Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Foreign
CEB:RC:RRD
5 Sep 85
H 9386 AB
LITERATURE APPLYING MECHANISM
Helmut Voltmer, Alfred F. Schwenzer and Edward J. Mazur
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relate~ to packaging equipment, and,
more particularly, to a mechanism for applying labels to
containers such as bottles and boxes.
Packaging equipment is commonly in use for the
filling of containers, the closure of the containers, and
the labeling of containers. Examples of containers in fre-
quent use are the bottles and boxes found on the shelves in
the markPtplace utilized in the packaging of food and other
items utilized both in the home and in industry. Such
packages are provided with labels to identify the contents
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of the package, as well as to provide instructions in the
use of the material contained within the package.
A problem arises in that there are occasions
wherein there is insuficient room on a package label to
provide all of the necessary data and instructions on the
use of the material contained within the package. For
example, in the distribution oE medicinal products, li-tera-
ture in the nature of a multi-folded paper is attached
desirably to the package, such multi-folded paper having
adequate space to Eully describe the material being packaged.
However, the securing of literature, such as the foregoing
multi-folded paper or a brochure of bound sheets of paper,
is not applied readily by the type of mechanism utilized for
applying a simple label. The bulkiness of the literature,
and its tendency to open, necessitates the use of specially
constructed equipment which can handle the folded or bound
literature. Thus, the foregoing problem is manifested by an
inadequacy of labeling equipment to aEfix folded and bound
literature to a container, particularly a bottle used for
the storage of medicine or food.
SllMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing problem is overcome and other advan-
tages are provided by a literature-applying mechanism which
is constructed in accordance with the invention to provide a
tape having an adhesive thereon for the transporting of tl-e
~ 2~
literature from a storing means for storing pieces of
literature to the site of application of the literature to the
container. In a first embodiment of -the invention, the
storing means is a hopper that includes a gate for metering
out the literature, one piece at a time; and photoelectric
sensors de-tect the presence of the literature and the presence
of the container to insure that the arrival of the litera-ture
is synchronized with the arrival of the container at the site
wherein the literature is secured to the container. In a
second embodiment of the invention, packets of literature are
extracted from a hopper by means of a suction cup carried on a
rotatable arm from the hopper to the tape; and a vacuum switch
detects the presence of the literature. Also disclosed are
certain modifications which are improvements in the second
embodiment.
At the site of application of the literature to the
container, the tape is driven in a sharp bend around the edge
of a peel plate which dislodges the literature from the tape;
the adhesive has a greater affinity for the litera-ture than
the tape, and hence is separated from the carrying tape and
stays with the literature so as to permit the literature to be
urged against the side of the container by a pressure roll or
brush.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing aspects and other features of the
invention are explained in the following description, taken in
connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:
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Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically a mechanism incor-
porating a first embodiment of the invention for applying
literature to containers moving along a conveyor;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of a mechanism incorporating
a second embodiment of the invention for applying literature
to containers moving along a conveyor, the view showing,
among other things, an adhesive transfer tape supply roll, a
supply roll brake mechanism, a device for extracting litera-
ture from a hopper, means for the adhesive placement of
literature on the tape, and the separation of the literature
from the tape for application to the containers;
Fig. 3 shows a detailed view of the extracting
mechanism drive with a vacuum timing mechanism of the embo-
diment of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 shows a detailed view of the feed-roll drive
mechanism and a diagrammatic representation of the applying
mechanism control system of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a timing diagram for one revolution of
the drive shaft of a literatur~ pick-up device explaining
the interaction of literature with the literature detecting
system of Fig. 2;
Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of an electri-
cal contact in a circuit for the literature detecting system;
Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged view showing a
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portion of what is shown in Fig. 2 but showing an improve-
ment in the means Eor the adhesive placement of literature
on the tape;
Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing an
improvement in the drive mechanism of Fig. 4; and
Fig. 9 is a view showing an improvement to the
supply roll bra~e mechanism of Fig. 2.
~ETAILED DESC~IPTION
With reEerence to the drawing, Fig. l depicts a
Eirst embodiment of the invention. There is shown a system
20 comprising a conveyor 22 which carries objects such as
bottles 24 past a mechanism 26. In accordance with the
invention, the mechanism 26 applies literature 28 to the
sides o~ the bottles 24. By way of example in implementing
the invention, a screw 30, shown in phantom, may be incor-
porated in the system 20 for guiding the bottles 24. The
screw 30 has threads 32 which are spaced apart by a distance
equal to a diagonal of a bottle 24 so as to more accurately
position the bottles 24 as they sequentially pass by the
mechanism 26 along the conveyor 22. The system is an
"on-demand" system; thus a delivery system other than the
feedscrew may be incorporated with the invention. It is
understood that the bottles 24 are shown by way oE example,
and that other products of round and rectangular shape ma~
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be carried by the conveyor 22 for receiving literature 28,
The mechanism 26 employs a roll of adhesive
transfer tape 101, and a hopper 102 which holds the litera-
ture, A pickup bar 103 guides the tape 101 past an opening
of the hopper 102 to permit the adhesive layer on the tape
101 to engage with a piece of literature 28 in the hopper
102. The tape 101 then passes by a pair oE rolls 104, 104'
which force the literature 28 against the tape 101 to
Eurther secure the successive pieces oE literature 28 to the
tape 101.
The mechanism ~6 further comprises an electric eye
or sensor 105 for registering the presence of the litera-
ture, a reverse-arc plate 106, an idler roll 107, an
applying roll 108, a draw roll 109, a drum 110 for receiving
the backing paper of the tape 101, a peel plate 111 for
releasing the pieces of literature 28 from the tape 101, an
adjustable gate 112 on the opening of the hopper 102, and a
sensor 114 for sensing a product such as bottle 24 on the
conveyor 22. Also included in the mechanism 26 are a drum
116 upon which the tape 101 is initially wound, an idler 118
for guiding the tape from the drum 116 to the pick-up bar
103, and a frame 120 which is partially shown in phantom
view, and mechanically connects and positions the drum 116,
the idler 118, the pick-up bar 103, as well as other idlers
and rolls o.E the mechanism 26.
The frame 120 also holds brake pads 122 against the
drum 116 to provide a braking force during paying out of the
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tape 101 from the drum 116. In the hopper 102, a plunger
124 is driven by a spring 126 or a constant force spring
motox (not shown) to force the piece of literature 28
towards the pick-up bar 103. An idler 128 is provided for
guiding the tape 101 about the draw roll 109, and a pressure
roll 130 forces the tape 101 against the draw roll. A
motor 132 is mechanically connected to the draw roll 109
and to the drum 110, as indicated by a dashed line 134, and
imparts rotation to the draw roll 109 and the drum 110 for
advancing the tape 101 ~nd for receiving a roll of the spent
tape on the drum 110. An electronic drive circuit 136, oE
well-known design, provides electric signals for activating
the motor 132 in response to signals of a logic unit 138
coupled to the drive unit 136.
The logic unit 138 is activated by signals along
lines 140 and 142, respectively, from the literature sensor
105 and the product sensor 114. A signal from the product
sensor 114 indicates that a bottle 24 has advanced to a
position for receiving a piece of literature 28. A sub-
se~uent signal from the literature sensor 105 indicates that
the tape 101 has advanced a sufficient amount for the
completion of the application of the piece of literature 28
to the bottle 24. The logic unit 138 is responsive to the
signals from the product sensor 114 and the literature sen-
sor 105 to initiate the operation of the mechanism 2S foradvancement o~ the tape 101 when the bottle 24 arrives in
position, and to stop the operation oE the mechanism 26 to
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terminate the advancement of the tape 101 when the piece of
literature 28 is fully secured to the bottle 2~.
In operation, the adhesive transEer tape 101 is
provided in varying widths, the width being selected in
accordance with the width of the literature which is to be
dispensed by the mechanism 26. The requisite width of the
tape is also de-termined by -the desired height of the loca-
tion of the literature on the bottles 24.
A roll oE the tape 101 is placed on the drum 116
from which it may be unwound upon demand Eor a piece o~
literature 28 to be applied to a bottle 24. As the tape 101
is unwound, a tacky adhesive is exposed on the surface of
the tape. The unwound tape 101 passes along the idler 118
which guides it to the hopper 102 and the pick-up bar 103.
The bar 103 insures a constant pressure of the tape 101
against the pressure oE the spring 126 or constant force
spring motor (not shown) and the plunger 124 which urge the
pieces oE literature 28 toward the tape 101 and the bar 103.
As the tape 101 moves forward, the tackiness oE the
adhesive will move the literature out of the hopper 102.
The literature gate 112 is adjustable to insure that one
piece of literature moves out of the hopper 102 with each
advance of the tape 101. The pick-up bar 103 is also
adjustable relative to the frame 120, as by adjustment
screws (not shown), to be accurately positioned adjacent the
opening of the hopper 102; this insures that a desired
amount of adhesive contacts the pieces of literature 28 to
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successively draw them out of the hopper 102.
With each advance of the tape 101, a further piece
of literature 28 is drawn out of the hopper 102 and is
mounted to the tape 101. The mounting of the pieces of
literature 28 to the tape 101 proceeds sequentially with
each advancement of the tape 101. Thus, there develops a
chain of pieces of literature 28 which is driven past the
adhesive bonding rolls 104, 104' which Eurther presses t~e
pieces of literature 28 against the backing paper of the
tape 101 to insure complete adhesive coverage on the pieces
of the literature 28. It is noted, that the adhesive will
remain on the pieces of literature 28 after they are
extracted from the tape 101 at the peel plate 111, this
adhesive remaining on the literature 28 to be utilized in
securing the literature 28 to the bottles 24. The chain of
literature then passes the plate 106 which is provided with
a reverse arc so as to create a space between the successive
pieces of literature 28, such spacing permitting beams o~
light from the photoelectric sensor 105 to register each
advance of the tape 101 and the literature thereon.
An alternate register system, shown in phantom,
employs a reflective scanner 143 act.ivated by a printed
register mark on the literature 28 to terminate the forward
motion of the tape 101 carrying the literature 28. This
alternative scanning register system eliminates the need for
the plate 106 and the photoelectric sensor 105.
The chain of literature then advances past the
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idler roll 107 which guides the literature onward in the
direction of the peel plate 111. The tape 101 is guided
around the end of the plate 111 by the idler 128 to the draw
roll 109. Rotation of the draw roll 109 by the motor 132
pulls the tape 101 around the end of the plate 111 to peel a
piece of literature 28 away from the tape 101 for advance-
ment directly ahead into the space between the roll 108 and
the bottle 24 to which the literature 28 is to be applied.
overhead clamping action is provided, preferably, by an
overhead clamping belt oE known constructionr particularly
in the use of light containers. The adhesive on the litera-
ture remains with the literature as it separates from the
backing paper oE the tape 101 so as to stick to the side of
the bottle 24. Thereby, as the bottle 24 advances along the
conveyor 22 past the roll 108, the roll 108 rotates to apply
the literature 28 to the bottle 24. The spent tape 101,
freed of the literature 28, then continues -to advance on the
back side of the peel plate 111 by the idler 128 and onto
the draw roll 109. Rotation of the drum 110 along with the
rotation of the roll 109 further advances the spent tape 101
past the pressure roll 13Q to be wound up as sel~edge on the
drum 110.
Synchronization o~ the motion of the bottles 2
with the motion of the pieces of literature 28 is
accomplished with the aid of the product sensor 11~, the
literature sensor 105 r the logic unit 138, the drive unit
136, and the motor 132. As a bottle 2~ is carried along
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the conveyor 22 to the applying roll 108, the product sensor
114 applies a signal via the logic unit 138 to the drive
unit 136 to initiate operation oE the motor 132. Thereby,
the tape 101 begins to advance and a piece of literature 28
begins to separate from the tape 101 at the peel plate 111
to be applied by the roll 108 to the side of the bottle 24.
The application of the piece of literature 28 to the bottle
24 continues until the literature sensor 105 applies a
signal via the logic unit 138 and the drive unit 136 to ter-
minate operation of the motor 132. The literature sensor
105 is so positioned relative to the chain o:E literature 28
at the plate 106 to signal the re~uisite amount of advan-
cement of the tape 101 and the chain of literature 28 to
indicate that the chain has moved forward by a spacing of
one piece of literature 28. Thus, the signal of th~ litera-
ture sensor 105 on the line 140 designates the completion of
the application of a piece of literature 28 to the side of
the bottle 24. With respect to the construction of the cir-
cuitry of the logic unit 13~, such circuitry may comprise a
set-reset flip-flop tnot shown) which is set by the signal
on line 142 and reset by the signal on line 140 so as to
provide a logic-l signal to activate the drive unit 136.
Alternatively, the logic unit 138 might comprise a latching
relay ~not shown) wherein the signal on line 142 latches
the relay while the signal on line 140 restores the relay to
its initial state. The motor 132 may be a well known DC
(direct current) motor or stepping motor with the circui-try
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of the drive unit 136 being of a corresponding well-known
form for driving the motor 132.
The preceding description has set orth an explana-
tion of the structure and operation of the first embodiment
S o~ the invention. A second embodiment is presented now with
reference to Figs. 2-6. In the second embodiment, the
extraction of pieces of literature or packets from the hopper
is accomplished rnore reliably b~ use oE a suction cup
carried by a rotatable arm. A vacuum valve initiates and
terminates suction at the required times for lifting the
literature packets from the hopper and for depositing the
packet on the adhesively coated tape. The presence of
literature is monitored by a vacuum sensing switch. Spring
loading is employed in the operation of the selvedge roll.
The details of this second embodiment will now be presented.
With reference to Figs. 2-6, there is shown a
system 20 comprising a conveyor 22 which carries objects
such as bottles 24 past a literature-applying mechanism 26.
In accordance with the invention, the mechanism 26 applies
literature 28 in the form of packets, to the sides of
bottles 24. By way of example, in the implement~tion of the
invention, a timing screw 30 may be incorporated in the
system 20 for separating and guiding the bottles 24. The
timing screw 30 has threads 32 which are spaced ~part with
2S spacing determined by tlle physical sizes of the bottles 24
and other considerations of the system 20, such as an
oscillating pressure station (not shown) or an imprinter in
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a primary labeling system (not shown). The screw 30 accu-
rately positions the bottles 24 as they pass sequentially by
the mechanism 26 along the conveyor 22. The system is an
"on-demand" system. Thus, a delivery system other than the
timing screw may be incorporated within the system 20. It
is understood that the bottles 24 are shown by way of
example, and that other products of round or rectangular
shape may be carried by the conveyor 22 for receiving
literature 28.
~0 . The mechanism 26 employs a roll of adhesive
transfer tape 101 supported on a supply roll drum 116
mounted on a table top 27 of the mechanism 26. Brake sup-
port arms 121 are pivotally mounted on the tabletop 27 and
carry brake pads 122 which engage the supply roll drum 116.
An adjustable spring assembly 123 biases the brake pads 122
against the drum 116 and thereby provide a braking Eorce
during a paying out oE the tape 101 Erom the drum 116. The
adhesive transfer tape 101 is routed along a path via an
idler 118, also known as a dancer roll. The tape 101 is
further routed via an adhesive bonding roll 10~, an idler
roll 107, a peel plate 111, an idler roll 128, guide rolls
127, a draw roll 109, and its associated pressure roll 130.
The path of the tape 101 terminates at a selvedge roll 110
upon which is wound the depleted adhesive backing paper 131
of the tape 101. The depleted backing paper 131 remains
after removal of the packets of literature 28 and the adhe-
sive coating from the original tape 101 at the peel plate
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111 .
The depleted backing paper 131 is securely held
between the draw roll 109 and its associated pressure roll
130, as will be explained ~urther hereinafter. The backing
paper 131 is further held by a tension force extending
through the entire tape 101 and 131, which force is provided
by means of the dancer roll 118. The dancer roll 118 is
rotatably mounted on a dancer arm 119 which is pivotally
mounted about the supply roll drum 116 and spring biased
against the tape 101 by a tension spring 125. The tension
spring 125 urges the dancer arm 119 toward a stop block 129.
As the tape 101 and 131 is drawn forward by the draw roll
109 and the pressure roll 130 against the retarding braking
force of the supply drum 116, the dancer arm 119 is pulled
away from the stop block 129 against the tension of the
spring 125, and thereby tensions the entire tape 101 and
131, During operation of the system 20, the retarding
force of the supply drum 116 is balanced against the force
of the spring 125 by means of a spring assembly 123 so that
the portions of the tape 101 and 131 are always under suf-
ficient tension to prevent sagging as they advance forward
by the urging of the draw roll 109 and the pressure roll
130.
The tape 101 is routed through the mechanism 26 with
the adhesive bearing surface of the tape 101 being disposed
opposite the surface of the tape 101 which contacts the
dancer roll 118. Thereby, the adhesive surface is oriented
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adjacent to a mouthpiece 144 (an array of suction holes) of
a literature pick-up device 145 The pick-up device 145
ac~uires literature from a hopper 102, holds onto the
literature by means of suction applied at the mouthpiece
144, transports the literature from the hopper 102 to the
tape 101, and then releases the literature upon the tape 101
upon a termination of the suction as will be described
hereinafter. A back-up pad 146 is supported on a pivotally
mounted lever 147 and Eorced into contact with the
"non-sticky" surface of the tape 101 by a solenolcl 148 which
is rigidly mounted to the tabletop 27 by a bracket 149.
The mouthpiece 144 is carried by an axm 150 which is
slotted in an end thereof opposite the end which carries the
mouthpiece 144. By means of the slotted end, the arm 150 is
slidably fastened to a rotatably mounted block 151 at the
tabletop 27. An oscillating motion is provided between a
literature deposit position 152 and a literature pick-up
position 153 (as is indicated by phantom lines in Fig. 2)
adjacent to the hopper 102. The oscillating motlon is
imparted to the slotted arm 150 by a pivotally mounted lever
154 which, in turn, is driven by a connecting link 155 from
a crank arm 156~ A crank pin 157 tFig. 3) of the arm 156
imparts the drive motion to the connecting link 155. The
drive mechanism of the literature pick-up device 145 with an
associated vacuum timing valve 160 and other timing func-
tions will be explained hereinafter.
The mouthpiece 144 has a vertical front surface on
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which is carried two or more suction cups 158 which are con-
nected via a flexible hose 159 to the vacuum timing valve 160
(Fign 3). When the literature pick-up device 145 is in the
literature pick-up position 153, the suction cups 158 engage
the terminal packet oE literature 28 in the hopper 102, and
the vacuum valve 160 initiates the vacuum. Further motion
of the crank arm 156 pulls the terminal packet of literature
28 from the hopper 102. A literature gate 112 is adjusted
to insure that only one piece of literature is pulled from
the hopper 102 by the action o~ the vacuum in the suction
cups 158. In the hopper 102 r a plunger 124 is pressed
against the back side of the stack of literature 28 with a
continuous force provided by a spring 126 or a constant
force spring motor (not shown). Thereby, the literature 28
is urged a~alnst the literature gate 112 so as to assure a
constant uninterrupted supply of literature at the gate. It
is understood thatr from time to time, the literature must
be manually replenished in the hopper 102 before the las-t
piece of literature from the previous batch has been
ac~uired by the suction cups 158.
Further motion of the crank arm 156 drives the
literature pick-up device 145 into the literature deposit
position 152. A packet of literature 28 carried by the suc-
tion cups 158 is deposited by the device 1~5 onto the adhe-
sive side of the transfer tape 101. The tape 101 is held in
the position for acceptance of the literature 28 by the back-
up pad 146. Sufficient force is supplied by co-operation of
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the pad 146 and the suction cups 158 to firmly affix the
literature 28 to the tape 101~ As the packet of literature
28 is b~ought into contact with the tape 101, the vacuum
holding the literature 28 -to the suction cups 158 is ter-
minated by the vacuum valve 160, thereby to release theliterature from the suction cups and to allow its adhesion
to the adhesive of the tape 101.
In summary, during one cycle in the operation of
the pick-up device 145, a packet of literature 2~ is
acquired at the hopper 102 at the position 153, the litera-
ture 28 is deposited onto the transEer tape 101 at the depo-
sit position 152, this being followed by a return of the
device 145 to the hopper 102 at the pick-up position 153.
The foregoing cycle is completed during the dwell or rest
period in the feed motion of the transfer tape 101. The
tape 101 is stationary during the dwell period.
As the transfer tape 101 passes by a bottle 2~ and
releases a packet of literature 28, the adhesive coating
separates from the backing paper 131 and adheres to the packet
of literature 28 for securing the literature to the bottle
24. The backing paper 131 continues on via the idler roll
128 to the drum or selvedge roll 110. The forward motion of
the tape 101 is generated by the Erictional force of the
backing paper 131 wrapped around the circumference o~ the
draw roll 109 with the assistance of the guide rolls 127 and
the pressure roll 130. The pressure roll 130 is rotatably
supported by a pivotally mounted arm 133 which is urged
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towards the draw roll 109 by a spring 135. The draw roll
109 is rigidly mounted on a drive shaft 33 (Fig. 4) which is
rotatably supported by a bearing 34, mounted in the tabletop
27, and a bearing 35, mounted in a support plate 29.
The support plate 29 is rigidly mounted to the
tabletop 27 by spacers 31. Also mounted on the tabletop
27 i3 a draw roll brake 36 with its armature fastened to the
drive shaft 33. The plate 29 supports a clutch 37. The
clutch 37 has a rotor Eastened to the dr.ive shaEt 33 and an
armature fastened to a drive motor 132. Also Eastened to
the drive shaft 33 is a well-known, commercially manufac-
tured shaft-angle encoder 39 which generates a set of digi-
tal pulses for each revolution of the shaft 33. By way of
example in the use of the encoder 39, assuming that the
encoder 39 produces a total of 400 pulses for one revolution
of the shaft, and furthermore assuming the circumference of
the draw roll 109 to be ten inches, then each pulse of the
encoder represents an incremental rotation of 0.025 inches
of the draw roll lO9 and a corresponding advance of the tape
101 and backing paper 131.
The shaft 33 is eoupled to a sproeket 40 whieh
carr.ies a chair.~ 41 by which the sprocket 40 drives a second
sprocket 42. The second sprocket 42 is mounted on a drive
shaft 43 oE the drum or selvedge roll 110 for rotation
therewith. The sprocket 42 drives the shat 43 through an
adjustable friction drive 50 comprising a back-up collar 44,
a friction washer 45, a hardened washer 4~, a compression
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spring 47 and a compression ad~ustment nu-t 48. Use o the
nut 48 in adjusting the compression of the spring 47 regu-
lates the fric~ional force of the foregoing friction drive 50.
The selvedge drive shaEt 43 is rotatably mounted on the
tabletop 27 by means of a double row ball bearing 49. The
shaft 43 carries on its upper end, and rigidly mounted
thereto, the roll 110.
In operation, a product sensor 114, which may be
adjusted in position longitudinally along the conveyor 22,
signals a logic control unlt or control enclosure 138 that a
bottle 24 moving along the conveyor 22 is ln position to
receive a packet of literature 28'. The signal of the sen-
sor 114 serves as a "start" command signal for the logic
control unit 138 which, in response to the start command de-
energizes the draw roll brake 36 and energizes the draw roll
clutch 37. The clutch 37 engages the rotating drive motor
132 to the drive shaft 33 and thereby rotates the draw roll
109 for advancing the backing paper 131 and the transfer
tape 101. The tape 101 carries a series of literature
packets 28 which have been placed upon the tape 101 by the
aforementioned action of the literature pick-up device 145.
As the series or chain of literature packets 28 fastened to
the transfer tape 101 travels from the literature deposit
position 152 around the adhesive bonding rolls 104-104' (the
latter roll 104' may be deleted i~ desired), further
pressure is developed against the tape 101 to insure
complete adhesive coverage of the packets of literature 28.
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It is also noted that the adhesive carried by the tape 101
has a greater affinity towards the type of paper which is
commonly used for the printing oE li-terature than for the
backing paper 131 and, accordinglyr leaves the tape 101 and
adheres to the literature 28 as a packet of literature 28 is
lifted off of the tape 101. Such separation of the litera-
ture 28 from the tape 101 occurs at the peel plate 111. The
adhesive remaining on the packet of literature 28 is uti-
lized in securing the literature 28 to the bottles 24.
After passing the bonding rolls ]04-104', the
series of literature packets advances past the idler roll
107 which guides the literature onward in the direction of
the peel plate 111. The tape 101 is guided around the end
oE the plate 111 by the idler roll 128 and directed toward
the draw roll 109. At the peel plate 111 r the adhesive
coating is separated from the transEer tape 101 leaving only
the backing paper 131. Rotation of the draw roll 109 by the
motor 132 pulls the tape 101 r 131 around the end of the
plate 111 to peel a packet of literature 28 away from the
tape 101 for advancement directly ahead into the space be-
tween the roll 108 and the bottle 24 to which the packet of
literature 28 is to be applied. ~n overhead clamping action
is provided, preferablyr by an overhead clamping belt (not
shown) of known constructionr particularly in the labeling
of bottles and containers oE light weight. The literature
packet with the adhesive applied thereto by the tape 101 is
pressed against the bottle 24 by a roll 108. Thereby, as
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the bottle 24 ~dvances along the conveyor 22 past the roll
108, the roll 108 rotates to apply the literature to the
bottle 24. The spent tape 131, freed of the literature 28
and the adhesive coatiny, then continues to advance on the
backside of the peel plate 111 onto the idler roll 128 and
then around the draw roll lO9 under direction of the guide
roll 127. Rotation o~ the selvage roll 110 along with the
rotation o~ the roll lO9 further advances the spent tape 131
to be wound up on the roll llO.
Synchroni2ation oE the motion oE the bottles 24
with the motion of the packets oE literature 28 is
accomplished with the aid of the product sensor 114, the
logic control unit 138, a motor control circuit 136 and
the drive motor 132. As a bottle 24 is carried along the
conveyor 22 to the applying roll 108, the product sensor l:l4
applies a signal to the logic unit 138 which, in turn,
directs the clutch 37 and the brake 36 to initiate rotation
of the draw roll 109. Ther~hy, the tape 101 advances and a
packet of literature 28 separates from the tape lOl at the
peel plate 111 to be applied by the roll 108 to the side of
the bottle 24.
The speed of the tape 101 and the speed of the
bottles 24.moving on the conveyor 22 ~re synch.roni2ed by
adjustment o~ the rotational .speed of the drive motor 132 by
the control circuit 136. For this purpose, the motor 132
may be a well-known DC (direct current) motor, and the cir-
cuitry of the motor control circuit 136 is similarly of
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well-known form as i5 used in regulating the speed of a
motor such as the motor 132.
Upon the initiation oE the clutch-brake operation
by the logic control unit 138, a counter 161 within the Ullit
138 becomes unlatched and begins counting the pulses
generated by the shaEt-angle encoder 39. The counter 161
counts for a preset number oE counts which correspond to the
desired length of advancement oE the tape lOl for applica-
tion oE one packet oE literature 28. tlpon countin~ the pre-
determined nui~ber of counts, the counter 16l generates asupervisory slgnal which act.ivates the logic control unit
138 to generate signals which de-energi%e the clutch 37 and
energize the brake 36 for stopping the forward motion of the
transEer tape 101. Wi-th the stopping of the tape lOl, the
internal circuitry of the logic controi U.lit 138 automati-
cally resets the counter 161 in preparation for a subsequent
counting operation. (See, for example, "Label Length
Monitor", U.S. Patent 4,397,709 issued to the assignee
hereof).
Included within the logic control unit '.~8 is a
display 162 with rotary selector switches by which a number
is entered for presetting the counter 161. By way o:E
example, one packet or piece of literature 28 has a width o~
1 1/8 inches as measured along the tape 101. ~ssuming each
count represents an advance in the tape 101 of 0.02S inches,
then 45 counts by the counter 161 must accrue for an advan-
cement of the tape 101 which i5 equal to the foregoing width
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of the piece of literature. Accordingly, for the foregoing
example, the counter 161 would be preset to a value of "45".
In response to the Eoregoing supervisory signal
Erom the counter 161, the logic control ~nit 138 also
generates a pulse signal of sufficient duration to cycle a
clutch index control 163. The clutch index control 163 is a
commercially manuEactured control unit commonly reEerred to
as a "One-Shot" control, such a control being manufactured by
the Warner Electric Co. ~ one-revolution clutch 164 (Figs.
3 and 4) is connected electrically to the control 163, and is
mechanically coupled to a drive motor 165 (Fig. 3) which
drives through a shaft 166 for operation of the crank arm
156 (Figs. 2 and 3) in the literature pick-up device 145.
The clutch index control 163 activates the clutch 164 to the
cycle and thereby connect the motor 165 to the shaft 166 ~or
rotating the shaft 166 for one complete revolution.
The drive shaft 166 is rotatably mounted by a
bearing 167 to the tabletop 27 and by a bearing 168 to a
support plate 169, the latter being rigidly fixed by spacer
bloclcs 170 to the tabletop 27. The crank arm 156 is fastened
to the upper end of the shaft 166. The vacuum timing valve
rotor 171 oE a vacuum timing valve 160, and slotted discs
172-173, are also fastened to the shaft 166. ~ stator 174
of the timing valve 160 is supported in stationary fashion
by the support plate 169, and is urged into air tight con-
tact with the rotor 171 by compression springs 175.
A vacuum sensing switch 176, such a switch being
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~25~L7t~
manufactured by the Barksdale Co., is inserted in the path of
vacuum carried by a vacuum hose 159 between the mouthpiece
144 and the timing valve 160. An orifice 177 is also
inserted in the oregoing vacuum path between the vacuum
sensing switch 176 and a port oE the stator 174 of the
vacuum timing valve 160. A second port of the stator 174 is
connected to a known source o vacuum ~not shown). The area
of the opening in the orifice 177 is smaller than the com-
bined area of the vacuum ports oE the mouthpiece 144
carrying the suction cups 158. Thus, any blockaqe oE the
vacuum ports by a piece oE literature 28 will create a rela-
tively high level of vacuum in the vacuum switch 176, and
thereby close an associated electrical contact of the switch
176. ~lternatively, in the absence oE a piece of literature
28 on the mouthpiece 144, the suction holes thereof open to
the atmosphere, and thereby reduce the level of vacuum
sensed by the switch 176 to open the associated electrical
contact.
The cycling speed of the literature pick-up device
145 is synchronized with the cycling speed of the transfer
tape 101. The literature transfer from the literature pick-
up position 153 to the literature deposit position 152
occurs while the transfer tape 1~1 is at rest. This period
oE time occurs between the "stop" signal Erom the logic
control unit 138 as generated by the counter 161, and the
"start`' signal from the logic control unit 138 as initiated
by the product sensor 114. Thus, the duration of the rest
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~25~7~
cycle of the tape 101 depends on the spacing between the
bottles 24 on the conveyor 22, and also on the linear velo-
Cit.Y of the bottles 24 on the conveyor 22. The speed of the
conveyor 22 is synchronized with the speed of the tape 101 as
described hereinabove. The rotational speed of the drive
shaft 166 and its attached crank arm 156 are variable in
order to allow sufficient time to accomplish the transfer of
the literature 28 without exceeding the re~uired time window
for transfer of the literature from the hopper 102 to the
tape 101. The provision of ade~uate time Eor the foregoing
transfer inhibits any development oE unwanted stresses on
the literature pick-up device 145. The foregoing timing
parameters are readily met by employing a commercially
available, well-known DC motor for the motor 165 along with
a well-known motor controller 1~8 for regulating the speed
of the motor 165.
In view of the foregoing description, under normal
operating conditions of the system 20 of Fig. 2, the
literature applying mechanism 26 is responsive to the pre-
sence of a bottle 24 on the conveyor 22 to initiate -the
feeding of the transfer tape 101 carrying literature 28 in
the arrangement of continuous chain ~rom the literature
deposit position 152 to the peel plate 111. ~t the peel
plate 111, a packet o~ literature is separated from the tape
101 to be affixed to the bottle 24. The chain of literature
should be continuous to prevent malfunctioning of the
system. To insure such continuity, the following interlock
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system is advantageously employed.
With reference to Fig. 5, it is noted that the
vacuum from the known source is connected to the mouthpiece
144 through the action oE the vacuum timing valve 160 during
a trans~er cycle from 0 to 180 of revolution of the drive
shaft 166. The vacuum has been disconnected during the
return cycle from 180 to 360 of revolution of the crank
arm 156. A photoelectric sensor 179 is positioned alongside
the slotted disc 172 which is carried by the drive shaEt
166. The slotted disc 172 allows liqht to reach the sensor
179 from 45 to 90 of revolution of the drive shaft 166.
During the foregoing illumination of the sensor 179 by the
light, the sensor 179 effects a closure of an electrical con-
tact in the logic control unit 138. The schematic represen-
tation of the electrical contact interaction is shown in
Fig. 6.
The foregoing contact closure signifies, in con-
junction with the presence of a high level of vacuum as
detected by the vacuum switch 176, that a piece of litera-
ture has been withdrawn from the hopper 102 and is in the
process of beinq transEerred to the literature deposit posi-
tion 152. This combination of events results in the energi-
zation o the solenoid 148 (Fig. 2) by means of the circuit
of ~ig. 6, the energized solenoid 148 acting through the
lever 147 to advance the back-up pad 146 against the force
of a spring 181. The advancement of the pad 146 places
the pad 146 into a position alongside the tape 101 wherein
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the pad 146 provides a solid restraining surface for holding
the tape 101 against the Eorce of the literature 28 as it is
deposited upon the tape 101 in the position 152. The opera-
tion of the solenoid 148 is inhibited from a continuous
cycling in each return cycle of 180 to 360 (Fig. 5) when
the vacuum is terminated at the mouthpiece 144 to release
the literature 28 to the transEer tape 101. The inhibiting
oE the continuous cycling is attained by virtue of the
operation of the slotted disc 173 with its associated pho-
toelectric sensor 180 and a second electricai contact clo-
sure in the logic control unit 138 which provides a holding
signal to retain the solenoid 148 in an energized state to
retain the pad 146 in the accepting position. The electri-
cal circuitry connecting the sensor 180 to the solenoid 148
is shown in Fig. 6.
In the event oE a failure to pick up literature 28
at the hopper 102 by the mouthpiece 144, the contacts of the
vacuum switch 176 open. When the slotted disc 173 reaches
the 55 position of the transfer cycle (Fig. 5), the holding
contacts open and de-energize the solenoid 148, thereby
enabling the spring 181 (Fig. 2) to retract the pad 146
against a stop block 182. The retraction oE the pad 146
displaces the transfer tape 101 sideways away ~rom the
accepting position. The displacement oE the tape lOl pre-
vents the transfer o~ adhesive Erom the tape 101 onto thesuction cups 158 of the mouthpiece 144. It is noted that
the presence of such adhesive on the suction cups 158 would
~25~76
be detrimental to the operation of the system, because it
would prevent the transfer of a piece of the literature to
the tape 101 during a subsequent operating cycle.
The absence of literature 28 on the mouthpiece 144
during the sensing portion of the transfer cycle will also
cause the logic control unit 138 to generate a "disable"
signal to prevent the forward motion of the transfer tape
101, thereby insuring that the chain of literature remains
uninterrupted on the transfer tape 101.
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show certain modifications which
are improvements in the embodiment o~ Fig. 2. These im-
provements result in simplifications of the mechanism and the
attainment o~ a more nearly uniform tension on tape 101.
To set the stage for the following description of
Fig. 7, it will be recalled that back-up pad 146 of Fig. 2
is movable from a retracted position to a position in which
it engages tape 101 to hold same in position for accceptance
of literature 29 from suction cups 158 of literature pick-up
device 145 when the latter is in literature deposit position
152. The movability of pad 146, as shown in Fig. 2, entails
pivotally mounted lever 147, solenoid 148, bracket 149,
spring 181 and stop block 182. In this regard, Fig. 7
depicts, instead o~ movable pad 146, stationary means in the
- form of a back-up pad 190 for urging tape 101 toward suction
cups 158 and against literature 28 as suction cups 158
deliver literature 101 onto the adhesive coating of tape
101. Back-up pad 190 is secured to table top 27 by a
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~Z5~176
bracket 192, such that pad 190 constantly holds tape 101 in
position to receive literature 28. Lever 1~7, solenoid 148 r
bracket 149, spring 181 and stop block 182 are eliminated.
By "stationary" it is not necessarily meant that the urging
means has no movement, since the urging means could be a
roller, but simply that the urging means does not move toward
and away from literature deposit position 152.
Fig. 8 depicts a drive mechanism which is a
simpliEied improvement over that oE Fig. 4. In this im-
provement, feed roll clutch 37 and brake 36 of Fig. 4 have
been replaced by a one revolution clutch 208, a suitable
example of which is available from Warner Electric. In par-
ticular, drive shaft 33 is rotatably mounted in bearings 34
and 35, as in Fig. 4. Bearings 34 and 35 are mounted in a
bearing housing 200 which carries a pulley 201 on its lower
end. Pulley 201 is driven by a belt 202 from a pulley 203
which is mounted to a jackshaft 204. JackshaEt 204 is rota-
tably mounted in bearings 205 and 206 which are carried by
a support 207, which in turn is fastened to tabletop 27.
Also mounted to support 207 is one revolution
clutch 208, the indexing portion of which is secured to
jackshaft 204, thereby imparting rotary motion for one revo-
lution per index to jackshaEt 204. The primary rotary
motion is imparted to the input portion of clutch 208 by a
sprocket 209 which is driven by a chain 210 from a sprocket
211 mounted to the output shaft oE drive motor 132. The
indexing pulses to clutch 208 are generated by a clutch
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index control 212 which in turn is controlled by circuitry
in control enclosure 138.
Also mounted to the output shaft oE drive motor 132
is sprocket 40 which drives selvedge roll 110, as explained
above.
A slotted disk 213 is mounted to the lower end of
jackshaft 204 and operates in conjunction with a lot sensor
214 which provides a gating signal to the control circuit.
Fi~. 9 shows an improvement to the supply roll
brake mechanism oE Fig. 2. ~n this improvement, brake arms
121, friction pads 122 and spring 123 have been replaced by
the mechanism described in the Eollowing two paragraphs to
obtaln a more nearly uniform tension on tape 101.
In this improvement, a pulley 215 is securely
fastene~ to the bottom portion of rotatably mounted supply
roll drum 116. Pulley 215 is connected by a belt 216 to
another pulley 217 which is Eastened to a clutch shaft 218
which is rotatably mounted in a support 219 by a bearing
220. The upper end of clutch shaft 218 is secured to the
output portion of a particle clutch 221 which is also securely
fastened to support 219. The control bias motion to clutch
221 is provided by a bias input shaft 222 which is rotatably
supported in a bearing 223 which is also secured in support
219. ~ feeler arm 224 carrying a feeler roll 225 is secured
to the upper end of shaft 222. Feeler roll 225 is biased by
a spring 226 against the outer surface of supply roll of
tape 101 on supply roll drum 116.
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In operation, the angular attitude of feeler arm
22~ changes, caused by contact of feeler roll 225 against
the outer surEace of the supply roll of tape 101 on supply
roll drum 116 as the roll of tape 101 is depleted. The
angular change in position of feeler arm 224 rotates the
input shaft of particle clutch 221 and thereby varies the
braking force of clutch 221 which is transmitted via pulley
217, belt 216 and pulley 215 to drum 116 and hence to the
supply roll of tape 101.
The improvements of Figs. 7, 8 and 9 can be used
independently of each other.
It is to be understood that the above described
embodiments of the invention are illustrative only, and that
modifications thereof may occur to those skilled in the art.
Accordingly, this invention is not to be regarded as limited
to the embodiments disclosed herein, but is to be limited only
as defined by the appended claims.
