US3448909A

US3448909A - Metal label strip apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3448909A
Authority: US
Inventors: Larry Italiano
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-10-22
Filing date: 1965-10-22
Publication date: 1969-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 1986-06-10

Description

June 10, 1969 L, ITALIANO METAL LABEL STRIP APPARATUS Sheet of 7 Filed Oct. 22, 1965' L on F IN V EN TOR.

LARRY ITAL/A/VO A T TORNE Y June 10, 1969' v L. ITALIANO 3, METAL LABEL STRIP APPARATUS Filed Oct. 22. 1965 Sheet 3 of '7 IN V EN TOR.

LARRY I TAL/ANO v ATTORNEY June 10, 19 9 L; ITALIANO .3',44s,909

METAL LABEL STRIP APPARATUS" v Filed Oct. 22, 1965 sheet 4 of 7" IN V EN TOR. LARRY ITALIANO A TTORNEV June 10, 1969 L. ITALIANO 3,448,909

'M TAL'LABEL STRIP APPARATUS Filed Oct. 22, 1965 Sheet 5 of 7 m I g 4 Z1 7 .i

4 Y gag ATTORNEY June10, 1969 ITALIANO. 3 3,448,909

METAL LABEL STRIP APPARATUS 1 Filed Oct. 22, 1 965 Sheet 6 of 7 I A M A I8) 55 l I JFJ- 5 IN VEN TOR.

LARRY ITAL IANO A 7' TORNE J June 10, 1969 lTAL lANO 3,448,909

. METAL LABEL STRIP APPARATUS Filed Oct. 22, 1965 Sheet 7 of v &' wf v 620- Q V I /0 7 1. J E m INVENTOR. lIII) Il LARRY mum/v0 w BY pa 5% E: 15 A ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,448,909 METAL LABEL STRIP APPARATUS Larry Italiano, 235 North St., New Hdye Park, N.Y. 11040 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,659 Int. Cl. B25c /02 US. Cl. 227-86 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A label feeding and applying machine is provided, having many features including: a special cutter that enters a V-groove between labels to sever labels without raising a burr; a driver that erects the legs of the labels approaching the driving position; a support for the lead label of the strip that swings out of the insertion path of the lead label; a reverse feed-adjusting resilient stop for the label strip; and a positive-acting strip feeder that operates after an initial delay in the return stroke of a ram that operates the label-applying apparatus.

The present invention relates to a novel fom of metal label and to methods and apparatus for applying the labels individually to articles. I

In one aspect the invention relates to a novel strip of metal labels that are inexpensive yet attractive. The term label is suggestive, for obviously the invention extends to other articles such as decorative appliques. Such label (or equivalent) includes a body portion of suitably decorated sheet metal, with integral extending prongs to be driven and set or clinched in the article. A feature of the invention resides in a connected strip of such labels, with slant-sided dividing grooves at the top surface. When a metal strip is cut in the usual manner, a burr develops that projects from its surface, a condition that is highly objectionable. When the novel label is being cut from the strip, the usual problem of burrs is avoided.

A related object of the invention relates to the method of applying such labels to an article.

A still further object of the invention resides in novel label-applying apparatus that cooperates to special advantage with the foregoing form of label supply.

Additional more detailed objects of the invention relate to provision of a novel metal label-severing and applying anachine. A novel and highly effective means is provided for retaining control over the orientation of an individual metal label as it is being cut from a strip and as it is being driven. Novel means is included for accurately feeding a strip of labels to the cutting and applying position. The apparatus provides a firm and accurate feeding effort to operate effectively on the supply of labels, the mass and stiffness of a roll of the metal strip of labels representing a special problem met by certain of the features of the apparatus below.

The nature of the invention and its further objects and novel features will be more fully apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments of the invention in its various aspects. The illustrative embodiments are shown in the annexed drawings, wherein: I

FIGURE 1 shows a lateral elevation of a novel machine for applying metal labels, as an embodiment of certain features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a right-hand end elevation of the apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a lateral view of the apparatus in FIGS. 1 and 2 shown in cross-section generally in the plane 3,-3 of FIG. 2;

FIGURES 4 and 5 are cross-sections of the apparatus in FIGS. 1-3 as viewed at the planes 4-4 and 55, respectively, in FIG. 3;

3,448,909 Patented June 10, 1969 FIGURE 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a strip of metal labels embodying features of the invention, showing the prongs of the lead label of the strip bent and in condition to be parted from the strip, and showing the previous lead label of the strip already parted and in the position it assumes when driven into an article (not shown);

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of a label of the form in FIG. 6 when set into an article;

- FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal cross-section in the same plane as FIG. 3, with the parts shown at the completion of a label-driving operation;

- FIGURE 8A is an enlarged plan view of the label strip and the feed plate and the reverse-feed preventing stop in the relative positions thereof shown in FIG. -8;

FIGURES 9, 10, 11 and 12 are enlarged fragmentary cross-sections as viewed in the plane 33 of FIG. 2, these figures showing, respectively, a label strip as initially loaded into the machine; the completion of the first downward stroke; the near completion of the next-following return stroke; and the next-following stroke in which the first label of the strip has been driven; and

FIGURE 12A is a greatly enlarged cross-section of a label strip and cooperating parts of the foregoing apparatus for severing and driving a label.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a machine comprising a base 10 carrying a housing 12 connected by a pivot 14 to the base. Secured to the end of housing 12 at the left as viewed in FIG. 1 is a face plate 16 which is grooved as a vertical channel, which forms a guide for driver 18 (FIG. 3) in cooperation with housing 12. Compression coil spring 20 contained in a bore in driver 18 bears on a fixed pin 22 held stationary (see FIG. 1) by face-plate 16. A slot 18a in driver 18 for pin 22 accommodates the vertical motion of the driver in its guide, and pin 22 limits the upward stroke of the driver. Spring 20 acts against plug 18b fixed to driver 18 by pin 18c, plug 18b closing the top of the spring-containing bore and providing a bearing surface for the upward bias of spring 20- i As seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, inverted channel 24 and plate 26 are both secured to housing 12 and form a guide passage 28 for a strip of metal labels L. Overlying the strip L is a stop 30 for preventing reverse feed of the labels. The active legs 30a of this stop 30 (FIGS. 4 and 8) underlie parts of channel 24 along the cut-out 24a provided for the strip feeder. The lengthwise setting of stop 30 is established by its adjustable mounting. Screw 32 threaded in housing 12 and having a locknut 34 to fix it in any adjusted position carry a block 36 in which a headed end portion of screw 32 is rotatably captive. Operation of screw 32 adjusts stop 30 horizontally, and the adjustment is fixed by tightening locknut 34.

Housing 12 contains a feeding means 38 for strip L. This strip feeding means includes a hook element 40 carried in housing 12 by a pivot pin 42. Screw 44 and its locknut 44a act-to limit the retraction stroke of hook element 40. A tension coil spring 46 extends between an anchoring part 48 secured to housing 12 and a screw 50 in hook element 40. Spring 46 biases hook element 40 toward stop 44. A block 52 is slidably guided in housing 12 and on channel 24, for travel along strip L. A rod 54 bearing an antifriction sleeve is received in a yoke 01' slotted end portion of element 40 so that oscillation of element 40 causes block 52 to reciprocate in a straight against a label strip. When the feeder goes through a retraction stroke (as more fully described below) plate 56 is raised out of a groove in the label strip L, plate 56 in this motion rocking in an upper pivotal seat in block 52. The upper edge of plate 56 is thus constrained against rocking motion about screw 58, and the plate itself is thus accurately located. Plate 56 fits loosely about screw 58 so that lifting of the feed plate is not impeded by the screw.

The strip of metal labels, and the cooperation of the feeder and the reverse-feed preventing stop, are best illustrated in FIGS. 4, 6, 8A and 11. In FIG. 6, the strip of labels L includes body portions B, whose top surfaces are separated by grooves G of V-shaped cross-section transversely across strip L. There are two prongs P extending from the ends of each body portion P, and small notches N extend across the ends of each groove G.

In FIG. 8A, feed plate 56 is in position at the start of a forward-feeding stroke, and the edge of the feed plate rests in a groove G between bodies B of the label strip. At opposite sides or lateral edges of plate 56, stop 30 has a pair of laterally springy legs 30a whose ends 30b are bent down so as to enter notches N of the label strip. Feeding of the strip of labels takes place when feed plate 56 is withdrawn (to the right in FIG. 8A). Stop parts 30b prevent movement of the label strip to the right as feed plate 56 wipes across the top surface of the label, seeking the next groove G. During the driving leftward stroke of plate 56-, the strip L moves to the left; and as this occurs the pair of bent end portions 30b of stop 30 lift out of a pair of notches N (see FIG. 11). Spring legs 30a are bowed up against lateral portions 24b of guide channel 24, so portions 30b snap down into the next pair of notches N as the feeding stroke ends. These bent stop portions then guard against any tendency of the feed plate to drag the label strip in the reverse direction during the retraction of the feed plate 56 preparatory to the next feeding stroke.

In many views, particularly FIGS. 4 and 9, the lower end of driver 18 is shown as including a pair of late-rally separated portions 18d (see also FIG. 4) that flank the end portion of guide plate 26. During the down strokes of driver 18, portions 18d bend prongs P of that label which is next to the lead label of the strip, bending prongs P across the lateral edges 26a of strip guiding plate 26 and at right angles to the body portion B of the label. Cut-outs 26c provide clearance for portions 18d.

Many of the drawings (see especially FIG. 12A) show another end portion 18f of driver 18 cooperating with the lead label of the strip. A portion 18g projects from the flat end portion of the label-driving part 18) of driver 18. Portion 18g (see FIG. 12A) conforms to one sloping side of a groove G between two labels of the strip. Portion 18g is formed as a hard cutting edge, cooperating with the companion cutting edge 26b at the top and end of plate 26. In the downward stroke of driver 18, the lead label is sheared from the rest of the strip. However, because of the slant lateral surface, there is virtually no tendency for a burr to develop and no burr at all can develop at the upper surface of the label. A burr would develop along one edge of each label were there no groove. A burr projecting from the top surface at an edge of the label would be objectionable, especially in uses where the label could brush against a persons skin or against a delicate fabric. The provision of the described cut edge, and the apparatus insuring exact location of each groove in position for making a cut that is largely free of exposed burrs, are important features of the label and the label-applying method and apparatus.

The lead label of the strip is shown in FIG. 11 advancing on label support 62 including a support portion 62a that underlies the lead label of the strip. The support 62 has a shoulder or stop portion 62b across the path of advance of strip L. A strong leaf-spring 62 supports member 62 in its normal position illustrated in FIG. 11.

Label support 62 has two functions that are both important, for separate effects. Support portion 62a holds the lead label flat against the end of driver portion 181'" as the driver moves down. This guards against tilting of the label during the operation of cutting edges 18g and 2612. Secondly, member 62 promotes precision in the feed of the labels and registry of the lead label opposite driver portion 18]. The feed plate is adjusted to feed the leading edge of the strip a slight distance too far. This overfeed stresses spring 620. As soon as the feed plate is withdrawn (and stop portions 30b have snapped into notches N, member 62 pushes the label strip through a short, accurately limited reverse movement. Stop- 30 is adjusted for aggrement with this adjustment of the strip position by member 62. This promotes consistent accuracy in the location of each leading label in proper position for cut-01f.

Downward movement of driver portion 18 forces label support 62 out of the advancing of the driven label, spring 620 yielding as the prongs of the label are driven into the article on the anvil 10a. After the prongs first touch the article, there is no further dependence on the label support 62 to prevent tipping of the label and its prongs.

In FIG. 3 (for example) the driver 18 and the feeding means for the label-applying machine are shown being operated by the driving head 64 of a standard punch press. This head is coupled by screw 66 whose respective ends have left-hand threads and right-hand threads. The ram 68 of the press is adjustably tied to press head 64 in positive up-and-down strokes. Ram 68 carries a hook 70 that cooperates with a hook-like formation on yoke 42.

As the press lifts hook 70, housing 12 is lifted, spring 46 keeping element 40 retracted. An adjustable stop including a screw in base 10 and a locknut 81a limits the rise of housing 12. Further upward pull of hook 70 against feed element 40, after stop 80 arrests the housing, causes firm forward drive of feed-plate 56.

Downward drive of driving head 64 and ram 68 releases feed element 40 for retraction, limited by screw stop 44 and its locknut 4411. This is adjusted to insure slight excess in the retraction of plate 56 so that this plate is assured of coming to reset at the rear slope of groove G as shown in FIG. 10. This enhances reliable operation of the feeder.

Continued downward drive of head 64 picks up driver 18 and, via spring 20, housing 12 is driven down. The bearing end portions 16a.- (FIG. 2) press against the article on anvil 10a, arresting further movement of housing 12. Thereafter driver 18 performs in the manner already described to bend a pair of prongs P, to sever the lead label from the strip, and to drive the label into the article A. The anvil is formed to cause the prongs P to be set as shown in FIG. 7.

In its elevated position, housing 12 is high enough so that the prongs P clear the article on the anvil during the forward feed of the label strip. Press adjusting screw 66 is set and locked to accord with thickness of the article, considering the downward limit of the operating stroke of ram 68 and driver 18. Screw 80 is then adjusted to determine the forward limit of the stroke of feed plate 56. This feeder provides sufiicient force to pull labels reliably from even a relatively stiff and massive reel of labels. Next, screw adjustment 44 sets the return stroke of the feed plate in position for optimum location of feed plate 56 in the position shown in FIG. 10.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the slant-sided grooves at the cut-off lines in the strip of labels promote burr-free labels when applied in the manner described above. Thus the method of applying individual labels of a strip is related both to the label strip and to the apparatus described.

As previously noted, the spring fingers 30:: which underlie lateral parts 24b (FIG. 4) of the strip guiding passage have bent ends 30b disposed to enter the notches N in the label strip (FIG. 8). As shown, the stop-finger ends are disposed to enter notches N at the ends of the second groove G of the strip, considered before cut-off occurs. The point of engagement ideally is close to the

driver parts

18d and 18 In this way, the space between the tips of th stop fingers 30a and the dirver 18 is small. If the stop tips 30b were located far from driver 18, cumulative small errors from label to label along the strip could disturb the accuracy and consistency of the strip feeder. Stop fingers 30a, through slender, are of ample strength. They can be made wider for greater durability, if desired, since the fingers can be extended into the lateral space over the prongs P of the label strip.

The illustrated adjustment of feed plate 56 is such that it moves back and forth between the second and third groove of the strip, considered before cut-E occurs. In another condition of

adjustments

66 and 80, the feed plate moves between the first and second groove of a strip, the strip being considered atthe time when the lead label is under driver part 187. This adjustment of the feeder is in some respects to be preferred over the condition of the adjustments represented in the drawings, since it leads to effective feed of even the last label of a strip. It is an advantage to be able to retain feeding control over even the last label of a strip for various reasons. For example, it precludes possible damage of the machine due to a residual label becoming angled under cutting and driving part 18 and it avoids jamming of a lead label of a new strip partly overlying a trailing label of the previous strip of labels used in the machine. The forward stroke of feed plate 56 to a point adjacent cutter 18g assures that the machine will,be self-clearing by using up the last label of a strip.

In many respects the described apparatus and method of applying labels can bemodified, retaining many of the described benefits. For example, grooves G are ordinarily formed by a coining operation, particularly by driving a V-shaped edge into the previously continuous top surface of a strip of metal, brass in an example. The strip is weakened where it is grooved, due to the severe mechanical working of the metal. With sufiicient weakening it becomes possible to part the lead label from the rest of the strip without depending on the sharpness of the cutting edges but depending essentially on the weakness of the strip at the groove, and on the transverse force of the driving portion 18 Further, while the illustrated article A is thin and the prongs P are turned in, it is also within present contemplation to use the labels on thick material, in which case the prongs P would penetrate the article without necessarily being turned in. In such a case, an anvil as such might not be utilized.

It is evident that the foregoing apparatus can be altered by omitting some of the novel features and retaining the others, and that varied modification and various applications of the described embodiment of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. Consequently, the invention should be broadly construed in accordance with its full spirit and scope.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for applying an individual metal label of a connected strip of such labels to an article, each label of the strip having a body portion of substantial area and plural prongs extending from the body portion, the exent of the body portion along the strip being at least of the same order of size as the length of the prongs,

- and each label having outline formations including marof the lead label, said strip-feeding means including spring retracting means, said apparatus including a press ram operable in a driving stroke in one direction through an initial idle portion of the stroke and operating in the remainder of the stroke to operate said driver and said housing for driving and setting a label, said ram being operable in a reverse stroke through an initial idle motion and thereafter having driving engagement with an element of said strip-feeding means to drive said strip-feeding means through a strip-feeding stroke.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said strip feeding means includes a feed plate having an edge formation adapted to enter a transverse groove of a strip of labels, said feed plate moving across the top surface of the label strip during retraction thereof by said spring means, said strip feeding means including an adjustable stop for limiting the retraction of the feed plate to a point slightly past the forward-driving relationship of the feed plate with a groove of the label strip.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said element having driving engagement with said ram is movable bodily with said housing and is movable relative to the housing, and said apparatus including stop means limiting the movement of the housing during said reverse stroke of the press ram for thereafter enforcing movement of said element relative to said housing for thereby eifecting operation of said strip feeding means, said stop means being adjustable for adjusting the feeding stroke of the strip feeding means.

4. Apparatus for applying to articles successively the lead label of an interconnected strip of metal labels, in-

cluding a driver for parting the lead label from the strip and applying it to an article, a reciprocating feed plate for advancing the strip one label at a time in alternation with the applying strokes of the driver, a reverse-feed preventing stop cooperable with the label strip for limiting reverse movement of the strip, and a resilient stop interposed across the lead end of the strip, said resilient stop being effective after each feeding operation of the feed plate to shift the label strip into arresting engagement with said reverse-feed preventing stop in a short adjusting motion reverse to the label-feeding direction.

5. Label-applying apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said reverse-feed preventing stop is located for cooperation with the second label of a strip whose lead label is in driving position and wherein said reciprocating feed plate is engageable with the rear edge of the second label and operable to advance the second label into driving position following driving of the lead label out of the driving position.

6. Apparatus for applying to articles successively the lead label of an interconnected strip of metal labels, including a driver for applying the lead label-to an article in a stroke transverse to the strip of labels, a stationary cutting edge underlying the strip adjacent to said driver and said driver having a cutting edge cooperating with said stationary cutting edge for printing the successive lead labels from the strip, a retractable support underlying the lead label opposite the driver at the start of a label-applying stroke of the driver, said support also having a shoulder across the lead edge of the strip, firm spring means biasing said support to said underlying position, feed means for advancing the strip against said shoulder and effective to displace the shoulder and to stress the firm spring means, said shoulder being effective following each advancing stroke of the feeding means to locate the lead label in driving position overlying the retractable support.

7. Apparatus for applying an individual metal label of a connected strip of such labels to an article, each label of the strip having a body portion of substantial area and plural prongs extending from the body portion, the extent of the body portion along the strip being at least of the same order of size as the length of the prongs, and each label having outline formations including marginal groove in the top surface of the strip extending transverse thereof, said apparatu including an article-supporting anvil, a housing operable toward and away from said anvil, said housing embodying a guiding passage for a strip of metal labels, said passage being movable with the housing toward and away from the anvil, strip-feeding means cooperable with the outline formations of the strip, a reciprocable driver movable relative to the housing for driving and setting successively the lead labels of the strip and including a flat face portion cooperable in a labeldriving stroke with the body portion of the lead label and further including an element projecting from said face portion so as to enter the groove of the strip of labels between the lead label and the remainder of the strip said housing having a label-supporting part disposed under the label of the strip adjoining the lead label, said projecting element and said label supporting part having cooperating cutting edges for severing the lead label from a strip of labels, and a retractable label support having a label-supporting surface aligned with the lower surface passage, said retractable label support underlying the driver during the initial portion of a driving stroke of said driver and having an elongated swingable carrying element extending generally along said driver for carrying the retractable label support laterally out of the path of the lead label in response to pressure of the driver so as to support the lead label of the strip until the cutting edge of said projecting element of the driver has parted the lead label from the strip.

8. Apparatus for applying an individual metal label of a connected strip of such labels to an article, each label of the strip having a body portion of substantial area and plural prongs, extending from the body portion, the extent of the body portion along the strip being at least of the same order of size as the length of the prongs, and each label having outline formations, said apparatus including an article-supporting anvil, a housing operable toward and away from said anvil, said housing embodying a guiding passage for a strip of metal labels, said passage being movable with the housing toward and away from the anvil, strip-feeding means cooperable with the outline formations of the strip, a reciprocable driver movable relative to the housing for parting, driving and setting successively the lead labels of the strip and including a flat face portion cooperable in a label-driving stroke with the body portion of the lead label, and a retractable label support having a label-supporting surface aligned with the lower surface of the advancing label strip as determined by said guiding passage and said retractable label support underlying the driver during the initial portion of a driving stroke of said driver so as to support the lead label of the strip until the driver has parted the lead label from the strip, said retractable label support having an elongated swingable carrying element alongside the driver for carrying the retractable label support out of the path of the lead label in response to pressure of said driver.

9. Apparatus for applying an individual metal label of a connected strip of such labels to an article, each label of the strip having a body portion of substantial area and plural prongs extending from the body portion, the extent of the body portion along the strip being at least of the same order of size as the length of the prongs, and each label having outline formations including marginal grooves in the top surface of the strip ex tending transverse thereof, said apparatus including an article-supporting anvil, a housing operable toward and away from said anvil, said housing embodying a guiding passage for a strip of metal labels, said passage being movable with the housing toward and away from the anvil, strip-feeding means cooperable with the outline formations of the strip, and a reciprocable driver movable relative to the housing for driving and setting successively the lead labels of the strip and including a flat face portion cooperable in a label-driving stroke with the body portion of the lead label and further including an element projecting from said face portion so as to enter the groove of the strip of labels between the lead label and the remainder of the strip, said projecting element having a cutting edge, said housing including a label-support under the label adjoining the lead label of the strip and said label-support having a cutting element cooperable with the cutting edge of said projecting element of the driver.

10. Apparatus for applying an individual metal label of a connected strip of such labels to an article, each label of the strip having a body portion of substantial area and plural prongs extending from the 'bOdy portion, the extent of the body portion along the strip being at least of the same order of size as the length of the prongs, and each label having outline formations including marginal grooves in the top surface of the strip extending transverse thereof, said apparatus including a housing embodying a guiding passage for a strip of metal labels, strip-feeding means cooperable with the outline formations of the strip, and a reciprocable driver movable relative to the housing for driving and setting successively the lead labels of the strip and including a flat face portion cooperable in a label-driving stroke with the top surface of the body portion of the lead label and further including an element projecting from said face portion so as to enter the groove of the strip of labels between the lead label and the remainder of the strip, said projecting element having a cutting edge, said housing having a label-support disposed under the label of the strip adjoining the lead label and having a cutting edge cooperable with the cutting edge of said projecting element for severing the lead label from the strip.

11. Apparatus for applying an individual metal label of a connected strip of such labels to an article, each label of the strip having a body portion of substantial area and plural prongs extending from the body portion, the extent of the body portion along the strip being at least of the same order of size as the length of the prongs, and each label having outline formations, said apparatus including a housing supported for movement toward and away from an article to which one of said labels is to be attached and said housing embodying a guiding passage for a strip of metal labels, strip-feeding means cooperable with the outline formations of the strip, a reciprocable driver movable relative to the housing for parting, driving and setting successively the lead labels of the strip and including a flat face portion cooperable in a label-driving stroke with the body portion of the lead label, and a retractable label support having a label supporting surface aligned with the lower surface of the advancing strip of labels and said retractable label support underlying the driver during the initial portion of a driving stroke of said driver so as to support the lead label of the strip until the driver has parted the lead label from the strip, and said retractable label support having an elongated swingable carrying element alongside the driver for carrying the retractable label support out of the path of the lead label in response to pressure of said driver.

12. Apparatus for applying an individual metal label of a connected strip of such labels to an article, each label of the strip having a body portion of substantial area and plural prongs extending from the body portion along the strip being at least of the same order of size as the length of the prongs, and each label having outline formation, said apparatus including a housing embodying a guiding passage for a strip of metal labels, strip-feeding means cooperable with the outline formations of the strip, a reciprocable driver movable relative to the housing for driving and setting successivly the lead labels of the strip and including a flat face portion cooperable in a labeldriving stroke with the body portion of the lead label, and a retractable label support underlying the driver so as to support the lead label of the strip until the driver has parted the lead label from the strip, said label support including a support member adapted to underlie the lead label of the strip and a leaf-spring extending along but spaced from the driver and having a portion secured to said housing remote from said support member so as to be movable with the housing and said leaf spring forming a right-angled intersection with the plane of the lead-label body portion and adapted to swing away and clear the path of the lead label during the label-setting advance of said driver.

13. Apparatus for applying an individual metal label of a connected strip of such labels to an article, each label of the strip having a body portion of substantial area and plural prongs extending from the body portion along the strip, the extent of the body portion along the strip being at least of the same order of size as the length of the prongs, and each label having outline formations, said apparatus including a housing embodying a guiding passage for a strip of metal labels, intermittent strip-feeding means including a detent cooperable with a locating formation of the strip, a reciprocable driver movable relative to the housing for driving and setting successively the lead labels of the strip and including a fiat face portion cooperable in a label-driving stroke with the body portion of the lead label, and a retractable label support underlying the driver during the initial portion of a driving stroke of said driver so as to support the lead label of the strip until the driver has parted the lead label from the strip, said label support including a support member adapted to underlie the lead label of the strip and a swingable elongated carrier for said support member extending generally parallel to said driver in a direction crossing the plane of the lead-label body portion and adapted to swing away and clear the path of the lead label during the labelsetting advance of said driver, said support member including a shoulder portion having bias means acting opposite to the label feeding direction for constituting a resilient stop in the advancing path of the label strip, for adjusting the lead label against said detent.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,746,496 2/ 1930 Palmgren 22786 2,222,220 11/1940 Binch 72330 2,431,812 12/1947 Lang 227136 X 2,580,444 1/1952 Lang 22786 2,748,452 6/ 1956 Pierce.

2,987,725 6/1961 Heilman 227108 X 3,029,436 4/ 1962 Kufel et al. 22786 3,155,242 11/1964 Magloire 83419 X 3,194,098 7/1965 Kimball et al. 83-157 X 3,244,047 4/1966 Daniluk 83-468 X 2,923,937 2/1960 Laucher 227 X JOHN F. CAMPBELL, Primary Examiner.

C. E. HALL, Assistant Examiner.

U.S Cl. X.R.