Labelling device

Claim 2

Apparatus for providing labels or the like at an application station, which comprises: a plurality of label supply units mounted in spaced relationship with each other, means for withdrawing labels from the supply units, means for placing the labels withdrawn from the spaced supply units in alignment with each other, including a plurality of means for receiving labels from the label withdrawing means, said means being spaced from said supply units, means mounting certain of the label receiving means for slidable movement, and means sliding said certain of the label receiving means into alignment with another of said label receiving means, and means for receiving the aligned labels and delivering them seriatim to an application station.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the label supply units are hoppers containing stacks of labels, said labels being withdrawn from the bottom of the hopper.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the label withdrawing means comprises: a drum having pick-up units mounted on the periphery thereof, means for rotating the drum, suction means mounted for pivotal movement into and out of engagement with labels in the supply units to engage a label and partially withdraw it from the supply unit, means for pivoting the suction means in a timed relationship with the rotation drum to cause labels to be partially removed from the hopper so as to be positioned to be engaged by the grippers on the drum.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for receiving the aligned labels includes: a plurality of label receiving means mounted for rotary motion, and means connected to said label receiving means for increasing the angular velocity of the label receiving means along a portion of their travel.

Claim 6

Apparatus for providing labels or the like at one application station, which comprises: a plurality of hoppers mounted in side by side relationship and containing stacks of labels, said hoppers being adapted to have labels withdrawn from an opening therein, a first cylinderical member mounted adjacent said hoppers, a plurality of label gripping units mounted on the first cylindrical member in spaced relationship with the hoppers and operable to withdraw labels from the hopper, a label receiving and applying member mounted in spaced relationship with the first cylindrical member, a second cylindrical member mounted between the first cylindrical member and the laBel receiving and applying member, a plurality of label holding members mounted in laterally spaced positions along the periphery of the said second cylindrical member spaced from the label gripping units, said label holding members being radially offset from each other, means mounting certain of said label holding members for slidable movement parallel to the axis of the cylindrical member, and cam means for sliding said certain of the label holding members into alignment with another of said label holding members for transfer to the label receiving and applying means.

Claim 7

Apparatus for providing labels or the like at one application station, which comprises: a plurality of hoppers mounted in side by side relationship and containing stacks of labels, said hoppers being adapted to have labels withdrawn from an opening therein, a first cylinderical member mounted adjacent said hoppers, a plurality of label gripping units mounted on the first cylindrical member in spaced relationship with the hoppers and operable to withdraw labels from the hopper, a label receiving and applying member mounted in spaced relationship with the first cylindrical member, a second cylindrical member mounted between the first cylindrical member and the laBel receiving and applying member, a plurality of label holding members mounted in laterally spaced positions along the periphery of the said second cylindrical member spaced from the label gripping units, said label holding members being radially offset from each other, means mounting certain of said label holding members for slidable movement parallel to the axis of the cylindrical member, and cam means for sliding said certain of the label holding members into alignment with another of said label holding members for transfer to the label receiving and applying means.

Claim 8

Apparatus for providing labels or the like at one application station, which comprises: a plurality of hoppers mounted in side by side relationship and containing stacks of labels, said hoppers being adapted to have labels withdrawn from an opening therein, means for withdrawing labels from each of the hoppers, a label receiving and applying means mounted in spaced relationship with the label withdrawing means, said label receiving and applying means including a plurality of label receiving carriages mounted for sequential rotation through a common rotary path, a cylindrical member mounted between the label withdrawing means and the label receiving and applying means, a plurality of label holding members mounted in laterally spaced positions along the periphery of said cylindrical member spaced from the hoppers and adapted to receive labels that were withdrawn from the several hoppers by the label withdrawing means, said label holding members being radially offset from each other, means mounting certain of said label holding members for slidable movement parallel to the axis of the cylindrical member, cam means for sliding said certain of the label holding members into alignment with another of said label holding members and with the label receiving carriages of the label receiving and applying member for transfer to the latter, and means for accelerating the rotary movement of the carriages upon the receipt thereon of labels from the label holding members of the second cylindrical member.

Claim 9

Apparatus for providing labels or the like at one application station, which comprises: a plurality of hoppers mounted in side by side relationship and containing stacks of labels, said hoppers being adapted to have labels withdrawn from an opening therein, means for withdrawing labels from each of the hoppers, a label receiving and applying means mounted in spaced relationship with the label withdrawing means, said label receiving and applying means including a plurality of label receiving carriages mounted for sequential rotation through a common rotary path, a cylindrical member mounted between the label withdrawing means and the label receiving and applying means, a plurality of label holding members mounted in laterally spaced positions along the periphery of said cylindrical member spaced from the hoppers and adapted to receive labels that were withdrawn from the several hoppers by the label withdrawing means, said label holding members being radially offset from each other, means mounting certain of said label holding members for slidable movement parallel to the axis of the cylindrical member, cam means for sliding said certain of the label holding members into alignment with another of said label holding members and with the label receiving carriages of the label receiving and applying member for transfer to the latter, and means for accelerating the rotary movement of the carriages upon the receipt thereon of labels from the label holding members of the second cylindrical member.