US3664222A

US3664222A - Labeling machine

Info

Publication number: US3664222A
Application number: US27055A
Authority: US
Inventors: Judson H Early
Original assignee: Domain Industries Inc
Current assignee: Cozzoli Machine Co
Priority date: 1970-04-07
Filing date: 1970-04-07
Publication date: 1972-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 1989-05-23
Also published as: CA935129A; DE2115439A1; GB1291792A

Abstract

A labeling machine; the labels being drawn from a roll of labels in strip form, then fed and cut precisely, and being vacuum carried and heated for adhesive activation and application to the article upon command. The alternate label feeding and cutting being effected by the alternate retraction and extension strokes of a reciprocating air motor, and mechanical interlocks prohibiting cutting until feeding is complete and prohibiting partial cycling through hand operation.

Description

United States Patent Early [54] LABELING MACHINE [72] Inventor: Judson H. Early, Dallas, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Domain Industries, Inc., New Richmond,

Wis.

Filed: Apr. 7, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 27,055

[52] US. Cl ..83/205, 83/221, 83/257, 83/264 [51] Int. Cl ..B26d 5/22 [58] Field of Search ..83/205, 203, 257, 264, 263, 83/233, 203, 241, 242, 243, 244, 231, 221

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,290,138 7/1942 Bridges ..83/257 X 2,325,054 7/1943 Helsel ..83/205 2,446,305 8/1948 Sandberg ..83/257 X 2,595,060 8/1952 Dixon et al ..83/233 X [451 May 23, 1972 2,684,655 7/ 1954 Kuhnle ..83/231 X 2,858,885 11/1958 3,053,128 9/1962 3,153,361 10/1964 3,202,028 8/1965 3,245,297 4/1966 3,320,842 5/ 1967 3,466,959 9/ 1969 Primary ExaminerJames M. Meister Attorney-Williamson, Palmatier 8e Bains ABSTRACT A labeling machine; the labels being drawn from a roll of labels in strip form, then fed and cut precisely, and being vacuum carried and heated for adhesive activation and application to the article upon command."I'he alternate label feeding and cutting being efiected by the alternate retraction and extension strokes of a reciprocating air motor, and mechanical interlocks prohibiting cuttinguntil feeding is complete and prohibiting partial cycling through hand operation.

17 Claim, 20 Drawing Figures R KTENTED MAY 2 3 I972 sum 01 or 12 /N VE/V TOR C/UDSO/l/ H 4Eu FIE 2 ATTORNEYS FATEHTED MAY 2 3 I972 SHEET 02 0F 12 A TTOR/VEYS PATENTEDMAY23I972 3,664,222

SHEET 08 OF 12 25.2 I 56/18 50.9 l Y I 45.2 442 45.1 f

44.1 44 y 5 n 45.5 I 50.7 Kg

m/ l/E/V TOR c/upso/u H E4 241 ATTORNEYS FATENTEDMAYZBIQYZ 3,664,222

SHEET 110F12 I WWW 1912 SHEET 12 0F 1 O WNW wwm LABELING MACHINE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The alternate feeding of the label strips and cutting of individual labels is effected by alternate retraction and extension of the piston and rod of the reciprocating air motor. Completion of each feeding and cutting cycle is necessary before the alternate cycle can be commenced; and this is controlled by the interlocking rotary discs. During feeding, cutting cannot be effected; and during cutting, the feeding of a label cannot be caused. The air motor provides the principal driving impetus, but for less than the complete feeding and cutting cycles; and inertia, one way clutches and camming detents effect the completion of the half cycles for precision of v feeding and cutting. Loss of air during or at the end of each cycle will not affect the timing of the several components.

Cut labels are vacuum carried and heated on a belt with staggered perforations through which the labels are exposed to suction pressure and which also facilitate applying sprocket drive to the belt for accurate timing and spacing of labels. Vacuum is removed and jets of air are applied to the labels for removing the labels from the carrier belt.

Label printing is effected by a printer roller which is easily changed and moved into and out of operating position.

Threading of labels is facilitated by sprockets readily detachable from the drive to be individually turned during manual manipulation of the label strip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the labeling machine.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the labeling machine with hoses and the supporting stand omitted, and showing the machine labeling loaves of bread.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the machine with the cover removed.

FIG. 4 is a detail section view taken approximately at 4-4 in FIG. 1 at a location just inside the rear frame plate to illustrate the drive apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail front elevation view of the feed roll and cutter apparatus.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail section view taken approximately at 66 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail top plan view taken approximately at 77 in FIG. 6 and illustrating the relationship of the stationary and movable cutting blades.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail section view taken approximately at 8-8 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 8A is an enlarged detail elevation view taken approximately at 8A8A in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged detail section view taken approximately at 9-9 in FIG. 8. I

FIG. 10 is an enlarged detail section view taken approximately at l010 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged detail section view taken approximately at 1 1-11 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged detail section view taken approximately at 12-12 in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged detail section view taken approximately at 13-13 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged detail section view taken approximately at 14-14 in FIGS. 2 and 4.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged detail elevation view, partly broken away and shown in section for clarity of detail of the vacuum manifold and associated label carrying belt.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged detail bottom plan view, partly broken away, and shown in section for clarity of detail and taken approximately at 16-16 in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged elevation view of the trip switch.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged detail section view taken approximately at I8--I8 in FIG. 17.

F IG. I9 is a schematic diagram of the air control circuit of the labeling machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION One form of the invention is shown in the drawings and is described herein.

The labeling machine is indicated in general by numeral 25 and is carried on a stand 26, having mounting arms 26.1 and threaded lugs 26.2 which hold the labeling machine in any of a plurality of fixed positions at various angular orientations so that the machine may be operated in upright position as shown or in canted or horizontal positions. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the labeling machine 25 is operated in conjunction with a conveyor system 27 for carrying articles A to be labeled, which, as illustrated, may be loaves of bread or any other articles of merchandise to which a wrapper is ordinarily applied. The labeling machine senses the passage of an article A along the conveyor and is thereby commanded to operate so as to apply a label to the article. The labeling machine operates at speeds of approximately 100 to 150 cycles per minute, but may be operated at a faster speed if desired. The labeling machine has a large spool S to provide the supply of label material 28 which is in strip form, preferrably with notches along its edges. The strip 28 of label material is drawn off the spool by a label feeder consisting primarily of two drum-shaped drive sprockets 29.1 and 29.2. Of course, the label material is guided over suitable idler rollers 29.3 so as to approach the sprocket 29.1 in the correct direction so as to wrap around a maximum of the periphery of the sprocket 29.1.

The label material is printed by a printer or type roll 30 as the label material passes over the drive sprocket 29.1, or, alternatively, the printer roll 30 may be swung out of the way in the event the label material 28 is already printed.

The lower feed sprocket 29.2 suppliesthe label material in stripform to the cutter which is indicated in general by the numeral 31 and is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

The cutter 31 severs individual labels from the strip 28, and

' the individual labels are then adhered to a belt conveyor 32 by heated and has the appearance of ordinary paper. Heat is applied to the labels as they are carried along the conveyor belt 32, and then suction pressure is ultimately removed from the labels carried on the belt 32 and a blast of air directs them onto the articles A, whereupon they are instantly adhesively adhered to the articles A and pressed down onto the articles by a soft sponge rubber roller 33.

It is important to note that the belt conveyor 32 travels at a speed slightly greater than the speed of the feeder sprockets 29.1, 29.2 so that the individual labels severed from the strip by cutter 31 are spaced from each other on the belt conveyor 32 for ease of individual handling and removal by the air blast.

A trip valve 34 has afeeler 34.1 engageable with the articles A carried on conveyor 27 to activate an operation cycle of the feeder 29, and then the cutter 31. Of course, the belt conveyor 32 is operated simultaneously with the feeder 29 for delivery of the severed individual label to the article A.

The operation cycle of the feeder 29 is maintained separate and distinct from the operation cycle of the cutter 31.

It has been found that a double acting air cylinder 35, providing the single source of motive power for the feeder 29 and the cutter 31 may be used to effectively segregate the operation cycles thereof. The piston and rod 35.1 of the reciprocating air motor 35 are connected to a linear rack 35.2, and the drive mechanism is arranged to operate the feeder 29, and the belt conveyor 32 during the retraction stroke of the piston rod 35.], and the cutter 31 is operated during the explates and providing a mounting for the attachment lugs 26.2 of the stand. The rigid mounting arms 25.3 are also drilled and tapped for fittings to provide a manifold for the air control circuitry of FIG. 19. In the drawings, with the exception of FIG. 1, the housing 25.4 has been omitted for clarity of detail.

The air cylinder 35 is affixed to the rear frame plate 25.2 by means of a suitable mounting block 35', and is illustrated in FIG. 3, the air cylinder or motor 35 is oriented diagonally or obliquely on the rear frame plate 25.2. The rack 35.2 which moves with the piston rod, is suitably guided along the mounting block 35 for reciprocation. A pair of pinion or spur gears 36 and 37 are meshed with the rack 35.2 adjacent each other so as to be revolved each time the rack 35 is moved in either direction. The pinion 36 transmits the motive power for operating the feeder 29 and the belt conveyor 32; and the pinion 37 transmits the motive power for operating the cutter 31. A pair of similar but oppositely arranged one way of unidirectional clutches 36.1 and 37.1 are connected to the

pinions

36 and 37 to be driven thereby. The output ends of the clutches 36.1 and 37.1 are respectively connected to the feeder and cutter power input shafts 36.2 and 37.2 which are carried in suitable bearings on the front and rear frame plates 25.1 and 25.2.

The clutches 36.1 and 37.1 are arranged oppositely so as to transmit power to the respective shafts 36.2 and 37.2 during the opposite strokes of the rack 35.2.

A driving relation is established by clutch 36.1 during the retraction stroke of the piston rod 35.1 and rack 35.2 so as to produce rotation of the feeder shaft 36.2 in a clockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4; and during the retraction stroke, the pinion 37 is essentially disconnected from the cutter shaft 37.2 so that no power is transmitted to the shaft 37.2 because the clutch 37.1 is released during this mode of operation. During the extension stroke of the piston rod 35.1, power is transmitted from the rack 35.2 through the pinion 37 and clutch 37 .1 to rotate the cutter shaft 37.2; and during this same extension stroke, the clutch 36.1 is released so that no power is transmitted from the rack to the feeder shaft 36.2 which is permitted to remain stationary.

Retraction of the piston rod 35.1 and the corresponding movement of rack 35.2 produces rotation of the feeder shaft 36.2 through one complete revolution; and during operation of the cutter caused by the extension stroke of the rack 35.2, the cutter drive shaft 37.2 is operated through a single complete revolution.

Means are provided to prevent either of the power input shafts 36.2 and 37.2 to operate while the other of such power input shafts is operating or is away from it home or dwell position. Such means includes a pair of cooperating flat rigid discs 36.3 and 37.3 respectively affixed to the ends of the feeder and cutter power input shafts 36.2 and 37.2. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 8A, the discs 36.3 and 37.3 are substantially circular and each of them has a radius which is in excess of half the distance between the shafts 36.2 and 37.2 so that their normal peripheral orbits will overlap. The discs 36.3 and 37.3 lie in common planes, and have arcuate recesses or cutaway segments 36.3 and 37.3, each shaped to receive the circular periphery of the other disc. These arcuate recesses are each shaped about the center of the opposite disc with such dimensions as to simply provide clearance of the other disc during its rotation. Normally, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 8A, the recesses of the discs 36.3 and 37.3 confront each other while the shafts 36.2 and 37.2 are in their home or dwell positions; and during rotation of either of the shafts, such as 36.2, its corresponding locking disc 36.3 will rotate into the space of the recess 37.3 and thereby obstruct the disc 37.3 from turning and will therefore hold the power shaft 37.2 for the cutter from rotating until the feeder power shaft 36.2 has completed its cycle of operation. Only then is the other shaft permitted to operate.

As a result of the prevention of operation of the feeder while the cutter is operating, or operation of the cutter while the feeder is operating, the timing between the feeder and the cutter is assured through the functioning of the locking discs 36.3 and 37.3.

The principal components of the feeder 29 are the drum type label driving sprockets 29.1 and 29.2, which are driven at identical rotary speeds. Both of these sprockets have identical sprocket teeth 29.4 which are spaced from each other around the peripheries of the rolls identically to the spacing between the notches along the edges of the label strip 28 so as to precisely interfit with these notches. The sprockets 29.1 and 29.2 are respectively mounted on powered drive shafts 29.5 and 29.6, respectively. The sprockets 29.1 and 29.2 are rotatable on their respective shafts, both of which are notched at their outer ends, at 29.7, to receive a keying pin 29.8 which also extends into corresponding notches 29.9 in the front face of the feed roll or sprocket.

The pins 29.8 are carried on plunger rods 29.10 with knurled gripper caps 29.11. The plunger rods are urged by coil springs 29.12 inwardly into the deep longitudinal openings or recesses 29.5 and 29.6 in the respective shafts. By simply pulling the knurled cap 29.11 manually, the keying pin 29.8 is removed from the notches in the shaft and sprocket so as to permit the sprocket to turn freely on the shaft, thereby facilitating ready and easy threading of the label material over the sprocket.

Guides 29.13 and 29.14 extend around the periphery of the drive sprocket 29.2 to assist in maintaining the label strip tightly against the sprocket periphery and for assuring proper stripping of the label strip 28 from the sprocket for feeding into the cutter 31. The guides 19.13 are positioned adjacent the sprocket pins 29.4 and are carried by a suitable mounting block 25.5 on the front frame plate 29.1, and the guides 29.13 hold the label strip 28 against the sprocket periphery for approximately a third of the entire periphery, or for the entire distance along which the label strip 28 engages the sprocket periphery, so as to assure that the label strip maintains in the proper timed sequence with the turning of the sprocket 29.2.

The sprocket 29.2 has a groove 29.2 in its periphery, in which the guide 29.14 extends in underlying relation with the label strip 28. The guide 29.14 extends tangentially at its lower portion 29.14 to strip the label strip 28 away from the sprocket periphery and direct the label strip into the cutter 31.

A guide block 29.15 is affixed on the lower end of the guide 29.14 and extends across the entire width of the label strip 28 being fed off the sprocket 29.2. The block 29.15 has depending lugs at its opposite ends which rest upon the stationary cutter blade 31.], and cooperate therewith in defining a label strip feeding slot 29.16 which guides the labels extremely closely to the cutting edge 31.2 of the stationary blade 31.1, so as to prevent any upward or curling movement of the label strip as it passes over the stationary blade.

The guide 29.14 is also mounted on the front frame plate 25.1, and is spaced therefrom by suitable spacer blocks.

The stationary cutter blade is supported on a mounting block 25.6 which is affixed to the front frame plate 25.1, and is clamped thereto by a clamp block 25.7. As seen in FIG. 7, the label strip passes over the stationary cutter blade 31.1 in the direction of the arrow. The cutting edge 31.2 of the stationary blade is oriented slightly obliquely of the normal to the direction of travel of the label strip so as to cooperate with the movable cutter blade 31.3 in effecting a shearing type cutting action of the label strip.

The movable cutting or shearing blade 31.3 is positioned in an upright plane as illustrated in FIG. 5, and has a cutting or shearing edge 31.4 spaced above the stationary blade 31.1 and lying at a lightly acute angle to the horizontal. The movable blade 31.1 is provided with a pair of mounting slots 31.5 through which mounting studs 31.6 extend. The studs 31.6 are affixed to the frame plate 25.1 and carry coil springs 31.7 which continuously urge the movable cutter blade against the cutting edge 31.2 of the stationary blade 31.1 during downward and upward travel of the movable blade, but yielding so as to permit limited movement of the blade 31.3 from the dotted line position to the whole line position shown in FIG. 7 and back again during the downward and upward stroke of the movable cutter blade.

The movable cutter blade has a groove or notch 31.8 receiving the eccentric crank 31.9 of the knife operating shaft 31.10.

The shaft 31.10 is journaled in suitable bearings on the rear frame plate 25.2 and in bearings mounted in an adapter 25.8 affixed on the front frame plate 25.1.

The printer roll 30 has a rubber sleeve 30.1, on the periphery of which is the type for printing the legends on the label strip 28. The printer roll 30 is slidably mounted on the printer roll drive shaft 30.2 and is driven with a peripheral lineal speed identical to the peripheral lineal speed of the upper sprocket 29.1 against which the printer roll 30 bears during the printing operation. The hub 30.3 of the printer roll is slidable along the shaft 30.2 so as to facilitate ready and easy changing of the printer roll 30 as different legends are to be printed onto the labels; but during normal operation of the labeling machine, the printer roll is retained on the shaft 30.2 by a dog 30.4 pivotally mounted in a recess 30.5 of the shaft and protruding outwardly therefrom to engage and clamp baffle plate 40.5 tends to even out the degree of suction pres sure applied at the ports 40.3 in the bottom wall so that a substantial suction pressure is available at the lower end of the against the end of the printer roll. The dog 30.5 is held in clamping position by a thumb screw 30.6 extending endwise through the outer end of the shaft and into the recess, bearing against the dog for retaining it in position. When the printer roll 30 is to be changed, the thumb screw 30.6 is simply loosened and the printer roll will slip directly off the end of the shaft for ready and easy replacement.

The printer roll shaft 30.2 is mounted in suitable bearings in the printer subframe or casting including a pair of parallel frame arms 30.7 and 30.8 which are carried by the printer pivot shaft 30.9 which is suitably mounted in bearings on the front and rear frame plates 25.1 and 25.2. The printer subframe and shaft 30.2 are swingable to a limited extend toward and away from the upper feed sprocket 29.1 so as to provide for changing of the printer roll 30 and also provide for rendering the printer inoperative in the event that the label strip 28 on the spool is already printed. As seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, a retainer block 30.10 bears against the end of the printer frame arm 30.7, and is mounted on a spring 30.11 carried on a post 30.12 affixed to the front frame plate 25.1. The spring is anchored by a pin 30.13 to the front frame plate so as to continuously apply pressure through the block 30.10 against the printer casting. When the printer casting and shaft 30.2 are in their downward position as illustrated in FIG. 12, the spring urges the casting downwardly to prevent it from uplifting because of the over-center relation with respect to the rounded ends of the casting and the center of shaft 30.9; and similarly, when the printer casting and shaft 30.2 are swung upwardly to the dotted line position as illustrated in FIG. 12,

shaft 30.2 in their upward position, again because of the overcenter relation between the block 30.10, shaft 30.2 and shaft 30.9.

As the label strip 28 is fed over the stationary cutter blade and is severed into individual labels 28.1, these individual labels are applied to the lower side of the conveyor belt 32 which underlies the vacuum manifold 40 and particularly the lower perforate wall 40.] thereof. The belt 32 is made of woven fabric of a heat resistant and adhesive resistant slippery material such the product known as Teflon." The belt 32 has a large number of holes or apertures 32.1 formed therein. The apertures 32.1 are arranged in longitudinal rows, spaced from each other corresponding to the spacing between longitudinal extending grooves 40.2 in the bottom surface of the bottom wall 40.1 of the vacuum manifold. The apertures 32.1 are arranged in staggered transverse rows, so as to spread out the forces exerted by the result of the suction pressure holding the labels 28.1 to the belt, and as to facilitate the use of a large number of lugs on the'drive sprocket 32.2 for driving the belt 32.

The belt 32 has three longitudinal rows of apertures 32.1, and likewise, the bottom wall 40.1 of the vacuum manifold has three grooves 40.2 carrying suction pressure and drawing air inwardly through the belt apertures causing application of pressure against the labels 28.1 at the bottom of the belt. The bottom wall 40.1 of the vacuum manifold also has a plurality of ports 40.3 extending through the bottom wall and intersecting with the grooves 40.2 to provide air communication with the block 30.10 and the spring retain the printer casting and v vacuum manifold. The source of vacuum pressure (not shown) is connected to the vacuum manifold at an enlarged port 40.8 communicating with a cooperating port and air conduit at the front frame plate 25.1 of the labeling machine.

The bottom wall 40.1 of the vacuum manifold also has a plurality of transverse apertures 41 located between the ports 40.3, and carrying heating elements 41.1 which are electrically energized continuously during operation of the labeling machine to provide the necessary heat for activating the heat responsive adhesive in the labels 28.1.

In order to activate the adhesive of the labels just prior to application to the articles A, the heaters 41.1 are located near the lower end of the vacuum manifold and near the discharge end of the belt conveyor 32. It will be understood that the labels 28.1 move intermittently along the lower wall 40.1 of the vacuum manifold as the conveyor belt 32 is likewise moved incrementally and intermittently simultaneously with the operation of the feeder 29. The labels 28.1 thereby have ample opportunity to be adequately heated prior to being delivered off the end of the lower run of the belt conveyor 32.

The vacuum manifold also has removable side covers 40.7, the rear side cover providing the mounting facility. for the heaters 41.1.

The trip valve 34 which is operated by the articles touching the operator rod 34.1 is clamped to a support bar 34.2 which is affixed on the side of the vacuum manifold 40. The valve 34 has a central port 34.3 in the housing block 34.4 which is normally open to the atmosphere at the lower end of the housing 34.4. A rotor 34.5 extends through a bushing in the housing 34.4 and has a control port 34.6 normally aligned with the port 34.3. The control rod 34.1 is connected to the rotor 34.6 for turning the rotor slightly and thereby rotate the port 34.6 out of alignment with the air port 34.3 so as to close the port 34.3 to the atmosphere. This closure commences an operational cycle of the labeling machine as hereinafter more fully pointed out. The rotor 34.5 is normally retained in the position shown by a spring 34.7 and the spring returns the rotor to the illustrated position after the article A passes on by the control rod 34.1 so as to again open the port 34.3 to the atmosphere and prepare the control circuitry for another cycle of operation.

Rotary power is supplied to the feeder 29 from the power input shaft 36.2 which, as previously described, is driven in only one direction, and only during the retraction stroke of the piston rod of the air motor 35. The rotary motion in the labeling machine is transmitted predominantly by timing belts, which are toothed, and operate with toothed pulleys so that the phase relationships of the pulleys and shafts are maintained accurately.

Rotary motion is supplied to the lower feed sprocket 29.2 by a pulley 42 on the shaft 36.2, and a belt 42.1 trained over the pulley 42 and also trained over a pulley 42.2 which is affixed on an intermediate power transmitting shaft 42.3 journaled in suitable bearings on the front and rear of frame plates 25.1 and 25.2, respectively (see'FIG. 14). Another pulley 42.4 is afiixed on the intermediate power shaft of 42.3 and has a belt 42.5 trained thereover and also trained over the pulley 42.6 which is affixed on the lower feed roll shaft 29.6. It will be noted that the several pulleys by which the power is transmitted from the power input shaft 36.2 to the lower feed roll shaft 29.6 are of varying sizes so as to obtain the precise movement of the feed sprocket 29.2 during each cycle of operation. The sprocket 29.2 actually turns one-sixth of a revolution for each cycle of operation, and the periphery of the sprocket 29.2 turns a-lineal distance equal to the length of one label.

Power is supplied to the upper feed sprocket 29.1 from the pulley 43 affixed on the power input shaft 36.2. A belt 43.1 is trained over the pulley 43, and is also trained over a pulley 43.2 on the printer pivot shaft 30.9 (see FIG. 11). Rotation of the shaft 30.9 is transmitted to a gear 43.3 affixed thereon and meshed with another gear 43.4 which is affixed on shaft 43.5 suitably journaled in bearings on the front and rear frame plates 25.1 and 25.2(FIG. 13). A pulley 43.6 is affixed on the shaft 43.5 and has a belt 43.7 trained thereover which is also trained over a pulley 43.8 which is affixed on the upper feed roll shaft 29.5. The sizes of the pulleys and gears supplying power to the upper feed roll shaft 29.5 are of various sizes so that the peripheral speed of the upper feed sprocket 29.1 is identical to the peripheral speed of the lower feed sprocket 29.2. The upper feed sprocket 29.1 and the shaft 29.5 rotate one-sixth of a revolution for each cycle of operation in a manner identical, but reverse direction as compared to the lower feed roll sprocket 29.2.

Rotary motion is transmitted to the printer roller 30 from the printer pivot shaft, and a pulley 44 mounted thereon, and a belt 44.1 trained thereover and also trained over pulley 44.2 which is affixed on the printer or type roll shaft 30.2. The pulley sizes driving the type roll 30 are such that the lineal peripheral speed of the type roll is identical to the lineal peripheral speed of the' upper feed sprocket 29.1 against which the printer roll bears.

An inking roll 30.7 is carried on its own shaft which is suitably journaled in the printer subframe arm 30.7 and engages the printer roll for supplying ink onto the surface thereof.

Power is supplied to the belt conveyor 32 simultaneously with operation of the feeder 29, and from the intermediate power shaft 42.3 (see FIG. 14). A pulley 45 is affixed on the shaft 42.3, and a belt 45.1 is trained over the pulley 45, and is also trained over pulley 45.2 which is affixed on the mounting shaft 32.3 which also carries the drive sprocket 32.2 for the belt conveyor 32. The shaft 32.3 is mounted in suitable bearings on the front frame plate 25.1. The pulleys 45 and 45.2 and the size of the drive sprocket 32.2 are such that the lineal peripheral speed of the sprocket 32.2 and the lineal speed of the belt conveyor 32 is slightly greater than the lineal peripheral speed of the feeder sprockets 29.1 and 29.2 so that the labels 28.1 are carried away from the cutter 31 at a rate slightly faster than the label strip is supplied to the cutter, to thereby space the labels from each other on the belt 32.

Power is supplied to the cutter 31 from the power shaft 37.2 and the clutch 37.1. The shaft 37.2 is rotated, and the cutter 31 is operated, only during the extension stroke of the piston rod of the air motor 35. The shaft 37.2 has a pulley 46 affixed thereto, and a belt 46.1 is trained thereover and is also trained over a pulley 46.2 affixed on an intermediate shaft 46.3 suitably journaled in bearings on the front and rear frame plates 25.1 and 25.2. Another pulley 46.4 on the shaft 46.3 is driven thereby and transmits power to the belt 46.5 trained thereover and which is also trained over the pulley 46.6 affixed on the cutter eccentric drive shaft 31.10. The shaft 31.10 is operated through one complete revolution for each operation cycle and as the shaft 37.2 is operated through a single complete revolution. The air motor 35 provides the only source of power for operating the feeder 29, cutter 31, and belt conveyor 32. Therefore the air motor 35 provides the principal impetus for operating all of these mechanisms; however, this impetus is supplied for less than the complete operation cycles of the feeder 29, cutter 31, and belt conveyor 32.

The length of the retraction and extension strokes of the piston rod and of the rack 35.2 is slightly less than the circumference of the

gears

36 and 37; and therefore the

gears

36 and 37 are rotated slightly less than a complete revolution during each cycle of operation. The air motor 35 provides the impetus for driving the

gears

36 and 37 and shafts 36.2 and 37.2 for approximately seven-eighths of the complete revolution of the gears and of the shafts 36.2 and 37.2.

When the impetus provided by the air motor 35 terminates at approximately sevemeighths of the complete revolution of shaft 36.2 and of the complete revolution of the feeder sprockets 29.1 and 29.2, the gear 36 will immediately slow down with the air motor and rack, and the clutch 36.1 will release so that the inertia of the rotating shafts, pulleys, gears, and sprockets provide the necessary continuation of power by means of the flywheel effect" so that the cycle of operation of the feeder 29 is fully completed. A full length of label is sup plied over the stationary cutter blade, and into position so that the full label will be cut at the proper location when the cutter 31 subsequently operates.

The feeder 29 is stopped at the precise location so that feeding of the label strip 28 is terminated, by a pair of

cam plates

47 and 48 respectively affixed to the upper and lower feed sprocket shafts 29.5 and 29.6. The

cam plates

47 and 48 are both generally star shaped and are provided with six equally spaced detents 47.1 and 48.1. Ball bearings 47.2 and 48.2 serve as cam followers and are spring pressed against the detents of the cam plates by mounting arms 47.3 and 48.3 rotatably mounted on posts 47.4 and 48.4 affixed to the front frame plate 25.1. Springs 47.5 and 48.5 bear against the arms 47.3 and 48.3 to continuously urge the ball hearings or cam followers 47.2 and 48.2 into the detents of the cam plates. These detents stop the sprockets 29.1 and 29.2 at the completion of the operation cycle of the feeder so as to assure that the proper length of labels is delivered during the cycle. Because of the cam plates and detents and the ball bearings interacting therewith, there is no accumulative error in the length of labels, and the feeder 29 is stopped before the cutter is operated. In order to stop the power input shaft 36.2 and the other mechanismsdriven therefrom, including the printer roll 30 and the belt conveyor 32, an additional cam plate 49 is affixed on the power input shaft 36.2. The cam plate 49 has a single detent 49.1 formed in the edge thereof, and a ball bearing 49.2 normally lies in the detent to hold the cam plate 49 and shaft 36.2 from turning. The ball bearing 49.2 is mounted on an arm 49.3 which is swingable on a post 49.4, and is continuously urged by a spring 49.5 to cause the ball bearing or cam follower 49.2 to bear firmly against the periphery of the cam plate 49. When the shaft 36.2 is turned through operation of the air motor 35, the cam plate 49 is also revolved and the ball bearing 49.2 is lifted out of the detent and rolls on the cam periphery. After the impetus provided by the air motor terminates, the inertia of the shafts, pulleys, belts, etc., completes the operation cycle of the feeder and the ball bearing 49.2 will be pressed down into the detent 49.1 of the cam plate; and the effect will be to stop the shaft 36.2 and associated pulleys and mechanisms at the precise location.

In order to positively hold the ball bearing 49.2 in the detent temporarily and to prevent any unwanted premature lifting of the ball bearing 49.2 from the detent, an (FIG. 10) instantaneously operated air cylinder 49.6, mounted on the rear frame plate 25.2 is positioned directly above the ball bearing 49.2 with its extendible plunger 49.7 nonnally spaced slightly above the ball bearing 49.2 so as to be out of interfering relation with the ball hearing as it lifts out of the detent during normal operation. At the instant the ball bearing 49.2 drops down into the detent at the completion of a full revolution of the shaft 36.2 and of the cam 49, the air cylinder 49.6 will be supplied with a pulse of air pressure to operate the piston and extend the plunger 49.7 downwardly against the ball bearing 49.2 and hold it in the detent, thereby holding the cam 49 and shaft 36.2 from further rotation. The plunger 49.7 retracts almost immediately.

The cutter 31 is similarly driven by the air motor 35 through slightly less than its complete operation cycle, or approximately seven-eighths of the cycle. When the driving impetus provided by the air motor 35 stops, the clutch 37.1 releases, and the shaft 37.2 and the associated pulleys and belts and shaft 31.10 continue to rotate to complete the operation cycle of the cutter, assuring that the movable cutter blade 31.2 is returned to its uppermost position illustrated in FIG. 6.

A cam plate 50 with a detent 50.1 and a ball bearing or cam follower 50.2 are provided for stopping the eccentric drive shaft 31.10 at the precise desired location at the end of the operation cycle of the cutter. The cam 50 is affixed on the shaft 31.10, and the ball bearing or cam follower 50.2 is carried at the periphery of the cam by a mounting arm 50.3, and continuously urged against the cam periphery by the spring 50.4 so as to normally hold the ball bearing 50.2 inthe detent 50.1 and hold the eccentric drive shaft 31.10 in its home or dwell position. When power is supplied from the air motor 35, through the rack and shaft 37.2, the eccentric drive shaft 31.10 commences rotation, and the ball bearing 50.2 is lifted out of the detent and the cam plate 50 revolves with the shaft and the ball bearing rolls on the periphery. When the operation cycle of the cutter 31 and of the eccentric shaft 31.10 is nearly completed, the ball bearing 50.2 is approximately over the edge 50.5 of the detent which is preferrably rounded or smoothly curved to blend the detent smoothly into the cam periphery, to thereby permit the inward pressure exerted by the ball bearing 50.2, bearing against the cam to assist the inertia in urging the cam and shaft to its home or dwell position. The spring 50.4, bearing inwardly against the cam 50 provides some additional impetus to assure that the cutter 31 returns to its home position.

Air delivery nozzles 51 and 51.1 are provided at the lower end of the vacuum manifold and at the lower end of the label carrying run of the belt conveyor 32 to separate the labels 28.1 from the belt and to completely remove the labels from the belt conveyor and impel them on to the articles A being labeled. The nozzle 51.1 is simply an air pipe with its end positioned closely adjacent the end of the label carrying run of the belt 32 and approximately in the same plane thereof. The nozzle 51 is a short length of air manifold supplied with air from tubing 51.2 and mounted at the extreme lower end of the air manifold to guide the conveyor belt 32 therearound. The nozzle 51 has an open interior supplying air to a plurality of small orifices 51.3 which are spaced from each other and aligned with the grooves 40.2 in the bottom wall 40.1 of the air manifold so that the orifices will direct jets of air outwardly through the apertures 32.1 in the belt as the belt traverses the nozzle 51 with labels thereon. These jets of air will loosen the label from the belt, assuring that it will peel off from the belt and pass beneath the air nozzle 51.1, whereupon when the label is approximately half extended off the belt 32, the combined effect of the jets of air will direct the label onto the article A.

The air nozzles 51 and 51.1 are operated by the air circuit illustrated in FIG. 19 and described hereinafter. The air valve for the nozzles 51 and 51.1 is controlled by a cam 51.4 affixed on the main power shaft 36.2 for the feeder (see FIG. 9). The cam 51.4 operates a cam follower 51.5 which is connected to the air valve 51.6.

While the feeder 29 and belt conveyor 32 are in their home or dwell positions, air is continuously directed out of the nozzles 51, 51.1. As soon as the feeder shaft 36.2 is operated, the cam 51.4 operates the valve 51.6 and shuts off the supply of air until near the end of the operation cycle of the feeder, whereupon the air is again directed through the nozzles 51, 51.1 to remove the label 28.1 from the conveyor belt and direct it to the article A.

In order to assure that there is no change in the timing between the feeder 29 and the cutter 31, when the machine is shut down after a period of operation and the source of air for the air motor 35 and controls is disconnected, a locking pin or plunger 52 is ordinarily spring pressed into the space between the cutaway segments of the locking discs 36.3 and 37.3 (see F 16.' 8A). The pin 52 is connected to an air cylinder 52.1, the piston of which retracts the pin or plunger 52 from the space between the discs 36.3 and 37.3 so that when air is applied at the air cylinder 52.1. the discs 36.3 and 36.7 and their as sociated feeder and cutter drive shafts are free to rotate and operate normally. When air is removed, the spring pressure on the pin or plunger 52 returns the pin into the space between the discs so as to prevent either of them from operating.

The air circuit for controlling the air motor and the air blast for removing the labels from the belt conveyor 32 is illustrated in FIG. 19. In this view, the components are illustrated in the dwell condition of the labeling machine wherein the piston rod of the air motor 35 is in its normal fully extended position.

The cylinder portion of the air motor incorporates position sensing valves. 35.3 and 35.4, which are normally closed. These valves 35.3 and 35.4 are disposed at the opposite ends of the cylinder of the air motor and are alternately opened when the piston of the air motor is disposed at the corresponding end. In the position shown in FIG. 19, the piston rod 35.1

is fully extended and the piston will have opened the valve 35.3; and when the piston commences its movement for retracting the piston rod, the valve 35.3 will close again, and then the valve 35.4 will be opened when the piston rod is substantially fully retracted so that the piston occupies the position near the lower end of the air cylinder of the motor 35.

Air supply conduits 35.5 and 35.6 carry pressurized air and exhaust air to and from the opposite ends of the cylinder of the air motor from the motor valve 53. The motor valve 53 is a four way air valve for alternately connecting the air supply duct 53.1 from the air manifold 25.3 to either of the air supply conduits 35.5 and 35.6. The air motor also alternately connects the exhaust port 53.2 to the air ducts 35.5 and 35.6. During the retraction stroke of the air motor 35, the motor valve 53 connects the air supply duct 53.1 to the air conduit 35.5 for operating against the piston, and, at the same time, the exhaust port 53.2 is connected to the air conduit 35.6 for exhausting air from the rear end of the air cylinder.

The motor valve 53 is controlled by an air operated piston controller 53.3 which mechanically changes the connection'in the valve 53, and incorporates a piston to be air operated for doing so. Control air ducts 53.4 and 53.5 are connected to opposite ends of the controller 53.3 for operating the piston therein for shifting the valve 53. One pulse of air in either end of the piston controller is all that is necessary to operate the piston so as to change the connections in valve 53. Once the controller has been operated, the piston therein andthe connection and valve 53 will remain as set until a pulse of air changes the position of the piston in the controller 53.3 from one of the control air ducts 53.4 or 53.5.

The operator valve 54 is substantially identical to the motor valve 53, except that it is only employed as a reversing valve for alternately connecting the control air conduit 53.5 between the air duct 54.1 and the exhaust port 54.2. The controller 54.3 is piston operated and serves to reverse the connections in the valve 54 when air is alternately supplied and exhausted at the air control ducts 54.4 and 54.5.

The one pulse valve 55 incorporates a normally open valve 55.1 and a pressure operated regulator 55.2 effecting closure of the valve 55.1 after pressure is sensed in the supply line 55.3 so that only one pulse of air is transmitted through the air control duct 54.1.

The control valve 56 connects a control air duct 56.1 to the air supply line 56.2 which is connected to the air manifold 25.3. The control valve 56 incorporates a restriction 56.3 so as to normally reduce the pressure in the control air duct 56.1 through which air is normally flowing through the normally open trip valve 34. A rise in the air pressure in the control air duct 56.1 is sensed by a pressure responsive operator 56.4 for operating a normally closed valve 56.5 so as to supply air under pressure to the air duct 55.3 whereby to operate the one pulse valve 55 and transmit the pulse to the valve 54.

The air blast valve 51.6 is connected by a supply duct 51.6 to the air manifold.

The air cylinder 52.1, associated with the locking discs 36.3 and 37.3, is connected directly to the air manifold by supply line 52.3 so as to be continuously under pressure when air is supplied from the source of air pressure at 60 to psi. The air cylinder 49.6 for holding the ball bearing in the detent of cam 49 is connected by a control air duct 49.6 to the air motor valve 35.4.

The air motor valves 35.3 and 35.4 are continuously supplied with air under pressure from a control air duct 35.7 which is connected directly to the air manifold.

Another normally closed valve 57 is positioned to be operated by retraction of the piston rod and the corresponding movement of the rack so as to open the valve 57 when the rack is nearly in its fully retracted position. An air supply duct 57.1 supplies air to the valve 57 directly from the air manifold 25.3. Valve 57 applies air to control duct 54.4.

When the labeling machine is in its dwell condition,

between operation cycles, the air pressure from the manifold 25.3 is supplied through control valve 56 and through trip valve 34; and valve 56 obstructs air flow into the control duct 55.3. Pressurized air is supplied through the air blast valve 51.6 and a flow of air results through the supply pipes 51 and 51.2 to both of the air nozzles.

Pressurized air is supplied through the motor valve 53 and supply duct 35.6 to the air motor so as to retain the piston and piston rod 35.1 in its fully extended position; and the upper end of the air cylinder and duct 35.5 is connected to the atmosphere through the exhaust port 53.2.

Air pressure is supplied to the valve 57 which is closed so as to be prepared for immediate operation subsequently.

Air under pressure is normally supplied to the air cylinder 52.1 to maintain the control or the locking discs 36.3 and 37.3 in operative condition.

Air under pressure is supplied through the control air duct 35.7 to both of the valves 35.3 and 35.4; and whereas valve 35.3 has been opened by extension of'the piston rod, air pressure is supplied through control air duct 54.5 to the controller of valve 54 and against the piston in the controller so as to shift the valve 54 to connect the supply line 54.1 to the control air duct 53.5, therebypreparing to deliver the one pulse to the controller 53.3 subsequently.

In operation of the air motor 35 of the labeling machine, the operation is initiated by the article-induced closing of the trip valve 34, whereupon flow in the air conduit 56.1 stops which produces an immediate rise in pressure in the line 56.1, whereupon the pressure responsive operator 56.4 opens the valve 56.5, thereby supplying air under pressure to valve 55.

When air pressure is supplied to the valve 55, the normally open valve 55.1 transmits a pulse of air into the duct 54.1 and then the pressure responsive operator 55.2 immediately closes the valve 55.1.

As previously explained, the valve controller 54.3 will have previously operated so as to condition the valve 54 to connect the air conduit 54.1 to the control air duct 53.5, whereupon the controller 53.3 operates valve 53 to reverse the connections therein.

After valve 53 is reversed, air flows therethrough in the direction of the arrows R so as to cause a retraction operation of the air motor. Air flows from the supply line 53.1 to the air duct 35.5, and the air conduit 35.6 is opened tothe exhaust port 53.2. The air motor then starts to operate, to retract the piston rod 35.1.

Upon first movement of the piston rod 35.1, the air valve 35.3 closes so as to remove the air pressure from the valve controller 54.3, thereby preparing the valve 54 for reversal.

Retraction of the piston rod 35.1 occurs quickly, and then when the piston rod and rack have retracted nearly to their fully retracted position, the valve 57 is operated and opened so as to apply air under pressure to the control air duct 54.4 and to the valve controller 54.3 so as to shift the piston therein and reverse the connections in the valve 54. The air duct 53.5 is thereby opened to the exhaust port 54.2 to prepare the controller 53.3 for reversal.

vWhen the piston rod 35.1 has reached its fully retracted position, the air valve 35.4 is operated and opened so as to supply air under pressure into'the ducts 53.4 and 49.6. The air cylinder 49.6 will thereupon operate to momentarily hold the ball bearing 49.2 in the detent of the cam plate 49 to assure complete stopping of the power input shaft 36.2 for the feeder 29.

The air pressure incontrol air duct 53.4 operates the valve controller 53.3 to reverse the connections in the valve 54, whereupon the air pressure from air duct 53.1 is applied to the air duct 35.6, and the other air'duct 35.5 is opened to atmosphere through the exhaust port 53.2. See arrows E. Reversal of the air motor starts immediately. As the piston rod.35.1 commences its extension stroke again, the air valve 35 .4 is immediately reclosed so as to remove the air pressure-from the air cylinder 49.6 and allow the plunger thereof to retract. Removal of the air pressure from the duct 53.4 removes the air pressure from the valve controller 53.3 so as to prepare the v valve 53 for reversal when the air motor reaches the end of its extension stroke, and when another pulse is received from the one pulse valve 55.

The artificial multiple tripping of the trip valve 34 has no effect whatever on the completion of the operation cycle of the air motor 35. The holding of the trip valve 34 in closed position likewise has no effect upon the completion of the operation cycle of the air motor 35. The motor under any of these circumstances, simply completes its stroke and returns to its rest position until the trip valve is again operated.

The operation of the labeling machine will undoubtedly be clear from the foregoing description. The operation may be briefly summarized as follows:

When the articles A are moving along the conveyor 27, an article will engage the feeler rod 34.1 to operate the trip valve 34. The air motor 35 is operated and the belt conveyor 32 immediately commences to move, carrying the lowermost individual label, which has already been heated so as to activate the adhesive, downward beneath the air nozzles 51, 51.1, whereupon, when the lowermost label 28.] is approximately half off the end of the conveyor run of the belt 32, the blast of air will direct it downwardly onto the nearest surface of the article A and be adhered thereto. The roller 33 will immediately rollover the label so as to lay the label flat on the article wrapper.

The feeder 29 will immediately start'to operate simultaneously with the operation of the belt conveyor 32 so as to supply another length of the label strip 28 past the cutter 31 and toward the belt 32 to be adhered thereto by the suction pressure. During the movement of the label strip over the feed sprocket 29.1, the printing roll 30 will impress the proper legend on the label strip for printing another label to be subsequently severed.

When the feeding of the label strip is completed, the length of one complete label is extended beyond. the stationary cutter blade 31.1, and the leading edge of the label strip will be already adhered by suction pressure to the belt by reason of the suction pressure transmitted through the apertures in the belt and the grooves in the bottom wall of the vacuum manifold.

The labels which had been previously adhered to the belt 32 are subjected to the heating by the heaters 41.1 as to activate the adhesive in the label material.

The operation of feeder 29 and belt 32 is commenced with the retraction of the piston rod and rack 35.2, and during retraction of the rack 35.2, the gear 37 for operating the cutter simply turns freely while the shaft 37.2 remains stationary. The cam 50 holds the eccentric drive shaft 31.1 and the other portions of the cutter drive stationary.

Retraction of the rack 35.2 operates through clutch 36.1 to operate the feed sprockets and the printing roll and the belt conveyor 32. When the periphery of the drive sprockets 29.1 and 29.2 have turned through almost the length of one label, the rack and piston rod will have reached the end of their retraction strokes and the clutch 36.1 releases so as to permit the inertia of the drive elements to complete the operation of cycle of the feeder 29.

The

cam plates

47 and 48 cooperate with the ball bearings or followers 47.2 and 48.2, acting in the detents, to stop the feeder 29, the printing roll 30 and the-belt conveyor 32 at the precise instant of the end of the operation cycle, whereupon no more than the length of a single label is moved across the stationary cutter blade 31.1. At the end of the operation cycle of the feeder, the cam 49 also receives the'ball bearing 49.2 in the detent thereof and the air cylinder 49.6 momentarily extends the plunger 49.7 thereof to hold the ball bearing 49.2 in the detent of the cam plate 49 and prevent a premature removal of the ball bearing. The shaft 36.2 is stopped precisely by the cam plate at the end of the operation cycle of the feeder with no overrun at all.

During driving of the sprocket 32.2 for moving the conveyor belt 32, the multiplicity of sprocket lugs engage a large number of apertures in the belt so that driving is readily effected without causing any wear on the belt which has no grommets at all around the apertures therein.

After completion of the operation cycle of the feeder 29, the air motor 35 reverses so as to extend the piston rod and rack 35.2 again, whereupon the clutch 36.1 releases and the drive apparatus for the feeder remains stationary. The clutch 37.1 transmits power to the shaft 37.2, whereupon the eccentric drive shaft 31.10 revolves to lift the ball bearing out of the detent of cam 50 and the eccentric shaft operates to reciprocate the movable blade 31.3 downwardly across the diagonal edge of the stationary blade 31.1 to shear the label at the precise location. As the shearing of the label is completed, the label is drawn by vacuum pressure against the belt 32. The continued rotation of the eccentric drive shaft 31.10 continues so as to return the movable shearing blade 31.3 upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 6.

The driving impetus of the air motor terminates prior to the completion of the operation cycle of the cutter, but the inertia of the driving parts, and the effect of the ball bearing 50.2 acting on the side of the detent 50.1 in the cam plate 50 completes the operation cycle of the cutter and the cutter will then be held by the cam and detent in its dwell position until another operation cycle is commenced.

Each of the air valves 35.3, 35.4 and 57 is a three way valve to alternately connect the load side of the valve to either pressure or exhaust. The valve 35.3, when normally closed between the supply line 35.7 and the load air duct 54.5, will connect the duct 54.5 to exhaust to the atmosphere. Likewise, the valve 35.4 connects the air duct 49.6 and 53.4 to exhaust to the atmosphere when the connection to the supply line 35.7 is closed. Similarly, valve 57 exhausts air conduit 54.4 to the atmosphere while the valve is normally closed to the pressure line 57.1. a

Double or multiple tripping of the trip valve 34 has no effect until the air motor 35 completes its retraction and extension operation cycle. Once the air motor is in its operation cycle, operating of the trip valve 34 has no effect until the end of the cycle when the valve 35.3 closes to operate controller 54.3 for shifting the valve 54 so that a pulse of air can operate the controller 53.3 of motor valve 53.

Simply holding the trip valve in its closed condition has not effect except to prevent the labeling to operate until the trip valve returns to its opening condition for starting another recycling.

Cutting off the air between operation cycles has no effect, but does cause the machine to be locked against tampering; the pin 52 prevents the locking discs 36.3 and 37.3 from operating so that there can be no operation of the feeder or cutter. Loss of air pressure during an operation cycle maystop the labeling machine, but will not interfere with the timing of the cycles. When air pressure is again regained, the feeding or cutting cycle which was interrupted will simply be completed through normal operation.

During loss of air pressure, if the rack and piston are partly between the ends of a stroke, the rack cannot be manually moved in a direction opposite to that in which the rack had been moving as loss of air occurred because of the effect of the one way clutches and the locking discs 36.3, 37.3, and if manual movement is applied to the rack in the direction the rack was going at the time of loss of air pressure, the feeding or cutting cycle will simply be completed and then at the end of that particular cycle the machine will lock up because of the extension of the pin 52 into the space between the locking discs. When air pressure is regained, the air will retract the locking pin 52 and if the rack and piston rod are fully retracted, the machine will simply go into the cutting operation cycle in its normal manner of functioning.

While air pressure is maintained, the piston and rod and rack may not be manually moved away from the dwell position (fully extended) because the full .air pressure is maintained against the piston of the air motor.

There can be no manual turning of the feed sprockets 29.1 and 29.2 which are held by the cam plates and detents and the clutches.

The labeling machine is essentially tamper proof to prevent any unintended manual operations to adversely affect the necessary timing required between the operation cycle.

The feeding and cutting cycles are maintained entirely separate and neither may operate until the operation cycle of the other is completed, through functioning of the locking discs'36.3 and 37.3. Instead of attempting to very precisely stop the air motor at the ends of its strokes, the drive apparatus for the feeder and cutter are essentially disconnected from the air motor at the end of each operation cycle so that the inertia of the drive elements completes the operation, and the feeder and cutter are stopped by cams and detents. The feeder is held precisely at the end of its operation cycle by the one revolution cam and the ball bearing or cam follower associated therewith and the hold down air cylinder to prevent premature lifting of the follower from the detent.

The individual cut labels are carried and heated while secured to the Teflon belt by suction pressure; and the labels are subsequently impelled onto the articles by jets of pressurized air which remove the labels from the conveyor belt.

1 claim:

1. An article labeler comprising:

a supply of labels in strip form,

a feeder to draw the labels from the supply for delivery to the articles to be labeled,

a cutter severing individual labels from the strip for delivery to the articles, and

drive means for the feeder and cutter, and including a reciprocating air motor with powered retraction and extension strokes of the piston and rod, said powered strokes alternately operating the feeder and cutter in timed sequence relative to each other, and

said drive means including unidirectional clutches transmitting power from the piston and rod of the air motor respectively to the feeder and cutter, said unidirectional clutches being arranged to separately operate said feeder and cutter on opposite powered strokes of the motor whereby to alternately operate the feeder and cutter.

2. An article labeler comprising:

a supply of labels in strip form,

drive means for the feeder and cutter, and including a reciprocating air motor with powered retraction and extension strokes of the piston and rod, said powered strokes alternately operating the feeder and cutter in timed sequence relative to each other,

said feeder having cyclic operations,

the air motor providing the principal impetus for the feeder and cutter, but for slightly less than the complete operating cycles of the feeder, the drive means including a mechanical drive apparatus between the motor and the feeder and having inertia to complete operation of the cycles of the feeder, and

a rotary control cam having a detent and connected to the drive apparatus between the air motor and the feeder, a spring pressed cam follower to engage the detent and hold the drive mechanism at the end of an operation cycle, and an air cylinder with an extendible plunger engageable with the follower in the detent of the cam to

Claims

1. An article labeler comprising: a supply of labels in strip form, a feeder to draw the labels from the supply for delivery to the articles to be labeled, a cutter severing individual labels from the strip for delivery to the articles, and drive means for the feeder and cutter, and including a reciprocating air motor with powered retraction and extension strokes of the piston and rod, said powered strokes alternately operating the feeder and cutter in timed sequence relative to each other, and said drive means including unidirectional clutches transmitting power from the piston and rod of the air motor respectively to the feeder and cutter, said unidirectional clutches being arranged to separately operate said feeder and cutter on opposite powered strokes of the motor whereby to alternately operate the feeder and cutter.

2. An article labeler comprising: a supply of labels in strip form, a feeder to draw the labels from the supply for delivery to the articles to be labeled, a cutter severing individual labels from the strip for delivery to the articles, and drive means for the feeder and cutter, and including a reciprocating air motor with powered retraction and extension strokes of the piston and rod, said powered strokes alternately operating the feeder and cutter in timed seqUence relative to each other, said feeder having cyclic operations, the air motor providing the principal impetus for the feeder and cutter, but for slightly less than the complete operating cycles of the feeder, the drive means including a mechanical drive apparatus between the motor and the feeder and having inertia to complete operation of the cycles of the feeder, and a rotary control cam having a detent and connected to the drive apparatus between the air motor and the feeder, a spring pressed cam follower to engage the detent and hold the drive mechanism at the end of an operation cycle, and an air cylinder with an extendible plunger engageable with the follower in the detent of the cam to prevent premature removal of the follower from the detent and to hold the cam from rotating and thereby hold the feeder stationary.

3. An article labeler comprising: a supply of labels in strip form, a feeder to draw the labels from the supply for delivery to the articles to be labeled, a cutter severing individual labels from the strip for delivery to the articles, both the feeder and cutter having cyclic operations, drive means for the feeder and cutter and including a reciprocating air motor with powered retraction and retention strokes of the piston and rod, said powered strokes alternately operating the feeder and cutter in timed sequence relative to each other, the air motor providing the principal impetus for both the feeder and cutter, but for slightly less than the complete operation cycles of the feeder and cutter, the drive means including separate mechanical drive apparatus for each of the feeder and cutter and having inertia to complete the operation cycles thereof, and a pair of rotary control cams with detents and said control cams being respectively connected with the drive apparatus of the feeder and cutter, said cam followers engaging the detent of said cams to stop the cams at the end of the operation cycles of the feeder and cutter respectively.

4. An article labeler comprising: a supply of labels in strip form, a feeder to draw the labels from the supply for delivery to the articles to be labeled, a cutter severing individual labels from the strip for delivery to the articles, and drive means for the feeder and cutter, and including a reciprocating air motor with powered retraction and extension strokes of the piston and rod, said powered strokes alternately operating the feeder and cutter in timed sequence relative to each other, and said drive means including a slidable rack connected to the piston rod of said air motor to be operated thereby, a pair of rotary gears meshed with said slidable rack and operable thereby in opposite directions during the opposite strokes of the piston rod and slidable rack, and a pair of rotary, one-way clutches connected to and operated by said gears, the output ends of the clutches being respectively connected through the drive means to the feeder and cutter, said clutches being oppositely arranged for alternately operating the feeder and cutter on opposite powered strokes of the piston rod and rack.

5. An article labeler comprising: a supply of labels in strip form, a feeder to draw the labels from the supply for delivery to the articles to be labeled, a cutter severing the individual labels from the strip for delivery to the articles, and coordinated rotary drive means for alternately operating the feeder and cutter and including separate power input shafts respectively driving only the feeder and cutter, and a pair of cooperating and circular locking discs in common planes, each disc being affixed on a respective shaft and having a radius in excess of half the distance between the shafts, each disc having a segment of its periphery cut away to receive the circular periphery of the other disc therein and thereby be prevented from rotating.

6. The article labeler according to claim 5 wherein the peripherY of each disc at the cutaway segment is concavely shaped arcuately about the center of the other circular disc.

7. The article labeler according to claim 5 and said discs in stationary position having said cutaway segments confronting each other, and a retractable pin in the spaces defined between the confronting cutaway segments whereby to prevent rotation of the discs and shafts and thereby preventing both feeding and cutting.

8. The article labeler according to claim 7 and including an air cylinder and a spring alternately extending and retracting said pin.

9. An article labeler comprising, a supply of labels in strip form, a feeder to draw the labels from the supply for delivery to the articles to be labeled, a cutter severing individual labels from the strip for delivery to the articles, and drive means for alternately operating the feeder and cutter and including a rotary drive intermittently operated in one direction for supplying power during the operation cycle to one of the feeder and cutter, said rotary drive supplying the principal impetus in said one direction but for slightly less than the complete operation cycle, the drive means including drive apparatus with inertia to complete the operation cycle in said one direction, said drive apparatus also including a rotary control cam with a detent and a cam follower to engage the detent at the completion of an operation cycle and stop the cam and drive apparatus, and a one direction clutch between the drive apparatus and said rotary drive to permit the drive apparatus to complete the operation cycle in said one direction.

10. The article labeler according to claim 9 and the feeder having cyclic operations, and said rotary drive being connected to the feeder for supplying the principal impetus for the feeder, the drive apparatus with inertia completing the operation cycle of the feeder.

11. An article labeler comprising: a supply of labels in strip form, a feeder having cyclic operations to periodically draw labels from the supply for delivery to the articles to be labeled, a cutter severing individual labels from the strip for delivery to the articles, and drive means for alternately operating the feeder and cutter and including a rotary drive intermittently operated in one direction for supplying power to the feeder, said rotary drive supplying the principal impetus for the feeder, but for slightly less than the complete operation cycle of the feeder, the drive means including drive apparatus with inertia to complete the operation of the feeder, and a one direction clutch between the drive apparatus and said rotary drive to permit the drive apparatus to complete the operation cycle of the feeder, said drive apparatus having means stopping at an indexed location corresponding to the completion of the operation cycle of the feeder, said stopping means including a control cam with a detent, and a cam follower to engage the detent and stop the cam and drive apparatus, and an air cylinder with an extendible plunger engageable with the follower in the detent to prevent premature removal of the follower from the detent and to hold the cam from rotating.

12. An article labeler comprising: a supply of labels in strip form, a feeder having cyclic operations to periodically draw labels from the supply for delivery to the articles to be labeled, a cutter severing individual labels from the strip for delivery to the articles, and drive means for alternately operating the feeder and cutter and including a rotary drive intermittently operated in one direction for supplying power to the feeder, said rotary drive supplying the principal impetus for the feeder, but for slightly less than the complete operation cycle of the feeder, the drive means including drive apparatus with inertia to complete the operation of the feeder, and a one direction clutch between the drive apparatus and said rotary drive to permit the drive apparatus to Complete the operation cycle of the feeder, and said drive means also including a second rotary drive intermittently operated in one direction for supplying power to the cutter, said second rotary drive supplying the principal impetus for operating the cutter, but for slightly less than the complete operation cycle of the cutter, the drive means including a second drive apparatus with inertia to complete the operation cycle of the cutter, and a second one direction clutch between said second drive apparatus and said second rotary drive to permit completion of the operation cycle of the cutter, and said one direction clutches also permitting the cutter to remain stationary during operation of the feeder and permitting the feeder to remain stationary during operation of the cutter.

13. The article labeler according to claim 12 and said drive apparatus having means stopping at indexed locations corresponding to the completion of the operation cycles of the feeder and cutter, said stopping means including a pair of cams with detents and respectively connected in the separate drive apparatus for the feeder and cutter, and cooperating cam followers engaging the detents of the cams and stopping the cams and drive apparatus at the respective ends of the operation cycles of the feeder and cutter.

14. The article labeler according to claim 9 and the cutter having cyclic operation, and said rotary drive being connected to the cutter for supplying the principal impetus for the cutter, the drive apparatus with inertia completing the operation cycle of the cutter.

15. An article labeler comprising: a supply of labels in strip form, a feeder having cyclic operation to periodically draw the labels from the supply for delivery to the articles to be labeled, a cutter severing individual labels from the strip for delivering the articles, and drive means for alternately operating the feeder and cutter and including a drive apparatus intermittently operated in one direction for cyclically operating the feeder, the drive apparatus including a rotary control cam with a detent, and a cam follower to engage the detent and stop the cam and drive apparatus at an indexed location corresponding to the completion of the operating cycle of the feeder, and an air cylinder with an extendible plunger engageable with the follower in the detent of the cam to prevent premature removal of the follower from the detent and to hold the cam from rotating and prevent any further operation of the feeder.

16. An article labeler comprising: a supply of labels in strip form, a feeder having cyclic operation to periodically draw the labels from the supply for delivery to the articles to be labeled, a cutter severing individual labels from the strip for delivering the articles, and drive means for alternately operating the feeder and cutter and including a drive apparatus intermittently operated in one direction for cyclically operating the feeder, the drive apparatus including a rotary control cam with a detent, and a cam follower to engage the detent and stop the cam and drive apparatus at an indexed location corresponding to the completion of the operating cycle of the feeder, said drive means including a separate drive apparatus for the cutter and having a second rotary control cam with a detent, and a cam follower engaging the detent of said second control cam and stopping the cam and powered drive apparatus at an indexed location corresponding to the completion of the operation cycle of the cutter.

17. The article labeler according to claim 10 and said drive means including a reciprocating air motor with powered retraction and extension strokes of the piston and rod, said drive means alternately operating the feeder and cutter in timed sequence relative to each other and on respective powered retraction and extension strokes of the piston and rod.