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 knifes are arranged for adjusting movement relative to one another, and to facilitate quick yet accurate positioning of these elements, gaging 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 gaging 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.
As a means to facilitate changeover of an addressing machine labeling head from one size label form to another size label form, said labeling head including a form feeder pair cooperable with the label form margins to feed said forms to said labeling head, the combination of: means supporting at least one of said form feeders for adjusting movement relative to the other of said form feeders whereby to enable the relative spacing between said form feeder pair to be adjusted for the label form being handled; locating means disposed adjacent said one form feeder in a preset locating position; and indexable gauge means adjacent said locating means and engageable therewith to position said one form feeder relative to said locating means and thereby locate said one form feeder relative to the other form feeder, said gauge means having spacing surfaces of predetermined dimension at each index position thereof corresponding to different ones of said label forms for engagement with said locating means whereby to enable said one form feeder to be expediously set for the specific label form being handled.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
As a means to facilitate changeover of an addressing machine labeling head from one size label form to another size label form, said labeling head including a form feeder pair cooperable with the label form margins to feed said forms to said labeling head, the combination of: means supporting at least one of said form feeders for adjusting movement relative to the other of said form feeders whereby to enable the relative spacing between said form feeder pair to be adjusted for the label form being handled; locating means disposed adjacent said one form feeder in a preset locating position; and indexable gauge means adjacent said locating means and engageable therewith to position said one form feeder relative to said locating means and thereby locate said one form feeder relative to the other form feeder, said gauge means having spacing surfaces of predetermined dimension at each index position thereof corresponding to different ones of said label forms for engagement with said locating means whereby to enable said one form feeder to be expediously set for the specific label form being handled.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The changeover means according to claim 1 including clamp means for releasably locking said one form feeder in adjusted position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
The changeover means according to claim 1 in which said locating means includes a spacer pin projecting toward said gauge means; said gauge means spacing surfaces comprising a series of stepped openings therein opposite said locating means for receipt of said spacer pin so that disposition of said pin in a selected one of said gauge means openings positions said one form feeder for the label form associated with said opening.