Labeling machine

Claim 2

In a label applying machine, rotary transfer means comprising a rotor rotatable about a predetermined axis, a picker, adhesive applying means, and container supporting means supported about said rotor, label holding pads mounted on the rotor for movement from a normally distended position in which they travel in a path tangent to the picker, adhesive applying means and container supporting means to a retracted position withdrawn from said path of tangency, means for yieldably holding the label holding pads distended and means operable as the pads travel from the picker toward the adhesive applying means in the absence of labels on the pads to withdraw the pads from the path of tangency with the adhesive applying means, said means being rendered inoperative as the pads travel away from the place of application of the labels to the containers to restore the pads to their distended positions before they reach the picker.

Claim 3

Labeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pads contain vacuum orifices adapted to be connected to a vacuum source at the place of picking and to be disconnected therefrom at the place of label application and means operative by movement of a pad to its retracted position to disconnect the orifices from the vacuum source.

Claim 4

Labeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pads contain vacuum orifices adapted to be connected to a vacuum source at the place of picking and to be disconnected therefrom at the place of application and means operative by movement of a pad to its retracted position to disconnect the orifices from the vacuum source and to connect them to a source of pressure.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising means situated along the path of travel of the pads from the place of picking to the place of application and means carried by each pad movable to a position of cooperative engagement with said last means in the absence of a label on the pad to retract the pad from the path of tangency before it reaches the adhesive applying means and to restore it to said path after it passes the place of application.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 6, comprising a cam extending along the path of travel of the pads, from the place of picking to the place of application and vacuum sustained followers supported above the cam by the vacuum produced when labels are on the pads but allowed to drop down into engagement with the cam in the absence of labels and wherein the cam is so contoured as to swing the pads away from said path of travel before they reach the adhesive applying means.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive-applying means comprises adhesive-applying rolls arranged with their surfaces tangent to the path of movement of the rotary transfer device, and wherein there is means for effecting movement of the transfer means and the adhesive-applying rolls at the place of tangency of the adhesive-applying rolls with the pads so that the surfaces of the adhesive-applying rolls are travelling at the same rate as the surfaces of the labels.

Claim 8

In a label applying machine, transfer means comprising a rotor embodying a hub and radially extending, peripherally spaced arms, a pad holder and pad mounted thereon said pad holder having an arcuate surface, means pivotally supporting the pad holder at one of its lateral sides for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane such that when distended relative to the hub the surface of the pad will travel in a circle tangent to the adhesive applying means, a spring supporTed with one end engaged with the hub and the other with the other lateral side such as to urge the pad holder to its extended position, said pad holder containing a vacuum chamber connected to the pad and to a source of vacuum for producing a vacuum at the orifices, a part slidingly supported in the chamber with one end extending from the chamber, said part being adapted to be raised by the vacuum established in the chamber when a label covers the orifices to withdraw said end and to gravitate to an extended position in the absence of a label and a cam member arranged along the path of travel of rotation of said pad holder operable by engagement with the extended part to move the pad holder away from tangency with the adhesive applying means.

Claim 9

In a label applying machine, transfer means comprising a rotor embodying a hub and radially extending, peripherally spaced arms, a pad holder and pad mounted thereon said pad holder having an arcuate surface, means pivotally supporting the pad holder at one of its lateral sides for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane such that when distended relative to the hub the surface of the pad will travel in a circle tangent to the adhesive applying means, a spring supporTed with one end engaged with the hub and the other with the other lateral side such as to urge the pad holder to its extended position, said pad holder containing a vacuum chamber connected to the pad and to a source of vacuum for producing a vacuum at the orifices, a part slidingly supported in the chamber with one end extending from the chamber, said part being adapted to be raised by the vacuum established in the chamber when a label covers the orifices to withdraw said end and to gravitate to an extended position in the absence of a label and a cam member arranged along the path of travel of rotation of said pad holder operable by engagement with the extended part to move the pad holder away from tangency with the adhesive applying means.

Claim 10

In a label-applying machine, a label picker, a rotary transfer device adapted to receive successive labels from the picker and apply them to successive containers travelling along on a conveyor arranged tangent to the rotary transfer device, and adhesive-applying means situated between the place where the labels are delivered to the transfer device and the place where they are applied to the containers; pivotally mounted pads on the rotary transfer device movable inwardly relative to the path of rotation of the rotary transfer device, said pads containing orifices, a source of vacuum, a manifold connected to said source of vacuum, conductor means connected to the orifices in each pad, said conductor means being arranged to be connected at times by rotation of the transfer device to said manifold, a cam fixed with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotary transfer device, a follower mounted to each pad, said follower being held withdrawn from the cam whenever a conductor is connected to said manifold and a label covers the orifices in the pad, said follower being permitted to move to a position of engagement with the cam in the absence of the label, and said follower operating by engagement with the cam to swing the pad away from said predetermined path, and means operable by the swinging movement of the pad to block the conductor.

Claim 11

In a label-applying machine, a label picker, a rotary transfer device adapted to receive successive labels from the picker and apply them to successive containers travelling along on a conveyor arranged tangent to the rotary transfer device, and adhesive-applying means situated between the place where the labels are delivered to the transfer device and the place where they are applied to the containers; pivotally mounted pads on the rotary transfer device movable inwardly relative to the path of rotation of the rotary transfer device, said pads containing orifices, a source of vacuum, a manifold connected to said source of vacuum, conductor means connected to the orifices in each pad, said conductor means being arranged to be connected at times by rotation of the transfer device to said manifold, a cam fixed with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotary transfer device, a follower mounted to each pad, said follower being held withdrawn from the cam whenever a conductor is connected to said manifold and a label covers the orifices in the pad, said follower being permitted to move to a position of engagement with the cam in the absence of the label, and said follower operating by engagement with the cam to swing the pad away from said predetermined path, and means operable by the swinging movement of the pad to block the conductor.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 7, comprising a vacuum picker at the label supplying station, and stripper means situated beyond the label-applying station in a direction of rotation of the rotor to remove labels from the pads when such labels have not become transferred to the containers at the label-applying station.

Claim 13

A label-applying machine according to claim 9, wherein the pads contain transversely extending grooves and a stripper is mounted adjacent the path of rotation of the pads provided with stripper fingers which enter the grooves.

Claim 14

In a label-applying machine a label picker, a rotary transfer device adapted to receive successive labels from the picker and apply them to successive containers travelling on a conveyor arranged tangent to the rotary transfer device, and adhesive-applying means situated between the place where the labels are delivered to the transfer device and the place where they are applied to the containers; pivotally mounted pads on the rotary transfer device movable inwardly relative to the path of rotation of the rotary transfer device, a source of vacuum, a manifold connected to said source of vacuum, conductor means arranged to be connected at times by rotation of the transfer device to the manifold, said conductor means being connected to said orifices, a cam fixed with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotor, a cam follower mounted on each pad movable with the rotor about its axis of rotation relative to said cam, means operable in response to a vacuum in the conductor means when a label covers the orifices to hold the follower withdrawn from engagement with said cam, said means being disabled by the absence of a label on the pad, and said cam being operable to swing the pad inwardly relative to the axis of rotation, and a valve member movable by swinging movement of the pad to block the conductor means.

Claim 15

In a label-applying machine a label picker, a rotary transfer device adapted to receive successive labels from the picker and apply them to successive containers travelling on a conveyor arranged tangent to the rotary transfer device, and adhesive-applying means situated between the place where the labels are delivered to the transfer device and the place where they are applied to the containers; pivotally mounted pads on the rotary transfer device movable inwardly relative to the path of rotation of the rotary transfer device, a source of vacuum, a manifold connected to said source of vacuum, conductor means arranged to be connected at times by rotation of the transfer device to the manifold, said conductor means being connected to said orifices, a cam fixed with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotor, a cam follower mounted on each pad movable with the rotor about its axis of rotation relative to said cam, means operable in response to a vacuum in the conductor means when a label covers the orifices to hold the follower withdrawn from engagement with said cam, said means being disabled by the absence of a label on the pad, and said cam being operable to swing the pad inwardly relative to the axis of rotation, and a valve member movable by swinging movement of the pad to block the conductor means.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claiM 11, wherein the valve means comprises a valve housing mounted on the rotary transfer device, means connecting the conductor means to the housing, a conductor tube pivotally connected at one end to the pad and in communication with the orifices therein and slidingly connected at its other end to the housing, a yieldable valve element in said housing sealing the opening about the slidingly engaged portion of the conductor tube, said valve element in one position being spaced from the end of the tube when the pad is extended providing communication through the tube to the orifices and in another position by engagement with the end of the tube when the pad is retracted blocking communication through the tube to the orifices.

Claim 17

In a label-applying machine, a label picker, a rotary transfer device adapted to receive successive labels from the picker and apply them to successive containers travelling along on a conveyor arranged tangent to the rotary transfer device, and adhesive-applying means situated between the place where the labels are delivered to the transfer device and the place where they are applied to containers; carriers pivotally mounted on the rotor, a pad fixed to each carrier, each pad containing orifices, means yieldably urging the carriers relative to the axis of rotation of the rotary transfer device outwardly so that the surfaces of the pads travel in a predetermined path tangent to the picker, adhesive-applying means and container supporting means, each carrier containing a chamber, a source of vacuum, a manifold connected to said source of vacuum, conductor means connected at one end to said chamber and arranged to be connected at its other end at times by rotation of the rotor to said manifold, ports connecting the chamber to the pad, a piston in the chamber movable to one end of the chamber when the latter is connected with said manifold and a label covers the orifices in the pad, and the other end of the chamber when the orifices in the pad are uncovered, a cam fixed relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor, a follower connected to the piston and movable thereby into and out of engagement with the cam, said cam being operable when engaged with the follower to swing the carrier about its pivot in a direction to withdraw the pad from said path, and valve means on the carrier operable by said pivotal movement to close said conductor means.

Claim 18

In a label-applying machine, a label picker, a rotary transfer device adapted to receive successive labels from the picker and apply them to successive containers travelling along on a conveyor arranged tangent to the rotary transfer device, and adhesive-applying means situated between the place where the labels are delivered to the transfer device and the place where they are applied to containers; carriers pivotally mounted on the rotor, a pad fixed to each carrier, each pad containing orifices, means yieldably urging the carriers relative to the axis of rotation of the rotary transfer device outwardly so that the surfaces of the pads travel in a predetermined path tangent to the picker, adhesive-applying means and container supporting means, each carrier containing a chamber, a source of vacuum, a manifold connected to said source of vacuum, conductor means connected at one end to said chamber and arranged to be connected at its other end at times by rotation of the rotor to said manifold, ports connecting the chamber to the pad, a piston in the chamber movable to one end of the chamber when the latter is connected with said manifold and a label covers the orifices in the pad, and the other end of the chamber when the orifices in the pad are uncovered, a cam fixed relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor, a follower connected to the piston and movable thereby into and out of engagement with the cam, said cam being operable when engaged with the follower to swing the carrier about its pivot in a direction to withdraw the pad from said path, and valve means on the carrier operable by said pivotal movement to close said conductor means.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the valve means comprises a valve housing mounted on the rotary transfer device, said valve housing being connected to the manifold, a conductor tube pivotally connected at one end to the pad and in communication with the orifices therein, said conductor tube being slidingly connected at its other end with the valve housing, and a valve element associated with the valve housing and the slidingly engaged portion of the conductor tube operable when the pad is distended to permit flow through the tube and when retracted to block flow.

Claim 20

In a label-applying machine, a rotor, a shaft supporting the rotor for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, said rotor comprising a hub mounted on the shaft and spider members at the ends of the hub, a plurality of pad assemblies mounted radially of the hub between the spider members for pivotal movement about axes parallel to the axis of the shaft from a position in which the locus of the surfaces of the pads form a circle of predetermined diameter to a position inwardly of said circle, means yieldingly holding the pads distended with respect to said axis with their surfaces in said circle, a source of vacuum, each pad containing orifices adapted, at times, to be connected to said vacuum, a label picker, adhesive-applying means and container supporting means arranged concentrically around the axis of the rotor in tangential relation to said circle of movement of the pads, means for causing the label picker to present labels to the pads travelling by it at a time when the orifices therein are connected to said vacuum, saiD pads supporting the labels while they travel by the adhesive-applying means for an application of adhesive thereto and pressing the adhesive coated labels into engagement with containers on the support, means for terminating the vacuum at the orifices while the pad supported labels are in engagement with the containers, means for simultaneously ejecting air pressure through the orifices to release the labels from the pads, a cam situated along said circle in the region of the adhesive applying means and vacuum actuated means cooperative with said cam when the vacuum at the orifices is less than that which would be produced by a label on the pad to withdraw the pad from said circle.

Claim 21

In a label-applying machine, a rotor, a shaft supporting the rotor for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, said rotor comprising a hub mounted on the shaft and spider members at the ends of the hub, a plurality of pad assemblies mounted radially of the hub between the spider members for pivotal movement about axes parallel to the axis of the shaft from a position in which the locus of the surfaces of the pads form a circle of predetermined diameter to a position inwardly of said circle, means yieldingly holding the pads distended with respect to said axis with their surfaces in said circle, a source of vacuum, each pad containing orifices adapted, at times, to be connected to said vacuum, a label picker, adhesive-applying means and container supporting means arranged concentrically around the axis of the rotor in tangential relation to said circle of movement of the pads, means for causing the label picker to present labels to the pads travelling by it at a time when the orifices therein are connected to said vacuum, saiD pads supporting the labels while they travel by the adhesive-applying means for an application of adhesive thereto and pressing the adhesive coated labels into engagement with containers on the support, means for terminating the vacuum at the orifices while the pad supported labels are in engagement with the containers, means for simultaneously ejecting air pressure through the orifices to release the labels from the pads, a cam situated along said circle in the region of the adhesive applying means and vacuum actuated means cooperative with said cam when the vacuum at the orifices is less than that which would be produced by a label on the pad to withdraw the pad from said circle.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the pads are resilient.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the picker presents the label to the pad with its leading edge extending beyond the leading edge of the pad in the direction of rotation.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein there is means for adjusting the pads relative to the axis of rotation of the rotary transfer device to increase or decrease the diameter of the locus of travel of the pads relative to the picker, adhesive-applying means and container support.

Claim 25

In a label-applying machine, a rotor to which labels are presented for application of adhesive thereto and for pressing the adhesive-coated labels into engagement with the container, peripherally spaced label receiving pads on the rotor movable along a predetermined path, a label supplying station, an adhesive-applying station and a label-applying station located around the rotor along said path, a vacuum picker at the label supplying station for delivering labels to the successive pads, a conveyor at the label-applying station for delivering containers to the label-applying station in timed relation to the arrival of label-applying pads at said station to receive labels from the pads, a detector for determining the presence of containers on the conveyor in a position to be delivered to the place of label application in coincidence with the arrival of pads at said station, a control circuit comprising a valve operable to connect the picker to a vacuum, a switch in the circuit, a cam for closing said switch at intervals corresponding to the intervals between pads on the rotor, a second switch for making and breaking the circuit, said second switch being operable by the detector for detecting a container to make the circuit and when detecting the absence of a container to break the circuit.

Claim 26

In a label-applying machine, a rotor to which labels are presented for application of adhesive thereto and for pressing the adhesive-coated labels into engagement with the container, peripherally spaced label receiving pads on the rotor movable along a predetermined path, a label supplying station, an adhesive-applying station and a label-applying station located around the rotor along said path, a vacuum picker at the label supplying station for delivering labels to the successive pads, a conveyor at the label-applying station for delivering containers to the label-applying station in timed relation to the arrival of label-applying pads at said station to receive labels from the pads, a detector for determining the presence of containers on the conveyor in a position to be delivered to the place of label application in coincidence with the arrival of pads at said station, a control circuit comprising a valve operable to connect the picker to a vacuum, a switch in the circuit, a cam for closing said switch at intervals corresponding to the intervals between pads on the rotor, a second switch for making and breaking the circuit, said second switch being operable by the detector for detecting a container to make the circuit and when detecting the absence of a container to break the circuit.

Claim 27

In a labeling machine, a rotor, rotatable about a predetermined axis, a plurality of peripherally spaced pad assemblies mounted on the rotor, a pad on each assembly, said pads having surfaces for receiving labels and orifices adapted to be connected to a vacuum, said pads being movable circularly about the axis of the rotor in a predetermined path for receiving a label, applying adhesive thereto and pressing the label into engagement with a container on a container support; a picker assembly, adhesive-applying means and container supporting means arranged peripherally of the rotor adjacent the path of movement of the pads, said picker assembly comprising a guide roll rotatable about an axis parallel to the rotor with its surface in tangential relation to the path of travel of the pads as they travel successively by the picker assembly and rotating counter to the rotation of the rotor, a label magazine and a picker element arranged to withdraw labels from the magazine and present them to the bite between a pad and the guide roll, a source of vacuum, means for connecting the orifices in each pad to said source of vacuum as it approaches its place of tangency with the guide roll, said means continuing to connect the orifices through the angular distance the pads travel from their place of tangency with the guide roll to the place of application to a container on the container support, said means disconnecting the vacuum from the orifices at the place of Label application, means for connecting the orifices as the pad presses the label into engagement with a container to a source of air pressure, and cam means comprising a fixed part situated along said path in the region of the adhesive applying means and a vacuum sustained follower arranged to gravitationally drop into engagement with the fixed part in the event that the vacuum at the orifices is less than that required to hold a label on the pad to cause the pad to move inwardly from said predetermined path before it reaches the adhesive-applying means and to be restored to its distended position after it has travelled by the adhesive-applying means.

Claim 28

In a labeling machine, a rotor, rotatable about a predetermined axis, a plurality of peripherally spaced pad assemblies mounted on the rotor, a pad on each assembly, said pads having surfaces for receiving labels and orifices adapted to be connected to a vacuum, said pads being movable circularly about the axis of the rotor in a predetermined path for receiving a label, applying adhesive thereto and pressing the label into engagement with a container on a container support; a picker assembly, adhesive-applying means and container supporting means arranged peripherally of the rotor adjacent the path of movement of the pads, said picker assembly comprising a guide roll rotatable about an axis parallel to the rotor with its surface in tangential relation to the path of travel of the pads as they travel successively by the picker assembly and rotating counter to the rotation of the rotor, a label magazine and a picker element arranged to withdraw labels from the magazine and present them to the bite between a pad and the guide roll, a source of vacuum, means for connecting the orifices in each pad to said source of vacuum as it approaches its place of tangency with the guide roll, said means continuing to connect the orifices through the angular distance the pads travel from their place of tangency with the guide roll to the place of application to a container on the container support, said means disconnecting the vacuum from the orifices at the place of Label application, means for connecting the orifices as the pad presses the label into engagement with a container to a source of air pressure, and cam means comprising a fixed part situated along said path in the region of the adhesive applying means and a vacuum sustained follower arranged to gravitationally drop into engagement with the fixed part in the event that the vacuum at the orifices is less than that required to hold a label on the pad to cause the pad to move inwardly from said predetermined path before it reaches the adhesive-applying means and to be restored to its distended position after it has travelled by the adhesive-applying means.

Claim 29

Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the peripheral surfaces of the pads are substantially concentric with the axis of rotation of the rotor and of a peripheral length less than the widths of the labels.

Claim 30

Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the picker element rotates about an axis parallel to that of the rotor and contains diametrically disposed sets of picking orifices adapted to be connected to said vacuum as they approach the magazine and to be disconnected therefrom as they approach the bite between the guide roll and a pad moving into tangential engagement therewith, and means for rotating the picker at a rate such as to cause the successive orifices of the picker to pick and release a label to the successive pads on the rotor.

Claim 31

Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the picking orifices are arranged to travel in a circular path tangent to the surface of the label and in a direction opposite to withdrawal of the labels from the magazine so as to grip an end of the endmost label, displace it away from the succeeding label into engagement with the guide roll and release the end between the counter-rotating surfaces of the picker and guide roll.

Claim 32

Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein there is means for deflecting the released end of the label in a direction to enter into the bite between the guide roll and a pad on the rotor.

Claim 33

Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein there is means for connecting the picking orifices in the picker to a source of air pressure at the place of release of the labels.

Claim 34

Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein there are means on the picker rearwardly of the picking orifices arranged to receive the leading ends of the labels and urge said leading ends in the direction of rotation of the picker.

Claim 35

Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the container support comprises a conveyor having a horizontal surface on which the containers rest and are moved successively relative to the place of tangency with the rotor, and there is a support mounting the rotor, picker and adhesive-applying means for tilting about an axis parallel to the surface of the container support and movement perpendicular to said surface.

Claim 36

Apparatus according to claim 20, comprising a machine frame, means supporting the container-conveyor on the frame with that part of its supporting surface adjacent the rotor in a horizontal plane, a table having a flat surface on which are mounted the rotor, picker assembly and adhesive-applying means, and means supporting the table on the frame for angular movement of its surface about a horizontal axis to bring the surfaces of the pads into parallelism with the side of a container resting on the container support and for movement perpendicular to said coutainer support to adjust the level of application of a label to the container.

Claim 37

Apparatus according to claim 20, comprising a machine frame, means supporting the container-conveyor on the frame with that part of its supporting surface adjacent the rotor in a horizontal plane, a table mounting the rotor, picker and adhesive-applying means, means supporting the table on the frame for angular and perpendicular movement comprising vertically mounted posts on the machine frame embodying screws, bearing elements vertically movable thereby and means for effecting vertical movement of the screwS, pivot pins pivotally mounting the table on said bearings for angular movement about a horizontal axis, and means for effecting angular movement of the table.

Claim 38

Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said container supporting means is adapted to move containers at a predetermined spacing to a predetermined position adjacent the rotor for receiving labels from the rotor, said label picking assembly being operable to apply labels to the rotor, means for timing the operation of the label picking assembly with the delivery of containers to the place of labeling comprising a sensor arranged adjacent the conveyor means for detecting the presence of a container in a position to reach the place of labeling at a predetermined time, and means operable by the sensor in response to detection of a container to effect operation of the picker.

Claim 39

Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said last-named means is operable in the absence of a container to disable the picker.

Claim 40

Label applying apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the label picker is vacuum operated comprising a detector for detecting containers at a position on the conveyor such as to be delivered to the place of label application at a predetermined time, and means operable by failure of the detector to detect a container to disable the means for connecting the picker to said source of vacuum.

Claim 41

Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the detector comprises a photoelectric assembly comprising a cell and lamp arranged along opposite sides of the conveyor at a height to scan the necks of the containers resting on the conveyor.