Quick change labeling head

Abstract

Abstract A quick change head for article addressing machines to facilitate changeover from one type label form to another. The head, which uses uncut label form material, includes a transfer wheel for transferring labels or information therefrom to the articles being addressed, a feeder pair cooperable with the form margins to advance the form, a trim knife pair to remove the form margins, a guillotine knife to divide the form into strips several labels long, and a combination strip feeder and knife mechanism to cut the strips into individual labels while feeding the labels to the transfer wheel. To accommodate different types and sizes of label forms, the form feeders and trim knives are arranged for adjusting movement relative to one another, and to facilitate quick yet accurate positioning of these elements, gauging means are provided for each. A quick change gear mechanism using preselected ratios permits the necessary speed change to be readily made in the form feeding and cutting components while a stroke gauging device is provided to enable the stroke of the strip feeder and knife mechanism to be accurately and quickly reset when changing from one form to another. To accommodate marginless type label forms, a conversion belt is provided bearing single row form feeder pins and foldable upon itself in an endless loop in driving engagement with the form feeder pair so that the form feeder pair are converted to a single feeder.

Inventors

• 👤 D Kercher
• 👤 T Rod

Bibliographic Details