US2683548A - Label picker apparatus - Google Patents

Description

1954 M. H. SCHIEMEL ET AL 2,683,548

LABEL PICKER APPARATUS Filed Feb. 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS M W 7% BYWMM MMW y 1954 M. H. SCHIEMEL 5% AL 2,683,548 7 LABEL PICKER APPARATUS Filed Feb. 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 DYZZorney y 1954 M. H. SCHIEMEL ET AL 2,683,548

LABEL PICKER APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 9, 1951 July 13, 1954 M, sc ET AL 2,683,548

LABEL PICKER APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 9, 1951 7 I! INZ'EIYTOR? BY A W 62.2%" 14 M4 jtt'orney Patented July 13, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LABEL PICKER APPARATUS of Wisconsin Application February 9, 1951, Serial No. 210,162

3 Claims.

This invention relates to label applying apparatus, more particularly of the type utilizing socalled pickers to which individual labels are transferred with the aid of adhesive so as to be carried into contact with packages to which the labels are applied, and it resides in an improved form of such apparatus which employs supplementary picker elements positioned to perform an adhesive applying function at the point of transfer of a label to the pickers and mounted to travel a path of movement departing from the path pursued by the main picker elements so as to permit application of adhesive to label areas within the margin thereof.

In label applying machines utilizing pre-cut stacked labels which are transferred by adhesive bearing pickers to the package, the adhesive has heretofore been applied to the margins at either side of the label, since the pickers must be bifurcated to straddle the package to which the label is to be applied. The pickers and label are not freed from one another until the package moving between the bifurcations of the pickers causes the transfer of the label to occur. As a result adhesive may be applied only to side marginal portions of the labels.

Application of adhesive to side marginal portions only considerably restricts the possible variation in label configurations. Edges and corners that would tend to curl or drift from the surface of the package in the absence of adhesive contact therewith cannot be employed. The resulting limitations restrict label configurations to basically rectangular outlines or those having adhesive contact at margin areas which lie above and below the remaining label areas. Thus variation of label ornamentation through the employment of pendants or other central projections is precluded.

It is an object of this invention to provide a label applying apparatus that will apply adhesive to any desired portion of a label including those portions which are carried during the applying movement through a path which intersects the outline of the package, thus rendering it feasible to employ label configurations including pendants or other outline variations without decrease in output of high speed packaging processes.

It is a further object of this invention to provide in combination with main picker elements a supplementary picker that travels a path of action which would intersect the package outline but which is deflected from this path so as to clear the package during the applying movement of the main picker elements.

Cii

These and other objects will appear in the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and in which there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitation one form of this invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a label applying apparatus embodying this invention with parts of the adhesive fountain broken away,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view in elevation and in section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 viewed through the plane 2-2,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view in elevation and in section similar to that of Fig. 2 with the picker blades in a raised position receiving a label from the label supply,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the picker assembly of the apparatus shown in Fig. l with a package (bottle) moving toward label receiving position and a second bottle in phantom shown shortly after receiving labels,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the rear of the picker blades and supplementary picker of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 in the position assumed at the outset of deflection of the supplementary picker, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the same parts of the apparatus with the supplementary picker fully deflected.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a label applying apparatus of the rotatable work carrier type which has a base i from which rises a pedestal 2 that serves as the main support for the apparatus. Extending upwardly from the pedestal 2 and housing the main drive shaft, which is not shown, is a column 3. A mounting platform 4 extends from the left of the column 3 to serve as a support for a motor 5 and a gear reducer 6 that provide a source of power for the apparatus. At the base of the column 3 and concentric therewith is a circular work table rotatably mounted on the pedestal 2 and suitably connected to the main drive shaft housed within the column 3.

The table 7 provides means for advancement of packages (in the present instance bottles) to which labels are to be afilxed. Other well known conveying means for the packages may be employed in conjunction with this invention, since this invention relates particularly to the label applying part of the apparatus which may be served with various forms of conveying means. In the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 1 the rotatable table 7 acts as a base support and conveying means for bottles 8, which may be loaded and unload-ed at predetermined points by means not shown. Affixed to the table I are bottle rests 9 that guide and sup-port the bottles 8 in an upright position. Also carried by the table I is a plurality of retaining fingers lil provided with means not shown, enclosed Within the housing 12, causing the fingers ID to swing toward and away from the bottles 8 in guide slots H in the table 1. The swinging action of the fingers Iii is suitably timed with respect to the angular position of the table I.

Extending obliquely upwardly from the pedestal 2 to a point of juncture'with the periphery'of the circular housing l2 and thence vertically is a support l3. Formed as an integral portion of the support it is a boss i4 housing a bearing providing a journal-ed support for one end of trun nion shaft 54. Extending outwardly from the column 3 and in radial alignment with the support is is a bearing support -I5 terminating in "a'boss l6. Journaled within a bearing provided in the boss i5 is the opposite end of trunnion shaft 56. A. generally cylindrical picker support 11 is mounted on the trunnion shaft 54 and is provided with arms l8 to which are adjustably bolted two co-planar pick-er blades 19 and 2G. The profile, as shown in Fig. 1, of the blades i9 and 2B closely follows the shape of the bottles '8, and when in downwardly extending position the blades is and 26 straddle the path of advancement of the bottlesfi. Cutouts 21 are provided in the blades l9 and to eliminate contacting interference upon approachof the blades 18 and 29 to the label supply holders to be hereinafter described.

Referring now more particularlyto Figs. 2 and 5,'there are shown two brackets '22 and 23 riveted to .the'back of the picker'blade 20, the same be- .ing spaced from one another to accommodate and to provide ainountingfor a supplementary picker support arm .24 positioned therebetween. A pin 25.11aving an extended shank passes through the 'rearwardly extending flanges of the brackets 22 and '23 and through the supplementary picker support arm 26 so as to pivotally mount the arm 26. Attached to one endofthe arm 2 5 is a spotter picker 26 having a surface 21 that provides an -area supplementary to the surfaces of the picker blades i9 and 20. At'the opposite end of the arm 2e is a cam follower roller 28 mounted with its axis of rotation perpendicular to the arm 24.

Surrounding the dependingshank of pin is a helical torsion spring 29 having one end fastened to picker arm .26 and the opposite end to the-picker arm 24 at the point 3% so as to urge the picker arm 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3. Upon assumption .of this position the surface 2'! is substantiallycmplanar with the label engaging surfaces of the picker blades ii? and 22') ina position midway between the same.

Bolted to the support arm 13 is .a mounting strap 3| which prov-ides a mounting for a cam rail 32. The position of the rail '32 and its engaging surface 3 may be adjusted by means of an adjusting screw 33 to ensure proper engagement with the roller '28 upon downward movement of the picker blades I9 and 20.

Integrally joined with and extending radially .'from the rotatable cylindrical picker support IT is a cam follower support boss from which exthe upright column 3 and is mounted in driven relationship to the main drive shaft housed within the column 3 so as to rotate in timed relationship to movement of the table 7.

Two horizontal spaced rods 46 and l are fixed at one end respectively to the housing 39 and the top of the Support arm :3. Slidably mounted on the rods 50, i! is a label supply holder frame 52. The frame i2 has vertical label holder stays 43 fixed thereto to form magazines for the support of supplies of chevron shaped neci: labels M and larger body labels ihe stays .3 are turned inwardly at their lower ends to retain the label supplies against downward movement but to permit'labelsto be withdrawn one at a time from the bottoms of the magazines.

With the picker blade [9 and 29 in vertical position, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the cam follower rollers 35 will be at its greatest upward extent of travel as is dictated by the cam 31. As

the cam 23'! rotates from this position the roller picker blades iii and 29 in an arc toward the supply of .labels i l. As the blades l9 and 20 initially move upwardly the roller 28 engages and bears against the surface 34 and the arm 24 and its spotter picker 25 is held deflected away from the path of advancement of the bottles 3. As the picker blades l9 and .29 move further above the path of movement of the bottles the roller 28 departs from the surface 34 and the arm Z-t rotates about the pin 25 until the surface 2? of the spotter picker 28 reaches a position substantially co-planar with the label receiving surfaces of the blades i9 and 29.

An adhesive supply tank 45 is mounted upon a shelf 45. Journaled in the end plates of the tank 45 is. a partially submerged fountain roll 47 which is rotated to lift a supply of liquid adhesive 158. A-swinging fountainroll 49 is rotatably mounted on a-shaft 58 carried in turn on the lower end of an arm 5!. The arm 5! is joined at its opposite end to a shaft 52 extending from the housing 39. Suitable connection between the shaft 52 and the drive shaft within the column but not shown, causes a reciprocating movement to be imparted in time with movement of the blades 19 and 2B. This reciprocating movement during downward travel of the picker blades :9 and 28 carries the roller 49 from the position shown in Fig. 3, where it receives adhesive from the roll 41, to that shown in Fig. 2 where it is prepared to engage and roll across the adhesive receiving surfaces of picker blades is and 23 in their upward travel after roller 23 has disengaged from cam surface 34. Adhesive is thus applied to the surface 2? simultaneously with application of adhesive to the surfaces of blades is and All.

After applications of adhesive to the surface 21 and the blades 19 and 26 the roller moves away from the ends of blades i9 and 28 to permit access to the magazines formed by the stays 53. At the upward limitof travel of the blades [9 and '29, as shown in Fig. 3, a neck label it and a body label 55 are transferred to the picker assembly. The transfer is induced by the adhesive on the picker surfaces and the impact of the picker surfaces in meeting the labels which impact enhances the action of the adhesive. The larger body labels 55 are of rectangular configuration and are engaged at the side marginal areas only. Adhesive applied by the roll =39 to the blades 19 and His in turntransferred to the body labels 55 at the side marginal areas which is 5 sufiicient for maintaining the entire label against the bottle 8. The configuration of the neck labels 44 on the other hand is such that the central portions will curl if adhesive is applied only at the side margins. It is this central portion which is engaged by the spotter picker 26.

In response to the cam 31 the picker assembly then reverses direction and commences a downward movement, The spotter picker 26 positioned between the blades l9 and 20 will travel a vertical circular path which if continued would intersect and collide with the bottle 8 to which the label is to be transferred. To permit continued movement of the bottle 8 and the picker assembly the picker 26 is deflected from this circular path. This deflection is accomplished by engagement of the roller 28 with the cam surface 3d. The roller 23 is then caused to lag behind the swinging picker assembly and the spotter picker 25 is accelerated in relation to the blades i9 and 25, moving in advance and laterally thereof. As is shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the spotter picker 2& departs from adhesive contact with the central portion of the neck label 3 leaving an adhesive coat 53' on the central label portion that first engages the bottle 8. The ensuing acceleration of the spotter picker 26 laterally in advance of the movement of the blades [9 and 2B removes the picker 2% from a collision path with the bottle 8 to the position shown in Fig. 6 as previously described.

Further travel of the blades l9 and 20 brings them into alignment with the bottle 8, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the labels are stripped therefrom by the motion of the bottle 3. As the label moves into contact with the bottle 8 a finger grip l9 swings outwardly toward the bottle 8 and presses the label against the bottle as shown. Rotation of the table '7 continues to advance the bottle 8 and the finger it! to the next work position, as shown in phantom in Fig. 4. In succeeding work positions the label is wiped about the bottle 8 in known manner.

The extent of the label area to which adhesive may be applied by a simple bifurcated picker surface in an apparatus that relies on the stripping of the label from the picker by package intervention is relatively small and is restricted to side marginal areas only. As has been noted labels which will be retained smoothly against the bottle surface are limited to those having certain configurations if adhesive is applied only to side marginal portions. Centrally disposed projections in the label if left free of adhesive will curl or bend away from the bottle in an unsightly manner. By the use of this invention adhesive may be applied to any desired portion of a label whether or not the desired portion is carried through a path that intersects package position and this is accomplished in this invention by means which neither hinder nor delay the operation of high speed packaging equipment.

We claim:

1. In a label applying apparatus the combination comprising conveying means for successively advancing a series of packages in guided spaced relation; a pair of picker blades having substantially co-planar picker surface areas separated by a transverse gap adapted to support la -s extending between said picker surface areas by adhesive contact with label margins, said picker blades being reciprocably mounted for movement substantially within a path of action confined to a single plane between a label picking position in which a label is transferred to said picker surfaces and a label applying position wherein a package successively advanced by said conveying means will intervene between said blades and penetrate the plane of said picker surface areas by relative motion between the package and said picker blades wherein the picker blades pass toward and beyond label receiving surface areas of said package; a supplementary picker lever mounted on one of said pickers having a supplementary picker end with surface area portions normally disposed between said pickers in a position substantially co-planar with and longitudinally to one side of said picker surface areas and the gap therebetween, and a deflecting end positioned outside the area intermediary and swept by said pickers; a bias means engaging and biasing said lever to said normal position; and a deflecting member positioned to be engaged by said deflecting end of said lever upon movement of said picker blades to label applying position to deflect said supplementary picker end from said normal position first in the direction of movement of said picker blades and then to the side of the area intermediary and swept by said picker blades to a position free of interference with a package intervening between said blades.

2. In a label applying apparatus the combination comprising a conveying means for successively advancing a series of packages in guided spaced relation; a pair of picker blades having substantially co-planar picker surface areas separated by a transverse gap adapted to support labels extending between said picker surface areas by adhesive contact with label margins, said picker blades being pivotally mounted for reciprocable movement between a label picking position in which a label is transferred to said picker surfaces and a label applying position wherein a package successively advanced by said conveying means will intervene between said blades and penetrate the plane of said picker surface areas by relative motion between the package and said picker blades wherein the picker blades pass toward and beyond label receiving surface areas of said package, a supplementary picker lever pivotally mounted on one of said pickers for movement about an axis normal to the axis of pivot of said picker blades having a supplementary picker end with surface area portions normally disposed between said pickers in a position substantially co-planar with and longitudinally to one side of said picker surface areas and the gap therebetween, and a defleeting end positioned outside the area intermediary and swept by said pickers; a bias means engaging and biasing said lever to said normal position; and a deflecting member positioned to be engaged by said deflecting end of said lever upon movement of said picker blades to label applying position to deflect said supplementary picker end from said normal position first in the direction of movement of said picker blades and then to the side of the area intermediary and swept by said picker blades to a position free of interference with a package intervening between said blades.

3. In a label applying apparatus the combination comprising a conveying means for successively advancing a series of packages in guided spaced relation, 2. pair of picker blades having substantially co-planar picker surface areas separated by a transverse gap adapted to support labels extending between said picker surface areas by adhesive contact with label margins, said picker blades being reciprocably mounted for movement between a label picking position in which a label is transferred to said picker surfaces and a label applying position wherein a package successively advanced by said conveying means will intervene between said blades and penetrate the plane of said picker surface areas by relative motion between the package and said picker blades wherein the picker blades pass toward and beyond label receiving surface areas of said package; a supplementary picker lever mounted on one of said pickers having a supplementary picker end with surface area portions normally disposed between said pickers in a position substantially co-planar with and longitudinally to one side of said picker surface areas and the gap therebetween, and a deflecting end positioned outside the area between said pickers and penetrated by a package; and lever operating means cooperatively engageable with said lever deflectingend adapted to move said lever to normal position upon movement of said picker blades to label receiving position and to move said deflecting end relative to said pickers, upon movement of said picker blades to said label applying position, to deflect said supplementary picker end from said normal position first in the direction of movement of said picker blades, and then to the side of the area intermediary and swept by said picker blades to a position free of interference with a package intervening between said blades.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,521,662 Williams Jan. 6, 1925 1,641,045 Oslund et a1 Aug. 30, 1927 1,940,011 Oslund Dec. 19; 1933

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