US3839125A

US3839125A - Container label operating device

Info

Publication number: US3839125A
Application number: US00242102A
Authority: US
Inventors: S Horvath
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-04-07
Filing date: 1972-04-07
Publication date: 1974-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 1991-10-01

Abstract

In a container labeling machine, flat tubular labels are supplied from a magazine, each label having open ends and outer and inner walls joined together at the sides. A carriage located adjacent the magazine supports fixed fingers and juxtaposed movable fingers at the outside of the outer wall of an open end portion of a label. A transfer head is engageable with the outer wall of the label for moving it outwardly past the fixed and movable fingers so that both these fingers are disposed between the outer and inner walls of the label. The movable fingers are then moved outwardly from the fixed fingers to open the label into a container-fitting form, and the carriage with the opened label on the fingers is then moved to place the label around a container.

Description

Elnited States Patent 1 Horvath A n11 3,839,125 1 Oct. 1,1974

[ CONTAINER LABEL OPERATING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Steve J. Horvath, 12600 S. Harvard Ave, Chicago, 111. 60628 22 Filed: Apr. 7, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 242,102

Kerrigan 53/198 B 3,404,505 10/1968 3,523,052 8/1970 3,551,258 12/1970 Galvanoni et a1 156/494 X Primary Examiner-Charles E. Van Horn Assistant ExaminerBasil J. Lewris Attorney, Agent, or FirmCarson, Taylor 8L Hinds [57] ABSTRACT In a container labeling machine, flat tubular labels are supplied from a magazine, each label having open ends and outer and inner walls joined together at the sides. A carriage located adjacent the magazine supports fixed fingers and juxtaposed movable fingers at the outside of the outer wall of an open end portion of a label. A transfer head is engageable with the outer wall of the label for moving it outwardly past the fixed and movable fingers so that both these fingers are disposed between the outer and inner walls of the label. The movable fingers are then moved outwardly from the fixed fingers to open the label into a containerfitting form, and the carriage with the opened label on the fingers is then moved to place the label around a container.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures RAImI uucI H974 F/G.4. F/6.5. F/G.6.

CONTAINER LABEL OPERATING DEVICE This invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for placing labels around containers. Such machines usually have a magazine from which the labels are supplied in a fiat tubular form, and the invention particularly concerns itself with a device for operating or manipulating the flat labels so that they are opened up or expanded into a tubular form in readiness for placement around containers passing through the machine, as on a conveyor.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a very simple but highly efficient label operating device by which the labels may be sequentially removed from the magazine, opened up into a container-fitting form and moved into position for placement around containers, these operations being effected with optimum speed and without any danger of multilating the labels. The device is capable of preparing labels for application to containers which are either in the vertical or horizontal position and which have either a cylindrical or a polygonal form.

With the foregoing more important object and features in view and such other objects and features which may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the label operating device of the invention, showing the components in the opened position of a label;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the components in the label pick-up position;

FIG. 3 is a diagramatic illustration showing the fixed and movable fingers at the outside of the outer wall of the label;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 44 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and showing the outside wall of the label in readiness to snap over the fingers; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and showing the fingers disposed between the outer and inner label walls.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the numeral 10 in FIG. 1 generally designates the label operating device of the invention which is intended to be embodied in a machine for applying labels to containers, either cylindrical or polygonal in form.

Such machines usually have a magazine M from which the labels are sequentially supplied. As shown in FIG. 3, each label L, while in the magazine, has a substantially fiat tubular form, with open ends indicated at 12 and outer and inner walls Lo and Li, respectively, joined together at the sides 13. The operating device 10 serves to remove a flat label from the magazine M, to open up the same into a container-fitting form, and to move the opened label into position for application to a container. Apparatus such as a conveyor for feeding containers to the machine, and other apparatus for transferring the opened label to the container, do not constitute components of the present invention and therefore are not disclosed herein.

The label operating device 10 comprises a carriage 14 which is disposed adjacent the outlet of the label magazine M, being slidable along suitable guides 15 fora purpose hereinafter to be described. Fixed finger means 16 are mounted on the carriage l4 and in the illustrated instance such finger means consist of two transversely spaced fingers. However, only one such finger could be provided, with a transverse span sufficient to suit the transverse dimension of the flat label L. The carriage 14 also supports a pair of movable fingers 17, provided on arms 18 which are pivoted to the carriage at transversely spaced points, as at 19. The arms 18 are swingable from the position shown in FIG. 2 wherein the fingers 17 are juxtaposed to the fixed fingers 16, to the position shown in FIG. 1 wherein the fingers 17 are spaced outwardly from the fixed fingers.

A label transfer head 20 is slidable toward and away from the outlet of the label magazine M, as along suitable guides 21. The head 20 may be a vacuum head with its suction side facing the label magazine, so that when the head is moved toward the magazine as in FIG. 2, the outer wall Lo of the label L adheres to the head by suction and is capable of being moved away from the inner wall Li when the head is moved away from the magazine. Alternatively, instead of suction, the head 20 may have a coating of pressure-sensitive adhesive, or the like, for engaging and moving the outer wall Lo of the label.

In any event, the movement of the head 20 toward and away from the magazine M is coordinated with movement of the arms 18 which carry the fingers 17,

so that when the head is moved toward the magazine, the fingers 17 are brought into juxtaposition with the fixed fingers 16 (as in FIG. 2). Conversely, when the head is moved away from the magazine, the fingers 17 are moved outwardly from the fixed fingers (as in FIG. 1). This is attained by providing the arms 18 with followers 22 which are engageable with guide tracks 23 on the head. The tracks 23 have lateral extensions 23a which engage the followers 22 when the arms 18 are in the position of FIG. 1 and the head is being moved toward the magazine. As this movement continues, the followers 22 follow the guide tracks 23 transversely inwardly, thus causing the arms 18 to swing inwardly about the pivots 19 until the fingers 17 are juxtaposed to the fixed fingers 16 by the time the head 20 is disposed at the magazine M. By that time the followers 22 will have passed out of the guide tracks 23 through a space 23b provided centrally between the tracks. Conversely, when the head 20 moves away from the magazine, the followers 22 re-enter the tracks 23 through the space 23b and, by following the tracks transversely outwardly, the followers cause the arms 18 to swing outwardly about the pivots 19 until the fingers 17 are spaced outwardly from the fixed fingers 16 when the head reaches its position away from the magazine M.

In operation, the transfer head 20 is moved toward the magazine M as in FIG. 2, which causes the fingers 17 to be moved into juxtaposition with the fixed fingers 16. In that position the head 20 comes into engagement with the outer wall Lo of the outermost label L in the magazine, and the outer wall of the label adheres to the head, either by suction, or adhesively, or in any other suitable manner. The head 20 is then moved outwardly from the magazine and the outer wall Lo of the label comes into engagement with the fixed fingers 16 as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4. As the outward movement of the head continues, the open end portion of the outer wall Lo of the label becomes flexed as shown in FIG. 5, and with the continuing outward movement of the head this flexed portion of the wall Lo eventually snaps over the fixed fingers 16 as well as over the juxtaposed fingers 17 so that the fingers l6 and 17 are disposed between the outer wall Lo and the inner wall Li of the label, as shown in FIG. 6.

This action is possible inasmuch as only the outer wall Lo of the label adheres to the head 20 and the inner wall Li remains unaffected by the suction or adhesive action of the head. Thus, the inner wall of the label is not drawn along with the outer wall over the

fingers

16, 17. However, if desired or necessary, suitable detents 24 may be provided at the outlet of the magazine M to resist outward movement of the inner wall Li of the label during outward movement of the outer wall Lo.

With the movement of the outer wall Lo over the

fingers

16, 17 and the disposition of the fingers between the outer wall and the inner wall Li, the initially flat label L has become slightly expanded. As the head 20 moves to its ultimate position away from the magazine, the inner wall Li of the label is held by the fixed fingers 16 and outward movement of the movable fingers 17 causes the label to be fully opened up to a containerfitting form, which may be either cylindrical or polygonal, as aforesaid.

The carriage 14 is movable along the guides in a direction normal to the movement of the head 20, and when the head has been moved to its ultimate position away from the magazine M, the carriage 14 may be moved along the guides 15, carrying the opened up label on the fingers l6, 17 for application of the label to a container by any suitable means which do not form a part of the present invention. With that accomplished, the carriage 14 is returned to its initial position adjacent the magazine M and the cycle of operation is repeated for the next label.

The accompanying drawings show the label operat ing device for use in applying labels to upstanding or vertically positioned containers. However, it will be readily apparent that the same device may be readily oriented for applying labels to containers which are disposed horizontally.

Thus, while in the foregoing there has been described and shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A label operating device for a container labeling machine wherein fiat tubular labels are supplied from a magazine and each label has open ends with outer and inner walls joined together at the sides, said operating device comprising:

a carriage in cooperation with said magazine comprising a base spaced a substantially fixed lateral distance from and extending laterally outwardly from said magazine, fixed finger means rigidly mounted on said base substantially perpendicular thereto at a location spaced a substantially fixed lateral distance from said magazine, said fixed finger means thereby being adjacent the outside of the outer wall of an open end portion of a label in said magazine, movable finger means mounted on said base and movable into juxtaposition to said fixed finger means at the outside thereof, and actuating means cooperating with said movable finger means for moving said movable finger means;

a label transfer head movably mounted for movement towards said magazine for engagement with the outer wall of the label and for movement away from said magazine, said transfer head including a movable frame, first means for engaging and moving said actuating means and thereby moving said movable finger means into juxtaposition with said fixed finger means during movement of said frame towards said magazine and the label and for moving said actuating means and thereby moving said movable finger means outwardly from said fixed finger means during movement of said frame outwardly from said magazine, said first means mounted on and movable with said frame, and second means mounted on said frame for engaging and moving the outer wall of the label past the juxtaposed said fixed finger means and said movable finger means so that both said finger means are dis posed between the outer and inner walls of the label, whereby the label is opened to a containerfitting form upon the outward movement of said movable finger means.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 which is further characterized in that the outward movement of said transfer head causes the outer wall at the open end of the label to flex and snap over said fixed and movable finger means.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 together with detent means for resisting outward movement of the inner wall of the label while the outer wall is moved outwardly by said transfer head.

4. The label operating device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said carriage is movable in a direction normal to the direction of movement of said transfer head whereby an opened label on said finger means may be palced around a container.

5. The label operating device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fixed finger means comprise two spaced apart, substantially vertical fingers and wherein said movable finger means comprises two spaced apart movable finger means, each said movable finger means comprising an arm, means for pivotally mounting said arm at a first end thereof to said base and a substantially vertical finger rigidly mounted to said arm at the other end thereof.

6. The label operating device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said base is substantially horizontal, said transfer means is slidably mounted for horizontal movement towards and away from said magazine, each said movable finger means is substantially horizontally pivotable and each said arm of said movable finger means has an angular shape and is comprised of first and second sections which join at a vertex, the vertex of one said arm positioned toward the vertex of the other said arm when said movable fingers and said fixed fingers are 69 juxtaposed, wherein said actuating means includes a ment of said transfer head.

Claims

1. A label operating device for a container labeling machine wherein flat tubular labels are supplied from a magazine and each label has open ends with outer and inner walls joined together at the sides, said operating device comprising: a carriage in cooperation with said magazine comprising a base spaced a substantially fixed lateral distance from and extending laterally outwardly from said magazine, fixed finger means rigidly mounted on said base substantially perpendicular thereto at a location spaced a substantially fixed lateral distance from said magazine, said fixed finger means thereby being adjacent the outside of the outer wall of an open end portion of a label in said magazine, movable finger means mounted on said base and movable into juxtaposition to said fixed finger means at the outside thereof, and actuating means cooperating with said movable finger means for moving said movable finger means; a label transfer head movably mounted for movement towards said magazine for engagement with the outer wall of the label and for movement away from said magazine, said transfer head including a movable frame, first means for engaging and moving said actuating means and thereby moving said movable finger means into juxtaposition with said fixed finger means during movement of said frame towaRds said magazine and the label and for moving said actuating means and thereby moving said movable finger means outwardly from said fixed finger means during movement of said frame outwardly from said magazine, said first means mounted on and movable with said frame, and second means mounted on said frame for engaging and moving the outer wall of the label past the juxtaposed said fixed finger means and said movable finger means so that both said finger means are disposed between the outer and inner walls of the label, whereby the label is opened to a container-fitting form upon the outward movement of said movable finger means.

6. The label operating device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said base is substantially horizontal, said transfer means is slidably mounted for horizontal movement towards and away from said magazine, each said movable finger means is substantially horizontally pivotable and each said arm of said movable finger means has an angular shape and is comprised of first and second sections which join at a vertex, the vertex of one said arm positioned toward the vertex of the other said arm when said movable fingers and said fixed fingers are juxtaposed, wherein said actuating means includes a substantially vertical cam follower rigidly mounted on each said arm at the vertex thereof, and wherein said first means of said transfer head comprises a cam surface for engaging said cam follower during the movement of said transfer head.