Web of adhesive labels

A web of adhesive labels for use with a machine for applying tax stamps or like adhesive labels to articles such as cigarette packages arranged in two or more rows in a carton, including mechanism for advancing the carton lengthwise with exposed ends of the packages facing upwardly, and a head disposed above the path of carton advance for transporting a corresponding number of rows of spaced-apart labels into contact with the advancing package ends while the labels and packages are moving in the same direction and at the same velocity. The head, which is movable vertically to accommodate packages of different heights, carries a supply of the labels in the form of an adhesive-backed web bearing spaced longitudinal rows of label imprints; a pinwheel for advancing the web lengthwise; a slicer for removing from the advancing web a longitudinal strip portion between the rows of imprints; a knife for cutting the separated rows of imprints into individual labels; and vacuum means for receiving the cut labels and transporting them, lengthwise of the rows, into contact with the package ends. The web has sprocket holes, for engagement by the pinwheel, disposed between the longitudinal rows of imprints and in register with the imprints of these rows.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a web of adhesive labels for application to 
articles arranged in rows. In an important specific aspect, to which 
detailed reference will be made herein for purposes of illustration, the 
invention is particularly concerned with the application of tax stamps to 
cigarette packages contained in cartons. 
Many U.S. states require that state tax stamps be applied to all cigarette 
packages sold within their borders. In present-day commercial practice, 
cigarette packages as supplied by manufacturers to distributors lack tax 
stamps and are enclosed in cartons each typically holding ten packages 
arranged in two parallel rows. The distributors must accordingly open 
every carton and apply tax stamps to all the contained packages. 
Various types of more or less automated equipment have heretofore been 
proposed and used for performing this operation. Commonly, in such 
apparatus, successive cartons are fed lengthwise past a plow which opens 
their side flaps to expose the ends of the cigarette packages, then 
advanced to a station at which tax stamps are applied to the exposed 
package ends, and finally transported past devices for gluing and 
reclosing the carton flaps. The stamps may be inked impressions directly 
imprinted on the package ends, or transfer labels (decalcomanias), e.g. 
supplied in sheets. Use of paper labels affords potential benefits, 
however, especially from the standpoint of security, because paper labels 
can bear a complex intaglio imprint which is difficult to counterfeit. 
Heretofore, the application of tax stamps in the form of labels to 
cigarette packages (i.e. using known types of equipment) has been attended 
with various disadvantages. In particular, it has generally been necessary 
to bring each carton to a full halt while the labels are applied, with the 
result that the rate of production (number of cartons stamped per unit 
time) has been undesirably slow and inefficient. The label-handling 
portions of the equipment have often been inconveniently complex in 
structure and operation. It has frequently been difficult or impossible to 
adjust the apparatus for use with cigarette packages of different heights. 
In addition, the known machines have sometimes been susciptible to jamming 
or other malfunctions causing misapplication or nonapplication of stamps 
or damage to the cigarette cartons. 
The copending U.S. patent application of John J. Kimball, Harry V. Kirk, 
Richard L. Roule, Richard C. Sennett, and Peter J. Sorbo (said Kimball, 
said Roule, and said Sorbo being the applicants herein), Ser. No. 587,375, 
filed concurrently herewith, for "Apparatus and Procedure for Applying 
Adhesive Labels to Articles," describes and claims apparatus for applying 
adhesive labels to upwardly facing surfaces of each of a multiplicity of 
articles arranged contiguously, with their upwardly facing surfaces 
substantially coplanar, in a plurality of parallel rows each including a 
plurality of the articles. This apparatus broadly includes the combination 
of means for defining a rectilinear path for concurrent lengthwise advance 
of the rows of articles past a predetermined locality; means for 
providing, at a second locality spaced from the defined path, a 
multiplicity of separate adhesive labels arranged, in the same number of 
rows as the articles, for register respectively with the upwardly facing 
surfaces of articles advancing in the aforementioned defined path; and 
means for transporting the labels (lengthwise of the rows of labels) from 
the second locality into contact with the upwardly facing surfaces of the 
advancing articles at the aforementioned predetermined locality, in such 
manner that the labels and the articles are moving in the same direction 
and at the same speed as they come into contact, while maintaining the 
above-described arrangement of the labels during such transport. It will 
be understood that the term "multiplicity" herein means at least four; 
that the term "plurality" means at least two; and that references to 
directions such as "upwardly" are employed in a relative rather than an 
absolute sense, i.e. to indicate relative orientations or positions of 
localities or apparatus elements. 
As a particular feature of this apparatus, the label-providing means is 
designed for use with labels supplied as an elongated web of flexible 
sheet material having one surface bearing an adhesive material and an 
opposite surface bearing a plurality of spaced-apart rows of label 
imprints extending longitudinally of the web, wherein the spacing between 
adjacent rows of imprints is equal to a predetermined desired spacing 
between applied labels on adjacent rows of articles advancing past the 
aforementioned predetermined locality, and the number of rows of imprints 
is equal to the number of such rows of articles. This label-delivering 
means includes means for advancing the web lengthwise along a path leading 
toward the second locality; means, positioned in the last-mentioned path, 
for slicing out and removing from the advancing web a longitudinal strip 
portion between each two adjacent rows of imprints; and means, positioned 
in the last-mentioned path beyond the slicing means, for cutting the 
advancing web transversely to separate the rows of imprints into 
individual labels, and for delivering the individual labels to the second 
locality in the above-described arrangement. The term "label imprint" 
refers to an imprinted portion of the web which, after separation from the 
web by the slicing and cutting means, becomes a single label, to be 
applied to one article; in situations where two or more label imprints as 
thus defined are initially undifferentiated portions of a continuous 
imprint (e.g. extending, transversely of the web, across a web portion 
which is to be sliced out), it will be understood that reference herein to 
spaced-apart rows of label imprints designates the disposition and 
arrangement on the web of those undifferentiated portions which ultimately 
become separate single labels. 
As further set forth in the aforementioned copending application, the 
label-transporting means (which constitute the means for applying the 
labels to the articles) may comprise a cyclically movable endless surface 
disposed and dimensioned for simultaneous tangential engagement with the 
upwardly facing surfaces of adjacent articles in all the rows of articles 
at the aforementioned predetermined locality as the rows of articles 
advance together in the defined rectilinear path, the endless surface 
being mounted above that path for movement in the same direction as the 
rows of articles at the aforementioned predetermined locality; and means 
for releasably holding individual labels on the endless surface at plural 
spaced rows of plural spaced sites positioned for register with the 
upwardly facing surfaces of the articles as the endless surface moves and 
the rows of articles advance in the defined path. Drive means are provided 
for unidirectionally advancing the rows of articles in the defined path, 
and moving the endless surface, at the same speed. 
Thus, the transporting means may include a drum, mounted above the defined 
path of article advance for rotation in a plane containing that path (i.e. 
in the vertical plane that contains the horizontal rectilinear center line 
of the defined path of article advance), and having a cylindrical 
periphery (constituting the endless surface) having suction openings at 
the aforementioned spaced sites, together with means for applying suction 
through the openings to hold the labels against the drum periphery at 
those sites. 
The label cutting and delivering means mentioned above may include a 
web-cutting element positioned at a third locality spaced from the second 
locality, and a second drum having a periphery formed with spaced rows of 
spaced suction openings for picking up the cut labels at the third 
locality and transporting them into contact with the periphery of the 
first-mentioned drum at the second locality for transfer thereto, means 
being provided for applying suction through the second-drum openings to 
hold the labels on the periphery of the second drum during such transport. 
The second drum is arranged for rotation in the same plane as the first 
drum; advantageously this plane also contains the center line of the path 
of advance of the web to the slicing means and the web-cutting elements. 
The orientation of the web in the last-mentioned path, and the arrangement 
of the first and second drums, are such that the labels are transported on 
the first drum with their adhesive-bearing surfaces facing outwardly, i.e. 
in position for contact with and adhesion to the upwardly facing surfaces 
of the advancing articles at the predetermined locality of label 
application in the defined path of article advance. Conveniently, the 
adhesive employed for the labels is heat-activated, and means are provided 
for supplying heat to activate the adhesive only as the labels are being 
carried on the first drum, so that the web and labels do not tend to stick 
to the second drum or to the web-handling elements at and ahead of the 
web-cutting element. 
As will be appreciated from the foregoing description, the apparatus of the 
aforementioned copending application applies labels to the rows of 
articles while the articles are advancing past the predetermined locality 
at a constant speed, owing to the fact that when the labels arrive at that 
locality they are moving in the same direction and at the same speed as 
the articles and are already arranged in properly spaced positions for 
register with the upwardly facing surfaces of the articles; hence the rate 
of production is advantageously rapid as compared with known 
label-applying systems that require the articles to be stationary while 
labels are applied. The initial provision of the labels as spaced rows of 
imprints on an elongated web establishes the transverse spacing of the 
labels, and this transverse spacing is maintained throughout the web- and 
label-handling portions of the apparatus by virtue of the alignment of the 
paths of web and article advance with the common plane of rotation of the 
first and second drums, so that there is no need to displace the labels 
transversely (as and after they are separated) in order to position them 
properly for application. The spacing between successive suction openings 
in each row of openings on the drums corresponds to the requisite spacing 
between the label-receiving surfaces of successive articles in each row of 
advancing articles; the rate of web advance and cutting element operation 
are synchronized with the rate of rotation of the drums so that successive 
cut labels are picked up by successive suction openings of the second-drum 
periphery, thereby to provide proper longitudinal spacing between labels. 
In a specific sense, the apparatus of the aforementioned copending 
application (including the above-described features) is arranged for 
applying labels to coplanar upwardly facing end surfaces of identically 
shaped, dimensioned and oriented articles arranged in groups each 
consisting of the same predetermined plurality of contiguous rows each 
containing the same predetermined plurality of contiguous articles aligned 
with the articles in each adjacent row, such groups being exemplified by 
conventional cigarette cartons each containing ten cigarette packages 
arranged in two rows of five packages each. The groups of articles are 
advanced in succession, lengthwise of the rows, along the aforementioned 
defined path. Means are provided for intermittently actuating the 
web-advancing means and the web-cutting means, in response to the advance 
of each group of articles along the defined path toward the predetermined 
locality, to deliver to the second drum a plurality of separated labels 
equal in number to the articles of a group. The apparatus may also include 
means, disposed in the defined path of article advance ahead of the 
predetermined locality, for opening the flaps of cigarette cartons to 
expose the package ends for application of labels, and means for reclosing 
the carton flaps beyond the predetermined locality. In addition, the 
apparatus may include means for interrupting operation in response to the 
sensed occurrence of any of the following conditions: jamming of a carton, 
presence of a carton flap occluding the package ends beyond the 
flap-opening means, absence of a label web in the path of web advance, or 
failure of the heating means to maintain an adequately high temperature 
for activation of the label adhesive. 
The label-providing and label-transporting means may be carried on a head 
disposed above the aforementioned predetermined locality, and means may be 
provided for adjusting the vertical position of the head relative to the 
path of article advance, thereby to accommodate articles (e.g. cigarette 
packages) of different heights. The carton-flap-opening and closing means 
may also be carried on this head, for vertical movement therewith. 
In another aspect, the invention described and claimed in the 
aforementioned copending application contemplates the provision of 
procedure for applying labels to articles, such procedure being 
exemplified by the operation of the apparatus and system described above. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention contemplates the provision of a web of adhesive 
labels for use with the apparatus and procedure described and claimed in 
the aforementioned copending application. Specifically, the web of the 
invention is an elongated web of flexible sheet material having the 
adhesive material and imprints mentioned above, and provided with 
regularly spaced holes along its length, for use with web-advancing means 
comprising a wheel rotatably mounted in the path of web advance and 
bearing a plurality of radial pins regularly spaced around its periphery 
for insertion in the web holes. The holes are positioned between adjacent 
rows of label imprints, in alignment with the web portions to be sliced 
out between these rows, and correspond in diameter to the width of the 
portion to be sliced out so as to separate the sliced-out portion into 
short lengths for ease of removal; vacuum means may be disposed adjacent 
the slicing means for withdrawing these short lengths from the apparatus 
as they are sliced. As a particular feature of the invention, the holes 
are disposed in register with the label imprints of adjacent rows, rather 
than being aligned with the spaces between successive imprints, so that 
when successive web lengths are spliced endwise (i.e. between successive 
label imprints) they can be taped together without occluding a hole. 
Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the 
detailed description hereinafter set forth, together with the accompanying 
drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring to the drawings, the invention will be described as embodied in a 
web of adhesive labels for use with apparatus and procedure as described 
and claimed in the aforementioned copending application for applying tax 
stamps in the form of printed adhesive labels 10 to cigarette packages 11 
contained in cartons 12. All the packages 11 within a given carton are 
identical in shape and dimensions, each being a rectangular solid with two 
opposed broad sides, two opposed narrow sides, and two opposed ends. As 
best seen in FIG. 7, each carton 12 holds ten such packages 11, arranged 
in two parallel contiguous rows R1 and R2 (of five packages each), 
extending lengthwise of the carton. The narrow sides of the packages in 
each row are contiguous with the narrow sides of the adjacent package or 
packages in the same row, and the broad sides of the packages lie in 
planes parallel to the direction in which the rows extend, while the 
surfaces 14 of the upwardly facing ends of all the packages in both rows 
lie in a common plane, and the packages in row R1 are respectively in 
register with those in row R2, so that the ten packages occupy a 
rectangular solid volume snugly surrounded laterally and below by the 
carton 12, which holds the packages in the described arrangement. Two 
longitudinal flaps 16a and 16b, respectively extending along the opposed 
long top edges of the carton, can be folded overlappingly to cover the 
package end surfaces 14 and thereby to complete the enclosure of the 
packages. In a carton of cigarettes as supplied by a manufacturer, the 
flaps 16a and 16b are initially closed and lightly glued together; they 
must be opened as shown in FIG. 7, to expose the package end surfaces 14 
for application of tax stamps 10 thereto. Throughout the following 
description, and in the drawings, the cartons 12 are considered as 
oriented with the package end surfaces 14 facing upwardly (and lying in a 
horizontal plane) and with the rows R1 and R2 extending in a horizontal 
direction. 
Each of the stamps or labels 10 is a rectangular piece of paper bearing an 
imprint on its upwardly facing surface as seen in FIG. 7 and a layer of 
adhesive material on its downwardly facing surface as seen in FIG. 7 for 
affixing the stamp to the end surface 14 of a cigarette package. Typically 
the imprint contains the name of the taxing authority and/or other 
identifying indicia; for security purposes, i.e. to deter counterfeiting, 
the imprint may comprise or include a complex intaglio-printed design. 
Since state laws require that each individual package 11 carry a tax 
stamp, it is important that the stamps not overlap the edges of the 
package end surfaces 14, because such overlap might cause one stamp to 
adhere to two packages. Consequently, the stamps are smaller, both in 
length and in width, than the package end surfaces 14, and while they need 
not be precisely centered on the surfaces 14, all the edges of each stamp 
should be spaced inwardly of the edges of the end surface 14 to which it 
is affixed. Again as illustrated in FIG. 7, therefore, the ten stamps 10 
respectively applied to the ten packages 11 in a carton 12 are arranged in 
two parallel rows which are spaced apart laterally by a distance d.sub.1 
with the successive stamps in each row spaced apart longitudinally by 
distances d.sub.2. 
Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the illustrated apparatus 
includes a horizontal table 18 and a head 20 disposed above and movable 
vertically relative to the table 18, which extends for some distance to 
the left and to the right of the head. A rectilinear horizontal path for 
successive lengthwise advance of cartons 12 beneath the head, from left to 
right as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, is defined by parallel guide walls 22 and 
24 mounted on the table 18 to form a laterally confined, upwardly open and 
open-ended carton trough 26 having a width just sufficient to accommodate 
the width of one carton 12 oriented as described above. First and second 
synchronously driven pusher devices, respectively designated 28 and 30 
(and further described below), are disposed adjacent successive portions 
of the carton path defined by walls 22, 24, for successively engaging the 
trailing end of a carton in that path to advance the carton along the path 
(i.e. along trough 26) at a constant speed from the left-hand end to the 
right-hand end of the table 18. 
A motor-driven horizontal infeed conveyor 32 (FIG. 1) delivers successive 
cartons 12 of nonstamped cigarette packages (with flaps 16a and 16b 
closed) sidewise to the inlet (left-hand) end of the trough 26. As each 
carton comes into alignment with the trough, its left-hand or trailing end 
12a is engaged by the first pusher 28, which moves the carton lengthwise 
into and along the trough, while an axially vertical roller 34 mounted on 
the table 18 bears against a side surface of the advancing carton to 
assist in positioning it and opens the top of the carton for plow entry. 
The trailing end of the carton is next engaged by the second pusher 30, 
for continuing the uninterrupted advance of the carton to and beneath the 
head 20, past a predetermined locality or station 36 (FIG. 2) at which the 
tax stamps are applied to the carton, and on to the outlet (right-hand) 
end of the trough 26, where the carton is deposited on and removed 
sidewise by a motordriven horizontal outlet conveyor 38. 
A stationary plow 40 (FIGS. 2 and 10), carried by and projecting leftwardly 
from the head 20 above the trough 26, is positioned to be inserted just 
beneath the leading edges of the flaps 16a and 16b of a carton advancing 
along the trough, and is so shaped that the continuing advance of the 
carton forces the flaps upwardly and outwardly around the plow, thus 
opening the upwardly-facing side of the carton ahead of the locality or 
station 36 to expose the upwardly facing package end surfaces 14 for 
application of the stamps at the station 36. Beyond (to the right of) 
station 36, a gluing device 42 (FIGS. 1, 11 and 12) applies glue to the 
outer surface of the flap 16b, and a pair of stationary arms 44, 46 (FIGS. 
2, 11 and 12) also carried by the head 20 engage the flaps 16a and 16b of 
the advancing carton to urge them back into closed position, with flap 16a 
overlapping flap 16b and adhered thereto by the applied glue, thereby to 
reclose the carton after application of the stamps and before delivery of 
the carton to the outlet conveyor. The gluing device may be a pot 42a 
filled with liquid glue 42b with a roller 42c partially immersed therein 
and engaging the flap 16b to carry the glue to the flap surface. A pair of 
flat horizontal bars 48 and 50, carried by the head and respectively 
extending along opposite sides of the trough 26 (but above the trough) 
adjacent the stamp-applying station 36, hold the flaps 16a and 16b in open 
position as the carton traverses the station 36 (FIGS. 6, 10, 11 and 12); 
the ends of these bars are curved upwardly for smooth passage of the flaps 
beneath and beyond them. Advantageously, the plow 40 and the arms 44 are 
suspended from projecting support portions 52 and 54 of the head 20 by 
means of threaded rods 56 and 58, respectively (FIG. 2), to enable fine 
adjustment of their elevation for exact positioning relative to the 
particular cartons being processed. 
As stated, the head 20 is itself vertically movable relative to the table 
18, being supported for this purpose by means shown as a plurality of 
axially vertical threaded rods 60 which can be rotated together, e.g. by a 
motor (not shown in FIG. 2) under control of a manual switch (also not 
shown) to raise or lower the head. The purpose of such adjustment of head 
elevation is to accommodate cigarette cartons of different heights, viz. 
to enable use of the same apparatus to apply stamps to packages of 
"regular size", "king size," "100's" or "120's" cigarettes or to packages 
of cigarettes of other heights, the stamp-applying elements of the 
apparatus being carried by and moved vertically with the head. 
The first pusher 28, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 9, comprises an endless 
chain 62 mounted on sprockets 64 (one of which is driven) for cyclical 
motion in a horizontal path including a run 62a extending parallel to a 
first, left-hand portion of the horizontal rectilinear path of lengthwise 
advance of the cartons 12 on the table 18, including the inlet portion of 
trough 26. A plurality of lugs 66, pivotally mounted on the chain 62 at 
localities spaced horizontally by a distance greater than the length of 
one carton 12, project into the path of carton advance for engagement, 
respectively, with the trailing ends 12a of successive cartons delivered 
to the table 18 by the infeed conveyor 32. In the aforementioned run 62a, 
the direction of advance of the chain and lugs is from left to right in 
FIGS. 1 and 9, so that a lug 66 engaging a carton end 12a pushes the 
carton into and along the trough 26 toward the head 20. 
In the event that a lug 66 is misaligned with a delivered carton so as to 
engage a side of the carton rather than the trailing end thereof, as shown 
in FIG. 9 at 66a, the misaligned lug pivots away from its normal position, 
engaging a movable bar 68 mounted adjacent the chain run 62a and 
displacing bar 68 rearwardly. This displacement of bar 68 actuates a 
switch 1LS which interrupts the main motor drive of the apparatus, as 
hereinafter further explained, immediately halting pusher 28 (as well as 
pusher 30 and other apparatus elements) and thereby preventing damage to 
the carton by the misaligned lug. Removal and realignment of the carton 
(with the next advancing lug 66) releases bar 68 for return to its normal 
position; switch 1LS is then no longer actuated, and operation can resume. 
The second pusher 30, like pusher 28, includes a chain 70 mounted on 
sprockets 72 for horizontal cylical movement including a run 74 that 
extends rightwardly from pusher 28 along the remainder of trough 26, past 
and beyond the head 20. The chain 70 likewise bears a plurality of lugs 
76, positioned to project into the trough 26 and spaced along the chain 
for respectively engaging the trailing ends of successive cartons 12 in 
the trough, the chain being driven (through one of its sprockets) so that 
in run 74 it and its lugs advance from left to right as seen in FIG. 1. 
The two pushers are so disposed that a lug 76 of the second pusher engages 
a carton trailing end while a lug 66 of the first pusher is still in 
engagement with that carton end, so that (with the pushers synchronously 
driven, as stated, at the same speed) each carton is advanced lengthwise 
from left to right, by the two pushers in succession, along the full 
length of the trough 26 without interruption and at a constant linear 
velocity. 
The present invention in its illustrated embodiment, as arranged for use 
with the described apparatus, is a supply of the stamps or labels 10 in 
the form of a unitary elongated strip or web 78 of paper (FIG. 4) having 
one surface bearing an adhesive material and an opposite surface (viz. the 
surface shown in FIG. 4) bearing a multiplicity of stamp or label imprints 
80 arranged in two rows S1 and S2 (i.e. for application to the two rows of 
cigarette packages in a carton 12). As illustrated in FIG. 4, the imprints 
in each row are spaced apart longitudinally and are aligned with the 
corresponding imprints in the other row; the two rows of imprints S1 and 
S2 extend lengthwise of the web 78 and are spaced apart laterally 
(transversely of the web) by a distance equal to the desired spacing 
d.sub.1 (FIG. 7) between applied stamps on the two rows of cigarette 
packages in a carton 12. The web 78 also has an array of holes 82 disposed 
at regular intervals along its length, between the two rows S1 and S2 of 
imprints 80 and (as a particular feature of the invention) in register 
with successive imprints in those rows. In the embodiment of the invention 
herein described, the adhesive used for the web 78 is a heat-activated 
adhesive. 
The elements of the apparatus for applying the stamps to the cigarette 
packages are carried by the head 20 and are best seen in FIGS. 2, 3, 6 and 
8. These elements include a spindle 84 rotatably supporting a coil 86 of 
the web 78; a web feed pinwheel 88 for advancing the web longitudinally 
from the coil; a slicer 90 for cutting, from the advancing web, a central 
longitudinal strip portion; a cutter 92 for cutting the web transversely 
into individual stamps or labels; a vacuum transfer drum 94 for 
transporting the cut labels or stamps from the locality of the cutter; and 
a vacuum applicator drum 96 for receiving the stamps from the transfer 
drum and delivering them to the end surfaces 14 of the cigarette packages 
in a carton 12 advancing past the station 36. Intermediate the spindle 84 
and the pinwheel 88, the web 78 advances past a splicing table 98, a 
switch 2LS having a sensor 100 for detecting the presence or absence of a 
web in the path of web advance, and a succession of guide rolls 102, 104, 
106, 108, 110 which aid in defining the web path of advance and maintain 
appropriate tension on the web as it advances. 
The coil 86, the aforementioned guide rolls, the pinwheel 88, and the 
vacuum drums 94 and 96 are all mounted on the head for rotation (about 
horizontal axes) in a common vertical plane which contains the horizontal 
center line of the path of rectilinear advance of the cartons 12 in the 
trough 26 past the station 36. This plane longitudinally bisects the 
advancing web 78 throughout its path of advance and of course lies between 
the two rows R1 and R2 of cigarette packages in an advancing carton at 
station 36. The pinwheel 88 bears a plurality of radial pins 112 regularly 
spaced around its periphery for insertion in the holes 82 of the web 78, 
and these pins are disposed in the last-mentioned plane of rotation. Thus, 
as will be further apparent from the following description, the two rows 
of imprints S1 and S2 in the coil of web 86 mounted on spindle 84 are 
already aligned in vertical planes with the loci of the two rows R1 and R2 
of cigarette packages at station 36, being appropriately spaced apart by 
the width of the central web portion between them; hence they do not 
undergo any transverse movement, relative to each other or to the 
aforementioned plane of rotation, at any point during their advance from 
the coil 86 to the station 36. 
With the web 78 threaded around pinwheel 88, and the pins 112 received in 
holes 82, forward feed of the web to the cutter 92 is effected by rotation 
of the pinwheel 88, which is driven intermittently (as hereinafter further 
explained), by the main motor of the apparatus, in correspondence with the 
advance of a cigarette carton towards station 36. A guide 114, partially 
surrounding the wheel 88, assures maintenance of the web in proper 
engagement with the wheel. 
The slicer 90, which the web traverses beyond the pinwheel 88, comprises a 
set of rotary knives respectively disposed above and below the path of web 
advance, having paired knife edges disposed for rotation in vertical 
planes in position to cut, from the web, a longitudinal central strip 
portion midway between the imprint rows S1 and S2, the width of this 
cutaway strip being (as indicated in FIG. 4) equal to the distance d.sub.1 
between the two rows of applied stamps on the cigarette packages. Beyond 
the slicer 90, then, the web has the appearance indicated at 116 in FIG. 
4, which shows the two rows of imprints separated longitudinally by the 
cutting away of the central portion at 118. Advantageously, the holes 82 
have a diameter substantially equal to the width d.sub.1 of the cutaway 
portion of the web so that, as the slicer 90 cuts this portion, it is 
separated into short lengths by successive holes 82, for ease of removal 
from the equipment. A web scrap conduit 120 may be mounted adjacent the 
slicer 90 on the head 20 (FIG. 3) for removal of these short scrap lengths 
by vacuum (suction) as they fall from the slicer. 
The cutter 92, positioned beyond the slicer 90 and also mounted for 
rotation in a vertical plane, bears a straight knife edge 122 that extends 
transversely of the advancing web for cutting the rows of imprints S1 and 
S2 (which have already been separated longitudinally by the slicer) 
transversely into individual stamps as indicated at 123 in FIG. 4. The 
knife edge 122 acts against a support surface schematically shown at 124 
in FIG. 3. Cutter 92 is driven intermittently in synchronism with the 
pinwheel 88 so that it intersects and cuts the separated rows S1 and S2 of 
the web between successive imprints as the web is fed forward by the 
pinwheel 88. 
Each of the drums 94 and 96 (FIGS. 6 and 8) is a hollow member having a 
cylindrical periphery with two rows of apertures or suction openings 
formed in the periphery. Referring first to the drum 94 (FIGS. 6 and 8), 
the two rows of suction openings 126 formed in its periphery are spaced 
apart by a distance equal to the distance between the centers of imprints 
in the rows S1 and S2. These two rows of openings 126 are respectively 
disposed in the aforementioned vertical planes containing the imprint rows 
S1 and S2 in coil 86 as well as the loci of rows R1 and R2 at station 36. 
Each of the two rows of suction openings 196 on drum 94 extends around the 
periphery of the drum with successive openings spaced apart by distances 
equal to the distance between center points of successive stamps 10 as 
applied to cigarette packages in a row (R1 or R2) at station 36. 
As best seen in FIG. 8, the drum 94 is a hollow shell mounted for rotation 
on a shaft 128 and having an open forward side which is closed by a head 
130. The drum 94 and head 130 cooperatively provide an enclosed, confined 
space within the drum, to which suction is applied from an airpump 132 
through conduit 134 mounted in the head 130 so as to provide a suction or 
vacuum condition within the drum 94 that acts through the openings 126 to 
hold individual stamps 10 against the outer surface of the cylindrical 
periphery of the drum. From the foregoing description of the disposition 
of the openings 126, it will be apparent that when stamps 10 are thus held 
by suction, at the locations of the openings 126, they are properly spaced 
both transversely and longitudinally for application to the exposed end 
surfaces 14 of cigarette packages in a carton 12 at station 36. 
The drum 96, though larger in diameter than drum 94, is of similar 
construction, comprising a forwardly open hollow shell rotatably mounted 
on shaft 135 with a cylindrical periphery bearing two rows of suction 
openings 136 respectively disposed in the same vertical planes as the two 
rows of openings 126 of the drum 94 and spaced apart in each row by 
distances corresponding to the above-described longitudinal spacing of 
successive openings 126 in the drum 94. The drum 96 is also enclosed by a 
stationary head 138 to provide a confined chamber within the drum to which 
suction is applied from pump 132 by line 140 (FIG. 8). As in the case of 
the drum 94, this suction serves to hold stamps 110 on the peripheral 
surface of the drum 96 at locations (determined by the positions of the 
suction openings 136) for register respectively with successive cigarette 
package ends 14 in the two rows R1 and R2 at station 36. 
The two drums 94 and 96 are both driven continuously by the main motor of 
the apparatus, with drum 94 rotating clockwise and drum 96 
counterclockwise, as seen in FIG. 3. 
The drum 96 is disposed for tangential engagement of its cylindrical 
peripheral stamp-bearing surface with the exposed upwardly facing end 
surfaces 14 of the two rows of cigarette packages in a carton 12 at 
station 36, and its direction of rotation is such that its peripheral 
surface and the end surfaces 14 of the advancing cigarette packages are 
moving in the same direction at the point of such tangential engagement at 
station 36. The drum 94 is so disposed that stamps carried on its 
cylindrical periphery come into-tangential engagement with the cylindrical 
periphery of drum 96 at a locality 142 above station 36. Further, the drum 
94 is so positioned that as the two separated rows of imprints of the web 
78 are cut transversely into individual stamps 10 by the cutter 92, those 
cut stamps are picked up and held by suction on the periphery of the drum 
94. As will therefore be understood, the stamps, as cut by the cutter 92, 
are carried by the drum 94 from the cutting locality to the drum 96 at 
locality 142, being there transferred to the drum 96. For this purpose, 
means shown as stationary vacuum interrupter 144 may be disposed within 
the drum 94 adjacent the locality 142 for interrupting suction through the 
openings 126 at the locality 142, thereby to release the stamps for pickup 
by drum 96, i.e. by the suction applied to the openings 136. 
Referring again to FIG. 3, the web 78 in the coil 86 is oriented with its 
printed surface facing outwardly, and the path of web advance from the 
coil is so arranged that as the cut stamps arrive at the transfer drum 94, 
they are picked up by that drum with their imprints facing outwardly and 
their adhesive surfaces against the drum periphery. Owing, however, to the 
fact that the adhesive of the stamps is heat activated, the stamps do not 
tend to stick to the periphery of the drum 94, because they are not 
exposed to heat until after they leave that drum. 
It will further be appreciated from FIG. 3 that when the stamps are picked 
up by the applicator drum 96, their imprinted surfaces face toward the 
drum and their adhesive-bearing surfaces are exposed facing outwardly. A 
heater 148 is mounted within the drum 96, in position to raise the 
temperature of the stamps as they are carried on the drum periphery from 
locality 142 to station 36, and is operated at a temperature sufficient to 
activate the stamp adhesive so that the stamps will adhere to the 
cigarette packages at station 36. 
As indicated e.g. in FIG. 3, a switch 3LS is positioned in the path of 
carton advance in the trough 26 ahead of the station 36, and is provided 
with a sensor 150 disposed to be pushed by an advancing carton, thereby to 
actuate the switch. This switch 3LS, in response to the sensed advance of 
a carton, initiates the intermittent drive of pinwheel 88 and cutter 92 to 
advance the two rows of imprints S1 and S2 by five imprints each, and 
thereby to deliver to the periphery of the transfer drum 94 ten cut stamps 
(i.e. two rows of five). The rate of cutting of the stamps by the cutter 
92 is synchronized with the continuous rotation of the drum 94, so that 
successive stamps of each row arrive at the drum periphery as successive 
holes 126 pass the cutting locality. Thus, the requisite longitudinal 
spacing between successive imprints (for application to successive 
cigarette packages) is achieved by this cooperation of cutter 92 and drum 
94; i.e., the longitudinal spacing between successive stamps, beyond the 
cutter, is determined by the longitudinal spacing between successive 
openings 126 on drum 94, and is typically greater than the spacing between 
successive imprints 80 on the uncut web 78. The transverse spacing between 
rows of stamps, as already explained, is determined by the initial spacing 
between rows of imprints on the web. 
The drums 94 and 96 rotate synchronously and with the same peripheral 
velocity. On the periphery of the drum 96, the stamps (with their adhesive 
surfaces facing outwardly as heat is applied to actuate the adhesive) are 
arranged in positions for register respectively with successive cigarette 
package ends of the two rows of packages in an advancing carton 12 at 
station 36. The peripheral velocity of the drum 96 is the same as the 
constant linear velocity at which a carton 12 advances along trough 26. 
Thus, as the drum 96 carries the adhesive stamps 10 into contact with the 
cigarette package ends 14 at station 36, the package ends and the stamps 
are moving at the same speed and in the same direction and there is no 
relative motion between them. The stamps therefore adhere to the package 
ends at station 36, while the carton continues to move forward, and this 
adhesion of the stamps overcomes the suction of drum 96. As indicated in 
FIG. 3, the apparatus delivers exactly ten stamps (two rows of five each) 
to the station 36 for each advancing carton, the action of the web feed 
pinwheel 88 and cutter 92 being halted at these increments. 
Drive and control features of the apparatus may be understood from the 
diagrammatic illustration of FIG. 5. As there shown, the apparatus 
includes a main motor 152, the output of which continuously synchronously 
drives the pushers 28 and 30, the drums 94 and 96, and the slicer 90. The 
motor 152 also supplies drive to a solenoid-operated clutch 154, which, 
when engaged, transmits drive to the web feed pinwheel 88 and the cutter 
92. Engagement of this clutch is initiated by switch 3LS, i.e. when an 
advancing carton trips that switch as described above, and continues for a 
period just sufficient to feed forward five stamps in each of the rows S1 
and S2. 
A main motor control 156 is operable by a manual start/stop switch 158 to 
initiate or interrupt output from the main motor 152, and is also operated 
to interrupt main motor output drive under any of the following 
conditions: 
(a) when switch 1LS is activated by misalignment of a lug 66 of the first 
pusher 28 relative to an incoming carton 12, as described above; 
(b) when switch 2LS is actuated by absence of a web in the path of web 
advance, indicating exhaustion of the supply of stamps; 
(c) when a switch 4LS (FIG. 3), disposed above the path of carton advance 
ahead of station 36, is tripped by an unopened or improperly positioned 
carton flap 16b, which might otherwise occlude the package end surfaces 14 
and prevent proper application of stamps thereto; and 
(d) when a switch THS (FIG. 8) is actuated by failure of the heater 148 to 
achieve or maintain a predetermined temperature required for activation of 
the stamp adhesive. In each of these circumstances, interruption of the 
main motor output drive immediately halts the pushers, drums, and cutter, 
as well as the pinwheel 88 and cutter 92 (if clutch 154 is then engaged); 
upon correction of the drive-interrupting conditions, the motor 152 may be 
restarted, for resumed operation from the point of interruption, by manual 
depression of switch 158. 
Further details of one arrangement of control circuitry for the apparatus 
are shown in FIGS. 13-15. The illustrated circuitry controls the operation 
of the main motor 152 which drives the first and second pushers 28 and 30, 
the vacuum transfer and applicator drums 94 and 96, the slicer 90, and 
(through the solenoid-operated clutch 154) the cutter 92 and web feed 
pinwheel 88; a motor for driving the infeed conveyor 32; a motor for 
driving the output conveyor 38; the heater 148 for the applicator drum; 
and the vacuum pumps for the transfer and applicator drums and web scrap 
conduit. 
In this circuitry, a common 220 v. A.C. power supply under control of 
manually operable triple-pole switch DISC provides current for 110 v. A.C. 
outlets for the vacuum sources (under control of a manual "vacuum on" 
switch) and the heater; 220 v. A.C. bus lines 3L, 4L; and a transformer 
TSF having a 110 v. A.C. output. Various elements of the system are 
operated by limit switches (LS), and/or by control relays (K) having 
contacts which will be described as normally open if they are open when 
the relay is not energized, or normally closed if they are closed when the 
relay is not energized. 
When the START button is pressed, i.e. with switch DISC closed, control 
relay K5 is energized through closed limit switch 1LS, normally closed 
contacts K8-1, the STOP switch, closed limit switch 2LS, and normally 
closed contacts K9-1, thereby closing normally open contacts K5-2 (so that 
K5 remains energized when the START button is released) and K5-1, 
energizing control relays K2 and K3. Energization of K3 closes normally 
open contacts K3-1 to start the output conveyor drive TB5A115. 
Energization of K2 closes normally open contacts K2-1 and K2-2, to start 
the main motor drive TB5230, while opening normally closed contacts K2-1', 
K2-2', and K2-3. This initiates continuous drive of the two pushers and 
the transfer and applicator drums, assuming (as further explained below) 
that all conditions (heater temperature, web flap position and carton 
alignment) are proper for operation. 
Closure of switch DISC also energizes control relay K7 through closed limit 
switch 3LS and normally closed contacts TDR-1 of time delay relay TDR, 
which is simultaneously energized. Thereupon, normally open contacts K7-2 
close, so that when contacts TDR-1 open at a predetermined interval 
following energization of TDR, K7 remains energized. The energization of 
K7 opens normally closed contacts K7-1 (which control energization of the 
clutch-engaging solenoid ISOL) and closes normally open contacts K7-1' 
(which control energization of the clutch-disengaging solenoid 2SOL); 
consequently, the clutch 154, which transmits drive from the main motor 
152 to the cutter and web feed pinwheel, remains disengaged as long as K7 
is energized. 
Advance of a carton of cigarettes 12 along the laterally confined trough 26 
of the apparatus (by means of the continuously driven pushers 28 and 30) 
toward the stamp-applying locality 36, however, trips switch 3LS open, 
de-energizing K7 so as to open contacts K7-1' and close contacts K7-1, 
with the result that the clutch 154 becomes engaged, driving the web-feed 
pinwheel 88 and the cutter 92. Thus, a set of stamps 10 for application to 
the cigarette packages of the carton is advanced to the transfer and 
applicator drums as the carton approaches the applicator drum 96. Cam 
switch CS3 closes, to enable K7 to be re-energized (disengaging the clutch 
154) when 3LS is released for reclosure by passage of the trailing end 12a 
of the carton 12. This cycle is repeated upon advance of the next 
succeeding carton into switch-opening contact with 3LS. 
If, however, an advancing carton becomes misaligned as it is delivered by 
the infeed conveyor to the first pusher 28, the misaligned carton opens 
1LS (the misalignment switch of the first pusher), de-energizing K2 and 
K3. Contacts K2-1 and K2-2 thereupon open, halting the main motor 152 and 
the output conveyor motor so as to arrest the pushers, the transfer and 
applicator drums, and the output conveyor as well as preventing drive of 
the pinwheel and cutter. Upon realignment or removal of the carton, 1LS 
recloses, and manual depression of the START button restores drive to the 
main motor and output conveyor, enabling resumption of operation. 
Similarly, if the stamp web 78 runs out, 2LS (the web detector switch) 
opens, de-energizing K2 and K3 with the same result of stopping the main 
motor and the output conveyor until a new web is spliced and positioned 
for feed, reclosing 2LS. If a mispositioned carton flap 16b trips and 
closes 4LS (the carton flap detector switch), after an advancing carton 
has opened 3LS and thereby de-energized K7 to close normally closed 
contacts K7-1, control relay K8 is energized to open normally closed 
contacts K8-1 and de-energize K2 and K3, again halting the main motor and 
the output conveyor. In this case, the stamps may have already been 
delivered to the transf er and/or applicator drums 94 and 96 but are held 
thereon by the vacuum while the drums themselves are arrested by the 
stopping of the main motor. Also, if the heater temperature is too low, 
thermal sensor switch THS-1 closes to energize control relay K9 and open 
normally closed contacts K9-1, once more disengaging K2 and K3 to halt the 
main motor and the output conveyor. Manual depression of the STOP button 
has the same effect. In each case, after the interrupting condition has 
been corrected, operation can be resumed by manually depressing the START 
button. 
The head up-down motor M1, connected across the output of TSF, can be 
manually operated in either direction by appropriate positioning of 
double-pole-double-throw switch S1, whenever switch DISC is closed. The 
system also includes vacuum pumps (1/2 HP thermal overload) connected 
between 220 v. buslines 3L, 4L; a daily counter CTR 1 in parallel with a 
control relay K10 and actuated by each closure of contacts K7-1 
(corresponding to application of stamps to one carton); and a total 
counter CTR 2 actuated by each closure of normally open contacts K10-1 
upon energization of K10. In addition, the system has a reference heater 
and control connected in parallel with the applicator drum heater; a relay 
K1 with normally open contacts K1-1 and K1-2 for preventing current flow 
through bus lines 3L and 4L in the absence of an output from transformer 
TSF; and indicator lights for showing "power on" and "low heat" 
conditions. 
The use of the web of the invention with the above-described apparatus may 
now be readily explained. With a web coil 86 mounted on spindle 84, and 
with the web 78 threaded forwardly therefrom to slicer 90 along the path 
indicated in FIG. 3, and with a supply of glue provided in device 42, 
closed cartons of cigarette packages to be stamped are placed (in the 
above-described orientation, i.e. with package end surfaces 14 facing 
upwardly) on infeed conveyor 32 for sidewise advance thereon. The main and 
conveyor motors and the vacuum pumps are started. As the successive 
cartons are delivered by the infeed conveyor to the inlet end of trough 
26, each carton is engaged in succession and advanced lengthwise by the 
pushers 28 and 30 along the trough 26 (from left to right as seen in FIG. 
2) past the station 36 at a constant linear speed. The drums 94 and 96 are 
continuously rotating at a peripheral speed equal to the linear speed of 
carton advance. Each time a carton trips switch 3LS, the clutch 154 is 
engaged to transmit drive to the pinwheel 88 and cutter 92. The pinwheel 
advances the web 78 longitudinally (in a direction parallel to the rows of 
imprints S1 and S2) past the continuously driven slicer 90 to the cutter 
92, by an increment equal to five successive imprints in each row, and 
then halts until the switch 3LS is tripped by the next advancing carton; 
the slicer removes a longitudinal strip portion of the web between the 
rows S1 and S2, and the cutter cuts the separated rows transversely into 
individual stamps which are picked up, as they are cut, by the suction 
openings 126 of the transfer drum 94. 
The rotation of the transfer drum advances the two cut rows of five stamps 
each (again in a longitudinal direction with respect to the rows) to the 
locality 142, where the stamps are picked up by the suction openings 136 
of the continuously rotating applicator drum 96, and carried by the 
rotation of that drum (with their adhesive-bearing surfaces exposed) to 
the locality or station 36, while the heater 148 within drum 96 activates 
the stamp adhesive. 
Concurrently, the carton 12 which initiated delivery of the stamps, having 
been opened by plow 40 to expose the package end surfaces 14, is advancing 
to the station 36. The leading packages in the two rows R1 and R2 in the 
carton arrive at station 36 at the same time as the leading stamps 10 on 
drum 96. Since the ten stamps on drum 96 are in position for register, 
respectively, with the ten package end surfaces 14 of the carton, and 
since the surfaces 14 and the stamp-bearing drum periphery are moving at 
the same speed and in the same direction at station 36, the stamps are 
applied to the package ends as the carton and drum continue to move, the 
exposed and activated adhesive securing the stamps to the packages. It 
will be noted (see FIG. 6) that the path of advance of each row (S1 or S2) 
of stamps from the coil 86 all the way to the package ends 14 at station 
36 lies in a single vertical plane which also contains the path of advance 
of the row of packages (R1 or R2) to which that row of stamps is to be 
applied. 
Beyond the station 36, the carton flap 16b is glued and the flaps are 
reclosed (by means of arms 44, 46), after which the pusher 30 delivers the 
carton to the outlet conveyor. 
In the event of malfunction, the system is halted by the appropriate switch 
(1LS, 2LS, 4LS, or THS) until the malfunction is corrected, and operation 
is then resumed. 
When the coil 86 is exhausted (and the operation is interrupted by switch 
2LS), the leading end of a new coil can be spliced to the trailing end of 
the old web 78 at the splicing table 98 by taping the two ends together. 
An important advantage of the invention is that, since the splicing occurs 
between successive imprints of the rows of imprints, while the sprocket 
holes 82 are in register with the imprints, the splicing tape does not 
occlude any hole 82 and consequently does not interfere with the 
engagement of the web by pinwheel 88. 
With this apparatus and procedure, stamps can be applied to the packages of 
a virtually continuous succession of cigarette cartons at a high rate of 
production (up to 120 cartons per minute, in an illustrative instance) yet 
in an error-free manner, i.e. without misapplication or loss of stamps. 
The structure and operation of the apparatus, and the correction of 
malfunctions, are advantageously simple. Cartons of different heights 
(cigarettes of different lengths) can readily be accommodated by 
appropriately adjusting the elevation of the head 20 relative to the table 
18. 
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the features 
and embodiments hereinabove specifically set forth but may be carried out 
in other ways without departure from its spirit.