GB1402179A - Labelling machine - Google Patents

Abstract

1402179 Labelling machine; reels BETTER BUILT ENG CORP 17 Aug 1972 38498/72 Headings B8F and B8M In a machine for applying labels 25 stripped from a backing strip 23 by drawing the backing strip around a stripper bar 29, the separated labels 25 are held by vacuum against a grid 47 at the bottom of an enclosure 43 in which a label applicator 69 (69a, Fig. 5) is mounted for adjustment towards and away from the stripper bar 29. In one embodiment, Fig. 3, the label applicator 69 comprises a plurality of hollow fingers 117 which are freely and independently mounted in apertures in upper and lower plates 91, 93 and are urged downwardly by springs 125. The upper plate 91 forms the bottom of an air chamber 99 with which the hollow fingers 117 communicate, and is rigidly connected to a plunger 101 which is movable downwardly by a solenoid (71, Fig. 3A) against the action of a spring 109. A magnetic or contact switch (127, Fig. 3A) located adjacent the applicator 69 opens in response to downward movement of the applicator to prevent feed of the backing strip while a label is being applied to an article. In a second embodiment (Fig. 5) the hollow fingers (117a) are fixed to a non-reciprocal air chamber (99a). In operation of the labelling machines, a motor (35, Fig. 1) drives one of a pair of nip rollers (31, 33, Fig. 1) to draw the backing strip around the stripper bar 29. When a photo-electric sensor (128, Fig. 1) has detected the passage of one label 25, the label feed motor (35) is de-energized. The backing strip is wound on to a take-up reel (21, Fig. 1) driven through a slipping clutch and a brake holds a supply reel (19, Fig. 1) stationary when the label feed motor (35) is de-energized. A photoelectric sensor (41, Fig. 1) which is responsive to an article supplied on a conveyer, then activates a solenoid or solenoids for moving the applicator downwardly and/or opening a valve 113 which allows pressurization of the chamber 99, to remove the label from the grid and applying it to the article. The supply and take-up reels may each have one side wall which carries a collar 135 having a circular opening for releasable engagement around a hub 129 which is eccentric in the region to be engaged by the collar and is fixed to the other side wall of the reel. The collar 35 is frictionally engaged with the hub 129 by a nylon plug 151 which projects into the opening and is retained in a threaded bore 145 in the collar. The plug 151 is urged towards the hub 129 by a screw 149.