Labeler

Claim 2

A labeler for selectively dispensing and applying in serial fashion to articles to be labelled, labels disposed one after the other along a web and adhered thereto by means facilitating the ready removal of the labels from the web; comprising a. frame means; b. guide means adapted to guide the web and labels along a predetermined path; c. said predetermined path including means providing a sharp reverse bend adapted to coact with the web and labels as the web passes thereabout to effect a separation of the labels from the web; d. web advancing means adapted to draw the web along said predetermined path and about said sharp reverse bend to effect separation of the labels from the web; e. label applying means operated in timed relationship with the operation of said web advancing means; f. operating means coacting with said label applying means to move said label applying means so that in a single continuous movement said label applying means positively engages a label, as the label is being separated from the web, to move the label against an article when disposed adjacent thereto; g. at least the final portion of said single continuous movement of said label applying means being in a direction generally transverse to the adjacent label-receiving surface of said article, said label applying means completely applying said label to the article to be labelled during said final portion of the movement of said label applying means; h. the relative inertias of the moving label applying means and the label serving to hold the label against the label applying means.

Claim 3

The labeler of claim 1; wherein the web includes a plurality of spaced sprocket holes and said web advancing means includes a web feed means carrying a plurality of spaced drive pins adapted for coaction with the sprocket holes of the web to positively move the web along said predetermined path.

Claim 4

switch means electrically connected to said solenoid means through a suitable source of power to operate said solenoid means; and

Claim 5

switch means electrically connected to said solenoid means through a suitable source of power to operate said solenoid means; and

Claim 6

return means for returning said hammer means to its initial position on deenergization of said solenoid means;

Claim 7

return means for returning said hammer means to its initial position on deenergization of said solenoid means;

Claim 8

The labeler of claim 2; wherein the web feed means is removably disposed on said frame means to permit replacement thereof by other web feed means having drive pins disposed in different positions thereon for coaction with webs having corresponding sprocket holes.

Claim 9

The labeler of claim 3; wherein the web feed means is in the form of a substantially cylindrical feed drum with the drive pins disposed in spaced relation about the periphery thereof.

Claim 10

said switch means being also disposed for coaction with said cam means of said web advancing means to be operated thereby during a predetermined perIod in the cycle of operation of said web advancing means.

Claim 11

said switch means being also disposed for coaction with said cam means of said web advancing means to be operated thereby during a predetermined perIod in the cycle of operation of said web advancing means.

Claim 12

The labeler of claim 4; wherein a. said web feed means includes a roll pin; and b. said web advancing means further includes a ratchet wheel adapted to receive said roll pin and disposed for coaction with a pawl adapted to rotate said ratchet wheel through a predetermined degree of rotation.

Claim 13

The labeler of claim 1; wherein said web advancing means includes a cam disposed for coaction with said operating means to initiate operation thereof during a predetermined point in the cycle of operation of said web advancing means.

Claim 14

A labeler for selectively dispensing and applying in serial fashion labels disposed one after the other along a web and adhered thereto by means facilitating the ready removal of the labels from the web; comprising a. frame means; b. guide means adapted to guide the web and labels along a predetermined path; c. said predetermined path including means providing a sharp reverse bend adapted to coact with the web and labels as the web passes thereabout to effect a separation of the labels from the web; d. web advancing means adapted to draw the web along said predetermined path and about said sharp reverse bend to effect separation of the labels from the web; e. label applying means operated in timed relationship with the operation of said web advancing means; f. operating means coacting with said label applying means to move said label applying means so that in a single continuous movement said label applying means positively engages a label, as the label is being separated from the web, to move the label against an article when disposed in proximity thereto; g. the relative inertias of the moving label applying means and label maintaining the label and label applying means in proximity to each other and facilitating the proper affixing of the label to an article; h. said web advancing means including a cam disposed for coaction with said operating means to initiate operation thereof during a predetermined point in the cycle of operation of said web advancing means; i. said label applying means including hammer means disposed for movement through a predetermined label applying path; j. said operating means including:

Claim 15

A labeler for selectively dispensing and applying in serial fashion labels disposed one after the other along a web and adhered thereto by means facilitating the ready removal of the labels from the web; comprising a. frame means; b. guide means adapted to guide the web and labels along a predetermined path; c. said predetermined path including means providing a sharp reverse bend adapted to coact with the web and labels as the web passes thereabout to effect a separation of the labels from the web; d. web advancing means adapted to draw the web along said predetermined path and about said sharp reverse bend to effect separation of the labels from the web; e. label applying means operated in timed relationship with the operation of said web advancing means; f. operating means coacting with said label applying means to move said label applying means so that in a single continuous movement said label applying means positively engages a label, as the label is being separated from the web, to move the label against an article when disposed in proximity thereto; g. the relative inertias of the moving label applying means and label maintaining the label and label applying means in proximity to each other and facilitating the proper affixing of the label to an article; h. said web advancing means including a cam disposed for coaction with said operating means to initiate operation thereof during a predetermined point in the cycle of operation of said web advancing means; i. said label applying means including hammer means disposed for movement through a predetermined label applying path; j. said operating means including:

Claim 16

A labeler for successively removing single labels adhered by pressure sensitive adhesive to a web of release paper, the adhesive and release paper being formulated to permit ready removal of a label from said release paper, the release paper further having formed therein a plurality of spaced pairs of sprocket feed holes: comprising a. frame means; b. guide means adapted to guide the web along a predetermined path having a first direction and a second direction; c. said predetermined path having dispoed therein a sharp reverse bend wherein said predetermined path changes from said first direction to said second direction; d. cylindrical feed drum means having disposed about the circumference thereof a plurality of pairs of drive pins spaced from each other by a distance corresponding to the spacing of the sprocket holes in the web; e. web retainer means adapted to urge the web into engagement with the surface of the said feed drum means in such a manner as to permit said drive pins of the feed drum to successively enter the sprocket holes of the web; f. web stripping means disposed for coaction with said feed drum and the web to separate the web from said feed drum; g. ratchet means rotatably disposed on said frame means for positive coaction with said feed drum means; h. pawl means carried by said frame means for coaction with said ratchet means; i. pawl operating means movably carried by said frame means for coaction with said pawl means to move said pawl means along a predetermined pawl feed path wherein said pawl cooperates with said ratchet to rotate said ratchet through a predetermined degree of rotation, said pawl operating means furthermore returning said pawl to its initial position; j. said ratchet means during the rotation thereof through said predetermined degree of rotation positively driving said feed drum means; k. said feed drum means when so driven moving the web through said predetermined path about said sharp reverse bend in such a manner that labels continue to move in said first direction when the web is being drawn in said second direction; l. detent means disposed for coaction with said ratchet means to prevent retrograde rotation thereof; m. label applying means including an element disposed for coaction with a label as it is being separated from the web to engage the label and move same against an article with disposed in proximity thereto; and n. label applier actuating means operative in timed relationship with said web feed means to operate said label applying means.

Claim 17

A labeler for successively removing single labels adhered by pressure sensitive adhesive to a web of release paper, the adhesive and release paper being formulated to permit ready removal of a label from said release paper, the release paper further having formed therein a plurality of spaced pairs of sprocket feed holes: comprising a. frame means; b. guide means adapted to guide the web along a predetermined path having a first direction and a second direction; c. said predetermined path having dispoed therein a sharp reverse bend wherein said predetermined path changes from said first direction to said second direction; d. cylindrical feed drum means having disposed about the circumference thereof a plurality of pairs of drive pins spaced from each other by a distance corresponding to the spacing of the sprocket holes in the web; e. web retainer means adapted to urge the web into engagement with the surface of the said feed drum means in such a manner as to permit said drive pins of the feed drum to successively enter the sprocket holes of the web; f. web stripping means disposed for coaction with said feed drum and the web to separate the web from said feed drum; g. ratchet means rotatably disposed on said frame means for positive coaction with said feed drum means; h. pawl means carried by said frame means for coaction with said ratchet means; i. pawl operating means movably carried by said frame means for coaction with said pawl means to move said pawl means along a predetermined pawl feed path wherein said pawl cooperates with said ratchet to rotate said ratchet through a predetermined degree of rotation, said pawl operating means furthermore returning said pawl to its initial position; j. said ratchet means during the rotation thereof through said predetermined degree of rotation positively driving said feed drum means; k. said feed drum means when so driven moving the web through said predetermined path about said sharp reverse bend in such a manner that labels continue to move in said first direction when the web is being drawn in said second direction; l. detent means disposed for coaction with said ratchet means to prevent retrograde rotation thereof; m. label applying means including an element disposed for coaction with a label as it is being separated from the web to engage the label and move same against an article with disposed in proximity thereto; and n. label applier actuating means operative in timed relationship with said web feed means to operate said label applying means.

Claim 18

The label of claim 8; wherein a. said web advancing means includes cam means; and b. said label applier actuating means includes cam responsive means operated by said cam means to initiate and terminate operation of said label applier actuating means and thereby said label applying means.

Claim 19

The labeler of claim 9; wherein said label applier actuating means; includes a. electrical solenoid means; b. said cam responsive means includes electrical switch means having contacts which are closed and reopended during coaction thereof with said cam means during the rotation thereof, and c. electrical means interconnecting said solenoid means and said switch means to a suitable source of electrical power so that operation of said switch means will provide electrical power to said solenoid means to operate same.

Claim 20

A labeler for selectively printing, dispensing and applying labels adhered one after the other by a pressure sensitive adhesive to a web of release paper formulated to permit separation of the labels therefrom and with a plurality of feed sprocket holes, and normally disposed in roll form; comprising a. frame means; b. web support means disposed on said frame means and rotatably mounting the rolled web of labels; c. printing means carried by said frame means and operative to print selected iNformation upon each label; d. web guide means adapted to guide the web and labels to and through said printing means to facilitate printing of the information upon the labels; e. label stripper means disposed on said frame means and adapted to receive the web of labels after the labels have passed through said printing means; f. said stripper means including a sharp reverse bend about which the web is directed and which, due to the characteristics thereof and of the labeler, adhesive and web, is adapted to effect a separation of the labels from the web in such a manner that the labels are projected into a label applying path; g. hammer means carried by said frame means and including a resilient pad adapted for movement through said label applying path and to engage a label when disposed therewithin; h. web feed means carried by said frame means and adapted to draw the web to and through said printing mechanism and about said sharp reverse bend; i. said web feed means including a feed drum having disposed about the periphery thereof a pluraltiy of pairs of drive pins adapted for coaction with the feed sprocket holes of the web to thereby positively feed the web; j. said web feed means further including a feed ratchet having formed therein an aperture adapted to receive a roll pin carried by said feed drum to positively interconnect said feed ratchet and said feed drum, and a feed pawl disposed for coaction with said feed ratchet to rotate same through a predetermined degree of rotation. k. the diameter of said feed drum, the spacing of said drive pins thereabout and the spacing of the sprocket holes in the web being such that upon rotation of said feed drum through said predetermined degree of rotation a single label is projected into said label applying path; l. a web drive means carried by said frame means for coaction with said web feed means to operate same; m. a main drive means carried by said frame means for coaction with said web drive means to operate same and also for coaction with said printing means to operate same; n. power supply means carried by said frame means for coaction with said main drive means to provide power therefor but normally disconnected therefrom; o. connecting means carried by said frame means for coaction with said power supply means and said main drive means to selectively interconnect same, said connecting means including stop means coacting with said main drive means to arrest rotation thereof at a predetermined location; p. hammer operating means carried by said frame means for coaction with said hammer means and said main drive means and adapted to operate said hammer means at a predetermined time during the operation of said main drive means so that said resilient pad of said hammer means engages a label upon movement thereof into said label applying path; and q. cycle initiating means carried by said frame means and adapted for coaction with an article when moved thereagainst to initiate a cycle of operation of the labeler by actuating said connecting means to release said stop means and interconnect said power supply means and said main drive means to thereby operate said printing means and said web feed means to feed the web and a label carried thereby to said printing means and to project a label into said label applying path, said main drive means further coacting with said hammer operating means to operate said hammer means to engage the projected label and press same against the article when disposed in said label applying path.

Claim 21

A labeler for selectively printing, dispensing and applying labels adhered one after the other by a pressure sensitive adhesive to a web of release paper formulated to permit separation of the labels therefrom and with a plurality of feed sprocket holes, and normally disposed in roll form; comprising a. frame means; b. web support means disposed on said frame means and rotatably mounting the rolled web of labels; c. printing means carried by said frame means and operative to print selected iNformation upon each label; d. web guide means adapted to guide the web and labels to and through said printing means to facilitate printing of the information upon the labels; e. label stripper means disposed on said frame means and adapted to receive the web of labels after the labels have passed through said printing means; f. said stripper means including a sharp reverse bend about which the web is directed and which, due to the characteristics thereof and of the labeler, adhesive and web, is adapted to effect a separation of the labels from the web in such a manner that the labels are projected into a label applying path; g. hammer means carried by said frame means and including a resilient pad adapted for movement through said label applying path and to engage a label when disposed therewithin; h. web feed means carried by said frame means and adapted to draw the web to and through said printing mechanism and about said sharp reverse bend; i. said web feed means including a feed drum having disposed about the periphery thereof a pluraltiy of pairs of drive pins adapted for coaction with the feed sprocket holes of the web to thereby positively feed the web; j. said web feed means further including a feed ratchet having formed therein an aperture adapted to receive a roll pin carried by said feed drum to positively interconnect said feed ratchet and said feed drum, and a feed pawl disposed for coaction with said feed ratchet to rotate same through a predetermined degree of rotation. k. the diameter of said feed drum, the spacing of said drive pins thereabout and the spacing of the sprocket holes in the web being such that upon rotation of said feed drum through said predetermined degree of rotation a single label is projected into said label applying path; l. a web drive means carried by said frame means for coaction with said web feed means to operate same; m. a main drive means carried by said frame means for coaction with said web drive means to operate same and also for coaction with said printing means to operate same; n. power supply means carried by said frame means for coaction with said main drive means to provide power therefor but normally disconnected therefrom; o. connecting means carried by said frame means for coaction with said power supply means and said main drive means to selectively interconnect same, said connecting means including stop means coacting with said main drive means to arrest rotation thereof at a predetermined location; p. hammer operating means carried by said frame means for coaction with said hammer means and said main drive means and adapted to operate said hammer means at a predetermined time during the operation of said main drive means so that said resilient pad of said hammer means engages a label upon movement thereof into said label applying path; and q. cycle initiating means carried by said frame means and adapted for coaction with an article when moved thereagainst to initiate a cycle of operation of the labeler by actuating said connecting means to release said stop means and interconnect said power supply means and said main drive means to thereby operate said printing means and said web feed means to feed the web and a label carried thereby to said printing means and to project a label into said label applying path, said main drive means further coacting with said hammer operating means to operate said hammer means to engage the projected label and press same against the article when disposed in said label applying path.

Claim 22

The labeler of claim 11: wherein the labels are disposed one adjacent the other along the web.

Claim 23

The labeler of claim 11: wherein a. said hammer operating mechanism includes an electrically operated solenoid and a switch to interconnect and disconnect said solenoid with a suitable source of electrical power; b. said main drive means including switch operating means adapted to close said switch at a predetermined time duriNg its operation and to subsequently open said switch.

Claim 24

The labeler of claim 11: wherein a. said feed drum is removably disposed on said frame means to facilitate replacement thereof by another feed drum having differently spaced drive pins adapted for coaction with a web having corresponding sprocket holes spacings.

Claim 25

The labeler of claim 11: including a. a web retainer disposed on said frame means to urge the web against said feed drum; and b. a web stripper disposed on said frame to facilitate separation of the web from said feed drum.

Claim 26

The labeler of claim 15: wherein said web retainer is removably disposed on said frame means and has a configuration corresponding to the configuration of said feed drum.