GB1048744A - Apparatus for printing labels and labels for use therein - Google Patents

Abstract

1,048,744. Printing labels. O. KIND. Feb. 25, 1964 [Feb. 27, 1963], No. 7842/64. Heading B6C. In a machine for printing price tabs on a series of labels of identical length carried through the machine on a flexible band the latter is drawn from the machine after each printing operation by a device comprising a pair of co-operating rollers 7, 8. The operation of the rollers is such that they are driven through a circumferential length equal to the length of the longest labels that the machine can print, the difference between this longest length and the actual length of the labels being printed being absorbed by a slip-coupling arrangement in the roller drive which is in operative association with a clamping device which arrests the movement of the flexible band on completion of the " draw-off " of each label. As shown in Fig. 1, each label 2 on a band 1 is printed by a moving inked stamp member 6 whilst held over a vertical table 5, the movement of the band, and thus the withdrawal of the previously printed label from the table 5, being effected by the movement of the member 6 as its moves towards its printing position through a free-wheel drive arrangement 10, 11 and 12. An adjustable slip-coupling 13 to 16, 18 and 19, is incorporated in the arrangement such that if a feeler finger 20 is actuated to operate a clamping lever 23, and thus halt the movement of the band, the final portion of rotation of the rollers 7, 8 would be cancelled, the drive of the free-wheel arrangement during this period being absorbed by the slip-coupling. The feeler finger 20 and clamping lever 23 are mounted on a member 26 which is rotatably mounted through an adjustable eccentric about an axis 22. The member 26 is grooved, such groove seating a spring-loaded roller 30 carried by a member 27 also mounted through an adjustable eccentric, 34, about an axis 28. Movement of the member 26 is limited through the co-operation of an arm 36 carried thereon with fixed stops 35, 36, whilst the member 27 mounts an arm 37 whereby the return of the printing member 6 to its non- printing position causes disengagement of the clamping lever 23 from the band. The labels to be printed in the machine are formed with protuberances 25 which may be of the "roof" " form shown in Fig. 4a. These protuberances are detected by the feeler finger 20 as the band moves through the machine and thus initiates the subsequent clamping thereof. The printed labels may pass off at 2<SP>1</SP> to a labelling machine whilst the carrier band 1 passes to waste through the rollers 7, 8. Adjustment of the position of any label over the table 5 is effected by moving the lower guide roller 9. In a further construction the labels are cut as at 39, Fig. 7, and the machine accordingly incorporates a feeler finger and clamping lever arrangement 40 to 45 as is shown in Fig. 5. Engagement of the arrangement to effect release of the clamped band is brought about through the abutment by the withdrawing printing member 6 of a pivotally mounted lever 55 carried by the arrangement. In the band of Fig. 8 each label is only partially adhered thereto, the forward edge being free such that whilst passing over a roller 61 detection is effected through a finger 60.