US4475978A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Label applicator and method for labeling the forward faces of articles
Assignee: Label Aire Inc
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Filing: 1983-01-28
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Granted: 1984-10-09
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Expires: 2003-01-28
Abstract
Abstract A method of labeling articles, including moving articles in a row through a labeling station, dispensing the label onto a labeling head and advancing the labeling head into the path of movement of the articles at the labeling station. The label is transferred from the labeling head to the forward face of the article at the labeling station while the labeling head is in the path of movement of the articles. The labeling head is then retracted from the path of movement of the articles.
Inventors
- 👤 James C. Bartl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:20
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65C; B65C9/00; B65C9/26; B65C9/28; B65C9/08; B65C9/18; B65C9/1865; B65C9/1876; B65C9/1884; B65C9/36; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/17; Y10T156/1702; Y10T156/1705; Y10T156/1707; Y10T156/171
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
264 words
A label applicator for labeling articles which are moved in a row through a labeling station wherein each of the articles has a front face and a back face with each of said front face and back face being a transverse face which faces transversely to the direction of movement of the articles, said label applicator comprising: a supporting structure; a labeling head; means for mounting the labeling head on the supporting structure for movement between a retracted position in which the labeling head is out of the path of movement of the articles and an extended position in which the labeling head is in the path of movement of the articles; dispensing means on the supporting structure for dispensing a label onto the labeling head when the labeling head is in the retracted position; said labeling head having a label receiving face for receiving the label from the dispensing means, said label receiving face being generally transverse to the direction of article movement when the labeling head is in said extended position; means for releasably retaining the label on the label receiving face of the labeling head; means for moving the labeling head to said extended position so that the label receiving face is in the path of movement of the articles and generally transverse thereto; means for transferring the label from the label receiving face of the labeling head to one of the transverse faces of the article at the labeling station while the labeling head is in the extended position; and means for moving the labeling head to the retracted position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
264 words
A label applicator for labeling articles which are moved in a row through a labeling station wherein each of the articles has a front face and a back face with each of said front face and back face being a transverse face which faces transversely to the direction of movement of the articles, said label applicator comprising: a supporting structure; a labeling head; means for mounting the labeling head on the supporting structure for movement between a retracted position in which the labeling head is out of the path of movement of the articles and an extended position in which the labeling head is in the path of movement of the articles; dispensing means on the supporting structure for dispensing a label onto the labeling head when the labeling head is in the retracted position; said labeling head having a label receiving face for receiving the label from the dispensing means, said label receiving face being generally transverse to the direction of article movement when the labeling head is in said extended position; means for releasably retaining the label on the label receiving face of the labeling head; means for moving the labeling head to said extended position so that the label receiving face is in the path of movement of the articles and generally transverse thereto; means for transferring the label from the label receiving face of the labeling head to one of the transverse faces of the article at the labeling station while the labeling head is in the extended position; and means for moving the labeling head to the retracted position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A label applicator as defined in claim 1 including means on said labeling head for wedging adjacent articles apart at said labeling station as said labeling head is moved to the extended position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A label applicator as defined in claim 2 wherein said wedging means includes sloping side surfaces on said labeling head.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A label applicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said labeling head has a side wall and end walls and the label receiving face is on said side wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A label applicator as defined in claim 4 wherein said retaining means includes means for retaining the labels on the label receiving face with vacuum pressure and the labeling head moves along a generally linear path between the extended and retracted positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
A label applicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for moving the labeling head to the retracted position moves the labeling head along a generally linear retraction path having a component which extends generally in the direction of movement of the articles through the labeling station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A label applicator as defined in claim 6 wherein the label receiving face is inclined with respect to said retraction path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
253 words
A label applicator for applying labels to articles wherein the labels are supplied on an elongated backing strip, the articles are moved in a row through a labeling station and each of the articles has a front face and a back face which face transversly to the direction of movement of the article said label applicator comprising: a supporting structure; a peeler member mounted on said supporting structure, said peeler member having a peeling edge; a labeling head having a side wall and a label receiving face on the side wall; means for moving the backing strip over the peeler member generally in a first direction toward the peeling edge and over the peeling edge to remove labels from the backing strip and dispense them onto the label receiving face; means for releasably retaining labels on the label receiving face of the labeling head; means for mounting the labeling head on the supporting structure for movement along a path between a retracted position in which the labeling head is adjacent the peeler member to receive removed labels from the backing strip and an extended position in which the labeling head is in the path of movement of the articles and the label receiving face faces one of said faces of one of the articles, said path extending generally in said first direction; and means for transferring labels from the label receiving face of the labeling head to one of said faces of the articles when the labeling head is in the extended position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
253 words
A label applicator for applying labels to articles wherein the labels are supplied on an elongated backing strip, the articles are moved in a row through a labeling station and each of the articles has a front face and a back face which face transversly to the direction of movement of the article said label applicator comprising: a supporting structure; a peeler member mounted on said supporting structure, said peeler member having a peeling edge; a labeling head having a side wall and a label receiving face on the side wall; means for moving the backing strip over the peeler member generally in a first direction toward the peeling edge and over the peeling edge to remove labels from the backing strip and dispense them onto the label receiving face; means for releasably retaining labels on the label receiving face of the labeling head; means for mounting the labeling head on the supporting structure for movement along a path between a retracted position in which the labeling head is adjacent the peeler member to receive removed labels from the backing strip and an extended position in which the labeling head is in the path of movement of the articles and the label receiving face faces one of said faces of one of the articles, said path extending generally in said first direction; and means for transferring labels from the label receiving face of the labeling head to one of said faces of the articles when the labeling head is in the extended position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A label applicator as defined in claim 8 wherein said label receiving face is generally flat and the labeling head has passage means opening at said face, said path being generally linear and generally in the plane of the label receiving face.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A label applicator as defined in claim 8 wherein said first direction and said path are generally vertical.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
A label applicator as defined in claim 8 wherein said peeler member includes a peeler bar having a surface over which the backing strip is moved in moving toward the peeling edge, said surface extending generally in said first direction toward said peeling edge.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-09 | 1988-04-09 | 1988-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-09 | 1992-04-09 | 1992-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-09 | 1996-04-09 | 1996-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |