JPH0314440A - Label mounting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To discharge a final label in a stack form onto a magazine when a container passes through the magazine by extending a plurality of holding fingers in front of a magazine opening, holding a stack of labels in the magazine, and retreating the holding fingers from a label holding position in response to contact of a control arm means with a container which rotates beyond the magazine. CONSTITUTION: A means 180 for detachably engaging with a final label in a stack 85 includes a holding finger 186 and a control arm 188 associated therewith. The finger 186 vertically extends in front of a magazine 180 and causes the final label in the stack 85 to be engaged with the opening, while each finger 186 is mounted so that it can retreat to come in/out of a label holding position. The control arm means 188 associated with the finger 186 is activated as soon as it passes through the magazine opening and comes against a path of a container 12 for receiving the label and causes the finger 186 to retreat from the label holding position in response to contact with the container which passes through the magazine opening.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to labeling apparatus and is particularly useful in wrap labeling operations.

[Conventional technology]

Labeling devices using wrap-around label operations are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,183. No. 138, No. 3,472, 7
22 and 4,(15)0,904. Although this type of equipment has been useful, the machinery is complex and expensive and requires considerable maintenance.
Additionally, as the use of plastic polyethylene labels increases, the development of equipment for applying these types of labels has kept pace in providing relatively simple and inexpensive machinery that can operate at desired labeling speeds. do not have. Furthermore, polyethylene labels themselves have special properties that make their use in certain conventional devices difficult and/or that only new methods can be used to better apply these labels. In particular, new methods are needed to suitably dispense individual labels onto containers as they pass through a dispenser.

[Key points of the invention]

In accordance with the present invention, an improved labeling system is provided which retains a stack of labels and applies the final label of the stack through an opening formed in the magazine as the containers pass through the magazine. and a labeling station having a label dispensing magazine for discharging into the magazine. Means is provided for rolling the container past the magazine so that when the leading edge of the final label in the stack is attached to the side of the container, the label is wrapped over the container and the container is rolled past the magazine. Remove it from the magazine.

A plurality of retention fingers extend forward of the magazine opening to retain the stack of labels within the magazine. Control arm means are associated with said retaining fingers. The control arm means retracts the retaining fingers from the label retaining position in response to contact with containers rolling past the magazine.

The container rolling means includes an endless loop carrier means having a track spaced from and substantially parallel to the label discharge opening in the magazine. A bracket means is suspended from the carrier means and is shaped to define a container receiving pocket. A roller means is attached to the bracket means to allow the container to rotate freely within the bobbin. Means is provided for rotating the container within the pocket as the bracket moves through the magazine. Back absorbing means is located on the opposite side of the carrier track from the magazine to maintain the tracks in a parallel relationship as it passes through the magazine.

Means is provided for feeding containers to the container rolling means, the means comprising a feeding conveyor means and means for metering the flow of containers from the feeding conveyor to the container rolling means, the bracket means passing through the container feeding means. Ensure that only one container is supplied at each time.

The metering means comprises a screw feed conveyor.

The container rolling means includes a deck extending from the container supply means to the labeling station to support containers rolling relative to the magazine. Guide means are provided above the deck to ensure that the container remains within the bracket pocket. Advantageously, the supply conveyor is located below the bracket carrier means to receive containers discharged from the labeling station. Discharge guide rail means are provided at the discharge section of the supply conveyor and project into the path of the container rolling means to displace the containers to the discharge section of the supply conveyor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved labeling device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved label dispensing device for use in labeling.

Hereinafter, other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, like reference numbers have been used to indicate like parts.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an embodiment of the invention in which the article receiving the label is a container. While the illustrated container has a cylindrical body portion that can be rolled by a magazine containing a stack of labels, the present invention provides for articles of various shapes and a label dispensing magazine to rotate the articles and sequentially apply the label-receiving surface. It should be noted that any mechanism that causes the final labels of the laminate to be ejected sequentially along its length by contacting the label dispensing opening of the magazine may be used.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus for sequentially applying labels to a series of containers 2 from a magazine means generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. This magazine means 10 is
It is shown in more detail in the figure.

The container feeding means is indicated generally by the reference numeral 20 and includes a feeding belt conveyor 22, a screw feeding stage 24, and a feeding guide rail 26. The screw feed conveyor 22, in conjunction with the guide rail 26, meters the flow of containers i2 to an on-off filling mechanism, generally indicated by the reference numeral 30, and
feeding only one container 12 at a time to the off-fill stage 30;
This supply is synchronized with 30 individual bottle handling capacities of 1,000 stages.

The off-filling means 30 comprises an endless loop carrier chain 36
．． A pair of vertically spaced subroquettes 32 and 34 supporting the upper and lower runs of 38 are provided. Pairs of upper and lower brackets 1-40.42 connected by vertical frame members 44 (best seen in FIG. 2) are connected to upper and lower runs of chain 36.38 at 46. Connect freely to the Although spring means (not shown) may be used to bias the rear end of each bracket pair in the direction of the chain run, the bracket pair may be flexibly swung from the chain run around the pivot means 46 to pivot the bracket pair. To be able to run along the curve of a sprocket without sticking.

Each bracket 40,42 is generally L-shaped and includes an upper and lower pair of rollers 48,50 connecting them to the end of each L-shaped arm, the axis of each roller being aligned with the axis of the container. and its shape forms a container receiving blur. One or more friction rail stages 52, 54 (FIG. 2) cooperate with a bracket-roller combination to rotate the container about its axis as it passes in front of the magazine means 10. .

The friction rail means 52,54 may be a separate member as shown in FIG. 2, or may form a friction contact area on the bottle contacting surface of the magazine means 10 to move the label from the magazine onto the container as described below. It is also possible to ensure the rotation of the bottle so as to wrap it around the bottle.

Although only one pair of brackets 40,42 is shown, multiple pairs may be spaced around the endless loop of the carrier chain. The screw conveyor stage 24 is driven at a speed designed to synchronize the feeding of containers 12 as a pair of such brackets reach the off-filling point from the belt conveyor 22.

A population guiding means 56 is installed across the belt conveyor 22 and has an arcuate bottle contacting surface and is attached to the bracket 40.
．． The container 12 is stopped on the conveyor 22 at the position to be collected by the container receiving pocket 42. Thus guide 56
The arcuate surface of guides the container 12 in cooperation with the guide rail 58 until the container 12 reaches a path of travel substantially parallel to the label dispensing opening in the magazine means 0. A container support differential 60 is positioned adjacent to and at the same level as the belt conveyor 22 to support the container 12 until the container returns to the discharge portion of the conveyor 22.

At least one bank amplifier member 62 is located on the opposite side of the carrier track 36 from the magazine means 10 to ensure that this portion of the track is maintained in a generally parallel relationship during its travel relative to the magazine. A similar backup member may be used for the lower carrier runway 38 in the same location.

After the container has passed through the magazine 10, it is placed in the bracket 40.
42 to the discharge section of the conveyor 22 and fed to the next operation. The guide rail 64 projects into the path of the containers leaving the labeling station in the magazine 10 and ensures the movement of the containers onto the conveyor 22. Guide rail 66 cooperates with rail 64 to maintain containers on conveyor 22.

As is known in the art, the sprocket pair 32.34 may be mounted on a vertical shaft 68.70 which is pivotally mounted on bushing or bearing means 72.74 supported on the frame means 76. A motor supported on frame 76 rotates sprocket means 80 through a gear reduction mechanism to drive endless loop chain 36,38. The sprocket means 80 can include two sprockets that engage the chain 36, 38, or it can engage only one of the endless chain loops.

This is because the sprocket pair 32, 34 is fixed to the shaft 68, 70 so that rotation of one chain loop causes rotation of the other loop. Preferably, the screw feed conveyor stage 24 is also driven by a motor 78 and its operation is coupled to the chain 36. by any suitable means well known in the art.
Synchronize with the movement of the container receiving pocket on 38.

3.4 and 5, the magazine means, generally designated 10 in FIG. 1, is shown in greater detail. A stack of rectangular flat labels 85 is placed on a tray means generally designated 90 formed by side walls 92.94 having a bottom wall 96.98 connected thereto and extending in the same direction. , with a slot between them for the purpose described below. A front yoke-shaped tray support member 100 is attached to the bottom wall portion 96 at the opposite end of the member 100.
98 while the member 100 is mounted on the magazine support plate and attached to the sliding rod support block 10.
2, 104, and the magazine support plate 106 is fixed to the container sliding plate 60. A tray support member 108 is attached to the bottom tray walls 96, 98 at the rear of the tray 90. A pair of parallel sliding rods 110 and 112 are connected to block 1.
02.104 and the rear tray support member 10B.

The front opening in the magazine 10 is a front post 114,
116, a top aperture plate 118 (which is shown partially cut away in FIG. 3 to more clearly show the components below), and a bottom aperture plate 120. Front boss}114.
116 has an inwardly extending upper portion terminating adjacent top aperture plate 118 . A top aperture plate 118 is supported from a cross member 122 and has a trailing edge that is taller than a leading edge that defines the aperture, the edges being connected by an angled surface to prevent misaligned labels from entering the magazine. Guide into the opening. The bottom aperture plate 120 is supported by a downwardly suspended rear portion 124 on a frame adjacent to and surrounding the sliding rods l10, 112. The front portion 126 forms the bottom of the magazine opening and its upper surface is flush with the upper surface of the bottom wall portion 96,98 of the tray 90. A sloping surface 128 connects the rear and front portions 124, 126 of plate 120 and presses upwardly the bottom edges of misaligned or drooping labels. The magazine opening has approximately the same dimensions as the labels to be dispensed from the stack 85.

A pressure plate 130 is provided to press the stack 85 in the direction of the magazine opening as the labels are dispensed. A tab 132 suspended downward from the plate 132 is attached to the bottom wall portion 96.
98 and attached to bushings 134,136, which are slidably mounted on rods 110,112. A pulley 138 is rotatably mounted below tray 90 in a slot formed in deck 60 and magazine support plate 106. Cable 140 has one end secured to pressure plate tab 132 (best seen in FIG. 5) and returns to pulley 138 and downwardly forwards weight 142 (FIG. 4) or pressure plate 130. Reach other means for pressing flexibly in the direction.

Means is provided for attaching the leading and trailing edges of the final label in the stack 85 to the container 12 being rolled relative to the magazine opening. Preferred labels for use in the present invention are formed from cellular polymeric materials, such as expanded polystyrene, although labels made of other materials may also be used.

Expanded polystyrene is a thermoplastic and can be rendered adhesive by the application of heat to cause the container contacting surface of the label to stick to the container as the container is rolled over the heated label.

A hot air nozzle 150 (FIG. 3) is pivotally mounted at 152 and receives hot air through a supply duct 154 to heat the leading edges of the labels in the stack 85. It is attached to the container 12 that is being moved. The nozzle 150 is pivoted out of the path of the passing container 12, but is biased by suitable means (not shown here) generally in the direction of the illustrated label heating position. The pressure of the container 12 against the adhesive label causes the label 87 to adhere to the container 12 and wrap around the container as it rolls relative to the magazine.

Similarly, a hot air nozzle 160 is pivotally mounted at 162 and receives hot air through a supply duct 164 to heat the trailing edge of the final label 87 in the lamination snout 85, so that the trailing edge It is made to adhere to the overlapping portion of the container 12 or the front edge.

The nozzle 160 is biased generally in the direction of the illustrated label heating position and actuates a cam 166 located in the passageway of the bottle 12 and connected to the nozzle 160 by an arm 168 to pivot the nozzle 160 out of the passageway of the container 12. let

Although hot air heating is illustrated as being useful for a preferred foamed plastic label, it is understood that other means may be used to attach both foamed plastic labels and labels made of other materials to the container 12. Good morning. Attachment means of this type have been previously disclosed and include hot melt glue guns, adhesive wheels, and the like.

6.7 and 8, there are shown bottom, side and end views of the means 180 for removably engaging the final label of the laminated proboscis 85. Support arm 182 has a pivot pin hole 184 formed therein and includes a retaining finger 186 extending vertically in front of the magazine opening to engage and retain the final label of stack 85. A control arm 188 is associated with the retaining finger 186 and extends longitudinally along the passageway of the container 12, with a first edge located outside the container passageway (connected to the retaining finger 186) and within the container passageway. and a vertically positioned second edge to form an inclined surface for obtaining container contact. The hole 190 in the support arm is fitted with a wire spring 92 (Fig. 5).
is configured to flexibly press the finger 186 into the label engaging position and the control arm 188 into the container contacting position.

Preferably, the removable locking means are arranged in opposite pairs across the width of the magazine opening and parallel to the axis of the container passing through the opening, so that the removable locking means are arranged in opposing pairs across the width of the magazine opening and parallel to the axis of the container passing through the opening. It creates a continuous discharge point and holds the remaining label in place until the container passes.

Referring to FIG. 5, which shows the opposing pair, the upper portion of the pair is shown in the "open" position as a result of the control arm contacting the container, and the lower portion of the pair is in the "normally closed" label engagement position. The illusion is shown as

In FIG. 5, the upper portion is shown pivotably mounted on top aperture plate 118 and the lower portion is shown pivotably mounted on top aperture plate 118.
It is rotatably attached to 0.

A magazine 10 for holding a stack of labels 85 is shown and described, having an opening formed therein for sequentially dispensing the labels. A plurality of retention fingers 186 extend vertically in front of the magazine opening to engage and retain the final label of the stack in the opening, each finger being retractably mounted for movement into and out of the label retention position. Control arm means 1 associated with fingers 186
88 passes through the magazine opening into the passageway of the article or container receiving the label and is actuated thereby. Arm means 188 is connected to retract retaining fingers 186 from the label retaining position in response to contact with a container passing through the magazine opening. Spring means 192 flexibly press retaining fingers 186 and control arm means 188 into the label retaining position.

The control arm means may include an individual control arm connected to each holding finger so that the final label can be released individually at each holding finger position. Preferably, the retaining fingers 186 are arranged in pairs parallel to each other parallel to the axis of the container passing through the opening to receive labels across the width of the magazine opening, thereby providing continuous ejection along the length of the final label in the stack. and hold the remaining label in place until the container is passed.

Each control arm 188 is supported by a support member or arm 182 that is pivotally mounted to the magazine. The spring means 192 is supported by the support member and thus urges the control arm into the container contacting position by pressing the support member and also urges the finger 186 into the label retaining position after passage of the container relative to the control arm.

Although the present invention has been described only in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be understood that many changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a labeling device according to the present invention;
2 is a side view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of label dispensing means used with the apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a side view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5 is a side view of the device shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, with each part omitted for clarity of arrangement and operation, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged bottom view of the means for releasably engaging the label to the dispenser shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5; FIG. 7 is a side view of the member shown in FIG. 6; and FIG. 7 is an end view of the member shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 10... Magazine means, 12... Container, 20...
Container supply means, 22... Belt conveyor, 24...
Screw supply means, 26... guide rail.

Claims (19)

[Claims] (1) (a) comprising a magazine for holding a stack of labels, the magazine having an opening formed therein and dispensing the labels sequentially through the opening; (b) in front of the magazine opening; a plurality of retaining fingers extending perpendicularly to the opening for engaging and retaining the final label of the laminate in the opening, each retaining finger being retractably mounted for movement into and out of the label retaining position; and (c) control arm means associated with said retaining finger and projecting into and actuated by the passage of an article receiving a label through said magazine opening; Apparatus for supplying a label to be applied to an article at a labeling station, the retaining finger being connected to retract the retaining finger from the label holding device in response to contact with the article passing through the opening. 2. The label feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising means for flexibly pressing the holding finger onto the label holding device. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for flexibly forcing the control arm means into the path of the article through the magazine opening to receive the label. 4. A label dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control arm means comprises an individual control arm connected to each holding finger so that each holding finger can individually release the final label into position. (5) the final label in the laminate, with retaining fingers arranged in opposite pairs across the width of the magazine opening and parallel to the axis of the article passing through said opening and receiving the label; 5. A label feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 4, forming sequential discharge points along the length of the label and holding the remaining label in place until the article has passed. (6) The label feeding device according to claim 4, wherein each control arm is supported by a support member rotatably attached to the magazine. 7. The label feeding apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising means for flexibly pressing each support member to return the control arm supported thereto to the article contact position after the control arm passes the article. (8) each control arm includes a contact piece extending longitudinally along the article path, the control arm having a first edge outside said article path and a second edge normally located within said article path; 7. The label feeding device according to claim 6, wherein the contact piece is inclined into the path of the article. 9. The label feeding device of claim 8, wherein each retaining finger is connected to the first edge of the contact piece and extends parallel to the label stack in the direction of the magazine opening. (10) (a) A magazine means for dispensing labels is provided to hold the stack of labels and the final label of the stack is passed through the magazine means to the container through an opening formed in said magazine means. (b) rolling containers past said magazine means;
(c) means for wrapping the label onto the container when the tip of the final label in the stack is attached to the side of the container and for extracting the label from the magazine means as the container passes through the magazine means; (d) a plurality of retaining fingers extending in front of the opening to retain the stack of labels; and control arm means for retracting the control arm from the label holding position. (11) means for rolling the containers include (a) endless loop carrier means having a run spaced from and substantially parallel to the label discharge opening of the magazine means; and (b) suspended from said carrier means. (c) bracket means configured to form a container-receiving pocket and equipped with roller means capable of freely rotating the container within the pocket; 11. Apparatus for labeling containers according to claim 10, comprising means for rotating. 12. Applying a label to a container according to claim 11, further comprising backup means located on an opposite side of said carrier trackway from said magazine means to maintain said trackway in a parallel relationship during passage through said magazine means. device to do. (13) The apparatus for applying a label to a container according to claim 10, further comprising means for supplying the container to the container rolling means. (14) The container supply means comprises a supply conveyor means and means for metering the flow of containers from the supply conveyor means to the container rolling means, and the bracket means is configured to provide one or more containers when passing through the container supply means. Claim 13: Supplying a container for chisels.
A device that applies labels to listed containers. 15. An apparatus for labeling containers according to claim 14, wherein the metering means comprises screw feed conveyor means. 16. The apparatus for labeling containers of claim 13, wherein the container rolling means includes a deck extending from the container supply means beyond the labeling station to support containers rolling past the magazine means. (17) A guide means located above the deck is provided to retain the container within the bracket pocket means.
A device that applies labels to listed containers. 18. The apparatus for labeling containers of claim 14, wherein the supply conveyor means extends below the bracket carrier means to receive containers discharged from the labeling station. (19) further comprising discharge guide rail means for the discharge section of the supply conveyor, the discharge guide rail projecting into the passage of the container rolling means to displace the containers to the discharge section of the supply conveyor means; A device that applies labels to listed containers.