GB965149A - Package labelling equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

965,149. Labelling machines; rollerway and endless belt conveyers. MILLER WRAPPING & SEALING MACHINE CO. Oct. 26, 1962, No. 40565/62. Headings B8A and B8F. Relates to labelling apparatus in a machine in which packages coming from wrapping apparatus 20, 22, Fig. 1, travel to a weighing scale 31 and then to a label applying station 33 at which heat-sensitive adhesive labels printed with indicia derived from the weighing of the package are applied to the package. According to the invention the labelling apparatus comprises a transfer member 40, Fig. 4, yieldably movable between a position for receiving a label from a label printing and delivery unit 34, 37 and a position for placing the label on a package 145, Fig. 10, the label being subsequently pressed on the package by a resilient presser 55 which moves vertically downwards to engage the package, this movement being effected by yieldable means so that the labelling operation can be performed on packages of various dimensions. Packages are advanced in steps from the wrapping apparatus 22, Fig. 1, by a series of spaced-apart pusher members 23 each supported on a bar 24 connected to chain mechanism in a housing 25 which causes the members 23 to have a cycle of movement as shown in broken line at 26. After passing the weighing scale 31, the packages pass to further conveying mechanism 32, Figs. 1, 10, which brings the packages to the labelling station 33 and then discharges them. The mechanism 32 comprises endless belts 130 carried by a pivotable frame, so that in the upper position of the frame, the belts 130 are raised as shown in broken line on Fig. 10 to move and retain the packages against a stop 133 during the labelling operation, after which the belts 130 are moved downwardly below the level of a plurality of rollers 125 which then move the packages transversely to the previous direction of movement to a discharge position. Labels are delivered from the printing mechanism 34 to a shoot 37, Fig. 4, below and adjacent which the transfer member 40 is radially positioned. The member 40 has a heated platen 41 for receiving the heat-sensitive adhesive label, the platen 41 being surrounded by a frame 46, Fig. 11, having end stops 47 and label holding fingers 48, 49, the frame 46 being movable vertically relative to the platen. The transfer member 40 is mounted on a shaft 42 for oscillatory movement with the shaft through 180 degrees from a position at the end of the shoot 37 to a position overlying a package for subsequent descent into engagement therewith as shown in Fig. 10. Upon return movement of the transfer member 40 to its initial position, the resilient presser member 55 swings laterally with its supporting shaft 97 to a position overlying the label placed on the package by the member 40, and then descends with the shaft 97 to press the label firmly on the package. The descent of both the transfer member 40 and the presser member 55 is controlled by springs so that they both stop upon engagement with a package. In another embodiment, Fig. 13, the arrangement is substantially the same except for the arrangement of the label transfer member. In this embodiment the transfer member 200 has a heated platen 201 and is supported and moved substantially the same as in the previous embodiment but the platen is provided with air openings connected by an airline 206 to a bellows-like member 208 operated by a cam 218. The arrangement is such that suction is applied to the platen for holding the label during transfer and air pressure or air blast is used to remove the label from the platen and firmly seat it on a package prior to operation of the presser member. A pivoted label guide is associated with the transfer member 200 to guide a label delivered from the shoot 37<SP>1</SP> accurately on to the platen 201. Various control switches are provided operated by passage of the packages to ensure that the labelling apparatus does not function when a package is not present, and that all packages, regardless of their width, will trip the cycle for the labelling apparatus at exactly the same part of the machine cycle, thereby giving the same length of duration of heat to the label for properly activating the adhesive thereon.