US2683549A - Stamping or labeling machine - Google Patents

Description

July 13, 1954 S. R. PHIN ET AL STAMPING OR LABELING MACHINE fx INVENTORS 52, 5|DNEY R. PHIN I u DONALD A. cAuL FORD Y July 33, 1954 Filed OCL. 3l, 1951 S. R. PHIN ET AL STAMPING 0R LABEL'ING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvENTons SIDNEY R, PHIN DONALD A. CAl/LFORD' July 13, 1954 s. R. PHIN ETAL 2,683,549

STAMPING 0R LABELING MACHINE Filed oct, 31, 1951 4 sheetssheet 3 NVENTR SHDNEY R. PmN DONALD A.CAU LFORD July 13, 1954 S. R. PHIN EVAL 2,583,549

STAMPING OR LABELING MACHINE Filed Oct. 3l, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lNvEmoRs SIDNEY R. PHIN :Figli .DONALD A. cAuLFoRD 6 ,49 V 7a4 s Patented July 13, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STAMPING OR LABELING MACHINE Application October 31, 1951, Serial No. 254,167

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic labelling or stamping machines and more particularly to an improved mechanism for conforming a label, excise stamp or the like to the surface of an article or container being labelled to urge the label or stamp into intimate contact throughout its entire area with the container surface and to maintain such intimate contact for a period sufficient for complete adhesion to be effected.

In co-pending application Serial Number 147,916 there is disclosed an automatic labeller comprising a mechanism for applying a label to a container and a mechanism for applying pressure on the applied label during an interval sufficient to ensure adhesion of the label.

Such pressure applying mechanism is adapted to conform the label to a convex, plane or angular surface but is unable to conform the label throughout its entire area to some surfaces having a concavity or a ycurvature in which there is a point of inflexion as the surface changes curvature.

For example, in the applying of an excise stamp across the top down the neck and over the shoulders of a bottle, abrupt changes and reversals of curvature are encountered and there is at present no provision for conforming the stamp intimately to such a surface formation in an automatic labelling machine.

Again where a surface presents a concave or concavo-convex surface the same problem is encountered and Without the intimate contact being obtained a proper adherence of the label or stamp is not effected.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism which will overcome the limitations of the present labellers and conform an excise stamp to the top, neck and shoulders of a bottle or a label to a concaved surface so that the stamp or label is pressed into intimate contact With the surface throughout its entire area.

A further object is to enable such surfaces to be labelled with an automatic labeller of the type disclosed in said application Serial No. 147,916 in which the labels are deposited on the containers and then pressed to intimate contact therewith While the containers move with continuous uninterrupted motion through the machine.

The principal feature of the invention resides in dividing each of the label-pressing surfaces of the presser mechanism into a series of independently movable segments contoured to conform to the shape of the segment of the container surface to which a label or stamp is to be applied, mounting the presser segments for movement in unison to a container co-operating position from which they can individually be closed on the container While moving substantially normal to the container segment they are adapted to conform to, and providing means for rst moving the segments in unison to container co-operating position and then independently to close on the container and press a stamp or label against the container without sliding over or pulling of the label.

More particularly the presser mechanism comprises an endless series of presser elements mounted to move above and at the same surface speed as a carrier on which the containers being stamped or labelled are being conveyed. Each of these presser elements includes a vertically reciprocal plunger carrying the container pressing segments supported therefrom and a series of cams are arranged first, to vertically operate the plungers into engagement with the containers while moving at the speed of the containers and 1 to then operate the presser segments to close on the container surface segments opposite thereto while moving substantially normal to the opposing container surface portions.

A further feature consists in making the presser surfaces of a resilient cushioning media.

Another feature resides in mounting the presser segments for ready interchangement to enable the presser to be quickly modified to t different types of containers.

Still a further feature resides in mounting the presser segments for selective relative adjustment, and again another feature resides in mounting the entire presser mechanism for vertical adjustment for different sizes of containers.

These and other objects and features will become apparent with reference to the accompanying description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevational view of a labelling or stamping machine to which the improved presser mechanism has been applied.

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational view partly broken away showing one of the presser devices conforming a label to a bottle.

Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged front elevation of one of the presser devices With the presser segments in open position.

Figure 5 is an elevational View of the device of Figure 4 taken from the opposite side.

Figure 6 is an elevational View of the device of Figures 4 and 5 showing the presser segments operated in closed position conforming a label to a bottle.

Figure 7 is a vertical section on line 1 -i of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the presser mechanism, frame assembly and endless carrier with the presser devices omitted.

Figure 9 is an elevational view of the assembly of Figure 8.

Figure l is an enclosed fragmentary planv and horizontal section of the main frame of the machine showing the mechanism for elevating the frame carrying the presser mechanism, and the drive to the presser mechanism.

Figure l1 is a rear elevation of a portion of the machine shown in Figure 10.

With reference to the drawings, the presser mechanism is shown applied to an automatic labelling or stamping machine of the type disclosed in the above application and as thev detailsof the construction of the machine, the drive therefor, the label-applying mechanism and the timing' mechanism form no part of the present invention the details of the construction thereof are omitted.

Basically the machine consists ofv side frames l having arms 2 extending from the ends thereof. endless conveyor 3r operating over sprockets 4 at each end of the machine. The conveyor is provided with a series of lugs 5 to engage and advance a bottle o'r container 6 longitudinally of the machine.

The drive for the conveyor is obtained from a suitable motor 1 which drives a variable drive mechanism 8 which in turn drives a reduction gear 9 from which is driven the main drive shaft I0, Figures l and 10;

The variable drive mechanism 8 is operated through a control shaft II- to alter the speed of the main drive shaft I0 and a hand wheel I2- permits the main drive shaft to be manually rotated.

I3 isV a vacuum pump for applying vacuum to the label-withdrawing arml Ill.

The drive from the main drive shaft I0 tothe sprocket 4 is controlled by a timing mechanism I5` operated by the hand Wheel I5. This hand wheel operates a crank I1 which alters the positions of the sprockets IS around which drive chain I3 pass to advance or retard the position of the lugs 5 so that they can be timed to register a bottle or container with the presser mech- I anism hereinafter described.

Slidably mounted in brackets onthe rear side frame i, Figures l0 and l1, are vertical rack bars 2I which carry a platform 22. Journalled between lugs 23 is a shaft 25 extending longitudinally of the machine andv carrying pinions 26 engaging the rack bars 2.

Extending transversely through the machine is a shaft 2l operated by hand wheel 28, Figure 1, which carries a worm 29, Figures l0 and l1, which meshes with a worm wheel 30 carried by the shaft 25 to elevate the rack bars and platform 22.

The mechanisms carried by the platform 22 are driven from the main drive shaft I0 by the worin` 3I carried thereby and engaging a worm wheel 32 splined on a vertical shaft 33, the worm wheel being held in position by a bracket 34 while permitting vertical movement of the shaft 33 as the platform is elevated and lowered.

Between these side frames I operates an Mounted on the vertical shaft 33 adjacent the platform is a bevelled gear 35 meshing with a bevel gear 36 carried by a stud shaft 31 from which the drive for the label-applying mechanism is obtained. This drive is not shown nor are details of the label-applying mechanism, which comprises a drum 38 adapted to pick up a label 39 from the magazine 40 following withdrawal by the 'scker'arm I4, andorre surface of this label is coated by glue from the gluepot assembly 4I and then deposited on the container 6.

As thev drive-for the mechanisms on the platform is obtained from the vertical shaft 33, which'V iirturnA i`s driven by the main drive shaft I6', thev drives 'of' the mechanisms on the platform will' be mainta'iii'e'dAV at all times in synchronism with' the" conveyor 3.-

Mounted on the platform 22 are a pair of verticallyspaced horizontal plates 42 of triangular formation separated by spacers 43. These plates and spacers"v constitute the fra'rne ofi the presser mechanism-and the vertical shaft 3'3" c'arrying the drive from the main drive shaftr I0 to the mechanisms of the platform extends through the plates 42 adjacent one apex thereof terminating in the tting 44'.

Mounted on the shaft 33 between the'plat'e's' 42V are a pair of sprockets 4'5 while at' the vadjacent.

apex a pair of idler sprockets 46 are journalled on a shaft 41. At the remaining apex an idler shaft 48 is rotatably supported between the plates and is arranged to slide in slots 49 in accordance' with the settingl of the set screws 50y carried by the plates and locked by check nuts- Mounted on this latter shaft 43' are sprockets' 52. Driven by the sprockets4'5 and meshing with idler sprockets 4B and 52 are a pair of chains 53 carrying at intervals `slide brackets or blocks 54 supported therebetween in vertical orientation.

Mounted on the upper of the plates 42 are a pair of C-shaped brackets 55 which project over the conveyor 3. Threading through these brackets 55l are spindles 56 operated by the hand controls 51. Carried at the lower end of the spindles is av longitudinal cainbar 58 adaptedl toY be clamped against the inner faces 59V of the brackets 55 by the wing screws 60 and car-rying the longitudinal camming bar 6I.

Carried on the lower endof the clamps 55 is a longitudinal guide bar 62, while a similar guide bar 63l is mounted on the spacers 43' and spaced inwardly of the bar 62.

Depending from the bar 62 on hangers 64l is a longitudinal cam bar 65 and opposite thereto and inwardly thereof is a corresponding camy bar 66 supported from theA lower of the plates 412 and offset longitudinally with respect to the cam bar 65.

Each of the brackets or blocks 54' carried by the chains 53 carries on the rearward face a ledge 61 engaging under the guide bar 63 and" rollers 63 rolling on the latter guide bar. The forward face of the block or slide is closed by a plate 69 carrying a roller 1D operating on the guide bar 62. The rollers 6'8 and 1-'0 andi ledge 51 co-operating with the respective guide bars serve to support the blocks for supported and guided horizontal movement with the block moving above the conveyor 3. Not only are the blocks in vertical register with the conveyor but the speed of the conveyor and the speed of the' endless carrier formed by the chains 53', being derived from the same main drive shaft I0, are

regulated to operate at the same surface speed so that the blocks and conveyor move at the same surface speed While in vertical register.

Mounted in each of the slides or blocks 54 is a plunger 1l having a forked upper end 12 and a lower end formed into a platen 13. J ournalled in the upper end is a roller adapted to roll on the cam surface of the camming bar 6l to depress the plunger during the major portion of the period that its block or slide is moving above the conveyor 3.

Above the platen the plunger is provided with a series of holes 16 and a pair of presser segments 11 are pivoted on a pin 18 selectively received in one of the holes 16. Each of the presser segments has a slotted shank 19, the ends of which are secured to the pin 18. The shank of the left-hand segment 11 carries a roller 8l) projecting forwardly to engage the cam bar 65, while the right-hand shank of the opposing presser segment carries a roller 8l projecting to the rear to engage the cam bar 5S.

Each of the presser segments has a slotted lip 82 overlying the shank 19 and removably secured to the shank by the bolt 83 so that each presser segment is readily removable and replaceable upon loosening of its bolt 83.

Secured between the posts 84 carried by the slide brackets 54 and the presser segments 11 are springs 85 which act to urge the presser segments or elements to the open position of Figure 4, At the same time these springs function to urge the plungers 1I upwardly to the positions of Figures 4 and 5.

In the particular application for which the machine illustrated is intended the presser elements 11 are adapted to conform an excise stamp or label to the top, neck and shoulders of a bottle. The presser segments are thus formed with the particular presser surfaces 86 and these surfaces, together with the surfaces of the platens 13 are provided with a resilient covering, preferably of sponge rubber, 81, which is a medium deformable and conformable about the bottle surface yet permitting the application of an eiTective pressure against the label and bottle.

In operation, the bottles to be stamped or labelled are moved longitudinally of the machine on the endless conveyor 3. The labels I4 with a suitable adhesive coating applied by the gluepot assembly il are deposited on the tops of the bottles as they pass therebeneath. There will be suiiicient adherence between the contacting label and bottle areas to temporarily hold the labels in position until they arrive beneath the presser mechanism.

The timing of the conveyor 3 and the endless carrier formed by the chains 53 is, as explained, such as to bring the slide brackets or blocks 54 and their plungers 1! into vertical registration with the container. The timing mechanism l5 permits this accurate registration to be obtained.

As the endless carrier 53 and conveyor 3 are moving at the same surface speed there will be no relative motion between the plunger and bottle therebeneath as the two move longitudinally of the machine.

After the supporting slide and plunger 1l arrive above the bottle the plunger roller 15 is operated by the cam surface 58 to move downwardly to bring its platen against the top of the bottle while pressing thereagainst to anchor the label in its correct position. Then the rollers 83 and 8l of the presser segments or elements 11 engage the cam bars 65 and 66 which are oifset to correspond to the displacement of the rollers to swing CII the cam segments substantially in unison about their pivot pin 18 to move the label down against the neck and shoulders of the bottle conforming it intimately to these surfaces, as shown particularly in Figure 6. This relationship is maintained for the period of the travel of the bottle beneath the presser mechanism until the ends of the cam bars and ES and the cam bar 8| are reached, at which time the springs 35 operate the presser elements from their closed position to release the container and bottle and move upwardly with the plunger.

By their pivotal mounting the presser segments 11, with the plunger depressed to bottle co-operating position, are adapted to swing against the respective bottle segments to which they are adapted to conform while moving substantially normal thereto. In this way there is no rolling or sliding over the label surfaces and the label will not be displaced or torn.

With the shape of a bottle there is a point of inflexion asA the shoulders flare outwardly from the neck as at 88, Figure 6, and there is an abrupt change of curvature at 89 in moving from the vertical to the horizontal at the top of the bottle, and by subdividing the presser surface into independently movable segments these segments can be arranged to close and mould the label-receiving surface regardless of the contour thereof.

If a surface were used merely shaped to conform to the container label-receiving surface it would then require being frictionally forced over the label with the resulting tearing or displacement.

By having the presser elements moving at the same speed as the container or bottles the pressure on the label may be maintained for the desired interval to enable the adhesive carried by the label to set and permanently bond the label in position.

Adjustment for a range of bottle or container sizes may be made by adjusting the position of the cam bar 6l through the operation of the spindles 56, and the cam bars 65 and 66 are preferably adjustably mounted on their supporting brackets to control the movement of the presser segments 11. If a greater adjustment is required than that permitted through adjustment of the spindles 56 the entire platform can be operated through hand Wheel 28 to move vertically as required.

It will be appreciated that the bottles or containers may have the labels deposited thereon by mechanisms other than those disclosed herein and in the said co-pending application, and the containers may be labelled in a separate machine `and deposited on a carrier moving beneath the presser mechanism.

Additionally of course the shape of the articulated presser segments will be varied as may be their pivot mounting to conform to the particular surface shape being labelled.

Provided the plunger and container are maintained against relative movement after moving the plunger into contact with the container the presser segments, although preferably operated in unison, may be operated in sequence to label conforming position.

What we claim as our invention is:

l. In an automatic labelling or stamping machine, a main frame, an endless conveyor operating longitudinally of the frame in a straight line path, a stationary platform supported for vertical adjustment from said main frame and extending thereabove, a label magazine carried by said platform, means carried by said platform to deliver a label from said magazine to a container on said endless conveyor, means carried by said platform to apply adhesive to a label being delivered to a container, an endless carrier mounted on said platform and moving in a straight line above said conveyor for a portion of its travel, means moving said carrier at the same surface speed as said conveyor, a series of blocks carried by said carrier, means carried by said platform guiding said blocks for horizontal movement while moving above said conveyor, a plunger reciprocally mounted in each block and having a roller on the upper end thereof and a presser foot on the lower end, support brackets carried by said platform and extending above said conveyor and blocks, a stationary cam extending longitudinally of the conveyor carried by said brackets and engaged in rolling contact by said rollers to cam said plungers, throughout a portion of the travel of their blocks above said conveyor, downwardly to bring their presser feet against a label and container on said conveyor, a pair of presser elements pivoted to each plunger and swingable on opposite sides of said plunger presser foot and adapted to co-operate therewith upon swinging to conform to a predetermined container configuration, means urging said presser elements away from container-conforming relation, and individual stationary cam means carried from said platform engaging said presser elements upon depression of said plungers to swing said presser elements independently into container-conforming relation.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said presser elements are provided with rollers, and said cam means for operating said presser elements comprise cam bars extending longitudinally of said conveyor and engaged in rolling contact by said presser element rollers.

3. A device as claimed in claim l in which said guide means for guiding said blocks in horizontal movement above said conveyor comprises rail members extending longitudinally of said conveyor and arranged on opposite sides of said blocks in moving above said conveyor, and rollers carried by said blocks and rolling on said rail members.

4. A device as claimed in claim l in which said support brackets are C-shaped and said cam carried by said brackets is vertically adjustable in said brackets, screw-threaded means determining the vertical adjustment of said latter cam, and clamp means locking said latter cam in adjusted position.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said presser elements comprise each a forked shank embracing said plunger and pivoted thereto, and a container-conforming body portion adjustably and removably secured to said shank, said body portion having a slotted lip extension fitting over said shank, and means securing said lip to said shank in adjusted position of said body portion on said shank.

6. In an automatic labelling or stamping machine, a conveyor, a normally stationary support structure supported for vertical adjustment above said conveyor, a label-applying mechanism mounted on said support structure above said conveyor adjacent one end thereof to deposit a label on a container in temporary adherence therewith throughout a portion of the label area, said conveyor moving in a straight line path to maintain a straight line motion of said container and label, a second endless carrier mounted on said support structure and moving above the aforesaid carrier in linear straight line motion at the same surface speed as the aforesaid carrier, a series of presser devices mounted on said second carrier and including carriages, track means mounted on said support structure and on which said carriages run, a plunger reciprocally mounted in each of said carriages to move perpendicularly to the direction of carrier movement, a container engaging presser surface formation at the lower end of each plunger, said latter surface formation being divided into segments movable one relative the other to press against the label-receiving surface of the container while moving substantially normal thereto, stationary cam means mounted on said support structure and engaging and operating said plungers to move said presser surface formation to a position from which said segments are adapted to move into container pressing relation, and individual stationary cam means mounted on said support structure and operating said segments independently following plunger movement.

7. In an automatic stamping, labelling or like machine, a main frame, an endless carrier carried by said main frame to move containers to be labelled in a linear straight line path through the machine, a platform mounted on said frame for vertical adjustment above said carrier, means carried by said platform for depositing an adhesive-carrying label on a container being conveyed on said carrier, a second endless carrier mounted on said platform and operating at the same surface speed as the first-mentioned carrier, track means carried by said platform and extending longitudinally above said first carrier, a series of carriages guided by said track means and operated by said second endless carrier above and at the same surface speed as said rst carrier, plungers reciprocally mounted in said carriages to move perpendicularly to the direction of carrier movement, a container-engaging presser surface formation at the lower end of each plunger, said latter surface formation being divided into segments movable one relative to the other, a stationary cam carried by said platform engaging and operating said plungers to move said presser surface formation to a position from which said segments are adapted to move into container pressing relation, and stationary cam means operating said segments individually following plunger movement.

8. A machine for labelling containers comprising in combination, an endless carrier to conduct a container in linear straight line motion through a machine, a support structure mounted for vertical adjustment above said carrier, label applying means mounted on said support structure and moving at the surfae speed of said carrier to bring the adhesive face of a label into contact with a container deposited on said carrier, presser means mounted on said support structure and movable in a linear straight line path at the same surface speed as and above said carrier and vertically reciprocal to apply pressure to a label and container, and means to control the timing relation between said label applying means, said presser means and said endless carrier.

9. A labelling, stamping or like machine cornprising, a main frame unit, an endless carrier mechanism operating longitudinally of said main frame, a platform, rack bars vertically slidable relative said main frame supporting said platform above said main frame for vertical adjustment an elevating shaft journalled in said main frame, pinion means operating said rack bars, a drive connection between said elevating shaft and pinion means, a label magazine mounted on said platform, a label drum mechanism rotatably mounted on said platform above said carrier for depositing a label from said magazine onto a container on said endless carrier mechanism, a drive from said main frame to said platform driving said drum at the surface speed of said carrier, an endless carrier mechanism mounted on said platform and driven by said drive from said main frame at the surface speed of and operating for a portion of its travel over the aforesaid carrier, a vertically reciprocal presser means mounted on said latter endless carrier mechanism and mov- ,10 able upon vertical adjustment of said platform in unison with said label drum to adjust for size of containers placed on said 'rst-mentioned endless carrier mechanism, and means for vertically reciprocating said presser means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,195,111 Kagley Mar. 26, 1940 2,238,436 Von Hofe Apr. 15, 1941 2,244,796 Ogden Apr. 15, 1941 2,280,730 Talbot Apr. 2l, 1942 2,543,220 Ardell Feb. 27, 1951

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