US2503872A - Labeling machine - Google Patents

Labeling machine Download PDF

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Publication number
US2503872A
US2503872A US674469A US67446946A US2503872A US 2503872 A US2503872 A US 2503872A US 674469 A US674469 A US 674469A US 67446946 A US67446946 A US 67446946A US 2503872 A US2503872 A US 2503872A
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Prior art keywords
picker
label
applier
magazine
adhesive
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US674469A
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Holm Carl
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ECONOMIC MACHINERY CO
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ECONOMIC MACHINERY CO
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
    • B65C9/00—Details of labelling machines or apparatus
    • B65C9/08—Label feeding
    • B65C9/12—Removing separate labels from stacks
    • B65C9/16—Removing separate labels from stacks by wetting devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
    • B65C9/00—Details of labelling machines or apparatus
    • B65C9/26—Devices for applying labels
    • B65C9/36—Wipers; Pressers
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T156/00—Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
    • Y10T156/17—Surface bonding means and/or assemblymeans with work feeding or handling means
    • Y10T156/1702—For plural parts or plural areas of single part
    • Y10T156/1744—Means bringing discrete articles into assembled relationship
    • Y10T156/1776—Means separating articles from bulk source
    • Y10T156/1778—Stacked sheet source
    • Y10T156/178—Rotary or pivoted picker

Definitions

  • This invention pertains to the art of label pasting and a'ixing, and relates more particularly to a novel label-applying machine of the kind wherein labels, arranged in a magazine, are removed one by one by an adhesively coated picker.
  • the machine herein described by way of example, as illustrative of the nov-el principles involved, is of the semi-automatic type, but it may be understood that in its broader aspects at least, the invention is applicable to machines of the full automatic type.
  • a picker of the adhesive type consists of two or more label-engaging parts which are spaced or at least separable to permit a transfer element or presser to enter between them in applying the label to the article designed to receive it.
  • Such a divided picker, with its associated transfer or presser element can not be depended upon to deliver the label accurately to the article to be labeled; it is not capable of handling very small labels; and it tends to accumulate gum to an extent such that it must be cleaned at frequent intervals to prevent the gum from dripping.
  • an adhesive type picker which is of unitary character (that is to say, it is not divided to permit the passage of a transfer element between its several parts) and which is of substantially the same shape and external dimensions as the label to be applied; the label is transferred from the picker to a transfer device, applier or carrier which carries the label to and deposits it upon the article to be labeled, and during the transfer from the picker to the applier or carrier, the picker is so moved relativ-ely to the label asto cause the picker to slide while in contact with the adhesive coating on the label so as to spread the coating uniformly over the label.
  • Principal objects of the present invention are to provide a machine of the class described (and having the novel characteristics just above pointed out) which is simple in construction and in operation, com-pact in design, occupies a minimum amount of space and has relatively few parts; which may be manufactured at relatively low cost as compared with most prior machines of this type; which is substantial and durable; and which does not require highly skilled attendants or service.
  • a further object is to provide simple means to insure the uniform spreading of the adhesive over the surface of the label without danger of 'waste of adhesive, or the smearing of adjacent parts.
  • a further object is to provide means operative to prevent removal of labels from the magazine in the event that there is no article in position to receive a label or until, in starting the machine, the picker has been adequately supplied with adhesive.
  • FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in vertical section, and with parts omitted and broken away, the machine being viewed from its right-hand side, and showing the parts in the relative positions which they occuy while the label is being pressed onto the article being labeled;
  • Fig. 2 is a side elevation, to larger scale, illustrating a preferred form of picker
  • Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in vertical section and omitting many parts, and showing the machine at that instant in its oper? ation when the label is rst applied to the article and before the label has been pressed into pla-ce;
  • Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation of the machine, partly in vertical section and with many of the parts omitted or broken away;
  • Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the camwhich actuates the transfer device or applier
  • Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the cam which actuates the device for holding the transfer device or applier firmly in position duringA the transfer of the label from the picker to the appller;
  • Fig. 'l is a side elevation of the cam which moves the picker up and down;
  • Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the cam which moves the picker from front to rear;
  • Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the cam which actuates the presser pad for rmly pressing the label against the article.
  • Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic composite view showing the relative positions of the several cams when mounted upon the drive shaft, the latter being shown in section.
  • the base of the machine is indicated at l, this base constituting a support for a drive motor, a drive clutch control pedal, and such other customary elements as may be desirable, but which are not herein illustrated, since they may be of conventional type and form no essential part of the present invention.
  • the frame of the machine rests upon and is rigidly secured to the base l.
  • the frame comprises spaced parallel uprights 2 and 3, conveniently castings, hanged for strength, and provided with integral bosses or pads where necessaryT to form bearings or supports for shafts or other parts.
  • These uprights .2 and 3 are bolted at their lower ends to the base I and are connected at their upper ends by the transfer top rail 4 which is also a casting as herein illustrated.
  • ⁇ An upstanding bracket 5 is fixed at its lower end to the front of the base .i and is provided at its upper end with a finished vertical face 6 (Fig. 1) against which the vertically adjustable stem l of an article-supporting cradle 8 is clamped by means of a bolt or bolts 9.
  • a horizontal, transverse drive shaft l is supported to turn in bearings in the uprights 2 and 3.
  • a gear Il near the right-hand end of the shaft lil, is mounted to turn freely on the shaft, and is constantly turned while the machine is .in operation by the motor mounted on the base l.
  • Ia train of gears transmits motion from the motor to the gear Il, although any suitable transmission means may be employed for driving the gear l l from the motor. Since this transmission forms no essential part of the invention,
  • the gear Il may be clutched to the shaft lil, so las to drive the latter, by means of a clutch l2 of conventional type, actuated by the foot pedal above referred to and not herein shown.
  • Crank I3 (Fig. 4) fixed to the left-hand end of the shaft ID, actuates the piston rod i4 of a vacuum pump l mounted on the outside of the upright 2.
  • Actuating cams for the various operative elements of the machine are fixed to the shaft llll between the uprights 2 and 3 and will be more fully described hereinafter.
  • Parallel rigid guide rods IS and l1 (Figs. 1 and 4), which slope downwardly and forwardly, are supported at their opposite ends in brackets carried by the frame.
  • a magazine carriage I8 (Fig. 1) is mounted to slide on these rods.
  • the frame IB of a label magazine M is mounted on this carriage.
  • the magazine may be of any appropriate construction, for example, such as is common in the labeling art and designed to hold a stack of labels L (Fig. 1) so that the endmost forward label is disposed in a substantially vertical plane and exposed for removal by the picker.
  • the magazine In its forward position the magazine is so located that the picker, in its normal travel, will contact and remove the exposed end label from the magazine. However, there are times, for example, when iirst starting the machine or when no article is in position to receive a label, when the removal of labels from the magazine should be prevented. To this end, the magazine is movable rearwardly out of its normal position so that the picker can not contact the exposed endmost label.
  • a link 2D (Fig.
  • the picker is a plate of substantially the same shape and dimensions as the label to be applied. It is of unitary construction, that is to say, it is not divided into spaced or separa-ble parts. It is designed to be registered with the endmost label in the magazine and to cover the .entire surface of the label. While the picker plate may, if desired, consist of several parts properly assembled and rigidly united, it is preferably a single piece of material, for exampe, a single casting. As illustrated in Fig. 2, this picker plate has a single, uninterrupted, flat gum-receiving face 32 of substantially the same size and shape as the label. However, in accordance with a modification illustrated in Fig.
  • the adhesive-receiving face of the plate 30 may be divided by a series of parallel channels 3l so as to provide a corresponding series of narrow, parallel adhesive-receiving faces 32a.
  • these faces 329u are xed relatively to each other, and the body portion of the pate is uninterrupted between its lateral edges.
  • the plate 30 has a boss 33 at its forward side which is removably attachable to a horizontal arm 34 (Fig. a) extending laterally from the picker carriage 35.
  • a horizontal arm 34 Fig. a
  • this picker plate 3D is interchangeable with generally similar plates of appropriate size and shape for use with any selected label.
  • the carriage is mounted to slide up and down upon a vertically elongate swinging guide 36.
  • This guide is a flat bar whose upper end is xed to a swivel member 31 mounted to rock on a stub shaft 38 xed to the upright 2.
  • the lower end of this flat guide bar 36 is pivotally attached to the forward end of a link 39 (Figs.
  • the picker carriage 35 is disposed at the rear side of the nat guide rod 36 so as to slide up and down in contact with said rear surface, but is provided with anti-friction rolls 58 (Fig. 3) which ⁇ engage the front surface of the guide rod 36 and which keep the carriage operatively associated with the rod.
  • a link is pivotally secured at its upper end. to the picker carriage 35 and at its lower end to the forward end of a lever 52.
  • This lever 52 (Fig. 3) is fulcrumed at its rear end upon a pin 53 carried by the frame and has a cam follower roll 54 intermediate its ends which is received in a cam ⁇ groove 55 (Fig. 1) in a cam disk 56, fixed to .the
  • the picker is arranged directly to contact the peripheral surface of a roll which dips into a body of gum in a gum box.
  • the picker is moved along a path tangential to the roll while in contact with the gum coated periphery of the roll, thereby turning the roll so as to keep its Vperipheral surface supplied with gum.
  • other roll-driving means is dispensed with and but one element, to wit a single roll, is required for removing gum from the box and applying it to the picker.
  • the gum box 51 (Figs. l and 3) is supported within the frame above the magazine M.
  • a gum- Iapplying roll 58 is journaled in bearings carried by the box and is so arranged as to pick up gum from the box and apply it to the surfaces 32 of the picker as the latter is moved down in tangential relation to the roll, as hereinafter more fully delivered to the article to be labeled by means of a pneumatic transfer device or .applier 68 (Fig. 3).
  • This applier 68 may be of a customary type, comprising suction pad 6
  • This support is carried by one arm-63' of a bell crank lever fulcrumed to turnv about a transverse shaft 64 and having a second arm 65 which is pivotally connected at 66 to the upper arm of a yoke 61.
  • the upper end of a link 68 is arranged to slide in a guide bore in the lower arm of the yoke 61 and is urged upwardly relatively to the yoke by a coil spring 69.
  • the lower end of the link 68 is arranged to slide in a guide bore in the upper arm 18 of a yoke 1
  • is pivotally connected to the forward end of a lever 14 which is fulcrumed at its rear end on a shaft v15 carried by the frame, the lever 14 having a cam follower roll 16 intermediate its ends which is received within a cam groove 11 (Fig. 5) in a cam disk 18 xed to the shaft l 8.
  • the arm 63 which supports the transfer device, carrier, or applier 60 is provided with a bore communicating with a chamber in the part 62, and a flexible conduit 19 leads from this bore to a valve housing V at the intake of pump
  • This presser device may be of conventional type, if desired, comprising a pad 8
  • is carried by a rigid bar 82 which is supported to move up and down toward and away from the article rest 8 by means of a pair of rock arms 83 and 84 which are pivotally connected to the bar 82 by spaced pivot pins 85 and 86 respectively.
  • the rear end of the arm 83 is fulcrurned on a pin 81 carried by the machine frame.
  • the arm 84 is longer than the arm 83 and fulcrumed upon a pin 88, and has a rearwardly directed extension 89 to which the upper end of a link 90 is adjustably united by a pin and slot connection at 9
  • the lower end of link 86 is arranged to slide vin a bore in the upper arm 92 of a yoke 93. It is urged upwardly, relatively to the yoke, by a coil spring S4 and has a limiting head or collar 95 at its lower end.
  • the lower' end of yoke 93 is pivotally connected at 86 to the lower end of a lever 81 fulcrurned at its forward end on a pin 88 carried by the frame, and has a cam followerl roll
  • a bracket 83 (Fig. 1) supports a horizontal transverse shaft
  • 65 is provided with aI roll
  • 86 carries a roll which is designed to engage a part carried by the arm 63 which supports the transfer device or applier 68.
  • 81 is pivotally connected to the upper end of a link H2 (Fig.
  • sequence of operations of the machine in applying a label to an article issubstantially as follows, it being assumed that an article, for example a bottle B, has been placed in the articlereceiving cradle or support 3 in readiness to receive a label, and that the picker 38 is at the upper limit of its stroke.
  • the picker plate passes below the gum f roll 58 and reaches the lowest point in its path of travel, it is caused to dwell for a short time while the link 3S is so actuated by the cam 41 as to swing the lower end of the guide bar 36 to its most rearward position.
  • This movement takes place while the picker is in registry with the forward end of the label magazine and causes the adhesively coated surface 32 of the picker to contact the forward label in the magazine.
  • the lower end of the guide bar 3S is swung forwardly by the action of the cam 41 and immediately thereafter the cam 56 causes the label carriage to move upwardly until it registers with the applier pad 6
  • the adhesive is first applied to the label in a series of parallel stripes by means of the several spaced surfaces 32a of the picker.
  • the transfer device or applier including the suction pad Si with the label adherent thereto, is swung downwardly by the operation of the cam 1'8 until the adhesively coated surface of the label is brought into contact with the upper surface of the bottle B, the parts of this instant in the operation being arranged as in Fig. 3, it being noted that at this time the picker carriage is in position for picking oir a new label from the magazine. It will thus be evident that the picker follows a substantially triangular path,
  • the gumming station being located at that side of the path which extends from the transfer point to the magazine.
  • is automatically broken and the applier 6U is swung backwardly to its normal position.
  • is then again raised to the position shown in Fig. 3, so as to permit the applier 60 to swing downwardly on the next cycle of operation.
  • picker guide 3B is herein specifically shown as pivoted to swing, it is obvious that an equivalent functional result could be obtained by mounting the guide 36 so as to move bodily, for example, in a direction perpendicular to its length in which case the path of the picker would be generally rectangular instead of triangular.
  • the pivotal arrangement is simpler and is to be preferred.
  • the picker guide 36 may be fixed and the gum box and magazine so movable relatively to the fixed guide as to apply gum to the picker and to bring the endmost label in the magazine into operative contact with the picker, rather than to have the picker guide move, all with substantially the same functional effect as that described, although the pivoted picker guide is preferred by reason of its simplicity and to avoid practical dinlculties incident to the moving of the gum box and magazine, especially in high speed machines.
  • a labeling machine having in combination a magazine. an adhesive type picker for removing labels from the magazine, means guiding the picker to move in a substantially rectilinear path, a pneumatic carrier operative to remove the label from the picker by suction, and means operative to swing the carrier in an arcuate path to deliver the label to a labelwapplying station.
  • a labeling machine having in combination a magazine, an adhesive type picker for removing labels from the magazine, an elongate rigid guide for the picker, means for moving the picker along the guide, a pneumatic carrier operative by suction to remove the label from the picker, a sWlnging arm supporting the carrier, and means for 9 swinging the arm to dispose the label with its gummed surface in contact with an article to be labeled.
  • a labeling machine comprising means for applying adhesive to one surface of a label, means for holding the label stationary by its ungummed surface, and means for spreading the gum substantially uniformly over the first surface of the label.
  • a labeling machine having a label magazine, a single adhesive type picker element of substantially the same size and shape as the label to be applied, means for applying gum to the picker element, an applier having a label-contacting surface of substantially the same size and shape as the label to be applied, means for registering the contact surface of the app-lier with the uncoated surface of a label adherent to the picker element, and means operative to cause the label preferentially to adhere to the applier while separating the picker from the applicator.
  • a labeling machine comprising an adhesive type picker element and a magazine from which the picker withdraws labels one by one, a pneumatic carrier, means operative to dispose the picker and carrier at opposite sides of and in registry with a label at a transfer station, means operative to cause the label to adhere more strongly to the carrier than to the picker, and means operative to move the picker away from the transfer station along a path substantially parallel to the plane of the label while leaving the label attached to the carrier.
  • a labeling machine comprising a rigid part having a substantially flat adhesive-receiving face, means for applying adhesive to said face, means for contacting the adhesively coated face of said part with one side of a label, a carrier having a substantially at label-engaging surface, means operative to bring said latter surface into contact with the ungummed surface of the label, means operative to adhere the label to the carrier, and means operative to move said rstnamed part relatively to the label and in a plane substantially parallel to the planeof the label so as to spread the gum uniformly over the label, and means for moving the carrier with the coated 10 surface of the label exposed so as to convey the label to an applying station.
  • an adhesive type picker having a gum-receiving surface, means for applying adhesive to said surface, means for bringing the adhesively coated surface of the picker into contact with a label. means operative to hold the label stationary by its ungummed surface, and means operative to spread the gum substantially uniformly over the picker-contacting surface of the label while the label is so held.
  • an adhesive type picker having a gum-receiving surface, means for applying gum to said surface, means operative to bring the coated surface of the picker into contact with a label, means operative to hold the label stationary, and means operative to slide the picker relatively to the label while the label is so held, thereby to spread the adhesive.
  • an adhesively coated picker removes a label from a magazine and carries it to a transfer station where it is transferred t0 a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive is supplied to the pickerI on its way from the transfer station to the magazine, and having a support at the front of the machine for the article to be labeled, an approximately vertical elongate guide rearward of the support for guiding the picker in its cycle of movements, the transfer station being above the level of the article support, the magazine being below the level of the support and the adhesivesupplying means being so located that as the picker moves lfrom the transfer station to the magazine, it receives a supply of adhesive, and' means for actuating the picker.
  • an elongate guide along which the picker slides means pivotally supporting the guide at one end, means for moving the picker along the guide, and means for swinging the picker about its pivotal support.
  • an elongate movable guide along picker means pivotally supporting the guide at a point adjacent to the transfer station, cam actuated means for moving the picker along the guider and cam actuated means operative to swing the guide, said cam actuated means being so relatively arranged that the picker traverses a sub- Stantially triangular path having the transfer station and magazine at opposite ends of that side of the path at which the adhesive-supplying means is located.
  • a labeling machine comprising means for applying adhesive to spaced' fractional portions of one surface of a label, means for holding the label stationary by its ungummed surface, means for spreading the gum substantially uniformly over the rst surface of the label, and means for bringing the gummed surface of the label into contact with the article designed to receive it.
  • the picker is shaped so as initially to apply the adhesive to a fraction-al portion only of the surface of the label, means operative to cause the picker to dwell at the transfer station while the label is engaged by the applier, and means operative to move the picker in sliding relation to the label thereby to spread the aclhesive over the entire surface of the label.
  • an adhesion type picker whose adhesive surface is divided into a series of spaced parallel narrow faces, means for applying adhesive to said faces of the picker, and means operative to slide the picker relatively to a label contacting the picker thereby to spread the adhesive deposited on the label by said narrow faces, so as to cover Isubstantially the entire label.
  • a labeling machine of the -kind wherein an adhesively coated picker removes a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer station where it is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive is supplied to the picker on its way from the transfer station to the magazine, characterized in that the picker has a series of spaced, parallel, elongate, adhesive-receiving faces all in the same plane, and means operative to move the picker relatively to the label while keeping said faces in contact with the label and in a direction perpendicular to the lengths of said surfaces thereby to spread the adhesive uniformly over the label.
  • adhesive is supplied to the picker on its4 way from the transfer station to the magazine, characterized in having means operative to move the picker rel-atively to the label in a path parallel to the label and while in contact with the label,
  • a labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated picker removes a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer station where it is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive is supplied to the Dicker on its way from the transfer station to the magazine, and wherein the applier swings in an arcuate path, characterized in having means operative to hold the applier stationary at the transfer Istation with its label-receiving surface parallel to the adhesively coated surface of the picker, and means operative to move the picker in a path parallel to the plane of the label whilefin contact with the label and while the label is held stationary by the applier, thereby to spread the adhesive uniformly over the label.
  • a labeling machine including a roll whose peripheral surface is coated with adhesive, a picker having an adhesive-receiving surface, means for moving the picker in a plane tangent to the roll so that the surface of the picker substantially contacts the roll and receives adhesive from the latter, means for moving the coated surface of the picker into contact with a label so that the latter adheres to said surface, a pneumatic applier, means for moving the applier into registry and contact with the uncoated surface of the label, means for creating suction at the applier to cause the label firmly to adhere to the latter, means for sliding the picker relatively to the applier'substantially in the plane of the label and while in contact with the latter, thereby to spread the adhesive, means for moving the applicator with the pneumatically adherent label so as to contact the gummed surface of the label with the article intended to receive the label, means for breaking the suction at the applier, means for retracting the applier, and means for applying pressure to the label to insure its adhesion to the article.
  • a labeling machine comprising a roll Whose peripheral surface is designed to receive fluid gum, means supplying gum to the roll, a picker having a plurality of spaced gum-receiving faces,
  • means for moving the picker in a plane substantially tangent to the roll thereby to apply gum to the picker faces means for moving the picker so that its gummed faces contact and adhesivelyl hold a label
  • a pneumatic applier means for moving the picker and applier relatively thereby to cause the ungummed surface of the label to contact the applier, means creating a suction at the applier thereby to adhere the label to the applier, means for moving the picker relatively to the applier, substantially in the plane of the label, thereby to spread the gum, means for moving the applier with the label adherent thereto so as to dispose the gummed surface of the label in contact with the article designed to receive it, means for releasing the suction and for retracting the applier, and means for pressing the label against the article.
  • a labeling machine comprising a label magazine designed to hold a plurality of labels, a gum-applying roll, means for supplying gum to the roll, a picker, means for moving the picker along a path such that it receives gum from the roll, means for moving the picker with its gummed surface into registry with the label magaz'ne,l means.
  • a pneumatic applier for so relatively moving the applicator and-picker at the transfer station as to cause the ungummed surface of the label to Contact the applier, means for creating suction at the applier to cause the label to adhere to the applier, means for moving the picker in sliding relation tothe label held by the applier, thereby to spread the gum over the label, means for moving the applier with the adherent label so as to Contact ther gummed surface oi the label with the article designed to receive the label, means for breaking the suction at the applier and for retracting the applier, and means for applying pressure to ⁇ r the-label.
  • a labeling machine comprising a rigid part having a substantially ilat adhesive-receiving face, means for applying adhesive to said face, means for contacting the adhesively coated face of said part with one side of a label, a second part having a substantially flat label-engaging surface, means for bringing said surface of said latter part into contact with the nngummed surface of the labeL, relatively moving the label and the firstnamed part so as to spread the gum uniformly over the label, and means for conveying the label, with its gunzmed surface exposed, to an applying station.
  • a labeling machine comprising a picker having a gum-receiving face, means providing a supply of iluid gum, means operative to move the picker and gum supply so as to apply gum to the.
  • means for moving the picker and applier relatively and parallel to the plane of the label thereby to cause the picker to spread the gum over the label means for moving the applier with the label pneumatically attached to it to a position such as to contact the gummed Surface of the label with the article designed to receive it, means for releasing the suction at the applier, means for retracting the applier thereby to leave the label on the article, and means for pressing the label against the article.

Description

c. HOLM LABELING MACHINE April 1.1, 195o 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 5, 1946 `April 11, 195o C, H'OLM 2,503,872
LABELING MACHINE April 1v1, 1950 c. HQLM LABELING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 5, 1946 faul April l1, 1950 4 g, HQLM 2,503,872
LABELING MACHINE Filed June 5, 194e 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Apr. l1, 1950 LABELING MACHINE Carl IiIolm, Worcester, Mass., assignor to Economic Machinery Company, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 5, 1946, Serial No. 674,469
(Cl. 21S- 55) 37 Claims.
This invention pertains to the art of label pasting and a'ixing, and relates more particularly to a novel label-applying machine of the kind wherein labels, arranged in a magazine, are removed one by one by an adhesively coated picker. The machine herein described by way of example, as illustrative of the nov-el principles involved, is of the semi-automatic type, but it may be understood that in its broader aspects at least, the invention is applicable to machines of the full automatic type.
The coating of labels with adhesive and the proper application of the coated label to the article is an operation which is attended with many practical diculties, and in the effort to avoid these difficulties designers of such machines have heretofore commonly resorted to multiplication of parts, complexity of operation, and in many instances to structures of large overall dimensions, so that such machines are expensive, require highly skilled attendants and service, and occupy more space than is sometimes available.
Customarily a picker of the adhesive type consists of two or more label-engaging parts which are spaced or at least separable to permit a transfer element or presser to enter between them in applying the label to the article designed to receive it. Such a divided picker, with its associated transfer or presser element, can not be depended upon to deliver the label accurately to the article to be labeled; it is not capable of handling very small labels; and it tends to accumulate gum to an extent such that it must be cleaned at frequent intervals to prevent the gum from dripping. While pneumatic pickers for removing the labels from the magazine, are effective, such pickers are more complicated than those of the adhesive type, and necessitate the application of gum directly to the label while the latter is adherent to the picker, requiring the employment of gum-applying means of elaborate type.
In accordancel with the present invention, most of the difficulties attendant upon the use of previous types of picker are avoided; accuracy of label positioning is assured; labels of all sizes may be handled with substantially equal facility and speed; the gum is applied uniformly and without waste to the surface of the label; and the mechanism employed is of simpl-e character. In the attainment of these advantages an adhesive type picker is employed which is of unitary character (that is to say, it is not divided to permit the passage of a transfer element between its several parts) and which is of substantially the same shape and external dimensions as the label to be applied; the label is transferred from the picker to a transfer device, applier or carrier which carries the label to and deposits it upon the article to be labeled, and during the transfer from the picker to the applier or carrier, the picker is so moved relativ-ely to the label asto cause the picker to slide while in contact with the adhesive coating on the label so as to spread the coating uniformly over the label.
Principal objects of the present invention are to provide a machine of the class described (and having the novel characteristics just above pointed out) which is simple in construction and in operation, com-pact in design, occupies a minimum amount of space and has relatively few parts; which may be manufactured at relatively low cost as compared with most prior machines of this type; which is substantial and durable; and which does not require highly skilled attendants or service. A further object is to provide simple means to insure the uniform spreading of the adhesive over the surface of the label without danger of 'waste of adhesive, or the smearing of adjacent parts. A further object is to provide means operative to prevent removal of labels from the magazine in the event that there is no article in position to receive a label or until, in starting the machine, the picker has been adequately supplied with adhesive. Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in vertical section, and with parts omitted and broken away, the machine being viewed from its right-hand side, and showing the parts in the relative positions which they occuy while the label is being pressed onto the article being labeled;
Fig. 2 is a side elevation, to larger scale, illustrating a preferred form of picker;
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in vertical section and omitting many parts, and showing the machine at that instant in its oper? ation when the label is rst applied to the article and before the label has been pressed into pla-ce;
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation of the machine, partly in vertical section and with many of the parts omitted or broken away;
i Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the camwhich actuates the transfer device or applier Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the cam which actuates the device for holding the transfer device or applier firmly in position duringA the transfer of the label from the picker to the appller;
Fig. 'l is a side elevation of the cam which moves the picker up and down;
Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the cam which moves the picker from front to rear;
Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the cam which actuates the presser pad for rmly pressing the label against the article; and
Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic composite view showing the relative positions of the several cams when mounted upon the drive shaft, the latter being shown in section.
Referring to the drawings, the base of the machine is indicated at l, this base constituting a support for a drive motor, a drive clutch control pedal, and such other customary elements as may be desirable, but which are not herein illustrated, since they may be of conventional type and form no essential part of the present invention.
The frame of the machine rests upon and is rigidly secured to the base l. As here illustrated by way of example, but without limitation as to exact details, the frame comprises spaced parallel uprights 2 and 3, conveniently castings, hanged for strength, and provided with integral bosses or pads where necessaryT to form bearings or supports for shafts or other parts. These uprights .2 and 3 are bolted at their lower ends to the base I and are connected at their upper ends by the transfer top rail 4 which is also a casting as herein illustrated.
`An upstanding bracket 5 is fixed at its lower end to the front of the base .i and is provided at its upper end with a finished vertical face 6 (Fig. 1) against which the vertically adjustable stem l of an article-supporting cradle 8 is clamped by means of a bolt or bolts 9.
A horizontal, transverse drive shaft l is supported to turn in bearings in the uprights 2 and 3. A gear Il, near the right-hand end of the shaft lil, is mounted to turn freely on the shaft, and is constantly turned while the machine is .in operation by the motor mounted on the base l. Preferably Ia train of gears transmits motion from the motor to the gear Il, although any suitable transmission means may be employed for driving the gear l l from the motor. Since this transmission forms no essential part of the invention,
this train of driving gears is not shown. The gear Il may be clutched to the shaft lil, so las to drive the latter, by means of a clutch l2 of conventional type, actuated by the foot pedal above referred to and not herein shown.
Crank I3 (Fig. 4) fixed to the left-hand end of the shaft ID, actuates the piston rod i4 of a vacuum pump l mounted on the outside of the upright 2. Actuating cams for the various operative elements of the machine are fixed to the shaft llll between the uprights 2 and 3 and will be more fully described hereinafter.
Parallel rigid guide rods IS and l1 (Figs. 1 and 4), which slope downwardly and forwardly, are supported at their opposite ends in brackets carried by the frame. A magazine carriage I8 (Fig. 1) is mounted to slide on these rods. The frame IB of a label magazine M is mounted on this carriage. The magazine may be of any appropriate construction, for example, such as is common in the labeling art and designed to hold a stack of labels L (Fig. 1) so that the endmost forward label is disposed in a substantially vertical plane and exposed for removal by the picker.
. In its forward position the magazine is so located that the picker, in its normal travel, will contact and remove the exposed end label from the magazine. However, there are times, for example, when iirst starting the machine or when no article is in position to receive a label, when the removal of labels from the magazine should be prevented. To this end, the magazine is movable rearwardly out of its normal position so that the picker can not contact the exposed endmost label. For positioning the magazine a link 2D (Fig. l) is pivotally secured at its forward end to the magazine carriage I8 and at its rear end to the normally horizontal arm 2i of a bell crank lever fulcrummed on a shaft 22, said lever having a downwardly and forwardly directed arm 23 to which is pivotally connected the lower rear end of a link 24. The upper end of this link 24 is pivot/ed at Z5 to one arm 2E of a heli crank lever fulcrumed on a shaft 27, and having a long forwardly directed arm 28 provided at its front end with a handle v29.. By swinging the arm `2S upwardly the link 20 is moved rearwardly, thus moving the magazine far enough to the rear to prevent the picker from engaging the endmost label in the magazine.
The picker is a plate of substantially the same shape and dimensions as the label to be applied. It is of unitary construction, that is to say, it is not divided into spaced or separa-ble parts. It is designed to be registered with the endmost label in the magazine and to cover the .entire surface of the label. While the picker plate may, if desired, consist of several parts properly assembled and rigidly united, it is preferably a single piece of material, for exampe, a single casting. As illustrated in Fig. 2, this picker plate has a single, uninterrupted, flat gum-receiving face 32 of substantially the same size and shape as the label. However, in accordance with a modification illustrated in Fig. 2a, the adhesive-receiving face of the plate 30 may be divided by a series of parallel channels 3l so as to provide a corresponding series of narrow, parallel adhesive-receiving faces 32a. However, these faces 329u are xed relatively to each other, and the body portion of the pate is uninterrupted between its lateral edges.
The plate 30 has a boss 33 at its forward side which is removably attachable to a horizontal arm 34 (Fig. a) extending laterally from the picker carriage 35. It is to be understood that this picker plate 3D is interchangeable with generally similar plates of appropriate size and shape for use with any selected label. The carriage is mounted to slide up and down upon a vertically elongate swinging guide 36. This guide is a flat bar whose upper end is xed to a swivel member 31 mounted to rock on a stub shaft 38 xed to the upright 2. The lower end of this flat guide bar 36 is pivotally attached to the forward end of a link 39 (Figs. 3 and 4) whose rear end portion is arranged to slide in a guide boss 40 on the vforward end of a yoke 4i, pivotally connected at its rear end, at 42, to the upper end of a lever 43. The lower end of the lever 43 is fulcrumed on a pin 44 (Fig. 3) carried by the frame. A `cam follower roll 45, mounted on the lever 43 intermediate its ends, engages a cam groove 46 (Fig. 8) in a cam disk 4l fixed to the main shaft I0. The rear end of the link 39 has a fixed .head or collar 48, and a coiled spring 49 is interposed between this collar and the boss 4B, the spring providing a yielding connection between the yoke and link.
The picker carriage 35 is disposed at the rear side of the nat guide rod 36 so as to slide up and down in contact with said rear surface, but is provided with anti-friction rolls 58 (Fig. 3) which `engage the front surface of the guide rod 36 and which keep the carriage operatively associated with the rod.
A link is pivotally secured at its upper end. to the picker carriage 35 and at its lower end to the forward end of a lever 52. This lever 52 (Fig. 3) is fulcrumed at its rear end upon a pin 53 carried by the frame and has a cam follower roll 54 intermediate its ends which is received in a cam `groove 55 (Fig. 1) in a cam disk 56, fixed to .the
.drive shaft I8. Rotation of the cam disk 56 thus moves the picker carriage up and down along the guide rod 36, while rotation of the cam disk 41 swings the lower end of the guide rod .and thus moves the picker from front to rear.
In furtherance of the desired simplicity of conlstruction, the picker is arranged directly to contact the peripheral surface of a roll which dips into a body of gum in a gum box. The picker is moved along a path tangential to the roll while in contact with the gum coated periphery of the roll, thereby turning the roll so as to keep its Vperipheral surface supplied with gum. Thus other roll-driving means is dispensed with and but one element, to wit a single roll, is required for removing gum from the box and applying it to the picker.
The gum box 51 (Figs. l and 3) is supported within the frame above the magazine M. A gum- Iapplying roll 58 is journaled in bearings carried by the box and is so arranged as to pick up gum from the box and apply it to the surfaces 32 of the picker as the latter is moved down in tangential relation to the roll, as hereinafter more fully delivered to the article to be labeled by means of a pneumatic transfer device or .applier 68 (Fig. 3). This applier 68 may be of a customary type, comprising suction pad 6| having therein suction orifices which communicate with a chamber within a support 62 for the pad. This support is carried by one arm-63' of a bell crank lever fulcrumed to turnv about a transverse shaft 64 and having a second arm 65 which is pivotally connected at 66 to the upper arm of a yoke 61. The upper end of a link 68 is arranged to slide in a guide bore in the lower arm of the yoke 61 and is urged upwardly relatively to the yoke by a coil spring 69. The lower end of the link 68 is arranged to slide in a guide bore in the upper arm 18 of a yoke 1|, being urged upwardly relatively to the latter yoke by a coil spring 12, the link having a limiting collar 13 at its lower end. The lower end of the yoke 1| is pivotally connected to the forward end of a lever 14 which is fulcrumed at its rear end on a shaft v15 carried by the frame, the lever 14 having a cam follower roll 16 intermediate its ends which is received within a cam groove 11 (Fig. 5) in a cam disk 18 xed to the shaft l 8.
The arm 63 which supports the transfer device, carrier, or applier 60 is provided with a bore communicating with a chamber in the part 62, and a flexible conduit 19 leads from this bore to a valve housing V at the intake of pump |5. x After, it has .deposited a label upon the article,
the transfer device or applier returns to receive another label from the picker, and during this interval the label left resting upon the article is firmly pressed against the article by a presser device 88. This presser device may be of conventional type, if desired, comprising a pad 8|, usually of yieldable material and contoured to correspond to the contour of the article to which the label is applied. This pad 8| is carried by a rigid bar 82 which is supported to move up and down toward and away from the article rest 8 by means of a pair of rock arms 83 and 84 which are pivotally connected to the bar 82 by spaced pivot pins 85 and 86 respectively. The rear end of the arm 83 is fulcrurned on a pin 81 carried by the machine frame. The arm 84 is longer than the arm 83 and fulcrumed upon a pin 88, and has a rearwardly directed extension 89 to which the upper end of a link 90 is adjustably united by a pin and slot connection at 9|.
The lower end of link 86 is arranged to slide vin a bore in the upper arm 92 of a yoke 93. It is urged upwardly, relatively to the yoke, by a coil spring S4 and has a limiting head or collar 95 at its lower end. The lower' end of yoke 93 is pivotally connected at 86 to the lower end of a lever 81 fulcrurned at its forward end on a pin 88 carried by the frame, and has a cam followerl roll |88 intermediate its ends which is received in a cam groove i8| (Fig. 9) in a cam disk |02 fixed to the drive shaft.
A bracket 83 (Fig. 1) supports a horizontal transverse shaft |84 upon which is mounted a lever device having the arms |85, |86 and |81 disposed substantially vat right angles to each other. The arm |65 is provided with aI roll |88 which engages the edge of a cam |09 fixed relatively to the lever 28 so as to be turned by actuation of said lever, the cam having a concentric dwell or locking portion H8. The arm |86 carries a roll which is designed to engage a part carried by the arm 63 which supports the transfer device or applier 68. The rear end of the arm |81 is pivotally connected to the upper end of a link H2 (Fig. 1) whose lower end is arranged to slidein a bore in the upper arm |3 -of a yoke ||4, the link being urged downwardly relatively to the yoke by a coil spring ||5. The lower end of the yoke is pivotally connected at |6 to a lever |1 fulcrumed on a pin ||8 carried by the frame and having a cam follower roll ||9 which is received in a cam groove |28 (Fig. 6) y in a cam disk |2| fixed to the shaft I8.
The sequence of operations of the machine in applying a label to an article issubstantially as follows, it being assumed that an article, for example a bottle B, has been placed in the articlereceiving cradle or support 3 in readiness to receive a label, and that the picker 38 is at the upper limit of its stroke.
Assuming that the machine is just starting into operation, having previously been idle, it is desirable to have the machine perform several idle cycles oi movement at the start in order that the picker may be supplied with an adequate amount of adhesive before it attempts to remove a label from the magazine. To permit such idle movement of the machine, the operator first raises the handle 29 thereby rocking the lever arm 26 (Fig. l) and moving the link 24 upwardly, thus swinging the lever arm 2| upwardly and by means f ofthe link 28 retracting the magazine M from its normal position. When in this rearward position the picker may go through its normal 'cycle of operations without contacting a labeland thus vthe picker may be supplied with an adequate coating of adhesive before it makes any attempt to remove a label from the magazine.
In thus swinging the arm 28 upwardly, 'the cam |09 is rotated so as to press the roll |08 downwardly thus swinging the arm ii to the rear so that the roll i!! is no longer in position to hold the transfer device or applier 6U in the label transfer position. Since the spring 63 tends to swing the transfer device rearwardly, the ree moval of the roll lli from its normal position permits the applier to move slightly back away from the picker path, so that the ,face of the a-pplier will not be smeared with adhesive. The dwell portion HD Oi the cam |99 serves to retain the parts in this abnormal position until the handle 28is purposely moved downwardly again,
It will now be assumed that these preliminary operations, during which the picker has received a coating of adhesive, have been completed and that the handle 28 has been restored to the position shown in Fig. 1. The picker carriage 34 is now moved downwardly by the link the guide 36 being held in such a position by the link 38 that the adhesive-receiving surfaces 32 of the picker plate move downwardly in a path which is substantially tangent to the surface of the gum roll 5B. In thus moving past the gum roll the surfaces 32 are supplied with a coating of adhesive. As the picker plate passes below the gum f roll 58 and reaches the lowest point in its path of travel, it is caused to dwell for a short time while the link 3S is so actuated by the cam 41 as to swing the lower end of the guide bar 36 to its most rearward position. This movement takes place while the picker is in registry with the forward end of the label magazine and causes the adhesively coated surface 32 of the picker to contact the forward label in the magazine. When the label has been contacted by the gum surface 32 so as to adhere to the latter, the lower end of the guide bar 3S is swung forwardly by the action of the cam 41 and immediately thereafter the cam 56 causes the label carriage to move upwardly until it registers with the applier pad 6| which is now in its rearmost position, as shown in Fig. l. This upward movement of the picker carriage takes place in a path such that as the picker moves upwardly past the gum roll 58, the label, which is adherent to the picker, does not contact the gum roll. When the picker carriage has reached the upper end of its stroke with the picker in registry with the applier pad 6|, the picker carriage dwells at this point, and the applier pad 6l is moved forwardly by the roll I so that the label adherent to the picker is caused to contact with the forward surface of the applierI pad 6|. At this instant control valves in a valve housing V (Fig. 4) of a type conventional in this art, are so manipulated, as to establish suction at the suction orices of the applier pad 6| so that the label adheres to the pad more strongly than to the surfaces 32 of the picker. The applier 60 is now held in this position by the operation of the cams '|8 and l2 l, while the picker commences its next down stroke. The picker moves downwardly while still in contact with the label. This movement of the picker in a path parallel to the face of the applier pad 6| and while the label is firmly attached to the applier pad, results in a uniform distribution of the adhesive over the surface of the label. If a picker such as that illustrated in Fig. 2e be employed, the adhesive is first applied to the label in a series of parallel stripes by means of the several spaced surfaces 32a of the picker. By this means it is possible to apply just suiiicient adhesive to the label, while insuring its uniform distribution, and without danger of applying too much adhesive so that the adhesive will smear adjacent parts.
As soon as the picker carriage has descended far enough to clear the suction pad 6| of the applier, the transfer device or applier, including the suction pad Si with the label adherent thereto, is swung downwardly by the operation of the cam 1'8 until the adhesively coated surface of the label is brought into contact with the upper surface of the bottle B, the parts of this instant in the operation being arranged as in Fig. 3, it being noted that at this time the picker carriage is in position for picking oir a new label from the magazine. It will thus be evident that the picker follows a substantially triangular path,
, the gumming station being located at that side of the path which extends from the transfer point to the magazine.
Immediately after the label has been adhesively applied to the bottle, the suction at applier pad 6| is automatically broken and the applier 6U is swung backwardly to its normal position. As soon as the applier has cleared the path of the presser pad 8|, the latter is moved downwardly by the action of the cam |32 so as firmly to press the label against the bottle to insure smooth and uniform adhesion. The presser pad 8| is then again raised to the position shown in Fig. 3, so as to permit the applier 60 to swing downwardly on the next cycle of operation.
While the picker guide 3B is herein specifically shown as pivoted to swing, it is obvious that an equivalent functional result could be obtained by mounting the guide 36 so as to move bodily, for example, in a direction perpendicular to its length in which case the path of the picker would be generally rectangular instead of triangular. However, the pivotal arrangement is simpler and is to be preferred. Likewise, as is customary in the art, the picker guide 36 may be fixed and the gum box and magazine so movable relatively to the fixed guide as to apply gum to the picker and to bring the endmost label in the magazine into operative contact with the picker, rather than to have the picker guide move, all with substantially the same functional effect as that described, although the pivoted picker guide is preferred by reason of its simplicity and to avoid practical dinlculties incident to the moving of the gum box and magazine, especially in high speed machines.
While one desirable embodiment of the invention has been illustrated by way of example, it is to be understood that the invention is broadly inclusive of any and all modications falling within the scope of the appended claims.
I claim:
l. A labeling machine having in combination a magazine. an adhesive type picker for removing labels from the magazine, means guiding the picker to move in a substantially rectilinear path, a pneumatic carrier operative to remove the label from the picker by suction, and means operative to swing the carrier in an arcuate path to deliver the label to a labelwapplying station.
2. A labeling machine having in combination a magazine, an adhesive type picker for removing labels from the magazine, an elongate rigid guide for the picker, means for moving the picker along the guide, a pneumatic carrier operative by suction to remove the label from the picker, a sWlnging arm supporting the carrier, and means for 9 swinging the arm to dispose the label with its gummed surface in contact with an article to be labeled.
3. A labeling machine comprising means for applying adhesive to one surface of a label, means for holding the label stationary by its ungummed surface, and means for spreading the gum substantially uniformly over the first surface of the label.
4. A labeling machine having a label magazine, a single adhesive type picker element of substantially the same size and shape as the label to be applied, means for applying gum to the picker element, an applier having a label-contacting surface of substantially the same size and shape as the label to be applied, means for registering the contact surface of the app-lier with the uncoated surface of a label adherent to the picker element, and means operative to cause the label preferentially to adhere to the applier while separating the picker from the applicator.
5. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated picker removes a label from a magazine and carries it to a transfer station where it is transferred to an applier and wherein adhesive is supplied to the picker on its way from the transfer station to the magazine, and having a support for the article to be labeled, characterized in that the picker and the applier each has a label-contacting surface which is of substantially the same shape and size as the label to be applied, and in having means operative to dispose said surfaces, respectively, at opposite sides of and in contact with a label at the transfer station.
` 6. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated picker removes a label froma magazine and carries it to a transfer station where it is transferred to an applier and wherein adhesive is supplied to the picker on its way from the transfer station to the magazine, and having a support for the article to be labeled, characterized in that the picker has a single adhesivereceiving surface of substantially the same size and shape as the label to be applied, the applier having a label-contacting surface of approximately the same size, and means for registering the label-contacting surfaces of the picker and applier with the label interposed between them.
'7. A labeling machine comprising an adhesive type picker element and a magazine from which the picker withdraws labels one by one, a pneumatic carrier, means operative to dispose the picker and carrier at opposite sides of and in registry with a label at a transfer station, means operative to cause the label to adhere more strongly to the carrier than to the picker, and means operative to move the picker away from the transfer station along a path substantially parallel to the plane of the label while leaving the label attached to the carrier.
8. A labeling machine comprising a rigid part having a substantially flat adhesive-receiving face, means for applying adhesive to said face, means for contacting the adhesively coated face of said part with one side of a label, a carrier having a substantially at label-engaging surface, means operative to bring said latter surface into contact with the ungummed surface of the label, means operative to adhere the label to the carrier, and means operative to move said rstnamed part relatively to the label and in a plane substantially parallel to the planeof the label so as to spread the gum uniformly over the label, and means for moving the carrier with the coated 10 surface of the label exposed so as to convey the label to an applying station.
9. In a machine of the class described, an adhesive type picker having a gum-receiving surface, means for applying adhesive to said surface, means for bringing the adhesively coated surface of the picker into contact with a label. means operative to hold the label stationary by its ungummed surface, and means operative to spread the gum substantially uniformly over the picker-contacting surface of the label while the label is so held.
1G. In a machine of the class described, an adhesive type picker having a gum-receiving surface, means for applying gum to said surface, means operative to bring the coated surface of the picker into contact with a label, means operative to hold the label stationary, and means operative to slide the picker relatively to the label while the label is so held, thereby to spread the adhesive.
l1. In a labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated picker removes a label from a magazine and carries it to a transfer station where it is transferred t0 a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive is supplied to the pickerI on its way from the transfer station to the magazine, and having a support at the front of the machine for the article to be labeled, an approximately vertical elongate guide rearward of the support for guiding the picker in its cycle of movements, the transfer station being above the level of the article support, the magazine being below the level of the support and the adhesivesupplying means being so located that as the picker moves lfrom the transfer station to the magazine, it receives a supply of adhesive, and' means for actuating the picker.
12. A labeling machine of the kind in which4 an adhesively coated picker removes a, label from a magazine and delivers it to an applier at a transfer station, and having means for supplying adhesive to the picker and means for moving the picker through a definite cycle, characterized in that said picker-moving means comprises an elongate picker guide pivoted to swing about a xed axis, two driving cams, and parts actuated by the cams to move the picker along said guide in a substantially polygonal path having the magazine at one angle and the transfer station at another angle, and with the adhesive-supplying means adjacent to that part of said path which connects said angles'.
13. In a labeling machine of the kind in which an adhesively coated picker removes a label from a magazine and delivers it to an applier at a transfer station, an elongate guide along which the picker slides, means pivotally supporting the guide at one end, means for moving the picker along the guide, and means for swinging the picker about its pivotal support.
14. In a labeling machine of the kind in which an adhesively coated picker removes a label from a magazine and delivers it to an applier at a transfer station, an elongate movable guide along picker, means pivotally supporting the guide at a point adjacent to the transfer station, cam actuated means for moving the picker along the guider and cam actuated means operative to swing the guide, said cam actuated means being so relatively arranged that the picker traverses a sub- Stantially triangular path having the transfer station and magazine at opposite ends of that side of the path at which the adhesive-supplying means is located.
16. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated picker removes a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer station where it is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive is supplied to the picker on its way from the transfer station to the magazine, characterized in having an elongate movable guide for the picker,v cam actuated means for moving the picker along the guide, and cam actuated means for so moving the guide, said cam actuated means lbeing so constructed and arranged as to cause the moving picker to pass in adhesive-receiving relation to the adhesive-supplying means and thereafter to engage the coated surface of the picker with the endmost label in the magazine.
17. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated picker removes a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer station where it is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive is supplied to the picker on its Way from the transfer station to the magazine, and a spring which tends to move the applier away from the transfer station, characterized in having a movable stop normally preventing movement of the applier by the spring and means operative at will to make said stop inoperative, thereby to prevent operative approach of the picker and applier at the transfer station while the machine is in operation.
v18.` A labeling machine of the kind in which an adhesively coated picker removes a label from a magazine and delivers it to an applier at a transfer station, a guide for the picker, said guide being pivoted to.` swing about an axis adjacent to the transfer station, the guide being of a length toy provide a path for the picker extending from the transfer station to the magazine, a gum roll for applying adhesive to the picker, cam actuated means for moving the picker along said guide, and cam actuated means for swinging the guide, the means for moving the guide and picker being so constructed and arranged that as the picker moves from the transfer station to the magazine it passes the adhesive-supplying means in operative relation to the latter and in returning to the transfer station passes the adhesive-supplying means out of operative relation to the latter.
19. A labeling machine of the kind in which labels held in a magazine are removed therefrom one after another by an adhesively coated' picker, transferred from the latter to a pneumatic ap plier, and applied by the latter to the article to be labeled, and wherein a roller supplies adhesive tothe label-engaging surface of the .picker and an elongate movable rigid guide for the picker, characterized in having cam actuated means for moving the guide and in having cam actuated means for moving thepicker along the guide, said cam actuated means being so constructed and related that the picker is moved in one direction along the guide in tangential relation to the roller so as to receive adhesive from the latter and then is contacted with the endmost label in the magazine and is then retracted from the magazine and moved back along the guide out of contact with the roller, and cam actuated means for moving the applier into Contact with the ungummed surface of the label adherent to the picker.
2G. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated picker removes a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer station Where it is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive is supplied, to the picker on its Way from the transfer station to the magazine, characterized in having cam operated applier actuating means normally operative to dispose the applier in label-transferring relation to the picker at the transfer station, means tending to prevent operative approach of the applier and picker while the picker continues to perform its normal cycle of operations, and a manually controlled stop element normally positioned to insure OD- erative approach of the applier and picker.
2l. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated picker removes a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer station where it is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive is supplied to the picker on its way from the transfer station to the magazine, and in which continuously acting means causes the picker to perform its cycle of movements, characterized in that the magazine is movable toward and from operative position, and in having link and lever means normally operative to hold the magazine in its operative position but Constructed and arranged to move the magazine to inoperative position so as to prevent contact of the picker with a label in the magazine during a plurality of successive cycles of operation of the machine.
22. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated apicker removes a label from a magazine and carries it to a transfer station Where it is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive is supplied to the picker on its way from the transfer station to the magazine, and in which continuously acting means causes the picker to perform its cycle of movement, characterized in having manually actuable ring'and lever means operative at will and while the picker continues its cycle of movements, to move the magazine and applier out of operative relation to the picker path.
23. In a labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated picker removes a label from a magazine and carries it to a transfer station where it is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive is supplied to the picker on its way from the transfer station to the magazine, an article support, and a movable label presser, a drive shaft having thereon cams for actuating the picker, applier and presser, and means including yieldable connections for` transmitting motion from the cams to the picker, presser and applier, respectively.
24. A labeling machine comprising means for applying adhesive to spaced' fractional portions of one surface of a label, means for holding the label stationary by its ungummed surface, means for spreading the gum substantially uniformly over the rst surface of the label, and means for bringing the gummed surface of the label into contact with the article designed to receive it.
25. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated picker removes a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer station where it is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive is supplied to the picker on its way from the transfer station to the magazine,
asoasra Y characterized in that the picker is shaped so as initially to apply the adhesive to a fraction-al portion only of the surface of the label, means operative to cause the picker to dwell at the transfer station while the label is engaged by the applier, and means operative to move the picker in sliding relation to the label thereby to spread the aclhesive over the entire surface of the label.
26. In a machine of the class described, an adhesion type picker whose adhesive surface is divided into a series of spaced parallel narrow faces, means for applying adhesive to said faces of the picker, and means operative to slide the picker relatively to a label contacting the picker thereby to spread the adhesive deposited on the label by said narrow faces, so as to cover Isubstantially the entire label.
27. A labeling machine of the -kind wherein an adhesively coated picker removes a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer station where it is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive is supplied to the picker on its way from the transfer station to the magazine, characterized in that the picker has a series of spaced, parallel, elongate, adhesive-receiving faces all in the same plane, and means operative to move the picker relatively to the label while keeping said faces in contact with the label and in a direction perpendicular to the lengths of said surfaces thereby to spread the adhesive uniformly over the label.
28. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated picker removes a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer stationwhere it is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive is supplied to the picker on its way from the transfer station to the magazin-e, characterized in that the adhesive-receiving face of the picker is shaped to apply the adhesive to the label as a plurality of parallel spaced stripes, and means operative to move the picker relatively to the label thereby to spread the adhesive to form a substantially uniform coating upon the surface of the label.
29. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated picker removes a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer station where it is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive is supplied to the picker on its way from the transfer station to the magazine, characterized in having picker-actuating means operative to cause the picker with a label adhering thereto to dwell at the transfer station, means operative to engage the pneumatic applier with the uncoated face of the label at the transfer station, and means operative to slide the picker relatively to the label while the latter is held stationary bythe applier thereby to spread the adhesive.
30. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated picker removes a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer station Where it is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive is supplied to the picker on its way from the transfer station to the magazine, characterized in having means operative to hold the pneumatic applier stationary at the transfer station, and means operative to move the picker in a path parallel to the label-engaging surface of the applier while the label is held stationary by the latter, thereby to spread the adhesive evenly over the face of the label.
31. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated picker removes a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer station Where it is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and
wherein adhesive is supplied to the picker on its4 way from the transfer station to the magazine, characterized in having means operative to move the picker rel-atively to the label in a path parallel to the label and while in contact with the label,
thereby to spread the adhesive uniformly over the label.
32. A labeling machine of the kind .wherein an adhesively coated picker removes a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer station where it is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive is supplied to the Dicker on its way from the transfer station to the magazine, and wherein the applier swings in an arcuate path, characterized in having means operative to hold the applier stationary at the transfer Istation with its label-receiving surface parallel to the adhesively coated surface of the picker, and means operative to move the picker in a path parallel to the plane of the label whilefin contact with the label and while the label is held stationary by the applier, thereby to spread the adhesive uniformly over the label.
33. A labeling machine including a roll whose peripheral surface is coated with adhesive, a picker having an adhesive-receiving surface, means for moving the picker in a plane tangent to the roll so that the surface of the picker substantially contacts the roll and receives adhesive from the latter, means for moving the coated surface of the picker into contact with a label so that the latter adheres to said surface, a pneumatic applier, means for moving the applier into registry and contact with the uncoated surface of the label, means for creating suction at the applier to cause the label firmly to adhere to the latter, means for sliding the picker relatively to the applier'substantially in the plane of the label and while in contact with the latter, thereby to spread the adhesive, means for moving the applicator with the pneumatically adherent label so as to contact the gummed surface of the label with the article intended to receive the label, means for breaking the suction at the applier, means for retracting the applier, and means for applying pressure to the label to insure its adhesion to the article.
34. A labeling machine comprising a roll Whose peripheral surface is designed to receive fluid gum, means supplying gum to the roll, a picker having a plurality of spaced gum-receiving faces,
means for moving the picker in a plane substantially tangent to the roll thereby to apply gum to the picker faces, means for moving the picker so that its gummed faces contact and adhesivelyl hold a label, a pneumatic applier, means for moving the picker and applier relatively thereby to cause the ungummed surface of the label to contact the applier, means creating a suction at the applier thereby to adhere the label to the applier, means for moving the picker relatively to the applier, substantially in the plane of the label, thereby to spread the gum, means for moving the applier with the label adherent thereto so as to dispose the gummed surface of the label in contact with the article designed to receive it, means for releasing the suction and for retracting the applier, and means for pressing the label against the article.
35. A labeling machine comprising a label magazine designed to hold a plurality of labels, a gum-applying roll, means for supplying gum to the roll, a picker, means for moving the picker along a path such that it receives gum from the roll, means for moving the picker with its gummed surface into registry with the label magaz'ne,l means. for advancing the picker to cause its gummed surface to engage the endmost label in the magazine, means for retraeting the picker from the magazine with a label adherent thereto and for moving it to a transfer station, a pneumatic applier, means for so relatively moving the applicator and-picker at the transfer station as to cause the ungummed surface of the label to Contact the applier, means for creating suction at the applier to cause the label to adhere to the applier, means for moving the picker in sliding relation tothe label held by the applier, thereby to spread the gum over the label, means for moving the applier with the adherent label so as to Contact ther gummed surface oi the label with the article designed to receive the label, means for breaking the suction at the applier and for retracting the applier, and means for applying pressure to`r the-label.
36. A labeling machine comprising a rigid part having a substantially ilat adhesive-receiving face, means for applying adhesive to said face, means for contacting the adhesively coated face of said part with one side of a label, a second part having a substantially flat label-engaging surface, means for bringing said surface of said latter part into contact with the nngummed surface of the labeL, relatively moving the label and the firstnamed part so as to spread the gum uniformly over the label, and means for conveying the label, with its gunzmed surface exposed, to an applying station.
37. A labeling machine comprising a picker having a gum-receiving face, means providing a supply of iluid gum, means operative to move the picker and gum supply so as to apply gum to the.
gum-receiving face of the picker, means for relatively moving the picker and label to cause the label to adhere to the gummed face of the picker, a pneumatic applier, means for moving the applier and picker into registry, and so as to contact the ungummed surface of the label with the applier, means for creating suction. at the applier to cause the label to adhere to the latter, means for moving the picker and applier relatively and parallel to the plane of the label thereby to cause the picker to spread the gum over the label, means for moving the applier with the label pneumatically attached to it to a position such as to contact the gummed Surface of the label with the article designed to receive it, means for releasing the suction at the applier, means for retracting the applier thereby to leave the label on the article, and means for pressing the label against the article.
CARL HOLM.
REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile o this patent:
UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 597,858 Pettee Jan. 25, 1898 808,955 Tucker Jan. 2, 1906 900,816 Woodland Oct. 13, 1908 1,143,968 Jagenberg June 22, 1915 1,433,874 Cooper Oct. 31, 1922 2,414,019 Carter Jan. 7, 1947
US674469A 1946-06-05 1946-06-05 Labeling machine Expired - Lifetime US2503872A (en)

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2600205A (en) * 1950-06-09 1952-06-10 Meyer Geo J Mfg Co Semiautomatic label-applying machine
US3284271A (en) * 1962-05-10 1966-11-08 Nelson Parks Corp Labeling machine
US3316877A (en) * 1964-12-16 1967-05-02 Procter & Gamble Label applying mechanism

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US597858A (en) * 1898-01-25 Bottle-labeling machine
US808955A (en) * 1905-04-20 1906-01-02 Benjamin W Tucker Machine for applying labels and the like to bottles and other articles.
US900816A (en) * 1907-02-18 1908-10-13 Frank O Woodland Labeling-machine.
US1143968A (en) * 1914-08-07 1915-06-22 Emil Jagenberg Labeling-machine.
US1433874A (en) * 1918-12-12 1922-10-31 Cooper Simon Labeling machine
US2414019A (en) * 1945-05-02 1947-01-07 Economic Machinery Co Picker mechanism

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US597858A (en) * 1898-01-25 Bottle-labeling machine
US808955A (en) * 1905-04-20 1906-01-02 Benjamin W Tucker Machine for applying labels and the like to bottles and other articles.
US900816A (en) * 1907-02-18 1908-10-13 Frank O Woodland Labeling-machine.
US1143968A (en) * 1914-08-07 1915-06-22 Emil Jagenberg Labeling-machine.
US1433874A (en) * 1918-12-12 1922-10-31 Cooper Simon Labeling machine
US2414019A (en) * 1945-05-02 1947-01-07 Economic Machinery Co Picker mechanism

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2600205A (en) * 1950-06-09 1952-06-10 Meyer Geo J Mfg Co Semiautomatic label-applying machine
US3284271A (en) * 1962-05-10 1966-11-08 Nelson Parks Corp Labeling machine
US3316877A (en) * 1964-12-16 1967-05-02 Procter & Gamble Label applying mechanism

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