CA2334682A1

CA2334682A1 - Method and apparatus for fastening identification labels to wood products

Info

Publication number: CA2334682A1
Application number: CA 2334682
Authority: CA
Inventors: Miroslav Harcuba
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-03-02
Filing date: 2001-03-02
Publication date: 2002-09-02

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for applying identification labels on wooden products. A fastening system where a plastic label marked by a bar code or other identification method is picked up by vacuum onto the applicator tool which will insert forcibly edges of the identification label into the wooden product to remain permanently wedged in the indentation. During subsequent cutting of the wooden product into which is attached identification plastic label there will be no danger from dislodged or fragmented metal staples as is presently the case.

Another method is described where soft pliable plastic identification label is being picked up by the vacuum onto the applicator apparatus which is equipped with punches that will punch strips of hard plastic and push cut disks from the hard plastic over the soft pliable plastic label into the wooden product. Hard plastic disks will remain permanently wedged into the formed hole and secure the soft pliable plastic label to the wooden product. During subsequent cutting of the wood when the label is cut it will not present danger to the operator or the bystanders.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method and apparatus suitable for fastening identification labels to the wooden products or lumber.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When attaching identification labels that contain product information by bar code or by other identification method the most popular method is to attach labels to the wood by metal staples.
Another method being frequently used when the wood is completely dry, which is seldom the case, is to glue label to the wood. However, when wood is wet or becomes wet this method is not reliable.
When the metal staple is being used there is danger of dislodging part or the whole staple during cutting operation. High speed of the dislodged staple or its fragments cause danger to the operator or to the bystanders. Quite often staple is being dislodged by a screwdriver or similar tool and it breaks leaving sharp point sticking out onto which the operator can stab his hand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method where a plastic label with markings such as bar code or other identification method is picked by vacuum onto the face of an apparatus that will position the label onto the surface of the wooden product and than subsequently edges of the plastic label are pushed into the wood. Plastic material that is preferred should be hard and at the same time pliable. For example it can be polypropylene.
Applicator apparatus will force edges of the plastic label into the wood in such a way that the inserted plastic will be safely wedged in the wood keeping the identification label securely in place. Subsequent drying of the wood will cause wood to shrink and further tighten the wedged edges of the plastic label.
Another form of the invention is disclosed where an identification label from the soft but tough plastic such as high density polyethylene is being picked up by vacuum onto the face of the apparatus that will place identification label onto the wood surface.
The apparatus incorporates on its edges a guide for hard plastic strips that will be punched by punches. Cut disks of the hard plastic will be pushed over the softer plastic label and continue to be pushed into the wood.
Material of the soft plastic label will be formed and drawn into the wood by the disk of hard plastic that is being pushed by the face of punches. When punches and the applicator apparatus are removed formed soft plastic label material will be securely held in place by the cut out disk from the hard plastic.
When the attached plastic label is subsequently cut it will offer no resistance to the cutting tool and no debris will endanger the operator or bystanders.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF DRAWINGS
FIG 1 is showing plastic identification strip being held by the applicator apparatus.
FIG 2 is showing plastic identification strip being positioned on the wood surface.

2 FIG 3 is showing edges of the plastic label being pushed into the wood.
FIG 4 is showing forming edges being disengaged while face of the applicator apparatus is still holding plastic label on the wood.
FIG 5 is showing wedged plastic label in the wood and application apparatus being lifted from the wood surface.
FIG 6 is showing soft plastic label being held by vacuum on the face of the application apparatus with strips of the hard plastic and punch arrangement.
FIG 7 shows head of the applicator apparatus pushing soft plastic label onto the wood surface.
FIG 8 shows x sectional view taken along line 8-8 on FIG 6.
FIG 9 shows hard plastic strips being punched and disks of cut out hard plastic above the soft plastic label.
FIG 10 shows soft plastic being formed and pushed into the wood by the hard disks that are being pushed by punches.
FIG 11 shows punches being from the holes that were punched into the wood.
FIG 12 shows applicator apparatus being lifted from the wood surface into which a soft plastic label is securely fastened.

3 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TH PREFFERED EMBODIMENTS
FIG 1 shows application apparatus 20 consisting of the vacuum chamber 21;
pushing edges 22, strip of hard but pliable plastic 23 onto which is printed identification markings on the surface 24. Wood product 25 is in the proximity of the application apparatus 20. Edges 22 are part of the edge assembly 26 and they can move relatively to the housing 27 of the vacuum chamber 21. Vacuum is applied onto the strip 23 through the holes 28. Atmospheric pressure will hold plastic label 23 in place as shown.
FIG 2 shows plastic strip 23 firmly pressed onto the wood product 25 at this point the vacuum in the vacuum chamber 21 is disengaged and this cavity 21 is now subjected to the atmospheric pressure. If low vacuum is being used there is no real requirement to disengage vacuum at this point and low vacuum can be applied all the time.
Edges assembly 26 is now ready to be pushed towards the surface of the wood product 25.
FIG 3 shows edges 22 pushing edges of the plastic label 23 into the wood product 25. The assembly of the edges 22 and plastic label 23 will form grooves 28.
FIG 4 shows edges assembly 26 being pulled out of the indented grooves 28 while the housing 27 is still pressing plastic label 23 firmly on the surface of the wood product 25. Edge 29 of the plastic label 23 is engaged with the hole 28. Springiness of the wood 25 will tend to close hole 28 resulting in further engaging of the plastic label edge 29 with he hole 28.

4 FIG 5 shows application apparatus 20 being lifted to start next cycle where it will engage plastic label 23 by vacuum and deposit it to the next wood product 25.
Formed plastic label 30 is shown firmly fastened to the wood product 25.
For example plastic label 23 can be made from semi rigid and yet pliable plastic material such as polypropylene. This material will bend easily and yet it will retain enough springiness to engage edge of the hole 28.
FIG. 6 shows application apparatus 31 positioned over the wood product 25.
Application apparatus 31 contains a vacuum chamber 32, punches 33 and strips of hard plastic 34. Vacuum is engaged through the holes 35 onto the soft and pliable plastic label 36. Identification markings are on the surface 37 of the soft pliable plastic label 36.
FIG 7 shows application apparatus 31 positioning plastic label 36 firmly onto the surface of the wood product 25. At this point vacuum in the cavity 32 can be disengaged, reduced and if at low value left on.
FIG 8 shows x section along lines 8-8 on the FIG 6. Application apparatus 1 is shown in a x section where hard plastic strip is shown positioned above holes 38. Soft, pliable plastic label 36 is shown in its relative position on the application apparatus 31.
Punch 33 can be equipped on its lower end by a dimple or point 39 which will force plastic strip to slightly deform in a concave fashion. This point 39 can be sharp or blunt as shown.
Purpose of deforming cut disk in concave form is to allow spring back of the cut disk in the hole to further increase holding power of this disk against the soft pliable plastic and surface of the hole 28 in the wood 25.

FIG 9 shows punches 33 punching hard plastic strips 34 and producing hard plastic disks 40. Soft pliable plastic label 36 is being firmly placed on the surface of the wood product 25. Further travel of the punches 33 will force plastic disks 40 to deform soft pliable plastic label material into the wood product 25.
FIG 10 shows soft pliable plastic label 36 being formed and pushed into the wood product 25 into formed hole 41.
FIG 11 shows application apparatus 31 still holding label 36 in place while punches 33 are being moved out of holes 41. Hard plastic disks 40 will slightly straighten to increase their diameter and securely wedge material of the soft pliable plastic label 36 into the holes 41.
FIG 12 shows application apparatus 31 being lifted from the wood product 25.
Hard plastic strips 34 will be indexed to position new material over holes 38 for the next cycle. Pliable plastic label 36 is securely held in the holes 41 of the wood product 25 by the hard plastic disks 40. When wood product 25 will be dried holes 41 will shrink and further increase strength of the mechanical bond of the plastic disks 40.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alternations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.
What is claimed is: