US1445321A - Label-wiping device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 13, 1923.

- '1,445,323 J. E. JOHNSUN ETAL. f

LABEL WIPING DEVICE. FILED MAR.22,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Feb. 13, 1923.

' 1. E. JOHNSON ET AL.

LABEL wlPlNG DEVICE.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FILED MAR. 22, 1919.

Feb. 13, 1923. 1,445,32E. 1. E. JOHNSON ET AL.

LABEL WIPING DEVICE.

FILED r11/m22. |919. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3..

zwizff,

Feb. 13, 1923..

LMZl. L. E. JOHNSON ET AL.

LABEL WLPLNG DEVICE. FILED MAR. 22, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Patented Feb. 13, 192s.-

Nrrso sares- LABEL-WIPING DEVICE.

Application led March 22, 1919. Serial No. 284,316.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN EMANUEL JOHNSON land CHARLES H. OSLND, citizens of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of assachusetts, have invented a new and useful Label-Wiping Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for wiping labels around an article as for example a cylindrical can.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a labeling device of the type in which the articles to be labeled are carried along or around on a traveling conveyor with simple and effective means for wlnding a label all the way around the can or other article to be labeled; also to provide this means in the form of brushes or the like fixed in stationary position and to spread the label around the article bythe movements of the article itself. The invention also involves improvements in the mechanism for holding, turning and releasing the can ortheflike. and inthe means for supporting; and adjusting the wiping brushes and thel brushes themselves.

Reference sito lie had to thevaccompanying drawingsliin which Q21 Fig'. 1 is a' pl'aniof a labeling machine of the rotary. ty-p'e constructed'.'in,y accordance with this invention; i l

Fig. 2 isa diagrammatic plan showing the application of a'label to a can on this machine;

Fig. 3 is a the can;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation ofthe can holding, rotating and releasing means and connected parts;

Fig. 5 is abpllan of the same;

ig. 6 is a central sectional view can-holding head ;k

Fig. is a similar porting base;

ig. 8 is a side view of the means for operating the can holding and releasing device shown in Fig. 4;,

Fig. 9 is a rear or outside-view of the main wiping brush and its,v supporting mechanism Fig. 1l is a sectional, viiziotlxgedline -plan of the geariirg for rotating of the view of the can supplan of the 'with parts tion.

This invention is shown as applied to a type of labeling machineL illustrated in several ot our prior patents.

I n this class of machines the cans or other articles are brought to the machine on an endless conveyor 10 and delivered from that by a turret 11 to a rotating table 12 mounted to turn on a central vert1cal axis and having. a horizontal supporting surface for the cans. They go around on the table in the general manner set forth in our other patents and are delivered from it by another turret 13 to the same conveyor 10 or another as may be desired. The construction and operation of the conveyor and turrets do not constitute a part of this invention. This invention is not limited to the use of a rotary table.

The rotary table 12 in this instance is shown as provided with eight stations at which the cans to be labeled are applied to the table and supported duringits operation. form shown herein the table is provided with a depression at 14 for each of these stations. This has a central cylinder 15 depending below it in the bore of which is supported a rotatable shaft 16 having enlargements which lit the bore and adapted to be adjusted vertically by a screw 17 or the like. This shaft carries on it a freely rotatable plate 18 which is provided with a concentric circular convex projection 19 on which the can to be labeled is deposited and by which it is supported in a freely rotatable manner.

Under the table is located a stationary -cam 20 operating eight levers 21 mounted on shafts 22 supported under the tab-le. Springs 23 are connected from the levers 21 to arms 24 which reciprocate a corresponding number of vertical rods 25.

The arm 24 is provided with a stop 26 coming against the end surface of the arm or lever 21 so that the downward movement of the lever 21 about the shaft 22 will positively force the rod 25 upwardly, but it will come down yieldingly in accordance of the brush supwith the operation of thespring 23 as the cam permits it to move down. n

The'rod 25 passes through a guide tube 27 fixed on the table, one of course'for each of' the plates 18, and at the top 1t is provided with a split head 2.8 secured to 1t by clamping bolt 29 or the hke. This head supports two shafts 30 and 3l. The shaft 3() carries an operating gear 32 and a pinion 33. When this ear 32 is operated by means to be descri ed hereinafter it rotates the pinion and consequently the gear 34 mounted on the shaft 31. This gear 1s provided with ball bearings between its surface and that of a hub 35 carried by the split head 28 and is fixed with respect to the can rotating head 36 below, which is provided with a depression in its lower surface in which is a rubber disk 37 for engaging the top ot the can. This. therefore, causes the can to rotate when held between the plate and the disk 37 provided the gear 32 is rotated.

A pair of springs 38 on the top of the split head project over the gear 32 and apply a yielding friction to prevent its spinning or getting out of place. This tends to keep the gear in position to properly mesh with the rack every time it comes around. The dotted lines in Fig. 4 indicate the position to which these parts rise when the cam 20 forces them up.

When the can is deposited on one of these plates 18 as shown at the bottom of Fig. 1 the cam 20 will act to allow the springs 23 and 38 to yieldingly force the rod 25 and the head 28 down on the can as shown in Fig. 4 and hold the can firmly in position. At the same time the label holder 39 comes up through a slot in the table and engages the label as we have shown in our prior patents.

The parts above described constitute some minor improvements over our prior patents as for example that on a labeling machine, No. 1,272,670, patented July 16, 1918, but the main feature of this invention lies in t-he wiping of the label around the can. This is accomplished by the provision of a station` ary frame 41 supported adjacent the table and provided with a casing 42 through which the cans pass in their travel around with the table. Inside this casing there is a rack 43 concentric with the path of the cans and located in position t`o engage the gear 32 as the can comes into the casing and turn the gear and therefore the can during the passage of the same through the casing. The can turns on its own axis as indicated in Fig. 2.

For the purpose of making use of this movement -to apply the label the latter, preferably moistened by immersion or other- Wise, is applied across the path of the moving can by means of a label picking device 44 in the position indicated at A in Fig. 2. It will benoted that the label is not centrally located with respect to the can. The can then comes ,along in the direction of the arrow. The label holder 39 swings up into position just after the can has engaged the label and then the can moves alon through position B to osition C. While still in that position the abel comes into contact with two stationary brushes 59 and 69 which, by the continued motion of the can aroundv the table, wipe down the short end and partially wipe back the long end of the label. When the can gets to position D the gear 32 comes into contact with the rack 43 and the can begins to rotate on its own axis as indicated by the curved arrow. Then 1t comes into contact with a brush 66 which is curved in its general form. The label holder 39 swings down out of the way, and the can passes to the position E where the label is entirely wrapped around it, and then to the position F where it leaves the wiping devices ens tirely. Then it proceeds in the usual way until the rod 25 is raised and the can taken off the table by the turret 13. In order to wipe back the overlapping end of the label if 1t should be loosened, a stationary brush is located near the point of discharge.

The rack 43 is shown as vmovably supported to prevent breaking it if a gear ap proaches in such a position as not to mesh with it. For this purpose it has a rolling pivotal motion about the convex surface of a projection 44 on the support. A pair of bolts 45 passing through this projection with a clearance are ixed to one end of the rack. The other end of the rack has a Screw 46 fixed to it, the head of which is located behind a flange on the support and acts as a stop. A spring forces it out yieldingly so that it the gear does not strike it in the right position it can move back against the spring and then come forward immediately into operative position.

The brush 66 is supported from the stand 41 or from the casing` 42 by a bracket 47 having a horizontal shaft or stud 48 on which swings a frame 49. This frame can be adjusted to any desired angle by a pair of adjusting screws 50 as will be obvious and it is fixed in` adjusted position by a set screw 51. The frame 49 carries a rod 52 which carries a second frame 53 having screws 50 and 51 for adjusting and holding a brush back 54 in the same manner as above, the adjustment being effective about a shaft or stud 55 carried by the frame 53. This brush back 54 carries an arc-shaped plate 58 on which is supported a plurality of blocks 56, each having bristles constituting the curved brush 66. These blocks are individually held by Maasai dsti-tute the casing for the brush and they are ticles to be labeled having bent inwardly at their edges to hold the bristles together and prevent their separatlng widely. y,

The stationary brush 59 which has been mentioned is also supported on the casing from a bracket 60 which has passages for a rod 61 -which is held in position by set screws 62. This rod is provided with an offset 63 so that it can be turned as may be desired to adjust the brush properly to perform its above described function. The brush is mounted on this Offset and is pros vided with a "clip at 64 for preventing the i upper bristles from being permanently bent upwardly.

In the above description we have indicated the operation of the device referring to Fig. 2 and it will not be necessary to repeat that description, but it is sufficient to say that according to this device the labels are applied to the cans or the like 1n a non central position and the short ends brushed down by a stationary brush.. Then each can is given a rotation on its own axis which causes the long end of the label to be brushed down as the can passes along the surface of the curved brush 66.

The label wiping operation therefore is performed solely by stationary wipers onaccount of the motion of the can itself, and the object is to ensure the wiping of the label entirely around the article to he labeled, but it does not necessarily have to be a can or even anarticle of cylindrical-form. We can apply this operation to labels which are in the so-called dry state, that is, wet only by -the paste which is supplied to them or to labels which have been wet before they yare applied to the can to facilitate the wiping action. This causes them to shrink slightly when they dry and thus smooth them out on the surface to which lthey are applied. They can be wet additionally by moistening the brushes if desired. For this purpose a water receptacle 67 is located on the casing. It is shown as having two valve `controlled drip pipes 68 for moistening the curved brush.

Although -we have illustrated and described only a single form ofthe invention we are aware of the fact that many modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. v

Therefore, we do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction 'herein shown and vdescribed or to the particularA type of labeling machine towhich we have shown the invention as being applied, but

what we do claim is Vl. In a labeling machine, the combination of ahorizontal traveling support fd/r the ara horizontal rotary plate mounted thereon capable of rotating on its own vertical axis for supporting an article to 'be labeled, means bodily movable with said support for clamping theI 2. In a labeling machine, the combination withl a carrier for the articleA to be labeled, movable in a horizontal lane, of a horizontal rotary plate mounte thereon capable of rotating on its own vertical axis for concentrically supporting an article to be labeled, means for turning the plate on its own vertical axis while it travels horizontallycwith said carrier, and means for wiping a label entirely around the article.

8. In a labeling machine, the combination with a support for the article to be labeled, of means for supplying a label in .front of the article and support with the major portion of the label on one side thereof, means vfor engaging the label and clamping it on the front surface of said article at a point at one side of the center of the label, means on opposite sides ofthe support for wiping down the two ends of the label, and means on one side of the support for thereafter completing the wiping down of the long end of the label.

4. .In a labeling machine, the combination with a rotatable carrier for the article to be labeled, of means for supplying a label in front of the article with the major portion of the label on one side thereof, means for engaging the label and clamping it on the article at a point at one side of the center of the label, stationary means for engagingv the short end of the label and-applying it to the article, and stationary means for hreafter wiping down the long end of the 5. In a labeling machine, the combination with a rotatable carrier for the article to be labeled, of means for supplying a label in front of the article with the major portion of the label o-n one side thereof, means for enga ing the label and clamping it on the artic e at a point at one -side of the center of the label, a fixed brush'on one side ofthe article for engaging the short end of the label and wiping 1t dovvn as the article passes'it, a fixed brush atanother point in the path of the article for engaging the long end of the label and wiping it down on the article, and means for moving the article relatively to the carrier While the label is in 6. In a labeling machine, the combina.-

tion'with a rotatable carrier for the article to be labeled, of means orsupplying a label in front of the article, means for engaging the label and clamping it on the article, a fixed brush on one side of the article for engaging the end of the label and wiping it down as the article passes it, a fixedbrush at another point in the path of the article for engaging the other end of the label and wiping it down on the article, and means for moving the article relatively to the carrier while theJabel is in engagement with the second brush to ensure the wrapping of the label entirely around the article.

7. In a labeling machine, the combination with a carrier for the `articlev to be labeled, a head adapted to be brought against the article to be labeled for holding the article, means for wiping a label on the article, a vertically reciprocatin rod for controlling the position of the hea astationary cam, a shaft adjacent to the cam, two arms pivoted on said shaft and having abutments engaging each other, whereby when one of said arms is moved down the other will be raised positively, and yielding means for moving said other arm down when the first named arm is raised by the cam, the second arm bein connected with said rod.

8. gIn a labeling machine, the combination with a carrier for the article to be labeled, of means for turning the article on its own axis as it travels with said. carrier, and

means for wiping a label on the article while i turns, said turning means comprising an ar -sped `rack lyie dingly` pivoted to Aone end.

9, a labeling machine, the combination with a carrier for the article to be labeled, y

an arc-shaped rack located in stationary povsition', a gear carried by the carrier for engaging said rack, gearing connected with saidgear, a head connected with the gearing and adapted to be brought down on the articleto be 'labeled for turning the article, means for wiping a label on the article as it turns2 a vertically reciprocating. rod for controlling-the position of the head, a sta. i

labeled, of means for turning the article on therefrom, said bristles being arranged with tiouary cam under the table, ashaft adjacent v to the cam, two arms pivoted on said shaft 10. In a labeling machine, the combina f tion with a carrier for the article to be its own axis as it travels with said carrier, a fixed support, a horizontal shaft carried thereby, a frame mounted to swing on said shaft, adjusting screws for adjusting said frame with respect to the shxah, and a brush 'supported b said'frame fo wiping a label on the artic e while it turns l1. In a labeling machine, the combination with a carrier for the article to be labeled, of means for turning the article onI its own axis as it travels with lsaid carrier, an adjustably mounted brush back, a plurality of independently mounted blocks carried thereby, each having bristles projecting their ends in the arc of a circle for wiping a label onthe article while it turns, and a casing engaging'the upper and lower surfaces of the bristles and holding them toof the label on one vsidevthereoi, means for 'engaging the label and clamping it on the article at a point at one side ofthe center of the label, means for engaging the longer.

vpart of the labeland swinging it back part way around the article, and means on opposite sides of said support for wiping down the two ends of the label.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto aiiixed our si atures. j

JO N EMANUEL JOHNSON.

CHARLES H. OSLUND.

Images