Roll fed labelling machine
AssigneeStackpole Limited
InventorGeorge W. King
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The apparatus of the present invention processes roll fed labels for application to articles to be labelled. Adhesive is applied to or activated on the leading edge of the first to be applied label and the label is subsequently cut from the label supply and advanced by a conveyor in timed synchronization with an article to be labelled. Preferably, adhesive is applied to or activated on the leading edge of such first label as it is held essentially stationary on a vacuum bed in slipping engagement with continuously driven belts.
Claims20
A roll fed labelling apparatus for applying a label to an article as it is moved past a labelling location comprising a label supply, cutting means for cutting a first label from the end of such label supply, means for intermittently advancing labels through said cutting means, conveyor means for transporting such first label in timed sequence with advancement of an article to be labelled, means for applying adhesive to at least the leading edge of such first label with such label held essentially stationary on said conveyor means, means for applying an adhesive to at least the trailing edge of such first label, means for applying such label to such article to be labelled and means for synchronizing the advance of the first to be applied label with such article to be labelled.
A method of applying the first label of a roll-fed label supply to an article comprising,
- intermittently advancing labels through a cutting mechanism for severing the first label from such label supply,
- engaging at least a portion of such first to be applied label with a belt conveyor means downstream of such cutting mechanism to permit slippage between such first label and such conveyor means while such first label is held essentially stationary,
- holding such first label essentially stationary and treating at least the leading edge of such first label with such first label stationary to cause an adhesive to be present at the leading edge in a condition to secure such first label with such article to be labelled by pressure contact therebetween,
- causing an adhesive to be present on the trailing edge of such first label in a condition suitable for securing the trailing edge to such article by contact pressure contact therewith,
- cutting such first label from such label supply and releasing such first label causing the same to be advanced by said conveyor means in timed synchronization with an article to be labelled and,
- applying such label to an article to be labelled by bringing the same into pressure contact.
A method of applying a label withdrawn from a roll feed label supply and applying the same to an article to be labelled comprising advancing such labels in strip form toward a cutting mechanism and in a manner to appropriately position such first label for cutting thereof from such label supply with the leading edge of such first label clear of such cutting mechanism, holding such first label stationary for a period of time, applying an adhesive to or reactivating an adhesive on at least the leading edge of an appropriately positioned and held first label prior to cutting such first label from such label supply, engaging such first label with a vacuum conveyor means as such label is held in preparation for advancing such first label to a labelling location, and cutting such first from such label supply causing advance of the same to the label location by said conveyor means and in timed synchronization with an article to be labelled, and applying such label to such article to be labelled.
A labelling machine for applying roll-fed wrap-around labels printed on one side to containers comprising an advance mechanism for a roll-fed label supply to advance label sequentially towards a cutting station, a label cutting station for cutting the first label from the label supply, said cutting station including pinch rollers driven to intermittently advance such first label and hold such first label by engaging and holding stationary the next to be applied label for cutting of such first label from the label supply, a combination vacuum bed and belt conveyor system positioned to at least partially engage the printed side of such first label prior to cutting thereof from such label supply and to advance such first label upon cutting thereof from such label supply and bring the same into synchronized contact with a container to be labelled, and adhesive means associated with such conveyor system for causing adhesive to be present on at least the leading edge and trailing edge of such first label, said combination vacuum bed and belt conveyor having a stationary generally planar vacuum bed over which the labels are advanced, said vacuum bed having a plurality of ports through which a vacuum source acts on the printed side of such labels to draw the same into engagement with the vacuum bed and at least two belts driven to move over said vacuum bed for advancing such first to be applied label from said cutting mechanism to the container to be labelled, said vacuum bed being spaced from said point of labelling such that at least the leading edge of such first to be applied label after cutting from such supply has cleared said vacuum bed prior to contacting a container to be labelled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.