High speed labeling machine

A labeling machine for dispensing labels from a continuous web of material and applying the labels to a plurality of articles comprising:

• a supply means for providing a supply of the continuous web of material having the labels affixed thereto;
• a driving means for pulling the continuous web of material from said supply means;
• a dispensing means for removing a label from the continuous web of material for application to the article;
• an applicator means positioned adjacent said dispensing means for applying the label dispensed from said dispensing means to the article;
• a positioning means for automatically, sequentially positioning said dispensing means during operation of the labeling machine in a plurality of applying positions adjacent the plurality of articles for applying the labels to the plurality of articles wherein the plurality of articles move relative to the labeling machine along a predetermined feed path, said positioning means capable of automatically, sequentially positioning said dispensing means in said plurality of applying positions during operation of the labeling machine by moving said dispensing means along a first positioning path substantially transverse to said predetermined feed path and along a second positioning path substantially parallel to said predetermined feed path, wherein said supply means includes a supply station located a spaced transverse distance from said predetermined feed path and a supply roll of the continuous web of material positioned at said supply station, and further including a support arm extending from the label machine adjacent said supply roll along said positioning path to said predetermined feed path, said positioning means including a support carriage mounted on said support arm for movement along said first positioning path, said dispensing means and said applicator means mounted on said support carriage, said dispensing means including a peeler-bar positioned adjacent said applicator means and said positioning means including a follower carriage movably mounted on said support arm at said supply station.

A labeling machine for dispensing labels from a continuous web of material and applying the labels to a plurality of articles, comprising:

• a supply means for providing a supply of the continuous web of material having the labels affixed thereto;
• a driving means for pulling the continuous web of material from said supply means;
• a dispensing means for removing a label from the continuous web of material for application to the article;
• an applicator means positioned adjacent said dispensing means for applying the label dispensed from said dispensing means to the article;
• a positioning means for moving said dispensing means during operation of the labeling machine into an applying position adjacent the article for applying the label to the article;
• and a take-up means for accumulating the continuous web of material downstream of said driving means, said take-up means including a pivotable link extending along a longitudinal axis and including a first end pivotable between a first position and a second position and a second end spaced from the first end, said first end including a link roller for supporting the continuous web of material, said take up means including a pivotable bar connected to said pivotable link, said pivotable bar including a biased end positioned a spaced distance from said longitudinal axis of said pivotable link, said take-up means further including a biasing means connected to said biased end of said pivotable bar for applying a biasing force to said pivotable link to bias said first end toward second position to maintain tension in the continuous web of material.

A labeling machine for dispensing labels from a continuous web of material and applying the labels to a plurality of articles comprising:

• a supply means for providing a supply of the continuous web of material having the labels affixed thereto;
• a driving means for pulling the continuous web of material from said supply means;
• a dispensing means for removing a label from the continuous web of material for application to the article;
• an applicator means positioned adjacent said dispensing means for applying the label dispensed from said dispensing means to the article;
• a positioning means for automatically, sequentially positioning said dispensing means during operation of the labeling machine in a plurality of applying positions adjacent the plurality of articles for applying the labels to the plurality of articles wherein the plurality of articles move relative to the labeling machine along a predetermined feed path, said positioning means capable of automatically, sequentially positioning said dispensing means in said plurality of applying positions during operation of the labeling machine by moving said dispensing means along a first positioning path substantially transverse to said predetermined feed path and along a second positioning path substantially parallel to said predetermined feed path, wherein said supply means includes a supply station located a spaced transverse distance from said predetermined feed path and a supply roll of the continuous web of material positioned at said supply station, and further including a support arm extending from the label machine adjacent said supply roll along said positioning path to said predetermined feed path, said first positioning means including a support carriage mounted on said support arm for movement along said first positioning path, said dispensing means and said applicator means mounted on said support carriage, further including a support frame movably positioned at said supply station for supporting said supply means and said support arm, said positioning means operatively connected to said support frame and capable of automatically moving said support frame and said support arm along said second positioning path during operation of the labeling machine for positioning said dispensing means in said plurality of applying positions.