US1871675A - Feed mechanism for labeling machines - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 16, 1932.

E ERMOLD MECHANISM FOR LABELING MACHINES Filed July 7, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 16, 1932. E. ERMOLD FEED MECHANISM FOR LABELING MACHINES Filed July '7, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 u R a Y E o T W. M M m w w 4v. W is %N w wNW m. g 5; A

Aug. 16, 1932.

E. ERMOLD 1,871,675

FEED MECHANISM FOR LABELING MACHINES Filed July '7, 1950 Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR [in/ar 77,102;

I BY

ATTORN EY E. ERMOLD Aug. 16, 1932.

FEED MECHANISM FOR LABELING MACHINES Filed July 7, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR fax ward firm 0205:

BY 5. WM

ATTORNE Patented Aug. 16, 1932 warren S ATES EDWARD unicorn, or NEW YoRK, 1v.Y.*

,rnnn MECHANISM Foa -LABELING MACHINES Application filed Ju1yl 7, 1930.: Serial No. l66,144.

This invention relates to feed mechanism for labeling machines, and has foritsgeneral objecct and purpose to provide automatically operating mechanism for rapidly and accua rately feeding a plurality of containers from a feed conveyer to positions for engagement by the flights of a transporting ,conveyer of the labeling machine whereby thecontainers are transported to their'label receiving positions.

It is a more particular object of my invention to provide a feed conveyer extending across the front of the machine in spaced re'-.

lation to the transporting conveyer and means arranged between the'two conveyers to receive and support the glass bottles or other containers in obliquely inclined positions'and Continuously operating means to enga'geja plurality of containers on the feed conveyerl at spaced intervals in the movement of the latter and transfer the same to said supporting means. I e I It is another object otthe invention to pro:

I vide relatively stationary means adapted to engage the upper ends of the bottlesor con tainers as they are transversely moved ofii of the feed conveyor to cause the same to assume an obliquely inclined position upon said sup-, porting means for engagement by thefiights of the transporting conveyer. j j It is also a further general object of the:

invention to provide feed mechanism for 121- beling machines as above characterized which is of comparatively simple mechanical construction and may be readily applied for use in conjunction with the multiple'type label ing machines without greatly increasing the production costs of such machines or materially adding to the necessary floor space occupied by the machine. a V

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theimproved feed mechanism for labeling machines, and in the form, construction and-relative arrangement of the several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in them:- companying drawings, and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims. J i

In the drawings, wherein I have disclosed one simpleandpractical embodiment of the present invention, and in: which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,-' 1 F'gure 1 s a top plan view, illustrating one practical embodiment of my present improvements; 1 V

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof, certain of the parts being broken away; y

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantialrt ly on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; M i Fig. l is a sectional viewtakenron the line 4. 4 ofIFig'. 1, and V y i Figs. '5, 6 and? are detail sectional views illustrating diiierent positions of the bottle or container in transference ofthe same from the feed conveyer to the transporting conveyer oft-he labeling machine. For purposes of illustration, in: the .ac coinpan'ying drawings, l have shown onlyso much of the labeling machine, as is necessary for a clear understanding of my'pres ent improvements. This machine'mayfbe of the type shown and described in PatentNo.

1,308,280, issued to Edward Ermold, on July 1, 1919. It will therefore, suffice to state that the operating parts of the machine are suitably mounted and supported in. a frame structure, a portion of which is indicated at" 5, said machine including an endless'transporting conveyer 6 having spacedside chains .80 connected at intervalsby horizontal bars .7, each of which carries a conveyer flights 8.

plurality be spaced In spaced relation to the forward end of the transporting conveyer 6, the horizontal ly disposed slotted bedlplate 9 extends across the front of the machine andv is supported at-its opposite ends upon suitable standards indicated at 310. At spaced points, said bed plate is also rigidly connected with the bracket members llprojecting forwardly from the opposite side members of the machine frame The upperstretch of a link conveyer belt 12 moves in the longitudinal slot of the bed plate 9 as clearly seen'in Figs.,1 and?) of the drawings,said belt at its oppositeends ex tending around suitable supporting sprockets-f13'fiXed to the shafts 14 suitably "journalled on thef'under side of the bed plate 9 porting conveyer 6.

the lower end of a vertically disposed shaft 21 to which vertically spaced discs 22 are fixed. These discs have peripheral sections each composed of mergingconvexand concave surface portions for proper engagement with the bottles or other containers which are brought into contact therewith by the primary feed conveyer 23 "which extends at right angles tothe conveyer 12; A metal guide band 2a urpr es the outer side portionsofthe discs 22 spaced relation'therc to anclfextends over the end of the horimoving primary conveyer 23 and carriedin aontal feed belt Thus, it will beunderstood that in the rotation ofthe discs 22 in an anti-clockwise direction, the bottles are successively removed from thecontinuou'sly contact with the guide b and 24 by said discs anddelivered in. an upright position upon the upper stretch of the conveyer 12 moving;

across the front of'the machine.

' The Iabeling machineis provided with longitudinally extending transversely spaced supporting bars 25 forthe' COIitainers'arranged inline with the spaced flights 8 of the transporting conveyer. 6" andfpositione d 7 above andginparallel relation to the upper stretch of said conveyer. The forward ends of these supporting bars fare downwardly curved and fixed to the vertical armsof the bracket members 26. Each of these' bracket members is alsoprovided at its upper end witha forwardly extending upwardly in-.

din d rm ;Whichis O t d herwise. rigidly fixed to the bar28; the opposite ends of s'aid" bar; being suitably ccured to the bracket members 11. Tothe'rear edge of;-

the bed plate: 9, the plates 29 are fixed, said plates being obliquely inclineddownwardly and rearwardly in substantially paralleIre lation with the bracket arms 27 and extend.

Y ingupon'thebar 28'; These plates ,have the r;

bar-25.

upper? surfaces preferably dished or chan-,

nelledto receive the base of the bottle or container. Rearwardly of said plates,the

cushioning blocksj30 are arranged, each of. said blocks haying a part secured. upon the upper. id f he bracket. arm. 27 nd n,

upwardly and rearwardly curved part se';v curedupon the curved forward end of the the. opposite sides of eachof-the bars 25 and extending forwardly over the. rear;

edge the bed plate 9, the adj ustableg uide plates 31 are mounted:v upon the supp1ort:-. ing frames32, -said plates being laterally;

adjustable with respect to the fixed bars 25 and secured in their adjusted positions by suitable clamping bolts threaded in the frame members 32, as indicated at 33. One of the guide plates 31 associated with each of the bars 25 has its forward end provided with laterally curved fingers 34 which direct the bottles or containers into the guide ways be- 7 tween the spaced plates 31 as they are moved rearwardly off of the conveyer 12, ina manner; to, be presently described.

Above the forward ends of the guide plates 31, a horizontal'bar'35 is arranged and suitably secured at its opposite ends upon the supporting posts or standards 36, which are .liquely inclined positions upon the supporting blocks 30,1] provide a bar 38 extending longitudinally of the conveyer above and inparallel relation thereto. This bar is movable both longitudinally and transversely of the conveyer in properly timed relation. to the, ,conyeyer movement, While various actuating means for the bar 33 might be devised, I have shown said bar pivotally connected at; longitudinally spaced points as shown at 40 to the ends of the parallel, arms 39, extending. radiallyfrom the upper endsJof' the vertical shaftsl. These shafts arejournailed; in, suitable bearings. provided on the spaced. franies tilwhichafe fi'xedat their upper ends. to the frontledge ofthe table 9. The: frames 4 2, are. also provided with additional bearings for a. horizontal shaft 43connected with the vertical. shafts 41 by the gearing 44 said horizontal shaft4i3 at one of its endsbeing geared'to.the ...shaft 15,;asat 15. I

w'llothe rear edge; of the bar 40 a. longitudir. nally extending cushioningstrip 46 of'rnbe. ber. or other-suitable. material is. attached to,

prevent scratching or marring of. the glass surfaces 7 of the; bottles orother containers. 'Dhe.ar ms 39 and% the; bar 40 are movable. transversely beneath; longitudinally (5X:- tending guide bar 47 whiehjex-tends alongthe outer side of thetable 9 and; is;., vertically spaced 7 abovethe.- plan thereof.

iI-n; the operation of the mechanism as above described the bottles arefirst placed in suitably spaced relation toeach other and in upright positions upon the primary conveyer 23,; from :Whiclrthey. are removed by the 110- tating discs. 22. andtransferre'd;tothe con-. veyerbejlt 12. Astheupperstretchof this conveyer belt; moves. fromright: to left, the;

bar is moved inwardly and transversely over the conveyer by the rotating arms 39, the cushioning strip 16 being engaged with a plurality of the bottles on the moving conveyer (in this case, four). As the movement of the conveyer continues, the bar 40 is also moved rearwardly and longitudinally of the conveyer, thus pushing the bottles transverse ly in a rearward direction off ofthe conveyer. As will be noted by reference to Fig. 5 of the drawings, as th bottles are thus moved rearwardly over the bed plate 9, the upper ends or necks of these bottles come into contact with the front edge of the bar 35, said bottles also being engaged and laterally directed. by the curved forward ends 84 of the guide plates 31 so that they are positioned in alignment with the plates 29. The continuing pressure of the cushioning strip 47 of the bar 40 against the body portion of the bottle, thus causes the same to be tilted to an inclined position as it moves upon the plate 29, and to slide down the concave upper surface of said plate and upon the cushioning block 30, the base of the bottle engaging the rear upwardly curved part of said cushioning block while the body portion thereof rests upon the forwardly and upwardly inclined part of the block secured to the bracket arm 27. The bottles are thus supported in proper position so that they will be picked up by the upward- I ly moving flights 8 at the forward end of the transporting conveyer 6, as clearly seen in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings and carried upwardly and disposed in vertical upright positions upon the 'supportmg bars 25. The

. movement of the transporting conveyer 6 is of course, properly timed with respect to the movements of the conveyer 12 and the bar 40 so that the bottles will be thus automatically removed from the conveyer 12 and positioned upon the supporting blocks 30 for engagement by the successive flights 8 of the trans porting conveyer.

From th foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have devised a feed mechanism for such label applying machines which is capable of rapid operation to properly and accurately position the bottles for movement by the transporting conveyer to their label receiving positions, and without liability of breakage or other injury to the bottles. While in the present instance, I

have shown a feed mechanism which transfers four bottles at a time from the feed conveyer to the transporting conveyer, it will be evident of course, that by merely lengthening the bar 40, the device is applicable to multiple type labeling machines of greater capacity. Also, while I have herein shown and described an embodiment of my present improvements, which has been found very efficient in practical use, it is nevertheless to be understood that the essential, features thereof might also be embodied in various other alternative structural forms,-andI accordingly reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes therein as may be fairly incorporated within the spirit and I scope of the invention as claimed. I claim:

- "1. In combinationwith a labeling nachine having conveyer-means for transportmg containers tolabel receiving position, a feed conveyer for the, containers disposed at right angles to the transporting conveyer'means and 111 spaced relation to one end thereof, a

relatively fixed obliquely inclined support beconveyer, means for actuating said member,

and stationary means adapted to engage the upper end of the container during its trans verse movement and tilt the same to dispose.

the container on said support in obliquely in- V clined parallel relation therewith for engage ment by apart of the transporting conveyer means.

2. In combination with a labeling ma ch 11 1c having transporting conveyer means provided with a plurality of series of spaced flights, a container feed conveyer disposed at right angles to said transporting conveyer means and in spaced relation to one end thereoffa plurality of obliquely inclined container receiving supports between the feed conveyor and the transporting conveyer means, means ice for-simultaneously transversely removing a plurality of containers from the feed conveyer and positioning the same upon "said inclined? supports for engagement by the flights of the transporting conveyer means including a member transversely movable over the feed conveyer, and a relatively stationary part mounted above said movable member to engage the upper ends of the containers during their transverse movement and tilt the same to positions in parallel relation with the respective supports.

3-. In combination with a bottle labeling machine having conveyer means provided with spaced series of flights for supporting the bottles to label receiving positions, a bottle feed conveyer disposed at right angles to said transporting conveyer andin spaced relation to one end thereof, relatively stationary means between said conveyers for supporting the bottles in an obliquely inclined position to be engaged by the flights of the transporting conveyer, a member movable in a closed circular path transversely and longitudinally above the feed conveyer, and means for operating said member in timed relation with the movements of the transporting conveyer and the feed conveyer to' sition the same upon said supporting means.

a, In combination with a; bottle labeling machine having conveyer means provided with spaced series of flights for conveying the bottles to label receiving psitions,-a bottle feed conveyer disposed at right angles to said transporting conveyer and in spaced relation to one vend thereof relatively stationary means between said conveyers for supporting the bottles in an obliquely-inclinedposition to be engaged by the flights ofthe transporting conveyer, a' member movable in a circular path transversely and longitudinally above the feed eonvey'er, means for op erating said member in timed relation with the movements of the transporting conveyer' and the feed conveyor to simuletaneously remove a plurality of bottles transversely from the feed conveyerand'position the same upon said supporting means, and a relatively fixed part mounted above the path of movement of said member and engaged. by thebottles during their transverse movement to tilt the bottles and dispose the same in an obliquely inclined position upon said supporting means. I

5. In combination with a conveyer having longitudinally spaced flights, means for positioning containers for engagement by the flights at one end of said conveyer, said means ,comprising a stationary member arranged above and in longitudinally spaced relation to one end of the conveyer, a container support between said member and the conveyer, meansto engage and move the containers from an upright position toward the conveyer and into contact with said stationary member whereby the container is tilted to an obliquely inclined position on said support in the path of movement of the conveyer flights.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I havesigned my name hereto. 1

' EDWARD ERMOLD. I

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