US 5,232,540 AGranted

Automatic labeling machine and method

AssigneeIthaca Industries, Inc.

InventorsPaul R. Southwell, Walter C. Miller, Jr., Harold A. McKew, Jr.

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Abstract

A labeling machine is provided for the automatic transfer of labels with a pressure sensitive adhesive from a release backing to the surface of a package containing a product or to the surface of a product (hereinafter referred to as the "product". The labeling machine comprises a product transport system, a label transport system and a label transfer system. The product transport system moves the product into a labeling position. The label transport system moves labels which are on a backing from a supply reel, through a label stripper to separate the labels from the backing, and the backing continues to a takeup reel. The label transfer system picks up the labels stripped by the label stripper on a vacuum platen and applies the labels to the products being so identified.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A labeling machine for the automatic transfer to the surface of a package containing a product or to the surface of a product (said package and product being hereinafter referred to as the "product") of a pressure sensitive adhesive coated label forming one of a series of such labels releasably secured in spaced apart positions on a light transmitting flexible release backing, said labeling machine comprising:

(a) a supply reel adapted for having mounted thereon a roll of continuous length release backing with spaced apart pressure sensitive adhesive coated labels laminated thereto;
(b) a takeup reel adapted for reeling onto said takeup reel said continuous length of release backing after said labels have been stripped therefrom, said release backing normally extending along a defined path between said supply and takeup reels;
(c) a label stripping device coated in said path between said supply and takeup reels and adapted for stripping each successive label from said release backing during passage through said stripping device and for positioning each such stripped label so that the plane of said stripped label is angularly variable with respect to the plane of said defined path immediately prior to said backing contacting said stripping device so as to place said label in a first position overlying a labeling position for the product to be labelled, said label stripping device comprising:
(i) a pair of substantially parallel equal-length stripping bars each having a first and a second end;
(ii) a pair of substantially parallel side plates mounted to said first and second end respectively of said stripping bars and rotatably adjustable to position said stripped label accurately in said first position;
and
(iii) releasable clamping means capable of allowing the rotational adjustment and the locking of said side plates and stripping bars in the adjusted position;
(d) a label applicator device having a platen with a substantially flat bottom surface and apertures formed in said platen communicating with said bottom surface, having means to selectively apply a vacuum or positive air pressure to said apertures and having means to raise and lower said platen, said platen being operative when vacuum is applied to grasp said stripped label from said label stripping device at said first position, and when said platen is lowered to a second position contacting the product in said labeling position to apply positive air pressure through said apertures to adhere the stripped label to the product;
(e) means to stop the product in said labeling position below the platen in coordination with stripping and placement of said label in said first position;
(f) means to advance the release backing having said pressure sensitive adhesive coated labels laminated thereon;
and
(g) means to stop the advance of said backing and labels responsive to a signal generated by a sensing device operative to sense the advance of each said label.

9 more elements

(a) a supply reel adapted for having mounted thereon a roll of continuous length release backing with spaced apart pressure sensitive adhesive coated labels laminated thereto;
(b) a takeup reel adapted for reeling onto said takeup reel said continuous length of release backing after said labels have been stripped therefrom, said release backing normally extending along a defined path between said supply and takeup reels;
a label stripping device located in said path between said supply and takeup reels and adapted for stripping each successive label from said release backing during passage through said stripping device and for positioning each such stripped label so that the plane of said stripped label is angularly variable with respect to the plane of said defined path immediately prior to said backing contacting said stripping device so as to place said label in a first position overlying a labeling position for the product to be labelled, said label stripping device comprising:
(i) means to sharply reverse the direction of said release backing;
and
(ii) means to alter the angular orientation of said backing reversing means with respect to said defined path so as to control the position of said label relative to said first position;
(d) a label applicator device having a platen with a substantially flat bottom surface and apertures formed in said platen communicating with said bottom surface, having means to selectively apply a vacuum or positive air pressure to said apertures and having means to raise and lower said platen, said platen being operative when vacuum is applied to grasp said stripped label from said label stripping device at said first position, and when said platen is lowered to a second position contacting the product in said labeling position to apply positive air pressure through said apertures to adhere the stripped label to the product;
(e) means to stop the product in said labeling position below the platen in coordination with stripping and placement of said label in said first position;
(f) means to advance the release backing having said pressure sensitive adhesive coated labels laminated thereon;
and
(g) means to stop the advance of said backing and labels responsive to a signal generated by a sensing device operative to sense the advance of each said label.

8 more elements

A labeling machine for the automatic transfer of a label having a pressure sensitive adhesive from a translucent release backing to a package containing a product or to the surface of a product (said package and product being hereinafter referred to as the "product"), said machine comprising:

(a) a machine frame;
(b) a supply reel operative to support thereon a roll of labels and release backing on which aid labels are laminated in spaced apart relation, said reel being rotatably assembled to said machine frame;
(c) a takeup reel operative to receive and store said backing after said labels have been removed therefrom, said takeup reel being rotatably assembled to said machine frame, said backing normally extending along a defined path between said supply and takeup reels;
(d) first driving means connected to sa to urge said takeup reel to rotate and to maintain tension on said backing;
(e) a label stripping device assembled to said frame intermediate said supply reel and said takeup reel along said defined path and adapted to strip said labels from said backing, said label stripping device comprising:
(i) a pair of substantially parallel equal-length stripping bars each having a first and a second end;
(ii) a pair of substantially parallel side plates mounted to said first and second end respectively of said stripping bars and rotatably adjustable to position said stripped label accurately in said first position on said platen;
and
(iii) releasable clamping means capable of allowing the rotational adjustment and the locking of said side plates and stripping bars in the adjusted position;
(f) second driving means operative to intermittently move said backing and labels, said second driving means assembled to said frame along said defined path intermediate said label stripping device and said takeup reel;
(g) a label applicator mounted to said frame adjacent said label stripping means adapted to hold each said label stripped by said stripping means and operative to apply said label to a product in a labeling location, said label applicator comprising:
(i) linearly actuatable motivating means adapted to move between a label receiving position and a label applying position;
and
(ii) a platen adapted to hold a label thereto by vacuum means and mounted to said motivating means;
(h) a product conveyor adapted to transport said product from a supply location to said labeling location, said conveyor positioned between said supply location and said labeling location;
(i) a product stopping gate mounted on said conveyor and adapted to intercept the travel of said product on said conveyor at said labeling location;
(j) a product approach sensing switch positioned and operative to sense said product as said product is approaching said labeling location and operative to actuate said product stopping gate;
(k) a product position sensing switch positioned and operative to sense said product when said product is in said labeling location and operative to actuate said label applicator;
(l) a label sensing switch positioned and operative to sense each said label advanced by said second driving means and to stop said second driving means in response to sensing said label;
(m) a first electrical timer connected and operative to control the time interval of downward travel of said linearly actuatable motivating means of said label applicator and in response to the termination of said time interval to then initiate upward travel thereof;
(n) means capable of creating a vacuum, said means being pneumatically attached to and operative to create said vacuum at said label holding platen;
and
(o) a second electrical timer connected and operative to delay the application of said vacuum.

20 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.