Abstract:
The disclosure concerns a label applying device for delaminating each of a series of labels from their backing paper web and for applying the delaminated labels to articles. The label applying device has a grip which can be manually depressed and released to move an actuator up and down. On this actuator, there is carried a label applier which is brought into contact with each delaminated label to apply the same to an article. A link mechanism is hingedly connected to the actuator to transmit the depressing force of the actuator to a feed roller which is made operative to feed a composite label web a predetermined length and to effect the delamination of the labels from their backing paper web.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a label applying device for individually delaminating a series of labels, which are temporarily adhered to their backing paper web, and for applying the delaminated labels to articles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A composite label web comprises a plurality of labels printed with predetermined indicia which are temporarily adhered in series to a backing paper web. If the labels are to be adhered to articles of different sizes, they are applied to their desired positions on the respective articles by the hands of the operator after they have been delaminated. However, those operations take a relatively long time so that they are inefficient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the object of the invention is to provide a device which can perform a series of operations of delaminating the labels from their backing paper web and applying them to articles. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a label applying device which is enabled by a single manual action to delaminate labels from their backing paper web and to apply the delaminated labels to articles. 
     Individual labels are arrayed in a series on a paper web which backs the series of labels to provide a composite label web. 
     According to the present invention, the actuator of the label applying device is movable together with the vertical movements of a hand grip. Attached to the actuator are both a label applier for applying the labels and a link mechanism for transmitting the depressing force of the grip to a feed roller which feeds a composite label web a predetermined length to a delminator which delaminates the labels from the backing paper web. 
     The label applying device delaminates a label from the paper web. The device applies the delaminated label to an article. The device comprises a label application operator for a series of label applying operations. There is an actuator adapted to be operated by the label application operator to move reciprocally between an initial position and an application stand-by position. A label applier is carried on the actuator so that it is brought from an initial position, when the actuator has not yet operated, to a label applying position in which it is in forced contact with the label to be applied. A link mechanism is hinged to the actuator. There is a label feed mechanism which includes a feed roller which is rotatable through the link mechanism for sequentially feeding the composite label web. A label delaminator delaminates the labels one by one from the backing paper web, while they are being fed and before they are applied. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing in section the label applying device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation showing in partial section the label applying device of FIG. 1, but viewed from the opposite side; 
     FIG. 3(a) is a schematic side elevation showing the operating mode of a link mechanism of the label applying device; 
     FIG. 3(b) is a view similar to FIG. 3(a) showing the operating mode when the link mechanism is in the course of its movement; 
     FIG. 3(c) is a view similar to FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) showing the operating mode when the link mechanism is bent; and 
     FIGS. 4(a), 4(b) and 4(c) are a series of schematic side elevations showing the operating modes of a retaining pin of the label applying device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention is now described in connection with an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. 
     The upper portion of a generally box-shaped body 1 of a label applying device tapers upward. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a label application operator 2 is disposed at the upper portion for performing a series of operations for delaminating and applying labels, etc. At the upper right-hand portion of the device body 1, a composite label web 3 is held in a rolled shape on a label holder 4. 
     The upper portion of the body 1 has a vertical bore 5 through which a vertical grip shaft 6 extends for acting as the shaft of the label application operator 2. A grip 7 is fixed by means of a screw 8 to the upper end of the grip shaft 6. An actuator 9 is fixed to and moves with the lower end of the grip shaft 6. 
     A cylindrical spring cover 10 is disposed on the upper portion of the body 1 to enclose the grip shaft 6. A return coil spring 11 is disposed under compression around the grip shaft 6 and under the spring cover 10, between the grip 7 and the bottom of the cover 10. 
     In FIG. 1, a first arm 12 is hinged at one end to a pivot pin 13 which is fixed to the actuator 9 at one side of the actuator. Turning to FIG. 2, a retaining pin 14 is hinged to the other end of that pivot pin 13 at the other side of the actuator 9. Referring to FIG. 1, there is disposed at the left-hand and lower portion of the actuator 9 a label applier 15 for applying labels to articles. At the other end of the first arm 12 from its attachment to the actuator 9, one end of a second arm 16 is hinged by a pivot pin 17. At the other end of the second arm, a rocking member 18 is hinged by a pivot pin 19. The left-hand lower portion of the second arm 16 has a retaining portion 21 which is to be retained by a stopper 20 formed on one side wall of the device body 1. Moreover, the side of one end of the second arm 16 is formed with a retaining portion 22 which engages the first arm 12 and ensures integration between the first and second arms 12 and 16. 
     The rocking member 18 is rotatably borne on a roller shaft 23 supported on the body 1. The right-hand upper portion of the rocking member 18 is formed with a retaining portion 25 which is to be retained by a stopper 24 formed on one side wall of the body 1. The first and second arms 12 and 16 and the rocking member 18 together form a link mechanism 101. 
     A pair of pawls 26 are mounted on the roller shaft 23 inside of the rocking member 18. A feed roller 27 is rotatably borne on the roller shaft 23 at such a position as to internally contact the circumferential edges of the pawls 26. The feed roller 27 has ratchet teeth 28 formed on its inner circumference, and the teeth are shaped and sized to engage with the pawls 26. The feed roller 27 has a plurality of feed teeth 29 formed on its outer circumference. These are sized and positioned to engage the composite label web 3 to feed it. At the right of the feed roller 27, there is an outlet 31 from the body, from which the paper web 30 backing the composite label web 3 is discharged to the outside. 
     A label guide plate 32 is formed at the other side wall about the center of the body 1. The label web passes along under the label guide plate. The plate 32 guides the composite label web 3 below the applier 15. Below and opposite the applier 15, there are formed a pair of label supporting plates 34 and 35 arranged side-by-side and respectively supported on both side walls of the body 1. 
     At the right of the supporting plate 34, there is disposed a label delaminator 102, which is comprised of a label turning pin 37, for example, for delaminating the labels 36 of the composite label web 3 one-by-one from their backing paper web 30 as the composite web is drawn over and then turned back around the pin 37. 
     The following description is directed to the retaining pin 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the retaining pin 14 has a nose at one side of the pin 13 and is formed with first and second abutments 38 and 39 at the other side of the pin 13 and which are expanded in a bifurcated shape. The other, opposing side wall of the body 1 is formed with a rack 40 which is engageable with the nose of the retaining pin 14. A pair of stoppers 41 and 42 are formed on the actuator 9. These are spaced above and below the retaining pin 14 so as to abut against the first and second abutments 38 and 39, respectively. The retaining pin 14 is always elastically biased in the direction of arrow A by a spring (not shown). 
     The applicator 15 is now described. Referring to FIG. 1, the actuator 9 is formed with a bore 43 at its underside, through which an applier shaft 44 slidably extends. A washer 45 is mounted on the upper end of the applier shaft 44 for preventing the applier shaft 44 from moving down out of the bore 43. A suspending member 46 is fixed to the lower end of the applier shaft 44 by means of a screw (not shown). An applying pad 47, which is made of rubber, for example, is fixed to the lower side of that suspending member 46, for applying the labels 36. A coil spring 48 is held under compression between the actuator 9 and the suspending member 46 for urging the member 46 downwardly and for establishing the pressure of the pad 47. 
     The operation of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, together with FIGS. 3 and 4. The label holder 4 is charged with the composite label web 3 in rolled form. The composite label web 3 is unrolled below the guide plate 32 and is reversed in direction around the label turning pin 37. The labels are here delaminated from the backing paper and are fed forward beneath the applying pad. The backing paper of the composite label web 3 is turned back and is passed below the toothed roller 27 until it comes out of the outlet 31. This sets the composite label web 3 in the label applying device. 
     To apply the labels to articles, the grip 7 is first depressed against the bias of the return coil spring 11. This lowers the first and second arms 12 and 16, together with the pivot pin 13 carried on the actuator 9, from the position shown in FIG. 3(a) to the position shown in FIG. 3(b), so that the rocking member 18 is rotated counterclockwise. Then, when the retaining portion 21 on the arm 16 abuts against the stopper 20 and when the retaining portion 25 on the member 18 abuts against the stopper 24, both the downward movement of the second arm 16 and the rotation of the rocking member 18 are stopped by those respective abutments. Through the rotations of the rocking member 18, the pawls 26 are also rotated counterclockwise, and they engage with the ratchet teeth 28 to rotate the feed roller 27, thereby to advance the backing paper web 30 to the outlet 31. 
     One of the labels 36 is completely delaminated from the backing paper web 30 at the label turning pin 37. That label is separately fed to advance to the left onto the supporting plates 34 and 35. 
     When the grip 7 is further depressed, the first arm 12 swings counterclockwise on the pivot pin 17 with respect to the second arm 16, as shown in FIG. 3(c). Moreover, since the pivot pin 13 is lowered as it moves in the same direction as the grip 7, the label 36 on the supporting plates 34 and 35 is pushed down by the applying pad 47 until the label is applied to an article. The coil spring 48 causes a proper pressure to be exerted upon the label 36 until the label 36 is applied to the article. 
     Next, upon the release of the depressing force applied to the grip 7, the grip 7 is returned up to its initial position by the return coil spring 11. At the same time, the link mechanism 101 is restored to its initial position shown in FIG. 3(a). 
     The operation of the retaining pin 14 is now described. When the grip 7 is first depressed, the retaining pin 14 in the position of FIG. 4(a) is carried down together with the actuator 9 toward the position of FIG. 4(b). Simultaneously as the pawls 26 mesh with the ratchet teeth 28, the nose of the retaining pin 14 slides over and along and comes into meshing engagement with the rack 40. At this state, even if the depressing force that was applied to the grip 7 is released, the actuator 9, having been moved down, cannot be returned to its initial position, even under the biasing force of the return coil spring 11, because of the cooperation of the retaining pin 14 and the toothed rack 40. 
     The retaining pin 14 cannot be released from engagement with the teeth of the rack 40 before the grip 7 is further depressed and the nose of the pin 14 moves under the rack 40, the position of FIG. 4(b). This ensures that the applying pad 47 pushes down upon the label 36 which has already been applied to the article. Moreover, when the actuator 9 is now raised back by the action of the return coil spring 11, after the label 36 has been applied, the retaining pin 14 is also carried upward from the position of FIG. 4(b) to restore its initial position. The retaining pin 14, having finished its rise, is turned by a spring in the counterclockwise direction, from the position of FIG. 4(c), until it restores its initial operating position shown in FIG. 4(a). 
     As has been described hereinbefore, according to the present invention, labels can be delaminated from their backing paper web and the delaminated labels can be applied to the articles manually in a single action. 
     Although the present invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, many variations and modifications will now become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.