US2946472A - Grip-finger assembly for labeling machines - Google Patents

Description

July 26, 1960 s. T. CARTER GRIP-FINGER ASSEMBLY FOR LABELING MACHINES Filed May 26. 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. f'zd z eyj (arier BY CEyO-M ATTORNEYS.

July 26, 1960 s. T. CARTER 2,946,472

GRIP-FINGER ASSEMBLY FOR LABELING MACHINES Filed May 26, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 #5251 T I 46 L fl'drjy iaizer BY 4/ [F e. 51;

ATTORNEYS.

July 26, 1960 s. T. CARTER GRIP-FINGER ASSEMBLY FOR LABELING MACHINES Filed May 26, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 [FIGA ATTORNEYS.

July 26, 1960 s. T. CARTER GRIP-FINGER ASSEMBLY FOR LABELING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 26, 1959 INVENTOR.

Jz'dke 1. 607597 BY J @fi IFIG.8

ATTORNEYS.

July 26, 1960 s. T. CARTER GRIP-FINGER ASSEMBLY FOR LABELING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 26, 1959 INVENTOR. Sabin e7 Z" (drier BY Q: QM;

July 26, 1960 s. T. CARTER 2,946,472

GRIP-FINGER ASSEMBLY FOR LABELING MACHINES Filed May 26, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VEN TOR.

, GRIP-FINGER ASSEMBLY FOR LABELING MACHINES Sidney T. Carter, Shrewsbury, Mass., assignor to Geo.

J. Meyer Manufacturing Co., Cudahy, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed May 26, 1959, Ser. No. 815,878 24 Claims. 01. 216-13) This invention pertains to labeling machines, more especially to an improved grip finger operative to take a label from a picker and to apply it to the article which is to be labeled. In its more limited aspects the invention is designed for use in machines of the kind in which the label is applied to the article (for example a bottle) while the article is moving uninterruptedly along a predetermined path. -As herein specifically illustrated, the improved grip finger is designed to apply both a body label and a shoulder label to a bottle, and in general is similar to the grip finger disclosed in the patent to Carter, No. 2,652,941, dated September 22, 1953. However, in the machine of the patent the label is applied while the article is stationary; while, as above noted, the grip finger of the present invention is specifically designed for use in a machine wherein the label is applied to the article while the latter is moving, and is capable of use, not only in a machine in which a single magazine is arranged at one side of the article path, but also in a machine in which several magazines are arranged at the same side of the article path and wherein picker means removes labels simultaneously from the several magazines and carries them to a transfer station where corresponding grip fingers take the labels from the several pickers and then, while contacting the labels with corresponding bottles, move with the latter along the article path until the labels are firmly adhered to the bottles, whereupon the grip fingers retreat from the article path and ultimately return to the transfer station. The co-pending application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 593,879, filed by Sidney T. Carter on June 26, 1956, may be referred to as more fully disclosing a machine of the type above mentioned.

In the machine described in said copending application, each picker is of the general type disclosed, for example, in the patent to Holm, No. 1,901,101, dated March 14, 1933, and comprises a pair of separable labelholding blades, and is so actuated that the blades of the picker are separated immediately after contacting the label in the label holder, whereupon the picker, with its blades thus separated, carries the label to the transfer station where the opposite ends only of the label are held by the picker. At the transfer station a suction pad of the grip finger, assembly grips the label by suction and, moving between the blades, pulls the label away from the latter and carries it to the label-applying posi tion, this arrangement thus being contrasted with that of the aforementioned patent to Carter, No. 2,652,941, wherein the picker blades, after contacting the label in the magazine, remain closed until the picker reaches the transfer station where the label is gripped by the suction grip finger and held while the blades of the picker separate. When, in an arrangement such as that last described, the picker is designed to take two labels simultaneously from the label holder, for example, a body label and a shoulder label, and then move them to the transfer station, each label is supported throughout substantially its entire area by the picker blades at the instant at which the suction pads of the grip finger assembly make contact with the label, so that it is not too essential that the label-contacting faces of the two pads be accurately aligned, these pads being yieldable or deformable under pressure so that they may be depended upon to make good contact with the rigidly supported labels even though the label-contacting faces of the pads are not initially accurately aligned. However, in that type of machine wherein the picker blades separate before the picker arrives at the transfer station, the portions of the respective labels which are to be engaged by the pads of the grip finger bridge across the open space between the picker blades, and unless the label-contacting faces of the two pads be in accurate alignment, one or the other of said pads may fail to grip its label firmly enough to strip it from the picker and carry it, without distortion or displacement, to the applying position.

One object of the invention is to provide a grip finger assembly comprising suction pads designed to carry a body label and a shoulder label from a transfer station to a label-applying position, and which is capable of performing its intended function when embodied in a machine of the type in which the suction pad assembly is required to adhere the labels to the bottle While the latter is moving, without interruption, along the conveyor path.

A further object is to provide a grip finger assembly for use in labeling machines, and which comprises suction pads for carrying a body label and a shoulder label, respectively, from a transfer station to a label-applying position, and wherein, while the grip finger assembly is at the transfer station, the label-contacting surfaces of said pads are inclined to the vertical and in accurate alignment, although at the applying position the label-contacting face of the body label pad is parallel to the axis of the bottle while the label-contacting face of the shoulder label pad is inclined relatively to the bottle axis, and wherein the contact of the body label pad with the bottle, before the grip finger assembly completes its motion toward the label-applying position, is sufiicient, in itself, to tip the shoulder label pad until its label-contacting face slopes at susbtantially the same angle as the shoulder of the bottle.

A further object is to provide an improved grip finger assembly, particularly useful in a machine designed to apply labels to several articles at the same time and wherein the articles are moving uninterruptedly along the conveyor path during the application of the labels, and which is of such construction that it may be installed without requiring undue lengthening of the machine for the accommodation of the necessary magazines. A further object is to provide a grip finger assembly of selfcontained type such that it is not requisite to provide anything in the nature of a stop device, other than such as is constituted by the bottle itself, to insure the proper functioning of the shoulder label pad. A further object is to provide a grip finger assembly of simple construction, capable of applying a body label and a shoulder label, and which is so devised that it Will apply substantially uniform pressure to the various portions of the label even though the bottle surface may not be smooth or accurately shaped.

A further object is to provide a grip finger assembly such that it may be employed in a labeling machine designed to apply labels to several articles simultaneously, and wherein the articles to be labeled are moved in succession along a predetermined path, and whereinlabel magazines, in number equal to the number of articles to be labeled at the same time, are arranged at one side of said path, and wherein gum-coated pickers, each of the separable blade type, contact labels in the respective I magazines while their blades are closed, and wherein the picker blades open before the pickers leave the magazines and convey the labels to a transfer station at wh ch the labels are supported by the pickers at their opposite ends only, each grip finger assembly including a rigid frame, a body label pad carrier pivotally secured to the frame, and a shoulder label pad carrier pivotally secured to the body label pad carrier, with spring means which frame of the grip finger assembly that contact of the body label pad with the bottle rocks the shoulder pad carrier from its normal position so that its label-contacting face is inclined at substantially the same slope as that of the bottle shoulder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a grip finger assembly including two independent suction pads designed to receive two labels simultaneously from a picker, and with provision whereby these. pads, although disposed in intersecting planes when at a label-applying position, are positively and rigidly locked with their labelcontacting faces in accurate alignment when the grip finger assembly is at the transfer station.

A further object is to provide a grip finger assembly for use in transferring a body label and a shoulder label simultaneously from a transfer station, where they are aligned and in a plane which is inclined relatively to the bottle axis, to an applying position, and which comprises a frame and carriers for a body label pad and for a shoulder label pad, respectively, mounted on the frame, the label-contacting surfaces of the two pads being in the same plane when the assembly is at the transfer station, a releasable latch which is operative positively to prevent relative motion of the pad carriers when the assembly is at the transfer station, and a device which releases the latch as the assembly approaches the label-applying position, and having means responsive to the termination of motion of the body label pad carrier, by contact with the bottle, to move the shoulder label pad carrier from its normal position to a position such that the label-contacting surface slopes at the same angle as the shoulder of the bottle.

A further object is to provide a grip finger assembly useful in a bottle labeling machine of the kind in which a gum-coated picker simultaneously receives a body label and a shoulder label from a supply and carries them to a transfer station at which the picker holds the labels by their ends only, and the grip finger assembly takes the labels from the picker and carries them to the labelapplying position, the grip finger assembly having a body labelpad and a shoulder label pad, a locking device operative positively to hold said pads with their labelcontacting faces in accurate alignment at the transfer station and parts operative to release said locking device as the grip finger assembly approaches the label-applying position thereby to permit the shoulder label pad to rock relatively to the body label pad.

For the attainment of the above objects, this invention provides a labeling machine of the kind which has a support for a bottle to be labeled and wherein a gumcoated picker removes a body label and a shoulder label simultaneously from a supply and carries them to a transfer station where they are supported in a plane which is inclined to the axis of the bottle to be labeled, the picker being of the kind which comprises relatively movable blades which, after contacting a label in the label holder, separate before the picker arrives 'at the transfer station where only end portions of a label adhere to the respective picker blades, the machine including a rock shaft which is rocked back and forth through a predetermined are during each label-applying cycle, the axis of the rock shaft being in a plane which is substantially tangent to that surface of the bottle which is to receive the body label, in combination, a grip finger assembly comprising a frame which is fixed to the rock shaft and is thereby 4 i moved from the transfer station to a label-applying position, said assembly including a carrier for a body label pad which is pivotally attached to the frame, a carrier for a shoulder label pad which is pivotally attached to the body label carrier, the pivotal axes of said pad carriers being parallel to the axisof the rock shaft and the pad carriers being so relatively disposed, when the assembly is at the transfer station, thatthelabel-contacting faces of the pads are accurately aligned, and connections between the frame of the assembly and the shoulder label pad carrier operative, when motion of-the body label padca-rrier-is terminated by contact of the pad with the bottle, before the assembly completes its advance toward label aflixingposition, toarocle the'shoulder pad carrier thereby to incline it s label-contacting face at substantially the same angle as-that-of-thesurface ofthe shoulder of the bottle.

The invention alsoprovides an improved grip finger assembly-for use in.abottle-labelingmachine operative simultaneously to transfer a body label-and a shoulder labelfrom a transfer station at-which said labels are held in tliegsame plane-to aposition at which the labels are contacted with thebody and shoulder, respectively, of the bottle; andWherein the grip finger comprises a frame,

a carrier-for a-body label pad pivotally mounted on the fname, a carrier for ashoulder label pad pivotally mounted on the body label pad carrier, a latch which is operative, when the assembly is at the transfer station, to hold the pad carriers'so-relatively positioned that the label-contacting faces of their pads are accurately aligned, and a device which is operative, as the assembly nears the labelapplying position, to release the latch thereby to permit the shoulder label pad carrier to move relatively to the body label pad carrier until its label-contacting surface is inclined at substantially the same angle as the surface of the shoulder of the bottle.

The invention also provides a grip finger assembly whichcomprises a-rigid frame, a main lever pivotally connected at its-lower end to the frame to swing about an axis parallel to the axis about which the assembly rocks in'moving from the transfer station to the label-applying position, a body label-pad fixed to the main lever intermediate .the ends of the latter, an auxiliary lever pivotally connected to the free upper end of the main lever to swing about anuaxis parallel to the axis about which the assembly.rocks,'a shoulder labelpad carried by said auxiliary lever, aspring-whichatends to swing the main lever toward the bottle support, a stop to limit swing-of the auxiliary leverv away from the bottletsupport, a rigid link, of ad justable length,- pivotally connected at one end to the free end ofthe auxiliary lever and at its other end to the frame of the assembly, the link and stop being operative normally to hold the label-contacting face of the shoulder pad inralignmentiwith the-label-contacting face of the body labels-pad, the link being operative to swing the auxiliary levertowardthe bottle support in response to contact of the body label pad with the bottle.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be'pointed out in the following more detailed description and by reference to the annexed drawings wherein,

Fig. l is-a fragmentary elevation showinggrip finger assemblies at opposite sides of a conveyor and disposed in the label-applying position, each assembly including a body label .padand a shoulder labelpad, and in broken lines showing the positionof a bottlein readiness to re ceive labelssimultaneously from both grip finger assemblies; s

Fig 2 lisafragmentary side elevation of the front or right-hand grip finger assembly of Pig. 1, with the shoulder and bodylabel pads in normal, or label-receiving relationwitlrthe,labehcontacting. faces of the pad in the same plane;

Fig. 3 isan elevation rshowing the outer or right-hand face of the right-hand grip finger assembly of Fig. 1 but omitting the pads and suction conduits;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the grip finger assemblies on their way from the corresponding transfer stations to their label-applying positions;

Fig. 5 is a view generally similar to Fig. l, but showing grip finger assemblies of slightly modified construction;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation showing the upper part of the right-hand grip finger assembly of Fig. 5 with the body and shoulder label pads in normal position;

Fig. 7 is an elevation showing the right-hand or outer side of the right-hand grip finger assembly of Fig. 5, but omitting the label-applying pads and the suction conduits;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevation, tosmaller scale, illustrating a portion of a labeling machine of a kind in which the grip finger assemblies of the present invention are particularly useful, showing the blades of the pickers arranged to permit the grip finger assemblies to pass between them, the arrangement shown in Fig. 8 being that in which labels are applied to three bottles simultaneously;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, diagrammatic end elevation, partly in section, and to larger scale than Fig. 8, showing (in full lines) a picker and grip finger assembly at the transfer station;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a grip-finger assembly of a further modified construction, showing the assembly on its way from the transfer station to the label-applying position, and with the label pad carriers locked to prevent relative movement, the labelcontacting faces of the pads being accurately aligned;

Fig. 11 is a rear elevation of the grip-finger assembly of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary side elevation, to larger scale than Fig. 11, showing the lower portion only of the grip finger assembly, and the device whereby the pad carriers are unlocked as the assembly nears the label-applying position.

Referring to Fig. 9 0f the drawing, the character B indicates the base portion of the frame of a machine of the kind more fully disclosed in the aforementioned copending application for Letters Patent Serial No. 593,879, said frame supporting various parts, including bearings for the main shaft S, upon which are mounted earns (not shown) for actuating those elements of the machine which go through a predetermined cycle, once for each rotation of the shaft S, in functioning to apply a label. The machine, only one side of which is shown in Fig. 9, is designed to apply labels simultaneously, if desired, to the front and rear sides of an article such as the bottle A while the latter stands upon the conveyor C, the latter being driven so as to move the bottle uninterruptedly along a predetermined path through the various zones in which the successive labeling operations take place. At opposite sides of the machine gum boxes G are arranged (only one appearing in Fig. 9), and in each gum box there is a gum-elevating roll E which supplies gum to a corresponding transfer roll E, which is carried by a rocking lever L so as to transfer gum from the elevating roll E to the surface of the picker P. These pickers are desirably of the type more fully described in the patent to Holm, No. 1,901,101, above referred to.

The picker P (Fig. 9), receives a coating of adhesive gum from the transfer roll E while its blades are closed and is then swung so as to contact its gummed surface with the endmost labels in the magazine (not here shown), the magazine having compartments for body or shoulder labels respectively. Its blades then open while contacting the cndmost labels in the magazine compartments thereby to spread the gum adhesive, and it swings back to the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 9, its relatively movable blades remaining separated as indicated, for example, at B and B in Fig. 8. With the picker blades in this separated condition, and with the end portions only of the label adhered to the respective blades at the transfer station as illustrated in solid lines in Fig. 9, the label-contacting faces of the blades are disposed in a plane which inclines downwardly and toward the vertical plane through the axis of the bottle A as the latter stands in position to receive the labels. As shown in Fig. 9, the transfer station, represented by the position of the picker P, is spaced a substantial distance from the bottle which is to receive the labels. While the picker P dwells in the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 9, a grip finger assembly F is moved in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 9) so as to contact its label-transfer pads with the labels carried by the picker, the grip finger then continuing its upward motion, passing between the opened blades of the picker, carrying the gummed labels with it and eventually, as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 9, pressing the labels into contact with those portions of the bottle surface which are to receive them, while the pickers return for the reception of a fresh coating of gum.

In Fig. 8 three pairs of picker blades B, B are shown, the blades of each pair being separated to permit the three grip finger assemblies F to pass between them for taking the labels as above described, it being noted that the machine, as here diagrammatically illustrated (Fig. 8) is de signed to apply labels to three bottles simultaneously, and for this purpose would be provided with three independent label magazines, not here shown, at the same side of the conveyor path. If, as herein illustrated, the machine is designed to apply labels to the front and rear faces of the same bottle, then magazines and grip fingers will be arranged at opposite sides of the conveyor path. Even though labels are not to be applied to both sides of the bottle, and label magazines are arranged at one side only of the conveyor path, the grip finger assemblies are desirably provided at both sides of the conveyor path as here shown, since the grip finger assembly which does not apply labels then functions usefully as an abutment to prevent tipping of the bottle as the labels are applied.

Each grip finger assembly F is secured, at its lower end, to a rock arm M (Fig. 4) fixed to the shaft K, this shaft being arranged to rock and also to move endwise in suitable bearings K, certain of these bearings K being indicated in Fig. 8. Any suitable means, receiving its motion from the main shaft S (Fig. 9) may be employed for imparting these movements to the rock shaft, for example, such means as is more fully disclosed in the copending application of Sidney T. Carter, Serial No. 551,012, filed December 5, 1955.

As here illustrated, each grip finger assembly F is provided with two label-applying pads P and P (Fig. 4) respectively, the pad P being designed to apply the body label and the pad P being designed to apply the shoulder label. Each of these pads is provided with suction orifices or ports of customary type (not here specifically illustrated); and suitable means (not here shown, for example an air pump, and automatically actuating valves) establishes suction at these ports at the proper time in the cycle to enable the pads to take the labels from the pickers, the suction at these ports being broken at the proper time in the cycle to permit the pads to leave the labels in adhering contact with the bottle while the grip finger assemblies return to the transfer station.

-Each of the grip finger assemblies comprises a base portion 243 (Fig. 3), which may be a casting, having a rigid upwardly-extending part 21, desirably of rectangular transverse section, which may be an integral part of I the base casting or a length of bar stock, for example of steel, welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the base casting. This member 21 forms the lower portion of an upwardly extending rigid arm which, as here illustrated, comprises spaced parallel rigid bars 22 and 23 whose lower portions are bolted to the member 21, and which extend upwardly, and at their upper ends are connected by a pin 24 whose ends are welded or otherwise permanently secured to the members 22 and 23, thus providing a rigid structurewhich partakes of the rocking motion 7 of the rocker arm M to which the base 2% is secured.

Considering, for purposes of description, that the member 21 is at the rear of the grip finger assembly F, the base 2% has forwardly directed integral bracket arms 25 and 26 (Fig. 3) which are spaced apart at their forward ends, and which have axially aligned bores for the re ception of fixed pivot pins 27 and 28 respectively (Fig. 3), which define a fulcrum axis about which may rock the main lever 29 (Fig. 4) to which is fixed the carrier Z for the body label pad P Brackets 30 are fixed to the lower end of this main lever 29, these brackets being at the forward side of the grip finger assembly and being spaced apart transversely, a distance to receive between them tie bracket arms 25 and 26. These brackets 30 are fixed to the lever proper by belts or by welding and have, adjustably secured thereto, forwardly projecting bearing devices 31 having bearing bores for rotatably receiving the pins 27 and 23, respectively, the lever 29 thus being supported by the base to rock about the axis defined by the pins 27 and 2.8.

To the upper end of the lever 29 there is attached a bracket member 32, which is desirably connected to the lever 29 by bolt and slot connections so that it may be adjusted up or down relatively to the lever 29. This bracket 32 is provided with laterally directed arms 33 and 34 (Fig. 3) having bores in which are fixed the screw-threaded end portions of stem members 36 integral with hearing brackets 3611 (Fig. 4) which receive oppositely directed pintle members 37 projecting from opposite ends of the horizontal portion 3% of an auxiliary right-angled lever device having the upwardly directed arm 39 upon which is mounted the carrier Z for the shoulder label pad P A link so of adjustable length is pivotally connected at its forward end to the upper end of the lever 39 and at its rear end has a bearing opening for the reception of the pin 24 which connects the members 22 and 23 of the frame of the grip finger assembly.

The base 20 (Fig. 3) is provided with laterally projccting arms 41 and 42 upon which rest the lower ends of coil compression springs 4-3 and 44 respectively, the upper endsof these springs bearing against brackets 45 and 46 respectively, which project rearwardly from the lower end of the lever 29. Desirably these springs embrace bolts 47 and 48 which extend through aligned openings in the brackets 41 and 45 and 42 and 46, respectively, these bolts having nuts at their lower ends which constitute stops to limit the forward swing of the lever 29 away from the upright arm constituted by the parts 22 and 23.

The springs 43 and 44, as above noted, tend to swing the lever 2.9 forwardly away from the upright arm 23, 23 of the grip finger assembly. The amount of separation of the lever from the arm is limited by contact of the lower arm 38 of the auxiliary lever 39 with the upper edge 32a (Fig. 3) of the bracket 32. In the normal position of adjustment, the label-contacting faces of the pads P and P are the same plane, this being the same relative position of said pads as is illustrated in Fig. 4, which represents the grip finger assembly on its way from the transfer station to the label-applying position.

As will be noted by inspection of Fig. 4, the axis of the rock shaft K is at a substantial distance below the plane of the surface of the conveyor C upon which the bottle A stands, and it may further be noted that th axis of the rock shaft K is in a vertical plane which is substantially tangent to the body portion of the bottle at that area of the bottle to which the label is to be affixcd. it will further be noted that the axes of the pins 27 and 28, which define the fulcrum axis for the lever 2?, are likewise in this same vertical plane at the instant when the grip finger assembly arrives at the label-applying psion. However, as the assembly moves from the position of Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 1', the body label pad P first contacts its label with the body of the bottle, thus stopping further swing of the lever 29 to the left, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4, whereupon, as the rock arm M continues to move counterclockwise in the label-applying cycle, the rigid arm 22, 23 swingstoward the lever 29, the latter now being stationary, and in so doing, by means of the link 40 turns the auxiliary lever 39 about the axis defined by the pintles 37 thus swinging the support Z for the shoulder label pad P until the labelcontacting surface of the latter pad is inclined relatively to the label-contacting surface of the body pad P and until its slope is like that of the shoulder of the bottle so that, as the shoulder label is contacted with the bottle, the entire surface of the label is brought into firm adhering contact with the bottle shoulder.

As above noted, the grip finger assembly herein described is primarily designed for use in a machine in which the bottles move uninterruptedly while the labels are being applied; and thus, after the labels have been initially contacted with the bottle, the entire grip finger assembly begins to move along the conveyor path at the same linear speed as the bottle so that there is ample opportunity for the label to become firmly adhered to the bottle without danger of such relative movement of the bottle and grip finger pads as to cause misplacernent of the labels. As clearly described in the aforementioned patent to Carter, the grip finger assembly continues this bo'dily movement along the conveyor path for a predetermined time such as is sufficient to insure firm adhesion of the labels, whereupon the rock shaft K reverses its motion and the grip finger assembly is withdrawn from the label-applying position, the suction of the pads being broken at this time and the assembly moving in a clockwise direction to a position such that it does not interfere with the gum-receiving motion of the picker.

Because of the Selfcontained character of the grip finger assembly, which, without resort to external abutments, stops, cams or other devices, automatically shifts the shoulder label pad from the label-receiving transfer station to the label-delivery position of Fig. 1, the improved grip finger assembly constitutes a decided improvement over prior devices of this type such as are not well adapted for use in machines wherein the bottles move uninterruptedly along a conveyor path. However, be-

cause of the simplicity of the grip finger assembly of the present invention, it is of broader utility and may, if desired, be employed in labeling machines of the intermittent feed type.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 there is illustrated a grip finger assembly of slightly modified construction as compared with that shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, and which is designed particularly for use with a bottle such as the bottle A (Fig. 5) whose shoulder portion is of more gradual slope than that of the bottle illustrated in Fig. 4. in this modified arrangement, similarly numbered parts are like those of the previously described arrangement. but in this modified construction the pintle members 37, which turn in the bearing openings in the members 36a (carried by the vertically adjustable bracket 32a) project from the lower portion 38a of the auxiliary lever device which carries the support Z for the shoulder label pad P the lower portion 38a and the main portion 390 of this auxiliary lever intersecting at an obtuse angle, and the auxiliary lever device being of substantially greater effective length than that of the previous modification, so that the pad carrier 2. swings through an arc of longer radius in approaching the bottle than is true of the arrangement shown in :Fig. 4. Thus the label-contacting face of the pad P makes a lesser angle to the vertical as it nears the surface of the bottle shoulder than does that of the arrangement of Fig. 4.

In the above description, the grip finger assembly F, which is at the right-hand side of the conveyor-path as viewed in the drawings, has been more particularly regames ferred to, but it is to be understood that the grip finger assembly at the opposite side of the conveyor path will be of identical construction. to that shown at the righthand side, with the possible exception that the carriers Z and Z for the body label pad and the shoulder label pad may be of different dimensions at the opposite sides of the conveyor path, according to the size of label which is to be applied; and furthermore, that if, in any case, labels are not to be applied at both sides, the supply of labels at the transfer point may be omitted. However, even though no labels are being applied to one side of the bottle, the grip finger assemblies at both sides are desirably actuated in the manner above described, those label pads which, under those circumstances do not carry labels, constituting abutments for holding the bottle in centered relation against the pressure exerted by the grip finger assembly at the opposite side in applying the labels. While the contact of the lower arm 33 (Fig. 4) of the right-angled, auxiliary lever 39 with the upper edge 32a of the bracket 32 is suflicient to limit the swing of the main lever 29 away from the upwardly directed arm 23,

23 of the frame of the grip finger assembly, it is desirable to provide additional limiting means, preferably of adjustable character; and to this end, a bolt 100 (Fig. 12) may be provided, this bolt having threaded engagement with a screw-threaded bore in the part 21 of the base 20 of the assembly frame. This bolt passes loosely through an opening in the main lever 29 and is provided, adjacent to its head end, with a washer 101 which, When contacted by the lever 29, as the latter swings away from arm 22, 23 positively limits such movement of the lever. By turning the bolt 100, the effective position of the washer may be varied. A lock nut 102 on the threaded end of the bolt provides for holding the bolt in adjusted position.

While the bolt 100 and washer 101 above described provide effective means for limiting outward motion of the main lever 29 of the grip finger assembly, that is to say, movement away from the upwardly directed arm 22, 23 of the frame of the assembly, it is still possible, in reference to the application of support force, for the main lever 29 to swing toward said arm 22, 23 even though it is normally urged away by the spring 44. It is necessary, for proper operation that the label-contacting faces of the main and shoulder label pads be accurately aligned when taking labels from the picker, since othetwise the labels may be twisted or torn, it has been found desirable to provide a lock, operative positively to limit inward motion of the main lever, that is to say motion toward the arm 22, 23 of the frame when the assembly is in transfer position, such lock being adjustable to make it possible to position the label-contacting faces of the two pads in accurate alignment for taking the labels from the picker, but with provision whereby said lock becomes ineffective automatically as the assembly approaches the label-applying position thereby to permit the shoulder label pad to be rocked relatively to the body label pad as above described, into the label-applying position.

A modified and preferred arrangement embodying this positive means for locking the main and shoulder pads in accurately aligned position while at the transfer station is illustrated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, it being understood that, except for the provision of this lock, the grip finger assembly may be identical in construction and details with the grip finger assemblies hereinbefore described.

Referring to Fig. 10, which may be considered as showing the grip finger assembly on its way from the transfer station to the label-applying position, and with the labelcontacting faces of the main and shoulder pads P and P in alignment, the numeral 104 designates a latch member which is arranged at the right-hand side, as viewed in Fig. 11, of the frame member 23 and which is fixed to a shaft 105 which turns in a bearing sleeve .106 extending transversely through the frame members 21, 22 and 23.

comprises an arm .107 provided at its end with a notch 108 (as best shown in Fig. 12) which, when the parts are at the transfer position, engages the edge of the head 109 of a stud 110 having threaded engagement with a threaded opening in the main lever arm 29. A pin 111 (Fig. 1 2) projecting radially from the shaft 105 forms an attachment for the upper end of a coiled tension spring 112 (Fig. 13) whose lower end is connected to a stud 113 projecting from the arm 41 of base member 20 of the assembly frame. This spring 112 is so arranged as to tend to swing the latch lever 104 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. :12, so as to hold the notch 108 in engagement with the head 109 of the stud (as shown in Fig. 10), thus positively limiting motion of the main lever 29 toward the arm 22, 23.

The lever 104 has another arm 114 provided with a fiat face 115 which is disposed to be engaged by the head 116 of a plunger 117 (desirably made of nylon). This plunger 117 slides in a guide sleeve 118 which is fixed in an opening in the main lever 29. A suitable lock nut 119 limits motion of the plunger outwardly (that is, to the left as viewed in Fig. 12) under the pressure exerted by the arm 114 of the lever. This plunger is provided, at its right-hand end as viewed in Fig. 12, with a rounded surface 120 which, as the assembly approaches the label-applying position, comes into contact with the vertical face 121 (Fig. 12) of one of the frame members 122 of the conveyor structure, the parts being so arranged that the surface 120 contacts the surface 121 just before the main label pad contacts the bottle, preferably when the main pad is about A of an inch from the bottle. The contact of the surface 120 with the fixed surface 121 of the conveyor frame causes the plunger 117 to remain stationary while the assembly completes its motion toward the label-applying position, and thereby rocks the latch lever 104 and so lifts the arm 107 from the member 109 as to release the lever 29, so that the arm 22, 23 can continue its motion as the assembly completes its movement toward the applying position and thus, by means of the link 40, as above described, swings the shoulder pad P into operative relation to the inclined shoulder of the bottle. When-the assembly swings. backwardly toward the transfer station, the spring 112 automatically moves the latch 104 toward operative position and, as soon as the lever 29 and the arm 22, 23 are sufficiently separated, the notch 108 in the latch 107 again engages the stud 109 thus holding the pads in properly aligned position. By adjustment of the stud 110, accurate alignment of the pads is readily secured. By the provision of this latch, it is assured that the body and shoulder pads cannot move relatively to each other when at the transfer station, While the several adjustments above described make it possible to pre-set the pads so that when at the transfer station these respective label contacting faces are accurately aligned and in a plane which is parallel to the plane in which the labels are held by the picker.

While certain desirable embodiments of the invention have herein been described and illustrated by way of example, it is to be understood that the invention is broadly inclusive of any and all modifications falling within the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a bottle-labeling machine of the kind wherein a gum-coated picker removes a body label and a shoulder label simultaneously from a supply and carries them to a transfer station where both labels are disposed in the same plane, conveyor means which moves the bottle to be labeled uni-nterruptedly along a predetermined path While the labels are being adhered to the .bottle, a grip finger assembly, including label transfer pads, operative to receive both labels .at the transfer station and to adhere them to the bottle, means for moving the grip finger assembly toward and from the transfer station and for 11 moving it bodily parallel to the-conveyor'pathwhile holding; the labels in contact with the movingbottle, said means comprising a shaft whose axis is parallel to'the' conveyor path and means for rocking the shaft, said grip finger-assembly comprising a rock arm mounted on said shaft and a frame fixed to the rock arrn, carriers for a body label pad and'for a shoulder label pad, respectively, mounted upon-saidframe, the label-contacting surfaces of both pads normally being-in the same plane, characterized inhaving means responsive to the termination of motion of the body label pad carrier, by contact of the label carriedthereby with the bottle, to move the shoulder label pad carrier from its normal position of parallelism with the body'label padcarrier to a position such that its label-contactingsurface slopes at the same angle as the shoulder-ofthe bottle.

2.- In a bottle-labeling-machine of the kind'whereinconveyor means moves a bottle to be labeled uninter ruptedly along a predetermined path whilelabelsare being-adhered to the bottle, and wherein-a gum-coated label-picker removes a body label and a shoulder label simultaneously from a supply and carries them to atrans fer station where both-labels are disposed in the same plane, said-plane being inclined to the verticalaxis of thebottle, a rock shaft parallel to the conveyor path, said shaft rocking about-its own axis formoving labels from the transfer stationto a label-applying position and also being movable bodily in an axial'direction, a grip finger assembly comprising a frame fixed to the shaft,- a body label pad and a shoulder label pad carried by said frame; the label-contacting faces of both pads normally being inthe same plane, means for rocking the shaft to-carry the pads from the transfer station, at which their labelcontacting faces are parallel to the labels supported by the picker, toan applying-position wherein the labelcontacting face of the body label pad is parallel to the axis of the bottle, pivot means connecting each pad to the frame, and means whereby cont-act of'the body label pad with the bottle swings the-shoulder label pad about its pivotal axis.

3, In a bottle-labeling machine of the kind wherein conveyor means moves a bottle to be labeled uninterruptcdly along a predetermined path-while labels are being adhered to the body and shoulder portions, respec tively, of the bottle, and wherein agum-coated label picker-removes a body label and a shoulder label simultaneously from asupply and carries them to atransfer station where both labels are disposed in the same plane, said plane being inclined to the vertical axis of the bottle to'which the labels are to be applied, a grip finger assembly comprising a body label pad and a shoulder'label pad, the labelcontacting faces of said pads normally being in the same plane, pivot means defining an axisparallel-to the conveyor path about which the shoulder label-pad may swing, meansfor moving the grip linger assembly to carry the pads from, the transfer station to a label-applying position and for moving the assembly bodily along the conveyor path, and means Whereby contact of the body label with the bottleautomaticallyrocks the shoulder label pad'about its pivotal axis until its label-contacting face slopes at thesame angle as the shoulder of the bottle.

4. In combination in a machine of the kind wherein conveyor means moves a bottle to be labeled uninterruptedly along a predetermined path While, labels are beingv adhered to the body and shoulder, respectively, of the bottle and wherein a gum-coated label picker removes a body label and a shoulder label simultaneously from. a supply and carries them to a transfer station where both labels are disposed ina plane Whichis-inclined to the vertical, a grip finger asscmbly;tmeans supporting said gripfinger assembly for movement from the transfer station to, a label-applying position and, for moving the assembly bodily-alongnhe conveyor path at the same linear velocity as the bottle to which the labels are to'be applied, said assembly comprising a body label pad and'ashoulder label pad, means normally positioning'said'pads so that their label-contacting faces are in the same plane, the shoulder label pad being movable relatively to the body label pad to a position suchthat'its label-contacting face is inclined relatively to that of the body label pad, and means operative so to move the shoulder label pad as the assemblyapproaches the labelapplying position and for maintaining the shoulder label pad in such inclined position as the assembly moves along the conveyor path.

5.- In a bottle-labeling machine of the kind which comprises a support for a bottle to be labeled and wherein a gum-coated label picker removes a body label and a shoulder label simultaneously from a supply and carries them to a transfer station, spaced from the bottle support, at which the body label and the shoulder label are disposed in a plane which is inclined to the axis of the bottle, a grip finger assembly, means supporting said assembly to rock about an axis disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the bottle, said grip finger assembly comprising a rigid frame, a main lever pivotally connected at its lower end to the frame to swing about an axis parallel to the axis about which the frame rocks, a body label pad mounted on said main lever intermediate the ends of the latter, an auxiliary lever pivotally connected to the free end of the main lever to swing about an axis parallel to the axis about which the frame rocks,

a shoulder label pad carried by said auxiliary lever, a spring which tends to swing the main lever toward the bottle support, stop means to limit swing of the auxiliaryv lever away from the bottle support, and a rigid link pivotally connected at one end to the free end of the auxiliary lever and at its other to the frame of the assembly, said link and stop means being operative normally to hold the label-contacting face of the shoulder pad in the same plane with the label-contacting face of the body label pad, but permitting the auxiliary lever to swing toward the bottle support in response to contact of the body label pad with the bottle.

6. In a bottle-labeling machine of the kind wherein conveyor means moves a bottle to be labeled uninterruptedly along a predetermined path while labels are.

being adhered to the bottle and wherein a gum-coated label picker removes a body label and a shoulder label simultaneously from a supply and carries them to a transfer station spaced from the conveyor path at which the body label and the shoulder label are disposed in the same plane, a grip finger assembly, means supporting said assembly to rock about an axis parallel to the conveyor path and also to move bodily along said path at the same linear velocity as the bottle to be labeled, said grip finger assembly comprising a rock arm fixed to a shaft which extends parallel to the conveyor path and in a horizontal plane below the support on which the bottle stands, said shaft also being bodily movable in an axial direction, means for rocking said shaft and for moving it axially at the same linear velocity as the conveyor, the grip finger assembly also comprising a frame fixed to said rock arm and which includes a rigid elongate arm, a main lever pivoted at its lower end to the frame to rock about an axis which is parallel to that of said shaft, an auxiliary lever pivoted to the free end of the main lever to rock about an axis parallel to that of said shaft, a spring which normally tends to swing the main lever away from said elongate arm, a body label pad mounted on the main lever and a shoulder label pad mounted on the auxiliary lever, and a link, one end of which is pivotally attached to the free end of the auxiliary lever and whose opposite end is pivotally attached to said rigid arm, said link being of such length as normally to hold the label-contacting face of the shoulder pad in the same plane with the lab'elcontacting face of the body label pad, the parts being so constructed and arranged that continued motion-of'said, elongate arm toward the bottle, after motion of the main i3 lever has been stopped by contact of the body label pad with the bottle, causes the auxiliary lever to rock about its pivotal connection to the main lever thereby to incline the label-contacting face of the shoulder pad at the same angle to the vertical as the sloping shoulder of the bottle.

7. The combination, according to claim 1, wherein the axis of the shaft about which the grip finger assembly rocks is in a plane below that of the surface upon which the bottle stands and in a vertical plane which is tangent to the surface of the body portion of the bottle.

8. The combination, according to claim 6, wherein the axis about which the main lever of the assembly rocks is above the axis about which the assembly as a whole rocks, but below the plane of the surface upon which the bottle stands.

9. The combination, according to claim 6, wherein the axis about which the auxiliary lever rocks is above the upper edge of the body label pad.

10. The combination, according to claim 6, wherein the pivotal support for the auxiliary lever is carried by a bracket which is so adjustably attached to the main lever as to permit the pivotal axis of the auxiliary lever to be raised and lowered relatively to the axis about which the assembly rocks.

11. The combination, according to claim 6, wherein the link which connects the auxiliary lever to the rigid arm is adjustable in length thereby to permit the labelcontaoting face of the shoulder pad to be adjusted to conform to bottles having shoulders of different slopes.

12. Apparatus, according to claim 6, designed to apply body labels both to the front and rear of the bottle and having label supplies, pickers, gum-applying means, and grip finger assemblies at'opposite sides, respectively, of the conveyor path, means operative to move the grip finger assemblies at opposite sides of the conveyor path simultaneously, from corresponding transfer stations, at which the label-contacting faces of the two pads converge downwardly toward the conveyor path to label-applying position, the axes about which the respective grip fingers rock and. the thickness of the body label pads of the respective grip fingers being such that when the grip fingers arrive at label-applying position, the label-contacting faces of the body label pads of the two grip fingers are parallel and tangent to the peripheral surface of the body of the bottle.

13. Apparatus, according to claim 6, wherein, when the assembly is in label-applying position, the axis about which the main lever of the grip finger assembly rocks is in a vertical plane which is tangent to the peripheral surface of the body portion of the bottle and in a horizontal plane which is below the plane of the surface upon which the bottle stands.

14. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the grip finger assembly is so positioned, when at the transfer station, that the plane of the label-contacting surface of the body label pad is inclined to the vertical, and wherein, as the grip finger assembly moves to the label-applying position, the label-contacting surface of the body label pad is brought into parallelism with the axis of the bottle.

15. In combination in a bottle-labeling machine of the kind which includes a support for a bottle to be labeled and wherein a gum-coated picker removes a plurality of labels simultaneously from a supply and carries them to a transfer station where the several labels are disposed in alignment in a plane which is inclined to the axis of the bottle, and transfer means comprising a rock arm, a grip finger assembly, including a rigid frame fixed to the rock arm, said assembly also comprising a label pad carrier pivotally secured to the frame and a second label pad carrier pivotally secured to the first pad carrier, a pad mounted on each carrier, means operative normally to hold both pad carriers so that their label-contacting surfaces are in alignment when the assembly is at the transfer station, and means operative, in response to the contact of a label adhering to one of said pads with the at ticle to be labeled, to move the other pad carrier relatively to the first so that the label-contacting face of the second-named pad carrier is no longer aligned with the label-contacting face of the first pad carrier.

16. The combination, according to claim 15, wherein the first-named pad carrier is designed to transfer a body label and the second-named pad carried is designed to transfer a shoulder label, the body pad carrier being pivotally' connected at its lower end to the frame of the assembly and the shoulder label pad carrier being pivotally connected to the free upper end of the body label pad carrier, the pivotal axes of the two pad carriers being parallel, spring means tending to swing the body label pad carrier about its pivotal axis toward the bottle to be labeled, and means operative, in response to contact of a label carried by the body label pad with the bottle to be labeled, to swing the shoulder label pad carrier about its pivotal axis to a position where its label-contacting surface is inclined to that of the body label pad carrier.

17. The combination, according to claim 15, wherein the frame of the assembly comprises a rigid upstanding arm, and one of said pad carriers is designed to transfer a body label and the other is designed to transfer a shoulder label, spring means tending to move the body label pad carrier away from said upright arm, a rigid link pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the free upper end of the shoulder label pad carrier and to the upper part of said upright arm, respectively, and stop means operative, by contact with the shoulder label pad carrier, normally to hold the latter in position such that its labelcontacting face is in the same plane wtih the label-contacting face of the body label pad carrier.

18. In a bottle-labeling machine of the kind wherein a convevoy moves a bottle which is to be labeled uninterruptedly along a predetermined path, and wherein a gum-coated label picker removes a body label and a shoulder label simultaneously from a supply and carries them to a transfer station where both labels are disposed in the same plane, said plane being inclined to the axis of the bottle as the latter stands in readiness to receive a label, a grip finger assembly and means supporting said assembly to rock about an axis which is parallel to. the conveyor path and in a plane below the plane of the support on which .the bottle stands, said assembly comprising a body label pad and a shoulder label pad, the latter, at least, being pivotally supported to rock about an axis parallel to the conveyor path, means including a spring which normally holds said pads in such relation that their label-contacting surfaces are in the same plane, means for rocking the grip finger assembly to carry labels from the transfer station to a label-applying position and for moving the grip finger assembly bodily along the conveyor path at the same linear velocity as the bottle, and means whereby contact of the body label pad with the bottle causes the shoulder label pad to rock until its label-contacting face inclines at the same angle to the vertical as does the shoulder surface of the bottle.

19. In a bottle labeling machine of the kind which has a support for a bottle to be labeled and wherein a gum-coated picker removes a body label and a shoulder label simultaneously from a supply and carries them to a transfer station where they are supported in a plane which is inclined to the axis of the bottle to be labeled,

the picker being of the kind which comprises relatively movable blades which, after contacting a label in the label supply, separate before the picker arrives at the transfer station Where only the end portions of a label adhere to the respective picker blades, the machine including a rock shaft which is rocked back and forth through a predetermined arc during each label-applying cycle, the axis of the rock shaft being in a plane which is substantially tangent to that surface of the bottle which ashram pad carriers being parallel to the axis of the rock shaft,.

and the pad carriers being so relatively disposed, when the assembly is at the transfer station, that the labelcontactingfaces oflthe padsare accurately aligned, and. connections between the frame of the assembly and'the shoulder label pad carrierv operative, when motionv of,

the body label pad'carrier is terminated by contact of the pad with the bottle, before theassembly completes its advance toward labelaffixingposition, to rock the shoulder pad carrier thereby to incline its label-contacting face at substantially the same angle as that of the surface of the shoulder of the bottle.

20. In a bottle-labeling machine of the kind which,

comprises a support for a bottle to be labeled and wherein a gum-coated label picker removes a body label and ashoulder label simultaneously from a supply and carries them to a transfer station spaced from the bottle sup port, at which the body label and the shoulder label are disposed in a plane which is inclined to the axis of the bottle, a grip finger assembly, means supporting said assembly to rock about an axis disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the bottle, said grip finger assembly comprising a rigid frame, a main lever pivotally connected at its lower end to the frame to swing about an axis parallel to theaxis about which the frame rocks, a body label pad mounted on said main lever, an auxiliary lever pivotally connected to the free end of the. main lever to swing about an axis parallel to that about which,

the frame rocks, a shoulder label pad carriedby said auxiliary lever, a spring which tends to swing the. main lever toward the bottle support, stop means operative to limit swing of the auxiliary lever, relatively to the main lever, away from the bottle support, and alink pivotally connected at one end to the'free end of the auxiliary lever and at its other end to the frame of the:assernbly, said link and stop means being operative normally to hold the label-contacting faces of the two pads in the same plane, but permittingthe auxiliary lever to swing.

toward the bottle support, relatively to the main lever, in

response to contact of the body, label pad. with. the:

bottle.

21. The combination according to claim which in- 15 eludes means operative positively to prevent relative motion of the main and auxiliary levers While the assembly is at the transfer station.

22. The combination according to claim 20 which includes a locking device means operative positively to prevent relative motion of the main and auxiliary leverswhile the assembly is at the transfer station, and means Whereby said locking device becomes ineffective to prevent relative motion of the main and auxiliary levers as the assembly approaches the label-applying position.

23. The combination according to claim 20 including a latch pivotally mounted on the frame of the assembly, saidlatch having a part cooperable with an element of the main lever positively to position the latter with the label-contacting surface of the body label pad in the same plane as the label-contacting surface of the shoulder pad, spring means normally operative to keep said latch in looking position, and means operative, asthe assembly approaches label-applying position, for releasing the latch.

24. In a bottle-labeling machine of the kind wherein a support holds a bottle to be labeled with its axis substantially vertical and wherein a picker receives a body label and a shoulder label simultaneously from a supply and carries them to a transfer station'where the labels are disposed in a plane inclined to the vertical, a gripfinger assembly supported about a horizontal axis below the plane of the bottle support, said grip finger assembly comprising a rigid frame, a plurality of label pad carriers pivotally mounted on said frame to rock about axes parallel to the axis about which the assembly rocks, a label pad mounted on each carrier, locking means operative positively to hold said pad carriers in such relative position that the label contacting surface of the several pads are aligned and in a plane parallel to that of the labels held by the picker when the assemblyis at the transfer station, and means operative automatically to release said locking means thereby to permit the label contacting surfaces of the respective pad carriers to lie in different planes as the assembly approaches the label applying position.

References Cited in the file-of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,568,904 Weber et al Sept. 25, 1951 2,652,941 Carter Sept, 22, 1953 2,665,025 Carter -Q Jan. 5, 1954 2,754,990 Scott July 17, 1956 2,773,617 Weiss Dec. 11, 1956'

Images