US2569101A

US2569101A - Label severing and applying machine

Info

Publication number: US2569101A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hoppe William
Original assignee: NAT BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE CO
Current assignee: NAT BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE CO; NATIONAL BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE CO
Priority date: 1948-11-12
Filing date: 1948-11-12
Publication date: 1951-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 1968-09-25

Description

Sept. 25, 1951 w. HOPPE 2,569,101

LABEL SEVERING AND APPLYING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet l T INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Sept. 25, 1951 W. HOPPE LABEL SEVERING AND APPLYING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 12, 1948 IL 1 MM Hopp:

+24% ATTORNEYS Sept. 25, 1951 w. HOPPE LABEL SEVERING AND APPLYING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 12, 1948 A V 7 h l J O A Q 4 2 o 3 0 4 X w w E in. 4 5 6 u z a 1 INVENTOR 5 WILL/AM HoPPE ATTORNEYS Sept. 25, 1951 w. HOPPE LABEL SEVERING AND APPLYING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 12, 1948 Sept. 25, 1951 w. HOPPE 2,569,101

' LABEL SEVERING AND APPLYING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR MLZMM Hop/ WW 5 2M ATTORN EYS Sept. 25, 1951 w HQPPE 2,569,101

, LABEL SEVERING AND APPLYING MACHINE Filed NOV. 12, 1948 @jga.

7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR .116 MM Hop/ ATTORNEYS Sept. 25, 1951 w, HQPPE 2,569,101

LABEL SEVERING AND APPLYING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR ML L MM Home ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 25, 1951 LABEL SEVERIN G AND APPLYING MACHINE William Hoppe, Longmeadow', Mass., assignor to National Bread Wrapping Machine 00., East Longmeadow, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 12, 1948, Serial No. 59,628

This invention relates to a labeling machine for applying labels to the ends of articles and packages, such as wrapped loaves of bread, cartons, and similar packaged goods.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a so-called end labeler which will accurately and securely place the labels on the packages at a high rate of speed, which will at the same time meet a substantial range of package and label sizes, which can be operated inassociation with a wrapping machine and which will operate with labels coated with heat activated adhesive, such as a thermoplastic material.

A further object is to provide a feeding mechanism for a web, from whichlabels are severed, which will accurately register the label web with the cutting device which severs the labels and with a printing device for applying additional indicia at predetermined positions on previously printed labels just prior to the severance of the labels from the web. 7

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent in the following specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention,

9 CIaimS. (Cl. 216-25) Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, the label supply reel being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view substantially on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan View, parts being broken away showing the label web feed;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the label feed and applying means looking from the right in-Fig. 1;

Fig. dis a viewsimilar to Fig. 4 but looking from the left of Fig. 1;

. Fig. 6 is asectional view substantially on line 6-45 of Fig. l;

:Fig. '7 is a detail sectional view substantially on line 1-'! of Fig. 2; a

Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 7, the driving pawl being in operative position; r

Fig. 9 is a detail plan view parts beingbroken away showing the driving pawl in its out position;

Fig. 10 is a detail section of the overload release mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail view of the applying drum as shown in Fig. 2,, but .on a larger scale and showing the label delivery device in discharging position;

; Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail view showing the relation of the feeding teeth of the applying drum to the discharge roll; and

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view of the label roll support.

Referring to the drawings, more particularly Figs. 1 and 2, the machine is shown as comprising a frame I which supports a vertical drive shaft 2, a vertical shaft 3 which carries the label applying drum 4 and a vertical cam shaft 5..

Shafts

2, 3 and 5 carry sprockets 6, l and 8 respectively which are connected by a sprocket chain 9 which also passes around idler sprockets ll]. Sprockets 6 and i are fixed to their respective shafts so that the applying drum 4 is constantly driven. Sprocket 8 is rotatable on shaft 5 and is normally connected thereto by a clutch mechanism .later described, which is automatically thrown out in the absence of a package to be labeled.

Articles or packages to be labeled are carried past the applying drum lby a suitable conveyor II which may be the discharge conveyor of a Wrapping machine, the applied labels being held against the package by a presser belt 12 passing around and driven by a pulley l3 secured to drive shaft 2 and around an idle pulley 14 mounted on a stub shaft [5. Belt I2 is preferably backed up by a plate [6 supported by the frame I.

Labels are supplied in the form of a web w Figs-3, 4 and 5, the web being provided with longitudinally spaced openings positioned in predetermined relation to the line along which the web is to be cut to form individual labels in the form shown, the opposite edges of the web being notched as indicated at n, at the ends of the lines along which the web is subsequently'severed to form individual labels.

. The label web is drawn from a roll 1 carried on a rotatable reel ll (Fig. 13) rotatably mounted on a cantilever rod [8 extending from astandard I9 bolted at 20 (Fig. 4) to frame member 2|. The reel comprises flange members 22 adjustablysecured by screws 23 to a sleeve or hub 24 rotatably mounted on the rod la. The free end of rod I8is'reduced and threaded as at 25 to receive a knurled nut 26. A collar 21' is slidably mounted on the reduced end of rod l8 and is held against rotation by a set screw 28 threaded in therod and engaging in a key-way 29 formed in the collar. A spring 30 compressed between nut 26. and collar. 21 presses collar 21 against the end of sleeve 24 to exert a frictional resistance to the rotation of the reel, which resistance can be adjusted by advancing or retracting theknurled. nut '26.

As best shown in Fig. 5 the label web is drawn from the reel around a registration drum 3|, around stationary guide rolls 32, and over an ad- J'ustable roll 33 to feed

rolls

34 and 35.

The registration .drum 3| and

feed rolls

34 and 35 are intermittently driven from cam shaft 8 through a short shaft 36, Fig. 4, journaled in frame member 2| and plate member 31 supported in spaced relation to member 2| by bolts 38. Outwardly of plate 31 to shaft 36 carries a bevel gear 39 meshing with a bevel gear 40 carried at the upper end of cam shaft 5. As best shown in Fig. 6, shaft 36 carries a gear 41 which meshes with a gear 42 on a short shaft 43' to which is fixed a double Geneva crank 44 driving a Geneva wheel 45 secured to shaft 46 which carries the registration drum 3|. Shaft 46 also carries a sprocket 41 which drives a chain 48 passing around a takeup sprocket 49, an idler 50, and (see Fig. 4) a sprocket 5| mounted ona stub shaft 52. As shown in the latter figure shaft 52 also carries a gear 53 which drives intermeshing gears 54 and 55 on the respective shafts of

feed rolls

35 and 34 to drive the latter in timed relation with drum 3| Feed roll 34 iscarried in a frame 56 which also carries web guide 51 and is secured to a pivot rod. 58. The latter is provided at one end, Fig. 5, with an arm 59, to which is connected a tension spring 60 urging roll 34 toward roll 35 to feed the wrapper web downwardly.

As best shown. in Figs. 3 and 5 the registration drum 3| is provided adjacent its edges with circumferentially spaced. pins 6| adapted. to enter the notches n at the edges of the label. The circumferential spacing. of the pins at their base is made slightly less than the distance between the centers of successive notches in the edges of the web.. Since the drum is driven in. the direction of web travel the drum tends to advance the web. The mainfeed rolls 3 4 and 35, however, are driven to draw the web forwardly at a slightly greater speed than the surface speed of the .drum with the result that the web overruns the drum to bring the trailing edge of the notches n against the leading pair of pins 6| just prior to withdrawal of the latter from. the notches (Fig. 5). The advance of the web is thus reduced. to the surface speed of the drum, the frictional feed rolls 34--35, which are formed with smooth metal surfaces slipping easily on the surface of the web until the leading pair of pins are released from the notches. The tension adjustment on the label reel, previously described, assists in maintaining a proper tension on the web to secure the best functioning of the registering drum. The pins thus function to modify the feeding action of the drawing rolls to'accurately maintain the registry of the labels with the label cutter and label modifying means such as the printing means shortly to be described. The registering drum constructed and operated as above described has substantial advantages over previous constructions in which registering projections are made to conform to the size and shape of the notches. The relatively small pins enter the notches without danger or tendency to tear or damage the edges of. the notches due to slight variation in the spacing. of the notches due to shrinkage or expansion of the web or other causes.

From the feed rolls 3435 the leading label projects into a carrier generally indicated at 62 in Figs. 5 and 6, and is severed by a shearing cutter carried by spaced

plate members

63 and 64, the latter being adjustably connected by a guidemaintained by registration pins 6|.

spline 65 and bolt 66 to the lower end of frame member 2|, as shown in Fig. 5. As best shown in Fig. 6 the

plate members

63 and 64 carry a fixed shear blade 61 cooperating with movable shear blade 68 secured by screws 69 to an angle member 10. Member 10 is pivoted at H to the lower end of a lever 12 which is secured intermediate its ends on a rock shaft 13. A spring 14 positioned between one arm of angle member 10 and lever 12 tends to maintain blade 68 in shearing relation with fixed blade 61. Lever 12 is rocked to move blade 68 in shearing relation with blade 61 by a cam 15 secured to shaft 36 and engaged by a roll 16 carried by one arm 1'! of a bell crank pivoted at 18. The other arm 19 of the bell crank carries an adjustable screw 60 which engages the upper end portion of lever 12. A spring 8| connected between a pin 82 extending from the hub of the bell crank and a pin 83 extending from the pivot point of lever 12 acts to hold r011 16 against cam '15 and. tomaintain screw in operative engagement with the upper end oflever 12.

As will be apparent from. Fig. 5 the proper adjustment of guide roll. 33, which is carried by a pivoted arm. 84 held in adjusted. position by bolt 85, and the adjustment .of plate 64 on spline 65, will establish the desired registration of the cutter with respect to the line of out which is to be For con venience in threading the web, and in adjusting the various parts, shaft 36 is extended (Fig. 1) beyond bevel gear 39 and is provided with a hand wheel 86 by which shaft 36 and. the parts driven therefrom may be manually mani ulated.

It is frequently desirable to modify the label as by printing or perforating thereon additional data relating to specific articles, or to the contents of the packages being wrapped, such as number, color, type, size, or the date of packing, or the like, etc., a special blank area for receiving this date being frequently provided on the label to receive this data. In Fig. 5, by way of example, is shown a printing block 81 for this purpose. The printing block is releasably carried by a member 88 formed with slideway 89 receiving a block 90 pivoted at 9| to frame member 2|. An arm 92, secured to a rock shaft 93 is pivotally connected to memberv 88 at 94 to swing member 88 between the full line position in Fig.5, where the printing block 8'! is pressed into printing engagement with the label web as it passes over a stationary platen 95, and the dotted line position in Fig. 5 in which block 81 is pressed against an inking pad 96 releasably carried by a stationary bracket 91. Rock shaft 93 carries a gear 98, see Fig. 6, meshing. with a gear segment 99 formed on the end of bell crank arm 11', which, as previously described is oscillated .by cam 75. The printing device is thus actuated in timed relation with the cutter shear which also is actuated by cam .15, and thus the drum3| in maintaining the web is registration with the cutter also and simultaneously maintains the web in registration with the printer.

As the label is severed it. is positioned in the swinging carrier 62, between spaced plates Hi0 and |0|, the lower edge of the label resting on a spacer I02. Plates I00 and |0| with. spacer |02 are secured to an arm Hi3, Fig. 2, pivoted at an intermediate point on a vertical pivot pin I64. Arm |03 carries a cam roll I05 engaging a, cam 06 (Fig. 1) fixed to the lower end of cam shaft 5, rollv I05 being held against the cam by a spring I01 tensioned between arm I03 and a pin.I08

secured-in the frame. r

The arrier 62 is in the position shown in Fig. 2 when' l t receives the severed label, the latter as indicated in broken line extending outwardly beyond the end of plate IOI with its adhesively coated iside toward plate I00. A boss I09 is formedon the end of arm I03, in which is rotatably mounted a vertical stub shaft IIO carrying at its upper end a toothed wheel I I I. Wheel II.I extending through a slot I I2 formed in plate I00 as bestf shown in Figs. 2 and 11. From the position in Fig. 2, the carrier with its label is swung toward the label applying drum 4 to pres the end of -the label against the surface of the drum. The surface of the drum is vertically fluted as indicated at H3. The teeth of wheel III enter slightly'into the flutesII3 (Fig. 12) and. since drum 4 is constantly driven as previously described ,'the label is fed from the carrier 62 and carried by drum 4 over a shoe I.I4 which softens or activates the heat sensitive adhesivewith which the-back of the label is coated. As shown in Figthe cam I06 is so'formed as-at a: to

allow the end of the label to be pressed firmly againstdrum 4 to assure prompt'initialfeeding of'the label, the pressure beingrelieved slightly at y toi'assure a smoothand easy advance of the label over the shoe II4. Shoe I I4 is. carried by a bracketI I5, Fig. 1, by means of pinsI I6 which extendzithrough suitable openings inthe bracket.

Springs 1 I1 surrounding pins I I6 and compressed betwee'ni rthe bracket and the shoe yieldingly press the latter toward the drum 4, cotter pins II8 limiting the inward movement of pins I I6.

As the drum carries the label beyond the shoe,

Fig. .2-,' 'j it is pressed into adherin contact with the package p being advanced by belt II. Fingers M9, the ends of which ride in circumferential grooves I (Figs. 3 and 5), assure that the label is. stripped from the drum. The applied label isheld against the package in its further travel by belts I2 until the adhesive sets; As shown in Fig. 11 drum 4 is provided with a vertical groove I2I positioned to underlie the leading edge of the label. Groove I2I provides an edge over which the edge of the label is slightly bent affording a gripping action which tendsto prevent rearward slippage. This inward bending of the 'labeliedge is very slight and does not interferewith the operation of strippers II9 and in fact the freedom of the edge of the label over its entire length prevents anytendencyof the strippers to dent or tear the edge of. thelabel from impact as would be the case if the label edge were rigidly held at each side of the strippers when the latter first'strike the label to direct it in a tangential path.

There is some tendency for'toothed wheel vI II to pick upgum from the label, so to free said wheel from any accumulation of gum a scraper blade I22 is mounted'on arm I03. Blade I22 is formed with a slot I23 through which the peripheral portion of wheel I I I rotates with a minimum of clearance, thereby removing any excess accumulation of adhesive.

In the. normal operation of the machine with an uninterrupted flow of packages to be labeled the machine operates continuously to .feed, print, out and apply a label at each rotation oftbe cam shaft 5. In the event that the flow of packages is interrupted and no package is presented to receive a label it is desirable that the cycle of the label forming and applying operations be correspondingly interrupted. I

mechanism. Referring to Figs. 1, 8 and 9,

6 As previously stated continuously {driven sprocket 8 drives cam shaft 5 through a clutch sprocket 8, which is rotatably mounted on cam adapted t0 e a shoulder I26 formed' in a,

- collar I21 fixed to cam shaft 5. The upper end maintain portion I in driving relation with shoulder I26. A cam I32 secured to the hub of sprocket 8 is formed with a recessedportion I33. A lever I34, see Fig. 2, is pivoted intermediat its ends at I35. One end of lever I34 carries a cam roll I36 urged into enga ement with cams I32 by a tension spring I31 connected to the end of lever I34 and a stationary pin I38. The opposite end of lever I34 is provided with a feeler finger I39 which in the presence of a package or article in position on conveyor II to receive a labeliin the ensuing cycle of the machine engages such-article and prevents cam roll I36 from enteringl recess I33. In the event a package or article is absent from such position cam roll I36 enters theirecess I 33 under the action of spring I31. Lever I34 carries a trip member I which, when roll I36 is permitted to enter recess I33, is positidned i'n the path of dog I28 to rock the latter andswing portion I25 out of engagement with shoulder I26,

1 as shown in Fig. 9, thereby releasing sprocket 8 I25 rides on the surface of collar I21 and upon der I26 if feeler I39 finds a package or article in completing its revolution will again engage-shoulposition'to be labeled, otherwise dog I28 will again engage trip I40. Sprocket 8 will thus remain stationary unconnected to shaft 5 until feeler I39 finds a package in position.

When the labeling device is attached to the delivery of a wrapping or packaging machine it is sometimes desired to permit a series of packages to pass the labeler without receiving labels. For this purpose a manually operated trip is pro- .vided in the form of a finger I M carried by a block I42 which is pivoted at I43 to a bracket the dotted line position in the latter figure, in which position finger MI is positioned in the path of dog I 28 to trip the clutch at each successive rotation of sprocket 8, thereby preventing rotation of shaft 5 and rendering the label forming and applying mechanism inoperative until trip finger I is manually returned to inoperative position. A spring actuated pin I45 engaging in openings I46 or I41 formed in bracket I44 releasably retains the finger MI in its inoperative or operative position respectively.

Preferably clutch collar I21 is connected to shaft 5 through an overload release mechanism best shown in Figs. 7 and 10. As there shown an annular member I48 is keyed to the lower end of collar I21 at I49. Below member I48 a hub I50 which carries cam I05 previously described is splined to shaft 5 at I5I Hub I50 carries a pivot pin I52 upon which is pivoted a bar I53 which is held against a slabbed off surface I54 on member I48 by a relatively strong tension spring I55 connecting the free end of bar I53 to a pin I55 carried by hub I50. As will be apparent, in the event that the load on shaft 5 becomes excessive spring I55 will yield to permit bar I53" to ride off of the surface I54 and permit clutch collar [21, to rotate and thereby relieve shaft 5, from the driving torque.

Whereit is desired to apply a label to opposite ends of the package the mechanism above described may be duplicated on the opposite j side of the belt II. In any event the surface speed of the label applying drum or drums is approximately the same as the speed of advance of the article as it passes the drum so that there is no relative movement between the drum, label and package during the applying operation.

What I claim is:

1. A machine for severing and applying labels to packages which comprises, a roll for applying labels to a face of a package, means to rotate said applying roll, a pair of drawing rolls for advancing a label web, a label carrier pivoted for swinging movement, said carrier in one position of its swinging movement being positioned to receive a leading end portion of the label web advanced beyond said drawing rolls, means between the drawing rolls and the carrier to sever the so-extending portion of the web to form a label and means to swing the carrier with the severed label therein from its last-named position to bring an edge of the label into engagement with the applying roll to be frictionally advanced thereby into contact with the package.

. 2. A machine for severing labels from a web coated with heat activated adhesive and applying the labels to packages which comprises, a roll for applying labels to a face of a package, means to rotate said applying roll, means for advancing a label web, an oscillating label carrier, said carrier in one position of its movement being positioned to receive the leading end portion of the web, means to sever said portion to form a label, means to move the carrier with the severed label therein from its last-named position to bring the non adhesive side of an edge portion of the label into frictional feeding engagement with the rotating applying roll to be advancedthereby into contact with the package, and a heated member between which and the roll the label is advanced prior to its engagement with the package to'activate the adhesive on the exposed face of the label.

3. A machine for severing and applying labels to packages which comprises, a roll mounted for rotation about a-vertical axis, for applying labels to a face of a package, means to rotate said applying roll, a pair of drawing rolls for advancing a label web, a label carrier pivoted for swinging movement in a plane at right angles to the direc:- tion of feedof the drawing rolls and about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the applying roll, said carrier in one position of its swinging movement being positioned to receive a leading end portion of the label web advanced beyond said drawing rolls, means between the drawing rolls and the carrier to sever the so-extending portion of the web to form a label, and mean to swing the carrier with the severed label therein from its last-named position to bring-a vertical side edge portion of the label into frictional feed;-

ing engagement with the applying roll.

4. A machine for severing and applying labels to packages which comprises, a roll for applying labels to a face of a package, means to rotate said applying roll, a pair of drawing rolls for advancing a label web, a label carrier pivoted for swinging movement, said carrier in one position of its swinging movement being positioned to receive the leading end portion of the label web advanced beyond said drawing rolls, means between the drawing rolls and the carrier to sever the so-extending portion of the web to form a label, means to swing the carrier with the severed label therein from its last-named position to bring an edge portion of the label into engagement with the surface of the applying roll, and a freely rotatable roll mounted adjacent the edge of the carrier to press said edge portion of the label into frictional'feeding engagement with the applying roll to be drawn thereby from the carrier and advanced into contact with the package.

5.. A machine for severing and applying labels to packages which comprises, a roll for applying labels to a face of the package, means to constantly rotate said applying roll, a pair of drawing rolls for advancing a label web, a constantly driven shaft, means for intermittently driving said drawing rolls from said constantly driven shaft, cutting means to sever a leading end portion of the web advanced by and beyond said drawing rolls to form a label, a cam constantly driven from said constantly driven shaft for actuating said cutting means, a pivoted carrier for transporting the severed label from the cutter to said applying roll and cam means carried by said constantly rotating shaft for actuating said carrier.

6. A machine for severing and applying labels to packages which comprises, a roll for applying labels to a face of a package, the surface of said roll being formed with a multiplicity of axially extending flutes, means to rotate said applying roll, a pair of drawing rolls for advancing a label. web, a label carrier pivoted for swinging movement in a plane at right angles to the direction of feed of the drawing rolls, said carrier in one position of its swinging movement being positioned to receive a leading end portion of the label web advanced beyond said drawing rolls, means between the drawing rolls and the carrier to sever the so-extending portion of the web to form a label, means to swing the carrier from its last-named position to bring an edge portion of the label into engagement with the surface of the applying roll and a member supported by the carrier to superficially press the label into the flutes on the applying roll to cause the label to be drawn from the carrier by, the applying roll and advanced thereby into contact with the package.

7. A machine for severing and applying labels to packages which comprises, means for applying labels to a face of a package, a pair of drawing rolls for advancing a label web, cutting means to sever a leading end portion of the web advanced by and beyond said drawing rolls to form a label, means engaging the web rearwardly of the drawing rolls to cause a predetermined slippage of the web relative to the drawing rolls to maintain successive predetermined portions of the web in registration with the cutting means. and a carrier for transporting the severed label from the cutter to the applying means.

. 8. A machine for severing and applying labels to a package which comprises, rotary means for applying labels to a face of a package, a pair of drawing rolls for advancing a label web, cutting means to sever a leading end portion of the web advanced by and beyond said drawing rolls to form a label, registration means engaging theweb rearwardly of the drawing rolls to cause a predetermined slippage of the web relative to the drawing rolls to maintain successive predetermined portions of the web in registration with the cutting means, a pivoted carrier for transporting the severed label from the cutter to the applying means, a shaft, means to constantly rotate said shaft and said applying means, a common drive for intermittently operating said drawing rolls and said registration means, and a one revolution clutch connecting said common drive to said shaft and means to disengage the clutch in the absence of packages to be labeled.

9. In a machine for severing labels from label webs having longitudinally spaced openings therein, which webs are to be severed on lines having a predetermined position relative to said opening, a pair of drawing rolls frictionally engaging the opposite faces of the web to advance the latter, means for driving said rolls, a drum around which the web is drawn by the rolls, circumferentially spaced pins extending from the surface of the drum of less diameter than said l0 openings to loosely engage in the web openings, the bases of the pins being spaced from each other a distance slightly less than the spacing of the web openings they are to enter, web severing means positioned to sever a label from the Web at a point beyond the drawing rolls and. means to drive the drum at a surface speed less than that of the drawing rolls whereby the trailing edge of the web openings are brought into contact with said pins to reduce the speed of web travel to that of the drum and bring the web openings into predetermined registering relation with the cutter.

WILLIAM HOPPE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Schlemmer Dec. 16, 1941