US3738891A - Labeling machine with speed adjusting mechanism - Google Patents

Labeling machine with speed adjusting mechanism Download PDF

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Publication number
US3738891A
US3738891A US00140828A US3738891DA US3738891A US 3738891 A US3738891 A US 3738891A US 00140828 A US00140828 A US 00140828A US 3738891D A US3738891D A US 3738891DA US 3738891 A US3738891 A US 3738891A
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containers
container
machine
valve
stop
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US00140828A
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English (en)
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H Kretschmer
K Puesching
H Patzwahl
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Individual
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
    • B65C9/00—Details of labelling machines or apparatus
    • B65C9/40—Controls; Safety devices

Definitions

  • LABELING MACHINE WITH SPEED ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed may a, 1971 e Sheets-Sheet a m va/vraes MAM-17 E752 Pisa/M6 HA/KS-UMQGEA/ flfZh/AHL H0267 162571577 0152 1am MW, (QM
  • a labeling machine and input conveyor with a variable speed drive and a control mechanism including a series of container sensors spaced physically along an accumulation table and input conveyor and subject to the degree of accumulation of containers on the table and conveyor to actuate said sensors in a sequence which will regulate the variable speed drive to supply the machine with containers at a speed appropriate for the degree of container accumulation.
  • the input conveyor is provided with a container stop which will be actuated to block the admission of containers into the labeling machine when the nearest sensor is relieved of container pressure. Under this condition the variable speed drive continues to drive the machine at low speed, thus to finish processing containers already in the machine.
  • the sensors are triggered only by a build-up or accumulation of containers sufiicient to laterally dislocate the containers and exert lateral pressure on the sensor switch feeler.
  • Such apparatus has a variable speed drive, a container stop and sensors at both the input and output of the labeling machine, whereby the container stop will be actuated and the machine operated at low speed wherever there is a deficiency of containers at the machine input or a back-up containers at the machine output.
  • the prior apparatus is still subject to frequent and intermittent speed change, because there is but a single sensor at the machine input. Accordingly, if there is an irregular supply of containers thereto, the machine will tend to operate intermittently between high and low speeds in response to the irregular feed. The frequent speed change and the repeated actuation of the container stop under these conditions tends to increase the risks of breakage of glass containers and to increase wear on the machine parts.
  • the frequency of the speeding-up and slowing-down operation of the machine and the frequency of actuation of the container stop is markedly decreased by assuring that there is a relatively large accumulation of containers at the machine input before the machine will accept containers and before the variable speed drive is shifted to ice its high speed range. Accordingly, even if further feed to the machine is then out off completely the machine will have a sufficient backlog or accumulation of containers at the input to run for a relatively long period of time at high speed before this accumulation is depleted, and the machine is shifted to low speed operation and the container stop advanced to container blocking position. The machine will then wait or dwell for a period of time necessary to again accumulate a relatively large number of containers before the machine is again switched into high speed operation.
  • the foregoing operation is achieved in the preferred embodiment of the invention by positioning at the input of the machine a plurality of sensors which are physically spaced apart for a considerable distance.
  • an accumulation table which will hold a relatively large number of containers before all sensors are actuated to withdraw the container stop and shift the variable speed drive into its high speed setting.
  • the sensors are desirably responsive only to lateral pressure such as is produced on the feed conveyor by lateral dislocation of the containers under considerable end pressure, and which is produced on the accumulation table by the collection of a large number of containers which are pressed laterally against the sensor switch by the pressure of fresh containers which are fed onto the accumulation table at an angle to the feeler of the sensor switch. Under these conditions of build-up or backlong the sensors will be actuated and the control apparatus triggered to withdraw the container stop from blocking position and shift the variable speed drive into its high speed range.
  • the sensors will not be acutated simply by the passage of an occasional container or group of containers, because such a condition Will produce no lateral pressure on the sensor feeler. It is only when the accumulation of containers is so great that the pressure of the moving conveyor or table will press the containers hard enough together to cause lateral dislocation or movement of the containers and consequent actuation of the sensors.
  • two sensors are positioned in longitudinally spaced relationship at the input of the machine and both of these sensors will respond only to the aforedescribed build-up or accumulation of containers, whereupon the container stop will be withdrawn from blocking position and the variable speed drive will be shifted into high speed range.
  • three or four such sensors are located along a conveyor and/or accumulation table. Each sensor is so arranged in the control mechanism as to shift the variable speed drive into its own specific speed range. In a specific embodiment of this arrangement, four sensors are thus arranged and the variable speed drive has four dilferent speeds, one for each sensor. Accordingly, when all four sensors are actuated, thus indicating a large accumulation of containers, the machine will operate at full speed. When only the last three sensors are actuated, the variable speed drive will be shifted to an intermediate speed. When only the last two sensors are actuated, the drive will be operated at a lower intermediate speed, and when only the last sensor is actuated the machine will be operated at a still lower intermediate speed. When even this last sensor is deactuated the machine will idle at low speed, and the container stop will advance to container blocking position.
  • the speed is graduated according to supply conditions in the expectation that before all of the accumulated containers are processed, a fresh supply of containers will arrive, thus to rebuild the accumulation of containers and keep the machine operating continuously and at a speed which is appropriate for the supply conditions.
  • a further advantage of the aforedescribed embodiment is that the container stop will be advanced to container blocking position when the machine is operating at a relatively low speed thus to avoid sudden stops of the containers with possible bottle shock, breakage or falls.
  • control apparatus is integrated with prior control devices which ordinarily function to prevent label feed to a particular pallet of a label applying turret when because of some inadequacy of container supply, a container is not fed into the machine in time with said pallet.
  • prior control devices which ordinarily function to prevent label feed to a particular pallet of a label applying turret when because of some inadequacy of container supply, a container is not fed into the machine in time with said pallet.
  • the present invention is also characterized by use of lateral pressure responsive sensors which have the advantage that under normal continuous operation the containers do not slide along the sensor feelers, the feelers being completely withdrawn or laterally offset from the path followed by the containers. Hence there is no friction between the containers and the feelers, thus reducing wear on the feelers and prolonging their life. Contact between the containers and the sensor feelers occurs only during a build-up of containers which results in lateral pressure of the containers on the feelers.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a labeling machine embodying control apparatus of the present invention, in which there are two sensors at the input of the machine.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic penumatic and electrical diagram for the control mechanism of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a modified schematic penumatic and electrical diagram of the control device according to FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of a modified labeling machine embodying control apparatus of the present invention, in which there are four sensors at the machine infeed.
  • FIG. 5 is a symbolic wiring and pneumatic diagram of the labeling machine of FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 6 is an enlarged diagrammatic fragmentary view of the relation between the control apparatus of the present invention and a prior control device adjacent the infeed worm of the labeling machine of FIG. 4.
  • FIGS. 7-14, inclusive, are diagrammatic views illustrating different conditions of machine operation for the embodiment of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.
  • FIG. is a diagrammatic view illustrating how the lateral pressure responsive sensors utilized in the present invention are not actuated by the occasional passage of a container.
  • FIG. 16 is a diagrammaitc view illustrating how the lateral pressure responsive sensors of the present invention are not acutated by a solid column of containers.
  • FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the conditions of build-up and lateral dislocation of containers which will actuate the lateral pressure responsive sensors of the present invention.
  • the labeling machine 1 of FIG. 1 is generally of the same type shown in aforementioned copending US. application Ser. No. 846,077, aforesaid. It, and input conveyor 9, is operated by an electric motor 2 which drives a reduction gear 6 through a variable speed drive mechanism including variable width pulleys 3 and 5 and an interconnecting V-belt 4.
  • the setting of the variable speed drive is adjusted by the pneumatic or like fluid operated cylinder 22 by which the spacing of the variable Width pulley 3 is adjusted.
  • the containers 50 are fed laterally toward the conveyor 9 by a multi-lane collector or accumulation conveyor table 7.
  • the containers 50 are retained on the table 7 by a side rail 70 which may take the form of a succession of upright rollers.
  • the containers 50 move on the table 7 in the direction of arrow 51 and accumulate against an oblique rail 52 which also may take the form of a succession of upright rollers.
  • Machine input conveyor 9 is provided with a side rail 8 which guides the containers into a separating worm 10 which is provided at the entrance to machine 1 to separate and time the feed of the containers 50 with respect to labeling elements of the machine :1.
  • Container stop 15 is provided, just in advance of the worm 10, to control admission of containers into the machine. Stop 15 can take any form, such as a star wheel. As illustrated herein, it comprises a stop finger 53 actuated by a fluid cylinder 54 which has an internal spring 55 by which its piston 56 is normally retracted to a position where the stop finger 53 is withdrawn from the path of container flow on the conveyor 9.
  • Sensor 11 is located along rail 52 on the collector conveyor table 7 and sensor 12 is located on the conveyor 9, just in advance of the container stop 15.
  • sensor 12 is located on the conveyor 9, just in advance of the container stop 15.
  • FIG. 2 The electrical and pneumatic connections by which the parts just described are connected in circuit are shown in FIG. 2.
  • the operators are actuated pneumatically. However, they could be operated electrically or hydraulically.
  • a compressed air source 17 feeds a service unit 18.
  • Air for the cylinder 22 which controls the variable speed drive is metered through a pressure reducing valve 19, an air actuated valve 20 and speed regulating valves 21, 23.
  • Actuating cylinder 54 for the container stop 15 is also supplied from the same air source 117, but through a manually operated control valve 16.
  • Control valve 16 is arranged for selective positioning in any one of three different operating modes of the machine.
  • the letters F, H and A indicate its different positions.
  • position H manual operation
  • the supply of compressed air for the container stop operating cylinder 54 is shut off, and air in cylinder 54 is vented to atmosphere through double check valve 25, and control valve 24 (in either its E or 0 positions).
  • the spring 55 within the cylinder 54 will move the container stop 53 to its withdrawn position.
  • compressed air from source 17 through service unit 18 and reducing valve 19 passes through valve 20 in its 0 position, and thence through a speed regulating valve 21 into the left side of cylinder 22, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, thus to move the sheaves of pulley 3 toward each other to the maximum speed position of the variable speed drive, as indicated by the legend max in FIG. 2.
  • Air is vented from the right side of operating cylinder 22 through another speed regulating valve 23 and back through the valve 20 in its 0 position to atmosphere. Under these conditions the speed of the variable speed drlve can be manually adjusted by manually manipulating the pressure reducing valve 19, thus to locate the piston 57 in cylinder 22 to a desired setting with respect to its maximum and minimum setting.
  • valve 16 For automatic operation of the machine in accordance with the present invention, the valve 16 is moved to its position A, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Assuming that there are no containers at the infeed of the machine, and that valve 24 is in its position 0, the container stop will be advanced by cylinder 54 to its container blocking position.
  • the air path to cylinder 54 includes double check valve 25 and speed regulating valve 26.
  • valve 20 will be energized by air through trip line 60 to its E position, as shown in FIG. 2.
  • Air cylinder 69 pushes the valve 20 to its 0 position against the bias of a return spring 74. Accordingly, valve 20 will pass compressed air through the pressure regulating valve 23 and into the air cylinder 22 in a direction to move the piston 57 to the minimum setting of the variable speed drive, as indicated by the legend min in FIG. 2, and thus operate the machine at its lowest speed.
  • valve 24 With valve 24 in its E position, the flow of compressed air to container stop cylinder 54 and trip line 60 is cut 0E and pressurized air in the cylinder 54 will bleed out through the double return valve 25 and through valve 24 to atmosphere.
  • the spring 55 in cylinder 54 will then retract piston 56 and withdraw stop finger 53 from its container blocking position and thus permit the conveyor 9 to feed containers to the worm 10.
  • valve 20 will move under pressure of its bias spring 74 to its 0 position, thus to exhaust air pressure at the right side of the piston 57 in the air cylinder 22 and to admit pressure to the left side of the piston 57 through the pressure regulator valve 21 and to shift the variable speed drive into its max or high speed position.
  • This high speed operation will continue even though the supply of containers on the accumulation table 7 is depleted to the point where sensor switch 11 is deactuated.
  • holding contact 61 for the relay 27 will continue energization of the relay 27 under these circumstances.
  • Control valve 16 has a third position F in which the container stop 15 is actuated directly from source 17 through the double return valve 25, regardless of the position of control valve 24 and hence regardless of the status of sensor switches 11, 12, 13. Pressurization of the cylinder 54 for the container stop 15 will automatically throw valve 20 to its E position via the trip line 60, thus shifting the variable speed drive to its minimum or lowest setting.
  • an infinitely variable automatic speed adjustment can be achieved in a very simple manner.
  • the control handle 59 of the pressure reducing valve 19 can be activated by the feeler of sensor switch 11 in such a way that with valve 20 in its 0 position, increased deflection of the feeler will regulate valve 19 so that the pressure of air passed through valve 19 to the cylinder 22 will increase, thus increasing the throw of piston 57 toward its maximum position, and correspondingly increasing the speed of operation of the machine 1.
  • the feeler of sensor switch 11 is provided with a spring 68. The balance between the physical pressure of the containers on the feeler, as compared to the opposing pressure of the spring 68, will automatically adjust the position of the pressure regulating valve 19.
  • an electrically responsive coupling can be provided.
  • FIG. 3 Another modification of the control mechanism is sown in FIG. 3.
  • the relationship between the labeling machine 1 and the sensors 11, 12, 13 is substantially the same as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the position of the variable width pulleys 3 and 5 are reversed with respect to motor 2 and gear box 6, as compared to FIG. 1.
  • the air cylinder 29 is connected to a variable width pulley 3 connected directly on the shaft of the reduction gear set 6.
  • cylinder 22 of FIG. 1 is double acting
  • cylinder 29 is single acting and has a spring 58 biasing it toward maximum position.
  • speed may also be controlled manually by a mechanism 28 which has a pinion gear and toothed rack connection, as disclosed in copending patent application Ser. No. 846,077 aforesaid.
  • the manually operated control valve 16 is shifted to its A position.
  • sensor switch 11 is given reference character 11', as it has a second contact 75-, for purposes hereinafter mentioned.
  • the double return valve 30 will be supplied with pressure through a magnetic control valve 34 in its 0 position.
  • Valve 34 is normally biased to position by spring 76. This results in pressurizing the air cylinder 54 of the container stop 15 and also in decreasing the speed of the machine to the minimum by pressurizing air cylinder 29.
  • sensor switch 11' will ultimately be actuated, thus energing relay 27 and closing its contacts 61, 62 and energizing the electromagnetic actuator 81 for control valve 34 to move it against the bias of spring 76 and into position E.
  • control valve 34 With control valve 34 in position E, it will vent air pressure through double return valve 30 from cylinder 54 of the container stop 15 and from cylinder 29 for the variable speed control. This concurrently opens the container stop 15, admits containers to the worm and permits the spring 58 in the cylinder 29 to shift the variable speed drive to its maximum speed condition, or to that speed setting previously set by the manual control device 28.
  • the closure of contact 61 functions as an interlock to hold the relay 27 closed, regardless of the subsequent status of the sensor switch 11.
  • the actuation of sensor switch 11' has Opened contact 75, thus to de-energize electromagnet 77 for control valve 33, permitting valve 33 to be restored by spring 78 to its 0 position.
  • This has no effect as the check in valve 31 prevents venting of air through valve 33 in its 0 position. If pressure on sensor switch 11 is reduced, thus to again close contact 75, control valve 33 moves to its E position.
  • valve 33 a new path of pressurized air from source 17 to cylinder 29 is provided through valve 33, double return valve 31 and control valve 32, to reduce the speed of the machine, even though the container stop is withdrawn from blocking position. This reduced speed enhances the possibility that the containers will build up even when the container stop is withdrawn from container blocking position.
  • contact 75 will be opened, thus moving valve 33 to its 0 position, thus relieving cylinder 29 of air pressure and switching the variable speed transmission to high speed.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 and 7-14, inclusive, show modified embodiment of the invention in which the labeling machine 35 has control mechanism featuring an even greater number of sensor switches.
  • Two of these, b and b are mounted along the oblique rail 52 on the accumulation conveyor or table 7 in spaced relation one to another and two additional sensor switches b and b; are mounted along the conveyor 9, also in mutually spaced physical relation.
  • each such sensor switch is so arranged in the electrical control circuit that it is associated with a specific speed of machine operation, thus to achieve very fine control over machine speed in relationship to the degree of accumulation of containers at the machine input.
  • Each of the three switches 361, 3611 and 36111 is associated with a corresponding pneumatic valve 631, 6311 and 63II (top right hand corner of PG. 5), each of which controls a corresponding pneumatic cylinder 381, 38H and 38111.
  • the said pneumatic cylinders are respectively coupled to respective label feed magazines 371, 3711, 37III shown in FIG. 4.
  • the pneumatic cylinders 38I-III function in a known manner to advance and retract the label cylinders 47I-III in accordance with the response of the switches 36II-III to containers in the worm 10. Ordinarily, if a container is not at its designated position in the worm 10, the corresponding label magazine 37 is withdrawn, to avoid feeding a label for an absent container.
  • the switches 36I-III are mounted as shown in FIG. 6 for unitary physical movement under the influence of pneumatic cylinder 39.
  • Cylinder 39 and springs 41, 82 coact to actuate a switch control rod 40 to selectively press cams 64 against the switch bodies to condition them either for individual actuation by containers or concurrent continuous actuation independently of the containers.
  • air cylinder 39 is under pressure the label release switches 36I-III are swung into a position where their feelers project into the paths of containers on the conveyor 9.
  • each feeler is actuated independently of the other feelers by the pressure of a particular container and will send an appropriate signal through its valves 63I-III and pneumatic cylinders 38I-III to the respective label magazine 37I-III, whereby the respective magazine will be advanced to transfer a label to the rotating turret 65 of the label machine for appropriate transfer in due course to the appropriate container.
  • the respective switches b -b inclusive are adapted in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, to provide a separate and distinct speed setting of the variable speed drive for each of four different levels of container accumulation at the machine input.
  • This is accomplished through a four-position, double piston cylinder 42 by which the variable speed drive is set.
  • the rod 66 of one piston 83 is connected to the variable speed pulley of the variable speed drive.
  • the rod of the other piston 84 1s fixed.
  • Each of pistons 83, 84 is in a double acting cylinder having a common cylinder wall.
  • approprlate pressurization and depressurization of the respective cylinder chambers at the sides of pistons 83, 84 will sequentially position the piston rod 66 in one or another of its four positions A, B, C, D, as indicated in FIG. 5.
  • Position A is for minimum speed.
  • Position D is for maximum speed.
  • Positions B and C are intermediate speed positions.
  • control valve 16 there is a manually 0perated control valve 16 from which pneumatic lines lead to the cylinder 54 for the container stop 15 and through the appropriate passages of control valves s and s to the appropriate chambers in the four-position cylinder 42.
  • valve 16 In the automatic position A of valve 16, container stop 15 will be controlled through the electromagnetically actuated valve s If valve .9 is in its position to which it is biased by spring 86, air pressure is exerted through the double return valve 44 on air cylinder 54 and the container stop 15 will block container infeed to the machine. Valve S3 will be in its 0 position if none of switches b -b inclusive, are actuated. Under this condition air operated valve 46 will be actuated by means of a pneumatic trip line 45 to move it to its E position in which the pneumatic lines leading to the four-position cylinder 42 through valves s and s are without pressure.
  • Pneumatic trip line 47 is concurrently under pressure but this pressure will be interrupted by the electromagnetic valve s being in position B because normally closed contact d is closed. Accordingly, air operated valve 43 Will be in position 0, whereby air cylinder 39 remains under pressure and the label release switches 36I-III are positioned for independent actuation by containers on conveyor 9.
  • the container stop 15 is opened only when all of the four switches 11 -17 at the machines infeed are actuated by a build-up of containers.
  • the corresponding relays d dl are correspondingly operated to close the normally open relay contacts d ab.
  • the relay d will be actuated to concurrently actuate its corresponding contacts d and hence actuate the electromagnetically operated control valve s and shift it to its position E, whereby air is exhausted from the cylinder 54 of the container stop 15. This withdraws the stop 15 from the path of the containers.
  • pneumatic trip line 45 is deprived of air pressure so that the valve 36 is switched by its spring 87 to its 0 position, thereby to affect the pressure imposed upon the chambers of air cylinder 42, depending upon the respective positions of switches s and s
  • the electromagnetically actuated valves s and s are in their positions E. This results in pressurization of the chambers of the double piston cylinder 42 to extend piston 66 to its maximum setting D and operate the variable speed drive at full speed.
  • valve 48 shifts to its E position via a pneumatic trip line 49, on actuation of the third switch 36III, this switch being closest to the point of labeling, air is exhausted from cylinder 39 via the valves 43 and 48, whereby all label release switches 36I- III are retracted by springs 41, 82 and the switches 36I-III are concurrently closed as aforestated. This is appropriate as the input including worm 10 is now filled with containers and independent response of the switches 361- III is no longer necessary.
  • variable speed drive for the labeling machine will be driven at different speeds, each speed being associated specifically with the respective sensor switches 19 -12
  • the machine 35 and conveyor 9 will run at low speed because the electromagnets of valves s and s are now de-energized and the valves are moved by their springs 91, 92 to their 0 position.
  • both pistons 83, 84 of the cylinder 42 being withdrawn to position A at which the machine runs at minimum speed. This allows the accumulation of containers to build up.
  • valve s If container build-up continues to the point where sensor switch b is now actuated, the electric circuit to valve s will be interrupted by the opening of the normally closed contact d thus to de-energize the electromagnet of valve s and permit its spring 91 to move valve s to its 0 position. At the same time the electric circuit to the valve s is closed, thus to move valve s to its E position, whereupon the piston 83 of the cylinder 42 will be withdrawn and the piston 85 of cylinder 42 will be extended, thus moving piston rod 66 to its high intermediate speed position C.
  • the converse sequence occurs when the acumulation of containers decreases.
  • Sensor switches 12 -12 will sequentially open, to operate the machine at progressively lower speeds.
  • the control apparatus provides a sensitive relation between the rate of container arrival at the machine input and its speed of operation.
  • the control apparatus functions as a governor to operate the machine at a speed most nearly matching the speed of container arrival.
  • valve 43 will move to its E position to pressurize air cylinder 39.
  • Cylinder 39 projects the label release switches 36I-IH into the path of containers on conveyor 9 and the following series of labels applied to such containers as enter the machine thereafter will be released individually.
  • sensor switch b will be actuated and the control circuit for the valves s s will be interrupted, thereby allowing these valves to be moved by their springs 91, 92, 86 to their 0 position, adjusting air cylinder 42 for minimum speed and projecting container stop 15 into container blocking position.
  • the circuit for the electromagnetic valve .9 will be closed and as aforedescribed cylinder 39 will be energized for individual actuation of the label release switches 36I-III.
  • FIGS. 7 through 14 illustrate various conditions of the accumulation of containers on the accumulation table 7 and conveyor 9.
  • the apparatus shown in FIGS. 7 through 14 is similar to that shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates the condition in which a few containers are arriving on table 7, but there has been insufficient accumulation to actuate any of the sensor switches b b Accordingly, stop 15 is in its container blocking position and the variable speed drive operates at low speed.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates the condition in which a sufficient number of containers 50 have accumulated behind the container stop 15 to cause lateral displacement of the containers adjacent sensor 12 and actuate this switch.
  • stop 15 remains in container blocking position.
  • the variable speed drive operates at a low setting, corresponding to position A of piston rod 66 in FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates the condition in which there has been a further accumulation of containers, sufficient to cause lateral displacement of the containers 50 adjacent a both switches b and b.,, but insuflicient to actuate sensor switches b and b Stop 15 remains in container blocking position.
  • the variable speed drive operates at low intermediate speed, corresponding to position B of piston rod 66 in FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 10 illustrates the condition of maximum container build-up sufficient to completely fill the accumulation table 7 and cause sufiicient intercontainer pressure to cause lateral displacement of the containers 50 adjacent both switches [1 and b and to also actuate sensor switches b and b
  • Switches b and 12 are subject to lateral pressure of the containers not only because of the tendency of these containers to move laterally because of the intercontainer pressure developed therebetween, but also because the respective independent lanes of the multilane conveyor 7 are moving in the direction of arrow 93, thus physically thrusting the containers obliquely against the feelers of switches b and b
  • the actuation of all switches b b inclusive results in the withdrawal of stop from container blocking position and operates the variable speed drive into its maximum speed position, corresponding to position D of piston rod 66 in FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 11 illustrates the condition in which the machine is operating at a speed high enough to remove containers from the accumulation table 7 at a rate faster than they arrive thereon.
  • Sensor switch 12 is relieved of container pressure and will open, thus reducing the speed of the machine 35 and the conveyor 9 to the high intermediate setting corresponding to position C of the piston rod 66 in FIG. 5.
  • Container stop 15 remains in withdrawn position.
  • FIG. 12 illustrates the condition in which a still further slowing of the supply of containers 50 to the table 7 results in opening of sensor switches [1 b and [2 although switch b, remains closed. This reduces the speed of the machine 35 and the conveyor 9 to the low speed corresponding to position A of the piston rod 66 of FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 13 illustrates a condition in which the supply of containers 50 in the table 7 and conveyor 9 has been so reduced as to open all of sensor switches b -b inclusive. While containers are adjacent sensor switch b.,, there is insufficient intercontainer pressure to cause lateral displacement of the containers and actuate the feeler of switch b Accordingly, all switches b -b are open, the container stop 15 moves to its blocking position and the variable speed drive operates at minimum speed. The movement of stop 15 to blocking position was executed while the variable speed drive was operating at low speed, thus to interrupt container movement with minimum possibility of container shock, falls and breakage.
  • FIG. 14 illustrates the condition in which the table 7 and conveyor 9 are completely filled with containers at the machine input, but in which there is a back-up of containers at the output, sufficient to actuate sensor switch b thus advancing stop 15 to its container blocking position and reducing the speed of the variable speed drive to its lowest setting.
  • the machine 35 continues to operate, in order to complete the processing of containers already in the machine.
  • the spacing of sensor switch b from the machine 35 must be sulficient to provide for storage of all such processed containers 50 in the space between switch b and the output star wheel of the machine.
  • the ciricuit can be arranged to withdraw the container stop 15 from blocking position when sensor switches b and b, are actuated and sensor switches b and I); are only effective to make speed changes.
  • the stop 15 is controlled only by switches b and 1),, but speed control is effectuated by all four switches b b inclusive.
  • switches b and b could be arranged on the conveyor 9, instead of on the collector 7.
  • the control of the label release magazines 37I-III can be elfectuated by specific mechanism different from that herein disclosed.
  • the switches 17 -17 can control the label release with vacuum by blocking the vacuum on machines working on the vacuum transfer pallet principle, in a manner known, per se.
  • the present invention affords important advantages related to improved operation of the machine. These include the fact that the machine will process containers having different diameters, without need for adjustment of the control mechanism. Accordingly, the switches b b., can be arranged at any desired spacing. They need not be adjusted in any particular relation to the diameter of the specific containers being labeled.
  • FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 illustrate the manner in which the sensor switches operate.
  • the container stop 15 and the closest sensor switch 12 (or b.;) are illustrated.
  • the sensor switch feeler is offset physically from the path of the containers 50 so as not to be affected in any way by the condition of the containers shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.
  • the containers arrive intermittently and in spaced relation and are incapable of actuating the sensor switch 12.
  • the containers 50 form a solid column but still have no affect upon the position of switch 12. This is because switch 12 reacts only to lateral pressure.
  • FIG. 17 illustrates the condition under which the containers will actuate the switch 12, namely, a build-up of a sufficient number of containers to exert sufiicient intercontainer pressure to cause lateral dislocation of the containers in the vicinity of switch 12. This lateral dislocation exerts lateral pressure on the switch feeler 12 to actuate it from its broken line to its full line position shown in FIG. 17.
  • the conveyor table 7 desirably comprises multi-lane conveyors which independently bring containers to the machine input. See FIG. 9.
  • the various 13 lanes may originate at different sources, thus accounting for the inconstant supply of containers, depending on the status of the machines which supply the respective lanes.
  • the apparatus of the present invention smooths out the operation of the common labeler, not-withstanding this inconstant supply of containers thereto.
  • a labeling machine having a container input, a container output, a label applying mechanism, a variable speed drive, a container stop at the container input, container sensing means at the container input and control mechanism subject to said container sensing means for controlling said stop and said variable speed drive
  • said container sensing means comprises first and second sensors physically spaced along said container input
  • said control mechanism comprising means responsive to both said first and second sensors to cause the container stop to stop containers and to cause the variable speed drive to operate at low speed until enough containers have accumulated on the container input to actuate both said sensors
  • said sensors comprising container feelers which are responsive only to lateral pressure, whereby to be actuated only by an accumulation of containers which causes lateral dislocation of the containers against the sensor feelers.
  • said container sensing means further comprises a third such sensor physically spaced along said container input from said second sensor, said control mechanism comprising means to cause the container stop to stop containers and to cause the variable speed drive to operate at low speed until enough containers have accumulated on the container input to actuate all three sensors.
  • said container sensing means further comprises a third such sensor physically spaced along said container input from said second sensor, said control mechanism comprising means to cause the variable speed drive to operate at one speed when one sensor is actuated, at another speed when another sensor is actuated, and at still another speed when the third sensor is actuated.
  • said container sensing means further comprises a fourth such sensor physically spaced along said container input from the third sensor, said control mechanism comprising means to cause the variable speed drive to operate at still another speed when the fourth sensor is actuated.
  • a labeling machine having a container input, a container output, a label applying mechanism, a variable speed drive, a container stop at the container input, container sensing means at the container input and control mechanism subject to said container sensing means for controlling said stop and said variable speed drive
  • said container sensing means comprises first and second sensors physically spaced along said container input
  • said control mechanism comprising means responsive to both said first and second sensors to cause the container stop to stop containers and to cause the variable speed drive to operate at low speed until enough containers have accumulated on the container input to actuate both said sensors, a label supply magazine, a container feeler at the machine input and means for retracting and advancing said magazine in response to container actuation of said feeler to insure against label feed to an absent container, the further improvement of means to defeat the action of said feeler and automatically supply labels when both said sensors are actuated.
  • a labeling machine having a container input, a container output, a label applying mechanism, a variable speed drive, a container stop at the container input, container sensing means at the container input and control mechanism subject to said container sensing means for controlling said stop and said variable speed drive
  • said container sensing means comprises first and second sensors physically spaced along said container input
  • said control mechanism comprising means responsive to both said first and second sensors to cause the container stop to stop containers and to cause the variable speed drive to operate at low speed until enough containers have accumulated on the container input to actuate both said sensors, a label supply magazine, a container feeler at the machine input and means for retracting and advancing said magazine in response to container actuation of said feeler to insure against label feed to an absent container, the further improvement of means to defeat the action of said feeler and automatically supply labels as long as the container stop is withdrawn.
  • a labeling machine having a container input, a container output, a label applying mechanism, a variable speed drive, a container stop at the container input, container sensing means at the container input and control mechanism subject to said container sensing means for controlling said stop and said variable speed drive
  • said container sensing means comprises first and second sensors physically spaced along said container input
  • said control mechanism comprising means responsive to both said first and second sensors to cause the container stop to stop containers and to cause the variable speed drive to operate at low speed until enough containers have accumulated on the container input to actuate both said sensors
  • said container input comprising an accumulation table on which a large number of containers can be stored in side-by-side relation, a rail against which said containers collect, at least one of said sensors being disposed along said rail whereby to be actuated in response to the accumulation of enough containers on the table to physically press against said sensor.
  • said accumulation table comprises a multi-lane conveyor which feeds containers toward said rail.

Landscapes

  • Labeling Devices (AREA)
  • Control Of Conveyors (AREA)
  • Attitude Control For Articles On Conveyors (AREA)
US00140828A 1970-07-22 1971-05-06 Labeling machine with speed adjusting mechanism Expired - Lifetime US3738891A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19702036440 DE2036440A1 (sv) 1968-10-16 1970-07-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3738891A true US3738891A (en) 1973-06-12

Family

ID=5777560

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00140828A Expired - Lifetime US3738891A (en) 1970-07-22 1971-05-06 Labeling machine with speed adjusting mechanism

Country Status (11)

Country Link
US (1) US3738891A (sv)
JP (1) JPS5016160B1 (sv)
AT (1) AT313177B (sv)
BE (1) BE758002R (sv)
CA (1) CA962969A (sv)
FR (1) FR2102978A6 (sv)
GB (1) GB1338771A (sv)
IT (1) IT972074B (sv)
NL (1) NL7016937A (sv)
SE (1) SE392444B (sv)
SU (1) SU458972A3 (sv)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4265357A (en) * 1977-04-11 1981-05-05 Owens-Illinois, Inc. Article infeed gate and control therefor
US5050725A (en) * 1989-10-27 1991-09-24 Label-Aire Inc. Feedscrew system and methodology
US5117965A (en) * 1989-10-27 1992-06-02 Label-Aire Inc. Feedscrew system and methodology
US20110109018A1 (en) * 2008-04-18 2011-05-12 Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Societa' Cooperativa Method and apparatuses
CN113071772A (zh) * 2021-03-23 2021-07-06 郭士刚 一种自动贴签装置

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
MD1525G2 (ro) * 1998-02-23 2001-02-28 "Тутун-Стс" С.А. Maşină de etichetare a obiectelor

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4265357A (en) * 1977-04-11 1981-05-05 Owens-Illinois, Inc. Article infeed gate and control therefor
US5050725A (en) * 1989-10-27 1991-09-24 Label-Aire Inc. Feedscrew system and methodology
US5117965A (en) * 1989-10-27 1992-06-02 Label-Aire Inc. Feedscrew system and methodology
US20110109018A1 (en) * 2008-04-18 2011-05-12 Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Societa' Cooperativa Method and apparatuses
US8556620B2 (en) * 2008-04-18 2013-10-15 Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Societa' Cooperativa Method and apparatuses
US9028739B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2015-05-12 Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Societa' Cooperativa Method and apparatuses
US9446550B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2016-09-20 Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Societa' Cooperativa Apparatus and method for producing plastic containers
US9908277B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2018-03-06 Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Societa' Cooperativa Apparatus and method for producing plastic containers
CN113071772A (zh) * 2021-03-23 2021-07-06 郭士刚 一种自动贴签装置
CN113071772B (zh) * 2021-03-23 2022-12-27 湖南金湘东软包装材料有限公司 一种自动贴签装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AT313177B (de) 1974-02-11
BE758002R (fr) 1971-04-01
FR2102978A6 (sv) 1972-04-07
GB1338771A (en) 1973-11-28
JPS5016160B1 (sv) 1975-06-11
SE392444B (sv) 1977-03-28
IT972074B (it) 1974-05-20
CA962969A (en) 1975-02-18
SU458972A3 (ru) 1975-01-30
NL7016937A (sv) 1972-01-25

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