US3739667A - Label stacking apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A label stacking apparatus including a tray for stacking individual labels in succession on edge and in a generally upright position. Label feeder means supply the labels in succession to the stacking tray, there being guide means opposite the feeder means outlet to guide the labels to the stacking tray inlet. In entering the stacking tray, the bottom portion of the labels tends to offer greater resistance to movement into the tray with the result that succeeding labels tend to become more and more canted. To obviate this, cyclically operated cam means are provided to push against the lower portion of the labels as each label enters the stacking tray to thereby force the label lower portion into the tray and assure proper stacking of the labels in the tray.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Ernst LABEL STACKING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Richard J. Ernst, Palatine, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Xerox Corporation, Stamford, Conn.

[22] Filed: Mar. 19, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 125,984

[52] U.S. Cl. 83/92, 83/96, 83/302,

83/408, 83/519 [51] Int. Cl B26d 9/00, B65h 35/08 [58] Field of Search 83/92, 93, 94, 96,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,182,821 5/1965 Parker 214/7 3,560,309 2/1971 Gruver et a1. 225/94 X 662,186 11/1900 Carlaw 1. 83/94 1,231,028 6/1917 Jordan 214/7 2,011,505 8/1935 Smith 83/96 2,011,614 8/1935 Bustamante 83/96 2,252,733 8/1941 Sherman ct a1 83/94 X 3,001,789 9/1961 Emslie et al. 214/7 UX 45 June 19, 1973 3,630,122 12/1971 Chambon ..83/94X Primary Examiner-Frank T. Yost Att0rney-James J. Ralabate, Donald F. Daley and Frederick E. McMullen [57] ABSTRACT A label stacking apparatus including a tray for stacking individual labels in succession on edge and in a generally upright position. Label feeder means supply the labels in succession to the stacking tray, there being guide means opposite the feeder means outlet to guide the labels to the stacking tray inlet. In entering the stacking tray, the bottom portion of the labels tends to offer greater resistance to movement into the tray with the result that succeeding labels tend to become more and more canted. To obviate this, cyclically operated cam means are provided to push against the lower portion of the labels as each label enters the stacking tray to thereby force the label lower portion into the tray and assure proper stacking of the labels in the tray.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures I Q. 201i, 5 52 y/L :1 11 1,5 1i 52 I62 11 5a 1 llllllllllm PATENIED 3.739.667

9m 1 If '2 FIG.

XNVENTOR. RICHARD J. ERNST ATTOHWE Y PATENTED Jim 9 SIEUZUZ FIG: 3

1 LABEL STACKIN G APPARATUS This invention relates to a label stacking apparatus, and more particularly to an improved label stacking apparatus having positive stacking means.

Present day addressing machines are designed to perate with uncut label stock, the addressing machine labeling head incorporating means such as knives for separating the uncut label material into individual labels which are then supplied to the labeling head transfer wheel. There the individual labels or the address information therefrom, is transferred to the articles being addressed in a manner known to those skilled in the art.

The ability of labeling heads of this type to accurately handle uncut label material at high speed, as well as the labeling heads generally high level of reliability makes such devices attractive for use as label cutters only. in this type of application, the label transfer mechanism is removed, and the labels are instead gathered for later use as they are discharged from the labeling head cutting apparatus.

lt is a principal object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for stacking cut labels.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a label generator having improved means to automatically stack the labels for later use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for handling uncut label material having means to first separate the label material into individual labels and thereafter gather the labels in stacks for subsequent use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved edge stacker for labels incorporating means to assure uniform displacement of the labels into the stacking tray without misalignment or jamming thereof.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved label stacking mechanism adapted to facilitate use of the labeling head of an article addressing machine as the label supply means, the stacking mechanism having means operated in timed relationship with the labeling head to push each label received downwardly and inwardly into the stacking tray to thereby assure uniform stacking.

it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for generating bag tags from uncut label stock using a labeling head and a tag stacker, the latter incorporating means to drive the lower portion of the tags into a tag stacking tray to obviate any tendency for the tags to stick.

This invention relates to an apparatus for stacking individual labels in succession comprising, in combination, tray means for stacking individual labels on edge in a generally upright position; means for supplying labels; means for guiding the labels from the label supply means discharge to the tray means so that each succeeding label tends to force preceding labels stacked in the tray means further into the tray means, and means adapted to exert a positive force against the lower portion of the labels on entry of each label into the tray means whereby to assure predetermined stacking of the labels in the tray means in a generally upright manner and without excessive canting thereof.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the ensuing description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view, partially in section, showing the label stacking apparatus of the present invention coupled with a labeling head modified for this purpose;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the label stacking apparatus of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 33 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings there is shown the label stacking apparatus, designated generally by the numeral 10, of the present invention. For purposes of explanation, the apparatus 10 is supported on and coupled to an examplary labeling head, designated gener ally by the numeral 5. Labeling head 5 is normally sup ported on a suitable base incorporating a feeder mechanism for bringing articles to be labeled, such as envelopes, into operative relationship with the labeling head transfer wheel. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the transfer wheel serves to transfer either a label or the address information therefrom onto the articles being labeled. Apparatus of this type, normally called an addressing or labeling machine, is shown and described in application Ser. No. 91,775 filed Nov. 23, 1970 in the name of Robert A. Davis. Where the stacking apparatus 10 is used, the article feeder is removed or otherwise rendered inoperative. The aforedescribed transfer wheel of labeling head 5 is removed and the stacking apparatus 10 described hereinafter substituted therefor. The label form feed and knife mechanisms of the labeling head 5, which remain, serve as the supply source for labels to be stacked by the stacking apparatus 10. It will be appreciated however that the label stacking apparatus 10 may be used with any suitable supply of labels.

Labeling head 5 has a frame 6 adapted to be mounted or otherwise supported on the aforementioned base, designated here by the numeral 7. Suitable motor means (not shown) for driving labe1ing head 5, and the label stacking apparatus 10 mounted thereon, are pro vided and may be conveniently mounted on base 7. The upper portion 8 of frame 6 of labeling head 5 supports the label feeding and cutting mechanisms as will appear herein.

Labeling head 5 has a label strip feeding track or trough 12 extending across the front side thereof opposite guillotine l5, trough 12 terminating at a point just upstream of rotary knife assembly v30. As will appear, the strips 19 of label material cut by guillotine 15 ride along trough 12 to rotary knife assembly 30. Guillotine 15 has a reciprocal knife member 16 supported for vertical up and down movement in extensions 21 of the labeling head frame 6. The guillotine knife member 16 is reciprocated by means of a suitable eccentric shaft 22, links 24 being provided to operatively connect knife member 16 with shaft 22. A suitable lower knife edge 14 is provided on labeling head frame 6, to provide the necessary cutting or shearing action on descent of knife member 16. Eccentric shaft 22 is intermittently rotated in timed relation with the uncut label form feeding mechanism and with the rotary knife assembly 30 to provide a steady stream of labels to stacking apparatus 10.

The uncut label material 18, nominally termed a label form, consists of a sheet or web of labels 20 arranged in multiple rows 26. Labeling head 5 includes a feed sprocket pair (not shown) to feed the label form 18 to guillotine 15, form 18 being'provided with perforated margins 27 for this purpose. The form feed sprocket pair are driven intermittently through a suitable drive means (not shown) to index form 18 forward one label row at a time in timed relationship with operation of guillotine l5. Suitable cutting means (not shown) are provided just upstream of guillotine to remove margins 27 prior to feeding of the uncut label form 18 under the raised guillotine 15 as known to those skilled in the art.

The label strip 19 discharged from guillotine 15 onto trough 12 is carried toward rolls 32, 34 of rotary knife assembly 30 by means of a feed roll pair 28, 29 provided adjacent the discharge end of trough 12. To provide the requisite feeding control, feed roll 29 is supported by a link 31 arranged to swing into and out of pinching engagement with roll 28. Roll 28 is driven by suitable means (not shown) while suitable cam means (not shown) are provided to pivot link 31 and swing roll 29 into and out of operative contact with roll 28, the timing being such that feed roll pair 28, 29 are operative as each label strip 19 is cut off by guillotine 15 to move the strip forward end into the operating nip of rotary knife assembly 30.

The rotary knife assembly 30 includes a lower knife bearing roll 32 and cooperating upper anvil roll 34 operatively disposed adjacent thereto. Preferably, rolls 32, 34 are each driven (in the direction shown by the solid line arrows in FIG. 2), there being suitable drive means (not shown) for this purpose. Knife roll 32 is supported on shaft 36 journaled in the labeling head frame 6. A knife 35 is supported on roll 32, the cutting line of knife 35 extending in a direction generally paralleling the axis of shaft 36 and transverse to the direction of movement of label strip 19 along trough 12. The tip or blade of knife 35 projects slightly above the periphery of roll 32 to provide the requisite cutting contact with the surface of anvil roll 34.

The peripheral surface of knife roll 32 is undercut at 37, the remaining portion of roll 32 forming a feeding surface engageable with the periphery of anvil roll 34 to form a pinch surface for feeding label strip 19 forward one label length at a time. It is understood that the arcuate extent of the feeding surface of knife roll 32 may be varied to accommodate different label lengths.

The anvil roll 34 is comprised of a relatively hard material, normally steel, and is carried by a shaft 39 journaled in frame 6 adjacent to and above knife roll 32. As described, the surface of anvil roll 34 cooperates with knife roll 32 both to form a pinch surface for advancing label form 19 one label length at a time and to form a cutting support or pressure surface for knife 35. To route the labels discharged by rotary knife assembly 30 to the labeling head transfer wheel, there is normally provided a guide member 45, having a downwardly curved interior surface 46.

Stacking apparatus 10 includes a tray-like receptacle 50 arranged below and in alignment with the discharge side of rotary knife assembly 30. Tray 50 has a base plate 51 flanked by a pair of upstanding sides 52, 53, base 51 and sides 52, 53 cooperating to form, when viewed in cross section, a generally U-shaped receptacle adapted to receive and hold the labels on edge. Sides 52, 53 of tray 50 are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of the labels 20 being handled. Preferably one or both of the sides 52, 53 are supported for adjustment on base 51 to permit the distance therebetween to be matched with the size label being handled. The height of sides 52, 53 is sufficient to hold the labels 20 upright in stacked condition, the height of the inner side 52 preferably being somewhat greater than that of side 53 to facilitate grasping and removal of the labels 20 from tray 50.

To provide the necessary upright stacking action, a displaceable stacking block 55 is provided, the inside edge 56 of block 55 serving to form in effect a displaceable end wall to tray 50. Block 55, which is formed from a relatively hard rubbery material, is dimensioned to loosely fit within tray 50. In this way, the labels 20 entering tray 50 serve to incrementally move or slide the block 55 outwardly (in the direction of the solid line arrow in FIG. 2) along base 51, it being understood that the frictional drag developed between block 55 and tray 50 resists such movement. As will be appreciated, other types of stack loading or biasing mechanisms, such as springs may be used in place of block 55.

To provide the requisite directional control over the labels leaving rotary knife assembly 32, a downwardly projecting deflector plate 57 is secured to the lower side of guide member 45, the inside wall 59 of plate 57 being substantially flush with surface 46 of member 45. An upstanding lower guide 58 is provided at the inlet to tray 50 below and slightly forward of deflector plate 57. Lower guide 58 cooperates with deflector plate 57 and the inside edge 56 of stacking block 55, or of the preceding label, to direct the labels edge first to the stacking tray 50 at the inlet thereto.

To obviate any tendency for the lower portions of the labels to drag or lag behind the upper portions thereof as the labels move deeper into tray 50 and hence cause the labels to assume an excessive tilt or cant, a stack pusher in the form of cam 60 is provided at the tray inlet adjacent the tray base 51. Cam 60, which has a single operating lobe 61, is supported on cam shaft 62. Cam shaft 62 is suitably journaled in sides 52, 53 of tray 50. Cam 60 is sized and cam shaft 62 located so that the tip of cam lobe 61 thereof moves through guide member 58 and into the stacking tray inlet area each time cam 60 is rotated. To accommodate cam 60, guide member 58 is suitably apertured at 64. As will be understood, lobe 61 of cam 60 rides against the lower portion of the last label received in tray 50 to move the labels 20 together with stacking block 55 deeper into tray 3 50 as required. Where the labels are properly stacked, movement of cam lobe 61 into tray 50 is without effect. Support shaft 36 of knife roll 32 and cam shaft 62 each carry uniformly sized pulleys 66, 67 on their outer ends. Drive belt 68 is stretched across pulleys 66, 67 to drive cam shaft 62 and cam 60 in unison with and at the same speed as knife roll 32, the drive relationship being such that cam lobe 61 of cam 60 moves through aperture 64 and into the tray inlet area concurrently with or subsequent to movement of label 20 into tray 50.

Preferably, cam 60 is timed so that cam lobe 61 thereof passes through the inlet area of tray 50 shortly after each label enters tray 50 and before the next succeeding label, this latter being desired to prevent the cam lobe 61 from interfering with or disrupting movement of the next label into the tray 50. If desired, cam 60 may be timed so that cam lobe 61 thereof enters the tray inlet area concurrently with the label.

In operation, the uncut label form 18 is advanced one label width at a time to guillotine 15 by the form feeding mechanism of labeling head 5, guillotine 15 serving to cut the form 18 transversely into strips 19 one label wide and two or more labels long. It is understood that the number of uncut labels in each strip 19 corresponds to the number of label rows 26 on label form 18. The label strips 19 discharge from guillotine 15 onto trough l2 and are advanced therealong by pinch roller pair 28, 29 into the nip of rotary knife rolls 32, 34. The pinch surface of knife roll 32 cooperates with the surface of anvil roll 34 to feed the strip 19 forward an amount equal to one label length, knife 35 cooperating with anvil roller 34 to cut the label 20 from strip 19. Cut labels 20 leaving the rotary knife assembly 30 are routed downwardly edge first to the inlet of stacking tray 50 by guide member 45 and deflector plate 57, guide member 58 serving to assure entry of the labels into tray 50. As each label 20 enters tray 50, the lobe 61 of the rotating cam 60 passes through aperture 64 in guide member 58 and into the tray inlet area to wipe in a downward direction against the fresh label. At the same time, the cam lobe 61 serves to move the lower edge of the fresh label together with any labels previously stacked in tray 50 and block 55 backwardly along the tray base 51 and deeper into tray 50. This obviates any tendency for the labels to jam or mis-stack due to failure of the lower label portions to slide into tray 50.

It will be understood that the stacking apparatus may be used independently of labeling head 5 or in conjunction with other mechanisms which provide a strip-like supply of uncut labels to rotary knife 30. For example, the label supply strip 19 may consist of a roll supply arranged to be fed to rotary knife assembly 30. Alternately, other types of label separators such as a bursting mechanism may be provided in place of rotary knife assembly 30. And, in cases where precut labels are to be stacked, rotary knife assembly 30 may be replaced by or used as a feed roll pair.

While the invention has been described with refert ence to the structure disclosed, it is not confined to the details set forth but is intended to cover such modifications, or changes as may come within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for separating uncut label material having labels arranged in at least two longitudinal rows into individual labels and then stacking the labels for use, the combination of first cutting means for cutting said material transversely between said label rows whereby to provide strips of label material comprised of at least two labels;

second cutting means for cutting said strips into single labels;

a tray for edge stacking single labels, said tray being disposed so that the inlet thereto is opposite to and below the label discharge point of said second cutting means whereby labels from said second cutting means may be stacked in said tray, said tray including a displaceable stacking wall resistant to movement and against which said labels are stacked;

means to guide said labels from said second cutting means into said tray inlet;

a rotatable packing cam arranged opposite said tray inlet adjacent the bottom thereof, said cam having a lobe adapted to intrude slightly into said tray inlet and against the lower portion of said labels to force said labels deeper into said tray against the resistance of said stacking wall;

and means for rotating said cam in timed relation with said second cutting means so that said cam lobe passes through said tray inlet before the next label is discharged to said tray.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means to guide said labels from said second cutting means into said tray inlet comprises a first downwardly projecting guide opposite said label supply means discharge adapted to route said labels downwardly toward said trough member inlet, and a second upstanding guide opposite said trough member inlet to route said labels into said trough member, said second guide forming a front wall portion of said trough member and having an aperture therein through which said rotatable packing cam passes.

Claims (2)

1. In an apparatus for separating uncut label material having labels arranged in at least two longitudinal rows into individual labels and then stacking the labels for use, the combination of first cutting means for cutting said material transversely between said label rows whereby to provide strips of label material comprised of at least two labels; second cutting means for cutting said strips into single labels; a tray for edge stacking single labels, said tray being disposed so that the inlet thereto is opposite to and below the label discharge point of said second cutting means whereby labels from said second cutting means may be stacked in said tray, said tray including a displaceable stacking wall resistant to movement and against which said labels are stacked; means to guide said labels from said second cutting means into said tray inlet; a rotatable packing cam arranged opposite said tray inlet adjacent the bottom thereof, said cam having a lobe adapted to intrude slightly into said tray inlet and against the lower portion of said labels to force said labels deeper into said tray against the resistance of said stacking wall; and means for rotating said cam in timed relation with said second cutting means so that said cam lobe passes through said tray inlet before the next label is discharged to said tray.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means to guide said labels from said second cutting means into said tray inlet comprises a first downwardly projecting guide opposite said label supply means discharge adapted to route said labels downwardly toward said trough member inlet, and a second upstanding guide opposite said trough member inlet to route said labels into said trough member, said second guide forming a front wall portion of said trough member and having an aperture therein through which said rotatable packing cam passes.

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