Variable spacing labeler

Claim 1

A system for automatically pressing labels bearing information against delivered articles, comprising: a. an article transport; b. means for detecting the presence of articles delivered to the transport at a detection station; c. means for feeding labels in response to the detection of said articles; d. a rotary power source; e. a vacuum source; f. a label transfer wheel, coupled to the power source and driven thereby at a uniform speed, for pressing without substantial sliding each of the labels from the feeding means against a different one of the articles placed on the transport, the instantaneous angular position of the wheel being independent of the location of articles on the transport, the transfer wheel including: a cylindrical structure having an annular cavity axially extending into a side thereof and a plurality of holes disposed about the cylindrical surface of the structure, said holes radially communicating with the cavity; and means rotatably coupled to the structure for providing from the cavity a chamber with a port, at least one of the holes communicating with the chamber and said port being coupled to the vacuum source whereby as the cylindrical structure is rotated with respect to the means providing the chamber vacuum pressure is periodically applied to the holes; and wherein said means for providing a chamber includes: a plate rotatably coupled to the structure; an annular seal for providing a fluid tight seal between the plate and the structure; a first device, coupled to the plate, for providing a fluid tight radial wall in the cavity; and a second device, coupled to the plate, for providing another fluid tight radial wall in the cavity, said port being located in the plate, one of the devices being securely fastened to the plate while the other of the devices is rotatably coupled to the plate, whereby the angular distance between the walls may be varied.

Claim 2

A system for automatically pressing labels bearing information against delivered articles, comprising: a. an article transport; b. means for detecting the presence of articles delivered to the transport at a detection station; c. means for feeding labels in response to the detection of said articles; d. a rotary power source; e. a vacuum source; f. a label transfer wheel, coupled to the power source and driven thereby at a uniform speed, for pressing without substantial sliding each of the labels from the feeding means against a different one of the articles placed on the transport, the instantaneous angular position of the wheel being independent of the location of articles on the transport, the transfer wheel including: a cylindrical structure having an annular cavity axially extending into a side thereof and a plurality of holes disposed about the cylindrical surface of the structure, said holes radially communicating with the cavity; and means rotatably coupled to the structure for providing from the cavity a chamber with a port, at least one of the holes communicating with the chamber and said port being coupled to the vacuum source whereby as the cylindrical structure is rotated with respect to the means providing the chamber vacuum pressure is periodically applied to the holes; and wherein said means for providing a chamber includes: a plate rotatably coupled to the structure; an annular seal for providing a fluid tight seal between the plate and the structure; a first device, coupled to the plate, for providing a fluid tight radial wall in the cavity; and a second device, coupled to the plate, for providing another fluid tight radial wall in the cavity, said port being located in the plate, one of the devices being securely fastened to the plate while the other of the devices is rotatably coupled to the plate, whereby the angular distance between the walls may be varied.