Variable rate labeling system

Claim 1

A system for automatically pressing labels bearing information against delivered articles, comprising: a. an article transport; b. means for placing articles on the transport at a periodic rate; c. a source of labels, the source providing labels at said periodic rate; d. a rotary power source; e. a vacuum source; e. a label transfer wheel, coupled to the power source and continuously rotatable thereby at a constant speed, for pressing without substantial sliding each of the labels from said label source against a different one of the articles, the instantaneous angular position of the wheel being independent of the location of articles on the transport, the rotation rate of the transfer wheel and said periodic rate being relatively variable, whereby information on the labels is applied to the articles, 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 rotatable 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 placing articles on the transport at a periodic rate; c. a source of labels, the source providing labels at said periodic rate; d. a rotary power source; e. a vacuum source; e. a label transfer wheel, coupled to the power source and continuously rotatable thereby at a constant speed, for pressing without substantial sliding each of the labels from said label source against a different one of the articles, the instantaneous angular position of the wheel being independent of the location of articles on the transport, the rotation rate of the transfer wheel and said periodic rate being relatively variable, whereby information on the labels is applied to the articles, 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 rotatable 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.