US2905866A - Labelling machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 22, 1959 M. SEIFERT LABELLING MACHINE Filed April 8, 1955 INVENTOR fjczur/ceje/feri. BY A m? #74;

ATTORNEY United States Patent LABELLING MACHINE Maurice Seifert, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Dumatic Industries, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April s, 1955, Serial No. 500,106

2 Claims. or. 311-123 My invention relates to labelling machines, and more particularly, relates to pneumatical-electrical controls for the cut-off device for the labels prior to their application to the containers.

Some of the prior methods of applying labels were to have individual labels that were applied to the containers one at a time. This was a laborious and time-consuming operation and, as there was no direct control, often the wrong label was applied to a container. The strip of labels has proven advantageous and it is in the applying of this type of label that my improved cut-off device finds application.

In some of the prior art devices, an attempt was made to actuate the cut-01f device by indentations in the edge of the strip of labels, the indentations being at the point at which the strip of labels was to be severed; a wheel encountering these indentations actuating the cut-off device. This arrangement required very accurate set-up arrangements; set-ups that often had to be made by a skilled mechanic.

In my improved cut-off control, I have devised a pneumatically actuated electrical control that is simple in its operation and only requires that the operator center the roll of labels in the labelling machine.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to construct 'a cut-off control for a labelling machine that is simple in its operation, and one that can be adjusted for operation by an unskilled operator.

Another object of my invention is to devise a cut-off control for a labelling machine that can be applied to various types of labelling machines.

Another object of my invention is to devise a cut-off control for a labelling machine that will function to cutoff labels of various widths without adjustment of the controls.

Another object of my invention is to devise a cut-ofif control for a labelling machine that will function to cutoff labels of various lengths, it only being necessary to have the strip of labels pierced with a single hole at the point at which the label strip is to be severed to segregate the individual labels from the strip of labels.

Other objects of my invention are to provide an improved device of the character described, that is easily I and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly efficient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, my invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the operating components of the labelling machine showing a preferred embodiment of my improved cut-off control. In order not to obstruct the view of the components, the frame of the machine is not shown.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the pneumatic unit of the cutoff control device.

Fig. 3 is an elevational sectional view of the pneumatic unit taken along line 33 of Fig. 2 showing a strip of the labels in contact with the pneumatic unit and a hole in the strip positioned over the orifice of the pneumatic unit.

Fig. 4 is an elevational sectional view of the pneumatic unit taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing a strip of the labels in contact with the pneumatic unit.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, I disclose a label strip feed unit and cut-off unit for a labelling machine; the feed and cut-off units being pneumatically-electrically controlled. In the illustrations, the frame of the machine is not shown. However, it is to be understood that the components shown are fixedly and rotatably mounted on the frame of the machine, as will hereinafter be described.

In Fig. 1 is illustrated a preferred embodiment of my improved pneumatic-electrical control; a strip of labels, generally designated L, unwinding from a roll of labels, not shown, enters the feed and cut-off units of the labelling machine at 10, passing over a vacuum unit, generally designated V. The roll of labels is positioned so that a series of perforations 11, positioned along the center of the strip of labels and also positioned at the division point 12 between the printed labels 13 on the label strip L, comes over an orifice 14 in the upper side 15 of the vacuum unit, generally designated V. The vacuum unit V is comprised of a chamber 16 surrounded by air tight walls 15 and 17 and connected by a tube 18 at 19 to the vacuum system of the labelling machine. The vacuum producing means (not shown) may be any of the conventional units for this service. As the vacuum producing means is used for other functions in the labelling machine, the negative pressure produced by the vacuum means varies. In order to obtain a fairly constant negative pressure on the vacuum unit V a plenum chamber 20 is connected to the tube 18 and the plenum chamber 20 is, in turn, connected to the vacuum producing unit (not shown) by the tube 21. A restriction 22, restricting the air flow in the tube 20, assists the plenum chamber 20 to dampen the fluctuations in the negative pressure. A bellows unit 23 adjacent to and connected by the hole 24 to the chamber 16 of the-vacuum unit V is held in an extended condition by an internal helical tension spring 26. When one of the perforations 11 in the strip of labels L is positioned over the orifice 14 in the vacuum unit upper wall 17, air enters the chamber 16 of the vacuum unit V. As the air entering at 14 is at a greater rate than it is being withdrawn through a restriction 25 in the tube 18, the air pressure in the chamber 16 of the vacuum unit increases and the spring 26 within the bellows unit 23 extends the bellows unit to break the electrical contacts 27 (see Fig. 3) and stop rotation of the feed unit, as will be hereinafter described. When the bellows 23, which has an electrical contact blade 23A mounted thereon, is in an expanded position, as seen in Fig. 3, the perforation 11 in the label 10 registers with the orifice 14 whereby the electrical circuit to the solenoid is opened because the blade 23A does not bridge the controls 27, 27 of the wires W8, W9. The vacuum in the vacuum unit V causes the bellows 23 to collapse so that the blade 23A engages the contacts 27, 27 to close the electrical circuit and actuate the solenoid. The labels are cut by the blades of the cut-off unit C when the feed rollers move the labels until the vacuum in the vacuum unit V is broken by holes 11 and 14 registering. When the perforations in the strip, of labels L are not positioned over the orifice 14 in the wall of the chamber 16 of the vacuum unit V, the vacuum system withdraws the air from the chamber 16 of the vacuum unit V creating a negative pressure, or a pressure below atmospheric pressure. This negative pressure causes the atmospheric Patented Sept. 22, 1959 wheel 59. .wise rotation of the angular cam wheel. support 54 on pressure to overcome the spring 26 within the bellows unit 23 and the bellows unit collapses (see Fig. 4) to close the electrical contacts 27 of switch S1.

' In their progress through the feed and cut-off units, the strip of labels next passes between the feed rolls of the feedroll unit, generally designated F. The feed roll. unit F is comprised of an upper feed roll 30 and a lower feed roll 31-. The feed rolls 30 and 31 securely position the strip of labels L between them so that movement of the outer surface of the rolls produces a linear movement in the strip of labels L. The upper feed roll 30 is positioned, supported, and fixedly attached to a shaft 32; the shaft 32 being, in turn, rotatably mounted on the frame of the machine (not shown). The lower feed roll 31 is positioned, supported, and fixedly attached to a shaft 33. The shaft 33 is also rotatably mounted on the frame of the machine. Fixedly attached to the right hand end of the shaft 33 is a worm wheel 34 arranged to be engaged by a driving means, as will hereinafter be described. Fixedly attached to the left hand end of the shaft 33 is a spur gear 35. The spur gear 35 is positioned to engage a similar spur gear 36 which is fixedly attached to the shaft 32 of the upper feed roll 30.

The driving means for the feed rolls 30 and 31 is comprised of a motor 37 which rotates continuously while the machine is in operation and which is pivotally mounted at 38 on the frame of the machine (not shown). The motor rotates a shaft 39 to which is fixedly attached a worm gear 40. The outer end 41 of the shaft 39 is mounted in a pivotally mounted bearing 42. The pivotal bearing 42 and the pivotal mounting 38 of the motor 37 provide for vertical movement of the outer end 41 of the drive shaft 39. An electrical solenoid, generally designated S, has an armature 43 which is fixedly attached to the pivotally mounted bearing 42 and arranged to position the bearing so that when the solenoid S is deenergized, the bearing positions the shaft 39 so that the worm gear 40 is clear of the worm wheel 34 and when the solenoid S is energized, the armature 43 raises the bearing 42 and outer end 41 of the shaft 39 so that the worm gear 40 is in position to engage the worm wheel 34 to rotate the feed rolls 3t? and 31. With this arrangement, it will be observed that the feed rolls are positioned to withdraw the label strip L from the roll of labels (not shown) and draw them across the vacuum unit V and on to the cut-off unit, generally designated C. However, it will also be observed that the feeding and movement of the strip of labels only occurs at the time that the solenoid S is energized.

The cut-off unit C of the machine is comprised of a fixed blade 45 which is fixedly attached to the frame of the machine (not shown). An upper blade 46 of the cut-off unit is arranged to move vertically in guides (not shown) on the machine frame. An operating arm 47 pivotally attached at 48 to the upper blade 46 and pivotally attached at 49 to the frame of the machine, has its outer end pivotally attached at 50 to an operating link 51. The lower end of operating link 51 is pivotally attached at 52 to an outwardly extending arm 53 of an angular cam wheel support 54. The angular cam wheel support is pivotally attached at 55 to the frame of the machine (not shown). A downwardly extending arm 56 of the angular cam wheel support 54 is arranged to rotatably support a cam wheel 57. The cam wheel 57 is arranged to be engaged by a cam 60, which is fixedly attached to a shaft 61. The shaft 61 and cam 60 rotate in a clock-wise direction driven by a rotating force '(not shown) and rotate continuously while the machine is in operation. With this arrangement, it will be observed that clock-wise rotation of the cam 60 causes a projection 62 on the cam wheel 60 to engage the cam This engagement produces counter-clockthe pivot 55, causing upward .motion of-the operating link 51. The upward motion of the link 51 causes the operating arm 47 to rotate clock-wise on the pivot 49' to lower the upper blade 46 of the cut-off unit. The sharpened lower edge 46A of the upper blade 46 passes the sharpened upper edge 45A of the lower blade 45 and to sever a label 44 from the stripof labels L.

A contact operating cam- 63 is also fixedly attached to the shaft 61 and rotates with the shaft 61 and cam 60. A flat portion 64 on the periphery of the cam 63 is arranged to engage a. contact arm cam wheel 65. The con tact arm cam wheel 65 is rotatably mounted on the upper end 66 of an electrical contact arm 67. The contact arm 67 is pivotally attached at 68 to the frame of the machine (not shown). A helical tension spring 69, one end of which is attached to the contact arm 67 and the other end attached to the frame of the machine (not shown), provides a force to keep the contact arm cam wheel 65 in contact with the periphery of the contact operating cam 63. An electrical contact making plate 70, attached to the contact arm 67, is arranged to complete the electrical connection between the contact points 71 when the contact arm cam wheel 65 is engaged by the flat portion 64 on the contact operating cam 63.

Now the operation of my improved label positioning and cut-off control is as follows: After positioning the strip of labels in the machine, the feeding and cutting of labels is automatic. Electrical energy enters the electrical circuit at through wires W1 and W2. A portion of the energy travels through the wires W3 and W4 to the feed roll drive motor 37, which runs continuously while the machine is in operation. A portion of the electrical energy travels through wires W5 and W6 to the control circuit. As a strip of labels L moves through the machine, and as long as perforations 11 in the strip L are not over the orifice 14 in the vacuum unit V, a vacuum is produced in the vacuum unit chamber 16 by the vacuum producing means and the bellows 23 is maintained compressed. The compressing of the bel lows 23 maintains a normally open electrical contact 27 27 attached thereto in a closed condition. Electrical energy from the wire W8, which is attached to wire W2, passes through the contact '2727 to wire W9, hence to wire W10 and on to the solenoid S, through the solenoid and on to wire W5, completing the circuit. With the solenoid S thus energized, as described above, the solenoid armature 43 maintains the worm gear 40 in engagement with the worm wheel 35. With the Worm gear 49 and worm wheel 35 thus engaged, the feed roll drive motor 37 drives the feed rolls 30 and 31 to move the label strip L through the machine. As the laber strip L moves across the vacuum unit, one of the perforations 11 passes over the orifice 14 in the upper wall 15 of the vacuum unit. This permits air to enter. the chamber 16 of the vacuum unit. As the air enters the chamber faster than the vacuum means can withdraw air from the chamber by way of the restriction 25, the air pressure within the vacuum unit increases and permits the bellows 23 to be extended by the spring 26. The extending of the bellows breaks the electrical circuit through the contacts 27-27 and electrical energy to the solenoid S is interrupted and the armature 43 of the solenoid falls, allowing the worm gear 40 on the shaft 39 to rotate free of the worm wheel 35 attached to the drive roller shaft 33. Of course the drive rollers stop and :the strip of labels becomes motionless. As the above operation is taking place, the second driving means (not shown) that rotates the shaft 61, is rotating the cams and 63 attached to the shaft 61, and as the projection 62on the cam 60 encounters the cam wheel 57, the upper blade 46 and lower blade 45 of the cutoff unit sever a label 44 from the strip of labels, as described above. The cams 60 and 63 continue their clockwise rotation and as the wheel on the electrical contact arm 67 moves over the fiat portion 64 of the periphery of the cam 63, the contact plate 70 completes the electrical circuit-between the contact points 71- -41, and as these contact points are in parallel with the contact points 2727 on the vacuum unit bellows by way of wires W11 and W6, the solenoid S is again energized and the feed rolls again begin to turn, as described above. As soon as the perforations 11 move off the orifice of the vacuum unit V, the vacuum within the vacuum unit chamber 16 is re-established and the bellows unit is again contracted to complete the electrical circuit through the contacts 2727 to energize the solenoid S. The solenoid armature raises the outer end 41 of the shaft 39 so that the worm gear 40 is in engagement with the worm wheel 34 and drive feed rolls, and move the strip of labels L through the machine. The movement of the strip of labels L continues until a second perforation 11 in the strip of labels comes over the orifice 14 in the vacuum unit V, thus completing one cycle of operation.

Although my invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim as my invention:

1. Electrical-pneumatical controls as applied to a rolled labelling machine comprising a continuous web of labels having spaced openings pervaded therethrough comprising expandable pneumatically controlled bellows, an electric switch control on said bellows, a vacuum unit chamber having an opening to the atmosphere, a first electrical switch adapted to be electrically closed by said bellows, a second electric switch joined in parallel electrically to said first switch, a solenoid electrically controlled by each of said switches, a cam adapted to be continuously rotated, said second switch being actuated at a predetermined portion of cycle of the rotation of said cam, said labels having an opening adapted to register with an opening in said vacuum unit chamber thereby controlling the actuation of said bellows to open said first-named switch, said second switch being adapted to close the electrical circuit to said solenoid when said second switch is cam actuated for a brief interval of time and when said vacuum is open to the atmosphere, said second switch being adapted to be kept open by said cam for the remainder of the cycle of rotation of said cam, and said first switch being adapted to close said electrical circuit to said solenoid after said bellows moves to close said second switch,

and both electric switches being opened when a label has traveled a pre-determined distance whereby the vacuum unit chamber is open to the atmosphere and said continuously rotatable cam has opened said second switch at a pre-determined portion of said cam.

2. Electrical-pneumatical controls comprising a web having spaced openings pervaded therethrough comprising expandable pneumatically controlled bellows, an electric switch control on said bellows, a vacuum unit chamber having an opening to the atmosphere, a first electrical switch adapted to be electrically closed by said bellows, a second electric switch joined in parallel electrically to said first switch, a solenoid electrically controlled by each of said switches, a cam adapted to be continuously rotated, said second switch being actuated at a pre-determined portion of cycle of the rotation of said cam, said web having an opening adapted to register with an opening in said vacuum unit chamber thereby controlling the actuation of said bellows to open said first-named switch, said second switch being adapted to close the electrical circuit when said second switch is cam actuated for a brief interval of time and when said vacuum is open to the atmosphere and said second switch being adapted to be kept open by said cam for the remainder of the cycle of rotation of said cam, and said first switch being adapted to close said electrical circuit after said bellows moves inwardly to close said second switch, and both electric switches being opened whereby the vacuum unit chamber is open to the atmosphere and said cam has reached a pre-determined portion of said cam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 736,783 Robinson et al Aug. 18, 1903 1,814,890 Biagosch July 14, 1931 1,970,368 Fishburn Aug. 14, 1934 2,156,931 Williams May 2, 1939 2,300,569 Hayssen Nov. 3, 1942 2,466,686 Connelly Apr. 12, 1949 2,537,499 Williamson Ian. 9, 1951 2,734,571 Martell Feb. 14, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 293,044 Great Britain Sept. 19, 1929

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