CA1089811A - Method and apparatus for applying a label to an object - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for applying a label to an objectInfo
- Publication number
- CA1089811A CA1089811A CA288,059A CA288059A CA1089811A CA 1089811 A CA1089811 A CA 1089811A CA 288059 A CA288059 A CA 288059A CA 1089811 A CA1089811 A CA 1089811A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tape
- label
- indexing
- loop
- labels
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
- B65C9/00—Details of labelling machines or apparatus
- B65C9/08—Label feeding
- B65C9/18—Label feeding from strips, e.g. from rolls
- B65C9/1865—Label feeding from strips, e.g. from rolls the labels adhering on a backing strip
- B65C9/1876—Label feeding from strips, e.g. from rolls the labels adhering on a backing strip and being transferred by suction means
- B65C9/188—Label feeding from strips, e.g. from rolls the labels adhering on a backing strip and being transferred by suction means the suction means being a vacuum drum
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
- B65C3/00—Labelling other than flat surfaces
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T156/00—Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
- Y10T156/17—Surface bonding means and/or assemblymeans with work feeding or handling means
- Y10T156/1702—For plural parts or plural areas of single part
- Y10T156/1744—Means bringing discrete articles into assembled relationship
- Y10T156/1768—Means simultaneously conveying plural articles from a single source and serially presenting them to an assembly station
- Y10T156/1771—Turret or rotary drum-type conveyor
- Y10T156/1773—For flexible sheets
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for the high speed labeling of objects includ-ing fruits and the like in which the object is brought to a labeling station by an endless conveyor. The labels are re-leasably mounted on a carrier tape which is stored on a supply reel. The tape is pulled from the supply reel by a knurled roller which impresses a pattern on the outer surface of each label in order to allow it to more readily conform to non-planar surface portions of the object to be labeled. A feed storage loop is formed in the tape by an oscillatable tension regulating arm which controls actuation and deactuation of the knurled roller, dependent upon the position of the arm. The tape then forms an indexing segment which passes through a transfer station, and as each label centers an indexing block in the transfer station, its presence is sensed by suitable label detecting means. Indexing movement of the tape through the indexing block is initiated by object detecting means lo-cated in a predetermined position relative to the conveyor to sense the presence of an object thereon to be labeled. When the object detecting means is actuated by the presence of the object, the tape is indexed, i.e., moved forward and around a sharp bend to strip a detected label from the tape and cause it to be located in a label holding frame. As this occurs, a label transfer wheel is rotated past the label holding frame, and a suction cup that moves in timed relation with the detected object on the conveyor, passes closely adjacent to the label. At this point, a vacuum is applied to the suction cup, which causes it to grip the imprinted surface of the la-bel and carry it from the holding frame as the transfer wheel rotates. The timed movement of the suction cup, and the in-dicated object on the conveyor causes the two to come to-gether with the label to be pressed against a surface of the object, at which time the vacuum is released. Substantially simultaneously, a thin lip of the suction cup is deformed by reaction to pressing against the object, thereby connecting the cup interior with the atmosphere and insuring release of the label from the cup. After the labels have been removed from the tape, the tape passes into a take-up storage loop formed by a second oscillatable tension regulating arm which controls the intermittent actuation of a motor driven take-up reel.
Description
BACKGROUN~ OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of applying labels to fruits, vegetables, and other objects of varying size.
There has been a growing need in the packaging industry for machines which could successfully apply sophisticated and complex markings to fruit and other objects at relative-ly high operating speeds, and particularly indicia which might include a multiplicity of colors as well as printing and other markings of complex con~iguration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates more specifically to a method and apparatus for applying adhesively pressure bonded labels in a continuous operation to iruits and other objects, and particularly to spheroidal suri'ace areas. as well as other non-planar surfaces, at high operating speeds.
The mechanism ~or supplying the ~ruits or objects com-prises a conveyor such as, ~or example, a conveyor o~ a type illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 3,277,815 which operates to pre-orient the ~ruit as it approaches the labeling station.
The tape ~eeding mechanism is arranged to feed the la-bel carrying tape into a constant tension storage ieed loop which coacts with a constant tension take-up loop to create a central indexing loop having a low constant tension and substantially inertia ~ree dynamic portion which may be ra-pidly accelerated at high speed during indexing operations o~ the tape, during which the tape is moved ~orwardly around a sharp bend to ei'i'ect removal oi' a label and its deposit in-to a holding frame.
As the tape is fed into the ~eed storage loop, it passes over a knurled roller which impresses a pattern on the outer sur~ace of each label that allows the label to more readily conform to curved surface portions of the fruit or object dur-ing its application thereto.
Indexing movements of the tape are controlled by detect-ing means which senses the arrival of objects on the conveyor at a predetermined position, and in order that appropriate la-bels will be moved into the holder only when there will be a sensed object arriving in the labeling section to receive the label.
A transfer wheel carries a plurality of suction cups which are supported on flexible sequential sections of the wheel and arranged to successively grippingly pick up the la-bels ~rom the holder frame and transport them to and apply them to the iruit or objects as they arrive at the labeling station. The transfer wheel assembly embodies a valving mechanism which is arranged to connect a vacuum source with each suction cup as it picks up a label, and therea~ter dis-connect the vacuum as the label is being applied to the ob-ject or ~ruit.
Further objects and advantages oi the invention will be brought out in the following part of the speci~ication, where-in detailed description is ~or the purpose of fully disclos-ing the invention without placing limitations thereon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings, which are to be regarded as merely illustrative:
Fig. 1 is an elevational view o~ apparatus according to the present invention, as seen from an end thereo~ adjacent the labeling station;
Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in s~ction, as seen along the line 2-2 of Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantial-ly on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary seGtional view, taken substan-tially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, and showing details of the va-cuum control valve means;
Fig. 5 is a iragmentary side elevational view showing the tape system and control means therefor as employed with the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 5, and showing details o~ the tape pinch roll drive and label knurling means;
Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through the drive and knurling means, taken substantially on line 7-7 oi Fig.
6;
Fig. 8 is an enlarged iragmentary view diagrammatically illustrating the cooperative operation of the driving and knurling rollers for impressing the knurling pattern on a label carried by the tape;
Fig. 9 is a iragmentary plan view o~ an exemplary la-bel, mounted on a carrying tape and knurled in such a manner that the printed sur~ace oi the tape is weakened but not torn;
Fig. 10 is an enlarged side, sectional view taken through the indexing block and showing the path oi travel oi the la-bel-carrying tape therethrough;
Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 11-11 oi Fig. 10, and showing the relationship oi the indexing block and label transierring wheel;
Fig. lla is an enlargement oi the sectional portion oi the label holding ~rame, as indicated at lla in Fig. 11;
Fig. 12 is a iragmentary plan view illustrating the de-tails of the mounting o~ the label holding frame on the in-dexing means, as seen along a line 12-12 oi Fig. 10;
Fig. 13 is a fragmentary plan view oi a suction cup and its surrounding surface at the periphery oi the transier wheel;
Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional view of the indexing block, taken substantially on line 14-14 of Fig. 10;
Fig. 15 is a greatly enlarged view, partly in section, and illustrating the operative relationship of the transfer wheel and the conveyor at the time a label is being applied to an object;
Fig. 16 is a view similar to that of Fig. 13, and il-lustrating the deformation of the transier wheel and suction cup during the time the label is being applied to the ob-ject; and Fig. 17 is a schematic illustration of the operativecomponents of the apparatus of the present invention and the means ~or controlling their operation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 15, there is shown a conveyor generally illustrated at 21 comprising a plurality o~ rollers 23 which are mounted to extend between a pair oi spaced apart parallel chains 25 ior translational movement, although not illustrated in the drawings, the ends o~ the rollers are arranged to contact iixed support means so that, as the chains 25 move the rollers in translation, they are rotated by frictional contact with the iixed support.
As is particularly well illustrated in Fig. 1, the rol-lers are provided with sleeves or otherwise suitably shaped so as to ~orm pockets 27 therebetween. An object 31, such as the illustrated orange to be labeled, is carried in the pocket ~ormed by adjacent rollers. Thus, as has been shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,971,459, the oranges will be rotated to correspondingly orient their longer axes due to the sinusoidal geome~ry o~ the pockets. As will be realized, the rotation of the oranges aids in the proper seating o~ a label thereon.
Of course, those skilled in the art will realize that, while the conveyor 21 illustrated in these drawings is the presently preferred structure, any suitable conveyor may be utilized and its choice may depend as much upon the type of object to be labeled, as any other factor.
A suitable fruit detector 33, as shown in Fig. 2, is mounted adjacent the conveyor so as to sense the presence of an orange or object in any particular pocket. At the present time, it is envisioned that the fruit detector may comprise an operatively associated suitable light emitter means and photo-electric detection means to sense the passage of an object either by causing the object to intercept a light beam between the emitter and the detection means, or to cause the object to reflect the light beam from the emitter toward the detection means. Regardless o~ the type of detection un-it employed, those skilled in the art will rea~ize that the objective here is merely the detection o~ the arrival o~ the object at a predetermined location in relation to a labeling station as generally indicated at 37.
When the labeled objects have passed the labeling sta-tion 37, the labeled objects may be discharged ~rom the con-veyor into a trough 39 or other desired handling device.
~ n the illustrated embodiment, the conveyor is arranged to be driven by a motor 41 (Fig. l) acting through a chain or bolt drive 43 to rotate a conveyor shaft 45 which carries a pair o~ chain driving sprockets 47 (Fig. 2) respectively en-gaged with the conveyor chains 25 to drive the conveyor in the direction indicated by the arrow 49 in Fig. 2. Also, securely mounted on the conveyor drive shait 45 is a rotary platen 46 having spokes 48 which extend between adjacent rol-lers and assist in supporting the object during the applica-tion of the label. If desired, the end of each spoke may be provided with a tip 48a of suitable resilient material to prevent injury to the object, when such object is a fruit such as an orange.
As shown in Fig. 1, there may also be fixedly mounted on the shaft 45 a gear 51 which is located in driving relation-ship with a gear 53 ~ixedly mounted on a sha~t 55 in order that these shafts may be rotated in synchronism. Both shafts 45 and 55 are mounted for rOtation in appropriate bearings mounted on frame members 57.
As best shown in Figs. 2, 10, and 15, a label transfer wheel 61 is mounted on the sha~t 55 for rotation therewith, and comprises a plurality o~ segmental sections 63 which are constructed o~ a relatively ~lexible or pliable material.
Re~erring now particularly to Flgs. 2 and 3, a sleeve 65 is shown as being ~ixed to the sha~t 55 ~or rotation therewith, and also being coupled to an axially aligned man-ifold shai't 67 ~or unitary rotation therwith. The sleeve 65 has a substantially square opening therethrough and the shaits 55 and 67 are also oi square form ~or so much thereoi' as is wlthin the sleeve 65. Although any suitable shaft and sleeve shape may be employed, it will be appreciated that the square or rectangular con~igurations will iacilitate the installation of the segmental sections 63 to the sleeve and improve the drivability, without slip. Thus, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, each section 63 is ~astened to the sleeve 65 by means o~ a plate or bar 69 and suitable retaining bolts 71. This ar-rangement not only simpli~ies mounting oi the sections o~
the wheel, but also improves the ability o~ each section to flex relative to the sleeve and to each other.
As seen at the right hand portion o~ Fig. 3, the sha~t 67 is rotatably supported by a suitable bearing 75 and terminates at its outer end in a portion o~ reduced diameter 77 which is rotatably seated within an end socket 79 o~ a stationary val-ving member 81. The other end of the valving member is also formed with an end socket 83 which is separated from the end soc~et 79 by a partition wall 85 containing a valving orifice 87. The end socket 83 at its outer end is connected with an end of a pipe 89 by a connection plug 91 of plastic or other suitable material, this plug being secured as by retaining screws 93. The inner end of the plug 91 is spaced from the bottom of the socket 83 and cooperates therewith to form a chamber 95 having communication with the valving orifice 87 and the pipe 89. A U-shaped strap 91 has its leg portions secured to the ~rame 57, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and at its bridging portion is provided with clamping means 93 which may be actuated in a well known manner as by a clamping bolt 95 to grip and hold the pipe 89 in fixed position.
As illustrated in Fig. 1, the pipe 89 is arranged for connection with a vacuum system so as to continuously main-tain a fluid suction in the chamber 95 in communication with the valving orifice 87, As shown in Fig. 4, the valving ori-~ice 87 is shaped to provide a ~low channel having a trans-verse configuration similar to a "comma" and progressivelydecreases from a large flow area at one end to a minimum flow area at the other end. On the other side of the partition wall 85, the manifold shaft 67 is formed to provide a plura-lity o~ circumferentially spaced bores 113 which successively communicate with the orifice 87 as the shaft 67 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4. As can be seen, the ~low through each bore 113 will vary from a maximum, when in registration with the large end of the ori~ice 87, and decrease gradually to a minimum as it moves to the small end, and is finally cut off by movement out of registration.
As best shown in Figs. 3, 10 and 15, each bore 113 con-nects with a radially oriented flexible conduit 121 that leads to a suction cup 127 mounted in the central area of an up-raised pressure pad or protuberance 125 at the periphery ofeach segmental section 63. The suction cup 127 is formed with a very thin, pliable lip 128. For a purpose to be ex-plained later, a groove or recess 1~9 is formed to extend about the suction cup lip.
From a consideration of Fig. 2-4 and 15, it will be realized that as the label transfer wheel rotates, the sec-tions 63 will be carried successively through a point verti-cally positioned above the axis of rotation o~ the mani~old shaft 67, and that at this point the suction cups 127 of each section will be placed initially in communication with the vacuum source via the radial conduit 121, the associated axial bore 113, the valving ori~ice 87, and the pipe 89. As the transi'er wheel 61 continues its rotation in a clockwise di-rection, as viewed in Fig. 2, suction will continue to be applied to the suction cup in a gradually decreasing amount, as determined by the narrowing of the width of the ori~ice 87, until the suction cup reachss a point vertically positioned directly below the axis o~ rotation o~ the mani~old shaft 67.
As the wheel rotation carries the suction cup through this lower point the suction will be cut o~ entirely and remain cut o~f until the suction cup again reaches the upper point.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the apparatus iurther includ-`
es a mechanism for successively supplying the re~uired labels irom a suitable label source in a manner which will permit their being successively picked up by the suction cups 127 on the label trans~er wheel 61 at the previously mentioned upper point and carried to the lower point, where they are succes-sively applied to the objects as they arrive on the conveyor.
The mechanism ior ~upplying the labels is contained with-in a suitable housing 151 which is positioned in a location generally above that oi' the associated transfer wheel 61 and the conveyor 21. Pre~erably, the housing 151 is supported so 1~ 4~
that its operating position with respect to the transfer ~heel 61 can be variably adjusted as to alignment and spacing.
For such purpose, as shown in Fig. 1, the housing 151 is sup-ported at one end of a horizontally extending arm 150 by suit-able conventional vertically movable means 152 which can be adjusted by an operating crank 154. The arm 150 is suitably supported for axial adjustment at the upper end of a rotatably mounted post support 156 which can be releasably held in an adjusted position by a suitable clamp 158.
More specifically, as shown in Fig. 5, the housing 151 mounts a tape supply reel 153 for a label carrying web or tape 155. Preferably, the tape is pre-treated to releasably affix a plurality of labels 170 thereto, each of said labels having a printed surface on the side thereof away from the tape and an adhesive bonding surface on the side thereof in engagement with the tape. The aifixed labels will adhere to the tape until they are peeled off, but the adherence will be relatively light so that peeling can be easily accomplished.
As shown, the tape is moved past a suitable microswitch 157 which may be utilized for stopping the apparatus by pro-viding a stop signal when the end of the tape is withdrawn from the reel 153. Also, as illustrated, suitable locating and/or tensioning rollers 159 are operatively associated with the tape 155.
The tape is withdrawn irom the supply reel 153 by a pair of pinch rollers 161 and 163 rotatably mounted within a sub-housing 165. As shown in Fig. 6, the roller 161 is formed with a knurled sur~ace, while the roller 163 has a relatively smooth sur~ace. Within the housing 165, the roller 163 is mounted within a carrier 173 which is supported for guided movement towards the roller 161 in opposition to a biasing Yorce produced by a plurality of compression springs 175. The springs 175 may be positioned at various locations (such as i4.~
the four illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7) between the carrier 173 and portions of the housing 165 in which the roller 161 is ro-tatably mounted. The carrier 173 is arranged to be actuated toward the roller 161 by means of a manually operable cam le-ver 179. Thus, when it is desired to thread the tape 155 be-tween the rollers, the cam lever 179 may be rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 7, allowing the rollers to be separated slightly by the action of the springs 175 so that the tape can be easily threaded between them. Then, the cam lever 179 may be rotated back to the position illustrated so as to bias the rollers toward one another. As seen in Fig.
6, the cam lever 179 may be biased toward a predetermined position relative to the carrier 173 by means of a spring 181 which may be coaxially located on the shaft upon which the cam lever 179 is rotatably mounted.
The roller 161 may be mounted for rotation with or rela-tive to a shaft 183 within the housing 165. The roller may be fixed to a drive sprocket 185 for rotation by means of a toothed drive belt 189, as illustrated in Fig. 5, driven by a suitable driving motor 191. Thus, when the motor 191 is energized, the rollers 161 and 163 will draw the tape 155 from the reel 153, and as the tape passes between the rol-lers, the knurled surface of the roller 161 will impress a crosscross pattern on the printed surface or face of each la-bel 170, as illustrated in Fig. 9, which will enable the label to more easily adhere to an uneven or curved surface. Upon leaving the pinch rollers 161 and 163, the tape is carried through an ad~ustable feed storage loop 155a extending be-tween $he roller 161 and a fixed roller 201. The size of the loop may be varied by means of a roller 203 rotatably mounted at the outer end of a tape tension regulating arm 205 which is arranged to swing between predetermined angular locations abo~t an axle 207. The arm 205 is fixed to a disc 209 upon which a pair of mag~ets ~11 and 213 are mounted.
The arm 205 is biased for movement in a counterclockwisedirection about axle 207, as seen in Fig. 5, by means of a conventional constant tension spring 215. A sensing device 217 is operably associated with the disc 209 for selective actuation by the magnets 211 and 213 to generate start and stop signals, respectively, for the control of the motor 191.
As thus arranged, when sufficient tape is drawn from the feed storage loop 155a to swing the roller 203 to the position as shown in phantom lines at 203a, the magnet 111 will activate the sensing device 217 to start the motor 191 so as to drive the pinch rollers 161 and 163 and feed additional tape into the storage loop until the roller 203 moves to the phantom line position 203b, under the force of the constant tension spring 215, whereupon the magnet 213 will activate the sensing de~ice 217 to stop the motor 191 and discontinue the ~urther feeding of tape to the storage loop until the stored supply is again depleted.
A safety feature is provided to stop the operation of the apparatus in the event the tape should break, and for this purpose a detector 219 in the form of a microswitch, as shown in Fig. 5, is positioned in the path of movement of the arm 205 where it will be operated thereby if the arm is per-mitted to swing beyond the roller position 203b.
As the tape passes the idler roller 201, it enters the central indexing loop 155b, during which time it is carried through an indexing or transfer head 225, wherein the labels are stripped from the tape and transferred to the label transfer wheel 61 in a manner which will be described pre-sently.
The indexing loop 155b of the tape travel path is thecentral dynamic portion of the tape system, and it is in this part of the tape system that it is extremely important to lÇ:t~maintain as low a tension on the tape as possible, to maintain the tension at a constant value, and to present the tape to the label transfer station under a practically inertia-free condition so that it can be accelerated very rapidly. In this manner, the tape can be stepped or indexed to provide the necessary start-and-stop operations in the tape mo~ement to properly transfer the labels at the proper moment. This in-dexing movement of the tape is accomplished by means of a driving stepper motor 227 which is connected by a toothed belt 229 to drivingly rotate a pair of pinch rollers 231 and 233 between which the tape passes. These rollers may be pro-vided with cam means similar to that illustrated in Fig. 7 for the releases of the rollers 161 and 163 to facilitate threading the tape therebetween.
As the tape leaves the central indexing loop it is carried over an idler roller 237, and then enters a take-up storage loop 155c formed between the roller 237 and an idler roller 201a. The loop size is controlled by a roller 203c mounted at the outer end o~ a tape tension regulating arm 205a, which may be biased for swinging movement in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, about an axle 207a by means of a conventional constant tension spring 215a.
Magnets 211a and 213a in this case selectively control a sen-sinK device 217a in a manner such that, when the roller reach-es the position 203d, the magnet 211a activates the sensor so as to energize a drive motor 241. This motor is drivingly connected by a toothed belt 243 with a take-up spool of reel 245 tor drawing tape ~rom the loop 155c. Similarly, when the roller reaches the position 203e, the magnet 213a will acti-vate the sensing device 217a to stop the drive motor 241, thereby terminating the rotation of the take-up reel 245.
The indexing motor 227 continues to pull the tape from the central indexing loop 155b into the take-up loop 155c, and as a consequence arm 205a will again move until the roller reach-es the position 203d, whereupon the take-up operation will be-gin again. As in the case of the feed storage loop 155a, a detectcr 219a is provided to stop the operation of the ap-paratus in the event of tape breakage in the loop 155c.
Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the tape is moved through the central dynamic loop 155b with a constant low tension and minimum inertia. As the tape is used in the central indexing loop 155b, the size of the feed storage loop 155a decreases and the size of the take-up storage loop 155c increases. The sensors associated with each of these loops maintain their respective drive units in the off positions until the arms 205 and 205a reach the position in which the sensors 217 and 217a are actuated by their respective magnets. At that point, the drive motors 191 and 241 are controlled to increase the size o~ the feed storage loop 155a and decrease the size of the take-up storage loop 155c in the manner described pre-viously. When these loops are at their maximum and minimum values, respectively, the magnets cooperate with the sensors to shut off the drive motors. Of course, it will be appreci-ated that these operations with respect to the two tension regulating arms need not always occur simultaneously and there is no necessity that such simultaneous operation be accom-plished.
Although not specifically shown, it is preierable that each o~ the drive motors 191 and 241 includes an associated brake of either electrical or mechanical type so that start-ing and stopping of the movements of the arms 205 and 205a will be substantially instantaneous with the actuation of their respective sensors.
Referring more particularly to Figs. 10-14, the mechan-ism for transferring a label from the tape 155 will now be described. As discussed previously, an indexing or transfer 3b~1 head 225 is located within the central indexing loop 155b of the tape in such a manner that the tape passes therethrough at a location closely adjacent the periphery of the label transfer wheel 61.
More specifically, the indexing head 225 comprises a housing 301 through which the tape of the loop 155b passes along a predetermined guide path as shown in Figs. 10 and 14.
The tape is moved past a suitable label detector which will sense the presence of the label. For example, the tape may be passed between a light beam emitter 303 and a photocell 305, as illustrated. The label detector may also be of the retroreflective type in which the light beam emitter and the photocell would be positioned on the same side of the tape.
It will be appreciated, of course, that if the label detect-or employs the broken light beam principle the tape should be translucent. On the other hand, if the reflective prin-ciple is utilized, it is imperative that the tape be non-reflective.
After passing the label detector, the tape is moved for-wordly around a sharp bend 309. As the tape traverses thebend, each label will attempt to maintain its integrity and will be peeled from the tape at its leading edge and contin-ues on into a label holding frame 311 mounted within a surface 313.
The purpose of the previously mentioned fruit detector 33 and the label detectors 303, 305 with their associated con-trol is to assure that for each detected fruit a label will be indexed into the holding frame 311 so as to be picked up by the transfer wheel 61 and applied to the detected fruit upon ~0 arrival at the labeling station.
The indexing operation is initiated by the fruit detect-or 33, which is activated by the detected fruit to produce an "on" signal to cause the motor 227 to drive the rollers 231 and 233 to advance the tape and move the detected label. By suitable control which permits the motor 227 to run for a preprogrammed length of time after the detected label has passed by the label detector, the amount of detached portion of the label to be placed in the holding frame 311 can be precisely determined and controlled irrespective of a missing label, irregularities in the label spacings, etc.
In the event a label is missing, or a label has not been detected, the indexing operation will continue until a label is delivered to the holding frame 311 for the particular detected fruit. Also, in the event that a fruit is missing on the conveyor, the fruit detector will not be activated and, as a consequence, no label will in this case be deliver-ed to the holding frame 311.
As shown in Fig. 11, the surface 313 is formed on the undersides of a pair of supports 315 and 317 which are se-parated by a channel 319 in which the frame 311 is located.
Moreover, the surface 313 is longitudinally of radial concave form about the axis of the vacuum trans~er wheel 61.
A plurality of axially spaced parallel rollers 321 are mount-ed in the support 315 and a like plurality of rollers 323 are mounted in the support 317, with portions of their outer sur-faces projecting outwardly beyond the surface 313. Prefer-ably, the rollers on one side of the channel 319 are res-pectively coaxially aligned with the rollers on the opposite side of the channel.
As part of the indexing block, these rollers serve to form dynamic stabilizing means ~or the vacuum transfer wheel 61 which may rotate and accelerate at high velocities. The rollers, which may be of Teflon or other similar material, allow smooth travel of the lateral peripheral surfaces of the segmental sections 63 as they pass through the transfer station formed by the indexing block 225. Since the sections ~c~
63 are preferably relatively flexible, so that they may be employed to firmly apply the labels to objects of varied sizes, and since the wheel will rotate at relatively high speed during operation, it becomes necessary to provide structure means which will stabilize the dynamic behavior of the wheel sections, particularly durin~ the transfer of the label from the frame 311 to the transfer wheel 61. For this purpose, the rollers 321 and 323 are located to cooperate with the peripheral lateral surfaces of the segmental sec-tions 63, as shown in Fig. 11. Thus, the protuberance 125 of each section 63, which carries the suction cup 127, will be permitted to pass through the channel 319 in the indexing head in a stabilized fashion.
As the label 170 is stripped from the tape segment 155b,it will enter the label holding frame 311 in the manner shown in Figs. lC-12. More specifically, the frame 311 is shown as comprising a base portion 331 which may be adjust-ably fastened at one end within the channel 319 as by means of the end slots 330 and screws 332. At the other end, a pair of frame arms 333 are formed to include laterally spaced extensions 331a of the base portion 331 in such a manner that the arms are flexibly mounted on the indexing head. As shown in Fig. lla, each extension 331a may be provided with an overlying section 341 which cooperates therewith to form a guide channel 342 with an inner side opening 343 for the reception of an edge margin of a label received in the frame holder~ Preferably, the overlying section 341 is of Teflon or other suitable material which will not adhere to the ad-hesi~e on the labels. When a label is deposited in the hold-ing ~rame 333, its trailing end preferably remains looselyattached to the tape segment 155b when tape movement is stopped, while the side edges of the printed surface of the label will be in contact with the arm extensions 331a. Thus, --1~--as viewed in Figs. 10 and 11, the adhesive surface of the label faces away from the transfer wheel 61 and the printed surface is located close to the wheel periphery.
In the preferred embodiment, the natural angle of in-clination of the arm extensions 331a relative to the portion of the base 331 fixed to the indexing block, is approximately 15~ downwardly as shown in 331a in Fig. 10. In other words, considering a line tangent to the periphery of the vacuum transfer wheel 61, the arms 333 extend approximately 15 below the tangent or closer to the axis of the wheel. As the wheel rotates, the protuberances push against the arms, lift-ing them until they are in a plane substantially tangent to the periphery of the protuberance as shown in Fig. 10.
As the rubber section 63 passes under the label holding frame 311, the elastic characteristics of the steel allow the arms 333 and the label being held therein to be deflect-ed from the position 311a to the position 311. Once the suction cup 127 of the protuberance or pressure pad 125 reaches a position under the label in the holding frame, the valving orifice 87 operates to connect the suction cup with the vacuum source, whereupon the vacuum cup grips the label and withdraws it from the holding frame as the transfer wheel continues to rotate. Continued rotation of the transfer wheel 61 will carry the pressure pad 125 into a position of contact with the previously detected object or ~ruit on the conveyor. As the synchronized contact movement of the pad and fruit continues, the pad 125 will be deformed with the label around the fruit, as shown in Figs. 15 an~ 16, exerting a normalizing pressure on the surface of the fruit and caus-ing the label to adhere to the fruit surface through theadhesion of the pressure sensitive adhesive thereon. The ori~ice valve 87 now functions to gradually reduce and cut o~f the vacuum applied to the suction cup as the fruit and pressure ~ad 125 begin tu move apart. During application of the label, the lip 128 of the suction cup will be deformed in-to the groove 129 surrounding it, as illustrated particularly in Fig. 16, causing the lip to separate from the label and relieve any vacuum which might be re~aining in the suction cup.
In this manner, the label is uniformly bonded to the fruit surface with little or no wrinkling. It will be apparent al-so, that the deformation of the pressure pad 125 will cause the label 170 to be pressed against the fruit substantially throughout its entire surface so as to provide total adhesion of the label to the fruit.
The operation will now be described with particular re-ference to Fig. 17. Prior to the starting of a production run, the apparatus will be provided with a supply of label bearing tape 155 which is properly threaded from the supply reel 153 through the storage loop, the indexing head, and the take-up loop back to the take-up reel 245, as shown in Fig. 5.
With the apparatus turned on, the conveyor 21 will now operate to successively advance the objects or fruit to the labeling station 37, and as each fruit approaches the label-ing station, the fruit detector 33 will produce an 'loDt' con-trol signal which will be operative through a master relay 401 to energize the stepping motor 227 which will then drive the pinch rollers 231 and 233 to draw the tape through the indexing head 225. A label 170 is delivered into the hold-ing frame 311 for subsequent application to the particular detected ~ruit.
As the conveyor continues to carry the detected fruit towards the labeling station 37, the snychronized rotation of the vacuum transfer wheel 61 will carry the pressure pad 125 into a position in which the suction cup 127 will engage the exposed printed side of the label. At this point, a vacuum source is connected with the suction c~p which then firmly grips and holds the label so that upon continued ro-tation of the trans~er wheel, the label will be withdrawnfrom the holding frame as it is carried to the labeling station for application to the surface of the detected fruit.
In the labeling station, the pressure pad will engage the outer surface of the fruit, and as the pad and fruit are synchronously moved, the pressure pad 125 will be deformed so as to firmly press the adherent side of the label against the fruit. At this point of rotation of the transfer wheel, the vacuum control will disconnect the suction cup. Simultan-eously, the deformation of the pressure pad acts to deformthe lip of the suction cup in such a manner that any vacuum remaining in the suction cup will be relieved with respect to the associated label. The labeled fruit is then discharged from the conveyor into the receiving trough 39. As the ap-paratus continues to operate, labels will be applied in a similar manner to each detected fruit.
Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention described herein, and hence, there is no wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, ex-cept to the extent indicated in the appended claims.
The present invention relates generally to the field of applying labels to fruits, vegetables, and other objects of varying size.
There has been a growing need in the packaging industry for machines which could successfully apply sophisticated and complex markings to fruit and other objects at relative-ly high operating speeds, and particularly indicia which might include a multiplicity of colors as well as printing and other markings of complex con~iguration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates more specifically to a method and apparatus for applying adhesively pressure bonded labels in a continuous operation to iruits and other objects, and particularly to spheroidal suri'ace areas. as well as other non-planar surfaces, at high operating speeds.
The mechanism ~or supplying the ~ruits or objects com-prises a conveyor such as, ~or example, a conveyor o~ a type illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 3,277,815 which operates to pre-orient the ~ruit as it approaches the labeling station.
The tape ~eeding mechanism is arranged to feed the la-bel carrying tape into a constant tension storage ieed loop which coacts with a constant tension take-up loop to create a central indexing loop having a low constant tension and substantially inertia ~ree dynamic portion which may be ra-pidly accelerated at high speed during indexing operations o~ the tape, during which the tape is moved ~orwardly around a sharp bend to ei'i'ect removal oi' a label and its deposit in-to a holding frame.
As the tape is fed into the ~eed storage loop, it passes over a knurled roller which impresses a pattern on the outer sur~ace of each label that allows the label to more readily conform to curved surface portions of the fruit or object dur-ing its application thereto.
Indexing movements of the tape are controlled by detect-ing means which senses the arrival of objects on the conveyor at a predetermined position, and in order that appropriate la-bels will be moved into the holder only when there will be a sensed object arriving in the labeling section to receive the label.
A transfer wheel carries a plurality of suction cups which are supported on flexible sequential sections of the wheel and arranged to successively grippingly pick up the la-bels ~rom the holder frame and transport them to and apply them to the iruit or objects as they arrive at the labeling station. The transfer wheel assembly embodies a valving mechanism which is arranged to connect a vacuum source with each suction cup as it picks up a label, and therea~ter dis-connect the vacuum as the label is being applied to the ob-ject or ~ruit.
Further objects and advantages oi the invention will be brought out in the following part of the speci~ication, where-in detailed description is ~or the purpose of fully disclos-ing the invention without placing limitations thereon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings, which are to be regarded as merely illustrative:
Fig. 1 is an elevational view o~ apparatus according to the present invention, as seen from an end thereo~ adjacent the labeling station;
Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in s~ction, as seen along the line 2-2 of Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantial-ly on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary seGtional view, taken substan-tially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, and showing details of the va-cuum control valve means;
Fig. 5 is a iragmentary side elevational view showing the tape system and control means therefor as employed with the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 5, and showing details o~ the tape pinch roll drive and label knurling means;
Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through the drive and knurling means, taken substantially on line 7-7 oi Fig.
6;
Fig. 8 is an enlarged iragmentary view diagrammatically illustrating the cooperative operation of the driving and knurling rollers for impressing the knurling pattern on a label carried by the tape;
Fig. 9 is a iragmentary plan view o~ an exemplary la-bel, mounted on a carrying tape and knurled in such a manner that the printed sur~ace oi the tape is weakened but not torn;
Fig. 10 is an enlarged side, sectional view taken through the indexing block and showing the path oi travel oi the la-bel-carrying tape therethrough;
Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 11-11 oi Fig. 10, and showing the relationship oi the indexing block and label transierring wheel;
Fig. lla is an enlargement oi the sectional portion oi the label holding ~rame, as indicated at lla in Fig. 11;
Fig. 12 is a iragmentary plan view illustrating the de-tails of the mounting o~ the label holding frame on the in-dexing means, as seen along a line 12-12 oi Fig. 10;
Fig. 13 is a fragmentary plan view oi a suction cup and its surrounding surface at the periphery oi the transier wheel;
Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional view of the indexing block, taken substantially on line 14-14 of Fig. 10;
Fig. 15 is a greatly enlarged view, partly in section, and illustrating the operative relationship of the transfer wheel and the conveyor at the time a label is being applied to an object;
Fig. 16 is a view similar to that of Fig. 13, and il-lustrating the deformation of the transier wheel and suction cup during the time the label is being applied to the ob-ject; and Fig. 17 is a schematic illustration of the operativecomponents of the apparatus of the present invention and the means ~or controlling their operation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 15, there is shown a conveyor generally illustrated at 21 comprising a plurality o~ rollers 23 which are mounted to extend between a pair oi spaced apart parallel chains 25 ior translational movement, although not illustrated in the drawings, the ends o~ the rollers are arranged to contact iixed support means so that, as the chains 25 move the rollers in translation, they are rotated by frictional contact with the iixed support.
As is particularly well illustrated in Fig. 1, the rol-lers are provided with sleeves or otherwise suitably shaped so as to ~orm pockets 27 therebetween. An object 31, such as the illustrated orange to be labeled, is carried in the pocket ~ormed by adjacent rollers. Thus, as has been shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,971,459, the oranges will be rotated to correspondingly orient their longer axes due to the sinusoidal geome~ry o~ the pockets. As will be realized, the rotation of the oranges aids in the proper seating o~ a label thereon.
Of course, those skilled in the art will realize that, while the conveyor 21 illustrated in these drawings is the presently preferred structure, any suitable conveyor may be utilized and its choice may depend as much upon the type of object to be labeled, as any other factor.
A suitable fruit detector 33, as shown in Fig. 2, is mounted adjacent the conveyor so as to sense the presence of an orange or object in any particular pocket. At the present time, it is envisioned that the fruit detector may comprise an operatively associated suitable light emitter means and photo-electric detection means to sense the passage of an object either by causing the object to intercept a light beam between the emitter and the detection means, or to cause the object to reflect the light beam from the emitter toward the detection means. Regardless o~ the type of detection un-it employed, those skilled in the art will rea~ize that the objective here is merely the detection o~ the arrival o~ the object at a predetermined location in relation to a labeling station as generally indicated at 37.
When the labeled objects have passed the labeling sta-tion 37, the labeled objects may be discharged ~rom the con-veyor into a trough 39 or other desired handling device.
~ n the illustrated embodiment, the conveyor is arranged to be driven by a motor 41 (Fig. l) acting through a chain or bolt drive 43 to rotate a conveyor shaft 45 which carries a pair o~ chain driving sprockets 47 (Fig. 2) respectively en-gaged with the conveyor chains 25 to drive the conveyor in the direction indicated by the arrow 49 in Fig. 2. Also, securely mounted on the conveyor drive shait 45 is a rotary platen 46 having spokes 48 which extend between adjacent rol-lers and assist in supporting the object during the applica-tion of the label. If desired, the end of each spoke may be provided with a tip 48a of suitable resilient material to prevent injury to the object, when such object is a fruit such as an orange.
As shown in Fig. 1, there may also be fixedly mounted on the shaft 45 a gear 51 which is located in driving relation-ship with a gear 53 ~ixedly mounted on a sha~t 55 in order that these shafts may be rotated in synchronism. Both shafts 45 and 55 are mounted for rOtation in appropriate bearings mounted on frame members 57.
As best shown in Figs. 2, 10, and 15, a label transfer wheel 61 is mounted on the sha~t 55 for rotation therewith, and comprises a plurality o~ segmental sections 63 which are constructed o~ a relatively ~lexible or pliable material.
Re~erring now particularly to Flgs. 2 and 3, a sleeve 65 is shown as being ~ixed to the sha~t 55 ~or rotation therewith, and also being coupled to an axially aligned man-ifold shai't 67 ~or unitary rotation therwith. The sleeve 65 has a substantially square opening therethrough and the shaits 55 and 67 are also oi square form ~or so much thereoi' as is wlthin the sleeve 65. Although any suitable shaft and sleeve shape may be employed, it will be appreciated that the square or rectangular con~igurations will iacilitate the installation of the segmental sections 63 to the sleeve and improve the drivability, without slip. Thus, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, each section 63 is ~astened to the sleeve 65 by means o~ a plate or bar 69 and suitable retaining bolts 71. This ar-rangement not only simpli~ies mounting oi the sections o~
the wheel, but also improves the ability o~ each section to flex relative to the sleeve and to each other.
As seen at the right hand portion o~ Fig. 3, the sha~t 67 is rotatably supported by a suitable bearing 75 and terminates at its outer end in a portion o~ reduced diameter 77 which is rotatably seated within an end socket 79 o~ a stationary val-ving member 81. The other end of the valving member is also formed with an end socket 83 which is separated from the end soc~et 79 by a partition wall 85 containing a valving orifice 87. The end socket 83 at its outer end is connected with an end of a pipe 89 by a connection plug 91 of plastic or other suitable material, this plug being secured as by retaining screws 93. The inner end of the plug 91 is spaced from the bottom of the socket 83 and cooperates therewith to form a chamber 95 having communication with the valving orifice 87 and the pipe 89. A U-shaped strap 91 has its leg portions secured to the ~rame 57, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and at its bridging portion is provided with clamping means 93 which may be actuated in a well known manner as by a clamping bolt 95 to grip and hold the pipe 89 in fixed position.
As illustrated in Fig. 1, the pipe 89 is arranged for connection with a vacuum system so as to continuously main-tain a fluid suction in the chamber 95 in communication with the valving orifice 87, As shown in Fig. 4, the valving ori-~ice 87 is shaped to provide a ~low channel having a trans-verse configuration similar to a "comma" and progressivelydecreases from a large flow area at one end to a minimum flow area at the other end. On the other side of the partition wall 85, the manifold shaft 67 is formed to provide a plura-lity o~ circumferentially spaced bores 113 which successively communicate with the orifice 87 as the shaft 67 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4. As can be seen, the ~low through each bore 113 will vary from a maximum, when in registration with the large end of the ori~ice 87, and decrease gradually to a minimum as it moves to the small end, and is finally cut off by movement out of registration.
As best shown in Figs. 3, 10 and 15, each bore 113 con-nects with a radially oriented flexible conduit 121 that leads to a suction cup 127 mounted in the central area of an up-raised pressure pad or protuberance 125 at the periphery ofeach segmental section 63. The suction cup 127 is formed with a very thin, pliable lip 128. For a purpose to be ex-plained later, a groove or recess 1~9 is formed to extend about the suction cup lip.
From a consideration of Fig. 2-4 and 15, it will be realized that as the label transfer wheel rotates, the sec-tions 63 will be carried successively through a point verti-cally positioned above the axis of rotation o~ the mani~old shaft 67, and that at this point the suction cups 127 of each section will be placed initially in communication with the vacuum source via the radial conduit 121, the associated axial bore 113, the valving ori~ice 87, and the pipe 89. As the transi'er wheel 61 continues its rotation in a clockwise di-rection, as viewed in Fig. 2, suction will continue to be applied to the suction cup in a gradually decreasing amount, as determined by the narrowing of the width of the ori~ice 87, until the suction cup reachss a point vertically positioned directly below the axis o~ rotation o~ the mani~old shaft 67.
As the wheel rotation carries the suction cup through this lower point the suction will be cut o~ entirely and remain cut o~f until the suction cup again reaches the upper point.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the apparatus iurther includ-`
es a mechanism for successively supplying the re~uired labels irom a suitable label source in a manner which will permit their being successively picked up by the suction cups 127 on the label trans~er wheel 61 at the previously mentioned upper point and carried to the lower point, where they are succes-sively applied to the objects as they arrive on the conveyor.
The mechanism ior ~upplying the labels is contained with-in a suitable housing 151 which is positioned in a location generally above that oi' the associated transfer wheel 61 and the conveyor 21. Pre~erably, the housing 151 is supported so 1~ 4~
that its operating position with respect to the transfer ~heel 61 can be variably adjusted as to alignment and spacing.
For such purpose, as shown in Fig. 1, the housing 151 is sup-ported at one end of a horizontally extending arm 150 by suit-able conventional vertically movable means 152 which can be adjusted by an operating crank 154. The arm 150 is suitably supported for axial adjustment at the upper end of a rotatably mounted post support 156 which can be releasably held in an adjusted position by a suitable clamp 158.
More specifically, as shown in Fig. 5, the housing 151 mounts a tape supply reel 153 for a label carrying web or tape 155. Preferably, the tape is pre-treated to releasably affix a plurality of labels 170 thereto, each of said labels having a printed surface on the side thereof away from the tape and an adhesive bonding surface on the side thereof in engagement with the tape. The aifixed labels will adhere to the tape until they are peeled off, but the adherence will be relatively light so that peeling can be easily accomplished.
As shown, the tape is moved past a suitable microswitch 157 which may be utilized for stopping the apparatus by pro-viding a stop signal when the end of the tape is withdrawn from the reel 153. Also, as illustrated, suitable locating and/or tensioning rollers 159 are operatively associated with the tape 155.
The tape is withdrawn irom the supply reel 153 by a pair of pinch rollers 161 and 163 rotatably mounted within a sub-housing 165. As shown in Fig. 6, the roller 161 is formed with a knurled sur~ace, while the roller 163 has a relatively smooth sur~ace. Within the housing 165, the roller 163 is mounted within a carrier 173 which is supported for guided movement towards the roller 161 in opposition to a biasing Yorce produced by a plurality of compression springs 175. The springs 175 may be positioned at various locations (such as i4.~
the four illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7) between the carrier 173 and portions of the housing 165 in which the roller 161 is ro-tatably mounted. The carrier 173 is arranged to be actuated toward the roller 161 by means of a manually operable cam le-ver 179. Thus, when it is desired to thread the tape 155 be-tween the rollers, the cam lever 179 may be rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 7, allowing the rollers to be separated slightly by the action of the springs 175 so that the tape can be easily threaded between them. Then, the cam lever 179 may be rotated back to the position illustrated so as to bias the rollers toward one another. As seen in Fig.
6, the cam lever 179 may be biased toward a predetermined position relative to the carrier 173 by means of a spring 181 which may be coaxially located on the shaft upon which the cam lever 179 is rotatably mounted.
The roller 161 may be mounted for rotation with or rela-tive to a shaft 183 within the housing 165. The roller may be fixed to a drive sprocket 185 for rotation by means of a toothed drive belt 189, as illustrated in Fig. 5, driven by a suitable driving motor 191. Thus, when the motor 191 is energized, the rollers 161 and 163 will draw the tape 155 from the reel 153, and as the tape passes between the rol-lers, the knurled surface of the roller 161 will impress a crosscross pattern on the printed surface or face of each la-bel 170, as illustrated in Fig. 9, which will enable the label to more easily adhere to an uneven or curved surface. Upon leaving the pinch rollers 161 and 163, the tape is carried through an ad~ustable feed storage loop 155a extending be-tween $he roller 161 and a fixed roller 201. The size of the loop may be varied by means of a roller 203 rotatably mounted at the outer end of a tape tension regulating arm 205 which is arranged to swing between predetermined angular locations abo~t an axle 207. The arm 205 is fixed to a disc 209 upon which a pair of mag~ets ~11 and 213 are mounted.
The arm 205 is biased for movement in a counterclockwisedirection about axle 207, as seen in Fig. 5, by means of a conventional constant tension spring 215. A sensing device 217 is operably associated with the disc 209 for selective actuation by the magnets 211 and 213 to generate start and stop signals, respectively, for the control of the motor 191.
As thus arranged, when sufficient tape is drawn from the feed storage loop 155a to swing the roller 203 to the position as shown in phantom lines at 203a, the magnet 111 will activate the sensing device 217 to start the motor 191 so as to drive the pinch rollers 161 and 163 and feed additional tape into the storage loop until the roller 203 moves to the phantom line position 203b, under the force of the constant tension spring 215, whereupon the magnet 213 will activate the sensing de~ice 217 to stop the motor 191 and discontinue the ~urther feeding of tape to the storage loop until the stored supply is again depleted.
A safety feature is provided to stop the operation of the apparatus in the event the tape should break, and for this purpose a detector 219 in the form of a microswitch, as shown in Fig. 5, is positioned in the path of movement of the arm 205 where it will be operated thereby if the arm is per-mitted to swing beyond the roller position 203b.
As the tape passes the idler roller 201, it enters the central indexing loop 155b, during which time it is carried through an indexing or transfer head 225, wherein the labels are stripped from the tape and transferred to the label transfer wheel 61 in a manner which will be described pre-sently.
The indexing loop 155b of the tape travel path is thecentral dynamic portion of the tape system, and it is in this part of the tape system that it is extremely important to lÇ:t~maintain as low a tension on the tape as possible, to maintain the tension at a constant value, and to present the tape to the label transfer station under a practically inertia-free condition so that it can be accelerated very rapidly. In this manner, the tape can be stepped or indexed to provide the necessary start-and-stop operations in the tape mo~ement to properly transfer the labels at the proper moment. This in-dexing movement of the tape is accomplished by means of a driving stepper motor 227 which is connected by a toothed belt 229 to drivingly rotate a pair of pinch rollers 231 and 233 between which the tape passes. These rollers may be pro-vided with cam means similar to that illustrated in Fig. 7 for the releases of the rollers 161 and 163 to facilitate threading the tape therebetween.
As the tape leaves the central indexing loop it is carried over an idler roller 237, and then enters a take-up storage loop 155c formed between the roller 237 and an idler roller 201a. The loop size is controlled by a roller 203c mounted at the outer end o~ a tape tension regulating arm 205a, which may be biased for swinging movement in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, about an axle 207a by means of a conventional constant tension spring 215a.
Magnets 211a and 213a in this case selectively control a sen-sinK device 217a in a manner such that, when the roller reach-es the position 203d, the magnet 211a activates the sensor so as to energize a drive motor 241. This motor is drivingly connected by a toothed belt 243 with a take-up spool of reel 245 tor drawing tape ~rom the loop 155c. Similarly, when the roller reaches the position 203e, the magnet 213a will acti-vate the sensing device 217a to stop the drive motor 241, thereby terminating the rotation of the take-up reel 245.
The indexing motor 227 continues to pull the tape from the central indexing loop 155b into the take-up loop 155c, and as a consequence arm 205a will again move until the roller reach-es the position 203d, whereupon the take-up operation will be-gin again. As in the case of the feed storage loop 155a, a detectcr 219a is provided to stop the operation of the ap-paratus in the event of tape breakage in the loop 155c.
Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the tape is moved through the central dynamic loop 155b with a constant low tension and minimum inertia. As the tape is used in the central indexing loop 155b, the size of the feed storage loop 155a decreases and the size of the take-up storage loop 155c increases. The sensors associated with each of these loops maintain their respective drive units in the off positions until the arms 205 and 205a reach the position in which the sensors 217 and 217a are actuated by their respective magnets. At that point, the drive motors 191 and 241 are controlled to increase the size o~ the feed storage loop 155a and decrease the size of the take-up storage loop 155c in the manner described pre-viously. When these loops are at their maximum and minimum values, respectively, the magnets cooperate with the sensors to shut off the drive motors. Of course, it will be appreci-ated that these operations with respect to the two tension regulating arms need not always occur simultaneously and there is no necessity that such simultaneous operation be accom-plished.
Although not specifically shown, it is preierable that each o~ the drive motors 191 and 241 includes an associated brake of either electrical or mechanical type so that start-ing and stopping of the movements of the arms 205 and 205a will be substantially instantaneous with the actuation of their respective sensors.
Referring more particularly to Figs. 10-14, the mechan-ism for transferring a label from the tape 155 will now be described. As discussed previously, an indexing or transfer 3b~1 head 225 is located within the central indexing loop 155b of the tape in such a manner that the tape passes therethrough at a location closely adjacent the periphery of the label transfer wheel 61.
More specifically, the indexing head 225 comprises a housing 301 through which the tape of the loop 155b passes along a predetermined guide path as shown in Figs. 10 and 14.
The tape is moved past a suitable label detector which will sense the presence of the label. For example, the tape may be passed between a light beam emitter 303 and a photocell 305, as illustrated. The label detector may also be of the retroreflective type in which the light beam emitter and the photocell would be positioned on the same side of the tape.
It will be appreciated, of course, that if the label detect-or employs the broken light beam principle the tape should be translucent. On the other hand, if the reflective prin-ciple is utilized, it is imperative that the tape be non-reflective.
After passing the label detector, the tape is moved for-wordly around a sharp bend 309. As the tape traverses thebend, each label will attempt to maintain its integrity and will be peeled from the tape at its leading edge and contin-ues on into a label holding frame 311 mounted within a surface 313.
The purpose of the previously mentioned fruit detector 33 and the label detectors 303, 305 with their associated con-trol is to assure that for each detected fruit a label will be indexed into the holding frame 311 so as to be picked up by the transfer wheel 61 and applied to the detected fruit upon ~0 arrival at the labeling station.
The indexing operation is initiated by the fruit detect-or 33, which is activated by the detected fruit to produce an "on" signal to cause the motor 227 to drive the rollers 231 and 233 to advance the tape and move the detected label. By suitable control which permits the motor 227 to run for a preprogrammed length of time after the detected label has passed by the label detector, the amount of detached portion of the label to be placed in the holding frame 311 can be precisely determined and controlled irrespective of a missing label, irregularities in the label spacings, etc.
In the event a label is missing, or a label has not been detected, the indexing operation will continue until a label is delivered to the holding frame 311 for the particular detected fruit. Also, in the event that a fruit is missing on the conveyor, the fruit detector will not be activated and, as a consequence, no label will in this case be deliver-ed to the holding frame 311.
As shown in Fig. 11, the surface 313 is formed on the undersides of a pair of supports 315 and 317 which are se-parated by a channel 319 in which the frame 311 is located.
Moreover, the surface 313 is longitudinally of radial concave form about the axis of the vacuum trans~er wheel 61.
A plurality of axially spaced parallel rollers 321 are mount-ed in the support 315 and a like plurality of rollers 323 are mounted in the support 317, with portions of their outer sur-faces projecting outwardly beyond the surface 313. Prefer-ably, the rollers on one side of the channel 319 are res-pectively coaxially aligned with the rollers on the opposite side of the channel.
As part of the indexing block, these rollers serve to form dynamic stabilizing means ~or the vacuum transfer wheel 61 which may rotate and accelerate at high velocities. The rollers, which may be of Teflon or other similar material, allow smooth travel of the lateral peripheral surfaces of the segmental sections 63 as they pass through the transfer station formed by the indexing block 225. Since the sections ~c~
63 are preferably relatively flexible, so that they may be employed to firmly apply the labels to objects of varied sizes, and since the wheel will rotate at relatively high speed during operation, it becomes necessary to provide structure means which will stabilize the dynamic behavior of the wheel sections, particularly durin~ the transfer of the label from the frame 311 to the transfer wheel 61. For this purpose, the rollers 321 and 323 are located to cooperate with the peripheral lateral surfaces of the segmental sec-tions 63, as shown in Fig. 11. Thus, the protuberance 125 of each section 63, which carries the suction cup 127, will be permitted to pass through the channel 319 in the indexing head in a stabilized fashion.
As the label 170 is stripped from the tape segment 155b,it will enter the label holding frame 311 in the manner shown in Figs. lC-12. More specifically, the frame 311 is shown as comprising a base portion 331 which may be adjust-ably fastened at one end within the channel 319 as by means of the end slots 330 and screws 332. At the other end, a pair of frame arms 333 are formed to include laterally spaced extensions 331a of the base portion 331 in such a manner that the arms are flexibly mounted on the indexing head. As shown in Fig. lla, each extension 331a may be provided with an overlying section 341 which cooperates therewith to form a guide channel 342 with an inner side opening 343 for the reception of an edge margin of a label received in the frame holder~ Preferably, the overlying section 341 is of Teflon or other suitable material which will not adhere to the ad-hesi~e on the labels. When a label is deposited in the hold-ing ~rame 333, its trailing end preferably remains looselyattached to the tape segment 155b when tape movement is stopped, while the side edges of the printed surface of the label will be in contact with the arm extensions 331a. Thus, --1~--as viewed in Figs. 10 and 11, the adhesive surface of the label faces away from the transfer wheel 61 and the printed surface is located close to the wheel periphery.
In the preferred embodiment, the natural angle of in-clination of the arm extensions 331a relative to the portion of the base 331 fixed to the indexing block, is approximately 15~ downwardly as shown in 331a in Fig. 10. In other words, considering a line tangent to the periphery of the vacuum transfer wheel 61, the arms 333 extend approximately 15 below the tangent or closer to the axis of the wheel. As the wheel rotates, the protuberances push against the arms, lift-ing them until they are in a plane substantially tangent to the periphery of the protuberance as shown in Fig. 10.
As the rubber section 63 passes under the label holding frame 311, the elastic characteristics of the steel allow the arms 333 and the label being held therein to be deflect-ed from the position 311a to the position 311. Once the suction cup 127 of the protuberance or pressure pad 125 reaches a position under the label in the holding frame, the valving orifice 87 operates to connect the suction cup with the vacuum source, whereupon the vacuum cup grips the label and withdraws it from the holding frame as the transfer wheel continues to rotate. Continued rotation of the transfer wheel 61 will carry the pressure pad 125 into a position of contact with the previously detected object or ~ruit on the conveyor. As the synchronized contact movement of the pad and fruit continues, the pad 125 will be deformed with the label around the fruit, as shown in Figs. 15 an~ 16, exerting a normalizing pressure on the surface of the fruit and caus-ing the label to adhere to the fruit surface through theadhesion of the pressure sensitive adhesive thereon. The ori~ice valve 87 now functions to gradually reduce and cut o~f the vacuum applied to the suction cup as the fruit and pressure ~ad 125 begin tu move apart. During application of the label, the lip 128 of the suction cup will be deformed in-to the groove 129 surrounding it, as illustrated particularly in Fig. 16, causing the lip to separate from the label and relieve any vacuum which might be re~aining in the suction cup.
In this manner, the label is uniformly bonded to the fruit surface with little or no wrinkling. It will be apparent al-so, that the deformation of the pressure pad 125 will cause the label 170 to be pressed against the fruit substantially throughout its entire surface so as to provide total adhesion of the label to the fruit.
The operation will now be described with particular re-ference to Fig. 17. Prior to the starting of a production run, the apparatus will be provided with a supply of label bearing tape 155 which is properly threaded from the supply reel 153 through the storage loop, the indexing head, and the take-up loop back to the take-up reel 245, as shown in Fig. 5.
With the apparatus turned on, the conveyor 21 will now operate to successively advance the objects or fruit to the labeling station 37, and as each fruit approaches the label-ing station, the fruit detector 33 will produce an 'loDt' con-trol signal which will be operative through a master relay 401 to energize the stepping motor 227 which will then drive the pinch rollers 231 and 233 to draw the tape through the indexing head 225. A label 170 is delivered into the hold-ing frame 311 for subsequent application to the particular detected ~ruit.
As the conveyor continues to carry the detected fruit towards the labeling station 37, the snychronized rotation of the vacuum transfer wheel 61 will carry the pressure pad 125 into a position in which the suction cup 127 will engage the exposed printed side of the label. At this point, a vacuum source is connected with the suction c~p which then firmly grips and holds the label so that upon continued ro-tation of the trans~er wheel, the label will be withdrawnfrom the holding frame as it is carried to the labeling station for application to the surface of the detected fruit.
In the labeling station, the pressure pad will engage the outer surface of the fruit, and as the pad and fruit are synchronously moved, the pressure pad 125 will be deformed so as to firmly press the adherent side of the label against the fruit. At this point of rotation of the transfer wheel, the vacuum control will disconnect the suction cup. Simultan-eously, the deformation of the pressure pad acts to deformthe lip of the suction cup in such a manner that any vacuum remaining in the suction cup will be relieved with respect to the associated label. The labeled fruit is then discharged from the conveyor into the receiving trough 39. As the ap-paratus continues to operate, labels will be applied in a similar manner to each detected fruit.
Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention described herein, and hence, there is no wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, ex-cept to the extent indicated in the appended claims.
Claims (36)
1. Apparatus for successively applying labels respec-tively to a plurality of objects, comprising:
a) a mechanism including a label carrier tape for succes-sively delivering a plurality of detached labels at spaced intervals to a labeling station, each of said labels having an adherent surface and a non-adherent surface;
b) conveyor means for successively moving a plurality of objects at spaced intervals to said labeling station in synchronism with the delivery of said labels; and c) label transfer means at said labeling station for successively transferring the delivered detached labels and applying them to the objects as they are successively moved to the labeling station, said transfer means comprising a rotatable wheel peripherally mounting a plurality of circum-ferentially spaced suction cups each having a relatively thin peripheral lip, for synchronously releasably gripping the non-adherent surfaces of the delivered labels and applying them with their adherent surfaces engaged with the objects, whereby during application of a label to an object, deforma-tion of the lip will relieve any suction forces remaining within the suction cup.
a) a mechanism including a label carrier tape for succes-sively delivering a plurality of detached labels at spaced intervals to a labeling station, each of said labels having an adherent surface and a non-adherent surface;
b) conveyor means for successively moving a plurality of objects at spaced intervals to said labeling station in synchronism with the delivery of said labels; and c) label transfer means at said labeling station for successively transferring the delivered detached labels and applying them to the objects as they are successively moved to the labeling station, said transfer means comprising a rotatable wheel peripherally mounting a plurality of circum-ferentially spaced suction cups each having a relatively thin peripheral lip, for synchronously releasably gripping the non-adherent surfaces of the delivered labels and applying them with their adherent surfaces engaged with the objects, whereby during application of a label to an object, deforma-tion of the lip will relieve any suction forces remaining within the suction cup.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, which includes means for weakening the non-adherent surface of each label in a crisscross pattern to enable the label to conform to a non-planar surface of the object
3. Apparatus according to claim 1, which includes means for connecting each of said suction cups with a vacuum source as the cup approaches a label gripping position, and discon-necting the cup from said vacuum source when the label is applied to the object.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said vacuum source connecting means includes valve means for gradually reducing the vacuum applied to the suction cup as the cup is moved between the connecting and disconnecting positions of said vacuum source.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said wheel comprises a plurality of segmental sections respectively having pressure pad means positioned at the wheel periphery, and in which a suction cup is positioned within each of said pad means and conformed to extend radially outwardly beyond the adjacent pad surface.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each of said sections and the pressure pad means are pliable so as to conform to a contacted surface of the object during applica-tion of the label thereon.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said suction cup is formed with a peripheral lip, and each of said pressure pad means further includes a recess surrounding the periphery of said suction cup such that the lip of said suction cup may be deformed thereinto upon contact of said pressure pad means with the object.
8. Apparatus according to claim 6, in which the detached labels are successively delivered to a label holding frame fixedly mounted closely adjacent the periphery of said wheel and normally extending below a tangent to said wheel and into the path of travel of said pressure pad means, and upon engagement by said pressure pad means, being deflectable to a substantially tangent position with respect to said wheel.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, including adjustable supporting means for said label holding frame and being operable to vary the spacing and alignment of the frame with respect to the periphery of said wheel.
10. Apparatus according to claim 8, in which said label holding frame has a pair of spaced apart arm extensions formed with confronting channels for guidingly receiving the opposite edge margins o. the label for longitudinal sliding movement, and for exposing the non-adherent surface of the label between the arms for engagement by a suction cup as said wheel is rotated.
11. Apparatus according to claim 8, which includes means for stabilizing the peripheral portions of each of said sections adjacent the pressure pad means thereon during its movement past said label holding frame.
12. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said wheel is carried by a rotatable structure including a shaft having a plurality of longitudinal bores respectively in communica-tion at one end with circumferentially spaced openings in an end face of said shaft, the other ends of said bores being respectively connected with said suction cups; a fixed valv-ing orifice successively connected and disconnected with respect to said openings during the wheel and shaft rotation;
and means continuously connecting said valving orifice with a vacuum source, whereby each suction cup will be connected to the vacuum source as it approaches a label gripping position, and disconnected from the vacuum source when the label is applied to the object.
and means continuously connecting said valving orifice with a vacuum source, whereby each suction cup will be connected to the vacuum source as it approaches a label gripping position, and disconnected from the vacuum source when the label is applied to the object.
13. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the labels are releasably adhered at spaced intervals to said tape;
in which the label delivery mechanism comprises:
means for moving said tape in indexing steps along an indexing path;
means in said indexing path for successively stripping the labels from said tape; and means for receiving and holding the stripped labels for successive pick-up by said suction cups.
in which the label delivery mechanism comprises:
means for moving said tape in indexing steps along an indexing path;
means in said indexing path for successively stripping the labels from said tape; and means for receiving and holding the stripped labels for successive pick-up by said suction cups.
14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said stripping means includes means for guiding the tape in the indexing path around a sharp bend, whereby the label tends to maintain its integrity and will be stripped from the tape and delivered to said receiving and holding means.
15. Apparatus according to claim 13, which includes label detecting means for detecting the passage of each label on the tape in the indexing path; and means for stopping movement of the tape in the indexing path at a pre-set time following the detection of a label by said detecting means.
16. Apparatus according to claim 13, which includes:
label detecting means for detecting the approaching movement of each label in the indexing path to said strip-ping means;
object detecting means associated with the conveyor for detecting the approach of each object to the labeling station which is to receive its correspondingly detected label in the indexing path; and control means activated by the object detecting means for initiating indexing movements of said tape to move the detected label for a predetermined period of time, after the label has passed the label detecting means, whereby movement of the stripped label into the label receiving and holding means may be precisely controlled irrespective of irregular-ities such as a missing label, and variations in label spacings on the tape.
label detecting means for detecting the approaching movement of each label in the indexing path to said strip-ping means;
object detecting means associated with the conveyor for detecting the approach of each object to the labeling station which is to receive its correspondingly detected label in the indexing path; and control means activated by the object detecting means for initiating indexing movements of said tape to move the detected label for a predetermined period of time, after the label has passed the label detecting means, whereby movement of the stripped label into the label receiving and holding means may be precisely controlled irrespective of irregular-ities such as a missing label, and variations in label spacings on the tape.
17. Apparatus according to claim 13, including means for delivering said tape from a tape supply source to said indexing path at a substantially constant, low tension and low inertia to allow rapid acceleration and stopping move-ments of said tape in indexing steps.
18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the tape delivering means comprises means for storing tape in a feed loop of varying size and under constant tension.
19. Apparatus according to claim 17, in which said tape delivering means comprises:
a first fixed roller, a second, fixed roller, and a third roller located between said first and second rollers in the path of movement of the tape, said third roller being carried by a swingably mounted arm and being operable to maintain a tape feed constant tension storage loop between the first and second rollers; and means, actuated by the movement of said third roller in response to a predetermined decrease in the size of the loop, for delivering tape from said tape supply source to said loop.
a first fixed roller, a second, fixed roller, and a third roller located between said first and second rollers in the path of movement of the tape, said third roller being carried by a swingably mounted arm and being operable to maintain a tape feed constant tension storage loop between the first and second rollers; and means, actuated by the movement of said third roller in response to a predetermined decrease in the size of the loop, for delivering tape from said tape supply source to said loop.
20. Apparatus according to claim 19, in which a constant tension spring means biases said arm in a direction to increase the size of said loop; and means actuated by the movement of said third roller in response to a predetermined increase in size of the loop, for stopping the delivery of tape from said tape supply source to said loop.
21. Apparatus according to claim 17, in which the means for delivering said tape from a tape supply source includes means for impressing a surface pattern on the non-adherent side of each label to enable it to more easily adhere to a curved surface.
22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said pattern impressing means comprises a knurling roller.
23. Apparatus according to claim 13, which includes means for collecting tape from the indexing path from which the labels have been stripped, and storing the same on a take-up reel, said collecting means comprising means for storing the collected tape in a take-up loop of varying size and under constant tension.
24. Apparatus according to claim 23, in which said tape collecting means comprises:
a first, fixed roller, a second, fixed roller, and a third roller located between said first and second rollers in the path of movement of the tape, said third roller being carried by a swingably mounted arm and being operable to maintain the take-up loop between the first and second rollers; and means, actuated by the movement of said third roller in response to a predetermined decrease in the size of the loop, for stopping delivery of the tape from the loop to the take-up reel.
a first, fixed roller, a second, fixed roller, and a third roller located between said first and second rollers in the path of movement of the tape, said third roller being carried by a swingably mounted arm and being operable to maintain the take-up loop between the first and second rollers; and means, actuated by the movement of said third roller in response to a predetermined decrease in the size of the loop, for stopping delivery of the tape from the loop to the take-up reel.
25. Apparatus according to claim 24, in which constant tension spring means biases said arm in a direction to increase the size of said loop; and means, actuated by the movement of said third roller in response to a predetermined increase in the size of the loop, for delivering tape from the loop to the take-up reel.
26. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the labels are releasably adhered at spaced intervals to said tape leading from a supply reel, through a label removing indexing path, and thence to a bare tape take-up reel;
in which means for controlling the tension and inertia of the tape between said reels, comprises:
a regulating tape feed storage loop forming means in the tape path between the supply reel and the indexing path; and a regulating tape take-up storage loop forming means in the tape path between the indexing path and the take-up reel; and in which tape driving means are operable in response to demand signals to intermittently move the tape from said feed storage loop means, through said indexing path and thence to said take-up storage loop means.
in which means for controlling the tension and inertia of the tape between said reels, comprises:
a regulating tape feed storage loop forming means in the tape path between the supply reel and the indexing path; and a regulating tape take-up storage loop forming means in the tape path between the indexing path and the take-up reel; and in which tape driving means are operable in response to demand signals to intermittently move the tape from said feed storage loop means, through said indexing path and thence to said take-up storage loop means.
27. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said feed storage loop forming means and said take-up storage loop forming means respectively include means for holding the tape therein under a constant, low tension such that the tape may be moved from said feed storage loop forming means to said take-up storage loop means under low inertia, high acceleration conditions.
28. Apparatus according to claim 26, which includes means for controlling the operating time of movement of the tape following each demand signal.
29. The method of successively applying labels to a series of objects as they are delivered to a labeling station, which comprises the steps of:
successively delivering adherable labels detached from a carrier tape to a holder with their adherent surface facing upwardly;
successively conveying objects to be labeled to the labeling station; and pneumatically successively gripping the detached labels in said holder and bodily moving them one-by-one to the label-ing station with their adherent surface facing downwardly and into surface engagement with the objects as they arrive at the labeling station.
successively delivering adherable labels detached from a carrier tape to a holder with their adherent surface facing upwardly;
successively conveying objects to be labeled to the labeling station; and pneumatically successively gripping the detached labels in said holder and bodily moving them one-by-one to the label-ing station with their adherent surface facing downwardly and into surface engagement with the objects as they arrive at the labeling station.
30, The method according to claim 29, which includes the step of impressing a non-adherent surface of the label on the carrier tape with a surface tension relieving pattern so as to facilitate the conformance of the detached label to an object having a curved surface.
31, The method according to claim 29, which includes the further steps of:
intermittently moving the carrier tape with indexing movements to successively present labels adhesively affixed thereon at the labeling station; and successively stripping the labels from the tape and positioning them in said holder prior to being pneumatically gripped,
intermittently moving the carrier tape with indexing movements to successively present labels adhesively affixed thereon at the labeling station; and successively stripping the labels from the tape and positioning them in said holder prior to being pneumatically gripped,
32. The method according to claim 31, which includes the further step of:
independently maintaining the tape feed and take-up under constant, low tension and low inertia conditions to enable high speed acceleration and deceleration of the tape during said indexing movements.
independently maintaining the tape feed and take-up under constant, low tension and low inertia conditions to enable high speed acceleration and deceleration of the tape during said indexing movements.
33. The method according to claim 31, which includes the further steps of:
feeding the tape into a regulating constant spring tensioned feed storage loop prior to said indexing movements;
feeding the tape into a regulating constant spring tensioned take-up loop after said indexing movements; and utilizing the indexing movements of the tape to transfer the tape from the feed storage loop to the take-up loop.
feeding the tape into a regulating constant spring tensioned feed storage loop prior to said indexing movements;
feeding the tape into a regulating constant spring tensioned take-up loop after said indexing movements; and utilizing the indexing movements of the tape to transfer the tape from the feed storage loop to the take-up loop.
34. The method according to claim 29, wherein said step of pneumatically gripping the label includes:
engaging the label by means of a flexible suction cup;
creating a suction force within the suction cup to grip the label; and thereafter gradually decreasing the suction force to a point of termination as the label is applied to the object.
engaging the label by means of a flexible suction cup;
creating a suction force within the suction cup to grip the label; and thereafter gradually decreasing the suction force to a point of termination as the label is applied to the object.
35. The method according to claim 34, in which the suction cup is deformed, as the label is applied to the object, to relieve any remaining residual suction force therein.
36. The method according to claim 29, which includes the further step of resiliently applying a pressure in sur-rounding relation to the pneumatically gripped area of the label to conform the label to the facing surface of the object.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US776,319 | 1977-03-10 | ||
| US05/776,319 US4123310A (en) | 1977-03-10 | 1977-03-10 | Apparatus for applying a label to an object |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1089811A true CA1089811A (en) | 1980-11-18 |
Family
ID=25107057
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA288,059A Expired CA1089811A (en) | 1977-03-10 | 1977-10-04 | Method and apparatus for applying a label to an object |
Country Status (17)
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|---|---|
| US (1) | US4123310A (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS53112698A (en) |
| AR (1) | AR217656A1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU512711B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR7707469A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1089811A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2750266A1 (en) |
| EG (1) | EG13772A (en) |
| ES (1) | ES463460A1 (en) |
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| IL (1) | IL53210A (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1090337B (en) |
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| NL (1) | NL7711947A (en) |
| TR (1) | TR20472A (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA775916B (en) |
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-
1977
- 1977-03-10 US US05/776,319 patent/US4123310A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1977-10-03 AU AU29437/77A patent/AU512711B2/en not_active Expired
- 1977-10-04 CA CA288,059A patent/CA1089811A/en not_active Expired
- 1977-10-04 ZA ZA00775916A patent/ZA775916B/en unknown
- 1977-10-21 ES ES463460A patent/ES463460A1/en not_active Expired
- 1977-10-24 IL IL53210A patent/IL53210A/en unknown
- 1977-10-25 AR AR269705A patent/AR217656A1/en active
- 1977-10-31 NL NL7711947A patent/NL7711947A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1977-11-04 MX MX171205A patent/MX145498A/en unknown
- 1977-11-04 TR TR20472A patent/TR20472A/en unknown
- 1977-11-08 BR BR7707469A patent/BR7707469A/en unknown
- 1977-11-10 JP JP13559477A patent/JPS53112698A/en active Pending
- 1977-11-10 FR FR7733996A patent/FR2383080A1/en active Granted
- 1977-11-10 GR GR54769A patent/GR63216B/en unknown
- 1977-11-10 IT IT51759/77A patent/IT1090337B/en active
- 1977-11-10 DE DE19772750266 patent/DE2750266A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1977-11-12 EG EG636/77A patent/EG13772A/en active
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU512711B2 (en) | 1980-10-23 |
| AR217656A1 (en) | 1980-04-15 |
| US4123310A (en) | 1978-10-31 |
| GR63216B (en) | 1979-10-09 |
| AU2943777A (en) | 1979-04-12 |
| MX145498A (en) | 1982-02-25 |
| BR7707469A (en) | 1978-09-26 |
| DE2750266A1 (en) | 1978-09-14 |
| EG13772A (en) | 1982-06-30 |
| FR2383080A1 (en) | 1978-10-06 |
| TR20472A (en) | 1981-07-01 |
| IT1090337B (en) | 1985-06-26 |
| NL7711947A (en) | 1978-09-12 |
| IL53210A (en) | 1980-01-31 |
| IL53210A0 (en) | 1977-12-30 |
| ES463460A1 (en) | 1978-12-16 |
| ZA775916B (en) | 1978-05-30 |
| FR2383080B1 (en) | 1984-09-21 |
| JPS53112698A (en) | 1978-10-02 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 19971118 |