US3126309A - Label machine registering means - Google Patents

Description

March 1964 H. D. MANAS ETAL 3,126,309

LABEL MACHINE REGISTERING MEANS Filed Dec. 22, 1961 6. Sheets-Sheet 1 March 24, 1964 H. D. MANAS ETAL 3,126,309

LABEL MACHINE REGISTERING MEANS Filed Dec. 22, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 HERMAN D- MANAS BY ROY J- MANA ATTORN YS March 24, 1964 H. D. MANAS ETAL LABEL MACHINE REGISTERING MEANS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed D60. 22, 1961 RETURN TRAVEL OF CARR|AGE-|8O TRAVEL OF CARRIAG m umsou (FIGS-l7, [BAND l0) &SLI DE CAM DWELL/ 34 FORWARD TRAVEL OF CARRIAGE l80 LINEAR MOTION 0F CARRIAGE 321 4AM owsu.

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INVENTORS HERMAN D- IANAS BY R Y J HAN S Fig.|3

TTORN March 24, 1964 H. D. MANAS ETAL 3,126,309

LABEL MACHINE REGISTERING MEANS Filed bec. 22, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR HERMAN 0 MA AS BY ROY J-MANAS March 24, 1964 H. D. MANAS ETAL 3,

LABEL MACHINE REGISTERING MEANS Filed Dec. 22, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fig.l7 Fig.l8 Lm Fi g. 20

lNVE-NTORS HERMAN D MANAS BY ROY J- MANAS TTORNE United States Patent 3,126,309 LABEL MACHINE REGISTERING MEANS Herman D. Manas, Roslyn Estates, and Roy J. Manas, Jericho, N.Y., assignors to M.R.M. Company, Inc., Plainview, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 161,484 3 Claims. (Ci. 156-566) This invention relates to continuous motion labeling machines, and more particularly to registering and orienting mechanisms for effecting accurate positioning of containers at the labeling station of the machine with re spect to a label-applying mechanism at said station, thus insuring uniform application of labels to the containers at selected portions of the latter. This application is a continuation-in-part of our co-pending application, Serial No. 77,441, filed December 21, 1960, now abandoned.

In conventional continuous motion labeling machines containers are moved successively by a conveyor to a label-applying station whereat appropriate label-applying mechanism applies a label to a surface of the container. In transit on the conveyor to the label-applying station, the containers are usually fed past a spacing mechanism such as a rotating feed worm which serves to space the containers approximately at regular intervals on the conveyor. The intended action of the spacing mechanism is to so position the successive containers that each should arrive at the label-applying station in a proper location on the conveyor to permit application to a selected surface portion of each container of a label. In practice, however, the spacing effected by the spacing mechanism is not completely accurate, and, moreover, requires special design of the feed worm for each different type of container to be labeled. The inaccurate spacing results in inaccuracy of the positioning of labels applied to the containers and unsightly lack of uniformity. Moreover, in the case of containers having, for example, oval or elliptical sections, their major ellipse axes are usually shifted to a skew position relative to the direction of travel of the conveyor during transit through the spacing mechanism. This skew position persists on the conveyor beyond the spacing mechanism. Unless corrected by orientation of the major ellipse axes of the container from the skew position to a position parallel with the travel direction of the conveyor prior to arrival of the containers at the label-applying station the askew containerswill be improperly labeled with the labels applied thereto unsymmetrically and in unsightly positions.

Objects and features of the present invention are the provision of a registering and orienting mechanism or device that may be readily installed in existing as Well as new machines for the purposes of insuring uniform and accurate registration and orientation of spaced containers on the conveyor with respect to the label-applying station so that uniform labeling of successive containers on precisely selected surface portions thereof will be effected.

Other objects and features of the invention are the provision of a container engaging mechanism operable on the approximately regularly spaced containers on the conveyor after they leave the spacing mechanism and in advance of their arrival at the labeling station to correct any skew condition of such containers and to shift them on the conveyor to place them in accurate registry thereon so that when each arrives at the label-applying station on the conveyor it is in an accurate position to insure application to it of a label at a precisely selected surface portion thereof.

Additional objects and features of the invention are the provision of simple and effective mechanism for 3,126,309 Patented Mar. 24, 1964 effecting the desired container registration and orientation that may be installed at relatively low cost.

Other objects and features of the invention are the provision of registering and orienting mechanism that may be readily adapted for use with differing types of containers and which will eliminate the necessity for redesign of the usual spacing mechanism for each different type of container.

Additional objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one type of container to which labels are to be applied;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of another type of such container;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of still another type of such container;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of a container of FIG- URE 3 showing a label properly applied in a symmetrical position;

FIGURE 5 is a similar sectional view of a container section taken along line 55 of FIGURE 3, showing a label improperly applied in an unsymmetrical position;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view in the region of the labeling station of a continuous motion labeling machine to which the mechanism of this invention has been applied;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the mechanism;

FIGURE 8 is a view taken along line 8--8 of FIG- URE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a view taken along line 9--9 of FIG- URE 7;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken along line 1t)--10 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken along line 1111 of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 13 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the one position of container registering operation of the device of this invention;

FIGURE 14 is a similar diagrammatic view illustrating a succeeding position;

FIGURE 15 is a similar diagrammatic view illustrating the next successive position;

FIGURE 16 is a diagrammatic illustration of a complete cycle of motion of the device of this invention;

FIGURE 17 is a diagrammatic view illustrating one position of container registering operation of the device of this invention when used with a different type of con tainer;

FIGURE 18 is a similar diagrammatic View illustrating a succeeding position of the arrangement of FIGURE 17;

FIGURE 19 is a similar diagrammatic view of the next successive position of the arrangement of FIGURE 17 and FIGURE 20 is a perspective view of another form of container-engaging jaw that may be utilized with the device of this invention for still a differently shaped container.

Referring now to the drawing, FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 illustrate rectangularly-sectioned, cylindrically-sectioned and oval-sectioned containers 10a, 10b and that are intended to have labels L L and L applied thereto at the labeling station of a labeling machine. Containers of other shapes likewise may be labeled.

The labeling machine M, to which the registering and orienting mechanism of this invention is applied may, for example, be of the continuous motion type described in our US. Patent No. 2,967,636, dated January 10, 1961. It is contemplated, however, that it may be used with a other types of labeling machines wherein containers are fed continuously by a conveyor to a labeling station whereat labels are applied and adhered to successive containers as they arrive at said station.

In a machine such as that of said patent, the upper horizontal flight 11 of a continuously moving conveyor has containers, for example, 13:: positioned thereon in any suitable way in advance of a spacing device. The conveyor flight 11 in its travel toward the labeling station, as indicated by the arrow, first moves the containers positioned thereon through the spacing device such as a rotary Worm 12 and between the latter and a guide plate 13. The worm 12 serves to separate and space the successive containers c approximately uniformly on the conveyor flight 11, so that after they leave the worm 12 still guided by plate 13 they will successively arrive at the labeling station I of the machine at approximately regular intervals. This spacing worm 12 is of conventional type. It is usually designed to operate with specifically dimensioned and shaped containers to produce the desired spacing between them. However, the spacing achieved by this worm 12 is at best approximate. Frequently, containers are found not quite properly positioned on the conveyor 11 when they arrive at the label-applying station I. In consequence, labels applied to such containers by the label-applying mechanism at said station become adhered to improper locations on the container surface, being, for example, adhered unsymmetrically offcenter as seen in dotted outline in FIGURE 1, or askew as seen in dotted outline in FIGURE 2, or unsymmetrically off-center and askew as illustrated in dotted outline in FIGURE 3.

In the case of oval or elliptically sectioned containers 100, the containers are found usually to leave the rotary worm 12 in a position such that their major ellipse axes a-a are in skew positions, i.e. at an angle with their direction of travel on the conveyor rather than parallel therewith. If the containers 100 are left in this skew condition, labels are improperly applied to them at the label-applying station. It is important, therefore, that this misalignment or skew of ellipse axes be corrected before the containers are labeled. v

It is important, moreover, that this misalignment or skew condition of the major axis of the ellipse be corrected for each container after it leaves the spacing worm 12 and before it reaches the label-applying station I by orientation of its axis a-a to a condition parallel with the path of travel. In addition, to correction of this skew condition, it is absolutely essential that each container delivered to the labeling station by the conveyor arrive there in precisely registered position on the conveyor so that the label-applying device which delivers the labels to the label-applying station will accurately apply a label to each succeeding container arriving at that station in a precisely selected surface position which is desirably a centered position of symmetry on the surface of the container. Since the label-applying device, as well as the conveyor 11 carrying the containers are in continuous motion at relatively high speeds, it is necessary to commence orientation of the skew condition of the axes of the containers and to secure their proper registry positions on the conveyor after they leave the spacing worm 12 but in advance of the arrival of the successive containers at the label-applying station. This timing is necessary because the rapid application of the labels to the containers at the label-applying station does not permit a sufficient time interval at the labeling station to impart any corrective movements to the container there. Any attempt to make corrective movements at this station merely aggravates the improper adhesion of the label to an improper surface of the container and in an undesirable unsymmetrical position.

In the embodiment shown, the containers which pass through the spacing worm 12 are guided in transit through and beyond the latter by a guide plate 13 which extends parallel with the direction of motion of the conveyor 11 and beyond the exit end of the worm 12, terminating just short of the label-applying station I.

The orienting and registering mechanism 14 of this invention is positioned in proximity to the label-applying station I at one side of the conveyor 11 and opposite to the label-applying mechanism L of the machine. The latter may be of the turret type described in our aforesaid Patent 2,967,636 or it may be any other conventional label-applying device which successively delivers and at least partially applies adhesive-bearing labels to the successive containers arriving at the label-applying station I.

In the embodiment shown, the orienting and register ing mechanism 14 comprises a slide or carriage 15. This carriage 15 is supported by a pair of horizontally disposed guide bars 16 and 17 which are carried by oppositely-located spaced-apart, fixed end supports 18 and 19. The guide bars 16 and 17 extend in parallelism with the direction of travel of the conveyor 11 (denoted by arrow A) so that the slide member or carriage 15 may be moved reciprocally in a path parallel with the direction of travel of the conveyor 11. Reciprocal motion of the carriage 15 on its guide bars 16 and 17 is effected by a crank lever 20 pivotally connected at one end 21 to a projection 15' of the carriage 15 and pivotally connected at its other end 22 to a crankpin 23 eccentrically mounted on a crank disc 24. This disc 24 is, in turn, pinned or otherwise fixed to a vertically rotatable drive shaft 25. The shaft 25 is rotated by the usual drive mechanism (not shown) of the labeling machine. This rotation causes corresponding rotation of the disc 24 which in turn, through the agency of the crank lever 20 reciprocally moves the carriage 15 on the guide bars 16 and 17.

The shaft 25 is suitably supported by the fixed bearing block 26 carried, for example, by the horizontal table 27 of the machine M. This table-top 27 also serves as the carrier for the fixed end supports 18 and 19 of guide bars 16 and 17. The end supports 18 and 19 are located on the table-top 27 in the region of the labeling station I, and the spacing between them is such that the carriage or slide member 15 is movable in its to and fro strokes on guide bars 16 and 17 from a position in advance of the labeling station I to a position beyond said labeling station and vice-versa during each rotation of crank disc 24.

A slide member or block 28 is provided. This slide block 28 is guidedly supported on guide rods 29 which latter are secured to the first slide member or carriage 15 so as to extend transversely perpendicular to the direction of the guide bars 16 and 17. The slide block 28 is movable reciprocally on its guide rods 29 in a path perpendicular to the reciprocal path of movement of the first slide member 15. In other words, slide block 28 is movable toward and away from the guide plate 13 transversely to the path of travel of the conveyor 11.

The reciprocal motion of the slide block 28 is given to it during periods of the reciprocal motion of the carriage 15. In order to effect this reciprocal motion of the slide block 28, a rotary disc cam 30 is pinned or otherwise fixed to the vertical shaft 25 for rotation with it and crank disc 24. This disc cam 30 has high and low surfaces 31 and 32 shown in the development in FIGURE 16; These high and low surfaces have flat dwell periods. The said high and low surfaces are joined respectively by the rising slanting surface '33 and the descending slanting surface 34 for purposes presently to be described. The slant of surface 34 is more acute than that of surface 33. A cam follower roller 35 is adapted to ride on the surfaces 31, 32, 33 and 34 of the rotary' disc cam 30 during its rotation.

This cam follower roller 35 is mounted on one end of a crank arm 36 whose other end is secured to the guide bar 16, which latter is rotatable in its end supports 18 and 19. A pair of spaced-apart levers 37 and 38 are adjustably secured to the support rod 16, these levers 37 and 38 being joined by a cross-bar 39 which may swivel with them. This cross-bar 39, in turn, engages a roller 40 which depends from and is supported by the slide member or block 28 (see FIGS. 9, and 11). The roller 49 is biased into engagement with the cross-bar 39 as by a compression spring 41., located in an appropriate space or recess 42 in the carriage 15. One end of the spring 41 engages a fixed plate 43 secured to the carriage and the other end of the spring 41 engages a pin 44 depending from and extending downwardly from the slide member or block =28 through a slot 45 in carriage 15 into the spring space or recess 4-2. Thus, as seen in FIGURES 9 and 10, the compression spring 41 tends always to bias the pin 44 and consequently, the slide member or block '28 rightwardly yieldingly in a direction toward the guide plate 1.3 of the machine M. The biasing action of the compression spring 41 is also transmitted via roller 40, cross-bar 39, levers 37 and 3S, rotatable guide bar 16 and crank 36 to the cam follower roller 35 so that the 'latter always rides on the surfaces 31, 32, 33 and 34 of the cam 39. The biasing action of spring 41 and driven rotation of cam 38 thus serve to reciprocate the slide block 28.

The slide block 23 is provided in its upper surface with a guideway 46 which extends parallelly with the guide rods 29. A support bar 47, provided with a longitudinal slot 43, is adjustably mounted on the slide block 28 in the guideway 4-6. Set screws 49 serve to position the bar 47 in any desired adjusted location relative to the slide block 23 within the limits permitted by the slot 48.

An angle bar 50 (FIGURE 9) is secured as by bolts 51 to the bar t? at its outermost end which directly faces the guide 13. The vertical leg 52 of the angle bar 50 serves to mount a jaw member 53 secured as by bolts 54 to said vertical leg 52. This jaw member 53 includes upper and lower parallel horizontally extending flanges 55. The forward outward end edges 56 of these flanges 55 as seen in FIGURE 7 are elliptically concave so that they are in effect substantially complemental in shape to the elliptical or oval contour of the container 10s with which they are to engage as will be presently described. These edges terminate in rounded noses 57. Vertical spacing between the pair of flanges 55 is. such that they will respectively engage the container 10c adjacent its neck and adjacent its bottom. More flanges 55 at the other locations may be provided if desired, or only one flange 55 may be used if preferable.

In operation, assuming that containers of the type 160 (FIGURE 3) are to be labeled, the bar 47 is adjusted on the slide 28 by the set screws 49 depending on container thickness so that the flanges 55 of the jaw member 53,

as seen in FIGURE 13, lie clear of the traveling con-v tainers We as they emerge successively on conveyor 11 from the spacing mechanism 12. The cam disc 30 is positioned on shaft 25 so that cam follower roller 35 lies on high surface 31 thereof just in advance of downwardly slanting surface 33. The slide block 28 then lies at its extreme rearward position on its guide rods 29,,i.e. remote from guide 1-3 and spring 41 is compressed. At this time, too, the crank disc 24 is positioned on the shaft 25 so that its crank pin 23 is in such a position that.

its crank pin 23 lies in its extreme right-hand position as seen in FIGURE 13. In consequence through the agency of the crank lever 20, the carriage 15 lies at its extreme right stroke position on the guide bars 16 and 17 as seen in FIGURE 13, its nearest position to the containersleaving the spacing worm 12. With these adjustments, it,

The machine is then started. As soon as it starts to operate, the crank disc begins to rotate counterclockwise as seen in FIGURE 13. This starts to move the first slide 15 leftwardly from its extreme right position shown in FIGURE 13 forwardly in the same direction of travel as the conveyor 11 and at synchronous speed therewith. Similarly, the cam roller 35 moves from its high surface 31 downwardly along the sloping portion 33 to its low portion 32. The compressed spring 41 is thus freed to expand. In such expansion, it moves the slide block 28 forwardly on its guide rods 29 toward the full-line position shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 toward container as seen in FIGURE 13 so that the concave surfaces 56 of jaw 53 move toward engagement with said elliptical con tainer 100. As the jaw 53 first moves toward gripping engagement with the container 10c, one or the other of the rounded noses 57 of the concave surfaces 56 engage the container and eifect a relative shift of said container lite on the conveyor 11 either forwardly or backwardly relative to the direction of movement of the conveyor or thus accurately registering the container in a centralized position in the jaw 53. The jaw 53 once its surface 56 engages the container then further presses the elliptical container against the guide 13 with suflicient force to orient or align the major axis aa of the elliptical container 10c parallel with the direction of travel of the conveyor, as seen in FIGURE 14. The compression spring 41 is, of course, yieldable. Thus, any variations in container thickness of successive containers are absorbed by the spring 41. Containers will not be broken while being pressed against said guide plate by jaw 53 under action of this spring. The spring 41, among its other functions, serves thus as a shock absorber. The alignment or orientation and registration shift of the container ltbc, as is clear from FIGURE 14, occurs prior to the arrival of the gripped container at the label-applying station I.

During this described action, the first slide 15 con tinues to move forwardly leftwardly as seen in FIGURE 14 at synchronous speed with and in the said direction as the conveyor 11 under the drive action of the rotating crank disc 24. Also, during this period, the cam roller 35 remains on a dwell portion of the lower cam surface 32 so that the spring 41 continues to bias the jaw 53 against the engaged container 100 and pressed against guide 13 and holds the container firmly in its oriented and registered condition on the conveyor 11. In this condition, continued rotation of the crank disc 24 in the counterclockwise direction eventually through corresponding movement leftwardly (forwardly in the same direction as conveyor 11) of the carriage 15 eventually brings the gripped container 10c to the labeling station I as is seen in FIGURE 15. Here, it will be noted, the gripped container lilo rides off the guide 13 just at the moment the leading edge of a label L from the label-applying device L arrivesat the station so that the leading edge of the label ispressed against and adhered to a proper location on the surface of the container while the latter is backed-up by the jaw 53. The registering and orienting effect of the concave surfaces 56 of the jaw 53 is such that each succeeding container 10c held thereby after orientation and registrational shift arrives at the labelapplying station in exact registry and properly oriented with respect to the fed labels delivered by the label-applying device L so that each label is exactly applied to each succeeding container in exactly the'cor'rect selected position on the container surface. Any inexact registry position of the container on the conveyor prior to its arrival 'at the label-applying station or any improper orientation of its major ellipse axis has been corrected by the application of the jaw 53 to the container L in advance of its arrival at that point.

As the conveyor 11 carries the labelled container beyond the label applying station, the jaw 53 moves with it for a short distance in the same direction as the conveyor 11. 7 It then is retracted transversely rapidly relativethe movement of conveyor 11 to a release position. This retractive movement is effected because the cam follower roller 35 rides upwardly on the steeply sloping surface 34 of cam 30 onto its high dwell surface 31. This effects retractive motion of slide block 28 because of the rotation then imparted to the crank 36 by cam roller 35. This retractive motion is in opposition to the spring 41 which again becomes compressed. The labeled container 100 which has been released by jaw 53 is now free to move further with the conveyor 11 for passage, for example, between ironing belts 58 or other suitable mechanism (FIG. URE 6) which may be necessary to complete the adhesion of the label to the container c. The registering and orienting action of the double reciprocal motion of jaw 53 parallel with and transversely of the conveyor 10 always insures exact registration and orientation of each succeeding container 100 leaving the spacing mechanism 12 with the label applying mechanism when it arrives at the label applying station I.

If containers of different dimensions and shapes are to be labeled, the jaw 53 is replaced by another jaw of appropriate shape. For example, if rectangularly sectioned containers 19a (FIGURE 1) are to be labeled, the jaw 53 is replaced by a jaw 60 (FIGURES 17, 18 and 19) which performs similar registering and orienting operations on containers of rectangular section. The jaw member 60 includes pairs of tines 61 which define a rectangular space 62 which is complemental in shape to a rectangularly sectioned container 10a and into which space the latter is adapted to be received during operation of the device. The pairs of tines 61 are beveled at their forward ends 63 with the bevels facing each other. The spacing between pairs of tines 61 is such as to receive between them each container 10a which is to be registered and properly aligned with the label-applying mechanism L at the station I.

The same preliminary adjustments of the mechanism 14 now carrying the jaw 60 are made as described above with respect to the jaw 53. After these adjustments have been made, the machine is started. The conveyor 11 moves the containers 1011 through the spacing worm 12. As they issue from the spacing worm, the movable jaw 60 lies approximately at the extreme right-hand limiting position and in an extremely retracted position away from the guide 13. Under action of crank disc 24 it commences its travel forwardly in the same direction as the conveyor 11 and at synchronous speed therewith. At the same time, as the cam follower roller 35 rides off the high surface 31 of cam 30 onto its low surface 32, it releases the compression spring 41 causing the latter to drive the slide block member 28 forwardly toward the guide plate 13 transversely of the direction of conveyor travel. The container 10a, leaving the spacing worm, then lies on the conveyor 11 in a position to be engaged by one of the tapered surfaces 63 of the tines 61. As a result, the transverse motion of the jaw 60 toward the guide plate 13 causes the surfaces 63 to shift the container on the conveyor 11 and to guide the container into the space 62 between the two tines 61 as is illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19. At the same time, the jaw 60 under action of the crank disc 24 is moved parallelly with the conveyor 11 at the same speed as the latter and toward the label-applying station I. The guiding effect of the tapered surfaces 63 of tines 61 during the aforedescribed motion of the jaw 60 also effects a relative shift of the container 10a on the conveyor 11 so that by the time the engaged container 10a arrives at the label-applying station, its vertical center line has been shifted to lie in exact registry with the center line of the label-applying device L as seen in FIGURE 19. Thus, the label L applied to the container by the labeling mechanism L is exactly positioned in the center of the container. As the conveyor 11 carries the labelled container beyond the label-applying station, the jaw 61 moves with it for a short distance in the same direction as the conveyor 11 and then is rapidly retracted transversely to a released position relative to the labeled container. This retractive movement is effected due to the fact that the cam follower roller 35 rides upwardly on the steeply sloping surface 34 of cam 30 onto its high surface 31. This initiates retractive movement of the slide block 28 because of the rotation then imparted to the crank 36 by cam roller 35. This retractive movement is opposite to the spring 41 which again becomes compressed. The container 19a which has been released by the movable jaw 60 is now free to move further with the conveyor 11 for passage between ironing belts 58 or other suitable mechanism which may be necessary to complete the adhesion of the label to the container 10a. The registering action of the double reciprocal motion of the jaw 60 thus always insures exact registration of each succeeding container 10a with the label-applying mechanism of the label-applying station I.

If containers of cylindrical section are to be labeled, the jaw 60 is replaced by a jaw 7 0 shown in FIG. 20. This jaw performs similar registering operations on containers of cylindrical shape. Of course, if containers of other sections and shapes are to be labeled, it is simply necessary to replace the jaws 53, 60 or 7 t) by other appropriately shaped jaws. In each instance, the double reciprocal motion imparted to the jaws always insures exact registration of each succeeding container with the label-applying mechanism L at the label-applying station I. This insures application of a label to the container always at a precisely selected surface portion thereof.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described and shown, variations in structural detail within the scope of the appended claims are possible and are contemplated. There is no intention, therefore, of limitation to the exact disclosure herein made.

What is claimed is:

1. In a continuous motion labeling machine having a labeling station and means thereat to apply labels to suecessive containers moved thereto, a continuously movable conveyor for the containers, spacing means to impart approximately uniform spacing to the containers on the conveyor in advance of said labeling station, a guide for spaced containers on the conveyor extending parallel with the direction of conveyor motion, a jaw movable toward said guide and away therefrom for engaging in its toward motion successively the spaced container on said conveyor and pressing each against said guide for orienting each and placing it in an accurate position on said conveyor in advance of its arrival at said label-applying station to insure application thereto at the label-applying station of a label in a precise selected location on a surface of the container, a slide block for supporting said jaw, support means for said slide block to permit sliding movement thereof reciprocally and transversely of the direction of motion of said conveyor, a carriage for said support means movable slidably and reciprocally in a path parallel with the direction of motion of said conveyor, crank means for reciprocally moving said carriage, a pin member depending from said slide block, a compression spring mounted in said carriage and engaging said pin member to bias said slide block on its support means in a direction toward said guide, a roller depending from said slide block, a swingable bar engaging said roller, and cam means for swinging said bar to move the roller and with it said slide block in a direction away from such guide.

2. In a continuous motion labeling machine having a labeling station and means thereat to apply labels to successive containers moved thereto, a continuously movable conveyor for the containers, spacing means to impart approximately uniform spacing to the containers on the conveyor in advance of said labeling station, a guide for spaced containers on the conveyor extending parallel with the direction of conveyor motion, a jaw movable toward said guide and away therefrom for engaging in its toward motion successively the spaced container on said conveyor and pressing each against said guide for orienting each and placing it in an accurate position on said conveyor in advance of its arrival at said label-applying station to insure application thereto at the label-applying station of a label in a precise selected location on a surface of the container, a slide block for supporting said jaw, support means for said slide block to permit sliding movement thereof reciprocally and transversely of the direction of motion of said conveyor, a carriage for said support means movable slidably and reciprocally in a path parallel with the direction of motion of said conveyor, crank means for reciprocally moving said carriage, a pin member depending from said slide block, a compression spring mounted in said carriage and engaging said pin member to bias said slide block on its support means in a direction toward said guide, a roller depending from said slide block, a swingable bar engaging said roller, cam means for swinging said bar to move the roller and with it said slide block in a direction away from such guide, and common means for driving said crank means and said cam means.

3. In a continuous motion labeling machine having a labeling station and means thereat to apply labels to successive containers moved thereto, a continuously movable conveyor for the containers, spacing means to impart approximately uniform spacing to the containers on the conveyor in advance of said labeling station, a guide for spaced containers on the conveyor extending parallel with the direction of conveyor motion, a jaw movable toward said guide and away therefrom for engaging in its toward motion successively the spaced container on said conveyor and pressing each against said guide for orienting such and placing it in an accurate position on said conveyor in advance of its arrival at said label applying station to insure application thereto at the label-applying station of a label in a precise selected location on a surface of the container, a slide block for supporting said jaw, support means for said slide block to permit sliding movement thereof reciprocally and transversely of the direction of motion of said conveyor, a carrige for said support means movable slidably and reciprocally in a path parallel with the direction of motion of said conveyor, crank means for reciprocally moving said carriage, a pin member depending from said slide block, a compression spring mounted in said carriage and engaging said pin member to bias said slide block on its support means in a direction toward said guide, a roller depending from said slide block, a swingable bar engaging said roller, lever means for supporting said swingable bar, a crank arm coupled to said lever means, a cam follower secured to said crank arm, a rotary surface cam engaged by said cam follower to swing said crank arm, said lever means and said roller engaged bar and thus move said guide in opposition to said compression spring, and common means for driving said crank means and said rotary surface cam.

Powell Aug. 10, 1937 Carter May 29, 1962

Claims (1)

1. IN A CONTINUOUS MOTION LABELING MACHINE HAVING A LABELING STATION AND MEANS THEREAT TO APPLY LABELS TO SUCCESSIVE CONTAINERS MOVED THERETO, A CONTINUOUSLY MOVABLE CONVEYOR FOR THE CONTAINERS, SPACING MEANS TO IMPART APPROXIMATELY UNIFORM SPACING TO THE CONTAINERS ON THE CONVEYOR IN ADVANCE OF SAID LABELING STATION, A GUIDE FOR SPACED CONTAINERS ON THE CONVEYOR EXTENDING PARALLEL WITH THE DIRECTION OF CONVEYOR MOTION, A JAW MOVABLE TOWARD SAID GUIDE AND AWAY THEREFROM FOR ENGAGING IN ITS TOWARD MOTION SUCCESSIVELY THE SPACED CONTAINER ON SAID CONVEYOR AND PRESSING EACH AGAINST SAID GUIDE FOR ORIENTING EACH AND PLACING IT IN AN ACCURATE POSITION ON SAID CONVEYOR IN ADVANCE OF ITS ARRIVAL AT SAID LABEL-APPLYING STATION TO INSURE APPLICATION THERETO AT THE LABEL-APPLYING STATION OF A LABEL IN A PRECISE SELECTED LOCATION ON A SURFACE OF THE CONTAINER, A SLIDE BLOCK FOR SUPPORTING SAID JAW, SUPPORT MEANS FOR SAID SLIDE BLOCK TO PERMIT SLIDING MOVEMENT THEREOF RECIPROCALLY AND TRANSVERSELY OF THE DIRECTION OF MOTION OF SAID CONVEYOR, A CARRIAGE FOR SAID SUPPORT MEANS MOVABLE SLIDABLY AND RECIPROCALLY IN A PATH PARALLEL WITH THE DIRECTION OF MOTION OF SAID CONVEYOR, CRANK MEANS FOR RECIPROCALLY MOVING SAID CARRIAGE, A PIN MEMBER DEPENDING FROM SAID SLIDE BLOCK, A COMPRESSION SPRING MOUNTED IN SAID BLOCK, A COMPRESSION SPRING MOUNTED IN SAID CARRIAGE AND ENGAGING SAID PIN MEMBER TO BIAS SAID SLIDE BLOCK ON ITS SUPPORT MEANS IN A DIRECTION TOWARD SAID GUIDE, A ROLLER DEPENDING FROM SAID SLIDE BLOCK, A SWINGABLE BAR ENGAGING SAID ROLLER, AND CAM MEANS FOR SWINGING SAID BAR TO MOVE THE ROLLER AND WITH IT SAID BLOCK IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SUCH GUIDE.

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