GB897633A - Improvements in or relating to labelling machines and method of labelling - Google Patents

Abstract

897,633. Applying adhesive labels to articles. FAIREST Ltd., MORGAN. March 22, 1961 [Dec. 23, 1959], No. 43713/59. Class 73 [Also in Group XVI] Relates to a method and apparatus for applying labels to bottles &c. in which a delivery member holds by suction one face of a label while bringing the other gum-bearing face into position to be applied to one of a series of bottles. According to the invention gum is applied marginally to one face of a label 20A, Fig. 1, to leave an ungummed central area 22A that extends longitudinally to at least one of two opposite margins 23A, the label having a hole 26A through the area 22A and being held by its other ungummed face to a delivery member by suction. A sheet of material 25 is presented to the central area 22A and is held to the label by suction applied through the hole 26A so that on applying the gummed face of the label to a bottle, the sheet of material 25 is retained in the pocket formed by the marginally adhering label. In one form a labelling machine as described in Specification 700,625 marginally gummed and apertured labels are transferred to an intermittently rotatable square delivery box 59, Fig. 10, each side of which comprises a delivery plate having suction apertures one of which corresponds with the hole in the label. During a dwell in the movement of the box 59 a unit 54 presents a sheet 25 to the delivery box which holds the sheet by suction applied through the hole in the label. The unit 54 comprises a stack 93, Fig. 11, for the sheets 25 and an intermittently rotatable suction box 78 mounted on a rocker arm 69 for reciprocation of the box 78 between the delivery box 59 and the stack 93, control of the suction for extraction of a sheet 25 from the stack 93 and for transfer to the box 59 being effected by a rotary valve plate. The stack 93 may be mounted for reciprocation between the position shown in Fig. 11 and a position in which it cannot be contacted by the transfer box 78, so that a detector 94, Fig. 10, which prevents presentation of a label in the absence of a bottle is also effective to withhold the stack 93 and prevent presentation of a sheet 25. In another embodiment the machine is substantially the same as that described in Specification 777,133, the labels in this case being marginally gummed and transferred to a rotary suction drum 99, Fig. 15, for application to the bottles 96. The sheets 25 are presented by a unit .103 comprising a continuously rotatable transfer drum 116 carrying a pad 117 conforming closely to the size and shape of the sheets 25 and having suction apertures with the suction controlled by a rotary valve plate. A stack 127 for the sheets 25 is made to oscillate to provide a rolling contact between the pad 117 and the leading sheet 25 in the stack. This sheet 25 is extracted from the stack 127 and transferred to the central ungummed area of a label on the drum 116 and is held there by suction applied through the hole in the label. Detectors 129 for controlling label presentation also serve to cut off suction from the unit 103 to prevent presentation of a sheet 25 in the absence of a label to receive it. Specification 624,246 also is referred to.