~
?0 rier strip portions 18, 20 are directed downwardly and apar.
from each other, so that the label tends to continue to move in the direction of arrow 38. The label cannot follow the ~ two halves of the carrier s-trip through the notch. As~shown ;~ in Figure 3A, the radius of curvature R of each edge, such as 28, need not be sharp. Instead, the radius R is greater than the thickness T of the carrier strip, which minimi~es the pos-slbili-ty of tearing the carrier s-trip. If desired~ the sepa-~: .
rator edges need no-t be stationary but may ~e rollers of suitable diameter.
~8-109 ~,~69 In order to advallce the :La~f.~l carryin~ arran~ernent lU, it is neoe;isary on:Ly to pu:l.1 the two carrier s-trlp port:ions 1~.
2Q alon~ the pa-ths of the arrows 40 7 42. I'he labels 1~ on the carrier strip 12 ~ill then move hPyond -the V-shaped edge reginn 2~ and become s~parated from the carrier strip. Of course, in order to apply the labels to articlex indicated at A~ it is necessary to provide a means for reliabl~ moving the Ereed labels against th~ articles. A labelling machine, to be dQs-cribed below, provides a plunger whicll engages the labels and reliably appli~s them to the goods.
Figures 4 - 9 illustrate details of a labelling :
machine S0 which moves the label strip 10 to apply the labels 14 thereo.n against articles A. The labelling machine 50 in-cludes a frame 52 with an upstanding center wall 54, a label ~ 15 guiding and moving apparatus 56 on the first side of the up-; ~ standing wall 5~, and drive and control apparatu~s 58 on the other side of the upstanding wall. The label guiding and moving apparatus 56 includes a supply reel 60 rotata~ly mounted - on the frame and carrying a roll of the label strip la. The label is guided from the ree~ 60 around a guide roll 62 and~
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past a spring strip 63~ around a feed roll 6~, and along the upper side of the separator plate 22 towards the V-shaped edge .~ region 24 thereo~. The two carrier strip portions 18,.20:
which have been separated at the V-shaped edge region 24~ are pulled along their respective paths by a pair of tensioning rollers 66, 68. After pass.ing through the -tensioning rollers 66, 68, th~ two carrier strip portîons 18, 20 may be direeted into a bin for later disposal.
A plunger apparatus 70 which is disposed near the V-shaped groove 24 of the separatoF plate, serves to engage _g _ ~972169 each la'~ Eor~e, during~ allcl aet~r i-ts s~parat:ion .~:c~om the carrier strir~, and ~o carry that l.abel agains-t .~n article A, so tha~ the adrleslve-bearin~; face o.f the label is pressed against the article, The articles are carried on a conveyor appara-tus C pas-t the labell.ing rnachine ~ and rnov~men-t o:E the plunger 70 is timed so tha-t a label is applied -to each article passing thereby. As illus ~rated in Figure 7, the plunger ap-paratus 70 includes a plunger or bellows supporting plete 72 and a bellows 74 with an inner portion 76 fixed to the plunger supporting plate and an outer end face 78. A flexible hose 80 ex-tends from a pressure control 82 to a tubular coupling 84 which opens to the inside of the bellows~ 7~ The pressura con-trol 82 can supply a low pressure which is less than atmospheric, or vacuum, through the -tube 80 to the bellows 74 to contract the bellows from the relaxed position shown at 74 -to a con-tracted p~sition wherein its end face is at 78a. ~Alternatively, pressure control 82 can supply pressured air through the hose : 8Q to th~ bellows 74 to expand the bellows to the configuration indicated at 74b wherein the end face has been thrust ou-t to - 20 the pos;tion 78b. When a label lies against the end~face 78:
~:~ and air pressure is appIied to the bellows, its end face 78 pushes the label against an article.
The bellows support plate 72 can move substan tially ; : longitudinally as indicated by arrows :86. Thus, the plate 72 can move the bellor~s 74, in its contracted position, rearwardly to the position indicated at 74c wherein the face of the bel-lows at 73c lies over the next label to be separated ~rom ~he backing strip. Thereafter~ the bellows support plate moves down so the bellows engages a label, and -the support plate advances the bellows 7~ in synchronis~ wi-th advancament of the ~ ~ .
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label strip :l.0 so tl~a~ the bellows face 7& moves with the labe:l.
while the label is being comp~et~ly separa-ted from its carrier strip. The hellows is then ex-tended towards th~ position 75b to press the label against an article that is -to be labelled.
In order to securely hol~ a la~el agairLs-t the bellows face 78 prior to applying -the lab21 to an article, and -to then reject the label from the bellows Face as the bellows withdraws from the article? the bellows face 78 is provided with slits that form a hole 90, as shown in Figura 8. The hole permits a low rate of air movement through the face into the bellows, when a vacuum has been applied through the -tube 80 to the bel~
lows. A vacuum is applied to the bellows to hold it in a con-tracted state while it is first pressed against a iabel at the posi-tion 74c in Figure 7. The vacuum continues to be applied while the bellows moves with the label as the label separates from carrier strip and passes off the V-shaped edge of the separator plate 22~ The vacuum not only keeps the;bellows eon-tracted, but also serves to hold the label fi~mly against the face of the bellows. When the bellows lies opposite the articl:e ~20 to be labelled, pressured gas such as air is suddenly applied to the bellows. The pressured air causes the bellows to~expand towards the configuration 74b to press agàinst the article.
For the application of thin flexible labels, and where precise location of the label on the article is not lmpor-tant, the hole 90 is formed so -that some air leaks out. The pressured air tends to reject the label from the ace 73 of the bellows, but it does no-t matter if the lahel flies off the bellows even as it is moving towards the article if the distance to the article is not great. The pressured air re~ection o the label helps in preventing -the label Erom sticking to the bellows as :
~g397~
thce b~l:lows contrcl~ts .ln(l draws awl~ From th2 art;cl~. Th~ bel-lows normally l~egirls to wi-tildraw from tlle art:icle as the pres-sure thDr~in :is reclu~ed bu-t is s-till at a substantial level, inasrnuch as the comp:Letely unp~essured hellows t~nds to assume a config~lra-tion wherein its face is at 7a when pressurP in the bellows r2aches the atmospheric value.
Figure l~ illustrates the shape of the bellows 74 in its relaxed state~ The bellows is molded of elastomaric i~ate-rial ? with a recess 81 in the bellows face~ and with three slits cut into the recessed portion to forrn the hole ~0. The recess forms three flaps 83 which can readily bend inwardly but not outwardly. Accordingly, when a vacuum îs applied to the bellows air can pass into the bellows through the hole 90. However, when pressured air is applied inside the bellows, the flaps 83 lS ~end to press against one another to close the hole and minimize the escape of air from the bellows. The flaps 83 therefore fo~m~a check valve which couples th faoe ~f the bellows to the inside thereof, to allow air flow substantiaIly only in a di-rection into the be]lows 20 ~ When the bellows contracts, the inside o ~e bellows end contacts a substantially rigid internal member 85~tnat limits the contraction of the bellows. The in~ernal member 85 has a guide surface 85g which engages a correspondingly shaped surface 78g~of -the bellows end to not only limit the longitudinal on-~
traction of the bellows end, but also to laterally position it As a result~ the bellows beg;ns each expansion from the same lateral posi-tion and orientation. This results in the bellows ;~
tending to sxtend along the same path each time, to provide greater accuracy in the positioning of -the labels on the articles.
Wh:~n the bellows is contracted? its end ~ace lies at~the plane .
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87, while l~hell lully e~te~l.de~l WitllOUt arl artic:Le i.n the way th~ b~llc)w~, can ~xpand to the plane 89. Normcllly, an ar~i.cle i5 pOS i~ionecl abo~l~ three quarters of che distance from the plane 87 to the pl~ne 89. In examining causes for erratic di-rec-tions ~f bellows expansion, it has ~een found that one cause is tha~ the ~olds o:F the bellows may tend to s ticic to one another when compressed during the application of vacuum in the bellows. When the bellows begins expanding, locations which tended to s-tick together, tend to resist extension and the bellows tends to curve as it expands. It has been found that the application of release powder such as is used in plas-tic injection molding, eliminates the sticking problem, the powder being applied *o both the inside and outside of the bel-lows fold. It has been found that the release powder remains in place during long continuous use of the bellows.
As ;llustra~ed in Figures 5 and 9, the apparatus for .
~; advancing the label carrying arr~ngement includes a motor 91~
which is coupled through a belt 92 to a pulley 94~ The pulley shaft 96 is coupled through a singl~ cycle clutch 98 to a drive shaft 100. The single cycle clutch 98 merely permits opera~ion of the machine one cycle at a time, the drive shaft 100 rotating only one revolution each time a pin 1~2 is pulled out and rP-leased, but the shaft 100 rotating continuously if the pin 102 is retained in a pulled-out condi~ion. ThQ drive shaft 100 rotates a crank 103 that drives a rack or slide 104 back and forth. Th~ slide 104 has~gear teeth engaged with a gear 106 t~hat is coupled through cln overrunning clutch 107 to a sprocket wheel 108, so that the sprocket wheel 108 turns in only one direction~ This sprocket wheel 10 8 i5 coupled by a timing belt 110 to another sprocket wheel 11~ which drives another single :
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~097Z69 c~cl~ C~ltC~ 113. 'rll~! si~-lgl~ ~ycl~ t~ iv~s cl too~led wh~el 121 and a feed shart 114. The feed roll 64~ WlliCh pulls the labe~l s~rip 10 o~f the supply reel, is ~ixed to and clriven by the feed shat 114. The singl~ cycle clutch is enabled -to S turn the Feed sha~t when a pîn 117 on the slide 104 hits a pawl 119 -to pivot the pawl out of engagement with ~he toothed wheel 121 on the f~2d shaft, which releases the single cycle clutch for turning the feed shaft 114. Thus, the feed roll 64 cannot turn until a predetermined time in each~cycleO The feed roll can then rota-te jus-~ enought to advance the label strip 10 by a distance S equal to the cen-ter-to-center distance of the labels along -the strip. The slide 104, at tha-t -time, will have moved pin 117 out oE engagement with the pawl 119, which s-tops further rotation of the wheel 121 and feed shaft 114.
The two tensioning rollers~66, 68 which pull the car-rier strip portions, are fixed to the same fe d shàft 114 to which the feed roll 64 is fixed. Therefore, as the feed roll 64 feeds the label strip 10 towards the V-shaped notch 24 ~ ~
where -the labels are separated from the carrier strip, the -~ 20 tensioning rolls 66, 68 turn in unison~to pull the carrier ; strip portions 18, 20 to thereby pull the 1abel strip oYer the edges of the notch 24. In order to assure tension in the car-rier strip portions 18, 2~, the two tensioning rollers ~66, 68 are constructed with a diameter E slightly larger th~n -the diam-eter of the fe d roll 64~ resulting in the surfaces of the ten-~;~ sioning rolls 66, 68 turning slightly fas-ter than the surface of *he feed rolls 64. The *ension rolls 66, 68 are in the form of rubber tires that permit slippage of the carrier s-trip portions 18~ 20 -tnereon, so that the strip por-tions are pulled to maintain tension bu-t are not pulled so hard as to tear them.
_ l L~ _ 72~i~
As ~;ho~Yn in Fiaur~ Ll, b~cki.ng rolls 120 are provided to pres~
th2 c~arrier stri.~ por~tior1s sllc~h as ~ a~Ja;Tlst a correspondir1g t~nsio~ roll2r ~6. Al.so~ a strl~er blac1~ 1.2l ;.~ prov1ded that e.;-tends irl~o a g~o~)vc o~ th~ tensioning roller to insure se~arc1tion o~ the carri~r strip ~ortlons from roller 66. ~n alt2rnative arrangement would be to put sprocket~. on the -tensioning rollers engaging slits 226 and omit them on fead roller 6'~.
At a first timQ in each cycle of operation, the bel lows 74 descends against a label and begins moving forwardly with the l.-Lbel. In order for the labelling machin~ to operate properly~
it is ~ec2ssary that at that time the label strip be posi*ioned so that ther2 is a label at the position l4p shown in Fi~ure 5, which is the pos;tion at which the face of the bellows descends against the lahel. In order to accurately co~ rol ^the posittons of the labels, -the feed roll 64 is provided with sprockets 1?2 for en-gaging the label strip. As shown in Figures 5 and lO~, the sprockets 122 are spaced abou-t the feed roll by the distance S ~etween the~
labals, and are designed to fit into the separation line 16 be~ween ~ the carriar s~trip portions and into the space or gap 15 between the labels. Thus, a label carrying arrangement or la~el strip forms its own sprocket holes at gaps 15 and the ~eed roll 64 is formed with sprockets that engage the sprockethole~s of the label strip to control the positions of the labels in the ~achine. It may be noted that these sprocket holes at the gaps 15 between adjacent la~el~, arise automatically in the production o~ the label - carrying arrangement, and it is not necessary to for~ special sprocke-t holes along edges of the bac]cing strip to en~ble con-trQl of label position in the machine. Additional sprocket holes can be provided, however, to avoid contact of labels with sprockets.
A~ shown in Figur~s 6 ancl 7, the plunger apparatus 70 is moved '~ack and forth by a tow bar 130 which has an inner en~l ~ixecl-to the slide 104 and an outer end fi~d -to the bel-lows-supporting pla-te 72. Although the primary motion o~ the S bellows supporting plate 72 is back and ~orth in the direction of arrows 86, .it is also necessary -to raise the forward end of the plate 72 which holds tha bellows 74 during rearward motion of the bellows. Th.is is to prevent the bellows ~rom rubbing on the label strip during such rearward motion. The support plate 12 is guided by a pair of rearward tabs 132 which can move back and forth in guide slots 134 formed in guide ways 144 on the machine ~rame, while the fron-t of the pla~e has a pair oE tabs 136 which can ~ove along either of; two guide slots 138, 140 that are separa-ted by a divider 147. When the support plate 72 moves slightly forward, in the direction of~
arrow F, from the position shown~in Figure 6, each~of its for~
ward tabs 136 which has~been moving along the lower slot 138, Decomes free to move up towards the level o~upper slot 140. ~ :
A forward spriDg 142 disposed~along each of the guide ways 144, urges each tab 136 to move up, so that when the slide 72 moves rearwardly its tabs 136 slide at a higher level. As~ a result, the contracted bellows of the plunger apparatus 70 oan move rea~wardly to a position over a next label (14p in Figure 5~ to be appliedg wi*hout rubbing against -the label strlp. As the forward tabs 136 approach their rearward posi-: ~ :
tion~ they pass rearward of the divider 147 that separates the upper and lower slots, and also pass under a rearward spring :;:
148 tha-t urges the tabs 13~ downuardly. The tow bar 130 ~Jhich ~- moves the support plates 72 back and forth~ has a series~ of slots cu-t into it, to provide increased flexibility~ to permit :: ~
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~he ~ront portio~l of -the s~lpport pLat~ to move ~Ip and doi/n a small distclnc~ as i.t rnoves bac~ a~d iorth.
The use o-~ anparatus to rnove the label a list~nce ~eyond th~ separator edges before thrusting the label towards an article~ avoids "hinging" of the label. Hinging is the phenomenon of -the rear end of the label -tending to stick -to the separation edge or carrier strip a and therefore to tend -to resis-t movement against an article to ~e labelled.
As described above, the application of vacuum and pressured air to the bellows -through the hose 80 1s controlled by the pressure control B2. As illustrated in Figure 9g the pressure control 32 includes an air pressure inlet lS0 through which pressured air is c~nstantly applied, a vacuum inle-t 152 to which a vacuum is constantly applied, and an outlet 154 which is coupled to the hose 80. A valv~ member 156 can move up and down to alternately couple the outlet 154 to either the : air inlet 150 or the vacuum inlet 152. A rod 158 fixed to the valve member 156, is moved up and down by a cam~l60 that is fixed to the drive shaft 100. The cam 160 is configured so that a v~cuum i5 applied to the pressure control outlet 154 during the time when -the bellow~ engages a label and moves with the labzl to a position opposite the article.to be labelled. The ~:
cam is configured to then operate the valve member 156 so that ; pressured air is applied to the bellowa to extend it briefly~
near -the end of its fo~ward travel after which the vacuum is again applied to the pressure control ou-tlet~
The angle A (Figure 5~ oI the V-shaped slot 24 is shown as being on the order of 90 for the labPlling machine of Figures 1 ~ 9~ IE the labels 14 are spaced close to one another along the leng-th of -the carrier strip, then at ~he beginning of . .
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each cycle, ~he n~t label to be appliecl 1ILP, w:ill b2 pOskti~lleC
~ith a consiclerable are~ r~ of its lecldln~7~ edge por-ti.on unsup-ported by ~he plate ~ 2 or by any part oE the carr;er str:ip .
Suc~ e~posure a-t -the area ll~r arises because ~he label strip 10 must have been advanced at -the end o~ the previous cycle so that the previous label 14-t wa~ advanc~d clear o~ -the carrier strip. The existence of an unsupported label region 14r is disadvan-tageous where very thin and flexible labels, such as one mil thick polyethylene labels, are u-tilized, because such labels are subject ~o fluttsring or other disturbances due~to the vacuum and air pressures applied in their vicini~ty, prior to the bellows face 78 making contact wi~h the lab~. The existence of an unsupported label region 14r ~ ( shown in Figure S) can be avoided by increasing the angle A of the V-shaped slot to a greater angle, such as from 90 to an angle B of 135, as shown for the stripper 264 of Figures ~4 and 25.
This can allow a prsvious labal 14e to~have been D ved clear of the guide plate 166 while the next label l~f has lit-tle or~
; no region which is unsupported. By making~the stripper~`264 o~
2~ a sîngle piece of material and by maintaining its edges in the same plane, the strip portions do not slip sideways along the auxiliary edgas. lt may be noted that in a typical label strip~
as with circular labels, the ~ap between ad~acent~labels is approximately 1~8 of an inch, and a large angle o~ at least ~110 18 required to avoid any unsupported la~el region at the next label to be applied while permitting the previous label ~to advance clear o~ the support plate.
Th separation technique utilized in the present in-vention~ permits ~he utilization of a low cost label carrying arrangement or label strip o~ the type shown a~ 190 in Figure 16.
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~rlle labe:l strip 190 is i.d~ticcll w:i-th l~lbel strip lo of Fi~,ure 1 e.~c~p~ ~hat it includes a scrim or matrix 192 surrounding the labels ll~b and oE -the sc~ne material as -the labels 14b. The ma-trix :L92 is die cut -to ~orm separa-tion lines 194 around each S label and separation sli~s 196 which lie between the labels and over -the separation lines 16b of the carrier s-trip 12b. In a typi-cal prior art procass for -the production of the labels 14b, the labels are die cu~ from a strip of label material, with the cut-ting lines separating the strip of label material into label areas forming ~he labels ll~b and a matrix area forming:the matrix 192. Heretofore, the ma-trîx area 192 had to be removed from ~ ;
around the labels 14b prior to packaging and sellin~ the labels, because of the way labels wera separated from the carrier web, i . e ., bending the web around a sharp curve, around which the lab~1 would not follow. If the matrix material is lef~ in place, be- ~
, cause of the presence of fine bridging filaments of papcr or ad-he6ive between label and matr~x material, which are still preS3nt despite die cutting ~ the label will not consi6tently separate ::
or peel away from the~carrying~web. By utilizing the label strip 190 with the matrix 192 le~t on the carrier strip~ the:
cost of the labels can be reduced since the cost of matrix : removal is eliminated and matrices can be made thinner and of :~ thinner paper stock, as can labels.
The ma~rix 192, which is divided into two portions by the separation slits 196, is pulled apart by the separation : apparatus of the present invention, with each half of -the : matri~ such as 192a, 192b moving with;the carrier strip portionunder it around the edges of the separation plate.
The labelling strip can be provided in different forms. As illustrated in Figure 14, the label strip 12 can be 7;~6~
provicle~ as cl ro:l..l 200 of many turns w:ith a cardboard tu`L)e 2Q~
a-t the eenter ~}~at Ei-ts on-to ~ shaft of the l.abelling machine.
~îgure 15 lllustratcs a fan-folded arrangement 2n4 of the label-ling strip 12, which is used for produci.ng cOMputer printed labels. The apparatus for movin~ -the carrier s-trip portions in di~ferent direotions to separate -them from one another and from -the labels also can have a variety of forms. In the apparatus of Figure 1, the separation edges which form a V-shaped notch~
are nonaligned because the axes of t~e edges exténd at an angle of less than 180 rom one another, but with the axes of the edges substantially intersecting one another at the bottom of the V. In Figure 17, a separation device 210 is illustrated which includes a pair of separa-tion edges 212~ 214 with their axes 212a, 214a also nonaligned, but with the axes of the: ~dges extending parallel to one ano~her but spaced from one another along tha path of the labels 14h. This apparatus perfo-~ms bet-ter than prior art separators which utilize just one edge around which a carrier strip is pulled, because in the present device only half of -the carrier strip must be separated from~the label .
at each separation edge. It may be noted that moré than ~wo :
separate carrier s-trip portions and a corresponding numbér of edge means can be provided, as in the separator 216 of Figure 17A.
The moving of the labels in a positive m~nner towards the separation edges as by the feed roll 64 (Figure 4~, and i~
synchronism with pulling of th2 carrier strip portions by the tensioni~g rolls 66, 68, is impor-tarLt in minimizing the tension which must be~applied to th carrier strip portions. By re-; duein~ the tenslon in~the c~rrier strip portions required -to ~ 30 pull them around the edges~ thP machine minimizes the possibility -~2~- ~
97~6~
of tearin~-r t:he carrier striE~ portions. The redllction in re-quirecl t2nsioll is clue -to the "capstan elEect"~ which is the phenomenon that a rope wrapp~d about a capstan canno^t be easily pulled if -there is even a slight ~ension in -the other end of S the rope, but can be easily pulled ;f -the other end of the rope is fed -towards the capstan. The feed roll 64 serves -to posi--tively feed the label strip -towards the separation edges in synchronism with the tensioning means pulling -the carrier strip portions, so that the carrier strip is maintained under tension, but the machine op~rates properly ~ith only a relatively small tension.
In the apparatus of Figure 4~ the pos;tive feeding a~
-the label strip is accomplished by the roll 64 which has the thin sprocke~s 122 that project through the separation line of the carrier strip and into the gap between adjacent labels. The thin sprockets could damage the labels i~ mor~ than a small force is applied to the label s-trip.~ To avoid this~, other sprocket holes can be formed in -the label stripO Figures 18 -20 il~Iustrate a label~strip Z20 which includes a~carrier strip 222, labels 14i, and a matrix 224 of label material, wherein both the carrier strip 22 and matrix 224 have cuts~in them or recelv;ng sprockets. Cuts 228 in the matrlx and cuts 226 in~
the carrier which lie under~the cut regions of ~h~ matrix3 form weakened regions which can be easily pen~trated by sproc-ke-ts such as that indicated~ at 230. The cuts 226~ ~28 can be formed without producing confetti like was-te which would have to be removed rom th cutting machine. Figure 21 illustrates still another label strip 240~ which includ2s a matrix 242 over a carrier strip~ and with tabs~2~4 cut in -the carrier strip and overlying tabs 246 cut in the ma-trîx~ for receiYing .
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~1 ~
~7'~i9 sproc~ets. It is aLso possi~ Le -to form CUtS or ho:Les only in the carrier s-t:rlp ~ bllt near l:he edge of the carrler 5trip, SO
tilat sp~'OClC2 ~:S can p~ss througll the carrier s trip and merely press us ~tha ed~es of the matrix away from the carrier strip.
~ . ., S ~ these cuts can also be in -the la~el area if necessary.
Figures 22 and 23 illustrate a portion of a label applying apparatus which can u*ilize a label strip 250 which is ini*ially supplied with a carrier strip 252 that does not have a separation line there;n~ but which still utili~es tha inventive ~eature o~ this invention of separating the carrier strip ~rom tha label by pulling differsnt portions of the car-rier strip along dif~eren~ paths. In the apparatus of Figures 22 and 23, this is accomplished by utili~ing a slitter 254 whi.ch slits the carrier strip to permit two portions 256, 258 of the carrier strip to be pulled in diferent directions. The slitter 254 is a -thin disc rotatably mounted on~a shaft 260 and~loca-ted at the bottom of -the notch 262 of the sepa~ator plate~264~ The top of the slitter disc 254 can be located approximately even ;~
with the upper surface of the plate 264, although it~could be located sliehtly above or below it. ~ The slitter also can ba~
located a distance up-path fr3m the bottom of the V-notch 262, to slit tha carrier strip a distance prior to its raaching the V-no-tch. Figure 26 and Figure 27 are cross sectional views of a preferr d bellows shape.~ Figure 26;àc-tually is a split viaw wîth the left half~ showing the bellows 270 when its in~erior .
is at atmospheric pressure. It will be seen that the bellows may have the form o the ~rustum of a cone or a pyramid. The righ-t side of Figure 26 shows~the bellows 270 when ~ully re-~ tracted 7 as happens when a vacuum is established in its interior.
Figure 27 shows the bellows 270 when fully extended and applying ~2-lab~l to all objec-t 272.
'Lhe reason the ~orn~ shor~n is preferred is because, upon retraction c>f the bellows as in Figure ~6, there is no sticking to~eth~r oE the Eolds. This occurs with th~ usual S cylindrical or square shaped ballows. Upon expansion there-after the be:Llows ~lay not extend Pully or extend with the base at an ængle, thus d~feating label application~ Furthermore, because of the frustum of a cone shape, -the bel~ows, when ex-~ tended against an obj~ct, as shown in Figure 26, wraps itself partially around the o~ject, insuring proper la~el placement.
Thus, the invention pro~ides a new la~el carryingarrangement or label strip, and a separation apparatus for~
separating the labels from the carrier strip, to permit the highly reliable separation of labels from the s-trip while per-lS mitting the use of a wide variety of labels including:verythin and flexible labels.
: By u-tilizing this in~ention, the labeI~carrying web is made far less expensive to manufactu~e ~as much as 30%3.
Labels can now be made of material of extreme thinness an~d flexibility (.OOl" soft polyethylene, for èxample~. The peel- ~ ~
ing proce~s is 100% positive. The label must separate when the ~ :
carrier web passes through the V-shaped notch. Furthermore, : ~ -the process of peeling does not require any appreoiable~ tension of the web.
~ The label lS held by the application plunger before, during and after the peeling process, so that~ in one sense~
: the label does not have to be:trans~erred to any place a~*er peeling7 because it is already in that place.
~: The method of label application is a pneumatically-actuated bellows which holds the label firmly by vacuum until :
- ~23-, 7;:Ei9 e~tend2d hy C1 hLast o~ 1QW presstlre air~ It carl apply lclb~:Ls over a wicle ran~e o:F produc-t heigh~ variation, is ex-tremely fdSt (a~out 2 . 6 millisecollcis ) ~ is con:Eormable ~o product shapes, and can easi.ly label products going by at high speed ~24" per second) withou-t d~mage.
Another advantageous characteristic of the new label-ling system is the eli.mination of any elec-~ronic label s~nsing or electromechanical web drivès, which must be sophis-~icated for high speeds and therefore expensive and inclined to failure.
The eliminat.ion of such label sensing and web drive systems is possible due to the use oE various slits in the label carrying web, which are employed somewhat like sprocket holes, by the machine, to con*rol the advance and location of the~labels within the machine. They are available at no cost because of their special design which is only suited for the kind~of die ; cutting used to make pressure sensitive labels.
:
Although particular embodiments of ~he invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognize~d ~ that modifications and variations may readily occur to those ;~ ~ 20 skilled in the art and consequently it is intended that the~
claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.
::: ~ ' ; ~
.
: ~ -: : :
Claims (20)
PROPERTY ON PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Apparatus for automatically sequentially applying labels to objects, said apparatus comprising: a label strip including first and second parallel carrier strip portions and a plurality of labels adhered therealong so as to bridge said carrier strip portions; a plate having first and second sub-stantially planar surfaces and an edge lying substantially in the plane of said plate; said plate edge including a V-shaped region extending into said plate comprised of first and second edge portions converging toward the apex of said V-shaped region; strip transport means for moving said label strip along a first path extending substantially contiguous with said first planar surface toward said apex and then along first and second branch paths respectively extending around said first and second edge portions and thence in diverging directions adjacent said second planar surface; said strip trans-port means including (1) take-up means positioned down-path from said first and second edge portions engaging both said first and second carrier strip portions for pulling them at the same rate along said first and second path branch segments at a substantially first linear rate and (2) means positioned up-path from said apex in engagement with said carrier strip portions tending to reduce their rate of movement to less than said first linear rate thus creating tension in said carrier strip portions; and label-applying means operable to engage labels immediately adjacent to said apex as said carrier strip portions are simultaneously separated from each other and from said labels and to press said engaged labels against objects to be labelled.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said take up means includes at least one roller mounted for rotation and having a peripheral surface engaged with said first and second carrier strip portions; and drive motor means coupled to said take-up means for rotating said roller.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 including sprocket holes formed in said label strip; and wherein said means positioned up-path from said apex includes sprocket means engaged in said sprocket holes; and drive means for driving said sprocket means to feed said label strip along said path.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 including sprocket holes formed in said label strip; and wherein said take-up means positioned down-path from said first and second edge portions include sprocket means engaged in said sprocket holes; and drive means for driving said sprocket means to pull said label strip along said path.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 including sprocket holes formed in said first and second carrier strip portions uniformly spaced therealong; and wherein said take-up means includes at least one roller having first and second rows of sprockets formed on the peripheral surface thereof and dimensioned to engage said sprocket holes in said first and second carrier strip portions; and motor drive means for rotating said take-up means roller to pull said carrier strip portions along said branch segments.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means positioned up-path and said means positioned down-path comprise respective rollers mounted on a common drive shaft; and wherein said down-path roller has a diameter slightly larger than said up-path roller thus tending to move said carrier strip portions at a greater rate downpath than up-path; and slip means for permitting at least one of said rollers to slip relative to said label strip.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said label-applying means includes:
label handling means alternately operable to pick up and release a label;
label transport means operable in synchronism with said label handling means for moving said label handling means between a pick-up position immediately adjacent to said apex whereat labels are picked up as said carrier strip portions are simultaneously separated from each other and from said labels and a release position whereat said labels are released; and means for synchronizing the operation of said label transport means with the movement of said label strip.
label handling means alternately operable to pick up and release a label;
label transport means operable in synchronism with said label handling means for moving said label handling means between a pick-up position immediately adjacent to said apex whereat labels are picked up as said carrier strip portions are simultaneously separated from each other and from said labels and a release position whereat said labels are released; and means for synchronizing the operation of said label transport means with the movement of said label strip.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said carrier strip portions has first and second surfaces; and wherein each of said labels has a face surface and an under-surface, said undersurface being adhered to said carrier strip portion first surfaces; and wherein said take-up means includes roller means engaged with the second surfaces of said carrier strip portions.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 further including guide means disposed between said first and second edge portions and said take-up means for directing said carrier strip portions along portions of said first and second branch paths extending opposite to said first path.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said label strip further includes a matrix surrounding said labels and formed of the same material as said labels, said matrix being split along a line extending proximate to the adjacent edges of said carrier strip portions.
11. Apparatus for use with a label strip including first and second parallel carrier strip portions and a plurality of labels adhered therealong so as to bridge said carrier strip portions, for automatically sequentially removing labels from said label strip and applying them to objects, said apparatus comprising: a plate having upper and lower substantially planar surfaces and an edge lying substantially in the plane of said plate; said plate edge including a V-shaped region extending into said plate comprised of first and second edge portions converging toward the apex of said V-shaped region;
strip transport means for moving said label strip along a first path extending substantially contiguous with said upper planar surface toward said apex and first and second branch paths respectively extending around said first and second edge portions and thence in diverging directions adjacent said lower planar surface, said strip transport means including means positioned up-path from said apex for admitting a label strip along said first path and take-up means positioned down-path from said first and second edge portions for pulling said first and second carrier strip portions respectively along said first and second branch paths at the same rate of movement; label handling means alternately operable to pick up and release a label; label transport means operable in synchronism with said label handling means for moving said label handling means between a pick-up position immediately adjacent to said apex whereat labels are picked up as said carrier strip portions are simultaneously separated from each other and from said labels and a release position whereat said labels are released; and means for synchronizing the operation of said label transport means with the movement of said label strip.
strip transport means for moving said label strip along a first path extending substantially contiguous with said upper planar surface toward said apex and first and second branch paths respectively extending around said first and second edge portions and thence in diverging directions adjacent said lower planar surface, said strip transport means including means positioned up-path from said apex for admitting a label strip along said first path and take-up means positioned down-path from said first and second edge portions for pulling said first and second carrier strip portions respectively along said first and second branch paths at the same rate of movement; label handling means alternately operable to pick up and release a label; label transport means operable in synchronism with said label handling means for moving said label handling means between a pick-up position immediately adjacent to said apex whereat labels are picked up as said carrier strip portions are simultaneously separated from each other and from said labels and a release position whereat said labels are released; and means for synchronizing the operation of said label transport means with the movement of said label strip.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said take-up means includes at least one roller mounted for rotation and having a peripheral surface engaged with said first and second carrier strip portions; and drive motor means coupled to said take-up means for rotating said roller.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 including sprocket holes formed in said label strip; and wherein said means positioned up-path from said apex includes sprocket means engaged in said sprocket holes; and drive means for driving said sprocket means to feed said label strip along said path.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 including sprocket holes formed in said label strip; and wherein said take-up means positioned down-path from said first and second edge portions include sprocket means engaged in said sprocket holes; and drive means for driving said sprocket means to pull said label strip along said path.
15. The apparatus of claim 11 including sprocket holes formed in said first and second carrier strip portions uniformly spaced therealong; and wherein said take-up means includes at least one roller having first and second rows of sprockets formed on the peripheral surface thereof and dimensioned to engage said sprocket holes in said first and second carrier strip portions; and motor drive means for rotating said take-up means roller to pull said carrier strip portions along said branch segments.
16. A method of separating labels from a carrier strip wherein said labels are spaced along and adhesively attached to said carrier strip comprising:
moving said carrier strip with said labels thereon to a predetermined location;
longitudinally slitting said carrier strip along a path which passes underneath said labels prior to reaching said predetermined location to form two abutting carrier strip portions bridged by said spaced labels;
moving said carrier strip portions in diverging directions from said predetermined location to successively separate each label from said carrier strip portions.
moving said carrier strip with said labels thereon to a predetermined location;
longitudinally slitting said carrier strip along a path which passes underneath said labels prior to reaching said predetermined location to form two abutting carrier strip portions bridged by said spaced labels;
moving said carrier strip portions in diverging directions from said predetermined location to successively separate each label from said carrier strip portions.
17. The method recited in claim 16 including holding each label prior to and after said predetermined location, and carrying said held label after it has been separated from said carrier strip portions to an object to which it is applied.
18. A method of separating labels from an elongated carrier strip including first and second abutting parallel carrier strip portions having labels spaced therealong bridging and adhesively attached to both of said carrier strip portions, comprising:
moving said carrier strip along a first path substantially contiguous with a first planar surface defining first and second V-shaped edges;
pulling said first and second carrier strip portions around said first and second edges in diverging directions to succes-sively separate each label from said carrier strip portions; and controlling the rate of movement of said first and second carrier strip portions to prevent any cumulative differential linear movement therebetween.
moving said carrier strip along a first path substantially contiguous with a first planar surface defining first and second V-shaped edges;
pulling said first and second carrier strip portions around said first and second edges in diverging directions to succes-sively separate each label from said carrier strip portions; and controlling the rate of movement of said first and second carrier strip portions to prevent any cumulative differential linear movement therebetween.
19. The method described in claim 16 including:
holding a label applying means to said label prior to separating said label from said carrier, and moving said label applying means with said label held thereon until all portions of said label are separated from said carrier.
holding a label applying means to said label prior to separating said label from said carrier, and moving said label applying means with said label held thereon until all portions of said label are separated from said carrier.
20. A method of separating labels from a carrier strip wherein said labels are spaced along and adhesively attached to the carrier strip and the carrier strip includes first and second abutting parallel carrier strip portions with the labels bridging and adhesively attached to both of the carrier strip portions, said method comprising:
moving said carrier strip with said labels thereon to a predetermined location; and moving said carrier strip portions in diverging directions from said predetermined location to successively separate each label from said carrier strip portions.
moving said carrier strip with said labels thereon to a predetermined location; and moving said carrier strip portions in diverging directions from said predetermined location to successively separate each label from said carrier strip portions.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000362362A CA1122169A (en) | 1975-10-01 | 1980-10-14 | Labelling system |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US61869075A | 1975-10-01 | 1975-10-01 | |
| US618,690 | 1975-10-01 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1097269A true CA1097269A (en) | 1981-03-10 |
Family
ID=24478744
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA262,410A Expired CA1097269A (en) | 1975-10-01 | 1976-09-30 | Labelling system |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (3) | JPS5259600A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1097269A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2644462C2 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB1563892A (en) |
Families Citing this family (25)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS49128832A (en) * | 1973-04-14 | 1974-12-10 | ||
| JPS5822199Y2 (en) * | 1978-11-14 | 1983-05-12 | 株式会社サト− | pressure sensitive label continuum |
| DE3215584A1 (en) * | 1982-04-27 | 1983-10-27 | Bizerba-Werke Wilhelm Kraut GmbH & Co KG, 7460 Balingen | Coilable continuous strip for producing printed adhesive labels |
| ZA839663B (en) * | 1982-12-31 | 1984-08-29 | Sinclair Int Ltd | Labelling apparatus |
| BR8507030A (en) * | 1984-11-05 | 1987-01-06 | Schlaepfer & Co Ag | IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATED TO THE PRODUCTION OF DECALS |
| GB8530561D0 (en) * | 1985-12-12 | 1986-01-22 | Schlaepfer & Co Ag | Transferring & placing decorative articles |
| DE3637635A1 (en) * | 1986-11-05 | 1988-05-11 | Zweckform Etikettiertechnik | CARRIER TAPE FOR A ROW OF LABELS AND DEVICE FOR REMOVING THE LABELS FROM THE CARRIER TAPE |
| DE8706722U1 (en) * | 1987-05-09 | 1987-07-02 | Hermann, Werner, 6124 Beerfelden, De | |
| DE3810464A1 (en) * | 1987-05-09 | 1988-11-24 | Werner Hermann | Labelling machine |
| DE3927820C2 (en) * | 1989-08-23 | 1995-01-26 | Ancker Joergensen As | Method and device for dispensing labels |
| DE9112909U1 (en) * | 1991-10-17 | 1993-02-11 | Seidl-Lichthardt, Johanna, 8000 Muenchen, De | |
| DE4217654A1 (en) * | 1992-05-27 | 1993-12-02 | Etifix Etikettiersysteme Gmbh | Method and device for applying self-adhesive labels to containers |
| DE19727648C2 (en) * | 1997-06-28 | 2003-03-06 | Franz Josef Decroupet | Device for labeling objects |
| JP2008512308A (en) * | 2004-09-03 | 2008-04-24 | エフエムシー・テクノロジーズ・インコーポレーテッド | Label |
| JP2006138976A (en) * | 2004-11-11 | 2006-06-01 | Fuji Seal International Inc | Adhesive label continuous body |
| DE102006019265A1 (en) * | 2006-04-26 | 2008-01-17 | Khs Ag | Device for dispensing labels, in particular self-adhesive labels, onto objects |
| JP4610538B2 (en) * | 2006-08-30 | 2011-01-12 | トッパン・フォームズ株式会社 | Label continuous body, continuous label manufacturing apparatus, and continuous label manufacturing method |
| JP5271180B2 (en) * | 2009-07-13 | 2013-08-21 | リンテック株式会社 | Sheet feeding apparatus and feeding method, and sheet pasting apparatus and pasting method |
| GB2478966B (en) * | 2010-03-25 | 2015-05-06 | Brady Worldwide Inc | A peel and present mechanism for use with apparatus for labelling, and methods for peeling and presenting labels |
| KR101547169B1 (en) | 2009-10-13 | 2015-08-25 | 브래디 월드와이드, 인코포레이티드 | Apparatus for labelling |
| GB2464218B (en) * | 2009-10-13 | 2010-09-22 | Cambridge Design Partnership L | Apparatus for labelling |
| JP5471863B2 (en) * | 2010-06-11 | 2014-04-16 | 富士通株式会社 | Label peeling apparatus and label peeling method |
| JP6054616B2 (en) * | 2012-03-22 | 2016-12-27 | リンテック株式会社 | Sheet manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method, and sheet sticking apparatus |
| JP6027397B2 (en) * | 2012-10-30 | 2016-11-16 | リンテック株式会社 | Sheet sticking device and sheet sticking method |
| CN114889928B (en) * | 2022-05-13 | 2023-11-07 | 戴梦月 | Binding hoof cooked food processing is with labeling and spouting integrative intelligent equipment of sign indicating number |
Family Cites Families (12)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR764232A (en) * | 1932-11-07 | 1934-05-17 | Jagenberg Werke Akt Ges Soc | Endless belt guiding device |
| US2294273A (en) * | 1940-06-24 | 1942-08-25 | Buxbaum Erich Karl | Feeding flexible disks |
| US2331019A (en) * | 1941-01-02 | 1943-10-05 | Dennison Mfg Co | Label dispenser |
| US3450590A (en) * | 1966-04-08 | 1969-06-17 | Herbert La Mers | Apparatus for applying thermoplastic adhesive coated labels |
| US3591189A (en) * | 1969-03-07 | 1971-07-06 | Pneumo Dynamics Corp | High temperature seal |
| DE2109665A1 (en) * | 1971-03-01 | 1972-09-07 | Schäfer-Etiketten Heinrich Hubert Schäfer, 7441 Wolfschlugen | Label tape |
| DE2116984C3 (en) * | 1971-04-07 | 1979-04-19 | Heinrich Hermann Gmbh + Co, 7000 Stuttgart | Hand dispenser for dispensing and pressing adhesive labels |
| GB1402726A (en) * | 1971-06-23 | 1975-08-13 | Monarch Marking Systems Inc | Printing apparatus |
| JPS4918600A (en) * | 1972-06-13 | 1974-02-19 | ||
| JPS4961497U (en) * | 1972-09-08 | 1974-05-30 | ||
| JPS527030Y2 (en) * | 1972-09-11 | 1977-02-15 | ||
| DE2337946C3 (en) * | 1973-07-26 | 1979-10-31 | Heinrich Hermann Gmbh + Co, 7000 Stuttgart | Device for dispensing self-adhesive labels |
-
1976
- 1976-09-30 GB GB4065176A patent/GB1563892A/en not_active Expired
- 1976-09-30 CA CA262,410A patent/CA1097269A/en not_active Expired
- 1976-10-01 JP JP11838976A patent/JPS5259600A/en active Granted
- 1976-10-01 DE DE19762644462 patent/DE2644462C2/en not_active Expired
-
1979
- 1979-05-30 JP JP6737279A patent/JPS5512096A/en active Granted
- 1979-05-30 JP JP6737379A patent/JPS5512097A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS5259600A (en) | 1977-05-17 |
| JPS5512096A (en) | 1980-01-28 |
| DE2644462A1 (en) | 1977-08-25 |
| JPS5512097A (en) | 1980-01-28 |
| GB1563892A (en) | 1980-04-02 |
| JPS5431360B2 (en) | 1979-10-06 |
| DE2644462C2 (en) | 1985-10-17 |
| JPS5748458B2 (en) | 1982-10-16 |
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