GB1464917A - Labelling machine - Google Patents

Abstract

1464917 Labelling machine PRICEMASTER Ltd 30 Oct 1974 [5 March 1974 14 June 1974] 9908/74 and 26499/74 Heading B8F A labelling machine employing a label strip 12, Fig. 1A, and operating in a repetitive cycle in which pressure-sensitive adhesive labels are peeled off singly in each cycle comprises a guide around which the strip is passed, a label applicator, and means for initially advancing the strip past the applicator during each cycle so as to cause the applicator to dispense a leading portion of a label for adhesion to an article while a residual label portion is adhering to the strip, and second means for limiting operation of the first means, wherein further advance of the strip is effected by adhesion of the leading portion of the label to the article and by consequential pulling of the strip past the applicator by the said adhesion until the label is fully detached. The machine includes a printing head 10, and a pawl 11 for advancing label bearing strip 12 past the head from a supply 15. Movements of the head and pawl are co-ordinated by a linkage 21 deriving motion from a cranked arm 24 which can be swung clockwise by an advancing article to be labelled. The applicator comprises an arm 13, Fig. 1B and a drawing off arm 31. The applicator arm 13 has a guide plate 43 and rollers 37. Rollers 38 on the arm 31 smooth down a partly drawn off label 44 on to an article. The arm 13 is connected to a driving lug 40, Fig. 1B, of a unidirectional clutch of an on-winding drum 41 for spent strip. The spent strip is guided around rollers 45-48. Roller 45 is coaxial with the pivot 32 of the applicator arm and rollers 46, 48 are at stationary locations, the latter roller being adjustable. Roller 47 is carried at the end of the arm 31 remote from its pivot 33. A full upward swing of the arm 31 corresponds to a lengthening of the strip path between rollers 46-48 by an amount less than the label length. In operation, an article advanced by a conveyer strikes and swings arm 24 clockwise causing the linkage 21 to swing a pivot 26 and advance the pawl 11 by a lavel length. The pivot 22 is moved down the slot 30 and the printing head 10 inks itself and prints. The arm 24 rocks the side plates 18 about pivot 19 until the article clears the arm and the latter descends. The article contacts the applicator arm 13 and swings it clockwise. Simultaneously, the lug 40 is moved and spent strip from an earlier operation is taken up on the drum 41. Clockwise swing of the drawing off arm 31 upon contact with the article causes roller 47 to press down on the strip between rollers 46, 48 and lengthen the strip path. Labelbearing strip 12 is drawn over the guide pin 42 so that a leading portion of a label peels off. Further advance of the article causes the label to be removed from the strip and rollers 38 to perform a smoothing down operation. The arms 13, 31 and side plate can then return to their original positions and the stop 36 contacts the cantilever 14. In a further embodiment, Fig. 2, the spent strip is led from a guide 42 and around rollers 45-48, roller 47 being mounted on a link 101 having weights 102, 103 at either end. When an article 100 contacts and swings the arm 31 the link 101 and roller 47 are raised and the drum 41 takes up the slack in the strip. The arm 31 then slips off the article and the link gradually descends under gravity with consequent lengthening of the strip path. This causes the strip to be drawn around the guide 42 with partial dispensing of a label. Rollers 38 again smooth down the label. In a further embodiment, Fig. 3 (not shown), the roller 47 is mounted on a spindle (50) on a link (21a) which is swingable in an arc about a further spindle (33) mounted on the arm 13. In another embodiment, Fig. 5 (not shown), the rollers 45 to 47 are replaced by a cam (56) which rotates with spindle (33), itself rotated by arm 31.