GB2092095A

GB2092095A - Label applying apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2092095A
Application number: GB8103396A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Norcros Investments Ltd
Current assignee: Norcros Investments Ltd
Priority date: 1981-02-04
Filing date: 1981-02-04
Publication date: 1982-08-11
Also published as: GB2092095B; DE3203793A1; AU8015882A; FR2499023A1

Abstract

Label applying apparatus includes a dispense edge member (22) adjacent, but at an angle to, a suction grid (34) which receives peeled labels from the edge. Nozzles (38) detach labels (12) progressively from the grid and apply them to an article (58) so positioned that the label is at all times either adhered to the article or held by the grid (34) or at the dispense edge member (22). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Label applying apparatus This invention relates to label-applying apparatus and in particular to apparatus in which self-adhesive labels are blown on to articles to be labelled.

Apparatus for applying labels by blowing with a blast of air synchronised with complete detachment of a self-adhesive label from a backing strip has already been proposed and has been used successfully especially with small-size labels. However, precautions have to be taken to ensure that the labels are applied correctly both as to angular orientation, location on the article to be labelled and to ensure that no wrinkles are caused in the applied label by twisting of the label during its free path on to the article.

Most previously proposed apparatus which dispense labels from a web of release-agentcoated paper involve the steps of instantaneously holding labels on a horizontal grid suction plate and thereafter blowing them on to the article to be labelled by means of air jets so located and so synchronised that the label is moved onto the article without loss of orientation. This desirable sequence is not however always followed since labels are apt to dispense at approximately 200 to the length direction of the label web upstream of the dispense edge and it is therefore necessary to position the dispense edge beneath the grid plate and at an angle to it in order to prevent the labels dropping away from the grid and thus becoming incorrectly applied to the articles.To overcome this problem certain previously proposed apparatus incorporate a lower air jet assembly so as to ensure that whatever the dispense angle of the labels the initial action immediately after dispensing is to blow the label on to the suction or vacuum grid. This additional jet assembly not only adds to the complication of the apparatus and the timing requirements thereof but takes up additional space between the grid plate and the article to be labelled and in some instances the air jet assembly can be inconvenient for the progressing of the articles through the apparatus.

A further difficulty encountered with previously proposed apparatus arises from the different sizes and shapes of labels with consequent difficulties for the user in deciding upon the position of the air jets (both those intended to blow labels on to the suction grid and those intended to blow labels on to the articles) whenever a change over is required.

Finally, in the previously proposed apparatus, at one stage the label is inevitably fully detached from both the dispense edge and from the grid plate with the result that stray air currents are liable to affect the orientation of the label when it reaches the suction plate and similar remarks apply to the time between the detachment of a label from the grid plate and the time the label is actually applied to the article.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for applying self-adhesive labels successively detached from a web of such labels, in which web the labels are carried on a strip of release-agent-coated material, the apparatus including means defining a dispense edge, a suction grid downstream of the dispense edge means with an operative face lying at an angle to the label web immediately upstream of the dispense edge, the dispense edge defining means and the suction grid being so related spacially that at any given instant during a labelapplying sequence a given label is partially retained at the dispense edge and is partially retained by the suction grid.

Apparatus embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the label applying apparatus; Figure 2 is an end elevation of a part of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side elevation, to an enlarged scale, illustrating modified apparatus suitable for applying labels to a stationary article.

Referring now to the drawings, the apparatus includes a support structure 1;0 carrying internally or externally a label web reel (not shown), the web being made up of a plurality of self-adhesive labels 12 adhered to a backing strip 14 of release-agentcoated paper and a take-up reel for storing backing strip after the labels have been dispensed, this support structure also carrying rails 1 6 supporting a suction grid assembly 1 8.

The apparatus also includes an adjustable dispense edge assembly 20 including a dispense edge member 22 mounted between two vertical plates 24 each of which also carries small guide rollers 26, 28 to ensure that the fresh label web is ied correctly to the dispense edge member 22 and the spent backing strip 14 is fed to the take-up reel (not shown). As is shown diagrammatically in Figure 1, the assembly 20 is adjustable by a conventional screw and slot arrangement 30 which co-operates with a rail 32 of the suction head assembly 1 8.

The suction grid assembly 1 8 includes at its lower end a grid 34 lying at an angle to the horizontal (or more generally to the plane of the label web immediately upstream of the dispense edge), the preferred angle being 200 which is a typical angle at which a dispensed label leaves the dispense edge. To take into account variations in the stiffness of the labels it is possible angularly to adjust the dispense edge assembly in relation to the grid of the suction assembly.

The suction grid assembly is, in practice, a box of rectangular section with at least one panel made of transparent material to enable easy inspection of the correct functioning of the labelling process. The upper end portion 36 takes the form of a fan housing which provides the required suction at the grid 34. The assembly also includes a plurality of nozzles 38 (six are shown in Figure 2) which can be selectively activated in dependence upon the label width so as to detach a label on the grid 34 in synchronism with the advance of the article passing below the grid. A control valve 40 is provided in the pressure air line 42 leading to nozzles 38.

In the modification of Figure 3 the nozzles 38 are mounted on a pivotal arm 52 under control of a hydraulic or air actuator 54 (broken lines) through the intermediary of a link 56..By a suitable control system (not shown) the actuator 54 is operated to pivot the arm, and hence the nozzles 38 so that successive labels are applied progressively (i.e. in the manner of a brushing or striking action) over their whole length.

Appropriate control means is provided to ensure that the timing and duration of the jets match the label size.

The manner of operation of the hereinbefore described apparatus and the modification thereof is believed apparent from the preceding description, but the operation will now be briefly described to avoid any doubt. A web of labels in reel form is mounted in the support structure 10 and the web threaded through the rollers 26, 28 and over the dispense edge member 22. Labels are manually peeled from a leading edge length and the backing strip wound on to the take-up reel within structure 10. The dispense edge member 22 is then adjusted by screw and slot connection 30 to ensure correct spacing in relation to the suction grid 34. The suction grid assembly as a whole may require adjustment on the rails 1 6 to accommodate different article sizes. The solenoid valve 40 is adjusted to accommodate to the length of the labels to be applied.

As a label 12 is being peeled from the backing strip 14 at the dispense edge 22 of the leading edge portion is engaged by the grid and the label slides along the grid until it encounters the air jets of nozzles 38 so that it is progressively detached from the grid by swinging of the nozzles and applied to an article. Pressure produced by the fan should be low to avoid excess friction between the grid and the label and typicaliy will be of the order of 0.2 to 1.0 grams per square centimeter.

Motion of the articles being labelled acts to detach each label progressively with the aid of nozzles 38 so that at least initially a label is attached both to the article and to the grid, thus minimizing the risk of disorientation of the label.

The modification of Figure 3 is intended to apply labels to articles which are stationary at the time of application. The labels are successively transferred to the grid 34 in the same way as in the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2. The labels are progressively transferred to the stationary article 58 by the pivotally mounted nozzles 38 so that a wiping action is produced As in the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2, each label 12 is at all times under control either by the dispense edge member 42, the grid 34 or the article 58 so that once the apparatus has been set up for particular article and label sizes, continued accurate label application is ensured regardiess of stray air currents even with large size labels.

Claims

1. Apparatus for applying to articles self-adhesive labels successively detached from a web of such labels, the labels being carried on a strip of release-agent-coated material, the apparatus comprising means defining a dispense edge for peeling the labels from the web, and a suction grid downstream of the dispense edge means with an operative face lying in a plane at an angle to the path of the label web immediately upstream of the dispense edge, the dispense edge defining means and the grid being so related spacially that substantially throughout a label-applying sequence a given label is partially retained at the dispense edge and is partially retained by the suction grid whereby the orientation of the label is controlled through the sequence.

2. Apparatus for applying to articles selfadhesive labels as they are successively detached from a web of such labels, the labels being carried on a strip of release-agent-coated material which, with the labels forms the web, the apparatus comprising means for delivering the label web to dispense edge defining means, a suction grid and means for applying suction to the operative face of the grid, the dispense edge defining means and the grid being so related in space that the plane containing the operative face of the suction grid is inclined at an angle to the path defined by the web-delivering means adjacent to the dispense edge, and the arrangement being such that any given label is held both at the dispense edge and by the suction grid during a major portion of its transfer time from the release-agent-coated material to the suction grid.

3. Apparatus for applying to articles pressuresensitive adhesive labels successively peeled from a web of such labels, the labels being carried on a strip of release-agent-coated paper, the apparatus comprising guide means for the web, means defining an edge which serves to peel successive labels from the web and which is interposed along the path of the web through the guide means, a suction device disposed adjacent said edge and having an operative face for receiving successive said labels and means for controlling the suction applied to the suction device, the operative face of the suction device being so orientated and located in relation to the peeling edge that labels are received by the operative face at substantially the orientation which they assume under gravity as the peeling action is initiated and so that during a major portion of the time of dispensing of each label it is held both by the suction device and by the strip of paper.

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the edge-defining means is mounted adjustably on the suction grid structure or other suction device.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims comprising nozzle means mounted in the suction grid structure arranged to detach at least a leading edge portion of each successive label and apply it to an article to be labelled, the adhesion of the label to the article and motion of the article serving to complete the detachment from the suction grid.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5 comprising means swingably mounting the nozzle means so that the successive labels can be wiped on to a stationary article.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein the nozzle mounting means is actuable to swing the nozzles by a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator.

8. Apparatus for applying to articles selfadhesive labels substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.