Label handling mechanism

Claim 2

A label handling mechanism adapted to receive a label moving downwardly in a generally vertical first plane of movement, said mechanism comprising an inclined chute adapted to be positioned below said label and intersecting said first plane, a label diverter mounted above said chute and in the path of said downwardly moving label, said diverter including first and second portions each of which when positioned to intersect said plane is adapted to deflect said label laterally of said first plane in a second plane of movement, said first and second portions deflecting said label in opposite directions into different sides of said chute, said chute being inclined downwardly from said diverter and guiding said label in a third plane of movement, means supporting said diverter for lateral adjustment on said chute, said diverter when adjusted in one direction having one of said portions located in said plane and when adjusted in the opposite direction having the other of said portions located in said plane, said supporting means comprising spring means for holding said diverter in either of its adjusted positions.

Claim 3

A label handling mechanism adapted to receive a label moving downwardly in a generally vertical plane, said mechanism comprising an inclined chute adapted to be positioned below said label and intersecting said plane, a label diverter mounted above said chute and in the path of said downwardly moving label, said diverter including first and second portions each of which when positioned to intersect said plane is adapted to deflect said label laterally of said plane, said first and second portions deflecting said label in opposite directions into different sides of said chute, said chute being divided into first and second laterally adjacent inclined sides which are on opposite sides of said plane, said diverter deflecting a label into one or the other of said sides, a heater mounted in one Of said sides downwardly of said diverter, and means for holding a label on said heater for a predetermined length of time, said holding means comprising a label stop which is extendable to one position where it is in the path of a label and prevents a label from sliding off said heater and which is retractable to a second position where it is out of the path of a label, and means connected to said label stop for extending said stop in response to a label falling into said mechanism and for retracting said stop a predetermined time thereafter, said last named means including a photocell circuit adapted to respond to a label falling into said chute, and solenoid means connected to respond to said photocell circuit and to extend said stop in response thereto.

Claim 4

A label handling mechanism adapted to receive a label moving downwardly in a generally vertical plane, said mechanism comprising an inclined chute adapted to be positioned below said label and intersecting said plane, a label diverter mounted above said chute and in the path of said downwardly moving label, said diverter including first and second portions each of which when positioned to intersect said plane is adapted to deflect said label laterally of said plane, said first and second portions deflecting said label in opposite directions into different sides of said chute, said chute being divided into first and second laterally adjacent inclined sides which are on opposite sides of said plane, said diverter deflecting a label into one or the other of said sides, a heater mounted in one Of said sides downwardly of said diverter, and means for holding a label on said heater for a predetermined length of time, said holding means comprising a label stop which is extendable to one position where it is in the path of a label and prevents a label from sliding off said heater and which is retractable to a second position where it is out of the path of a label, and means connected to said label stop for extending said stop in response to a label falling into said mechanism and for retracting said stop a predetermined time thereafter, said last named means including a photocell circuit adapted to respond to a label falling into said chute, and solenoid means connected to respond to said photocell circuit and to extend said stop in response thereto.

Claim 5

A mechanism as in claim 2, wherein said last named means further includes a timing circuit connected to said photocell means and to said solenoid means, said solenoid means being energized in response to said photocell circuit to extend said stop and being de-energized a predetermined time thereafter by said timing circuit to retract said stop.

Claim 6

A label handling mechanism adapted to receive a label moving downwardly in a generally vertical first plane of movement, said mechanism comprising an inclined chute adapted to be positioned below said label and intersecting said first plane, a label diverter mounted above said chute and in the path of said downwardly moving label, said diverter including first and second portions each of which when positioned to intersect said plane is adapted to deflect said label laterally of said first plane in a second plane of movement, said first and second portions deflecting said label in opposite directions into different sides of said chute, said chute being inclined downwardly from said diverter and guiding said label in a third plane of movement, said chute being divided into first and second laterally adjacent inclined sides which are on opposite sides of said plane, said diverter deflecting a label into one or the other of said sides, a heater mounted in one of said sides downwardly of said diverter, means for holding a label on said heater for a predetermined length of time, said holding means comprising a label stop which is extendable to one position where it is in the path of a label and prevents a label from sliding off said heater and which is retractable to a second position where it is out of the path of a label, means connected to said label stop for extending said stop in response to a label falling into said mechanism and for retracting said stop a predetermined time thereafter, and manually adjustable means for holding said label stop in said second position.

Claim 7

A label handling mechanism adapted to receive a label moving downwardly in a generally vertical first plane of movement, said mechanism comprising an inclined chute adapted to be positioned below said label and intersecting said first plane, a label diverter mounted above said chute and in the path of said downwardly moving label, said diverter including first and second portions each of which when positioned to intersect said plane is adapted to deflect said label laterally of said first plane in a second plane of movement, said first and second portions deflecting said label in opposite directions into different sides of said chute, said chute being inclined downwardly from said diverter and guiding said label in a third plane of movement, said chute being divided into first and second laterally adjacent inclined sides which are on opposite sides of said plane, said diverter deflecting a label into one or the other of said sides, a heater mounted in one of said sides downwardly of said diverter, means for holding a label on said heater for a predetermined length of time, said holding means comprising a label stop which is extendable to one position where it is in the path of a label and prevents a label from sliding off said heater and which is retractable to a second position where it is out of the path of a label, means connected to said label stop for extending said stop in response to a label falling into said mechanism and for retracting said stop a predetermined time thereafter, and manually adjustable means for holding said label stop in said second position.

Claim 8

A label handling mechanism adapted to receive a label moving downwardly in a generally vertical first plane of movement, said mechanism comprising an inclined chute adapted to be positioned below said label and intersecting said first plane, a label diverter mounted above said chute and in the path of said downwardly moving label, said diverter including first and second portions each of which when positioned to intersect said plane is adapted to deflect said label laterally of said first plane in a second plane of movement, said first and second portions deflecting said label in opposite directions into different sides of said chute, said chute being inclined downwardly from said diverter and guiding said label in a third plane of movement, and a label trap mounted at the downward end of said chute and extending across said downward end, said trap receiving a label which slides off said downward end of said chute and forming a removal location for labels at each side of said trap, at least one side of said chute and said trap has wire means extending across the upper surface thereof to hold at least a portion of the label off said surface.

Claim 9

A label handling mechanism adapted to receive a label moving downwardly in a generally vertical first plane of movement, said mechanism comprising an inclined chute adapted to be positioned below said label and intersecting said first plane, a label diverter mounted above said chute and in the path of said downwardly moving label, said diverter including first and second portions each of which when positioned to intersect said plane is adapted to deflect said label laterally of said first plane in a second plane of movement, said first and second portions deflecting said label in opposite directions into different sides of said chute, said chute being inclined downwardly from said diverter and guiding said label in a third plane of movement, and a label trap mounted at the downward end of said chute and extending across said downward end, said trap receiving a label which slides off said downward end of said chute and forming a removal location for labels at each side of said trap, at least one side of said chute and said trap has wire means extending across the upper surface thereof to hold at least a portion of the label off said surface.

Claim 10

A label handling mechanism adapted to receive a label moving downwardly in a generally vertical first plane of movement, said mechanism comprising an inclined chute adaptEd to be positioned below said label and intersecting said first plane, a label diverter mounted above said chute and in the path of said downwardly moving label, said diverter including first and second portions each of which when positioned to intersect said plane is adapted to deflect said label laterally of said first plane in a second plane of movement, said first and second portions deflecting said label in opposite directions into different sides of said chute, said chute being inclined downwardly from said diverter and guiding said label in a third plane of movement, and a label trap mounted at the downward end of said chute and extending across said downward end, said trap receiving a label which slides off said downward end of said chute and forming a removal location for labels at each side of said trap, said trap being pivotally mounted on a laterally extending axis which is adjacent the upper side of said trap.

Claim 11

A label handling mechanism adapted to receive a label moving downwardly in a generally vertical first plane of movement, said mechanism comprising an inclined chute adaptEd to be positioned below said label and intersecting said first plane, a label diverter mounted above said chute and in the path of said downwardly moving label, said diverter including first and second portions each of which when positioned to intersect said plane is adapted to deflect said label laterally of said first plane in a second plane of movement, said first and second portions deflecting said label in opposite directions into different sides of said chute, said chute being inclined downwardly from said diverter and guiding said label in a third plane of movement, and a label trap mounted at the downward end of said chute and extending across said downward end, said trap receiving a label which slides off said downward end of said chute and forming a removal location for labels at each side of said trap, said trap being pivotally mounted on a laterally extending axis which is adjacent the upper side of said trap.

Claim 12

A mechanism as in claim 6 and further including a switch for controlling operation of a machine on which said label chute is mounted, said switch being mounted adjacent said trap and adapted to be actuated in response to said trap being pivoted.

Claim 13

A label handling mechanism adapted to receive a label moving downwardly in a generally vertical plane, said mechanism comprising an inclined chute adapted to be positioned below said label and intersecting said plane, a label diverter mounted above said chute and in the path of said downwardly moving label, said diverter including first and second portions each of which when positioned to intersect said plane is adapted to deflect said label laterally of said plane, said first and second portions deflecting said label in opposite directions into different sides of said chute, a label trap mounted at the downward end of said chute and extending across said downward end, said trap receiving a label which slides off said downward end of said chute and forming a removal location for labels at each side of said trap, said mechanism being usable in either a first mode of operation or in a second mode of operation, and said trap forming a first removal location for use in said first mode and a second removal location for use in said second mode, a hole being formed in said trap in said first removal location, and further including means adapted to extend upwardly through said hole and lift a label upwardly as a label is being removed from said first removal location.

Claim 14

A label handling mechanism adapted to receive a label moving downwardly in a generally vertical plane, said mechanism comprising an inclined chute adapted to be positioned below said label and intersecting said plane, a label diverter mounted above said chute and in the path of said downwardly moving label, said diverter including first and second portions each of which when positioned to intersect said plane is adapted to deflect said label laterally of said plane, said first and second portions deflecting said label in opposite directions into different sides of said chute, a label trap mounted at the downward end of said chute and extending across said downward end, said trap receiving a label which slides off said downward end of said chute and forming a removal location for labels at each side of said trap, said mechanism being usable in either a first mode of operation or in a second mode of operation, and said trap forming a first removal location for use in said first mode and a second removal location for use in said second mode, a hole being formed in said trap in said first removal location, and further including means adapted to extend upwardly through said hole and lift a label upwardly as a label is being removed from said first removal location.

Claim 15

A mechanism as in claim 8, wherein said trap is pivotally mounted for downward movement as a label is being removed therefrom, said last named means being mounted below said trap and said last named means extending through said hole when said trap is pivoted downwardly.

Claim 16

A mechanism as in claim 8, wherein said trap includes an upwardly turned bottom side which normally prevents a label from sliding off said trap, said means adapted to extend upwardly through said hole and lift said label above the level of said side to enable a label to slide off said chute in the event the label is not properly removed.

Claim 17

A label handling mechanism for use with a label printer, said printer issuing a label downwardly in a substantially vertical plane, said mechanism comprising a label chute adapted to be positioned under the point of issuance of the label, said chute being inclined downwardly, a label diverter positioned at the upper side of said chute in the path of said downwardly issued label, said diverter having a slanted surface on a lateral side thereof, said lateral surface intersecting said plane of said label, whereby said label strikes said slanted surface and is deflected to one side of said chute and then slides downwardly in said chute, said diverter being located adjacent the upper end of said one side of said chute, the lower end of said one side of said chute forming a removal station for said label, a heater mounted in said chute between said upper and lower ends, and retractable means for momentarily holding a label on said heater, aNd deactivator means connectable to said retractable means for preventing operation of said retractable means.

Claim 18

A label handling mechanism for use with a label printer, said printer issuing a label downwardly in a substantially vertical plane, said mechanism comprising a label chute adapted to be positioned under the point of issuance of the label, said chute being inclined downwardly, a label diverter positioned at the upper side of said chute in the path of said downwardly issued label, said diverter having a slanted surface on a lateral side thereof, said lateral surface intersecting said plane of said label, whereby said label strikes said slanted surface and is deflected to one side of said chute and then slides downwardly in said chute, said diverter being located adjacent the upper end of said one side of said chute, the lower end of said one side of said chute forming a removal station for said label, a heater mounted in said chute between said upper and lower ends, and retractable means for momentarily holding a label on said heater, aNd deactivator means connectable to said retractable means for preventing operation of said retractable means.