Labelling machine

The present invention relates to a device for automatical placing of labels or the like on a number of packages or the like, suitably of smaller size, and suitably of the same form and size. The device according to the invention is mainly consisting of a fixed rack carrying a pivoting and displaceable arm, controlled by electrically, pneumatically, or hydraulically operated control cylinders. To the outer end of the arm a flexible label carrier strip is brought, which is suitably taken from a storage roll containing a large length of the strip fitted with labels. From the outer end of the arm the labels are then successively applied on the packages or the articles.

The character of the device according to the invention is described in 
detail in the patent claims. 
The design of the device according to the invention is simple and robust 
and thus it will be cheap to produce and simple to adjust. Further, it is 
very space-saving and noiseless. 
In order to make the invention and its advantages clearer an application 
example of the labelling machine according to the invention is shown on 
the enclosed drawings, but it is understood that the invention is not 
limited to this application form but that different modifications can be 
met with within the limit of the invention.

The figures of the drawings contain the following designations: 
A base plate of the rack, 
B labelling arm, 
C1 one of the control cylinders, 
C2 the other control cylinder, 
D label applicator, 
E adjustable arm for adjustment of the distance, and attachment for 
re-feeding spade, 
F re-feeding spade (flat spring), 
G1 one of the rolls (the upper one), 
G2 the other roll (the lower one) (covered with rubber), 
H article to be labeled, 
L storage roll with carrying strip for labels, 
K label on carrying strip, 
R carrying strip, 
S rack. 
In the main the machine showed in the drawing works in the following way: 
As mentioned above, FIG. 1 shows the machine in the initial position. The 
labelling arm is in its upper front position and the article to be labeled 
is lying underneath. 
The cylinder C2 is started, during which the labelling arm B is pushed down 
until the feeding roll G2 is pressed against the base plate A. The label 
applicator D is now resting on the article H, see FIG. 2. The front part 
of the labelling arm is elastic and therefore a certain tolerance of the 
height of the article can be allowed. 
The roll G2 has got a certain mobility in relation to the roll G1. The 
pressure downwards is thus totally taken up between the rolls G2 and G1 
and the carrying strip between them, which can be consisting of paper. 
The cylinder C1 is now starting: The labelling arm B together with the 
rolls G2 and G1 is then pulled inwards or backwards. The roll G2 rolls on 
the base plate A and the paper strip is driven between the rolls in the 
same pace as the labelling arm moves. The label that is applied on the 
article and is pressed by the applicator D will thus be lying still in 
relation to the article, see FIG. 3. 
The travel of the cylinder C1 shall be adjusted in that way that the 
feeding will be somewhat longer than the distance between two of the 
labels on the strip. 
The cylinder C2 is reversed: The labelling arm is lifted up from the 
article H, see FIG. 4. 
The cylinder C1 is reversed: The labelling arm B is pushed forwards towards 
the initial position. 
The roll G2 is now free from the base plate A but the roll G1 is slightly 
braked and therefore the strip is fed from the storage roll L in the first 
place. 
The labelling arm B is describing a "swinging" motion with the highest 
point at the initial position at the very front. Immediately before this 
position the labelling arm has got so high up that the re-feeding spade 
(flat spring) F has been pressed against the label strip, see FIG. 5. The 
label strip slides under the spade F until its edge touches the front of a 
label. The strip is now stopped by the spade F, and during the last part 
of the motion the strip is pushed backwards exactly as much as the rolls 
have been feeding too far at the pulling out. Thus, in the initial 
position, see FIG. 1, the first label is always placed in the correct 
position.