Label applicator mechanism

Claim 2

cam means rotatable in synchronism with said transfer arm and operatively associated with said last named switch means for actuation thereof after rotation of said transfer arm a predetermined distance to again be positioned in alignment with said label supply means.

Claim 3

clutch and brake means operatively connected between said drive means and said transfer arm for maintaining said transfer arm at the portion of its vertical plane of movement in alignment with said label supply means when said clutch means is disengaged and said brake means is engaged, said clutch and brake means being responsive in predetermined timed relationship to said sensing means for disengagement of said brake means and engagement of said clutch means to allow said drive means to cause rotation of said transfer arm.

Claim 4

The label applicator mechanism, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said label transfer means includes

Claim 5

The label applicator mechanism, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said means for stopping rotation of said label transfer arm includes

Claim 6

The label applicator mechanism, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sensing means comprises photoelectric cell detecting means disposed in the path of travel of the successive articles for sensing the leading edge of each article.

Claim 7

A label applicator mechanism for positioning labels in predetermined positions on spaced-apart successive articles being advanced along a predetermined, generally horizontal, longitudinal path of travel, said mechanism comprising: a. a magazine containing a plurality of labels therein and being movably mounted above the path of travel of the advancing articles; b. reciprocating means including a double-acting, fluid-operated piston and cylinder assembly mounted adjacent said magazine with the piston operatively connected to said magazine for forward and reverse linear movement thereof; c. a transfer arm having alternatively actuable suction means on the outer end thereof for receiving labels from said magazine at the end of its forward movement, said transfer arm being rotatably mounted for rotation in a generally vertical plane such that the outer end thereof passes adjacent to and in alignment with said magazine in one portion of the vertical plane of its movement for receiving a label therefrom when said suction means is actuated and is adjacent to the advancing articles at another portion of the vertical plane of its movement for releasing the label onto an advancing article when said suction means is deactuated, d. drive means for causing periodic rotation of said transfer arm, e. clutch and brake means operatively connected between said drive means and said transfer arm, said clutch means being disengaged and said brake means being engaged between periods of rotation for maintaining said transfer arm at the portion of the vertical plane of its movement in alignment with said magazine, f. sensing means operatively connected to said reciprocating means and said clutch and brake means and being responsive to each advancing article for initiating the reciprocating movement of said magazine to move said magazine toward the outer end of said transfer arm and for engaging said clutch means and disengaging said brake means in predetermined time relationship to said sensing means for initiating rotation of said transfer arm, g. switch means operatively connected with said suction means and being actuated by movement of said magazine toward said transfer arm to actuate said suction means for removing a label from said magazine, h. switch means operatively connected to said suction means for deactuating said suction means, i. cam means rotatable in synchronism with said transfer arm and operatively associated with said last-named switch means for actuation thereof after rotation of said transfer arm to the portion of its vertical plane of travel adjacent to the advancing articles to deactuate said suction means to release the label held thereby and deposit the label on the article sensed by said sensing means; j. switch means operatively connected with said clutch and brake means for disengaging said clutch means and engaging said brake means upon actuation thereof; and k. cam means rotatably in synchronism with said transfer arm and operatively associated with said last-named switch means for actuation thereof after rotation of said transfer arm a predetermined distance to again be positioned in alignment with said magazine.

Claim 8

A label applicator mechanism for positioning labels in predetermined positions on spaced-apart successive articles being advanced along a predetermined, generally horizontal, longitudinal path of travel, said mechanism comprising: a. supply means containing a plurality of labels therein and being movably mounted above the path of travel of the articles for reciprocating forward and reverse linear movement; b. transfer means for receiving labels from said supply means at the end of its forward movement and successively transferring the labels to the advancing articles in a predetermined manner, said transfer means including an arm having alternatively actuatable suction means on the outer end thereof and being mounted for periodic rotation in a generally vertical plane such that the outer end thereof passes adjacent to and in alignment with said supply means in one portion of the vertical plane of its movement for receiving a label therefrom when said suction means is actuated and is adjacent to the advancing articles at another portion of the vertical plane of its movement for releasing the label onto an advancing article when said suction means is deactuated, said arm being positioned between periods of rotation with the outer end thereof adjacent to and in alignment with said supply means and with said suction means deactuated; c. sensing means operatively connected to said label supply means and said transfer means and being responsive to each advancing article for initiating the reciprocating movement of said supply means to move said supply means toward said transfer means and for initiating rotation of said label transfer arm; d. means operatively connected with said suction means for actuation thereof during forward movement of said supply means, said means comprising switch means operatively connected with said suction means and being actuated by movement of said label supply means toward said transfer arm to actuate said suction means for removing a label from said label supply means; e. means operatively connected with said suction means for deactuation thereof when said label transfer arm has reached the portion of its vertical plane of movement adjacent an advancing article, said means comprising switch means operatively connected to said suction meanS for deactuating said suction means, and cam means rotatable in synchronism with said transfer arm and operatively associated with said last-named switch means for actuation thereof after rotation of said transfer arm to the portion of its vertical plane of travel adjacent to the advancing articles to deactuate said suction means to release the label held thereby and deposit the label on the article sensed by said sensing means; and f. means operatively connected with said transfer means to stop rotation of said label transfer arm when it has reached the portion of its vertical plane of movement adjacent to and in alignment with said supply means.