Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
203S770
1 AUTOMATED LABELING APPARATUS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
l. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to automated
labeling apparatus for placing identification labels on a
layup of sheet material. More particularly, this invention
is directed to computer controlled apparatus having a
plurality of labeling carriages on a supporting beam working
in unison to position and apply identification labels on
predetermined positions on a top layer of a layup of sheet
material prior to cutting.
2. Description of Related Art
Various systems and methods have been used in the
art to cut and label a predetermined nest of pieces from a
plurality of plies of sheet material known as a layup.
Initially, the layup of sheet material was laboriously cut
by hand. Uniformity of the cut pieces was obtained by
overlying the layup of sheet material with a plotted
representation of the patterned pieces. This plotted
representation defined the perimeter that was to be followed
during the manual cutting procedure. Further, the plotted
representation could be extensively annotated with
identifying indicia which would remain with the cut pattern
pieces when they were removed to the sewing room for
assembly into the finished product. This identifying
indicia includes such information as size, location,
assembly order, etc. which is essential to proper and
efficient completion of the finished product.
With the development of automated cutting systems,
such as that shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,495,492 entitled
APPARATUS FOR WORKING ON SHEET MATERIAL, the cutting
2035770
1 operation was greatly simplified. However, the need for
placement of identifying indicia on the cut pattern pieces
remained. With automated cutting systems, once the plies of
sheet material have been spread on long commercial spreading
tables, the layup is moved onto the bed of an automated
cutting system. This system is preprogrammed to cut a nest
of pattern pieces from the sheet material positioned beneath
it.
In order to identify the cut pattern pieces from
the layup, a plotted representation of the nest of pattern
pieces is spread across the top of the layup prior to
cutting. As in the manual cutting procedure discussed
above, the current plotted representation may include the
perimeter outline of each pattern piece as well as
identifying indicia for each individual piece positioned
within that perimeter outline.
Once in position, both the plotted representation
and the layup of sheet material are cut simultaneously
leaving a stack of pattern pieces topped with a similarly
shaped portion of the plotted representation bearing
individualized identifying indicia for that particular
pattern piece. The stacks of pattern pieces are then routed
through the manufacturing/assembly stages to generate the
finished product.
The use of a plotted representation has several
inherent drawbacks and disadvantages. For example, one
major drawback that is readily apparent is the excessive
cost of superfluous plotting paper. In the garment industry
alone, a tremendous amount of paper is used to create the
plotted representations for the voluminous number of pattern
pieces cut each day. Since the automated cutting systems do
~S77~
1 not need the plotted periphery to follow, the major bulk of
the paper occupying that periphery is waste. In effect, the
only necessary portion of the plotted representation is the
small area occupied by the identifying indicia. Apart from
the costs associated with this wasted paper, other related
costs include plotting equipment, labor costs, storage of
large rolls of plotting paper, ink and disposal of waste
paper.
Another drawback to the use of plotted
representations is the serious concern of losing the
identifying indicia for stacks of pattern pieces prior to
manufacture and/or assembly. Since the plotted
representation is simply spread out over the layup of sheet
material, it is difficult to ensure that the cut portions
stay with the appropriate stack of cut pattern pieces. This
is particularly true for smaller pieces which are easily
confused or misplaced.
One apparatus developed to address these drawbacks
is shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,028,167 entitled LABEL
APPLICATOR FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED CUTTING MACHINE.
This apparatus mounts a label applicator with the automated
cutting tool on the support beam of a cutting table above
the layup of sheet material. As an individual pattern piece
is cut by the cutting tool, the label applicator affixes a
label containing identifying indicia to the cut piece.
While this apparatus attempts to solve some of the
aforementioned problems, it does not address all of them
and, in some instances, creates others. For example, when
the layup of sheet material is cut with automated cutting
apparatus, a vacuum system is usually used to hold down the
layup so that it doesn't move. This vacuum system takes the
2035770
1 form of a foraminous table through which a vacuum is drawn.
In order to enhance this hold down vacuum, a cover film is
placed over the layup prior to cutting. This combination
serves to compress the layup of sheet material and hold it
in place to facilitate the cutting operation.
After cutting, the label applicator, mounted
adjacent the cutting tool, moves into position to apply the
label. However, because the cover film overlies the layup,
the label applicator is actually affixing the label to the
cover film covering the stack of cut pattern pieces.
Accordingly, one is still faced with the risk of losing or
confusing the identifying indicia, particularly for smaller
pattern pieces.
As discussed above, prior to the cutting
operation, plies of sheet material are spread out and
inspected on long spreading tables. Most manufacturing
facilities utilize a number of these long spreading tables
to provide a continuous series of layups of spread sheet
material to a single automated cutting operation. Because
the spreading operation is much quicker than the cutting
operation, there is typically a substantial lag time while
the spread sheet material awaits transfer to the cutting
operation. Using an integral cutting-labeling apparatus of
the type described above, the amount of time necessary for
the cutting operation is tremendously increased over
conventional automated cutting operations. This is because
the label applicator operates in sequence with the cutting
tool to label a pattern piece after it has been cut.
Therefore, one operation, either labeling or cutting, is
stopped while the other is proceeding. Also, should a
malfunction occur in either the labeling or cutting tool,
Z03S~7~
1 the entire cutting/labeling operation ceases until the
malfunction is corrected. This is a serious consideration
in, for example, the garment industry where time and
throughput are critical pricing and profit considerations.
Therefore, it would be highly desirable to have an
automated labeling apparatus which could apply identifying
indicia at predetermined positions directly on a layup of
sheet material while it is on the spreading table prior to
and independent from the automated cutting operation.
Accordingly, it is one object of the present
invention to provide automated labeling apparatus, operable
independent of the cutting operation to apply identifying
labels to a layup of sheet material.
It is a further object of the present invention to
provide automated labeling apparatus which can securely
apply identifying labels directly onto the top layer of a
layup of sheet material prior to cutting.
It is also an object of the present invention to
provide automated labeling apparatus which employ multiple
labeling carriages working in conjunction to efficiently
apply identifying labels to predetermined positions on a
layup of sheet material prior to cutting.
These and other highly desirable and unusual
results are accomplished by the present invention in an
automated labeling apparatus having a plurality of labeling
carriages on a supporting beam working in unison to position
and apply identifying labels on predetermined positions
along a layup of sheet material.
Objects and advantages of the invention are set
forth in part herein and in part will be obvious therefrom,
or may be learned by practice with the invention, which is
203~7~
1 realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and
combinations pointed out in the appended claims. The
invention consists of novel parts, constructions,
arrangements, combinations, steps and improvements herein
shown and described.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, an automated
labeling apparatus is provided for positioning and applying
identifying labels on predetermined positions along a layup
of sheet material prior to cutting. The apparatus includes
multiple labeling carriage assemblies mounted on a support
beam for independent movement thereon. At least one label
printer-load station is attached to the apparatus so as to
be accessible to the labeling carriage assemblies for
providing preprinted identifying labels. A central
processing computer controls movement of the support beam
and the labeling carriage assemblies as well as the
functioning of the label printer-load station so as to
coordinate operation of the labeling carriage assemblies for
efficient operation.
The apparatus is adapted for movement in the X, Y,
Z Cartesian coordinate system with the support beam carrying
the labeling carriage assemblies along the table containing
the layup and the labeling carriage assemblies adapted for
transverse movement along the support beam and in the
vertical direction.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a
rotatable drum capable of releasably holding six preprinted
labels simultaneously is used with each labeling carriage
assembly to facilitate even faster throughput times. This
203~770
1 is accomplished by substantially reducing the number of
times the labeling carriage assembly must return to the
label printer-load station during a labeling operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and
constituting a part hereof, illustrate the preferred
embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention, and,
together with the description serve to explain the
principles of the invention.
Fig. l is a perspective view of an automated
labeling apparatus with transfer table in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a side view taken along line 2-2 of Fig.
l of an automated labeling apparatus showing the drive
system.
Fig. 3 is an end view taken along line 3-3 of Fig.
l of an automated labeling apparatus showing the labeling
carriage assemblies, printer-load stations and central
processing unit.
Fig. 3a is a frontal view in partial cross-section
of an alternate steering and alignment structure.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of a plotted representation
for a layup of sheet material showing labels positioned on
the patterned pieces.
Fig. 5 is a plan view taken along line 5-5 of Fig.
3 of a label carriage assembly in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 6 is a side view taken along line 6-6 of Fig.
5 of the label carriage assembly.
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203a77Q
1 Fig. 7 is a side view taken along line 7-7 of Fig.
3 of the pressure limit switch of the label carriage
assembly.
Fig. 8 is a frontal view taken along line 8-8 of
Fig. 7 of the limit switch.
Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side view taken along line
9-9 of Fig. 3 of the printer-load station with supply and
take-up reels for adhesive backed labels.
FIg. 10 is a frontal view taken along line 10-10
of Fig. 2 showing the belt drive for the support beam
wheels.
Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan view taken along
line 11-11 of Fig. 2 of the belt drive system for the
labeling carriage assemblies in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line
12-12 of Fig. 10 showing the structure of the joined
positive drive belt.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an
automated labeling apparatus, generally designated 30, in
position on a spreading table 32 over a layup of sheet
material 34 spread thereon. The apparatus 30 includes a
rectangular hollow support beam 36 having a plurality of
label carriage assemblies 38 mounted thereon for
longitudinal movement.
Support beam 36 is maintained above spreading
table 32 by means of side supports 40 positioned at either
end of the beam 36. A printer-load station 42 is also
20~770
1 provided on either end of support beam 36 in a position
accessible to a corresponding label carriage assembly 38.
Support beam 36 is movable in an illustrated X-
coordinate direction by friction wheels 44 positioned on
side supports 40. Wheels 44 travel along the outside
surface of the spreading table 32 and are provided in
aligned pairs on each side support 40. Wheels 44 are
preferably formed with high friction tread to prevent
slippage. One particularly advantageous type of wheel is a
90 durometer polyurethane friction wheel available from
Meridian Laboratories in Middleton, Wisconsin.
Friction wheels 44 are driven in the X-coordinate
direction by a belt driving system shown generally at 46 in
FIG. 2. A DC servo motor 48 mounted to side support 40
drives a torgue translation tube 50 by means of timing belt
52. Torque translation tube 50 extends through rectangular
hollow support beam 36 and translates the torque of the DC
servo motor 48 to uniformly drive both pairs of friction
wheels 44.
A drive belt 54 interconnects each pair of
friction wheels 44 to a corresponding end of the torque
translation tube SO such that both pairs of friction wheels
44 are driven evenly along the spreading table 32. Tension
is maintained on the drive belts 54 by belt tensioning
pulleys 56 and 58. Where greater accuracy and reduced
slippage is desired, timing belt 52 and drive belts 54 may
be positive drive belts interfitting timing belt pulleys and
wheels. In the present embodiment, timing belt 52 and drive
belts 54 are fabricated from polyurethane however, a wide
variety of other belting material could be substituted
including rubber, plastics and metals.
--10--
2035770
1 In one particularly advantageous embodiment of the
present invention the spreading table 32 is provided with a
shoulder track 60 along a longitudinal outside edge (See
~IGS. 1-3). A pair of grooved track wheels 62 is provided
on the side support 40 corresponding to shoulder track 60 to
guide and align the automated labeling apparatus 30 as it is
driven along the spreading table 32.
Where a spreading table is not provided with a
shoulder track 60 (best seen in Fig. 3A), the grooved track
wheels 62 are replaced with spring loaded rollers 66 on both
sides of the table. The rollers 66 contact the vertical
edges 70 of spreading table 68, perpendicular to the table
surface. The spring loaded rollers 66 serve to compensate
for irregularities in the width of the spreading table 68
while maintaining the automated labeling apparatus 30 in
alignment as it is driven along spreading table 68 by
friction wheels 44.
Due to the non-uniform flatness of the spreading
table surface over which hollow beam 36 travels, it is
preferred that only one of the side supports 40 is mounted
rigidly to the beam. It is particularly advantageous to
provide a pivot 72 at the intersection of the side support
which mounts the DC servo motor 48. The pivot 72 allows the
beam 36 to compensate for surface anomalies in the table 32
and still maintain all of the friction wheels 44 in contact
with the table surface. This pivot 72 effectively
translates the four point support system created by friction
wheels 44 into a three point floating support system.
In embodiments utilizing the pivotally mounted
beam structure, maintaining proper tension on the driving
203S770
1 belts 54 and the timing belt 52 is an important factor. One
means of addressing this is to mount the DC servo motor
drive pulley 74 directly beneath the torque translation tube
50, on the same geometric axis. With this arrangement, the
tension on the belts is maintained despite pivotal motion of
the beam.
The automated labeling apparatus 30 is adapted for
controlled movement along the length of the spreading table
32. In the present embodiment, the linear positioning of
the apparatus along spreading table 32 is accomplished by an
optical encoder 76 mounted to the side support 40 adjacent
rail 60 on a spring loaded mounting plate 78. A
polyurethane friction wheel 80 is mounted to the shaft of
the encoder 76. As the apparatus moves along the spreading
table 32, contact between the spreading table surface and
the encoder 76 results in a translation of the linear motion
of the apparatus to rotational motion of the encoder 76.
The apparatus utilizes the encoder feedback information for
both closed loop servo control and positional feedback.
At least one printer-load station 42 is provided
with the automated labeling apparatus of the present
invention in order to print and deliver information labels
84 to a plurality of label carriage assemblies 38. In a
preferred embodiment of the present invention, one printer-
load station 42 is secured to each end of support beam 36.
The printer-load station supports a label supply, a label
printer and means for delivering the printed labels to a
label carriage assembly 38. In the embodiment shown in Fig.
9, a web of material containing adhesive backed blank labels
86 on roller 90 is supported on mounting plate 82. A take
up roller 92 is positioned above roller 90 to collect the
2035770
1 carrier web of material 98 after the printed labels have
been removed.
The web of blank labels 86 is threaded to thermal
printer 94 mounted in the same vertical plane as roller 90.
Thermal printers are well known in the art and are available
from a variety of commercial sources including Seiko
Instruments USA Inc. of Torrance, California. Although a
thermal printer is used in this embodiment of the invention,
any acceptable printer can be utilized including
electrostatic, ink jet, or other type. The thermal printer
94 is capable of both alphanumeric and bar code printing.
Predetermined information in the desired form is printed on
the label as the web passes through the printer 94.
A sharply angled peeler bar 96 is positioned
beyond the printer 94 and serves to remove the printed
adhesive backed label 84 from the carrier web 98 as the web
passes over the edge of the peeler bar 96. The carrier web
98 is then wound onto take up roller 92.
A motor 100 is coupled to take up roller 92
through a clutch mechanism to ensure uniform tension on the
web during advancement. In addition, stationary idlers 102
are provided to guide the web along the loop from roller 90
to takeup roller 92.
The type and characteristics of the label material
used will be determined by the particular application. For
example, in the garment industry the material onto which the
label is applied is usually a woven fabric type and the
labels should adhere reliably. The label should also be
easily removable without damaging the material or leaving
any adhesive residue. In a particularly advantageous
embodiment of the present invention, blank labels supplied
-13-
203~77 0
1 by Ever Ready Label, Belleville, N.J. as thermal paper no.
Ricoh-13OLAM are used. These labels have been found to
provide good adhesion and be easily and completely removable
without adhesive residue.
A plurality of label carriage assemblies 38 are
mounted on hollow support beam 36 for controlled
longitudinal movement thereon. In the present embodiment,
two label carriage assemblies 38 are mounted on opposing
vertical faces of support beam 36. The two label carriage
assemblies 38 of the present embodiment are mounted on
bearing carriages movably supported longitudinally on a
circular rail 104 which is mounted along the front and rear
vertical faces of the beam 36. It is contemplated that
addition label carriage assemblies may be incorporated on
the support beam to enhance labeling speed and capacity.
For example, the carriages may be arranged in various
configurations including the use of three carriage
assemblies, each responsible for overlapping areas of the
layup or four or more carriage assemblies designed to
cooperate to label predefined portions of the layup.
An opposing cam and roller are used to secure the
lower end of the label carriage assemblies 38 to U-shaped
longitudinal channels 106 formed in the lower vertical of
faces of the support beam 36. This provides a secure and
stable attachment for the label carriage assembly and
prevents rotation about circular rail 104.
The label carriage assemblies 38 are capable of
unrestricted movement along the Y-coordinate direction and
can move independent of each other. One particularly
advantageous bearing assembly is the Round Way~ bearing
2035770
1 available from Thomson Industries, Inc. of Port Washington,
N.Y.
Referring to Figs. 10-12, each label carriage
assembly 38 is drive in the Y-coordinate direction by a DC
servo motor 108 connected to a polyurethane Gilmer or
positive drive belt 110. Drive pulley assembly 112 is
mounted at one end of hollow support beam 36 with idler
pulley 114 mounted at the opposite end thereof in the same
longitudinal plane. Positive drive belt 110 is tensioned
between both the drive pulley assembly 112 and the idler
pulley 114 such that half of the length of belt 110 is
positioned outside hollow support beam 36 and the other half
of the length of the belt 110 is routed inside the beam 36.
A separate DC servo motor drive belt 116 interconnects the
shaft of DC servo motor 108 and drive pulley assembly 112.
In one particularly advantageous embodiment,
positive drive belt 110 is formed by joining proximate 118
and distal ends 120 of a length of drive belt material as
shown in Fig. 12. The belt material is looped over and the
ends 118, 120 are butted together as shown. A small
connecting piece of the same positive drive belt material
122 is used to help join the ends. By interlocking the
teeth of the connecting piece of belt material 122 with the
teeth of the butted ends 118, 120 of the belt material, the
ends 118, 120 are positioned in accurate alignment. Outer
and inner plates, 124 and 126, respectively, are positioned
at the joined ends and are bolted together to form a secure
joint. Label carriage assembly 38 is bolted through the
outer plate 124, the butted belt ends 118, 120 and the inner
plate 126 forming a strong and sturdy bond between the label
carriage assembly 38 and the positive drive belt 110.
2035770
1 In one preferred embodiment of the present
invention illustrated in Figs 5-8, each label carriage
assembly 38 comprises three major components. The first of
these components is a rotatable drum 128 adapted to hold a
plurality of printed labels 84. The rotatable drum 128 is
cylindrical in shape and rotates transversely through its
center axis.
Drum 128 is provided with a plurality of flats 130
along its circumferences and tangent to the periphery of the
drum surface for receiving printed labels 84 face down.
Labels 84 are held in position on the flats 130 by spring
loaded pins 132 located along the perimeter of the drum 128
and positioned to engage the outside edges of the printed
labels 84. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5-8, there are
two pins 132 for each flat on the surface of drum 128. A
stepper motor 134 provides controlled rotational motion of
drum 128 through drive belt 136.
Due to the random nature of the shapes of the
various pattern pieces 138 to be labeled, it is sometimes
necessary to apply the printed label 84 in an angular
orientation (See FIG. 4). In order to facilitate placement
of labels in any desired angular orientation, an angular
control mechanism is provided as the second major component
of the label carriage assembly. Drum 128 is mounted to the
label carriage assembly on a vertical spring loaded shaft
140 perpendicular to the drum's axis of rotation. A stepper
motor 142 drives a pulley 144 through drive belt 146.
Pulley 144 is attached to the upper end of vertical spring
loaded shaft 140 for rotation about a horizontal plane.
Activation of stepper motor 142 controls the degree of
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2035770
1 angular rotation of drum 128 prior to application of the
printed label 84.
The third major component of the label carriage
assembly is the height control mechanism for controlling
movement of the drum 128 in the Z-coordinate direction. A
clearance between drum 128 and the surface of the layup of
sheet material 34 is maintained whenever label carriage
assembly 38 is not actually applying a label 84. This is to
allow the apparatus 30 to traverse the entire surface of the
spreading table 32 in the X- and Y-coordinate directions
without interfering with the sheet material 34 spread on the
table. Once label carriage assembly 38 is brought into
position over the location where a printed label 84 is to be
applied, drum 128 is lowered into contact with the top layer
of the sheet material 34. Vertical movement of the label
carriage assembly is accomplished by means of a vertically
mounted lead screw 148, directly coupled by a helical flex
coupling 150 to a stepper motor 152. Two additional Round
Way~ bearings 149 are provided parallel to lead screw 148
for alignment and support of the carriage in the Z-
coordinate direction. Activation of stepper motor 152
provides the vertical motion required to lower drum 128 to
the sheet material surface and return it back to an elevated
position.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the
present invention, the label carriage assembly 38 further
includes a contact sensor mechanism for sensing and
adjusting vertical travel of the drum. The contact sensor
mechanism includes a wire cage presser foot 154 (best seen
in FIGS. 7-8) which activates a micro switch 156 when it
comes in contact with the top surface of the layup of sheet
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1 material 34 (shown in phantom in FIG. 7). Feedback from
this contact sensor mechanism allows the automated labeling
apparatus to automatically accommodate variations in the
height of the layup of sheet material 34 without requiring
manual setting and adjustment. Activation of the presser
foot also ensures that the sheet material is not disturbed
during the labeling process. Furthermore, the label
carriage assembly 38 is protected from the shock or damage
caused by impact of the drum 128 on the layup of sheet
material 34 by the vertical spring loaded shaft 140 which
acts as a shock absorber to absorb impact force.
A central processing computer 158 controls and
coordinates all of the functions of the labeling apparatus
30 including, inter alia, movement in the X-, Y- and Z-
coordinate direction, printing of labels with predeterminedinformation, loading of preprinted labels onto the drum 128
as well as diagnostic self checks of the automated systems.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the
present invention a standard IBM personal computer is
programmed with the coordinates of the predetermined label
locations within the periphery or profile of the pattern
pieces 138 to be subsequently cut from the layup of sheet
material 34 (See FIG. 4). The computer 158 is also provided
with the appropriate identifying indicia to be printed on
each label. This information is compiled and a labeling
sequence is determined for the most efficient throughput for
a given layup of sheet material.
Using well known numerical control techniques for
the control of multi-axis machines, the computer 158
sequences the printing, loading, alignment, application and
reloading of labels by the labeling apparatus 30. Since
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1 both numerical control techniques and position programming
is well known to those skilled in the art, an exhaustive
description of those techniques are not provided.
Operation of the automated labeling apparatus 30
in accordance with the present invention will occur
generally in the following sequence. First, at least one
layer of sheet material 34 is spread out and inspected on a
spreading table 32. In most instances a number of spreading
tables will be in use simultaneously in order to provide a
continuous volume of material to the cutter operation (not
shown).
The automated labeling apparatus is brought to the
spreading table 32, preferably on a transfer table 160, and
moved into position over the layup to be labeled. AC power
is picked up from a power channel 162 through a sliding plug
164 which is adapted to travel along power channel 162 in
the X-coordinate direction as the apparatus moves.
The automated labeling apparatus 30 is then
indexed at a predetermined position on the layup of sheet
material 34. This indexing provides a reference point from
which the central processing unit 158 directs the movement
and operation of the labeling apparatus. In a preferred
embodiment of the invention, a bright LED pointer 166 is
mounted to the labeling ca~riage assemblies (see FIG. 7).
This pointer 166 aids the operator of the equipment in
accurately positioning the apparatus for indexing.
At this stage, a diagnostic check can be run to
insure that all of the assemblies are operating properly.
Once proper operation is confirmed, the operator initiates
the labeling seguence. The label carriage assemblies 38 are
moved to their respective load stations 42 and present the
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2035770
1 drum 128 in position in front of the peeler bar 96 of the
printer-load station as shown in FIG. 9. The bottom edge of
the peeler bar 96 is situated above the flats 130 on the
drum 128. By accessing the data file containing the label
information within the central processing unit 158 the
printer is directed to print the labels in the sequence in
which they are to be applied.
As the printed labels 84 pass over the edge of the
peeler bar 96, the printed labels are separated from the
carrier web 98. The printed label 84, adhesive side up, is
directed onto a flat 130 on the cylindrical drum 128. As
the label 84 moves onto the flat 130, spring loaded pins 132
are electromagnetically raised to accommodate the label
between the pins. When the label is in position, the pins
132 are retracted to their original position. Label 84 will
remain in position on the flat 130 of the drum 128 by the
force imposed by the heads of pins 132.
Drum 128 is then rotated to the next flat 130 to
receive another label. This process is repeated for each of
the flats on the drum. In a preferred embodiment of the
invention, an optical sensor 168 is provided to verify that
all of the flats 130 have been properly loaded.
Once the drums 128 have been loaded with printed
labels 84, the label carriage assemblies 38 are moved out of
the printer-load station 42 and begin the label placement
process. The data file containing the numerical placement
data for the labels in the X- and Y-coordinate directions
and angular placement data is accessed and the central
processing unit 158 directs the labeling apparatus to the
first placement position. Once in position over the desired
label location, the proper angle is set and the drum 128 is
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1 oriented so that the label to be applied is above and
horizontal to the surface of the sheet material 34.
Second optical sensor 170 may optionally be
provided adjacent the placement position of drum 128 (see
FIG. 6) to insure that the label is properly in place on
flat 130 prior to application.
With the label carriage assembly 38 in place, the
drum 128 is lowered to contact the surface of the layup of
sheet material 34 and then raised to an elevated position
above the applied label 84. The adhesive force of the label
84 overcomes the holddown force of the pins 132 and the
label 84 remains securely in place on the top layer of sheet
material.
A third optical sensor 172 may also be provided
adjacent the placement position of drum 128 (see FIG. 6~ and
is used as the placement feedback sensor. Where this sensor
is utilized, the drum 128 is positioned in front of the
sensor and scanned to insure that the label is not still
affixed to the flat 130.
This process continues until all of the printed
labels retained on drum 128 have been applied to their
predetermined location on the top sheet of the layup.
Efficient operation and fast throughput of the layup is
accomplished by having one label carriage assembly applying
labels as the second label carriage assembly is reloading
its drum 128. In this fashion, label loading and
application are taking place simultaneously. This ensures
that the apparatus 30 always has a loaded carriage ready for
application.
In the event of a malfunction, the central
processing unit 158 will cease labeling operations and
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- 2035770
1 return the malfunctioning labeling carriage assembly to the
operator's station for repair. For example, if a label has
been retained by the drum 128, the carriage will return and
allow the operator to remove the problem label. The
apparatus is then reactivated and the misapplied label data
is added back into the system for reprinting and
reapplication.
Once the entire layup of sheet material has been
labeled, the sliding plug 164 of the automated labeling
apparatus is disconnected from the power channel 162 and the
apparatus is rolled onto transfer table 160 for movement to
an adjacent spreading table. The process then continues as
above.
To the extent not already indicated, it also will
be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that any
one of the various specific embodiments herein described and
illustrated may be further modified to incorporate features
shown in other of the specific embodiments.
The invention in its broader aspects therefore is
not limited to the specific embodiments herein shown and
described but departures may be made therefrom within the
scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the
principles of the invention and without sacrificing its
chief advantages.
