Machine for assembling and attaching a tag to an article

Claim 5

Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for passing the threadlike securing element through the article also passes the threadlike element through the backup layer.

Claim 6

Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said means for positioning the folded backup layer of sheet material comprises: means for cutting a discrete piece of backup layer material from an indefinite length of the same; means for feeding a predetermined length of the backup material to said cutting means; means for folding said discrete pieces of material; and means for moving said folded piece of backup material from the cutting and folding location to the article with the fold of the backup material positioned along the edge of the article.

Claim 7

Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for folding the discrete piece of backup material includes: a vertical guide track defining a slot in which said backup material is positioned, said guide member having opposed openings in each side thereof; a V-shaped shuttle aligned with the openings in said guide track; and a former punch movable through said openings to fold the backup material into the V of the shuttle.

Claim 8

Apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said V-shaped shuttle comprises: a pair of pivoted jaws normally biased apart; and means for camming said arms together to fold the discrete piece of backup material around the artiCle.

Claim 9

Apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said former punch includes a curved pusher having a pointed rod affixed to the leading edge thereof for forcing the backup material into the V-shaped shuttle.

Claim 10

Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said means for passing the threadlike securing element through the article and the backup layer comprises: penetrating means for passing the securing element through the article and backup layer; means for moving the penetrating means and the securing element through the article and backup layer; means for gripping the leading end of the securing element after it has penetrated the article and backup layer; and means for withdrawing the penetrating means as the securing element is so gripped.

Claim 11

Apparatus as recited in claim 8 which further includes: a spool having an indeterminate length of securing element thereon; and means for severing the securing element to a predetermined length after the securing element has been passed through the article and the backup layer.

Claim 12

Apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said penetrating means includes a hollow needle and said securing element is positioned inside the needle.

Claim 13

Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said means for passing the threadlike securing element through the article and backup layer comprises: a hollow needle for piercing the article and backup layer; a spool having an indeterminate length of securing element thereon, said securing element being positioned within the hollow needle; means for advancing the spool and hollow needle to insert the needle through the article and backup layer, the leading end of said securing element being entirely inside the needle; means for advancing the securing element relative to the needle after insertion to expose the leading end thereof; means for gripping and subsequently releasing the leading end of the securing element; means for retracting the spool and needle while securing element is so gripped to pay off a predetermined length of the securing element; and means for severing the securing element to provide a discrete length of securing element.

Claim 14

Apparatus as recited in claim 11 which further includes means for retracting the leading end of the securing element into the needle after severance and before the next succeeding insertion of the needle through an article and a backup layer.

Claim 15

Apparatus as recited in claim 3 which further includes means for printing indicia on said backup tape for identification of said article.

Claim 16

Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said means for superposing and adhering a cover layer of sheet material over the backup layer on each side of the article comprises: means for pressing a discrete strip of cover layer against the threadlike securing element on each side of the backup layer, said cover layers having a surface of heat sealable adhesive adjacent the securing element; and means for applying heat to said cover layers to enclose and anchor the ends of the securing element therebetween.

Claim 17

Apparatus as recited in claim 14 which further includes: upper and lower spools having an indeterminate length of cover layer material thereon; means for feeding a predetermined amount of cover layer material from each spool; and means for cutting said predetermined amount from the material on each spool to provide discrete cover layers for each side of the article.

Claim 18

Apparatus as recited in claim 3 which further comprises: means for supporting the article to which a tag is to be attached; upper and lower cartridges, one on either side of the article support means, each having a spool holding indeterminate lengths of cover layer material having adhesive on one side thereof; means for guiding said cartridges for vertical, rectilinear movement; a pair of feed rollers on each of said cartridges for advancing the cover layer materIal; gear means associated with said feed rollers on each of said cartridges for rotating said rollers as the cartridges are moved toward the article to feed a predetermined amount of cover layer material from each of the spools; cutting means pivotally mounted on each of said cartridges and positioned across the path of the leading edge of each of the lengths of cover layer material for cutting discrete cover layers for each side of the article; means pivotally mounted on each of said cartridges for applying pressure to the discrete cover layers and the backup layer and securing element positioned therebetween; means for moving said upper and lower cartridges toward each other and then away from each other; and cam means associated with each of said cartridges for first pivoting the cutting means to cut discrete upper and lower cover layers and then pivoting said pressure applying means to press the adhesive coated side of said cover layers against the backup layer and the securing element positioned therebetween to form a tag attached to the article.

Claim 19

Apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said adhesive on the cover layers is heat sealable, and wherein said pressure applying means further includes means for heating the heat sealable adhesive as the cover layers, backup layer and securing element are pressed together on the article.

Claim 20

Apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said gear means comprises: a stationary rack mounted adjacent the path of each of the cartridges; and a gear segment mounted on each of the cartridges which meshes with its respective rack as the cartridges are moved toward each other and the article, said gear segments being connected to one of the feed rollers on each of the cartridges to rotate the same a predetermined amount to feed the cover layer material.

Claim 21

Apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein said gear segments are connected to pawls and said feed rollers are connected to ratchet wheels in mesh with the pawls so that the feed rollers are only rotated as the cartridges are moved toward each other.

Claim 22

Apparatus as recited in claim 3 which further comprises: platform means for supporting the article to be tagged; and means for clamping the article on the platform means during the tagging operation.

Claim 23

Apparatus as recited in claim 20 which further comprises: means for moving said platform means into vertical alignment with said securing element passing means; and means for moving said platform means away from vertical alignment with said securing element passing means as the securing element extends through the backup layer and the article.

Claim 26

Apparatus as recited in claim 22 wherein said moving means is also effective to move the needle and the securing element through the backup layer on either side of the article.

Claim 27

Apparatus as recited in claim 23 wherein said backup material folding means comprises: means for cutting a discrete piece of backup material from an indefinite length of the same; a vertical guide track defining a slot in which said discrete piece of backup layer material is positioned, said guide member having opposed openings in each side thereof; a V-shaped shuttle aligned with the openings in said guide track; and a former punch movable through said openings to fold the backup material into the V of the shuttle.

Claim 28

Apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein said means for clamping the V-shaped strip of backup material includes said V-shaped shuttle and further includes: a pair of pivoted jaws normally biased apart; and means for camming said jaws together to fold the discrete piece of backup material around the article.

Claim 29

Apparatus as recited in claim 25 which further comprises: ejector means for positively displacing the folded strip of backup material from the clamp as the article supporting means is laterally moved away from the clamping means.

Claim 30

Apparatus as recited in claim 26 wherein said ejector means comprises: a spring biased pin positioned in the apex of the pivoted jaws; and an actuator mounted on said platform and adapted to be positioned between the ejector and the apex of the V of the pivoted jaws so that movement of the article supporting means laterally away from the clamping means pushes the folded backup layer out of the jaws.

Claim 31

Apparatus as recited in claim 27 wherein said actuator is designed to become disengaged from the ejector pin at a predetermined point so that the biased ejector pin can return to the apex of the V of the jaws.

Claim 32

Apparatus as recited in claim 23 wherein said needle is hollow and said securing element is positioned on the inside of the needle.

Claim 33

Apparatus as recited in claim 23 which further comprises: means for gripping the leading end of the securing element after said needle moving means has passed the securing element through the article and backup layer so that the securing element remains in that position as the needle is removed.