Abstract:
An apparatus and method for dispensing labels onto cylindrical items includes an apparatus for applying a label onto a cylindrical object including a feed mechanism for feeding a label strip. A plate having a sharply angled separator edge is positioned to receive the label strip and peel a label from the label strip. A guide member has a pair of opposed rollers. The guide member and opposed rollers are positioned to receive the label. The opposed rollers are adapted to allow the cylindrical object to contact the label and affix the label to the cylindrical object as the cylindrical object is passed between the opposed rollers.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The subject invention relates to the field of labeling machines, and more particularly, to a relatively compact apparatus for applying pressure sensitive labels to cylindrical articles.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The prior art relating to pressure sensitive labeling devices includes a wide variety of specialized machines comprising differing means of applying labels to bottles or containers. Because they are designed to apply labels to relatively large items, conveyor belts with mechanisms to automatically advance the items past a labeler mechanism are relatively simple to design. Further, when the items are bottles, cans or boxes it is relatively simple to design monitoring, timing and placement mechanisms to ensure proper location of each label.  
           [0003]    Most pressure sensitive label machines differ from each other according to the nature of the objects to which they are designed to apply labels. For example, when the object is a relatively large item, such as a box, can or bottle, a conventional conveying mechanism may be used to convey and position each object into a position adjacent a labeling device. The device used to continuously apply pressure sensitive labels to objects that travel along the conveyor must be able to place a label onto a regular surface, either partly or entirely about a circumference of the container. For an application such as a bottle or can having a regular curved surface, a simple rotating vacuum drum or a vacuum swivel arm may be used to remove labels from a web and place the labels onto the container, since the surface curvature and distances to the object is predictable in each case.  
           [0004]    Other devices use spaced rollers to press a label onto a passing article. Typically, the rollers are made of a material adapted to contact the article and thus, apply pressure to cause the label to adhere to the article. Other devices include fixed or moving plates to apply a label to an article having flat surfaces and/or corners.  
           [0005]    However, small and narrow cylindrical articles present a special challenge to a labeling machine. In particular, it is more difficult to position a small, narrow cylindrical article accurately and apply a label. In regards to small cylindrical articles, it is difficult to position a label accurately onto the item, since it is more difficult to detect the position of and accurately index the article to be labeled. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a system and method to accurately place labels onto a cylindrical object. It would further be desirable to provide a system and method to accurately place labels onto a cylindrical object wherein the apparatus is easily, quickly and inexpensively adapted to label objects of different cylindrical diameters and lengths.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    One aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for applying a label onto a cylindrical object including a feed mechanism for feeding a label strip. A plate having a sharply angled separator edge is positioned to receive the label strip and peel a label from the label strip. A guide member has a pair of opposed rollers. The guide member and opposed rollers are positioned to receive the label. The opposed rollers are adapted to allow the cylindrical object to contact the label and affix the label to the cylindrical object as the cylindrical object is passed between the opposed rollers.  
           [0007]    In another aspect of the invention a guide member includes first and second vertical members that are spaced apart a first distance, the first distance being adapted to receive and guide the cylindrical object.  
           [0008]    In another aspect of the invention a cylindrical object has a width, the first distance being a distance at least the width of the cylindrical object.  
           [0009]    In another aspect of the invention a first distance between the vertical members includes a widened portion to permit removal of the cylindrical object having an end fitting, a width of the end fitting being substantially greater than the width of the cylindrical object.  
           [0010]    In another aspect of the invention each of the first and second vertical members comprise front and back portions that are spaced apart a second distance, the second distance being adapted to receive and guide a label.  
           [0011]    In another aspect of the invention the label has a width, the second distance being a distance at least the width of the label.  
           [0012]    In another aspect of the invention the cylindrical object is a brake hose. The brake hose can include a crimped end fitting.  
           [0013]    In another aspect of the invention the guide member further includes a narrow section between the back portions of the first and second vertical members adapted to permit passage of the crimped end fitting and deny passage of an un-crimped end fitting.  
           [0014]    The present invention includes a method for applying labels to a cylindrical object including feeding a label strip having labels temporarily attached to a backing. A label is detached from the backing, the label having a length greater than a circumference of the cylindrical object. The label is guided into a guide member and onto a pair of opposed rollers. A label is applied to the cylindrical object as the cylindrical object contacts the label and passes between the opposed rollers.  
           [0015]    In another aspect of the present invention the label is detached from the backing by moving the backing over a sharply angled separator edge of a plate and peeling the label from the backing, thereby providing an exposed adhesive side of the label in an upward facing condition.  
           [0016]    In another aspect of the present invention the length of the label after being applied to the cylindrical object provides a pair of trailing ends of the label, the trailing ends being pressed into mutual engagement by the opposed rollers after the cylindrical object is passed between the opposed rollers.  
           [0017]    Another aspect of the present invention further includes spacing a first and second vertical member of the guide to a first distance, the first distance being at least a width of the cylindrical object.  
           [0018]    Another aspect of the present invention further includes spacing a front and back portion of each of the first and second vertical members a second distance, the second distance being at least a width of the label.  
           [0019]    Another aspect of the present invention further includes advancing the cylindrical object through a narrow section between the back portions of each of the first and second vertical members, the narrow section adapted to permit passage of a crimped end fitting fixed to an end of the cylindrical object and deny passage of an un-crimped end fitting.  
           [0020]    The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the invention rather than limiting, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating one embodiment of an apparatus embodying the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is an illustration of an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 is an illustration of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 2 showing an adjustable feature of an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is an illustration of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 2 showing another adjustable feature of an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 is an illustration of a portion of the device shown in a rear view of FIG. 2 showing an object positioned for label application; and  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 is an illustration of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 5 after the object has been labeled. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0027]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus illustrating an embodiment of the present invention comprises a label dispensing system or device, generally indicated at  10 . This device  10  includes a dispensing reel  12  including a fill of pre-printed labels  14  supplied on a label carrier web or backing  16 . The label carrier web  16  can travel from the dispensing reel  12  around a first idler  18  and a second idler roller  20 . The labels  14  may have printed thereon trademarks, advertising information, identifying media (including date and SKU information), or any other printed information including text, graphics and bar-coded data. These labels  14  may be attached to the backing  16  by means of a normally tacky adhesive commonly referred to in the art as a pressure-sensitive adhesive. The adhesive is pre-applied to the under-surface of the labels  14  and tends to have a greater affinity for the labels  14  than for the backing  16  so that when the labels are peeled or stripped from the backing the adhesive is removed with them. Thus, the labels  14 , after being detached from the backing material  16 , have an exposed adhesive surface.  
         [0028]    From the second idler roller  20 , the label carrier web  16  may travel through or along a label sensor  22 . Label sensors  22  are well known in the art. For example, the label sensor  22  may be a standard “photo eye” or photo-detecting sensor. As the web  16  travels along the sensor  22 , light emitted by the sensor  22  is blocked by a label  14 , but not blocked by the web backing material  16  upon which the labels  14  are affixed. Thus, between labels  14 , (which, in one embodiment is a gap of about ⅛″) light is transmitted through the backing material  16  and is detected by the sensor  22 . In response to the light transmitted through the web  16 , the sensor  22  can transmit a signal, complete a circuit or cause a relay to close or open. This signal can correspond to a “STOP” instruction or signal that causes activation of a solenoid, or like device, the operation of which in the context of the present apparatus will be described more fully hereinafter.  
         [0029]    After passing through the sensor  22 , the label carrier web  16  can travel to a first fixed pin  24 , or the like. The first pin  24  orients the web  16  to a direction almost parallel to a first or bottom surface  26  of a generally flat separator plate  28 . The web  16  wraps around a sharp edge  30  of the plate  28  and is sharply turned across a second or top surface  32  of the plate. The narrow radius of the sharp edge  30  of the plate  28  causes the labels  14   d , which at this detaching or peeling point are located on the outer radius of the bent web  16  and are generally stiffer or more rigid than the backing web material  16 , to become detached from the backing web and ejected from the backing web. Since the plate  28  is oriented with the first and second surfaces  26 ,  32  in a generally horizontal orientation, the label  14   d  is ejected in a generally horizontal direction from the backing material  16 .  
         [0030]    Each detached label  14   d  may be allowed to fall or drop onto a resting position upon a pair of opposed open cell foam rollers  34 ,  36 . The label  14   d  is oriented on the backing material  16  such that the adhesive side  14   u  is left exposed on the top surface of the label.  
         [0031]    Each of the opposed foam rollers  34 ,  36  can be attached to one of a pair of vertical parallel beams  38 ,  40 . The foam rollers  34 ,  36  may be allowed to rotate or may be fixed in place. The beams  38 ,  40  are laterally movable to accommodate different sized items and define a vertical slot  42  therebetween. In one embodiment, the bottom of the slot  42  may have the form of an enlarged opening  44  or keyhole to enable the removable of cylindrical items that have ends or portions with different diameters than a mid-portion.  
         [0032]    Adjacent or below the foam rollers  34 ,  36  a second sensor  46 , similar to the first sensor  22 , is placed to detect the passage of an item through the slot  42  defined between the pair of beams  38 ,  40 . The beams  38 ,  40  can include narrow portion  54 . When an object passes before the sensor  46 , a signal or like indicator is sent to a control unit  48 . The control unit  48  may be a control unit adapted to operate with photo sensors such as a Banner Relay System (Model No. CL5RA). In operation, the control unit  48  can be configured such that receipt of a signal from the second sensor  46  can set the web  16  into motion to supply a new label  14 , while receipt of a signal from the first sensor  22  can stop the advancement of the web. After removal of a label  14   d  from the backing web  16 , the remaining backing material may be pulled over a second pin  50  by a pair of pull wheels  52 , or the like. An electrical motor (not shown) or any suitable advancing apparatus may drive the pull wheels  52 , the motor being responsive to control from the control unit  48 . It should be understood that any feed mechanism including an arrangement of rollers, pins, non-driven or driven wheels or rollers or the like, can be employed to advance a web to provide a label to a cylindrical object as set forth herein.  
         [0033]    In operation, after the system  10  has ejected a label  14   d  onto the foam rollers  34 , 36  an end or middle portion of a cylindrical item (a wire, rope, cable, hose or the like) is placed into the top end  42   a  of the slot  42  defined by beams  38 ,  40  and pressed onto the label  14   d  by an operator (not shown). The item is preferably pressed through the rollers  34 ,  36  in a downward direction. The act of depressing the item through the foam rollers  34 ,  36  causes the label  14   d  to wrap around the circumference of the item. Preferably, with narrow or small diameter items the label  14   d  will be longer than the circumference of the item so that the “tails”  14   b ,  14   c  (or ends) of the label  14   d  adhere to each other and provide an easy-to-read tail or flag portion of the label. The foam rollers  34 , 36  conform to the shape of the item and press the ends  14   b ,  14   c  of the label  14   d  together causing the ends to adhere to each other and form the flag portion.  
         [0034]    The second sensor  46  can detect the presence of the item and can relay a signal to the control unit  48 . The control unit  48  causes the advancement of the web  16  until a signal from the first sensor  22  detects the presence of a gap or space between labels  14  (meaning that an entire label has passed the first sensor  22 ).  
         [0035]    As shown in FIGS.  3 - 4 , it will be understood that the span between the vertical beams  38 ,  40  can be configured to accept various diameter items. In other words, the vertical beams  38 ,  40  can be provided with the ability to adjust laterally. To this end, the beams may be separate and fitted to into slots or grooves for lateral adjustability, as is known in the art, or any arrangement that allows the space to be modified. In an alternate embodiment, the beams  38 ,  40  can be a single joined beam unit that can be substituted for a differently spaced beam unit. Similarly, the foam rollers may be easily changed to accommodate various diameter items. In this manner, the present invention demonstrates the advantage of being easily, quickly and inexpensively converted to apply labels to a broad range of objects.  
         [0036]    As shown in FIGS.  1 - 2 , the web  16  is directed upon the sharp edge  30  of plate  28 . Labels  14   d  are peeled off thereby and directed upon from backing material  16  to a resting position upon rollers  34 ,  36  with the adhesive side  14   u  of the label in an upwardly exposed condition. Front and back portion  38   a ,  38   b  of member  38  and front and back portion  40   a ,  40   b  of member  40  operate to guide and bracket the peeled label  14   d  into place upon the rollers  34 , 36 . It will be understood that these front and back portions can be mounted as to be movable to provide a variable gap therebetween. Further, as shown if FIG. 2, the rear portions  38   b ,  40   b  may include a narrow section  54 .  
         [0037]    As shown in FIG. 5, the cylindrical object may include a brake hose  60 . Typically, brake hoses are narrow cylindrical objects that include a terminal or end fitting  64  that is affixed to the end of the brake hose  60  by crimping. The present invention includes narrow section  54  which when the terminal fitting of the brake hose  62  is passed downwardly through the vertical members  38 , 40  (FIG. 1) is sized to allow a crimped (narrow) portion  66  of the fitting to pass and prevents an non-crimped fitting from passing. In this manner, a brake hose that does not possess a properly crimped end fitting is brought to the attention of the operator. Thus, the vertical members  38 ,  40  of apparatus  10  can be provided with a “no-go” gauge or section  54  that operates to include a quality check as part of the labeling process.  
         [0038]    While the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are presently considered to be preferred, various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents are intended to be embraced therein.