US2303776A - Labeling mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 1, 1942. w, you HQFE 2,303,776

LABELING MECHANISM Filed June 3, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l A INVENTOR.

1 2 GEORGE I V. vo/vfi oF Dec. 1, 1942.

G. w. vo N HOFE LABELING MECHANISM 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed June 3. 194;

INVENTOR. $505 5 I44 ra/v //0 FE BY AV-To R NE K Patented Dec. 1, 1942 OFFICE LABELING MECHANISM George W. von Hofe, Bound Brook, N. J assignor to New Jersey Machine Corporation, Hoboken, N. J a. corporation of New Jersey j Application June 3, 1941, Serial No. 396,401

. 10 Claims. ((11. 216-57) The invention relates to labeling machines and has for its object to provide such machines with a' labeling mechanism constructed and operating in a novel manner to apply labels or their equivalent to moving articles Without interference with the movement thereof.

The invention contemplates further the provision of a novel labeling mechanism arranged to apply labels or their equivalent to traveling webs of materials at spaced intervals without arresting the travel of said webs.

Other objects will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an example of the invention without definanism is of the type shown 'in my United States Patent No. 2,227,816, of January '7, 1941, and includes an upright supporting frame H] on which a suitable container or hopper II is mounted in position for proper co-operation with the associated elements of the machine. The container or hopper ll contains a supply of labels l2 in the form of an upright supply stack from the upper end of which the terminal labels are successively removed for application to the articles for which said labels are intended. Suitable provision is made, in any customary manner, for periodically restoring the upper end of the stack of labels l2 to a predetermined level in proper operative relation to the co-operating elements of the machine. whereby this periodical adjustment is effected does not per se constitute a novel feature of the labeling machine, and may for instance be of the type shown in my patent hereinbefore mentioned, and in the same way may include a feeler M and associated elements operating to control the aforesaid elevating mechanism.

In the labeling machine as illustrated, the means whereby individual labels 12 are succes- The elevating mechanism [3 therefrom to the point of application for application to the elements to be labeled, is of the suction operated type, and per se may be of any suitable construction. As shown, the label transe ferring means consists of a carriage l5 slidably mounted upon a horizontal guide rail [6 supported on the frame ID in any convenient manner. The carriage i5 is slidably reciprocated in the rail It, for instance, by means of an arm 11 fixed upon a shaft l8 and having its free end pivotally connected with-a coupling rod l9 which in turn is yieldingly and pivotally connected at 20 with a lug 2i forming art of or fixed upon the carriage l5 as shown in Fig. 1.

In the operation of the machine, the carriage I5 is reciprocated on the rail It by rocking the shaft l8 which swings the lever IT to alternately push and pull the carriage l5 lengthwise of the rail IS. The mechanism whereby said shaft I8 is rocked may be the same as in my previously mentioned patent and needs no further description herein as per se it forms no part of the instant invention.

The carriage l5 serves as a support for a member 22 which is vertically slidable on said carriage I5 and at its lower end carries a suction head 23. The specific construction of the latter may be of any conventional type, the suction head 23 in any event being connected with a source of suction, for instance, by means of a suitable tube 24. Throughout the major portion of the reciprocation of the carriage IS the member 22' and with it the suction head 23 is held against downward vertical movement by means of a roller 25 which 7 travels lengthwise of a fixed rail 26, the latter at predetermined points being recessed to permit downward vertical movement of the member 22 and suction head 23 in the same way'as inm y prior patent referred to above. This enables the suction head 23 to be operated to remove terminal labels [2 from the upper end of the supply stack and to deposit said labels in label applying position at the point of application as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. The aforesaid vertical movements of the member 22 and suction head 23 may be effected by means of any suitable mechanismsuch as for instance shown and described in my previously mentioned patent.

In the labeling machine illustrated in the drawings, the labels l2 picked up successively by the suction head 23 from the supply stack are provided with a coating of adhesive on one surface during the transfer of said labels l2 from the supply stack to the point of application. For this sively removed from the stack and transferred 55 Purpose each label subsequent to its removal from the supply stack by the suction head 23 is carried thereby into progressive tangential adhesive receiving relation with the adhesive applying roll 21 of the adhesive applying means 28 suitably mounted in proper position in the machine as shown for instance in Fig. 1. The adhesive applying means may be of any suitable construction and may correspond to that of my previously mentioned patent and accordingly requires no further description as per se it does not constitute a novel feature of the instant labeling machine.

The novel mechanism embodied in the instant labeling machine includes supporting means located at the point of application on which the successive labels l2 are temporarily deposited in proper applying relation to the moving article to which said labels are to be applied. In the illustrated example this supporting means comprises supporting members or bars 29 extending in horizontal directions and spaced apart to a predetermined extent dependent upon the dimensions of the labels [2 which are being applied by the .mechanism; the arrangement is such. that the labels l2 will span the space between the members 29 with the opposite ends of said labels in temporary adhesive connection with said members after the deposit of said labels l2 thereon by the suction head 23 has taken place. The members 29 are carried by a supporting bar 30 of suitable type which may be mounted in the machine in any convenient manner as by means of a bracket 3| as illustrated more or less diagrammatically in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

A plunger or slide 32 is slidably mounted in a vertical guide 33 suitably supported in the machine in proper operative relation to the label applying point and to the supporting members 29. The plunger or slide 32 may be vertically actuated in the guide 33 in any convenient manner as by means of a lever 34 loosely mounted on the shaft [8. and pivotally connected with the plunger or slide 32 in any convenient manner as by being provided with a rounded front end 35 projecting into a slot formed in the plunger or slide 32. The lever 34 may be rocked on the shaft by mechanism similar to that shown in my patent referred to hereinbefore and including an operating member 36 pivotally and adjustably connected at 31 with the lever 34 and actuated in the intended manner by means of mechanism similar to the means whereby the lever which actuates the pressure plunger in my previously mentioned patent is operated. The plunger or slide 32 at its lower end carries means for removing the labels I2 from the supporting members 29 and applying them to the articles for which they are intended. As the novel labeling mechanism is designed primarily for applying labels to moving articles, the aforesaid applying means is constructed to properly co-operate with said moving articles in the application of the labels l2 thereto. In the specific form illustrated in the drawings, the applying means comprises an endless belt 38 of suitable material and dimension transversely in dependence upon the dimensions of the labels l2 with which said belt 38 is designed to operate. The belt 38 is carried by pulleys 39 and 40 rotatably mounted in spaced relation on a lever 4| pivoted at 42 on a transverse projection forming part of the slide or plunger 32 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings; in the preferred arrangement the pivot 42 of the lever 4| is in registry with the axis of the pulley 49. An arm 43 extends at an upward inclination from the lever 41 preferably as an integral part thereof and is provided at its free end with an apertured projection 44 with which one end of a spring 45 is connected; the other end of said spring is attached at 46 to the slide or plunger 32. The arm 43 preferably is further provided with a stop shoulder 41 arranged to co-operate with a suitable stop 48 on the slide or plunger 32 to arrest the pivotal movements of the arm 43 and lever 4| in one direction for the purpose to be more fully set forth hereinafter. The stop 48 is illustrated in the form of a stop 'screw adjustably mounted in a lug 49 carried by the slide or plunger 32 and fixed in an adjusted position for instance by means of a lock nut 59. The arrangement is such that the belt 38 and its associated elements are located above and in vertical registry with the space between the label supporting members 29 as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

In the illustrated example the labeling mechanism is shOWn in a form designed primarily for applying labels at spaced intervals to travelling webs of material as exemplified for instance by travelling lengths of linoleum or the like 5|. The run of the web of linoleum. 5| or other material which is to receive the labels in such case travels over a suitable support 52 in label receiving relation to the label supporting means or specifically the label supporting means 29, as illustrated in Fig. 2, it being understood that the web of linoleum 5! or its equivalent may be operated in a manner to travel over the support 52 by an suitable and conventional means. The machine further may include means for completing the application of the labels which means may be of any suitable nature and is illustrated in the form of a pressure roller 53 carried by a shaft '54 rotatably mounted in bearing blocks 55 and rotatably operated by means of a belt 56' and co-operating pulley 51 mounted on the shaft54. The bearing blocks '55 are slidably mounted in upright bearing guides 58 suitably fixed in place, for instance, upon the support 52. A yielding pressure is developed on the roller 53 by means 7 of springs 59 which'bear with one end against the bearing blocks 55 and with their other ends engage disks 60 adjustably mounted on saida'upright bearing guides 58 by means of screws 6| fixed against unintentional rotation'by means of lock' nuts 52.

In practice, during an operative period -of. the machine, the web 5| of linolelun or other material will be progressively and uninterruptedly advanced on the support 52 at a predetermined speed of travel and successive terminal labels l2 will be removed from the supply stack-by the suction head 23 and deposited upon the supporting members or bars 29 with the opposite end portions of said labels 12 in temporary adhesive contact with said members 29 as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The arrangement is such that-the web 51 will pass beneath and in label receiving proximity to the supporting members 29 and the labels l'l thereon as shown in Fig; 2. It will be understood that the slide or plunger 32 and the belt 38' and associated elements carried by said slide 'or plunger occupy a raised position during the operation of depositing a, label I 2 upon the supporting members 29 by the suction 'head23 or its equivalent. After a label l2 has been deposited on the suporting members 29, the machine Will operate to return the suction head and its co-operating elements back towardthe supply stack of labels 2 ready for the next operative cycle. In proper operative synchronism the lever 34 will be rocked downwardly to correspondingly move the slide or plunger 32 downwardly in the guide 33. At this stage the stop 41 of the arm 43 will be held in contact with the stop screw 48 of the slide or plunger 32 by the action of the spring 45 so that the lever 4| and belt 38 will occupy a downwardly inclined position as the slide or plunger 32 descends in the guide 33. This downward movement of the slide or plunger 32 will finally bring that part of the belt 38 which travels over the pulley 39 into contact with the upper surface of the travelling web of linoleum or other material. As the downward movement of the parts continues the lever 4| and belt 33 will be rocked on the pivot 42 against the tension of the spring 45 and will bring the belt 38 into engagement with the edge of the label |2 supported on the members 29. As this occurs, the frictional engagement between the belt 38 and web 5| will gradually cause the belt 38 to travel on the pulleys 39 and 40 at a speed corresponding to the speed of travel of the web 3|. It will be noted, as shown in Fig. 2, that the lower run of the belt 38 vat this stage is in engagement under the tension of the spring 45, with the outer edge of the label |2 located at the outer ends of the supporting members 29. As a result of this, the lower run of the belt 38 which travels in the same direction as the advancing web 5| will withdraw the label l2 from the supporting members 29 as the speed of the belt 38 coincides with the speed of travel of the web 5|. This withdrawal of the label l2 from the supporting members 29 by the belt 38 is possible because the adhesivewhereby the opposite ends of the label |2 are temporarily secured upon the suporting members 29, is still tacky and has not yet had time to become set.

As the label I2 is thus progressively withdrawn from the supporting members 29, said label will be carried along by the belt 38 to finally have its adhesive coated surface brought into engagement with the travelling web 5|. As the operations continue the label I2 will pass between the belt 38 and the web 5| and will be pressed into engagement therewith by the action of the spring 45 so that said label l2 will be adhesively applied to the surface of the web 5|. The application of the label |2 to the web 5| will be completed as the applied label I2 is carried by the Web 5| beneath the pressure roller 53 or its equivalent; in some cases, this final pressure to complete the application of the label may be omitted. After a label l2 has been completely withdrawn from the supporting members 29 and applied to the web 5| by the belt 38, the lever 34 will be rocked in an upward direction in proper timing, to correspondingly raise the slide or plunger 32 in the guide 33. As this occurs, the pulley 48 and the adjacent sections of the belt 38 will move upwardly away from the supporting members 29 and the spring 45 will progressively rock the arm 43 and lever 4| on the pivot 42 until the stop 41 engages the stop screw 48 to thereby arrest said pivotal movement. The position of the parts are thereby fixed as the elevation of the slide or plunger 32 and associated elements continue until this final upward position has been reached whereupon the cycle of operations described above is repeated. As a result successive labels |2 will be applied and afiixed to the web 5| at spaced intervals determined by the speed of travel of the web 5| or its equivalent and the operative adjustment and timing of the machine and the applying mechanism.

In addition to functioning as mechanism for applying labels at spaced intervals to travelling webs of material, the mechanism may be used with equal efiiciency for applying labels to articles such as packages of merchandise moving over a given path in spaced relation and reaching the application point at successive intervals. The mechanism is simple in constructon and emcient in operation and requires no particularly expert supervision and in addition may, if desired, be readily incorporated in existing labeling machines.

Various changes in the specific forms shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a labeling machine for applying labels to moving articles, stationary supporting means for supporting labels in a stationary applying position at the point of application, a labeling mech-- anism including an applying member arranged to move in correspondingdirection and at corresponding speed with said articles for removing said labels from said supporting means and applying said labels to said articles without interruption of the movement thereof.

2. In a labeling machine for applying labels to traveling webs of material at spaced intervals, a movable applying member normally out of con- ,tact with the movable web, and means for periodically shifting said applying member into contact with said traveling web of material whereby said applying member is operated in corresponding direction and at corresponding speed with said web of material to apply labels thereto at spaced intervals.

3. In a labeling machine for applying labels to moving articles, supporting means for supporting a label in a stationary applying position at the point of application, and a labeling mechanism including an applying member arranged to move in corresponding direction and at corresponding speed with a moving article for removing said label from said supporting means and applying: said label to said article without interruption of v 65 supporting a label in applying position at the point of application, a movable carrier, a movable applying member mounted on said carrier, andmeans for adjusting said carrier to shift said applying member into contact with a traveling web of material whereby said applying member is operated in speed synchronism with said traveling web for applying a label thereto without interruption of the travel of saidweb.

6. In a labeling machine for applying labels at spaced intervals to traveling webs of material, supporting members located in spaced relation to each other for supporting individual labels in applying relationto a traveling web of material, a movable slide mounted in operative relation to said supporting members, a movable applying member carried by said slide, and means for periodically operating said slide to shift said movable applying member into operative relation to the traveling web and to the label on said supporting members whereby said label is removed from the latter and applied to said web of material at spaced intervals without interruption of the travel thereof.

'7. In a labeling machine for applying labels at spaced intervals to traveling webs of material, supporting members located in spaced relation to each other for supporting individual labels in ap plying relation to a traveling web of material, a movable slide mounted in operative relation to said supporting members, an endless applying member movably carried by said slide, and means for periodically operating said slide to shift said applying member into contact with said traveling web and with the label on said supporting members whereby the endless applying member is operated in speed synchronism with said traveling web to remove the labels from said supporting members and applied to said web of material at spaced intervals without interruption of the travel thereof.

8. In a labeling machine for adhesively applying labels to traveling webs of material at spaced intervals, a container for a supply of labels, supporting members in spaced relation to each other at the labeling point, adhesive applying means between said container and said labeling point, means for transferring labels from said supply and depositing said labels on said supporting members ,in temporary adhesive connection therewith, a vertically operable slide in operative relation to said supporting members, a movable endless label applying belt carried by said slide, and means for periodically operating said slide to shift said applying belt into engagement with the supported label and with the, travelling web whereby the latter operates said belt to withdraw the labels from said supporting members and apply said label to the Web at spaced intervals without interruption of the travel of said web of material.

,9. In a labeling machine, a labeling mechanism for applying labels to moving articles comprising an applying member normally occupying an inoperative label applying position relatively to a moving article and movable into label applying relation therewith and operating in the same direction and at the same speed as said moving article to apply a label thereto without interruption of the movement of said article.

10. In a labeling machine, a labeling mecha- I nism for applying labels to moving articles comprising a movable slide, a lever pivotally mounted on said .slide, pulleys loosely mounted on said lever, an endless label applying belt on said p111- leys, an arm connected with said lever, a spring acting on said arm "to press said applying belt into engagement with said articles for applying labels thereto without interruption of the movement of said articles, and co-operating stops on the slide and arm respectively for maintaining the lever and associated belt in a normal inoperative position on said slide.

GEORGE W. VON HOFE.

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