Label applicator
AssigneeLabel-Aire Inc.
InventorGeorge Allen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and associated method for applying a label to an article comprising a supporting structure, a label receiver having a receiving face and being adapted to receive and releasably retain a label, and a label dispenser. The label dispenser being adapted to dispense a label onto the receiving face. The dispenser being further adapted to blow a flow of gas against the trailing and lower edges of the label as it is being transferred from the label dispenser onto the receiving face to assist in moving the label onto the receiving face. The receiving face is fitted with a stop plate which prevents the label from being pushed beyond the receiving face and from being mis-positioned. After positioning, the label on the receiving face, the label is applied to the article.
Claims15
A label applicator for applying a label having an adhesive side and a non-adhesive side to an article, comprising:
- a supporting structure;
- a label receiver having a receiving face which is adapted to receive and releasably retain a label, the receiving face having a plurality of openings in fluid connection with a plurality of passageways extending through the label receiver, at least some of the plurality of passageways being adapted for connection to a supply of compressed gas and for transmitting a blast of the gas through at least some of the plurality of openings and against the label retained on the receiving face to transfer the label to the article;
- a label dispenser mounted to the supporting structure for dispensing a label in a predetermined direction of travel onto the receiving face;
- and
- a manifold having a passageway with a first end for fluid connection with a supply of gas, said passageway being in fluid connection with at least one orifice for discharging a flow of said gas against the rear and across the non-adhesive side of the label and towards the label receiver to assist in moving the label onto the receiving face;
- wherein said orifice is oriented so that said gas discharge flows in a direction ranging from parallel to away from said receiving face.
The apparatus for applying a label as recited in 6, wherein said at least one orifice comprises two orifices.
A label applicator for applying a label to an article, comprising:
- a supporting structure;
- a label receiver having a receiving face which is adapted to receive and releasably retain a label, the receiving face having a plurality of openings in fluid connection with a plurality of passageways extending through the label receiver, at least some of the plurality of passageways being adapted for connection to a supply of compressed gas and for transmitting a blast of the gas through at least some of the plurality of openings and against the label retained on the receiving face to transfer the label to the article;
- a label dispenser mounted to the supporting structure for dispensing a label onto the receiving face;
- a manifold having a passageway with a first end for fluid connection with a supply of gas, said passageway being in fluid connection with at least one orifice for discharging a flow of said gas against the rear of the label and towards the receiving face to assist in moving the label onto the receiving face;
- a stop member mounted against the label receiver for stopping the label in a desired location on the receiving face, wherein the stop member has a face for contacting the label and wherein the face has at least one channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.