Patent ID: 6830642
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: B65C,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of transferring discrete pressure sensitive adhesive labels from a plurality of web carriers mounted on a plurality of labeling platforms to a continuous series of objects in multiple columns on a transport mechanism traveling transverse to said label applicator assembly, said method comprising the following steps:a. positioning a bridge member transverse to said transport mechanism, said bridge member having an upper surface and two opposing side walls depending therefrom, said bridge member having a plurality of labeling stations, said bridge member having a first transverse conduit in communication with a vacuum source, second transverse conduit in communication with a pressurized gas source and a third transverse conduit having an electrical connections and in communication with a computer station, each of said labeling stations in communication with said first, second and third transverse conduits, said bridge member having a motor means mounted at an end thereof in communication with a transverse shaft means within said bridge member, said transverse shaft means having mounted thereon a plurality of gear members positioned at each of said label stations; b. positioning a source of labels affixed to a wound continuous web on a plurality of labeling platforms, each of said labeling platform comprising a frame and axle for the rotatable support of said wound continuous web and said labels, said frame having mounted thereon a plurality of directional, tensioning and drive rollers for tensioning, directing and driving said web, said frame further having a label transfer means for transfer of said label from said web to said transfer means and thence to said objects to be labeled, said label transfer means comprising a hub having a ring rotatably mounted thereon, said ring having a plurality of discrete perforation patterns, said hub having a recessed slot formed in its circumferential periphery in alignment with said ring for a portion of said hub circumference, said slot in communication through said hub to a vacuum source, said slot having a label engaging end and a label release end, said hub having a pressure port formed in its circumference proximate to said label release end of said slot, said pressure port in communication through said hub with a pressurized gas source, a peel plate adjacent said ring and having a peel edge positioned proximate said label engaging end of said slot, said peel plate redirecting said web without labels from said ring to a plurality of directional tensioning and drive rollers, said label being transferred to said peel edge from said web to said ring under the influence of vacuum and maintained on said ring until registration with said pressure port when said label is jetted from said ring onto said object to be labeled; said label platform further including a release clutch and gearing mechanism mounted on said frame in communication with said drive rollers; a vacuum connection mounted on said frame of said label platform for communication with a vacuum source; a pressure connection mounted on said frame of said label platform in communication with said pressurized gas source; an electrical connection mounted on said frame of said label platform in communication with a computer station for signaling said label platform for rotation and application of said label; c. mounting said plurality of label platforms to said label stations on said bridge member; d. engaging the label platform vacuum connection, pressurized gas connection and electrical connection with said vacuum connection, pressurized gas connection and electrical connection of said label station; e. activating the source of vacuum, pressurized gas, and electrical connections; f. initiating motor means on said bridge member; g. initiating transport mechanism with said objects to be labeled; h. signaling said respective labeling platform from a computer station via said electrical connection of an object to be labeled by said respective labeling platform; i. engaging said respective gear at respective label station on said bridge member with said release clutch and gearing mechanism mounted on said label platform; j. rotating said web and labels to transfer a label from said web to said label transfer means by vacuum; k. registering said label at said pressure port; l. transferring said label from said label transfer means to said object to be labeled under the influence of said pressurized gas; m. collecting that portion of said web from which labels have been removed; n. repeating steps h through m until said web is depleted; replacing said label platform with said web depleted with a label platform having said web and said labels.