GB636445A - An improved labelling machine - Google Patents

Abstract

636,445. Labelling-machines. ARMSTRONG, N. F., and TWEDDELL, J. A. March 11, 1948. Nos. 7443 and 28240. [Class 73] A machine for labelling bottles &c. is provided with a suction feed gripper actuated so that when its vacuum is decreased or destroyed owing to no label being gripped, it moves up to the label pile, and when its vacuum is restored due to a label being gripped it moves towards the labelling position. The machine is provided with a label container 3 under which a pivoted suction feed gripper 6 is mounted. A solenoid 9 operated by means of a diaphragm switch connected to the suction head of the feed gripper moves the gripper from its horizontal position to its vertical position when a label is gripped, and vice versa when the label is removed. Below the gripper 6 is a label transfer member 18 provided with four suction arms 19, adapted to be rotated by a motor by means of a friction clutch or alternatively, it may be operated by a suction-operated actuating device. An indexing disc 25 having four teeth 25a co-acts with a detent 26 to allow rotation of the member 18 through steps of 90 degrees. The detent 26 is mounted on a pivoted arm 27 adapted to be moved by a solenoid 28 operated by a micro-switch MS. At the lowest level of the transfer member two hollow arms 30 carrying suction blocks 30a are mounted on a sliding carriage 31 adapted to be reciprocated by means of a rod 33 and disc 34. A detent 36 is operated by a solenoid 38 to permit the disc 34 to rotate, the solenoid being actuated by means of a micro-switch 39. The switch 39 is closed by means of the bottle &c. to be labelled abutting against an arm 40 as it moves by on a conveyor 2. The microswitch MS is operated by means of a detent roller 41 mounted on the disc 34 which engages a lever 42 of the micro-switch as the disc rotates. In operation, a label is taken from the holder 3 by the gripper 6 and presented in the path of the transfer member 18. A bottle on the conveyer closes the micro-switch 39 which causes reciprocation of the carriage 31, and so operates micro-switch MS to actuate solenoid 28 and turn the transfer member 18 bearing the label through 90 degrees to bring the label into contact with gumming rollers 29. Meanwhile, as the carriage 31 moves forward, the suction arms 30 remove a lpreviously gummed label from the arm 19 at the owest position, and carry it forward to apply it to the bottle. A block 72 moves to engage the bottle as it is labelled, to support it. The arm 40 is held rigid during the labelling operation to prevent further bottles from interfering. The arms 30 are spread apart on the return movement of the carriage 31 by a cam plate to prevent fouling a new label being presented by the transfer member. In a modification of the device, the feed gripper is mounted for vertical reciprocation under the action of a piston, the gripper being provided with a pinion which engages a fixed rack to rotate the gripper through 180 degrees during the reciprocation, presenting it in turn to gumming rollers, and then, to a bottle held in a horizontal position.