Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~AC~GF~OUND OF' T~IE IN~JL'N'L'ION
This int~arl-~io~. relates to improv~mellt~ in lahel ap-
plying ]Il-.IC~I iller~y .
All prevlous ancl presently ]cnown machinery for appl~
S in~r pressu~e sensi-tive la~els ~o an article use the same kind
of carrier web for the labels, and -the same kind of label
rer.loving me~hod.
The conventional carrie~ web consists of a series of
labels with a viscous ~pressure sensitive) adhesive applied to
a carrier strip of paper which has been coated on the label
supporting side with a release agent. The labels are spaced
along the strip, and the unneeded waste (or matrix) from which
the labels have been die cu~ is always removed during manufac-
ture.
The labels are removed sequentially by pulling the
; carrier strip around a relatively sharp edge under tension.
The label, because of its sti~ness, releases from the carrier
web and continues in a straight line over the edge rather than
bend sharply and fQllow the carrier web~
This estab~ished method has a number of drawbacks:
1) The need to remove all the waste or matri~ from between and
around labels during manufac-tur~-, because i-ts presence tends
to hold labels in place during peeling~ ~ ;
This waste removal r~qui.rement makes the labels cost
much more, ~ecause it limits -the printing and die cutting speed
severely and because a great deal oE costly extra material has
to be added around~each label ^to make -the ladderlike waste
strip strong enough to remove by pulling it ~ree af-ter die cut~
ting on a printing press~
C'i~
~IL0~7~s:i~3
2 ) Tfle la~el Deeling~ process usecl in all previous
lab211irlg macnin2s recluires pulling the web under high tens;on
ov~r a re:la-tive~y sharp edge~ Tirly cuts or nic}cs caused by
the die cu~tting ancl slit~ing weaken the web and i-t frequently
breaks, ~specially at high speed.
3) Small invisible interruptions in the release
coating are common~ Through them the label adhesive is able
to adhere strongly to the unprot~cted carrier web. Whe~ this
occasionally occurs at the leading ed~e o a label~ it will
not p2el but will follow th~ carrier strip around even a sharp
edge. The same can happen when the adhesive is cold, or too
old.
4) The need for great stiffness in the label material
prevents the use of many desired materials such as plastics,
lS or very thin labels, or very soft and pliant labels.
5) Durlng the~peeling process, labels are being
projected beyond the peel~ng edge and are essentially ~sup-
ported, except occasionally on one side (oppo~site the adh~sive).
They are easily disturbed and deflected by small irregularities5
tramp particles of adhesive, air currents~ or static electricity.
6) The means of actually applying the labels varies,
including a blast o~ air (inaccurate at any distance and does
:
not apply labels firmly~, a roller ~inaccurate), and~a`plunger
too rigid and destruc-tive on moving products).
~ 7~ Automatic labelling machinery is very cos-tly,
partly because of sophisticated electronic label sensing and
~ web control systems within the labeller.
! ~ ~ I* should be appreciated therefore that a label car-
rying arrangement ~nd apparatus for applying labels therefrom
to goods, whioh permits the use of very thin and soft labels
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~7Z69
clS well as sti.Efer labels, whlch permits the use of lower cost
label strips, and wh:ich permits label application at higher
speeds and with grcater reliability ~han presently known systems
would be most desirable~
SU~IARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordi.ng to one aspect of the present invention there
is provided apparatus for automatically sequentially applying ;~
labels to objects, said apparatus comprising: a label strip
including first and second parallel carrier strip portions and
a plurality of labels adhered therealong so as to bridge said
carrier strip portions; a plate having irst and second substan- -
tially planar surfaces and an edge lying substantially in the
plane of said plate; said plate edge including a V-shaped region
extending into said plate comprised of first and second edge ~ :
: portions converging toward the apex of said V-shaped region; ~ ;;
: strip transport means for moving said label strlp along a irst ~.
path extending substantially contiguous with said first planar .`.
surface toward said apex and then along first and second branch
: paths respectively extending around said first and second edge
portions and thence in diverging directions adjacent said second . ;
planar:surface; said strip transport means including ~1) take-up ; :
means positioned down-path from said first and second edge por- ~.
tlons engaging both sald first and second carrier strip portions ~ ~ :
for pulling them at the same rate along said first and second
path branch segments at a substantially first linear rate and
(2) means positioned up path rom said apex In engagement with
said carrier strip portions tending to reduce their rate~o move .
ment to less than said first linear rate thus creating tension
in said carrier strip portions; and label-applying means operable
to engage labels immediately adjacent to said apex as said
- 4 -
S~
j ~97~6~?
carrier s~rip portions are simultaneously separated from each
other and from sa:id labels and to press said engaged labels
against objects to be labelledO
According to another aspect of the present invention
there is provided apparatus for use with a label strip including
first and second parallel carrier strip porti.ons and a plurality :;
of labels adhered thcrealong so as to bridge said carrie:r strip
portions, for automatically sequentially removing labels from ~ ~.
said label s~rip and applying them to objects, said apparatus
comprising: a plate having upper and lower substantially planar
surfaces and an edge lying substantially in the plane of said
plate; said plate edge including a V-shaped region extending
into said plate comprised of first and second edge portions con-
verging toward the apex of said V-shaped region; str,p transport : :
, means for moving said label strip along a first path extending :
; substantially contiguous wlth sald upper planar surface toward ~ ;~
said apex and first and second branch paths respectively~extend- ~ ~
i~ ing around said first and second edge portions and thence~in . ~.
diverging directions adjacent said lower planar surface, said
strip transport means lncluding means posi~ioned up-path from :~
said apex for admitting a label strip along said first path and :.
: take-up means positioned down-path from said first and second
~::
: edge portions for~pulling said first and second carrier strip ~-
portions respectively along said first and second branch paths
at the same rab.e af movement; label handling means alternately
~:~ operable to pick up and release a l~abel; label transport meansoperable in synchronism with said label han~dling means for
i
: moving said label handling means between a pick-up position
~ immediately adjacent to said apex whereat labels are picked up
30 as said carrier strip portions are simultaneously separated from
~ ,
~ .
Z6~3
each other and from said labels and a release position whereat said labels
are released; and means for synchronizing the operation of saicl label trans-
port means with the movement of said label strip.
Accordlng to a further aspect of the present invention there is
provided a method oE separating labels from a carrier strip wherein said
labcls are spaccd along and adhesively attached to the carrier strip and the
carrier strip includes first and second abutting parallel carrier strip
portions with the labels bridging and adhesively attached to both of the
carrier strip portions, said method comprising: moving said carrier strip
with said labels thereon to a predetermined location; and moving sald carrier
; strip portions in diverging directions from said predetermine~ location to
successively separate each label from said carrier strip portions.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is
provided a method of separating labels from a carrier strip wherein said
labels are spaced along and adhesively attached to said carrier strip compris~
ing: moving said carrier strip with said labels thereon to a predetermined
location; longitudinally slitting said carrier strip along a path which passes
underneath said labels prior co reaching said predetermined location to form
two abutting carrier strip portions bridged by said spaced labels; moving said
carrier s~rip portlons in divergir.g directions from said predetermined loca-
; tion to successively separate each label from said carrier strip port:ions.
According to a further ~spect of the present invention there is
provided a method of separating labels from an elongated carr~er strip includ-
ing first and second abutting parallel carrier strip portions having labels
spaced therealong bridging and adhesively attached to both of said carrier
strip portions~ comprising: moving said carrier strip along a first path
substantially contiguous with a first planar surface defining first and
; second V-shaped edges; pulling said first and second carrier strip portions
around said first and second edges in diverging directions to successively
separate each label from said carrier strip portions; and controlling the
. ~
- 5a -
~',t~
- '-
:~Q~7Z6~
~: rate of movement of said first and second carrier strip portions to prevent
any cumulative di:Eferential linear movement therebetween.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~IE DRA INGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments
of the present invention:
; Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a labelling system con-
structed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
Pigure 2 is a view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing
details of a label carrying arrangement thereof;
Figure 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 3A is a view taken on the line 3A-3A of Figure l; ~ :
Figure 4 is a more complete perspective view of the labelling ~ .,.
system of Figure l;
Figure 5 is a partially sectional plan view of the system of
Figure 4, :
Figure 6 is a partial perspective view of the apparatus of Figure ;~
4J showing some of the details of the plunger carrying apparatus thereof;
Figure 7 is a partially sectional~side view of the system of
Figure 4 and shows other details thereof;~
:
~:
- 5b -
7~'169
r'igure B is a view taken on -the line B-~ of Figure
7 ;
E`lgure 'J is a fron~ elev~-~tion v:iew o~ tlle syst~m o~
F'iure ~;
E'igure 10 is a view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig-
ure 5;
Figur2 11 is a vie~ ta~en on the line 11-11 of Fig-
ure 5;
Figure 12 is a sec-tional front view showing -the ;~
bellows of the. apparatus of Figure 9;
Figure 13 is a bottom view of the bellows of Figure
12;
Figure 14 is a perspective view of the label roll
of the system of Figure 4;
lS Figure 15 is a front elevation view of a fan-~olded
label arrangement constructed 1n~accordanca with~another em- :
:~ bodirnent of the invention~
~:
;~: ; Figure 16 is a partial perspective view o~ a~label
strip constructed in accordance with another embodiment~of
the invention, which includes a matrix~ surrounding th~ labels;
.
Figure 17 is a perspective view of a step;stripper
: apparatus constructed in accordance wi~h another embodiment
:~ ~
of the invention;
: : : Figure 18 is a partial p~rspective top view of a
. :
label strip constructed in accordance with another embodiment
of the invention;
Figure 19 is a partial perspective bottom view o~:a
:~ label strip of Figure 18;
Figure 20 is a view taken on the line 20-20 of:Fig-
ure 18;
:: :
--6--
7~
Fi~ure 2:l i5 a parti~L p Lar`! view o.F a .I.abel strip
cons~r~lctel in accordance w:i.th another embodimcnt o~ -tne
in~entio~;
Figur2 ~2 is a par-tial plan vi~w of a la~eL strip
and s-tripper system cons-truc-ted in accordance with ano-ther
ambodime~nt of the :invention;
Figur2 23 is a view taken on the line 23-23 of Fig-
ure 22;
Figure 24 is a partial plan view of a lab211ing
sys-tem constructed in accordance wl-th ano~her embodiment of
- thè invention; ~ ;
~ igure 25 is a view taken on the line 25-25 of
Figure 2~; and
. Figures 26 and 27 are respactively cross-sec*ional
15 views of a preferred bellows shape illustrating it at three
stages of operation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI:MENTS
- :
Figures~l - 3 illustrate details of a label;carry-
~ ing arrangement 10 of the invention, which includes an elon-
;~ 20 gated backing we~ or carrier strip 12 and a multiplicity of
labeIs 14 spacad along the l~.ngth of the carrier strip. ~Each
of the labels 14 has~ a front face 14a with a decorative~ de-
sign or other marking printed thereon, and a rear face 14b
: with contact adhesive thereon. The carrier strip has a front
: : 25 face 12a with:release coating 7 such as silicon~ ~ which facil-
itates stripping of the label ;adhesive from:the carrier strip.
: The carrier strîp 12 includes a separation line 16 extending
along its length at a middle portion thereof, to divide the
. carrier strip in-to -~-wo carrier strip portions 18, 20 t~at
support differen~ porti.ons of the lab~l 14.
-7-
7Z~9
~pparltus shown in F; rur~ 1 tor stripping tile lahels
14 from tl~e carrier s-trip 12 includes a labeL stripp~r or
separa~or în the form of a p:Late ~ having a substantia:Lly V-
shaped edge region or notch 24 which forms a pair of separator
S edges 26 a 2a~ The carrier strip with the labels thereon ini-
tially moves along an upper face 30 of -the label separator
towards -the Y-shaped edge portion or region 24 7 with the sepa-
ration line 16 aligned with the bottom of the V. Each of the
carrier strip por-tions 18, 20 extends around a diferent one
of ~he separator edges 26, 2~, so that -the carrier strip is
~ pulled apart therea-t. The strip portion 18 which extends
; around the separator edge 2S, move~ along the underside or
lower face 32 of the plate, extends around an auxiliary guide
edge 34, and then extends along the upper face 30 of the
separator plate. The other carrier strip portion 20 extends
in a corresponding manner, around the separator ed8e~8,
around another auxiliary guide edge 36~ and then along the
upper fàce o the separa-tor plate. It can be seen~that as
each label 14 moves into the Y-shaped notch 24, the two car~
?0 rier strip portions 18, 20 are directed downwardly and apar.
from each other, so that the label tends to continue to move
in the direction of arrow 38. The label cannot follow the
~ two halves of the carrier s-trip through the notch. As~shown
;~ in Figure 3A, the radius of curvature R of each edge, such as
28, need not be sharp. Instead, the radius R is greater than
the thickness T of the carrier strip, which minimi~es the pos-
slbili-ty of tearing the carrier s-trip. If desired~ the sepa-
~: .
rator edges need no-t be stationary but may ~e rollers of
suitable diameter.
~8-
109 ~,~69
In order to advallce the :La~f.~l carryin~ arran~ernent lU,
it is neoe;isary on:Ly to pu:l.1 the two carrier s-trlp port:ions 1~.
2Q alon~ the pa-ths of the arrows 40 7 42. I'he labels 1~ on the
carrier strip 12 ~ill then move hPyond -the V-shaped edge reginn
2~ and become s~parated from the carrier strip. Of course, in
order to apply the labels to articlex indicated at A~ it is
necessary to provide a means for reliabl~ moving the Ereed
labels against th~ articles. A labelling machine, to be dQs-
cribed below, provides a plunger whicll engages the labels and
reliably appli~s them to the goods.
Figures 4 - 9 illustrate details of a labelling :
machine S0 which moves the label strip 10 to apply the labels
14 thereo.n against articles A. The labelling machine 50 in-
cludes a frame 52 with an upstanding center wall 54, a label
~ 15 guiding and moving apparatus 56 on the first side of the up-
; ~ standing wall 5~, and drive and control apparatu~s 58 on the
other side of the upstanding wall. The label guiding and
moving apparatus 56 includes a supply reel 60 rotata~ly mounted
- on the frame and carrying a roll of the label strip la. The
label is guided from the ree~ 60 around a guide roll 62 and~
~: :
past a spring strip 63~ around a feed roll 6~, and along the
upper side of the separator plate 22 towards the V-shaped edge
.~ region 24 thereo~. The two carrier strip portions 18,.20:
which have been separated at the V-shaped edge region 24~ are
pulled along their respective paths by a pair of tensioning
rollers 66, 68. After pass.ing through the -tensioning rollers
66, 68, th~ two carrier strip portîons 18, 20 may be direeted
into a bin for later disposal.
A plunger apparatus 70 which is disposed near the
V-shaped groove 24 of the separatoF plate, serves to engage
_g _
~972169
each la'~ Eor~e, during~ allcl aet~r i-ts s~parat:ion .~:c~om the
carrier strir~, and ~o carry that l.abel agains-t .~n article A,
so tha~ the adrleslve-bearin~; face o.f the label is pressed
against the article, The articles are carried on a conveyor
appara-tus C pas-t the labell.ing rnachine ~ and rnov~men-t o:E the
plunger 70 is timed so tha-t a label is applied -to each article
passing thereby. As illus ~rated in Figure 7, the plunger ap-
paratus 70 includes a plunger or bellows supporting plete 72
and a bellows 74 with an inner portion 76 fixed to the plunger
supporting plate and an outer end face 78. A flexible hose
80 ex-tends from a pressure control 82 to a tubular coupling 84
which opens to the inside of the bellows~ 7~ The pressura con-
trol 82 can supply a low pressure which is less than atmospheric,
or vacuum, through the -tube 80 to the bellows 74 to contract
the bellows from the relaxed position shown at 74 -to a con-
tracted p~sition wherein its end face is at 78a. ~Alternatively,
pressure control 82 can supply pressured air through the hose
: 8Q to th~ bellows 74 to expand the bellows to the configuration
indicated at 74b wherein the end face has been thrust ou-t to
- 20 the pos;tion 78b. When a label lies against the end~face 78:
~:~ and air pressure is appIied to the bellows, its end face 78
pushes the label against an article.
The bellows support plate 72 can move substan tially
; : longitudinally as indicated by arrows :86. Thus, the plate 72
can move the bellor~s 74, in its contracted position, rearwardly
to the position indicated at 74c wherein the face of the bel-
lows at 73c lies over the next label to be separated ~rom ~he
backing strip. Thereafter~ the bellows support plate moves
down so the bellows engages a label, and -the support plate
advances the bellows 7~ in synchronis~ wi-th advancament of the
-10-
~ ~ .
~7~6~
label strip :l.0 so tl~a~ the bellows face 7& moves with the labe:l.
while the label is being comp~et~ly separa-ted from its carrier
strip. The hellows is then ex-tended towards th~ position 75b
to press the label against an article that is -to be labelled.
In order to securely hol~ a la~el agairLs-t the bellows
face 78 prior to applying -the lab21 to an article, and -to then
reject the label from the bellows Face as the bellows withdraws
from the article? the bellows face 78 is provided with slits
that form a hole 90, as shown in Figura 8. The hole permits a
low rate of air movement through the face into the bellows,
when a vacuum has been applied through the -tube 80 to the bel~
lows. A vacuum is applied to the bellows to hold it in a con-
tracted state while it is first pressed against a iabel at the
posi-tion 74c in Figure 7. The vacuum continues to be applied
while the bellows moves with the label as the label separates
from carrier strip and passes off the V-shaped edge of the
separator plate 22~ The vacuum not only keeps the;bellows eon-
tracted, but also serves to hold the label fi~mly against the
face of the bellows. When the bellows lies opposite the articl:e
~20 to be labelled, pressured gas such as air is suddenly applied
to the bellows. The pressured air causes the bellows to~expand
towards the configuration 74b to press agàinst the article.
For the application of thin flexible labels, and where
precise location of the label on the article is not lmpor-tant,
the hole 90 is formed so -that some air leaks out. The pressured
air tends to reject the label from the ace 73 of the bellows,
but it does no-t matter if the lahel flies off the bellows even
as it is moving towards the article if the distance to the
article is not great. The pressured air re~ection o the label
helps in preventing -the label Erom sticking to the bellows as
:
~g397~
thce b~l:lows contrcl~ts .ln(l draws awl~ From th2 art;cl~. Th~ bel-
lows normally l~egirls to wi-tildraw from tlle art:icle as the pres-
sure thDr~in :is reclu~ed bu-t is s-till at a substantial level,
inasrnuch as the comp:Letely unp~essured hellows t~nds to assume
a config~lra-tion wherein its face is at 7a when pressurP in the
bellows r2aches the atmospheric value.
Figure l~ illustrates the shape of the bellows 74 in
its relaxed state~ The bellows is molded of elastomaric i~ate-
rial ? with a recess 81 in the bellows face~ and with three slits
cut into the recessed portion to forrn the hole ~0. The recess
forms three flaps 83 which can readily bend inwardly but not
outwardly. Accordingly, when a vacuum îs applied to the bellows
air can pass into the bellows through the hole 90. However,
when pressured air is applied inside the bellows, the flaps 83
lS ~end to press against one another to close the hole and minimize
the escape of air from the bellows. The flaps 83 therefore
fo~m~a check valve which couples th faoe ~f the bellows to the
inside thereof, to allow air flow substantiaIly only in a di-
rection into the be]lows
20 ~ When the bellows contracts, the inside o ~e bellows
end contacts a substantially rigid internal member 85~tnat limits
the contraction of the bellows. The in~ernal member 85 has a
guide surface 85g which engages a correspondingly shaped surface
78g~of -the bellows end to not only limit the longitudinal on-~
traction of the bellows end, but also to laterally position it
As a result~ the bellows beg;ns each expansion from the same
lateral posi-tion and orientation. This results in the bellows ;~
tending to sxtend along the same path each time, to provide
greater accuracy in the positioning of -the labels on the articles.
Wh:~n the bellows is contracted? its end ~ace lies at~the plane
.
1~ :
,;
-- . .
87, while l~hell lully e~te~l.de~l WitllOUt arl artic:Le i.n the way
th~ b~llc)w~, can ~xpand to the plane 89. Normcllly, an ar~i.cle
i5 pOS i~ionecl abo~l~ three quarters of che distance from the
plane 87 to the pl~ne 89. In examining causes for erratic di-
rec-tions ~f bellows expansion, it has ~een found that one
cause is tha~ the ~olds o:F the bellows may tend to s ticic to
one another when compressed during the application of vacuum
in the bellows. When the bellows begins expanding, locations
which tended to s-tick together, tend to resist extension and
the bellows tends to curve as it expands. It has been found
that the application of release powder such as is used in plas-
tic injection molding, eliminates the sticking problem, the
powder being applied *o both the inside and outside of the bel-
lows fold. It has been found that the release powder remains
in place during long continuous use of the bellows.
As ;llustra~ed in Figures 5 and 9, the apparatus for
.
~; advancing the label carrying arr~ngement includes a motor 91~
which is coupled through a belt 92 to a pulley 94~ The pulley
shaft 96 is coupled through a singl~ cycle clutch 98 to a drive
shaft 100. The single cycle clutch 98 merely permits opera~ion
of the machine one cycle at a time, the drive shaft 100 rotating
only one revolution each time a pin 1~2 is pulled out and rP-
leased, but the shaft 100 rotating continuously if the pin 102
is retained in a pulled-out condi~ion. ThQ drive shaft 100
rotates a crank 103 that drives a rack or slide 104 back and
forth. Th~ slide 104 has~gear teeth engaged with a gear 106
t~hat is coupled through cln overrunning clutch 107 to a sprocket
wheel 108, so that the sprocket wheel 108 turns in only one
direction~ This sprocket wheel 10 8 i5 coupled by a timing belt
110 to another sprocket wheel 11~ which drives another single
:
.
-13- ;
. .
~097Z69
c~cl~ C~ltC~ 113. 'rll~! si~-lgl~ ~ycl~ t~ iv~s cl too~led
wh~el 121 and a feed shart 114. The feed roll 64~ WlliCh pulls
the labe~l s~rip 10 o~f the supply reel, is ~ixed to and clriven
by the feed shat 114. The singl~ cycle clutch is enabled -to
S turn the Feed sha~t when a pîn 117 on the slide 104 hits a pawl
119 -to pivot the pawl out of engagement with ~he toothed wheel
121 on the f~2d shaft, which releases the single cycle clutch
for turning the feed shaft 114. Thus, the feed roll 64 cannot
turn until a predetermined time in each~cycleO The feed roll
can then rota-te jus-~ enought to advance the label strip 10 by
a distance S equal to the cen-ter-to-center distance of the
labels along -the strip. The slide 104, at tha-t -time, will have
moved pin 117 out oE engagement with the pawl 119, which s-tops
further rotation of the wheel 121 and feed shaft 114.
The two tensioning rollers~66, 68 which pull the car-
rier strip portions, are fixed to the same fe d shàft 114 to
which the feed roll 64 is fixed. Therefore, as the feed roll
64 feeds the label strip 10 towards the V-shaped notch 24 ~ ~
where -the labels are separated from the carrier strip, the -
~ 20 tensioning rolls 66, 68 turn in unison~to pull the carrier
; strip portions 18, 20 to thereby pull the 1abel strip oYer the
edges of the notch 24. In order to assure tension in the car-
rier strip portions 18, 2~, the two tensioning rollers ~66, 68
are constructed with a diameter E slightly larger th~n -the diam-
eter of the fe d roll 64~ resulting in the surfaces of the ten-
~;~ sioning rolls 66, 68 turning slightly fas-ter than the surface
of *he feed rolls 64. The *ension rolls 66, 68 are in the
form of rubber tires that permit slippage of the carrier s-trip
portions 18~ 20 -tnereon, so that the strip por-tions are pulled
to maintain tension bu-t are not pulled so hard as to tear them.
_ l L~ _
72~i~
As ~;ho~Yn in Fiaur~ Ll, b~cki.ng rolls 120 are provided to pres~
th2 c~arrier stri.~ por~tior1s sllc~h as ~ a~Ja;Tlst a correspondir1g
t~nsio~ roll2r ~6. Al.so~ a strl~er blac1~ 1.2l ;.~ prov1ded
that e.;-tends irl~o a g~o~)vc o~ th~ tensioning roller to insure
se~arc1tion o~ the carri~r strip ~ortlons from roller 66. ~n
alt2rnative arrangement would be to put sprocket~. on the
-tensioning rollers engaging slits 226 and omit them on fead roller
6'~.
At a first timQ in each cycle of operation, the bel
lows 74 descends against a label and begins moving forwardly with
the l.-Lbel. In order for the labelling machin~ to operate properly~
it is ~ec2ssary that at that time the label strip be posi*ioned so
that ther2 is a label at the position l4p shown in Fi~ure 5, which
is the pos;tion at which the face of the bellows descends against
the lahel. In order to accurately co~ rol ^the posittons of the
labels, -the feed roll 64 is provided with sprockets 1?2 for en-
gaging the label strip. As shown in Figures 5 and lO~, the sprockets
122 are spaced abou-t the feed roll by the distance S ~etween the~
labals, and are designed to fit into the separation line 16 be~ween
~ the carriar s~trip portions and into the space or gap 15 between
the labels. Thus, a label carrying arrangement or la~el strip
forms its own sprocket holes at gaps 15 and the ~eed roll 64 is
formed with sprockets that engage the sprockethole~s of the label
strip to control the positions of the labels in the ~achine. It
may be noted that these sprocket holes at the gaps 15 between
adjacent la~el~, arise automatically in the production o~ the label
- carrying arrangement, and it is not necessary to for~ special
sprocke-t holes along edges of the bac]cing strip to en~ble con-trQl
of label position in the machine. Additional sprocket holes can
be provided, however, to avoid contact of labels with sprockets.
Z169
A~ shown in Figur~s 6 ancl 7, the plunger apparatus
70 is moved '~ack and forth by a tow bar 130 which has an inner
en~l ~ixecl-to the slide 104 and an outer end fi~d -to the bel-
lows-supporting pla-te 72. Although the primary motion o~ the
S bellows supporting plate 72 is back and ~orth in the direction
of arrows 86, .it is also necessary -to raise the forward end
of the plate 72 which holds tha bellows 74 during rearward
motion of the bellows. Th.is is to prevent the bellows ~rom
rubbing on the label strip during such rearward motion. The
support plate 12 is guided by a pair of rearward tabs 132 which
can move back and forth in guide slots 134 formed in guide
ways 144 on the machine ~rame, while the fron-t of the pla~e
has a pair oE tabs 136 which can ~ove along either of; two guide
slots 138, 140 that are separa-ted by a divider 147. When the
support plate 72 moves slightly forward, in the direction of~
arrow F, from the position shown~in Figure 6, each~of its for~
ward tabs 136 which has~been moving along the lower slot 138,
Decomes free to move up towards the level o~upper slot 140. ~ :
A forward spriDg 142 disposed~along each of the guide ways
144, urges each tab 136 to move up, so that when the slide 72
moves rearwardly its tabs 136 slide at a higher level. As~ a
result, the contracted bellows of the plunger apparatus 70
oan move rea~wardly to a position over a next label (14p in
Figure 5~ to be appliedg wi*hout rubbing against -the label
strlp. As the forward tabs 136 approach their rearward posi-
: ~ :
tion~ they pass rearward of the divider 147 that separates the
upper and lower slots, and also pass under a rearward spring
:;:
148 tha-t urges the tabs 13~ downuardly. The tow bar 130 ~Jhich
~- moves the support plates 72 back and forth~ has a series~ of
slots cu-t into it, to provide increased flexibility~ to permit
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~he ~ront portio~l of -the s~lpport pLat~ to move ~Ip and doi/n a
small distclnc~ as i.t rnoves bac~ a~d iorth.
The use o-~ anparatus to rnove the label a list~nce
~eyond th~ separator edges before thrusting the label towards
an article~ avoids "hinging" of the label. Hinging is the
phenomenon of -the rear end of the label -tending to stick -to
the separation edge or carrier strip a and therefore to tend -to
resis-t movement against an article to ~e labelled.
As described above, the application of vacuum and
pressured air to the bellows -through the hose 80 1s controlled
by the pressure control B2. As illustrated in Figure 9g the
pressure control 32 includes an air pressure inlet lS0 through
which pressured air is c~nstantly applied, a vacuum inle-t 152
to which a vacuum is constantly applied, and an outlet 154
which is coupled to the hose 80. A valv~ member 156 can move
up and down to alternately couple the outlet 154 to either the
: air inlet 150 or the vacuum inlet 152. A rod 158 fixed to the
valve member 156, is moved up and down by a cam~l60 that is
fixed to the drive shaft 100. The cam 160 is configured so that
a v~cuum i5 applied to the pressure control outlet 154 during
the time when -the bellow~ engages a label and moves with the
labzl to a position opposite the article.to be labelled. The ~:
cam is configured to then operate the valve member 156 so that
; pressured air is applied to the bellowa to extend it briefly~
near -the end of its fo~ward travel after which the vacuum is
again applied to the pressure control ou-tlet~
The angle A (Figure 5~ oI the V-shaped slot 24 is
shown as being on the order of 90 for the labPlling machine of
Figures 1 ~ 9~ IE the labels 14 are spaced close to one another
along the leng-th of -the carrier strip, then at ~he beginning of
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~9~
each cycle, ~he n~t label to be appliecl 1ILP, w:ill b2 pOskti~lleC
~ith a consiclerable are~ r~ of its lecldln~7~ edge por-ti.on unsup-
ported by ~he plate ~ 2 or by any part oE the carr;er str:ip .
Suc~ e~posure a-t -the area ll~r arises because ~he label strip 10
must have been advanced at -the end o~ the previous cycle so
that the previous label 14-t wa~ advanc~d clear o~ -the carrier
strip. The existence of an unsupported label region 14r is
disadvan-tageous where very thin and flexible labels, such as
one mil thick polyethylene labels, are u-tilized, because such
labels are subject ~o fluttsring or other disturbances due~to
the vacuum and air pressures applied in their vicini~ty, prior
to the bellows face 78 making contact wi~h the lab~. The
existence of an unsupported label region 14r ~ ( shown in Figure
S) can be avoided by increasing the angle A of the V-shaped
slot to a greater angle, such as from 90 to an angle B of
135, as shown for the stripper 264 of Figures ~4 and 25.
This can allow a prsvious labal 14e to~have been D ved clear
of the guide plate 166 while the next label l~f has lit-tle or~
; no region which is unsupported. By making~the stripper~`264 o~
2~ a sîngle piece of material and by maintaining its edges in the
same plane, the strip portions do not slip sideways along the
auxiliary edgas. lt may be noted that in a typical label strip~
as with circular labels, the ~ap between ad~acent~labels is
approximately 1~8 of an inch, and a large angle o~ at least
~110 18 required to avoid any unsupported la~el region at the
next label to be applied while permitting the previous label
~to advance clear o~ the support plate.
Th separation technique utilized in the present in-
vention~ permits ~he utilization of a low cost label carrying
arrangement or label strip o~ the type shown a~ 190 in Figure 16.
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7Z69
~rlle labe:l strip 190 is i.d~ticcll w:i-th l~lbel strip lo of Fi~,ure 1
e.~c~p~ ~hat it includes a scrim or matrix 192 surrounding the
labels ll~b and oE -the sc~ne material as -the labels 14b. The ma-
trix :L92 is die cut -to ~orm separa-tion lines 194 around each
S label and separation sli~s 196 which lie between the labels and
over -the separation lines 16b of the carrier s-trip 12b. In a typi-
cal prior art procass for -the production of the labels 14b, the
labels are die cu~ from a strip of label material, with the cut-
ting lines separating the strip of label material into label
areas forming ~he labels ll~b and a matrix area forming:the matrix
192. Heretofore, the ma-trîx area 192 had to be removed from ~ ;
around the labels 14b prior to packaging and sellin~ the labels,
because of the way labels wera separated from the carrier web,
i . e ., bending the web around a sharp curve, around which the lab~1
would not follow. If the matrix material is lef~ in place, be- ~
,
cause of the presence of fine bridging filaments of papcr or ad-
he6ive between label and matr~x material, which are still preS3nt
despite die cutting ~ the label will not consi6tently separate ::
or peel away from the~carrying~web. By utilizing the label
strip 190 with the matrix 192 le~t on the carrier strip~ the:
cost of the labels can be reduced since the cost of matrix
: removal is eliminated and matrices can be made thinner and of
:~ thinner paper stock, as can labels.
The ma~rix 192, which is divided into two portions
by the separation slits 196, is pulled apart by the separation
: apparatus of the present invention, with each half of -the
: matri~ such as 192a, 192b moving with;the carrier strip portionunder it around the edges of the separation plate.
The labelling strip can be provided in different
forms. As illustrated in Figure 14, the label strip 12 can be
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7;~6~
provicle~ as cl ro:l..l 200 of many turns w:ith a cardboard tu`L)e 2Q~
a-t the eenter ~}~at Ei-ts on-to ~ shaft of the l.abelling machine.
~îgure 15 lllustratcs a fan-folded arrangement 2n4 of the label-
ling strip 12, which is used for produci.ng cOMputer printed
labels. The apparatus for movin~ -the carrier s-trip portions in
di~ferent direotions to separate -them from one another and from
-the labels also can have a variety of forms. In the apparatus
of Figure 1, the separation edges which form a V-shaped notch~
are nonaligned because the axes of t~e edges exténd at an angle
of less than 180 rom one another, but with the axes of the
edges substantially intersecting one another at the bottom of
the V. In Figure 17, a separation device 210 is illustrated
which includes a pair of separa-tion edges 212~ 214 with their
axes 212a, 214a also nonaligned, but with the axes of the: ~dges
extending parallel to one ano~her but spaced from one another
along tha path of the labels 14h. This apparatus perfo-~ms bet-
ter than prior art separators which utilize just one edge around
which a carrier strip is pulled, because in the present device
only half of -the carrier strip must be separated from~the label
.
at each separation edge. It may be noted that moré than ~wo :
separate carrier s-trip portions and a corresponding numbér of
edge means can be provided, as in the separator 216 of Figure
17A.
The moving of the labels in a positive m~nner towards
the separation edges as by the feed roll 64 (Figure 4~, and i~
synchronism with pulling of th2 carrier strip portions by the
tensioni~g rolls 66, 68, is impor-tarLt in minimizing the tension
which must be~applied to th carrier strip portions. By re-
; duein~ the tenslon in~the c~rrier strip portions required -to
~ 30 pull them around the edges~ thP machine minimizes the possibility
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97~6~
of tearin~-r t:he carrier striE~ portions. The redllction in re-
quirecl t2nsioll is clue -to the "capstan elEect"~ which is the
phenomenon that a rope wrapp~d about a capstan canno^t be easily
pulled if -there is even a slight ~ension in -the other end of
S the rope, but can be easily pulled ;f -the other end of the rope
is fed -towards the capstan. The feed roll 64 serves -to posi-
-tively feed the label strip -towards the separation edges in
synchronism with the tensioning means pulling -the carrier strip
portions, so that the carrier strip is maintained under tension,
but the machine op~rates properly ~ith only a relatively small
tension.
In the apparatus of Figure 4~ the pos;tive feeding a~
-the label strip is accomplished by the roll 64 which has the
thin sprocke~s 122 that project through the separation line of
the carrier strip and into the gap between adjacent labels. The
thin sprockets could damage the labels i~ mor~ than a small
force is applied to the label s-trip.~ To avoid this~, other
sprocket holes can be formed in -the label stripO Figures 18 -
20 il~Iustrate a label~strip Z20 which includes a~carrier strip
222, labels 14i, and a matrix 224 of label material, wherein
both the carrier strip 22 and matrix 224 have cuts~in them or
recelv;ng sprockets. Cuts 228 in the matrlx and cuts 226 in~
the carrier which lie under~the cut regions of ~h~ matrix3
form weakened regions which can be easily pen~trated by sproc-
ke-ts such as that indicated~ at 230. The cuts 226~ ~28 can be
formed without producing confetti like was-te which would have
to be removed rom th cutting machine. Figure 21 illustrates
still another label strip 240~ which includ2s a matrix 242
over a carrier strip~ and with tabs~2~4 cut in -the carrier
strip and overlying tabs 246 cut in the ma-trîx~ for receiYing
.
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~7'~i9
sproc~ets. It is aLso possi~ Le -to form CUtS or ho:Les only in
the carrier s-t:rlp ~ bllt near l:he edge of the carrler 5trip, SO
tilat sp~'OClC2 ~:S can p~ss througll the carrier s trip and merely
press us ~tha ed~es of the matrix away from the carrier strip.
~ . .,
S ~ these cuts can also be in -the la~el area if necessary.
Figures 22 and 23 illustrate a portion of a label
applying apparatus which can u*ilize a label strip 250 which
is ini*ially supplied with a carrier strip 252 that does not
have a separation line there;n~ but which still utili~es tha
inventive ~eature o~ this invention of separating the carrier
strip ~rom tha label by pulling differsnt portions of the car-
rier strip along dif~eren~ paths. In the apparatus of Figures
22 and 23, this is accomplished by utili~ing a slitter 254 whi.ch
slits the carrier strip to permit two portions 256, 258 of the
carrier strip to be pulled in diferent directions. The slitter
254 is a -thin disc rotatably mounted on~a shaft 260 and~loca-ted
at the bottom of -the notch 262 of the sepa~ator plate~264~ The
top of the slitter disc 254 can be located approximately even ;~
with the upper surface of the plate 264, although it~could be
located sliehtly above or below it. ~ The slitter also can ba~
located a distance up-path fr3m the bottom of the V-notch 262,
to slit tha carrier strip a distance prior to its raaching the
V-no-tch. Figure 26 and Figure 27 are cross sectional views of
a preferr d bellows shape.~ Figure 26;àc-tually is a split viaw
wîth the left half~ showing the bellows 270 when its in~erior
.
is at atmospheric pressure. It will be seen that the bellows
may have the form o the ~rustum of a cone or a pyramid. The
righ-t side of Figure 26 shows~the bellows 270 when ~ully re-
~ tracted 7 as happens when a vacuum is established in its interior.
Figure 27 shows the bellows 270 when fully extended and applying
~2-
lab~l to all objec-t 272.
'Lhe reason the ~orn~ shor~n is preferred is because,
upon retraction c>f the bellows as in Figure ~6, there is no
sticking to~eth~r oE the Eolds. This occurs with th~ usual
S cylindrical or square shaped ballows. Upon expansion there-
after the be:Llows ~lay not extend Pully or extend with the base
at an ængle, thus d~feating label application~ Furthermore,
because of the frustum of a cone shape, -the bel~ows, when ex-
~ tended against an obj~ct, as shown in Figure 26, wraps itself
partially around the o~ject, insuring proper la~el placement.
Thus, the invention pro~ides a new la~el carryingarrangement or label strip, and a separation apparatus for~
separating the labels from the carrier strip, to permit the
highly reliable separation of labels from the s-trip while per-
lS mitting the use of a wide variety of labels including:verythin and flexible labels.
: By u-tilizing this in~ention, the labeI~carrying web
is made far less expensive to manufactu~e ~as much as 30%3.
Labels can now be made of material of extreme thinness an~d
flexibility (.OOl" soft polyethylene, for èxample~. The peel- ~ ~
ing proce~s is 100% positive. The label must separate when the ~ :
carrier web passes through the V-shaped notch. Furthermore,
: ~ -the process of peeling does not require any appreoiable~ tension
of the web.
~ The label lS held by the application plunger before,
during and after the peeling process, so that~ in one sense~
: the label does not have to be:trans~erred to any place a~*er
peeling7 because it is already in that place.
~: The method of label application is a pneumatically-
actuated bellows which holds the label firmly by vacuum until
:
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7;:Ei9
e~tend2d hy C1 hLast o~ 1QW presstlre air~ It carl apply lclb~:Ls
over a wicle ran~e o:F produc-t heigh~ variation, is ex-tremely
fdSt (a~out 2 . 6 millisecollcis ) ~ is con:Eormable ~o product shapes,
and can easi.ly label products going by at high speed ~24" per
second) withou-t d~mage.
Another advantageous characteristic of the new label-
ling system is the eli.mination of any elec-~ronic label s~nsing
or electromechanical web drivès, which must be sophis-~icated
for high speeds and therefore expensive and inclined to failure.
The eliminat.ion of such label sensing and web drive systems is
possible due to the use oE various slits in the label carrying
web, which are employed somewhat like sprocket holes, by the
machine, to con*rol the advance and location of the~labels
within the machine. They are available at no cost because of
their special design which is only suited for the kind~of die
; cutting used to make pressure sensitive labels.
:
Although particular embodiments of ~he invention
have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognize~d
~ that modifications and variations may readily occur to those
;~ ~ 20 skilled in the art and consequently it is intended that the~
claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.
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