US3379466A

US3379466A - Pressure-sensitive label receiving and applying station

Info

Publication number: US3379466A
Application number: US577736A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas G Hughes
Original assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 1966-09-07
Filing date: 1966-09-07
Publication date: 1968-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 1985-04-23

Description

A ril 23, 1968 T. G. HUGHES PRESSURE-SENSITIVE LABEL RECEIVING AND APPLYING STATION Filed Sept. 7, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R O N E V m THOMAS G. HUGHES Aprifi 3, 1968 T. G. HUGHES 3,379,466

PRElSJURE-SENSlTIVE LABEL1 RECEIVING AND APPLYING STATION Filed Sept. '7, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3% Fi INVENTOR.

THOMAS G. HUGHES 3,379,466 PREEEURE-SENSITIVE LABEL RECElVlNG AND APPLYING STATIGN Thomas G. Hughes, Windber, Pa, assignor to The Procter 8: Gamble Company, (Iincinnati, Ohio, 2 corporation or Ghio Filed Eept. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 577,736 8 Qlalrns. (Cl. 294---65) This invention relates to a label receiving and applying station for pressure-sensitive label application machines and more particularly to such a station from which stripped pressure-sensitive labels are applied by propelling the same by means of a short burst of compressed air. As such, the device of this invention comprises an improvement to the label applying means described in US. Letters Patent 3,093,528 which issued to Robert L. Reich on June 11, 1963, for Label Applying Means.

The Reich patent discloses a device for stripping pressure-sensitive labels from a release liner and applying the stripped labels to articles by means of compressed air. The labels are mounted in seriatim on a ribbon of release liner in roll form and these are fed into the machine, eventually being guided onto a stripping bar having a forward edge adjacent a side of the grid on a label receiving and applying station. The release liner is carried around the forward edge of the stripping bar and, following the label stripping action caused thereby, is collected on a take-up roll which is later discarded. As the release liner abruptly changes direction in traversing the stripping bar forward edge, the inherent stillness of a label being carried on the liner causes the leading label edge to separate from the release liner. The leading edge of the label proj'ects in front of the vacuumized grid of the label receiving and applying station, the vacuum biasing the label toward the grid and causing the label to travel across the face of the grid as it is progressively stripped from the release liner. When the article to be labeled is in proper position and the label is completely stripped, appropriate controls cause a blast of compressed air to be directed through a plurality of air nozzles onto the inner surface of the grid and by this means the pressure sensitive label is blown from the grid and onto the article.

The arrangement of the blow-off nozzles for each size and configuration of label is critical in that the air directed therefrom provides the sole means of controlling the label while it is being propelled to the package or article. Commercial embodiments of machines such as that described in the Reich patent are normally equipped with a set of 8 nozzles, each of which comprises a length of rigid tubing secure.y fastened to a manifold. The relationship of the nozzles of a set, one to the other, cannot be changed or altered when different sizes and shapes of labels are used. For this reason it is standard operating procedure to have a different set of nozzles for each type of label, necessitating a purchase and/ or replacement of arts for each changeover of label, i.e., each time the equipment is set up to run a different style of label. Moreover, there is essentially no freedom of action in selecting a desired nozzle pattern since the parts are expensive to produce and are not readily adapted for testing as to efiicacy in operation.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate the above difliculties.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a label receiving and applying station adapted to be employed with labels of varying sizes and configurations and which utilizes an air nozzle arrangement which can be quickly and economically adjusted upon label changeover to improve the overall pattern of air emanating therefrom.

* States Patent M 3,379,466 Patented Apr. 23, 1968 Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of th s invention there is provided a label receiving and applying station comprising a vacuum housing in communication with means to maintain air pressure therein below that of the ambient air. The vacuum housing has a grid on one side thereof formed of an open network of support members, the outer surfaces of which are coplanar. A flexible tubing connecting means is associated with the grid and comprises a multiplicity of connecting stations positioned intermediate adjacent support members. The stations are each open to the passage of ambient air therethrough when unconnected to a flexible tube. The station also includes a multiplicity of lengths of flexible tubing each of which has one end in communication with a source of compressed air and another end adapted to be removably attached to one of the connecting stations. Means is provided for selectively controlling the flow of compressed air simultaneously into the lengths of flexible tubing. The number of lengths of flexible tubing is substantially less than the number of connecting stations, whereby to permit attachment to an equal number of stations in varying patterns to provide means for conveniently selecting the collective profile of compressed air emanating from the lengths of flexible tubing.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View, partially broken away to show interior details, of a preferred embodiment of the label receiving and applying station of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the grid of the embodiment of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the air manifold of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the air manifold of FIGURE 3 taken along the line 4-4; and

FIGURE 5 is an elev-ational view of a modification of the grid of FIGURE 2.

Referring to FIGURE 1 there is shown one preferred embodiment of the subject label receiving and applying station. This station is adapted to be employed in connection with label application apparatus such as described in the aforesaid Reich patent and therefore the label application apparatus shall not be described in detail, the Reich patent being relied upon for details of this nature. It will be understood, however, that the device is so positioned with respect to the stripping bar of the pressuresensitive label applying machine that the grid of the label receiving and applying station of this invention is adapted to receive the successive labels as they are stripped from the release liner during the course of machine operation. This label receiving and applying station can be connected to the balance of the label applying machine by means of screws, clamps, welding or other suitable mounting means, none of which is shown on the drawing.

The label receiving and applying station comprises an enclosure or housing 12 constructed of imperforate plastic or, preferably, of sheet metal and formed into a desired configuration and secured therein by welding, brazing, soldering, screws, or the like. The housing 12 is substantially airtight along its seams whereby to prevent air passage through portions of the enclosure aside from those specifically intended to be open to air fiow. One side of the enclosure 12 comprises a grid 14 which will be described in more detail hereinafter but is essentially open for the passage of ambient air therethrough. Another side of the enclosure 12 (as shown on the drawing, side 16,

which is oriented at right angles with the plane of the grid 14) is provided with an opening 160 adapted to be placed in communication with a source of vacuum by vacuum ducts or other appropriate means known to those skilled in the art. The vacuum source should have capacity to pull a vacuum within the interior of the enclosure 12 in the range of from about .5 to about 5.0 inches of water, preferably 1.0 inch of water.

Fastened in a corner of the enclosure 12 by means of machine screws 18 is an air manifold it), the structure of which will be described, connected to a source of compressed air, for example, a compressor or a pressure vessel communicating with the outlet thereof. While it can be varied considerably, air at a pressure of from about 60 to about 100 pounds per square inch gage is most satisfactory, preferably 90 p.s.i.g. A number of lengths of fiexible tubing 22 constructed of rubber, plastic or the like are attached to the manifold 20 and thereby placed in communication with the compressed air source. These flexible tubes 22, the lengths of which are approximately equal, extend to and are removably afiixed to connecting stations comprising a portion of the grid 14 and therefore each can be detached from the connecting station to which it is affixed and reapplied to another in order to result in a composite arrangement of activated connecting stations (i.e., those which are engaged with flexible tubes 22) in a pattern thought to give best results with a particular size and shape of label. In order to permit selection of a large number of patterns of activated connecting stations, the number of lengths of flexible tubing 22 must be substantially less than the number of connecting stations. A removable side panel 24 is afiixed to a flange portion 26 of the enclosure 12 by means of screws 27 or the like. If desired, a gasket (not shown) can be placed intermediate the side panel 24 and the flange portion 26. Removal of the side panel 24 provides access to the flexible tubes 22 and thereby permits the movement of the tubes 22 to various connecting stations in order to develop the desired overall pattern of air flow through the grid 14.

The construction of the grid 14 of FIGURE 1 will be understood most clearly by reference to FIGURE 2. The grid comprises a multiplicity of equally spaced support members, parallel bars 23, between which are fastened a number of connecting stations, in this case nozzle members 30 adapted to direct air outwardly at substantially right angles with the outer grid surface. A pair of oppositely disposed end members 32 maintains the integrity of the unit and provides the structure for aflixment of the grid unit '14 within the enclosure 12. Although the size, type of materials used, and the method of construction are not critical, it has been found that where the overall grid dimensions are about 3" x 5 a satisfactory structure results when bars 23 are made of metal having cross-sectional dimensions of /1 x A, spaced from one another, and held together by a pair of /s" x 4;" metal end members 32. In this case, 3 OD. copper tubing /3" long can be used for the nozzle members 35 which in this embodiment are the connecting stations. The end members 32 are slotted to approximately half the depth and for the full thickness of the bars 28 so that the same may merely be telescoped in the grooves and thereby aligned during assembly so that the outer surfaces thereof are flush, i.e., substantially coplanar. Provided the grooves in the end members 3-2 are properly dimensioned, a friction fit between the bars 28 and the end members 32 will suffice to hold these parts together. Otherwise, the bars 28 may be attached to the end members 32 within the slots by fastening techniques such as soldering, brazing or welding.

The tubing comprising the connecting stations are inserted between adjacent bars 28 whereby any desired arrangement thereof may be achieved. In the illustrated embodiment the nozzles 30 in each row are placed with centerto-center spacing of about 1" and these connecting stations are staggered from one another, the majority of A stations being substantially equally spaced throughout the grid arrangement. However, it is desirable to have the stations at the end of the grid on which the label is first contacted to be more closely spaced than the balance of the stations so as to permit the nozzles 30 to be connected to the flexible tubes 22 in a more compact pattern to create better control for smaller labels. For example, the staggering of the connecting stations at the label inlet end can be by about A whereas the balance of the stations can be staggered by about /2". In any event, the number and arrangement of the connecting stations at the grid can be made in conformity with the type and size of labels expected to be handled by a particular applicating machine and in the embodiment shown 56 stations are employed. The nozzle members 30 can be affixed in the proper location by means of brazing or other suitable afiixment techniques.

As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the grid 14 is placed on end and telescoped in one side of the enclosure 12, secured in place by means, not shown, but which can comprise machine screws or the like connecting the top wall 34 of enclosure 12 with the upper end member 32 of FIGURE 1 and the bottom wall 36 to the lower end member 32. As will be understood, the flush outer surfaces of bars 28 will be positioned to receive labels as they are stripped for application by other elements of the label applicating machine.

The manifold 2%, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, comprises a body 38 of substantially parallelepipedon configuration, one side of which contains a cylindrical recess 4G. The other side of the body 38 is drilled at a number of locations which are equally spaced about the periphery of and connecting with the inner wall of recess 40, forming through holes 42 within which tube connectors 44 are telescoped and atfixed by friction, welding, soldering or other suitable means. The number and size of the tube connectors 44 are not critical, but it has been found satisfactory to utilize 8 connectors 44, each of which is constructed of OD. copper tubing having a length sufiicient to permit firm frictional engagement with an appropriately sized flexible tube 22; for example, 1 /2 long.

An inlet plate 45 is clamped to the body '38 by machine screws 47 on the side thereof in which the recess 40 is found, thereby enclosing a chamber 4-8. A gasket 50 is placed intermediate the inlet plate 46 and body 38 to seal the periphery of the chamber 48. Inlet plate 46 contains a centrally located aperture 52 within which is tele scoped and atfixed an air line connector 54. As in the case of the tube connectors 44, such aflixment can be a press fit, brazing, or the like. Air line hose 56 is telescoped over the distal end of the ar line connector 54 and can, if desired, be secured with a hose clamp or merely by frictional engagement. Air line hose 56 extends to a source of compressed air, not shown.

Controls are employed preferably in connection with the air line hose 56, to selectively cause air to flow into the chamber 48 at appropriate times in the operating cycle of the machine to which the subject unit is affixed. These controls can comprise apparatus such as that described in the above-mentioned Reich patent so that when a label is completely stripped and held on the grid 14 and an article to be labeled is in proper position, a burst of compressed air from the compressed air source enters the chamber 48 and thence proceeds through the tube connectors 44 into the flexible tubes 22 and thereafter through the connecting stations, the nozzle 30, of the grid 14 to which the flexible tubes 22 are connected.

The label receiving and applying station is oriented to receive the labels in a direction substantially parallel to the direction in which the bars 28 extend and in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1 the labels would enter vertically from the top. Following the stripping of the label from the release liner and therefore its location entirely within the confines of the grid 14 the label is held in place by the pressure of ambient air acting upon the outer surface of the label and pressing the same inwardly toward the interior of housing 12. An article is then moved into proper relat-ion with the grid for application of the label and the burst of air mentioned previously is brought to bear on the label. The label is therefore pushed away from the grid structure and propelled to the article. If it is desired to change the size or configuration of the label to be applied with the label applying apparatus, it is merely necessary to move the flexible tubing 22 to different connecting stations, nozzles 30, to effect the desired pattern for the burst of air used to propel the new style of label. This may be accomplished by removing the side panel 24 and manually rearranging the flexible tubes 22 as desired until the appropriate activated nozzle 30 pattern is developed. Thereafter the side panel 24 can be replaced and the effectiveness of the composite air blast pattern tested and further adjustments to the individual flexible tube 22 locations made, as desired.

An alternative form of grid 14' is disclosed in FIGURE 5 in which the structure is essentially the same as that of FIGURE 2 with the exception of the manner of attachment of the flexible tubes 22' thereto. In this embodiment, the nozzles 30 are not employed and the connecting stations merely comprise sockets 31 formed by oppositely disposed arcuately shaped recesses on adjacent sides of juxtaposed bars 28' whereby the ends of the flexible tubes 22 may be telescoped therein and held in frictional engagement. The illustrated grid of this embodiment is shown with the eight flexible tubes 22' arranged to form the hexagonal pattern illustrated by dotted lines on the figure.

Many modifications of the above invention may be used and it is not intended to hereby limit it to the particular embodiments shown or described. The terms used in describing the invention are used in their descriptive sense and not as terms of limitation, it being intended that all equivalents thereof be included within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A label receiving and applying station comprising a vacuum housing in communication with means to maintain the air pressure therein below that of the ambient air, said vacuum housing having a grid on one side thereof formed of an open network of support members the outer surfaces of which are substantially coplanar, flexible tubing connecting means associated with said grid and comprising a multiplicity of connecting stations positioned intermediate adjacent support members, said stations each being open to the passage of ambient air therethrough when unconnected to a flexible tube, a multiplicity of lengths of flexible tubing each having one end in communication with a source of compressed air and the other end adapted to be removably attached to a said station, means for selectively controlling the flow of compressed air simultaneously into said lengths of flexible tubing, the number of said lengths of flexible tubing being substantially less than the number of said stations, whereby said other ends of said lengths of flexible tubing can be attached to an equal number of stations in varying patterns as to provide means to conveniently select the collective profile of compressed air emanating from the said other ends of said lengths of flexible tubing.

2. The label receiving and applying station of claim 1 in which each of said connecting stations comprises a tubular nozzle adapted to direct air flow outwardly at substantially right angles with respect to said outer surfaces of said support members, said nozzles being attached to said support members and projecting inwardly beyond the inner surfaces thereof, the attachment of said other ends of the lengths of flexible tubing being by telescoping the same over the inwardly projecting portions of said nozzles.

3. The label receiving and applying station of claim 2 in which each said one end of said flexible tubes is attached to a common manifold connected to said source of compressed air, said manifold having a number of tube connectors thereon over each of which is telescoped a said one end of a flexible tube.

4. The label receiving and applying station of claim 3 in which said vacuum housing is provided with a removable side panel to provide access to the housing interior whereby the pattern of attachment of said other ends of said lengths of flexible tubing to said nozzles can be varied.

5. The label receiving and applying station of claim 1 in which each of said connecting stations comprises a socket into which said other ends of the lengths of flexible tubing may be telescoped for attachment and in which air flow is directed outwardly at substantially right angles with respect to said outer surfaces of said support members.

6. The label receiving and applying station of claim 5 in which said sockets are formed by oppositely disposed arcuately shaped recesses on adjacent sides of juxtaposed support members.

7. The label receiving and applying station of claim 6 in which each said one end of said flexible tubes is attached to a common manifold connected to said source of compressed air, said manifold having a number of tube connectors thereon over each of which is telescoped a said one end of a flexible tube.

8. The label receiving and applying station of claim 7 in which said vacuum housing is provided with a removable side panel to provide access to the housing interior whereby the pattern of attachment of said other ends of said lengths of flexible tubing to said nozzles can be varied.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,813,690 7/1931 \Veisker 248-363 2,317,348 4/ 1943 Wekeman 248-363 3,093,528 6/1963 Reich 156-285 3,220,723 11/ 1965 Rabinow 294-64 3,223,443 12/ 1965 Misson 294-64 EDWARD A. SROKA, Primary Examiner.

R. D. GUIOD, Assistant Examiner.