US2936921A - Labeling machine for workpieces in upright position - Google Patents

Description

A. E. A. SCHULZ 2,936,921

LABELING MACHINE FOR WORKPIECES IN UPRIGHT POSITION May 17, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 17, 1957 A1 FRED ELM/Aka At 8597 5010a Jam 3 W ATTORNEYS y 7, 1960 A. E. A. SCHULZ 2,936,921

LABELING MACHINE FOR WORKPIECES IN UPRIGHT POSITION Filed Dec. 17, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet z X 40 I 33 32m'\ 3/ 777/ T A Q 8 .9 Illllllllllllk l/WEA/TOR:

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Ma/55w ll OPIV YS y 1960 A. E. A. SCHULZ 2,936,921

LABELING MACHINE FOR WORKPIECES IN UPRIGHT POSITION Filed Dec. 17, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 0 O o 28 i o H lNVE/VTOR: ALFRED 600/1120 ALBERT saw/12 flT ORIVEYS y 1960 A. A. SCHULZ 2,936,921

LABELING MACHINE FOR WORKPIECES IN UPRIGHT POSITION Filed. Dec. 17, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 4

9/---.'. 11 I 5 l 1 E 1 1 i 5" 5 5E I J (1:12! i Ar roe/YE rs United States Patent Application :Decembsrrfl, :1957,*Serial No. 703,308

' i blaimspriority, application cerman a rir 1, 1951 'The present invention relates to a mahinel at 'tii'ng hitherto unknown --speeds '-and dependable a'ction' for labeling of workpieces in upr ight position by nieans I of a label-distributing drurn rotating conti'nuous'lyl; around a vertical axis. Thedrum contains several suctionsurfaces which-serve to take hp "and to supply one label 2,936,921 Patented May 17, 1 960 ice " tainer'and pick up a label. I This means that the label ":supply-drum'carries 'as many label containers as' it has suction surfaces. The label containers consequently do not change'their angle toward the suction surfaces.

"However, this "old labeling device cannot attain great 3 '--s'peeds -'for severalreasons and has not been used' in rea'sons 'for slow-speed is' found 'in the control ofthe 7 pivoting action of the suction surfaces.

The manner of' directing"the"pivoting action of the suction-surfaces'"works well-for labeling at slow speeds as was satisfactory at the time when this device was proposed, but it is" totally unsuited for the highspeeds applied today -in labeling. However, it has not been recognizedto-datethat the long-forgotten device described above-contains a principle which can serve as 'the' 'basis for a modern high-speed labeling machine.

' A major disadvantage of the above mentioned device consists in the fact that thesuction surface'approaches sat a time, and which pivot around horizontalaxes. EFor each suction surface, there'is a" label container attached in such a manner that the suction surface, pivoting from its-vertical position toward-its label container, ta'kes up a label. The pivoting motion of the suction"surface,- dur- *ing' the rotation of the label supply drum, fis -directed A known :2 and iprovenseonstmction et -labeling devices q for workpieces in upright position, "e:g., for bot t les,:is provided with a label supply drum-rotatingi-continuous- :ly, on 'whose circumference several.suction tsurfaces are ilocatedtfor take-up andi-deliveryrof .one oriseveral labels,

During :the rotation of the ;labelzsupply drum, eaehrsu c- '-.-tion surface :passes ia-label container; located lioutsidetthe label supply drum, 'and'takes aupwajlalbe'l lby .suction. This "label 'then :lies on athe-sucti'on:surfacewith :its: reverse aside directed routward. During the course iof-zthe rota- -tion, the :suction surface '-witl1 ithe :label-- meets a gluing device 'which also is located outside Ethe :label supply "Here, the 'adhesive is :applied to the reverse-side -of the label, and then :thessuction surface with-theaglued "label :is aligned-with :thecontinuously-'nioving workpieces or bottles "in amannersthat the workpieceor--;the-bottle :rolls :olfithesuction surface -and :takes up--the label-etherefrom. Although with. such -known .-labeling-devicesfair1yhigh "speeds can be attained, the latter are limited by the facts that accurate synchronization complicates the machine and that sufiicient time-must be allowed for the -suction surface of the label :supply xdrurn, whilegpassing :the :label container, topick u a :label. The passing dfithasuc tion surfa'ce zby the label ,containerrtakes a definite r-minimurn of time which cannot be decreased inorder to maintain the label' containercontrolled solely by its ownweight which does not assure contact between the suction 'sur-' face'andthe topmost label in the container at high speeds.

lt should-be noted that at the presently used high'spee'ds the suction surface'makescoritactwith the label con- :tainer for only fractions of a second,even when the *tlatter is 'fastened to the label supply drum and rotates :together with the suction surface. A dropping action tmerely by gravity,- 'therefore,' is not dependable, especially *ssince'thefsuction'surface usually is-curved, and that contact with the uppermost label in the container 'is not 'assuretl.

The.:piesent invention succeeds for the first time in =improving'a labeling machine of the construction dexscribed in -U.S..Patent 781,333 by increasing the labeling speed beyond any speeds hitherto known.

,The present invention teaches an important im- ;provement which effects pivoting of the suction surface fby means =of-the fixed cam and by way of apositively connectedinechanism which controls pivoting of the suctionsurface from its-verticalposition upwards toward the '-;1abel"container "which is installed above, 'andwhich,fin

aturn, underthe action of a second cam, likewise fixed,

executesa'verticahmovement toward the upturned suc- -tion= surface.

' dependable action of labehtake up fro'rn its container.

long "time 'ago, it was proposed 2(U5S. Patent 8 1 333 to build a labelin'g device according to a -p'r'in- "ciplewhich isfbasicallY differentfrom the 'known" and 'proven construction described above, *in' thatfnot just one single lable contair'ier "is present outside 'tliedabel supply drumwhi'ch is" passed bythe several suctionsurfaces in' succession to 'pick up a label. Instead; according *to this old suggestion, several labelcont'ainers areattac'hed rigidly to the label supply drum-"which, therefore, rotate with the 'label-supply-drum. Each of these-containers has a suction surface assignedto' it; so-that the suction surface ean --1i'\ivot 'its'vertical position towards the I label con- The :machine-according to the present invention 'difiers in respect' -to form "and manner of working from known ;-dev-ices, particularlyby the positive .control'for thepivot- -ing motion of 'the suction surface toward thelabel container which-assures contact of .thesuction .surfacewith the label which 1is-in front. Furthermore, the contact attained 'by a positive drive can be carried out with :much-greaterspeed than one effectedzby gravity-fall of the suction surface onto the label container.

Another difference'consists in the location of the label "containers whichno longer are situated below, but in- .stead are installed above the positively pivoting suction surfaces. However, in contrast to the known devices, the label containers are not stationary, but execute a verticalmovement, back and forth, which is'synchronized with the pivoting motion ofthe suction surfaces. Each time .that the suction surface pivots upward toward the the suction surface returns to its'vertical position, the V label container is raised a little, so that the pivot action "'of thesuction surface is unhindered.

spasm:

This manner of pivoting motion and the mode of installation of the label container above the suction surface entails the further advantage that in contrast to known devices, the label surface need not pass beyond the circumference of the label supply drum, when pivoting toward the label container. This is a simplification in the construction. In the known devices, the label containers had to protrude outward beyond the circumference of the label supply drum, thereby increasing considerably the moment of inertia of the label supply drum because of the distance from the axis of that drum. In contrast thereto, in the machine according to the present invention, the label containers are installed at comparatively short distances from the axis of the label supply drum. Moreover, due to the fact that they are attached above the suction surfaces, they do not interfere with the transportation of the workpieces.

The pivoting motion of the suction surfaces as well as the vertical movement of the label containers are controlled by fixed cams. Both these fixed cams are mutually synchronized so that the pivoting motion of the suction surface and the vertical movement of the label c ontainer occur at the correct sequence of time.

Both fixed cams form annular contact surfaces for one roller per cam. One of these rollers is connected with the positively connected drive of the suction surface; with the other roller, the label container is supported through'its own weight, by the contact surface of the corresponding cam. Each label container is fastened to the label supply drum by means of a link parallelogram which permits vertical movement.

The roller connected with the positive drive for the suction surface strikes the latter upward as soon as'it meets a bulge on the contact surface of the cam. Thereby, the roller moves the positive drive of the suction surface toward the action of a spring and swings the suction surface into the upward position.

The axle of the roller is'fastened to a rod which stands vertically and can move vertically. This rod turns the suction surface by way of a pivoting gear link and a sprocket which is fastened to the pivot axis of the suction surface.

, It has been found that it is possible to. label 20,000 workpieces, particularly bottles, per hour with a machine as described. To date, the amount of 18,000 workpieces per hour has not been exceeded. i

Another feature ofthe invention is a safety device. This device prevents, the suction surface, in upward position toward the label container, from moving downward and passing the adhesive dispenser, if the suction surface, for any reason, has not picked up a label from the label container, or if a key on the conveyor for the workpieces has ascertained that no workpiece is in place, which, if present, would receive a label from that particular suction surface. This measure prevents the application of adhesive to the suction surface itself when no label is in place, and also the carrying of a glued label when the workpiece .is not in place.

The safety device comprises an extension of the axle of the'roller which moves on the cam, under which a check lever, installed swingably on the label supply 'drum, can be placed when the roller has reached its highest point on the cam, preventing the downward movement ofthe roller if the corresponding suction surface has not picked up a label or if no corresponding workpiece is transported to that suction surface.

The check lever is actuated by a stationary electromagnet opposite the label supply drum. The armature of the magnet carries a push rod which presses the check lever in position upon excitation of the magnet.

There are several possible means of excitation of the electromagnet. One consists in closing the circuit of the magnet by a switch which is actuated by a key which extends into the conveyor for the workpieces when no workpiece is present on the particular part of the conveyor. To avoid lowering of the suction surface when the latter does not pick up a label from the label container for any reason, a second switch is wired in parallel to the switch mentioned above. This second switch is closed by a piston built movably into the suction surface when, the suction surface does not pick up a label in its position toward the label container. However, if a label is taken up, the piston is retracted during the pick-up by the vacuum created on the suction surface and passes the switch without actuating the same.

Further details are contained in the description of the drawing which illustrates one embodiment of a bottle labeling machine.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical plan view of the labeling machine according to the present invention;

Fig.2 is a longitudinal cross section through the label supply drum; i

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the label supply drum;

Figs. 4 to 6 show a safety device which prevents the pivoting of the label supply segment toward the glue applicator if no bottle is present, and

Fig. 7 is a second safety device which prevents pivoting if nolabel is present.

As can be seen in Fig. 1, the labeling machine is of the type in which on a conveyor chain 2, continuously moving over .a table 1, the pieces to be labeled 3 (e.g., bottles, cans, or otherjcylindrical pieces) are conducted past label supply drum 5 which rotates continuously around a vertical axis 4. The adhesive isapplied to the label upon rotation of the drum by a dispenser 6. The gummed label is taken up by the workpiece (in the drawing: bottle 3) when the label and the piece on the conveyor meet. Worm gear 7 is located beside the conveyor andfacilitates the keeping of equal distance of the bottles in a known manner.

Figs. 2 and3 illustrate the construction of the label supply drum. A tubular shaft 8 is seated, easily rotatable, on the stationary axis 4. Shaft 8 carries on its lower end, below table 1, a gear 9 by which the drum is driven. Label drum 5, connected with tubular shaft 8 by spring and groove 10, carries on a disc near the circumference a number of (in this example 10) equally distant label carriers ll'which can be turned outward .and are provided with suction ducts. The label carriers are seated in bearing blocks 12 with their axes 13 rotatable and carry a gear 14 into which a gear segment 16 meshes, which pivots around an axis 15, and which turns gear 14 through an angle of The gear segment is driven by a push rod 19. The latter is movable vertically and travels by means of a roller 17 on a fixed cam'disc 18 underneath the label drum. Rod 19 is locked by means of pin 20 in a fork 21 which is rigidly connected with the gear segment.

The labeling drum 5 is provided with a housing 5 which covers cam disc 18 and which has slits 5", through which lead the axles 17' of the rollers 17 which travel on the cam disc. The axles 17' guide the push rod.

A compression spring 22,. installed on rod 19, holds the roller 17 in constant contact with the cam disc 18.

A label container 23, hanging vertically, is installed above each label carrier, so that an opening provided on the underside for the take-up of a label 24 covers exactly the label carrier 11 which is located below, pointing upward. Each label carrier is held by a support 25 which is suspended by means of a link parallelogram 26, on a sleeve 27, fastened to the tubular shaft 8, whereby a roller 28, seated on the upper end of the support, is braced on a stationary cam disc 29, which rests on the axis 4.

Take-up of a label from the label containers and delivery to the bottle proceeds as follows:

Upon rotation of label drum 5, push rod 19, which moves gear segment 16, is lifted against the pressure of lifted again, while label carrier has been completed, and the cycle is repeated.

55' spring 22in sector "I ,tFigQS.) bytmeanso fcam disc 18 (Fig. 2), thereby causing ,pivoting of label carrier 11 J by-90, so thatitssuction surface'points' to the lower Zope'ning ofthe-label. container. Theslatter is situatedahigh Tenough :to pivot without obstruction. Thereafter, label cdntainer'23 in sector :II islowered by camdisc 29, I

assess;

A. scco'nd safetyalevice-is'fshownin.Eig..7. rasaeviw' [gets interaction when the label carrier u a label.

'locate'dlon the upper endofaxis 4, and-carrying support *25'i'with roller 28. .Labelcontainer 4231s loweredlsofar "that the lowestlabel intheiopeningfof the container-lies on the suction surfaceof the label carrier 11. The label is sucked onto the surface'and held in'place by a suction source, not shown.

A duct v144. connecting the suctionop'enings 4 situated transversely "'to 'the"s'winging"axis ,1

48 whichscloses a current leading wither-magnet When a label 24 is sucked from the container and the openings on the suction surfaces are covered, piston 45 is retracted into the duct inversely to the spring action,

When roller 28 reaches sector III, it travelsonto whereby the label container is 11, carrying the label by suction, is turned by 90, carrying the label turned -raised part of track 29,

outward, by lowering of push rod ,19 on the cam disc 18.

The height of the label drum is adjustable in attain the correct position when the label container 23 is lowered for take-up of a label, so that contact'beorder to I tween the label with the suction surface of label carrier 11 is assured. As shown in Fig. 2, for this purpose the tubular shaft 8 is enclosed in a hub 30 below the label drum. This hub rests solidly on table plate 1. Hub 30 has a thread 32 on the outside, onto which a handwheel 33 has been screwed, which in turn is connected to the cam disc 18 above, by' 'means of a linkage 34. Cam disc 18 also is fastened to hub 30 and ismovable axially. The label drum is seated, with insertion of a bearing 35, on the upper front end of cam disc 18. Through rotation of the consequently, the label supply drum can be adjusted most accurately to the position a label from the label container.

hand wheel 33, cam disc 18, and,

best suited for the take-up of I The labeling machine is provided with safety devices which prevent pivoting of the label carrier when a bottle is missing on the conveyor, or when, for any reason, no label has been taken by the carrier. Pivoting of the label carrier 11 can be prevented by a bolt 36, which is situated on the drum housing 5 below the slits 5" and which is rotatable. Bolt 36 is connected with aswivel arm 37, located on the same axis, andis regulated by impact on a stop.

On the conveyor 2 (Figs. 1 and 4), a feeler 38 is rotatably positioned in a known manner opposite the distributor screw 7 for the bottles 3 which extends into the track of the conveyor and which is pressed down when a bottle passes it. Thereby, an electric switch 39 is actuated which opens a circuit tothe magnet 40'which is installed below the rotating-label supply drum'on table 1, so that a rod 41 is pushed back and bolt 36 is not actuated (Fig. 4). I

If a bottle is missing in the track of the distributor screw 7, feeler 38 is not actuated and switch 39 remains closed. Rod 41,- seated in the track of bolts 36 on drum housing 5, swings, during the turning of the drum, bolt 36 into the passage of axle 17 of roller 17, so that the latter cannot follow the cam 18, any longer and supports push rod 19 in raised position. Label carrier 11 stops below the label container 23, and thus passes the adhesive dispenser without making contact with the same.

The label carrier passes the point of delivery of the label to the bottle, if present, but remains in the upper position since no bottle is in place. The swinging lever 37 meets a stud 42 which protrudes into the track (Fig. 6), pushes bolt 36 backinto its initial position and releases the push rod.

so that switch 48 is opened, the'current interrupted and swinging rotation of the label supply drum 5. c

If, however, no label is sucked up, piston 45 is not influenced by the suction air and remains in the position which closes thecircuit. The magnet holds rod 41 in the track of swinging lever 37 (Fig. 5) and locks the track of push rod 19, so that label carrier 11 is not pivoted outward.

"Fig. 1 shows the position of magnet 40 on table 1. The bottles 3, carried on conveyor 2', by means of the distributor screw 7, pass feeler 38 and are rolled off a stationary wall 49 which stands beside the conveyor and is made of foam rubber, when they meet'label carrier 11 which pivots out from the label supply drum 5, said bottles thereby taking up label 24. As the labeled bottles pass along, theyare rolled through a passageconsisting of a fixed wall 50 and an endless belt 51, serving as support. This concludes the labeling action.

WhatI claim is:

1. In a machine for labeling workpieces in upright position by suction operated means: a machine base; a vertically disposed shaft member fixedly secured to said base; a drum rotatable about said shaft; conveyor means for workpieces, movable adjacent said drum; a plurality of spaced label carriers pivotally secured on the. periphery of said drum, said, label carriers being provided with suction surfaces; means for maintaining said label carriers in a verticalposition with the suction surfaces directed upwardly; first cam means secured to said base below said drum and operatively connected with said label carriers for horizontally tilting the latter at predeter-'- mined intervals so that the suction surfaces face out,- wardly of said drum and contact the workpieces; and a mechanism for supplying labels to said carriers when these are in a vertical position, said mechanism comprising second fixed cam means secured to. said shaft above said drum, a' plurality ofvertically movable label containers and parallelogram linkage securing said' label containers to saidv drum above said label carriers and operably engaging with said second cam means, both said cam means operable in timed relationship with one another for lowering the label containers to contact the suction surfaces of said label carriers when these are in an'upright position and for raising said containers out of the path of said label carriers when the latter are tilted to ahorizontal position.

2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said meansfor maintaining the label carrier in a vertical position comprise a bearing block secured to said drum, a shaft to which the label carrier is secured, a pinion secured to said shaft, a rack engaging with said pinion a push rod operatively connected to said'rack, said push rod having a flanged end disposed below said drum and .a spring interposed between said flanged end and said drum.

labil carrier 11, raises a pistbn45fWhicHprQtriidesoiitXvEid and is 'provided witha stud 46. j 'Piston 45- is constantly pressed out'ward' by a spring niereby actuating Ia' sivitch' lever 37 (Fig. 4) is not actuated during the;

epeepai 7, 4. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said second cam means comprise a circular horizontally disposed disc formed with a cam surface and a plurality of rollers secured to said parallelogram linkage and engaging with said cam surface. a

v 5. The machine according to claim 1 further provided with-means for manually adjusting the height of said first cam means and said drum in a vertical direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Edson 12111.31, 190s Cook et a1 Apr. 21, 1953

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